BOOKS I FINISHED - APRIL 2022

 

The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden, written by Kevin DeYoung and illustrated by Don Clark

This beautifully illustrated children's book weaves the story of various Bible characters together to show Jesus as our redeemer, the innocent one paying the penalty for our sins.

p. 107, Our story is the story of God doing what we can't, in order to make up for us doing what we shouldn't.

Born Survivors: Three Young Mothers and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage, Defiance, and Hope, written by Wendy Holden Defying all odds, three women, strangers to each other and separated from their husbands, concealed their pregnancies at multiple concentration camps and from Josef Mengele. They eventually gave birth under unfathomable circumstances, their babies lived, and all three miracle kids met each other sixty-five years later.

The atrocities committed to human beings during the Holocaust will always be horrifically appalling, the dangerous acts of compassion by those in positions to help truly admirable, and the fierce determination of those on the receiving end of unfathomable brutality to keep moving forward as long as possible incredibly inspiring.

A Long Walk to Water, written by Linda Sue Park

Based on the true story of a boy separated from his family during the Sudanese civil war, this novel is about his trek across Africa and about a young girl who spends eight hours walking every day to fetch water for her family. Their stories are of perseverance and hope, a determination to keep taking the literal and figurative next step. 

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PUZZLES I FINISHED - APRIL 2022

Balloon Bonanza - Springbok - 1,000 pieces

I gave up on the first Springbok puzzle I tried because the picture just wasn't fun for me. This one, however, had enough pattern and color changes to be enjoyable. Tyler did it with me and we suspect some photoshopping, based on three duplicate balloons (see left side and right side). 

Color Challenge: Vivid  - Buffalo - 1,000 pieces

The red to orange section was challenging, but the puzzle was fun overall. 

Ocean Kaleidoscope - Artist: Lori Schory - Ravensburger - 1,000 pieces

We've done this puzzle several times over the years, but decided this was our last time. 

Tortoise and the Hare - Artist: Eric Dowdle - Dowdle Folk Art - 500 pieces

We love Dowdle puzzles, but I think this is the first one we've done with some pieces that weren't traditionally shaped. 

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THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful I was able to meet a friend's sister this week. What's something you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for toilet paper. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for my community's buy nothing group. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

PUZZLES I FINISHED - MARCH 2022

Colorado - In-N-Out - 1,000 pieces

Devon works at In-N-Out and knows I love puzzles, so he gave me this nod to the first In-N-Out in Colorado for Christmas. I finally opened it after our flooring project and put the last piece in a few minutes ago. Over three weeks for this one! There was a point mid-assembly when all the sameness of colors and subtle differences in patterns got on my nerves and I didn't work on it much, but otherwise I enjoyed it and made steady progress. 

High Tide - Ravensburger - 1,000 pieces

This puzzle was different than any other I've done because the picture doesn't match the box. Instead, the picture is what the people on the box are seeing. It's called wasgij (that's "jigsaw" backwards, for those who didn't make the connection). It was a fun puzzle to do! Although I can't find this particular one on Amazon right now, there are several other wasgij puzzles. 
 

Times Square - Shutter Speed - 1,000 pieces 

I started this puzzle one night, went to bed, got up a couple hours later with insomnia, then stayed up the rest of the night working on it while listening to podcasts. 

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BOOKS I FINISHED - MARCH 2022

 

The Forest of Vanishing Stars, written by Kristin Harmel

Raised in the isolation of the wilderness by someone who doesn't trust people, the same person who kidnapped her, a young woman has the opportunity to help Jewish people who are fleeing the Nazis. They need her knowledge of the forest in order to survive, and she needs to be part of their lives in order to learn to live her own. 

p. 70, Humans had a responsibility to do more than just protect themselves. In the face of evil, they were compelled to save each other. It was the only way mankind could survive.

p. 269, But vengeance would only taste sweet for a second, and then it would be a permanent stain on her soul.

p. 311, "I'm broken, too. But sometimes it's the jagged edges that allow us to fit together. Sometimes it's the breaks that make us strong."

A Secret Shared, written by Patricia MacLachlan

Twins discover by accident that their younger sister isn't related to them biologically, then wonder why that information has been withheld from them. This middle grade novel is about the love of family, commitment of friendship, positive impact of caring adults in the lives of kids, and value of being honest with the people close to us.

Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First.: 10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level, written by Laura Tremaine

Simultaneously vulnerable and light-hearted, this book guides the reader through a process of learning to deepen relationships. One doesn't have to relate to all the author's experiences or share all the same perspectives in order to glean practical ideas and valuable principles from the questions she poses.

p. 71, I didn't doubt in the darkness what I had known in the light.

p. 153, I had spouted a lot of opinions theoretically for a long time, about politics and religion and bootstraps and aid. It's easy to talk about who deserves help and personal accountability from the comfort of a first world home. But all philosophical arguments are lost when you're faced with a human in need in front of you. I'm embarrassed that I have to keep learning this.