Business / Product Review: Crafty Works, LLC

by | Jan 23, 2024 | Book & Product Reviews, Fuel Your Wellness

The article was originally posted on Wellness Works NW on January 16, 2024.

Locally owned by Christen and Willow Ellis, this mother-daughter team has worked to bring their creativity and desire for natural ingredients together to create Crafty Works, LLC, where they sell handmade skin care products and candles. All their products are made in small batches, tested thoroughly and hand-poured using only high quality and eco-friendly ingredients.

Crafty Works, LLC offers the following items:

  • Bath bombs
  • Bath salts
  • Body Balm
  • Candles
  • Car & Room fresheners
  • Gift boxes
  • Lip balm
  • Shampoo bars
  • Shower bombs
  • Soaps
  • Wax melts

My wife, Karen G Clemenson, and I have known Christen and her family for years. We have also been looking for the right skin care products for even longer. I have very sensitive skin and Karen gets very dry at times too. I have tried many national brands and handmade products. Some were very good but never perfect. (more…)

Book Review: The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

by | Jan 19, 2024 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions, Queer Community

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris takes place at the end of the Civil War. George Walker was not a man that had to work. His father had left him money and he had enough acreage to wander and enjoy the nature he loved so much. His wife, Isabelle, was strong-natured and did not require much of him. His son was away at war and this worried him because he saw himself in his son, the quiet softness that didn’t care for violence. But George didn’t talk about these things to anyone but Clementine, the whore that he paid to just listen to him. When he was told about his son’s death, it took him a few days to tell Isabelle. He didn’t want to hurt her.

During one of his walks he found Landry and Prentiss camped out; two freedmen from the plantation next to his. George had pushed himself too far and he was thankful for the help back to his cabin. He didn’t mind them camping on his land. Soon their relationship changed and Landry and Prentiss became paid hands on George’s land as George had decided to make something of his farm and needed their help. George paid them the same he would pay any man and this angered the people in Old Ox, where they lived. Landry and Prentiss were glad to live in the barn. This also angered the townsfolk.

When Caleb, George and Isabelle’s son returned, scarred but not dead, they were overjoyed. But he had secrets. The communication was still not good between he and his parents. He and his lover, August were having trouble as August was planning his wedding to a local girl, as was expected of him.

The Sweetness of Water was so full of surprises and intrigue. The characters were well-developed. There was a rhythm to the story that kept me turning the pages. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to anyone.

I got this book from my sister Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

The Sweetness of WaterThe Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story truly moved me and showed me how far we have come. Reconstruction after the Civil War was dropped too quickly by people that didn’t understand how many layers we had to deal with, but we have endured and there are so many layers we can celebrate. This book reminds us of that. This book is about a family that is not perfect but they are bound by their imperfect love for each other and a couple of Freedmen in spite of the pressure of the entire town that wants them to be forgotten, yet through many losses, they are not. This book has loss and pain but also joy and growth. I promise you, you wont want to put the book down.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

by | Jan 15, 2024 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Joan Ruth Bader was born on March 15, 1933. There were so many girls named Joan in her kindergarten class that her mother suggested she be called Ruth and that is how she is known for more official purposes. Ruth loved to read and write and was encouraged to be independent by her mother. Ruth’s family was not devout but Ruth valued the reverence for justice and learning that was part of her Jewish heritage. She enjoyed studying Hebrew and the history of the Jews. Ruth Bader Ginsburg loved opera. If she could have chosen one talent it would have been to able to have a glorious voice. Ruth’s mother died of cervical cancer a few days before Ruth’s high school graduation. Instead of attending, she stayed at home with her father.

It occurred to me to find a book about Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the day she died. I knew little of her, other than she was the second female Supreme Court Judge ever and she had worked hard to make many positive changes but I didn’t know what they were. I grabbed the first book that I found online and that is how I ended up with My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg in my hands. At the time I didn’t realize that this book was not a memoir but a book of her collected speeches, which is a very different type of read than a biography or autobiography. It did take me several months to make it through this book because I had to take breaks and read other things, but that is not because her life wasn’t amazing!

Ginsburg was hired at Columbia in 1972, “The year of the woman” as the beneficiary of the Nixon administration’s effort to encourage colleges and universities to hire women faculty.

During weeks that court is not in session Supreme Court Justices visit Universities and Law Schools or other lawyers in the United States. During the longer breaks some justices travel to other countries to teach or attend classes. Justice Ginsburg has been to Australia, Austria, Canada, China, England, Egypt, France, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and Tunisia. Part 1, Chapter 8

Ginsburg was honored to receive the National Council of Jewish Women’s award on March 12, 2001. This award aligns with the belief that people are to improve steadily in our community to be more humane, fair and just. Part 2, Chapter 4

On Sunday June 27, 2010 Ginsburg’s husband of 56 years, Martin Ginsburg, died. The same month Ginsburg became the senior Justice among the liberal Supreme Court members.

These are just a few of the numerous accomplishments of an outstanding woman. Her goal was to make a more equal world for women, which she did, but she also worked to make laws equal for men that weren’t so before she got to them. She was a passionate, intelligent and energetic woman that worked longer at the Supreme Court than anyone before her. I plan to reread this book and also look for other books about her. She is truly a remarkable person. I highly recommend this book.

You can get your own copy of My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

My Own WordsMy Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a revolutionary woman that not only fought for equal rights for woman but all people. She was energetic, intelligent and passionate about the law. This book was not an easy read, but the accomplishments of Ginsburg’s life were extraordinary and so is this book.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: The Contemplative Tarot A Christian Guide to the Cards by Brittany Muller

by | Jan 12, 2024 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

I was handed a copy of The Contemplative Tarot A Christian Guide to the Cards by Brittany Muller by my sister,Jamie Holloway. My first thought was that I didn’t want anything to do with tarot. I was raised being told it was wrong. But after hearing her thoughts and giving it some thought of my own, I realized I wanted to read this book, not because I felt it would add anything to my life but it might help me not be afraid of a deck of cards.

I was surprised to learn that tarot began as a card game to entertain Italian nobles. Rooted in Christianity and enamored on Pagan antiquity and always trying to bring them together — this is what brought about tarot. The first deck was created in the 15th century (about 1401 to 1500) to play a game similar to bridge. The trumps contained figures that we see today: Death, The Fool, The Empress, Temperance, Justice, etc. The game eventually died out in Italy but remained popular in France and Switzerland and became standardized as Tarot de Marseille. It didn’t get it’s occult connection until the 19th century (about 1801 to 1900) in France when the occult became popular and people wanted to believe it came from Egypt and was meant to be a tool for divination of the future.

At the same time England had their own occult ideas. The Freemasons founded The Golden Dawn that included tarot as a ritual for fortune telling. One of the members, Aleister Crowley, left on bad terms. He left England and went to Sicily and established Abbey of Thelema in 1920. This was a spiritual philosophy he created by mixing Golden Dawn teachings, yoga and Eastern and Western mysticism — these teachings later inspired Wicca. The Thoth Tarot cards he created are still used today.

