tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42660248804984343782024-03-19T07:20:18.606-04:00A Triskele Life for Me! HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-11880593476697684762019-12-31T17:00:00.000-05:002019-12-31T17:00:04.437-05:00New Year.....New Resolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, 4.5 years after my last post and here I am again. A new year is upon me and thus a new resolution. I'm proud of the way I live my life. But there can always be improvements.<br />
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<b>In 2020 I want to complete a different challenge each month. </b></div>
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I've done fitness challenges and water challenges. But I want to step up my game a little. I want to do a different challenge each month of the year. That's what I also hope to document on this blog. Some will be physical fitness challenges, some will be mental challenges, and some will be food challenges. (I'm already anticipating the food ones being the hardest). </div>
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Keeping in mind that schedules, responsibilities or travel may impact some of the ease of these challenges they are subject to change as I realize what is actually doable. But for now here they are: </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">January : Meditate Daily</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">February: No Candy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">March: Push Up Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">April: Make Dinner 3 times a week</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May: No Soda/Sweet Tea</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">June: Meditate Daily</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">July: No Meat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">August: Intermittent Fasting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">September: No swearing or complaining</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">October: Plank Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">November: Text 1 person gratitude every day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">December: Ab Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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I know meditating is on their twice. But centering myself mentally is where I struggled this past year and I want to make it a bigger focus this year. </div>
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I already work out a good amount. I try not to eat horribly. I even try to limit my swearing and be conscious of my thoughts. But resolutions are a good way to hold yourself more accountable. To start something that may become a habit. While I will never give up candy completely, going a month without it will hopefully help to curb some of that craving. To not complain may help me focus more on solutions and positive thoughts. </div>
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So here is to 2020! To trying new things and pushing myself out of my comfort zone a bit more. </div>
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HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-53942242440636777152015-05-12T16:23:00.001-04:002015-05-13T08:46:44.534-04:00A Life Well Lived<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Myrtle Maleske. 97 years, 7 months, and 16 days old. A woman who I claim part of my name from. A woman who loved God and loved people. A woman who was stubborn and spunky. A woman who I loved.<br />
<br />
My Grandma.<br />
<br />
Born in 1917, grew up in Illinois, married the boy from around the corner, had 2 kids-one of which was my mom. Growing up I only saw my grandma occasionally. But it was at her house in Chicago that I mastered the stairs as a toddler much to my parents delight (who feared I wouldn't do well on stairs since at the time we lived in Arizona and didn't encounter many stairs there).<br />
<br />
Several years ago she moved in with my parents in Maryland. Even though I had already moved out of the house and to another state, it was really at this time I started getting to know her. Started appreciating her yelling at me to wash my own dishes (even though she would do them before I even had the chance to). Observing that she was content to spend a good part of the day doing devotions and delving into the Word. Learning that when she still lived in Illinois she met a guy named Senator Barack Obama. Amazed that she would still occasionally go to the senior center to "workout". And truly believing she would live to see 100 years old. <br />
<br />
This last year or two I could see her fading a bit. Her memory wasn't good. She wasn't going to the senior center so physically was more wobbly. And complained about her stomach hurting all the time. I started questioning whether she would make it to 100. But every time I saw her I made sure to give her a hug and a kiss and tell her that I loved her. And she would do the same right back to me.<br />
<br />
In the middle of April my dad took her to the hospital because there was blood in her stool. They found a mass in her large intestine and decided to undergo surgery. Turns out the mass was colon cancer. Timeline unknown.<br />
<br />
I'm remarkably lucky that my job has me traveling to Maryland on a fairly regular basis. So I got to see her in the hospital a couple times at the end of April. As much as it hurt to see her in pain and not fully aware of what was happening, I got to see her. Before heading back home last month I went to spend some time with her. It was just her and I, and it was a coherent day for her. The staff had gotten her out of bed and into a chair which was an improvement. I fed her some food which was also encouraging for me. We really just sat there watching a baseball game. Our pastor stopped by and my grandma commented how she was happy I was there. How I was good company. Eventually I knew I had to leave although I started tearing up any time I thought about going because I thought this could be the last time I ever see my grandma. Fighting back the tears I said I had to go but that I loved her. She said she loved me to, gave me a hug and a kiss, thanked me for spending time with her and as I turned for one last look on my way out, smiled at me and waved. I managed to hold it together for the most part on my way to my car but upon getting there full out ugly cried for at least 10 minutes in the parking lot.<br />
<br />
My dad sent daily updates about how she was doing. While I'm happy I was updated, it was sad tracking her decline mentally as well as physically as she basically stopped eating or drinking anything. Work took me to Maryland again last week. She was in a rehab type home by now where ideally if she got better, she could stay in an assisted living type of setting. Both times I visited I knew she wouldn't last long. The first time she was completely confused and didn't have a full grasp of her surroundings. The second time she slept the whole time not rousing for anything.<br />
<br />
May 10th the call came. She passed away sometime between 8-10am on Mother's Day. 97 years, 7 months, and 16 days old. <br />
<br />
In between my April visit and my May visit I really tried to come to terms with the fact I would be losing her soon. Almost hoped for it as I saw she wasn't really living anymore. Merely surviving. And knowing how strong she was in her faith, I knew where her spirit was going upon dying. I knew she would be in a better place. I knew she lived a life worth living. She was born during WW1, experienced the Great Depression, WW2, civil rights, the birth of the internet, and so so so much more! The changes she saw in the world during her lifetime are remarkable. More importantly, the people who knew her loved her.<br />
<br />
I still cried after I got the news (cried several times to be honest). Still found myself missing her already. Found myself painting my fingernails (something I don't ever do) a light purple because it was her favorite color and I wanted to think of her often. I wish I asked her more questions. I wish I knew more details about her life growing up. But there's one thing I know. She loved me, and she knew I loved her too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myrtle Maleske b.9/24/1917 d.5/10/2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-64738765681922695772015-05-04T08:46:00.001-04:002015-05-04T08:49:50.157-04:00Adventures in House-sitting <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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don't know what it is and you aren't in your house so you freeze waiting to
hear if it's a robber, but don't hear anything, but can't fall back asleep so you
lay there suddenly hearing a clock ticking in the room you've never noticed
before so of course you think it's the Clockwork Men from <i>Doctor Who</i> 'Girl in
the Fireplace' and both simultaneously are frightened and yet pleased this might
mean you are as accomplished as Madame de Pompadour. The neighbor's dog is
barking outside so you go back to thinking maybe there's a robber which is
still not helping you go back to sleep. Then your alarm goes off at 4:27am to go
to the gym and you realize it's going to be a very long day. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or is that
just me? </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">PS-turned out it
was the shampoo bottle inexplicably falling from the side of the bathtub onto
the floor. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-15803795143987862882015-03-01T15:18:00.000-05:002015-03-01T15:18:42.521-05:00Getting back to a true triskele mindset<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2014 brought about a bit of unraveling of what a triskele life should be in my opinion. The harmony between mind, body, and soul got lost along the way. Part of my goal for 2015 was to try and refocus. Find that harmony again.<br />
<br />
One of the big areas that took a hit last year was my spiritual life. I lost the joy and passion of pretty much all religious practices. Especially wanting to go to church. When January came I decided to forget the past. To wash away past thoughts, and start with a clean slate. I decided I would start attending CBC again and if I found it wasn't what I needed, that I would look for another church. I was hesitant at the start of the year, but then found my stride. Found enjoyment in the songs. Found comfort in the words. Found the love that comes with a church family. <br />
