Three-Ring Circus: How Real Couples Balance Marriage, Work, and Family Review

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Three-Ring Circus: How Real Couples Balance Marriage, Work, and Family ReviewThe title of this book summarizes the theme of this compilation of essays edited by Dawn Comer Jefferson and Rosanne Welch. Couples share their experiences juggling marriage, work, and family (and their resulting guilt, angst, and frustration)as well as their joy in being parents. Most essays are written by either the mother or the father, although one is an interview of both parents. Parenthood is explored by working moms, down-sized dads, self-employed parents, stay-at-home parents, and those with alternative lifestyles. Their perspectives may be different, but they share many of the same emotions about the 24/7 job of multi-tasking in order to achieve a financially and emotionally secure family life.
I found this book to be both entertaining and informative. As a working mother of an eleven year-old girl and a wife of nearly twenty years, I could easily relate to the reactions of these parents in many of the situations they described. While reading, my ever-present questions were "Did they feel that way also?" and "What did he/she do about the situation?" Their reactions assured me that I'm not the only parent who struggles
with the balance of work and family and allowed me to see how they dealt with similar situations. I gave myself a pat on the back for having created a more organized environment than I prevously thought and breathed a sigh of relief that my life was less complicated than some revealed in these essays. This book inspired me to continue my own bancing act with fewer feelings of isolation and more self-confidence.Three-Ring Circus: How Real Couples Balance Marriage, Work, and Family Overview

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The Golden Ring: A Christmas Story Review

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The Golden Ring: A Christmas Story ReviewThis is a sentimental family-oriented "feel good" book about Christmas in 1918. It depicts life in an earlier century. But even while set during a war period, it was a time when people looked out after one another, neighbor helped neighbor, and a family was a more stable relationship. This is a bit of fictionalized family-history but well worth the time to read. It just might make your Christmas brighter.
The Golden Ring is about the live of young Anna who lives in the Pennsylvania coal area. The ring, a cherished gift from her father, is passed on to a poor, needy family traveling through the area in search of a home and work just prior to Christmas. The real story is about love, and giving, and caring not only for family but for others as well. It is the story of a young girl living out the true meaning of Christmas--something not everyone in today's world will understand. In the end (the predictable ending) the entire family enjoys the rewards of a manger-centered Christmas rather than a worldly Santa focus.
Give this as a replacement for a Christmas card. You'll be thanked. One book that is worth the read, year after year after year.The Golden Ring: A Christmas Story Overview

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The Best of John Bellairs: The House with a Clock in Its Walls; The Figure in the Shadows; The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring Review

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The Best of John Bellairs: The House with a Clock in Its Walls; The Figure in the Shadows; The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring ReviewThis volume contains:
The House with a Clock in its Walls (1973)
The Figure in the Shadows (1975)
The Letter, the Witch and the Ring (1976)
I have not read all of Bellairs' novels, so I cannot say whether these three are really his "best". But the grouping is appropriate for other reasons: These are in fact the first three of Bellair's supernatural horror novels for kids; each is a sequel to the last; and all three feature the characters Lewis Barnavelt, Jonathan Van Olden Barnavelt, Mrs. Zimmerman, and (in the last two novels) Rose-Rita Pottinger. Moreover, the collection is more-or-less complete, since these are the only ones featuring these characters that were written entirely by Bellairs and published during his lifetime. The "next" in the series, entitled "The Ghost in the Mirror" was published posthumously after being completed by Brad Strickland in 1993 (after a gap of 17 years, during which Bellairs switched to writing about Johnny Dixon and Anthony Monday). Strickland has gone on to write his own adventures in the series (with what success I cannot say).
HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS begins with the orphaned Lewis Barnavelt, aged 10, being sent to live with his crazy Uncle Jonathan, and his batty neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman. The Uncle and the neighbor both turn out to be magicians (of the benevolent sort), and the grand old house they inhabit is filled with magical artifacts and mysteries, including a strange ticking sound reputed to come from a hidden clock. Matters get serious after the insecure Lewis, in an attempt to impress a friend, ignores his uncle's warning that he should never attempt magic. Creepy, scary fun ensues.
The next two novels in the series are just as well written, and every bit as creepy and scary as the original. However, the grimness becomes a little more unrelenting, and some kids may even find it depressing. One reason for this is that Bellairs seems to have somewhat regretted sending mixed messages in his first book, by his positive portrayal of magic as practiced by Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan. In the course of these volumes Mrs. Zimmerman is almost completely deprived of her powers. Bellairs continues to pay lip service to the idea that they are both benevolent minor magicians, but he ceases to show them using magic to positive effect. Magic use becomes, for all practical purposes, almost entirely associated with evil, and any dabbling therein leads only to horrific consequences.
I don't think Bellairs is necessarily wrong to want to discourage kids from seeking occult powers. However, it is a possibly unintended effect of this decision that the stories become increasingly and unrelentingly horrific. While the first volume made it seem as though there were powerful forces of Good to compete with those of Evil, the two sequels start to seem a bit like reading H.P. Lovecraft, wherein Evil has all the power.
This edition contains the original illustrations for all 3 books. This means we get Edward Gorey for the first novel, which is good. Unfortunately, other artists illustrated the 2 sequels. The latter pictures do not enhance the stories, which would be better off without them.The Best of John Bellairs: The House with a Clock in Its Walls; The Figure in the Shadows; The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring Overview

