Home Behind the Sun

The title, Home Behind the Sun; Connect with God in the Brilliance of the Everyday, spoke to me. Written by Timothy Willard and Jason Locy.

I really expected to love this book but unfortunately wasn't able to get into it. I tried and tried but had to stop about half way through. The writing was excellent, the message was great. I'm not sure what my problem with it is except that at times it is too deep. The writing is too descriptive to the point that it made my head hurt at times trying to decipher it. Maybe if I was in another mood it would have been a better read for me but I wanted something to the point instead of a poetic book.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by BookLook in exchange for my honest review.

*This Week

I'm trying to keep this week in perspective. It's one of those weeks where everything is piled up: housework, bills, schoolwork.

Amy has been teething and has been so whiny and crabby. Becca has been dealing with a stomach virus. My house is a mess. School has been put off this week. The new budget is not working and I've somehow fallen way behind. 

And yet, it's not the end of the world. This too shall pass. So my goal this week is to write out a to-do list of everything that needs to be done and gradually mark it off this week. I also will sit down and write out a new budget and stick to it this time. Having a plan in action will make me feel better.

I'll update you all along the way this week and hopefully will feel accomplished by Saturday!
 

A Shining Light

I'm not a big Christian Romance reader, but when I saw that A Shining Light by Judith Miller takes place in the Amana Colonies in Iowa I wanted to give it a try. I went to the Amana Colonies on a school trip 20 years ago and again last fall with my husband so thought it would be neat reading a book set somewhere that I have been.

I really enjoyed this book. The story line was interesting (a widow returns home to Iowa with her young child, only to find that her father has died and she has no where to go - until the kind people of the Amana villages take her in) and not too sappy, and I loved the details and history given throughout the book. I look forward to reading the other books in this series and think that even those who steer clear of Christian romance may want to give this one a try!

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
 

When We Were on Fire

Remember WWJD bracelets? True Love Waits pledges? See You at the Pole events? If so, you may have grown up in the 90's.

While I didn't grow up in an Evangelical household I did grow up in those circles. I had a bracelet, signed a pledge, and probably would have seen you at the pole, had I not been homeschooled. I knew everything that Addie spoke of in the beginning of her book.

What I don't know is...what was the point? I either missed it entirely or there truly isn't one to the book. Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable read, but several things stood out for me and bothered me.

First of all, the constant back and forth between first and second person wasn't just confusing but downright annoying. I've never seen a book written this way. When I saw that Addie studied creative nonfiction in college I realized that she was trying too hard to be creative in the writing of this book. It didn't work. Not only that, but at many points Addie was too good of a writer (is that possible?!) and used so many filler paragraphs that seemed more like a descriptive poem than a part of her story. Some descriptions went on and on and on and added no value to the story. Sometimes less really is more. The introduction of swearing halfway through the book didn't seem to fit either.

There wasn't much about Addie's parents or home life in this book. Quite frankly, from what I gathered from the book, is that she became a Jesus freak, not that she grew up in a household like that. She seemed to follow these crowds at school and immerse herself into this lifestyle. She chose this lifestyle herself. 

Her life seems pretty ideal, albeit a bit lonely at times. So all of a sudden when she heads off to college and deems herself "broken" all because of a fairly tame high school breakup you wonder where that comes from.

While I applaud her for her honestly throughout the next several chapters detailing some struggles in life, I felt like she blamed her religious upbringing for them, when they are struggles that people from all walks of life deal with (and aren't even all that bad, really, compared to most).


The therapy sessions at the end of the book are what knocked me off my rocker. Rehashing old boyfriend issues as a cause of your life struggles is so "politically correct".

After finishing the book I'm still confused. Was it a book about how her religion and boyfriend caused her depression as an adult? Or was it just a memoir, showcasing the different stages of life? I, like other reviewers, feel like this is two books in one...the first half which I could relate to greatly, dealing with the 90's "WWJD" movement and then the second half where she deals with marriage, depression, and motherhood; possibly blaming the latter on the first and losing many reads with that conclusion?

I read it in an evening and did find it interesting. I think many 90's kids could relate to the beginning of the book.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Plain Faith

I love reading about the Amish lifestyle and immediately knew that Plain Faith by Irene & Ora Jay Eash with Tricia Goyer would be of great interest to me.

It's a true story about losing two children in a buggy accident and the following decades of finding a different religious mindset and leaving the Amish faith.

Reading about the Amish lifestyle from a couple who lived it was fascinating. Some things didn't sit well with me, for example how they stressed the pecking order within the Amish community...bullies, more popular families, etc. This isn't an Amish problem, but rather a life problem. It happens everywhere. This was a recurring issue in the book with me - many issues they had with the Amish were issues that us "Englischers" also deal with. It seemed a little naïve' to me. 

Otherwise, I loved reading about their Amish lifestyle as well as their new lifestyle. I may not agree with everything they said, and may have found some of their letters home to family preachy and annoying (they at least admitted this towards the end - so they felt the same way!) it's a rare glimpse into the journey from one religion to another. I stayed up late just to finish it, which proves it was a good book!

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. 

This Week

*It's been cloudy, gloomy, and wet the past few days and looks as though it will continue that way for the rest of the week. It's a good time to get things done inside but a bad time for hyper, restless children.

*Speaking of children, poor Amy is coming down with a cold and must feel miserable, judging by her whining and clingy attitude. This is sooooo unlike her so I hope that she gets to feeling better soon. 

*May looks to be a very busy month! My sister's graduation party, our 13th wedding anniversary, Joe's 6th birthday, Mother's Day, a bridal shower that I'm helping to put together for my soon to be sister-in-law (yes, a wedding in the near future! My older brother is getting married in June!). It should be a full but fun month! May has always been my favorite month with lots happening and everything in bloom.  

*I've had a lot more hard days recently. Maybe it was finalizing Jacob's headstone. Maybe it's remembering this time last year when we still had him, but knew we were going to lose him. Maybe it's just the way grief ebbs and flows. Regardless, I try to make an effort to choose happiness. Happiness is a choice. It's not always easy but it's better than the alternative. Jacob is with God, God is with me...I am comforted by that. 
 

Overkill

Chocolate rabbit. Check.

Coloring book. Check.

Bubbles. Check.

Colored eggs. Check. 

Jelly Beans and coins hidden in plastic eggs. Check.

Pictures of the Easter baskets. What Easter baskets? I piled their gifts on the couch.

I knew this Easter would be different. More low key. More empty.

We've always had a minimalistic Easter. We've stressed the religious part more than the bunny part.

But have I been living under a rock? I opened my Facebook feed on Sunday afternoon and was assaulted with photo after photo of huge baskets, stuffed full of toys and games and movies and candy. They looked professionally done. They looked like something belonging under the Christmas tree. They looked  expensive.

I wonder if this is a new Facebook mommy wars thing or if it's always been going on, just without the photographic evidence. Whatever happened to simple Easter baskets and egg hunts?

My children were thrilled with their meager offerings. They were thrilled to find that the "Easter Bunny" (aka Grandma) left a little red trunk outside filled with goodies. They loved coloring their eggs the night before and searching for them the next morning.

Am I the only one surprised with how overdone holidays seem to be getting?