<br />
So far I've only missed 2 Sundays. One was due to just being overwhelmingly exhausted from work and other was today because services were cancelled from inclement weather. I've also started doing daily devotions. The Portals of Prayer that I secretly thought were pointless for most of my life and never gave a second glance at, I've now found an appreciation of. It reminds me of the different times of the church year a bit as well which is something I don't want to forget.<br />
<br />
I'm still absolutely miserable at praying, and honestly don't feel as though I have the same relationship with God I once had. But it's improving. I'm improving. </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-78523131975131086042015-02-16T19:32:00.001-05:002015-02-16T19:32:12.630-05:00Time flies when you're having......a lot of work to do?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Somehow it's the middle of February. 2015 has flown by remarkably fast so far! It could be in part because work has kept me fairly busy. I've become that person that goes into work extra early, stays late, and still brings her laptop home in the evenings and the over the weekends. It's not exactly something I'm proud of. I enjoy hard work and being busy. I'm happy to put in the extra effort when need be. However, I'm also a fan of finding a work/life balance. And lately that balance has been skewed. <br />
<br />
I've had quite a bit more on my plate in 2015. With my boss quitting, it meant her work was spread between several of us. I am involved in some of the bigger, time-consuming projects. Plus February is home to the 2 biggest events of the entire year for my office. And most of the committees I'm on have also stepped it up a notch. Plus, I still have all my normal tasks I'm required to do. All of this to say, work has become a focus while things like reading and blogging have fallen to the side.<br />
<br />
So far I've read about 1 chapter of a book this year. While I'm not necessarily proud of this fact, I'm ok with it. Work requires me to focus so much that in my spare time I just want to relax and catch up on current shows and classic Doctor Who. I have also been striving to keep up with my friendships. To feel comfortable leaving work behind and going out with friends for drinks, food, movies, etc. <br />
<br />
I've been told before how people admire my ability to keep a work/life balance. I think a prime factor of my ability to do this is compartmentalizing. To know exactly what my primary focus is, and putting all other areas aside for a bit. So when I'm out with friends, I don't check and respond to email constantly. When I'm at work, I try to avoid Facebook. It's one of the ways I've stayed sane and stayed happy at my job for so long. It may be a reason why I wouldn't make it as a VP where I work as well. But to live a triskele life means to be in harmony. To not let one area fully take over another, and to be satisfied with all components of life. Sure, I'm not 100% in harmony right now, but I'm making strides. And after all, realizing this and continuing to strive for harmony may be the most important thing of all. </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-88301642283713482552014-12-31T09:27:00.000-05:002015-01-02T09:30:11.666-05:002014 in Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lately I've been thinking about how 2014 has been for me. I partially blame facebook for this because they automatically put together little video reviews for people to look back at the year (I'd like to point out that as a society we have reached the point where technology feels the need to automatically put together a 1 minute clip to remind you of what you've done over the past 364 days so you don't forget *shakes head*). I never watched my video. It was when I realized that I didn't watch it because I didn't want to be reminded about the year that I started really thinking about 2014. <br />
<br />
Good things did happen. I want to start with that and remind myself of that fact. Good things did happen. I explored new places, met my Goddaughter, saw all 7 of my nephews, met my goal of reading at least 1 book a month (grand total ended up being 42), and successfully donated blood 6 times which was my unspoken goal for the year. Of course I had plenty of fun with friends and good times as well. <br />
<br />
I'm not sure why these things all tend to fade when trying to get a full feel for the year. Perhaps it was just that the couple losses I had impacted me more than the good times. The loss of Robert had a bigger effect on my life than I expected. Obviously the sudden loss of someone is always a shock. But it reached beyond that and made past demons, so to speak, reappear. I now feel further from the church than I have for several years. I also experienced the loss of friendship this year. It's this type of loss that makes me question my friends and those around me. That makes me remarkably cautious around all my friends. <br />
<br />
Of course I had other down days or days things weren't going my way. Those are the norm though. I think it was the fact that the couple bad things that occurred really shaped my mindset and outlook. On the one hand, I had good things that were great, sure, but were just experiences that were passing. I hope to have plenty more times were I see my Goddaughter and nephews, and meeting goals that made me feel accomplished, but are not necessarily life changing. On the other hand you had moments that made me question the bigger aspects of my life-my friends and my religion.<br />
<br />
Part of me thinks I should go back and watch the Facebook video. Because honestly, it'll probably all be pretty good things they incorporate since I'm not one to complain via facebook or twitter. But more than anything it makes me look forward to 2015. It makes me want to focus more on some of those bigger aspects of life and open up more conversations about those key areas. I don't want to forget the bad or the good. I just want to grow from it all. To really strive to understand myself more and how I can better myself from 2014.</div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-39389713263409402382014-12-29T17:19:00.000-05:002014-12-29T17:19:29.790-05:00December Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Woohoo! Another successful year of actually sticking to my new years resolution!<br />
My original goal was to read at least 1 book a month. For almost every month I went above and beyond that with reading multiple books! December has turned out to be one of the more successful months! <br />
<br />
There are some books that as you start, they introduce you to the characters, set the scene, and it's very easy to follow. Others seem to throw you into a story and you have to try your best to understand what's happening. The latter is how <u>Jellicoe Road</u> by Melina Marchetta is. At first I worried I wasn't going to piece together everything, but figured I'd just keep reading and hoping it all fell into place. And boy did it! I ended up really loving this book and not wanting to put it down! Set in Australia (which was awesome to begin with although it did have me googling Australian slang a couple times to make sure I knew what a character was saying) and based around Taylor Markham who is trying to figure out who she is just as much as the reader. It's a fun story of how people who shouldn't really get along, end up putting their differences aside, and how their story is connected back to a similar group of teenagers 20 years prior. As the reader you are able to figure some things out before Taylor does, but you are still left wondering how everything is going to resolve itself.<br />
<br />
Next up was <u>Night</u> by Elie Wiesel which I have heard quite a bit about, but never read. <u>Night</u> is the story of Elie Wiesel's time as a 12 year old Jew and being taken to concentration camps during WW2. It is a fairly quick read, but has so much to it! This is his story following him over the course of a couple years being in a ghetto, transported by train, what it was like at various concentration camps, and being marched for miles in the snow. Some of what I found most interesting is when Elie would reference his faith. As a devout Jew he studied and asked questions to learn more about his religion as a child, and during the book you almost forget that background until he makes a couple passing remarks from hating God for allowing this cruelty, to moments when suddenly a prayer of praise comes to his mind even in the darkest of times. <br />
<br />
<u>Winter Garden</u> by Kristin Hannah was just a quick spur of the moment decision. I had read other books by Hannah and figured why not read another. I didn't expect this book to go as deep and pull me in as much as it did. Even though I swear I didn't know-this book also takes to WW2. This time however you learn about what it was like in part of Russia. A fascinating part of this book was looking at the familial relations between a mother who was always very cold and distant to her 2 daughters. This is a family that is held together by the father who passes away and leaves the rest of the family trying to figure out how to relate to each other without him. My mother was not cold or distant, but the conversations that the mother and daughters end up having with each other in this book are inspiring and something I hope to have the courage to begin having with my family.<br />
<br />
I always knew this month I would read at least 1 book because every year when I'm at my parents for the holidays I read my favorite book <u>A Wrinkle in Time</u> by Madeleine L'Engle. I always love the adventure and science fiction. The characters travel to other worlds, meet different species, and stand up to The Dark Thing which is trying to take over planets. Oddly I don't own this book myself. It keeps me from reading it constantly and getting worn out on it. Just reading once a year is like a present I give myself. Didn't disappoint this year either. Still love it! <br />
<br />
