Slow Down Book Review

Title: Slow Down

Author: Nichole

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Motherhood, Parenting, Children

Plot: During the hectic busyness of raising children, in this day and age especially, we often find ourselves rushing through beautiful moments or focused on trivial details or so scheduled with one activity after another that we blink and suddenly those adorable chubby babies are grown and heading off to college. And we're left with momentos, shadows of the past and memories.

In her book, mother of two Nichole Nordeman lets us know that we are not alone in the daily struggles of raising children, of dealing with headache after headache mixed in with sticky kisses, clinging hugs that end too soon and the sheer amazement of watching God shape and develope these beautiful,little people He gave us. Every day can be treasured if we slow down and taste each precious fleeting moment.

Likes/Dislikes: I loved the flow of the writing. I could connect with Nichole's parenting struggles and  her cry for more time is echoed with mine. I loved the journal spaces and the questions were very thoughtful. The whole tone of the book read for new moms though, not necessarily moms of older children. I have a three and one year old so I'm right in the hectic "Please just slow down and let me rest!" Moments right now but I'm certain I'll miss these days and I want to look back confident that I did my best and gave my girls plenty of time and attention, not just a clean house and cooked food.

Rating: G - all ages. Highly recommended.

Date Review Written:  September 14th, 2017

I received a copy of this book courtesy of BookLook Bloggers for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions pressed in the above review are my own.

Blackberry-Picking

Late August, given heavy rain and sun

For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.

At first, just one, a glossy purple clot

Among others, red, green, hard as a knot.

You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet

Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it

Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for

Picking. Then red ones inked up and that hunger

Sent us out with milk cans, pea tins, jam-pots

Where briars scratched and wet grass bleached our boots.

Round hayfields, cornfields and potato-drills

We trekked and picked until the cans were full,

Until the tinkling bottom had been covered

With green ones, and on top big dark blobs burned

Like a plate of eyes. Our hands were peppered

With thorn pricks, our palms sticky as Bluebeard's.

We hoarded the fresh berries in the byre.

But when the bath was filled we found a fur,

A rat-grey fungus, glutting on our cache.

The juice was stinking too. Once off the bush

The fruit fermented, the sweet flesh would turn sour.

I always felt like crying. It wasn't fair

That all the lovely canfuls smelt of rot.

Each year I hoped they'd keep, knew they would not.

~ Seamus Heaney

God Bless My School Book Review

Title: God Bless My School

Author: Hannah C. Hall

Genre: Christian, Children, Board Book

Plot: With the close of summer comes cool Autumn breezes, falling leaves and this amazing thing called School. Mama bear buys you new shoes, kisses you goodbye and you're off flying excitedly to learn new things with all your friends. At school, books are read, pictures drawn, naps taken, lunches eaten and the playground thoroughly enjoyed before the day ends.

So God bless your school and all your friends too!

Likes/Dislikes: This was an incredibly cute little book. I love all the artwork and the flowing rhymes. Beautiful. My three year old enjoyed the story and picking out the cuddly animals she can name. The one year old has discovered that books are magic and she listened to the story wide-eyed, taking in the colors and watching how each page revealed new pictures to look at. Highly recommended.

Rating: G-all ages.

Date Review Written: July 28th, 2017

I received a copy of this book courtesy of BookLook Bloggers for my honest opinion and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions in the above review are my own.

Tis The Last Rose of Summer

Tis the last rose of summer 

Left blooming alone; 

All her lovely companions 

Are faded and gone: 

No flower of her kindred, 

No rose-bud is nigh, 

To reflect back her blushes, 

Or give sigh for sigh. 

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! 

To pine on the stem; 

Since the lovely are sleeping, 

Go, sleep thou with them. 

Thus kindly I scatter 

Thy leaves o'er the bed, 

Where thy mates of the garden 

Lie scentless and dead. 

So soon may I follow, 

When friendships decay, 

And from Love's shining circle 

The gems drop away. 

When true hearts lie wither'd, 

And fond ones are flown, 

Oh! who would inhabit 

This bleak world alone? 

~ Thomas Moore

Summer Stars

Bend low again, night of summer stars. 

So near you are, sky of summer stars, 

So near, a long-arm man can pick off stars, 

Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl, 

So near you are, summer stars, 

So near, strumming, strumming, 

So lazy and hum-strumming. 

~ Carl Sandburg

In The Summer

In the summer

I stretch out on the shore

And think of you

Had I told the sea

What I felt for you,

It would have left its shores,

Its shells,

Its fish,

And followed me.

~ Nizar Qabbani