tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669027425069880132024-03-13T15:09:15.221-05:00I was reading and had to share....trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-84248320793257141952011-07-15T12:19:00.002-05:002011-07-15T12:37:03.312-05:00two booksI just finished two books that couldn't be more different. The first is by Randy Hill (my pastor and friend.) Its called <i>Encounters<b></b></i> ... get it! read it! it will bless you! If you want a signed copy go <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=237121599646535">here</a> this Saturday!! (I understand there will be cookies ;P)<br />
The second book is called <i>The Defector</i> by Mark Chisnell (it was free from Amazon Kindle) extremely intense, very suspenseful (language warning)ever heard of "The Prisoners' Dilemna" It will certainly make you think.<br />
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I've got a stack of books next to the bed and on my phone ... better get to it, summer is flying by!!<br />
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xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-75137262624252318032011-07-07T10:36:00.001-05:002011-07-07T10:39:39.344-05:00Caldecott SummerYesterday we made a quick trip to the library - interpretation we were running late for storytime and so I just grabbed the books we read and ran out of the door. I don't have a record of what I took back. Since Papa does most of the bedtime reading for Elli I don't even recall most of the titles of the books we had but I do know one of the Caldecott books we've read this past week is Caldecott Medal Winner "The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses". I am a huge fan of stories about girls and horses so this one definitely was a good one to share with my little girl reader.<br />
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Although its just a partial list .... <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/o1514526109">here are the books Elli has been reading <br />
</a><br />
Hope you are having a happy summer!<br />
<br />
xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-31003516875728870722011-06-29T09:55:00.000-05:002011-06-29T09:55:31.674-05:00Caldecott Summer for meI decided I wanted to do a little Caldecott Reading myself so I read <i>Number the Stars</i> by Lois Lowry. It would have been over Elli's head but it was a wonderful book and I would definitely recommend it for young readers from say 10 years old and up!trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-30011977515396212552011-06-29T09:47:00.000-05:002011-06-29T09:47:01.766-05:00Caldecott SummerWe are headed back to the library today so I am posting our most recent Caldecott Medal Winner books that we've read. <br />
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A Story A Story - an African Tale Retold and Illustrated by Gail E. Haley<br />
Chanticleer And The Fox adapted and illustrated by Barbara Cooney.<br />
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we also read Stone Soup retold by Heather Forest and Illustrated by Susan Gaber which is a Storytelling World Award Winner<br />
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Hope your summer is going well and you are getting well read too!<br />
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xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-69007116629310345602011-06-17T09:45:00.001-05:002011-06-17T09:48:09.946-05:00another Caldecott Book and a book for the MamaWe've just finished The Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney, winner of the 1980 Caldecott Medal. This is an interesting read to show preschoolers how life once was...a rhythm of life sort of story although very fun. We enjoyed it.<br />
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I just finished <i>The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks</i> by Rebecca Skloot. It was an interesting read but I'd only give it a 3 on a 1-5 scale. If you were only going to read one or two books this summer you may be better served picking a different one. The problem with this book is neither the writing nor even the story. The writing is well done, the story intriguing, interesting, at times heartbreaking. Sadly the problem with this book is the reality that life doesn't always honor those who need to be honored and people just go on living and dying with their hurts and brokenness caused by others. I know it doesn't sound very uplifting which is why you may want to pick another book to read through the dog days of summer. Like maybe <i>the Ox-Cart Man</i>! ;p<br />
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xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-76788765250891250612011-06-14T11:10:00.001-05:002011-06-14T11:10:46.013-05:00Caldecott SummerWe read two more Caldecott Medal Winners this week!<br />
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One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian <br />
"The Caldecott Medal Winner for the most distinguished picture book of 1972 "One fine day a fox traveled through the great forest. When he reached the other side he was very thirsty." The jaunty red fox stole milk from an old farm woman, lost his tail under the annoyed woman's knife, and spent the day bargaining to get it back. This humorous retelling of a favorite Armenian folktale is a story small children will follow and "read along" with ease."<br />
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Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes<br />
