Recap Book Chat

Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green was a book out of the ordinary. She weaves a tale using only letters, telegraphs, and notes. This piece of history was unknown to us, German POWs were brought to America to work with farmers. We were taken back in time to January 1944 to Ironside Lake, Minnesota. We met Johanna Berglund, a determined linguistic student that was coerced into returning to her hometown to work as a translator at the nearby POW camp. She couldn’t wait to leave her hometown and now, ironically, she is headed back. Peter Ito, Jo’s closest friend, is a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to do her best to give Ironside Lake a second chance. Peter has a lot of wisdom: “God never promised us an easy path. But He did say He’d be with us through it all.”                 “The past is never in the past. But we have to have the courage to move beyond it.”                “We can do anything we must. How we do it is up to us.”                “Don’t hold on so tightly to one idea of what you want that you don’t let God push you                   In another direction.” Jo was a guarded: “I don’t have enough charm to spare and have to ration it for general                                     interaction with humanity.”                              “Real life is dreadfully tedious, the way it interrupts reading.” She cleverly began her letters to Peter with German idioms, such as:                               “To add one’s mustard=put in one’s opinion”                                “The fish begins to stink at the head=the source of trouble is often at the top”                                “To howl along with the wolves=do as those around you are doing” As Jo’s adventure continues she battles with owner of the newspaper, Mr. McHenry, who prints anonymous negative letters about the POWs in the name of freedom of expression. Her attempt to show him the wrongness of his practice is priceless. “As I see, no one should be able to sling mud from a dark and shadowed corner…” Pastor Sorenson wrote, “Sometimes showing grace breaks us before it heals us. Forgiveness can feel like a betrayal of justice.” Powerful message from a man that lost his son in battle from the same place the POWs were captured, yet he agrees to let the prisoners attend church. Why was Jo on trial for treason? What will be revealed in the trial?  Will Peter survive his time in the army? Who was Jo’s scholarship donor that told her to choose the better dream, not the bigger dream?” How can letters alone paint a picture of days gone by, but connect so amazingly to the world we live in? Please, join us as Kate ‘adds her mustard’ and I add mine about Things We Didn’t Say. “

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill is a remarkable story of an amazing family’s dedication to serving God wholeheartedly. Join Kate and I as we discuss the impactfulness of Casper ten Boom and his family while they operate their watch shop in Holland. The family is always on the alert for ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” The ten Booms were unwaveringly solid in this area. They started each day focused on God and His word and ended each day the same way! What an amazing example of the power of routines! Have you wondered what enables ordinary people to do extraordinary things? Corrie gives readers the prepwork for being ’all in’ as disciples of Christ. I think that is the linchpin! The linchpin keeps the wheels turning through dust and mud. If an axle’s linchpin is removed, even 50%, the results are catastrophic. Our linchpin is God and living a life to glorify Him is the purpose for our existence. The ten Booms were ready, willing to hide Jews even at their own peril. The family successfully hid many Jews during a year and a half before a traitor exposed their operation. The story doesn’t end at the raid, it just changes direction. In prison, Betsie and Corrie were able to hold Bible studies, and time after time the demeanor of the women changed and they became more Christ-like. Denying self is a concept that society has really muddied the waters on, but this family clearly had it figured out. This inspiring book is one that readers will not soon forget. It will bless you and your family greatly!

