Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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The Seven Money Types Book Review

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The Seven Money Types: Discover How God Wired You To Handle Money By Tommy Brown, published by Zondervan, is a great tool to learn about how to make money work for you!

My Review

I first took the quiz to find out my money type, then had my husband and teen daughter take the quiz.

Here are our results:

My money types are Isaac and Moses. My strengths are discipline and endurance. My shadow sides are fear and impatience.

My husband is tied with Abraham and Jacob. His strengths are hospitality and beauty. His shadow sides are self-sufficiency and indulgence.

My daughter’s money types are Jacob and Abraham. Her strengths are beauty and hospitality. Her shadow sides are indulgence and self-sufficiency.

Jacob types represent a mix of Abraham and Isaac types.

And now I understand our arguments about money!

I like how each money type has a virtue but also a shadow side that is an opportunity to mature related to money.

Each chapter explains the money type using scripture with great real life examples to illustrate that type.

At the end of each chapter is a blessing, scriptures, and reflection questions.

The book concludes with The Way to Financial Well-Being – an overview of the seven money types.

There are also Prompts for Group Discussion. This would be a great group study!

Book Description

True financial well-being involves more than getting out of debt and accumulating wealth. It’s about discovering how you’re wired by God, and how that wiring influences the way you think about, feel toward, and handle money.

Discovering your money type – whether you are an Abraham (hospitality), an Isaac (discipline), a Jacob (beauty), a Joseph (connection), a Moses (endurance), an Aaron (humility), or a David (leadership) – will bring greater self-awareness, reduce internal financial tension, help you resolve financial conflict with others, and help you grow financially from a faith-based perspective. As you walk with Pastor Brown through the Scriptures you’ll find holistic financial pathways that lead you to a place of increased awareness and confidence related to money.

In The Seven Money Types, Pastor Tommy Brown leads you on a journey of personal discovery as he reveals the seven money types found in Scripture, helps you identify the type that best fits you by means of a 35-question assessment, and coaches you on understanding, affirming, developing, and enjoying your unique approach to money.

About the Author

Tommy Brown is a writer, speaker, and develops strategies that support financial development. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Winston-Salem, NC along with their children Seri and Seth. He served in leadership at two churches as an ordained minister from 2001-2014, leading congregations into financial wellbeing and a holistic approach to integrating faith and finances. Tommy has a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry and Masters degrees in Divinity and Management. His entrepreneurial endeavors over the years have extended into real estate development and church consulting on stewardship matters.

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How To Effectively Deal With Water Damage

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There are many reasons why your home or office building might suffer severe water damage. Perhaps the hot water heat bursts in the middle of night, leaving you to wake up to a foot of water and quite a mess. Many areas of the country are also prone to flash floods, and this can adversely impact you at any time.

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Whatever the reason might be, if your property has been impacted by water damage it is important to deal with it effectively. Here is how to do just that:

Stop the Flow of Water and Minimize Damage

The first thing to do when you realize that your property has endured severe water damage is to work to minimize the inflow of the water into your home. This might not always be possible if the problem lies outside of your control, such as in the case of regional flooding and a city water main break. If the issue in inside your home, however, turn off the water and work to keep any more from invading the premises.

Contact A Restoration Company Specializing in Water Damage

As soon as you are able, you will want to contact a company that specializes in restoring buildings damaged by water. This will give you the best chance of minimizing the damage, salvaging as much as possible, and working towards getting the building back habitable again as soon as possible. You can contact us to learn more about water damage restoration companies.

Talk With Your Insurance Company

At some point, you will want to contact your insurance company. They will need to know the extent of the damage and they will help you determine what is covered, and what is not. This will hopefully help to put your mind at rest as you aim to pick up the pieces and deal with the damage that has been caused. You should not put this off and contact them as soon as you are able to.

If you will follow these three simple guidelines, you will be well on your way to getting your life and your property back to normal again as quickly as possible after a flood. You cannot reverse the clock and make it so the damage never happened, but you can certainly work hard to stop the bleeding. Stay patient, keep your chin up, and just roll with the flow.

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Spring Clean Your Heart

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With the warmer weather and sunshine, the dust seems all the more obvious gathered on the tables, windowsills, and knick-knacks scattered about.

Plenty of dust also settled in my heart this winter.

