The Waiting *Book Review*

The Waiting by Cathy LaGow.  This book was recommended to me by my best friend.  Let me just say I was not disappointed. This book was fantastic. 

The true story of a 17 year old girl Minka who has to give up her baby for adoption in 1929.  Minka lead a very sheltered life, at age 16 she literally still believed that babies were delivered by storks. She finds herself the victim of rape and subsequently with child.  She is then sent off to a home for girls who find themselves in this sort of "trouble".

Minka it turns out is quite the remarkable girl.  I very much admire her strong faith and character. She never forgot her baby but prayed sincerely for the child. Always wondering and hoping about the life she lead.

It was truly and inspiring and heartwarming story.  Minka encountered many troubles and trials but never let them make her bitter. She worked hard and had a loving, resilient, forgiving heart.

Meet Me at the Museum *Book Review*

Book 10 of 2019.  Meet Me at the Me Museum by Anne Youngson.  

I came across this book on the WSIRN Podcast. It is an epistolary novel.  I learned that new term/genre from the podcast. That is, a story of  letters.  In this case between a farm wife in England, Tina and a museum curator, Anders in Denmark.  Tina starts by writing an old professor about a mummified bog man she learned about back in her school days. The professor has passed away, Anders answers her letter and they begin corresponding. They both are suffering from loss and draw a measure of comfort from one another. As the letters continue you can see their affection for one another growing. 

This again brought up some issues for me regarding marriage/trust/boundaries.  It bothered me a bit that she was married yet (although "only" via letter) was developing an intimate friendship/relationship with another man. Where is the line- was she crossing it? My personal feeling is yes.  She had recently lost her best friend, and I get she was trying to fill that void. Perhaps the marriage wasn't all she desired or needed. I got the impression that she and her husband barely conversed. And that made me sad. Perhaps I am reading to much into a fictional person, in a fictional book, that was merely meant to entertain me. Maybe I'm too old fashioned. Stories about infidelity make me sad. Marriage is hard, but should be treasured and protected and nurtured. I'm sad for Tina that she seemed to feel her life was passing her by. I'm sad that she was so lonely she had to reach out to a stranger to find understanding, comfort and companionship.

In spite of all that- I found it a sweet, slow moving story that offers hope and new life and new beginnings.  It left me feeling somewhat melancholy yet still hopeful.

On a bit of a side note- after hearing the term epistolary novel, I tried to recall if I have ever read one before. Immediately Dear Mr Henshaw came to mind.  I read it in class in elementary school 4th or 5th grade? I don't remember which. And truthfully I don't recall too much about it other than it had to do with letters. Perhaps I'll pick it up at the library. Do you ever re-read books you read as a kid now that you are grown? 

Weekend this & that

We had quite the snow storm this weekend. Like even church was canceled...I think that was maybe the 3rd time our church has canceled like in my lifetime.

Monday morning brought bitter cold!

Chance isn't too sure about all this snow!

Sunday I did some baking- cinnamon rolls! I have been wanting to make them for ages. A snowed-in Sunday seemed like the perfect opportunity!

Soup and bread for dinner!

This bread is so yummy! Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel seasoning is the perfect touch!

Also spent some time reading and watching Netflix with the Mister. <3

Were you snowed in this weekend too?  What did you do to pass the super snowy Sunday?

Brain on Fire *Book Review*

Book 4 of 2019 | Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness | Susannah Cahalan

I came across this book from a the What Should I Read Next? Podcast Ep. 166.  This is quickly becoming my favorite podcast.  I have a couple other books from this particular episode on my ever growing TBR list.  I read the kindle version from my library.

This is the somewhat chilling story of Susannah's illness and subsequent recovery.  The brain is such a complex thing. A healthy brain something we take for granted.  Susannah was 24 a vibrant young reporter living in New York.  She started having troubling symptoms like numbness in her left hand. Mood swings. Paranoia.  Insomnia. She soon spiraled to erratic behavior, began having seizures.  She winds up at NYU with the best neurologists in the country.  Her condition baffling. Test after test coming back normal. Eventually one doctor discovers her illness is an autoimmune disease. Basically her own body is attacking her brain.  Why? They still don't know. But she was treated and obviously since this is a memoir, she eventually recovers.

