I've been absent from the blogging world. Our family's mental health status is at an all time low, and priorities have been shuffled....and tossed....and shuffled.
I'm back today, but who knows about tomorrow?
Anyway - update about my resolutions from last year:
I gave up on memorizing James around September when things in our life got too hectic and required much more mental energy to be used up. I still want to memorize it at some point, and maybe at a slower rate, but last year, I got about 1 and a half chapters committed to memory.
I DID finish my 52 book 'challenge'. After 52 I stopped keeping official count, but the number reached up, easily, to the 70's. This year our family is not up for a book challenge, so I'm not resolving any kind of numbers.
Resolution for this year: survive the year.
Simple, isn't it? I'm pretty sure God's the one who is going to make sure it happens :)
Onward!
Today is a china mug kind of day. We've had a string of really bad days in our house. The gut wrenching, I'm not sure how I'm going to get out of bed the next morning kind of bad days. We have made it out of bed each day, and we've made it through each day. It's quite something.
I've been learning how to help myself in the midst of the chaos and meltdowns. Beauty fills my soul. It's the old adage of taking time to smell the roses. Some days, beauty surrounds me - the giggles of my girls, the sun in all its glorious prairie sunrise glory, the snow sparkling in the deep cold, my houseplants blooming, the brilliant turn-a-phrase of a particular author, and so on. Other days, beauty is elusive and desperately hard to find. These days I generally have to actively create or search out beauty.
These are my china mug days.
Back when I was in Bible school, my church at home set up an adopt a student program. I was adopted by a lovely older couple who I appreciate dearly. They would send notes and they got me a few Christmas gifts over the years. One year, it was a gorgeous Royal Albert tea set complete with pot, cups, saucers, creamer and sugar bowl. The next it was a set of china coffee mugs in the matching pattern. I had never seen china coffee mugs before. They are delicate and tall. They have a bowled bottom and fluted top. They are designed perfectly to keep the beverage warm for longer periods of time. I was thrilled with them. I still am.
On to today: these mugs are a simple way to bring beauty and a bolstering to my faint soul. I rarely use them on good days - they just seem superfluous. But on not-so-good days, they are a life line...especially when coupled with the Psalms.
What do you do to bring beauty to your days?
XO,
J
soli deo gloria
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Friday, October 30, 2015
In the Silence
I've been fairly offline for writing lately.
The truth is, I have very little to say that isn't directly linked to how our family is being affected by Buddy's neuro-atypicalness. It's not that I'm completely inward focused, though that is a daily battle, it's more that it is so all-encompasing that it is what my mind focuses on even in 'down' times.
It's things like making sure I have the correct things on our visual schedule, and hoping even those things aren't too much for sensory-sensitive little Man. It's also making sure we have safety procedures in place for the girls should life (or things on the schedule) be too overwhelming.
But! In this silence, I've been writing on paper. Not just writing, but practicing. I got Mastering Copperplate in the mail, along with a nibbed pen and ink. I've been practicing strokes and putting them together to form shaky letters. It's complicated enough that I don't think about strategies, but simple enough that I can supervise my girls playing play-dough or dolls.
This script is kind of like our life. When S and I first got married we knew some of the basic strokes of relationships and family, and we got to practice them before adding more complex elements. Once Buddy was added to the mix with had more things to practice, but there was also a healthy dose of play and give. With both of the girls we added more and more facets and possibilities, making our family even more challenging, but stunning and worth the work. As our family grows (in stature, not in number), the basics are down, the foundation mostly solid (though we do have to go back and practice things like communications), and God is the master penman of our family - adding the flourishes and complexities that, while dazzling to look at, are intricate and painstaking.
I can't wait to see what all of this silence adds up to.
xo,
J
soli deo gloria
Here's some of the process:
The truth is, I have very little to say that isn't directly linked to how our family is being affected by Buddy's neuro-atypicalness. It's not that I'm completely inward focused, though that is a daily battle, it's more that it is so all-encompasing that it is what my mind focuses on even in 'down' times.
It's things like making sure I have the correct things on our visual schedule, and hoping even those things aren't too much for sensory-sensitive little Man. It's also making sure we have safety procedures in place for the girls should life (or things on the schedule) be too overwhelming.
