Exactly 31 days from my last post... weird.
Okay for the update:
I've read one book so far in March "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan. http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/Detail.cfm?sn=105954&source=frontpage
Check out the website, there's a video of Chan summarizing the book.
Also, the Book Club is in motion! I've joined with BAM to start a club based on their recommened reads from all genres, and we're starting with "Forgotten God" (if you want more info about times and dates of meetings, just comment or email me).
Graham is still in cloth!
Have a great day, and I look forward to reporting what my second book from this month will be. But in order to report...I...must...go...read!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Day 31
Wow, it has been a while! But not because I've given up...lest you believe me to be a slacker, I am satisfied to say that I've completed 2 books since my last post.
First, "Now & Then" by Robert Parker (http://www.robertbparker.net/)
I chose to read this because a woman at my Book Club recommended the author. It was a very fast read. The author was from Boston; his sarcastic humor, short sentences, and use of dialog were excellent and fun. It did however have a degree of sexual references that were inappropriate and unnecessary. It was not at all a romance novel though. It was starts with a private investigator who has just met a man who needs him to track his wife...
Second, "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket (http://www.lemonysnicket.com/)
This was a choice that was purely for fun. I had picked it up before and I think Rob and I even rented the movie a while ago. I liked the fact that the author didn't include magic. I'm really sick of magic, vampires, and the like at the moment. I couldn't get enough of this cute/tragic tale. I rented the second book from the library the same day I finished this one. :)
Finally, I am still reading through the Bible, and I am up to date! Almost through Matthew and Exodus. Also, I have been reading "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (http://store.reviveourhearts.com/nancyleighdemoss.aspx). She has been an author that I have read for years now, and I recommend all of her stuff. This book has been vital to my spiritual discipline. In January 2009, a wise friend of mine challenged me to read my Bible every morning before JoeAnna (and now Graham) woke up, 30 minutes for 90 days. I am excited to say that I made it and I've kept it up too. I've missed days and I've even missed weeks, but it's over a year later and I've been consistent overall! I am so thankful that God has been so faithful to me in this past year, and just recently I was challenged by DeMoss to make my time with the LORD an appointment. One that is just as important as any other appointment that I might make for myself. She challenged the reader (namely, me) to set a time, don't do anything else, and keep it. For me this has to be at 6am or earlier! JoeAnna has been waking around 6:30am lately, and if I don't meet with the LORD I am just not right. I need His power in my life, I need His life to live through me, and I need His love to satisfy me and give me strength to love Rob, JoeAnna, Graham, and the world. I have been so blessed to know the One who made me and redeemed me!!!
Two other notes:
Graham is still in cloth diapers! What's up!
I am going to pursue starting a book club that will meet at Books-A-Million (what a name...) and we will follow their Faith Point books! The store has book clubs established but no one has been showing up. So I'm going to show up and invite other people to join me. If you live in the Kissimmee area and you're reading this - join me! http://www.booksamillion.com/bookclub
(is anyone really reading this?)
First, "Now & Then" by Robert Parker (http://www.robertbparker.net/)
I chose to read this because a woman at my Book Club recommended the author. It was a very fast read. The author was from Boston; his sarcastic humor, short sentences, and use of dialog were excellent and fun. It did however have a degree of sexual references that were inappropriate and unnecessary. It was not at all a romance novel though. It was starts with a private investigator who has just met a man who needs him to track his wife...
Second, "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket (http://www.lemonysnicket.com/)
This was a choice that was purely for fun. I had picked it up before and I think Rob and I even rented the movie a while ago. I liked the fact that the author didn't include magic. I'm really sick of magic, vampires, and the like at the moment. I couldn't get enough of this cute/tragic tale. I rented the second book from the library the same day I finished this one. :)
Finally, I am still reading through the Bible, and I am up to date! Almost through Matthew and Exodus. Also, I have been reading "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (http://store.reviveourhearts.com/nancyleighdemoss.aspx). She has been an author that I have read for years now, and I recommend all of her stuff. This book has been vital to my spiritual discipline. In January 2009, a wise friend of mine challenged me to read my Bible every morning before JoeAnna (and now Graham) woke up, 30 minutes for 90 days. I am excited to say that I made it and I've kept it up too. I've missed days and I've even missed weeks, but it's over a year later and I've been consistent overall! I am so thankful that God has been so faithful to me in this past year, and just recently I was challenged by DeMoss to make my time with the LORD an appointment. One that is just as important as any other appointment that I might make for myself. She challenged the reader (namely, me) to set a time, don't do anything else, and keep it. For me this has to be at 6am or earlier! JoeAnna has been waking around 6:30am lately, and if I don't meet with the LORD I am just not right. I need His power in my life, I need His life to live through me, and I need His love to satisfy me and give me strength to love Rob, JoeAnna, Graham, and the world. I have been so blessed to know the One who made me and redeemed me!!!
