Peace Like A River

Nope, I am not reviewing a book today. I am just expressing the peace that I feel in my heart. The day has been so good. I have been only walking or riding a bike at the club lately while my back gets back to 100%, and I have to admit that I like the slower workout pace for me. I have more time in the day to do other things. So, I must find the balance there because my back will go out again if I am not really strong! Right now, I am not worrying about it and enjoying the extra time.

I am also just loving homeschooling the kids. They are just so darn disciplined! They don't complain and get right down to their work, and do it pretty independently these days. So, I am there with them available to answer questions, but I am able to read and write while they work. I'm doing my "school work" which includes my Well-Educated Mind reading (which overlaps with much of Michaels Classical Lit reading) and writing for Bible Book Club.

Michael is doing really well with Bob Jones Biology. Even though he got A's on both modules in the COOLSchool class, I feel like he is learning so much more with this BJU Biology in a much more relaxed and non-pressure-filled way! Classical Lit has turned out to be a delight. He is listening ot Iphigenia Among the Tauris right now on my iPod, and he loves it. It is fun for me to understand what he is reading too. THANK YOU THELMA (www.thelmaslibrary.com).

Paul is WAY ahead in his science. He just finished the big book, and he just has a smaller health book to do. I will try to do more "lab" stuff with the health as he can chart his nutrition intake and health vitals. That will be good. He also realized he is cruising in his grammar book and only has eleven more days of lessons! He will probably be finished by the first part of March!

For both the boys, I am tickled at their writing. THANK YOU JULIE (http://www.bravewriter.com/) for telling me to be relaxed in the writing. I will be eternal grateful as I see they are doing great with grammar and punctuation and writing without me having to ask them to do it. For example, I told Paul that he needed to do some 4 Square Writing, and he said, "Well, I did just finish a free-write for the last 30 minutes on the French Revolution. Do you want to see it?" He had written two pages on everything he was learning in history, and it was GREAT! Yes, there were spelling and punctuation errors, but the fact that he just "freewrote" on his own made me beam! Michael is doing the same. He had an assignment in World History to write a 200 word essay on Bismarck, and he wrote 450 because he wanted to. YIPPEEE! What is great for him is that he is doing almost all typing now, and he can use the spell check. He only had a few punctuation errors in the essay. For him, the physical mechanics were always the thing that made it difficult for him to write more than the actual writing. Typing takes care of that.

Well, I am off to pick up George. We are buying a flash for our D80 today. The top of the little flash fell off, and we don't really like that wimpy flash anyway. So, we want an external one.

I have more I could say, but I don't have time!!!!! Wish the spellchecker worked on blogger. It quite working on me with this new computer, and I dn't know why! So, no proofreading just sending in a hurry!

Reviews of Iliad/Odyssey/Crazy for God

I haven't been doing reviews. I may have done a brief one for Iliad, but I was swept away to Southern California right after I finished reading it. So, here are some brief ones:

The Iliad (Lattimore Translation)

I tried to read both the Fagles and the Lattimore translations, but it was just too much work to do both. I found the Fagles easier to understand in the beginning, but I found the Lattimore flowed more like poetry. Fagles helps one to know who is being talked about and the wheres of things, but once I knew who all the characters were, I didn't need his simplified explanations anymore. Lattimore really is the "definitive" source by all the experts, and I can see why that is so. With the help of Michael's teacher reading it on MP3 with explanations as she read, I let the Lattimore translation carry me away.

I was carried away into gnarly battles with graphic descriptions of spears going through body parts and lots of gore. It is a book about battle and rage and definitely more a book for the testosterone set. It was good to learn about the importance of glory and honor in Homeric times. It was good to hear "Homeric simile" and know what that meant. It also made me glad I don't have a bunch of fickle, moody, competitive gods who interfere with my life at their whim and fancy, but ONE God who is all goodness, kindness, love, and justice!

I wish I had written this before I went to California. I am sure I had so many more profound thoughts, but so much has happened since I last read this.

Before I forget, I also watched Elizabeth Vandiver's (Whitman College) DVD lectures from The Teaching Company. They helped this epic poem come alive. See it here (Note: Don't ever buy these full price. They go on sale on a regular basis. Also, I have seen some of these course in EBay for very cheap. I also wouldn't get the DVD's. You miss out on a few pictures, but it is mostly Dr. VanDivers in some really BAD outfits. Get the audio.)

The Odyssey (Richard Lattimore Translation)


This is a much more appealing book to the feminine set because it involves a man's struggle to make it home to see his woman. It is also all about xenia which is hospitality in Greek. This is much less gruesome and is, at its heart, a love story. I loved this.

Crazy for God by Frank Schaeffer

My friend, Carrie, gives a MUCH better review than I could ever give of this book. Here is her review: Crazy for God. In fact, it was Carrie's review that made me want to run out and get this book, and I wasn't disappointed. I couldn't put it down (If also helped that I was flat on my back for four days with a back injury). It was a fascinating read about growing up as the son of Francis and Edith Schaeffer, founders of L'abri in Switzerland. They created L'Abri back in the late 50's as a place for people with legitimate questions to come and read, listen, and learn about faith. It was learning about faith in the context of community at the foot of the Alps.

It sounded like a very beautiful place, but there were many things that were not so pretty for this pretty wild and rebellious man. His dad had a temper and would throw things at his mom. He indicated that she would sometimes have bruises on her body, but he never came out and said that he witnessed abuse, nor did he bother to ask his mom. So, it wasn't really clear how "far" his father's temper went. Temper is never a good thing, no matter how far, but how severe was it, and why didn't anyone do anything about it?

He does assess that his father was isolated and had no friends or peers and only people who would sit at his feet and listen. This is not healthy for any man! His parents sounded like they would have benefitted from having more accountability and support from others, yet their generation is not like mine. Sounds like too many people had Francis up on a pedastal to keep him accountable in how he treated his wife.

He does balance his dad out by talking about their lovely, all day hikes through the Swiss Mountains where they would never talk about God. He felt like his parents were happiest when they were away from L'Abri and when, for two weeks out of the year, they were in Portofino, Italy on vacation enjoying the art and culture. This was when he felt like his parents were really who they were meant to be: carefree and happy.

I felt like he was more severe upon his mother. It broke my heart somewhat how he spoke of her. He concludes the book with a picture of his mother dancing at the home in which she now resides in her mid-nineties. She has dementia, and he wished his mother would have been free to "dance" in life rather than playing the martyr she played as the matron of L'Abri.

The most heartbreaking part for me was this letter that Debbie wrote in the book about her mother after giving a glowing report about her father and their trips to art galleries and such:

"My mother's legacy was in stark contrast (to her dad's), as she single-mindedly pursued her ideals, often blinded by the realities of life or of our lives. As a dreamer and a highly artistic individual, my mother created her own life with passion and hard work. I compare her to early discoverers of the North Pole. She pursued her objectives with determination, though bits of bodies all around her were lost to frostbite. The havoc she caused to all around her, as they were dragged in to help her meet self-imposed deadlines and goals, was phenomenal and scarring to me as a child. The force of her personality was such that I, at least, never even thought of refusing. Also, I would say, that though my father taught me the love of the Real, my mother's idealism has taken years to peel away."