But! In this silence, I've been writing on paper. Not just writing, but practicing. I got Mastering Copperplate in the mail, along with a nibbed pen and ink. I've been practicing strokes and putting them together to form shaky letters. It's complicated enough that I don't think about strategies, but simple enough that I can supervise my girls playing play-dough or dolls.
This script is kind of like our life. When S and I first got married we knew some of the basic strokes of relationships and family, and we got to practice them before adding more complex elements. Once Buddy was added to the mix with had more things to practice, but there was also a healthy dose of play and give. With both of the girls we added more and more facets and possibilities, making our family even more challenging, but stunning and worth the work. As our family grows (in stature, not in number), the basics are down, the foundation mostly solid (though we do have to go back and practice things like communications), and God is the master penman of our family - adding the flourishes and complexities that, while dazzling to look at, are intricate and painstaking.
I can't wait to see what all of this silence adds up to.
xo,
J
soli deo gloria
Here's some of the process:
Monday, October 5, 2015
What Love Looks Like
Over the last few weeks, S and I have encountered what we have deemed to be in the top 3 of our worst weeks of our married life. The nutshell version : we're coming to realize the severity of Buddy's needs, and how that looks physically, emotionally, and mentally.
For me, it has put me in an ultra vulnerable place where taking the next breath almost requires thought. This take-my-breath-away realizing is on-going and brutal. It has forced us to our knees with only groans for prayers.
It has also made us stop sugar-coating to make it seem better in our own minds. With this lack of sugar comes the ability to be honest and ask for help. It is hard to ask for help. To admit that you cannot handle something on your own...ugh. So hard.
This week, we talked to other people about what was going on, and the overwhelming response of wanting to know specifics of how to help...has also been breath taking. It also has deepened my understanding of what love looks like.
Today, love looks like:
- a meal cooked for us and delivered with paper plates, so we have no dishes to worry about
- a husband stopping just because, and carrying a latte in his hand, just for me!
- flowers in a mason jar
- life-giving, perspective enhancing phone calls with 'aunties'
- knowing people are praying specifically for us
Love is so much more than that, really, but God has been opening my eyes to how He works through His Body to shower us with love.
Have you felt love lately?
XO,
J
soli deo gloria
For me, it has put me in an ultra vulnerable place where taking the next breath almost requires thought. This take-my-breath-away realizing is on-going and brutal. It has forced us to our knees with only groans for prayers.
It has also made us stop sugar-coating to make it seem better in our own minds. With this lack of sugar comes the ability to be honest and ask for help. It is hard to ask for help. To admit that you cannot handle something on your own...ugh. So hard.
This week, we talked to other people about what was going on, and the overwhelming response of wanting to know specifics of how to help...has also been breath taking. It also has deepened my understanding of what love looks like.
Today, love looks like:
- a meal cooked for us and delivered with paper plates, so we have no dishes to worry about
- a husband stopping just because, and carrying a latte in his hand, just for me!
- flowers in a mason jar
- life-giving, perspective enhancing phone calls with 'aunties'
- knowing people are praying specifically for us
Love is so much more than that, really, but God has been opening my eyes to how He works through His Body to shower us with love.
Have you felt love lately?
XO,
J
soli deo gloria
Saturday, August 29, 2015
September planning
In the advent of autumn, I have always reveled in the new stationary items that flood the house - whether they were bought for me, or now for my kids. I love the feel of fresh colored pencils (or pencil crayons, depending on your nationality), or the waxy smell of crayons, or even the potential of all those lovely blank notebook pages!!
This year, as Buddy gets all of his gear in order, I have ordered a special item for myself. This item, though, requires a tiny bit of a back story:
I have finished my 52 book resolution! As it is not even September, I have decided to take on another self-improvement style resolution : improving my handwriting/learn calligraphy. This is kind of an open ended resolution, but, I am resolving, nonetheless.
This resolution came directly out of being inspired by a video that's been floating around the internet which a friend of mine tagged for me to watch. It's incredible....and here it is : here . I LOVE his talking about how writing things down engraves things in our brains. It also struck a chord with me in that, I really am failing in my other resolution of memorizing James. I have the first chapter done, and am about 10 verses in to the second, but I don't know if I'll be able to get through the other 2 and 3/4 chapters by December if I don't switch up my method.
