2 Books

Let me start off by saying that it is cloudy and rainy today. If you know anything about Las Vegas, then you know that this is totally not normal. It is always sunny, and we only get like 4 inches of rain per year.... so today is a rare one out here. It's a nice change- kinda. I'm not going to lie- if we ever do leave Las Vegas, the weather will be the number one thing I'd miss- I'm not a fan of rain.

On that note- a few weeks ago I finished a book called The Boy Who Dared and this past weekend I finished The Scarlet Thread. Both pretty good books- neither one will make the favorite list- but they were both enjoyable.

The Boy Who Dared, written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, is a historical fiction book based around the Holocaust (of course- you know my passion for reads around this subject). It is about a young boy named Helmuth who is German and joins the Hitler Youth. It is interesting to read how a young boy in the Hitler Youth is "fashioned and trained." It takes a spin when Helmuth realizes that Hitler and the Nazis are bad and not good. He realizes that they lie to the German population and seek war not peace. Helmuth at the age of 14 sneaks an unauthorized radio and begins to listen to the BBC to find out the truth behind Hitler's war efforts. He soon starts to print pamphlets displaying the information that he learned and leaves them all around the city- on post boards, in public restrooms, display cases- anywhere. He is soon caught and tried for treason. He is sentenced to death by execution. There is a point where Helmuth screams things out in his trial to take all the blame so his 2 friends are spared their lives. Because of his outburst- his friends are not sentenced to death and their lives are spared.

I really am not a fan of historical fiction books based around the Holocaust simply because most of the times it's a watered down version of what people went through and it doesn't show the real extremity of it. However- this book was great, because it was based on a true story. (There are actual photos of Helmuth and his friends and family at the end of the book.) The only reason it is considered historical fiction is because the author had to guess at a few things here and there to try to fill in the blanks that others could not. The author interviewed Helmuth's brother, 2 friends, and teacher to determine his story- and she also did research into his trial. So I guess you'd say I liked this particular historical fiction book so much because it was more real and less fiction. (Oh- the first 2 or 3 chapters were a little confusing just because you are trying to keep up with all the characters, but after that it's a pretty easy read- it is a middle school level book FYI.)

The book I finished this past weekend was The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. I picked this book up because I loved Francine River's book Redeeming Love so much- it is still my favorite book, and I continually recommend it to others. If you haven't read that one- it is a must! Anyways- back to The Scarlet Thread. This book was not what I expected after reading Redeeming Love... totally different. This book is about 2 characters who live a hundred years apart from one another. Sierra is a modern woman who is married with 2 children. She becomes bitter when her husband takes a job away from her home town and she is forced to move to LA. She takes her bitterness out on him, and he eventually wraps himself up in his work and later has an affair with another woman. While all of this takes place Sierra is reading a journal from one of her ancestors, Mary Kathryn, who traveled west in a covered wagon to California. This book shows the 2 journeys these women take through heartache and bitterness to find a love they never knew existed- the love of their Father in Heaven.

Parts of the book are depressing and sad, and yet when you finish the book you see how God uses our toughest times to work for good for Him. It is eventually a happy ending, and when you finish the book you'll let out a sigh of relief and satisfaction for the characters, but also for the joy of your own faith and the journey you've been on. Good book.

Happy reading!

Update

Thank you all for your prayers and sweet words on behalf of my grandmother. I just recently got off the phone with her and it seems that everything went good. She is now home recovering. Please continue prayers for her speedy recovery.

I'm not sure how I feel about last nights Survivor. Don't get me wrong- I think it's great that they kicked John off, but I don't think it was the smartest move. I think Jaison was exactly right when he said he didn't think they should do that because then it would make Shambo mad at them and they may loose her vote... so true. Not such a great move in my book. I think Mick and Jaison are onto Russell- even though I like him. The only people I don't like and would be sad and disappointed if they won would be: Shambo, Dave, and Monica.... other than that- I'd be happy for Russell, Jaison, Mick, Natalie or Brent. Just my 2 cents on that whole show.