 Much of her ordeal she doesn't remember at all. I can't even begin to imagine how scary it had to be for her and her loved ones.  Its crazy to think how quickly our whole world can be turned upside down.  While I don't want to live in the fear of the unknown- it also makes me want to treasure the life I have been blessed with. My sound mind and the many gifts of today.

"The brain is radically resilient, it can create new neurons and make new connections through cortical remapping, a process called neurogenesis.  Our minds have the incredible capacity to both alter the strength of connections among neurons, essentially rewiring them, and create entirely new pathways."  Brain on Fire pp. 197

A Fall of Marigolds *book review*

Book 3 of 2019.  A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner. I came across this book on Modern Mrs Darcy's list of Kindle Deals.  The cover immediately drew me in. I checked online and found the kindle version was currently available from my local library. Later that day (or the next) while clicking around Modern Mrs Darcy's blog I saw the book on her list of Un-put-downable books.  I smiled to myself eager to dive in.

The story takes place in New York City and alternates between two women linked by a scarf passed down through the generations.  A nurse Clara who survived the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911 and Taryn a widow and survivor of 9-11.  Both women struggling to make peace with what the tragedies took from them.  Stuck in their own in-between places. The main narrative is with Clara in 1911, she works as a nurse on Ellis Island with the immigrants coming into the country.  I enjoyed her story, as well as the peek back in history. I had never known much about the Fire other than hearing that it had happened. 

It really was intriguing tale, one that is easy to get lost in. I spent much of the weekend with my nose in my kindle to find out how their stories play out. Maybe it was my overall mood of the day but a couple places brought tears to my eyes. It also reminded me that there is always, always hope and sometimes things are not as they seem on the surface.  Its well worth seeking the truth and whole story.

I love a story that makes you believe in love. <3 I enjoy books that go back and forth between historical and present day.  For some reason I also enjoy books about NYC.  So all in all this book was right up my alley I guess. I look forward to reading more by this author.

"... despair is love's first enemy.

Do not choose to abandon love because
you are afraid that it will crush you. 
Love is the only true constant in a fragile world.

Don't despair. Be happy. Choose hope."

~A Fall of Marigolds

January Goal *Check in*

Its the 15th! Can you believe the first month of 2019 is already over.  I'm not doing too hot on my goals. I kinda feel like my life is in a holding pattern while we wait to hear on our *new* house.  89.5% of our house is packed and waiting.

January Goals-

• Don't complain or gossip so hard but becoming more conscious of it.  That's the first step.
• Say good things about ME ^^ same ^^
• Answer honestly and speak from the heart This is a hard one for me in certain situations but I'm trying and that's all anyone can do right?
• Keep counting gifts my list keeps growing. So Win.
• Run 3x's week- 40 miles/month FAIL ran ZERO times last week. 
• Clean Kitchen before bed moderately OK - getting better.
• Establish a nightly routine nope. nope. nope. I have thought about it...that's as far I have gotten.  Although last night I did consciously stop looking at my phone/social media at 10 pm.
• Move to our new house! big fat NOPE- not that this is within my control at all. Yesterday the mister and I just decided to patiently wait it out. Stop stressing and leave it in God's hands

Overall 2019 goals... yup pretty much missing the mark on every. single. one.  But its new day. I'm still trying. Do. Not. Give. Up.

• Choose JOY- keeping counting my gifts big and small each day.  just 3 a day and over the course of the year- I will have over 1000 blessings counted. I will sometimes list them here.  Also will start a tab at the top with running list for 2019 doing ok
• Exercise at least 4 days a week.
• Hit 10000 steps each day (already I fell short on this one yesterday came in at 9000-something) But its a new day!
• Bullet Journal each day/night to help me keep on track 
• Make manageable monthly goals/bucket list
• Half Marathon PR
• Drink more water doing better but still falling short
• Menu plan- including breakfast and snacks
• Read 100 books- last year I read 88! So I want to try and break 100 this year. 3 so far- on track according to my goodreads.  I have so far reviewed 2 of the 3.
• Run 500 miles- last year I ran roughly 348 miles.  500 miles is  an average 10.5 miles a week which is totally doable.  8 miles so far this month
• I have a whole other list for Pampered Chef- but honestly am pretty discouraged about that right now so we'll save that for another day. Did a LIVE last night

Carry On, Warrior *book review*

I started out loving this book.  I read Love Warrior, by the same author last year, in fact finishing it on our 20th anniversary weekend. My overall good feeling for that book is why I picked up this one.  I loved the story of hope and redemption and was hoping for more of that in this book.