I struggled with the early sunsets and cold, dreary days. Even my happy light couldn’t help me quite shake it.

As I make natural cleaners to safely remove the dust, dirt, and grime from my floors and other surfaces, I also realize I must invest in a dust removal system for my soul.

Spring is a time of new growth and soul-growth is not to be placed on the back burner.

I revisit our Bible curricula for what works and what needs improvement. Some of the irritating behaviors in my family (and myself!) need to be addressed. I must remain diligent and beg my Father’s forgiveness for laziness this past season.

As I open the windows to let in the fresh air and sunshine and let out the stale air, I also need to air my heart’s grievances in prayer and Bible study as I do some spring cleaning for my soul.

Declutter. Renew. Revive.

Limit activities. Set goals. Personal growth.

What do you need to sweep out of your life?

 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Heart:

1. Prioritize.

I need to focus on on better priorities. Some things have to get left behind for my sanity since I just can’t do it all.

I refuse to get caught up in the comparison trap. I really just can’t write all the posts, like all the social media, go to all the field trips, read all the books, decorate all the rooms like Pinterest, buy all the trendy clothes.

I must learn to be content within my means and protect my heart from comparison. With prayer and discussion, I can prioritize what’s best for our family. And my priority isn’t having my home look like a magazine or museum or running around constantly.

2. No cutting corners.

I must be diligent in completing a task well if I want my children to learn by my example how to follow through.

Just like I don’t want to sweep the dirt under the bed or rug, I don’t want to leave heart issues unaddressed to grow into bigger issues later. I need to be a diligent parent and coach my children consistently, in love and without nagging.

I need to be open to communication and aware of what my family needs. I need to explore the underlying causes of a behavior rather than react.

3. Relationships are most important.

I need to show my kids and husband that they are most important to me (after God, of course) – more important than my smartphone or my blogs or social media or anything else that might become an idol. Just like I want to be hospitable to guests in my home, so I rush around like a madwoman, cleaning and tidying before anyone comes over – only to apologize profusely for my house that has never been cleaner in years! I’m focusing on the wrong things – the appearances instead of the relationship. If they don’t like me because my house isn’t spotless, then that’s fine. I need to be more like Mary and less like Martha.

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103: 13-14

And sometimes, I need to let the dishes sit and the floor go unvacuumed while I take a walk with my kids to enjoy the sunshine and flowers. They will remember those experiences more than having a museum-spotless house.

4. Don’t allow dirt to collect.

I can’t get lazy and then become overwhelmed by the task at hand. Sometimes, we create bad situations ourselves with poor choices and call it “from the devil.” Of course, Satan will use all ammunition we give to him, but we must accept responsibility for our actions and the consequences of those actions. This also goes for listening to dirt about others. We should just close our ears to that rather than expressing interest or spreading any gossip. If I don’t clean the refrigerator for months, then the task will become overwhelming and take much longer and need more elbow grease than if I wipe it down and pay attention to inventory and expiration dates every week or so. This also goes for social media, mom groups, family bickering. Limit that noise. Stay positive.

5. Ask for help.

When I can’t complete something on my own, I need to turn to Jesus for help. Just like when a maintenance task at the house or yard is too much for me to complete well on my own, s0 I enlist my husband and kids for help… I need to cry to Jesus in prayer when I get overwhelmed with life.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask for godly counsel. Mentoring seems like a dying art. Do you have a trustworthy Christian mentor?

 I plan to analyze my heart as I tackle spring cleaning this year!

Resources:

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Peter Martyr Vermigli Book Review

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Peter Martyr Vermigli (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr.

Our Review

Katie loves to read! She and I both love to read biographies, especially about missionaries.

She devoured the book and says she loves all the details about Peter Martyr Vermigli’s life and seeing his travels.

I love the quality of this hardcover biography. The illustrations and photographs really bring it to life for readers, young and old.

Katie was so excited that we’ve actually visited many of the places listed in the text. We were not familiar with Peter Martyr Vermigli and all his travels and contributions to the Reformation. This is a great addition to our home library.

I enjoyed this book as much as my kids!

The book includes an introduction, 6 chapters about Peter Martyr Vermigli, a timeline, Did You Know? section about facts of the era, What Happened to Others? section about his contemporaries, and quotes.

