Bucky McGuire

The description of Bucky McGuire and its setting of post-civil war Illinois near Galena caught my attention right away. As an Illinois girl interested in history, I had high hopes for this book. While the story of Bucky was interesting and the interchange between the now adult Bucky and his great-grandchildren was interesting, I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped.

While geared for upper-elementary children, the author uses numerous words and phrases unfamiliar to many children. While well-written and filled with amazing vocabulary, Bucky McGuire would be best as a read-aloud where unfamiliar terms could be explained. I did find the story dragged a bit but reading it aloud so that children could "hear" it told in the same way Bucky's grandchildren did would be a wise choice. As parent or teacher may find it helpful to create research projects around some of the events included in the book which would provide learning opportunities in history and science topics.

Recommended for reading aloud or as a unit study. Children who are interested in history and are avid readers will enjoy.

I received a complementary copy via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review.

Sustainable Children's Ministry

Are you a children's minister or do you work or volunteer in your church's children's ministry? Are you a parent, church leader, or church member how is interested in children's ministry? Then you need to read Sustainable Children's Ministry by Mark DeVries and Annette Safstrom as soon as possible!

Sustainable Children's Ministry: From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions was published this year by IVP and written by Ministry Architects who previously produced Sustainable Youth Ministry and provides a wide range of church consulting services. Individuals familiar with Sustainable Youth Ministry will find similarities between the previously published book and the newer Sustainable Children's Ministry, but will also find that the content has been completely re-written with examples and information pertinent to children's ministry staff. In fact, the introduction provides the fascinating story of how Annette Safstrom, whose voice and story you hear throughout the book, helped to initiate the writing of this book.

Anyone who has worked in children's ministry in any capacity, knows that there is one thing after another, you always have to plan for the next event, and are searching for that elusive event that will entice parents and their children to participate and stay involved in your children's ministry. The tasks involved are tiring just to think about! Reading Sustainable Children's Ministry is like having an experienced children's minister come along side you to commiserate and share what has worked for them. Knowing that the author has been in your shoes and is sharing practical tips is so reassuring. While not wishing to divulge all of the gold nuggets of information from this book, the number one item Safstrom shares is to plan ahead instead of living week to week. She then provides step by step suggestions on how to do so.

The opening paragraph indicates this book is not just for practicing children's ministers but also for church leaders and church members. Sustainable Children's Ministry is recommended to a wide audience as it helps readers to better understand the needs of the children's ministry department and will allow better advocacy for this important area of church ministry. As a sporadic church ministry volunteer, my appreciation for this ministry area grew. Sustainable Children's Ministry will be useful as a textbook in children's and family ministry classes, definitely belongs in libraries serving ministry students, and on the shelf of every children's minister. Beyond the specific church ministry applications, many of the concepts shared are applicable to a wide variety of careers and life circumstances. Numerous items mentioned in Sustainable Children's Ministry will be tweaked and then applied in my own workplace, family, and personal life. With that said, I'm going to go find some balcony time and figure out my rhythmic week as well as re-read this book and take better notes!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, Sustainable Children's Ministry, free from InterVarsity Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

104 Days of Summer Vacation

Actually, at our house summer vacation is only 89 days, but that doesn’t quite sound as cool. As of yesterday, my children are officially 2nd and 5th graders and our summer has started! Our summer kicked off with a quick trip to Chicago along with my daughter’s friend on Wednesday. All the kids had a great time although mom and dad were definitely worn out but the end. A variety of activities are on the summer agenda for the kids. I like to keep them busy enough that they keep learning and have fun, yet allow enough down time that they are ready to go back to school in August. My son's first question after getting his report card was if we can do "mommy school." We use that opportunity to review the last year's concepts and get a bit ahead on the next year. Both children will be attending a variety of camps including 4-H camp, church camp, and Cub Scout camp. We plan to do some camping as a family as well. Of course, if you are going camping that also means a lot of swimming and swimming lessons. Other mainstays of our summer are Vacation Bible School and participating in the summer library reading program. Both kids will also spend a week at grandma's house on the farm. Our oldest will spend a lot of time working on her 4-H projects. We signed up for quite a few, but fortunately, there is some overlap between projects. I’m really excited to supervise a vast amount of cookie baking (and eating) for her foods project. She also has a sewing project, several animal projects, child development, citizenship, leadership, photography, and several nature related projects. We will begin working on my son’s Wolf Cub Scout requirements for next year as well. Fortunately, a number of the requirements are activities that are easily incorporated into summer fun such as planting a vegetable garden and flower and planning an outdoor meal. Both kids have been troopers in helping to plant and weed our vegetable garden which has moved from our front yard to a community garden plot. Our front yard is going back to a more respectable flower garden. The highlight of our summer is our planned summer vacation in July, but we’ll keep that destination under wraps for another post. Of course, countless other activities will be experienced “before school starts this fall!”

You Go, Girl!

This post is a tribute to my dd, currently in kindergarten. Yes, there are times when she is frustrating, doesn't do what she's told, and just generally acts like a kid, but there are times when she makes me a very proud mama.

At her school they have an Easter party the day before spring break just like they have a Hallowe'en, Christmas, and Valentine's day party. While getting dressed that morning, she asked me if the party would mention Jesus or if it would just be about "fake" Easter. I responded that she can tell them about Jesus. DD responded that she drew Jesus on the cross on the Easter bags they had made. Sure enough when she brought her bag home yesterday, she had a great picture of Jesus with the crown of thorns, a black sky, and lightening. That's why, even though I stress about her education and whether to send her to public, private, or home school, that for now she's staying in her local elementary.