The Talens' Tales

It is Storybook Character Day time again. Joash had his last week and Mataya had hers today.  Joash, since he is really into Egypt really wanted to be a pharaoh. I managed to find a headdress at Value Village. We made the beard and the scepter things they used. Joash is trying to look very serious in this picture. Mataya wanted to be a bunny, so we found a storybook on our shelf with a bunny in it. I found the ears at Value Village, too and we made the tail that we taped to her shirt. And she found a nice carrot from our garden. The kids each had a fun day!

We had a great time celebrating Joash's 7th birthday. This year, he requested a cake that had a pyramid that looked like it was made out of Lego. He even made a model for me to use while I decorated the cake.  Joash and his gifts. Lego is still a favorite thing and he got his first Lego Technic set for this birthday, which was a big hit. He also really wanted a Nerf gun, so that was a gift as well. He also invited his best friend over during one of the PD days this week, and they had a great time.

M(om): Gideon! You are 18 month old! That is  1 1/2 years! G: It is pretty exciting, Mom. M: What have you been up too? G:Well, the thing that seems to make you the most excited is I have given walking a chance. And over all it works pretty good, but sometime crawling is still better.  M: It has been so fun to see to walk and how all the sudden one day you just decided to do it. What do you like to do with your days? G: I really like to drive anything around. Trucks, tractors, cars...anything with wheels. I also like to look at books and I trying to climb on the table. M: Yeah, that isn't my favorite activity of yours. Any new words? G: I am starting to say things a bit more clearly. I can say what's this, light, up and I baa for sheep and moo for a cow. M: I am looking forward to hearing more and more words from you in the coming months. Your thoughts on food? G: I love to eat. Last night you gave me carrots and meatballs and it was do yummy to eat. I al...

What is your favorite color? Blue and light green What is your favorite toy? lego What is your favorite food? jello What is your favorite tv show? Veggie Tales in the City What is your favorite outfit? ICS t-shirt and black gym pants What is your favorite game? I don't know What is your favorite animal? cat What is your favorite song? I don't know What is your favorite book? Ancient Egypt books and my encyclopedia Who is your best friend? Ben What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the sandbox What is your favorite drink?   Juice What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Cowie and Hazel What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Grilled Cheese, bacon, jello What do you want to be when you grow up? construction worker with machinery

Joash and Wilbert worked very hard a few weeks ago on a little project. For months Joash had been talking about how he wanted a chest with a lock on it to put things in. Wilbert said it would need to wait until after corn silage was done. So, finally they made it. I don't think Wilbert knew at the beginning that Joash wanted a chest that looked like a pirate treasure chest with a curved top and everything. But, it turned out very well, I must say.

It w as t he summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident--and young Samuel Chambers would have done anything to turn back time. Even today, he can hardly believe it all happened . . . Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back.  His quest to defeat death will entangle him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict, forcing Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question. Reading The Day the Angles Fell  by Shawn Smucker was a really interesting and engaging reading experience.  The magic realism he uses is fantastic. I love that it is set in our world, but that the spiritual world has a visible and  powerful presence in all of it. The writing was engaging and made for a quick read. I ...

One thing that we never got to this summer was going to Bonshaw Provincial Park.  So, when the weather looked very nice for Saturday, we decided to make that the day to go.  It was a lovely fall day. Cool, but not too cold. Sunny with clear blue skies and the tree just starting to turn color. We packed a picnic lunch and headed to the park in the morning. We walked a short trail before lunch. Then then kids played for a bit on the playground and we had lunch in the picnic area. Then we walked some longer trails in the park and went to the foot bridge and saw some fish in the river.  Overall, the kids did great. They were good hiker, though the did get impatient while we were looking for a geocache. We will have to go back later to find the geocaches in the park. This is a great park with nice trails, a neat playground and picnic area in a lovely part of PEI.

Actors aren't the only ones who play characters. Many of us do, much of the time. We walk into a room, figure out who we're supposed to be in this context, slip into character, and say the lines we know we should say. We become someone else. Maybe we tell ourselves it's some version of us, but deep down we know this inauthentic character is not what God wants for our lives--and it's not what we want either.  Shine  is Allison Allen's answer and call for each person to step out into the role God has given us and let our light shine. Allen uses personal stories from her time as a professional actor and draws insightful parallels to the Christian life.  This was an interesting read. I liked that it was different from other Christian living books for women with the acting bent. It was interesting to read a bit of a behind the scenes look into the acting life and how that parallels our life. Allen does a great job of weaving her stories, biblical teaching and pra...

So about this time of the year last year, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and finally came to the conclusion that I was not keeping very good track of things and my life. So, I bought and planner and I love it. But, in my search for a planner, I kept thinking there has to be something that can not only help me plan well, but also help and encourage me spiritually. Then, last year Jamie Ivey highlighted Anchored Press in her 2016 Gift Giving Guide . And I knew I was going to be getting a planner from Anchored Press for 2018. And it has arrived! And I love it! The first page of the week is a devotional page with something for each day. Then it has a two page spread for the week. I especially like "What's for Dinner?" slot. Each month has a tab that opens to the calendar page for the month. I am so excited to start using this planner in the new year. I hope that it will help encourage me in all areas of my life.

September was a fun month for books. It was also the first month for two books clubs that I have joined, Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club and the Diverse Books Club . Here is a glimpse of what I read. Dead Cold , The Cruelest Month and A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny - the Louise Penny marathon continues. So good! I love reading about this little town and the people that live in it. And the crimes keep the pages turning. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman - I wanted to read this one because I knew it is well loved by people and the movie is on Netflix. It was an interesting, fun and thought provoking read about a disgruntled widower who finds hope and life in people he least expects--his neighbors. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner - This was the September pick for the MMD Book Club . A classic work and a beautifully written exploration of a life long friendship. The writing was exquisite and the characters were complex and thought provoking. The Underground Ra...