Miracle in the City of Angels by Elle Conner

Descriptive journal from a mom who prayed and dreamed of a daughter, after birthing 2 sons. Their adoption journey reminded me so much of our daughter and son-in-law's three year marathon of international adoption. This couple traveled to Russia to pick up their little girl and endured the same legalities, delayed court dates, and testifying before a frightening judge -- and feeling numb and sad as they observed so many babies in an orphanage that did not have enough caregivers. A good read that gave me a better understanding of what is ahead for the Tegelaars.

Body Surfing by Anita Shreve

It took a while to get used to the author's style, but the story moved along quickly; and I am glad I read this as it introduced me to the author, who also wrote Aviator's Wife, one on my book list. Sydney lands a summer job as a tutor, while regrouping from the loss of her husband. Shreve writes descriptively of the various family members, and the dysfunctions that lie beneath the surface. I did not love how all the sub-plots played out, but came to enjoy the style. It gave cause to reflect on our initial perceptions of people and situations; and how they sometimes are entirely wrong.

Defending Jacob by William Landay

Our book club reading for March -- Bill also read this with me, so had a good discussion with him. The internal conflicts of a family with a 14 year old son convicted of murder. Delves into the background of the father who a history of pathological males in his family. His own father in jail, he never brought himself to tell his wife of this family "heritage". When the attorney father has to face this charge, all of the history pours back in. Denying that it could be an inherited anger/sociopathic "tendency" -- because he has never had that inclination to kill or to be aloof to others' suffering, the father desperately believes in his son; however the mother questions because she has been aware of the psychological leanings (acting out/ aggression) of her son since he has been small. A complicated book as you doubt the boy, but hope for the best. Because another suspect steps up out of the blue to admit his guilt (coerced by a gangster thug who is friends with the jailed grandfather) -- the charges are dropped. The family starts to get their lives back in order, but another incident sets off alarms in the mother and she chooses the ultimate sacrifice. Ending was hard to read. As I get older, I realize that I love happy endings; in movies and books. The optimist in me believes that the "goodness" in people and in God's ability to "turn our failures into good" -- should win out. Reality is that it does not always work that way.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch was a gifted educator -- raised by parents who assisted him in believing that dreams are possible, he proceeds through life, continually checking off those dreams as they are attained. At 39,he marries and has 3 kids, while teaching computer science at Carnegie Mellon. He appears to have loved this position, and the opportunities it afforded him to "help" students achieve their dreams and believe in themselves. Diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2007, he faces the next months with courage and wit -attacking the disease with all that he has. This memoir was poignant because of Amy and Arlene, and my friend Lynne who battled the same disease for less than a year. Randy wrote this book in conjunction with his "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon, saying good-bye to over 400 people crowded into the small auditorium. He emphasized then that he did it to leave a legacy with his small kids of who he was and that he loved life; he wanted them to know him, but he also wanted to make sure they knew that he loved them. Many themes come through, but the most consistent is his encouragement to stay positive and enjoy the time that is given. He doesn't mention faith or heaven, and it makes me wonder that such a courageous, loving, and positive man could remain so in his situation without faith. The Last Lecture was given in April 2008. Randy Pausch died in August 2008.

Firstlights by Sue Monk Kidd

Short devotional thoughts, compiled from early writings in Guidepost, the author struck a chord in me. As I have been studying rest and contemplation, my desire to listen in silence has increased over the past year. Sue Monk's experiences validate what God has been teaching me on my journey. I didn't always agree with her theology, but her musings and illustrations were good and have caused me to think about looking for daily "moments" from God, that I can write about. Lord, give me those thoughts.

Unbroken by Laura Hilldenbrand

Difficult read. Story of Louie Zamperini, almost Olympian, who was drafted into the army for World War II. The main gist of the story was that he had an infectious joy for living and an indomitable spirit that never quit. He faced so many unimaginable sufferings as he not only went down with a plane and lived over 40 days on a raft in the middle of the Pacific with 2 others, but also endured all of the atrocities of Japanese POW camps. So intense, I was happy for the end; Loved that the author included all of the PTS that Louie was suffering and the amazing "healing" (alcoholism/ rages/ broken marriage/ chronic nightmares)that he experienced after giving his life to the Lord at a Billy Graham revival. Immediately, he never wanted another drink nor had another nightmare. How God bestows miracles in the most awful circumstances-- Praise Him.

