Serenity

Ethan has a love/hate relationship with his job. He really does like where he works, and who he works with. But, I know with school and activities and the J.O.B., he gets overwhelmed. And, its only logical that the job will be the first thing to go. He’s not quitting school. And, this is his senior year, so I know its important to him to stay involved in some of the activities that he has done all throughout his high school years. He sometimes thinks he would just like to work somewhere else. But when he goes through that mental job search in his head, he decides that he probably should stay where he’s out. They work with his schedule, whenever he has something going on. They genuinely seem to like him, and he’s been there a year and a half, with 6 months to go before he graduates, so he might as well stick it out, and then decide where his life path will take him after that.

Today has not been a good day, and I’m not sure why. I have been in tears most of the day. The movies I have watched have made me cry. Thats not me. I know we have a lot going on, and alot ahead of us, and I may just be feeling overwhelmed right now. It would be comforting to know that we had vacation rentals in various different places to go to, to get away at times like this. Maybe thats what I need, is to just get away, and not have to deal with anything. But then, thats called denial, right? And denial gets you no where. You just have to face life head on and keep on going. I know that. But there, taking a moment or two to just have a meltdown probably doesn’t hurt either. I’ll be fine tomorrow.

David doesnt’ watch much TV, but there are a few shows he does seem to get addicted to. Some run a few seasons, others only last a few shows. I have noticed a trend though. More than one of his favorites have been based in las vegas. He’s not a gambler by nature, although he does like to go to the casino from time to time. We have a done a few trade shows in Las Vegas, so maybe that is where the interest comes in. I don’t know. But, it just seems like if the show centers around that town, he perks up and wants to watch it. He also stops when he is channel surfing when he cross that channel where they are playing poker for high stakes. And. If his brothers get together for a poker night, you can usually count him in. I suppose it only stands to reason then that he likes shows centered around gambling and Las Vegas. And his dad loves to go to the casinos as well. Family bonding time [grin].

Ethan looks good in all kinds of shirts — from sweaters to turtlenecks … button up shirts, including a tie. He loves to wear ties. But for the most part, he likes to wear novelty t-shirts. He finds ones that express who he is. He had one black Tshirt that said “Genius by birth, Slacker by Choice”. Ok, first off, you need to know Ethan. I love him dearly, but this truly express who he is at times. But what is funny is that he bought it shortly after he started working at the local grocery store. So, what he did was take a piece of black electrical tape, and put it over the letter “l” in Slacker. So then it read “Genius by Birth, Sacker by Choice”. He was sacker at the grocery store. Granted, he couldn’t wear this particular shirt working — they have to order pesonalized shirts with the store logo and their name on them. But, he is pretty well known around town for working there, and so most everyone “gets it” when they see him wearing that shirt.

Usually what we do for Thanksgiving is a no brainer. We usually have several invitations extended, and often just combine them, and everyone comes together as a family and that is that. But I”m not so sure about that this year. Regardless of what we do or where we go, I’m sure that Fenphedra needs to be a part of the gathering, because no matter who does the fixings, we always always always eat way too much. I suppose it because we only fix turkey a couple times of year, and everything that goes with it, that we have to make sure that we are good to go for another year. Wouldn’t it make more sense to fix turkey throughout the year, with all the fixings and not stuff ourselves, than do what we do at the holidays? I don’t know why we do it, but it just seems to be the annual tradition.

I don’t know why I pour over the Black Friday ads when they come out. I don’t like shopping on a normal basis. To go shopping the day after Thanksgiving, when everyone decides to start their Christmas shopping, when the stores decide to run their “best ever” sales? When you can’t find a parking spot within a mile of the store? and everyone is rushing to the same isle and same item that you have your eye and your budget set on? No. Thank. You? I will fire up the old computer, and start my Christmas shopping behind the screen of my computer, and the only traffic I have to fight is those scrambling for the remote and which channel we are going to watch. Black Friday is NOT for me. Sorry.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Holy Night
Sheaf House (April 1, 2008)
by
J. M. Hochstetler

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. M. Hochstetler writes stories that always involve some element of the past and of finding home. Born in central Indiana, the daughter of Mennonite farmers, she graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Germanic languages. She was an editor with Abingdon Press for twelve years and has published three novels.