Travel the last half of Route 66 with Charles James, the famous Chicago pitchman that everyone believes was killed in a plane crash. Dying, for Charles, was an eye-opener. He decides to walk from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA, In The Road Home by Richard Paul Evans, readers join Charles about two hours from Amarillo, TX. Each chapter begins with a quote from the protagonist. The quotes are like chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven. I savored the flavors of wisdom, humor, insight, connection, and growth! Here’s a sampling: “On the road again. Blisters and fatigue. Willie Nelson made it sound much nicer.” “Abandoned buildings along an abandoned road stand (barely) as a testament to the truth that nothing this side of heaven lasts forever.” “Today I came across a man I thought was killing another man. He was trying to save his life. How poor our judgment is. Too often we open our eyes wide to condemn others.” “I wrote my own Burma Shave poem: He who lives/ like he won’t die/ won’t find a mansion/ In the sky.” “In the oddity of today’s culture, some create false battles just so they can choose a side.” “I feel like Frodo in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy–his errand more difficult, each footstep heavier, as he nears his destination.” “Don’t give up. Everyone who got to where they are had to start from where they were.” As Charles helps others, he ends up helping himself. He evolves into his best self. Humility made his transformation possible. As he told the jilted Uber driver, “It is always good to process things to help us, not hurt us. Don’t play the victim.” We use our challenges to grow us, move us beyond being the weak link in a relationship. The Uber driver asked Charles if he was a marriage counselor to which he replied, “No. I am a weak link.” This book will stretch you, entertain you, and impact you! Enjoy the journey, dear readers!

The same author that gave us Ebenezer Scrooge and Oliver Twist also gifted readers with a kind, loyal, misfortunate, and somewhat naïve, David Copperfield. After reading this novel from the genre, bildungsroman (dealing with the protagonist maturing) we agree with the famous praise of Thackery, ‘Bravo Dickens’. Let’s share a few quotes from these classic characters: “My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.” David Copperfield This quote echoes Ecclesiastes 9, “Whatever your hand finds to do, to it with all your might.” David did everything wholeheartedly. Even when he fell in love, David was ‘head over ears’ in love with Dora and willing to ‘take his woodman’s ax in hand and clear his way through the forest of difficulty’ to become her husband. “Cheer up, keep a good heart and know your own value.” Mrs. Crupp We should never forget our value either, we were made in God’s image. David struggled with this because he had an unsavory step-father who sent the downtrodden seven year old away from the only home he’d ever known. “We must meet reverses boldly, and not suffer them to frighten us, my dear. We must learn to act the play out. We must live misfortune down, Trot!” Aunt Betsy Trotwood ‘“I look back on my life, child,’ said my aunt, ‘and I think of some who are in their graves, with whom I might have been on kinder terms…I have been a grumpy, frumpy, wayward sort of a woman, a good many years. But you and I have done one another some good, Trot-” Another jewel from Aunt Betsy What a worthwhile goal for us all as well, ‘Let us strive daily to do some good ❤️.’ If you are looking for a classic that has stood the test of time by delivering endearing characters, dastardly dudes, and comical quips, David Copperfield has it all👏 Be sure to let us know if you have read this novel or if you have books you would like to recommend.  You can join our Facebook Group, Recap Book Chat or leave us a voice memo. My favorite way to read is curled up with a soft blanket and a hot cozy drink in my hand. Currently my go to beverage is decaf coffee with Earth Echo's Cacao Bliss blended in. Ten powerful, organic superfoods that help with relaxation, joint pain, weight goals, and mental focus. Use my coupon code KATEM10 to get 10% off your order when you try their products. Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Connect with Kate and Sheila online at www.recapbookchat.com Note that some of the links above are affiliate links to books and brands we love and ones we think you will too! Keep those pages turning and those book lights burning!

