let's start at the end

"There is a time for departure, even when there's no certain place to go." - Tennessee Williams

I wrote a little bit about transition last week. Mostly, it was a word of encouragement to cling to the anchor, God, when the seas of change and transition get rough.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Hebrews 6:19

I don't know if it is because our family has come through a massive transition with adding another baby to the mix, or if it is because I am surrounded by friends and family members all experiencing some type of life change, but this topic of transition - and how to walk through it successfully - continues to weigh on my heart. If we could sit at a table together, pour the coffee, tea (whatever your preference), I would share a glimpse of what I have learned, and continue to learn, from my own seasons of transition. Since not all of us can sit face to face, I thought I would jot down a few thoughts I have on these seasons of change.

Here are some common transitions that I have experienced, and those around me are experiencing:

1. Going from a family of two to a family of three (or three to four, etc.).

2. A new job.

3. A move (whether that be from one part of the city to another, or one part of the country to another).

4. Organizational changes.

5. Loss of a loved one.

I am sure there are more. In fact, if you are experiencing one that I have not mentioned, please feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section.

While some of these changes are welcomed into our lives, the period of transition - and the psychological adjustment to the breadth and width of these changes - oftentimes takes us by surprise. We know that this change is necessary, but we struggle with the weight of emotions that come with the change.

That is why, in order to successfully transition, we must start at the end.

In his book, Managing Transitions, William Bridges writes this:

Before you can begin something new, you have to end what used to be. Before you can learn a new way of doing things, you have to unlearn the old way. Before you can become a different kind of person, you must let go of your old identity. Beginnings depend on endings. The problem is, people don't like endings. Yet change and endings go hand in hand: change causes transition, and transition starts with an ending.

Endings are hard. Saying goodbye to a person, a way of life, an identity, is hard. However, in order to move forward, we have to pause and allow ourselves to grieve, to let go, to remember and to release what used to be.

The beginning starts at the end.

And every person is different in how long, or simply in how they let go. Nobody is better than anyone else in the middle of transition. However, the letting go must happen. The recognition that the previous way of doing things is gone must take place.

Again in his book, Managing Transitions, William Bridges talks about the three phases of transition: 1. The ending; 2. The neutral zone; 3. The new beginning.

As time marches on, and as we let go, we can find ourselves in a season of "in between". We haven't quite wrapped our minds, our hands, our hearts, around the new thing in our life, but we're not holding on with a death grip to the old. We are in neutral.

Neutral is challenging because, if you are like me, if I'm not holding on to the past then I need to be holding on to something. But sometimes that new something isn't quite set in concrete, and I start to feel unsteady. This is when that anchor becomes our best friend. The temptation is to turn around and run back to the old. We start to romanticize the past, "It really wasn't that bad," or "Maybe we made a mistake," or "I don't think there is any hope for any good to come...the past was as good as it gets." All normal feelings. Our challenge is to keep moving forward, just like the hands on a clock. Remember the past, and cherish it with warmth and affection, but don't let the unsteadiness of the neutral zone keep you from moving ahead.

Eventually the new beginning begins. The new identity is formed. The new family is set in place, and each person knows their place. The new job is familiar, and focus is regained. Life begins to pick up speed once again, and the ground beneath our feet feels secure and good.

Each phase in the transition process is necessary. We can't rush any one of these steps along. If you feel like you are struggling in the letting go, or flustered in the neutral, or if you are walking with someone through a time of transition, please be patient. Be patient with yourself, be patient with that person. All of this takes time.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...He has made EVERYTHING beautiful in its time."

Ecclesiastes 3

We are promised that all things work for our good. The letting go process sometimes doesn't feel good. Sometimes it doesn't even make any sense. This is when we hold tightly to the hope that God is in control, and that all things are in his hands. The season for mourning and grieving is just as necessary as the season of beginning. I think that is why the new must start with the end. This harsh goodbye is only a moment in time, whereas our hope for what is new, what has been ordained by God, will last far beyond our present pain.

Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

*Thoughts and insights on the phases of transition come from the book, "Managing Transitions - Making the Most of Change" by William Bridges, PhD.

