I watched a family cross the street today...

I watched a little family cross the street on the way to school today.

Little brother is small, arms reaching up to hold tightly to

Big sister older and wiser walks alertly, so proud and careful. She holds onto her the little boys hand in love, looking both ways as they cross the busy street.

Holding tight to brother's other hand is Dad, straight and tall, wearing his son's small backpack. Upon his shoulders rests the safety of his children. They are trusting in him to get them safely to the school.

How like a Dad to let his daughter help lead the youngest along the way. Yet how obvious it is watching them that Dad is the true protector and shield against the dangers of this walk in the world.

And how this little scene reminds me of us. We are God's daughters and sons, so proud to give ourselves to help guide others on their way to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. So thrilled to think we can help someone on their journey to the Lord.

But all the while, on the other side, holding fast to their hand, is our loving Father, leading, guiding, protecting, taking care of both of us. Our heaviest burdens resting lightly on His strong shoulders, He leads us home in safety and love.

Thank You Jesus for reminding me what an awesome blessing it is that You choose to use unworthy, but willing hearts to use, blessing us amazingly for Your work here on earth.

Ruth, A Portrait, The Story of Ruth Bell Graham

Another glorious read, I finished this book over the weekend and I enjoyed it immensely! Ruth Graham is a courageous, stubborn, strong, independent, humble, prank-pulling, soft-hearted, sharp-tongued,family-loving, make-up wearing woman who has had a life-long love for her God. I was inspired and encouraged reading about this woman who isn't perfect, disagrees with her husband (and he's BILLY GRAHAM) and tells him so and has led such a wonderful life of serving and loving Jesus.

Here's my review:

What a relief to read that Ruth Graham wears make-up! Seriously, this insightful look at "the woman behind the man" is the story of a real woman, strong, independent, and full of good humor and pranks, compassionate and absolutely in love with Jesus."After it was finished, we did not speak for eight years", Patricia Cornwell says about writing the biography of life-long friend Ruth Bell Graham. With a line like that I was hooked, knowing I was going to hear the true story of Mrs. Graham, not just a "halo polishing" portrait. What emerges is a clear picture of a woman who is in love with Jesus and sold out to God.

"Brimming with anecdotes from four decades this is a biographical journey with stops at many of our country's epoch-making events."From Ruth's childhood in China, through her days at Wheaton College, marriage to Billy, being the anchor for the family, the homemaker/house builder and "wife of Billy Graham" Ruth's character shines through. Stubborn, compassionate, funny, adventurous, accepting, humble, Ruth is as fine an example of a woman of God as you would ever want to read about. She is not perfect, but forgiven and has spent her life seeking to give that hope to other sinners. Some of my favorite stories were those about how unimpressed she (and Billy) is with the celebrity & celebrities that surround them. Ruth is definitely "no respecter of persons", but treats each soul as a precious child for whom Jesus died.

The cover notes end with "Patricia Cornwell has seen firsthand the courageous spirit of Ruth Bell Graham, and gives us a full, rounded, and intimate portrait of one of America's truly extraordinary women."I could not have said it better.

COME LITTLE LEAVES

COME LITTLE LEAVES
by George Cooper

"Come, little leaves" said the wind one day,
"Come over the meadows with me, and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold;
Summer is gone, and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the soft little songs they knew.


"Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song-
Say you're sorry to see us go;
Ah! you are sorry, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

Dancing and whirling the little leaves went;
Winter had called them and they were content-
Soon fast asleep in their earthly beds,
The snow laid a soft mantle over their heads.


I've loved this sweet poem since my daughter brought it home one fall afternoon long ago when she was in second grade. Researching it today, I found it is also a song. Anyone else familiar with it?

The year of reading gloriously continues with a biography of Ruth Bell Graham. Review will follow soon, I trust.

WinterHaven by Athol Dickson

When Vera Gamble gets the news that her brother's body has washed up on a rocky beach in Maine, she makes the trip to Winterhaven to bring him home to Texas. Arriving on the remote island, she finds herself plunged back into visions and heartaches from the past. And is seems as if the people of Winterhaven have as many secrets as she does. Ghosts from the past and present create a sense of menace even as Vera meets romance in the form of the handsom Evan, the mysterous islander who found her brother's body.
This is a suspensful page-turner where nothing is as it seems, an intriguing and enjoyable tale to send a few shivers up your spine this fall.