Much love,
Debby (p.42-43)

Can you say "OUCH"? Debby suffered from depression, and this gives you a window into Edith's life with her children. I also was saddened by how her husband, John, was treated when he didn't match up with the theology of L'Abri but Frank was not kicked out for having sex up in his bedroom. Something is a bit weird there, don't you think?

All that said, everyone in a family has different perceptions! I am amazed at how my brother and I see our growing up very differently, and how my experiences as a daughter did not match his experiences as a son! I do wonder what Susan's (Oldest daughter of the Schaeffers)experience was like because after I read her book called For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School, I got the impression that it was pretty wonderful to grow up in the Schaeffer's world at L'Abri! Sadlly, she declined to comment in the book.

He alludes to the fact that he was largely ignored by his busy parents growing up, yet in the next breath, he will talk of his mother reading to him and tucking him in at night, his father going for those long, all day walks, and two weeks in Italy and one week skiing every year. Hello Frank, you probably got in one year more than most people get in a lifetime with their parents! Appreciate what you had and realize that you probably caught so much more than you ever realized by having the parents that you did. Think about it, all four of you are still married to the same spouse. Don't your parents have some influence in that stability? BE GRATEFUL and EXTEND GRACE! They were not perfect and neither are you. I felt like he was much more severe on his imperfect parents than he was on himself.

In fact, he openly admits to abusing his daughter physically and being an overall jerk to his children and wife in their younger years, yet he says, "I am human and all is forgiven" between us without extending the same kind of grace to his own parents who never physically abused him but had neglected and/or emotionally abused or manipulated him. I have compassion for that pain you felt growing up, but why not open up the dialogue with them about their abuse while they were alive (dad) or coherent (mom) instead of damning them in the public arena when they can't fight back or make ammends with you? That was disturbing to me.

I also felt like he was particularly scathing and severe on those Christian leaders in whom he only had a surface relationship. He is the hardest on James Dobson. I have no need to defend James Dobson for I have never been a follower of Focus on the Family, but Frank was very unkind and severe.

I was particularly bothered by his severe comments about Billy Graham in connection with the marriage of Graham's oldest daughter when she was seventeen, alluding to the fact that it was like an "arranged marriage" because the groom was the son of a wealthy donor. He was critical and judgmental as an outside observer, making a huge LEAP in assumptions without knowing any of the particular of the situation. The marriage lasted forty-two years and produced seven children! Maybe they wanted to get married. What do you know?

I am also bothered by how he "played a game" for fame and didn't truly believe in what he was doing. This is much more telling of his character than it is of his father or mother's who gave all they had to making L'Abri a success. So what if they had a little bit of competition between the two of them in the number of books they wrote! It speaks volumes to me that they gave 50% of all their royalities to their ministry, and 10% on top of that from the income they received for the books. That is an amazing indication of fine character!

I say this all knowing very little about his parents and having never put them up on a pedastal in the first place. So, I don't think I want to defend them. I have long contended that we put too many people in Christiandom into "superstar" strata when NO ONE needs to be there. We are ALL just little fish in a big pond, and God is the only superstar in my book. All that said, GIVE THEM A BREAK FRANK! They are only human with feet of clay, just like you.

I love the book though. He is a lovable guy, warts and all. I loved his honesty and candor. I loved the stories about his life (sans the sex details). I wished he would have just moved away and lived a life congruent with what he believed instead of living the lie, but that was his choice, and it probably was the thing that saved his marriage early on because he had to stay at L'Abri for financial reasons. He still gives credit to L'Abri and the community there for saving his marriage from divorce. (Wasn't there some throwing in there too, Frank, just like your dad?). Also, his wife sounds like a saint, and I am glad he does give her great honor in the book.

The book was really more damaging to himself than to his parents, but I can forgive him for his character flaws! I will probably read his fictional novel Portofino too. In fact, I have already submitted a purchase request to the library for it!

WOW! That was way too long. :)

Found My Classic List for this Year

Here are the books from The Well-Educated Mind list that I would like to read this year:

Ancients

Greek Lyrics - Lattimore Translation
Histories - Herodutus
Medea - Euripedes
Birds & Clouds - Aristophanes
Peloponnesian War - Thucydides
Republic - Plato
Poetics - Aristotle
Odes - Horace
Lives - Plutarch

Want to Reread Because Now I Understand the Context After Reading Homer:

Agamemnon* - Aeschylus
Oedipus Rex* - Sophocles

I also want to read the Shakespeare plays I will be seeing with Laura and friends when we go down to Ashland to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for her 40th Birthday weekend July 18-20!

Feeling very nerdly for having this goals. :)

Finished The Odyssey

YES! I feel so proud. I really liked it. It helped to have it on my iPod and listen while I lifted weights and ran on the treadmill. I think it is in its final form a romance. I am watching The Teaching Company tapes by Elizabeth Vandiver, and it has really added to my understanding.

I wonder what is next on my list? I have to find my list. LOL!

Not Alot of Angst

I am having some very good days. I had so much more angst in my past than I do now. I think it is because of my change of church, mom is at peace in heaven (I think this was a back burner stress in my life!), and I am at peace with all men (that I know of).

So, life is good. Just wanted to document that.

It was also good to spend the weekend with open college students. It was very refreshing! I am also glad that the preparation is not hanging over my head either! :)

The State of the Well Address

Are we having the State of the Union tonight? Isn't it usually around the 20th of January. Maybe I am wrong, but I thought it was.

Well, I want to just say how everything is going.

Well-Watered Soul

I am in a great position. I feel like the 3yearbiblebookclub is really helping me to stay in the word and dig and apply and pray through everything. There is something about meditating, mulling over it all day, then writing about it that really has been so refreshing for me. I feel more like there is a moment by moment depending on the LORD in prayer too. So, I think I like it. I want to GROW no matter where I am in this journey.

Well-Educated Mind

Well, I am almost done with all the Book Babes reads. I decided to read The Glass Castle after all, and I this really is the last. My intention is to do the rest of the Ancient Literature. My rhetoric partner sort of disappeared. I am not so sure it was a suitable match since he is a man. I think I prefer a woman. Nice guy though. I think a woman would be wiser and better though.

I am also going to read a Tale of Two Cities soon, but that is definitely in my Well-Educated Mind goals. I love the classics, but I will say that the Book Babes reads were MUCH better this year than last year. I am pleased.

Well-Tuned Body

I am doing GREAT! I am working out consistently and eating healthy. I am pleased. I feel good other than a bit of a back ache with the Jillian Michaels DVD's. I think they are too high impact for my back issues. So, I will bag them and go to low-impact. I am resting this week because of that though. I think that is good after quite a few weeks of hard workouts.