Verdict In: Not Guilty

John 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

When I was a little girl growing up in Kenya, my parents would pack up the family twice a year, and we would head off to a week-long missions retreat. During the day, my parents would sit through business meetings and sessions while the kids played or had some sort of structured activity time.  In the evening, we would all come together after dinner for a church-type service.

I loved going to our mission retreats.  They were truly the highlight of my year.  Whether it was the anticipation of going to the beach for a week, or seeing my MK friends who went to boarding school, or the super-cute MK boy who lived in Malawi (and all the girls swooned); there was so much to look forward to.  However, along with my giddy excitement came a nagging sense of guilt and fear.  Not only would I be seeing the cute boy from Malawi, but I would also be seeing lots of missionary Aunts and Uncles.  I loved my surrogate family very much; however, I lived in a perpetual state of fear that God was whispering in their ears all the bad thoughts I'd had, or the fact that I neglected to do my devotions for over a month, or the times I had lied to my mom and dad throughout the year.  They were about the most godly people I had ever known, and I was certain they were going to call me out, read my mail, and the true ugliness of my soul would be exposed.

This never happened, of course.  The only time someone had a word from the Lord for me was to encourage and uplift, never to condemn and judge.  Still, the fear was always there.

Interestingly, I still struggle with guilt.  Whether or not I've done anything wrong, I am always waiting with baited breath for someone to come and call me on the carpet for all my sins.  I have discovered that I am a victim of condemnation...and that has never been God's intention or plan for my life.

Paul tells us that there is no condemnation for those of us who are in (who know and are known by) Christ Jesus.  No condemnation.  No guilt.  As far as God is concerned, our slate has been washed clean, and we can stand before him blameless.  We are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is truth.  Jesus is the embodiment of all that is right and holy.  If we are in him, and if we know him, then we know truth.  Truth sets us free.  And the truth is that God sent his Son to die on a cross and conquer death, so that our sins could be covered and forgiven.  The truth is that we are sinful people, in spite of being new creations, but because Jesus is in us, we receive a pardon for our past, present, and future.

Just as Jesus is the truth, he also reveals the truth.  This has been a powerful lesson for me.  I know Jesus.  Therefore, I can go to him, in whatever state I am in, and ask him to lead me and guide me in the truth.  I love how David articulated his plea for the truth in Psalm 139:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

If my mind is cloudy, and I am feeling the weight of oppressive guilt and shame, all I need to do is call on God.  Ask him to search my heart, invite him in to my thoughts, and allow him to lead me on the path that will bring him glory.  As he reveals his truth (not mine) to me, then I experience freedom in him.

If I have stumbled, then he gently lets me know, and he will guide me to repentance.  If I am simply walking along with undue guilt and shame, then he will bring clarity and assurance.  Either way, I am free.

The fact of the matter is those of us who are in Christ Jesus are no longer guilty.  Do we still sin?  Yes.  But true conviction, brought by the Holy Spirit, should not choke us up in guilty chains.  Rather, conviction of sin should motivate us to Godly sorrow and a hunger for repentance.  Guilt is not from God.  Shame and condemnation are not from God.

The verdict is in, my friends.  And it reads, "NOT GUILTY!"

*For more on this subject, I would highly encourage you to read the book How People Grow, by Cloud and Townsend (authors of Boundaries).

And So We Lick Our Wounds

Sydney was beside herself.  As I was pulling away from the carpool pick-up line I couldn't help but wonder who this little monster was in the back seat of my car.  She had asked me if we could go to Starbucks for a girls' day, and I had said no.  I warned her before I dropped her off at school that this Monday was not a "girls' day Monday".  Fair warning as far as I was concerned.  Either Sydney forgot our pre-school conversation, or she was attempting to talk me into changing my mind.  When she realized that there would be no argument from me, she lost it.  I was the meanest mommy in the world...for 20 (long) minutes. Several hours later, and after a little bedroom time for Sydney, we sat down and had a little talk.  I asked her what she was feeling?  We started talking about her day, her friends, and her math speed drill.  The more I pressed her about the speed drill I could see tears welling up in her eyes.  She hadn't finished hers in time and felt embarrassed in front of her friends, not to mention upset with herself for what she perceived as failure.  The tears grew into sobs as she continued to open up to me.

