Early American Poetry “Beauty in Words” is a splendid introduction to poetry in America from the early colonial period in the 1600s through to the beginning of the twentieth century. Author Stephanie Buckwalter has set each of eleven prominent poets firmly in their historical setting and used their work to track both the development of poetic movements in America, as well as encouraging readers to enter more deeply into their work.

Tackling the greats, Buckwalter examines the life and work of: Anne Bradstreet, Philip Freneau, Phillis Wheatley, William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Paul Laurence Dunbar – arranged in approximate chronological order.

Buckwalter opens each poet’s chapter with a brief examination of their life and how it influenced their work. In most cases a likeness of the poet, whether engraving, painting, or photograph is also included. Two to three significant works are examined and analyzed with an eye for meter, rhyme, and other notable elements the poet is well known for.

Buckwalter’s inclusion of the opinion of critics in the poet’s day, and the influence their poems held is a charming addition, as are the red letter words and in-poem glossary that are provided for some trickier words and phrases such as “pelf.” Additional resources for discovering more about the poet are also included at the end of each chapter. The book also includes a glossary, index, notes, and even further resources, and I adore the sturdy, library reference style hardcover binding.

My only caveat is that some of the longer poems have been excerpted from. Trying to understand or analyze a poem based on two or three stanzas from a much larger work is futile – I wish that additional pages had been devoted to printing all of Freneau’s “The Prison Ship” and Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!”

Written for grades 9 – 12, I definitely recommend Early American Poetry as a supplement to any history program where the development of this art form in America is being explored. However, it makes an excellent introductory title to introduce newcomers to the works of some of America’s greatest, and most well known poets. After being exposed to their work, philosophies, and style, one can then dig in deeper to form a lasting association with the thoughts of these great men and women.

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Bible reading is still on track!  The kingdoms of Israel and Judah have divided.  God is bringing on the prophets with ever increasing intensity.  I’ve read through Jonah, Hosea, and am going to finish up Amos shortly.  Israel’s adultery is absolutely heartbreaking.  Reading through king after king turning to idols, and God’s frustrated warnings…I cried.

Based on width, I think I’m at the half-way mark .  I’ve far, far surpassed any of my previous efforts to read through in the past!  Thank you NIV!

I’ve written in the past about how much I appreciate my affordable eyeglasses from Zenni Optical.  You may have read Eric’s review in the Brooklyn Liberal Examiner, but I can tell you that it’s just not hearsay, I’m a real person who wears them!  Before I started buying Zenni glasses my toddler-sized children would often snap the arms off my glasses ($50 repair bill each time), but with prices between $8 and $35 per PAIR of prescription glasses, I’m saving money!

My  main pair of glasses just broke a few weeks ago; my helpful 20 month old brought them to me and squished the bridge a bit, they were flexible, but I tried to unbend them too quickly I think and snapped them.  I should have waited for my husband!  Thankfully, I had a second pair (two pairs , $65.00 including shipping – I normally pay $300 per pair locally!)  I probably don’t need to say it again, but I’m a satisfied customer, and I highly recommend their glasses, particularly in such tight economic times such as those we’re currently experiencing.

Now I need to pick up another couple of replacements for…next time!  I’m just so glad they’re cheap!  My other glasses wearing family members have also  started buying with Zenni and have been blown away the value as well.

Yes indeed, we’ve been potty training here in the Bogart home.  Basically, that looks like our youngest running around without any clothes on (or very few) for several weeks while she figures out her urges, learns that peeing on the floor is an uh-oh, and pees on the floor – a lot.

After a few days of wiping the floor down I was ready to give up.  ”She’s just not developmentally ready!” I claimed one night in exasperation.  Our 20 month old wasn’t showing any recognition of her bodily functions, would sit on the potty, run off and pee two-minutes later.

Of course, two days later she’d gone on the potty six times, leading me to conclude that potty training is like labor.  Just when you’re ready to give up something happens.

Of course, we still have lots of pee on the floor.  I think we’re catching around 50% though, so I’m clinging to hope.  Now that we’ve gone this far there’s no turning back!

I’ve been a fan of Kay Marshall Strom’s work since reading Once Blind, her novelization of John Newton’s life from slave trader to abolitionist (think “Amazing Grace.”) Regardless of whether you read Strom’s works of fiction or non-fiction, her heart for freedom, justice, and the respect of persons from all nations shines through.

In The Call of Zulina, the first in a new series of historical fiction —Grace in Africa — Strom transports us to Africa in the late 1700s. Grace Winslow is the daughter of an English sea captain and African princess, caught between two cultures and living a sheltered life. Having come to age largely unaware of her family’s involvement in the slave trade and its harsh realities, Grace encounters it first hand at the slave fortress Zulina, following her escape from the family compound and an odious betrothal.

Swept into the midst of a desperate slave rebellion, Grace finds herself forced to confront both the tragedies of the slave trade in Africa, the complicity of her mother and other Africans, and her own unknowing contribution to the plight of her new companions. Strom’s writing is vivid and irresistible. The pacing is excellent, and, like Grace, I found myself inexorably pulled along by the action swirling around me as I read.