SO! Back to my special purchase! I ordered myself a beginner fountain pen! It's a gorgeous Faber-Castell Loom - which, according to the research I've done, is the best quality for people who are just getting into the art. There are others out there, but they have some pitfalls that this one seems to not have. Hooray!
I also got the book Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy!
With practicing my handwriting, I've already started - I've been copying out James, and then doing it from memory. Once a day (or every other day) I write out the verses I'm working on, and then once a week, I do all of the ones I have to keep them solidly in my brain. It's SO awesome. Two birds, one stone!
What are your plans for the fall?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
This year, as Buddy gets all of his gear in order, I have ordered a special item for myself. This item, though, requires a tiny bit of a back story:
I have finished my 52 book resolution! As it is not even September, I have decided to take on another self-improvement style resolution : improving my handwriting/learn calligraphy. This is kind of an open ended resolution, but, I am resolving, nonetheless.
This resolution came directly out of being inspired by a video that's been floating around the internet which a friend of mine tagged for me to watch. It's incredible....and here it is : here . I LOVE his talking about how writing things down engraves things in our brains. It also struck a chord with me in that, I really am failing in my other resolution of memorizing James. I have the first chapter done, and am about 10 verses in to the second, but I don't know if I'll be able to get through the other 2 and 3/4 chapters by December if I don't switch up my method.
SO! Back to my special purchase! I ordered myself a beginner fountain pen! It's a gorgeous Faber-Castell Loom - which, according to the research I've done, is the best quality for people who are just getting into the art. There are others out there, but they have some pitfalls that this one seems to not have. Hooray!
I also got the book Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy!
With practicing my handwriting, I've already started - I've been copying out James, and then doing it from memory. Once a day (or every other day) I write out the verses I'm working on, and then once a week, I do all of the ones I have to keep them solidly in my brain. It's SO awesome. Two birds, one stone!
What are your plans for the fall?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
Friday, August 21, 2015
The Job Precipice
This summer I have been mulling over the last few chapters of the book of Job. I have always loved the questions that God poses, as it displays his power. Lately, though, I realized, it's to Job that God is speaking, not the friends who make a mess of things.
Job, the man who had all of his wealth and family (save a wife who complained) stripped from him. The man who had sores so bad he was scraping himself with broken pottery. The man whose friends decided it was HIS fault that all these things descended upon him. Seriously, Job was in a messed up situation.
The thing is, in all of it, Job remained righteous, so why does God tell Job to 'dress for action like a man?' and 'I will question you, and you will make it known to me' ? Not just once, but twice, once after Job realizes his mistake and literally puts his hand over his mouth!
It's amazing. At first, it made me feel that God was not being kind, but being a belligerent oaf who kicks Job when he's already down.....but that's not God. He is kind, He is love, He is slow to anger. The picture in my head just didn't jive. What WAS going on? I had to look further.
It's not about Job. That's what's going on. The book of Job is not about Job. It is about God and his glory. God was showing Satan how good He is - that even when all of Job's life crumbles around him, Job will remain faithful. God IS that good.
I think that God is reminding Job at the end of this book that Job was right to do as he did - remain faithful to such a great and awe-filling God. Not only that, God reveals MORE of himself to Job - so much so that righteous Job realizes the tininess of himself and repents in the presence of so much glory. This opportunity is so amazing, so astounding....it leaves me breathless.
God didn't talk to Job to comfort him in human terms whatsoever. (Though, God does restore Job's fortune, health and family later) He makes himself more fully known, and that is enough to shake Job into fearful praise."I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" - wow. WOW. Being able to say that after what Job went through?! It means that he got it. He understood it wasn't about him. That is a gift.
People generally quote Job's initial response to the disaster - naked he came, naked he'll go....but that's not the sentiment I want to take away this time. I want to have God's power seared into my heart, to have the knowledge that GOD can do ALL things and no purpose of His can be thwarted branded into my mind.
If it is a part of me, then I will not fear whatever might come next.
If it is a part of me, then I have opportunity to take the next step.
If it is a part of me, then praise becomes my native tongue.
I'm standing on Job's precipice, and I think I'm going to dive off....heart first.