Two other notes:
Graham is still in cloth diapers! What's up!
I am going to pursue starting a book club that will meet at Books-A-Million (what a name...) and we will follow their Faith Point books! The store has book clubs established but no one has been showing up. So I'm going to show up and invite other people to join me. If you live in the Kissimmee area and you're reading this - join me! http://www.booksamillion.com/bookclub
(is anyone really reading this?)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Day 17
I went to the library's Book Club; it was fine. I was hoping for a little more as far as depth of discussion because there definitely could have been some, but one lady was very talkative...one lady hated the book and the facilitator wasn't too confident in directing those two. Oh well. I had a good time anyway and I'm planning on reading the next book for the Book Club at a different branch of the library. I won't give up! Plus this gives me the experience I need to one day start my own Book Club.
I am still reading through the Bible (almost done with Genesis!) and I went to the library yesterday and checked out 8 books just for me! I felt like a kid in a candy store! And the best part was it was free!! I took Graham with me so Rob and JoeAnna could have some alone time at the park and I had forgotten how nice it was to get in and out of the car with just one little person to buckle and unbuckle. :) It was a breeze!!!
Btw, per my first post: I have had Graham in cloth at home since writing the initial post. I'm loving it. We're saving almost a dollar a day! Silly how just admitting that I had quit at doing that motivated me to get past the little hang ups involved and just do it. And I've been a better housekeeper too. I was hoping this challenge would change my life and simply holding myself to one standard helped me want to raise the standards in other areas.
Let's talk in about 3 months... ;)
I am still reading through the Bible (almost done with Genesis!) and I went to the library yesterday and checked out 8 books just for me! I felt like a kid in a candy store! And the best part was it was free!! I took Graham with me so Rob and JoeAnna could have some alone time at the park and I had forgotten how nice it was to get in and out of the car with just one little person to buckle and unbuckle. :) It was a breeze!!!
Btw, per my first post: I have had Graham in cloth at home since writing the initial post. I'm loving it. We're saving almost a dollar a day! Silly how just admitting that I had quit at doing that motivated me to get past the little hang ups involved and just do it. And I've been a better housekeeper too. I was hoping this challenge would change my life and simply holding myself to one standard helped me want to raise the standards in other areas.
Let's talk in about 3 months... ;)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Day 12
Finished! First book done. It's for my book club at the library which meets this Thursday - looking forward to that. I love the feeling of finishing a book and knowing that I can share and discuss it is exciting too.
It was "Very Valentine" by Adriana Trigiani. It's about a woman in NYC who is unmarried, 33yrs, a shoemaker in her family's company (since 1903), and her progression from apprentice to artist. It's very clever - I often laughed out loud. She is like Elaine Bennise meets Sarah Jessica Parker. The conversation in the book about sexuality is worldly but not descriptive. The descriptions otherwise are inteeligent and well placed. She skips over major details and would be boring and narrows in on other details that allows for great character development. She kept me interested.
Overall it was very entertaining and I look forward to reading more from this author!
It was "Very Valentine" by Adriana Trigiani. It's about a woman in NYC who is unmarried, 33yrs, a shoemaker in her family's company (since 1903), and her progression from apprentice to artist. It's very clever - I often laughed out loud. She is like Elaine Bennise meets Sarah Jessica Parker. The conversation in the book about sexuality is worldly but not descriptive. The descriptions otherwise are inteeligent and well placed. She skips over major details and would be boring and narrows in on other details that allows for great character development. She kept me interested.