Tarot can be used for:

  • Divination
  • Self-Development
    • facilitate inner knowledge, growth and transformation
    • uncover one’s thoughts and feelings they might be avoiding

With constant stimulation we live with in our lives now, we don’t have time for out thoughts and self-reflection. How do we create stillness to hear the voice of God?

“To use tarot in a contemplative way is to marry prayer to art. It is to use the images of tarot to facilitate intimate moments and so the most important factor is choosing a deck is a connection with the art itself.” The Contemplative Tarot, Chapter 3

Tarot can help with:

  • We need to slow down and make space
  • We need to self-reflect
  • We need to see God in His creation

Most of the book is spent describing each of the cards in the deck. Although I don’t feel as though I want to add tarot to my worship time, I can see how it could be a tool that some people might find value in. I did find the descriptions of the cards to be surprisingly personal and the questions at the end of each description made me think of things very deeply. I was intrigued at how much I thought while I read this book. I am glad I read this book. It strengthened my resolve that objects cannot have any more power over me than I give them. A deck of cards are just that unless I believe more than that.

The way that Muller described how she uses the tarot cards to enrich her time with the bible and God sounds like she gets a lot out of her experience. The difference between her and I is that she is Catholic and I am a non-traditional Christian. I don’t rely on symbols, but I understand that most humans do and I see why these cards might be perfect for people that enjoy symbolism. I did enjoy the thought provoking questions and the quotes and tidbits about the saints that she used in this book and I do recommend this book for people that want to delve in to religious history.

You can get your own copy of The Contemplative Tarot A Christian Guide to the Cards by Brittany Muller on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

Contemplative TarotContemplative Tarot by Brittany Muller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no idea what I was getting into when I began reading this book. My friend gave me this book to read and I read it to learn the history of tarot. But this book went so much more deep than I expected. Although I don’t intend to add tarot to my life, I have a new understanding of this ritual and a better walk with God. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to know their Creator better.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

7 Books for December 2023

by | Dec 15, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

We have reached the end of 2023 and it seems a good time reflect on my reading goals and what I learned while reading 7 children’s books each month. Children’s books are special. I learned that old children’s books are often nostalgic and teach classic ideas, where new children’s books tend to focus on deeper emotional ideals and broader topics but in a simple way. I have learned a lot but not in a heavy way that made me feel stressed. I think that everyone should read children’s books. I do think I will change my number of books per month but I am not sure what the number will be for 2024 yet. Without much ado, here are my 7 Books for December 2023:

A Walk In the Woods by Nikki Grimes, Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

A Walk in the WoodsA Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Walk in the Woods is a collaborative effort by Nikki Grimes, Jerry Pinkney and his son Brian Pinkney. It is a story about a son after the death of his father and how he is dealing with it. The father has left a treasure map for a walk in the woods and a surprise that will help to guide his son toward healing.

The son has no name in the story but I imagine this helps any person to relate to the pain that is expressed in the artwork by definite and indefinite lines. In the end, the father encourages his son to keep moving forward and to write his own story. I do think this book is written for a child that is at least 7 or 8 years old but there are elements that any child could related to. This is a beautiful story.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of A Walk In the Woods by Nikki Grimes, Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney on Amazon.

~

The Song That Called Them Home by David A Robertson

The Song That Called Them HomeThe Song That Called Them Home by David Alexander Robertson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lauren and James were on an adventure with their Moshom (grandfather), when he decided to take a nap. As the children became hungry, they decided to go fishing when their escapade took another turn. While they were in their canoe, Memekwesewak, or creatures that live in the water, led them to a place where dancing and singing kept them entranced. Luckily their Moshom knew The Song That Called Them Home on his drum.

This fantastic story by David A. Robertson is full of adventure and devotion to family and the illustrations by Maya McKibbin add to the imagery.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Song That Called Them Home by David A Robertson on Amazon.

~

Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler

Jazz BabyJazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a fun story that makes you want to get and dance or at least move to the beat right in your seat. Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler is a musical dancing book full of moving words and family that share in the story. Even the illustrations by R. Gregory Christie seem to bop and jive with the rhymes.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of  Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler on Amazon.

~

Jenny Mei Is Sad by Tracy Subisak

Jenny Mei Is SadJenny Mei Is Sad by Tracy Subisak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jenny Mei Is Sad by Tracy Subisak is a book about two friends — real friends Jenny Mei and her friend have a great relationship because they can feel their real feelings with each other. Jenny Mei’s family is going through a hard time and sometimes Jenny Mei is happy, silly and funny, bu other times she is angry and difficult. On those days she is lucky she has her friend for the not so good times. This is a really special book with touching illustrations.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Jenny Mei Is Sad by Tracy Subisak on Amazon.

~

Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo

SulweSulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sulwe’s name means “star” but in her family and even at school, she has the darkest skin. Her sister has skin the color of high noon and people give her pet names like “Sunshine,” “Ray,” and “Beauty.” But Sulwe gets names like “Blackie,” Darky,” and “Night.” Sulwe tries anything she can think of to fit in but nothing works. Her mom tells her that her beauty must come fro her heart and her mind. But it isn’t until she has a fantastic dream that she understands that both light and dark accent each other. This is when she understands that her beauty is both inside and outside herself.

This is a beautiful book and even if your skin isn’t dark, you can understand having differences from others. The message that beauty is on the inside is important for everyone. The illustrations are as magical as the wonderful story.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo on Amazon.

~

Coming Home by Michael Morpurgo

Coming HomeComing Home by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read Coming Home by Michael Morpurgo to my cat and he wandered away half-way through. I think it is because the transitions in this adventure were really not there. I want to like this book, and there are parts I do enjoy, especially the enchanting illustrations by Kerry Hyndman, which probably really helped me stay connected. This book droned on too long and I thought it was way too wordy for a birds’ flight home for Christmas. I don’t think a small child would be able to sit through this story.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Coming Home by Michael Morpurgo on Amazon.

~

Giant Pants by Mark Fearing

Giant PantsGiant Pants by Mark Fearing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Giant Pants by Mark Fearing is an adorable story about a giant loses his only pair of pants and then he loses his temper and then how he choses to deal with his problem. Both the story and the illustrations are sure to make you laugh at any age and even offer great conversation starters, as well. I highly recommend this story.

View all my reviews

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Giant Pants by Mark Fearing on Amazon.

~

I really enjoyed my picks for December. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season and I also hope that you find time to read whatever books make you happy. Be blessed!

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

by | Nov 30, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez takes place in 1973 at the beginning of Civil Townsend’s career and in 2016 at the end of her career. Her voice is the narrator as she tells the story to her adopted daughter, Anne, as to why she did things the way she did throughout her life.

