Book Review - Darker Than Night, by John Lutz

Have you ever read a book and at the end, your heart was beating so fast you couldn't go to sleep or wind down for a while?  Well, this is one of those books.  I finished this book last night around midnight and could not go to sleep for a while after finishing it.

At first, I thought there were too many plots going on at the same time.  Every chapter seemed to start a brand new story.  New characters were introduced throughout the book.  Yes, there was some sex and some very graphic descriptions of the murders.  But, in order to really get the reader into any book, you have to be graphic.  I didn't think it was too much, it was just the right balance.



By the end of the book, everything wrapped together and became clear as to why the author included it in the book.

This is definitely an adult book, no one younger than 18 should read this. 

I am on to the next book in this series now.  I will review it once I am done.

Darker Than Night is only $3.03 on Amazon (kindle store)

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Greek Theatre and a Recipe

Yesterday was our first official school day of the 2014-2015 school year!  We did our normal schedule, although I had an appointment right in the middle of the day, so even though we got it all complete, it was broken up into morning session and afternoon session.

Today was about the same.  You see when you own your own business, you have to meet clients when they are available.  So, today we did the morning session and afternoon session as well.  This actually seems to be working out pretty good.

On to what we are learning!  We are still studying Mystery of History Volume 1.  We are up to 478 - 399 BC when Greece was at its prime and they were not afraid of war, so they explored art, theatre, etc.  My boys actually understood this time period.  There are some time periods that at their young age, they have no idea what its all about. 

Anyway, we learned about how plays were sometimes played out by only 2 actors.  The actors would change their masks to show the change of characters and their moods.

Today, my boys created their own masks.  And here they are.

Yes, this one is upside down.  He wanted it that way.

And now for a recipe!

I wanted something today that was going to change up what our menu.  I am tired of the same ole same ole.  So, tonight I took a recipe and made it my own.  It's Super easy and was very good!

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
1/3 Cup Louisiana Hot Sauce
1/4 Cup Butter, melted
4 Chicken Breast, boneless, cut into strips

Directions:
Non-hot strips (for the boys)
Coat the chicken strips with the ranch dressing mix and place on a baking sheet covered in wrinkled up tin-foil.  Drizzle butter on chicken.  Bake for 40 minutes in an 350 degree oven.

Boneless Hot Wings

Mix the Ranch Dressing Mix with the hot sauce.  Then, coat the chicken strips with the mixture.  Place chicken on a baking sheet that has been covered with a wrinkled up piece of tin-foil.  Drizzle butter over chicken.  Bake for 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

I ate mine on a bed of spring mix lettuce, with black olives, and ranch dressing. 

After this picture was taken, I added french fried onions to the salad.

Everybody loved it!  I hope you do too!!!!!

Back to the grindstone

As many of you have noticed, or maybe you didn't, I have not been blogging for a while.  I was blogging about homeschooling.  We are still homeschooling, I just stink at blogging about it.  So, I am going back to what I like to do, I'm going to use this blog as my own diary of sorts and also a place to keep the recipes that are hits at the A Estate.

I hope you enjoy reading about out crazy life and that may be a recipe or two that you try and actually like.

So, today during reading with my seven year old, he's reading How Oliver Olson Changed the World.  He reads about Neil Armstrong's quote "that's one small step for man, one giant step for mankind."  He says, its a giant step for mankind, and a small step for girlkind.  LOL!  I laughed so hard.  No, he's not sexist, he's seven.  And that is just how seven year olds think.

Here is a little recipe for today.  I don't have any pictures, but maybe the next time I cook it, I will add the pics.


BUFFALO CHICKEN SANDWICHES/SALADS (hubby ate it as a salad, I ate it as a salad)
2 bottle of buffalo sauce, I used whatever I had on hand
2 Tablespoons of  ranch seasoning
4 chicken breasts


In your crockpot, pour 1 of the bottles of buffalo sauce.  Then add the ranch and stir.  Next add your chicken.  And top it off with the other buffalo sauce bottle (I actually only used 1/2 bottle here).  Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Before serving, shred chicken.

