One Quick Tip: Toilet Tissue Reminder Roll

Dear Lissy,

We're at a stage of life where everyone in the house is using -- and using up -- supplies.   We do pretty well keeping a supply of high use items, but every now and then something slips through the cracks and we end up with an "emergency".  This easy failsafe was born after I pillaged our camping supplies and realized I could create the same result without compromising our camping kit.

I keep one paper-wrapped toilet tissue roll with our bathroom T.P. supply.  I only open it if our regular tissue supply is gone.  If I'm not the one to unwrap it, I still see the wrapper in the waste bin (or notice that my toilet tissue is definitely not "Soft as Old Linen").   I just have to remember to put both T.P. and the reminder roll on my shopping list. 

This reminder system works well for a variety of high use items from ketchup to laundry soap.  I purchase a sample or travel sized package of a different brand as emergency back-up.  I only use those items if & when I run out of our regular product. 

I'll never run out of love for you,

 Momma

Mom Review: Waterproof New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs

Dear Lissy,

Summer is in full swing here in New England, and I'm taking a few minutes to review an outdoor-friendly Bible.   This compact and unusual copy of the Word made it from Alabama to New England in just two days via padded mailer.

I am reviewing the Pink & Brown KJV Waterproof New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs from Bardin and Marsee publishing.  The KJV version is a text only, verse by verse copy of the Bible printed on synthetic paper. The New Testament retails for $24.95, the Bible for $44.95.  Bardin and Marsee provided my review copy, but didn't influence my review in any way.  I am not being paid, nor will I receive proceeds from future sales of this Bible.

Features I liked:

• Every bit of this New Testament is 100% waterproof. The cover, the binding, the pages --- all of it.  I can tuck it under the seat while I'm kayaking, and it will be none the worse for the wear.   Somebody (ahem) leaves the Bible tucked in the pocket on the back of their chair or lying on the picnic table overnight?  No problemo!  The dew, or even a thunder shower, isn't going to affect this Waterproof New Testament one. little. bit.  Our side porch at home eats books for breakfast, but I don't have to worry about this Bible being left out overnight by accident:  the dew or blown in rain wipe right off.  The Waterproof NT did not float in our unscientific home testing involving a stockpot and a drop from about 1.5 feet.
• Being waterproof means the New Testament is also wipeable.   Wipeable may not be quite as glamorous as scuba diving with the Word, but it ends up being a more important feature for me.  Despite my best attempts at hand-washing stations and General Cleanliness for the Greater Good, camp life is sticky, squashy, and dirty.  A damp rag and a quick swipe made quick work of all the grimy bits and bobs that clung to the Bible.  I also didn't have to fuss about making sure the table was dry or not setting the Bible THERE.  Nothing I tried stained it, even pizza sauce.  Wipeable=worryproof.
• The Waterproof New Testament doesn't feel waterproof.  I was expecting a plastic-y hand feel similar to children's books, but it's much more like a map or guide book.  The cover and pages are a normal thickness, and similar enough to paper that they aren't distracting.  You can write on the pages with a ball point pen or highlight with a dry highlighter if you so desire. The unique material left no ghosting from printing on the other side of the page.   The pages didn't glare when read with my headlight at night, either.
• The size.  At 4-1/4" x 7" x 3/4", the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs is the same dimensions as many maps and guide books.  It fit perfectly in both my daypack and regular overnight pack pocket. To keep the size this compact, the New Testament I reviewed has no internal references and very little extra material in the front or back.  The print is small, but similar to or larger than most outdoor guidebooks and maps.
• Instructions are included for caring for the unusual paper.  Waterproof doesn't mean indestructible.  A clear, concise set of instructions for use and care appear on the index page.  Most notably, don't let the Bible come in contact with petroleum products like bug spray, sunscreen, or even some wipes.  Anyone who's camped much knows to keep plastic and petroleum apart, but I was glad for the reminder.  Temperatures over 150 are not recommended, so the glove box of the car is not a great place to store a Waterproof (or any other) Bible.
• The extra material was well planned.  
• Front matter contains a presentation page, index, instructions, and a page of Quick References.  The Quick References includes topics such as Knowing Christ, True Hope, and Decision Making followed by a couple of references that speak to that subject.  Any one of the 35+ topics would be good for personal or family study.  (A note to parents:  s*x is one of the topics listed.)
• The back matter is 7 pages of lined notepaper.  Thank you, Bardin and Marsee -- a very nice touch!  

• A few technical details.  
• The pages are gluebound in signatures, not cut and glued individually.  Single pages aren't going to work their way loose and blow off the top of the mountain never to be seen again.  