Join me?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Job, the man who had all of his wealth and family (save a wife who complained) stripped from him. The man who had sores so bad he was scraping himself with broken pottery. The man whose friends decided it was HIS fault that all these things descended upon him. Seriously, Job was in a messed up situation.
The thing is, in all of it, Job remained righteous, so why does God tell Job to 'dress for action like a man?' and 'I will question you, and you will make it known to me' ? Not just once, but twice, once after Job realizes his mistake and literally puts his hand over his mouth!
It's amazing. At first, it made me feel that God was not being kind, but being a belligerent oaf who kicks Job when he's already down.....but that's not God. He is kind, He is love, He is slow to anger. The picture in my head just didn't jive. What WAS going on? I had to look further.
It's not about Job. That's what's going on. The book of Job is not about Job. It is about God and his glory. God was showing Satan how good He is - that even when all of Job's life crumbles around him, Job will remain faithful. God IS that good.
I think that God is reminding Job at the end of this book that Job was right to do as he did - remain faithful to such a great and awe-filling God. Not only that, God reveals MORE of himself to Job - so much so that righteous Job realizes the tininess of himself and repents in the presence of so much glory. This opportunity is so amazing, so astounding....it leaves me breathless.
God didn't talk to Job to comfort him in human terms whatsoever. (Though, God does restore Job's fortune, health and family later) He makes himself more fully known, and that is enough to shake Job into fearful praise."I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" - wow. WOW. Being able to say that after what Job went through?! It means that he got it. He understood it wasn't about him. That is a gift.
People generally quote Job's initial response to the disaster - naked he came, naked he'll go....but that's not the sentiment I want to take away this time. I want to have God's power seared into my heart, to have the knowledge that GOD can do ALL things and no purpose of His can be thwarted branded into my mind.
If it is a part of me, then I will not fear whatever might come next.
If it is a part of me, then I have opportunity to take the next step.
If it is a part of me, then praise becomes my native tongue.
I'm standing on Job's precipice, and I think I'm going to dive off....heart first.
Join me?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Friday, July 10, 2015
In the Quiet Times
I've been pretty radio silent the last while. It's not because I have nothing to say, or that not much is going on. It's the opposite.
Our life right now has been overwhelming. Our priorities have shifted, and writing has been taking a backseat. Most everything, really, has taken a backseat and the car has shifted into crisis mode.
You see, we've been fighting for a long time to get funding, to get professionals to see our son as he is, to have some semblance of rest, to understand what's going on in his brain and how it affects his body, to ...do so many other things.
On Monday, we had a case conference that has put us in to a quiet time. We've been told we've come to a wall. There's no door, and we can't move it. We need to simply wait for someone to build a door, or toss a rope over from the other side. ....analogy aside, the team, and us, have done all the proper things, but we've run out of options at this time in improving our situation.
It's brutal. It's heart breaking. It's....freeing. We're no longer fighting, but sitting against the wall and resting. We're not looking a head too far, we're simply here, and now. We're continuing on with the steps we've taken, and actually going backwards a little bit to see if we've missed anything in our foundational steps.
Instead of reaching and stretching ourselves too thin, we're making ourselves small, and reducing expectations. It's not easy, but it's what we have to do right now. We're not out of the war, we're regrouping and reinforcing.
All of that to say - I might be more quiet on the blog. Know I'm still around. Know I want to communicate. And, for right now, you might need to initiate.
Keeping my chin up,
XO
J
soli deo gloria
Our life right now has been overwhelming. Our priorities have shifted, and writing has been taking a backseat. Most everything, really, has taken a backseat and the car has shifted into crisis mode.
You see, we've been fighting for a long time to get funding, to get professionals to see our son as he is, to have some semblance of rest, to understand what's going on in his brain and how it affects his body, to ...do so many other things.
On Monday, we had a case conference that has put us in to a quiet time. We've been told we've come to a wall. There's no door, and we can't move it. We need to simply wait for someone to build a door, or toss a rope over from the other side. ....analogy aside, the team, and us, have done all the proper things, but we've run out of options at this time in improving our situation.
