Bringing Back Reading Rainbow!

Our four kids grew up with Reading Rainbow ... it was a great show and most likely influenced them tremendously in their love of reading.

Bring Reading Rainbow Back for Every Child, Everywhere. by LeVar Burton & Reading Rainbow — Kickstarter



Kindle
Kindle App for Reading Rainbow

Android

For the Kids ...

Love this book for the little ones - a great read-aloud. If you don't read out loud to your kids, you should start! This provides some of the best soul-connecting times between parents and their kids (or grands!)



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ABCs and 123s with Tasha Tudor!!
Wonderful! 
Tasha Tudor is an exquisite illustrator ... and every one of her books are lovely! This is one of the first books we got to start our own children's library. Love, love, love this little book!


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Sweet as honey for the souls of your little ones.... 

In this next selection, photographer Richard Brown followed Tasha Tudor throughout a year on her farm. By interweaving Tudor's own words and more than 100 color photographs, Brown has evoked the essence of Tudor's uniquely appealing personality and way of life. The inspiration for Tudor's art is evident in her delightful surroundings. Foremost is the magnificent garden she designed and rightfully calls "Paradise on earth."


What can I say? I am in love with all the Corduroy books - this little guy stole my heart and his stories are precious.





There is no way a child can have too many Mercer Meyer's Little Critter books ... pure delight!

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The next books are priceless - we read them out loud to our kids more than once and then they read them to themselves! Definitely faovites of our family! I read these to our kids and now am doing the same with the Grands!

Oh My! I love these next two ... they go hand in hand and are a must for every child. Parents with fall in love with them too. George Selden is a marvelous author, no doubt about it.Some of the coziest, most memorable times were spent reading these two books to the kiddos. Sweet moments.

A Few Good Books II

We're coming into warmer weather when it's the perfect season for reading outdoors - in a park, up a tree, by the sea, on your patio, in a hammock whilst swaying in the breeze ... it's a season of reading! In fact just the other day I was at a major music festival here in the Southeast and sitting in front us was an older couple who had come totally equipped to enjoy a superb day of relaxation. Their comfy chairs, set on a tarp,  had umbrellas for the sun or sprinkles, a cooler of goodies offered double duty as a stool for their feet - a wagon set behind them full of other comforts from home including a few good books! Yes, had I had the camera with me, it would of been a perfect shot of reading out-of-doors as the man and woman both were engrossed in their books, heads swaying in time to the fiddling on the stage. There was no doubt they were blissfully content.
Books you may enjoy in these times:

Any selections from Davis Bunn are superb ... he is master storyteller as well as spot-on historian. His adventures keep you spellbound.

Marc Royce Series, Volumes 1-3 By Davis Bunn

Priceless Series, Vols. 1-3 By: Davis Bunn

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I've devoured many books by Dee Henderson so, know I'm in for a good adventure as soon as I open the covers and begin to read ... I'm sure you won't be disappointed with either of these. Espionage, a little romance, some great moral lessons and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seats.  

Unspoken By Dee Henderson Once the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago history, Charlotte Graham changed her identity and moved away---taking a dark secret with her. Now a family issue has brought her back to the Windy City, where she meets coin dealer Bryce Bishop. Will a crime the police thought was solved become an open case again?

Undetected By Dee Henderson Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: "I'm in the Navy." But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.

A Few Good Books

Spring break - it's here, there and for some, still to come. Whether you're relaxing at home or traveling, one of the requirements for a good spring break is a few good books. And joy, oh joy, there's quite a selection to choose from!!

Through the years I've read many books by hundreds of fabulous authors. Every so often there is one that will stand out from the others and the following is one of those - it boggles my mind to think one brain could hold so much imagination and creativity as this man. The research he puts into his writing projects is incredible. Historical fiction, science fiction, biblical fiction - you will journey around the world, throughout the centuries and live these books.  He is truly in a league of his own! Find here a few of the  Amazing books by Orson Scott Card Buy one, it'll lead to a collection that you will treasure throughout the years.