•  A serif font.  I find sans serif fonts difficult to read once the print size is reduced enough for compact Bibles.  This copy appears to be in the 7 point font range. 
• The cover on the copy of the NT, Psalms and Proverbs I reviewed is pink brown with a modern design.  Not my usual choice, but very visible in a pack or at camp.  Sky blue and green/brown are also available.
• An elastic closure is offered as an accessory and highly recommended.  B & M will install the closure in-house if ordered with the Bible.
• Rounded corners.  Thank you, thank you.  Square corners are easily damaged in outdoor settings.  Rounded corners are standard on guidebooks, but unusual for a Bible.
• A tight binding.  Normally I'm looking for a binding that lies flat when open.  The opposite is necessary for a Bible in outdoor settings:  I want a Bible that naturally falls closed.  When we dropped the Bible in a pot of water, none of the interior pages got wet -- just the cover. Had interior pages gotten wet, the publishers recommend squeezing out the excess water, wiping the exterior, and then using normally. I expect looking at the binding that it will loosen and lie flat over time which is why the elastic closure is recommended.
• Covers can be stamped with your name.  Covers and pages can also be customized by organizations. 
• Waterproof notebooks and journals as well as suitable pens are also for sale on the site.

Features I would include:

This Bible was designed by people who love and use the Word of God and spend a great deal of time outdoors.   Every detail was considered.  I found nothing I would consider a negative in a specially purposed outdoor Bible.

• The one change I would make if I were customizing is including a clear gospel presentation with simple graphics in either the front or back matter, similar to the gospel of John put out by the Pocket Testament League.   The Gospel of Christ is one of the topics listed in the Quick References, and the introduction to the QR section specifically highlights that topic as being the most important truth of all.
• I would love to see Bardin and Marsee offer a Gospel of John with an included gospel presentation for outreach purposes.   Ladies' Kayaking trips, Sportmen's banquets, and Teen campouts have always been powerful evangelistic tools in our churches.  

My recommendation:
I highly recommend the Waterproof Bible for a variety of places that are normally a problem:  boating and the beach, camping, summer camp, porches, potting sheds, and even the kitchen.  The Waterproof Bible would have been ideal when I lived on the Florida panhandle and spent 2/3 of my life dripping wet.   I intend to buy a Waterproof Bible for high school grads planning to attend college or enter the military.  This Bible would also make an excellent gift for missionaries who are in tropical climates or third world countries.

Love you in sunshine and rain,

 Momma

Check(list), Please!

Dear Lissy,

Dad and the boys are already gone for the day, and I'm off and running on morning chores.  Years ago when all of you were little, I ran our home with checklists.  Constant interruptions gave me a perpetual case of Mommy ADD, and I relied on checklists to help me do during the busy hours what I knew I wanted done in the quiet of the evening.   

What's the difference between a checklist and a to-do list?  So glad you asked!  A to- do list is a list of tasks that need to be done once.  A checklist is a list of tasks that is repeated daily, weekly, or monthly.  "Vacuum entry" is a checklist item; "Pick up new exterior light fixture for side entry" is a to-do list task. 

I shed my checklists over the past few years as blocks of uninterrupted time became available.   May was exceptionally busy with a flurry of appointments, robotics events, farmer's markets, and sourcing out supplies for a Dear Lissy Bible marking kit.  Regular routines were bumped, and the house is run down.  I'm back to a season of busyness punctuated by constant interruptions, and I have to adjust quickly.  I've talked about "Plan B" before, so I'll keep this simple:

Checklists are an important tool for me when life changes pace.

I'm not taking time to re-invent the wheel.   I blew the dust off my Beautiful Life Manager, ordered new pages, and hit the ground running.   I even scored a DayTimer calendar for just a few bucks to help finish out 2014.  I do find it a little embarrassing to need a checklist to hold my hand at my age -- it seems like I should waft effortlessly through my housework by now.  Wisdom -- doing the next right thing -- reminds me that setting up a system of checklists to make sure the next right thing gets done is wiser than beating myself up for needing a checklist.

I've also noticed your brothers struggling with their day-to-day tasks as they take on new responsibility.  I'm going to be teaching them how to create and use checklists this summer, too.  They are still accountable for their chores, but they are far past the age where I set up "chore time" and oversee the minutia. Checklists give teens autonomy and accountability.  They can do the work anytime they want, provided the work is done to our family's standard by the set time. 

Checklists motivate pre-teens and provide a sense of accomplishment.  You are at the age where I give you a list (not just a task) that must be completed and checked at the time I hand it to you.  We set a timer for the list, and you "punch out" when you've completed the work.   