It's brutal. It's heart breaking. It's....freeing. We're no longer fighting, but sitting against the wall and resting. We're not looking a head too far, we're simply here, and now. We're continuing on with the steps we've taken, and actually going backwards a little bit to see if we've missed anything in our foundational steps.
Instead of reaching and stretching ourselves too thin, we're making ourselves small, and reducing expectations. It's not easy, but it's what we have to do right now. We're not out of the war, we're regrouping and reinforcing.
All of that to say - I might be more quiet on the blog. Know I'm still around. Know I want to communicate. And, for right now, you might need to initiate.
Keeping my chin up,
XO
J
soli deo gloria
Monday, June 1, 2015
Resolutions at the 6 Month Mark
So, I only made two resolutions this year. Both I thought would be challenging. One, so far has, the other...has been breezy.
I, at this point, have only 20ish verses of James memorized. This is progress, but it is for sure not half of the book! I want to say that I've been working on it every day, but I haven't. It's been hard, and I've been distracted. I DO have 6 more months to work on it, and I am optimistic that it will be done.
...that being said. Those first 20 verses....have been drowning my heart in truth! Oh how I love God's words and how applicable it is, even centuries after it as originally penned!
So, my second resolution was to read 52 books this year. Here is the list so far, with a brief description of why I liked, or didn't like it:
1. Storm Front, By Richard Castle - I loved this. Not because of the content, but because it is meta - the person Richard Castle doesn't exist, he is a character in a TV show....but this book is written in such a way that you really do feel like the character wrote it!
2. The Shunned House - HP Lovecraft - I read it to see his style of writing. It was creepy, and fantastic. I then watched a documentary about his life, and was fascinated. He really burst open the world of subtle horror.
3.To Live is Christ to Die is Gain - Matt Chandler - this was an excellent read....and the title says it all.
4. Angels Watching Over Me - Michael Philips - this is a first of a series, but I wouldn't read the rest. It was okay, but not great
5. Alone with God - J MacArthur. - This was a great read on prayer! LOVED it!
6. Into the Whirlwind-Elizabeth Camden - this was a fluffy escape book. You can 'call it' from the first page, but it did hold my interest.
7. Sycamore Row - John Grisham - this is well done...just like all Grisham's stuff.
8. I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai - This was interesting read. It was a bit cumbersome, as it was written by a young girl in her native tongue, then translated into English. It was fascinating, but I would much rather read her story if she would choose to write it again in 10 years.
9. Shrewd: Daring to Live the Startling Command of Jesus - Rick Lawrence - This has been my favourite non-fiction book this year! It is AMAZING. It's about a subject I had never even really thought through before - I would say a must read!
10. Overwhelmed: Winning the war against worry - Perry Noble - to be honest, I don't much remember this book. I'm sure it was okay...just maybe not new info that stuck with me.
11.Watching Tree Limbs - Mary E. DeMuth - This was a brutal read. So painful to read about a young abused girl's life, and then see how she is taken out of it. I would read it again, but with an entire flat of kleenex.
12. All for a Story - Allison Pittman - This was another fluffy escape type book, but well done, and not super typical for a Christian 'romance'
13. The Runaway Jury - Grisham - This was a reread, and I still love this book
14. The Stone and the Song - Ben Y. Faroe - written by a dear friend of mine! It's not my usual style, but is was great nonetheless!
15. Moby Dick - Herman Melville - I had gotten the abridged version for my son, but read a few pages myself to see how I liked it, fell in love with the language then read the whole unabridge version (okay, minus the entirely too long essay about all the different kinds of whales in the world). the language got me. I loved it. I also particularly loved Tashtego being compared to a midwife.
16.Anne of Greeen Gables - LM Montgomery - I cannot even start to say how much I love this series of books!
17. Diving Design - J MacArthur - This was okay. I felt it was a bit dated, though
18. Anne of Avonlea - LM Montgomery - Oh Anne....
19. Anne of the Island - LM Montgomery - More lovin'
20. Take One - Karen Kingsbury - okay....this one was just annoying to me. It's another part of an already too long series. .....ugh.
21. Franchising McChurch - Thomas White - interesting concept, but didn't really 'hit' me.
22. A Hopeful Heart - Amy Clipston - An interesting spin on the the usual Christian Amish stories
23. Anne of Windy Poplers - LM Montgomery - this one used to be my least favourite....but it has risen in ranks, with maturity and time.