Well- Educated Children

Hallelujah! Dropping Biology was a great idea. They are humming along in everything. They are also writing on their own, especially Michael. He had to write an imaginary diary of Charles II, and it only had to be 200 words. He ended up writing 400 very imaginative words! YEAH! Paul is always so diligent to get everything done too. I love those boys.

Daily Care

Been good about cooking those dinners using new menus! I love the recipes I am cooking up using the Slim-fast.com website. Nutritious and Delicious and Low-Cal! I love it! I am eating so many veggies now! YUMMY YUMMY! I am so really glad that George convinced me that Valentina would be a great choice. She comes twice a month and cleans, and I love the relationship that is forming and the house that is much cleaner!

Well, that is the quickest run down that I have had in years!

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, originally uploaded by MNkiteman.

George and i went to see this movie today. I had read the book two years ago and really loved it. They did a very faithful adaptation of the book and navigated the difficult scene with grace. George had never read the book but said at the end, "That was a really great story." It really is a beautiful story. I highly recommend it, but be sure to bring your tissues! I cried through much of this movie.

What is it with Afghanistan lately? First I read Three Cups of Tea. Then, I read A Thousand Splendid Sons. Now we have watched Charlie Wilson's War and The Kite Runner!

Elias Chacour

Der Erzbischof von Galiläa, originally uploaded by Habakuks Ansichten.

Great portrait of the author of Blood Brothers!

2008 Book Dames (Classics) Book Club

2008 Book Babes Book List!

March 1:The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
April 28: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
June 28: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
September 13: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
November 1:Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
January 10: Silas Marner by George Eliot

Fiction versus Non-Fiction/Reading and Viewing for 2008

Wow! George and I were comparing our fiction to non-fiction reading ratio this year, and I read only 14 fiction out of the 43 books (29 non-fiction). Most of those fiction were toward the end of the year because I read "ahead" for my book club.

This year, I am going to be super-selective about what I read because I wasn't super excited about many of my reads last year (Simple Church and The Persian Pickle Club come to mind).

I am also going to be really selective about my movie viewing. I will still do the "watch the movie after I read the book" thing because I love to compare and contrast. In fact, I will watch all the Austens that are coming on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre. In fact, I am going to post the schedule right here in case anyone here is lurking and also an Austen fan!!!!


Jan 13 Persuasion

Sally Hawkins appears as Anne Elliot, a woman destined for spinsterhood
after a proposal eight years earlier. Then her spurned suitor reappears.

Jan 20 Northanger Abbey

In a medieval house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies, romance addict
Catherine Moreland (Felicity Jones) begins a relationship with the younger
son of the estate.

Jan 27 Mansfield Park

After being sent to live at Mansfield Park, Fanny Price (Billie Piper)
navigates a labyrinth of intrigues and affairs among its occupants.

Feb 3 Miss Austen Regrets

Courtship she knew well; only the last act eluded her. A film biography that
dramatizes Jane Austen’s lost loves.

Feb 10, 17, 24 Pride and Prejudice

Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle is Elizabeth Bennet in the
definitive adaptation of the most-loved of all Austen novels.

March 23 Emma

Kate Beckinsale stars in the title role as the tireless matchmaker who
professes no interest in matrimony for herself, only for her orphaned
protégée, Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton).

March 30, April 6 Sense and Sensibility

Though poor, levelheaded Elinor Dashwood (Hattie Morahan) and her
impulsive sister Marianne (Charity Wakefield) attract a trio of promising
gentlemen.


I am also excited about these on Masterpiece Theatre:

April 13 A Room with a View

Elaine Cassidy is Lucy Honeychurch, who arrives at an Italian guest house
and is offered a room with a view by Mr. Emerson and his eccentric son
George. Adapted by Andrew Davies.

April 20 My Boy Jack

Daniel Radcliffe, in his first TV role since finding fame as Harry Potter, plays
Jack, the son of Rudyard Kipling, in this moving family drama set during
World War I. Also stars Kim Cattrall.

May 4, 11, 13 Cranford

In 1842, Cranford is a village on the brink of change, where some find
romance and opportunity, and others fear the breakdown of social

I will also watch movies to augment our home school. For instance, we read about Martin Luther yesterday, and the reading for World History actually suggested watching Luther. So, I did something I rarely do: I RENTED a movie from Blockbuster! I am doing it because the library didn't have it, and I don't feel right about doing an inter library loan and on the library's dime if Blockbuster has it. Actually, I am shocked that our library does not have the DVD, especially since one of the producers is a Corvallis resident, and it is a great film for augmenting history.

For books, I hope to read:

The Odyssey and various other classical books from Michael's Classical Literature class (http://www.thelmaslibrary.com/) and from The Well-Educated Mind, but I think I am done with more frivolous books! I felt like I wasted my time on some last year, but I was at the mercy of my Book Clubs. I feel like we had sort of a lackluster year in the Book Babes selections. They weren't bad books. They were just OK books though. Books like Memory Keeper's Daughter, My Sister's Keeper, and Marly and Me come to mind. I didn't even read some of them because I was out of town, and they just didn't seem too interesting to me. This year. They were all interesting to me. I have read all but Peace Like a River, but here are the ones I have read and enjoyed:

Dec: Back When We Were Grown Ups by Anne Tyler (not bad for a Tyler)
Jan: Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour (one of my favorites of all time)
Feb: The Syringa Tree by Pamela Glen
April: The Scapegoat by Daphne DuMarurier (I loved this two years ago!)
May: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (I will reread and compare with PBS version!)
June: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (Lifechanging read)
July: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Love his writing and hard, but good subject matter)
August: Kaffier Boy by Mark Mathebane (I love this book, will probably reread)
Sept: The Last Sin-Eater by Francine Rivers (Not bad! Liked it much better than other one I read by her!)

Since I am almost done with them for the year, it leaves my reading for 2008 open to being very particular, and I am excited about that. Also, NO ONE has given me a book to read other than:

Lightforce by Brother Andrew, and they gave it to me to own. So, I have no pressure to give it back to anyone. Also, I really want to read it!

Post is too long. Gotta' go because the main book for this year (and the next three years) is going to be the Bible for the Bible Book Club! LOL!

2007 Movie List

I think that I would like to read more books than watch movies this year. Now that I am done with the AFI 100 Update, that will be a possibility!

2007 Movie List

January

1. Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth version) – It is a scrapbooking tradition

2. Emma (Paltrow) – Ditto. Always makes me cry like a baby. Jeremy Northam ROCKS!

3. High School Musical: Remix

OK, my girlfriend loaned this to me and then asked me, “Have you watched it yet?” quite a few times. So, I thought I would watch it with George. Five minutes into it I am thinking, “How CHEESY!” I know that my friend likes Josh Groban too, and I can only take SO much of his CD, and I can’t handle the Barry Manilow-like overload that I start to experience. All that said, I persevered, and I LOVED IT! I am an official groupie of this fun Disney made-for-television movie, and here is why. I used to love musicals, but we just don’t have them anymore. I used to secretly wish that all of life were a music so that I could break into song, complete with orchestra to fit my emotions at the time. Something has happened since Grease which was the defining musical for my generation. I forgot how GOOD they can make you feel. I forgot that sometimes CHEESY is just what I need. Sometimes a simple message of CAN’T WE ALL JUST WORK TOGETHER? Is what our brains need. So, I give it two-thumbs up and will be waiting with bated-breath for the sequel. Hopefully, by that time, I will have learned all the moves to “We’re All In This Together” and can perform it for anyone wanting to see. If others join in and do the special feature that teaches it, we can do a little choreographed routine for those willing to watch at Tailspin Island?

