My Baby Boy...

I remember the day so clearly, it is hard to wrap my brain around the fact that it was fourteen years ago. I was tired. I was irritable. I had decided I was done. No, really. DONE. My little man was a week overdue, and I couldn't see my feet. I had dealt with nausea and vomiting for 9 months - practically every day - and the swelling began 3 months in. I was so excited to meet him, but really, it was just about being done with the pregnancy that day.

My boss, Cindy, was a great gal. She was fun, smart, supportive, a career mom, but happy for me to want and be able to stay home. I went to her office at lunch and told her I thought I would just start my maternity leave the next day. For all intents and purposes, I shouldn't really be there at that point anyway, since I was a week overdue. I figured she'd completely understand, give me a hug, and I'd be on my way.

"No."

"No?!?"

"Yes, Ammy. No."

?!!?*&$%!

I didn't know what had just happened. She went on to explain that they couldn't get anyone to cover for me. The bank was shorthanded and there really weren't any good applicants to replace me. I guess that should have made me feel better, but in my emotionally fragile state, all I heard was I was still pregnant, and I had to keep working. Indefinitely. Possibly forever. (Dramatic, much? Oh, yeah.)

Well, I went home that evening so upset. I cried and I cried. I told Kelly it wasn't fair. My body hurt. My head hurt. I looked terrible. I didn't want to do this anymore. I couldn't get comfortable, and I didn't know what to do. He kissed my head and sent me to rest. He really couldn't have done any more than that. I was inconsolable.

A few hours later, I woke up feeling...off. I decided to take a shower. Within a few minutes, the contractions began. They came and went for a little bit, then really got going. I woke Kelly, we headed to triage. He decided now would be a great time to fill up the truck...I was a little frustrated with him at this point!

When we got to triage, they decided fairly quickly to admit me. My first call...was to Cindy!! I was NOT going to be at work in a few hours! LOL! She just laughed and said she'd come check on me that evening...then she said, "Oh, and you're welcome!" I was confused, then she said, "A good cry is a great way to get labor started! You were so mad at me, I knew you'd go into labor tonight!" I just laughed and said she was right!

There is so much more to this story. How I was determined to have no pain meds. How I fell asleep AFTER the pain meds and Kelly left for lunch. (Another frustrating moment!) How I could hear Ariel and Jackie and Niki bickering and pushing to hear at the door, making me giggle mid push. How if I ate one more ice chip, I'd become an ice chip. So many memories.

About 18 hours later, my beautiful baby boy was placed into my arms. We had a BUNCH of people there - Mom, Ariel, Aunt Trudi, Jackie, Phoebe, Niki, and many more. But Kelly locked the door and wouldn't let anyone in for a while. He got on the bed right beside me and we just took him in. We were so enamored from the get go. This little guy, Robert Connor Quinn, had come in his own time, in his own way. No amount of planning or preparedness had gone how we expected. And so it has been from then on out. Connor has his own way of doing things, and he is not to be swayed by anyone's timetable.

Connor was a natural born leader from the time he learned to walk. He is analytical, inventive, courageous. His enthusiasm for a project will have his brothers lining up to be his workmen as easily as if he were the pied piper. He has unlimited ideas and strength to see many of them through. He amazed us from the beginning, and he continues to amaze us today. I can't tell you how much I love this boy - young man. Fourteen years have truly gone by in a flash. I love the depth of our conversations at times. I am in awe of his convictions. I am thankful for his determination. More than anything, I am proud to be his Mom.

Flight School Review

I had the opportunity to meet a nice young man at the SHEM Convention this spring. His name was Jason McIntire. Connor had returned to his booth multiple times to visit with him and gaze longingly at the game he was hoping I would purchase that day, Settlers of Catan. He was very engaging and I enjoyed visiting with him. Through our conversation, I told him that I blogged and wrote curriculum reviews. He told me that he was a writer, and he asked me if I would be interested in reviewing for him sometime in the near future. I told him I would love to, and I looked forward to hearing from him. So though I'd never read any of his previous works, I was excited to see what kind of book he would send me.

Flight School (Elisha Press, 2015) is the second book about the Rivera-Sparrows, a newly blended and homeschooling family. The sequel to The Sparrow Found a House, the adventures continue for the children Ben, Chris, Jessie, Katie and Moe. As the older children are on the brink of adulthood, career choices and their walks with God may take them down very different paths. But the bond of family is not easily broken, and a life built on a firm faith in the Lord can lead to amazing encounters.

