Terribly Interesting

I decided to purchase this book to read for two reasons. It was a hot summer read and I am curious about what people around me are drawn to. It is also something I wouldn't normally read. Let me tell you, I had a difficult time getting going with this book. As I began, I was sure all of this book's readers were crazy. It's written as though you are reading portions of diary entries from people who could not spell or formulate sentences. My head wanted to implode. Even at page fifty, I tried to come up with how I would describe this book for a review. One line from from Truvy in the movie Steel Magnolias came into my head. "The nicest thing I can say about her is that all of her tattoos are spelled correctly." I read on. Let me tell you, I finally came to see how George's writing style is brilliant. I actually felt like I was interacting with these people. The book made me do quite a bit of research. The story is based off of evidence that when President...

I was reading an article the other day telling moms that being overwhelmed and unable to think is completely normal. It's called mental load. I have since dubbed this inability to think, process, conjugate, or think of what to make for dinner the MOTHER LOAD. Can't remember how to make pb&j? That's the mother load. Can't remember your first name? That's the mother load. Most days we coast on through and no one gets hurt. The thing about mother load that drags me down is that often I cannot even think of what I would like to pray for my children. There are basic reactionary prayers and response prayers to scripture I am hearing or reading. I am always left wanting more.  When I saw this book, I felt an ache to have it. Reading through it, I was truly overwhelmed by the wonderful, thoughtful prayers and guidance it offered. I prayed through the hundred or so prayers over my girls. They are beautiful. Praying them prompted me to start writing them ou...

Most of the books I read and review are given to me by publishers, but I chose to buy this one. I had been waiting on it since I heard that it was being written. I had purchased to audio book because I was making a lot of long trips to care for my parents. Audio books seem to make the end of long drives go faster. I knew that the words in it would be encouraging. It turned out to be something I needed more than I realized. Sweet Maria's voice coming through my car speakers soothed my weary soul. It was like having a dear friend speaking into my heart when I desperately needed it. Being honest, I have had days where I have cried all day through this. Waves of emotional exhaustion overtook me when I stopped moving for a second. Then I'd hear her voice. It felt okay to cry. She kept reminding me that love is always the best option. It sows a deep unseen harvest in the lives of the people we are loving and those watching us. Love does live here.  In this book we follow Maria...

I was about to go on a road trip when I saw this book pop up in my queue to review. I thought it would be a great thing to accompany me through a few states. It was a bit difficult to get into at first. I don't know if it was my mindset or what felt like choppy story telling. Never the less, I pressed on. The stories were pretty interesting, but I was rarely drawn deeply into them. There were several things I could connect with personally. Most of us can connect with loss. Roger shares about losing people he loves and why he loved them. He tells of how adventure connected them. His story is one of redemption. His grandparents ended up raising him. I think the main thing I took away from the book was to go on adventure and create memories.  *There are maps in the chapters of different states and things he loved there. That could be helpful if you are experiencing some wonder lust. Happy travels. This book was graciously provided by Waterbrook Publishers for review. ...

Last week, on the banks of the Kentucky River, I read Connilyn's latest book. I have to tell you, I always enjoy her work. I don't think it is exemplary writing that draws me in. Sometimes I have questioned how a quick plot change came about. I just roll with it because her stories are good and redemptive. They are well researched. The most beautiful thing I pull from them is that they are infused with a rich love of God's word. Watching her characters conform (or not conform) their lives to God's teachings gives this new longing to know it more. It's not just doing what is right, but a love of honoring God and cherishing life. She clearly shows the exquisite compassion of God's character. Every single time I read something she has written, I am deeply thankful that God has given us his word to shape our lives. We are no longer bound to the sinning in ignorance. I think we can often forget what a miraculous gift this is. Thank you for the reminder, Connilyn. ...

My Lulu and I received a book to review from the publisher. If you know her, you know she read this 6 times the week she received it. I had her write out her synopsis of the book. Mostly, she loved that it was written by a girl not much older than her.  Lulu tells about Hello Stars by Alena Pitts. Hello Stars is a great book. It's about a girl named Lena Daniels. She has three little sisters. There's an 8 year old named Ansley and 6 year old twins named Amber and Ashton. 28 days before school ends, her friend Savannah, went to her, Lena, and their other friend Emma's favorite singer, Mallory Winston's concert. Savannah tells Lena that Mallory is going to be in a movie and wants a girl between the ages of 10 and 12 to be in it with her. All they have to do is make a video talking about themselves and send it to Mallory Winston. Lena's video doesn't go so well because she has fruit snacks between her front two teeth. Mallory picks her anyway. She has to b...

"It starts with us. If we are not moved by the Spirit of God, why on earth would anyone else be moved? If we don't experience His forgiveness and His grace on a regular basis, then how could we give away his forgiveness and grace to anybody else?" —Jennie Allen, Nothing to Prove What do you do? It's the question we are asked when we meet people? Sometimes that can feel like our worth is being sized up by our occupation. What if we don't have one? What if we are quietly serving people the world deems unimportant? Will we ever be enough to impress them? No, but we can make peace with that. It seems that we have all taken up the occupation of trying to create light when we are not meant to create light. We are meant to reflect it and wield it. The pressure is off when we remember who Christ is and go to him to accomplish his desires. That's why Jennie brought a breath a sweet, fresh air into my life. She reminded me over and over to just ask Jesus, to ...