This book basically tells the store of how she discovers she is pregnant and that gives her the jolt she needs to overcome her addictions,begin her life anew and her story from there as a wife and mother.  She overcame some seriously rough things in her life from bulimia to alcoholism.  She was headed down a dark path and turned it all around. Over all this book offers great hope and is inspiring.  It has short chapters and is a fairly easy read.  Parts were amusing and I found myself chuckling along.  Especially as she talked about mothering.

And then there were sections sprinkled through out where she is more spiritual and talks about her love for Jesus. Which don't get me wrong- I love Jesus and I'm all for it.  But a lot of her theology left me questioning. It made me want to digger deeper into what and why I believe what I do... which is a good thing I guess.  After all this is not the Bible just one persons opinions and views- which she is more than entitled too.  Overall her message seems to be just love everybody and be kind.  Which is a good message, just not the whole message.

My biggest beef with the whole thing is with the author personally and not with the book at all. A lot of this book is about her relationship with her husband Craig.  Right around the half way point she happens to mention he is Asian and her children are "brown". I wanted a visual and googled her. Hoping to see a happy family... which I did... but also lots of pictures of Glennon very cozy with a female "soccer star".  Hmmm weird- but continuing to scroll I saw a very decidedly "wedding looking" picture of Glennon and the soccer star. And my heart sank a little bit. Turns out she divorced her husband and married her girlfriend. Its none of my business I guess but it just tainted the whole thing for me. I just hate how cheap and disposable marriage has become in our world.  But maybe that's a post for another day.

That being said if I leave my personal feelings about marriage out of it.  If I take it for what it is- a slice of her life and don't think about what I know now comes next. I did enjoy the book.

Here are some of my favorite quotes-

• "Housekeeping and marriage are complicated" p 76 
• "Be kinder than necessary, being mindful that the piece of art it took her a lifetime to weave-- her masterpiece-- she gave to you, to keep you warm at night. One day you'll give your masterpiece away too. Be simple. Be Sophisticated."  p 88 (Talking about the relationship between mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws)
• "I am learning to listen to the still, small voice telling me not to run- not today at least- and I am taking each day as it comes. One at a time. Carrying on." p 102
• "Because love is not something for which to search or wait or hope or dream.  Its simply something to do." p 108
• "Forgiveness and grace are like oxygen: we can't offer it to others unless we put our masks on first." p 120
• "Because hospitality is not about fancy table settings, just like writing isn't about fancy words. They are both about letting people see you.  Letting people in now, not waiting until things are perfect."p 216
• "Maybe hostessing is not really about host, but the guest. Maybe it's a sacred spiritual practice because every person who crosses our doorsteps is Jesus really.  And each guest has something to teach us if we're present enough to learn.  Maybe hospitality is not about my home, or my food, or my lack of stuff.  Maybe it's just about soaking people in." p 216 *disclaimer to be clear I don't think every person who crosses my door step is Jesus but it brings to mind that passage where Jesus says whatever we do for the sick, the poor, the hungry etc... is like doing for Him.(Matthew 25:31-46)* 
• I also especially liked how she talked about sitting next to the perfectly coiffed old lady at Easter service... "I admired her sculpted white curls, her tailored pink suit, her pale pink fingernails, her delicate hands, which were wrapped around a snazzy pink plaid clutch.  She wore a pearl necklace with matching earrings and perfectly applied cotton candy lipstick.  During the service I looked down at her ankles and noticed a blue crab peeking through her nude hose.  She saw me looking and winked at me.  My heart skipped a beat.  I missed the entire sermon thinking about her.  I've decided that dainty tattooed elderly ladies in church pews are my favorite kind of people ever. I can't wait to be one." p 236
• And lastly- "There is no substituted on God's Green Earth for girlfriends." p 241 With this I whole hardheartedly agree.

