Gilbert

One day the kids were outside and came running in to get me.  They were so excited they were practically jumping out of their shorts "Mama Mama you just have to come right now, you just have to come and see what we found".   Of course I went quickly, desperately praying that they had not found an 8-foot snake!

It wasn't a snake, it was a teeny, tiny kitten.  Very cute and very very young. Way too young to be away from its mother. I guess he was only about 4 weeks old.

They immediately named him Gilbert and we just had to feed him, which thrilled Carlee to pieces!

She even hand fed him some milk-softened food...

But then there was a problem, he was just way too little to be in our house.  The cats didn't want anything to do with him, the dogs would not leave him alone thinking he was a toy or something.  Then there was the kids - they constantly picked him up, dropped him, and even tried stuffing him into pockets and boxes.  It was simply dangerous for this kitten to be here.  Not too mention, he was totally flea infested to the point where the fleas were probably killing him.

Anyway, after a couple of days of constantly trying to protect the kitten, we finally decided that our house was not the best place for him.  In this photo I think he is pleading to get out of here...

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews

The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews

This book is about someone who finds some WWII German Military items buried in the sand of an Alabama beach. The search into the past tells the story of how a German submarine sailor washed up on the beach. The woman who found him was a young widow who had recently lost her husband in the war.

The story itself is fascinating. It has it all - intrigue, drama, and a great love story too! Even more intriguing is that the way the beginning and ending of the book are written the story appears to be true. How fascinating!!

The overwhelming theme of the book is forgiveness. The lesson to be learned from this story is that the bitterness of loss and the coldness of loss during war can be turned around with forgiveness and love. Without forgiveness a life of anger, hatred and resentment was inevitable for the characters in this story.

After reviewing a few nonfiction books, while they were good books, this book was like a breath of fresh air. A highly recommended page turner!



Disclosure: Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.

Thomas Nelson also provided me with a second copy of this book to giveaway to a lucky reader of my blog. Helen, I think you might be the only regular reader of my blog. At least you are the most consistent commenter and so Congratulations I am rewarding your commenting with a copy of this book! Perhaps now more people will comment so that I know you were here!!! I know that was kind of mean, but hey, at least Helen will be happy about it!

too funny - making up songs

One morning we are driving in the van and it was unusually quiet.  Soon Carlee started to sing her own little song that she was making up as she was singing.  It went on and on and on and on and was very very cute.  Here is part of what her song was like...

Shapes Shapes Shapes
Shapes Shapes are everywhere
The sun is a circle
Wheels are a circle
The sky is a circle

(a pause, then the song continues)
No No No
Nopey Nopey No No

The sky is a .....
The sky is a big blue square

Shapes Shapes Shapes
Shapes Shapes are everywhere
Trees are a....
Trees are a...
TRIANGLE  Yeah a Triangle
Yeah Yeah Yeah

Shapes Shapes Shapes

Shapes Shapes are everywhere
Legs are like a circle
Shoes are like a oval
BooBoos are a line
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Boos are a line

Well you get the idea hahaha

Then I asked Ben to sing a song and his favorite toy of the day was a monster truck so he sang a monster truck song.  However, he sang it very softly and not even Sam who sits beside him could hear the song.  So I said "Ben, you need to sing louder so we can hear your song"  He said "I sang only as loud as I can sing."  Well then, too bad he didn't have that volume more often LOL

Then it was Sam's turn, and he is fascinated with police right now.  His song went something like this...

I like polices
I like polices
I will be a police when I grow up
so I can help people
and be a police motorcycle driver

I like polices
I like polices
I will get the bad guys
I will search for clues
so I can find bad guys

I like polices
I like polices
I will live in a police building
it will be small
small small small small
pretty pretty small small small
kinda like Daddy's office building
but not that big
small small small small

but not as small as an ant

(then I laugh out loud)
Sam then says "Mama, it is not funny.  My songs are not funny.  Now I have to start all over"

Sam starts to sing - I like Po
But Ben yells BOO and giggles - so much for being quiet
Sam says to Ben - BEN don't interrupt it is not funny.
Sam starts to sing - I like Po

Ben again yells BOO and laughs hysterically
Sam yells BEN, now I have to start again.

Sam starts to sing - I like Po

Ben and Carlee yell BOO and it then turns into a 10 minute yelling and giggling laugh fest.   It was so nice when it was quiet...sigh...

Patience

If you are a girl and have brothers, it is essential to learn patience. Carlee tries so hard, but sometimes it is hard to deal with those boys!  LOL her facial expressions are priceless...