Book I Love

Nature Girl and I just finished reading The Children of the New Forest. At first I was skeptical about it. It was written along time ago and the beginning was kind of dry. But, as the story progressed, it quickly became something she and I looked forward to reading everyday.

It was a Literature book for us, but, it just so happened to correspond to the time period we are reading about in English/American history. The book was about four young children whose house was burned down by Cromwell's Roundheads. The inhabitants of the house happened to be loyal to King Charles (Cavaliers) and the children, who escaped the fire needed to hide out in the forest and deny their heritage in order to survive.

It had so many great story lines. Four relatively young children who worked together to survive and thrive. The backdrop of an interesting time in England's history. The need for faith in God, in country and in people. There were many times over the past few months that I have mentioned to my kids how the "Armitage" kids were able to get a long and work together. They never argued. ;)

Of course, my "review" doesn't do the book justice. I look forward to reading it again with Little Mama . . .

Book Reviews - Dinner With a Perfect Stranger

And A Day With a Perfect Stranger.

Dinner needs to be the first one to read, then, if possible, follow it up by reading A Day. Two easy but wonderful reads! I was able to finish both books in about a week. Because they were so easy to read, if I had a few minutes, I would grab a book and read a page or two.

I thought I would just type a favorite quote from each book. If you haven't read them, I hope the quotes encourage you to look into them. Quick, small books, packed with a great story about a real, meaningful relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Dinner With a Perfect Stranger - "You're bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You're worried about God stealing your fun, but you've got it backward. You're like a kid who doesn't want to leave for Disney World because he's having fun making mud pies by the curb. He doesn't realize that what's being offered is so much better. There's no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe."

A Day With a Perfect Stranger - the stranger is talking with Mattie about her two year old daughter, Sara. "Let me ask you this. If there was a God who created everything, don't you think it's possible that he would feel the same way about you that you feel about Sara? Love you as much? Want to give you the world? Want to be as connected to you as you are to her? In other words, is it possible that your love for Sara is a reflection of who the Creator is?"

What a summer of great books . . .

Book Review - Same Kind of Different As Me

I don't really even know how to begin "reviewing" this book. God has placed so many great books in my way these last few months and this is definitely one of them! In my humble opinion, it is a book that should be read and discussed in every Sunday School class, in every Christian church, all over!

It is about a homeless black man who was a modern day slave, a million dollar art dealer and the woman who brought them together. (Pretty sure that is what it says on the front of the book.) Anyway, at first I didn't realize the book was a true story. But, once I found out it was, I was moved beyond words.

I am just going to give a general overview because it is so worth reading for yourselves. The art dealer is motivated by his wife to start volunteering at a homeless shelter with her. She truly was moved by God to serve. And really, really loved and had a heart for those she served. Hubby did it just for her. He felt he was a better person because of his willingness to serve.

The main homeless man, Denver, didn't want to befriend anyone. And certainly not rich white folks who felt they were doing their good dead by serving a meal to the homeless once a week. But, Denver began to see that Ms. Debbie was different. She did not feel superior and wasn't volunteering as a feel good mission for herself. She really cared. About him.

The husband, Ron, befriended Denver on his wife's insistence. She truly believed God wanted the two men together. The book is full of short chapters, switching back and forth from Mr. Ron's and Denver's perspectives of the events that happened in each of their lives and also to the extraordinary woman, who brought them together.

The most poignant part in the book, for me, was when Denver was in need of a meal or a place to sleep. Whatever he needed he got from an organization that helped the homeless. Yet, right next door was a church. A place where not one person offered to help him. Or even acknowledge him. And he took notice of that fact.

How many times, as servants of God, do we not do something because it takes us out of our comfort zone or because of our personal convictions? I think of all the times that Jesus helped people. I am not a biblical scholar so I don't know all of Jesus' acts of service. But, from some of the stories I do know, He was always helping those who had no other hope. The people that the rest of society had written off. Beggars and lepers.

I know I haven't done the book justice. All I can say is that it has forever impacted my out look on life. How I perceive others. How I perceive myself. How I would like my children to think and act as they get older.