Some of the moments of high-drama seem a bit clichéd, but that sense of no-turning-back choices and intense declarations lend the book a big-screen movie production feel; I’d love to see this title appear on the big screen. Likewise, some of Strom’s characters seem a bit too typecast. Grace’s mother, for example, is pure evil, willing to sacrifice her child without a moment’s thought for her own purposes. As a mother I found it unbelievable that there wasn’t any conflict present in her choices, as there was in those of Joseph Winslow.

The Call of Zulina can certainly be classified as Christian fiction, but Strom integrates considerations of faith carefully, mainly questioning how those who claim to know God can live in ways that sanctify cruelty. The faith of the Winslow’s house slave Mama Muco and its influence on Grace’s perspective also play some role in the storyline, but there’s no clear presentation of the gospel.

While there are some very slight hints at romance as Grace’s admiration for the powerful leader Cabeto grows, the novel’s forward momentum is carried by the search for freedom that unites Grace with the Africans imprisoned at Zulina. The blending of a diverse array of African cultures lends authenticity and additional depth to The Call of Zulina.

It’s exciting to read a well-penned novel set outside of the typically European and American settings predominant in Christian historical fiction. Anyone with an interest in the history of slavery -– particularly at ground zero –- will find The Call of Zulina a passionately written title that keeps interest high from start to finish.

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Inspired by the work of Dr. M.A. Thomas in India, Julie Ferwerda enthusiastically embraced his God-given vision of sending out One Million Arrows (children trained to reach the nations with the gospel) into the world. While Thomas has been faithfully laboring to raise abandoned and orphaned children for the Lord while training them for future roles in ministry and evangelism, Ferwerda has expanded this vision to include our own biological children here in North America, and any whose lives we may touch through giving.

Ferwerda both encourages families to raise their children whole-heartedly for missions and ministry, while examining the impact that families can have mission-ally and financially as they seek to reach the world for Jesus. Recent years have seen a huge re-evaluation of the approaches used to impart discipleship upon children. Increasingly parents are turning away from reliance upon formal church ministries and embracing visions of family discipleship within their homes. Author Julie Ferwerda offers a unique approach to creating a family on fire for the great commission in One Million Arrows.

One of my favorite portions of the book was the inclusion of the paths different families have taken to raise their children with a passion for Christ. Many homeschooling families have shared their stories and the fruit their children’s lives have borne. Likewise, the stories of many orphans who have been raised in Christian homes with a heart for ministry are also shared along with some of their impact upon the world.

Ferwerda’s passion is unmistakable, but at times her message of spreading the gospel through the lives of children who have been abandoned and consequently raised in Christian homes seems a bit cold. There is little discussion of God’s heart for placing orphans in families (regardless of whether they reach the world for Christ), the tender joys of adoption, or even the delights of parenthood. Her tight focus on raising children with hearts for evangelism does at times give an all-business, no-nonsense, raise ‘em up, get ‘em out, feel to her work.

With such a strong emphasis on numbers, I’m surprised that a strong emphasis on bearing more children and adopting more children into our families wasn’t included in One Million Arrows. Though Ferwerda does briefly mention the possibility of having more children oneself, it’s a one-sentence statement. She then focuses mainly upon financial support to international orphan ministries (100% of the book’s proceeds are designated towards such ministries.) An excellent resource section at book’s end provides an abundance of ministries to investigate for charitable giving.

Though I’m already somewhat familiar with the principles of family discipleship, reading One Million Arrows gave fresh inspiration, and a renewing of my vision for our family. It is so easy to become distracted in this temporal life, but Ferwerda keeps us focused on those things that have eternal value, and encourages us to run the race with both perseverance and joy.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AT CHRISTIANBOOK.COM OR AMAZON.COM!

The weather here has been completely lovely these past few days! Water is flowing, roofs are dripping, and my children have been carousing in the great out-of-doors with rubber boots on! The sun is slowly returning to these northern climes (thank you Jesus!), and we’re looking forward to many warm days to come!

Is it Spring where you live yet? We still have a lot of snow, but it’s finally melting!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of wellnessdaily.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

It seems like this is the year for getting fit!  More of my online friends than ever before are motivated and ACTUALLY, FINALLY making the efforts to lose some weight – myself included.  Today I found a website that’s new to me – www.wellnessdaily.com – and I’m amazed at the wealth of content rich information available there.

Now that I’m actually losing weight it seems that my lack of success in the past had more to do with a lack of motivation and a mind set to keep going, to care, to persevere, than it had to do with any lack of instruction or know-how.  One of the neatest things about Wellness Daily is that users can set  up their own customized news feeds to deliver the personal health and wellness inspiration that you need on a daily basis.

Right now, they’re holding a Twitter contest for a chance to win a WellnessDaily.com prize package which include coupons for a year-long supply of Jennie-O Turkey Store product and a one-year gym membership, valued at $1,250.  You can find all the details on how to enter here.   Basically, you’ll be wanting to tweet this, “Enter to win $ towards a gym membership & JENNIE-O turkey products. Just follow @wellness_daily & RT this! http://bit.ly/9WAM8X” if you live in the US and want to enter.

Free turkey and the gym – best wishes for your weight loss this year!

There is a very special copywork freebie available today at Homeschool Freebie of the Day.  If you love the Spring, classic poetry, copywork, and use a traditional ZB style font for your young primary age students, you shouldn’t miss out!  Even if you don’t do any of those things, you might just want to take a peek and see what we’ve been busy with these days!

Hope this is a blessing for you!