We love all the information about the Reformation!

Summary

Born in Florence, Italy, in 1499, Peter Martyr Vermigli decided that he wanted to teach God’s Word when he grew up. After many years of study, he became a well-respected leader in the Roman Catholic Church, yet he questioned the church’s teachings because he believed they were contrary to the Bible. Eventually forced to flee Italy and the Roman Church, Vermigli joined the Reformers north of the Alps and devoted the rest of his life to teaching, preaching, and writing about the great truths of the Protestant Reformation. He lived in many parts of Europe, and he influenced many of the most important figures of his times.

There’s a whole series of Christian Biographies for Young Readers. I want to collect them all!

This volume in the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series retells the story of a servant of Christ who left behind a postion of prominence in the Roman Church to courageously join the cause of the Protestant Reformation. Enhanced by illustrious, photographs, and additional information about the Reformation era, this account shows young readers how God can use the piety and talents of one man to advance the cause of His truth.

About the Author

Simonetta Carr was born in Italy and has lived and worked in different cultures. A former elementary school teacher, she has home-schooled her eight children for many years. She has written for newspapers and magazines around the world and has translated the works of several Christian authors into Italian. Presently, she lives in San Diego with her husband Thomas and family. She is a member and Sunday School teacher at Christ United Reformed Church.

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Our Ni’ihau Day Trip

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In March 2009, Aaron and I spent a 3-day weekend in Kaua’i.

The Hawaii ITT trip was an all-inclusive (plane, hotel, rental car, meals) and Ni’ihau helicopter tour!

I don’t remember it costing more than $500 for all of it. It was an amazing weekend, the two us, alone. We’ve never had a weekend alone, before or since.

The helicopter tour was about 30 minutes from Kaua’i to Ni’ihau. Then we had a couple hours to explore, ate a picnic lunch, and flew back to Kaua’i.

About Ni’ihau:

Keith Robinson and his brother, Bruce, own the approximately 70-square-mile island of Ni’ihau in the Hawaiian island chain, which has been in the private possession of their family since their great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth McHutchinson Sinclair (1800–92), purchased it from King Kamehameha V for US$10,000 in gold. He is also the manager of a private botanical garden on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. Robinson makes his home on Kaua’i, but visits Ni’ihau at least once per week on average.

We flew in the helicopter from Kaua’i to Ni’ihau.

I’d never been in a helicopter before!

We zoomed all around the island…saw whales near the surface, the lovely Lehua Crater, and wild horses!

I love how all the Hawaiian islands have their own interesting and original landscape.

We landed and were given our instructions.

We had only a couple hours to explore. It was chilly and rainy.

As soon as we landed, I rushed over to see the beach!

The water was pretty chilly.

There were seals sunning themselves and a couple turtles bobbing in the waves.

We walked along the beach, exploring and gathering shells.

The shells on Ni’ihau are exquisite and the jewelry made with them are very expensive.

Common colors are ke‘oke‘o (white), ‘ākala (pink), lenalena (yellow), and ‘ōma‘oma‘o (green).  Shades of colors are often identified as ‘āhiehie (light) or ikaika (dark).  A few other terms include kahakaha (striped), ‘ōnikiniki (spotted), ‘āpu‘upu‘u (bumpy), and even waha ‘ula‘ula (red mouth).

We loved our time on the Forbidden Island of Ni’ihau!

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy





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Easter Gifts

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Shopping for Easter gifts for the people you care about can be a lot of fun. However, it can also be quite expensive if you allow yourself to get carried away. You might end up with a massive credit card bill that you did not count on. This is why you need to be very smart and think carefully at all times when you are shopping for Easter gifts. Making people feel good by giving them gifts is always a wonderful thing. However, you should avoid going broke while you are doing it.

Here are some methods that can be used to save you cash while you are shopping for Easter gifts online.

1. Check for any sites that sell Easter gifts that are having sales.

Smart shoppers will always search for sales before they start spending any money. This is not a hard thing to do if you know how to use a search engine to properly filter the results. Online retailers are always having various sales. Therefore, it would be worth your while to search for sales at some of your favorite sites on a regular basis. You never know what type of amazing bargain you might come across if you are very persistent in your deal hunting.

