Recap Book Chat

Lidia Zakrzewski’s real-life story of the Polish resistance fighters who struggled to force out the Nazi occupiers inspired Jennifer A. Nielsen to write, Uprising, an amazing novel about Poland falling into the hands of Germany.

Lidia’s father went off to fight and she desperately wanted to go with him. The huge conflict of the occupation and the conflict on the homefront between Lidia and her mother keep readers on the edge of their seats. Why does her mother criticize so quickly? Why does Lidia refuse to see any good in her mother?

Lidia’s brother, Ryszard, tries to help her. “That’s your problem, Lidia. You think you already know everything and can do everything and understand everything, but you don’t.”

Lidia becomes a messenger for the Resistance and is led through the sewers by a girl named Ester. “I wasn’t worried. There was a calmness about Ester, and a confidence that kept me calm too…to have met Ester was entirely worth it.” What a goal for all of us to exude calmness and confidence in a confusing world because we are anchored to God!

Uprising takes readers through the Invasion, the Occupation, the Uprising, and lastly, the Escape. Are you ready to join Poland’s 55,000 resistance fighters as they strive daily to outwit the Nazis? Please join Kate and Sheila as they recap a turbulent time in history when chaos surrounded the Polish people but they were still able to say, “...whenever we are with those we love, we are home.”

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

“To the ancient mind, a city without walls is ripe for the picking. It lacks any defenses. It is susceptible to any passing army or group of bandits…When we lack self-control, we are setting ourselves up for disaster.”

Self-control is not natural, it doesn’t come easy. In fact, one of the hardest folks to control is the face I see in the mirror, but saying no to self is empowering. When we become far-sighted, in tune with the big picture, the daily battle plan is much easier to execute. My goal is to please God, that sets the course for my why. Would this please God? If not, He will give me the strength to say no to myself.

Children are not born with limits. We must teach them in such a way that when they leave home they will have the capacity to say no to ungodly things that will bombard their adult lives. How?

By modeling this struggle daily while they are at home and by letting them practice it with our support.

Let us embrace the rhythms of life like working before playing, praying before eating, and asking permission before doing something we’re not sure about. These rhythms will serve our children well, now and in adulthood, they won’t hurt us either : )

Boundaries help us respect each other. We cannot teach kids what we are unwilling to practice.

Are you ready for the challenge of being far-sighted... think eternity? Please join Kate and Sheila as they recap Rule #9 We Control Ourselves from House Rules by Jacob Hudgins.

“The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn’t ready to hear it, and their story started with three simple words, ‘We were there.’”

Are you ready for a challenge? The Women by Kristin Hannah was a tough read indeed!

Sadly, Frankie McGrath’s wealthy California family communicated with each other less than people who don’t speak the same language. When her old brother was killed in action during the Vietnam Conflict Frankie quickly enlisted.

The note, “Welcome to the 36 Evac Hospital, McGrath. Be the best version of yourself” starts her adventure with fellow nurses, Ethel and Barb. Frankie had no training but with their help she became a skilled surgical nurse.

What’s up with The Stars and Stripes informing the US that no soldiers are being killed while Frankie, Barb, and Ethel and a host of others serving in Vietnam know that is a falsehood? This book shows us that things are not always what they appear to be and sadly that includes people as well.

A raw, gritty, and tense look at the horrors of war and the countless difficulties those returning experience day after day after day. Join Kate and Sheila as they recap the heaviness of the rigor of readjusting in a country that refused to reaffirm those who gave so much and were appreciated so little. When we know better, we do better. We are so grateful to all who have served, may God bless you and your families! Thank you so much for listening!

Remember, Stay on Track & Read Your Stack!

After you”

“No, after you”

Sounds a lot better than, “Me first!”

Jacob Hudgins urges readers to break the pattern of getting, getting, getting to one of serving others instead. Join Kate and Sheila as they recap House Rules, Rule #8 We Lead By Serving. Let us make a shift from the “What’s in it for me?” mantra to “Here’s my opportunity to serve!” We want to emulate Jesus, the master of leading by serving!

“We cannot allow the tone of the world to overwhelm us.” When we find ourselves anxious, upset, worried, or out-of-sorts we must adjust our focus from ourselves back to Jesus.

“The pressing question for Christians in our time— is ‘what are we doing today that is good?’

