Review: Princess Stories by Carolyn Larsen

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

Princess Stories: Real Bible Stories of God’s Princesses by Carolyn Larsen was impressive from the time we opened the package. It’s pink (multiple shades, in fact) with sparkly purple flowers on it, and it’s all about princesses. All of that counts for a lot with my younger daughter.

In my opinion, the best thing about this princess book, and what makes it different from other princess books we own, is that all the princesses in this book are women from the Bible. Each one was given a title: “The Teamwork Princesses,” “The Role Model Princess,” “The Teaching Princess,” and others.  Each story is told from the point-of-view of the woman involved and ends with a Scripture that relates to the woman’s story. It’s all easy to understand. My girls and I loved the stories, and my husband found them interesting too!

After each story is a page called “Princess Ponderings,” which has three questions that relate to the character trait of the princess and the verse at the end of the story. These are great for opening up discussions about various character traits and the principles for living found in the Bible.

The surprise ending of this book was the story called “The Special Princess,” and it’s about how special each child is to God—about how He made each one a special princess and has amazing plans for her!

There wasn’t anything I really didn’t like about this book, but one thing bothered me a bit. The illustrations were colorful, and I thought the pictures of the little girls dressed up as princesses were cute. The women from the Bible, however, all looked pretty similar to each other and to characters I have seen on toy store shelves and in popular kids’ movies. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more individuality shown and that the women didn’t look more like the real people they were. This, however, was my issue with the book. The girls were delighted with it from cover to cover.

If you’re looking for a book to teach your daughters about the women of the Bible, to start discussions about character traits you’d like them to exhibit, and to enjoy the “girliness” of pink, purple, and sparkly princesses, this is the book for you! We all enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Princess Stories  from Tyndale House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for this review.
Posted in Book Reviews, Review | 2 Comments

Small Victory Over Phonological Processing Difficulties

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

Among other things, our sweet Princess struggles with phonological processing difficulties that affect her speech (still, despite therapy) and visual and auditory processing of letters and sounds. She has made tremendous progress since we realized the extent of her struggles last year. Each baby step is a victory that we celebrate with great joy.

Today Princess Roo did something I just can’t keep to myself. She draws constantly and can dictate a story like nobody’s business, and she often walks around with a notebook in her hand trying to write words and stories that make sense to others. She hasn’t been successful with the writing until recently. It started with some pictures with labels, like this one with the “cat,” “dog,” and “bunny.”

Those labels (even the one with an invented spelling) have been very exciting to see because they show me how far Princess’s phonological awareness has come since last fall. I am ecstatic!

Then, today, while I was working on some things with BookGirl, Princess sat in the floor and drew a picture. She turned it over and began to write. After I helped BookGirl, I turned to Princess to help her with her math, and she said, “I wrote a story.”

By this point she had already misplaced it, so we searched and found it.

I asked her to read it to me. It took her some time to think it all through, but then she read: “A pop sound. Is it from the oven? No, it is not.”

We’re not to novel—or even essay—length yet, but she kept her train of thought and wrote it all down—by herself.

You have no idea what a victory this is! It’s time for a party!

What are you celebrating today?

Photo credit: Jennifer A. Janes
Posted in Homeschooling, Special Needs | 3 Comments

Running into Battle

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

Mustard Seeds

As I read my Bible this week, I came across a verse that showed me how I should deal with pesky problems in my life. David’s life always evokes a spectrum of emotions in me. And, as always, I find something “new” every time I read about it.

This time the verse that stood out was

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” 1 Samuel 17:48 (NIV1984, emphasis added)

David ran toward the battle line . . . toward Goliath? I run too, but in the opposite direction. I don’t meet my problems head-on. In fact, I have spent the entire day fighting anxiety to the point that I made myself physically ill. One problem after another popped up to compound it.

But then I remembered another verse earlier in the chapter. I think it’s the key to David’s ability to run confidently into the battle.

“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV1984, emphasis added)

The assurance that he could defeat Goliath didn’t come from David’s confidence in himself. It came from his faith in God, who had delivered him from big, frightening annoyances much like this giant he faced. David remembered what God had done for him in the past, and then he trusted God with his future.