This next book took all of no time to read as it is written on a elementary school level, but I'm a sucker for The Boxcar Children! As part of my Christmas present my sister gave me <u>The Animal Shelter Mystery</u> by Gertrude Chandler Warner which is #22 in the series. As a kid I couldn't get enough of these books!! Four kids going around solving mysteries and basically being awesome. Granted they were far to independent for their own good. And I question their grandfather for letting them go off on their own so much, and the responsibility everyone around them gives them. But that's just my adult self going a bit to far. My inner child was enjoying the story and figuring out who done it. <br />
<br />
The last full book of 2014 was <u>The Children Act</u> by Ian McEwan. Found this one by googling top books of 2014. I honestly am not sure which list it came from, just that it caught my eye. It was a good book to pass the time, but not one that I found awe inspiring or touching. Focused around a High Court judge and a specific case that has longer lasting effects then when she makes her decision. I was drawn in because this case was one in which the family doesn't want to pursue medical treatment for their son due to religious beliefs, but by not pursuing the treatment, the child would die. Does the judge side with religious wishes, or deciding to save the kid. Meanwhile just to add to the drama, the judge's marriage is also on the rocks. It was an interesting story and enjoyable, but I don't know if I would have put it with the top books of 2014. <br />
<br />
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster
<br />
<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen<u> </u><br />
<u>The Peppered Moth</u> by Margaret Drabble<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Scorch Trials</u> by James Dashner</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Gone Girl</u> by Gillian Flynn </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Larger than Life</u> by Jodi Picoult </span></span></div>
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Death Cure</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Jane Eyre</u> by Charlotte Bronte</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Lost Symbol</u> by Dan Brown</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Little Lord Fauntleroy</u> by Frances Hodgson Burnett</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Who Will Run the Frog Hospital</u> by Lorrie Moore</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Isaac's Storm </u>by Erik Larson</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Kill Order</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Orphan Train</u> by Christina Baker Kline </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"></span></span><u>The Magicians </u>by Lev Grossman<br />
<u>Charlotte Gray</u> by <span class="st">Sebastian Faulks</span> <br />
<u>Leaving Time</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>Jellicoe Road</u> by Melina Marchetta<br />
<u>Night</u> by Elie Wiesel<br />
<u>Winter Garden</u> by Kristin Hannah<br />
<u>A Wrinkle in Time</u> by Madeleine L'Engle<u> </u><br />
<u>The Animal Shelter Mystery</u> by Gertrude Chandler Warner<br />
<u>The Children Act</u> by Ian McEwan </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-36281209017061720372014-11-30T19:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T08:12:16.837-05:00November Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While I feel as though I've read enough college essays submitted by high school students to fill a book, sadly they don't count. I have however read a couple other real books this month! <br />
<br />
First up was <u>The Magicians </u>by Lev Grossman.This is a book that I honestly probably would have never thought to read except a member of my book club was pretty excited for it. I went into it thinking it would be a more "realistic" version of Harry Potter. As the name suggests, there is magic - and not slight of hand and pulling rabbits out of hats. It centers around a guy named Quentin who suddenly discovers he has the ability to do real magic and goes off to a magic boarding school. He is also obsessed with a children's book series in which four siblings travel to this other world to be kings and queens. If these sound familiar to you, you're not alone! The story covered many years quickly, but with minimal character development and maturity. More than anything I found myself constantly saying "Ok that's just like Harry Potter" or "oh that's just like the Narnia series", which took away from the book. Probably my favorite part was a random trip to Antartica that was more original. This is part of a series, but odds are I won't be moving forward with finishing it. <br />
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Next up was <u>Charlotte Gray</u> by <span class="st">Sebastian Faulks</span>. Once again I find myself reading a book based in WW2.
Such a good time period for books to be placed. This is kindof a mix between
girl power and true love. The main character is Charlotte, a woman who moved to
London from Scotland, and fell into love very quickly with a pilot in
the war. He ultimately disappears while on a mission over France which prompts
Charlotte to take on a task which puts her in in France in some dangerous situations but potentially
closer to finding her love. This was a book that was a bit of a slower start
for me. I admit I wasn't really in the mood to really sit down and read after
work when all I had done at work was read so that may be part of it, but it
seemed like it really picked up about halfway through when Charlotte was in
France. At that point I was totally on board and interested to see what would
happen. While I
really liked Charlotte's courage and determination, part of me wishes that it
didn't take a guy for her to get involved though. </div>
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Lastly was <u>Leaving Time</u> by Jodi Picoult. I'm a sucker for Picoult's books. This is her latest which I have been looking
forward to for a while. Picoult had previously released two short
stories written from the perspective of two of the characters in this book as prequels (both of which I mentioned earlier in the year as I read them). I felt the prequels actually did add to the book, especially the one from the perspective of Serenity. I loved <u>Leaving Time</u> as I do most of her books, in part because this one dealt with the mindset
of elephants and if you add in animal behaviors my interest will
automatically be peaked. It's about a tragedy that separated a mother and
daughter when the daughter was only 3, and the daughter's search for her mother years later. One thing I enjoyed was the seamless story telling between the present day and 10 years earlier when the
incident took place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> There wasn't really a dull moment. </span>It was captivating
and yet another one of her books I enjoyed.
<br />
<br />
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster
<br />
<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen<br />
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<u>The Peppered Moth</u> by Margaret Drabble<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"> </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Scorch Trials</u> by James Dashner</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Gone Girl</u> by Gillian Flynn </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Larger than Life</u> by Jodi Picoult </span></span></div>
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Death Cure</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Jane Eyre</u> by Charlotte Bronte</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Lost Symbol</u> by Dan Brown</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Little Lord Fauntleroy</u> by Frances Hodgson Burnett</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Who Will Run the Frog Hospital</u> by Lorrie Moore</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Isaac's Storm </u>by Erik Larson</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Kill Order</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Orphan Train</u> by Christina Baker Kline </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"></span></span><u>The Magicians </u>by Lev Grossman<br />
<u>Charlotte Gray</u> by <span class="st">Sebastian Faulks</span> <br />
<u>Leaving Time</u> by Jodi Picoult</div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-40004229403872280542014-10-30T06:57:00.002-04:002014-10-30T06:57:35.952-04:00October Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For a month where I'm never home this was a surprisingly strong month of books! I first read <u>Who Will Run the Frog Hospital</u> by Lorrie Moore. This was another book club book and was a very fast read. You could easily read it within one day if you are looking for something to pass the time. Unfortunately the book is rather disjointed where you have the main character as an older woman reflecting back on one summer of her life as a teenager. The issue is that you really don't get a feel for the character as an adult so the parts where she is talking about "present day" seems out of place and awkward. Also, the flashback is just that-a flash-it felt like stepping into a story midway through and not fully understanding the characters. Not my favorite read of the year. <br />
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<u>Isaac's Storm</u> by Erik Larson has been sitting on my shelf for a while. A quick trip to Colorado provided me about 10 hours of flying time and thus plenty of time to focus on reading this book. It was a bit slow to start but really grew from there! Reading the story of the 1908 hurricane that completely devastated Galveston, Texas was both interesting and frightening. There are a number of people mentioned in the book who come and go quickly so it can be difficult keeping them all straight at times, but even just going along for the ride and understanding the overconfidence that quickly turned into fear amongst all the people is quite strong. Also, since this is a book based on as much fact as possible, I also felt like I learned something! <br />
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I finally got around to finishing the Maze Runner series by reading <u>The Kill Order</u> by James Dashner! <u>Kill Order</u> is actually the prequel to the series. It's always a bit weird to me when the last book is actually the first chronologically. Maybe it's that I know what ultimately happens that it takes away from the book a bit. Don't get me wrong, just like all the others in this series, this is still a great book. Full of action that's for sure! Makes you hate the government a little bit as well. You are following a completely different group from the rest of the series and taking place directly after the "sun flares" that are talked about in the other books. Scary to consider how society could go downhill pretty fast. <br />