2. Get an early start on all of your Easter gift shopping.

People who wait until the last minute to do all of their Easter gift shopping are the ones who end up paying more than they should. This is because time is running out and they are desperate for gifts. Therefore, they have no choice but to pay the prices that the online retailers are charging. Retailers will often jack up their prices around the holidays. This means that doing your gift shopping long before Easter will enable you to take advantage of some great deals. Basically, you should always be on the lookout for great Easter gifts throughout the course of the entire year.

3. Look at sites that offer coupon codes.

Coupon codes are basically online coupons that can allow you to save a considerable amount of money when you are shopping for Easter gifts. People who shop regularly online use coupon codes to their advantage. You should do the same thing. Talk to some of your friends who are more savvy about online shopping than you are. With any luck, they might be able to send you in the direction of several good sites that offer coupon codes. These sites change the coupon codes they offer very frequently. Therefore, it would be in your best interests to check back every few days to see if any new coupon codes have been added since the last time you were there.

4. Pay close attention to how much you are paying for shipping.

Shopping for Easter gifts online means that the cost of shipping could come into the equation. Sadly, many people do not pay any attention to what they are being charged for shipping when they are shopping online. They simply click to complete their order without giving the shipping charges a second thought. However, this is a huge issue that you need to be aware of in order to save money. Do all of your Easter gift shopping with online retailers that do not overcharge you for shipping. Sweetbasket.com will send Easter gift baskets anywhere in Toronto for a reasonable price.

5. Look for sites that have customer rewards programs.

Another way to save a lot of money when doing your Easter gift shopping online is to seek out sites that will reward you for shopping there. A customer rewards program is a great way for you to get lots of free stuff for buying the same things you normally do. You sign up for the customer rewards program at an online retailer. They will usually give you a number that you enter during checkout. You can then accumulate points with every purchase you make. The points can be used to get free items that each have a specific point value assigned to them. You would be wise to take some time and search for sites that offer these programs.

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Our Kaua’i Weekend

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In March 2009, Aaron and I spent a 3-day weekend in Kaua’i.

The Hawaii ITT trip was an all-inclusive (plane, hotel, rental car, meals) and Ni’ihau helicopter tour!

I don’t remember it costing more than $500 for all of it. It was an amazing weekend, the two us, alone. We’ve never had a weekend alone, before or since.

We stayed at the Kaua’i Hilton Beach Resort. It apparently is now an Aqua hotel and not a Hilton property.

We stopped at Fort Elisabeth to get a picture because our eldest daughter is named Elizabeth!

We enjoyed local beer at Brenneke’s Beach Broiler.

We stopped at Kaua’i Coffee Plantation and got a sample.

Chickens are everywhere! Some places, we were scared to get out of the car since they seemed ready to attack.

Monk seals are protected. In Hawaiian, they are known as Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or “dog that runs in rough water.” You can see the rope on the sand to keep people from getting too close. It’s illegal to get closer than 50 yards to a monk seal or sea turtle.

Turtles were swimming near the rocky beach!

Another was sunning on the beach.

All sea turtles in Hawaii are protected by both State and Federal Law! It is illegal to kill, capture, touch or harass sea turtles. Fines can be as high as $25,000 and may include a year in prison.

There’s a place to pull over and park to view Spouting Horn, a rock and wave phenomenon that is quite lovely.

We enjoying seeing famous Wailua Falls!

Waimea Canyon was misty when we first got there, but then it cleared up for a picture!

We loved seeing Kaua’i. It was a special time without the kids!

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy




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Homeschooling as a Military Family

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Families decide to homeschool their children for so many different reasons: academics, extra-curricular activities, special needs, allergies, religion, and more all bring families to the decision to homeschool.

Who homeschools?

Homeschooling families are as diverse as our United States military families!

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2012, there were an estimated 1.8 million homeschooled students in the United States, and those numbers are increasing!

Many families homeschool temporarily for various reasons and some families are in it for the long haul.

Why homeschool in the military?

Transitions

Many military families find PCS season easier without having to deal with school transfer paperwork. Who wants more paperwork?

Different standards in each state can make it difficult for children transferring between school districts. With homeschooling, fewer credits are missed because it is a more cohesive transition if parents are in control. Many parents also complain of “gaps” in education standards in the states where they’ve lived.

