Book Reviews

On our trip to Europe (post coming soon...okay maybe not that soon...I have to make it through the Holidays) I was able to read a few books I had been wanting to read. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this book! I am going to re-read it with a highlighter. Great messages, and a calm and peaceful feeling accompanies you through this read. I highly recommend it!
This book was an easy read and pretty entertaining, but a little disappointing to me. I think I had too high of expectations. Still a good read though.
This book was one I really NEEDED to read. I am still feeling like I'm in a parenting slump, but this book is really motivating and peaceful. I feel so good while I'm reading it and even though it may sound funny...I felt the spirit with me as I read. I recommend this book to all parents.

I'll have to leave now and try to organize some sort of Christmas holiday for my family. I'M SO BEHIND ON EVERYTHING! Not sure I'm going to travel to Europe for 9 days at the end of November again! It was awesome though! Get excited for that post! Now maybe you'll start checking my blog again and not write me off!

Happy Birthday Paul!

36 Reasons I Love Paul

1. his smile

2. the way he gets down and wrestles with the kids

3. how he encouraged me to get my Masters even though we had two kids (three at the end)and were poor

4. he likes "chick flicks"

5. he tells me I'm a great mom often

6. he is a detail person

7. he is getting A LOT better about not being late

8. the red hair gene he brought to our family

9. he is really athletic

10. he hates being away from our family for more than a couple of days

11. his hands...and legs...and butt

12. he isn't into video games

13. how the only thing that really matters to him is our success as a family

14. really good dad

15. somehow still finds me attractive after 4 kids and 12 years...and tells me often

16. seems really proud of me

17. great provider

18. doesn't like me to run in the dark (can be annoying, but is SO sweet)

19. he was an AWESOME missionary

20. puts up with my lack of talent in the culinary arts

21. he is a great cleaner

22. would do all his work for free if he could (has a hard time not giving everyone a discount - good thing he has partners to answer to)

23. goes out of his way to help total strangers

24. he has a sweet tooth

25. works harder than most people I know

26. how close he was to his grandpa

27. he has a testimony of the gospel

28. he never makes me feel bad for spending money (I'm not a spender), and actually encourages me often to get things for myself

29. he lies about his age (I think it's so funny)

30. he has great hair

31. how he is going gray

32. he's handy

33. really good at his job (he would never say, but have heard it several times throughout the year of his training from other doctors, nurses, assistants, and patients)

34. he likes to run with me

35. he loves my family

36. he is truly a good person through and through

Gift from the Sea

The title of this post is fitting in several ways. As many of you know I spent the last week in Hawaii. We were fortunate enough to attend the AAOMS (blah blah Oral blah blah Surgery) national conference in Honolulu. I felt a great gift from the sea in being able to spend time with Paul, old friends, new friends, and alone. Of course we are idiots and forgot our camera, so I am at the mercy of friends who took pictures of us to send them to me before I can post them here.

For now you will have to endure my book reviews as reading is one thing I spent a lot of my time doing!! This is one of my ALL TIME favorite books. My old paperback copy was getting pretty worn and weary, so when I was in Barnes and Noble to pick up some copies for some friends, I decided it was time to replace mine. I went for the hardcover 50th anniversary edition. This is a book I try to read every year to remind me what is most important in life.

The author Anne Morrow Lindbergh (married to Charles Lindbergh) was a very accomplished woman, author, aviator, and mother of six children including her firstborn who was very publicly kidnapped and murdered at 20 months old. This book is really just a meditation on the meaning of a woman's life. It is very applicable even 52 years after it was first published. It is a really quick read except it may be one you want to read over and over again with a highlighter. You may eventually find the whole thing highlighted! I just love the poetic way she finds similarities with life and the sea. She is very realistic, but also thoughtful and deliberate. This is one you will want to purchase and keep on your nightstand.

The Peacegiver

After I finished The Girl with the Pearl Earring, I decided to finally read this book that has been recommended to me by several people. It is called The Peacegiver. It is a MUST READ! I should say that again...it is a MUST READ!

It really goes into the atonement in a way that I had never thought of before. The irony of it is that it is probably the most important way for me to look at it. It uses a marriage relationship to illustrate the principles, but can be applied to ANY relationship and/or interaction. It was really powerful, and I am actually now reading it again with a highlighter. On this Sabbath day, I am so grateful again for the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and the peace and healing he can bring to our hearts.