Recently, someone hurt my feelings. Hah! Now that some time has passed, I can objectively say that the comments uttered to my face were not meant to be a huge malignment of my character. However, the words spoken were based on assumptions about my intentions, and to be honest, the interaction stung a bit. Sadly, I’ve been replaying those words a little too often in my mind – even stacking them on top of other unthoughtful comments from previous conversations.
And then, a reality check.
Yesterday, my heart broke as I learned the news that the rest of America is buzzing about: Charlie Kirk’s death. Suddenly, my little problem – being hurt because someone tried to “put me in my place” without actually knowing my heart – seemed so small. I’ve experienced criticisms and more, but never death threats, much less an attempt on my life. I cannot fathom how Erika and Charlie’s two children will walk this painful path in the coming days.
Proverbs 19:22 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
This little nugget of wisdom has been a support for me today as I buckle under the sad reality of the state of our country. Our forefathers founded the colonies 250 years ago so that their children’s children could worship God all the days of their lives – not murder each other because of fits of rage or differing ideologies/political views.
Like David did in so many of his psalms, I’m praying that justice will be served now. That evil will be squelched today. That God and His character will not be maligned any longer.
I’m not exactly sure what it looks like for the Lord’s purpose to prevail this side of heaven. Sometimes, it feels like He’s being so silent in the face of evil. But the comforting truth is that God wins in the end. I rest in the fact that His timing is perfect.
Ultimately, every knee will bow before Him. Oh, the harvest is ripe! May I continue to see those around me as human beings, made in God’s image and in desperate need of Him. And may I always find ways to courageously share the Good News of the abundant life available in Jesus Christ.
Grandpa Beck’s is a pretty fantastic card game company. I love the “family feel” they exude, and I really love that their games come at such a great price point. (Our first introduction to Grandpa Beck’s was through a friend who gifted us a copy of Skull King, a pirate-themed, trick-taking game at its finest. I’m digressing, though. Let me leave that review for another post.)
Earlier this month, Grandpa Beck’s launched a brand new card game called 3-2-1 Countdown! I follow several board game accounts on social media, and three of them were offering giveaways prior to the launch date. I entered the giveaways with zero expectation of winning anything. (The last time I ever won a raffle was at a “Take Your Kids to Work Day” event with my grandma. I was 10.)
Well, the stars and the planets aligned for me or something because one of the Instagram accounts I follow messaged me: “Hello there! Guess what?! You won my giveaway for 3-2-1 Countdown! Congratulations!”
Eek! My 30-year “losing streak” is over, and I’ve won something so.majorly.cool. I’m all about games that are easy to teach, quick to learn, and fun to play. This checks all the boxes.
Speaking of boxes… Grandpa Beck’s games bring an added bonus: they come in small boxes! As a blossoming board gamer, I’m already finding that we’re running out of space for our growing collection. Compact games like this one score extra points in my book.
Keep reading if you’d like to check out some more details about 3-2-1 Countdown!
Number of Players: 2-8 / Recommended Age: 7+
Playing Time:15-30 minutes
Object: Reduce the total value of the cards in your hand to 5 points or less.
For 2-6 players, deal out 12 cards to each person. The rest of the cards go to the middle of the table. Form a discard pile on either side of the draw pile.
On your turn, you’ll do two things. Discard first! Place one of your cards on either discard pile. (If you’ve got multiple cards of the same number, you’re allowed to get rid of the entire set.) Secondly, draw a card from the other discard pile – or from the draw pile.
The player on the right decided to shed her highest cards: two 10’s.She placed them in the bottom discard pile.Then, she added the 0 from the other discard pile to her hand.
Take turns discarding card(s) and drawing a new card until a player has 5 points or less in hand. That player can yell, “Countdown!” and end the round. (Alternatively, you could win another way. If every card in your hand is the same number, you can discard all of your cards and call out “Blastoff!”)