Have you ever noticed how some folks seem to get a lot done with little effort while other folks g barely get the bare essentials done? One camp seems to swim effortlessly while the camp I’m in  dog paddles with our heads barely above water. Why is this? We all are blessed with 168 hours in a week but that is where the similarity between these two camps ends, my friend.  Tim Challies helps those of us that are organizationally challenged. Step by step he helps us  develop a plan with  routines to help us navigate life much more efficiently and stress-free in his book Do More Better. His goal is to help readers be productive. He defines productivity as effectively stewarding our gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.  He warns us about the productivity thieves that some of us know all too well:  laziness, busyness, (which are within our control) and thorns and thistles (problems life throws at us that we cannot control but we can control how we react to them). Being mindful helps us react positively because we see possibilities instead of problems. (Check out Jordan Peterson’s interview with mindfulness guru Ellen Langer who explains how 1 + 1= 1 😃) Change Your Mindset, Your Health, Your Life | Dr. Ellen Langer | EP 381 Humility helps us realize we are limited. We cannot do everything. When we accept this we also realize that if we spread ourselves too thin we are not doing anything with excellence. “We have limited amounts of gifting, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm, but unlimited ways of allocating them.”  Learn about the slow “yes” and the quick “no” and ‘a home for everything, and like goes with like’. Motivation is like the moon, it waxes and wanes. Implement habits during waxing times and those habits will carry you through when the waning times come. It is important to know your most productive time in the day, are you a lark or an owl or in between? Put the big rocks in first when you are at your best.  Why are we here? 1 Corinthians 10:31 tell us, “So whether you eat or drink, (or organize) or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Our lives should glorify God, let’s go forth and live for Him! We got our book remediation today from Robyn Buchanan. Check out her youtube channel and website to get inspiration for taming the chaos.   _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Be sure to let us know if you have read this novel or if you have books you would like to recommend.   You can join our Facebook Group, Recap Book Chat or leave us a voice memo. Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Connect with Kate and Sheila online at www.recapbookchat.com My current my go to beverage is an iced decaf coffee with ⁠Earth Echo's Cacao Bliss⁠ blended in. Ten powerful, organic superfoods that help with relaxation, joint pain, weight goals, and mental focus. Use my coupon code KATEM10 to get 10% off your order when you try their products. Note that some of the links above are affiliate links to books and brands we love and ones we think you will too! Keep those pages turning and those book lights burning!

Is your life so busy you barely take time to breathe let alone pray without ceasing? We think this nugget of truths can help us to focus on God no matter what we’re doing.  Brother Lawrence was not a monk. He was a  wounded soldier, failed footman, and finally a cook and dishwasher and cobbler who lived centuries ago. How can he help us today? Brother Lawrence was known to be ‘sensible of his faults but not discouraged by them.’ People wrote him letters seeking his advice. His responses were short lessons such as “One does not become holy all at once” and  “Our only business was to love and delight ourselves in God…” Brother Lawrence said it was a great delusion to think that times of prayer were different from other times. God is always with us! We are never alone! Before working he prayed: “ O my God, since Thou are with me and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy presence, and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections.”  I love that his book is called The Practice of the Presence of God because we must practice  and practice and practice to form this amazing ‘holy habit’.Christ followers are not perfect but we should be different. We should be working wholeheartedly because we are serving our heavenly Father no matter what we are endeavoring to accomplish.   Mowing a lawn, cooking a meal, washing laundry, bandaging a wound, teaching a child the list is endless but the drive and determination to do our best should be consistent.  1 Corinthians 10:31 is the focus scripture in the movie Remember the Goal. The coach put it on T-shirts for her team to help them remember, “...whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” Brother Lawrence and the cross-country coach share the same mindset.  There were many powerful lines in this book but my favorite was pithy and packed a punch,  “Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God.”