Flexibility

Instead of worrying about school break schedules and half-days, homeschoolers can travel whenever they want or take time off from book work to spend more time with a soon-to-be deployed or returning parent.

Opportunity

Homeschoolers receive a “real world” education, especially in military families, since we often have the opportunity to live in or travel to so many interesting places around the world! We learn to be more culturally aware. We are third culture families! We’re often “road schooling” so we can see the places we’re learning about in our homeschool.

Homeschooling can be done anywhere, anytime.

What you need to know:

Homeschool families in CONUS locations must abide by the state law where you live (not your sponsor’s state of residency) which may include submitting an “intent to homeschool” letter or form, providing standardized test scores, assessments, portfolios, curricula titles, attendance records, and more annually.

You could be penalized for truancy or worse if you don’t comply.

Know the law and your rights.

For OCONUS locations, homeschool families do not have to report or submit anything to anyone, but it is recommended (not required) to mention it to the sponsor’s commander. Realize that homeschooling is often illegal for local citizens in host countries, so it is good to know your rights under the SOFA agreement. And it’s also nice to be respectful of daytime hours when neighbors might question your or your kids.

It is advisable to keep good records of homeschool documents in case of PCS to a state with stricter policy – or the possibility of future enrollment into public, private, or DoD schools. You just never know what the future may hold.

What about socialization?

Homeschoolers are not all stuck in little closets, reading quantum physics, rebuilding computers, composing symphonies, or hacking into secure servers.

Socialization is a concern, especially for many parents beginning homeschooling. We worry about isolation and how our children will be able to interact with others in a healthy way.

School environments cannot recreate natural socialization within controlled age-segregated institutions.

We’ve discovered many unique opportunities to socialize!

Libraries offer all kinds of fun: storytime, crafts, clubs, games, classes, contests. Ask your librarian to plan homeschool events!

Our children have always taken music lessons from amazing teachers in our community.

My kids participate in gymnastics, soccer, track, and baseball. There are many sports opportunities within most communities.

We attend church frequently where our children interact with so many different people of all ages.

Volunteering is a great opportunity for homeschoolers who have a flexible schedule. My teen daughter works at our installation hospital twice a week. She is certified with the Red Cross and loves it!

My teenage daughter is also a member of a local drama troupe where she performs with many amateur thespians of all ages in our community.

We are members of a local homeschooling organization that holds art shows, science and geography fairs, co-op classes led by parents, talent shows, field trips, holiday parties, and special events. We can participate as much or as little as we want.

Many homeschoolers are involved in Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts or similar extra-curricular activities.

My eldest daughter has participated in Civil Air Patrol since she was 12 years old.

Even shopping, medical appointments, and dining out is educational. It’s a learning experience to interact with and be courteous to store clerks, cashiers, nurses, wait staff, and other patrons.

We as homeschool parents get to choose our children’s socialization…who they associate with and what they spend their time doing.

Our attitudes and experiences impart knowledge to our kids.

What if you can’t (or don’t want to) teach something?

I am so lucky that I am the English and history expert and my husband is the math and science guy. Together, we can tackle almost anything our kids want to learn, even the tougher high school courses.

But what if you don’t want to teach writing or algebra gives you hives?

Many homeschool classes are offered online! Lots of companies provide classes especially for homeschoolers.

Private tutors are an available resource, both online and locally. Many local and DoD libraries offer free or reduced educational services.

You can check for local co-op classes. If there is nothing available in your area to suit your family’s needs, ask other parents to help you create a course! There are probably other parents in need of your skills who can offer their expertise.

Homeschoolers can enroll part-time in many local or DoD schools for academics, electives, or extra-curricular activities. Just speak to the school office for procedure.

What about high school and beyond?

We are navigating this right now and it’s both scary and exciting!

It’s important to keep good records.

Calculate high school credits and complete a transcript.

Prepare for the ACT or SAT.

Complete paperwork for financial aid, applications, scholarships.

Visit college or job fairs.

Homeschool high school doesn’t have to look like traditional school.

Coach your homeschooled students well for after high school – no matter if that’s work, college, a gap year, or whatever.

Whether it’s for a semester or 12+ years, homeschooling is an educational option many military families all over the world choose for their children.

Homeschooling is the hardest job you will ever love.