Let’s teach ourselves and our kids that life’s not about being fair. What is fair about an innocent man dying for our transgressions? Jesus is the ultimate example of true leadership:

‘Lowering ourselves in love. He demonstrates complete abandonment of His own will—leaving behind the privileges of His status.”

“Jesus calls us to be different. He urged His power-hungry disciples to channel all of their energy and desperate need for validation into a desire to serve?”

Our prayer is that we become aware of opportunities to serve that God sends our way.

May we roll up our sleeves and give our time and effort to bless and help others every day.

We must be countercultural, the challenge is real,

Set boundaries to stay focused, serving others isn’t based on how we feel!

In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!

Happy serving and reading dear listeners!

We are hoping you can ‘squeeze’ The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davis into your reading this summer. Join Kate, Sheila, and their special guest, Titus, as they recap the Treski siblings' war over who can sell the most lemonade.

Evan, the oldest, discovers that his younger sister, Jessie, is going to be promoted into his class the upcoming school year. He has a lot of feelings but doesn’t share any of them with Jessie. He chooses to ignore her. Jessie feels like she’s lost her best friend, however figuring out feelings is not her forte and she’s as confused as someone trying to put a jigsaw puzzle together without being able to look at the picture on the box.

The sibling rivalry is real but so is their sibling comradery. Grumpminster Fink was a mean, cranky man that Evan and Jessie made up back when their mom and dad were fighting so much. Dealing with the stress of dysfunction and divorce bonds the two together. After their dad left, they promised never to fight in front of their mom and even in the midst of their ‘lemonade war’ they kept this promise.

Elbert Hubbbard was given credit for coming up with the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” back in 1915 when he wrote an obituary for an actor who achieved greatness despite dwarfism. The original phrase was “He picked up the lemons that fate had sent and started a lemonade stand.”

We invite you to join us and let’s all strive to turn our problems into opportunities!

Please join Kate and Sheila as they tackle Rule # 7, We Deal with Our Problems, in

House Rules by Jacob Hudgins. Lev. 19:17-18 gives us a great game plan.

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD”

Why does God want us to make this difficult choice?

Getting ‘it’ out in the open helps us to:

maintain healthy relationships… We don’t want to give the devil a foothold.

Stop sin before it spreads…Jesus teaches relationships are in constant need of maintenance, forgiveness, challenge, and reconciliation.

How do we deal with our problems?

The gift of discernment helps us to determine the best approach to discipline and confrontation. “Not every problem is a crisis.”

The gift of courage is colossal. Hudgin made a powerful connection. The David who showed amazing courage in confronting and killing Goliath later on would refuse to deal with the problems of his own family. He did not want to challenge his kids and make them displeased with him for a season so he sacrificed their long-term flourishing and growing closer to God…which should be every parents’ goal for their children.

The gift of humility is huge! 2 Tim 2:24-25 reminds us…”the LORD'S servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” Humility must be practiced.

Let’s strive to give a determined effort to deal with our problems. Let’s put the broom down and give up sweeping important things under the rug. Let’s stop jumping to conclusions and seek to understand our loved ones and open up ourselves to the possibility that we are wrong. This mindset will help change avoiders into resolvers! Are you up for the challenge?

Batter up! Join Kate and Sheila and their special guest, Jonah, as they recap Skinnybones by Barbara Park. Alex Frankovitch is an undersized uncoordinated sixth grader who has an oversized funny bone. When he tries to triumph over T.J. Stoner, the best of the best in baseball, all Alex can think to do is yell, “Booga booga” to distract the baseball star.

“Every single year, I am always the smallest kid on the team. I mean it. For the first five years of my life, I thought I was a leprechaun.”---Alex

When his coach tells him to bunt he thinks bunt means to throw up. He wonders how his coach can expect him to throw up on command. : )

Hey, batter batter! Are you ready to swing into a funny read-aloud? Alex could not be compared to Honest Abe. His parents never use the phrase, “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” but believe me they could! They choose to let consequences teach Alex a thing or two.

See if Alex’s wit can help him win the Kitty Fritters commercial contest!

Happy Reading!

This attitude of humility, admission, and apology should be learned young, at home. In Christian homes, some phrases should be in regular use: I didn’t know that. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have said/done that. You’re right.Can you forgive me?I messed up.