I knew in the car that Sydney's outrage was not really about me, even though at the time it was directed towards me.  I knew there was something else going on deep inside her and the only way she knew how to deal with her self-loathing was to react rather than look inward.  It was an easier way to go for her.  Rather than deal with the painful feelings, she tried to put her pain on me.

On the other hand, one can never tell when Brooklyn has been hurt or offended.  It's not until she runs away and hides from us that we realize something, or someone, has upset her.  Sometimes she simply disappears, without a peep.  When Brooklyn has been found she is usually curled up in a ball, whimpering in sorrow.  It takes incredible patience and a gentle hand to get her to open up and express what is truly bothering her.  Rather than speak up when the offense has taken place, Brooklyn prefers to withdraw, run away, and hide from the very people who love her and want to help her.

As I was thinking about my girls and how they deal with their hurts, I was reminded of how we, as adults, do the same thing.  We may not throw our bodies on the floor in protest or let others see our ugly sides, however, in our own way we either lash out or run and hide when someone has hurt or offended us.

Sometimes we say mean things to people.  Sometimes we call them on the phone and give them a good earful.  We feel justified.  We are going to have our say, regardless of the other person's feelings.  Sadly, the end of this scenario is usually pain on both sides, and a broken relationship.  The reaction to hurt brings more hurt.  Rather than looking inside at our own brokenness we look at everybody else and blame them.  It is too painful to face the real problem, in the immediate.  However, the consequence of never facing the reality and root of our pain is a pain that will live with us for the rest of our lives.

Sometimes we simply run away and hide.  We pull a "Brooklyn".  We've been offended.  We've been hurt.  We feel overlooked or perhaps insecure about our ranking in a relationship.  Rather than speak up and say something, we distance ourselves to the point of isolation.  Instead of choosing vulnerability, which hurts for a brief moment in time, we walk through life never knowing the power and fulfillment of true relationship.  We are afraid of being abandoned, so we abandon.  We walk away from the very people (imperfect and flawed, to be sure) who love us and care about us.

We are lying to ourselves if we believe that the deep, dark issues inside of us will eventually go away if we either find the perfect friend, family, church, or job.  If we never learn to stop and take a closer look within, we will forever be attacking and withdrawing and sadly, never growing.  If we want to grow, and I believe we really do, then we must put a stop to the way we handle pain.

The pain we feel, if we will allow ourselves to feel it, can actually lead us and guide towards healing.  It's hard work.  It requires risk and trust and reaching out and vulnerability, acceptance of our role in the pain and willingness to confront our fears.  When we read or hear what healing involves we choke up, we resist, we justify, and if we're not ready to go there yet, we run away and lick our wounds.  Because this seems a much easier option.

Cloud and Townsend in their book "How People Grow" write:

"Bad pain comes from repeating old patterns and avoiding the suffering it would take to change them, because many times people suffer because of their own character faults.  Bad pain is basically wasted pain.  It is the pain we go through to avoid the good pain of growth that comes from pushing through.  It is the wasted pain we encounter as we try to avoid grief and true hurt that needs to be worked through."

As harsh as this may seem, and going deep into our pain can be brutal, there is a heaping load of grace, love and forgiveness that God pours out on us as we take this step.  He reveals his presence through his Word, but most importantly he reveals his character through fellow believers walking the path along with us.  We are never alone.  God's word promises he will never leave us nor forsake us.  I believe that includes his people, too.

Here is yet another growth step: will we lick our wounds or risk exposure of our wounds so they may heal?

Simple...but not easy.

Friday's Free Advice & A Summer Reading Give-Away!

As summer is quickly approaching, I am compiling a stack of books to keep me company at the pool, park, beach, Starbucks, airplane, etc.  I love to read, but find myself shelving much anticipated reading projects as motherhood, wifehood and ministry pull at me like tug-of-war.  I'm not complaining (hear me out).  I love (almost) every dimension of this busy life, however, I miss sitting down, uninterrupted, to read anything I want.  

