Monthly Archives: November 2006

Woman’s book backlash

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I sort of blew off my homeschool mom book group last night. Doc got home late and I could have made it only missing the first half hour, but my heart wasn’t in it.

I’m burnt out on Christian women books. I just want to read Christian books, without the emphasis on the female. Anyone else feeling like me?

Last night, I made a good effort again with A Woman After God’s Own Heart, and I feel like I finally got something out of it, but I dread picking it up again. Scandalous, I know. Elizabeth George is one of the most prolific writers for the Christian woman today and I’ve been grumbling since page one.

So this afternoon, I’ve been wondering what my problem is, and I’ve come to the conculsion it’s not George’s book, but the whole genre in general I’m dissatisfied with.

Over the years, I’ve read my share of Christian woman/wife/mom/homeschooler books. The Shaping of the Christian Family and Let Me Be a Woman both by Elisabeth Elliot, All the Way Home by Mary Pride, Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson and You Can’t Make Me by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias, are samples from my bookshelf.

And I know I’ve read more than that. I’ve lots more Elliot books, a bunch of Dobson and other parenting books I’m not listing for sake of space. So is it any wonder this reader is throwing up her hands on how to be a better woman/wife/mom/homeschooler?

I’m not weary of reading about Christianity in general. I’ve been thinking of re-reading Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster for awhile now. I first read it in my college days years ago and I don’t remember much. Written in 1978, revised in 1988, it’s now regarded as a classic. Foster, a Quaker, writes about meditation, fasting, service and simplicity among other disciplines that should be the commom practice of the Christian’s life.

Jessica of Trivium Academy is reading it, so it would be interesting to get her perspective on it as well. I also need to dig out the study guide that goes with it.

What do you think? Are you happy with your current Christian woman book or are you like me and need a break from all-things female?

Holiday meme

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Via Callapidder Days
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Mom wraps them a week in advance. Dad wraps his the night before.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored on tree. Not blinking. Colored outside if we get that far.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up? Mid-December
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mashed potatoes with gravy (real potatoes, none of that from-the-box junk)
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Camping out on the floor of the bedroom with my brother and sister Christmas Eve. Setting up luminaries in front of the house. Decorating the tree.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I never believed in Santa.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Turn on Christmas music. Lights first, then the ornaments, star on top last by one of the kids. Flop on sofa to admire all the hard work.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it only if nowhere to go. Love to watch the kids play in it.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Garnet ring from Doc.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Teaching the hobbits the true reason for the season – to celebrate Christ’s birth and not to expect tons of presents.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Anything chocolate
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Selecting our Christmas tree
17. What tops your tree? Gold glittery star
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Heck, I’m no dummy. Receiving! It’s so much easier, all I have to do is open my arms wide. To give involves work. To the store or online shopping. The former involves the cold and crowds. Shopping for someone else – too much pressure to get the gift right.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Twelve Days of Christmas
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yum