4. Dreamgirls

Loved this movie from beginning to end. Great acting, great music, great story!

5. Bridget Jones Diary

My mom has “mega-cable” so it was fun to LOL with a edited version without the four letter words! I do admit that I missed the first part, but I think it still counts. Colin Firth makes this movie so fun.

6. Dreamgirls – Had to go again with my Corvallis friends.

February

7. Tuesdays with Morrie – This is a real tear-jerker. How appropriate that Jack Lemmon last movie would be about a man facing death. This is a follow up to the book reading in the fall. It was an excellent rendition of it.

8. Monarch of the Glen: Season 5

My library didn’t have it, but Netflix did! So, my friend graciously reserved it for me! I still really love this series with all the twists and turns. We have to wait for Season 6 and & to come out on DVD though!

9. Music and Lyrics

I really thought this was cute, clever, funny, and romantic. Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore were very convincing, and it was a great way to spend an afternoon!

10. North and South (Four part mini-series with the BBC)

Oh my word! I absolutely positively loved this in every frame. It was beautifully filmed, and the story is so compelling. The casting is perfect. It is a great movie!

March

11. Amazing Grace

I have already effused about this, but it was a wonderful story with values front and center and romance too! Loved Ioan in this role!

12. Wives and Daughters (mini-series with the BBC)

It was simply lovely. No words can describe how much I loved this series.

13. Horatio Hornblower: The Duel

April

14. I Have Found It

Sense and Sensibility Indian style! I loved it. I wanted to turn it off after about ten minutes, but it is a hoot, and it really is a great story! It isn’t like Bride and Prejudice because this is an Indian film, not a British film shot by an Indian director. So, it has subtitles and all the dance numbers that make Tamil film great! I cried in the end and had to go to the bathroom halfway through it, but I couldn’t tear myself away. Rent it. If you like Bride and Prejudice, give this one a few minutes, and it will suck you in! LOL!

15. The Holiday

It was on the long Eastbound trip from Portland to Chicago. It had some cute things about it. I just don’t see the need for them to jump into bed within seconds of meeting each other! I am glad they didn’t show it though. I thought the story with Kate Winslet and the old man was just charming. I have never seen Jude Law in anything, and I can see why so many like him. He is charming, but his personal life makes me not like him so much. L

16. Into the Woods

This is the recorded version of the Broadway play. Karen had us watch and discuss during the LampPost retreat. I liked it. It thought the singing and acting were superb. It was funny, and it had a great message about being careful what you wish for and what can happen when we are absorbed in our dreams so much so that we are willing to do anything to accomplish them. I could have discussed it more, but I wasn’t there for most of the larger discussions, but Karen and I had a nice one on one discussion that I enjoyed.

17. The Pursuit of Happyness

This is a re-watch on the trip Westbound from Washington-Dulles to Portland. It made the 18 total hours of transit time much more bearable! I wasn’t going to watch it and discipline myself to read my book that is due on SATURDAY, but I just couldn’t resist. I love this story of a father’s love and determination to be all that he can be.

18. Miss Potter

The icing on the cake of an already wonderful weekend! I had read that the Westbound movie had been Miss Potter between April 1-15, and I was bummed that I hadn’t flow earlier! Well, the trip Westbound was almost an hour longer than the trip Eastbound. So, the pilot got on and said that we had enough time to see another movie, and this was the choice! Oh happy day!
It is about the life of Beatrix Potter, beloved children’s author and illustrator. It stars Renee Zellweger and Ewan Macgregor and is delightful in all the right ways. It is squeaky clean and has all my favorite British character actors to boot. I was in heaven 37,000 feel up in the air!

MAY

19. An Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore had some very interesting points and valid concerns. While the subject is very important, I think it was pretty darn boring in parts, and I think there could have been so much more done to make it more interesting. For this reason, I don’t think it should have won any kind of academy award. In addition, it was just a little too megalomaniacal for my taste. He is clearly in love with himself and has a chip on his shoulder about not winning that election. I wish it were a little more about the subject of Global Warming and less about how wonderful he thinks he is. I think Bill Nye the Science Guy could have done a much better job at explaining the subject of global warming. He also does not address any ways we can help. He doesn’t say what HE has done in his own personal life to curb his lifestyle to make a real difference. That is what I want to know: Does he walk his talk?

20. I, Claudius (1976)

Totally amazing! This was on the Top 12 of all time for Masterpiece Theatre, and I can see why! I rate this pretty high up there. I had started watching it at the club on the DVD players attached to the stair climbers. It just isn’t the right environment for it. I bagged it and thought I would never return, but the fact it made Top 12 made me get it again, and I am so glad. The acting in this is excellent. You will see some familiar faces if you are a fan of British TV from the 70’s. In fact there is a young “Gimli” from Lord of the Rings fame! This will get you very curious about Roman history and put Jesus’ birth in historical context for you. Warning: there is some nudity to portray the Roman lifestyle but nothing gratuitous. Makes me wonder how that got on television in the 70’s though! We both loved it (although George had seen it when it came out in 1976!).

21. Bleak House (15 episode mini-series, BBC 2006)

Run, don’t walk to your local video store or library to see this RIVETING Charles Dickens classic come to life with luscious cinematography and an amazing cast. Gillian Andersen is amazing as Lady Dreadlock. One of the actresses in North South is also in this. I can’t recommend this highly enough. Dickens is so amazing in the way he weaves a tale with the funniest names for the characters.

JUNE

22. Mountain of Fire: The Discovery of the Real Mount Sinai (50 min)

This is a documentary about a possible discovery of the real Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia instead of Egypt. I would love to know what “hard scientists” think about the discovery. It had some pretty interesting things in it though and is worth watching. It was recommended by my Bird’s Eye View of the Bible friend.

23.Jeeves and Wooster: Jeeves Takes Charge (50 min)
24. Jeeves and Wooster: Tuppy and Terrier (50 min)
25. Jeeves and Wooster: The Purity of the Turk (50 min)

Do these get any better? I get very bored by them and am thinking that I don’t have the “British comedy” gene like so many people here! LOL! We had one more on the DVD, and I was just bored to tears. Sorry. I tried two other ones last year and had the same reaction. It is going back to the library and I won’t be able to complete the Masterpiece Theatre Top 12 after all. L

26. Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles
27. Sherlock Holmes: The Last Vampyre

These were done in the late 80’s and early 90’s. It was a Granada Television series. We really enjoyed them! I saw many old faces of British character actors once again.

28. Ushpizin (Guests)

This is a foreign language film from Israel that is heart-warming and excellent. I would love to show it to anyone learning about the Jewish feasts. I heartily recommend this film.