2005 Caldecott Medal Winner "When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it."<br />
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Hurray for great books!!! Hope your summer is filled with them<br />
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xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-52220597511411915572011-06-08T09:19:00.001-05:002011-06-08T09:21:06.759-05:00A Caldecott Summer!Summer is my favorite time for so many reasons .... but mostly for the reading. I know it doesn't matter you can read anytime of the year and I do, but I have so many pleasant memories all the way back to my childhood of long summer days spent reading under a tree, beside a pool or sitting near a window listening to a summer rain with a good book in my hand. The library was a good place to escape the summer heat, so that might be a bit of the inspiration for all the reading. Libraries are one of my favorite places as well as ice cream shops and coffee shops, museums - but I digress.<br />
This summer is going to be our Caldecott Summer. As Elli makes her way through the first readers and the picture books, while we listen to Ramona the Pest and Little House in the Big Wood in the car, or watch yet one more Barbie movie - this summer we will be making our way through the Caldecott Medal Winners (appropriate for her age). We had previously read (and watched) Madeline's Rescue. <br />
This week we read The Little Island written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard. It won the 1947 Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for Children. We loved it! The story and illustrations were wonderful! If you get a chance pick up a copy and enjoy!!<br />
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xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-24434963060552797262011-06-03T12:29:00.001-05:002011-06-03T12:32:03.548-05:00Seriously.... six monthsI have been reading ... honest I just haven't visited this space for a while. Of course I'm supposed to be doing 10 other things right now (which may be why I'm here now.) I just signed up for the summer reading club at the wylie library - why? well because I read and because I like prizes of course.<br />
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It is summer so I'm hoping to amp up the reading time as well as art time and writing time and and and .... so who knows.... in the meantime see the below list of books I've read so far this year (you can check out my <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/1ginab ">shelfari</a> to see if I liked them or not - skip the pearl by steinbeck unless your looking for a truly sad and horrible story)<br />
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Gina's 50 Books <br />
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1. The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke<br />
2. The Teachable Moment: Seizing the Instants When Children Learn by Rebecca Branstetter<br />
3. Soaking 101 by Faith D. Blatchford<br />
4. What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways by Lysa TerKeurst <br />
5. The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie<br />
6. Bridge To Happiness by Jill Barnett <br />
7. Victorious Mindsets by Steve Backlund<br />
8. Life from Scratch by Melissa Ford<br />
9. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory<br />
10. The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows<br />
11. Brangelina: The Untold Story of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie by Ian Halperin <br />
12. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (Author) <br />
13. The Friday Night Knitting Clubby Kate Jacobs <br />
14. Living Rich by Spending Smart: How to Get More of What You Really Want by Gregory Karp<br />
15. Do the Work by Steven Pressfield<br />
16. The Pearl by John Steinbeck<br />
17. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo<br />
18. From the Listening Hills by Louis L'Amour (read this one!)<br />
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http://www.shelfari.com/1ginab <br />
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I've done quite a bit of reading in the late night hours on my smartphone so to the inventor of kindle - thank you thank you thank you<br />
<br />
cya soon<br />
xoxo<br />
gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-24732217911543377282011-01-01T09:52:00.001-06:002011-01-01T09:53:33.588-06:002011 - Starting with "The Hidden Power of a Woman"2011 I have such reading plans for you! If you know me at all, you know that I have more than a minor passion for reading (although you may not be able to tell from just reading the posts here in recent months). <br />
<br />
Reading is like chocolate to me - I love it, love it, love it!!! <br />
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I plan to do more posting here not only about books I'm reading but also articles I've read both in print and online. You can expect to see more quotes here in the coming year as well!!<br />
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Currently I am reading <i>The Hidden Power of a Woman</i> by Bonnie & Mahesh Chavda. <br />
<br />
"Rahab's is a story of the hidden power of a seemingly obscure woman's faith in action. Hers is a memorial to the power of one woman's response to the good news of the covenant with the God of the Bible. It is an eternal witness to how simple deeds done by the activation of faith from the heart can bring one from death to life. <b>Small actions, even a single decision, can be the key to unlock a destiny boundless in its unfolding</b>." (emphasis added gb)"<br />