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Lastly I read <u>Orphan Train</u> by Christina Baker Kline. So good!!!! My bookclub almost read this book earlier in the year, but now I'm thinking I should bring it up again as another potential! The orphan train's were real from the early 1900s where orphaned children (typically immigrants to the States) were shipped to the Midwest on trains and people could literally just come to the different train stops and pick out a kid to take home. As you can imagine these kids didn't always have the best of lives. While the characters in the story are fictitious, they are still remarkably realistic. I love that this book bounces between the early 1900s and 2011 seamlessly. Joining together two characters who have a lot more in common than they may think. I love that this book also has very strong female characters. This was a book I both didn't want to put down, and didn't want to end. Highly recommended! <br />
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Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster
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<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen<br />
<u>The Peppered Moth</u> by Margaret Drabble<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"> </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Scorch Trials</u> by James Dashner</span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Gone Girl</u> by Gillian Flynn </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Larger than Life</u> by Jodi Picoult </span></span></div>
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Death Cure</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Jane Eyre</u> by Charlotte Bronte</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Lost Symbol</u> by Dan Brown</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Little Lord Fauntleroy</u> by Frances Hodgson Burnett</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Who Will Run the Frog Hospital</u> by Lorrie Moore</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Isaac's Storm </u>by Erik Larson</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Kill Order</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Orphan Train</u> by Christina Baker Kline </span></span></div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-60148162727755789692014-09-30T23:00:00.000-04:002014-10-02T18:46:19.786-04:00September Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
September saw the start of me traveling for work and thus getting worried that I wouldn't be able to make it through as many books, but I still made it through 3! Not gonna lie, I was pretty pleased!<br />
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First was a classic I had read many years ago, but had forgotten the details of so figured it was time to take it up again. This would be <u>Jane Eyre</u> by Charlotte Bronte. When people saw that's what I was reading a lot were taken aback and almost made me question wanting to read it again. But I'm happy I did. It's good! Granted, I never quite connect with some of these classic novels where the dream guy is in fact rather brute or rude. At least this time the guy shows more kindness and attention to her. I liked Jane's calmness and rational thinking though!<br />
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Next up was <u>The Lost Symbol</u> by Dan Brown. I enjoyed Brown's other books, and a friend mentioned this one was also really great. Oddly it brought a fun memory where a girl came up to me at a college fair years ago looking for noetic science (which is highlighted in this novel) and when I asked what that was she seemed annoyed and said something along the lines of "it's from the new Dan Brown novel!!!" However now I'm ready! The end kindof dragged for me as the 'bad guy' had been taken care of and the rest just tied up a little bit about Mason symbols, but I still enjoy the rabbit hole Brown takes people down with conspiracies, symbolism, and action. Plus this one takes place in DC which I appreciate since it's a place I've actually been. It always shocks me though when you realize his books pretty much just take place over a few hours or a day! <br />
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Lastly I read <u>Little Lord Fauntleroy</u> by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Surprisingly I had never read this before! Which is a bit disappointing because I enjoyed it! Who doesn't like a book about an adorable little boy who suddenly finds himself thrown from rags to riches but still remains just as kind and generous as he was before. I do appreciate good manners and thinking of others. <br />
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Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster
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<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen<br />
<u>The Peppered Moth</u> by Margaret Drabble<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"> </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Scorch Trials</u> by James Dashner</span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Gone Girl</u> by Gillian Flynn </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Larger than Life</u> by Jodi Picoult </span></span></div>
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Death Cure</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Jane Eyre</u> by Charlotte Bronte</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Lost Symbol</u> by Dan Brown</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Little Lord Fauntleroy</u> by Frances Hodgson Burnett </span></span></div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-53487823254985865972014-08-30T18:25:00.003-04:002014-08-30T18:25:59.115-04:00August Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Was finally able to pick up the pace with reading again this month! It may have helped that a fair bit was young adult books so the big words and hidden symbols were kept to a minimum.<br />
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Last month my book club read <u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner which was remarkable good! I really enjoyed it and looked forward to continuing the series. Well this month I definitely did that by reading both the 2nd and 3rd books in the series, <u>The Scorch Trials</u> and <u>The Death Cure</u>. There is a 4th book to the series which is actually a prequel to Maze Runner. If the library has this easily available I may read it, but I find it sometimes weird to go back and read the beginning when I do know what already happens. Of the entire series, the first book was probably my favorite. But then again, it could be because it was fresh and new and that first spark of something new is often times the most exciting. <u>Scorch Trials</u> is a very obvious second book in that it does keep the pace going and new plot lines emerge, the readers are introduced to more characters, and ultimately more questions are formed than answered. Luckily <u>Death Cure</u> does a good job of answering a number of those questions and you do get a formative ending. You don't get all the details, especially regarding Teresa, and I would have like liked the chancellor to be a bit more present with more details, but such is any good book. It leaves you with a fair amount of answers, with just a few questions left. Definitely a good overall series and one I suggest. I typically don't pick up young adult series, but I'm happy I picked up this one! Who knows, maybe I'll eventually pick up some of the other popular series too!<br />
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My book club this month selected to read <u>Gone Girl</u> by Gillian Flynn. Going into this book, I had heard it was good, but never really knew what it was about. To be honest, I didn't even read a summary of what the book was about, just merely jumped in and started reading. That was a unique way to read as normally I have at least a general feel for what the basis of a book is. If I had to describe this novel I'd probably say it was predominately about two screwed up people who happen to get married and ultimately end up ruining each others lives. <u>Gone Girl</u> certainly keeps you guessing and going back and forth between the two main characters as to who you like and who you hate. Friends had told me that there's this crazy twist you don't see coming and it's going to be amazing! Well, I got to that point, and I had guessed it already. Or at least hoped for it. So it didn't shock me, but what did shock me was the psychotic things you learn of after that twist. I liked the whole story up until the very end. At that point there was a strong chance I ended the book by saying "seriously?!?!?" out loud. It left me feeling pity for pretty much all characters involved.<br />
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Lastly, I read the short story <u>Larger Than Life</u> by Jodi Picoult. This is another precursor to her next novel that comes out next month and introduces you to the mother of the main character in her upcoming book, Alice. She researches and studies animal memory, at times feeling more sympathy toward the animals than she should. I actually found myself hoping that the book would continue and I'd learn more so I guess it did what it's supposed to! Then again, any book that is about humans and animals creating a bond that surpasses the differences of species is pretty much guaranteed to get my seal of approval. Even more to the goal of Picoult is it got me more excited for her book that comes out in October!<br />
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Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster
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<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen<br />
<u>The Peppered Moth</u> by Margaret Drabble<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"> </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Scorch Trials</u> by James Dashner</span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Gone Girl</u> by Gillian Flynn </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>Larger than Life</u> by Jodi Picoult </span></span></div>
