What I'm Reading - February 8, 2021

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This weekly reading list meme is hosted at Book Date. Join in to see what others are reading and maybe get some ideas of what to read next! Although the Book Date link-up happens weekly, I don't manage to post that often. I aim to post and link about once a month, although I sometimes link up my monthly summary as well. 

I finished reading . . . 

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber - While tracking down the elusive Lord Ardmore, Verity and Sidney take a side trip to help a relative of Verity's, only to get involved in a couple of mysterious deaths that may turn out to be related. (Read my full review HERE)

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking - A quick and charming read about how to tap into the Danish concept of hygge, a sense of warmth and comfort and safety. This was my main book for the Online Book Club January theme of Winter. (Read my full review HERE)

Messiah: Biblical Retellings by C.A. Gray - This is an intriguing collection of short stories that retell the miracles of Jesus from various viewpoints. (Read my full review HERE)

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare - This is the last book I read with my Literature class, but I haven't written a review yet. Sometime soon I will make the time to do it!

I'm currently reading . . .

The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman - A modern day tour guide and history enthusiast teams up with the descendent of a detective to find out more about an enigmatic figure from the past. Dini's story alternates with the journal of the long-dead Hedda Krause. 

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - This is the current read in another online book club, and I'm trying to keep up but it's a long book and I haven't got much time!

Hygge: A Celebration of Simple Pleasures. Living the Danish Way by Charlotte Abrahams, and How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life by Signe Johansen - still skimming through and hitting the highlights of picks from the January Online Book Club.

  

Timeless Treasure by MaryLu Tyndall - The only possessions Lexie has of her mother's are an old coin and some letters, and they lead her to a connection with a professor as they search for a pirate's treasure.

Next on the stack... 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Making Winter: A Hygge-Inspired Guide to Surviving the Winter Months by Emma Mitchell 

The Hygge Life by Gunnar Karl Gislason and Jody Eddy

What I'm Highlighting . . . Along with a few blogging friends, I'm participating in an Online Book Club that is a little different. Instead of all reading the same title, we'll be reading books that have a theme in common. That way readers of all ages, homeschoolers or not, can participate. Our theme for February is Love. Stop by Homeschool Coffee Break to find out more.

On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Wordless Wednesday posts

Share Four Somethings - January 2021

Monthly Bookshelf Review - January 2021

And on my homeschool blog, Homeschool Coffee Break:

Online Book Club - February Theme: Love

Write 28 Days Blogging Challenge - Disappointed

Five Minute Friday - Sunrise

Online Book Club - Wrapping Up January: Winter

Five Minute Friday - Design

Coffee Break Reading List (January 26, 2021)

Five Minute Friday - Fix

Word For 2021 - Embrace

Five Minute Friday - Fresh

Five Minute Friday - Time

What are you reading?

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - Messiah: Biblical Retellings

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Messiah: Biblical Retellings by C.A. Gray - This is a collection of short stories that retell the miracles of Jesus from various viewpoints. Author C.A. Gray took the details from the New Testament and then imagined what the miracle stories would have looked like through the eyes of the Biblical characters who witnessed them. They are in chronological order, and each is followed by an Afterword from the author explaining some of her research and thinking in how she retold the story. And the Biblical texts follow as well, in New King James Version.

Gray chose one character as the viewpoint character for each of the miracles - often the person for whom the miracle was performed. It's interesting to consider what it was like for those who were blind or crippled to meet Jesus and be healed, and to look at the story from their perspective. Peter is the viewpoint character for several of the stories, and although told in third person, even Jesus is the viewpoint character when he calms the wind and waves.

All the stories are very well written, faithful to the Scripture, and very well researched. The additional details, thoughts, and dialogue that are added suit the context and do not contradict the scriptural accounts in any way. In fact, I found them helpful in understanding the possibilities for why one gospel writer tells of only one blind man being healed while another says there were two; or why one account mentions only Mary Magdalene or one angel at the empty tomb but another account names three women and mentions two angels. The afterwords are also enlightening, as the author shares more about her research and her interpretation of the events. 

With short vignette stories, crisp explanations to inspire further study, and included Scripture to make verification simple, these retellings make the Biblical accounts of Jesus the Messiah and his miracles vivid and real.

From the publisher:

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the five thousand when Jesus multiplied the fish and the loaves? Or one of his disciples when he walked on water? Or to have seen Lazarus come out of the tomb? Ever wonder what Mary thought when Gabriel told her she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, or what the fallout was like in her personal life? Ever considered how those two disciples felt on the road to Emmaus, when they found that the man with whom they had been talking was in fact their risen Lord?

This collection of retellings from the gospels is designed to bring each of these stories and more to life in your imagination. They stick to the fact wherever the facts are known, from either the scriptures themselves or from extra-biblical commentaries. But they also add in back story when necessary, reimagining the sights, the sounds, the colors, and the emotions for the person most involved. Each retelling ends with an afterword discussion, summarizing the reasons for the choices made in the story, followed by the scriptures themselves.

Together, I hope these retellings help to paint a portrait of the Messiah.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Whatever You Do

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

~Colossians 3:12-17~

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles; and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Wordless Wednesday - Circle of Life

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We've enjoyed a couple of snow days here. The birds have been taking advantage of the feeder, and I've been regretting that we left the screen in the window. It makes it pretty difficult to get a decent photo.