On the whole this is my take away from the book... nothing is certain in this world. Not even (maybe especially) marriages-- work hard on mine and trust God to sustain us.  Life, marriage and housework are not easy things. Be kinder than you need to be. Love on people. That's what Jesus would do (he also said go and sin no more...but again post for another day).  Enjoy the little moments in life.  Find your tribe and love them hard.  I am so thankful for the friends God has brought into my life. Near and far. <3

Bookish Things

Listening to the What Should I Read Next? Podcast as lead me down a rabbit hole of other bookish instagrams and podcasts.  And leaves me longing to seek out an indie bookshop in my area, start a book club or literary society and basically forsake all activities but reading!

This morning the podcast (ep. 164) featured a couple she (Anne) was helping to pick their next read.  Can I just say I am insanely jealous of a couple that reads together! He even proposed at a bookstore! Anyway... they have their own podcast too  He Read She Read- which I plan to check out next!

Today feels like such a good day to curl up with a quilt, my pup and cup of something warm and tasty and a book. The kids have a snow day and I am bummed to have to work. I'd much rather hibernate in the winter and by hibernate I mean read.

You may have noticed I added a 2019 Books tab to the top of my blog.  I made my goal this year to read 100 books.  I read 88 last year and I just want to see if I can break 100. But at the same time I don't want to just whip through books to up my count. I want to be mindful and savor and also expand my horizons.  So maybe I'll read 100 books or maybe not. I want to try and review each book I read this year.

Two books on my list I have been wanting to read forever and actually own in print- Anna Karenina (I bought this one in VA Beach years ago on vacation when it was Oprah's book club pick- I started it, very much enjoyed what I read then put it down and never finished it.) and Pride and Prejudice. I long to be a Jane Austen fan. I have started her books and always abandon. I feel like a well read person should read Jane Austen and other classics. These two have been sitting on my nightstand for at least 3 years (well before I packed them :P).

Want to see what I read last year? I thought this little report goodreads put together was pretty neat (click the picture to check it out).

This year 55% of the books I read were fiction. Which I found interesting. I usually read far more fiction than non-fiction. Or at least I think I do...I never really tracked it before. I did read 13 memoirs though so that increased my non-fiction count. Of my fiction books the majority of them were romance/chick lit- not surprising. Also 56% of the books I read were Kindle books. 82% percent of the books I read this year were from the library. Of the 88 books I read this year there are only 2 I have little to no recollection of.  One reason I want to write reviews this year and also why I picked it.

Probably I am the only one who finds these stats interesting.  But I found them highly satisfying.  I made an excel spreadsheet with lots of little pie charts...that made me a little too happy =D  This is just a portion of it. I plan to print it out and make a reading binder. I also plan to print out the goodreads report. I may need to get more ink and some quality paper for that one.

Here's to many more books and lots of reading in 2019!

Weekend things and such

For Today Tuesday January 8, 2019

Looking out my window  School was closed today because of ice.  Sadly I still had to go to work.

I am thinking too many things.

I am thankful I've been pretty grumpy this week (yes, I know its only Tuesday).  I'm working on it.

• Ice melting
• Mik had an awesome 1st day back at Houghton
• juicy pear
• finishing month end reports
• painting my nails

One of my favorite things helping other people find recipes they'll love =D #mealtimesmatter

I am reading  Carry on Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

I am watching Hannah and I started watching the latest season of Worst Cooks in America last night. I have no words.  I can't fathom how an adult can be that clueless in the kitchen.  I'm also re-watching The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Amazon Prime {fair warning this one has a lot of bad language}.

I am listening a podcast by Modern Mrs Darcy- its an old one she had linked in our 2019 reading challenge about how people track their reading. I very much enjoyed. =) I will now be subscribing to her podcasts. I just started listening to podcasts in November.  My sister recommended the Rambling Runner to me and I have since be adding to my list ;-)

I am hoping we get our closing date soon

I am learning to be patient {sigh} and not give up.

 In my kitchen Saturday night Ryan and I teamed up for dinner. I made sesame chicken- in the Quick Cooker.  Ryan made vegetable ramen and honey baked cauliflower. Also we had eggrolls and a chopped asian salad from a Aldi kit.