29. A Passage to India

As per my tradition, I watch the movie after I read the book. This is the third time I have seen this film in the last 20 years, and it gets better every time. The book definitely gives more background into the subtleties of the divide between East and West, but I think that David Lean did a wonderful rendering of this fabulous book. I don’t think it is my favorite David Lean (Bridge on the River Kwai remains one of my favorite movies – brilliant BTW), but it is really well-crafted with gorgeous cinematography and flawless acting. Those Brits just do it right.

30. Swing Time

My first Astaire and Rogers film was simply delightful. The song “The Way You Look Tonight” comes from this movie. Definitely deserves a place in the top 100.

31. The Sixth Sense

WOW! I have never had any desire to see this film because I don’t like scary movies, but this was so excellently done. It wasn’t at all what I expected! I totally see why this movie made it in the top 100 too. I am now an M. Night Shyamalan fan. It was a pleasure to see Toni Collette in a role in which she received an Academy Award nomination. The acting is excellent on all levels. Willis really did a great job. Amazing.

32. Sullivan’s Travel – I totally enjoyed this Top 100 film.


33. A Night at the Opera (Marx Bros)

I totally enjoyed this with my kids. Turns out that Paul had never really liked it before because he didn’t understand it, but he was delighted to watch it again because he realized he didn’t get it because he was sick with the flu when he watched it! So, we laughed out loud and had a great morning. Remember Kitty Carlisle from some game show in the 60’s? I can’t remember which show it was, but I didn’t realize she had been a screen actress before she became a game show person!

34. Spartacus

I have always wanted to see this and have never gotten around to it. I am glad it was on the Top 100 to force me to do so in order to have closure! I loved it. It is an inspiration and interesting to read in light of reading 1776 right now.

35. 12 Angry Men

This was very powerful. Some of the starts are Henry Fonda, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, etc. It is an incredible movie about human nature and our justice system of trial by jury. I really like this one.

JULY

36. Persuasion (Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds version)

I haven’t watched this one in a few years! I loved it more this time. This was one of my least favorite of the Austens (Northanger Abbey being last in my affections), but it is growing on me as I get older. I have been exposing my friends, Lisa and Sharon, to Austens for the last few years, and they didn’t like it as much, but they still loved it. This one is so beautiful and subtle in every way. Ciaran Hinds is so handsome too!

37. Emma (Kate Beckinsale version)

I did a little bit of comparing and contrasting since I have seen the Paltrow version twice this year. I like this one because it develops the story and adds some scenes that are crucial to the plot line (going to pick strawberries at the house where Jane leaves and Frank comes). I also love how they show how much the servants DO for these rich gentry! We found ourselves chuckling on a regular basis over this. I also love how it is a bit more rustic looking with low lighting of candles and such (which is probably more accurate). The acting is also excellent. All that said, I prefer the Paltrow/Northam version. Paltrow gives a first rate performance. She is much more obnoxious than Beckinsale, and Toni Collette as Miss Smith is a scream. Overall, the acting is first rate. I laugh and cry more in the Paltrow version. The Beckinsale final scene just doesn’t “do it for me” like the Paltrow/Northam final scene. J

38. About a Boy

This is a really clever movie! I was surprised by it. My dh said, “This isn’t at all what I thought it would be.” I laughed out loud at parts. It had a good message there. Hugh Grant is growing on me.

39. The Hours

This is the movie based on the book that was inspired by the author reading Mrs. Dalloway. It is an interesting look into three women’s lives and the hours of their day. It was interesting, but I wonder if people would have confused if they had not read the book Mrs. Dalloway. Since I did for The Well-Educated Mind, I found it very fascinating. It definitely isn’t a cheery movie. Nicole Kidman (Playing Virginia Woolf) is excellent. Juilanna Moore is the woman of the 50’s (with Toni Collette as her friend). Meryl Streep is the woman of the 21st century. It was in interesting look into life and death and women’s lives.

40. Bladerunner (AFI 100)

After all the discussion here, it was nice to finally see it! It was OK for me as a whimpy viewer too. I thought it was pretty interesting. It was so dark and misty the whole time. Daryl Hannah was pretty creepy too. I had more fun reading all the stuff about the movie on the internet afterward too!

41. Do The Right Thing (AFI 100)

This is a film about racism. Spike Lee doesn’t make his black characters out as victims, and I liked that. He is obviously a very intelligent man. I really liked hearing Spike Lee’s response at the Cannes Film Festival News Conference. It helped me know where he was coming from. His special features are amazing because he really gives a tongue-lashing to the critics in his “final words” segment. He is so passionate about this; but as he said in his Cannes Conference, he has HOPE. I can totally see why this was a groundbreaking film. It was such an unusual film too. The language was very strong. So that is my warning.

42. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (AFI 100)

What an absolutely DISTURBING film! YUCK and DOUBLE YUCK! It is about a dysfunctional marriage. I will have to say that Elizabeth Taylor is a superb actress, and she really did deserve the Academy Award for this. Sandy Dennis also won one, and Richard Burton was amazing. Other than that, this one was really hard to stomach.

43. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) (AFI 100)

It was on the Top 100. This years list removed Wings and Birth of a Nation, and I think they are much better films! This wasn’t too bad though. It is funny that it was another movie about a marriage in trouble!

44. Hairspray

LOVED IT! The cast was PERFECT! (I am adding this because I forgot it in my first list!)

AUGUST

45. Dr. Zhivago (Kiera Knightly version on Masterpiece Theatre)

This was a 2003 version of this classic in a mini-series version. It was rebroadcast on PBS, and my mother-in-law wanted us to watch it with her when we stayed with her on the 5th of August. We watched on conclusion the following Sunday. For all the “beauty” of the story, I still have a big problem with this story because it glorifies adultery as a beautiful thing. So, this is why I didn’t like the old one either. It is a compelling story set at the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. So, it is an interesting storyline. Overall, it is such a sad story! Kiera Knightly did a good job though. She was apparently only 16 at the time, but I feel like she did carry the part. The acting really was excellent overall.

46. Cabaret (AFI 100)

What was my mother doing letting me watch this movie in the movie theatre in 1973? I was only thirteen/fourteen! It is quite “tame” compared to today’s standards, but it still isn’t appropriate for that age. Liza Minelli was really phenomenal in it. Michael York was also great. This is the story of a cabaret in Berlin as the Nazis rise to power.

47. The Secret

I had read the book and commented on it already. I don’t like the “throw it out to the ‘benevolence of the universe’” idea. God is the one who answers prayer, and I believe He is control of the universe. The Secret lies in Jesus Christ. I thought it was pretty hokey, and I don’t think this will stand the test of time. I really did not like how “slick” this was. It was more of a turn off than the book!

48. Enron: The Smartest Guys in Town

What a great documentary! I can’t remember why I even put it on hold. It was a fascinating, in-depth look at the history of the fall of Enron.