Civil, the Black daughter of the town’s daughter, began her first job as a nurse at the Montgomery Family Planning Center, in Montgomery, Alabama, believing it was important for people to have the ability to make choices about their sexual health. But at this federally funded health center that mainly served Black women and girls, she soon found out that many times patients were not being fully told what was happening to them and many people were being given medications that were not FDA approved. This included Civil’s first clients, 13 year old Erica and 11 year old India, sisters that Civil’s white boss had decided it was imperative they did not become pregnant, although there was no sign they were sexually active and India had not even begun menstruating. As Civil got to know these girls, she learned to love them and she did everything she could to help their family have a better life, including removing the girls from the Depo Provera shots that Civil had learned had caused cancer in animals. Soon her boss had misled the girls’ illiterate father and grandmother to sign papers to have the girls sterilized.

“Now, you know how some white folks feel about Black bodies. They think we can tolerate pain better than them…Some of them even thought syphilis couldn’t kill us. I picked up a cord on the side of the bed and pressed the buzzer over and over. A few minutes later, a nurse stuck her head in the door.

‘Have these patients been given something for their pain?’” Take My Hand, chapter 20

What happened to the girls was the worst pain in Civil’s life. What began as a case against the Montgomery Family Planning Center became a nation-wide case against the Federal Government as it was found that Hispanic women in California were being sterilized without their knowledge or consent. Women in North Carolina were going in for c-sections and also having their uteruses removed without consent. Mexican and Black women in Georgia were not getting needed medical care until they gave consent for sterilization.

This book is based loosely on the true case of Reif v. Weinberger. In June 1973, Minnie Lee and Mary Alice Reif, sisters aged 12 and 14, were sterilized without consent in Montgomery, Alabama. Take My Hand was awarded the 2023 NAACP Image Award of Literary Work-Fiction and BCALA Fiction Award.

I literally could not put this book down. It was well written and thoughtfully put together to include information about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study where between 1932 to 1943 Black men were infected with syphilis and studied to see what would happen to them. When penicillin was found to be the treatment for syphilis in 1943, it was not offered to these men and they were allowed to suffer and die. This story broke in 1972 by the Associated Press.

I think this story is important because it showcases the importance for all people to have the right to choose the right birth control for themselves and medical care for their body and to have all the proper information communicated to them whether they can read or not. We have come a long way and these stories of people that paid the price for our medical freedom are important for us to be thankful and continue to fight for complete medical freedom regardless of another person’s religious or personal beliefs. We are all individuals.

I got this book from my sister, Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

Take My HandTake My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing fiction story based on real life events. Dolen Perkins-Valdez had me turning pages almost faster than I could read them. This heart gripping story must be read.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

by | Nov 29, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a very special book and I am glad I read it. I had seen the movie before and I really enjoyed it but, as always I enjoyed the book more. This amazing story, mainly takes place in the summer of 1964 when Lily Owen turns 14 years old. She is girl that is being raised by an emotionally neglectful and sometimes physically abusive father, whom she calls T Ray because he was never the Daddy-type. Her only memory of her mother is when she was 4-years-old, on the day she died, December 3, 1954. She remembers her mother quickly throwing things into a suitcase. She remembers the sound of her father’s boots as he came in the room. She remembers hearing them yell at each other. She remembers her mother getting the gun out of the closet. She remembers her father taking it from her and swinging it around. She also remembers picking up the gun when it fell to the floor and it going off. It was an accident.

After finding a bag with her mother’s things in the attic and a picture with the name Tiburon, South Carolina on the back, Lily decides she needs to go there. When her only known friend and caregiver Roseleen finds herself in jail for defending herself from the white men that didn’t like her getting any ideas about her registering to vote, even though the civil rights laws had passed allowing her to vote. Lily breaks her out of the hospital after the police allow those same men to try to get an apology out of her after she was arrested and Lily and Roseleen hitchhike the two hours from Sylvan, South Carolina to find out why Tiburon was important to Lily’s mom, Deborah.

When they find the Black Madonna Honey Company and meet three sisters: August, June and May their lives are forever changed in every way. Not only are these three women beekeepers, but August was a Nanny for Deborah when she was girl.

“People in general, would rather die than forgive. It’s that hard. If God said in plain language, ‘I’m giving you a choice, forgive or die,’ a lot of people would ahead and order their coffin.” The Secret Life of Bees, chapter 14

This amazing book is about bees, coming of age, child abuse, family, civil rights, mental health, strength, forgiveness, honesty and love and everything between. I recommend it to you and I know I will read it again.

I got this book from my sister, Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

The Secret Life of BeesThe Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in 1964 this coming of age novel is both heart-wrenching and moving, warming and eye-opening. I plan to keep this book as part of my collection to re-read because the characters are raw, authentic and amazing. Sue Monk Kid did an amazing job of realizing the beauty of the importance of this deep story set in several generation and emanating out of a time of change in a girl, a family and a nation.

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

7 Books for November 2023

by | Nov 27, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

November has come and almost gone and one thing I am very thankful for is that I came from a family that loved to read and that love was shared with me. Reading has helped me to learn. Reading has been a favorite way to spend my time learning or traveling and imagining. Reading has led me to learn to love to write since I was 9 years old. I encourage you to read and read to the children around you and encourage them to read. Reading is a great way to let your mind wander in a healthy way. It can help you fight depression, learn new things and take you to places you might not be able to ever go to. Here are my 7 Books for November 2023:

Green on Green by Dianne White

Green on GreenGreen on Green by Dianne White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Green on Green by Dianne White is a poetic book about the seasons and family changing throughout the year. The illustrations by Felicita Sala are beautiful and engaging and full of things to talk about before bed or any good story time.

I really enjoyed this book.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Green on Green by Dianne White on Amazon.

~

Clifford’s Manners by Norman Bridwell

Clifford's Manners (Clifford the Big Red Dog)Clifford’s Manners by Norman Bridwell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Clifford was very popular when I was growing up so it was fun to visit him again in Cliffords’ Manners by Norman Bridwell. In this book we learn important ways to use our manners to be thoughtful of others. This is a very cute read.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Clifford’s Manners by Norman Bridwell on Amazon.

~

The Proudest Blue A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali

The Proudest BlueThe Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Proudest Blue A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali is a beautiful story about 2 sisters, one older and one younger. The older sister is now ready to begin wearing hijab or a head scarf meant to celebrate her Muslim religion, modesty and strength. Her younger sister is so proud of her and wants to support her even as both girls must remember how their mother has prepared them for abuse from people that don’t understand. This touching story is informational and inspiring and the illustrations by Hatem Aly make it all the more realistic.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Proudest Blue A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali on Amazon.

~

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Blueberries for SalBlueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey is a Caldecott Honor Book originally published in 1948. It is a story about Sal and her mother and a bear and her cub collecting blueberries for in winter in their own ways and how they managed to run into each other on a beautiful late summer day. The black and white illustrations are simple and sweet and really help to tell the tale.

