Blue

I recently finished reading BLUE by Lou Aronica.  As the book began, I found myself struggling to connect the dots but by the end of the book, the dots had been connected and I found myself evaluating the author's story and the coorelation between their afterlife and the one I am assured of. 

We meet Becky, her father Chris and her mother Polly but we also meet Miea and are introduced to the world of Tamarisk.  Tamarisk is a world created by Chris and Becky during a significant childhood illness.  Chris and Becky created an alternate world in the stories they shared at bedtime or during times of treatment as a way of coping with the pain and suffering.  Tamarisk has some Narnian type characteristic,s in that the world created is entirely different from the world we live in, and yet there are many similarities as well. 

As the story progresses, Becky is now a teenager and once again facing a life threatening illness.  Her parents are divored, as is many times found after dealing with a childhood illness and Becky's relationship with her father has been strained.  Suddenly, Becky is thrust into her childhood stories again, only this time, she is able to actually physically travel to Tamarisk, not just in her imagination.  As she and her father reconnect, it becomes apparent that Becky may not survive and yet because of the world she and her father have created, they have hope.

It is so significant that we have hope as well.  The future we face may be just as short as Becky's or it may be years from now but the reality of life is that it is followed by death.  We have a choice, just like Becky-we may choose somewhere far greater that Tamarisk and the pictures we have of our eternity are just as clearly defined as we read the Word of God.  As you read Blue, ask yourself what the picture you have of your eternity looks like, ask yourself, where your Tamarisk is, ask yourself, if you have hope.  If you answers are not clearly defined, ask another to share with you their hope for eternity. 

Gap Creek

In the midst of a busy month, I found time to read a short book by Robert Morgan called Gap Creek. The Subtitle was, "The Story of Marriage" but Mr. Morgan could have easily subtitled it, the story of life.  The story is told through the eyes of a young woman named Juile, living at the turn of the century.  She faces what seem at times to be unsurmatable hardships and yet she learns that hard work is the secret to life's success.  She works hard as a daughter to save her family and works even harder as a wife to save, not only her marriage but her life and the lives of those she loves. 

Julie meets Hank early in the story and they move to Gap Creek to begin their life together.  The leave with nothing and no where to live and yet they quickly see how the Lord provides.  Their faith is only an undercurrent through the first part of the book but when Julie is invited by the local preacher to attend church, her life and soon that of Hank's are profoundly impacted.  As she goes to church and talks about her salvation experience, I felt so challenged and loved her words, "the faces looking at me was not the faces of saints, but ordinary people.  And that was the congregation I wanted to be a part of, just ordinary people like myself.  I didn't need to be a part of any special group.  I was just a sinner that had accepted grace, and I needed the fellowship of other sinners".  Wow!  I love that she recognizes who she is, that she accepts those around her, that she doesn't need what we often think we need today, she only needs the fellowship of other sinners. I pray that for myself as well, knowing that I too want to feel that warmth and acceptance and praying I show that to others. 

Julie and Hank will have trials in their lives and in their marriage.  There will be moments when they will call out "Jesus, have mercy on me", there will be times of pain and sorrow, there will be small glimpses of joy that we cannot begin to fathom and yet through it all, Julie remains strong.  She is the force that continues on no matter what life hands her.  If I learned one lesson from Julie, it was that percerverance is what allowed her to grow stronger. 

As the story ends, it really begins.  The final sentance reads, "We started walking again".  I loved that the book ended on reminding us that sometimes we must just start walking again. 

6 Ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl

Have you ever read a book and thought, "Oh, I wish I had read this 15 years ago?".  As I finished up 6 Ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh, my thoughts were exactly that.  This is my must read recommendation for any mother, grandmother, or aunt with young girls in their lives.  Dannah is right on target with helping us see how we mold and shape our daughters into the women they become. 

The book is divided into two sections.  The first section helps you identify and become a connecting mom.  As she guides you through the risks our daughters face and you are astonished with some alarming statistics, she also helps you see how to connect with your daughter on an individual level.  It made me realize some of those connecting times are found in the simple car pool lane or around the dinner table.

As Dannah moves into the second part of the book, she begins to help us identify six areas that we can focus on as mothers to help these precious girls grow up to be confident women, who will change the world!  Dannah makes suggestions that will not end up making your daughter a social outcast, quite the opposite in fact.  She gives some great ideas, that help make your home a place to "hang-out", make you the "cool mom", and even helps you navigate the media circus with our kids.  Although the book is written with your little girls in mind, I know I found parts of it applicable to my son's and even my grown daughter. 

In the final chapter, Dannah pulled at my heart strings in the chapter titled, "A Connecting Mom Is Not A Perfect Mom",  oh, how we strive for perfection when all we really need is to do is continue to pray.  As Dannah says in the final chapter, "Lord Build and Repair the  (insert your family name here) home heart by heart.  Do not let my labor as a man be in vain! ... Let the labor of keeping the little in your girl not be done in vain.  ...Use this book to give you a new sense of direction and hope".

