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Book Review: Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

Book Title: Kisses From Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption 

Author: Katie Davis

Publisher: Howard Books

Publish Date: July 1, 2009 

Summary: What would cause an eighteen-year-old senior class president and home-coming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, give up everything to move to Africa? Go against her parent's wishes, hurt her brother, and leave her boyfriend? God. God and His knowledge of what's truly best.

This is Katie's story!

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 9:24

When Katie Davis went on a two week missions trip in Uganda she fell in love. The people. The need. The hope. The desperation.. She felt the need to make a difference. When that two week trip becomes a full year of work in Uganda Katie finds herself in the midst of immense poverty. Children wearing rags, starving, dying. Crying for help. 

But what can one person do against such poverty? Katie Davis found the answer. One small thing at a time. You can't change the world in one day, with one deed, or one person. But you can make small changes, one at a time, and they grow into something bigger.

Katie has founded several programs over the years. She started a sponsorship program that now pays for over 700 children's schooling fees. She feels that schooling can change Africa and it's people for the better. She also founded Amazima ("truth" in the native Luganda language) Ministries International which tries to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Ugandan people. She started the Masese Feeding Outreach which feeds 1,200 children Monday-Friday. This program keeps the children from begging on the streets. Her final program (to the present) is for the women of Masese. She taught them to make jewelry from homemade beads. They sell them to Katie, Katie then sells them through Amazima. These women can now buy food for their children.

Katie is now mother to 13 daughters. They were brought to her one at a time. Each time it was one deed. One day. One selfless act. But those added up and now 13 little girls don't have to worry about where to live, what to eat, or if they will survive another day. They are fed, bathed, and loved.

Violence: Katie describes the suffering she see's in Uganda. She describes the children; with sores, blisters, jiggers (a parasitic insect that burrows itself into the soles of your feet), and protruding stomachs. 

She tells the story of a mother who got her children drunk so they wouldn't feel the pain of hunger.

Sexual Content: When Katie first arrives in Africa for her year long missions trip her father worries about her safety because of the look men gave her or the way they spoke to her. 

Katie talks about her boyfriend. She described the lonely feelings she has. She also talks about the pain she felt when she broke up with him.

My Thoughts: This book was amazing! I was hooked by the intro! Katie's story is captivating. My dream for years has been to move to Africa. When I found this book I was beyond thrilled. My plan is to go to college and get a teaching degree. After that I hope to make my move to Africa. I'm not sure if it will be a few months, a few years, or, well, forever. That's God's decision.

Something Katie mentions in her book really got me thinking. She said that there are about 164 million needy children in the world. There are 21 billion people who say they are Christians. If 8% of those people adopted ONE child, there would be no statistics left! No statistics! Get's ya thinkin, huh?

Final Rating: 5/5

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to anyone! Girls, boys. Men, women. Kids, adults. This book is a must read for any household.

This book may be geared more towards women just because Katie is a woman. Her thoughts and feelings would probably be better understood by a fellow woman. But that doesn't mean guys won't like this book! :)

Book Review: Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

Book Title: Kisses From Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption 

Author: Katie Davis

Publisher: Howard Books

Publish Date: July 1, 2009 

Summary: What would cause an eighteen-year-old senior class president and home-coming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, give up everything to move to Africa? Go against her parent's wishes, hurt her brother, and leave her boyfriend? God. God and His knowledge of what's truly best.

This is Katie's story!

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 9:24

When Katie Davis went on a two week missions trip in Uganda she fell in love. The people. The need. The hope. The desperation.. She felt the need to make a difference. When that two week trip becomes a full year of work in Uganda Katie finds herself in the midst of immense poverty. Children wearing rags, starving, dying. Crying for help. 

But what can one person do against such poverty? Katie Davis found the answer. One small thing at a time. You can't change the world in one day, with one deed, or one person. But you can make small changes, one at a time, and they grow into something bigger.

Katie has founded several programs over the years. She started a sponsorship program that now pays for over 700 children's schooling fees. She feels that schooling can change Africa and it's people for the better. She also founded Amazima ("truth" in the native Luganda language) Ministries International which tries to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Ugandan people. She started the Masese Feeding Outreach which feeds 1,200 children Monday-Friday. This program keeps the children from begging on the streets. Her final program (to the present) is for the women of Masese. She taught them to make jewelry from homemade beads. They sell them to Katie, Katie then sells them through Amazima. These women can now buy food for their children.

Katie is now mother to 13 daughters. They were brought to her one at a time. Each time it was one deed. One day. One selfless act. But those added up and now 13 little girls don't have to worry about where to live, what to eat, or if they will survive another day. They are fed, bathed, and loved.

Violence: Katie describes the suffering she see's in Uganda. She describes the children; with sores, blisters, jiggers (a parasitic insect that burrows itself into the soles of your feet), and protruding stomachs. 

She tells the story of a mother who got her children drunk so they wouldn't feel the pain of hunger.

Sexual Content: When Katie first arrives in Africa for her year long missions trip her father worries about her safety because of the look men gave her or the way they spoke to her. 

Katie talks about her boyfriend. She described the lonely feelings she has. She also talks about the pain she felt when she broke up with him.

My Thoughts: This book was amazing! I was hooked by the intro! Katie's story is captivating. My dream for years has been to move to Africa. When I found this book I was beyond thrilled. My plan is to go to college and get a teaching degree. After that I hope to make my move to Africa. I'm not sure if it will be a few months, a few years, or, well, forever. That's God's decision.

Something Katie mentions in her book really got me thinking. She said that there are about 164 million needy children in the world. There are 21 billion people who say they are Christians. If 8% of those people adopted ONE child, there would be no statistics left! No statistics! Get's ya thinkin, huh?