I need to weed and plant while the garden is still cool.  I hope we have a great summer -- fun is on the checklist, too! 

Love,
Momma

Mom Review: The TBS Windsor Text Edition Bible

Dear Lissy,

For my 300th letter, I'm doing something a little different.  Last spring I wrote you a letter about how to choose a new Bible if you've transitioned to Bible study on the computer.  One of the Bibles I earmarked as a good candidate, the Windsor Text edition, received excellent reviews on its craftsmanship. The price was better than I had hoped.  I guessed it would work well for myself and my readers as a reading and marking Bible, but I wanted to know if the Windsor could also be our daily driver.

 Quality Bibles are typically reviewed by men, and they rarely -- ok, never -- consider whether the Bible will fit into a purse or if it can be held open in one hand while you cuddle a child with your other arm.  I contacted the branch office of the Trinitarian Bible Society in Michigan to see if they would be willing to send me a sample to review.  They generously provided one, and I'm  excited to be offering a female perspective and review on the Trinitarian Bible Society's Windsor Text edition KJV Bible today.  A special thank you  is in order to Darci at TBS in North America for sharing her expertise and sending the review copy out Priority Mail.  I also owe a big thank you to my friend Lisa for the photographs throughout this letter.

My Criteria.

 

I'm looking for a reasonably priced, well-crafted KJV Bible in a size and format suitable for reading, carrying, and outreach.   I also want a "marking" Bible I can recommend to friends and readers of Dear Lissy.   The TBS Windsor calfskin edition has received excellent reviews on EvangelicalBible.com and from notable male internet Bible design reviewers here (Netherland copy) and here (Belarus copy).

My Impressions.

First impression:  " Oh.  This is almost exactly the same as the Gift & Award Bibles we give out in Sunday School.  [Open Bible]  Ooooooh.  No, not  a Sunday School Bible.  [Big laugh]  This is awesome."  
Imagine if someone took the most basic copy of the Bible available and insisted on excellence in every detail, including price.   You're holding a TBS Windsor Text edition.

Features I like:

• The Windsor Bible is available worldwide.  This was an important consideration for me since about a third of our readers are from outside the U.S.   Head over to tbsbibles.org to find a local source. The website is closed on Sundays.
• Like a designer black pencil skirt, the Windsor hits the sweet spot for size.  It's big enough to read easily, but small enough to tuck in my handbag or the parent pocket of a diaper bag.  I didn't register just how svelte the Windsor was until I laid it on top of our regular hand-sized Bibles. It's small and light enough for a young child to hold, too.  With the cover, the Windsor measures in at 5-1/2" x 8" x 1".  That's just a bit smaller than the hardcover blank journals sold everywhere in the United States or an A5 notebook overseas.

• Jongbloed printing and sewn binding is a high end treat for a Bible at this price point. A hundred different details elevate this Bible far beyond its humble cost.  It makes my heart happy to see the Word of God treated with this level of detail and care. 
• Text is perfectly centered on the page, crystal clear, and an even color throughout.  The words of Christ are in black as well.

• The pages lay open flat without being held from Genesis to Revelation.  You can set it on the table beside you while you nurse a baby, or balance it on one hand while you write on the white board during school.  

 

• The gutter is free of cockling, and the pages almost turn themselves.  No finger licking required.
• The edge cuts are ruler straight and evenly gilded. 
• A 4" x 1/32" irregular vertical crinkle occurs in the top of the pages in Leviticus in my review copy.  It didn't affect the printing.

• The Windsor has a calfskin leather cover similar in feel to a Cambridge French Morocco cover, a rare quality at this price point. I was ambivalent about the thin, stiff hand feel at first, but the way I use a Bible requires a cover with a good bit of structure.  After a couple of days of regular use and a trip to church on Sunday, I'm used to how it feels and moves.  I'll always have a soft spot for floppy leather covers with pinched corners, but they don't fit into my life (or budget) very well right now.

 

• Creamy white silky-smooth paper and a modern serif font in deep gray-black furnish a subtle sophistication and uber-readability in the Windsor Bible that is a welcome break from my usual world of ink jet copies and mass market educational books.  
• The text-only format allows a full 9.6/8 point font. In everyday English, most small Bibles have a font and typeface that is about the same as a dictionary.  The Windsor has the same size and type of font as a paperback biography your brother is reading right now.  

