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Showing posts from January, 2014

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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" It's the journal of John Woolman....As the conversation turned once again to Quakerism, he opened the book and read fragments to me, attempting to educate me about their beliefs."

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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" One Sunday when the air was crisp and razor-cut with light, I walked ankle-deep in fallen leaves all the way to Arch Street, where I came upon a Quaker meeting house of such size I paused to stare...I observed them against the red bricks, the steeple-less roof, the plain shutteredwindows, and I felt repelled."

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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" With beading of some kind. Mrs. Russell had jet beads on hers. I will need a (spoon bonnet) with a long crepe veil down the back. And black gloves, but make them fingerless mitts because of the heat."

The POWER of a WOMAN WHO LEADS by Gail M. Hayes(HARVEST HOUSE)

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In The Power of a WOMAN WHO LEADS, Gail M. Hayes has the uncanny ability to address issues that are on a woman's heart and mind daily throughout her life. The word " leadership" is frightening to some women  as in The Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31 . So often women are named bossy, too maternal or just plain witchy women. Sadly, all of these negative terms make women afraid to even think about learning to lead for fear that people will say, she has lost all her femininity. I think it's wonderful and helpful that throughout the book the author writes about women whom most of us admire and maybe secretly have wished we could lead their type of life in our home, church, community or on our job.  This is why I enjoyed reading the mini biographies in the book. Among those listed are Condoleeza Rice, Madame C. J. Walker,  Anne Graham Lotz, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, etc. She also mentions women from our Bible History books or our American and European History books.

The Power of a Woman Who Leads by Gail M. Hayes

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" Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind."

The POWER of a WOMAN WHO LEADS by Gail M. Hayes

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"When she arrived in King Solomon's court, she was dressed in her finest robes and massaged with the finest oils from her kingdom. She presented herself to Solomon in her most extravagant royal robes, her most brilliant jewels, and her most glorious crown. She was dramatic leadership at its finest. She was regal, dramatic, and impressive, even to men. They respected her not only as a monarch but appreciated her as beautiful, powerful woman...Her visit was the beginning of commercial trade and growth for Israel and a new connection for Sheba."

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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"He nodded. I could see he was stern, and proud. He said, '"I'm Denmark Versey."'....He'd traveled the world with his owner Captain Vesey, who sailed a slave ship. He spoke French, Danish, Creole, Gullah, and the King's English....He came from the Land of Barbados and liked to say Charleston didn't trust slaves from there, cause they'd slit your throat.He said Charleston wanted saltwater blacks from Africa who knew rice planting."

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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"I'd thumbed through it enough  to know somewhere in the pages was a copy of a legal manumission document. Upon finding it I took paper and quill from Frather's desk and copied it: I hereby certify that on this day, 26 November 1803, in the city of Charleston, in the state of South Carolina, I set free from slavery, Hetty Grimke, and bestow this certificate of manumission upon her.  Sarah Moore   racialjustice/a/Sarah-Moore-Grimkandeac Sarah Grimke 

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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"An ornately framed portrait of George Washington was lit with a scrim of moonlight coming through the front window......For almost a year, Father had looked the other way as I'd slipped beneath Mr. Washington's nose to plunder the library. John, Thomas, and Frederick had total reign over his vast trove--books of law, geography, philosophy, theology.....and the Greek humanities--while Mary and I were officially forbiden to read a word of it."

The Power of a WOMAN WHO LEADS by Gail M. Hayes

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" As a collaborative leader, you love to decorate your workspace with soft, floral patterns and watercolor pictures. These scenes make your world appear more peaceful. You have even been known to use rose-scented air freshener. Others may find your environment a bit over-the-top, but they are the first ones to enter your world when they face workplace challenges. The soft colors and the warm embrace of your world help them to feel welcome and relaxed."

the dancing master by JULIE KLASSEN(BETHANY HOUSE)

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In Beaworthy, England there are many secrets. These secrets have left people in the community bitter, sad and lost in the past. The characters live there lives like students in a dancing master's class. There is one difference. The dancing students have become frozen mannequins. They're is no way to relax under such pressure. The students are stiff and withdrawn, afraid to speak or touch one another. The villagers so unhappy I think of them as volcanoes growing and growing wanting to rain a wide, hot trail of ash down to the town. Perhaps, this is why Joe and Felix Wilcox are so cruel. These brothers are definitely frightening bullies. For no reason they pick a fight with Alec Valcourt more than once. One time kicking him in the ribs so hard he can not stand up without help. I think brutality became their only outlet in a village where no one talks about what is really on their minds. Lady Amelia Midwinter, Julia Midwinter's mother, allows no one in Beaworthy to dance.

the dancing master by JULIE KLASSEN

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" He self-consciously fingered the cover of Gulliver's Travels. You probably read this long ago."

the dancing master by JULIE KLASSEN

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" None of us can play the blasted thing, and it's a shame to let 'er sit idle. Though I would guess she's terrible out of tune. The harpischord, that, not your sister."

the dancing master by JULIE KLASSEN

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" You really ought to see Mrs. Tickle dance the Highland Fling."