Overall it was very entertaining and I look forward to reading more from this author!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Day 4
I've been enjoying a nice distraction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhDGdT33K0k
This song...I close my eyes and it feels like home.
I'm still on track with reading, and loving it. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhDGdT33K0k
This song...I close my eyes and it feels like home.
I'm still on track with reading, and loving it. :)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Day 3
Just a couple of thoughts:
I picked up the book club book from the library the other night and am on track for finishing it by the 28th! So far it's been entertaining and witty. I'm not willing to say the title just yet, I'll let you know when I finish and give a better evaluation then. I don't want to put my stamp of approval on something that's offensive.
Also, I've been putting a lot of thought into which books I would most like to read this year - now is the time to get them all read! And I realized that I have never completed a "Read Thru the Bible" in a year - so I'm adding that to the challenge! It's THE most important book and always #1 bestseller!
I picked up the book club book from the library the other night and am on track for finishing it by the 28th! So far it's been entertaining and witty. I'm not willing to say the title just yet, I'll let you know when I finish and give a better evaluation then. I don't want to put my stamp of approval on something that's offensive.
Also, I've been putting a lot of thought into which books I would most like to read this year - now is the time to get them all read! And I realized that I have never completed a "Read Thru the Bible" in a year - so I'm adding that to the challenge! It's THE most important book and always #1 bestseller!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Day 1
What:
The Complete a Book Challenge: my idea of a great way to teach myself a lesson. I love life lessons. I know, groan. They are usually the most painful of the lessons, but I love reliving them, relating them, and revising them as I grow through this journey of life.
How:
Complete a book beginning to end two times a month, no particular list or genre, just start and finish. I will be joining or creating a book club to aid in this goal. First meeting is January 28th and I haven't gotten the book from the library yet - gasp! Books read will include devotionals. Also, I will blog this process of reading, discussing, and learning.
Why:
Over the past few months I have been realizing I have a particular flaw, one of multitudes let me assure you, that is I struggle to finish or follow through with certain small things in my life. I could also describe it as "not sticking with it." For instance, I have changed the bottles we use for Graham 3 times. If something wasn't quite right with a certain brand I would quickly look for the solution in another kind. Sometimes in my life that is great and sometimes it is a source of frustration. Or here's a really good one: cloth diapers!! I love cloth, and I have spent hundreds of dollars on them, but I didn't stick with them.
What does all of this have to do with books, you might ask? Well, I love books. I love stories and writing, and I have a weakness for quaint, local bookstores. I love to buy books with great intentions to read them, but only sometimes do I succeed. This fascination began in college when I actually completed my English homework and found that books were amazing!...and time consuming. So the real problem for me is making and prioritizing the time to sit and read and finish a book. I want to prove it to myself that I can finish what I put my mind to. It's a challenge, and I love challenges.
Let the reading begin!
The Complete a Book Challenge: my idea of a great way to teach myself a lesson. I love life lessons. I know, groan. They are usually the most painful of the lessons, but I love reliving them, relating them, and revising them as I grow through this journey of life.
How:
Complete a book beginning to end two times a month, no particular list or genre, just start and finish. I will be joining or creating a book club to aid in this goal. First meeting is January 28th and I haven't gotten the book from the library yet - gasp! Books read will include devotionals. Also, I will blog this process of reading, discussing, and learning.
Why:
Over the past few months I have been realizing I have a particular flaw, one of multitudes let me assure you, that is I struggle to finish or follow through with certain small things in my life. I could also describe it as "not sticking with it." For instance, I have changed the bottles we use for Graham 3 times. If something wasn't quite right with a certain brand I would quickly look for the solution in another kind. Sometimes in my life that is great and sometimes it is a source of frustration. Or here's a really good one: cloth diapers!! I love cloth, and I have spent hundreds of dollars on them, but I didn't stick with them.
What does all of this have to do with books, you might ask? Well, I love books. I love stories and writing, and I have a weakness for quaint, local bookstores. I love to buy books with great intentions to read them, but only sometimes do I succeed. This fascination began in college when I actually completed my English homework and found that books were amazing!...and time consuming. So the real problem for me is making and prioritizing the time to sit and read and finish a book. I want to prove it to myself that I can finish what I put my mind to. It's a challenge, and I love challenges.
Let the reading begin!
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