After a Thanksgiving break week, we have three more weeks of Term 1 before we break for Christmas, so I’m trying to finalize Miss A’s Term 2 plans and order any books we need. In looking over AmblesideOnline’s recommendations for Year 11 yet again, I decided to check out Witness by Whittaker Chambers, and was intrigued both by the description and the reviews on Amazon.
I’ve only read the Letter to My Children so far, but it was beautifully written and full of ideas to ponder like the following:
A man is not primarily a witness against something. That is only incidental to the fact that he is a witness for something. A witness, in the sense that I am using the word, is a man whose life and faith are so completely one that when the challenge comes to step out and testify for his faith, he does so, disregarding all risks, accepting all consequences.
And a bit later:
But a man may also be an involuntary witness. I do not know any way to explain why God’s grace touches a man who seems unworthy of it. But neither do I know any other way to explain how a man like myself – tarnished by life, unprepossessing, not brave – could prevail so far against the powers of the world arrayed almost solidly against him, to destroy him and defeat his truth. In this sense, I am an involuntary witness to God’s grace and to the fortifying power of faith.
Also read/listened to recently:
- Hubby: Ember Rising by S. D. Smith on audiobook
- Me: finally finished up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last week, after stopping about a third of the way through last year. It was worth it!
- Miss A: just finished All Quiet on the Western Front – not a fun book by the sounds of it (she narrated to her dad).
- Mr. D: started listening to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix during break week.
- Mr. E: Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier
- Mr. L: Frog and Toad Together and also the Gospel of John because he wanted to start reading the Bible himself. ♥ He needs helps with some of the words, but we just take a little at a time.
- Little R: Richard Scarry’s Best Christmas Book Ever
- Lunch-time read-aloud: we finished The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser last week, and are now reading yet again (by popular demand 😉 ) Keeping Holiday by Starr Meade.