All players will then add up the face values of the cards in their hands. The person with the lowest total receives 3 points, the second-lowest gets 2 points, and the third-lowest gains 1 point. However, you’ve got to be careful. If you call “Countdown!” but don’t have the lowest score, you get nothing. Zilch-o. Nada.
You’ll have to take some risks if you want to win big!
Cal walked in while I was uploading some pictures for this blog post and said, “Whatcha doing, Mom?” I told her I was getting ready to share yet another game. As she looked over my shoulder, she incredulously asked, “You mean, you haven’t posted about Skyjo yet?!” We all really, really like this one!
Whenever I’ve got a game night to attend, I often lead with this game. It’s easy to walk a person through a practice round without having to explain a ton of rules. I also love that up to 8 people can play, and the rounds are fairly short.
I can think of two other games that are comparable to Skyjo: Grandpa Beck’s Gnoming Around and Play Nine. If you already own either of those, I don’t think you need to buy this too. The mechanics of all 3 games are similar. I just happened to get introduced to Skyjo first; I fully own my bias.
I’m trying my hardest to come up with some kind of “negative” about the game so that I’m being transparent about the pros and the cons… but I’m kind of at a loss! It’s solid!
Number of Players: 2-8
Age: 8+
Playing Time:30ish minutes
Object: Get the lowest score as quickly as possible by flipping, exchanging, and revealing cards.
First, deal out 12 cards to each person. Every player will make a facedown 4×3 grid. Before play begins, flip up any 2 cards. Place the draw pile in the middle of the table. The person who has the highest point total showing will go first.
On each turn, draw a card from the draw pile or from the discard pile. After looking at that card, decide if you would like to keep it or not. If you want to add it to your grid, you must exchange it with one of your current cards. It doesn’t matter if the card is hidden or not. (Obviously, you are taking a risk if you decide to replace one of your hidden cards, but sometimes the risk pays off!) You can also decide to discard the card you chose, but if you do so, you’ll automatically flip up one of your hidden cards.
So far, looking good! (It’d be nice to get rid of that 6 up there…)
There is one special feature. If you happen to place 3 identical cards in the same column, they cancel out! Discard those 3 cards, eliminating the column and bringing your total score down.
I’m down to the wire! Just one more card to flip over.I found a 1! I have 3 identical cards in that first column, meaning I can now remove the 1’s from my grid!I have 3 fewer points! Yay!
The round is basically over when someone has flipped over all of his cards. (Any players who did not get to finish the current round are allowed to take one final turn.) Turn over any remaining hidden cards, tally up your points, and write them on the score card. *Important! If the player who went out does not have the lowest score, he must double his score. Yikes!
A simple one on the blog today: Donuts! This cutely designed game is honestly just a glorified version of tic-tac-toe. Since it comes in at a cheaper price point than other games, I’m here for it!
I’ll be honest. This isn’t the first game I’d choose if I’ve got friends coming over for a game night, but it does serve a fantastic purpose: filling up time. If you’ve got kids in your life who have ever uttered the words “I’m bored,” then Donutsmight be a great option. I recently took it with me to a restaurant and played with a kiddo while we waited for our food to arrive. I love that it’s so easy to learn!
First, you’ll divide the double-sided donuts evenly. Fifteen go to each player. Choose chocolate or vanilla. The first player places a donut anywhere on the board. Player 2 must now put a donut in the row that was indicated by player 1’s donut.
I had 3 options for placement. My vanilla donut had to be placed diagonally, as indicated by the space where Cal laid her donut. Now, Cal must place her next donut in a location that is horizontal to my donut.
From there, continue taking turns, placing donuts in the indicated row. If a row is completely filled so that a player cannot place a donut, the player may put his or her donut anywhere on the board!
There is one other small component that can change up the game at a moment’s notice. If you are able to insert a donut in between two of your opponent’s donuts, then you can flip over those two donuts that are bookending your donut, enhancing your chances of winning!
