Book review - "Mara: Daughter of the Nile"

Mara: Daughter of the Nile (written by Eloise Jarvis McGraw) is a historical fiction book set in Ancient Egypt. The main character - Mara - is a spirited seventeen year old slave girl who earns the nick name "gutter-snipe" for her reckless and mischievous behavior.

The story begins blooming when Mara is sold to two different masters in a row, then boards a ship entitled "The Silver Beetle" and becomes slightly starstruck by one of her masters named Sheftu. She is chosen to interpret the Egyptian language to a Babylonian princess who is betrothed to prince Thutmose III. Mara is caught up in a dangerous dilemma which could put either her or her beloved Sheftu's life in danger. With moments of tension, romance, and laughter, this book would make a wonderful family read-aloud, and could also be a great book to read just for fun. I definitely would suggest adding this book to your library.

I mostly recommend this as reading for 10-16 year-old's, but it would suffice for any age. Not only is it an exciting and intriguing read, but it also teaches much about Ancient Egypt and the life they lead. This book was one of the most interesting and captivating that we have read as a family read-aloud.

"Mara-Daughter of the Nile" has a well-earned space on our bookshelf, and I hope it will on yours, too!

Eat Healthy!!!

Due to a very non-Lemony Snicket-like series of unfortunate events, I came down with a cold early this week... My sickness drew me nearer and nearer to my wonderful polymer clay that I bought Wednesday, and so I've been molding little figures practically all week, which is a good thing.

Believe it or not, veggies are REALLY cute when you add little eyes to them. And I'm not lying. Promise. Just look at them! Awwwww, it just makes me want to melt into a little bowl.

(By the way, those are leeks)

(And those are Rice Balls/Onigiri... If you don't know what that is, you obviously don't live in Japan or China. You need to look them (Onigiri) up - they're really awesome and cute)

And, of course, where there's good food, there's bacon.

And, this is how big the little veggies are compared to a quarter...
By the way, the bacon is just a bit longer and wider than the carrot.

I am going to put all of these on either necklaces or earrings... And hopefully sell them on Etsy! Email me and let me know if you want me to make you one, and I'll think about the price, depending on how large/ small it is. Thanks for reading!!!

Sincerely,

The Beauty of Grace...

Something I wrote last night... I hope you can follow it.

I'm walking on this tightrope - a pit of hungry crocodiles await my fall - while a sea of albatross welcome me into their huddled formation above. If I take one leap and grab on, I could fly with the sea birds overhead in the cloudy sky, yet if I loose my balance, a fatal lesson shall be learned. I could continue my journey upward or fall into the deep catacombs of sharp pearly whites below - it all begins with a choice - one sound of a heart beat skipping and I could plunge into the darkest ravines, or I could hang on for dear life and pray my life to be saved.

I want to cry, but before I can shed a tear a huge white feathered king swoops down and lifts me into the air. My feet feel light as my body is lifted off of the skin-piercing string - the beasts below snapping in anger as their prey is taken from sight. I cry in joy and hold on for dear life - my finger tips run through the tree branches and I pick an apple blossom from the top of a tree. My savior looks back at me and I smile a grateful, thankful smile that shows him that I am his and I am so sorry for putting my life on the line. His precious daughter's soul was a dangling carrot in front of a devourers nose.

My apple blossom blows back in the wind and falls to the ground below with all my fears... They all crawl into the deepest trenches of the great blue ocean. My arms raise as the memories drown in the pits of my mind.

A dragonfly nestles it's stick-like body on my arm as the sun sets, and the paper lanterns ignite. I never want to step off of this flight. No, never. One day I'll look back on this day and remember... That was the moment I was saved. That was the day I learned the true beauty of grace. Hallelujah. Amen.

Krystal Meyers

Hey! I found a really cool music artist! I recently have been listening to Britt Nicole and Meredith Andrews (both really good music artists), but I was listening to Pandora a few weeks ago, and I heard a song by Krystal Meyers, and I fell in love with her music! Her music is like a mix between Rock and Pop, so I guess you could say that it is "Pop Rock". But the best thing about her is that she is a christian singer. She is so fun!
Here is the cover of her latest album- Make Some Noise:

I think she's really pretty- and a great singer, too! Here are the lyrics to her song "Make Some Noise":

Yeah, you're so convinced of how it's supposed to be
I know that you're confused, don't take it out on me
We're not afraid to try, we're not afraid to dream
But when it all goes wrong, we're not afraid to scream

'Cause the future now is ours to make
Oh, oh shout it out

Get ready 'cause we like it loud
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Don't tell me we should turn it down
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Make some noise, make some noise

We're not the enemy you might be surprised
Don't need hypocrisy to open up our eyes
We don't need you're rules, don't need a uniform
This is who we are, we won't be ignored

'Cause the future now is all that remains
Oh, oh shout it out

Get ready 'cause we like it loud
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Don't tell me we should turn it down
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Make some noise, make some noise

Nobody's going to shut it down, yeah
'Cause we where born to make some noise
We could turn this whole thing around
Come on all you girls and boys
Make some noise, make some noise

Just for once, just for once can you think for yourself?
Seconds fade away so we don't have any time to waste

Get ready 'cause we like it loud
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Don't tell me we should turn it down
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Make some noise, make some noise

Nobody's going to shut it down, yeah
'Cause we where born to make some noise
We could turn this whole thing around
Come on all you girls and boys
Make some noise, make some noise

Get ready 'cause we like it loud
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Don't tell me we should turn it down
'Cause we where born to make some noise
Make some noise, make some noise

We could turn this whole thing around
Come on all you girls and boys make some noise

- Krystal Meyers "Make Some Noise"

I am hoping to buy her CD "Make Some Noise" on Thursday. I'll let you know in my comments how it is. The songs on Make Some Noise are:

• Make Some Noise
• Love It Away
• Shine
• S.O.S.
• Feels So Right
• My Freedom
• Beautiful Tonight
• Up to You
• You'll Never Know
• In Your Hands

Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you like Krystal Meyers!