I enjoyed this story as a child and I enjoyed it today.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey on Amazon.

~

Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slater

Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid BikeWild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I still remember when my training wheels came off and soon I graduated to a larger bike only to be told by my father that if God had wanted me to ride my bike without using the handle bars He would not have put them on the bicycle — I wanted to be like the big kids in my neighborhood.

Kayla is the main character in this book and she has out grown her little pink “pony” with training wheels so her dad has taken her to pick out a bigger bike which she names, “Wild Blue.”

Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slate is about the adventure most of us have as we learn to ride a bicycle. Yes we fall off and we even get hurt but eventually we learn how to match our rhythm with the pattern of the bike and we peddle hard, stop wobbling and we ride.

I really loved this story and the illustrations by Laura Hughes we’re very fun too!

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slate Slater on Amazon.

~

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

The Little Engine That CouldThe Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Puff, puff, puff, chug, chug, chug,” went the Little Blue Engine. “I think I can — I think I can — I think I can — I think I can — I think I can — I think I can — I think I can — I think I can — I think I can.”

The little train filled with toys and good things to eat for the children on the other side of the mountain had gone through the loss of their engine and the rejection of mightier engines and one that had no self-esteem only to be blessed by the Little Blue Engine. I grew up with this story, that my wife chose at the library for me. This book reminds me of my wife because she is always willing to try and give her all. This important mantra of, “I think I can,” led the Little Blue Engine to be able to say, “I thought I could.”

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper was first published in 1930 and I am sure it will continue to give joy and inspiration to children and readers for another 90+ years.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper on Amazon.

~

Jump In by Shadra Strickland

Jump In!Jump In! by Shadra Strickland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun book about having fun in your community. Jump In by Shadra Strickland doesn’t just have the children playing but the adults join in too! Whether it is with a jump rope, basketball, skate board or bicycle this neighborhood and their dogs enjoys sports together. The illustrations are as colorful as the people at the park. I really enjoyed this book.

View all my reviews

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Jump In by Shadra Strickland on Amazon.

~

As we travel through the holidays I hope you find ample times to share stories with each other. Stories are a great way to bond and share our history with each other. I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving and that your holiday season is shiny and bright. Happy reading!

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: Strength For Each Day 365 Devotions to Make Every Day a Great Day by Joyce Meyer

by | Nov 20, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Prayers & Thanksgiving

Strength for Each Day: 365 Devotions to Make Every Day a Great DayStrength for Each Day: 365 Devotions to Make Every Day a Great Day by Joyce Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last year or so has had its own challenges, as I am sure every year has but this book, Strength For Each Day 365 Devotions to Make Every Day a Great Day by Joyce Meyer has been a blessing each time I have opened it’s pages. I have laughed, cried and enjoyed the wisdom on the pages as I needed on the days that I was wise enough to make sure I made time to be in the word. I can’t say I am faithful to every day, but I try and God is always faithful to me. I actually follow this devotional with another bible study and I was always surprised that no matter what, the bible studies always seemed to fit together and echo the message for the day.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants help with their walk. Each study is only one page long and offers the scripture for the lesson on the top of the page so if you want to carry it with you and don’t want to bring a bible too, you are prepared. Many of the studies mention other scriptures so you can go deeper if you like.

View all my reviews

I got this book from my sister Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of Strength For Each Day 365 Devotions to Make Every Day a Great Day by Joyce Meyer on Amazon.

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

7 Books for October 2023

by | Oct 30, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Happy October everyone. I hope you are enjoying the change of the season and that you don’t have too many aches and pains as the weather gets colder and wetter. Thankfully, I hear that it is supposed to dry for Halloween for the trick-or-treaters! Maybe after the kids have had their fill of candy, you can cuddle up with a good story, maybe it will be one of these 7 Books for October 2023:

The Kindest Red A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali

The Kindest Red (The Proudest Blue, #2)The Kindest Red by Ibtihaj Muhammad
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story! I didn’t want it to end. The Kindest Red A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad is a story about family and tradition, of kindness and connection. It is a sweat story about a little girl named Faizah and her day of using her kindness super power to make a good day great with the help of everyone around her.

Not only is the story engaging but the art by Hatem Aly are colorful and meaningful. I highly recommend this book.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Kindest Red A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali on Amazon.

~

The Berenstain Bears That’s So Rude by Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears: That's So Rude!The Berenstain Bears: That’s So Rude! by Mike Berenstain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reading The Berenstain Bears That’s So Rude by Mike Berenstain was like going back in time. I grew up with The Berenstain Bears so grabbing this book was very nostalgic for me. The illustrations are bright and fun. The story, however, seemed choppy and not very believable. It did have a good moral and everyone was back to their cheerful happy selves by the end.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Berenstain Bears by Mike Berenstain on Amazon.

~

Hoot Owl Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor

Hoot Owl, Master of DisguiseHoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think this book needs to be read aloud by a comedian. It kind of has a Dana Carvey vibe. Hoot Owl Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor is a somewhat cute book if you aren’t wanting to teach children anything about real owls and you want to show them charming illustrations, such as those by Jean Jullien. Each time I thought the owl was going to do what an actual owl would really do, he put on a ridiculous costume and missed his prey until he finally got his beak on some pizza, which I don’t think is on a real owl’s diet. If you want a silly book, this is your book.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Hoot Owl Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor on Amazon.

~

Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

Coat of Many ColorsCoat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think many of us can relate to someone bullying us at school or not understanding why we might love something they don’t. The coat that Dolly’s mom made for her, in Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, made her feel warm and special even if the kids at school didn’t like it. Their response still hurt her though. This sweet story is very touching and the illustrations by Brooke Boynton-Hughes are just as precious.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton on Amazon.

~

Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum

By A. Birnbaum - Green Eyes (Family Storytime) (Reprint) (2011-01-26) [Paperback]By A. Birnbaum – Green Eyes (Family Storytime) (Reprint) (2011-01-26) [Paperback] by Abe Birnbaum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum is a Caldecott Honor Book. The book was written in 1953, however I believe it is still a great bed time story. The cadence is perfect for lulling a little one to sleep while telling the story of Green Eyes, the cat in his first year of life, as he describes the seasons while they change on the farm he lives on. The illustrations are simple and the colors are fun. This would be a book that would be easy to talk about animals and colors, seasons and growing, making this a good quiet conversation book before bed.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum on Amazon.

~

Big by Vashti Harrison

BigBig by Vashti Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fat woman who was once a fat child this book hit home. Big by Vashti Harrison is an important book because some children are different and there is nothing they can do about it but they don’t deserve to be belittled or held back because of their differences. The fact that the child in this book was able to eventually let her feelings out and then give back the labels that people had given her that she didn’t feel fit who she really was is very empowering. No matter what makes us different, if we could learn to drop the negative things people try to put on us and hold onto what we know about ourselves, what a better world we would live in. What a powerful book this is. The illustrations are beautiful and very meaningful.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Big by Vashti Harrison on Amazon.