Resources:

The Homeschool Foundation assists military homeschool families who struggle financially to meet their children’s educational needs.
The Homeschool Association for Military Families is a group advocating for military families to be allowed to choose one location (a family home state) and a set of laws to follow throughout a child’s education. I think that’s great!
Get a starter kit from the Home School Association for Military Families.
Remember: You can get military and teacher discounts at many stores! Check with curricula providers, bookstores, services, and stores for military and teacher discounts.

Homeschool Support Groups:

Military Homeschoolers (Worldwide)
Military Homeschoolers Overseas
Secular Homeschoolers

OCONUS Homeschool Support Groups:

There are lots of groups for each installation. Ask or do an online search to find one near you!

United Homeschoolers of Germany (KMC, Germany)
KMC Christian Homeschoolers (KMC, Germany)
KMC Inclusive Homeschool Group (KMC, Germany)
Eifel Homeschool Group (Spangdahlem, Germany)
Grafenwoehr and Vilseck Homeschoolers and Facebook Group (Germany)
Sigonella Homeschoolers (Italy)
Naples Homeschooling (Italy)
Naples Christian Homeschooling (Italy)
L.I.F.E. Homeschool Group – Lakenheath and Mildenhall (UK)
Okinawa Homeschool Group
Seoul Homeschool Group

Let me know if there’s a group where you live that I don’t have on my list!

Book Resources:

  • The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer
  • Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
  • Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn
  • The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl 
  • Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
  • How Children Learn by John Holt
  • Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray
  • Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom
  • Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne
  • Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow by Lenore Skenazy
  • Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD 
  • Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté  
  • The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté

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Venice with Kids

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We finally went to Venice in November. It was every bit as magical as we’d expected.

You can’t get lost in Venice. There’s no crime. There are no worries. None of us fell into a canal.

It’s a great place to wander around with little or no itinerary.

Get gelato and explore the little canal sidewalks and bridges.

Find a cafe on busy canal and get a drink to watch the people. Be sure to read the posted menus so you’re not surprised by the cost! Most restaurants have a surcharge. Know how much you’re supposed to pay for that cocktail or coffee.

Venice survives almost on tourism alone. While most of the wait staff are very nice, we did have some who were bland and even unfriendly.

Day 1

We flew on RyanAir from Frankfurt Hahn to Venice Treviso. We bought RT tickets at the airport for the ATVO bus into Venice. It was about an hour on the bus. It dropped us off right at Piazzale Roma.

We walked to our apartment since we were so excited and it’s not really on the vaporetto route. Of course, the main walking route is littered with touristy kiosks and shops.
Our apartment was huge: Appartamenti del Dose in Cannaregio. (Cannaregio is the northernmost of the six historic sestieri of Venice.) We were able to checkin early which was great to drop off the luggage and freshen up.

Then we set off!

I used Rick Steve’s Venice guide.

We were starving, but not wanting to waste time, so we grabbed some pizza by the slice at Arte Della Pizza and it was really quite good.

We began with our Grand Canal cruise. We walked back to Ferrovia and boarded the slow boat #1 vaporetto. It took us all the way to San Marco. It’s about €7 for a ticket and well worth it for the 45-minute ride. It wasn’t very crowded and we were able to get seats all together in the front of the water bus. The weather was outstanding, partly sunny and almost warm.

I read the trivia and history to the kids and it was a great tour!

We arrived in San Marco Square.

It is a must-do to “ride” the lions for a picture.

We decided to go ahead and tour the basilica since there was no line at all. The church is free, but if there’s a line, you can pay €2 for a reservation to skip the line.

Three lovely sights inside: Treasury for €3, Golden Altarpiece for €2, and the San Marco Museum for €5. There are children’s discounts. There’s a free restroom and drink vending machines inside the museum.

The church is stunning with gorgeous mosaics.

The Treasury has some lovely artifacts and bone relics that fascinated the kids, so it was worth the admission fee for us. the 600-year-old crosier is still used by the priest on holy days!

The Golden Altarpiece is a not-to-miss sight. It was absolutely breathtaking. I could hardly tear myself away.

The museum was nice. It’s worth it to get to go up on the outside balcony with the horses and get a nice view of the square. From the indoor balcony (where the women viewed mass) offers a great view of inside the basilica.

Then we got gelato and looked the Bridge of Sighs.

