Book Review - The Storekeeper's Daughter

A typical day for Naomi Fisher consists of taking care of her siblings, cooking, and taking care of her family’s big farmhouse. You’ll often see her dressed in a simple gown, with her hair tucked up in a neat bun beneath her headcovering. She’s more often than not making a snack for her brothers who have just come in from working in the fields, or playing with her younger brothers and sisters. Believe it or not, Naomi isn’t found in a historical fiction novel. You can find people like her in the 21st century, because she’s Amish.

I read about Naomi in a fictional novel by Wanda E. Brunstetter, called The Storekeeper’s Daughter. It’s the first in a series called the Daughters of Lancaster County, also by Wanda E. Brunstetter, and I’ll be reviewing this book today.

Naomi, her father, and her siblings have been living on their own since their mother died in a tragic accident. Now it’s Naomi’s responsibility to care for the family, and help her father at the family’s store. This is very stressful for her and leaves no time for any socializing. Naomi is convinced she will grow up an old maid. That is, until Caleb Hoffmeir comes along…

However, soon Naomi’s world is turned upside down, when a simple oversight turns into a huge problem. One mistake becomes irrevocable, and her life is changed forever. The stress begins to wear on her, and Naomi realizes that the only one who can fix her problems is God.

Overall, I really liked this book. At first the writing style was hard for me to get into, but I was soon caught up in the intriguing plot and lives of these characters. I really loved reading about Naomi Fisher and the other characters in Lancaster County, and I think Wanda E. Brunstetter did a fantastic job of weaving this story together. The characters were relatable, the story was interesting, and the message was wonderful. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.


~Kylie

Review of It Is Well by Kutless

Last weekend, my mom, a friend and I went to a Casting Crowns/Kutless and Caleb concert. It was probably the most fun I've ever had at a concert - because, we got to meet all three bands before we watched them perform live.

Here is a picture of me, with the lead singer from Kutless. 

I have recently begun to love the CD "It is Well", by Kutless. They usually sing more rock-hard songs, that are fun to listen to - but this CD, is a Worship Album.
On the CD - are 11 songs - some that are covers - for example, "God of Wonders". 
Like I said - Kutless is more of a rock-hard band, that sing fast-paced songs - but this CD has slower songs on it - that are quite easy to catch on to - and learn the words to. 
I got this CD only a couple of days before we went to the concert, and I'd already had most of the songs part-way memorized, so it was awesome to see them done live.
"What Faith Can Do" is my favorite on the CD. The song talks about unwavering faith, so matter what God might throw at you.
"Everybody falls sometimes, gotta find the strength to rise, from the ashes, and make a new beginning." 
"I've seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn't ever end, even when the sky is falling, I've seen MIRACLES just HAPPEN, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become brand new. THAT'S WHAT FAITH CAN DO!"

Overall, this CD is awesome - great songs, great band. 
~Ashley S

Guys Are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti - by Chad Eastham review

Hello, readers!
 Suzanna here.
All day today I have been sick. I got the flu... :( That goofy little bug seems to be all over this time of year.
  I decided I'm going to review the cough drops I've been using. They're called Halls Refresh and I'm sucking on the juicy strawberry flavored ones right now. I think they taste pretty good-
 Kidding. I'd never do that. I promise.
As I'm sitting here on our big comfy couch, with my pajamas on... I decided I'd review the book I'm reading right now. I'm not sure if that's the right way to review a book; one you haven't even finished; but I thought I'd give it a try.
 The book I'm currently reading is 'Guys are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti' by Chad Eastham and Bill and Pam Farrel.
 I am over halfway done with the book, and I started it yesterday. All of Chad Eastham's books seem like quick reads, -unless it's just because I've been lounging, reading all day today.- Either way, I like those types of books. I think it also helps that Chad Eastham is the most amazing author I have ever...uh...read?! Not sure what word I should've put there. Anyways. I really like the way he approaches and tackles the different hard subjects that he discussed in the book.
 If an adult (well...I know Chad Eastham is an adult, but bear with me here) would have attempted to write this book, I think it would have stunk. Chad seems mature enough to encourage us teens and discuss the topics in book like a youth group leader, yet also talk about them like a big brother would. The way he delivers each and every chapter is so warm and humorous, yet also very honest and raw.
 Chad did such a good job writing this book. I absolutely love it.
 I like how it's written for both guys and girls.
 Seriously, there's not one part of the book that I haven't 100% enjoyed.
From what I'd read about the Guys are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti book I thought there would've been more sections or parts written by Bill and Pam Farrel, but there's not that many sections, actually.
 Anyways, the book is great. I absolutely love the book. Good job, Chad, Bill and Pam!!