As far as "The Year of Reading Gloriously" this had a very interesting background as Vera was the daughter of a troubled faiith healer. She is obviously a beleiver, but is struggling with her faith after the passing of her brother, mother and losing her father to Alzheimer's. How she struggles to come to terms with a loving God who has allowed such tragedy in her life is a part of this mystery.”
Other themes include faith healing, supernatural gifts and visions and recovering from life's sometimes enourmous heartaches and losses.

Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

I have been a naughty, naughty Blogger. I did read "Atonement Child" by Francine Rivers. I found it to be riveting story that wasn't afraid to tackle some of the heartache and politically incorrect topics in our country today. But I forgot to write my review until 1-4-2010 so I'm going to post-date it to make it easier to find. Forgive me.

What happens when you are trying your best to live for God and the unthinkable occurs?

A crime against a young woman, an unintended pregnancy, a wavering fiancé all have been done before, but Ms. Rivers breathes into her characters such life that you feel you would know them if you met them on the street (one of my favorite things in a novel).

This book contains a lot of good information as well as an excellant story. It may seem, at times a bit preachy, but the subject matter is certainly worth it. I'm glad she was able to share so much in such an unjudgemental and graceful manner.

If you have never read Rivers, this would be a great book to start with. I highly recommend it!

And as long as I'm at it, I think I'll start a new rating system. Since cardinals (that's right, the bright red birds) make me happy whenever I see them I think I'll have to give Atonement Child a 4 (out of 5) Cardinal rating.

That translates to "Read it--you'll be glad you did"

The Year of Reading Gloriously

Let me start out this post with a book/movie review of "Julie/Julia: The Year of Cooking Dangerously" by Julie Powell. I liked the book but MY favorite parts of J/J were the snippets about Julia Child rewritten by Powell from Child's 2008 book, "My Life in France". So as soon as I finished Julie/Julie, I began reading "My Life in France". I absolutely LOVED this book. Of course it covers much more than a year and we are certainly more familiar with Child than Powell, but it is a charming, romantic Cinderella story set just after WWII.
A week later I the movie, one of the best I've seen this year--worth the price of a ticket and then some.
Hope you find time to read "My Life in France" AND see the movie, too! You'll be glad you did.

So inspired by Julie Powell's decision to give her life meaning by setting the goal of cooking all the 522 recopies in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and blogging about her experience, I've chosen my own experiment to see how my life is impacted. It is MUCH less formidable, but I don't think I'm feeling quite as lost as Ms Powell was feeling when she began to cook. And being lazy, I NOT going to cook but instead, I think I'll read! It's less fattening that way, too.

For the next year I'm going to read only books written that espouse the values Jesus Christ came to instill in us. Exactly what this means, I'm not sure, but that's part of the experiment. To read well written, life-affirming, redemptive literature and record my thoughts (reviews, I hope) and any insights that come.

This is not a science. I don't have a number goal in mind of how many books to read. I will read fiction, non-fiction, "Christian", non-"Christian" authors, and I'm inviting any and all suggestions for reading.

Since I began this post in August and it's now Sept, I'll backtrack a bit and fill in the books I've read since I began this quest.

The first book in the "Year of Reading Gloriously" was Atonement Child by Francine Rivers (review will follow in next post).
Happy reading to you.

Five things I'm thankful for today.

5. Air conditioning! (up to 91 degrees outside)
4. My sister Sammie, for so many reasons but today, for working for an airline & hotel so I can get cheap tickets & rooms. Whoo-hoo, you rock Sammie!
3. For cherry picking pictures to remember all our cherry picking fun with daughter Stasi and granddaughter Maggie last month.
2. For Twila Belk-my boss, friend and one of the coolest chicks I know. (Twila, you also rock)
1. For thunder and lighting, rain and gardens. God's nature rockin' it in the su-su-summertime!