We walked back to the apartment in a roundabout way, taking the side tour St. Mark’s to Rialto walk from the Rick Steves book.

We saw the Scala Contarini del Bovolo just as it was getting dark and closing. It’s pretty pricey to just go up a spiral staircase, but it’s pretty to see through the gate.

We dropped the kids off and found a grocery store around the corner to stock up on food and things. We popped some pizzas in the oven for the kids.

Aaron and I went around the corner to eat dinner together at L’Orto dei Mori. It was highly recommended and we had amazing wine, rushed service (because we didn’t have a reservation), and the food was rather plain and boring.

It was a great first day.

Day 2

We did a Secret Itineraries Tour of the Doge’s Palace.

Our guide was awesome and very patient with the kids. We got to see all the places not open to the public and the stories were so fun and exciting! We also got to really explore the dungeons and look from the inside out on the Bridge of Sighs.

Then we were turned loose into the public rooms and I read from the Rick Steves book all about those.

We ate lunch at the cafe in the Correr Museum. It was a great view and yummy simple pasta and sandwich dishes for an ok price. The Aperol spritz is delicious, but the Campari spritz is bitter and tastes like cough syrup!

We didn’t think the museum was really worth the price. Our teen recently read Sisi about Elizabeth, Princess of Austria, and was fascinated with her apartments, but the rest was just ok. There were a few notable paintings on the Pinoteca floor.

There are €16 combo tickets for the Doge Palace and Correr Museum that offer a good deal if you don’t want any special tours.

The girls and I picked out handmade masks at Papier-Mâché.

We explored the Libreria Acqua Alta and got some fun pics in the back.

We walked some more and saw some pretty sites.


We again popped some pizza in the oven for the kids at our apartment.

We had a delightful and utterly romantic dinner at Ristorante Trovatore. We had a pretty outdoor courtyard all to ourselves.

Day 3

We walked on the other side of the Canal and read about the history of the Venetian markets. I used the Rialto to Frari Church Walk in Rick Steves’ book.

View from the Rialto Bridge:

We toured the market and discussed the canal rising. There was a lot of construction, so we couldn’t see everything on the walking tour.

The kids and I went inside the Church of San Polo. Many churches in Venice have a small surcharge of a few € for adults, but kids under 12 are free! The art in this church is magnificent. It’s one of the oldest churches in Venice, dating to the 900’s.

We adore Tintoretto’s Last Supper and Tiepolo’s Virgin Appearing to St. John of Nepomuk. Domenico’s Stations of the Cross in the chapel are stunning. Veronese’s Betrothal of the Virgin with Angels is ethereal.

We ate lunch at Antica Birraria la Corte. Everyone was happy – pizza, pasta, seafood, local unique appetizers, great wine, and even an incredible burger. Seriously, it was an amazing burger.

We were on a mission to find a fox mask for Alex. We went to 3-4 shops under Rick Steves’ recommendations and finally found a lovely one at a great price. We found his fox mask and a mask for our teen daughter at Tragicomica.

We got gelato.

It started raining pretty hard in the afternoon, so we pulled up our raincoat hoods and walked closer to the shops, under their awnings, and dodged people’s umbrellas.

We toured the Frari Church. It was great with a lot of Titian paintings and his magnificent tomb is there.

The Canova Monument holds his heart inside the pyramid. We’re into art.

But we didn’t bother paying to go into Scuola San Rocco. €10 per person is a lot to pay to view a small ceiling and I love Tintoretto, but we had to pass. We could view it through the open doors for a minute.

We got more gelato. It was cheaper on this side of the canal.

Every.single.day.gelato.

We got the kids some pretty takeout sandwiches and pizza from Antico Forno to warm in the oven.

Aaron and I ended up at Osteria Barababao for a light dinner of salami and drinks. I finally got my Bellini! and we learned that a martini in Venice is not the cocktail, but the sweet liqueur by that brand name.

Day 4

We took the vaporetto to the islands of Murano and Burano.

We bought 12-hour vaporetto day passes for €18 at Fondamente Nove.

We disembarked at the Colonna stop on Murano.

We didn’t go into the Glass Museum. It’s €8/person.

I didn’t like any of the glass shops recommended. Much of it looked the same to me and we didn’t like any of the modern looking glass items.