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With This Ring: A For Better or For Worse Collection Review

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With This Ring: A For Better or For Worse Collection ReviewEnter within and witness the saga of Michael and Deanna's wedding. For all of you who have lived through weddings as a bride, groom or immediate family, you will easily identify with all the wedding preparations, conflicts and joys. The only thing I regreted while reading it was how grown-up Michael has become. However, I just pulled out an older book by Lynn and revisited. But think....only a great author can make you care about characters so much that you hate to see them "grow up." Cheers to Lynn and please keep them coming!With This Ring: A For Better or For Worse Collection Overview

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A Silver Ring Review

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A Silver Ring ReviewNathan has done an outstanding job of writing a story that anyone can identify with if they have ever lived. Of course pilots old and new will see the parallels of their own lives or of the people that they know through the always small world of aviation. This book even offers up how small the world of aviation truly is. Romantics will more than identify with the relationship side of this book between parents and kids, siblings, lovers, and married couples. It is a tale that I identified with in so many ways yet it was so different from my own life, and I believe most readers will be able to insert themselves into the book in their fitting role. The flying scenarios are very accurate and truthful. The non-pilot will be able to understand as good as the highly experienced aviator.
As a civilian trained airline pilot, trained by my best friend my father who passed away very prematurely, and now raising what promises to be a third generation pilot, I can recommend this book to all readers, but especially those with a love for aviation and the camaraderie that surrounds those of us so taken in by it. I only hope that Nathan has more of this kind of story to share with us.
Enjoy "A Silver Ring"!!A Silver Ring Overview

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Martha Stewart's Keepsake Wedding Planner Review

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Martha Stewart's Keepsake Wedding Planner ReviewThe wedding planner is a good tool with wonderful "Martha" advice, but I was disappointed with certain aspects of the planner. First of all, from Martha, I expected the "planner of all planners", especially since this was a revised, new and improved edition. It has most of the basics, but is lacking in depth. There is little discussion of unique ideas or suggestions, so if you're looking for inspiration, look elsewhere. There are some helpful diagrams that explain receiving line order, processional, etc, however, I found this information laid out in even more detail in Wedding Ettiquite by Peggy Post, a must have for any bride concerned with matters of tradition and ettiquite.
The main complaint I have with Martha's planner is that it skimps on supplies. For example, many worksheets, such as the guest list section, provides you with one page (we're talking 8 guests!) and then notes that you may photocopy the page as needed. The same is true for many of the forms provided in the planner. I found this cheap and disappointing. I feel that it should at least provide enough space for the average wedding (whatever that is today...something like 150 guests). The ceremony and reception sections, the most important ones frankly, are surprisingly very skimpy. If you are a hands-off bride or have a wedding planner, this book would be sufficient for you. However, if you are in charge of the whole shabang, you'll need reinforcements (as noted, the Peggy Post book has been the best resource I've found).
Having said all that, I'm still using it as my planner and it's going ok with adding things into it and relying on other sources for what the planner lacks. It's 3 ring size is essential...the smaller planners would be limiting because most everything the vendors give you is 8 1/2 x 11 size. Other benefits of this planner are it's elegant/classy/tasteful design...some are so tacky. If you like Martha elegance, this is for you.
The flower section is especially nice, providing color photos of flowers, grouped by color (i.e. a page of all pink flowers with the names and varieties listed) so that you can search based on your color scheme and go to your florist with a picture and name of a particular flower that catches your eye. For each flower shown (there are a lot!), a blurb about the flower is provided, such as when it is in season, its hardiness and other unique things about it.
Bottom line...if you're a Martha devotee and wouldn't consider planning a wedding sans Martha, you'll buy this and make it work. If you're not Martha loyal (i.e. an addict!), you may want to look around to see if there's something more comprehensive that meets your needs. Otherwise, I still gave it a 4/5. Congrats and best wishes in your wedding planning, from one bride to another!Martha Stewart's Keepsake Wedding Planner Overview