Keeping Your Little Girl Little/ Praying for Your Adult Child

This is most likely more of a parenting blog than a book blog but the irony of the two books on my bedside table struck me in full force today.  I have been reading Stormie OMartin's The Power of Praying for Your Adult Child and journaling the prayers for my oldest and then this weekend, I began reading the book, Six Ways to Keep Your Little Girl Little by Dannah Gresh.   Both books have been convicting in helping me look at the ways I have parented, many times taking things in my own control, rather than turning them over to Christ.  When I think of the day I became a mom and all the hopes and dreams I had for my children I find myself somedays wishing for a "do-over" but that's when I realize that instead of a "do-over", I need to be much better at a "turn-over".  In both books we are encouraged to not only have the resources our children need to maintain their integrity but also the ability to begin to stand up for their beliefs. It doesn't matter if taking that stand begins with the youngest-choosing not to conform to the world, and maintaining her modest style in the clothes she chooses to wear, or the oldest that must learn to claim faith as her own, my role is to turn them over completely to Christ.  This is the hard part for a perfectly  controlling momma, who tends to take all the responsibility upon herself.  I'm certain there will be more to blog about these books as I continue to read them and continue to daily turn over their lives and mine completely to Him.  Join with me on the journey where Danna Gresh and Stormie O'Martin can lead me to the ultimate guidebook-His Holy Word. 

The Hunger Games

On a recommendation from my son's computer teacher, I recently read The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins.  The book takes place in a futuristic society but pulls us back into the time of the gladiators.  We are introduced to Katness early in the book and realize that while she is a central figure in the story, there is much more to her story that we can begin to comprehend.  She demonstrates compassion not only to her family but even strangers she is pitted against in the games.  Her unselfishness is apparent when she takes the place of her younger sister as a participant in the games.  Games designed to entertain but also to remind the citizens of each district of the power of the Capital and their need to remain compliant to the rules.  The book follows Katness throughout her journey to survive the games.  The book can be difficult to read at times but it can also be a way for us to realize the freedoms we are afforded in our country.  It challenged me to look at how we as citizens need to always be mindful of our freedoms and not take them for granted.  It also allowed me to look at my life and wonder if I would be willing to make the sacrifice that we see so many making, whether by choice or "luck of the draw".  Although written from a worldview perspective a Christian cannot help but be reminded of the ultimate sacrifice made for us through Christ. 

The one drawback of the book, is that being a part of a trilogy, the final chapter leaves you hanging-anticipating what will happen next.  Of course from the author's standpoint, she succeeded because of course, the book I downloaded this week, was...Catching Fire. 

Quitter

Quitter would not have been a title I would have typically picked off the shelf but when Andy suggested we read it together on our road trip to Florida this summer, I immediately downloaded it to my Nook.  We've had some great memories of me reading while he navigated the highways on trips through the years.  I guess it's our own version of audio books but we find that the discussions we have while reading together are not only priceless, they are memories that we don't forget! 

As for Jon Acuff, he's an author, I won't forget.  The insights he shares about finding your dream job are so applicable to finding your way in life.  As I read aloud, Jill (19), soon was listening and commenting on how his words and challenges fit with the next generation, just beginning to identify their dream jobs, as we thought about the generation we are in still trying to find our dreams.

Mr. Acuff begins by reminding us "You have the perfect amount of time each day for the things that matter most".  Those words are impactful to me as a wife and mother but I am sure they are also impactful for all who are trying to prioritize what their days should look like. He also reminds us that getting to our "dream job" takes hustle.  "Hustle isn't just doing thte things you love all the time.  Hustle is doing the things you don't enjoy sometimes to earn the right to do the thinkgs you love".  What a great reminder to us all.

As he led us through the steps to quitting your day job in order to find your dream job, it was apparent that it takes a certain personality to be able to consistently work towards this goal.  He says if you miss the goal, you want to be sure you have done everything in your power to meet that goal. 

I think the statement in the book that impacted me the most was his reminder that "don't let the dream you're chasing blind you to the life you already have".  What a great reminder, it doesn't matter what dream you are chasing, we can often let it overshadow the life we are living.  We can put it ahead of the things that really matter and lose site of who we are created to be.  If you've ever dreamed of being a chef, writing a book, being a stay at home mom, piloting an airplane, or just creating a simple life-take the challenge, be a "Quitter".

Cool Beans

Ever notice how every coffee shop comes up with really unique names?  Not being a coffee drinker but loving the atmosphere of a coffee shop is what drew me into reading "Cool Beans" by Erynn Mangum.  This book is a light read, that is perfect for a rainy day or day at the beach.

