Reading More Lately

And enjoying it so much! I’ve always, always loved to read and can usually devour a book in a day or two [thus the reason I must be careful about getting my head into a book – not much else gets done if I’m stuck in a book.] During the time that we were putting together Faith Based Monthly [scrapbooking] Kits [past kits are still available at a reduced price by-the-way] I was consumed with finding just the right products for each and every kit which left little time for reading… so really, it’s been a little over three years since I’ve taken the time to read recreationally. And can I just say it’s great to be back with some of my favorite ‘friends’?! Loving it, but still trying to use my time wisely… in recent weeks I’ve read three books: High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband by Evelyn Husband; Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin; and Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. This last one should be out in a movie soon and is the January Book for the BPS Reading Room [an on-line book club I joined in November of last year.] And Since I’m a total nut about Jon and Kate + 8 I was thrilled to get their book for Christmas and had finished it in two days. So neat to get some behind the scenes perspective – they are believers who are totally trusting God as they go through this life He has planned for them. [Can you even IMAGINE having 6 children under the age of seven?!?]

And High Calling was great – I bet you remember exactly what you were doing when you heard of Columbia’s tragedy [I was in our den with all the windows open on a warm winter day in the South, with Craig doing a few chores outside, the boys still asleep, and the TV on the NASA station – available since our little town has so many ties to the mission of space --- as I straightened things up to get ready to clean, when I heard there was no contact – surely everyone got the same news as we did, but I remember such a chilling force as the news unfolded. Knew the pilot was a believer, they’d played ‘Shout to the Lord’ as his wake-up call afterall… in short, this book is fantastic – Evelyn Husband does a remarkable job of painting the reality and imperfections of their lives as the Lord directed their paths [even in the times they were unaware of it.] And over and over as Rick grew closer to the Lord, he’d say, “The Lord has exciting plans for us.”

It’s no secret that I deal with a little anxiety from time-to-time. [lol] I look around and see the struggles that friends and family go through with health, death of children, poor financial decisions, and behavioral issues and I know that I’m blessed. I have a comfortable life, my kids are balanced [I think, anyway!] and I have the most wonderful and supportive husband… During the fall of 2008 satan used this to really get to me – trying to have me think about how something tragic must happen to me [or my children or my husband] in order for me to ‘pay’ for these blessings some how. The anxiety was horrible – always thinking something tragic would happen at any minute…and after reading this book the Lord and I had many – many conversations about my moving from ‘what do I have to endure to see God’s blessing in my life?’ to, ‘God has exciting things for me.’ This book was a powerful influence in my growth in this area. Because, I know that life is precious and can be changed in a moment [I saw that first-hand as a sixth grader getting ready for a birthday party when my best friend received a life-changing head injury in a car wreck; when we had our own wreck over 20 years ago and flipped end over end more than five times, and many more times throughout my life] but also, I know that God is faithful. I’ve felt His presence in my life during the bad times and the good… so after reading this book, I wrote in my journal [that I write in occasionally – I’m not a serious journal every day kind of gal…] “I really think I am so blessed & live a charmed life already – to the point of wondering when I’ll be slapped with some tragedy. So the other day God and I were talking…and how He wants to bless me [us – His children!] and does – just because He loves us. And how He wants to bless us and have us accept His blessings – freely – without a cost – just because He loves us. He wants me to see that He has exciting things for me and that I should live with the anticipation of that – and with His help, I’m trying to live with the anticipation of what He has planned for me” instead of the dread of what satan might do…Does this mean I believe I’ll never again have a tragedy in my life? Not a chance, I know this life we live is filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly, but with God’s help I will make the choice to accept the positive – to accept His blessings and, more importantly, His presence as we walk through this life together. Because, without Him, what is the purpose of our lives anyway? I hope and pray that you’ll make this choice with me…