49. High School Musical Two

What can I say? I’m a Zac Ephron groupie. J I liked the original movie better, but it was nice to visit these great characters again. Silly fun. Saw at my brothers because he has the Disney Channel! My niece said she wanted to be “Mrs. Zac Ephron,” and I laughed!

50. Becoming Jane

Based of the reviews I got from other people, I had low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I went with my Fallbrook friend, and she liked it much better this second time. Anything Jane is good in my eyes. J

SEPTEMBER

51. Monarch of the Glen: Season 6

People come and go on this show, but I love it all the same. I can’t get enough of the Scottish Highlands, and the sweet stories of its people. This is such a gem of a show even with all the changes!

52. Hairspray (1988)

I like this original version. It is different from the newer one (which I FORGOT to add to this original list and just added it now!), but it has merits all its own! Penny’s mother alone makes it worth watching! Her adventure into the black part of town is a scream. If I had to choose, I would say I like the new one better, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was very fun to hear Waters’ (writer and director) commentary. He wrote about his experiences in high school. He is a very bizarre, funny man.

53. Intolerance (AFI Top 100)

This is by the same director as The Birth of a Nation. This must have been a very ambitious project! It has four different stories going on at the same time. It is pretty amazing and deep, but it is LOOOOOOOONG (3 hours). All four stories climax at the end, and that part is quite exciting, but it took forever to get there. J

54. The General (AFI Top 100)

This is a great little Buster Keaton, silent film. I loved it. It has an amazing scene with a train too! I plan on adding this to the list for the “Comedy in Film” Class that I am going to create for my kids!

OCTOBER


55. The War by Ken Burns (7 part mini-series)

One word: Amazing. I bought the soundtrack. The title song, “American Anthem will leave you in tears; trust me. An added benefit, it is sung by Norah Jones.

56. Hitch

Kevin James is hilarious in this, but I didn’t care for much of it. It was sort of a waste of time. Fluffy and entertaining. Also, I just wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Eva Mendes and Will Smith.

57. You’ve Got Mail

I love this movie. We stayed at a cabin with a TON of romantic comedies. This was the one we picked.

58. Sharpe’s Challenge

HE’S BACK! Yippee!!!! Sean Bean is better than ever! It is set in India. Loved it!

59. Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Loved it. I don’t care if the critics panned it. It was majestic, and the acting was superb. The ONLY thing I didn’t like were the slow, sweeping panorama shots of her in all her queenly regalia (that was a little bit overdone) and Cate’s bottom shot (what was the purpose?).

60. Nashville (AFI 100)

Vintage Altman. I didn’t really understand it. It is a really bizarre movie. Most bizarre of 2007, in fact. I have to read up on it to understand the deeper meaning. The best thing about this movie is that it allows me to have CLOSURE on the NEW AFI Top 100 List. YEAH!

61. Troy

I was told this was not very much like The Iliad, but I liked it. Of course, they didn’t include the gods as characters (with the exception of Julie Christie as Thetis, but a viewer wouldn’t know that if they didn’t know the story). So, it leaves out much of Homer’s story, but I still really loved this movie. It was a true epic. I wasn’t expecting much, and I was very surprised. They changed a bunch of it, but they did get across the concept that “honor” and “glory” were EVERYTHING in that time.Oh, did I also mention that I love the fact that SEAN BEAN is a hero in this one! I want a sequel for the Odyssey where HE is the star.I also loved Eric Bana. I have never seen him in anything, and I loved him.

NOVEMBER

62. Back to the Future

I watched this with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew when I was down in California, and I had forgotten what a clever, funny movie it is.

63. Akeelah and the Bee

I have waited for this movie for almost a year! It was worth it. It is a great family movie about a young girl who is part of spelling bees!

DECEMBER

64. August Rush

I really liked this movie. It is sort of a contemporary take on Oliver Twist, and we all know how much I love seeing movie renditions of classical literature. I loved the music too. It was hard to see Robin Williams as a “Fagan” character because he usually does good guys in movies. So, this was hard, but he was a great Fagan! Terrence Howard was great. I love that actor’s eyes!


65. Monarch of the Glen: Season 7 (And FINAL season!)

It has gone through so many changes over the years, but we still love our Scottish highland people and their insane stories!

66. Foyle’s War: Season 1
67. Foyle’s War: Season 2

What an incredible showcase for the great Michael Kitchen (Out of Africa, Mrs. Dalloway, The Buchaneers) I have always loved his acting. So, it is INCREDIBLE to see him as the main character in this great mystery series! He is a detective who fights evil at home in Britain while World War II marches on. It is a GREAT period drama! I am totally hooked, and it is all my dh’s fault. You will see many familiar British period piece actors in this, including James McAvoy, who was just nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in Atonement. There are six seasons of this series, but I think there are only four out on DVD.

68. Enchanted

Absolutely, positively D – E – L – I – G – H – T – F – U – L! It had everything I love.

69. Foyle’s War: Season 3
70. Foyle’s War: Season 4

71. The Muppet Christmas Carol – New Christmas Eve tradition

We watched it a second time to listen to the commentary by Jim Henson’s son, Brian, who was the director of the film. It was fascinating and the most faithful to the novel of all the renditions IMHO.

72. It’s a Wonderful Life – Old Christmas Eve tradition

It is in MY top 5 of all time. I never tire of this tale of friendship and exploration of what would happen if you had never been born. It is a cinematic gift.

2007 Reading List

It was 43 books this year. A little lower than average, but I think it is because Project365 (Picture a day for 365 days) took much away from my reading time this year!

January

1. Light from Heaven by Jan Karon

I have closure on the series after reading the first in the series in 1997. I have such fond memories of reading about snow storms in North Carolina while sweating in Malaysia. The series ended well. J

2. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult (Book Babes for February)

I really loved the story and the writing. I was a bit disappointed with the ending though!

February

3. Marley and Me by John Grogan (Book Babes for March)

It had some delightful parts in it. I am not a big Labrador Retriever fan. If I had a dog, it would be a German Shepherd or a Shetland Sheepdog because I love calm, obedient dogs. (and they were the two kinds we had growing up, and they were fabulous dogs to own). This dog would have driven me insane, but I wouldn’t have even gotten him in the first place. All that said, I can see why they fell in love with this animal, and it was fun to read about their antics with him.

March

4. Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples Thom S. Rainer

Strategy books are just not my cup of tea, and this was all about strategies. I didn’t like it! God is so much more creative than strategies. ‘Nough said.

5. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards (Book Babes)

It brought up some interesting issues, but it is always hard for me when people can’t be honest with one another. I know it made for a good story, but it still frustrates me.

April

6. The One Year Chronological Bible

I have put my other reading on hold and have been enjoying reading throughout the day. I was in the Old Testament during spring break, but I had some extra time. So, I read it like a novel and got to the Triumphal Entry by Friday before Good Friday. I read along with the events of Holy Week. Then, once I got to the Resurrection, I couldn’t stop.



7. The Ladybird Bible Storybook

This is our third time through this great little Bible book. This is also our last time through a Bible “storybook” as we are all reading a regular Bible now. I will miss this, but we have new fish to fry in this department.