And perhaps the birds - and I - should have expected this. 

Another player was hoping to take advantage of the situation . . .

I just happened to be snapping a couple of quick pictures, and got "lucky" enough to capture this split second!

RIP cardinal.

We were pretty sad. When hubby got home from work, he blocked that space under the porch so the feral cats didn't have that place to lie in wait.

And the birds were all back, including cardinals. More than I'd seen prior to the capture, I think.

This post will be linked at Pictorial Tuesday, hosted by Peabea Scribbles.

Pictorial Tuesday

 

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 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - A Pretty Deceit

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber - Verity Kent and her husband Sidney are beginning to feel that they can relax a bit more and enjoy the peacetime following their adventures during the Great War. They are still trying to track down the elusive and dangerous Lord Ardmore and hope they can bring him to justice for his treasonous activities, but are keeping this rather personal mission quiet.

As a favor to Verity's father, she agrees to visit his sister in Wiltshire and check up on her and the estate. She is a widow and her only son, Verity's cousin Reg, was blinded during his wartime service. The estate was used to quarter servicemen and Lady Popham complains of the damage they left and other strange goings-on. In addition to the damage and some missing art pieces, Verity and Sidney hear some suspicious stories from servants and grow curious. When a dead body is discovered on the grounds, things take a more sinister turn.

As they combine forces with their friend Max to continue hunting down Lord Ardmore, while also assisting in the investigation of the murder and other suspicious activity at the estate, they discover that there may be a connection. Lord Ardmore seems to stay one step ahead of them, but danger also follows them wherever they go. Can they solve the riddle left by Max's late father to find the truth about Ardmore before they become his next victims?

The suspense in this mystery is haunting because Ardmore seems to have eyes and ears everywhere, but at the same time I didn't find the connections and clues to be quite as clear in this installment. The personalities are bold, quirky, and likeable; and I love the interactions between Verity and Sidney, and the very real and raw characterizations of Verity's cousin and others who are coping with the aftermath of their wartime experiences.

By the same author: The Anatomist's Wife, Mortal Arts; A Grave Matter, A Study in Death, A Pressing Engagement, This Side of Murder, As Death Draws Near, A Brush With Shadows. Treacherous Is The Night, An Artless Demise, Secrets in the Mist, Penny for Your Secrets, A Stroke of Malice

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Written to Teach Us

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

~Romans 15:4-7~

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles; and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Share Four Somethings - January 2021

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Happy New Year!

It's a new year and thus we begin a new series of Something Loved, Something Read, and Something Treasured and Something Ahead monthly collections.

Something Loved

It has been a frustrating couple of months of getting a new computer set up. Ugh. We had been planning to replace our desktop for awhile, but around Thanksgiving it actually shut down. Like for good. So we had to hurry up on our replacement plans. We purchased a new computer and when it arrived we took it and our old one to the Best Buy Geek Squad so they could salvage files from the old hard drive and transfer to the new computer. As you might imagine, they were busy and  things took longer because of restrictions, so that took a couple weeks. And then the new computer didn't work right. Whaaaaaat?!? Tried letting the Geek Squad work on it remotely, with limited success, so at the beginning of January we took it in and they determined that it was something faulty with the computer itself, so that was returned another new one ordered. We now have that computer up and running, BUT we have been unable to get the backed up files (photos, documents, and the like) onto it so there is still work to be done. 

But here's the takeaway and why I'm telling this story in the Something Loved category. We love having the technology of our computers and phones! And honestly, the Geek Squad and Best Buy have done a great job helping us out. Big thank you to all the technology experts that keep all of us running and connected, especially during times when we are more dependent on these devices than ever. 

Something Read

I completed three books during the month, but I'm behind on writing reviews! You can see more about my reading in my Monthly Bookshelf Review for January 2021.

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber

 

Something Treasured

Treasured friendships have been on my mind more this month. You see, one of my very best friends is moving out of state soon. Their decision to move went from zero to sixty very quickly, their house sold quickly and they are in beast mode for getting their stuff purged and packed and ready to go. Yesterday I managed to get her and several other friends together for an evening of fellowship. Not sure whether we'll be able to get a group together like that again before she leaves, but what a precious time it was. And how greatly we will miss each other when our weekly coffee break dates have to end. 

Our group that met together has a name - we are Homeschool Moms Emeritae. We are all homeschool moms, either recently "retired" or with only a year or two left in our homeschool career. Once your youngest student nears graduation day and you realize that you will no longer be a Homeschool Mom, you also start to realize just how much of your social life and support system is tied to the homeschool community. My friend and I began to see that a few years ago when her youngest was about to graduate, and we wanted to be intentional about staying connected with each other and with other friends in a similar place in life. We also saw that with our collective years of homeschool experience we might be able to mentor and encourage new homeschoolers. We're still figuring out exactly how to do that, but thankfully we've got our little unofficial Homeschool Moms Emeritae circle started. 

Something Ahead

We are in wedding planning mode around here! Less than a month until the bridal shower, and a bit more than two months until the wedding! My son and his fiancee both live with us - she is already a daughter to me! - so although I don't have a lot of tasks that I'm actively involved in, the planning and preparation are still front and center in our daily lives. My daughter is the maid of honor, so she and I are both focused on planning for the shower. And also, I need a dress for the wedding! 

This post will be linked at Share Four Somethings hosted by HeatherGerwing.com

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.