Ang’s January/February ’25 Reads and QOTMs

On March 2, 2025March 24, 2025 By MitchenersIn Angela, Books, Quotes of the MonthLeave a comment

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.

All My Secrets (Paperback)

All My Secrets (Kindle)

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!

One Must Tell the Bees (Paperback)

One Must Tell the Bees (Kindle)

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.)

Aftermath (Paperback)

Aftermath (Kindle)

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.

The Mona Lisa Vanishes (Paperback)

The Mona Lisa Vanishes (Kindle)

A few impactful quotes from these books:

...if we remember that death comes to all of us, we'll pay better attention to how we live.¹

The Almighty has a way of bringing good things from our sorrows, if we let Him.¹

Beware what you read, Watson. Too often a writer seeks to satisfy his readers—not challenge them.²

In a conspiracy theory, belief matters more than facts. Belief in a conspiracy inevitably leads you away from the facts.⁴

¹ All My Secrets, Lynn Austin
² One Must Tell the Bees, J. Lawrence Matthews
³ Aftermath, Terri Blackstock
⁴ The Mona Lisa Vanishes, Nicholas Day

February ’25 in Pictures

On March 1, 2025March 6, 2025 By MitchenersIn Dominican Republic, Family, Indiana, Photos of the MonthLeave a comment

February definitely gave us continued “sweather weather” here. Dominican temps are much more agreeable to my thinned-out blood, but I have to admit – it’s been pretty cozy starting my work days curled up in a warm blanket with a hot cup o’ joe close by. Check out these 28 pictures from the Freedom team – and from our chilly month in Indiana!

We had a student-led chapel this month! Nika, now in 11th grade, was one of my sweet kindergarteners. Neat to see her faith come alive!

See you at the end of March!

Calico: A Tabletop Tales Review

On February 28, 2025March 11, 2025 By MitchenersIn Angela, Board GamesLeave a comment

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 patterns

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.

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.

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.

Ang’s Rating: 9/10

Fletcher thinks you should buy Calico

January ’25 in Pictures

On January 31, 2025February 5, 2025 By MitchenersIn Dominican Republic, Family, Photos of the MonthLeave a comment

These monthly photo dumps may look a little different since we’ve relocated, but hopefully the mix of ministry pictures and family happenings can still give you a good idea of what’s going on – both with the Mitcheners and with our favorite ministry in the DR. Enjoy these 31 January shots!

We took a quick trip to Ohio to visit family. Cal has claimed this kitty as her own and treats him like her dollbaby.

See you at the end of February!

Blessed are those who mourn…

On October 4, 2024October 7, 2024 By MitchenersIn Angela3 Comments

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!

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.

And He’s been doing just that.

Blessed are the poor in spirit…

On September 20, 2024September 24, 2024 By MitchenersIn AngelaLeave a comment

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!

“And He began to teach them…”

On September 13, 2024 By MitchenersIn AngelaLeave a comment

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.

Shifting Stones: A Tabletop Tales Review

On September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 By MitchenersIn Angela, Board GamesLeave a comment

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!

Buy Shifting Stones on Amazon!

June ’24 in Pictures

On June 30, 2024June 30, 2024 By MitchenersIn Dominican Republic, Family, Photos of the MonthLeave a comment

Wow, what a hot June. Crazy that this is “the end of the road.” In just 10 days, we touch down on midwest soil for good. We got to say lots of goodbyes and finish most of our packing this month. God is good!

Noah spent this school year running sound for morning assemblies. I’m proud of his hard work!

See you in the States!

Pit: A Tabletop Tales Review

On June 28, 2024 By MitchenersIn Angela, Board GamesLeave a comment

I’ve been called an old soul on occasion, and I’m not even mad about it. From books to music to movies, I will pick “classic” over “modern” 9 times out of 10. Apparently, enjoying really old games is wrapped up in my old soul vibe. Today’s featured game is Pit, and it’s probably the “oldest” game we own. It was first published 120 years ago!

I remember playing Pit often as a kid. I’ll always have a soft spot for the 1973 edition my family owned, complete with its mustard-colored artwork and bright orange bell. I imagine I drove my parents batty dinging that bell every chance I’d get.

Scott and I have tried to be intentional this year about making Thursday game nights a priority for the fam. While I wouldn’t characterize my children as old souls, they do enjoy a good game of Pit. To up the ante last Thursday, I offered them an added incentive: whipped cream! Whoever won each round got a shot of whipped cream straight from the can. Yes, I bribe my children with sweets and junk food.

Back to the game. Pit is a set-collection game that relies heavily on your ability to negotiate in a chaotic, real-time environment. Think Wall Street. In my opinion, the more people that play, the better the game. Generally, I enjoy peace and quiet, but tranquility is not the name of this game. If you’ve got young kids you put to bed early, I’d advise choosing something else to play, because this.gets.loud.

You can check out some more Pit details below. Prepare to embrace the chaos, and enjoy some time with your friends and family!

Number of Players: 3-8

Age: 7+

Playing Time: 30-60 minutes

Object: Be the first person to “corner the market”: collect all 9 cards of the commodity of your choosing.

Rules Rundown: Here’s a link to a digital copy of the rules.

Deal out the deck to the players. Use only the number of commodities as there are players. (If 4 people play, choose 4 commodities. If 7 people play, use all 7 commodities.) Players’ hands will not be even if you choose to play with the “Bull” card and the “Bear” card. After organizing your cards, decide which commodity you will attempt to collect. (You can change your mind at any point during play and choose to go for a different commodity.)

Since I already have 3 wheat (plus the bull), I’ll probably start by going for wheat. I only need 5 more!

When the dealer strikes the bell, the exchange is open. Players can simultaneously begin trading anywhere between 1 and 4 commodities – just make sure that all cards in that trade are of the same commodity. Once you have all 9 cards, you ring the bell, and you’ve won! Easy peasy!

Count up your points. If you collected all 9 oats cards, for example, you’ve gained 60 points; if you win with wheat, you’ve gained 100 points. The first player to 500 wins the game.

The Bull and Bear are special cards that add a bit of extra fun to the madness. The Bull acts as a Wild of sorts. If you have 8 cards of one commodity plus the Bull, you can still corner the market (i.e., a “Bull corner”). If you have all 9 cards of a commodity plus the Bull, you can call a “Double Bull corner” and double the score of the commodity collected.

The Bear is never helpful. Get rid of that thing as quickly as possible! However, if you have the Bear OR the Bull in hand when someone else calls “Corner,” you must subtract 20 points from your score.

Ratings:
Ang – 7/10
Noah – 7/10
Leyton – 8/10
Caleigh – 10/10

Buy Pit on Amazon!