Day 118

Just finished book #1 for May: "Letters to God" by Patrick Doughtie and John Perry. http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310327653&QueryStringSite=Zondervan#Custom_1
If you go to this link you can "browse" the book and also watch the movie trailer from which this book was based. It is a very fast but good read. I could tell reading it that it was as if someone watched the movie and wrote out what they saw. It's not the most amazing in terms of artistry or grammar, but as a whole the book has such an awesome message that it far overshadows its creative short comings. I definitely would read it again on a Saturday afternoon when I need a good cry. Definitely sit down with a cup of coffee or tea and some chocolate - you're going to love it!

Day 106

So there is good news and bad news. First the bad news, because I know I just like to get it out of the way: I'm 2 books behind for the year. Yikes, I know. I've been focusing so much on non-fiction material that I've not been as quick to finish what I've started.

Here's the good news though: I've started a book review notebook! Let me explain. I have a hard time not going to extremes when it comes to researching. "Researching what?" You may ask, answer: everything. For example, starting cloth diapers I read blogs, reviews, books - you name it, I read it, and for months I did this! All because at the end of the day I just like to "know." SO how does this "book review notebook" save me? Well for instance I have been wanting to start researching all the many ways to homeschool, but I've avoided starting the process of reading up on it because there is so much to read. Enter notebook: now instead of feeling like I have to read the whole book, I get my notebook and write a bibliography for the book and jot down the titles of the chapters, skim the chapters I think would be most interesting/useful and return the book to the library. Now I know that when I have a question about homeschooling in a specific topic I can grab my notebook look up the books I've reviewed and go from there! Fool proof. ;)

More good news: I did finish a book this month too! I can finally say I'm done reading "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It was life changing, a must read for anyone serious about spending time with the LORD everyday. Her writing is rich with everyday wisdom, Biblical references, encouragement, and edification, and practical steps to having a purposeful devotional life. I am a huge fan of her and this book. Check it out. http://www.reviveourhearts.com/

Even more good news (see now you've forgotten what a slacker I am): the BAM Book Club etc... has been created and going strong! We follow close to the Books-a-Million (BAM) Faithpoint Book Club that they host for their customers. This next month we will read "Letters to God" which is a book from the motion picture (http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/ check out the preview, I believe these are the same people who made "Fireproof").

And even more good news: I'm up to date with my Bible reading for the year! This will be the first time I read through the Bible in a year and I'm so excited. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before!!! (Currently in John just finished Judges {the plan I follow jumps back and forth from OT to NT})

Day 83

Wow this year is more tangible when seen in days past: 83 days gone since I started my challenge. (For the math people, I did not start the blog/challenge on January 1st ;) .)

Since beginning the challenge I also started cloth diapering Graham (we already had them from JoeAnna). And I found this resource site AllAboutClothDiapers.com and it's truly great and helpful. The author is doing a giveaway, and I want to win! So I need to blog about it; lucky you. :)

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/cutiepoops-cloth-diapers-monthly-giveaway-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AllAboutClothDiapers+%28All+About+Cloth+Diapers%29

check it out!

Day 62

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!

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?)

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... ;)

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!