We got some lovely pastries at a bakery to enjoy while we explored.

We stepped into Santa Maria e San Donato Church and enjoyed part of mass. It was a welcome break from walking and lovely inside.

There was a factory outlet store on the way to the vaporetto stop that had some just fine items we liked at a much less price.

The kids each got necklaces. I got Venetian pearls and a pretty vase. Alex got some glass penguins.

Near the lighthouse is the stop to leave Murano for Burano.

We explored the darling canals with pastel-colored homes.

We ate lunch at Pizzeria Bar Sport. Lots of different spaghetti and pizza to make everyone happy. Great soave wine in little or regular bottles.

We explored the little church of San Martino Vescovo with its leaning tower.

We picked out a lovely tablecloth with matching napkins at Merletti d’Arte dalla Lidia. They have their own museum in back of their shop and the ladies were so helpful and kind and showed us so many items we were dizzy. There was even a delightful little grandma who spoke absolutely perfect English who demonstrated her lace-making talent for us on a pillow sham she was working on. The matching duvet cover was stunning.

The Lace Museum (€5 per person) was fun and we got to watch several ladies making lace by the window upstairs. The kids had fun looking into the glass-covered drawers at all the lacy fabrics.

We got gelato on the way back to the vaporetto stop.

We took the #12 boat direct back to Fondamente Nove. It was a long day.

The kids had pizza at the apartment.

Aaron and I had dinner just around the corner at Restaurant Diana. The service was really atrocious, but the food was pretty amazing and great prices.

Day 5

Katie went with Dad to see the Jewish monuments and ghetto memorials.

The Jewish ghetto district had many Stolperstein on the pavement.

We passed by the place where Marco Polo once lived. Probably. Maybe.

We saw the Scuola Dalmata di San Giorgio with lovely art featuring St. George by Carpaccio. It was pricey, but the kids all agreed it was worth it and even pretty upstairs with the fancy altar.

We saw the Scala Contarini del Bovolo again. It’s very pricey to just go up a spiral staircase for a view, but it’s pretty to see through the gate.

Then we played at the public park and relaxed and strolled around.

We had the most delightful late lunch/early dinner at Vittoria Sas di Alessandro, overlooking the lagoon. We ordered pizza, several different pasti, salad, and Amarone wine that was to die for.

We bought some wine and cicchetti from the shop on the corner Vino Vero.

We love Venice and made some great memories and ate some delicious food. We love Italy!


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Things We Lost in the Fire Book Review

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Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories by Mariana Enriquez, is a collection of twelve short stories about life in Argentina.

My Review:

I love the daring, creepy, and even macabre stories written in this collection. Like contemporary Latina lit meets Victorian Gothic novel. Some episodes, I was glad were over and others I wanted more, to know what happened but the story just ended and left me wondering. The characters are rich in personality within even a few pages which attests to Mariana Enriquez’ masterful storytelling. The history and culture revealed in the stories and characters are exciting for me and I kept reading, sometimes late into the night, like binge-watching a favorite series. I do love how the entire book theme seems to be about women and girls and their experiences, memories, fears, and love. The male characters take a backseat as supporting characters. Women have a voice in these stories.

Summary:

In these wildly imaginative, devilishly daring tales of the macabre, internationally bestselling author Mariana Enriquez brings contemporary Argentina to vibrant life as a place where shocking inequality, violence, and corruption are the law of the land, while military dictatorship and legions of desaparecidos loom large in the collective memory. In these stories, reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and Julio Cortázar, three young friends distract themselves with drugs and pain in the midst a government-enforced blackout; a girl with nothing to lose steps into an abandoned house and never comes back out; to protest a viral form of domestic violence, a group of women set themselves on fire.

But alongside the black magic and disturbing disappearances, these stories are fueled by compassion for the frightened and the lost, ultimately bringing these characters—mothers and daughters, husbands and wives—into a surprisingly familiar reality. Written in hypnotic prose that gives grace to the grotesque, Things We Lost in the Fire is a powerful exploration of what happens when our darkest desires are left to roam unchecked, and signals the arrival of an astonishing and necessary voice in contemporary fiction.

About the Author:

Mariana Enriquez is a writer and editor based in Buenos Aires, where she contributes to a number of newspapers and literary journals, both fiction and nonfiction.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

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