February Snow

While enjoying a walk through our neighborhood in the umpteenth blizzard of the year, I looked up from my plodding and "safe" baby steps in the unplowed street --and saw God! As Psalm 29 reminded me in my reading that morning, "God sits ENTHRONED over the flood" (of snow!) just as He sits enthroned over the drought in CA or the ice in GA. God is in the mounds, the unrelenting winds of white, the pristine pureness, the clogged roads that impatient humans want to conquer. The activities that seemed important fade as we sit by the fire, we gaze out the window into the vast whiteness, we bake, we take slow walks going nowhere, and our hearts and souls rest from the ever frenetic pace that is our life. God is in the snow --He calls us to sit & listen, to reflect on our lives, to hear for the next steps that He is directing. Thankful.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

I picked this up on a trip to the library with Azi --in the juvenile area, but always remember liking Caldecott or other award winning books. It did not disappoint! Toby and Cal are neighbors in a small TX town, best buds who ride their bikes all over town and are known by everyone. Enter Zachary Beaver, the largest boy they have ever met @ almost 600 pounds! He arrives in a trailer pulled by his agent, and the whole town comes out to parade past his trailer door to get a glimpse--at a cost of 50 cents. When his agent leaves, the 2 boys determine to find out more about Zachary; thus begins a series of small incidents of kindness towards this young man of 15 who has been living behind the mask of loneliness and sadness over his mother's death. Throughout, other hard issues are being dealt with in both Cal's & Toby's lives. There is healing and grace in community, in being involved in other people's lives by giving and receiving. A great look at diversity, judging, appearances, and friendship.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

A really imaginative story! A couple settles in the barren cold of Alaska, trying to ease the pain of losing a child and the realization that their dream of having children will never happen. Mabel and Jack love each other but lose sight of that as Mabel grieves. One evening in a moment of happiness together, they build a snow-child. The next day, the melted snow figure has disappeared -even the mittens and hat. A slight wisp of a girl begins visiting their home, Mabel convinced that this is the snow-child they had built. Faina comes in and out of their lives, on her own terms for many years--away to the mountains in the summer heat, re-appearing in the coldest blizzards. Mabel and Jack forge a strong partnership in the hardships of farming in the Alaskan wilderness, and find Faina to be the child they never had. The ending is strange but not unexpected, but left me with a lot of questions --did she slip away on her own, what about the wolverine, was she dissatisfied with her new life, or really ill?

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg

Since our Israel trip in April, I am trying to be more aware of Jewish thought and background as I read the words of Jesus. Lots of "hidden" meanings, from the Jewish culture that are a little harder for Christian/Westerners to understand. Lois hits several of Jesus' parables and responses to the Sanhedrin to help us "get" where Jesus was coming from. She begins with the Shema-what we recited with our fellow travelers every morning before hitting the various sites. LOVE:"ahavah" is the Hebrew word that goes beyond emotions and mental thought-loving is action. Loving our enemies isn't just attempting to feel better about them, it is DOING for them."Hessed" is to love as God loved -eternal/enduring/forgiving. She interestingly also developed what Jesus meant in Mt 6:22-23 about "healthy eyes" or having a "good eye" -- it is in passage about money and God's provision. She believes it means "what is your primary motivation in life?" To have a bad eye is to cling to the little that we have, a good eye is to be radically convinced that God will provide, thus the fruit is a generous attitude- a "good eye" towards others. Another great chapter was on judging, something that I struggle with --but in Jewish thought, Jesus taught in Luke 6:38 that we should let our scales of justice fall past the balance point, bestowing on others a little more than they deserve. Wow -- Christians really miss that. I personally see this in judging drivers (jerk)/ slow clerks/ people who make stupid choices/etc. -- The idea is extending grace --"making excuses" for bad behavior, judging in their favor. One last Jewish word "lashon hara" is vices of the tongue- gossip/slander/ malicious speech. Yikes --we commit this even when we don't speak - the rolling of our eyes. The practice of telling negatives about others that are unnecessary and damaging/bullying/humiliating others. Good read, lots to ponder.