Check it out on Amazon or some other Internet book seller. I am sure the reviews there will give a much more of the story line and better information. All I know is, I borrowed the book but have since purchased it because it will be required reading in our school. I think it is a must read, for everyone . . .

Book Review - The Five Love Languages

I read a lot about marriage and child raising. I like what the majority of the books have to say. And I usually can take away something useful. And this one was no exception.

Dr. Chapman explains there are 5 love languages (each language with a few dialects) and the key to a more fulfilling relationship is to love the other person according to their language. The concept applies to both spouses and children. It really kind of made sense. If someone has one type of love language and the spouse is "talking" in another love language, it could be compared to talking with that other person in a totally different language, like Russian maybe.

It turns out my love language is quality time, although my hubby and sister were pretty sure I didn't have one - ha, ha! I thought my hubby's was acts of service because he does so much for me, but as it turns out, his is a combination of three different ones.

I can pick out Little Mama's love language, she is definitely physical touch. Boop and Nature Girl are a little harder to pin point. EG is too young to tell. There is a book that discusses the love languages of children and that is next on my list.

It is going to be fun to love my family in their language and see what happens . . .

Book Review - Staying True

This was not a book I would have normally picked up to read. But, my sister recommended it and I thought sure, why not.

I don't watch the news so was unfamiliar with the story of Jenny Sanford, wife to Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina. Her husband, after years of running his campaigns on honor and accountability in government, had an affair (numerous affairs) and got caught.

It wasn't a poor me book by any stretch of the imagination. It was a book about a woman who believed in marriage and family and honor and respectability and God and her husband. She had a very healthy godly view of marriage and knew it wasn't perfect and knew it wouldn't be easy. But, also knew she would be very committed to whatever married life had in store for her. And, as she looked back on her courtship with her husband, she admits there were signs as to what type of man she was marrying.

Unfortunately, her story is all too real for many women. It is definitely a book that would encourage anyone going through such trials. I don't condone divorce, but Mrs. Sanford did all she could to save her marriage and just was not able to, through no fault of her own. It is a story of courage and determination. Of faith and hope.

A good summer (spring) read . . .

The Time Traveler's Wife

I have decided as part of my blogging experience that I am going review books and movies. Which will happen probably every six months - ha, ha!! Anyway, I just finished The Time Traveler's Wife. The first book I have read in a long time that was "just for fun."

As I mentioned in a previous post, it wasn't a book I would have normally bought. Mostly because it is a modern day love story and I am not a big romance reader. But, this was different. The time traveling gave it a twist that made it very intriguing. And it really wasn't sappy.

The book is about a husband and a wife. The husband is a time traveler and actually meets his future wife when she is just six years old (and he is in his early 40s). The book flips back and forth and forward through out both of their lives and intricately entwines their existences. The author takes turns telling the story from both the wife, Clare, and the husband, Henry's perspectives. And sometimes they would each tell of the same event but from their own unique view point.

The chapters would begin like: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 (Clare is 24, Henry is 32), CLARE: and then Clare tells her story. Then the next section might read Sunday, September 11, 1988 (Henry is 36, Clare is 17) HENRY: and then Henry tells his story. I thought it was really a creative way of telling their whole life story. And it really was about the only way I could keep straight where Henry was in time and what age he and Clare were.

The book essentially deals with how and why Clare spent most of her life "waiting" for Henry. And how Henry dealt with traveling through time and how it affected their undying love for one another. Not to mention married life and just life in general. How reliving your past, repeatedly, or knowing future events can really take a toll on your present life choices.

I guess the time traveling is a little far fetched, the author explains it a little bit and you kind of just have to accept it. But it works. It is kind of believable. The only other little draw back that I felt was unnecessary was the use of the "f" word and "c" word. I don't think I would necessarily note my objection to these words except I honestly felt they were not necessary in this story. They were just kind of thrown in their gratuitously, like the author felt she needed to use them to be relevant or connect with the 20 something set. Those particular words just seemed out of character for both Clare and Henry.

The story is sad and really couldn't have ended any other way. It was a little anticlimactic, though, because of all the time traveling turmoil through out the book. I would recommend it to any one who just wanted something to read to pass the time. Light reading, purely for enjoyment.

It was kind of fun for a little change of pace . . .