It’s time to head back to school and find a learning routine groove. What books have caused you to change your life? Join us as we discuss books that schooled us and caused a significant shift in our lives.  “It strengthens thy heart to do a hard thing” is a powerful quote from A Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli. A cripple boy learns how to survive despite his hardships in this unique novel, includes lessons for kids and adults alike! Jennifer L. Scott’s books: Lessons from Madame Chic, At Home with Madame Chic, and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic describe what the author learned living abroad with a family in France. She also has a TedTalk on the 10 item capsule wardrobe. Loads of lessons on living with intentionality. The Count of Monte Cristo provided countless lessons:  patience, wisdom, grit, learning how to read people, asking the right questions and, of course, stamina. This book illustrates over and over that people were and still are perplexing no matter what century or country we are in.  Anna Karenina was a confidence booster! Our first Russian novel will long be remembered. What an intriguing  opening! “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” People Fuel had a plethora of lessons such as:  Be Present, Convey the Good, Provide Reality, and Call to Action. We need people but we need to set boundaries to deal with them effectively, the author explains asking clarifying questions. The book, Boundaries, packs a punch in this area as well. We are limited, so we must set limits and uphold them in order to thrive. What a mindset changer Unoffendable by Brant Hansen was! We learned how to practice overlooking an offense by giving grace. It totally reframed our thinking, kind of like swimming upstream.  Living for God not for self was also the theme in Goliath Must Fall. We learned we aren’t David in the story, Jesus is, He is our conqueror. The Tech-Wise Family was a recent read that gave many suggestions to help families be present and live creatively. By making a simple change you can make an upgrade! We are image-bearers to a God that is the ultimate creator, we need creative outlets. We should never consume more than we create. The Gift of Failure explained how learning that comes with challenge is stored more effectively! We should parent for tomorrow, not just for today. The Last Green Valley was an unbelievable journey back to WW2. Times were so hard they were forced to eat grass! The protagonist’s wonderful line can help us all. “I used to think life happened to me but now I know life happened for me.” Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth  taught us to stick with hard things and never quit on a bad day. Mindset  by Carol Dweck pairs well with Grit. When readers see  the fixed and growth mindsets playing out it is easy to choose wisely. We have to rethink our vocabulary, switching out  “You’re so smart” for a much more beneficial “Great effort” “Way to keep trying even when it is hard, it gets a bit easier every time”. The Five Love Languages of Children included a wellhouse of information in filling the love tanks of our children. A simple questionnaire is included to guide parents in discovering their child’s love language. Kids with a full love tank are less likely to act out and in turn will make better choices. Last but not least, The Read-Aloud Handbook by: Jim Trelease is a wonderful resource for parents that want to have a nightly read-aloud time with their kids, not all good books make great read-alouds. It is a huge help in creating a treasured memories in the lives of your children.  A Door in the Wall , The Count of Monte Cristo Part 1, Part 2 Anna Karenina People Fuel Unoffendable Goliath Must Fall The Tech-Wise Family The Last Green Valley Grit The Five Love Languages of Children Massie Dobbs Unbroken *Some of the links are affiliate links to books and brands we think you will love.

My Brain’s Not Broken (Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD) By: Tamara Rosier, PhD “Where’s my phone?” “ What did I do with my keys?” “Was that due today?” “ Wow! That took a lot longer than I thought it would!” “Where did the time go?” “I am sooooooo tired.” This author has ADHD along with 3 of her 4 kids and her husband, so the girl knows well the crazy unpredictable journey that many of us fellow- strugglers are on which may be a bit of a challenge for our neuro-typical friends to understand. ADHD has many faces along with many misconceptions. The author has her clients come up with metaphors to express their ADHD. Some were like Lucille Ball at the candy factory (where Ethyl and Lucy are trying to wrap the candy coming on the conveyor belt but simply cannot keep up) , dirty babies (even after washing, they’re dirty again), elves moving things around, monsters of many shapes, sizes, and strengths.  Although very different, most ADHD peeps are passionate, strong-willed, extra extra curious with possibility brains. Most struggle with being patient, completing mundane monotonous tasks, and balancing time (time blindness is a real thing). Usually ADHD folks veer toward divergent creative thinking instead of convergent.  The author’s daughter described her ADHD as being a misfit toy from the classic Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer cartoon that had a part on  the Island of Misfit Toys. Many think ADHD is a struggle that only affects kids that cannot pay attention. In fact, Many adults are affected and many are hyper focused (completely immersed in whatever intrigues them). Her suggestions to help navigate successfully include, The Solve-It Grid. Set a  timer for 20 minutes to complete mundane tasks (homework, housework, paying bills, proofreading…) in increments when working in the yellow quadrant. (Gradually depletes battery) When the yellow tasks pile up and turn urgent, they turn red! (Kinda like cooking on high heat). Stressful fight, flight, or freeze becomes the choices in this quadrant which is exhausting and can cause burn-out. Red quadrant may feel energizing but spending too much time here quickly depletes our batteries. Blue quadrant is our comfort zone default, it’s as hard to get out of as the Molasses Swamp in Candyland.(playing games on our phones, binge watching shows, scrolling Twitter…) We need some time in the blue quadrant but like everything else balance is a challenge. Blue time slowly recharges but too much sends us into the red quadrant (because of things in the yellow quadrant left undone).  Green is the Happy Place quadrant, it is where we are reminded of what we value. This is the fastest way to be rested, restored, and recentered. The Green requires little (having a meal with family, going for a walk, watching a sunset…) but gives much. Some avoid this quadrant thinking they are too tired but in reality, green gives the most energy! “He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.” Michel de Montaigne Don’t fear the unknown or assume you know all there is to know about ADHD. Let’s embrace strategies as we strive to conquer our quest for balance and help others do likewise.