As for non-fiction authors this guy is one of my all time favorites - books by Andy Andrews build character. They're written in such a way that you want to read them out loud to those around you - you'll either have everyone in stitches or tears. Moving, provocative, profound. This man knows the magic of weaving words into pictures that become a part of who you are. Andy Andrews - one of the best of the best. Here's one of his newest.


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This next author may have been around for awhile but I've just been recently introduced to him - Sigmund Brouwer! He's on my list of 'greats'. I've only read two but have started by third by him and am already caught in the drama.
The first I read was one of his historical fiction that took place in the American wild west. The second I was The Weeping Chamber - Oh My! He had me turning pages far into the night and first thing in the morning. I have been exposed to the passion of Christ my entire life but was truly brought to tears by the tales of Simon in this riveting drama. Captivating! Mesmerizing. Emotional. The one I'm into now is present day Charleston, SC. Mr. Brouwer crosses the genres with ease - and writes for all ages. Please be sure and check out
The Sigmund Brouwer page.
and for ebook lovers ....
Sigmund Brouwer Kindle page.

Last of all for this morning's listing is something special for all our married folks ... this series is delightful and definitely a keeper. We were introduced to Gary Chapman over 20 years ago and have used his marriage books in our own personal study and in numerous classes. It is so cool how he and Catherine Palmer have taken biblical wisdom and woven it through these 'true-life' stories.
I laughed, cried, felt deep pain and finally renewal along with the folks of this small town. Every marriage can truly be enhanced by reading and learning from the characters found in Deepwater Cove - four seasons of life - and truly - four seasons of marriage.

Four Seasons

Pathways on Facebook

Thursday of this week I 'published'  our Pathways facebook page. The page serves a number of purposes ...

• it serves as another platform for the blog, 
• it reaches folks that are really not 'into' blogging but love interacting with facebook, 
• I like how I can ask for likes and comments 
• I like how I can share great photos and quotes.

Thank you to all of you who 'liked' the page over the past few days. I do have a number of posts up where I asked for some interaction and may be posting those on my regular page for awhile until I get a routine going.

Our internet world is actually pretty amazing. There are definitely pros and cons to each and every situation in which someone may find themselves on the web or in life itself but, I hope, together that we make Pathways a positive place where good values shine.

Thanks again for your participation!

Pathways on facebook ... share with friends!

Inspirational and at Bargain Prices!

CBD always has great prices but when they advertise their 'bargains' then you're really in for a savings! Here are a few of the delightful pickings to get your Spring off to a great start!

We have My Utmost for His Highest in our family library ... a forever inspirational classic. At times I think writers just try to repeat or compete with some these timeless writings and in my opinion, most of them fall short.  Chambers writings are always worth reading and re-reading.  They are worth quoting and here’s a few quotes that touch my heart.
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“The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mould”
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“he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence”
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“Take yourself by the scruff of the neck and shake off your incarnate laziness.”
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“We have to keep letting go, and slowly and surely the great full life of God will invade us in every part, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus.”
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“Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself?
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….Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

The version below is done in a gift-book style but, when you visit the site you'll see other editions you may prefer. This book really would be an excellent gift for the graduates in your life! 

My Utmost for His Highest - Updated Gift Edition By Oswald Chambers, edited by James Reimann Give a gift that can be used and treasured throughout the years with this handsome leather-like edition of My Utmost for His Highest. Updated for modern readers, this classic collection of daily reflections includes a brief, inspiring biography of Oswald Chambers and his beloved wife, Biddy. Features also include a foreword by Charles Stanley, a preface by editor James Reimann, gilded page edges and a ribbon bookmark.

These next two are actually on my wish list.

I’ve written and presented my own lessons on women of the Bible, read other books and participated in ladies classes by others about women of the Bible but mainly these are authored by ladies. I’m curious and am looking forward to seeing what John MacArthur does with this.