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Pretty exciting stuff!! Although I'm only half way through I'd definitely recommend this one for your New Year's reading!<br />
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xoxo<br />
g<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/TR9MZpAkaFI/AAAAAAAAAik/Gj5MlyFkxKE/s1600/1454793-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/TR9MZpAkaFI/AAAAAAAAAik/Gj5MlyFkxKE/s400/1454793-L.jpg" /></a></div>trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-59337790118134964632010-12-31T23:47:00.001-06:002010-12-31T23:47:55.872-06:00Happy New Year!trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-28108456846087766342010-05-30T01:03:00.000-05:002010-05-30T01:06:22.418-05:00Not Without Hope<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/TAIAU8WnXNI/AAAAAAAAAbo/3DdBSgPSSzg/s1600/notwithouthope_large%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/TAIAU8WnXNI/AAAAAAAAAbo/3DdBSgPSSzg/s200/notwithouthope_large%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476940456634309842" /></a><br />This one made me cry several times. I knew the ending but kept hoping it would turn out differently, like watching a sad movie where you just want to scream "don't do it" but they always do.<br /><br />It was really well written and I thought very insightful. I liked it, you might to, especially if you're looking for an excuse for a good cry.trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-53113186983318831252010-05-27T13:12:00.000-05:002010-05-27T13:21:35.128-05:00Double Minds<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_64Jh5EGyI/AAAAAAAAAbg/_bWPTP_WLL0/s1600/250630%5B1%5D.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_64Jh5EGyI/AAAAAAAAAbg/_bWPTP_WLL0/s200/250630%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476016670785149730" /></a><br /><br />Double Minds by Terri Blackstock. I have not ever been disappointed with a Terri Blacksock book. It feels like summer and this is a perfect book to kickoff your summer reading, run over to Mardel pick up a copy, grab your bathing suit and some sunscreen and head down to the pool ... I love a murder mystery and this is a good one ... enjoy!trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-26056445441694115312010-05-24T17:24:00.000-05:002010-05-24T17:37:50.553-05:00you couldn't tell but I've been reading alot latelyIn the past week I've read: <br /><em><br />Holy Crap</em> by my friend Judy Kennedy ... really great! (this book has no photo online sorry)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_r_OHsPltI/AAAAAAAAAbY/P3PHh8u9hB8/s1600/35978%5B1%5D.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_r_OHsPltI/AAAAAAAAAbY/P3PHh8u9hB8/s200/35978%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474968915070129874" /></a><br /><br /><em>Unshaken </em>by Francine Rivers .... this was actually a reread but if its more than 10 years I figure its like reading it new .... again really great!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_r-hAFELOI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/DKDpPEm2kDo/s1600/61X4QRXVGSL._SL500_AA300_%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_r-hAFELOI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/DKDpPEm2kDo/s200/61X4QRXVGSL._SL500_AA300_%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474968139932642530" /></a><br /><br /><em>Politically Correct Bedtime Stores</em> by James Garner .... funny ... very very funny<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_r-INnDPgI/AAAAAAAAAbI/Z3-8n1sOz84/s1600/9780151012947%5B1%5D.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S_r-INnDPgI/AAAAAAAAAbI/Z3-8n1sOz84/s200/9780151012947%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474967714068119042" /></a><br /><em>The Moon Opera</em> by Feiyu Bi .... you could skip this one ... or not I found that even though it was short there was nothing sweet about it and if I hadn't been trying really hard to escape to someplace other then where I was this one would have gone back to the library.<br /><br />I'm reading a couple by Kevin Dedman right now ... plus I have a whole stack of books just waiting for my perusal - I love summer!!<br /><br />xoxo<br />gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-49870087903546269672010-05-12T11:59:00.000-05:002010-05-12T12:07:36.242-05:00Stardust and Girl With a Pearl EarringTwo quick reads. I haven't blogged here in a bit but life has been busy and a struggle. So in the midst of the struggle I tend to read. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S-rfTMsZs3I/AAAAAAAAAaY/Q5_u2tGxWII/s1600/200px-StardustGaimanbookcover%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S-rfTMsZs3I/AAAAAAAAAaY/Q5_u2tGxWII/s200/200px-StardustGaimanbookcover%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470430218312856434" /></a><br /><br />I'm a little girl at heart so fairy tales make me happy. I loved this book. I saw the movie first and was not overly impressed but the book stole my heart. Two thumbs up!