Daddy Dates

Daddy Dates by Greg Wright was a book provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a review. Since my husband is the dad, I gave him the book to read and review:

Greg Wright writes about the necessity of building and maintaining a strong relationship with his four daughters who range from pre-teen to late teenager.

His story centers on his method of calling his daughters and taking them on “dates.” Not the usual date of dinner and a movie, but quality time with his daughters by taking them to dinner, bookstores, libraries, fancy-schmancy dates, or wherever he can have alone time to talk, to get to know his daughters, and to learn their likes, dislikes and current problems.

With an early teen daughter myself, I particularly appreciated his discussion of girls maturing, becoming teenagers, starting to date, and eventually moving on to college. He has had many of the same struggles I have had and many of the same joys. I enjoyed reading his perspective, his shortcomings, his successes, and his failures then comparing them to my own. Nevertheless, parts of the book just weren’t me. I’m not sure I will ever call my daughter to ask her out, then show up at my own front door and knock like I am at a stranger’s house.

I give the book three stars largely because of the flow. I slogged through the book, but several times wanted to put it away and read something else. Someone who has a good relationship with their daughter(s) and spends quality time with them may find comfort in a similar perspective, but the book likely won’t shed much light. But for those dads, like Greg, who are distant from their daughters and want to draw closer, perhaps even becoming a confidant, this is an excellent book to give you some ideas and suggestions.

23 Things You DON'T Need to Buy

This was a fun article with lots of great hints from the All You Magazine. Things like:

• instead of buying wall filler, use white toothpaste.
• use white bread to clean wallpaper.
• use salt to remove hardwater stains
• use White-Out instead of appliance paint for the little nicks.
• use a banana peel to remove scuff marks on leather (shoes, furniture).
• use olive oil to remove oil-based paint from your skin.
• spray weeds with vinegar to kill them in the cracks.
• use vinegar to kill germs in the bathroom.
  
• use baking soda to clean the barbecue grill.
  

And my favorite:

• Use a pillow case to clean fan blades - the dust stays in the pillowcase instead of flying around the room! :)
  

Microwave Popcorn

I just found this article recently about making your own microwave popcorn. How cool! For Christmas I bought my husband a microwave popcorn jar that makes FABULOUS popcorn so I probably won't use this hint but I'm sure some of you will find it handy!

Heart of Ice

This is book three of a series but the only one I have read. That made it a little difficult to follow the number of characters in the first few chapters but I was still able to follow the storyline without knowing about the previous two books.
I have mixed feelings about reviewing this book. It read very quickly and I didn't want to put the book down in needing to know what was going to happen and how. However, I assumed this was Christian fiction (a book provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a review)and was very surprised by the number of murders. The selfishness of the characters was not addressed or changed. Yes, one of the characters prayed but that was the extent of any sort of Christianity.
I knocked the review down to three stars simply because it is not the type of book I would pick up on my own. But it is a good mild thriller.

Voices of the Faithful

This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a review.

It is a good book and has 365 short "inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world" to read daily. Each story is told by a different person who has a great testimony of how God has worked in their area of the world. You also get a look into the different customs and traditions of the different cultures. However, this book was not what I was expecting, hence the three stars. It said "with Beth Moore" so I was expecting an in depth reading and that is what I was searching for as a new devotion book for the year. This is a very quick daily devotionanl that may give you a moment of pause and encouragement but does not encourage you to delve into God's Word as I was hoping.

Product Downsizing

Sunday's paper had an interesting article about product downsizing, saying consumers would rather pay the same price for less than see a price increase for the same amount. Here are some examples of product downsizing the listed:

• SCOTT TOILET PAPER: The original square was 4.5" x 4.5"; it is now 4.1" x 3.7"
• TROPICANA ORANGE JUICE: was 64 oz.; now is 59 oz.
• IVORY DISH DETERGENT: was 30 oz.; now 42 oz.
• KRAFT AMERICAN CHEESE: 24 slices to 22 slices
• COSTCO PAPER TOWELS: was 96.2 square feet; now 85 square feet
• HAAGEN DAZS ICE CREAM: was 16 oz.; now 14 oz.
• LANACANE FIRST AID SPRAY: was 113 g; now 99 g
• HILLS BROTHERS COFFEE: was 34.5 oz.; now 27.8 oz.

All of that to remind you also that when things go on sale, check the amounts you are buying. It may not be a bargain!

Then Sings My Soul

Then Sings My Soul has been a very interesting book to read. It was another book provided to me by Thomas Nelson in exchange for a book review. I was amazed how many hymns were still familiar to me from my Lutheran upbringing. I realized, as reading many of these hymns and their accompanying stories, how deep the meaning is behind the words. I think as I was growing up I just sang the songs, not thinking about the meaning behind the words. But now, as I've matured or maybe just grown in my faith, they are so powerful!
Here are a couple stanzas I bookmarked for their powerfulness:

You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest, or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest, and have peace nad sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.

I am giving this book four stars. I would have preferred the hymns to be grouped by author/composer or time period rather than by type of hymn. Several of the stories were linked together (and sometimes noted) but were not near each other in the book.