Having never read the first book, I wasn't sure how easy it would be to get into this novel. I could tell at once that the first story must have dealt more with the characters of the parents and how the two families became one. However, I was quickly pulled into the family dynamic - two stepbrothers that are best friends, two sisters with seriously different personalities but complementing each other beautifully, a fun loving little brother, a wise grandmother, and two parents doing their best to raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Ben and Chris are spending their final summer after graduating from homeschool to share in each other's passions. Chris is secretly hoping that Ben will fall in line with his own dream of Christian film-making, but Ben's pursuits are taking him down the path of college and Washington D.C. - not to mention a lovely friend with big ambitions. While attending a film course, the boys meet Galen, and he and Chris strike up an immediate friendship encompassing their vision for creating a mini film over the summer. With Chris finding a new partner, Ben is happy to follow through with his internship with a conservative Congressman and learn more about the law and see if his talents can take him to the top.

Katie and Jessie have a lot to do this summer with Mom and Sarge's announcement, and they both spend time seeking the Lord to mold them into His image. Katie's talents can lead to a sense of pride, but Jessie's humble heart can always bring her back to the right choices. They are blessed to spend time with their Mullerite friends (a made up people group who will resemble what you may know as Anabaptist) who live close by. While Jessie is growing closer to her Plain living friend, Chris brings his new buddy Galen home for the summer to work on filmmaking. Galen, a fun loving, yet somewhat brash young man, may have his sights on his new friend's little sister. Pulled between the two boys and their completely opposite personalities - not to mention the excitement of writing for the film - Jessie has much soul searching to do.

With the guidance of the adults in their lives, the kids have many choices to make - in just one summer. How will it all play out? I really want to encourage you to read this book. It is not often that I can recommend a book to virtually anyone. Jason's writing skills are very strong, and you truly feel like you know this family at the end. His biblical insight and the way he molds the characters with godly life lessons is a breath of fresh air. I love to read all kinds of literature, but sometimes feel let down by some Christian fiction that are only loosely Christian. There isn't a doubt where these characters find their wisdom and grace - from the Father above.

Jason is a homeschool graduate who helps run the family business. His favorite pasttime of writing looks to be shaping up as much more than a hobby. His ability to draw in an audience and impart godly wisdom throughout the story is sure to bring him to the front of Christian fiction very soon. I am thrilled to share this find with you - I hope you check it out!


***Today Elisha Press is announcing the release of a sequel to The Sparrow Found A House - and to celebrate, they're giving away signed copies to four randomly-selected winners. You can enter the giveaway here, or go ahead and order the book  on Amazon. It's $2.99 for the Kindle version, or $9.99 for the 256-page print edition.***

A TOS Review: Dig-It! Games

Learning about ancient cultures has always fascinated me. I love my modern conveniences, but there is something intriguing about discovering how different people groups lived throughout history. South and Central American culture is something that I have enjoyed learning about since Connor and I studied world cultures when he was in early elementary, but never had I learned such interesting and exciting things as I did through this review. 


Dig-It! Games sent us Mayan Mysteries to review. Mayan Mysteries is an online interactive learning adventure for your pc. You have the opportunity to learn about Mayan customs and history while embarking on an adventure with the characters archaeological professor Alex Quinn and his niece and nephew. There is an infamous thief, Ladrone, who is out to steal priceless Mayan artifacts, and you and the team have to figure out how to stop him. Through this game, you are introduced to fascinating history, map and memory skills, secrets behind the Mayan calendar, the Mayan math system, and so much more.
While playing this game, I was intrigued with how much a person can learn while playing simple games. There is an I Spy type game where you have to find hidden items in pictures. These items are things that the Maya would have used in everyday life. While helping a child sell items at his father's market place, you have to learn about the Mayan math system. 
There is a lot of reading, but it is not a typical history book entry. Most of the reading is written in a way where you are having a conversation with someone either from the time of the Maya or someone on a dig site. Either way, it's like someone is sharing information with you about their way of life, or a discovery they have made, so it is much more interesting than a bunch of facts set before you to memorize. Conversational learning is one of my favorite ways to grasp history. 
After reading these sections, you have a group of questions to answer. There are points to be earned, and an even bigger incentive - looters are out to get you if you answer incorrectly! It's pretty fun to watch your jeep pull away in success, and pretty frustrating when your are caught!


Overall, I think Mayan Mysteries is an intriguing way of learning about this time in history and this ancient people group. I have to admit, I haven't used video games for school time much in the past. Of course, we've had different spelling and vocab games on the computer over the years. And there have been many math games we've delved into. Not to mention that certain building game that my boys could spend literally hours on every single day...but this was completely different than any other site we've used in the past. Never before have I seen a video game that brings history to life - not only to life, but brings you right with it. While playing the game, your child is integrally involved in solving the mystery and saving the day - something that my boys get very excited about. 
I am excited to see what other games Dig-It! Games puts out there in the future. Immersing children in this game builds within them such a varied skill set that I can't imagine any child not enjoying their school time in this setting. I plan to use Mayan Mysteries even more this school year - we haven't solved what Ladrone is after yet, so don't spoil it for me if you beat us!

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