~

Free At Last! The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull

Free at Last: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr.Free at Last: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Free At Last! The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull is not a light read. But it is a pretty good portrayal of history and one that would be a good conversation starter with older children. It has good photographs and illustrations and helpful tidbits of information about what was happening alongside Dr. King’s movement. With 6 chapters, this 47 page book is meant for proficient readers.

View all my reviews

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Free At Last! The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull on Amazon.

~

I hope you are inspired by any of these books. Do you ever think about reading these books with your children or just with yourself? Or maybe pick out your own. Let me know!

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

7 Books for September 2023

by | Sep 20, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Hi everyone! I bet you have been waiting impatiently for this post: 7 Books for September 2023 is full of great books and most of them, I randomly pulled off a shelf with little idea what I was bringing home. I tell you what, that is an adventure in itself. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did.

~

Hey Grandude! by Paul McCartney

Hey Grandude!Hey Grandude! by Paul McCartney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hey Grandude! by Paul McCartney, published in 2019 is an adventure waiting to happen! And the illustrations by Kathryn Durst make the fun even more fun!

Tom, Bob, Lucy and Em have come to visit their grandfather, whom they call Grandude! It’s a dark and boring day, but not with Grandude and his magic compass.

“See the compass needle spin let the magic fun begin!”

Throughout the story the children and their grandfather find themselves at the seaside, riding a school of flying fish, out riding a stampede of wild buffalo on horseback in a desert valley, and sailing on the back of a flying Swiss cow to avoid being hit by an avalanche, all before bed. What a great time we all had. I definitely recommend this book!

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Hey Grandude! by Paul McCarthy on Amazon.

~

Peter and the Wolf by Vladamir Vagin

Peter And The WolfPeter And The Wolf by Vladimir Vagin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This version of Peter and the Wolf by Vladamir Vagin was published in 2000 and is based on the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. I am familiar with a similar tale and this one is not what I had expected. The original story had more violence, but there is more violence in the animal world and I am not sure if teaching children an unrealistic way is as important as letting them learn why it is so important to not try to catch a wolf by yourself as a child.

This story ends as you want it to, but there are real dangers in the world and there is value in teaching children that in certain circumstances, you must only obey.

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Peter and the Wolf by Vladamir Vagin on Amazon.

~

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

The Grouchy Ladybug (World of Eric Carle)The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Grouchy Ladybug, produced in 1977, by Eric Carle made my day! The beautiful illustrations, with bright colors, kept me inspired as the grouchy ladybug learned to be a little more humble.

While looking for a creature good enough to answer her question: “Want to fight?” She met many kinds of animals on land and sea and in the end, she learned to share.

This is definitely a book to read again and again.

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle on Amazon.

~

Who Loves Me? by Patricia MacLachlan

Who Loves Me?Who Loves Me? by Patricia MacLachlan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who Loves Me? by Patricia MacLachlan reminds me of conversations I would have with children I would care for, as I tried to get them to sleep. This book is adorable. The illustrations by Amanda Shepherd are imaginative and keep you moving. As a cat lover, I can imagine this heart-to-heart very easily with my furry boy. This book was published in 2005 and geared for children aged 4 to 8 years of age, but I have to admit, I enjoyed this book a lot, myself.

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Who Loves Me? by Patricia MacLachlan on Amazon.

~

Aesop’s Fables selected and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Aesop's FablesAesop’s Fables by Lisbeth Zwerger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This version of Aesop’s Fables includes 12 Fables chosen and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. I had first thought I had never ready any of Aesop’s Fables, but I have come to the the belief that each of these short tales with a moral at the end is the basis for many children’s stories. My favorite is Town Mouse and Country Mouse – “Simple meals in safety taste better than feasts in fear.”

I did enjoy the beautiful illustrations but in the simple and original format I am not sure children today will enjoy Aesop’s Fables as they are.

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Aesop’s Fables selected and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger on Amazon.

~

My America by Jan Spivey Gilchrest

My AmericaMy America by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My America is a poem by Jan Spivey Gilchrest that has been made into a beautiful picture book with amazing illustrations by Ashley Bryan and Jan Spivey Gilchrest.

Published in 2007, both artists were honored with Coretta Scott King Awards as they told of their vision of America’s strength, beauty and diversity from it’s people, wildlife and landscapes.

I love the poem and I love the illustrations but the layout was cumbersome to me, which made readability tedious at times.

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of My American by Jan Spivey Gilchrest on Amazon.

~

In the Neighborhood by Rocio Bonilla

In the NeighborhoodIn the Neighborhood by Rocío Bonilla
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While we read In the Neighborhood by Rocio Bonilla we see a street full of individuals that keep to themselves because they think they have nothing in common with their neighbor…but in actuality all these neighbors turn out to be a community of great friends because someone’s internet went out and another person knew how to fix it. Then someone needed just one more egg for their recipe and so on, until everyone had met. What a great message to children that it is ok to reach out to meet the people around them before you decide to leave people alone.

Every character was fun and quirky and the story was absurd but fun. I also enjoyed the illustrations.

View all my reviews on GoodReads

I got this book at the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of In the Neighborhood by Rocio Bonilla on Amazon.

~

I have really grown to love my time with the children’s books. Children’s books are not complicated. They give me a moment to use my imagination and forget the stress of the day. They also remind me when my Nana would read to me and even my mom, when I was really little. Reading is really a gift you can give to a child. I hope if you have a little one to read to and that you don’t take that time for granted. I remember many trips to the library with many children I have had the opportunity to love. Their curiosity is contagious and reading is just one way to keep our curiosity alive.

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

by | Aug 11, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter was first published in Great Britain in 1927, although Porter is an American author. My first experience with this story was Disney’s movie production, starring Hayley Mills, produced in 1960, which in fact, I have worn out a VHS tape and am working on my 2nd DVD, I must say I can’t totally compare the two productions because Disney took many artistic freedoms.

In the book Pollyanna, leaves her home to travel to Beldingsville, where her Aunt Polly lives. Although Aunt Polly is well off, she does not own most of the town, as the movie production implies. All of the main characters are in tact, but Disney added quite a few, making the movie as much about the town, as about Pollyanna, where the book is much more about this special little girl that teaches a community to be glad so they can support her when she needs it.

I wont ruin the story for you because I want you to read it yourself. The ending is different in several ways, but I still teared up and was very glad in the end.

