Ungifted by Gordon Korman

The conversation revolves around the book 'Ungifted' by Gordon Korman, exploring its themes, characters, and the unique narrative style that incorporates multiple viewpoints. The discussion highlights the protagonist Donovan Curtis's journey as a troublemaker who accidentally gets placed in a gifted program, leading to humorous and insightful experiences. The conversation explores the themes of connection, teamwork, and personal growth as the participants discuss their favorite characters and insights from the book 'Ungifted'. They emphasize the importance of community and forgiveness in overcoming challenges and fostering relationships.Link here for more info on UngiftedTakeawaysEveryone is gifted in some wayThe importance of nurturing individual strengths Importance of communityValue of forgivenessChapters00:00 Introduction to 'Ungifted'02:59 Character Exploration: Donovan Curtis06:05 The Gifted Program Dynamics09:00 Supporting Characters and Their Roles12:10 Themes of Friendship and Acceptance15:02 Contrasting Educational Environments18:01 Takeaways and Lessons Learned25:54 Character Insights and Themes28:01 The Power of Connection30:20 Teamwork and Collaboration32:56 Understanding Different Perspectives34:32 Favorite Characters and Their Impact37:44 Final Thoughts and Reflections

We are excited to say that Middlemarch, by George Eliot (aka Mary Ann Evans) is no longer in our TBR stack!!! Kate and Sheila both agree this was the hardest book they’ve read. Eliot uses a narrative technique known as Breaking the Fourth Wall, in which the narrator  intrusively addresses the audience directly, offering the reader personal commentary and insights that go beyond the characters’ perspectives. Some Middlemarchers you will love and some are beyond cringeworthy. Dorothea Brooke shows us how to walk out Jesus’ messages about loving others in an unforgettable way! Sadly, Edward Casaubon, the man she married, shows himself to be uncaring, selfish, and vindictive.Opposites do attract, but often it’s not a pretty picture!With a plethora of colorful characters, the story is well-worth the effort! Many lessons were learned. Many surprises occur along the way showing the growth of some folks and the stagnation of others! Middlemarch is a tomb weighing in with 785 pages, but it is bildungsroman at its best, making it an enlightening read!Kate’s one word summary was interconnectedness. We need others to be our best self. The goodness of some characters lead to a change in some of the undesirables. We reap what we sow, is usually used to say bad deeds have bad results, but the opposite it also true. We see this play out when the heroine does the right thing; her actions not only bless those around her, but also bless her as well (and us too : ).Sheila chose integrity to sum up the book. It is an excellent illustration of the saying, “Stories stick and facts fade”, the goodness of Dorothea paints readers a powerful picture that inspires us to do the next right thing.CAUTION: Spoilers included after the 45 minute mark. How grateful we are for you joining us on our journey of connecting and reflecting! Steep that tea dear listeners as we meet the many who walked, worked, wondered, and wavered in a place called Middlemarch!

Kate and Sheila recap Rule 2: Say It with Confidence in Jefferson Fisher’s book, The Next Conversation. He explains that feeling confident is a feeling, like feeling happy or scared, we can’t turn it off and on like a light switch. “The only way to feel confident is to live it out more fully.”10 Ways to Practice the Art of AssertivenessEvery word matters - eliminate just from phrases: “I just wanted to touch base with you”Prove it to yourself - say what you’ll do and do what you sayExpress your needs unapologetically-”Your self worth isn’t tied to how little inconvenience you can be.”Speak when it matters (insecure people often have the urge to say e v e r y t h i n g)Say less - think supply & demand    Proverbs 17:28 would apply:"Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent." Remove Filler words - like, you know, right… Get comfortable with silence.Never undersell - “I hate to bother you” signals you see yourself as lessCut the excess - eliminate adverbs, they do not add meaning, they dilute itWhen in doubt, fall back on experienceSay “I’m confident” instead of “I think” or “I believe”Kate’s one word summary was brevity and Sheila waffled between less and clarity. Which tip will you try out? We both chose #5 Say Less. Thank you dear listeners for joining us as we connect to reflect! Blessings!

Greetings listeners! Book 4 of Psalms starts with Moses’ prayer which ends with, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us…”This group of psalms 90 - 106 is powerful! God is our refuge and our fortress, He is the one in whom we trust! May we be rooted and grounded in Him like the cedars of Lebanon! Cedar in Hebrew is firm/strong, these trees grew to be 120 feet tall (think about a 10-12 story building!!!).Discipline draws us closer to God who is our Stronghold! His steadfast love holds us up!Psalm 96:9 “Worship the Lord, in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!”Kate’s one word summary was sovereign! God is all knowing, all powerful and He is everywhere!  He knows our ‘frame’ and remembers we are dust (103:14), but He wants a relationship with us!!! Amazing!Sheila’s one word summary was steadfast because it describes God's love for us, through the ebb and flow of our lives. Psalm 100 is a beautiful psalm of thanksgiving, “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Kate challenged us to memorize these five verses before Thanksgiving! Let’s do it!Thank you dear listeners for taking the time to reflect so we’re able to connect on God’s Holy Word!  Blessings!!!