The insertion rule even works when you have multiple donuts in between your opponent’s two donuts…… Caleigh placed her chocolate donut and can now flip over my two vanilla donuts that bookend hers!
That’s it! This is a little more strategic than your normal tic-tac-toe game but still easy enough for kids to jump in.
I do not think is an absolute “must” to add to your game collection, but I do think it would make a great little stocking stuffer or Easter basket addition.
My last book review post was 4 years ago. Yowza! Guess I fell off that bandwagon.
Well, no time like the present to try to jump back on. Here are the books I started and finished in January and February! (I’ll link them all to my Amazon storefront in the event that you’re looking for a good read.)
All My Secrets by Lynn Austin was gifted to me for Christmas! This Christian fiction book was great. I haven’t read many stories set in America’s Gilded Age, so the setting was fresh for me. It was quite the journey following the high-society Stanhope family as they navigate a terrible loss. Junietta, Sylvia, and Addison are three women facing an uncertain future after the death of Sylvia’s husband, Art (Junietta’s son). Sometimes, books that follow multiple storylines annoy me, but the author seamlessly jumps through time as both Sylvia and Junietta shared their memories with Addy. I blew through this book in less than 7 days.
Not sure if I can call it already, but One Must Tell the Bees might be my favorite book of 2025. I absolutely loved this read, but I don’t know that many of my book-loving friends will share my sentiment. This story is for a very specific niche: lovers of both Sherlock Holmes adventures and Abraham Lincoln history. I am often skeptical of “fan fiction,” but J. Lawrence Matthews does a beautiful job staying true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s depiction of Holmes and Watson, all while masterfully weaving in the historical happenings surrounding the assassination of our 16th President. Some have critiqued the length of the book (it’s a whopping 566 pages), but it’s really 3 stories in one. I’m here for it!
I finished Aftermath on a weekend trip to visit Scott’s grandma. While not a blockbuster, I enjoyed this quick read. I know this genre can often bring with it eye rolls or comments of “How can you read something so ‘cheesy’?” While it’s true that sections of Christian fiction books can seem “forced”, I love hearing how these stories are borne out of specific circumstances within an author’s life. Terri’s Author Note at the end was impactful for me. How I long for our country and our culture to quit zeroing in on the divisive and to focus on God-honoring values and truth. May the “roaring lion” that is seeking to devour be stopped by those who are safely clothed in the armor that God provides. May light overcome the darkness. (I’ll now be stepping off my soapbox since that paragrah did nothing to help review the book. Heh.)
The Mona Lisa Vanishes is a true story about the theft of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Nicholas Day wrote it with a middle school audience in mind. I read it by myself, but I think I would have enjoyed it more as a read-aloud with my kids. Either way, I learned new things about a time/place in history I’ve not read much about. Three-and-a-half stars – for now.
Guys. I’ve only played this game a handful of times since buying it, but I could very easily make this one an obsession. Calico is perfectly themed for cold weather gameplay. Who can resist a cozy evening of fun with adorable kitten tiles, colorful quilts, and real-life friends?!
In the grand scheme of board game choices, Calico is on the lighter side, but it’s still both challenging and fun. The rulebook is laid out in an understandable way, and there’s a beginner version that you can play through until you feel comfortable with normal gameplay.
Number of Players: 1-4
Age: 10+
Playing Time:30-45 minutes
Object: Lay tiles to complete patterns and earn points by sewing the best quilt.
Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to the rules – or you can get a general idea of the gameplay for the beginner version below.
Place Millie, Tibbit, and Coconut (3 of the cat scoring tiles) at the top of the table – along with their matching mini cat tokens. Randomly place 2 black and white pattern tiles under each cat tile. (These are the patterns that each cat “likes” for this game.)
All patch tiles can be placed in the bag, and button tokens can be placed in the middle of the table.
There are 108 patch tiles: 6 different colors and 6 different patternsButtons are placed on your quilt if you can connect 3 tiles of the same color
Each player receives an empty quilt board. Pick out the 3 designated design goals and place them in their correct locations on the quilt board. Everyone works toward completing the same designs on his own board in the beginner version.