Review of "Play On"

Track Listing:

1. Cowboy Casanova
2. Quitter
3. Mama's Song
4. Change
5. Undo It
6. Someday When I Stop Loving You
7. Songs Like This
8. Temporary Home
9. This Time
10. Look At Me
11. Unapologize
12. What Can I Say (ft. Sons Of Sylvia)
13. Play On

Cowboy Casanova:

I had heard this song many times before I got the CD. I didn't really like it at first, because I'm not big on country sounding like rock music. And this song sounds more rocky and hard than most country music.

In this song, she's warning other girls about this guy - who is what she calls a "Cowboy Casanova". 

"He’s the devil in disguise ,A snake with blue eyes." 

All in all, other than the tune, I don't think that there is anything really bad in this song - no insinuations or anything like that.

Quitter:

I really don't like this song, and it's probably my least favorite on the CD. It's tune is kind-of boring, and I don't really like the words that are in the song.

"Here's how it goes, Boy meets girl, girl leaves boy, That's all I know, All I've done, All my life".

I think that this song is insinuating that she's had lots of boyfriends, and eventually broke it off with them for one reason or another.

But in the chorus, she's saying how she's met this guy, who makes her not want to be a "quitter" anymore. 

"And make me feel like I never ever wanna give you up, 'Til now, I've always been a quitter."

Mama's Song:

I like this song, other than the fact that it's a pretty slow song, and I like faster songs more. I think, though, that the song has a good meaning - it's talking about how a Mom raises her daughter to be and do what you should.

"You've given me everything that I will need, To make it through this crazy thing called life, And I know you watched me grow up, and only want what's best for me."

Change:

I LOVE this song. It's a slower one, but I really like the message that is behind this one.

"What you're gonna do when you're watching TV, And an ad comes on, yeah, you know the kind, Flashing up pictures of a child in need, For a dime a day, you could save a life, Do you call the number, reach out a hand, Or do you change the channel, call it a scam."

Do you call the number or do you believe that...

"You're just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world"
Oh, the smallest thing can make all the difference
Love is alive, don't listen to them when they say
"You're just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world"

Undo It:

I will admit that when I listen to this album, that I play this song the most. It's my favorite - but I will tell you, that like "Cowboy Casanova", it has a more rocky and hard sound.

In the song she's talking about how she wants to "undo" the relationship that she had with a guy.

"You stole my happy, you made me cry, Took the lonely and took me for a ride, And I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it"

 

Someday When I Stop Loving You:

This song is REALLY slow. But I do think that it's a really pretty song - talking about how her guy (I guess it's insinuating husband, but never mentions that), is leaving her, and she's saying that

"I'll move on baby just like you, When the desert floods and the grass turns blue, When a sailing ship don't need a moon, It'll break my heart but I'll get through, Someday when I stop loving you."

It's a love song, and it's pretty, but definitely not one that I listen to regularly, because like I said, I'm more of a faster-song kind-of girl. 

Songs Like This:

I love the beat in this song - but not particularly the message in the song. It's a fun up-beat song that makes you want to get up and dance around the room, with a good friend or two! :)

In the beginning it says:

"Wanna find some boy, rip his heart right out, First man I see, gonna take him down, It ain't the Christian thing to do, they say, But someone, somewhere's gotta pay."

In the chorus it says:

"Even I'm surprised, How easy sweet revenge rolls off my lips, If it wasn't for guys like you, There wouldn't be songs like this."

Temporary Home:

This song is slow and SAD! It's a song with three different 'stories' within it - but with the same idea.

"A little boy, six years old, A little too used to being alone, Another new mom and dad, Another school, another house that will never be home." 

"Young mom, on her own, She needs a little help, got nowhere to go, She's looking for a job, looking for a way out, 'Cause a halfway house will never be a home."

"Old man, hospital bed, The room is filled with people he loves, And he whispers, "Don't cry for me, I'll see you all someday", He looks up and says, "I can see God's face""

 The chorus goes:

"This is my temporary home, it's not where I belong, Windows and rooms that I'm passing through, This was just a stop on the way to where I'm going, I'm not afraid because I know, This was my temporary home."