8. The Awesome Book of Bible Facts by Silverthorne

I know they are too old for this book, but we loved it the first time. So, we went through it again this year. So great!

May

9. If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat by Ortberg

Not just your fluffy contemporary Christian book. I really liked this, and I enjoyed discussing it chapter-by-chapter with a group of women every week for ten weeks. I am not sure that I would have picked it up to read it had it not been for that reason.

10. The House of the Seven Gables by Hawthorne (Book Dames)

It was sort of a slow story, but I think his language is so beautiful. I liked The Scarlet Letter much more, but I still liked it. I gave it a 7 at our Book Dames Book Club

11. Christianity is Jewish by Edith Schaeffer

This is another one that I read slowly over the whole year. This is the book in which my friend, Beth, read in 1975 and created a seventeen lesson Bible study to go with it called “Bird’s-Eye View of the Bible.” It was so fun to do the study, read the chapter, discuss it in small groups, and listen to my friend (who has the gift of teaching) teach on the lesson. It is all about the “Scarlet Thread of Redemption” from Genesis to Revelation. I just finished the Revelation chapter today, and I am so hopeful and at peace. This is a very uplifting book in every way.

Next year, I will rework the Bird’s Eye View Study and adapted it for my kids to do during their homeschool Bible time. I don’t know what it will look like, but I hope I can make it fun and educational at the same time.

12. Dear Sister, Letters of Hope and Encouragement by Gisela Yohannan

I loved this book. She is a wise woman whose husband heads up Gospel for Asia, one of the largest indigenous church planting mission agencies. They plant churches all over India and in many countries in Asia. These are the letters she wrote to the women in her agency over a period of years. They are PACKED with spiritual encouragement. You can read some excerpts of some of the chapters on my non-photo blog.

13. The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson

This is for churches who want to integrate good news and good deeds into the life of the church. It is a practical book with many examples of churches that have done just that! I have always contended that a church is for the maturing and building up of the Body of Christ but that maturity comes through reaching out as a Body to the community around us. So, the focus of this book is speaking to my heartbeat. Our Women’s Ministry Director wanted me to read this and give her feedback about it because she is considering using it for the Fall Women’s Group on Wednesday nights. I am SO there!

JUNE

14. Crunchy Cons Rob Dreher

I think that I am a Crunchy Con! This is so where I am at (except I am don’t eat organic vegetables and fruits but we do have “green” beef!). I really loved his musings on all the subjects. By the time this is read by all of you (I am typing it on June 10, 2007), we will have already discussed it. So, I won’t go into detail here other than I plan on rereading parts and taking some notes. I think it is a profound book on many levels.

15. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I finally was able to read this. So sad it caused such controversy here a few months ago. I am still mourning the loss of so many members, but I guess the problems were more deep-rooted than just that. Sigh, sigh, and double sigh. L

The book makes a strong point that we all need to learn how to be more positive and grateful. So, the book had some very nice things to say about that. The underlying premise of the book is that the “benevolence of the universe” is that in which we need to have faith, but I prefer to believe in Someone rather than something. So, I had difficulty with this. In addition, there were some statements of concern in the book. “You are God in a physical body. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are the creator.” (p. 164). Later she says, “I AM.” (p.168) “You are the ‘Supreme Mind.’” (p.169). Naturally, one could see why there has been alarm about this book because of those statements.

I plan on watching the DVD to see if these sorts of statements come out as strongly as they did in the book. I read it not only because of people here having discussed it, but also because my cousin (who just lost her mom and brother) had just seen the DVD, and I wanted to be able to dialogue intelligently with her about it. She has had such a terribly hard life. I want to find a bridge with her.


16. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

I just loved this book. There is so much about history, religion, culture, British domination. I loved it in every way! Now, I have to rewatch the movie!

17. Eat This Book: A conversation in the art of spiritual reading by Eugene H. Petersen

This covers the whole issue of reading the Scriptures for transformation. It talks about Lectio Divina (Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation), and it talks about how he came about to translate The Message. It is a fascinating read if you love words. :)

18. Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnards

I loved reading this about 25+ years ago and wanted to read it again. It is all about the journey isn’t it? This is a devotional classic. I found myself identifying with different points of the book this time around. Maybe I have grown after all!

19. 1776 by David McCullough

As I listened to David McCullough narrate the last few pages of his book, summarizing what happened in the year of 1776, I broke down sobbing on my bed as the full weight of the high cost, in terms of blood, of our independence came thundering down on me. George Washington (Fellow ESFJ personality type BTW) is my new hero and so is David McCullough. His books are national treasures and will be cherished for many years to come. Bravo! After my love of his book, John Adams, I knew this would also be a winner.

20. Paradox of Choice

This was more of a skim than anything. Being a strong “S,” it didn’t surprised me that I scored very low on his maximizer test (31). The points in the book seemed ultra-obvious to me and got somewhat redundant. Great points though and helpful for someone who is a strong “NP.”

JULY

21. Big Box Swindle

This is a well-researched book that is worth the read. It looks at the influence of the Big Box retailers like Wal-Mart, and how they are changing America. I have a whole new attitude about my town and have been downtown a ton lately and am loving the increased connection to my community and the wonderful goods and services that it has to offer. A valuable read.

22. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
What an absolutely exquisitely written book! I was so moved by it. It isn’t a happy read. It is about women and friendship in 19th century China. Would be excellent for a book club discussion!


23. Escape from Slavery by Francis Bok

This is a memoir of a Dinka from Southern Sudan who was kidnapped by Northern Arab militia and became a slave for ten years before he escaped and immigrated to America where he has become an outspoken advocate for the abolition of slavery throughout the world. Interesting to note that Clinton did very little to help the Sudanese slaves but Bush has done much more. It is a gripping, page-turner. I highly recommend it.

24. Union and Communion by J. Hudson Taylor

This is a gem of a little volume that someone had loaned to me quite some time ago and I finally was able to savor it during my silent retreat. It was PERFECT for such a setting too! It is looking at Song of Solomon and our relationship of communion with God, and it is delightful!

25. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

This is on my top ten non-fiction books. I had forgotten how much of what makes me tick is from what I read in this book over twenty years ago! It is the wonderful story of Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission (Now Overseas Missionary Fellowship). It is about a man who abided in Christ and let Him work through his life. Great book.

26. Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir

This is an autobiographical account of Malika Oufkir’s imprisonment after her father failed in a coup attempt against King Hassan II of Morocco. Her ghost writer did not do the best job, but I am impressed with this woman’s courage and fortitude. I had no idea that Morocco had so many political prisoners. Her father was one of the people who helped put many of them in prison, but this is more an account of her innocent imprisonment for the sin of her father. I wept many times during the book.

27. The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris

This is about a woman who spent two nine months stints as a Benedictine oblate. It is a memoir or musings over that period; some interesting and insightful, especially toward the end of the book, but some was pretty rambling and uninteresting to me. I am not a “poet” so I didn’t really “get” what she was trying to say at times. Overall, it was a worthwhile book though.