Yesterday afternoon I got a jump-start on my summer reading.  A few weeks ago a friend of mine gave me the book, "You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes", written by Lisa McKay.  I added it to my pile of summer "must-reads", and turned my focus back to this crazy life I've been living.   I have to confess, seeing the book leaning against another lonely book on my shelf, curiosity got the best of me.  I took it down, opened it up and couldn't pull my eyes away until I heard Joel walk in the door at 6pm.  (Jackson and Brooklyn played quietly and peacefully the entire afternoon...I know...it was nothing short of a miracle, and, what I can only believe to be confirmation that I was supposed to read this book.)

In any case, with only a few chapters left, I have successfully knocked out one book on my summer reading list.  At this pace, I fear I may have nothing left to read by the time June 18th rolls around! 

With summer reading on my mind, I thought I would share with you my list (you may find some inspiration and add a few to your own).  Here we go...starting summer off with a splash... 

Amy's Summer Reads (thus far...)

• You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes, by Lisa McKay
• How People Grow, by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
• Anonymous, by Alicia Britt Chole
• Becoming A True Spiritual Community, by Lawrence J. Crabb
• Love and Logic Magic: When Kids Leave You Speechless, by Jim Fay & Charles Fay

As you can see...it's a little weak.  That's where you come in!  Instead of me dishing out free advice today, it is your turn to advise me!  Send me your book recommendations (fiction and non-fiction alike).  I could really use some inspiration.  And since we're on the subject of good reads, I thought, in turn, I would help jump start one of your own reading lists.  By leaving a comment, you will enter yourself in the "All I Need Is Jesus, And A Good Pair of Jeans", by Susanna Foth Aughtmon, give-away.  This was on my summer reading list last year, and I polished it off in one day.  (You may recall a recent review I wrote  on her second book, "My Bangs Look Good And Other Lies I Tell Myself".)   Instructions for this give-away are as follows:

• Leave a comment with a good book recommendation.
• Winner will be randomly chosen and announced in next week's Friday's Free Advice (only those living in the continental U.S. eligible to win).

It's as simple as that, my friends!   Let's go summer!

Pay It Forward - A Give-Away With A Twist!

Okay, let me preface this post with the fact that I am the most non-spontaneous person on the planet.  Not kidding here.  And what I have up my sleeve right now could quite possibly be divine inspiration or a HUMUNGOUS flop.  I guess we'll find out... This morning Joel and I were talking at the kitchen table, gulping down a pot of coffee because we were out late last night, and the three little people that we share this house with were up at an ungodly hour.  That said, we started talking about God and stuff God is doing in our lives, which instantly inspired me to start sharing all the beautiful nuggets of wisdom and encouragement I gleaned from the book, My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself (you can read my full review here).  I pulled my book out and started reading the underlined portions aloud (which was a lot because I practically underlined the whole thing).  We both laughed.  Good times.

As our conversation drew to a close, I sighed, "I wish I could buy a copy of this book for all my girlfriends."

Not too long after, I came up with an idea.  What if I did a give-away on my blog - the prize being a copy of My Bangs Look Good... - with the stipulation that the winner has to pay it forward?  Meaning the lucky recipient of the book would then post their own My Bangs Look Good... give-away - via a blog or Facebook.  And the winner of that give-away must do the same thing, and so on and so forth.  Somehow, someway, keeping the goodness of this gift moving along like a wave of Tired Supergirls!

So...here's how this give-away is going down:

• Leave a comment on this blog sharing your most recent "oops" moment.

• A winner will be randomly chosen on Thursday and announced Friday on my blog (only those living in the continental United States eligible).

• The winner will be responsible for setting up their own give-away through a blog or Facebook (whichever medium works for them).

Let's pay it forward...one book at a time!