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Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You By John MacArthur Celebrated for their courage, vision, hospitality, and spiritual giftedness, it's no wonder women were so important to God's place revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It wasn't their natural qualities that made these women extraordinary but the power of the one true God whom they worshipped and served. In Twelve Extraordinary Women, you'll learn more than fascinating information about these women, you'll discover--perhaps for the first time--the unmistakable chronology of God's redemptive work in history through their lives. These women were not ancillary to His plan, they were at the very heart of it. And this book includes their amazing stories. This edition includes a Study Guide for group discussion.

And then, Twelve Ordinary Men … yep, God is pretty notorious for taking the ordinary and doing the extraordinary - but these twelve men, the closest disciples of Jesus, although ordinary themselves, were up close and so intimate with our Savior and Lord. Should be an outstanding book!

Twelve Ordinary Men By John MacArthur Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be perfect to do God's work. Look no further than the twelve disciples whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary men - fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots - and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from utter uselessness. Join John MacArthur as he draws principles from Christ's careful, hands-on training of the original twelve disciples for today's modern disciple - you!

Three books - but in them are writings that have the power to change lives all because of their dependence on the best book of all - the Bible and the greatest story ever told.

Classic Shows from Way Back When

We love classic TV - and I know there's numerous ways to watch it - like TV Land, YouTube, Netflix and even from the Public Library. However, I would love to build our own DVD library with definitive choices that epitomize morals, good clean fun, and ethics taken for granted in years gone by.  By no way or means am I saying life was perfect ‘way back when’ but there was an undeniable innocence about life. Everybody’s private business wasn’t broadcast for the whole world to see.  

Well, back to having your own private collections … this could take a long time and get very costly! Many families just don’t have a lot of dollars budgeted for that sort of library. Another way to look at this would be the fact that many of us do have a budget for entertainment -  this could fall under that category.

 A great idea someone shared the other day was there could maybe be co-op started among friends, parents, and grandparents in a neighborhood or church group where a good list was made up of say, Classic TV Series. The people or families would select which movies or series they would like to definitely own but then the whole group would be able to borrow from each-other.  I think it could be worked out. There would be a master list or even a facebook group to handle it. We’ve borrowed and lent to folks and it’s worked out well. Certainly, there are always some slip-ups but it would be more natural to give out reminders if there are several involved.

Just off the cuff I could come up with a good size list pretty fast of series from when I was a kid.  We didn’t watch TV every night but did have regular shows our family would enjoy together.

Here are a few to get you started in your own thought process along these lines:

Comedy –

I Love Lucy, Season 1 DVD Set By Paramount Here's how it all began—the classic episodes that started America's long-running love affair with everyone's favorite madcap redhead, Lucille Ball. Plus the rarely seen pilot episode that sold the I Love Lucy series. By the end of its initial season, I Love Lucy was TV's first bona fide smash-hit. Fall in love all over again, with the wild and wacky series that changed TV forever! This set includes all 35 uncut, digitally remastered season one episodes, plus the Long Lost Pilot! B&W. 7 DVDs. Approx. 15 hours, 7 minutes.

The Dick Van Dyke Show Fan Favorites, 50th Anniversary Edition By Image Entertainment Enjoy the best of one of America's most popular TV comedies with this 50th anniversary collection! Featuring 20 classic episodes in their entirety, it includes the pilot episode, "The Sick Boy and the Sitter," "Big Max Calvada," "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth," and others; plus bonus features such as cast and producer interviews, rare rehearsal footage, and more. Five DVDs, approx. 8.5 hours total.

Family –

Andy Griffith Show, Season 5 DVD Set By Paramount Hailed as "one of the greatest television shows of all time" by TV Guide, The Andy Griffith Show delighted audiences with its simple values and down-home humor. Now all 32 episodes with its landmark 5th season are available on DVD! Catch up with Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), his son Opie (Ron Howard), his bumbling deputy Barney (Don Knotts), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) and the rest of the gang in this classic collection that includes many fan-favorite episodes. This season also features memorable guest appearances by Don Rickles (Toy Story, Casino), Gavin MacLeod (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat) and Jerry Van Dyke (Coach) and some of the funniest moments in the show's time-honored history. Closed captions. B&W, approx. 13 hours, 34 minutes.