Tonight we're going to go to a local place and get some really yummy chicken fried steak- which I'm super excited about! It's something I've been craving lately. Then, we're going to go see one of our youth group kids in his play. He is one of the leads in The Tempest.

Yesterday I started reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with my students. It's always a fun unit because we read the play format and everybody has a chance to participate and then we do some fun hands on projects before we leave for winter break. So- that will take a few days to get through.

I plan on sleeping in tomorrow. I know I sure am tired and can totally use it- big surprise!

16 Weeks

Here I am at 16 weeks growing nice and big:

Also, can I ask that you keep my grandmother in your prayers? She went into the emergency room last night at about 11:00 because she had pain in her stomach. It turns out that it is her gallbladder. She is going to have surgery tomorrow morning at 9:00. Please, please, please keep her in your prayers. Thank you so much for your prayers offered on her behalf! It's times like this that I hate living so far away.

Not much...

It's always hard to get back into the swing of things after your spoiled with a 4 day weekend, but I'm slowly trying to get my mind wrapped back around work. Lantz did some smoking this past weekend- which is pure amazingness in my book. (Best wedding gift I ever got him was that smoker- it has brought us both so much joy and happy tummies! Great gift for a guy if your looking for something nice for the holidays.) He smoked a 12 pound brisket, 2 whole chickens, and some pork loin.... yummy! We had a few people over to share, but we've got a ton of leftovers which is great! We have really been eating like kings the past few days.

We also put our Christmas tree up..... so yeah. No much else has been happening. Looking forward to Survivor on Thursday. I hope Russel doesn't get himself kicked out. Oh, tomorrow is 16 weeks, so I should have a photo up sometime tomorrow. I know my belly isn't that big yet, but it's crazy how fast stuff starts to not fit- and my lower back has already been bothering me.

The Blind Side

Lantz and I don't go to the movies very often. Maybe once a year. It seems crazy to say that, because I remember a time in my life when I would go to the movies every weekend- sometimes twice a weekend. But.... it is just so expensive- it's $9.50 a person.... $21 for both of us. We'd normally rather wait until it comes out on DVD and rent it from Redbox for $1, but this past weekend was an exception. We saw the preview for The Blind Side and knew that we really wanted to see it, so we went to a matinee which was still $7 a person mind you.

Anyways- it was a great movie! I cannot say enough positive things about this movie..... it was so stinking good! And it was a true story which made it even better- I'm a real sucker for true stories. It had some amazing spiritual implications that really inspired Lantz and I into some deep conversations. As much as I want to tell you about this movie, I think it's best you just watch the preview on your own so you'll be convinced that you need to see it.

My prayer after watching this movie is that when presented with opportunities I will see the good that God wants me to do, and that I will have the courage to do it.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me...... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.'" ~ Matthew 25: 34-36, 45

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." ~ James 1:27

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it..... And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." ~ Hebrews 13: 2, 16

15 Weeks

Happy Thanksgiving my sweet little baby! Keep on growing- I know my belly will after I'm done eating today! Hope you enjoy all the good eats too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving today and that you get to spend it with people that you care about! Unfortunately we won't get to spend this holiday with family, but we'll be spending it with some great friends of ours here in Vegas. On this day I am especially thankful for:

Jesus. Who gave up everything for me so that I can be in Heaven one day. Without Him I am nothing. He is my joy, my hope, and my reason for all things.

Lantz. The love of my life, my best friend, my partner in all things, my encourager.

Our baby. Our sweet little one who continues to grow and whom God continues to knit together. We can't wait to meet you.

Our family. We have the most incredible family ever. We truly are blessed to have an extended family who we love and adore. We are so thankful for the Christian love that binds us together and the love that overflows from HIM into our lives.

Our friends. Both near and far. Thank you for touching our lives and loving us.

I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving and that you get to eat lots of turkey- or if you're like me- lots of ham. (I've never been much of a turkey girl!)