So, the same God who

  • had someone deliver a case of diapers (in the perfect size) during nap time when BookGirl was a baby
  • moved someone to give us just enough money to get gas for that trip to Children’s for Princess
  • took care of BookGirl when she was a very sick three-year-old with a 106.3 degree fever
  • has seen Princess through three sinus surgeries, multiple procedures under anesthesia, and more illnesses than I can count
  • has never failed to provide a roof over our heads and food on our table, including the time that DH was unemployed and wasn’t eligible for unemployment (Yeah, scary!)
  • has enabled me to care for the girls when I was sick for weeks on end
  • has sent wonderful friends into my life to pray for me, support me, and love me
  • has blessed me beyond measure with my husband and two children

is the same God who will see us through every problem we’re up against today.

The LORD who delivered us from every so-called impossible situation we’ve ever found ourselves in will deliver us this time too. He is faithful.

Just before I started typing this post, I got on my face in the kitchen floor (hey, wherever you are, right?) and asked God to forgive me. I have spent the entire day tormented by fear and anxiety because I kept reminding God how big my circumstances are instead of reminding the giants how big my God is.

“. . . the battle is the LORD’s . . .” 1 Samuel 17:47 (NIV1984)

I’m going to let Him fight it.

Please share the ways God is using His Word to transform your life by linking up a post or leaving a comment here or at Mom’s Mustard Seeds. I can’t wait to read them. God ministers to me so much through your posts each week!


Posted in Bible in 90 Days, Faith, Growth, Reading, Scripture Memory | 12 Comments

#SpecialNeeds Parent? Opportunities for YOU!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

I just wanted to post quickly to let you know about two great opportunities I heard about today for those of you who have children with special needs.

The first is with Marblesoft-Simtech. Yes, that’s the company I’ve done the software reviews for! When I posted my review link on my blog page on Facebook last night, Mark Larson, owner of Marblesoft, commented. He said there’s a testing group for new software products. If you’re interested in checking out their new products and giving feedback, let me know. I’ll send Mark a message and get all of the details!

The second opportunity is at CurrClick. They’re having a “Trilogy of Mini-Sessions on Autism” at CurrClick starting next week. The online, interactive classes are a bargain at $2.00 each, and recordings will be available for those who can’t attend the live sessions. Please click here for registration information!

Disclaimer: I received nothing from either of these companies in exchange for sharing this information with you. I’m just another parent of a child with special needs letting you know about some good opportunities I discovered today!
Posted in Special Needs | 8 Comments

Why I Don’t Color My Hair

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

I’m stressed. Seriously stressed. In an effort to lighten the mood, I decided to write a random well-thought-out post about something that popped into my head while I was drying my hair this morning. So, for the first time ever, I am joining oh Amanda for Top Ten Tuesday.

I got a haircut last week. My BFF of (mumble, mumble) years cuts my hair, and she would love to put some color on it. I, however, am not in love with that idea.  Here’s why:

1. It doesn’t look bad! Yes, there’s more gray than I want to admit, but it looks fine to me.

2. It takes time to maintain color. You have to keep going back to get your roots done. Do I have time for that in this season of my life? It doesn’t feel like it.

3. It takes money to maintain color. You have to keep going back to get your roots done. Do I have money for that in this season of my life? Um, no. (Although my BFF really takes good care of us in the hair department. Thanks! I love you!)

Yes, numbers 2 and 3 sounded almost exactly alike. On purpose.

4. I like it when my Princess asks me why I don’t “paint” my hair. I also love it that we have that conversation pretty much every day.

5. In a related reason, I love my girls’ references to my “old” hair—and questions like “If Daddy’s older than you are, why is your hair older than his?” (The answer to that one is always “I got his gray hairs and mine too.”)

6. I get to use the purple shampoo twice a week. Purple is my favorite color.

7. I love to refer to my “shimmering” highlights.

8. BookGirl wants her hair to look like mine when she grows up. She thinks it’s pretty.

9. Silver hair runs in my family. I’m in great company, as shown by this picture of a four-generation lunch with my girls, my mom, and my grandmother.

10. “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.” Proverbs 16:31 (NIV1984) I don’t want to mess with my crown! It’s a sign of the work of Christ in my life—His righteousness!

What are you laughing about today?

Top Ten {Tuesday}

Photo credit: Jennifer A. Janes
Posted in Fun, Top Ten | 26 Comments

Review: The Simtech Single Switch Series

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

The Simtech Single Switch Series by Simtech Publications is an amazing collection of games for kids of all ages. The wonderful thing is that they can easily be played with a single switch (or, if you prefer, your mouse). It’s amazing what the designers at Simtech have enabled kids to do by just clicking!