One Holy Night, a contemporary miracle story for all seasons, released in April 2008. Daughter of Liberty (2004) and Native Son (2005), books 1 and 2 of the American Patriot Series are set during the American Revolution. Book 3, Wind of the Spirit, is scheduled for release in March 2009. Hochstetler is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, and Historical Novels Society.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1967 the military build-up in Viet Nam is undergoing a dramatic surge. The resulting explosion of anti-war sentiment tears the country apart, slicing through generations and shattering families. In the quiet bedroom community of Shepherdsville, Minnesota, the war comes home to Frank and Maggie McRae, whose only son, Mike, is serving as a grunt in Viet Nam.

Frank despises all Asians because of what he witnessed as a young soldier fighting the Japanese in the south Pacific during WWII. The news that his son has fallen in love with and married Thi Nhuong, a young Vietnamese woman, shocks him. To Frank all Asians are enemies of his country, his family, and himself. A Buddhist, Thi Nhuong represents everything he despises. So he cuts Mike out of his life despite the pleas of his wife, Maggie; daughter, Julie; and Julie s husband, Dan, the pastor of a growing congregation.

Maggie is fighting her own battle–against cancer. Convinced that God is going to heal her, Frank plays the part of a model Christian. Her death on Thanksgiving Day devastates him. Worse, as they arrive home from the gravesite, the family receives news of Mike s death in battle. Embittered, Frank stops attending church and cuts off family and friends.

By the time a very pregnant Thi Nhuong arrives on his doorstep on a stormy Christmas Eve, Frank is so filled with hate that he slams the door in her face, shutting her out in the bitter cold. Finally, overcome by guilt, he tries to go after her, but driving wind and snow force him back inside. With the storm rising to blizzard strength, he confronts the wrenching truth that what hate has driven him to do is as evil as what the Japanese did all those years earlier, and that he needs forgiveness as desperately as they did …

Frank doesn’t know that what God has in mind this night is a miracle. As on that holy night so many years ago, a baby will be born and laid in a manger–a baby who will bring forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing to a family that has suffered heart-wrenching loss.

If you would like to read the first chapter of One Holy Night, go HERE.

Guidelines

1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.

2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.

3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

5) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your 100+ books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.

6) All books count: children’s, YA, adults, fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, etc.

***Update: You do not have to decided on your books ahead of time. You can add or subtract from your list during the year.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Until We Reach Home

Bethany House (October 1, 2008)

by

Lynn Austin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband’s work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she’d earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. She has published twelve novels. Three of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, and Fire by Night have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, and 2004 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005.

Lynn’s novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

Among her lastest books are A Proper Pursuit and A Woman’s Place

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life in Sweden seems like an endless winter for three sisters after their mother’s and father’s suicide. Ellin feels the weight of responsibility for her sisters’ welfare and when it circumstances become unbearable, she writes to her relatives in Chicago, pleading for help.

Joining sixteen million other immigrants who left their homelands for America between 1890 and 1920, Ellin, Kirsten, and Sophia begin the long, difficult journey. Enduring the ocean voyage in steerage and detention on Ellis Island, their story is America’s story. And in a journey fraught with hardships, each woman will come to understand her secret longings and the meaning of home.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Until We Reach Home, go HERE

Reviewing for: FIRST Wild Card
Tour Date: November 8, 2008

My Review: This is not your typical “sit down and read cover to cover” kind of book.   This is an interactive book, where you sit down with pen and paper and work through the prompt questions.  Its an examination of your faith, your spiritual time line and just a way for others to get to know you.    If you take a look at my various different blogs, one common thread is the love of prompt sights and those question and answer places.   This book ties all that together in a spiritual way.  I am not doing working through it, nor will I for some time to come, but it is a book I will enjoy for a long time to come.

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It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book’s FIRST chapter!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Me Myself & I AM

Multnomah Books (October 7, 2008)