3 Quick Reviews

Ok, so you know we just got back from vacation. I like to read. I love to read on the beach. And it took two days to get there and two days to get back, so that's a lot of car time, too. So I read. So today I'm not going to give you long book reviews, I'm going to keep it quick. Here's what I read last week:

The Middle Place

by Kelly Corrigan

Rating: 4 out of 5

This is not a non-fiction (like I thought it was when I grabbed it as I was whizzing through the bookstore the day before we left). It's very well written and very relateable for mothers who have small children and are in "the middle place" between being a parent (to their children) and a child (to their parents). The main theme is her fight and her father's with cancer. Her wit and humor make it an easy read for a topic that could be depressing. It wasn't a "I couldn't put this book down" type of book, but it's very good and I would recommend it.

The Red Garden

by Alice Hoffman

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

This is a very interesting book. If you decide to read it here's my first piece of advise...stick with it. The first 3 or 4 chapters you'll be thinking "blah...eh." But stay with it. This book isn't a 'story,' each chapter is a glimpse at the life of a citizen of a town in Massachusetts starting at the founding of the town and continuing through the 1990s-2000s. The common thread that binds the chapter together and the character together through the centuries is this garden that is behind the founder of the town's home where the soil is blood red. I would recommend this book and it's interesting cast of characters. But like I said...stick with this book through the beginning.

A Soft Place to Land

by Susan Rebecca White

Rating: 3 out of 5

Man, I really wanted to like this book. I really wanted to like the characters and was waiting for that "aha" moment in the book. But it never happened. It's the story of two sisters whose parents die in a plane crash when they are in 7th and 10th grade and their relationship throughout the years. This could have been a beautiful story but I just kept wanting to take a hold of both girls and shake them by the shoulders and say, "it's not always about YOU!" This is a decent 'beach read' where it isn't too deep, so don't expect too much out of it except for one mini drama after another. Oh--also more character development was needed. Read it if you'd like...it's just ok.

Happy Wednesday! Have a hot day!

My Neck of the Woods

I'm linkin' up with the RHOK today and showing you My Neck of the Woods.

Go check them out to see others, always fun to see what's going on in other's Woods.

Here's what's going on in my neck of the woods.

'Nuf said!

Later gators.

A Month? Dang!

Shazaaaam! Whoa--no way has it been almost a month since I posted. In the words of Joe Dirt..."dang!"

Dang!

I could sit here and give you a million excuses why I've been absent for a month, but shoot, it's summer girls and boys and sometimes mama's get a summer break, too.

But really I've just been uber-busy. I won't give you details, I'll just say it goes a little something like this...summer camp, VBS, golf camp, pool time, grandparent's visit, pool time, kid #1's birthday, 5K races, pool time, kid #2's birthday...etc, etc. But I'm no different than the rest of you parents out there. I've just put blogging on the back burner. But I'll be back. Just not next week.

Oh, and there's this little thing, too...

I'll fill ya in on that later...

Dang!

Happy Hot Thursday!

The Man in the Middle

I really hope you can see what's going on in the photo below. I took this photo last Thursday while out for my morning run on the river trails. This is three men out for a morning walk. But let me tell you, I don't know for sure, but I think it was more than just a morning walk.

I'm not good with ages, but if I had to guess, I would say these men are probably in their 70s. If you can't tell, the man in the middle is walking with a cane. They weren't walking at a brisk clip, but they were chit chatting and seemed to be enjoying themselves. When I ran past them (this pic was taken after I turned around and caught back up to them) I could tell that the middle man looked to be recovering from some type of medical issue. I don't know what it was, maybe a stroke, maybe cancer, maybe just the loss of a loved one. I don't know. But what I do know is that he has two good friends who got up at 6:00 a.m. with him and patiently walked along with him, encouraging him, talking to him, being his friend. Again, I absolutely don't know the situation, but what I do know is those other two men are...what true friends are...someone you can count on to carry you through the tough times in life.

I hope that if there's ever a time where I'm the man in the middle that I'll have those kind of loyal friends by my side.

Perfect Pairings--Isaiah 40:30-31

I've been MIA for a couple weeks, sorry. More on that later. For now I'm linking up with Baloney to do another Perfect Pairing. Go over and see her and the other pairings.

If you've been reading for the past month you know we've had 4 Robin's eggs in the perfect little nest that is perched on top of the electric meter on the side of the house. The eggs hatched, the babies grew and recently the flew the nest. Even mommy Robin moved on.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. --Isaiah 40:30-31

Perfect Pairings--The Rainbow

Wow--it's been a week since I've posted. I'm so, so sorry. It was the last week of school and recital week at dance, but we're on cruise control now on the lazy days of summer. So I hope I can promise you that more timely posts are on their way. For today, I'm doing Baloney's Perfect Pairing. Hop on over and see her and the other pairings.

I'm sure everyone in the Tulsa area saw the beautiful double rainbow last week. Our last t-ball game got rained out in the bottom of the first inning and there it was on our drive back home. I don't know how anyone can look at a rainbow and not remember God's covenant. What a promise! So I find this pic and verse a Perfect Pairing.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. --Genesis 9:13.

Perfect Pairings--Hebrews 12:1-2

It's Monday...not Perfect Pairings day, but does that really matter. Any day is a good day to post the Word of God, isn't it? Anyway, head over and see Baloney and check out some of the other Perfect Pairings from yesterday.

Also, please pray for the people of Joplin.

This is a pic from a run I did on Saturday. Photo is courtesy of Fleet Feet Tulsa. I kind look like I'm ticked off. I wasn't ticked off (other than I didn't feel like running on Saturday), I was just focused on the finish line which was right in front of me when this was taken.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. --Hebrews 12: 1-2