A Time to Rest

I love to sleep... but to rest... not really my style. Too many things to do: ministry events to plan for; emails to read; emails to respond to; bible study to prep for; albums to scrap; finances to prep for (just refinanced and changed banks); plus the day to day outdoor chores: grocery shopping (to three different stores), 'errands' drop off and pick up; and indoor chores: cooking, cleaning, organizing and of course: raising children: homework, projects and cleaning up after them. As you can see, 'rest' is really not in my calendared schedule.

Until recently, when I was literally bedridden with illness:

My meal of the day: every 4-6 hrs for the five days.

I shouldn't be too surprised since Hannah came down with a cough and fever, then my husband (he was so sick that he had to stay home from work one day... he hasn't done that since Hannah was born 8 years ago).

So I guess it was my turn. (Thankfully Emily is and was healthy as a horse!). The worst part was the head and sinus congestion that literally gave me a humongous headache. The cough made my chest hurt and my body was achy all over. I had a low grade fever that just would not go away... always lingering on 99.5-100.5 degrees. Had the fever for three straight days. It wasn't until my fourth day of being sick that my head kind of cleared up and I was able to at least sit up and walk around without discomfort.

Since I wasn't in the mood to do my 'regular' stuff around the house, I had to still be productive (being the Type A person that I am) so while I was bedridden for the first three days, I slept, and when I wasn't sleepy but was physically tired, I prayed. I prayed for myself to get better, of course (it's so debilitating being forced to not do anything and stay in bed) and for everyone that I know and love, and for anyone that I didn't know. Just talking to God. It was a really good time.

God says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." I believe that our lives have become so busy with everything under the heavens that we don't 'rest'. 'Rest' and 'reflect' on our lives; to be 'thankful' for all things good and not-so-good. God never said that life here on earth would be easy but if we have faith in Him, He will give us the strength to persevere and live our short life here on earth to the fullest for God.

Check out this Francis Chan video: What Are You Living For?



Powerful huh?

Now other than praying, I also read some books. I have not done this for quite awhile. I used to read books like drinking water but since I started writing/blogging, I realized that it takes up most of my free time. Now since I wasn't in the mind set (or alertness) to write. I read.

 

Since  the movie is coming out soon, I started to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I finished it in 5-1/2 hrs. Then I moved onto her second book of the trilogy, Catching Fire and then her third, Mockingjay. In three days, I finished the whole trilogy. It was THAT good! Overall, I enjoyed the first book the best. I have been enthralled with some of the popular Young Adult titles. They are so interesting and very well written.

Being sick gave me the opportunity to rest, pray and read. It was a good thing!

Inside A Teenager's Mind

This book was recommended to me from a good friend in regards to understanding teenagers today.

Guest Pass: Access To Your Teen's World is written by Susan Oh Cha Ph.D., who is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Bay Area. She wrote this book with her daughter, Yumi Cha, who is a high schooler in the Bay Area. Both are Christians and Korean.

This book was written in a very creative user-friendly format. First, the author, Susan, takes a topic and addresses it through a 'parent's' point-of-view. Second, her daughter, Yumi, will address the same topic from a 'teenager's' point-of-view. Third, Dr. Cha, the author again, will address the same topic from a 'professional psychologist's' point of view. Last, Dr. Cha provides a "Reflection" page where you answer questions about yourself and your child in regards to the topic and what you just read. This way you can apply what you read immediately.

(Note that the teenagers viewpoint is from a survey they took from a group of actual teenagers. Didn't want you to think it's only from Yumi's viewpoint since some teens think differently.)

Topics include:
- Privacy and Exposure: Why are teens so concerned about privacy with their parents and yet broadcast their lives on social networks?
- Chatting about Nothing for Hours: What do teens 'chat' about, especially when parents are not around?
- Teen Troubles: What kinds of problems do teens usually experience?
- Dealing with Friends who are Suffering: How do teens usually cope with friends who are distressed?
- Expressing Individuality: What is the appeal of all the body 'art' including writings, piercings and tattoos?
- Dressing for Peer Success: Why are the bottoms so high and tops so low for girls? Why are the bottoms so low for boys?
- Making Choices: What makes a teen choose to lie, cheat, drink, use drugs and/or have sex?
- Planting Seeds: Do teens care about their parent's opinions?
- What Teens Want: Name three things teens want from parents.

All great topics to know about and understand. The book is an easy read and you can go through a chapter in a few minutes. The hard part is the actual application of it all. :)

Great Reads Part 2

A Continuation to my post:  Great Reads

I read a ton of Christian Fiction either contemporary or historical. I love the historical because even though it's still fiction it has some biblical truth.. it's just 'embellished' truth. What I like about historical fiction the most is that it gives me a better idea and understanding of what could have happened during Bible times. You can say it brings the bible to life for me. And since I am a visual learner, it helps me remember the bible better.

So here are my recommendations:

Francine Rivers: I have read all 22 of her books.
I met her in person in 2004 at a MOPs event. She was our guest speaker. I remember running out to the bookstore to buy one of her books to have her sign. I didn't know which book to buy because, honestly, at that time I didn't read any of them. My friend told me to get Redeeming Love. That's one of her popular ones. So that's what I did. After she signed it, I read it. And I was hooked. I LOVED that book! It is one of my favorites. 

She signed it "Romans 8:28 Francine Rivers"

After Redeeming Love, I highly recommend The Mark of the Lion Trilogy: A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness and As Sure As the Dawn. This series is about faith, redemption and sacrifice.

