Simplicity by Sabrina

Travis and I recently finished reading this book together. Although we do not devote as much time to reading together as I think either of us would like, we like to steal away minutes here and there enjoying a good book together. This was one that I picked out to read together. I had originally brought it on Christmas vacation to read by myself and after I had started into a few chapters, Travis decided he wanted to read it with me (we had just finished our other book).

I think it is awesome to have a small book club with my favorite person. It has been fun to read more books together and stop and talk about what we have read. Mostly we talk throughout the book, but at the end here are some of the questions we asked each other (with my answers):

Who is your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was the main character Orual. I think she became my favorite throughout the novel because I learned the most about her because the book is written from her point of view. Though she is deeply flawed and uses the art of manipulation to get her younger sister Psyche to do what she wants, as a reader, I understood about her motivations and sadness after she made her mistake, and therefore I feel like I understood her best, flaws and all. She ended up becoming queen of Glome and was a good person in a lot of ways, but the story highlights her mistakes in a big way and how she learned to either overcome them or deal with them throughout her life.

Who is the most admirable character?

I think that Psyche is the most admirable character in the story because she is pure in her motives. She loves her sister and wants her to believe her situation and be happy for her. Psyche spends the rest of her life doing tasks the gods want of her all because she showed distrust, thanks to Orual.

Travis said he thinks Bardia is the most admirable character because of how hard he works for Queen Orual and shows his duty for his country by dedicating himself to his work. He also shows that he cares for his wife and is an upstanding person in all ways.

What does this book teach us about selfish love?

We talked about how essentially the main theme from his book is that selfish love is never OK. It is not right to manipulate someone, even if you love them. I think everyone already knew that even without reading this book, but what I think is interesting is that we as humans are still prone to experience selfish love simply because of our mortality--our imperfection. So the question is: how do we deal with the selfish love that we feel? Some people succumb to it and therefore suffer their whole lives because of it like Orual, but both Travis and I know because of the gospel that it is possible to overcome carnal feelings and desires and practice selfless love.

Why is Orual's ugliness such an important theme to the book?
Because of the title, it lends us to believe that there is significance behind everyone's face in the book. Over and over it states how ugly Orual is as a child and teenager. As a queen, she decides to veil her face, which I think has some significance too. I think it comes down to this quote from the book: "I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?" Travis had to read this out loud to me several times before I started to understand it in the context of the book. I think it means that until we know who we are (until we have figured out our "face"), then how can God (or in the story, gods) speak to us? Orual did not understand who she was because she succumbed to her inner ugliness by manipulating Psyche. She suffered her whole life after that because she was confused and hurt that it did not work. She veiled her physical face to hide her pain and suffering. Once she faced herself and realized who she was, then she could learn and come to terms with everything and even attempt at seeking redemption.

What have we learned about revelation?
There is a part where Psyche tries to convince Orual that she is living in the palace of a god and that he is her husband, but Orual does not believe it. As Orual leaves, she looks back and sees the palace. She never admits to anyone that she sees it because she only caught a glimpse and rationalizes it away. However, she did in actuality see it. I think revelation is a lot like this. We do not see grand big pictures all of the time. It is usually glimpses and if we are not paying attention we will miss it, or miss the importance of what we are spiritually seeing.

In short, here is the breakdown of Till We Have Faces:

Genre: Fiction
Number of pages: 309
Reading endurance: Low to medium. I thought the book was easy to understand and therefore easy to get through, although it took us 2 months to get through it because we don't have much time to devote to reading.
Good Moral: Yes. It addresses themes of selfish love vs. selfless love, beauty vs. ugliness, sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption.
Favorite Quote: "I was with book, as a woman is with child."
Recommend? Yes

Though Travis and I are Christian and are a members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have found a lot of meaning in celebrating Passover with making the ritualistic Passover Seder.  I don't know if we will do it every year, but this is the third year we have participated and I still really love it.

