Month: June 2009

Book Review: “100 Bible Stories, 100 Bible Songs”

I think 100 Bible Stories, 100 Bible Songs by Stephen Elkins is a cool, somewhat unusual idea for a Bible storybook. Instead of having only child-length Bible stories, it also comes with 2 CDs that have songs that accompany each story.  There’s a nice combination of songs, hymns, and spiritual songs, and also a good combination of old favorites (for our family, anyway), and new songs.

The stories presented in the Bible are short, even for a children’s Bible, which I guess is because the songs are included, and take up some normal reading time.  The children singing on the CD are cute and likable.  My own children really like the music, and enjoy looking at new Bible illustrations, even if the stories are already familiar to them, and shorter and less detailed than they are used to.

My only complaint is the way the CDs are packaged.  They are almost impossible to get out of the book and their vinyl envelope within it without damaging them.  I guess there are no alternative ways to pack a set of CDs in a book, but I could see the discs becoming damaged easily, thus defeating the purpose of the songs along *with* the stories.

Turning Thirty

So, my thirtieth birthday is this month. Pop culture (and by that I mean the show Friends) suggests that this should bother me–I should go out and pierce something, or get drunk, or have some kind of crisis, all in the name of holding onto my youth.  At the least, I should be crossing out all the things on my list of “things to do before I turn 30” that I have accomplished.

Well, I personally think I have accomplished a lot, but I have no list; I don’t think I really need any more piercings (although, to be honest, I do consider it on occasion–not in the name of youth, but because I think they look cool); I have no crises or drunkenness planned. So where does that leave me?

It leaves me with being 30.  It just doesn’t bother me.  It’s a number–one more than last year; one less than next year.  There *are* things that make me feel older–the idea of never having another baby being the one that makes me feel the oldest.  The few grey hairs I’ve been finding recently–well, they don’t make me feel old, necessarily, but they do make me a bit grumpy.  Same with the worry lines on my forehead.  Those are the things that bother me, but a number? Not so much.

I do think there’s a lot of wisdom in Tim McGraw’s My Next Thirty Years, though.  Not a bad philosophy to live by!

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page

Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here

Lord have mercy on my next thirty years


Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun

Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done

Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears

And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years


My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores

Cry a little less, laugh a little more

Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear

Figure out just what I’m doing here

In my next thirty years


Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight

Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late

Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers

Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years


My next thirty years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years

In my next thirty years

American Girl

rebecca-rubinI’ve been a big fan of the American Girl collection almost since it’s beginning.  I still remember the excitement of “finally” getting my doll (Kirsten, if you’re interested), as a reward for making high honor roll in sixth grade.  It seemed like all the other girls in my class had theirs first, but I think I actually appreciated mine more because I had to wait and work for it.  I’m equally looking forward to when my girls get their American Girl dolls someday (Bunny had been wanting Kit for over a year, and I’m hoping maybe when she turns six she can get her).

While I’m still a little annoyed that the company chose to “retire” on of the original three dolls, Samantha, along with her friend Nellie, and all the stuff that went with them, I’m pretty excited about the new doll that just came out. Rebecca Rubin is part of a Russian-Jewish family in New York City in 1914 (thus replacing Samantha, who was from 1904).  I (somewhat surprisingly)  think it’s great that they’re introducing a Jewish doll–it’s a culturally and historically significant addition to the American Girl family.  I also think it’s great that among her accessories is a “Sabbath set,” and I’m hoping for a Hanukkah set in the future.

I do think it would be nice if they added a German Lutheran (shocking, I know!) or Italian or Irish Catholic doll at some point.  While I think the Christian faith of a few of the dolls has been mentioned in passing, I don’t think it’s ever been as big of a part of any of their stories (with the possible exception of Kirsten, and the celebration of St. Lucia Day, but even that seemed more cultural than religious) as this newest character.  And as I’m guessing that Molly and Kirsten, the other two “original” dolls will probably be retired soon, there is certainly opportunity to create a character whose Christian faith is as ingrained in her life as Rebecca’s Jewish faith appears to be in hers.