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<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Death Cure</u> by James Dashner </span></span> </div>
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HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-18325384103329227512014-07-31T21:30:00.000-04:002014-08-01T09:10:32.439-04:00July Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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July was a better month than June for book reading! Even with unpacking a new place, and 2 weeks of absolute craziness at work-I still managed to read a couple! Better yet-I enjoyed most of them!!!<br />
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First I finished <u>The Peppered Moth</u> which I had previously started in June. As much as I wanted it to, it never fully captured me like I hoped it would. It seemed to jump a bit going from person to person within the same overall family tree. Each person was moderately interesting, but it just never fully meshed well for me. At the end I was just feeling like I just watched a scripted reality TV show. It was that feeling of kindof getting a feel for someone, but never feeling as though they were as open and had as much depth as you had hoped. <br />
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On the other hand, I was instantly hooked with <u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner! Looking over the books I've read this year it's obvious I don't really read a lot of science fiction, or dystopian type of books. And yet oddly enough-I do really like that genre! <u>Maze Runner</u> captured the spirit of adventure and the unknown right away. When even your main character and narrator has no idea about his past, where he is, who he is, or even how old he is-it makes for a pretty interesting ride! Add in some survivalist fears, some mystery, and then a big twist at the end and I love it! It's part of a series and I definitely think I will be continuing it! <br />
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Lastly was <u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver. This had been on my list for a while and I'm happy I finally sat down to read it! It follows a family over a number of years, but focuses first and foremost on the family's first year as missionaries in the Congo. One thing I liked about this book is that it is written from the 5 main female characters (the mother and 4 daughters) points of view. But the mother's is always looking back and in past tense while the daughter's are always in the present. You can't help but feel for the family; and the paths the 4 daughters go down are so vastly different! I don't admit to being a great scholar on Africa's politics in the 1960s and 70s so it did kindof open my eyes a bit to what life may have been like at that time there (with a grain of salt however as it was a fiction novel). Great read from start to finish!<br />
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Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster </div>
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<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen<br />
<u>The Peppered Moth</u> by Margaret Drabble<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"> </span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Maze Runner</u> by James Dashner</span></span><br />
<span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><span class="a-declarative" data-a-popover="{"position":"triggerBottom","name":"contributor-info-B000APZ5VY","allowLinkDefault":"true"}" data-action="a-popover"><u>The Poisonwood Bible</u> by Barbara Kingsolver </span></span> </div>
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HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-57373072874777686472014-06-30T08:23:00.000-04:002014-06-30T08:23:01.084-04:00June Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
June was not my best showing. In fact I only read 1 1/2
books this month. Part of this is surprising since I traveled this month and
normally when I fly I can get quite a bit of reading done. Instead these
flights consisted more of dozing or listening to podcasts. Then the two weeks I was
gone were full of activity which meant no time for reading, and a week after I
returned I moved to a new place. Oh June has certainly has it's distractions
from books! </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
The one full book I read was entitled <u>Black and
Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen and was very good! I was looking for a light easy read and ended up
picking a book about a woman who builds up the courage to leave her husband and
father of her son after 20 years of physical
abuse. Not exactly light hearted, but it was so well written and flowed
remarkably well, it was a pretty fast read! I really liked that it showed that
developing the courage to leave is just the first step. After that comes the
anxiety and paranoia that constantly exists; paranoia that you will slip up
and someone will find out who you are and word will get back to him. I would
definitely recommend this book!! </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I started a book entitled <u>The Peppered Moth</u>, but only
managed to make it halfway through. So far it hasn't fully captured me like
<u>Black and Blue</u>, but we will see how the second half goes in July! </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<u>Black and Blue</u> by Anna Quindlen</div>
</div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-38838119419013913122014-05-31T23:15:00.000-04:002014-06-01T10:53:26.027-04:00May Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
May was a pretty strong Month in terms of number of books listed! Although I will admit it was also a month of shorter books so that was pretty helpful in getting through half of them really fast.<br />
<br />
First book of May was <u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green. I admit I read it because it was selected for my book club. I had read another Green book earlier in the year, but honestly it wasn't my favorite. It didn't capture my attention and interest too much. <u>Looking for Alaska</u> was much more captivating to me though! I really enjoyed it from the first page to the last. I liked the plot, the characters, and the development of the story. It takes place on a boarding school campus and delves into lives of the kids that aren't the jocks or preppy kids you stereotype for boarding schools. Granted the characters talk a little above their age using words and phrases that regular teenagers wouldn't use (reminded me of Dawson's Creek type of dialogue), but I could get past that since I'm also well past being a teenager. <br />
<br />
Next up was <u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington. This was a book that was given out at my church after TJ came and gave the sermon on Sunday. I read the entire book in about 6 hours and admit that I skimmed a little more than I normally do. But it was a cool thing to have heard from the author on this very topic and then read the book he wrote on it. Kindof like getting the cliff notes before diving into the real book. I think it's a good book to read when you are dealing with some crazy times in life and it seems like you keep getting knocked down and question why. Was it something I needed that particular day? Not exactly, but it was still something I'll keep in mind for when those times may come. <br />
<br />
Apparently it was the month of reading a book in less than a day. Granted this next book is written at about a 4th grade level so it took all of an hour and a half (and that may be with me stopping for a break in the middle). <u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery is probably one of my FAVORITE books from when I was a kid. I was buying some books for an elementary school my church is associated with and this was one I picked up. I couldn't help but read it again myself! I still think it introduces some pretty serious topics to kids in a way that doesn't scare them to much. I still really enjoyed this book and while saying it was an easy read at this point in my life is an understatement, it still makes the reading list for sure!<br />
<br />
On a more age appropriate level, I also read <u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown. I was pretty captivated by this book although, like <u>The DaVinci Code</u> is does push some of the religious boundaries a bit. Similar to <u>DaVinci Code</u> there is a lot of reference to historically true information as well as a lot of fictional freedom. I was surprised that the entire story takes place within a 24 hour period. You don't see many books like that. I feel like the tiny bit of romance at the end was completely unnecessary, but if I had stopped before the last 5 pages it would have been absolutely fantastic!<br />
<br />
Second to last full "book", and I use quotations because technically it was a short story. Jodi Picoult's <u>Where There's Smoke</u> is a prequel to her new book, <u>Leaving Time</u>, that comes out in October. Picoult is one of my favorite authors and I always really enjoy her writing. This short story was no different. It centers around a psychic named Serenity who will play a part Picoult's new book. It's just a glimpse since it's only about 35 pages, but you really get to know this character in a short amount of time! <br />
<br />
Lastly I barely finished <u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster in May (I'm talking finished it literally at 10:27pm on May 31 barely finished). Not gonna lie-I didn't really enjoy it. I heard it was supposed to be great and tell of racial struggles between the English and Indians in India, but really to me only the middle about 60 pages were really good. Probably not one I'm going to read again.<br />
<br />
<br />
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte<br />
<u>Looking for Alaska</u> by John Green<br />
<u>When Life Comes Undone</u> by TJ Addington<br />
<u>Number the Stars</u> by Lois Lowery <br />
<u>Angels and Demons</u> by Dan Brown<br />
<u>Where There's Smoke</u> by Jodi Picoult<br />
<u>A Passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-57844163934563026022014-04-30T17:26:00.000-04:002014-04-30T17:26:00.410-04:00April Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Time to get away from some of the serious happenings of the month, and shift gears back to my New Years Resolution of reading at least 1 book a month. Even with all that has been going on, I still managed to read 2 books in April!<br />