The POWER of a WOMAN WHO LEADS by Gail M. Hayes

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"If you are ready for change, then you have to do something different. It's time to jump! Jump with both feet!Jump into something you've always wanted but were afraid to try. Jump into a new relationship you never really explored. It won't wait forever and tomorrow is not promised to you. So jump! While you still can and while you still have the desire, leap into life! That's what leaders do!"       Madame C.J. Walker's photo not her words....

The POWER OF A WOMAN WHO LEADS by GAIL M. HAYES

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Deborah Deborah was a woman of greatness. She spoke God's word and commanded Barack to lead the army against a foe that was said to be unbearable. She was without fear and was the only woman to serve as a judge in Israel. She not only spoke words of wisdom and gave counsel; she also led an army to war since its commander was afraid to lead....she followed God's plan and embraced victory! (Judges 4:4-5)  

the dancing master by JULIE KLASSEN

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"Captain Cook...wishing to counteract disease on board his vessels, took particular care, in calm weather, to make his sailors and mariners dance the Hornpipe ;a dance of a most exhilarating character."  Carol Blasis, 1830

Martin Luther King's ABC Book by LESLIE GARLAND AND RRIVER NYILE

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This is a wonderful book for children between 4 to 8 years old. I enjoyed every page, and I'm an adult. Each letter of the alphabet is interesting with a small paragraph about Martin Luther King's life and that particular letter. For example, Q is for Quakers. Martin Luther King put some of their ideas to work in his nonviolent walks and protests. Of course, Z is for Zeal. Martin Luther King worked zealously for freedom and equality for all mankind. After the alphabet, there are many interesting facts about Martin Luther King's life. Coretta Scott King died in Mexico. I thought Coretta Scott King died at her home. Both Martin Luther King's parents attended college. Also, Martin Luther King was a Trekkie. That fact made me laugh. Because it makes him so human. The whole book is exciting and inspiring. Too bad it's not available in all children libraries. It's great. abcteach.com/MonthtoMonth/January/mlking2.htm

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

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" Almost as lonely as Lake View Cemetery, where he'd buried Ethel. She now had a gorgeous view of Lake Washington, and was interred with Seattle's other Chinese notables, like Bruce Lee."

Confession

Blood whispers leaked out a puddle pooled a face on the closet floor below a black skirt. A priest's gold cross beamed and shouted. The ice palace melted. Vulnerable~ Joan of Arc prayed forgive us this day our daily bread. Lead us not into temptation. Amen.

Alone

Shepherd witch~ lives high on the mountains not vulture or wolf can reach her. She pretends. River Rocks she jumps and sings He prepares a table before me. He anoints my head with oil. She  knows. Sunset to sunrise three thousand years~ Hair whiter than Baby Breath hid in a lake canyon wider than the October moon. She waits. Slumbers deep as Jacob far from home. Tears flood her green pastures. She mumbles His name. Return quickly. Dreaming~ She rests.

Two Seasons of Romance by Lyn Cote

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There are four romances. Two romances happen in summer. The other two romances happen in winter. Although the characters are going through some type of painful struggle, their lives are not hopeless. Hope for the adults are personified in the lives of the children. I could taste the cotton candy eaten by one little boy. The children are not mean spirited about their parents' happiness. They seems to want whatever or whomever will bring happiness to their parents' lives. One woman's husband proved his lack of love and unfaithfulness by stealing all her money before leaving her. A man has lost his wife in death. He is now a young widower. All of the characters seem to want to reach out to another person. Two Seasons of Romance by Lyn Cote is a pack of short, short stories filled with giving and receiving. Lyn Cote in Two Seasons of Romance describes the beauty of the seasons from eating muskmelon to touching the silk on corn during a Harvest festival. It is easy to feel

ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS by RONALD H. BALSON

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After reading this Historical novel, I can't stop thinking of betrayal and friendship. In Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson, there are two men who grew up together as brothers. Elliot Rosenzweig is brought to Ben Solomon's home by his parents. Although Elliot is Christian, he grows up in this wonderful Jewish family. He is treated just like another member of the family. Soon demeaning and horrific times will touch down in Poland. These unimaginable times with Hitler and The Third Reich will change every part of the Jewish man's life. To the Nazis nothing that is owned by a Jewish man is untouchable. To the Nazis a Jewish life is a waste. The World War II days and years felt like man had fallen down a hole into a bed of nightmares. After the days of the war, people were stunned, dazed, shocked by what they had experienced. There were Nazi criminals walking around using assumed identities while the Jewish people had to deal with their memories of children and