My daughter has benefited from many of these games because they help her work on eye-hand coordination and visual processing issues. We especially like the Sights and Sounds Series. My daughter is fascinated by the way the screen fills with color and by the accompanying sounds—as long as she remembers to keep the trackpad button pushed down! It’s a great activity to help her “multi-task” and learn to focus on more than one thing at a time. I love to see her face when she gets so involved in what’s happening on the screen that she doesn’t put enough pressure on the button. She remedies that quickly!

All of the games in Switch Kick-Start for Kids are winners with my daughter too. She especially enjoys “Frog and Fly” and “The Picasso Series.” “Frog and Fly” uses the switch to help a frog eat flies that fly across the top of the screen. The games in “The Picasso Series” create pictures with a series of clicks. The scanning games are especially good for eye-hand coordination because the child has to click at just the right time (when the box scans over the item).

There are also series for preschoolers and teens. They’re all fantastic. It just depends on what your child needs!

If you’re looking for fun games that are easily switch-operated, will work on eye-hand coordination and visual processing,  and will delight your child’s senses of sight and sound, then you should definitely check out Marblesoft-Simtech products. We’ve used them since last spring, and I’m very impressed.

If you’re interested in my reviews of other Marblesoft-Simtech products, check out my software reviews.

Disclaimer: I received The Simtech Single Switch Series free from Marblesoft-Simtech in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I received no further compensation for this review.
Posted in Review, Software Review, Special Needs | 2 Comments

Getting the Diagnosis: Swimming in Alphabet Soup

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

After last week's neurology appointment

We’re finally getting answers for our Princess. There are a lot of diagnoses we’re learning about, and they all have acronyms. I feel like we’re swimming in alphabet soup. Most of what we’ve learned didn’t catch us by surprise. A couple of things caused us to falter briefly, but we’re mostly doing okay.

We’re relieved to have answers. We finally understand our Princess better and know more about how to help her be who God created her to be.

But we have grieved too. I’d be lying if I tried to pretend otherwise. Even though we already suspected some of the diagnoses, hearing someone say them in the same sentence as your daughter’s name or seeing them written on a piece of paper with her name and chart number at the top is daunting. We have grieved and even gotten a little depressed.

But then we realized that Princess is the same precious little girl she’s always been. She brings laughter and brightness to our home that wouldn’t exist without her. She’s exactly who she has always been. But now we have the knowledge to help her with some of the areas she struggles with.

It has been a long road to the answers. I am thankful:

#1186. for answers that allow us to understand . . .

#1187. . . . and give our Princess the tools she needs to succeed.

#1188. for rain that continues to bring us drought relief.

#1189. the unexpected pleasure of meeting someone I’ve only talked to through e-mail—while I was grocery shopping!

#1190. the excitement of a spring musical for the children’s choirs at church—auditions are coming up!

#1191. words of encouragement from the most interesting places.

#1192. the “new” things I’m noticing as I read the Bible through again.

#1193. God’s promises.

#1194. His faithfulness.

#1195. that when He’s all you’ve got, you realize He’s all you need. More than enough!

Photo credit: Jennifer A. Janes
Posted in Family, Gratitude, Life, Multitudes on Monday, One Thousand Gifts, Special Needs | 6 Comments

Mustard Seed Planting: Repetition

Posted on January 17, 2012 by

Mustard Seeds

My Princess is making tremendous academic progress, but the amount of repetition required for her to grasp and process the concepts and make them her own wearies us both. I thought she was the only one needing lots of repetition, but I was wrong . . .

Not long ago, J.K. McGuire posted something on her Facebook page about looking for repeated phrases in the book of Exodus. I didn’t reply to that post, but it made me think. Then, when I got to Deuteronomy, certain phrases stood out to me over and over. I marked them in my Bible and began to jot them down on a sticky note. I came across these the most often:

  • “Be careful . . . “
  • “Remember . . . “
  • “Hold fast to him . . .”
  • “. . . as he promised . . .”
  • “Do not forget . . .”

The fact that God had them recorded so many times makes me think that He knew the Israelites needed those reminders to pay attention, to think about what they were doing, to be intentional in following Him. As I read the words before and after these phrases, I realized that God knew I needed the repetition so that I will pay attention, think about what I’m doing, and be intentional in following Him.

“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God . . . .”

