(Trigger warning. I'm going to be talking about a story from the Bible that involves rape and abuse.) Later, there's pounding on the front door and shouting. A gang of men from the town were there and they wanted to have some "fun" with the man. The old man tried to talk them out of…
(Trigger warning. I'm going to be talking about a story from the Bible that involves rape and abuse.) There are some stories in the Bible that just make me mad--mostly when people make bad decisions. Of course, I have the perspective of time and distance and knowing the story. What really makes me mad is…
I'm far from the most talkative person on the planet so it isn't really a surprise that I have to explain a lot about myself. I know that people read for so many reasons. I think that perhaps I should share mine. One of the stories I always hear about myself as a baby (and…
These books have made me think and have somehow spoken to my innermost person. They are emotionally difficult and challenging to read. But so incredibly worth it. This woman has a Ph.D. and has done her research, but she doesn't fall into the trap that many academics/researchers fall into. She writes in normal language. None…
I found Emily P. Freeman on her blog "Chatting at the Sky" in 2011 or 2012. Her writing captivated me and resonated with me. Some of her posts just seemed like an echo of my heart. Since then, I've read her books and listened to her podcasts. And I'm still listening to her podcasts. I…
A good friend introduced me to Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I bought the book and I couldn't put it down. There's just something about Semple's characters that pulls me in and I become invested in their lives. They feel like real people. They have all kinds of struggles: depression, anxiety, peer pressure, family pressure. Not…
If you haven't yet heard of Andrew Peterson, your loss. Seriously. This man has a gift. I first heard him sing in 2001 in Chattanooga, TN where I was going to school. And I fell in love with his music. You can ask my friends from back then and they would probably agree that…
Ever have a hard time making decisions? You want to say yes to everybody. You want to make everybody happy. But your plate is too full and you're way too stressed and if one more person asks you to volunteer for one more thing you're just going to EXPLODE!!! Been there done that. Both of…
You know I love to read, so there are so many authors whose books I enjoy reading. It was hard to pick which author to start with. So I decided to start with Annie Downs. There are some people who just get you, you know. Annie Downs is one of those people. Her writing is…
The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes…