Diana's Birthday Party || 9yrs || Part 2

: : No idea what somebody's favourite colours might be! : :

: : Amelia wrote Diana some music : :

: : Gift-giving session : :

: : Diana was happily admiring this {purple} handbag, but Danielle said "OPEN IT, OPEN IT!! : :

: : So she did . . . chocolate for the win! : :

: : Diana loves long skirts and was excited to receive this one from Amy and Joanna, handcrafted by their mum! : :

Diana's Birthday Party || 9yrs || Part 1

So I meant to have these up *ages* ago, but left it in the hopes that the missing images would be found first. What happened was our [Mum's] memory card filled up half-way through the party and I allowed someone else to download them and clear the card. Then I'm ready to edit them and they're nowhere to be found. #nothappy Most of the images I captured of the card-making, including individual shots of each person with her card were in that first batch, along with various new background images, and {I think} more photos from Nana's visit to Auckland. (More on that in a future post.) *sigh* Fingers crossed they'll show up at some point . . . they don't seem to be in the recycle bin.

: : Plenty of outdoor play took place throughout the day. : :
Both Jarrod's homemade swings and the swing + bar/rings set were well enjoyed.

: : Since up is always better : :

: : Laura loved playing with Katie all day! : :

: : Aww... : :

: : It was so special to have Nana here for Diana's party, it had been several years since her last trip to Auckland! : :

: : Always a jam session with musicians around! : :

: : And Amelia has a turn : :

Books I Read in 2014

Typically a post like this would make an appearance in December; but most of you have probably figured out by now that I don't often conform to "typical". So let's get started. The outline below gives you a glimpse of some of my favourite titles from 2014.

Before You Meet Prince Charming: A Guide to Radiant Purity

By Sarah Mally

Actually I was considering this for a sister's birthday, so read it to check for suitability. (It passed, btw.) This book is discrete enough to be suitable for younger readers, yet relevant for older readers as well. Sarah simultaneously encourages readers to view marriage highly, but to have a life purpose bigger than marriage. The text combines the tale of a young princess with anecdotes, advice, and Scripture. I would encourage every girl from about 12 onwards to add this to her reading list!

{Sidenote: When my sister's copy arrived with a cover-page recommendation from the Duggar girls . . . *squeal*}

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

Believe it or not I hadn't read this book until last year! I've raved about the BBC's film version and seen two other {inferior} films, so decided I had better add the novel to my reading log. Made pretty quick work of it too. :) If you haven't read this already, you should. ;)

Growing Up Duggar: It's All About Relationships

By Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger Duggar

The theme of this book is relationships, and each chapter focuses on a different one: relationship with yourself, your parents, your siblings, friends, guys, culture, your country and the world. Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger wrote this book to help answer some of the many questions they receive from curious fans in letters and emails, and to empower, hopefully, readers to use their own lives to benefit others. 
See my full review here. 

The Music Teacher's Companion: A Practical Guide

By Paul Harris and Richard Crozier

I first checked this book out of the library, but before I finished it I realised I had already found so much helpful and that it would be invaluable resource in future (since I plan on getting ABRSM's teaching diploma in flute). The end didn't disappoint either! So if you're teaching, or planning on it, go get yourself a copy of this great book!!

Gianna: Aborted and Lived to Tell About It

By Jessica Shaver Renshaw

This biography tells the story of saline abortion survivor Gianna Jessen, the struggles she experienced growing up: from the difficulties in learning to live with cerebral palsy (caused by the abortion), to the opposition she experienced for being vocal about her pro-life stance.
See my full review here.

Still Growing: An Autobiography

By Kirk Cameron

Child actor, celebrity, atheist-turn-Christian, adoptive father -- Kirk Cameron is the perfect subject for an easy-to-read and difficult-to-put-down autobiography. I think I read this cover-to-cover in about a couple of days. If you're looking for an easy but inspiring read, go check it out!




And thus concludes a short list of titles I enjoyed in 2014. Are you going to add any of these to your reading list? Do you have any titles I should add to my list for this year?

Happy New Year!