Delicious!!!!!

Enjoy!
Sherie

How history repeats itself

As we were reading history today, I was reminded that history does repeat itself.  Read this quote from Mystery of History, Volume I, Creation to the Resurrection, Lesson 24:

"Problems at home often make a country lose power against its neighbors.  That's what happened to Egypt after the reign of Tutankhamen (King Tut)."

Does this sound like America today?  Due to our leaders inability to work together and negotiate, we (the United States of America) look weak to all of our neighbors and our enemies.

These words spoke volumes to me today.  The boys and I had a lengthy discussion of how we (U.S.A) are looking very weak and how it could be solved.  They absorbed everything I said very well.  If only we can grow a whole generation of kids smart enough to know that negotiations are a good thing, and that no way does one side get everything and the other side just settles for it.  We have to have strong leaders on BOTH sides that are thick skinned enough to take one on the chin and come together to NEGOTIATE, NOT GIVE AWAY THE KINGDOM TO THE OTHER SIDE.  We have strong leaders on one side in our capital, but when it comes to strong leaders on the other side, the weak leaders are too embedded with the other side to give the strong leaders a chance.  They will in turn, call the strong leaders, that are willing to stand up to the other side, names and smear them to all of the press.  This shows weakness on their part.

If the above it too vague for you, let me clarify.  We obviously have strong leaders on the Democratic side.  But, the Republican side of the aisle is weak.  Not all are weak, only the ones that embedded with the Democratic side seem to get a say in anything.  The true strong leaders of the Republican party are not allowed to stand up for anything.  And when they do, the embedded leaders of the Republican party call them names and smear them in the press.

Therefore, until we are able to get these strong leaders in the right position, by voting the weak/embedded name calling ones out of office, we (the USA) will be considered a weak nation to other countries and to our enemies.

I love homeschooling!  How many other kids in public school, or even in private school can have a discussion with their teacher about politics or how the world views us?

I am helping to raise strong leaders for our country!

Have a great day!
Sherie

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Awe, look at the new sleeping mat I got for the dogs.  WAIT!  That is MY new kitchen rugs I got for me, not them!  LOL!

Meet Pepper and Spice.  They need a haircut, but I don't have time to do it right now.  They are Lhasa-Poos.  They are a mix between Lhasa Apsa and Poodle.  Pepper has more Poodle, Spice has more Lhasa.

Have a GREAT day!
Sherie

Tithing Tuesday

Today I am starting a new series called Tithing Tuesday.  It seems that if I wait until I am at church on Wednesday night to write out my tithe check, I will inevitably forget to do it until the offering plate is being passed around and then its too late to get it written.  So, I have started taking Tuesday and writing my check out.  Yes, I recommend you write a check.  That way you have a record of how much you have given for tax purposes.  I have a client that one year, got tired of waiting on the check to clear the bank, so they would get cash out and put that in the offering plate.  Guess what, they forgot to write down how much they gave a few weeks out of the year, so they didn't get the write-off because the church had no idea who gave that cash.

How do you tithe?  Well, according to the Bible you are supposed to tithe 10% of your income.  Yes, you can tithe more.  God will never say, ummmmm no this is too much.  LOL!  No, whatever you tithe, the church will use it to further the work of the Lord.  If you give more than your 10%, then they will have that much more to help further it.

Why tithe?  Its part of God's word.  I always like to do what God tells me to do.  And this is definitely one of those things in the Bible that God directs Christians to do.