The bridge - about the old man in the hospital is definitely my favorite part of the song - because he's mentioning how earth is just our temporary home, before we pass on, and as Christians, go to Heaven. I just really think that that's an awesome part in the song.

This Time: 

I can tell you, that I didn't even recognize this song title, when I was looking at the track listing, and figuring out what to write for this review. I don't listen to this one much - apparently!

It has an okay tune, and it's definitely faster-paced than some of the other ones on this CD, but slower than others.

"But I wanna tell you, That my heart is busting at the seams, yeah, And I can't wait another minute, Life is short, love is sweet, Ain't no time like this time baby."

I'm not even sure exactly sure what this song is about - probably since I don't listen to it as much as the others.

Look At Me:

Another song that I don't listen to often - but it has a pretty tune - that's slow, but still pretty.

"I would bet my life, like I bet my heart, That you were the one, baby, I've never been so sure of anything before, You're driving my heart crazy."

I LOVE the harmony in this songs' chorus - it's so pretty, and that's probably my favorite thing about it.

"Darling, look at me, I've fallen like a fool for you, Darling, can't you see, I'd do anything you want me to, I tell myself I'm in to deep, Then I fall a little farther, Every time you look at me."

I'm not exactly sure what I think of this song's message. I guess that I, myself, don't find any bad insinuations in it, but I think that she does say:

"I will do anything you want me to." And I don't really like that about it.

UnApologize:

I like this song - probably, like others, because of the faster-paced tune, and how it's got a beat.

""I love you" came flooding out, Couldn't make it stop, couldn't shut my mouth, I felt like a fool when I lied and said I was sorry."

"I unapologize, I meant every word, Won't take back the way I feel about you, I can't unsay what you heard, 'cause you heard me right."

Like some of the other songs, I don't find too much wrong with this song - except...

"Couldn't help myself when you held me tight."

What Can I Say? (featuring Sons of Sylvia):

I love this duet! Carrie Underwood sounds great with the lead singer (his name is Ashley - if you wanted to know. I kinda think the name for a guy is weird, but I like it for a girl! HAHA!)

"Piercing words, eyes are red, Watched your tail lights in the rain, Empty heart filled with regret, I know we were both to blame."

This song, if you couldn't tell, is about a breakup.

"And you should know, please believe me, I've picked up the phone a thousand times, And tried to dial your number, But it's been so long, it's never easy, It's like trying to spin the world the other way, What can I say?"

Play On: 

This is the title track of the CD - and it's also the LAST song on the CD- meaning that if I'm listening to it in order, I don't actually listen to this song often. But I do like the chorus of it - it's like a 'press on even when you don't feel like you want to', kind-of song.

"Play on when you're losing the game, Play on 'cause you're gonna make mistakes, It's always worth the sacrifice, Even when you think you're wrong, So play on."

"Even through a storm on the darkest night, Don't you ever give up the fight. Even when you feel you're all alone."

I really like the message in the chorus and the rest of the song is great as well! I think that it's a great title track - even though I don't listen to it often, I still enjoy it!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope this review was helpful to you, and if you have any questions about the CD, be sure to leave a comment, and I'll comment you back, with my answer!

:)

~Ashley

Movie Review: Miracle on 34th Street

I love watching Christmas movies, so today when I wasn't feeling very well, I popped in the old classic, Miracle on 34th Street.


Doris Parker and her daughter Susan live in an apartment in New York City. Doris, a young and pretty single mother, works for Macy's Department Store and manages their Thanksgiving Day Parade. When the man who plays Santa shows up for the parade drunk, Doris is in a bind until another man shows up. He has real whiskers, a jovial personality, and knows a lot about the toy market. He seems to be the right person for the job... especially since he says his name is Kris Kringle.

There's no doubt about it... Kris thinks he's Santa Claus. There's just one problem. No one believes him. Doris herself doesn't believe in Santa Claus, and she's raised her daughter Susan in the same way. People start to doubt his sanity, and eventually Kris is put on trial. It all comes down to one thing: do you believe in Santa Claus?

I really enjoyed this movie. It's an older movie, so it was very clean. I thought Kris was very sweet, and the ending was unique. It's now one of my favorite Christmas movies, and I definitely recommend it. Curl up in a blanket, grab some hot cocoa, and watch Miracle on 34th Street if you're looking for a heartwarming story for a snowy day.

~Kylie