Francine is able to take Biblical characters, explores their characters and places them into a context that is relevant to us today. She does extensive research into that time period so that the stories can be as historically accurate as possible.

The Last Sin Eater and The Scarlett Thread are two of my contemporary fiction favorites by her. Both are powerfully convicting.

Angela Hunt: I've read all but two of the 25 books she has written.
She mainly writes contemporary fiction but my favorites were her historical fiction trilogy: Legacies of the Ancient River: Dreamers (Bk 1), Brothers (Bk 2) and Journey (Bk 3). This trilogy focuses on the life of Joseph as a slave (Dreamers); as Pharaoh's right hand man (Brothers) and the life of his two sons (Journey). A captivating story and makes me appreciate God's word even more.

Her contemporary fiction is great. She wrote The Note which was made into a TV movie. But I really enjoyed The Truth Teller: a story about a boy who could sense who was telling the truth and who wasn't. Is it a gift? Or a curse? Hummm....

Charles Martin is my next favorite christian author. I read all of his seven books.
His writing is very similar to Nicholas Sparks.  One of my favorites is When Crickets Cry: a story about a little girl needing a new heart and miracles.

Robert Whitlow is, I think, a Christian John Grisham. I read nine of the eleven books he has written. The List is an awesome thriller. His books' usually incorporate attorneys, issues of right and wrong, a mystery and a twist.

A new author I've just found is Kristen Heitzmann. She writes similar to Angela Hunt. I've read nine out of the ten books she has written. Her stories have love, intrigue and usually a mystery to be solved.  Halos had very unique characters with lots of history to them. Makes a great story with their hidden backgrounds.

Actually all the writers above usually have a twist in the their stories which is what makes it such a great read! You can't put it down when you start.

Great Reads

"The more you read, the better reader, writer and speller you will become!" This quote is written on top of Hannah's reading log assignment every week. I'm not sure about the spelling part (thank goodness for spell check) but reading definitely helps me write better and it increases my vocabulary.

I am an avid reader. I always have been since I could read.  I loved going to the bookstores (they are pretty non-existent in my town now but remember B. Dalton?) and to the library. As a child, I wanted to be a librarian. I love the smell of new books. Old books.. I could go without. I actually have two friends that are librarians. One of which is a children's librarian at our neighborhood library.

But I am not reading now. I am stuck in a reading rut. I have plenty of books piled high to be read but do not have the urge to pick up any of them. Ever since I started blogging in June, I want to write not read.

But when I do read, I read until I'm done with the book. Sometimes I finish a novel in one day. It's that good of a read.

I read mainly secular and christian fiction, sci-fi (Star Trek only), and teen (as a teacher I try to keep up with what they are reading).

When I find an author I really like, I try to read all of his/her books. And there are quite a few that I love to follow.

I absolutely love Christian fiction, but there are some secular writers that I follow that write as if they are Christian. Bottom line, there is no foul-language in the books. That's a big turn off for me. Although I may make an exception or two if the story is really enticing and well written.

Here are some of my Recommendations:

I'll start with the Secular Fiction:

Nicholas Sparks: (all of his books are great reads)
Some of his books were made into a movie such as The Notebook and The Last Song. The books were way better in my opinion.  He's a very young author (46 yrs old with his 17th book published this year). His writing is down to earth and his characters are always relateable. He writes as if he is a believer but his books are never promoted as Christian books. A Walk to Remember is one of my favorites.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; The Girl who Played with Fire; The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest Trilogy by Steig Larsson
These books have language and violence in them. No doubt about it but they are such an incredible story you cannot put the book down after you start. When I first started with Book #1, the first 75 pages are dry dry dry... basically he's introducing the characters and the background. I almost gave up on the book but I stuck it out and it was a quick read after the problem was introduced.

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
Same with this book: fast forward to Chapter 5 where the great conversations between Mac and God start. But don't skip the first five chapters. It sets you up on why the book is called The Shack.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
So eye opening and engaging on what it was like for black ladies' as maids in the early 1960's. Excellently written. And yes, they made a movie out of this book also.

Teen:
The Twilight Saga: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Absolutely loved these books; I'm a sucker for a good love story and I'm not afraid of vampires. (Loved watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Loved the movies also but I digress..

I'm planning to read The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. This is becoming a movie also.

Science Fiction:
I loved watching Star Trek: TNG. It was my favorite out of all of the ST series. I enjoy reading cross-over stories that bring in the captains and crews from all the different series into one big storyline.

Star Trek: Tales From the Captain's Table by various authors

Nine captains share about their adventures when they come together at a bar to hang out.

Star Trek: Destiny Trilogy by David Mack

Gods of Night (Book 1),  Mere Mortals (Book 2), and  Lost Souls (Book 3)

This trilogy takes place a year after the fall of Practor Shinzon. There's an ancient mystery which three star fleet captains get involved to solve through space and time. 

STNG: Imzadi & Imzadi II by Peter David

I loved Troi and Riker so it was fitting to read their back stories in these two novels.

Star Trek Titan Series

At the end of the STNG movie, Riker married Troi and eventually got his own ship: the USS Titan. This series focuses on their adventures. Different authors write these books and some are good and some are just okay. It's interesting to see where they go from here. I guess if they could make another TV series this would be the logical choice.

Didn't realize how long this post was getting. I'll continue on my favorite Christian reads in a future post.