In a society that values victimhood, Christian homes must be countercultural.”

Let’s learn Rule #6 — We take responsibility from House Rules by Jacob Hudgins.

What a blessing it is to work on building homes using our Heavenly Father’s blueprint!

Let us learn from David when he humbly confronted God after his sin with Bathsheba, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me of my sin! For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight…Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:1-10) Powerfully put!

We need to be responsible for our work. We must be like the 5 wise virgins in the parable and work to have a full lamp, no one can do this for us.

We need to be responsible for our actions, no excuses or blaming others, God gives us CHOICE. The disobedience of others doesn’t justify me to act in an ungodly way.

We need to be responsible for our messes. It’s only when we admit our sins that we can grow and heal and be pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

We need to be responsible for what we say. “Taking responsibility starts at home and radiates outward. Without it, we show up to work and resent being asked to do our jobs. We attend local churches and expect others to serve us. We frustrate others…”

Are you ready to join Kate and Sheila for the challenge of taking responsibility? We hope this book has blessed you as much as it has us. Thanks so much for listening! May this recap bonus bite bless you and your family!

Mama said that if someone’s putting ugliness into the world, you can’t be ugly back; you gotta put a little bit of sunshine into the world to even things out.” Joseph Johnson, a 12 year old orphan, living in the 1890s lost his mama and little sister to sickness and his papa to an accident. He remembers the lessons his parents taught him as he journeys across the northwest to recover his pony that was sold by an unsavory man that had no right. His pony was the only thing Joseph had left that he loved. As he searches for his pony, he meets a Chinese boy, Ah-Kee, who’s searching for his Papa. Working together the two face many obstacles, from unkind people, to going down the rapids, to helping a woman in labor! They do not give up. His Papa said, “... when there's something that’s got to be done, the thing to do is just buckle down and do it the best you can.”

“There weren’t no point in giving up.” Joseph and Ah-Kee meet trouble head on. What an inspiration for us all! We, like Joseph, can do hard things.

Saddle up with Kate and Sheila as they discuss Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemienhart. Will Joseph’s quest lead him to his beloved horse? Will Ah-Kee be able to reunite with his father? Happy Reading, dear listeners!

Kendra, a 21 year old history major, comes to Cotswold, England to interview Isabel Macfarland, a famous artist on her 93rd birthday. “The cottage was as cozy and inviting as one of Tolkien’s hobbit holes.” Kendra feels a bond with Isabel who says, “We first borns are driven aren't we? We have to be. There is no one leaving bread crumbs for us on the trail ahead.”

Why did Isabel decide to tell her story after decades of secret keeping? Maybe Kendra was chosen because of her belief that…” information is only half of any story about people. Personal experience is the other part.” When the interview begins Isabel interjected,

“I’m not 93 and my name’s not Isabel.”

We are taken back to 1940s London. We meet Emmy, a 15 year old who dreams of designing bridal gowns and her younger sister, Julia, who’s 7, she depends on her sister for everything. Their mum never married and the girls have different dads. Julia’s father visits on occasion but Emmy’s is never mentioned. When Emmy meets Mrs. Crofton, a bridal shop owner, she gets a job and a promise to be introduced to Mrs. Crofton’s nephew, a fashion designer, Emmy thinks she is on her way. But the war has other ideas! Her mum sends Emmy and Julia out of England with all the evacuated children, crushing Emmy’s dreams.

Charlotte is the wonderful woman that opens up her home to the girls. “Thistle House is for people who love and care for one another. We respect one another in this house…We carry one another’s burdens…and hold one another’s hand when the way seems hopeless…”

Believe it or not the Emmy leaves to return to England to meet the fashion designer, Julia discovers her plan and demands to go with her. It was the 7th of September, the day the Blitz began, while Emmy was at her meeting and Julia was waiting at their flat and the girls became separated!

“Fear is worse than pain. Pain is centralized…Fear is heaviness…Fear is not only a leaden foe, but a liar as well.”

Please listen in on Kate and Sheila’s recap on Secrets of a Charmed Life by the tremendously talented Susan Meissner. Happy Reading dear listeners!

Books mentioned:

Dear Mrs. Bird

A Place to Hang the Moon

The Last Bookshop in London