Book Review: My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself

I’m feeling like big time today.  I actually get to participate in a blog tour for a book written by an author that I have come to absolutely love: Susanna Foth Aughtmon, the original Tired Supergirl.  After reading (in a record, 24 hours – stop the presses!) her first book, All I Need Is Jesus, And A Good Pair Of Jeans, I came to the conclusion that Susanna and I are kindred spirits.  I nodded myself dizzy, laughed out loud, and the phrase “For goodness’ sake!” became a part of my daily word usage.  So, allow me to relish in this big-time moment and share with you my thoughts on Susanna’s latest book release, My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself.  

She had me at “Bang-tastrophe”.  Delivery of Susanna’s book came at the onset of spring break, we had a full house (my parents were visiting from South Africa), and the chicken pox had descended upon our home (as I’ve mentioned several dozens of times on this blog).  Panic was clearly on the agenda.  Weeks prior to this, I had committed to participating in the blog tour for her new book, and I didn’t want to let anyone down.   On the brink of nervous stomach upset, I wondered, “When on earth am I going to have time to read this book and write a quasi-articulate review?” 

I opened the book to take a quick peek and peruse the introduction.  The tears began to flow like Niagara Falls (the good kind of tears – a happy Niagara Falls), accompanied by laughter, reading page after page out loud to my mom while she cleaned up the kitchen for me (bless her heart, I miss her so!).  We both had to stop a few times to catch our breath, wiping the tickled wetness from our eyes.  It was like she had a window’s view to my soul, my past, and my daily mishaps.  Quickly, I realized that getting this book read and reviewed was not going to be as difficult a task as I had earlier stressed it would be.

There are few people in this world that I truly feel capture the angst, joy, wonder, humor, and passion of womanhood, wifehood, and motherhood in such a real and authentic way as Susanna.  Down to earth, right where I am, walking the same road, and wrestling with the same struggles, questions, and unfinished dreams, the transparency and openness through Susanna’s words reminded me that I am not alone on this journey with God.      

Each chapter of the book addresses a lie that the Liar (Satan) works his darnedest to convince us is true about ourselves.  Then, Susanna brings that lie into alignment with the truth in God’s Word, revealing what he actually believes and desires for us, his girls.  The Liar loves to remind us of all the times we’ve messed it up good.  Crippling us with “stinky half-truths”, he jibes at our hearts, taunting that until we get it right, well, we’re toast.    Here’s the thing: truth produces transformation.  God’s truth about us - what he thinks about us, what his plans for our lives are, where he wants to take us – when captured deep in our hearts, will set us free and bring complete transformation.  Sometimes convicting, sometimes affirming, Susanna shines a spotlight on God’s truth, straight from his heart to hers to ours. 

It seems that God is always up to something with me.  Last year, I think he was trying to teach me to appreciate the little things, indescript miracles that were taking place all year long.  I was waiting for the BIG one (you know, the BIG answer to prayer) all the while God was working out the smaller details of my life.  The lesson I learned was as simple as saying “thank you” and realizing just how far God has brought me and my family.

This year, the theme of my life has been “trust” and “grace”.  A timely read, “My Bangs Look Good…” challenged my thoughts on identity in Christ and the unfathomable grace he has for me.  I have a choice on whether or not I’m going to muddle my way through this next year, doing life as I always have, and hoping that there will be some new outcome at the end of it.  On the other hand, I can take a huge leap of faith and trust that God’s tender arms of mercy and grace will catch me as I choose to embrace the raw reality of myself and the transformation God deeply desires for me. 

“If we believe the Bible (and we do), we have a choice.  We get to choose death or life. Hmmm.  Now which one do you want?  Life is light and growth and truth and change, and quite possibly some discomfort and socially awkward situations.  I’m just being honest.  And death?  Death is staying exactly how we are."

 - Excerpt from Chapter 5

Filled with tear-inducing laughter and a serious look at the woman in the mirror, I challenge all of my readers, and anyone else who will listen to me, to get this book and read it.  You can find it on Amazon today!

Good luck on your journey, and don’t forget, we are not alone.  We’re in this thing together!

Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Friday's Free Advice

Read a book.  

That’s it.  Read a book. 