<br />
I started with <u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini. I've really enjoyed Hosseini's other books <u>The Kite Runner</u> and <u>A Thousand Splendid Suns</u> so I've been looking forward to reading his latest for quite some time. Unfortunately, I don't feel as though it lived up to his other top sellers. The book is still ok, but it jumps quite a bit from various characters, who are only loosely related, as well as jumping between years. Hosseini had me right away with the initial few chapters, but then sadly we don't see these characters again until the very end. The middle is full of other characters each getting a few chapters describing their lives at the time but they are never enough to fully satisfy what I hoped to learn about those people. All in all, I admit I was a little disappointed, but then again I may have had too high of expectations seeing as how I really enjoyed his other books!<br />
<br />
Next I went for a classic, <u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte. This is one I've heard people rave about and has been on my list of books I'd like to read for quite a while. I'm so glad I finally got around to it as it really was a good book! It does start off kind of intense and fast so it took me a minute to start sorting things out. My only complaint is that before reading it I had always heard of Heathcliff kind of being this ideal romantic so that's what I went in expecting. Having now read the book, in my opinion he is NOT! Yeah he has strong love for one person in the world. But to literally everyone else in the book he is mean, cruel, and vindictive! That was quite surprising to me! I never got on his side. Really I found myself not liking most of the characters as they all seemed rather petty and selfish. But that didn't take away from the story surprisingly! Highly recommend this one to be read! <br />
<br />
<br />
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen<br />
<u>And the Mountains Echoed</u> by Khaled Hosseini <br />
<u>Wuthering Heights</u> by Emily Bronte </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-26091101383356850342014-04-17T08:09:00.001-04:002014-04-17T08:09:18.365-04:00Still walking with those emotions....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's now been about 5 days since I heard about my pastor. Which means it's been 5 days of roller coaster emotions. And I don't anticipate suddenly getting off that roller coaster and never getting back on again. In fact, I believe this is something that will have an effect on me for a while. Not necessarily in a horribly negative way-just in some way.<br />
<br />
Yesterday afternoon was the memorial service. I went into it preparing to ugly cry like no other! Before then I had pretty much been holding back my emotions and not allowing myself to express the true extent of my feelings. So I figured the service would be my time. And I admit, as soon as his wife and 2 kids walked in there were definitely some tears rolling down my face. But I never had a moment of utter breakdown ugly crying. And I think my tears were exclusively sadness yesterday. Sadness that we lost this man who honestly I very much respected. A man who I really looked to for guidance and enjoyed hearing him speak. A man who had laughter in literally every single one of his sermons. A man who did a lot for our church family.<br />
<br />
There were a number of people who spoke yesterday. People who knew him when he first became a Christian, people who knew him when he was in college and starting to date the woman who became his wife, people who worked with him at various churches. And something I took from all their words of wisdom, was that he really was a great guy who loved life and loved God. And that none of us may know why he did what he did. One person said that he led with all of his heart and with all of his passion, and that could lead you to a lonely and dark place. Maybe it was being there for so many others without feeling like he could be selfish and ask for help himself. Now that's just pure speculation on my part-but it does kindof make sense. At least to me it does.<br />
<br />
The songs were honestly hard at first. Because like I've said before, when the songs are all about praising God and finding strength, it still made me sad that he couldn't do that himself. But what I found was that by the end of the service I was singing the songs for me and not for him. I was singing them to take comfort in the words and what I've felt from them. A couple different people mentioned how our church, which really has been flourishing over the past few years, may be under some form of spiritual attack. Within the last year 3 of the leaders in our church have been battling cancer and now this happens as well. It's like when things start going really well, something or someone wanted to come along and try and knock us down. A prayer for the church is that we won't be beaten back. That we will mourn the loss of our friend, but that we will feel a revival and people coming closer to God in this loss than a separation.<br />
<br />
I'm not over it. As I read back over what I've typed it sounds like I've come to terms with what has happened. And while I admit, today is easier, and today I feel more peace; it's not over. An online quiz I took recently (I'm a sucker for online quizzes) had me pick a quote from a number of options. I picked this one by Willa Cather "There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." Now I don't know who Willa Cather is. I'm honestly not sure if Willa is a man or woman; although I'm leaning woman since Willa ends in an a. But it's a quote that seems to resonate with me in a time like this. This whole experience is a lesson. Something that will alter my outlook and who I am from this point on. And while I will continue to process over the next few days, weeks, months; I will try to stand firm in my own strength. I will continue to learn from this situation and all that happens after it. </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-79964702737280042792014-04-14T08:36:00.000-04:002014-04-14T09:24:51.464-04:00A walk with my emotions during a difficult time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I can't believe this happened and that I am writing these words.........my pastor committed suicide. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This past Friday the 11th, he took his life. I was made aware of it the next day. My first reaction was shock, disbelieve, sadness, and then anger. Anger stayed the longest. I typically react to death with a combo of sadness and anger. Last month when there was a loss I felt anger to God. But with this, it was against my pastor. It was his choice. His actions. His decision to leave behind his family, friends, and congregation. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sunday was supposed to be a church service of praise for Palm Sunday. Instead it was a service of prayer. As I sat there and I saw how many people filled the church to ultimate capacity, with many people crying, I still felt angry to be honest. I don't like making people feel bad, or hurting others. So to leave that many people hurt and confused is something I just don't understand. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've thought about suicide before, probably more than I want to admit. And I get that sometimes there doesn't seem like a reason to live anymore, but when you have that much of a support system around you that's when I get confused. Being an adult means asking for help when you need it sometimes. It means understanding when you need to be vulnerable. I thought he understood that. But I guess not. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In church we sang a hymn as well as read a Psalm. Both of which basically mention standing strong in God in times of trouble and in times of need. Building yourself up and getting your strength from The Lord. It was great to hear and something the congregation can really take hold of to lift them during this time. But if he believed that too, then why in the hell did he commit suicide?!? Who </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">was he that he felt he couldn't talk to anyone, admit he needed help and sought help from The Lord and the people around him. Instead he opted to take his own life. To give in to the suffering. To leave behind his wife and 2 children. To leave behind literally hundreds if not thousands of the people he has touched in this world. One of the other pastors even said he wished he had reached out and called. Everyone said it was unforeseen and that even last week he was joking and pranking and getting excited for the upcoming sermon series. So what the hell happened?!?!?!? They said he admitted to be a broken individual but we all are. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As much as it sounds like I do, I am really trying not to judge him. I'm just confused. And don't like to see people in pain. I think eventually I'll give in to the fact that we may never know why he made that choice. But as I write this less than 24 hours after hearing the news, I'm just filled with a crazy array of emotion. He was a great pastor. I really enjoyed his preaching and his messages. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I respected the fact that he would get emotional and real and honest during his messages as well. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I appreciated the positive change he made in my friends lives. This is going to be something new for the church to overcome.<br /><br />It's an interesting time of year for it. We are in Holy Week currently. A week of praise and worship and welcoming. It leads up to a great tragedy tho. It leads up to the loss of our savior. The loss of our greatest spiritual teacher. Holy Week has always been a big deal to me. Good Friday is typically one of my favorite services as it is always so full of emotion. But I think this year it will be even moreso emotional. Because now I know what it feels like to lose your spiritual leader. I'm not saying Robert was Jesus by any means whatsoever. I'm only saying that Good Friday was always a day that was emotional but also exciting because I knew what would happen 3 days later. But now I can more closely relate to what Christians felt when they woke up one Saturday and realized that someone they looked up go for spiritual guidance was taken from them. To lose some sense of hope. To question why he didn't save himself. To feel cheated of guidance and direction. To have so many questions that are left unanswered. And I know that this situation is very different from the one that took place 2000ish years ago. But I guarantee this Friday I'll feel more connected to the believers of that day. I'll understand the story from a different point of view.<br /><br />I'm still trying to figure out my emotions. Still dealing with confusion and sadness and anger. But I refuse to lose my faith this time like I have before. I refuse to feel further from God. I refuse to let myself slip. And I commit myself to not feeling that same way again. To not feel as hopeless. To find my strength. And to overcome and grow. </span></div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-73033354297705122452014-03-31T18:31:00.004-04:002014-03-31T18:31:56.935-04:00March Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