Empty quilt boardGoals placed. Goal 1: collect 6 unique color/pattern tiles around the top hexagonal goal tile. Goal 2: find 3 tiles of one color/pattern & 3 of a second color/pattern. Goal 3: find 2 tiles of one color/pattern, 2 tiles of a second color/pattern, and 2 tiles of a third color/pattern.
Draw 2 patch tiles from the bag and place them next to your quilt. Each turn, you will lay one of your tiles anywhere on the board, attempting to strategically place it somewhere that will help you complete your design goals. You’ll end your turn by drawing a new tile from the “market” (aka, the bag).
That’s the gist of it! There are some other components (you can receive additional points – in the forms of buttons and kittens – for connecting colors/patterns of specific quantities), but the basic gameplay truly is a simple process: draw a tile, place a tile, and replenish your tile.
Here, I’ve already played a few turns. I need to pick one of my 2 tiles (on the side of my board) to add to my quilt.I’ll add that navy blue flowered tile to the bottom right corner.Coconut the cat likes the “flower” and “cross” designs. Once 5 of those tiles touching, you gain a kitty!I have more than 5 “cross” and “flower” tiles touching each other, so I earned a Coconut kitty, worth 7 points. This will be good in the event that I don’t meet one or more of my design goals.
To be completely transparent, Scott isn’t a huge fan of the theme. (I mean, what almost 40-year-old man wouldn’t think that trying to attract cats to a quilt is his idea of a good time?! Heh.) At its core, its just another drafting game, so the hubby is willing to overlook the crazy kitties for my sake. My older two kids can handle gameplay without help, but my 9-year-old loses interest if we’re playing at the 4-player max.
There is also a single-player version of the game that I’ve tested out. I give it a thumbs up! For me, this game has been solid add to my collection.
We all go through seasons of mourning. I suppose you could say I’m in one of those seasons now. The different ways I’m grieving aren’t super connected to each other, but I’ve been lamenting several “deaths” in recent months.
1.) One year ago today, we received the unexpected phone call that Scott’s wonderful dad had passed away. It’s still so strange to think that the hugs, laughter, and memory-making for us as a family of 11 ended very suddenly 365 days ago.
I don’t like that Ted is gone – or that the family trips he loved to plan will no longer take place in the same way. I don’t like that he wasn’t at the church’s annual chili cook-off last week – or that there’s this giant Ted-shaped hole in the handbells choir where he used to fit.
I could pose the question, “What good has come from losing Ted?” At first glance, it certainly seems like there isn’t a good answer…
2.) I’ve been mourning in other ways as well. I’m also grieving the “loss” of a ministry I love.
After Ted died, we felt like the Lord was calling us to move back to the States to be closer to family. There have certainly been adjustments for us as we settle in to new rhythms. The kiddos are getting used to going to a new school and church. Life has been busy. However, I find that in the quiet moments, my mind can sometimes wander. I’ve realized that I am mourning the life that was mine for the past 12 years.
Ironically, the simplicity of everyday living is gone – even though I now have every modern appliance and convenience at my fingertips.
The friends who worked alongside me and experienced some very real, shared hardships are thousands of miles away.
The little sea of brown faces that I’ve come to love so dearly are just found in pictures now.
Again, I could pose the question, “Why, God? How is it good that I was removed from this precious place? Wasn’t I doing my best to serve you?”
A cursory look at my circumstances doesn’t seem to warrant such loss…
3.) Perhaps this sounds strange, but I’m also mourning the decline of our nation. To me, it’s fairly evident that the principles upon which this amazing country was founded are no longer prioritized.
Many of our Founding Fathers chose freedom, liberty, honor, integrity, and sacrifice as their guides. Some even chose Jesus. If I think too much on the current state of our nation, I literally want to bring out the sackcloth and ashes.
Sadly, I believe that this blessed land needs to experience some true hardship before a humble turn back to God will ever happen.