Oh…perhaps I should be a little more specific. 

Read a good piece of fiction. 

I like to read.  In fact, I like to read a lot.  Before I was married and had children, I was always reading something.  I wouldn’t classify myself as a bookworm, but I definitely take great pleasure in soaking up great literature.  My life as a mom has limited the scope of my reading.  These days I find myself flipping through the pages of Dr. Dobson’s “Strong-Willed Child” and “Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood”,  both of which I highly recommend.  And, if my nose isn’t in one of those books, you can easily find me sniffing away through one of several spiritual growth and leadership development books.  Between my job as a mom, my role as a wife, my passion for ministry and deep desire to grow in all three of these areas, by the time my kids are down for the night I don’t have very many active brain cells left.  I’m pretty much tapped out.

Last spring I challenged myself to read Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina”.  I didn’t care how long it took me to read it.  I was determined to plow my way through.  In the past I have felt guilty granting myself permission to read something simply for the fun of it.  I mean, really.  Who has the time?  Then I realized something quite simple.  I have to make the time, and stop feeling guilty about it. 

It took me four months to read “Anna Karenina” (even admitting how long it took me to read this book is a tad bit humiliating, to say the least).  There were some days I could only get through about two pages.  My eyes would start criss-crossing and the next thing I knew I was drifting off to “la, la land”.  Still, I tried to read a little bit every day. 

For me, thrusting myself into a great story is a form of pampering.  I absolutely love to get caught up in characters and plot, suspense and intrigue, lapping up and chewing on the rich words of the storyteller.  It takes me away, causes me to use my imagination and stretches out the tired muscles in my head. 

My advice, read a good fictional piece of literature.  Be good to yourself.  Enjoy thirty minutes of a good story. 

I know it can appear unproductive and wasteful, but let me give you something to think about for a minute.  We’re all about balance these days, right?  We work hard to prioritize, juggle, multi-task, etc., in order to attain a semblance of balance.  In my opinion, a balanced life knows how to play too.  It knows how to take care of itself so it doesn’t burn out.  For me, and perhaps for you too, reading something for the pleasure of reading is how I keep a little balance in my life. 

I just finished “The Lovely Bones”, by Alice Sebold, and I’m currently looking for my next fictional read.  My goal is to incorporate four fictional pieces of literature into the mixture of other books I am reading through the year.  Maybe you’ve already learned how to strike a balance in this.  I know I tend to be a slow learner.  So, tell me, what books are you reading right now?  Have you read anything good lately?  Is there something you would recommend?  Feel free to share it…I would love to hear your feedback.

In the meantime…read on, my friends.

An Early Christmas Gift

Nope.  This is not another giveaway.  I apologize if I got your hopes up, but don’t let that keep you from reading on.  This post is a pre-holiday treat that I hope you will enjoy.  

Once November hits I officially become glued to my day planner.  It seems that holiday activities don’t wait until the traditional Christmas month of December.  Oh no.  Starting November first it seems we are inundated with television commercials, storefronts and e-mails announcing holiday markdowns and savings.  On top of which I find my schedule filling up faster than a stocking with Christmas goodies:  concerts, school activities, holiday bazaars and parties.  And somehow, someway I’ve got to squeeze in our annual family Christmas picture, order cards, go shopping for three eager children, husband, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, etc.  One word.  Exhausting.  Three more words – I can’t wait.

We’re in the middle of a major office/playroom remodel (more on that another time).  For the past three days I’ve been sorting through toys, books, papers and files.  I have successfully filled a giant garbage bag with miscellaneous items, and it feels good to throw stuff out.  One of the projects I just completed was going through all of our children’s books.  I love books, but especially a really good children’s story.  We have so many, and of varying categories.  One of which is a stack of Christmas storybooks.  I’m pretty picky when it comes to children’s literature, and the ones we have are true Christmas treasures. 

My pre-holiday treat for you is a list of my top ten favorite children’s Christmas books.  Perhaps this list will give you some gift ideas.  I have chosen these particular books because of the content of their story or poem, and the quality of artwork.  The following books, to me, put a warm fuzzy in my heart, bring huge smiles on my little ones’ faces, and in their own special way make the season bright.