March was the month of the Nonfiction!<br />
<br />
Normally I feel like I tend to go more towards fiction novels, but I have to say I have absolutely LOVED the nonfiction I've read this month!<br />
<br />
It started with <u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis. This was actually recommended to me by one of my closest friends. Near the end of February a good friend of my good friends passed away. He was merely an acquaintance to me, but I was still absolutely shocked and still saddened. I never know how I will react to death. In this case I could feel old emotions of anger and that overwhelming sense of "why?" coming up. This book was recommended to me actually by a friend who was really close to the guy who passed away. I trust her recommendations about pretty much anything and this was a good book in this circumstance. It basically follows Lewis as he loses his wife and deals with his own grief, anger, and confusion toward life and especially God. Through it it made me realize how selfish my emotions are relating to not just this death, but just death in general. It helped me reach a better understanding and peace. I don't doubt that next time I experience death I will probably pick this book back up for a quick read (and it really is pretty quick!) <br />
<br />
Next was <u>The Monuments Men</u> by Robert Edsel. This was another book that was made into a movie this year. I've always really liked learning about WW2 and thought this sounded great! It is a perspective that I have NEVER heard or thought about before. It surrounds a group of unlikely war heroes who use their background in art history and art restoration to go find, protect, and restore art that either has been stolen by the Nazi Party (who knew Hitler was such an art buff!) or may have been in threat of being ruined just by he movement of troops.<br />
<br />
Apparently <u>The Monuments Men</u> didn't fill all the WW2 books for the month. My book club this month decided to read <u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer. Another true story about a woman's journey during WW2. This was also a perspective I had never heard as it was a Jewish woman who goes undercover basically pretending to be her Christian friend. Edith goes to a work camp and you learn about what that experience was like, before returning home, going undercover and moving to a new country, meeting a man who is a Nazi and actually is attracted to the fact Edith is lying about her whole story and marries her. As much as I feel for Edith's fear and paranoia that her real identity could be found at any time, I also found myself feeling a bit of disdain at the fact that other Jews were in hiding and not able to go outside, or at concentration camps, while this woman ends up essentially rising to a place of respect by being a Nazi Officer's wife and mother of his baby. There were some confusing feelings in this book for sure, but overall it was still really good.<br />
<br />
Lastly I read <u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen. Technically 2 books, although <u>Shadows on the Grass </u>was much shorter and was basically a call back to <u>Out of Africa</u>. It followed Karen Blixen (the author's real name) through many of her years in Africa. Karen was a Danish woman who moved to Africa to start a coffee plantation in 1913 and lived there until about 1931. She talks about her struggles, some of her hunts, but more than anything her interactions with the natives. It was a cool perspective, again-that I hadn't really heard before.<br />
<br />
Another successful month of reading. Starting to get to the point where I'm going to need more recommendations from friends and do more searching to find what books I want to read next! <br />
<br />
<br />
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen<br />
<u>A Grief Observed</u> by CS Lewis<br />
<u>The Monument Men</u> by Robert Edsel<br />
<u>The Nazi Officer's Wife</u> by Edith Beer<br />
<u>Out of Africa</u> and <u>Shadows on the Grass</u> Isak Dinesen</div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-29582242821832789772014-02-28T17:27:00.000-05:002014-02-28T17:27:00.994-05:00February Book Recap! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
February.....not so successful as January.<br />
I still read a book! But emphasis on "A" book. Just one. Luckily it was pretty good.<br />
<br />
I bought <u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen a while ago because I thought it sounded really good. I admit it was part of Oprah's Book Club. I have never watched an episode of her show or read her magazine or bought into anything else of hers, but her book club does have some pretty good tastes! If I see that sticker of approval I'll typically pick up the book to at least check it out!<br />
<br />
<u>Freedom</u> was a bit more dense and would have taken longer to read than most of the January books even if I wasn't working crazy hours this entire month! <u>Freedom</u> is a fiction novel that basically follows a family from normal, to dysfunctional, and back to slightly normal. More times than not I found myself reading and thinking "why the crap are you making that decision?!?" Because you could almost see the dysfunction developing. Plus I felt like I was getting a lesson on environmental and government policy at one point which wasn't as pleasurable. Overall though it was a good book. It was interesting to play the "will they, won't they" game, and try and figure out how things will turn out. By the end I actually cared a bit about the characters which is the primary goal of any author. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Books Read in 2014:<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed<br />
<u>The Fault in Our Stars </u>by John Green<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins<br />
<u>Freedom</u> by Jonathan Franzen</div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-50970461439263481312014-02-01T20:38:00.000-05:002014-02-01T20:38:01.294-05:00Update to January Readings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Remember when yesterday I said I wouldn't be finishing <u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins in January because I was only 3/5 of the way through it? Apparently I underestimated myself.<br />
Last night I started reading and then next thing I knew I was almost done! It helps that her book is written is a totally different format than regular novels so it doesn't take long to get through the book at all!<br />
<br />
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Another teenager falling in love storyline but with some strong added extras to the plot that make it pretty good! And an ending that really makes you go 'holy crap! i wonder if she does it!' The only downside was sometimes the format taking away from the book, but thats pretty much it.<br />
<br />
And that means I finished 3 and a half books in January!<br />
Lets see what February brings!! </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-79695191071096585102014-01-31T09:58:00.002-05:002014-01-31T09:58:51.048-05:00January Book Recap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's Friday!!!!!!!!! Just had to get that out there.<br />
More importantly it's the end of January. My goal is to post updates as to how I'm doing throughout the year on my book reading resolution every month.<br />
<br />
I'm off to a really strong start actually! In January I read 2 full books, plus half of another, plus 3/5th of another. Let me explain-I cheated and started my resolution early. I started Great Expectations around Christmas so by the time January actually started I was almost half way through it. And currently reading another book (which I don't think I'm going to finish tonight so thus will carry over into February).<br />
<br />
I'm proud of myself so far! I admit the next 2 months may be more difficult as I think I'm either working or have other plans every single weekend which are big reading times for me. For about a week or so this month I would get up a half hour early just to be able to sit in bed and read for a while. I actually really liked that. It was a nice calm way to start my day.<br />
<br />
Here are the books I finished/started in January:<br />
<br />
<u>Great Expectations</u> by Charles Dickens: I read this one years ago in high school and remembered I liked it, but didn't really remember why. Reading it again I remembered why! Such a great book! Good story, great characters, and some fun twists! <br />
<br />
<u>Wild</u> by Cheryl Strayed: Another memoir of hiking a 1,000+ mile trail. Except this time it was the Pacific Coast Trail as opposed to the Appalachian Trail like other books I've read. I'm not going to lie, I thought I would enjoy it more than I did. Her time hiking I enjoyed, but her life off the trail through flashbacks I didn't really care for. Granted I'll probably still consider seeing it in it's movie form starring Reese Witherspoon that comes out this year. <br />
<br />
<u>The Fault In Our Stars</u> by John Green: Also a book being made into a movie this year. Although I don't think I'd care to see this one in theaters. I liked the book as a whole, but the end was a little lacking for me (and not in the way the author probably hoped for). While I liked the book, I don't think the movie will have the same effect.<br />
<br />
*Not Finished Yet*<br />