For those who do not know much about the Passover Seder, it is a symbolic and ritualistic dinner that marks the beginning of Passover (also known as The Feast of the Unleavened Bread and the festival to mark the beginning of spring). It is to commemorate the freeing of the children of Israel from slavery and their journey in the wilderness with Moses. Though we are Christians and believe that the law of Moses was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, we still have found a lot of meaning in reflecting on the symbolism of this meal and how it turns us toward Christ.


The Seder can be very involved with the prayers, scripture reading, and other parts, but Travis and I have made our own script using parts of the books we have that help us find significance in the symbolism of the meal.

Matzah--The unleavened bread. We have bought matzah in the past, but this year we just decided to use saltines. We have debated whether we should make our own matzah and maybe one day we will, but see this recipe for how it is made and maybe you will see that it is not as easy as it may seem. Though it does not have yeast there are qualifications that matzah has to meet in order to be kosher for the meal. This represents how the children of Israel left quickly and did not have time to make bread with yeast and so we eat it in remembrance of their journey to freedom.

Maror--The bitter herbs. We eat this in the meal to remind us of the bitterness the children of Israel endured in Ancient Egypt and likewise, we experience bitterness in this life. We used horseradish for this part.

Haroseth/Charoset--The mortar. This can be a mixture of apples, fruits, and nuts or mashed potatoes and is used to remind us of the mortar the children of Israel used (along with bricks) in Ancient Egypt to build storehouses.

Karpas-- The vegetable. It can be parsley or lettuce that is used to dip into salt-water or vinegar at the beginning of the meal. We used spinach.

Zeroa--The roasted lamb. This is to remember the sacrifice given on the night of the last plague in Egypt and today it reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all of us.

Beitzah--The hard-boiled egg. This is also to remember the sacrifice known as korban chagigah. I like to think of it as a reminder of the resurrection and new life during the meal.

Wine--We used grape juice and we drink it during the meal several times after saying a prayer of thanksgiving.


My Favorite Part

The part that I always love is when we sing Dayenu. Dayenu means "it would have been enough" and we read different things about the story of the children of Israel that helps me to see how God took care of them. It helps us see how He will continue to take care of us too.

"Had He divided the sea for us, and not brought us through it dry-shod, it should have been enough! Dayenu!

Had He brought us through it dry-shod and not drowned our oppressors in it, it would have been enough! Dayenu!

Had He drowned our oppressors in it and not sustained us in the wilderness for forty years, it would have been enough! Dayenu!..."

I think of this in my life and the many blessings I have had. After we did the Seder and were just eating our lamb, potatoes, eggs, and spinach, Travis and I were reflecting on our blessings this year, and I thought to myself "Dayenu" many times.

Had we been given our health and not financial security, it would have been enough.
Had we been given financial security and not our warm house to live in, it would have been enough.
Had we been given our warm house to live in and not our beautiful baby girl, it would have been enough.

I feel like I could go on all day, but essentially it is good to step back every once in awhile and just think, "Dayenu!" It would have been enough to have one or two blessings, but how great is God that I am given many blessings!

"How much more so, multiplied many times, are the blessings that God has bestowed upon us!"

He brought the children of Israel out from Egypt, into the Land of Israel--a promised land.

I know of a surety he is leading me to my personal promised land.

I love how at the end we say, "Next year in Jerusalem" because I believe it is a symbol of looking forward and having hope. Maybe we feel like slaves right now to a lot of different things. Maybe we feel like we aren't quite in the promised land, but we can look forward and hope that next year, we may be in Jerusalem.

In this week leading up to Easter, celebrating Passover has helped me see and understand so many blessings that we have and to think of Jesus Christ. In the crazy vicissitudes of life, it is hard to remember the things that matter most or to remember that God loves us, but I am grateful for this reminder we have every year.

And if you are needing a little pick-me-up, I say to you, "Next year in Jerusalem!"

When I was a sophomore in college, one of my best friends (Kim) gave me this recipe for cookie bars and it has changed my life! I don't think I ever get so many compliments on any other recipe compared to this one. This is also the recipe that I am pretty sure made Travis start liking me back in college when I actually made them for his roommate.