We watched seasons 3-4 of Leave It To Beaver - the grand-daughters loved them too!

I can still see my sister laughing at the antics on Gilligan's Island!


 Drama – Oh my! my sister loved, loved, loved John-Boy Walton (I think I did too!)

We all enjoyed Little House - My Mom especially.


I'd stay up and watch these with my Mom ... Love Angela Lansbury! It'd be so neat to live in a coastal town and ride everywhere on a bike ... but, without all the murder drama!

Western –
I loved watching Westerns with my Dad! 

This is the complete series - you can buy individual seasons as well - The Big Valley was a show my sisters and I watched together all the time! I loved the name 'Jared' and used it for our first son!




One of the main ingredients for all these shows, whether comedy, mystery, western or drama was that pretty much, by in large, they'd conclude with a moral lesson you could live with. And during the watching you didn't have to cover the ears of the child next to you. You didn't have to cover their eyes at a indecent, provocative scene. You usually felt good about watching what you did and the time was well spent. 

Hey, I know we won't agree on every show. I'm certain my favorites may not be yours. I feel confident the list that popped into your head wasn't the same as mine. However, the criteria for a good family show is pretty basic - is it something you feel good about watching - with no excuses. At the end of the day you can lay down, come before the Lord in prayer  and  thank Him for time well-spent surrounded by those ones you love. 

Our Bodies - Our Responsibility

Let's Talk Physical -

If you love life, have fun, live with a sense of joyful expectation then  

you are far more apt to live a healthy life! 

And that is a fact. 

You see, this physical body of ours is directly, irrevocably tied into the mental and 

spiritual part of who we are. 

We are all just one entangled package.  

There are definite ways to improve and insure your good health …

1. One of the best ways is to just LAUGH more often.
2. Walking from here to there is an important activity too.. 
3. Purposed exercise has taken on so many forms that there is surely something available we can enjoy and participate in.
4. Eating right is another big part of taking care of this body of ours. 
5. Rest well.  

Good health is for children too. Teach them young to instill a lifetime of good habits!

Our daughter and son-in-law are advocates of coconut oil and its daily use. She has done a lot of research and insisted we needed to add it to our lifestyle. We are now on board and I'll let you know how we'll be feeling with this new addition to our routines. You can cook with it, drink it in smoothies, add it to your hot teas and well, if it's a good quality, just eat a teaspoon of it at various times through your day.

I loved using this little cookbook with my kids - some very fun recipes!

I love Taste of Home cookbooks!

Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Cookbook: Eat right with 350 family favorite dishes! - eBook By Taste Of Home

Laughter!! One of life's best medicines!

365 Days of Humor for Women

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Jokes: 100 Creative Ways to Make Someone's Day A laugh is always better when it's shared. And there's no better way to share some good old-fashioned humor than with these creative card decks. Each clever package features 100 jokes or 100 riddles every one appropriate for men, women, and kids of all ages complemented by delightful designs. The cards can be passed along individually, or given as one complete gift. . . . Either way, these fun-filled card decks are sure to keep the laughter going.

We have a friend who is a professional in Reflexology. In a conversation one day she brought up how important it was to eat according our our blood-type. What?? And then, based on a list of our most desired foods she nailed the blood types of those gathered. Amazing!

Blood Types, Body Types, and You (Revised & Updated): Why Your Unique Genetic Code is The Key to Losing Weight For Life By Joseph Christiano, N.D., C.N.C. Why do some diets produce life-changing results for some people but not for others? World-renowned health and fitness coach Dr. Joe Christiano updates his tested and proven weight-loss program based on the simple concept that your blood type-O, A, B, or AB-determines your body's ability to absorb nutrients, fight off disease, and lose weight. Revised to include protocols for detoxification and address healthy colon function, this updated edition explains how a well-balanced eating plan based on blood type is pivotal for losing weight and keeping it off for life.