24. Anne's House of Dreams - LM Montgomery - I think this one is my favourite!....or the first...or second... oh I don't know...they are all SO GOOD!
25. Static Jedi: The Art of Hearing God Through the Noise - Eric Samuel Timm - it was okay, not THE BEST, but okay.
26.The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Muriel Barbery - I LOVED THIS BOOK. Seriously, this one is my new favourite of all time....right up there with the Anne series ;)
27. God built - Steve Farrar - This was was stellar - a great look into the life of Joseph. Loved it!
28. The Street Lawyer - Grisham - ....I like Grisham's stuff, what can I say?
29. Anne of Ingleside- LM Montgomery - I had taken a break, you can get 'Anne-d' out, but this one brought me right back in!
30. Crucify! Why the Crowd Killed Jesus - Timothy J. Stoner - I am not sure how entirely accurate this book is, but it makes you think of the earthly ministry of Christ in a whole different light. I mostly enjoyed it!
31. Rainbow Valley - LM Montgomery - All about Anne's kids and friends! YAY! more Anne Love!
32. Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus - Floyd McClung. This one was life changingly good. seriously...I'll probably read it again this year.
33. Rilla of Ingleside - LM Montgomery - oh....how I hated finishing the last book of the Anne series.....sigh....now to start them over again?
34. Palace of Curiosities - Rosie Garland - interesting premise....lousy ending. I would not read it again, or even suggest others to. It's supposed to be a book about the behind the scenes lives of circus performers....it was just kind of....blah.
35. Secondhand Jesus - Glenn Packiam - I LOVED this book. read it - you will too.
36. Covered Glory - David Philips - a short read about a study on covering womens' hair during prayer and worship. Interesting....
37. The Rainmaker - Grisham - more Grisham....hooray!
38. The Oracle of Stamboul - Michael David Lukas - This one had SO MUCH POTENTIAL....and that's all it had.
39. Gourmet Rhapsody - Muriel Barbery - this is a companion book for The Elegance of a Hedgehog (see above). I don't know if there was a I book I was ever more excited to read...It was elegant, short, and like putting a puzzle together in your mind about the man's life. oh...I loved it.
So - that is my list so far! only 13 more to go until I am finished for my resolution....but I won't stop reading then. It's fascinating to me how much written word can be taken in in such a short time! Thank you, Jesus, for the printing press!
How are your resolutions going?
XO
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
I, at this point, have only 20ish verses of James memorized. This is progress, but it is for sure not half of the book! I want to say that I've been working on it every day, but I haven't. It's been hard, and I've been distracted. I DO have 6 more months to work on it, and I am optimistic that it will be done.
...that being said. Those first 20 verses....have been drowning my heart in truth! Oh how I love God's words and how applicable it is, even centuries after it as originally penned!
So, my second resolution was to read 52 books this year. Here is the list so far, with a brief description of why I liked, or didn't like it:
1. Storm Front, By Richard Castle - I loved this. Not because of the content, but because it is meta - the person Richard Castle doesn't exist, he is a character in a TV show....but this book is written in such a way that you really do feel like the character wrote it!
2. The Shunned House - HP Lovecraft - I read it to see his style of writing. It was creepy, and fantastic. I then watched a documentary about his life, and was fascinated. He really burst open the world of subtle horror.
3.To Live is Christ to Die is Gain - Matt Chandler - this was an excellent read....and the title says it all.
4. Angels Watching Over Me - Michael Philips - this is a first of a series, but I wouldn't read the rest. It was okay, but not great
5. Alone with God - J MacArthur. - This was a great read on prayer! LOVED it!
6. Into the Whirlwind-Elizabeth Camden - this was a fluffy escape book. You can 'call it' from the first page, but it did hold my interest.
7. Sycamore Row - John Grisham - this is well done...just like all Grisham's stuff.
8. I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai - This was interesting read. It was a bit cumbersome, as it was written by a young girl in her native tongue, then translated into English. It was fascinating, but I would much rather read her story if she would choose to write it again in 10 years.
9. Shrewd: Daring to Live the Startling Command of Jesus - Rick Lawrence - This has been my favourite non-fiction book this year! It is AMAZING. It's about a subject I had never even really thought through before - I would say a must read!