Deuteronomy 8:11 (NIV1984)

Next time we sit down to do lessons, I’m going to be a little more relaxed with my daughter. We’re in the same boat. We both need lots of repetition to “get it.”

How do you make sure God’s Word makes its way deep into your heart so that you live it out?

Please link-up or leave a comment here or at Mom’s Mustard Seeds letting Rebecca and me know how God is using Scripture to transform your life. I look forward to reading your posts and comments every week. God never fails to use them to speak to me!


Posted in Bible in 90 Days, Homeschooling, Reading, Reflections, Scripture Memory, Special Needs | 18 Comments

Name Changes, Neurology, and Gifts #1176 – 1185

Posted on January 16, 2012 by

I’ve got a mixed bag of topics today. I guess I’ll tackle the name changes first. PD and Roo are big(ger) girls now, and they have decided that, while they don’t mind my writing about them on the blog, they would prefer not to be called PD and Roo anymore. I already write about Roo (my younger daughter) as “Princess Roo” quite a bit, so I’ll continue with that or just call her Princess.

My older daughter wants to be known as BookGirl or BG on the blog. I feel for her. She has a rare genetic condition that leads to an obsession with books and reading—especially mystery and adventure stories. I have the same condition. We’re quite a pair. We can get lost in our stories—and in talking about them!

“Neurology” is the latest specialty that Roo, I mean Princess, has been referred to. I will take her to her first-ever appointment with a neurologist later this week. The good news is that the symptoms we were originally referred for have almost completely disappeared. I did, however, get some information today from another specialist that I need to bring up with the neurologist, and I’m not sure how to do that. If you would please pray that I’ll have the words, and that the neurologist would be receptive and helpful, I would appreciate it! Please pray for my Princess too. If there’s anything there to see, I need for the doctor to see it so we can take steps to deal with it!

And, as always, I have an abundance of gifts to count:

#1176. unseasonably warm evenings that are perfect for raking leaves,

#1177. playing with neighbors,

#1178. practicing bike- and scooter-riding skills,

#1179. and gardening—in Princess-y finery, of course!

#1180. Bible reading that pokes and prods in the dark spaces, making sure that all is brought to light.

#1181. late-night text and instant messages that say I’ll finally meet online friends in April—that leave me too excited to sleep.

#1182. the joy of spending several hours working on my writing.

#1183. Saturdays with my precious family.

#1184. the companionship of a purring cat.

#1185. blog posts that uplift and encourage, speaking to the exact need I have.

What gifts are you counting today?

Photo credit: Jennifer A. Janes
Posted in Bible in 90 Days, Gratitude, Life, Multitudes on Monday, One Thousand Gifts, Prayer, Special Needs | 6 Comments

Review: Heroes and Villains of the Bible

Posted on January 13, 2012 by

When Heroes & Villains of the Bible: Real Stories, Actual Bible Text (compiled by Tama Fortner) was delivered to our home, my eight-year-old, who had anticipated its arrival, grabbed it and retreated to her room. It was a few weeks before I got it back to read for myself!

This book is full of Bible stories from the International Children’s Bible. I had never read that translation before, but I enjoyed its simplicity. Before and after each story are boxes with explanations and thought-provoking questions, and most stories have beautiful illustrations. Finally, each story has a “Heroes” statement to drive the point home. Whether the Bible story is about a hero or a villain, the last statement points out God’s standards for heroes. Here are some examples:

  • Forgiving others is what heroes do.
  • Real heroes know that true strength comes from God.
  • Heroes know that God will give them the strength to do what is right.
  • Heroes give . . . and get . . . second chances.
  • Heroes give to please God, not to be praised.

Honestly, other than the fact that the Bible stories are actual Bible text, these “Heroes” statements are my favorite part of the book. I love that they’re short and easy for kids to remember—and  hopefully to apply when they experience difficult situations. My daughter’s favorite part of the book was that her favorite Bible characters’ stories were included.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that the verse and chapter numbers were included in the stories. The Scripture references precede the text, and my daughter looked up several of the stories and read them in their entirety, since some of the stories are excerpted for brevity. For me, having the chapter and verse numbers included in the text was distracting.

If you have an adventure-lover in your home, you should definitely check out Heroes & Villains of the Bible. Tommy Nelson has made it an exciting volume families will treasure for years to come!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Heroes & Villains of the Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I received no further compensation for this review.
Posted in Book Reviews, Review | 1 Comment