Okay I've got a question! I used to have this huge gold leafed, beautifully illustrated bible stories book when I was a kid. I remember it having a sky blue hardcover and being quite thick, however I was like...five maybe when I received it, so in my memories it's this giant thing. ANYWAY, does anyone know what I'm talking about? I've tried googling illustrated bible stories and I can't find it, I have no idea who the author was. I can still see the pictures in my mind clear as day. I'd love to have a copy of it for my girls, or something similar.
Edit: I FOUND IT!!! A reviewer was nice enough to include a ton of photos of the illustrations and I recognized them! http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Illustrated-Childrens-Bible/dp/0736962131/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1C2B9H3H6AWR1SDXVRFD
This is a good one which I recently came across:
My first Bible, which I feel still holds up very well, was The Book for Children:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Children-Kenneth-N-Taylor/dp/0842321454
> I have relaxed the diet somewhat in an attempt to bulk. I have definitely gained good muscle - no question - but I also dislike the change in body fat. On introspection, I think I have used “bulking” as an excuse to relax my nutrition in some areas and to comfort eat. > > Either way, I feel like 2 months of bulking is enough for me at this stage and will likely revert to cutting body fat in the next couple weeks. Next time round I will be more conscious to bulk using quality calories only and not to enjoy the excuse to binge.
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It's good that you realize this. 15% bf or below is the goal to aim for before bulking.
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>Still tracking to Bible reading plan; still enjoying it.
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Amen!
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>My 5am wake-ups have regressed somewhat and my quiet time; mindset has suffered as a result. This trend is partly due to extraneous trivial factors such as holiday, some changes in routine, me giving myself a day off after feeling especially sore after lifting but is mostly down to my own bad attitude (below) and laziness. I’d say I’ve done it about 33% this month. Need to sort this out.
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Here's something to consider: if you were being paid $1,000 each day you accomplished your goals in these areas, how much more motivated would you be to get them done consistently?
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>Solid commitment and routines regarding BJJ and lifting.
>In fact this is very telling: these are uncompromisable priorities for me and I find myself questioning why I don’t allocate prayer time with the same fervor and priority.
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Exactly.
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>As described above, I spent a good portion of this month regressing on good habits, general energy and attitude towards life and my relationship in particular. This is despite a great deal of progress that should otherwise be encouraging.
>Generally, I felt stuck in a rut, much less motivated, disinclined towards action (both at work and at home) and sometimes resentful towards my wife (eg for harpy behavior, childish attitudes [hypocritical irony not lost on me] and lack of sexual frequency in particular). I didn’t have an explanation or rationale for it; I could have shaken myself out of it, prayed more or done a bunch of other things but in the event I indulged in my own wallowing for a couple weeks.
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It isn’t “motivation” that you need, it’s self-discipline. Harnessing the two is the most optimal way to reach goal accomplishment. Motivation burns like a match, Hot & Fast. You can get it from a speech or a YouTube video, but it doesn’t translate well to self-improvement. You will only make progress when you take that match of motivation and use it to light the ‘Log of Discipline’.
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>I now understand my resentment was largely due to a lack of validation/recognition/appreciation from Mommy about how I’m now a better man and becoming more attractive. Add to that a covert contract about more sex in return for personal development. I guess the oldest teenager in the house has a teenage rival right now.
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I lol'ed at that last sentence, but that's good insight.
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>It’s been really heart warming for the whole family to gather round and for us to read together. My wife and I enjoy the ritual too - partly through the vicarious experience of the innocent childish narrative through our children’s eyes but mostly through the joint identity and activity it brings as a family unit. That is, it helps us to bond as a couple.
>I need to identify a suitable sequel or similar book, similar activity (board games?) to follow the current book.
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This is awesome. Since it looks like you're reading stuff that avoids the Disney Princess mentality, you might try Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. Now I've never read them myself so I'm not sure how age-appropriate they are but it's what came to mind.
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>We are following a Lent plan which involves reading daily from the children’s Bible, a quick prayer and craft activity. Good fun.
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Excellent. Familiarity with Bible stories will build a solid foundation that will make family Bible reading easier as they grow.
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>The youngest laps this stuff up but the eldest is a fussy eater and is digging her heels in. Time to take charge and introduce them to “grown up” food - I’ll time this with some arbitrary rite of passage such as the next school milestone.
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Part of your success will come from not having that other stuff around the house for her to eat. Other than that, here's some tips that might help.
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>The Bible reading plan is still broadly tracking to plan, although my wife is about a week behind. I tried to encourage her by saying “never mind, why not cut your losses with Acts and start Numbers together with me? Perhaps you’ll catch up with Acts another time as it’s a straightforward and enjoyable read.” She responded with an emphatic statement of determination so she’s keen to catch up. I’ll be supporting her in this.
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This is good. Go forward with the assumption that she has caught up and proceed accordingly. Don't continue to bring it up, and if she does just say "You said you were going to do it - I took you at your word and just figured it was done." Let her ask for help if she needs it, otherwise it comes across as nagging.
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>To experiment with better ways to engage the children in the Bible on a daily basis.
>FAIL: a comparatively lax month as a result of my own lack of discipline although, as of lent this has been good. (Observation: the kids love a seasonal theme or reason to engage.)
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You might try a different children's Bible as well. We got this one for our son's family and our daughter's family, for the grandchildren. The illustrations are amazing from what I can see in the Amazon photos, and it seems to be really engaging. If you don't already have it, it might be worth picking up for the illustrations alone, since those really enhance the learning experience at that age.
Probably something like this.