I got this book from The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

POLLYANNAPOLLYANNA by Eleanor H. Porter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I have seen the movie many times but it doesn’t compare. I love them both for the art that they are. Of course the book is better, as always.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

 

7 Books for August 2023

by | Aug 9, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Last month I began the task of reading 7 children’s books to review each month. I have ended up really enjoying wandering the children’s section at the library, randomly picking up books off the shelves, if I hadn’t already asked them to pull a few books off the shelves for me. If you are enjoying this as much as I am, feel free to suggest books for me. I would be glad to find your favorite books or books you aren’t sure you want to read and give my opinion. If you have any suggestions please Contact Me.

Moonlight Memories by Amanda Davis

Moonlight MemoriesMoonlight Memories by Amanda Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Mama had been gone almost a month, leaving Piper feeling empty.” As this story begins the sad face on the page tells you as much as the first sentence. Death is a hard topic, especially for a child, but Moonlight Memories by Amanda Davis (published in 2023) offers a way through creativity that helps Piper to regain her memories of her mother and connect more with her grieving father.

As she gazes through the telescope her dad gave her, Piper sees much more than stars. She slowly covers her walls with drawings of memories she has with her mama that help her to heal. When she forgets one, she can look at them again and be reassured.

The illustrations by Michelle Jing Chan are engaging and beautiful.

I highly recommend this book for a child who has lost someone.

View all my reviews

I got this book from my sister, Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of Moonlight Memories by Amanda Davis on Amazon,

~

Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate

Grandad's CamperGrandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate is a sweet story that was published in 2021 about a little girl that loves to visit her 2 grandfathers in their house by the sea. She enjoys the bookshelves full of momentos from all their adventures, the great places for hide and seek and the wonderful garden full of fruits and vegetables. Most of all she loves to go through the photo album with Grandad and listen to the stories of his adventures with Gramps.

When they have looked at all the pictures she asks if he still has the camper van and if he still goes on adventures. “It’s not the same without Gramps — he made everything extra-special. Since Gramps died, I just don’t feel like it.”

…but then Grandad and his granddaughter clean up the camper van and decide to go on their own adventure because that is what Gramps wold have wanted .

Woodgate’s story is as beautiful as the illustrations.

View all my reviews

I got my copy from the Longview Public Library but you can get your own copy of Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate on Amazon.

~

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

The Rabbit ListenedThe Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, published in 2018, is a touching story about Taylor, a child dealing with their emotions about a loss. I love that the character is totally neutral. Pronouns are never used and the child is wearing hair and jammies that any child might wear so that any child can relate to this story. The loss was only a block wall being knocked down by accident, but this can seem so large to a small child.

Many animals show up to showcase all kinds of emotions and characteristics and none of them reach the child. The animal the finally is able to reach out to Taylor is a rabbit that does nothing but sit next to the child and listen when they are ready to express their feelings. What an important message. I really enjoyed this story.

View all my reviews

I got my copy from the Longview Public Library but you can get your own copy of The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld on Amazon.

~

Playing At the Border A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo MaPlaying at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On April 13, 2019 Yo-Yo Ma played his cello while sitting next to the Rio Grand on the shore of the United States, while facing Mexico.

Yo-Yo Ma was a child prodigy who had wanted to play the double bass but he was too little at the age of 4-years-old so he began studying the cello.

Yo-Yo Ma was born in France to Chinese parents. He was raised in the United States. His cello was built in Italy. His bow was made from wood from a tree in Brazil, a horse’s tail in Mongolia and ebony from a forest in West Africa. The colors of his cello come from Indonesia and India. The song Yo-Yo Ma played over the Rio Grand was originally composed in Germany and then lost and found again in a second-hand store in Spain.

Yo-Yo Ma believes in bridging cultures through music. In this beautiful story, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma published in 2021 and written by Joanna Ho, you can feel how he loved to bring music to life. The illustrations by Teresa Martinez are beautiful and easy to imagine yourself in.

View all my reviews

I got my copy from the Longview Public Library but you can get your own copy of Playing At the Border A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho on Amazon.

~

Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts by Joyce Grant

Can You Believe It?: How to Spot Fake News and Find the FactsCan You Believe It?: How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts by Joyce Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don’t generally give a lot of thought to the books I pick out at the library for my children’s book reviews. I look for books that are colorful and are about at my eye level, most of the time. I don’t think I even read the entire name of Can You Believe it? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts, written by Joyce Grant and illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte. Published in 2022, with 55 pages, 6 chapters, an introduction and conclusion, I am not sure, if I had really looked at this book, that I would have brought it home.

I appreciate that children have to start learning about the world somewhere. I am not even sure what age this book is intended for, but probably at least 3rd grade. For me, I am exhausted by this topic. However the book gives great content, facts and examples. For a child that wants to learn how to be a journalist this might be a very good start.

However, if you are looking for a book to cuddle up to before bed, this is not the one.

View all my reviews

I got my copy from the Longview Public Library but you can get your own copy of Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts by Joyce Grant on Amazon.

~

The Story of Babar The Little Elephant by Jean De Brunhoff

The Story of Babar (Babar, #1)The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Story of Babar The Little Elephant by Jean De Brunhoff, was published in 1933 and must have been quite a hit among children. I know I loved it. Even though Babar loses his mother, his adventurous spirit leads him to the city and new human friends. Later he becomes king. What a sweet story that I believe can stand the test of time.

View all my reviews

I got my copy from the Longview Public Library but you can get your own copy of The Story of Babar The Little Elephant by Jean De Brunhoff on Amazon.

~

Indigenous People’s Day by Katrina M. Phillips

Indigenous Peoples' Day (Traditions & Celebrations) (Traditions & Celebrations) (Traditions and Celebrations)Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Traditions & Celebrations) (Traditions & Celebrations) by Katrina M. Phillips
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Indigenous People’s Day is the 2nd Monday in October and was began in 1992 to celebrate Native Americans. This is a day to honor indigenous people’s culture through language, art, music and traditions.

Indigenous people lived in the Americas long before European settlers were here and we want to honor them. It is good to be aware of what tribes live near us, whether they are in small towns, big cities or on reservations.

Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated on the same day we once celebrated Columbus Day. We want to correct our misinformation that Christopher Columbus found North America because there were already a lot of people here and Columbus enslaved and abused Native Americans. It is better to learn about the Taino people that first met Columbus that lived on the island of the Caribbean.

On Indigenous People’s Day there may be a powwow or gathering near where you live where there will be traditional dances, singing, music, stories and food to celebrate Native American culture.

I loved the colorful pictures taken by many artists. I felt the words used by Katrina M. Phillips were important and well used to educate readers about our history and people. I enjoyed Indigenous People’s Day.

View all my reviews

I got my copy from the Longview Public Library but you can get your own copy of Indigenous People’s Day by Katrina M. Phillips on Amazon.

~

It is amazing what you can learn from reading children’s books. I read an article last week that said that reading anything is a natural antidepressant because we are feeding our brains something positive. I have found that children’s books tend to be simple and filled with hope. I can see why everyone can benefit from taking a moment to enjoy them. I hope you enjoy these reviews as much as I enjoy writing them. Be blessed.