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S-rgEREc9II/AAAAAAAAAag/21JIoh10AYw/s1600/2865%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 105px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S-rgEREc9II/AAAAAAAAAag/21JIoh10AYw/s200/2865%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470431061301064834" /></a><br /><br />This book was completely absorbing, I could barely put it down to go to sleep and then got up in the middle of the night to finish it.trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-88914152642138395192010-04-20T16:44:00.000-05:002010-04-20T16:54:31.521-05:00The Angels of Morgan Hill<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S84ikhdLy3I/AAAAAAAAAaI/8Mm1QbbN9Ik/s1600/AngelsMorgan_sm%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S84ikhdLy3I/AAAAAAAAAaI/8Mm1QbbN9Ik/s200/AngelsMorgan_sm%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462341408898403186" /></a><br />I just finished <em>The Angels of Morgan Hill </em>by author Donna VanLiere. This was a great book. I just kept reading even though I was tired I kept turning the pages until I got to the end; and then I was glad I did. I loved this book. Donna Van Liere is also the author of <em>The Christmas Shoes</em>.trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-60636764053799366872010-04-17T09:54:00.000-05:002010-04-17T10:01:48.160-05:00"Louder Than Words"<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S8nMhlizPwI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/HqwXGaqGo9U/s1600/204518185%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S8nMhlizPwI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/HqwXGaqGo9U/s200/204518185%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461120900549263106" /></a><br />This one is a must read for anyone who has children, is planning on having children and knows someone with children. Whatever you may believe about the links between autism and vaccinations, toxins and diet you need to read this book if just to have an understanding of the other side of the argument. This book gives hope to anyone who has an autistic child, a hope that they too can "pull their baby through the window."<br /><br />PS I found my copy at Dollar Tree so really at that price there is no good reason not to buy a copy today and read it!trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-51093067223864545372010-04-13T17:16:00.000-05:002010-04-14T12:39:05.778-05:00you're wondering aren't you ....<a href="http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/ebooks/product/400/000/000/000/000/091/306/400000000000000091306_s4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/ebooks/product/400/000/000/000/000/091/306/400000000000000091306_s4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I've been unpacking and birthday celebrating and gym joining so I haven't been doing a lot of reading. Last night I read a couple of chapters in <em>When Invisible Children Sing</em>. This book really tears at my heart and I would recommend it to anyone who is consumed with their own issues. You will definitely start to think beyond yourself.<br /><br />"For six months before I came to La Paz I studied hermeneutics in Boston. Hermeneutics is the theological analysis and investigation of biblical texts. Sitting in the safe confines of Boston, where I was never hungry, cold or in danger, I made a commitment to a more godly life. I was prepared to make the sacrifices and take the hardships related to humbly living such a life. Now I lie here in the dark in a cold unfinished church , just a step or two off the La Paz streets. I've been asked to bury a baby girl. And this simple request has me scared of sleeping, nay of dreaming."<br /><br />Can one person make a difference? yes Do we ever really know what the sacrifices we are called to make are going to look like? probably not.trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-45745644359122118462010-04-07T12:13:00.000-05:002010-04-07T12:26:04.833-05:00"I Heard That Song Before"<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S7zAJ5KGe0I/AAAAAAAAAYY/Dx-KVDWZr5E/s1600/I-Heard-That-Song-Before.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 123px; height: 187px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S7zAJ5KGe0I/AAAAAAAAAYY/Dx-KVDWZr5E/s200/I-Heard-That-Song-Before.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457448124660742978" /></a><br />While on vacation I read "I Heard That Song Before" by Mary Higgins Clark. What a fun vacation read. If you get a chance pack this one in your beach bag or pool bag or picnic basket and enjoy it while resting outside somewhere fun.trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-66580433883579796912010-03-16T09:29:00.000-05:002010-03-16T09:35:02.377-05:00How to Hug a Porcupine<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/images/dyn/cover/?source=9781578262939&height=300&maxwidth=170"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 257px;" src="http://www.randomhouse.com/images/dyn/cover/?source=9781578262939&height=300&maxwidth=170" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I've just finished How to <em>Hug a Porcupine, Easy Ways to Love the Difficult People in Your Life</em>. If you have a porcupine (or two or ten) in your life you may want to consider giving it a quick looksee. It was fun and interesting and hopefully I will remember to employ some of the tips in the books such as looking for your porcupine's warning signs, keeping my own quills in and of course trying to speak porcupine to mention just a few.<br /><br />xoxo<br />gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-70763108442994076252010-03-09T21:27:00.000-06:002010-03-09T21:35:34.794-06:00Where is Home, Little Pip?