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If the Ring Fits (Harlequin Special Edition) Review

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If the Ring Fits (Harlequin Special Edition) ReviewI bought this book for the plot description, assuming it was my first Kirk. Realized later I HAD read her previously, but evidently that other book had not stood out in any way. (It was before I started posting reviews, so I only had my memory to depend on . . . )
I enjoyed this one, mostly. I liked the heroine, although I didn't always buy her as a mother of young boys. She managed an unbelievable amount of child-free time for a mother of three toddlers. I thought she was stronger in her relationship with the hero than she was in her role as mother. I liked that he was not this overwhelming alpha, calling all the shots. I would have preferred if we had some interaction with his large family, but I suppose there was already a sizeable supporting cast between their friends and her family. And I really liked that the two leads had managed a Friends-with-Benefits relationship for three years without falling into angsty If-Onlies.
But there was a lack of emotional connect with these characters. It stopped my whole-hearted endorsement. There were quite a few instances of remembering past scenes, to illustrate that they had all known each other for years - in some cases, since childhood. But I never really FELT the intimacy, or that they even knew each other that well. I ended up spending time with these people in my head, not my heart.
And I always appreciate some humor in books with families,and that was missing here.
Bottom line, I will read another Kirk. And this book is priced right for you to decide for yourself.If the Ring Fits (Harlequin Special Edition) Overview

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The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage Review

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The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage ReviewFocus on the Family's Glenn Stanton is a student of not only the social science surrounding and supporting traditional marriage, but also the culture, both religious and secular, in which it resides. With a strong command of these two spheres, this makes Stanton the ideal author to examine the chronic but worsening trend of cohabitation.
In the early 1970s, at the apex of the Cultural Revolution, American model Lauren Hutton, succinctly put to words the fears of her generation. In an interview with Time Magazine, Ms. Hutton was unapologetic when acknowledging that she lived with her boyfriend. When asked about the prospect of marriage, she said that it was "great for taxes, necessary for children, abominable for romance."
That such a lie took root amidst the tumultuous turn of culture's tide is not surprising. However, as Stanton convincingly points out with grace, just believing a lie doesn't make it true. Over three decades removed from Hutton's progressive perspective, there is conclusive evidence that the cohabitation experiment has failed, and miserably so.
"This is a rare instance where there's a chasm the size of the Grand Canyon between what many young adults believe and the proven reality of their experience," Glenn writes. "And it is not the moralizing preachers and traditionalists saying so."
Stanton wades through the scientific research indicating that cohabiting couples, if they ever marry, are 50% to 80% more likely to divorce than those who live apart prior to the big day. Cohabiting couples are also at much greater risk of suffering "serious relational impairments" - a gentle term for general discord and dysfunction.
Orthodox Christians will resonate with the early part of the book, which affirms the multi-millennial and Biblical case for marriage. Stanton saves the latter-half, though, for his most compelling and original material. Cohabitation, the author argues, clearly favors men over women. Ironically, liberation from marriage was considered a cornerstone of the feminist movement, and yet decades later, the research now concludes living together outside of marriage is nothing short of a relationship on the guy's terms, whereby a man enjoys easier access to sex, minus any formal commitment.
The tone of Stanton's analysis is redemptive, suggesting that despite disconcerting trends, the institution of marriage remains solid. Such optimism brings to mind the man who once suggested that the large number of divorces indicate that America is still the land of the free. Yes, replied his friend, and the marriage rate shows that it's also still home of the brave.The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage Overview

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