The Comedy of Errors by Shakespeare

The Comedy of Errors is my 9th classic in my Back to the Classics Challenge and is the book for the "classic play" category.

Like most Shakespeare comedies, I quite enjoyed this play. It was a quick and easy read, which I greatly appreciated.

It was certainly funny, but sadly overly predictable. Act 1 Scene 1 allowed me to guess the play without having read it and without ever hearing a synopsis of the play. The ins and outs were not as predictable, which kept the humor for me.

Because I enjoy Shakespeare and this play kept well to the fashion I enjoy, I give it 4 stars, deducting 1 for the giveaway at the beginning of the play.

November Blessings

In this month of counting our blessings, I have so much to be thankful for. God has really grown our family this month and provided for us in the midst of chaos. He has given our family so much this month, mostly closer relationships with each other, but it is far more than I had expected. God truly is the giver of all good things, especially of those things that money cannot buy.

What are you thankful for this month?

1. An extra hour of sleep
2. Hearing what God says about adultery
3. Restful afternoon
4. Reuben and Gabriel playing nicely together
5. Jamey playing a board game with Jim and me
6. Planning to plan
7. God revealing more of our hearts to us
8. Learning to function steadily in a chaotic day
9. Finding consistency
10. Growing in grace
11. Seeing the Wilburn Family before they left for India
    
12. Smoothie!
13. Walking
14. Good CG time at our house
15. Leandro hanging out with the kids
16. Working through things
17. God giving me grace to help a boy having a seizure
18. Making it through the day with 4 hours of sleep
19. Jim and I really working through emotions
20. Realizing so much of God's grace before I met Jim
21. Jamey making me a card
22. Time to relax for a few minutes
23. God working in everything
24. Going to bed early
25. Going to see Jim at work
26. Smoothie
27. Getting most of the weeks school work completed
28. Time to read
29. God's continued grace
30. Time with Jim
31. Sleeping in a little
32. Productive day
33. Being together as a family
34. Working through things
35. Kids playing well together
36. Having fun
37. Learning about stealing
38. God's conviction
39. Growing with Jim
40. Yummy sandwich at Flanagan's
41. Good conversation
42. Kids' napping
43. Playing together
44. Jamey helping the middle boys with recitation
    
45. Getting up early
46. Getting a lot of pictures uploaded
47. Many Gospel conversations
48. "Cupcake Wars"
49. A freezer full of breast milk
50. Kids ahead in individual work
51. Jamey reading to Nehemiah
52. Productive school day
53. Productive house day
54. Learning a new game
55. Running errands alone
56. Last day of co-op for the semester
57. 
    Secret Sisters
58. Getting to co-op early with Jim at work
59. McDonald's Breakfast
60. Getting to see Jim at work for a few minutes
61. Kids letting me sleep in a little
62. Productive school and home day
63. Talking through the resurrection
64. Kids beginning to play well together
65. Getting uploads finished
66. Finishing up the school week early
67. Dinner and Display with our co-op
    
68. Good time with family
69. Kids growing
70. Evening with Jim at home
71. Writing group
72. Margaret joining us
73. Family day at home
74. Learning to work on things together
75. Sam Growing in communication
76. Learning about taking risks for God and living fully
77. Commissioning service and reception for international workers
78. Prayer
79. God continuing to expose my heart to me
    
80. Time with Gabe
81. Car not being expensive to fix for now
82. Kids playing well together
83. Week off of school
84. God working on me and helping me to grow
85. Getting over a chapter read in my book
86. Working on cleaning together
87. Talking with God
88. Hot shower
89. Jamey teaching the younger kids
90. Showing kids glow in the dark stuff
    
91. Jim talking to the kids
92. Lunch date at home with Jamey
93. Productive afternoon
94. Teaching kids to clean
95. Feeling more normal mentally
96. Very productive day
97. Jim getting called off
98. Putting kids clothes away
99. Cleaning and organizing
100. Getting most pictures uploaded 
101. Finishing Lady Chatterly's Lover
102. Productive morning
103. Nice day out
104. Talking through family and personal mission statements and goals
     
