December 27, 2007

Books, books, and more books!

Well...the last thing I need is more books, but my favorite gift to receive is....books! I received a nice sampling of new books for Christmas and here they are, the latest additions to my library!

I decided this one looked interesting (Oprah's book club....) and my brother wanted to read it too, so we decided he would buy it for me for Christmas then I would loan it to him when I was done. The only problem is, my dad decided he should get to read it first since I have other new books I can read, so he borrowed it from me before we even got home. So...hopefully my dad is enjoying my first new book.


This summer I read "Girl Meets God" by Lauren Winner while I was on vacation in New York. I really liked her writing a lot and was anxious to read more from her, so I added this to my amazon wish list and was thrilled to receive it from some dear friends. I read just a little bit, but am saving this one for later. I might read it during lent, but probably I won't be able to wait that long.


Okay, I have to confess that this is the book I started reading first. I love to read about how I can be better organized and I spotted this one at the Franklin Covey store a few months ago and have wanted it ever since. I read the first three chapters on Christmas Day and will probably finish it over this next weekend. I have to be ready to implement my new organizing strategy for the new year!

I was so excited when I opened this book that my parents gave me! It was written by my dear friend Tracey, who has always been my go to friend for wise advice and better understanding about what the Bible says, so it only makes sense that she would write this book. I think she wrote it so I would quit asking her questions. Especially the biblical questions that I was supposed to have learned in Bible college. Even though we were in all the same classes, somehow she came out a lot smarter than I did! Although, I can still read maps better than she can. Just not the Bible.


And this is the book that I have stayed up late reading the last two nights. I have always been very interested in genealogy and in this book the author, John Sedgwick, researches his famous family to gain a better understanding into his depression and how it has played out in his family over generations. It's probably not the most upbeat of stories, but it's very interesting. I don't remember where I first hear about it, but I've been wanting to read this book for awhile and was anxious to jump right in. Especially since my dad stole the novel.

December 24, 2007

A sad world...

This past week has been full of a lot of sad news. Last weekend I spent time babysitting, painting, cleaning, etc. helping my friend Lesa get ready to move. Somehow she got everything done and left town on Wednesday. I’m excited for her new adventure overseas, but am quite sad to see her and her family leave Wichita.

Monday at work I found out that two ladies I serve on a statewide committee with had terrible tragedies in their lives. One had a son who was paralysed in a car accident, and the other had a son killed in a senseless hunting accident. So sad!

Tuesday my sister in law had back surgery. This was planned surgery and went really well. She’s home recovering now, and seems to be doing well. This was actually the best news of the week!

Wednesday my closest friend called with news that her father’s cancer had returned and he has to have surgery on the 26th. Having already lost her mother to cancer, this is especially upsetting news.

My niece has been sick this week also. After a couple trips to the doctor, she’s gonna be fine, but it wasn’t a pleasant week for her. She’s enrolled in classes at WSU for second semester, and I’m really hoping it will be a good semester for her. First semester was kind of rough.

I’ve been on a cleaning kick at work and at home and tonight I was going through a pile of old mail that I had been avoiding. As I was reading an old church newsletter, I saw that one of the teenage girls who used to be in a small group I helped with recently lost her mother to cancer. I had only met her mother a few times, but she was the same age I am and had 5 kids that she was homeschooling, young kids. A super nice lady! My heart breaks for that family, and especially the young girl who was in my small group.