Last night I made Taco Pasta and it was super easy and yummy.  A little too spicy, I used Trader Joe's taco seasoning. Which I have determined to be too spicy for my taste.  The mister LOVED it though.

Board room I am actually working my way through this list of recipes in the coming weeks.  Bruce is going to be my best friend. ;-)

pinned: this week's menu

source: Confessions of a Fit Foodie

A moment from my day Sunday I drove our girl back to Houghton. I am so happy she is back there and seeing her reunion with friends after a semester apart was so wonderful.

 

Sensible Shoes *book review*

I stumbled upon this book on Hoopla because the 2nd book in the series kept popping up in my suggested reads.

I found it an encouraging read.  It is about 4 women, strangers.  All from different walks on life who happen to enroll in a class called the Sacred Journey. They each of course have their own issues past and present to work through.  As well as the dynamic and relationship between the 4 of them as they take this spiritual journey together.

It lead me to think about my own spiritual journey as well as be profoundly thankful for the "sisters" God has brought into my life.  I would like to read it again, dig deeper and perhaps even do it has a study.  I loved how the facilitator encouraged the group to imagine themselves in the scriptures. To imagine what it would have been like to be there, walking with Jesus, the sights, the smells, the feelings. Truly intriguing.

One of my favorite quotes from the book-

"As I said in the beginning, you're likely to experience distractions and confusion as you journey.  There maybe times when you'll feel discouraged and be tempted to give up. But if you persevere--if you press on in hope and confidence that the Lord himself is directing your journey and is with you as you travel -- it will be a marvelous adventure.  It's also a special gift to walk with trustworthy companions.  We need each other.God doesn't want us traveling alone.  So I pray you'll come to know one another well, even as you come to know God better." Sensible Shoes, pp 52

Also near the end she quoted this scripture from The Message version.

Romans 12 1-2

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

January Goals-

My biggest goal for January is to Speak Life.  Between a conversation I had with a friend and the negativity that is daily spewed around my work place I have decided words are so important. Words of Truth. Love. Hope. Joy. Words that speak life and point others to Jesus.

Not only to others but also to myself. I catch myself saying nasty things to myself. Things that I would never dream of saying to another.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 
~ Ephesians 4:29 NIV

January Goals-

• Don't complain or gossip
• Say good things about ME
• Answer honestly and speak from the heart
• Keep counting gifts
• Run 3x's week- 40 miles/month
• Clean Kitchen before bed
• Establish a nightly routine
• Move to our new house!

Just Another Day?

Here it is January 2nd. A fresh new year and yet- its just another day.  What makes today any different? Will this year be any different? I have to confess I woke up a little discouraged yesterday.

New Year, new me? Better me? Yeah right.  Its just another day.  I found myself getting more and more frustrated.

But the truth is everyday is a chance. A chance to make it better. A chance to choose JOY. A chance to be Jesus to the world around us.  That is one of my prayers for this year.  To be open, to see the world around me. To be so full of Jesus love and joy that it can't help but bubble over on to those around me. 

As I wrote in the previous blog post my word for this year is Redeemed. Already just two days in it as been a breath of fresh air in my life.  I am getting a print made and hang this on my fridge to remind me. I am redeemed. God as called me be name. I am made new and set free and healed.

Here are the goals I have jotted down for the coming year in no particular order...

• Choose JOY- keeping counting my gifts big and small each day.  just 3 a day and over the course of the year- I will have over 1000 blessings counted. I will sometimes list them here.  also will start a tab at the top with running list for 2019
• Exercise at least 4 days a week.
• Hit 10000 steps each day (already I fell short on this one yesterday came in at 9000-something) But its a new day!
• Bullet Journal each day/night to help me keep on track
• Make manageable monthly goals/bucket list
• Half Marathon PR
• Drink more water
• Menu plan- including breakfast and snacks
• Read 100 books- last year I read 88! So I want to try and break 100 this year.
• Run 500 miles- last year I ran roughly 348 miles.  500 miles is  an average 10.5 miles a week which is totally doable. 
• I have a whole other list for Pampered Chef- but honestly am pretty discouraged about that right now so we'll save that for another day.

I hope you had a Happy New Years! What goals do you have in the coming year?