105. Really communicating
106. Neo doing well
107. Catching up with Lindsay
108. Good day out
109. Yummy Panera
110. Life planning with Jim
111. Growing together in the knowledge of God and what He has for our family in this season
112. Learning about coveting and how God wants us to view life
113. Lunch with my sisters
     
114. Hanging out as a family
115. Kids welcoming Jacob
116. Putting avocado on my eggs
117. Productive day at home
118. Growing with Jim
119. Learning as a family
120. Great encouraging time at book club
121. Neo eating and pumping 4 oz
122. Jamey reading from the Bible and taking notes
123. Kids learning the Bible
     
124. Good dialogue at CG
125. Working through emotions more calmly
126. Sam and Neo giving each other kisses
127. Kids memorizing Scripture
128. Coffee date with Jim
129. Growing in working through things together
130. Seeing my own sin
131. Sleeping until 7:40!
132. Spending the day with the McMillin family
133. Daddy's surgery going well
134. Lot's of good food
     
135. Time and a half
136. Kids being fully welcomed
137. Celebrating Gabriel's birthday
138. IHOP
139. Hanging out with Becca and Ryan
140. Pizza
141. Ice Cream Cake
142. Jamey loving Fireproof
143. Growing as a family
144. Finishing several projects
145. Gabriel turning 3!
146. Kids playing well together
147. Talking with Becca
148. God continuing to grow my heart
149. Working with God and Jim to live life
     
150. TV staying off until after dinner
151. Learning about God's mission for His people
152. Jamey asking how God redeems us
153. Lots of leftovers
154. Ryan and Becca getting us really yummy tacos
155. Taking a nap

November Evaluation

Due to circumstances this past year, I'm not really changing my goals. Some will go that are not top priority, but I'm keeping the ones that fit with the overarching goal of having a God-centered life and the things I see Him leading me to right now. So thus far this is how it goes:

Spiritual

• Spend at least 10 minutes praying daily- Yes, I'm working more directed prayer into my day
• Spend at least 10 minutes reading and reflecting on the Bible daily- Yes! 
• Memorize verses with the kids - We have memorized 10 verses together
• Memorize Scripture- Doing this with the kids in school time

Marriage

• Go out for a date once a week- Yes
• Go on a night away once this year- Yes we went away for our anniversary!
• Read 3 books together this year- Did not read any this month, this goal will not be met
• Discuss plan weekly on Sunday Saturday afternoon- We are discussing plans but still need improvement on consistency and sticking to our plans as much as it depends on us

Kids

• Spend 30 minutes of one on one time with each child every week- Getting better at this, still have a lot of growing, but at least we are progressing :)
• Go to playgroup each Tuesday- Did not really happen this month and this one will likely be going away
• Write in individual journals at least 3 times this year- A little behind in this but will be done soon
• Finish Jamey's 1st year Scrapbook- Need to go through pictures with Jim so this is on hold currently

Homemaking

• Keep up with cleaning schedule- Did some cleaning later in the month, but still not consistent hoping to grow in this next year
• Keep up with my calendar- Status quo, still need improvement here
• Being fully present when with my family- Getting better at this but always room for improvement

Ministry

• Continue sending out Prayer List- Yes

Personal

• Read a book a month for myself- This month I read "Lady Chatterly's Lover" (review to come, I'm behind on my other review as well. Hopefully I'll get some blog posts written soon)
• Journal 5 days a week- Yes! God has really been giving me opportunity to do this in the morning
• Write (books) 3 days a week- I have written down some ideas for my nonfiction book I'm working on, and worked on the introduction with my writing group
• Edit novel to prepare for publishing and research publishing options- No additional work on this during the month
• Finish Rosetta Stone Russian level 1 - Have not worked on this
• Continue to meet once a month with writing group- YES! So thankful to have a new Sister in the group
• Blog 3 days a week- Not at all