Final Rating: 5/5

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to anyone! Girls, boys. Men, women. Kids, adults. This book is a must read for any household.

This book may be geared more towards women just because Katie is a woman. Her thoughts and feelings would probably be better understood by a fellow woman. But that doesn't mean guys won't like this book! :)

Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Book Title: The Giver (The Giver Quartet Book #1)

Author: Lois Lowry

Publisher: Houghton Miffin Harcourt

Publish Date: 07/01/1993

Summary: In Jonas' society children are watched by the Elders from the time they are brought into a home. At the Ceremony of Twelve they are given a job or “their assignment” in the community. There is no suffering in the community, but also everything good and beautiful is gone. There is no music, or colors... or love. Spouses and children are assigned. Feelings are non-present. No individual has the freedom of choice.

When Jonas is skipped at the Ceremony of Twelve his world is turned upside down. He learns about things he never knew existed. He see's that his world needs to change; and he does something about it.

Violence: Jonas witnesses an elephant killed by poachers. Another elephant hovers over the dead, mutilated elephant. Jonas also witnesses a war in which he see's blood and death. After a sled ride Jonas bleeds and vomits. Jonas and a baby are lost in a snowstorm. All of these scenes are mild with little decription.

There is one part in the book that made me shiver. Jonas watches his father inject an unwanted baby with liquid from a needle. The baby cries, then stops moving. Jonas realizes that his father killed the baby. The baby is then put in a box and dropped down a shoot. Jonas is told that his father does not understand what he is doing, he has no feeling and doesn't understand what he's doing.

Sexual Content: Jonas has a dream about wanting a female classmate to undress so that he can wash her. When he tells his mother about the dream she says that “Stirrings” are normal and that he is ready for “the pills” which will take those feelings away. After feeling what love is like Jonas decides not to take the pills.

Jonas and his friends spend some of their required volunteer hours helping bathe people living in The House of Old. There is nothing sexual about this part.

My Thoughts: I love The Giver! We read it as a family read aloud a few years ago and we all really enjoyed it. I have read it twice since then.

Lois Lowry is a wonderful writer. After reading The Giver I feel thankful. Thankful that God gave us color, and music, and feelings. Thankful for the freedom to choose who we love, what we do, and how we live. Thankful that anyone can be whoever they want to be.

Final Rating: *****

A Little Catching Up... We've Been Busy!

Hey there! Here is a little randomness/update!!!

Things have been crazy here on the Huppstead! I feel bad calling our "homestead" Huppstead since we currently don't even have a homestead right now :(  All of our chickens got sick so... ehem.... I will spare you the details about that. We also thought our rabbits were sick so we got rid of them. Turns out they were actually fine..... yeah....

So on a happy note we are getting rabbits again! I must say, I can't wait! The auction we go to is really fun! Bidding on rabbits is a TOTAL BLAST! Can you tell I love it? Just in case you missed it, I LOVE IT!

We have new kittens! Four of them. They are two weeks old. Some of them only have one eye open. They look like pirates!

Bobo has had 5 seizures in about a month.... We took him to the vet and they gave him some medicine. We are trying to find a more natural approach. If you know any good ol' home remedies please let me know! :)

My aunt, uncle, and their little boy are coming home from Germany TOMORROW! They have been gone for three years. I cant wait to see them!

My other aunt found out she is having a baby! I have a hunch it will be a girl. I don't know why but I sure hope I'm right. I want a wee wittle baby girl cousin!

We babysat Hunter and Haley (my cousins... boy, there are lots of 'em!) last weekend. They are both so sweet! I could, and did, just squeeze them! :)

The weather has been beautiful the last two weeks! We have gone fishing twice. Once me, mom, the other kids, and my grandpa. The other time us and Dad. I love fishing!

Well, I guess that pretty much sums up the last month or two. Enjoy some random pictures (mostly selfies ;)) below that were taken throughout the month and Have A Good Day!

 The wittle itty bitty kitten!

 I LOVE my muck boots!

 Selfie!

Selfie!

 Selfie!

 And another selfie!

 Yet another selfie!

And the last one! :)

Random 5 - February 5th

Linkups. How fun!? Especially if your mom hosts it :)

So here are 5 random things about me or that have happened to me.

1. I've read 3 books so far! Only 96 to go ;)

2. School is going really good this year. I'm really enjoying biology!

3. I'm currently watching my favorite movie, Monsters Inc.! We are babysitting my 1 year old cousin and he didn't want to watch it so I am ;D

4. Speaking of my cousin.... he is already almost 1! I can't believe it! We babysit him every other weekend. I love it!

5. I can't wait for spring! Warm weather is my favorite. Gardens, fishing, hiking, swimming, getting new farmish animals, I  love it all!

If you want to read my mom's list or link up this is her blog

Book Review: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

I love survival stories. They amaze me. With a brother and dad who love reading about survival situations and trying out the things they learned, books of that type are often on our family read aloud list.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is one of my favorites. It is realistic, easy to read, and a page turner. 

Brian, the main character, is a city boy who is faced with an unexpected challenge. He must beat the odds and survive. After his parents divorce, Brian spends the school year with his mom, summers with his dad. Flying to northern Canada to be with his dad the pilot suffers a severe heart attack and the plane does down. Stranded Brian must survive. He has no food, no shelter, and no way of getting help, all he has is the hatchet his mother gave him.

Hatchet is very well written. The characters are realistic. The setting clear. Paulsen does a good job of giving detail without drowning you with it and dragging the story. There was not a singe time I had a thought of "Get on with the story!" (Which happens a lot to me... I like something to always be going on in a story)

I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it for all ages!

*I will note that the reason Brian's parents are divorced is that his mom was having an affair with another man.  Brain recalls seeing her kiss the man. Brian's father never knows. The affair doesn't go into much detail.