10. Overwhelmed: Winning the war against worry - Perry Noble - to be honest, I don't much remember this book. I'm sure it was okay...just maybe not new info that stuck with me.
11.Watching Tree Limbs - Mary E. DeMuth - This was a brutal read. So painful to read about a young abused girl's life, and then see how she is taken out of it. I would read it again, but with an entire flat of kleenex.
12. All for a Story - Allison Pittman - This was another fluffy escape type book, but well done, and not super typical for a Christian 'romance'
13. The Runaway Jury - Grisham - This was a reread, and I still love this book
14. The Stone and the Song - Ben Y. Faroe - written by a dear friend of mine! It's not my usual style, but is was great nonetheless!
15. Moby Dick - Herman Melville - I had gotten the abridged version for my son, but read a few pages myself to see how I liked it, fell in love with the language then read the whole unabridge version (okay, minus the entirely too long essay about all the different kinds of whales in the world). the language got me. I loved it. I also particularly loved Tashtego being compared to a midwife.
16.Anne of Greeen Gables - LM Montgomery - I cannot even start to say how much I love this series of books!
17. Diving Design - J MacArthur - This was okay. I felt it was a bit dated, though
18. Anne of Avonlea - LM Montgomery - Oh Anne....
19. Anne of the Island - LM Montgomery - More lovin'
20. Take One - Karen Kingsbury - okay....this one was just annoying to me. It's another part of an already too long series. .....ugh.
21. Franchising McChurch - Thomas White - interesting concept, but didn't really 'hit' me.
22. A Hopeful Heart - Amy Clipston - An interesting spin on the the usual Christian Amish stories
23. Anne of Windy Poplers - LM Montgomery - this one used to be my least favourite....but it has risen in ranks, with maturity and time.
24. Anne's House of Dreams - LM Montgomery - I think this one is my favourite!....or the first...or second... oh I don't know...they are all SO GOOD!
25. Static Jedi: The Art of Hearing God Through the Noise - Eric Samuel Timm - it was okay, not THE BEST, but okay.
26.The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Muriel Barbery - I LOVED THIS BOOK. Seriously, this one is my new favourite of all time....right up there with the Anne series ;)
27. God built - Steve Farrar - This was was stellar - a great look into the life of Joseph. Loved it!
28. The Street Lawyer - Grisham - ....I like Grisham's stuff, what can I say?
29. Anne of Ingleside- LM Montgomery - I had taken a break, you can get 'Anne-d' out, but this one brought me right back in!
30. Crucify! Why the Crowd Killed Jesus - Timothy J. Stoner - I am not sure how entirely accurate this book is, but it makes you think of the earthly ministry of Christ in a whole different light. I mostly enjoyed it!
31. Rainbow Valley - LM Montgomery - All about Anne's kids and friends! YAY! more Anne Love!
32. Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus - Floyd McClung. This one was life changingly good. seriously...I'll probably read it again this year.
33. Rilla of Ingleside - LM Montgomery - oh....how I hated finishing the last book of the Anne series.....sigh....now to start them over again?
34. Palace of Curiosities - Rosie Garland - interesting premise....lousy ending. I would not read it again, or even suggest others to. It's supposed to be a book about the behind the scenes lives of circus performers....it was just kind of....blah.
35. Secondhand Jesus - Glenn Packiam - I LOVED this book. read it - you will too.
36. Covered Glory - David Philips - a short read about a study on covering womens' hair during prayer and worship. Interesting....
37. The Rainmaker - Grisham - more Grisham....hooray!
38. The Oracle of Stamboul - Michael David Lukas - This one had SO MUCH POTENTIAL....and that's all it had.
39. Gourmet Rhapsody - Muriel Barbery - this is a companion book for The Elegance of a Hedgehog (see above). I don't know if there was a I book I was ever more excited to read...It was elegant, short, and like putting a puzzle together in your mind about the man's life. oh...I loved it.
So - that is my list so far! only 13 more to go until I am finished for my resolution....but I won't stop reading then. It's fascinating to me how much written word can be taken in in such a short time! Thank you, Jesus, for the printing press!
How are your resolutions going?
XO
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
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