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

 

Book Review: Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman

by | Aug 1, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews

I found this book in the bottom of a box of books my sister gave me and it looked like it had seen some hard living with have the cover ripped off. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book. I am not sure why. I think I just expect to only like certain kinds of books and I should stop doing that. The summary on the back of the book sounded complicated and too human and I thought I would just get through it to say I did, but in the end Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman was filled with rich characters that I could empathize with and grow to appreciate their development.

Illumination Night is about 3 families and how they intersect and interact with each other. Each with their own battles and needs, whether is mental illness, marital stress, elderly needs or teenage angst and divorcing parents. The book has beautiful characters that are easy to relate to and learn to love. I appreciate the way Hoffman makes her characters so real that the story is really just details around them. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I got this book from my sister Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman on Amazon.

~

Read My Review on GoodReads:

Illumination NightIllumination Night by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not think I would like this book but I am pleasantly surprised that I was so wrong and I think that Alice Hoffman may be on my list of favored authors for her ability to make her characters so realistic. This book is about families and generations and households and growing and learning and all that implies among the generations and the moments of magic and pain that can either make it worth it or cause a lifetime of searching for something else.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

 

Book Review: Sweet, Young, & Worried by Blythe Baird

by | Jul 28, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews

Although I began writing poetry when I was 9 years old, I do not generally enjoy reading poetry. I know that probably sounds terrible but I really tried to enjoy this book. Sweet, Young, & Worried by Blythe Baird is a book of poetry that is obviously about her life as she navigated through a troubled teenage life into a young-adult life with mental health issues and questions about her sexuality, not to mention a poor connection with her mother. Where I have empathy and even can understand this, I was not impressed with this book.

I felt the writing was too simple and went for easy shock factor. There is nothing sweet in this book.

I got this book from my sister, Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of Sweet, Young, & Worried by Blythe Baird on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads:

Sweet, Young, & WorriedSweet, Young, & Worried by Blythe Baird
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don’t find this book sweet at all. I do find it young and worried, however. There is not a lot more to say beyond that.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

 

7 Children’s Books for July 2023

by | Jul 27, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions, Queer Community

I got the first book in this review from a box of books from my sister, but before I could publish it I read an article that suggested that grown up should read children’s books and it inspired me to actually do that and so, until I get bored, I plan to find 7 books for the month and review them. So here is 7 Children’s Books for July…

I Pray You’ll Be…by Hannah C. Hall

This copy of I Pray You’ll Be…by Hannah C. Hall came to me in a box of books and I was surprised because my sister often gives me only adult books. But what a joy to have this children’s picture book!

The illustrations by Catalin Ardeleanu are beautiful and easy to engage a little one in conversation about. The story is uplifting and the timing is poetic to read. It was so fun to read by myself that I know I will enjoy reading it to my great-nephews and any other children that come for a visit. I usually pass these books on to a great, but I think I will keep this one for my collection.

Thanks Sis!

I got this book from my sister, Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of I Pray You’ll Be…by Hannah C. Hall on Amazon.

Read My Review on GoodReads

I Pray You'll Be . . .I Pray You’ll Be . . . by Hannah C Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful illustrations! Wonderful story! I love this book!

View all my reviews

~

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

The Story of FerdinandThe Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf was first printed in 1936. Ferdinand was a bull, but not like other bulls that like to fight each other, “He liked to sit just quietly and smell the flowers.”

This story is powerful because it doesn’t hide the violence of bull fighting and it doesn’t hide that Ferdinand is not anything like other bulls. In many ways this story could be a metaphor for other topics. I love that Ferdinand is brave enough to be himself and his mother, although she is worried he might be lonesome, is understanding enough to let him do what makes him happy.

The drawings by Robert Lawson are simple in black and white but are easy to discuss with children to encourage conversation and compassion with Ferdinand and other bull’s plight. I think The Story of Ferdinand is a timeless tale.

View all my reviews

I got this copy of this story at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf on Amazon.

~

Song of Creation by Paul Goble

Song of CreationSong of Creation by Paul Goble
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Song of Creation by Paul Goble was published in 2004. It is a collection of amazing artistry and songs of praise to the Creator. As you take in the vibrant art of nature and read out loud the prayers you might be able to imagine a flute playing in your mind, as I did.

“O all you works of the Lord, bless you the Lord: praise him, and magnify him forever.”

As a person who doesn’t just read books but loves to talk about them and encourage little ones to grow their vocabulary and ability to think, there are tons of beautiful things to talk about amongst the stunning illustrations.

View all my reviews

I got this copy of this story at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Song of Creation by Paul Goble on Amazon.

~

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Where The Wild Things AreWhere The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In a world where Max, the main character, who is probably 5-7-years old, felt a little out of control, being able to shout, “BE STILL,” and seeing his terrible monsters tamed was just what he needed. To be able to command the wild rumpus and to make it stop on his authority, made coming home to a warm meal very welcoming.

We all feel out of control sometimes. Whether we are 5 or 50 years old and this story was fun to read and relate to, just as it has been since 1963 when Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was published.

The illustrations are imaginative and draw you in so it is no surprise that Where the Wild Things Are was the winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year in 1964.

This timeless story will always delight!

View all my reviews

I got this copy of this story at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of  Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak on Amazon.

~

Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Julián Is a Mermaid (Julián, #1)Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love was published in 2018 and has beautifully colorful and inspiring pictures.

Julián is a boy in love with mermaids. He sees gorgeous people dressed up on the subway with his abuela and he wants to be like them. He daydreams all the way home and as his abuela goes to take a bath he becomes creative with things around her house.

As she emerges from the bath, Julián’s abuela sees what he has done. He is nervous that she will be upset but she returns with a beautiful necklace. Once she is dressed, they go for a walk to a place with many fancy people, “Like you mijo. Let’s join them.” And they do.

This touching story of acceptance shows how much love Julián and his abuela share with each other.

View all my reviews

I got this copy of this story at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love on Amazon.

~

Butterflies by Seymour Simon

ButterfliesButterflies by Seymour Simon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Butterflies by Seymour Simon was published in 2011. It is meant for children that are about aged 5 to 9 years of age but any child would love the outstanding photography by the many artists who collaborated in this book. While I read the book, I learned that there are more than 20,000 kinds of butterflies.

While many butterflies live in North America the greatest variety and number live in the rain forest. Butterflies are important pollinators to flowers, plants and vegetables. Butterflies also provide food to animals like bats, birds, lizards and frogs.

There are 4 stages of a butterfly’s life: Egg, Caterpillar, Pupa (the transformative stage into a butterfly) and Adult. Butterflies drink their food with a long tongue called a proboscis. They smell with their antennae and taste with their feet!

An Irish saying goes: “May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun and find your shoulder to light on, to bring you luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow, and beyond.”