<a href="http://static.bookdepository.com/assets/images/book/large/9781/8473/9781847383884.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 430px;" src="http://static.bookdepository.com/assets/images/book/large/9781/8473/9781847383884.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I think I've found a new favorite for Elli. Maybe its because she loved it maybe its just because we've recently moved and I know so many friends who are moving right now but I loved, loved, loved this book about a little penguin who wanders a bit too far from home. My favorite quote from the book, <strong><em>Where is Home, Little Pip?</em></strong>:<br /><br />"Where is home? Is it far or near?<br />Is a pebbly nest what we all hold dear?<br />No, home is where there's nothing to fear.<br />Since we're together, home is right here!"<br /><br />xoxo<br />gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-87372117257152534852010-03-08T21:27:00.000-06:002010-03-08T21:55:50.741-06:00Beloved, Conversations with Henri NouwenI just finished <em><strong>Beloved</strong>, Henri Nouwen in Conversation</em>. I am a Nouwen fan and this book spoke to me almost from the very first word. Some interesting thoughts/quotes:<br /><br />"You are created by God who wants all your attention and who wants to give you all the love you need." pg 9<br /><br />"Solitude and silence, ... are ways to get to the heart, because the heart is the place where God speaks to us, where we hear the voice who calls us the beloved." pg 21<br /><br />"God loves me from all eternity to all eternity." pg 38<br /><br />"Burn out is basically activity without faith..." pg 46 (isn't<em> that</em> something to consider)<br /><br />"Experiment with your capacity to allow grace to change and open your heart, even in the midst of chaos, to give out thanks." pg 51<br /><br />This little book was only 52 pages but it was awesome and it had alot for me to think about. For those of you in North Dallas Mardel has it on sale right now for a buck so it might be worth it to pick it up.<br /><br />The one thing that stood out to me the most, however was this:<br /><br />"how do you embrace your reality and start making it God's way of calling you to share with the a world a certain gift?'<br /><br />xoxo<br /><br />gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-43440851211657304952010-03-06T00:00:00.000-06:002010-03-06T00:11:05.053-06:00"humanity's most basic sin"I was reading in "Table Talk" a monthly devotional from Ligonier Ministries and Dr. R.C. Sproul in a section called Coram Deo <em>Living before the face of God </em>for March 4th<br /><br />"In Roman's 1:18-32 Paul locates humanity's most basic sin in our refusal as fallen creatures to honor God "or give thanks to him." Lack of gratitude for all of God's blessings is the first step toward idolatry, and the more we have the easier it can be to forget that all we have comes from the Lord's hand."<br /><br />Interesting ... because of course I find myself regularly in that grumbling place. I had to work through this tonight with Elli. She had asked for some candy out of one of those gumball kind of machines and I had obliged. Out popped 6 round sort of sweettart type candies. I put five of them in her little pocket and popped one in my mouth. For the next next 20 minutes on and off she repeatedly returned in a grumbling manner to the one candy she didn't get despite gentle(and then again and again and again and then finally not so gentle) reminders that she should in fact be happy that she received 5 candies and not complaining about the 1 that she didn't. I need to have that attitude of thankfulness for however and whatever God sends being grateful for what I have received because his gifts are seriously so awesome and so much more than I deserve.<br /><br />xoxo<br />gtrying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-27507209705979604272010-02-03T08:54:00.000-06:002010-02-03T09:10:21.643-06:00Art & Fear, Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of ARTMAKINGLet me just say I LOVE THIS BOOK! There is so much in here that I want to tell somebody. Poor Gerry has been trying to read next to me in bed the last few nights and I keep stopping him to read one portion after another. Many of these lessons are life lessons not just art lessons .... and more personally important is that because I am an artist (yes I said it - creative in many ways) these life lessons need to be taking hold as I try to do art as writer, painter, drawer, ,musician Let me share just a few (or more):<br /><br />"The best you can do is make art you care about - and lots of it!" pg 6<br /><br />"All you can work on today is directly in front of you. Your job is to develop an imagination of the possible." pg 16<br /><br />"Making art can feel dangerous and revealing. Making art <em>is</em> dangerous and revealing. Making art precipates self-doubt, stirring deep water that lay between what you know you should be, and what you fear you might be." pg 13<br /><br />"By definition,<em> whatever</em> you have is exactly what you need to produce your best work." pg 26<br /><br />And this one just made me laugh - made me think of all the Israelites wondering around in the desert.