Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Books Read in 2014

I have done this post every year for the last couple of years. I keep a small notebook with a list of books that I have read and have been keeping the notebook since 2004 (wow 10 years! I didn't even realize that) I have added some quotes from some of the books that I have read but mainly it is just a list of all the books that I read.
I am in no way close to finishing a book so I feel like I can post this today, right now, even though 2014 is not yet, officially over. I haven't even counted them all up so I have no clue how may I have actually read.
HERE GOES:

The Maze Runner-James Dasher
The Sea of Monsters-Rick Riordan
Grave Consequences-Lisa T. Bergren
The 5 Love Languages-Gary Chapman
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH-Robert C. O'Brien
The Scorch Trials-James Dasher
First Love-James Patterson & Emily Raymond
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion-Fannie Flagg
Full Disclosure-Dee Henderson
Confessions of a Murder Suspect-James Patterson
Confessions:The Private School Murders-James Patterson
The Death Cure-James Dasher
Daring Greatly-Brene' Brown
The Kill Order-James Dasher
Landslide-Veronique Day
Circle of Grace-Penelope J. Stokes
Sing-Lisa T. Bergren
Fifteen Minuets-Karen Kingsbury
Unspoken-Dee Henderson
My Fathers Dragon-Ruth Stiles Gannett
Divergent-Veronica Roth
Glittering Promises-Lisa T. Bergren
Insurgent-Veronica Roth
Allegiant-Veronica Roth
The Best of Me-Nicholas Sparks
Jane Austen Ruined my Life-Beth Pattillo
100 Cupboards-N.D. Wilson
Mercy Come Morning-Lisa Tawn Bergren
Four-Veronica Roth
The Fault in our Start- John Green
The Dragons of Blueland-Ruth Stiles Gannett
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society-MayAnn Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Undetected-Dee Henderson
Forever with you-Robin Jones Gunn
Love Does-Bob Goff
Grand Total: 35

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Currently................December Edition

Listening...............Christmas music.......lots and lots of Christmas music. some of my favorites are: How May Kings by Downhere
Just a Girl by Brandon Heath
You're Here by Francesca Battistelli
there are many, many more that I love but these are just a few that have been really awesome this year.

Eating.....................yummy sweets. brownies, cookies, cakes, bread puddings, petite fores. seriously I need to stop but it is all so very yummy. I think some peanut butter fudge may be in my future.

Drinking............still coffee. every morning coffee, water during the day and sometime apple cider with the hubby at night

Wearing..............sweaters and boots (and leggings, I never thought I would be wearing leggings again but I have two pair (about to have three) fleece lined leggings and they are soft and comfy and I love them. it is winter time here and while I probably won't be liking it in a month or so I am ok with it right now.

Feeling...............a bit yucky. whatever I have has decided to hang on for the long haul it seems

Weather..............cold as previously mentioned and the past couple of days it has been a bit gray. it will be nice to see some blue skies among this cold

Wanting................to feel better

Needing...............to feel better

Thinking................about spending Christmas with my family

Enjoying................the Advent Study that I am doing

Reading................. Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Questions?

in Sunday school this last weekend we were all asked to share when was a time that we felt close to God? my brain immediately went to one thing and I stuck with it.

let me just say my introverted self hates questions like this. really, just group questions in general. I don't like speaking I groups (even our Sunday school class who I know practically everyone and is not overly large) that is my issues though.

I want to be able to think about it longer. I definitely had a good bit of time to think about my answer but my brain said its answer and instead of wording it well I soaked in everything else that everyone was saying, their answers, and I loved it all.

my answer went something like this. "missions trips. I went on a few when I was younger and one with this guy(as I pointed to my hubby.)"

I probably sounded like a dork. it is true......the times I've felt closest to God was on missions trips. meeting the people wherever we are, going to new places, building things needed to help others, VBS camps, medical/dental work, sharing God's word with others. most of the time stretching for me but always good and wonderful and life filling.

that was the big times for me. but as I listened to others speak I realized that I can daily experience His presence and usually do. in nature. the sun rise in the morning, the sunset at night, stars bright and shiny, puffy clouds, ocean waves (well that isn't a daily experience but that sure would be awesome.) mountains, wind. huge trees.

then there is my children's face, my husbands love. and the beauty I find around me. a picture, photograph, painting, song, words read, time spent, arms wrapped up and held.

I love that I can daily experience Him in what sometimes is called the little or small things but they are not. they are the big things in life and they are the important and they are some of the best experiences and ways to draw and be close to my Savior.