Amy’s Top Ten Children’s Christmas Books

• Snowmen At Christmas – written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner.

• The Night Before Christmas – Clement C. Moore’s classic Christmas poem brought to life with the charming and winsome artwork of Mary Engelbreit.

• The Legend of the Candy Cane – written by Lori Walburg and illustrated by James Bernardin.

• Away In A Manger – the classic Christmas carol illuminated by the “artist of light”, Thomas Kinkade.

• Silent Night – yet another beautifully illustrated rendition of the traditional Christmas hymn by Thomas Kinkade.

• The Little Drummer Mouse – written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer.

• The Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – written by Susan Wojciechowski and illustrated by P.J. Lynch.

• Christmas Cookies – “Bite size holiday lessons”, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jane Dyer.

• The Spirit of Christmas – written and illustrated by New York Times bestselling author, Nancy Tillman. 

• You Are My Miracle – written by Maryann Cusimano Love and illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa.

I’ll close with an excerpt from The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman:

That’s when the Spirit of Christmas smiled.

“Remember, this all began with a child.

Because it took nothing but love to begin it,

It’s not really Christmas if love isn’t in it.”

Your tree may be large as the room will allow

With a big yellow star on the uppermost bough,

But of one thing I’m certain,

I’m sure of one thing.

It is love that makes the angels sing.

Happy reading and pre-holidaying, my friends!

A Good Read

During my "quiet time" this afternoon I picked up Mark Batterson's book "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day", not realizing how quickly I would be sucked in. It's not a novel or action packed fictional piece - that's not to say it is a book lacking in adventure. In about an hour I plowed my way through the first half of the book (I could have easily kept reading, but was interrupted by a few hungry little people). To keep this short and sweet - I have been sensing that God wants to do something new in my life, but whether it be fear of the unknown or that my attention has been divided, I haven't understood what it is He has been whispering in my spirit. This book is challenging my perception of God, my perception of self and my perception of going through difficult times. Powerful and insightful. God is taking me on a journey right now, and I'm not quite sure what the destination is going to be. All I can say is this, I'd much rather be one who chases lions than one who is constantly running from them!

My book pick for this month: In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day, by Mark Batterson

Book-ation

Book-ation: def. – to take a break/hiatus from routine reading habits – books, articles, etc. – replacing them with literature not ordinarily read.  

I’m on a “book-ation”.

Usually what one might find on my nightstand are books covering a myriad of topics like parenting, spiritual development/disciplines, marriage, counseling, Bible study, etc.   While I was wasting a few minutes (hours) on facebook, I came across a “note”.   In this particular “note” was a list of 100 classic pieces of literature.   The instructions were to put an “X” next to the books that one has read.   As I surveyed the list of classic lit. I realized, to my chagrin, I had only read about 24 books out of 100.   I felt so…so…illiterate!   Since being out of school (which was the only reason I read any of those 24 - well, maybe it was more like 15…or 10…my memory is getting a little fuzzy on the details - books was because I had to for English Lit. class), I realized there is an entire part of my brain that is not getting any exercise what-so-ever.   I call this the really, really intellectual part (I know, I can’t believe I came up with that all by myself either).   Not to say that what I read now is for dummies.   It simply doesn’t challenge me intellectually.   The reading I do these days challenges me in ministry, home, marriage, spiritual growth, etc.   However, intellectually?   Not so much.

So, after perusing through the “100 classic books” list, I made the decision that I am going to take a “book-ation”.   My first victim: “Anna Karenina”, by Leo Tolstoy.   In high school just the name Tolstoy made me shiver with fear and intimidation.   I’m older now and decided to take the plunge.   For however long it takes me to complete this novel (hopefully I can knock it out in under a year), I am putting all other extra-curricular reading on hold.   (There are a few books/articles I am committed to read, anything additional is staying on the shelf until I complete “Anna Karenina”.)   This is my “book-ation”.

Once completed, I’ll be sure to write up a review.