• The paper quality and line matching on front and back of each page means minimal ghosting or glare, even under direct fluorescent lighting.  
• Pencil marks easily and erases well.  The generous leading allows plenty of room between lines for boxing, circling, underlining and arrows.
• The margins are the same measurements as the Cambridge Pitt Minion I currently use as my daily driver.  I know I can fit three lines of tiny writing in the 1/2" space by turning the Bible 90 degrees.
• I'm thrilled Trinitarian Bible Society kept the verse-by-verse format.  Little nooks and crannies of blank space are perfect for jotting notes or adding an important cross reference. I also very much appreciate v by v format when I'm teaching a Bible class to younger children or having an unbeliever read a bit during a gospel discussion.
• Text only.  This is a peaceful, powerful interaction with the Word of God.  No clutter.  No distractions.  Unless you've been whisked away to a cabin on Cape Cod off-season, it would be hard for me to explain the profound sense of quiet, simplicity, and power this edition exudes.  Again, this format is much easier for helping a new reader learn to love reading the Word.  You three were often distracted by the "little" numbers and letters surrounding the actual Scripture.  I've found unbelievers respond better to the simple word of God, too.
• The Bible Word List is a tiny, ingenious appendix that defines obsolete KJV words and provides the reference where the word is used.  This feature allows us to look up a word during school or devotions without any fuss at all.
• The price is astonishing. At $30 USD from Evangelical Bible and $43 USD from Trinitarian Bible Society, the Windsor is a fraction of the cost of equivalent editions from British publishers.  Hardback ($12 USD) and Vivella ($24 USD) editions are available as are editions with zippers and Metrical Psalms.

Features I noticed...

• The sturdy storage sleeve will allow the Windsor to be packed into luggage easily.
• The Leatherette liner is the standard in the Bible industry.  Leather lining is rare, and not always better.   Leatherette is an excellent surface for sticky notes and washi tape if you like to keep memory verses or other small reminders in the front and back of your Bible.
• The Hinge.  Even expensive Bibles are notorious for text blocks separating from the cover.  The Windsor appears to have reinforced the hinge by glueing the first half inch of the endpapers to the liner along the gutter. Try not to break that glue joint, or the hinge deteriorates rapidly. 
• Nice presentation page.  I don't want pages of family history, births, deaths, and baptisms in my everyday carry Bible; but a simple presentation page is a nice touch.
• Annotated translators to the readers.  This is the first time I've read the Translators to the Readers, even though I've used this same translation for almost 40 years.  It was interesting in an historical sense, but not necessarily something I need bound into my Bible. 
• Two thin ribbon markers.  I don't have a lot of use for ribbon markers -- I use Book Darts to track my regular reading. The ribbons are already ravelling straight out of the box, so plan to seal the ends yourself if you use ribbons or have a child who can't resist picking and pulling.
• Two-Year Reading scheme.  Again, not one I'll use; but it's a nice addition for a reading along with a child who's ready to read a couple of chapters a day on their own.

Feature I didn't like...

• Pronunciation Guide. The Windsor text edition doesn't use self pronunciation within the text, which was an important consideration for me.  I dislike a dictionary vibe in my Bible.  I would prefer to have blank paper for notes in place of the pronunciation guide at the back, though. 

My recommendation...

The Windsor text Bible is a simple, classic, quality edition of Scripture at an affordable price point.  It is neither masculine nor feminine in its styling. It will appeal to the same group of women who appreciate Moleskine Classic notebooks, LL Bean Boat and Tote bags, and freshly sharpened cedar pencils. 

The Windsor's combination of creamy white paper and 8 point font make it an exceptional choice for those who wish to read for long periods of time or who have small children just learning to read.  It is also ideal for marking and minor annotation, but doesn't have room for journaling or extensive notes.  As with any item that is well designed and expertly executed, the Windsor appears underwhelming at first.  The quiet elegance and near perfection of form and function has to be used to be appreciated.  I cannot stress enough how rare this edition is: I am not aware of another Bible with this size, quality, format, and price. 

Bibles constantly change as the publishers are forced to find new materials and work with printing houses to keep cost low and quality high.  This printing of the Windsor is superior to the Belarus printing available just a couple of years ago -- sometimes quality improves with new editions.  I don't know if this exact Bible will be available when you are older, but the Trinitarian Bible Society has been committed to printing quality, uncorrupted copies of God's Word for over 175 years.

Love,
Momma

P.S. to my readers:

I received a free sample copy of this Bible in calfskin leather from Trinitarian Bible Society in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to give a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.  TBS does not run an affiliate program:  all profits from sales stay within their own non-profit.

If you choose to order this Bible, the red leather edition is due back in stock in August 2014 at Trinitarian Bible Society.  Please specify that you want the Netherlands printing when you order if you wish to receive a product that is the same as the one pictured and reviewed here.

Linked up at Titus 2 Tuesday #105