The funny thing is that this recipe is so easy! Even if you don't like baking, this recipe is very easy to pull out in not that much time--from start to finish it can be done in 30 minutes, including bake time! Now that is what I am talking about! We have used this recipe so many times when we think, "Oh, we should take something. We don't have that much time because we waited until the last minute...Let's whip out some cookie bars." Works. Every. Time.


If you want that cookie taste, but don't want to spoon out individual cookies and if you want a cross between blondies and still have chocolate in there, this recipe is for you! The other great thing about this recipe is that you probably have most of the ingredients in your house right now if you do any sort of baking on a regular basis. When we go to the store, we just pick up a cake mix and whip these up when we get home.

Tips and Tricks:

Since I have made this recipe close to probably 50 times, I have perfected the thickness and baking of these bars. For me, I like thicker bars, even though there won't be as many. So I use a 7x11 dish to bake these and they usually take 27 minutes in the oven. However, I have baked them in a 9x13 pan as well and they come out thinner and take less time in the oven (around 20 minutes). You can also use a 9x9 square cake pan to bake these and they will come out super thick, so they take around 30 minutes in the oven. I know that not everyone has a 7x11 glass pan, but they are perfect for these!


The batter should be pretty wet, like a cake or brownie batter. When pouring into the glass pan use the rubber spatula to spread to the edges to get more even baking.

You know they are done when they have a browning on the top and a fork comes out clean.

Children's novels are probably one of my favorite genres. No joke. I could read books like this all day. They are usually fun, engaging, and light. Lately I feel like young adult fiction has gotten trashy, so I have started going back to my tried and true favorite children's books and they don't disappoint! I thought I would share with you some of these great books! Enjoy reading!


10. The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
Louis Sachar is better known for his book Holes, which is absolutely fabulous and I would recommend reading to anyone, however, I really like this newer book about the card game of Bridge. A boy named Alton who becomes the cardturner for his blind uncle who is very good at Bridge and while turning cards, Alton learns the game and learns things about himself as he grows up a little and even ends up winning a tournament and meeting a girl while doing it.


9. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
I have to admit that this book is the only one on this list that I have not actually finished reading. I have started this book more than once and I just can't finish it for some reason, but I include it on this list because Travis loves it. It is very much a book for him: survival, living in the woods, using a hatchet for everything, endless camping, wilderness survival skills, etc. For me, even though there was a lot of action happening: a boy gets stranded in the wilderness after the pilot of the plane has a heart attack and dies and has to learn to survive with basically nothing but a hatchet he brought (very pre-9/11), I thought the storyline moved surprisingly slow. However, Travis thinks it is an exciting book, so because he thinks so I would recommend this one.


8. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
The title of the first book kind of describes this book very well in a nutshell: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. If you liked Little Women or have a little one that would like the storyline but needs a little simpler reading, then this is is a great series! Skye, Jane, Rosalind, and Batty all move to a cottage with their father and dog one summer. They meet a boy named Jeffrey and the first book is about their adventures of the summer from chasing runaway rabbits to the girls helping Jeffrey stand up for what he wants.


7. Once Upon a Marigold
I was recently reminded of this book by a friend who read it and asked if I had, and I did many years ago, but I had forgotten how cute this story is. This book is about a boy named Christian who spies on the royal family and ends up helping Princess Marigold find out the wicked plot of the Queen. This book is downright funny in parts, although a little transparent about the Queen being evil. But, altogether a very fun read that I would highly recommend if you want some light reading.


6. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
This book has a funny storyline and interesting plot twists. It follows a girl named Savannah who gets dumped by her boyfriend for her older sister and wants to find prince charming to take her to prom. Enter a godmother-in-training who wears high heels, has pink hair, and chews gum. Savannah's "fair" godmother grants her wishes, but not in the way she wants. On her last wish, Savannah finds herself and three friends stuck in the Middle Ages. While trying to solve a mystery and break the spell, Savannah resorts to 21st century tricks and tries to get her happily ever after. This is technically more of a tween novel, but it is fun, clean, and easy to read.


5. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
I read this book a few years ago at the suggestion of my sister-in-law and I liked it. I thought Travis would like it and afterward he read it. Reynie, an orphan, finds an interesting ad in a newspaper asking for brilliant kids to take a series of tests and afterward to go on a mission. Reynie passes all of the tests, as do three other children who are also orphans or estranged from their parents: Sticky, Kate, and Constance. They are each inducted into the Benedict Society, formed by a Mr. Benedict who asks them to infiltrate a facility that is a school for gifted children, that is run by an evil Mr. Curtain. This was an interesting book because there were puzzles, dilemmas, morse code, secret plots, and interesting twists.


4. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
One of my all-time favorite books is this first novel in a quartet by Shannon Hale. The story is an adaptation to an older tale by the Brother Grimm, The Goose Girl, but I love what Shannon Hale has done with it. It follows a princess Anidori who has the special talent of speaking to animals. She does not relate well to people because of this and has a hard time connecting with others. She is close to her father, however, but one day he unexpectedly dies from falling off a horse while riding with Ani. The queen decides to send her to Bayern to become the princess bride to their prince. Along the way Ani has quite an adventure with her maiden trying to usurp her title, encounters with new friends, meeting a palace guard named Geric, and figuring out her way back to being a princess all while first becoming a goose girl. This is a fun read, as are the other books in the series. I think this also is more of a tween novel, but I would read it with young kids.


3. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
This is one of my favorite mystery books. I first read it when I was in the 5th grade and I read it slow to try to understand all of it, thinking I would be able to solve it before I reached the end, but I totally didn't. Very much a surprise ending. Sixteen different individuals were invited to the will reading of Sam Westing and they are all there for specific reasons, although some know and some do not. The person who can solve the mystery will win all of his inheritance, but at what price? This book still gives me a thrill reading and I absolutely love it.


2. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
This is Travis's favorite children's novel and I agree that it is very good. It has some pretty deep themes of tolerance, friendship, differences, acceptance, coming-of-age, homelessness, etc. But, it also has some funny parts like how Maniac Magee is allergic to pizza (of all things!) and how he can outrun anyone. We have this book on CD and have listened to it a few times in the car and probably will continue to do so on many road trips to come. Jeffrey Magee enters and leaves the town of Two Mills in the same way: running. He is a phenomenon to the people of Two Mills because of his athletic abilities, running capabilities, and his ignorance of the racial duality and clear boundaries of the town. Travis says, "It is hilarious, memorable, and deeply moving." I would have to agree.


1. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
So this may be my all-time favorite book. I read it every time I visit my parents' house, even if it is just for the weekend. I think I grew up with three copies and tore through the binding on every. single. one. This fairytale Cinderella story has spunk. Ella of Frell is cursed with obedience from the foolish fairy Lucinda, however she is blessed with a fairy godmother and a loving mother. Her mother passes away from sickness and she is left practically an orphan because her father is so distant and aloof. Her father quickly marries Dame Olga, who brings her two daughters, Hattie and Olive, who are silly, shallow, and mean. Ella is shipped off to boarding school and embarks on many grand adventures from meeting Areida, an Ayorthan friend, having encounters with elves, ogres, a prince and his men, a giant wedding, and more. Ella is not what Cinderella is normally portrayed to be, but has personality, a love for languages and reading, is spunky, and learns a lot on her adventures about life, curses, magic, and love. While written simplistically, it is a fun read that you will want to read again and again. Travis helped me rank these books and even he agreed to put Ella Enchanted as number one because, "Ella is so relatable." I agree. She is not perfect, but she learns so much along the way about standing up for yourself, for those you love, and agency.

What are your favorite children's novels?

For more ideas and suggestions, check out this awesome list of 100 Top Children's Novels made by School Library Journal. I made my list before I found this one and pretty much all of my fav books are on it!