<u>Burned</u> by Ellen Hopkins: A very easy read so far-although it takes a minute to get used to her writing style where every page is almost more of a poem format. Jury is still out on the book though since I haven't finished yet! </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-6667937478779659372014-01-17T11:45:00.000-05:002014-01-17T11:45:13.820-05:00From shattered to rebuilt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
a few years ago I lost someone close to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
not through death, not through distance, but because of
actions of stupidity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
because of bad decisions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a few years ago a friendship was ruined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and it shattered me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
it made me look at my life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
it made me take stock of what was important and how i was
living. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
it made me realize i didn't like myself anymore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and it made me change. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the person i am today is not the person i was before. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
as for the friendship-it was built back but on shaky ground.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
it went from tolerating, to talking, to joking. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but there was still the awkwardness in the room at times</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the unspoken elephant of the day our friendship was originally
shattered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but we never addressed it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
until now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
finally the time came to talk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to tell each other what we've both felt for a
while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to be able to say those words "I'm sorry".</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to be able to say "it made me change". </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to realize that its both of us who have changed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that we are both stronger and more confident in who we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
i'm sad we missed out on those few years, but i'm beyond
thrilled we made it past that trial.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to discuss it and move on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to understand the thoughts from the other persons point of
view.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to finally be able to know that it's settled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to be confident in our relationship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and know for sure that i have my friend again.</div>
</div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-28424183994910172452014-01-07T08:26:00.001-05:002014-01-07T08:26:28.488-05:00Welcome to the Polar Vortex!!!!! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That was what was in all caps and large font on the homepage of CNN's website yesterday. And it's pretty much true. (Props to whoever came up with "polar vortex" by the way-very science fictiony and dramatic!) <br />
<br />
But seriously-it's the coldest blast of temperatures to hit the USA in a while out there. Here in North Carolina we got down to about 7 degrees last night, with a windchill of at least -6! AND THIS IS NORTH CAROLINA!!!! My friend in Wyoming wasn't making a big deal over his -12 degree weather (not sure what the wind chill would have made that!) and instead went outside to test if you throw water into the air in that temperature if it will freeze before hitting the ground-spoiler alert-some of it did! Another friend posted a screenshot of his phone reading a -42 degree wind chill in his area! So I guess I can't complain to much about my -6 degrees!<br />
<br />
All of this is to say that I don't want to let excuses keep me from my goals this year.<br />
(didn't see that switch coming did ya!!!)<br />
See normally Tuesday's I always go to the gym super early in the AM since I have a church thing Tuesday evenings-typically my goal is to be at the gym by 4:30am. Knowing what the weather was going to be like last night and into today I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to skip the gym today! But seeing as how my obnoxious sinus infection kept me from the gym for a few days already in 2014, I knew I shouldn't skip more days when I don't have a good reason. And so I set my alarm for 4:10 this morning-promptly checked the weather upon waking up (which is how I know it got down to at least -6 degrees with the wind chill) and bundled up! My greatest concern was my car turning on honestly-Sally, aka my car, isn't used to that type of weather. But she started, I took it easy on her, and as always she got me where I needed to go.<br />
<br />
So I learned a few things this morning-1) I can properly layer for colder weather than I can ever remember experiencing, 2) the gym is remarkably empty on a morning like today, and 3) I can never say it's to cold to go to the gym again unless it is at least -10 degrees!!! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjEj-OkbrmhcD4LusMysdFPsgYMOgYPkWPZBM0veURpAts_tA4qq2nfEr-fimZl97LN5j5SMBtgpgHYZ5gcUMBaLF6HP0n3V1pATMG2CjH63CpEwDuoLTeBZn7OeDf3hwGftUCL6WtvU/s1600/No+excuses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjEj-OkbrmhcD4LusMysdFPsgYMOgYPkWPZBM0veURpAts_tA4qq2nfEr-fimZl97LN5j5SMBtgpgHYZ5gcUMBaLF6HP0n3V1pATMG2CjH63CpEwDuoLTeBZn7OeDf3hwGftUCL6WtvU/s1600/No+excuses.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-36739121135173515562014-01-03T09:18:00.003-05:002014-01-03T09:18:43.177-05:00Happy 2014! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So far all 2014 has brought me is a sinus infection....well at least I think it's a sinus infection-going to the doctor today to see what their opinions are.<br />
<br />
Started feeling bad in 2013, to the point that New Years Eve meant me attempting to go to sleep early and being grumpy when a random watch started beeping just after midnight (seriously! I hadn't worn this watch in literally months and suddenly it come alive and wants to celebrate the new year! I guess it's better to have inanimate objects come alive to celebrate instead of to haunt).<br />
<br />
Other than that, the start of a new year also means more New Years resolutions to make and hopefully not break! This year I've decided to make a resolution that really shouldn't be that difficult. I want to read at least 1 book a month. (Children's books don't count.) I love to read. I love escaping into another world and getting lost there for hours. There have literally been days where I spent 8 hours reading and when it came time to stop reading and go out to dinner it took me a while to transition back into the real world! But I find that parts of the year I just drop the ball on reading. Suddenly it will take me months to finish a book because I claim I don't have the time. And that's a lie. There's always time. I just use it to sit mindlessly in front of yet another NCIS marathon on the USA network instead. With this resolution I'll be forced to at least do a book a month. Ideally it would be great to do more than a book a month.<br />
<br />
There are other things I'd like to accomplish like donating blood 6 times this year and getting involved in new social things more. But I feel as those will be ongoing things. And things I may not have as much control over (case in point-I actually was scheduled to donate blood today but thanks to the extreme stuffiness that's not going to happen).<br />
<br />
So here's to a new year! I can't wait to see what else 2014 has in store for me!!! </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266024880498434378.post-7864162787596833372013-12-31T12:47:00.000-05:002013-12-31T12:47:11.030-05:00So long 2013!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't know if I'm the only one-but it seems like 2013 just flew by! I feel as though so much happened this year, but that it was all in a blink of an eye.<br />
<br />
I welcomed a new nephew and a Goddaughter, traveled internationally, reconnected with old friends while making new, found I had strong opinions on topics, got comfortable sharing personal information with people, got to enjoy watching almost every sport of the London Olympics, plus watch Wimbledon matches live and in person, celebrated the weddings of friends, and of course had some other fantastic experiences. There were ups and downs, but I'm happy when I look back on everything that the ups are the only things that come to mind.<br />
<br />
In regards to my 2013 New Years Resolutions, I succeeded in some of them. My primary goals were to do something good for others through donating time or money every month, as well as to read the entire Bible. I'm very happy to say that I completed the Bible on December 26th! Growing up in the church I thought I knew most of what was in there but there were definitely things I learned! And surprisingly parts of the Bible that I really enjoyed and didn't think I would, and parts I was bored with that I thought I would enjoy. I don't claim to be an expert and in no way shape or form can I quote different passages now that I've read the whole thing, but am happy that I did it. As for helping others, I feel like I did some things, but not sure I did as much as I would have wanted. I managed to donate blood 5 times (so close to the max of 6!), and volunteer with my church, help donate to things friends were doing, started supporting friends in Cru, continued to support Vican and Dar El Awlad, bought things were proceeds went to charity, and a few other things here and there. I guess if you spread it out I would be able to say I succeeded, but I guess my vision was for it to be loftier. To make a bigger impact on myself and those around me. Perhaps that will just have to be a lifelong effort. To be willing to volunteer and step up when needed as opposed to just a resolution for 1 year.<br />
<br />Overall it's been a good year.....but I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store! </div>
HJMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817378180677414293noreply@blogger.com1