If you've ever wished for a do-over Gordon Korman’s 2017 book Restart is right up your alley!!We meet football star and renowned school bully, Chase Ambrose, after he fell from a two-story window. He has amnesia so bad his personality changes. The rattiest rat changes into a super kind guy! It is quite a transformation! Confusing friends and enemies alike!Each chapter comes from a different viewpoint:Shoshanna Weber: She hates Chase mightily because of what he did to her twin brother, Joel. Chase and his goons (Aaron and Bear) were the cause of Joel having to transfer to a private school because of the trauma he suffered when they blew up Joel’s piano!Brendan Espinoza: Wannabe famous YouTuber who forgives Chase’s past bullying against him from the get go. He takes a risk and asks Chase to help shoot a video while Brendan rides a tricycle through a car wash. Mr. Solway: Feisty nursing home resident who strings a necklace out of all the gout pills he’s refused to take. He was awarded a Medal of Honor from Harry Truman for his service in the Korean War, but mysteriously the medal is missing! He and Chase have a bond.Summary Words:Titus: Connection/relationship and Disguise (a curse, like Chase’s injury, was a blessing in      disguise).Jonah: Humble-Chase 2.0 is much more humble and thinks of others.Kate: Redemption-Chase’s old persona had him stuck on himself and unable to grow.Sheila:Transformation-We all can change, that’s how we grow. Chase wasn’t the only one  transformed in this book!The principal told Chase that his injury was an opportunity to start over. Chase takes the ball and runs with it and becomes Chase 2.0. Join us as we discuss, Restart, and Kid Approved 5 star read!!! Blessings dear listeners! Let’s connect to reflect! 

Chapter 6 of The Next Conversation focuses on the importance of controlling the pace of communication, particularly through the use of pauses, to enhance understanding and engagement in conversations. Kate and Sheila discuss various examples and personal experiences that highlight how effective pauses can lead to more meaningful interactions and better emotional control. The conversation explores the importance of effective communication, the impact of stress on health, and the need to slow down in life to appreciate beauty and foster meaningful connections. It emphasizes the significance of being aware of one's body and emotions, and how numbers can help in recognizing and addressing issues.TakeawaysControl the pace of conversationThe power of pauses Effective communication is essentialSlowing down enhances well-beingChapters00:00 The Importance of Controlling Pace03:03 The Power of Pauses in Communication06:01 Brevity and Impact in Speech08:48 Silence as a Tool for Clarity11:56 Creating Safe Spaces Through Pausing15:09 The Role of Silence in Conflict Resolution18:01 Personal Strategies for Effective Communication20:59 Memory Techniques and Learning24:25 The Importance of Communication27:02 Managing Stress and Health30:39 Controlling the Pace of Life34:33 Planning for Beauty in Life39:29 Embracing Change and Self-Improvement

The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards is a whimsical and imaginative book that encourages readers to look up and use their senses. It explores the themes of imagination, confidence, and perception, while also highlighting the importance of noticing and play. The book's purpose is to inspire readers to face temptation, use their imagination, and look up instead of down. Thanks to our special guest hosts, Titus and Jonah, for providing their extra insight into today's review.TakeawaysImaginationConfidencePerceptionChapters00:00 Introduction to the Book02:22 Exploring Imagination and Perception07:09 Noticing and Play20:01 The Author's Purpose

“With my mother it was all work. But this is a different type of house. Here there is room, and time to think.” Foster, a novella by Irish author Claire Keegan, slows readers down. We meet the Kinsellas, relatives, who welcome the protagonist into their peaceful home overflowing with warm kindness! She is dropped off, literally, by her disengaged, shiftless Da (aka father), what a contrast her past abode and living situation is to what is now before her.“The water tastes cool and clean…it tastes of my father leaving, of him never having been there.” Kate’s one word summary was belonging. Our forlorn narrator is invited into the rhythm of the Kinsellas household. Belonging encourages our young protagonist to bloom in an amazing way. Sheila’s one word summary was actually two : )  Torn describes the beginning and end  of the book when the girl wanted to return with her father, struggling between staying in the better place versus returning to the chaos she called home. In the middle of the book the word opportunity comes to mind.. As we have opportunity, let us do good to one another. Blessings dear listeners! Let’s connect to reflect!

Greetings! We are joined by our special guests to discuss Andrew Clements’ classic from 1998, Frindle. Prankster Nick Allen meets his match in the formidable Mrs. Granger. This timeless novel weaves quite a tale. Mrs. Granger said people determine the meaning of words, so Nick invented the word frindle for pen. The battle begins. Jonah’s one word summary was chess, because Nick makes a move and it is countered by Mrs. Granger. Then Nick ‘moves’ again… Just like a game of chess. Titus’ one word was over-react. He thought everyone over-reacted… from Mrs. Granger to Nick to the news reporter. Kate went with empowering. Words are powerful. A command of language is empowering. Sheila’s word was flourish, because Mrs. Granger tenacity caused Nick to flourish. She was willing to play the bad guy to get traction for Nick’s word. Like Mrs. Baker from The Wednesday Wars, Mrs. Granger changed Nick’s life in more ways than one.Join the fun. Who will win the word war? Here’s a interesting quote:“But of course, all of this is just a silly fad, and when you add an "e" to fad, you get fade. And I predict this fad will fade.” What do you predict? If you haven’t met Nick and Mrs. Granger you’re in for a treat. If you’ve read Frindle you might enjoy, Frindle Files, the sequel written in 2024. Pick up your frindle and write this down, “Let’s connect, to reflect”! Blessings dear listeners!

We continue our  journey through Book 3, Psalms 73-89. These Psalms show a plethoraof high and low in relationships with God. When we aren’t as close to God we can rest assured that we are the ones who are moving in the wrong direction. “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” Ps. 73:28“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.” Ps. 81:11“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly…blessed is the one who trusts in you!” Ps 84:11-12Kate’s one word summary was remembrance and Sheila’s was trust. When we remember all that God has done we will give thanks to Him with whole hearts as David wrote in Psalm 86 . Remembering fosters an attitude of gratitude.Won’t you join us as we connect to reflect about the abounding steadfast love of our faithful Father!