Maya is a Barista at Cool Beans.  She has a habit of making post-it notes listing reasons for just about anything.  Some of my favorites being, "reasons I love my mother" and "reasons I hate adulthood".  She looks at life with a pretty carefree attitude until she is faced with someone from her past and realizes that she never dealt with her hurt heart.

As she struggles to find God's will for her life, she shares, humor and weaves it with some of the same struggles all Christians face.  She shares from her pastor's as well as friends that help keep her on course.  I loved being reminded of the reasons she loved her mother, because it reminded me of the reasons I love mine.  Maya's reasons ranges from her mother never trying to make her be anything but her to the fact that her mother wasn't necessarily in fashion all the time.  My reasons may be different but what fun it was to put together my own "post-it-note" reasons in my head.

In the midst of her humor and story, Ms. Mangum is able to remind the reader of some truths that we all need to hear.  Take for example, her reference to guilt.  "Everyone thinks of it as a bad thing, but I want you to see it instead as a pathway to getting back on track with God".  Pretty powerful words for a fictional story!  So, coffee drinker or not, grab a cup, and settle down with Cool Beans, you'll be making your own post-it note reasons and thinking about your own relationship with Christ before you get to the last page.

Oxygen

Just finished reading this book, the old fashioned way-a real paperback book!  This past summer, I challenged my sisters to a book club.  My real reason was so we could have an excuse to get together and we all share a passion for reading and between the four of us have a pretty eclectic taste in books.  This was our first "assignment"!  It was pretty appropriate for us to read because we all have doctor's for fathers and three of the four have doctor's for husbands so fictional book with medical threads throughout was probably inevitable for us to read.  We haven't set our date to review Carol Cassella's book "Oxygen" yet, but I have my list of questions and comments so you can get a sneak preview.  The book follows a specific case of Dr. Marie Heaton that had an undesirable outcome.  As a nurse, I have to say a red flag went up for me early on in the book when another anesthesiologist was helping draw up the medication for the case-something nurses, and I assume doctors are taught is not in the standard operating procedures manual!  So in spite of the outcome of the operation, we get to share the insight into Dr. Heaton's life-away from the surgery suite. 

The things that struck me the most, and maybe it is because I knew I would be sharing this book with my family, were her extended family dynamics.   At one point, we are privy to a discussion between Marie and her sister Lori.  Lori's teenage daughter has taken to confiding in her Aunt Marie and Marie is wondering if it bothers Lori that Elsa shares her life with her aunt instead of her mother.  I love Lori's response, "It's the best, Marie.  We hardly even had one mom at her age.  She has two".  I have replayed that phase in my head because with my sisters our mom was always there and we were blessed but I pray that as each of us has some impact on our nieces and nephew's lives, they will know that we love them as deeply as their own mothers do. 

As Marie begins to find her life and her purpose, she is drawn into her sister, Lori's letters. Near the end of the book, Marie states, "Her letters are like movies, television, computer and radio.  They have all those things here, in sputtering and intermittently transmitted, but I prefer the peace of pen and ink for a while"  That phrase reminds me of the power of pen and ink in the words of a book.  I find, I too prefer the peace of pen and ink for a while"  I just can't wait to take that pen and ink and write to my sisters to get that book club date on the calendar!  We've got lots to discuss besides the book, we've got a lifetime of memories to build and share!  

How Many Books At A Time?

O.K, I have a confession to make...I usually have 3 or 4 books that I am reading at once.  Typically, I try not to combine any that are at all similar, since I could easily get the characters confused but with all the book choices out there, it's easy to do!  Are you wondering why I have several that I am reading at once, or are you just as guilty?  I was thinking about this today and began to figure out the answer to that question, and how applicable it is to our lives.  Let's take a look at what is currently on my bookshelf...

1. 8 Great Dates for Mom's and Daughters
2. Praying for Your Adult Child
3. Oxygen
4. Cool Beans
5. Quitter

So here's the catch-I'm reading 8 great dates to help me be a better mom and role model for my 11 year old. I'm reading Praying for Your Adult Child so I can  navigate a new season of parenting.  I'm reading Oxygen as part of staying connect with my sisters (we're doing a book club).  I'm reading Cool Beans-cause it's light and easy to read.  I'm reading Quitter because I want to follow my dreams.

When I look at the list and why I have chosen each book, I realize that it pretty well sums up who I am as a person-I want to be a great mom and role model for my children, I want be intentional with relationships within my family and friends, I want to laugh and not take life to seriously, and I want to be a dreamer!

I challenge you to take a look at your bookshelf, or bedside table, or e-reader.  Find out what you're reading are and then relate those to your real life.  I hope like me, you'll find that whether fiction or non-fiction-your reading tastes reflect a little of who you are.  I'd love to hear what you are reading and how they relate to your real life!  Maybe with this little exercise, instead of  "getting lost in a book", you'll find out who you are!