Health

• Go to water aerobics once a week- Started back to find out that our instructor was moving and they are going to begin charging for classes so only did this half the month and this will be no more
• Maintain weight until birth- Did well with this, still gained some but far better than other pregnancies
• Lose weight after giving birth- Just maintained this month, need a plan for this, but other things are taking priority

It's hard to believe November is at an end. This month involved a lot of ups and downs. We took a week off of school to teach cleaning and do major planning. Thanksgiving week was completely thrown off. But through it all, God has been faithful and is growing Jim and me together, giving us vision for our family and what we believe He wants it to look like. We are still struggling with execution, but hopefully during December we will get plans settled and 2016 will be a year of great growth for our family.

What was November like for you?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GABRIEL!

Today my fourth child is 3 years old! How quickly the time has gone. Gabriel surprised us by coming a week before he was due, and he has continued to be a go-getter ever since then.

Gabriel is such a fun spirit. His name, we later found out, means mighty man of God, and is he ever strong willed. Though not extreme, he still seeks to please, but Gabriel is a determined little boy. He is rough and tumble and full of energy. His smile and laugh are contagious. He loves to learn and thinks he can do everything the older ones can.

I love to hear Gabriel talk. He is so excited about life and want to tell you about everything. He talks to his siblings and loves on them. Gabriel loves to dance and sing. He is just about anything you would expect a 3 year old boy to be.

As rough and tumble as he is, Gabriel is still sensitive and easily gets his feelings hurt. He loves hugs and kisses, but only when he wants them.

Giraffes are Gabriel's favorite animals. He also loves cars and puzzles. I am so thankful to see a love for reading in him already.

We started him with a preschool program this year and he gets so excited about learning. He loves to write and gets out his writing board for fun to practice writing.

I am so thankful God has given this precious boy to us. He is such a blessing to our family. God has used his life so much already.

Father, thank You for our precious Gabriel! Please make him into a mighty man of You and a man after Your own heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GABRIEL!!!

 
Photo shoot by Becca Camp

October Blessings

What can I say about October? It was so full and God has been constantly teaching us. We have had so many blessings. So thankful to be able to share some with you!

1. Spending some quality play time with Reuben
2. Getting all needed school work finished with a late start
3. Figuring out how to roast broccoli and cauliflower without a recipe
   
4. Cheap balanced dinner
5. Sleeping until 9
6. Getting good work done with the middle boys
7. Homemade pizza for lunch
8. Redeem Marriage
9. Good reminder of Truth
10. Meeting Stephanie- fellow scarf wearer
11. Getting school work finished
12. Learning how to deal with growing kids
13. Helping Becca with her paper
14. Making it through a Saturday without Jim
15. God teaching me in every moment
16. Learning about the 3rd Commandment
17. Being sobered
18. Napping along with the kids
    
19. Finishing The Accidental Feminist
20. Starting the next classic
21. Time to write a little
22. God working in weird ways
23. Great dentist appointments
24. Grocery store as a family
25. Learning to eat better for cheaper
26. Getting emails written
27. Homemade granola
28. God working
29. Sleep
30. Getting lead inspection completed
31. Heart to heart with Jim
32. Prayer walking
    
33. Kids growing in friendship
34. Time to hang out with CG
35. Milk increasing
36. Great day at co-op
37. Gleaning from those with older kids
38. Encouraging those younger
39. Interactive class
40. Never ending pasta bowl
41. Good date evening
42. Growing together
43. Reuben singing "A Bushel and A Peck" and giving Gabriel hugs
    
