More Education

If you're still reading my blog after all it's dull content lately, you're going to have to put up with the dull content a little longer. I'm mulling some ideas that I'm excited about, but you don't get to know them yet; unless you want to ask me about them in person and give me meaningful feedback (none of this "that sounds good" unhelpful stuff). I've pondered telling you about my cleaning issues, but I don't want to scare you away from ever coming to my house.

All that to tell you that all I have to ramble about more books and something else I learned. I'm most excited about what I learned, so it goes first.

I learned that what I really wanted for my Mother's Day/Anniversary present was the GPS watch that the nice electrician in town gave me last week. Surprise! I had no idea how much more fabulous running could be with a device on my arm. You could get a fancier one than what I have, but mine works wonders for me! It's a blast knowing how fast I'm going and how far I've gone just by looking at my wrist instead of having to guess and calculate based on the time on my phone. I actually run faster because of it. If you're related to a runner, serious walker, or biker and they don't have one of these, today is your lucky day because you now know what to give them the next time they need a present. If you're one of those runners, serious walkers or bikers, you now know where to send your relative for an unsubtle gift idea.  (That rave review was all unsolicited. I blogged about it because I'm so excited about it, but did you know that if you actually click on any Amazon link and buy any new thing from them, they'll give me a small percentage of what you buy. It's not much, but I take whatever money I can make because God's still working on knocking out the root of all evil from me. I also figure if I make a little money from this blog Brad might decide to see blogging as the valuable hobby that I already feel like it is.)


As for the books, remember my rambling post about When the Heart Cries? Since then I've checked out and finished the next two books in the series. I feel very comfortable saying I think Cindy Woodsmall is an great author. I love the contrast she provides between book 1 and book 2 and how she brings it all together for fabulous book 3. Her sub plots were as interesting to me as the main plot, and I felt they all tie together extremely well. The first two books leave you dying to get your hands on the next book, but the final book has a happy ending. I always think I need an entire chapter or more about how happy life is for the characters after all the conflict is resolved but usually feel like I get two sentences. This gave me a couple of pages, so I was pretty happy with that. If you start book one make sure you're ready to read two more books. You've been warned!  Lincoln's library has all three if you're wondering.

This Will Take My Whole Life To Learn

"To really understand this walk of faith, it is the heart that says, "God this is all about You. It is all about You, Your plan and Your purpose. Is is about what You want to accomplish in the world." It is not about me figuring out a way to manipulate God to get what I want. It is a willingness to sell out for God and His plan and Purpose. I just want to be a part of that. That is really the heart of faith God blesses."

-Bryan Clark - from a message on Genesis 25:19-34 on September 6/7, 2003 -

Getting Even Smarter

What an educational week it's been.

First I learned about Photo Booth and Charles Lindbergh Jr. 

Then I learned it really does work to request items from the library to be sent to whatever library you want, so you can pick them up whenever they're available. Best of all it's free as long as you pick them up!  Brad just picked up season 2 of Lost today. Considering it was all checked out and had a waiting list for it when I initially checked, and considering I don't want to buy it and have it taking up room on a shelf; this is very convenient.  I love taking advantage of things I pay taxes to support. (It would be more convenient if someone I knew owned all the seasons of Lost and wanted me to borrow them, but I wouldn't want to be so obnoxious and cheap to actually ask for that.)

I requested a book today because of the other thing I learned this week. Cindy Woodsmall is an excellent author. I base that statement only after reading one book that I received for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I finished the book and wondered how many other readers I know that have not made it clear to me I should read some of her books. Maybe they tried to tell me at a time in my life before I put memo's in my phone to help me remember such things, but I really don't think I'd ever heard of her before this book arrived at my door Wednesday.

I started reading it Wednesday night and finished it Friday night. I fed my kids, played with them, and cleaned my house among other things between those two evenings. Let's just say I couldn't stop reading when I should've been going to bed. I love having that problem.

What book was it you ask?

When the Heart Cries (Sisters of the Quilt, Book 1) I was so relieved when I saw "Book One" on the front cover. I get paranoid about reading a series of books out of order, and that would really be problematic with this series. Unfortunately this story ends with so many things unresolved that when you read the last page you're ready to drop everything and do whatever you can to get your hands on book 2! (Hence the requesting it from the library ASAP!)

A few bullets about the book for you...

• Amish in present day. What is it about the Amish that's so fascinating? 
• I bet you'll be hooked to the story in 4 pages or less. Probably less, but since I bet you I figured I should play it safe.
• Riveting plot! 
• In terms of Christian fiction, it's just a great story. I didn't get the sense the author wrote with the main intention of trying to teacher her readers about God or consider an area of character in their life. You certainly could do both if you take time to think about it, but it's not overpowering.

I wish I would've read other books from Cindy Woodsmall in order to give you a comparison of this book to her others, but I was in the dark about her before this week. I may request another of her novels for the next book I review even though that probably means I lose a couple nights of good sleep. I'm on such a reading kick I think I better go for it before I lose the kick.


(Just click real quick up there to rank my review.)

Feeling a little chatty today, so I'm going to keep going...

In case you think I always tell you all books are good, let me tell you about this other book WaterBrook Multnomah sent me just because they're nice. I didn't request it or pay for it. The Charlatan's Boy: A Novel is a book I will not finish. I've taken a new approach to reading. If I'm not into the book after 50 pages or so, I'm not going to feel guilty about not finishing it. I have no guilt about not finishing this one. I'm sure someone out there likes the book because it has high rankings on some sites, but I think I'll just stick with my shallow obsession with Christian romance. Let me know if you read the book and think I should give it a few more pages of chance.

Learn Something New Everyday

This is all in the name of lightening up.

High schoolers get distracted with Photo Booth. Little did I know that I had access to it and could get distracted too.

On a more serious note, I also learned today that Charles Lindbergh had a child get kidnapped and killed. Very sad.

Was I supposed to learn these things in high school? I didn't. Good thing I'm back there now.

More Blogger Block

Since I want to blog but am still experiencing blogger block, how about a touching video that most of you have already seen? If you're anything like me, it'll make you tear up.