Let’s meet Henry (14), Jessie(12), Violet(10), and Benny(6) Alden, a.k.a. The Boxcar Children! Henry is hard-working, responsible, and protective. Jessie is brave, a talented cook and  a great problem solver. Violet is the  quiet and shy Alden. She has sewing skills beyond her years. Benny has the  ability to boldly say what is on his mind, often in a funny way. He loves a cracked pink cup he found at the dump and Jessie’s dog, who he tried to label by cutting  a J out of  Watch's fur. The Aldens are on the run because they overheard the baker and his wife as they discussed keeping the oldest three children to work while sending Benny to an orphanage. It is hard to believe that this endearing book series met with criticism when it came out in 1924. “Warner once wrote that the original book ‘raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too good a time without any parental control! That is exactly why children like it!’” It is difficult for me to criticize hard-working, problem solving, kind and caring kids but there are always those who look for the negative and if they don’t find it, they supply it. These books have given young readers chapter books they are able to read successfully which builds confidence as well as proficiency.   The first 19 books in the series were written by the author, Gertrude Chandler Warner. She has the kids realistically get older  in her books, such as Henry getting a driver’s license. The rest of the books (20-100+) keep the kids' ages unchanging. Find out why the Alden kids are fearful of their grandfather and how they got the nickname,  The Boxcar Children. Find The Boxcar Children’s Cookbook and whip up the stew Jessie made in the cauldron they found at the dump or try your hand at Hobo Stew or Sea Biscuits. The fun thing about cooking for this family is they really appreciate the effort that goes into the task. What a wonderful take-away from this endearing book, appreciate those around you, be grateful, see possibilities instead of problems, and learn to laugh. A joyful read, indeed!

It’s me again, Hank, the Cowdog…is the opening line in every Hank book by John R. Erickson. This entertaining series about a comical canine who boastfully touts himself to be the Head of Ranch Security has become a favorite for all ages. Readers join Hank and his sidekick, Dover, while they relentlessly tease Bruno, the boxer, on their uninvited trip into town. When Bruno calls Hank a 2 bit cowdog,   Hank replies, “Do you mean that as an insult or a compliment?”    Back on the ranch, Hank is wrongfully accused and punished for a crime he did not commit, the lack of justice gnaws at his sense of fairplay until he decides to leave. Hank is a might conflicted because he knows Drover is afraid of his own shadow, his hands (er, paws) are less than capable for the job of Head of Ranch Security but Hank hits the outlaw trail anyway.  He meets a stuttering buzzard who thinks Hank is du-du-dead because of the chicken head Sally Mae had tied around Hank’s neck in an effort to thwart his chicken killing habit. Let’s be clear here, Hank ate a dead chicken, however, he was not the reason for her death, readers will discover the killing culprit in the book. Soon, our runaway Head of Ranch Security meets the first outlaw on the trail, a beautiful coyote named Missy. This encounter makes Hank’s heart go pitter patter, love is in the air you might say! She takes ‘Hunk” home to meet her folks and as one might predict things begin to get dicey. The situation really heats up when Missy’s  brother, Scraunch, challenges ‘chicken dog’ to a battle! We get help in this podcast from the youngsters who  really enjoyed the different characters and the Me Just a Worthless Coyote song, and Drover’s dry humor. If you are already a Hank fan or if you are excited to become one be sure and check out  hankthecowdog.com for cool games like Whack a Coyote, Ranch Memory, & Find Your Age in Dog Years-Yikes! Remember readers, things are not always what they seem.  Keep on reading and working towards your dream!