44. Talking to Brit and sharing with each other
45. Uploading pictures
46. Inspiration
47. Kids napping
48. More clothes organized
49. Girls movie night
50. Getting to know Brittany and Heather better
51. Going through more clothes
52. Finishing picture upload
53. Cherry soda and dark chocolate
54. Getting some needed cleaning done
55. Over half-way through clothes
56. Going to the seminary to meet Jim for lunch
    
57. Writing group
58. Time with Jim
59. Talking about murder
60. God working in my heart
61. Connecting on a deeper level with Jim
62. Fun family afternoon
63. Growing in enjoying being together
64. Grace to make it through a Monday with a sick child and Jim at work
65. Getting through group school time
66. Continuing to learn myself
67. Teaching Lillian about not letting a schedule control us
68. Everyone going to CG
69. Showering
    
70. Learning to let go of a perfect day
71. Knowing God is always in control
72. Learning as a family what is truly important
73. Getting coffee with Jim
74. Sara coming over to help and hang out
75. Getting Bible time done
76. Naps for everyone
77. Getting laundry finished
78. Potatoes for dinner
    
79. Restful evening
80. Bed at 10:30
81. God healing my stomach
82. Time to pray alone
83. Feeling more rested
84. Washing my hair
85. Purging some
86. Movie and logic problems
87. Sleeping in
88. Girls lunch date with Mom, Becca and Lillian
89. Neo doing well at home
    
90. Family Shopping trip to Kohl's and the Mall
91. Mom getting us new clothes
92. Dedicating Nehemiah to the Lord
93. All 6 kids making it through the entire church service
94. Being together as a family
95. Lunch at Olive Garden
96. Nice family afternoon
97. Left overs
98. God speaking to the depths of my heart
    
99. Being reminded of how blessed I really am
100. Going to playgroup
101. Talking about school stuff
102. School work
103. Walking with Lillian
104. Running into Shannon
105. Good CG time of catching up and encouragement
106. Seeking advice from those older
107. Being surrounded by others who seek to honor God
108. Bucca di Bepos
109. Running into Chad and Ginger
110. God revealing more of my heart
111. School time as a family
     
112. Time to talk things through with Jim
113. Learning to seek together what God is wanting for us and our family
114. Time to reflect
115. Heart for the Nations
116. Hearing from friends overseas
117. Relaxing evening
118. Singing with Reuben
119. Kids playing together
120. Talking through more scheduling adjustments and making plans
     
121. Meeting with Dawn
122. International food at SBTS
123. Growth in Becca
124. Great sermon on Sabbath
125. J and L coming to church with us
126. Taking a nap!
127. Kids reading together
128. Bean bag
129. Pics of Sam
     
130. Talking to my parents
131. Family play time
132. Shortened school schedule! Much better
133. Quick and cheaper grocery run
134. The kids playing well together
135. Sam praying and saying Scripture
136. Book club
137. Sisters in the Lord
138. Rainy day
     
139. Kids working well together to learn
140. Jamey teaching his siblings different things
141. Great discussion at CG
142. Getting to co-op mostly on time
143. Timely note
144. Seeing God work
145. Heart to heart
146. Jim getting half a paper written
147. Good Panera
148. Finishing The Age of Innocence
149. Jim leaving me a heartfelt note
150. Sam volunteering to pray, praying and saying Romans 10:9 with me
151. Good school morning
     
152. Productive afternoon
153. Reading half of The Comedy of Errors
154. Dancing
155. Washing my hair
156. Good doctors appointments
157. Healthy kids
158. Free food from Friends
159. Becca being OK
160. Getting budget and schedules complete
161. Finishing The Comedy of Errors in 2 days
162. Lillian and Sam dancing together
163. Reuben reading to Nehemiah
164. More stuff from friends
     
165. Movies
166. Sam turning 18 months
167. Neo almost sitting up
168. Watching some of the World Series with Jamey and Lillian
169. God always working
170. Mac and Cheese
     

October Evaluation

Due to circumstances this past year, I'm not really changing my goals. Some will go that are not top priority, but I'm keeping the ones that fit with the overarching goal of having a God-centered life and the things I see Him leading me to right now. So thus far this is how it goes:

Spiritual

• Spend at least 10 minutes praying daily- Yes, I'm working more directed prayer into my day
• Spend at least 10 minutes reading and reflecting on the Bible daily- Yes! 
• Memorize verses with the kids - We have already memorized 8 verses together
• Memorize Scripture- Doing this with the kids in school time

Marriage

• Go out for a date once a week- Yes
• Go on a night away once this year- Yes we went away for our anniversary!
• Read 3 books together this year- Did not read any this month
• Discuss plan weekly on Sunday Saturday afternoon- We are discussing plans but still need improvement on consistency and sticking to our plans as much as it depends on us

Kids

• Spend 30 minutes of one on one time with each child every week- We have had great improvement on this in the last week, still have a lot of growing, but at least we are progressing :)
• Go to playgroup each Tuesday- With starting school we have missed a couple as needed
• Write in individual journals at least 3 times this year- Up to date for the year. Should reach this goal next month
• Finish Jamey's 1st year Scrapbook- Need to go through pictures with Jim so this is on hold currently

Homemaking

• Keep up with cleaning schedule- Cleaning has gone by the wayside again. Trying to find a good balance in our day
• Keep up with my calendar- Status quo, still need improvement here
• Being fully present when with my family- Getting better at this but always room for improvement

Ministry

• Continue sending out Prayer List- Yes

Personal

• Read a book a month for myself- This month I read "The Accidental Feminist". "The Age of Innocence" and "The Comedy of Errors" (review to come on the last one)
• Journal 5 days a week- Yes! God has really been giving me opportunity to do this in the morning
• Write (books) 3 days a week- I have written down some ideas for my nonfiction book I'm working on, but no actual writing 
• Edit novel to prepare for publishing and research publishing options- No additional work on this during the month
• Finish Rosetta Stone Russian level 1 - Have not worked on this
• Continue to meet once a month with writing group- YES! Loved meeting with these Sisters this month. Such a great time
• Blog 3 days a week- Got a couple book reviews written

Health

• Go to water aerobics once a week- Started back to find out that our instructor was moving and they are going to begin charging for classes so only did this half the month and this will be no more
• Maintain weight until birth- Did well with this, still gained some but far better than other pregnancies
• Lose weight after giving birth- Just maintained this month, need a plan for this, but other things are taking priority

Where did October go? This month has flown by! We had a busy month with school, illness, co-op, church, and just life in general. We have spent a lot of time this month trying to figure out what life needs to look like. We're still struggling to figure this out and praying regularly for clarity. When I finally get a moment to breathe and write, I hope to blog some of the things that we have been learning and working through the last couple of months. God is constantly at work in our home and I am so thankful I am His.

How was your October?

The Age of Innocence by Edith Warton

*Warning there will be spoilers. If you do not want to know the end, do not read.

The Age of Innocence is my 8th book in my Back to the Classics Challenge under the category of Classic by a Woman Author. I was greatly surprised by this book and honestly enjoyed it, mostly because of how thought provoking it was and the ability to identify with the three major characters. The writing style was very clear and easy to understand in spite of when it was written. I liked not having to reread every other sentence trying to figure out what was going on.

This story is such a good look at what goes on in humanity and society as a whole. You have those who expect everything to be a certain way and will move heaven and earth to make it so. Then there are those who are different and do not care they are different. And finally those who want to be different and yet seek to find that middle ground to make everyone happy. It is the conflict of the soul that is so well presented in this book and that conflict that I believe most people can identify with. Though I was not happy with some of the things that took place, it is a great book to see how humanity really is. I was thinking throughout this book and will probably continue to think and evaluate myself from interactions and thoughts shared in this book. What made it even better is that the main character did not get what he wanted in the end. The sad part is that he fell into the all common trap, fantasy is better than reality.

4 stars for this classic.