To our family ... this is a part of 'resting well'. Right now we're into enjoying herbal Epson-salts baths - lavender -truly  helps a person sleep well, and relieves muscle strain and aches!

The Herbal Home Spa: Naturally Refreshing Wraps, Rubs, Lotions, Masks, Oils, and Scrubs By Greta Breedlove These easy recipes include facial steams, scrubs, masks, and lip balms; massage oils, baths, rubs, and wraps; hand, nail, and foot treatments; and shampoos, hair conditioners, and natural dyes. Also offers bathing rituals and massage techniques. A Selection of the One Spirit Book Club. Paperback, 201 pages.

I'm not an exercise fanatic by any means! But when I do exercise I love a good session of Taebo! I have numerous cassettes and DVDs of Billy Blanks. A good friend of mine is also a Taebo fan and she expressed one day that when she gets into a really good session she almost feels like she's sinning, she feels so good! Well, I assured her that's a desired feeling from God. Our endorphins are kicking in, our body is energized in a special way and all life is better for it. Sad to think there are those who never feel that 'energy high'.

TAEBO T3 Total Transformation Training

The Believer's Workout series is one of my favorite of Billy Blanks - I ended up letting a family in Honduras borrow it and when I learned the husband really enjoyed working out with it, well, I told them to keep it!


Sleep is such an important part of good health. Here's some books that can offer good advice.

Sleep Well Again By Lisa Morrone Easy to understand and easy to put into action, Sleep Well Again offers you hope and dependable information in regaining the "eight hours you don't want to miss."

Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems: Completely Revised and Updated By Richard Ferber, M.D. In the first major revision of his bestselling classic since it was published twenty years ago, Dr. Richard Ferber, the nation's foremost authority on children's sleep problems, delivers safe, sound ideas for helping your child fall and stay asleep at night and perform well during the day. Topics covered include bedtime difficulties and nighttime wakings, effective strategies for naps, problems in setting limits, and new insights into the nature of sleep terrors and sleepwalking.

Goodnight Max By Rosemary Wells It's bedtime but Max can't fall asleep! All sorts of noises and distractions are keeping Max from going to sleep. What will Ruby do to help send Max to dreamland? This adorable, interactive board book features touch-and-feel and pull-tab aspects that kids can play with as they listen along.

Praying is also a definite part of good health. One of the best times for praying with children is before their bedtimes - it helps them feel secure and confident during their time of rest. The same holds true for adults - pray before sleep, trust in Him and rest well.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep: Action Prayers, Poems, and Songs For Bedtime By Debbie Trafton O'Neal How many of us as children ended our day with these comforting words? Now children everywhere can share some peaceful moments with this new collection of activity prayers and quiet converstions wih God. Charming full-color illustrations by well-known illustrator Nancy Munger combine with well-loved, traditional songs to enhance bedtime rituals. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Bedtime Prayers By Jean-Yves Garneau This book offers two collections of prayer, one that is for parents or caregivers to pray with babies and toddlers as they fall asleep and the other is for children themselves to pray at bedtime. The prayers pertain to common moments in a family's daily life. The bedtime prayers thank God for blessings received or call upon God to remember them, their relatives, friends, and those in the greater community who are sick or who are in need. The prayers include those for the safety of the body, for the baby's care-givers, that the baby will sleep well and always be loved. Prayers for older children include those for the child's grandparents, for a parent or sibling who is ill, for teachers, and for friends.

Just remember... love yourself enough to love your body well.  Don't try to look like this year's model or that body builder - figure out who you are and how you function best. Some of us are prone to be small and others are a bit larger. That's okay. Just accept this wonderful, amazing body that is your own and love it ... since it's the only one you're given, take care of it as if it were a holy place – and treat it with respect, honor, and faithfulness.