Thanksgiving book reviews

In addition to eating more than my fair share, laying on the beach, sweating in the Florida heat and enjoying time with David's family (and taking pictures of none of the above), I did some fabulous reading over my extended Thanksgiving break.

 1. Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
This is the inspiring story of a rock climber-turned-life changer for children in Pakistan. A detour on a climbing trip led him to a needy village, and he ended up raising millions of dollars to build more than 55 schools, mostly for girls, in the most war-torn part of our world. Wow.

2. Father Fiction, Donald Miller

I love Don Miller and read everything he writes. Blue Like Jazz was obviously a big hit (I read it as an assignment for my favorite college class ever- Perspectives on Christian Ministry- and will always remember laughing my way through it during our spring break backpacking trip. I must have read half the book out loud to my friends because I was loving it so much.), but Through Painted Deserts, Searching for God Knows What and To Own a Dragon are equally witty and thoughtful. This book is about his life-long issues with growing up fatherless, but there are lots of lessons that are pertinent no matter what your family situation is. A great book!

3. Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay

OH my goodness. This was the most captivating book I have read in... I don't know how long. I started it a few hours into our (11 hour) drive home, just after I finished Father Fiction, and I read the ENTIRE (320 page) book by the time we were an hour away from Chattanooga. I'm so excited to see that she has another book available because I have to go buy it right away (used from Amazon or from McKays, of course). This book was a page-turner, but not in a typical, suspenseful way. It was a heart-wrenching story of a Jewish family involved in the Vél' d'Hiv' roundups in France in 1942 and their unlikely connection to a modern-day American journalist, living in France. You. must. read. this. book.

100 things

I've been in a weird mood lately.

All I want to do is clean out and organize.

I want to simplify our lives and our stuff.

So, inspired by YHL's goal to get rid of 100 things, I jumped on the bandwagon. I figured, if they can get rid of 100 things... surely I could get rid of like, 1,000. But, I tempered my enthusiasm with some practicality and decided to start at 100.

Friday I had a wisdom tooth removed, so I decided to spend my drugged-up weekend doing some purging. Poor David probably anticipated a low-key weekend (since I was expected to be laid out on the couch for several days), but I bounded out of bed Saturday morning rearin' to clean out the garage!

And, clean out we did!

Ok, so my piles aren't nearly as impressive as Sherry & John's, but trust me- we got rid of more than 100 things and we didn't even venture into the attic! The books have already been taken to McKays, but most of the other stuff is still in mounds in the garage.

Phase 2: get rid of "to get rid of" stuff.

Halloween

yes, this post is nearly a month overdue...

Like last year, the Johnsons came to Chattanooga for Halloween! This year Grandma Cathy came too! We packed our weekend full of activities, and Brianna made out with candy.

• Friday- Creative Discovery Musuem, Trunk-or-Treats at 2 different churches
• Saturday- Normal Palooza, playing at the park, Disney Princesses on Ice (skates), another Trunk-or-Treat
• Sunday- Chattanooga Market, crafts, playing sports in the front yard

Halloween is way more fun with a 5-year-old in the house! We love you, Brianna!

Birmingham

A few weeks ago I made a quick trip to Birmingham where I got to...

... have dinner with Jamie and eat my weight in cheese buscuits. I love this kid and our time together has been far too infrequent. It was great to catch up in person! 

...hang out with the Barbers! Mindy hosted an Initials, Inc. party, and we had a great time catching up and hanging out. Since then, Mindy has actually signed up to sell II, and I know she is going to be awesome!! This family has meant so much to me for so many years, and I loved getting to spend time with them.

Mindy is beautiful!! She is one of my biggest role models.

...spend time with Ashley and Chase, but of course we forgot to take ANY pictures.
Ugh! It was great to hang out with them, and I can't wait for lots of together time over Christmas!

lately...

I've been busy.

Happy, but busy. Life is so good right now, but blogging just hasn't been a priority. I do have a few posts I need to write, but mostly just so I'll have a good record of some fun times. I have to keep reminding myself, this blog is for me.

One thing that has been on my mind a lot lately is busyness. Everyone is busy with one thing or another (or a thousand things), but we all make time for what is important to us. Whether that is projects, your job, blogging, your husband, friends, volunteering, facebook, sleep, etc... whatever is most important to us most regularly gets accomplished.

And now, a few random thoughts on this Tuesday morning:

• I'm loving the rain, but hating a) how dirty it makes my dog, b) how dirty it makes my floors and c) how much it makes me wish I was at home snuggled up with my hubby and a book (though my hubby would probably be playing with the iPad, not reading a book).
• We are in the process of planning a fun post-Christmas, pre-New Year's getaway! Can't wait!
• HOW is it nearly Thanksgiving already?? We'll be headed to Florida to visit David's parents in just one week. (Creepers: Don't even think about robbing us. Other people will be inhabiting our house while we're gone.)
• Big kids eat a lot and make big messes. The Bryant kids (Patrick, John and Hayden) spent the night with us on Saturday. We had 4 spilled drinks/food on the carpet in a 12 hour period. However, because they are big and able-bodied, they do clean up very nicely.
• I have been having so much fun selling Initials, Inc. Lots of parties, lots of orders, lots of fun people. Open house at my house tonight from 6-9pm! Come and visit!
• The reminder that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf has been a constant thought of mine lately. I guess I've been in a prayer rut, which has also kind of turned into a huge blessing. That sounds weird typing it out, but trust me- it's all good :)

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-28

"excuse me!"

Greg and Jodi are spending the night! 

Slumber party!

conversations with a 5 year old