"Anybody can dream while their asleep, but you need to dream all the time, and say your dreams out loud, and believe in them".  My youngest son and daughter have started playing tennis and it has been so fun to watch them and their passion for the sport develop, in watching them play, it has brought back some memories of other memorable tennis matches I watched and through that gave me the desire to read Andre's book.  I remember watching him play but even more so, I remember following him in the news.  In reading his book, I was quickly brought into his life and instead of his love for the game, his hatred.  He had one of those classic love/hate relationship with the sport from an early age.  His childhood couldn't be described as typical, because he didn't just play tennis, he lived tennis.  His father's greatest desire was that Andre become number one and he didn't care what the cost, either financially or to Andre's self esteem.  To say he was driven, would be an understatement.  The pressure placed on his life from an early age taught him what doctor's told him as he moved through the pain in his career.  "Pressure is how you know everything is working".  Pressure, dreams, tennis, love, hate, life-all these terms so successfully placed throughout his life and his book allowed me to think about how my parenting may be affecting my kids, how my choices for their lives may be pressuring them.  We all want our children to have every opportunity, to be number one, but in doing so, are we molding them into someone other than who God intended them to be?  Are we taking something they love and turning into something they grow to hate?  Andre Agassi had few opportunities to explore life outside the tennis court.  It is my desire that whether on court or off a court, we will find our passions and allow ourselves to grow into them.  Allow those passions to become our dreams and make every decision as if it were a Match Point.

I just finished reading "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.  One thing I have challenged myself to do on my quest to recreate the joy to be found in reading is to choose a variety of books that do not all conform to the same pattern.  This book certainly did not conform to what is my standard reading choice but it allowed me to think about some specific instances in my life and how they may relate to the story.  In the book, Rose has the distinct gift of being able to distinquish the emotions of the cook and or food producer through tasting them.  She first realizes this gift and/or curse when her mother makes her a chocolate lemon cake, which Rose thinks tastes "hollow". 

The first thoughts as I had as I read this book, were related to my own association with foods and emotions.  I am sure you have certain memories associated with foods you have eaten.  In my case some of those emotions are positive and some are negative but it is apparent that almost every bite we take, we can associate with some type of memory.  Think about your first bite of white cake, does it conjure up memories of a favorite birthday?  How about a taco, can you go back to the street vendor, where you found an amazing Mexican feast?  What about the coolness of a popsicle, does it remind you of summers at a city pool?  What about the comfort of a cup of hot chocolate, can you go back to the blizzard of 1978?  Food and emotions are intertwined, whether you have a "gift" or not.  On a humerous side, everyone has the association of jello or sprite with being phycially ill, and yet we can also look at those foods as comfort because many times they were brought to us by someone who loved and cared for us during our sickness.

As I continued to read the book and became aware of the multiple family dynamics, I was intriqued by Rose's continued insights.  She was the bond that not only held the story together but held the family, even in it's disfunctional state, together.  Rose's brother, Joseph, her mother, and father, all seemed disconnected from who  Rose was.  They each had their own purpose and lives.  That fact alone made the family disfunctional and yet functioning.  How many times in our lives, can we say that we too have disconnected from those closest to us in order to identify what are our greatest gifts and/or passions?  Rose's mother, showed great love for her children and yet her life choices reflected a somewhat selfish attitude.  This serves as a reminder to each of us that we must all take on a selfless attitude in order to help those we most care about to do more than just "function".

In parts of the book, I admit, I was bogged down with almost too much information.  I found the images of Joseph's experiences somewhat difficult to visulaize but could relate to his desire to escape. In a world where we are overcome with outside pressures, don't we all have a desire to become inanimate at times?  I found myself wondering, what inanimate object would I choose to take on the persona of?  Would it be the cabin porch swing, the baby crib in the attic, the dining room table, the hammock in the tree?  What objects to we all find comfort and quietness in?  Finding peace in a quiet place may be identical to finding peace in the objects with which we associate our quiet moments. 

As the book comes to a close, we begin to see Rose embrace who she is, to identify not only her gift but how to use it to embrace life.  I challenge each reader to do the same, figure out your gift, embrace your emotions, and in turn, embrace your life. 

What are you reading?

Beginning the first of the year, I began to once again have a book, or in my case a Nook, in my hands most days.  I have rediscovered how reading can transport me to a new land, or be a wake up call to what I care about. 

When my kids were little, we read aloud absolutely every day.  We'd check out mounds of picture books at the library and they would "read" to me, long before they could sound out the words.  Reading was a central part of our lives, then something happened...reading became an assignment and somehow we lost the joy of the escape found between the pages of a book. 

I want to find that joy again and I want to help others find that same joy.  So find your own little nook to read, and come along with me on a reading journey. Together, we'll reclaim the joy that lies between the pages of a book, or in my case...a Nook!