The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford

My husband picked up this non-fiction title at the library and we enjoyed reading and discussing it together. Both of us were transported back to our 2013 Fortieth Anniversary celebration in Israel when we walked the same places, and listened in amazement to the guides and teachers who brought a cultural context to the words of Jesus (that we thought we knew well).  

Gifford's book title refers to Jesus the Rock, Israel the Road, and God's Word the Rabbi (teacher).  Not only does she bring her personal reflections, but also  included are incredibly interesting facts by Rabbi Jason Sobel.  Even after traveling to Israel ourselves and being overwhelmed with new knowledge, this Rabbi added an even greater depth of enlightenment on the Word of God as seen through the eyes of a Jewish man.

Not only is Kathie Lee Gifford a successful newswoman, author, musician and philanthropist; she is a deeply committed woman of faith who exhibits joy, vulnerability, integrity and honesty in her interactions with the American people.  I'm a fan.

How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim

 In this very modern re-telling of the Biblical book of Ruth, Jolina Petersheim delivers a very real life situation that grabs the reader from inception to very stunning conclusion.  Ruth Neufeld is a heroine who struggles with motherhood, with a difficult marriage, with heartfelt loss and yet finds the ability to hope in a positive outcome.  The author uses handwritten letters and journal entries to let the reader in on the backstory of Ruth and Chandler's love story.

With her unique cultural heritage, Petersheim develops her story in a Mennonite community in Wisconsin and makes us better understand the deep faith and convictions of these people.  She weaves the characters realistically and makes us enjoy a people who are different than us...but so much like us.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

"I am born on a Tuesday at University Hospital Columbus Ohio, USA -

A country caught between Black and White."

So begins this beautifully crafted poetic memoir, intended for the juvenile fiction shelf, but perfect for adult readers.  Woodson traces her early years in Ohio, to her stable life in South Carolina with loving grandparents, to her Brooklyn home with new challenges and freedoms; and her words draw us in to smell, hear and taste the different places she has lived and learned.

Early in the book as her mother moves as directed to the back of the bus with her three children, "her hand moves gently over my brother's warm head.  He is three years old, his eyes open to the world, his too-big ears already listening.  We're as good as anybody, my mother whispers.  As good as anybody." Although Woodson's theme isn't racism, this memoir definitely touches on it because it's the '60's.  Rather the theme running throughout is that Jackie can become "as good as anybody" in her dream of writing. 

The young Jackie loves words, stories, family tales, and memorizing but she struggles in school to read; unlike her sister.  After standing before a class and reciting a book called the Selfish Giant, her teacher is astonished and proud, finally seeing the brilliance of this young dreamer.  When her classmates ask her how she memorized the whole book Jackie thinks, "How can I explain to anyone that stories are like air to me, I breathe them in and let them out over and over again."

Brown Girl Dreaming received the Newberry Honor Book award as well as the Coretta Scott King Award.  Moving. Captivating. Creative artistry.

 

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

 A thoroughly enjoyable read, Nina Hill captured my heart.  Anxious, organized, and settled into her quiet life; Nina has no desire to expand her horizons nor to invite new people into her circle.  Unfortunately life sometimes throws curves, and Nina suddenly finds herself with a new, very large family when the father she never knew passes away.  Waxman fills this story with lots of witticisms, trivia facts, strangely weird but lovable characters, and a bit of romance.

What I found intriguing is the way that Nina discovered herself in her new family...others who had bookshelves crammed with reading material, others with her exact red-gold hair, others who dealt with loneliness because of their quirky and bristly personalities that seemed to put people off.  She finally felt at home...in the eyes of these new strangers who were becoming friends.  Of course, Tom the pursuer, also added some security and confidence with his ..."I love you exactly like you are"statements.

As only a book lover could, Nina's friend Liz says "I wanted to ask him to give me more time, but I couldn't find the right words.  It's always so easy in books and so hard in real life".  An apt quote for all of us in the difficult situations that life gives us.

October Refreshment...the End

 After watching Pixar's Coco movie a few years ago, the Walkers have celebrated "Day of the Dead", a Mexican holiday associated with All Saints Day...which has the idea of giving honor to family members who have passed away.  So with that in mind, we visited my parents' graves and shared memories of them, as well as stopping by Amy's gravesite too.  Our final day together was on Halloween, so we planned a FULL day!  First heading to South Haven since Jenny had been schooling the kids all week about Michigan, we wanted to make sure they saw a lighthouse and enjoyed Lake Michigan.  Cold doesn't matter to kids, so they ran barefoot on the beach and climbed the dunes....possibly 42 degrees.  Then on to visit some special friends who had treats ready for our dressed up warriors.  We ended the day with a firepit in the driveway, passing out candy to our 200+ treaters.  It was a gorgeous night, and a wonderful end to their visit.  My descriptive words for these kiddos at this stage:  Evy- planner  Abbott - designer  Elliott - adventurer.

October Refreshment.....the Middle

 Walker Family Fun Day is always a highlight of our times together!  Even though Boppa had just had emergency gall bladder removal, he was able to enjoy this day with all of us.  A trip to Shipshewana IN to an Amish farm...which had lots of zoo animals too!  Like zebras, talking parrots, moose, camels, lynx....

All masked up: Evy (7) and Abbott (almost 5).

Abbott, loving on a baby duck while Elliott needed warming up!                  

Ben wanted a pic by this MI sign, but we didn't plan for the bright sun in the kids' eyes😎

Jenny and I were able to get out for a Girls' morning, dressed in our "Relaxed Covid Apparel"..meaning no make-up and "go out as you are"; kids had fun at a local park, and Boppa dropped Jenny, myself and the kids at the Nature Center for a brisk hike in 39 degree weather.  We are pictured looking for the birds' nests!

And who couldn't LOVE Michigan in the fall- here's something the kids don't get to do at home!

October Refreshment....Beginning

  After this 2020 season of cancelling travel plans, of staying home, of not dining at restaurants, of not going to movies.....we GOT TO welcome the 5 California Walkers in October for two full weeks!!   What a highlight of this monotonous COVID year!!

The Beginning:  apple picking at Brookside Farms, applesauce making, lawn mowing the leaves, Barbie car excitement, campfire dinner, and 3 year old Elliott learning to ride a two-wheeler !