This is where that beautiful little Beatitude in Matthew 5:4 comes into play. Yes, I’ve been experiencing the loss that comes along with these “deaths.” But if I really think about it, I must admit that God has been so good in the midst of pain and sadness.
1.) For example, I’ve found comfort in knowing that Ted’s faith has been made sight. Because we can’t physically see him anymore, it’s hard to imagine just how happy he must be, spending the rest of eternity in the presence of the Savior.
In addition, Ted’s testimony lives on in others! The way that Ted was “salt” and “light” to those around him made a difference. In particular, I think about his grandkids. What a spiritual heritage they have because their grandpa was willing to daily live out his faith. And when I think back to Ted’s funeral, I’m still so encouraged by all the people who came – both to support our family and to honor a man who lived a good life. The stories others shared of how he touched them meant the world to me.
2.) While the ministry of Freedom has not ended, our leaving the DR has made me feel as if I’m personally experiencing another death of sorts. Yet, even as I go through this hard change, Jesus’ promise of His presence has proven itself true for me!
I’m so happy that Freedom’s work continues on. To know that the boys and girls I’ve loved for over a decade are still being poured into by others is such a comfort. This ministry never was and never will be “mine.” Jesus simply allowed me be a small part of it for awhile. What a gift!
Katie with some of our secondary gals
But God’s goodness doesn’t stop there. Now I have the privilege of serving with Freedom in a different capacity, 2,000 miles away. I’ve been able to continue working behind the scenes in a way that will hopefully serve to tell Freedom’s story of God’s provision.
On top of that, I’m grateful that we’re settling in to this next chapter here in Indiana! Our kids are making sweet friends and experiencing things they weren’t able to while living in a foreign country. I’m truly excited for these new opportunities that they’ll have to make Jesus famous right here.
10/1 – Getting ready for a band/choir concert
3.) As for my nation, I’ve lived long enough to understand that God truly does know best. There is no assurance that “my people” will return to Him in my lifetime. Hundreds of thousands of Israelites never experienced the land that was promised to them. Hundreds of thousands more watched their nation turn to idolatry and sin time after time. The thought that America is walking that same path saddens me, but the promise that rang out across that mountainside long ago still holds true today: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
I am comforted to know that someday – even if I must wait til my Savior’s return – things will ultimately be set right. Everyone will bow before God and acknowledge Him as King. I am so looking forward to that day! Until that day, may I do my part to offer His Good News to those who need it.
Jesus said that the good life belongs to those who mourn. What a strange statement. But it’s true – life is good because the Creator of the universe has promised to comfort and uplift.
Have you ever received the “perfect” gift from someone? Four years ago, that happened for my daughter Caleigh. Her brother Leyton gave her this cute little stuffed animal for her birthday, and the ensuing pictures and videos of her reaction were just too precious. You would’ve thought she’d been handed the moon.
As Jesus opens up His famous Sermon on the Mount, He promises a pretty special “gift” to His listeners. I doubt that many people fully understood at the time, but the gift couldn’t have been more perfect.
Jesus starts out chapter 5 with an interesting statement: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
There’s an important phrase in there: poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit doesn’t have to do with financial status; instead, it’s more about one’s posture toward God. Rather than being proud or self-sufficient, a person who is poor in spirit is one who realizes that dependence on the Creator of the universe is the only stance worth taking.
I will never lose an opportunity to bring up the Ten Booms, a Dutch watchmaker’s family who lived in Holland during WWII. The story of Corrie, her sister Betsie, and their father has been such an inspiration to me. In fact, you might say that they lived out this whole “poor in spirit” thing on a daily basis as they risked their lives by hiding Jews in their home. They subsequently suffered through prison, physical pain, hunger, ridicule, and death (for Betsie and Casper) because of that decision.
If you haven’t read The Hiding Place, run – don’t walk – to get your own copy. It’s evident that Corrie had to make choices each day – choices to depend on God or to go her own way. She said,
It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability that counts.