<br /><br />"When Columbus returned from the New World and proclaimed the earth was round, almost everyone else went right on believing the earth was flat. <em>Then they died </em>- and the next generation grew up believing that the world was round. <em>That's </em>how people change their minds."trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-17616818769490741302010-01-28T09:21:00.000-06:002010-01-28T10:07:58.327-06:00Silent Savior (Daring to Believe He's Still There)Although I have purposed to write about things I'm reading I want this also to be a place where that reading intersects my life or vice versa. I'm taking a bible study class about Isaiah. I can say its the most indepth study I've ever taken and its more than a little bit scary. In that class the other night we talked about how God spoke some of the very same things to Micah that He spoke to Isaish (they were contemporaries) and how God speaks the same message to different churches all at the same time because He wants them to know "This Is What I'm Doing Right Now!" and perhaps we are not quite listening as we ought to be.<br /><br />That of course is the cruxt of what is going on in my life right now (all the time). If God is trying to speak to me He does it in several different ways because.... well I'm not quite getting it when he says it the first time - as an aside we just have been reading a book with Elli called "Sleep Big Bear Sleep". In the book Old Man Winter keeps saying "Sleep Big Bear Sleep" but Big Bear doesn't hear very well so he hears "Drive a Jeep Big Bear" or "Dive Deep Big Bear" or even "Sweep Big Bear".<br /><br />With all of that said I know that I know a couple of things - if we're not listening or looking to try to hear we won't. If I'm not opening the Bible or devotions or books about God I just won't even hear what He's saying because its often like the wind, one time on Sunday is just not enough for me to recognize or even remember that He spoke.<br /><br />Over the last several months (and even years) I've heard God speak some very specific things about healing in our lives and the lives of our friends, in recent months we've been believing for deliverance from financial bondage(that we brought ourselves into)and for a job and a place to live for our friends. Feeling tired and frustrated and irritated at what appeared to be unchanging circumstance while living in circumstance that required God to move I came across this book yesterday - "Silent Savior (Daring to Believe He's Still There" and this was the very first quote:<br /><br />"Perhaps the greatest belief is believing when you don't see any miracles, visions or sign of tangible hope, but you are teeter-tottering on the ledge of utter unbelief. Belief in spite of the nothingness just might be when the greatest faith is found. "Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief"."<br /><br />I remember having a conversation with a friend of mine about the Chris Rice song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-QtAngYBjU">Smell the Color Nine</a>:<br /><br />I would take no for an answer,<br />Just to know I heard you speak,<br />And I'm wondering why I've never,<br />Seen the signs they claim they see,<br />A lotta special revelations,<br />Meant for everybody but me,<br />Maybe I don't truly know You,<br />or maybe I just simply believe...<br /><br />I'm the type of person who hears God speak but in those times when He seems to be simply silent "simply believing" comes very hard for me. It was very funny though this morning when the call for the face to face interview for our friends came, and Brandon's healing and signs of a miraculous healing for John Paul began to manifest that although I was so incredibly joyful there was deep with in a slight rebuke from the Lord as I heard him whisper "I told you I would ... why did you not believe me?" My response of course is like Thomas Lord now that I see I believe but please help me believe even when I'm not seeing.trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-666902742506988013.post-6755498347828877832010-01-27T17:48:00.000-06:002010-01-27T18:03:50.172-06:00The Kiss of Heaven (part one)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S2DQ_bYg1YI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/1wbg8tqkoOQ/s1600-h/worshipmusic_2086_2036885%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sK35ElEpLHw/S2DQ_bYg1YI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/1wbg8tqkoOQ/s200/worshipmusic_2086_2036885%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431570938709726594" /></a><br /><br />I'm currently reading "The Kiss of Heaven" by Darlene Zschech and I read this encouraging word because of course I need rescuing every moment of every day:<br /><br />"The Father longs to rescue you every moment of every day. He wants your testimony of His mercy to be new each morning. He has new ideas to give us and new understanding to reveal to us. His matchless creativity is unending and largely unexplored and He wants to demonstrate His magnificence to the world through the inspiring God filled lives of His people."<br /><br />So far the book has been amazing and there have been so many other things that I would love to share but let me just leave you with this one and when you come back there will be - I'm absolutely certain - another (or so)<br /><br />"By a miracle, God can suspend natural laws, if needed, to work out His plans on our behalf."<br /><br />This book is a great encouragement to stir up those natural creative gifts that have been placed in each and every person by a creative God! We are made in his image why be surprised that he has placed creativity in you?trying to write ...http://www.blogger.com/profile/00392798039994083310noreply@blogger.com0