Let me tell you, He will bless you for tithing.  I am a testimony to that.  In fact, just a few weeks ago, I had tithed on a Wednesday night.  On Sunday night, my husband asked if I had written many checks.  One of the ones I told him about was the tithe check.  I guess he was not prepared for me to tithe that week, because he asked me why I did that.  I told him that God will bless me because I tithed.  You know what?  The Very Next Day, my phone rang.  It was a tax client that owns a business. she was asking me to start doing her payroll.  You know what?  That was a blessing from God!  He was rewarding me for being faithful in my giving.  You Can Never Out Give God!  So, my little $100 tithe check turned into a client that will bring in $150 every month.  So, my little tithe check has now grown by another $15.  Another $15 that will Will further God's work in our community and across the globe.

Am I rich because I tithe?  Heavens No!  But, the Lord has blessed our family enough that we don't suffer and we don't do without.

Is Tithing a fix all, solve all?  No Way!  You AND your spouse (if you are married) have to be on-board and budget together. We don't sit down every week in a budget meeting anymore.  We used to, when we were working together to eliminate our debt.  But, now we sit down every few months and make sure we are on the same track and thought process with our finances.  Let me just say, when we do sit down and discuss our finances, mountains are moved.  We are very determined people and we like to get things done.  (Next week, we will discuss budgeting, debt, and fitting the tithe money in there as well)

I encourage you to tithe.  You will not regret it.  Don't expect great blessing the first week of tithing.   God has something special in store for you.  And it may take some time in order for you to reap the blessings.  But, as long as you stay faithful in your faith, continue to tithe, and live a pure life, God will Bless You for it.

Let me just say, if you haven't asked the Lord into your heart, please do so.  You Must first be a Christian before the blessing begin.  Tithing alone will not get you into heaven.  Living a pure life, full of good deeds, will not get you into heaven.  But, praying and asking God to save you from your sins and cleanse you of all of your bad deeds, WILL get you into heaven.  And, if you mean it (God knows your heart), God will help you with anything you may have going on in your life.

I am not perfect.  I am FAR from perfect.  But, God is helping me work towards being perfect in His eyes.  I will never be perfect, Only God is perfect.  Nobody will ever be perfect.  But, if you ask Him into your heart and you are going through something (Alcohol, Drugs, Pornography, Lying, Adultery, etc), seek help through your church.  They have or know of programs that can help you.  It takes a heart that is willing to change.  And God knows if you have that heart or not.  He may be speaking to you right now.  So, ask him into your heart and then pick up the phone and call your church to ask for help in your situation.

Have a GREAT day!
Sherie

Living History

Have you ever been to a bridal shower and had to wrap somebody in toilet paper to create a dress?  Me too!  So, when I read about making mummies, this is what I pictured.  Well, when you are dealing with 7 & 8 year olds, it doesn't alway turn out the way you have pictured in your mind.  LOL!  But you know what?  We had fun, no matter what!

I love to make history come to life.  I don't remember doing this in school, EVER!  I remember history being B-O-R-I-N-G!  But, when you bring it to life it embeds history in your mind and you don't forget it (like I did).

So, off we went into the boys room and they picked out the stuffed animal they wanted to mummify.  The first animal my youngest boy wanted to mummify was a whale.  I was like, ummmm no.  That would take all of the toilet paper we have in the house.  LOL!  They then chose small animals to mummify.  Shphew!

Here are the result of the mummification of stuffed animals.

Yes, I have a mess in our office/classroom.  I'm getting ready for a yard sale, but its has rained every weekend this summer, so this stuff is just sitting there.....

Yes, it is 90 degrees outside and my youngest has on long sleeves.  I'm allowing them to pick out their own clothes these days and so we are experimenting with what matched and what doesn't.

Yes, we used A LOT of toilet paper.  But you know what?  The frugal mom in me made them pick it all up and put it in a basket and they had to use it every time the went to the bathroom until it was all gone.  LOL! 

Back to history, I LOVE how Mystery of History has an activity after every lesson.  It really brings history to life for everybody!

I hope this gives you some ideas as to how to bring history to life for your kids!

Have a GREAT day!
Sherie