Corrie understood something about living in the kingdom of God. She realized that people who relinquish control of their lives are blessed far beyond those who choose to selfishly handle things themselves.
She saw the kingdom of God for the perfect gift that it was. Surrendering her life to the King was worth it.
I’m so glad that Jesus’ offer of “the good life” is open to everyone. On the surface, it may not seem logical that anything good can come through surrender, but on the other side, an entire kingdom awaits!
When I was a little girl, I was fascinated by stories of beautiful kingdoms, powerful kings, elaborate courts, and colorful subjects. The worlds of Narnia, Sherwood Forest, and Camelot still hold much intrigue, and it’s easy for me to be sucked in to their captivating domains.
Recently, we walked through the Beatitudes at church. I love that throughout Jesus’ ministry, He used the analogy of a king ruling over his kingdom to explain things to the disciples.
I can almost imagine Him there on the side of that mountain, sitting with the Twelve, compassionately communicating truth that most assuredly seemed counter-intuitive to them. It must have sounded strange to Peter, James, John and the others to hear their mentor repeatedly teach them about this “upside-down” kingdom that He was creating.
1.) How strange that in Jesus’ kingdom, the King would have to die.
2.) In addition, the citizens would look and act differently than those in other lands.
3.) Furthermore, everyone would have to wait patiently, for in Jesus’ kingdom, evil would appear to win. Instead, it would just be a matter of time for the kingdom to be fully instated in all its beauty and glory.
The Beatitudes focus in on that second facet: the citizens of the land. What kind of people live in Jesus’ kingdom? Reading Matthew 5 on repeat has caused me to think about my own life. These eight statements that open up the Sermon on the Mount have both convicted and encouraged me in recent weeks. Through this 2,000-year-old passage, God has been reminding me of His priorities. I’m excited to walk through some of the Beatitudes on a more personal level in the weeks to come.
May God continue to teach me what it looks like to be a citizen in His kingdom. I’m so looking forward to that day when He’ll set all things right. For good. But until then, may I continue to do all that I can to build up His kingdom – right here and right now.
If you play games often, then perhaps you’re “moody” like me. Sometimes I want a game that is complex and deep; the challenge is the draw. Other times, I just want a light and easy game; spending time with others is the priority.
Shifting Stones definitely fits into that latter category. While it’s technically a competitive game (there is one winner), it doesn’t feel tense. When it’s not your turn, there is plenty of time to talk and laugh with others.
This abstract pattern game is super easy to learn, and I fell in love with its design as soon as I opened the box. The tiles are durable and interesting, and the rules are concise and well-written.
While the box states that you can play up to 5 players, I’d recommend sticking to 2 or 3 people for best results. (There are rules included for a single-player version. It isn’t too shabby – if you’re in to that sort of thing.) My biggest complaint for a game with 5 people is that the wait time between turns feels a bit long. Of course, people want to strategize and think through their moves, but the board will change by the time it gets back around to you. It feels like there’s no point in strategizing until the player directly before you is moving tiles.
I’ve included some of the specifics of the game below.
Number of Players: 1-5
Age: 8+
Playing Time:20ish minutes per round
Object: Form patterns within a 9-tile grid to score the most points.
Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to a digital copy of the rules.
Set up the board by randomly placing the 9 double-sided tiles in a 3×3 grid. Pass out 4 pattern cards to each player. On your turn, you can perform any number of the following actions using your 4 cards:
Flip a tile (by “paying” with one of your pattern cards)
Move a tile (by “paying” with one of your pattern cards)
Score points for completed patterns
If you want, you can skip your turn in order to draw 2 additional cards, bringing your hand up to 6 cards. However, you cannot skip twice in a row.
When you’re finished with your actions, draw your hand back up to 4 cards so you’re ready for your next turn.
Rating: 7.5/10
Overall, I think it’s a great addition to your game collection – especially for the price!
The Mitcheners 