I really enjoyed this book and I hope you will enjoy it too!

View all my reviews

I got this copy of this story at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Butterflies by Seymour Simon on Amazon.

~

Separate Is Never Equal Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for DesegregationSeparate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Separate Is Never Equal Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh is a book that was published in 2014 but is about a real story that happened in 1945. When Sylvia moved with her family from Santa Ana, California to Westminster, California, she was excited to start at her new school in her neighborhood. But on the day her aunt took Sylvia, her brothers and her cousins to enroll, they were told her cousins could enroll, because their skin was light, but Sylvia and her brothers would have to enroll in the Mexican school. That day Sylvia’s aunt chose to not enroll any of the children, but take them home.

When she told her brother-in-law, he did not understand. He was born in Mexico, but he had become a United States citizen and his children had been born in the United States and had perfect English. He had worked hard and owned his own company. He did not understand why he kept being told, “This is how it is done,” whether he spoke with the county superintendent or the school board.

The Mexican school was not safe. It had no playground. The teachers didn’t care if the children learned anything. It was not a good environment and Mr. Mendez wanted his children to have a good education. As Mr. Mendez kept looking for answers he met a man that suggested that he file a lawsuit. He knew of another man that had helped to integrate schools in the San Bernardino area. This seemed like a good plan and Mr. Mendez spent a lot of time traveling all over Orange County searching for people that wanted to help with this plan and he found them.

In June of 1947, after one hearing and an appeal that were both won by Mr. Mendez and his team, Governor Earl Warren signed a law that allowed all children to go to school together, regardless of race, ethnicity or language.

Separate Is Never Equal Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh is winning story for children that are at least 5-8 years old. It is also the winner of The Pura Belpre Award.

View all my reviews

I got this copy of this story at The Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Separate Is Never Equal Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh on Amazon.

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

Book Review: Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall

by | Jul 21, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Queer Community

This book was found in the bottom of a box of books my sister gave to me. From the picture on the cover, I didn’t think this was my normal type of book but I was committed to read it. I try to expand my reading experiences. I never want to be stagnant. Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall is written for an audience that is probably in their young 20’s but it isn’t without merit.

I had trouble getting into the book because the main character, Paris, is so pathetic. He has no self-esteem, he apologizes for everything and he tends to make everything about himself, but you can tell he doesn’t mean to. A third of the way through the book I decided I had to keep reading just to see if he ever gets better.

Many of the characters in the book, including Tariq, Paris’ eventual love interest, are part of a televised baking contest and this adds a lot of drama to the book and even some fun ideas for readers that like to bake. Through their relationship and the help of Paris’ roommate, Morag, Paris finally gets some help and learns that he has a mental illness and is able to get the help he needs.

When we got to this part of the book, I understood why this guy was so annoying to me, because I have this same diagnosis and he reminded me of a younger me. I did find that the timeline of success with meds and treatment were pretty quick compared to my experience but it is just a novel and not real life and my experience is my own; I am just happy people are normalizing mental illness. Overall I thought this was a cute book.

I got this book from my sister Jamie Holloway. You can get your own copy of Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall on Amazon.

~

Read My Review on GoodReads:

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble (Winner Bakes All, #2)Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had trouble with this book. This book was written for a younger person than me, but the part that made it hard for me was probably, more that I can relate with the main character in many ways, mainly in that, I too have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and untreated this mental illness makes you miserable and listening to him narrate the story was making me feel miserable. However, in the end, Paris got the help he needed to begin healing and learning how to deal with his what was holding him back in life. I don’t know that the timeline and the process was realistic but I appreciate the author’s approach to making a topic that has been stigmatized more easy to talk about.

View all my reviews

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

 

 

Book Review: How To Talk With God by Joyce Meyer

by | Jul 10, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions, Prayers & Thanksgiving

When you are a Christian or any other religion where you have a Creator, prayer is probably the most important part of your belief system, or at least it should be. That is, at least what I think. I got this book from a box of of books from my sister and it was a great reminder. How To Talk With God by Joyce Meyer is a simple reminder of some very basic things about how to talk with your Creator. It should be basic because it really is just talking to your best friend, at least He is YOUR best friend.

When you don’t know what to do…
When you have a need…
When you feel anxious and afraid…
When someone offends you or hurts your feelings…
When you are sick…
When you are discouraged or feel like giving up…
When someone you love is suffering…
When you have a problem of any kind…
PRAY! (more…)

Book Review: Beyond Magenta Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

by | Jul 8, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions, Queer Community

I really enjoyed this book. I found out about it from a friend that sent me a link from Alan Rose’s blog. He had done a book review that included Beyond Magenta Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin and another book. Because of his review I bought them both and his latest book and I will eventually read all of them.

What I liked about the book was that each chapter was a different story. The stories were kept simple, probably because each person was still a minor but their stories are powerful as each teenager learns and shares their knowledge with their interviewer. (more…)

Book Review: The Florence Legacy by Lauraine Snelling

by | Jul 7, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

The Florence Legacy by Lauraine Snelling came to me in a bag of books that I have been working on for over a year as I also worked on other piles of books from my own collection and library books. I tend to be attracted to intense reads that require at least a few Google searches and lots of notes. This book was not that but it was kind of a nice reprieve from my usual.

The main character, Bree, is a widow, a single mother of two adult children, a grandmother and an author. At the beginning of the story one of her close friends from a group of friends has passed away. Their group had always talked about going to Italy and in the will of their lost friend, they are surprised to receive the money they need to go on their dream trip. (more…)

Book Review: With All Due Respect Defending America with Grit and Grace by Nikki R. Haley

by | Jul 6, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions

Being a person that does not believe in parties but people, I was grateful to one of my wife, Karen G Clemenson’s, clients that suggested that I look up Nikki R. Haley when I was voicing my dissatisfaction with our current president. With All Due Respect Defending America with Grit and Grace by Nikki R. Haley is a great book and Haley is strong woman that helped me to see both my favorite and least favorite presidents as more human, which has helped me personally as well.

Nikkie R. Haley was born to Indian-American immigrants. She was raised in Bamberg, South Carolina. Her parents were well to do in India but chose to come to the United States so that their children would have opportunities they could never have in India. Her fathers wears a turban because he is a Sikh. She was disqualified from a children’s pageant because she was neither white or black. These are just a few things that made her different as a child growing up in the Southern United States. (more…)

Book Review: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

by | Jun 22, 2023 | Book & Product Reviews

My sister, Jamie Holloway, has figured out how to get people to mail her books to read for her opinion and when she is done with them, I often am the recipient of bags of books to read. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon was one of those books in a bag full of books and I am glad I read it. Although it was super long, it has 1070 pages, the font is small and the margin was super tight which made it hard to read until I got farther into the book, I really enjoyed it, once I got over the violent beginning. People are a bit more civilized now than they were in the 1700’s and I really don’t like senseless violence. (more…)