The Spanish Brothers, by Deborah Alcock

The Spanish Brothers, A Tale of the Sixteenth Century, by Deborah Alcock

(A tale of the growth and suppression of the Gospel in Spain.)

Juan and Carlos are brothers.  They love each other very dearly, and build many castles in the air together.  Juan is bold, strong, and dominant- an excellent military man.  Carlos is thoughtful, sensitive, and extremely intelligent- perfect material for a distinguished churchman.  They are left to the wardship of their uncle, for their mother died at Carlos' birth, and their father had mysteriously disappeared some time before.  One of their favorite plans is to buy a ship and go in search of him, for it is rumored that he went to the Indies, and there was killed.  With the hopefulness of youth, though, they do not believe the story, for he left a message behind for them, inscribed on a window:

"El Dorado Yo hé trovado."

"I have found El Dorado."

 Someday, they determine, they will go together and find both their father, and El Dorado.

Family Hiking Trip!

Well, the cooler weather has come, at least, for a few days, and we took advantage of it to have a family hike in Gothe State Park.

Journeying in the Light: Part IX

Here is the next chapter of Journeying In The Light!

Chapter IX

(Photo credit.)

A Sad Day on the Feldman Farm

There are good days and bad days on the farm.  Good days are when things are going well- the animals are all healthy, kids were born, or the garden is producing lots of veggies.

Sad days are when the calf someone is waiting to pick up gets worms; the goats eat all Mama's rose bushes, plus the garden, and we run out of feed; or worst of all, when one of the animals dies.

Monday was a sad day.

Some Cute Little Cowboys

Savana took these photos for an Etsy listing last week, and I think they are just too cute not to share!  (Of course, the cute pony helps a lot!)

To order a custom-made shirt like the ones these boys are wearing, or see the other sizes/ styles Savana makes, please visit Pretty Modest Shoppe on Etsy.

Day at Blue Spring!

For Bo's birthday we took a trip to Bronson Blue Spring.  It was so much fun!  It is so much more enjoyable to swim in a spring than in a pool (though pools are fun too!)  There was a large shallow area for the younger ones to splash around in, as well as the deeper part around the boil for those who enjoy diving.  A diving platform made it even better, and we were almost the only ones there.

Here are some pictures from our day!

Journeying in the Light Part VIII

Well, I hope I haven't worn everyone out with this story yet, but since it isn't finished, I have to keep working on it.  :)  May it be an encouragement!

Journeying in the Light~ Part VIII

For previous chapters, please see the other blog posts in the category Journeying in the Light.

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe~ A Christian Adventure Tale

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

Rating:  8 out of 10 stars

     Published on April 25th, 1719, Robinson Crusoe is one of the most popular and famous adventure stories of all time.  What young boy doesn't like to camp out?  And how much better it would be to live on a desert island for a while!  Most people are pretty well acquainted with the general story:  Robinson runs away from home to go to sea, sails on several voyages, is taken prisoner and enslaved by the Moors for a couple of years, escapes to  Brazil, farms for a while, then goes on another voyage that ends in his being wrecked on a desert island off the coast of South America.  But what is not always known is that this story is distinctly Christian.

Book Review: In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon

In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon

My rating:  8 out of 10

Age range:  12 and up

    In His Steps was recommended to me by a friend, who said it had impacted him greatly.  I can see why- it provokes the reader to ask the question "What would Jesus do?"  It is the story of a movement begun by a tramp who comes to town asking for work, and intrudes upon the comfortable and easy going First Church of Raymond.  The members are astonished and scandalized when he gets up and asks a number of thought provoking questions, but the pastor is deeply impressed.  The impression is deepened yet more by the death of the man shortly after they meet.  The next week he asks his church for volunteers who are willing to pledge that for at least one year, they will regulate all their actions by first asking the question:  "What would Jesus do?"

The Armourer's 'Prentices, by Charlotte M. Yonge

The Armourer's 'Prentices 

Rating:  9 out of 10 Stars

     I came across this book on Librivox, when I became proof-listener for the recording.  I really enjoyed reading it, and C. M. Yonge has now become one of my favorite authors.

The Coral Island & The Gorilla Hunters, by R. M. Ballantyne

R. M. Ballantyne

     Robert Michael Ballantyne was one of the most popular boys' authors of the Victorian era, and deservedly so.  He was a Christian writer of adventure stories, and thoroughly researched his subject before writing; often visiting the location he would be describing, in order to understand and portray it better.  It has been said that "what G. A. Henty did for a boy's understanding of history, Ballantyne did for his understanding of geography."  His books however are not mere traveling guides, but tell an interesting story, full of action and humor; always from a Christian perspective.  Occasionally there will be an issue, especially when the books involve romance, such as the main character speaking to a girl of love before talking to her father, but this is not very common.

     In most of Ballantyne's books, especially those dealing with unreached, savage tribes, he strongly addresses the need for missionaries to preach the Gospel, and presents a clear Gospel message in the story.

Journeying in the Light: Part VII

Continuing the narrative of Alice Hawthorne, with her relations in England:

(Photo credit:  Savana Feldman)

Chapter VII

(For links to previous chapters, visit this blog post:   http://alaynamaysblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/journeying-in-light-part-vi.html