28. The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen

Wow! Very validating and clarifying for me. I could identify with much of this in my old church. I was going to write a book called The Healthy Church, but it looks like this one makes that unnecessary. J

AUGUST

29. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.

Some people might like this, but it is so hard reading books like this after something like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan or a good classic! This is about a small farming community during the Kansas dust bowl. I expressed some interest in reading some light-hearted fiction after some pretty intense autobiographies in July, and my girlfriend brought me this somewhat shallow and boring, yet painless read. I kept just wanting to get through it so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a great novel. I have got to get better at turning people’s loans down! About every eighteen months, I end of having to catch up on all the books people loan me, and I don’t like that! L

30. William Wilberforce: Hero for Humanity

I think this might be my favorite book of the year. I can’t tell you how edifying it was for me to read about a genuine Christian in politics. It has a very readable style and is very engaging. Wilberforce was the man who led the fight in parliament to abolish the slave trade. It is riveting and a good companion to the movie Amazing Grace since he was the lead historian on the film.

31. How to be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job

I liked the first part better than the second part. Overall, I gleaned an overall look at Benedictine life. Did you know that Sir Alec Guinness was a Benedictine oblate?

32. The Rule of Saint Benedict

After all the books I have read about the Rule, it was nice to read this simple 70 page book. It had some great things to say about commitment, obedience, accountability, etc.

33. A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional + evangelical + post/protestant + liberal/conservative + mystical/poetic + biblical + charismatic/contemplative + fundamentalist/calvinist + anabaptist/anglican + methodist + catholic + green + incarnational + depressed-yet-hopeful + emergent + unfinished CHRISTIAN by Brian D. McLaren

I can’t even remember WHY I got this from the library. It wasn’t on my “summer reading list”! I think it must have been something someone said here. So, THANKS! I connected with most of what he had to say. Being that I am missional in the way he describes, I connected with his heart immediately. I had always understood him to be “out there,” but I didn’t find him to be that way. Maybe it is his provocative style, and when he talks about homosexuals, I am sure he gets people’s dander up. Being that two of my closest friends at the high school reunion are gay, it was interesting to read some of his thoughts on this concurrently with my reunion!

I am so not a systematic theology kind of gal (surprise,surprise) that it was refreshing to read his thoughts on this subject. He is also an excellent writer. It was interesting because when we were on vacation, we had lunch with my mom's former assistant pastor and his wife. I told him I was reading it, and he had a big smile. He REALLY likes Brian M., has met him, and had just given the book to his daughter who is a college sophomore at Westmont. He feels like McLaren gets a "bad wrap" from other Christians. I really think I understood what he was trying to say though, but I can see how he might be misunderstood too. Some of his diatribes are overly didactic at points though, and I could see right through to his passionate heart, but I can see why he turns people off too.

This sums it up for me:

". . .I suggested that Jesus didn't come to start another religion, which would include the Christian religion. I wasn't kidding. I do, in fact, believe that. That the Christian religion formed as it has is not surprising. It was no doubt necessary and in many ways good and I know God is in it, and I am in it, too. But "the Christian religion" is neither the ultimate goal of God, in my view. Rather, the goal of Jesus is the kingdom of God, which is the dream of God, the wish and hope and desire of God for creation - like a parent’s hopes and dreams for his beloved child."

I sat under the teaching of Steve Hawthorne (Perspectives on the World Christian Movement) when I went to Thailand (spent 4 1/2 months with a team of 17 people of which he was the head. He taught us every single morning. It was incredible.) It helped me to see things from this perspective.

Really liked this book.


34. Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

A surprisingly fun read! Who knew I would like Sherlock Holmes so much? I love how it clipped along, and it is so clever. It was a joy. I read it for Book Dames.

OCTOBER

35. The Cross and the Switchblade

A true story about gangs in New York and the transformation God can make in the lives of those whom society has given up on! Great read.`

36. The Three Musketeers

I loved this. It was worth all 673 pages. The Pevear translation is the best. The older translations are based on the English sensibilities of the time and leave out some important things.

37. The Illiad by Homer

YEAH! I finally read it. (My son did too, and he feels like he should have bragging rights. LOL!) It is hard to read, but it helps to have the study guide and lectures by the teacher and the Teaching Company lectures that the teacher posts on her website. I have wanted to grasp this book for SO long, and I think I am finally doing that.

NOVEMBER – A great month of reading, and I had lots of time for it with my mom’s slide toward heaven!

38. Back When We Were Grown Ups by Anne Tyler (Book Babes)

This is an Anne Tyler from my book club. I didn’t like the other one I read (Breathing Lessons), but I loved this one. It is about a woman who wonders how her life would have been different had she not married the man she married.

39. The Last Sin-Eater by Francine Rivers (Book Babes)

Again, I didn’t care for the other book that I read by her (Leota’s Garden), but I really liked this one. It was a great story, and I learned some history in the process. It is about folk religion in the Appalachian Mountains.

40. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (Book Dames)

It was interesting to reread this. I love the depth of relationship between the heroine and her love interest. I think this is a more serious novel than Pride and Prejudice, but I think I like P&P better which is different from the first time when I liked MP better! I am so looking forward to a faithful rendition of this book coming to the screen next year on PBS since the last rendition took much poetic license!

41. The Syringa Tree by Pam Gien (Book Babes)

After an Austen, it took me a while to get used to this writer’s style. It is told from the perspective of a white girl growing up in South Africa starting when she is five year old. It is a story of her love for her black maid and the baby that they must hide so the police don’t bring her back to Soweto. It is moving. It is a BIT overloaded with simile, but I still enjoyed it once I got into the “swing” of her style.


DECEMBER

42. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time (Book Babes)
This is a true story about a man who failed to climb K2 in the Hindu Kush but has climbed new heights in building schools for the poorest in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a very inspiring story. Loved it.

43. Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour (Book Babes – My recommendation)

This is a reread, and I remember why it is in my top 10 non-fiction books. It is a GEM of a read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It is the story of a Christian Palestinian during the time when the British pulled out of Palestine, and it became the nation of Israel. It is his true life story of what happened to him when it happened. It is a story about reconciliation. I love it!

In the middle of reading:

43 1/2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Book Babes)

My review so far: This is on my Book Babes list. It is a novel by the author of The Kite Runner, and I think it is even BETTER. I started reading it on the elliptical at my club, and I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully a birthday lunch with a friend was canceled so that I could lounge on the couch ALL DAY and read it! I like this one more because the main character is a GIRL in Afghanistan. Poignant from the first page. Highly recommend it. (I planned on finishing it yesterday, but I got pulled away to go to a play with MBA: Anne of Green Gables

Mom's Memorial PIcs

My dad used to say, "When God made your mom, He broke the mold." It was hard to me as a young kid to imagine God, literally, up in heaven breaking her mold. I just couldn't conceptualize itSomehow, it seemed like a negative thing to break that mold. It wasn't until I was in high school that it dawned on me what my dad meant by that statement. He meant that my mom was unique and special and there would be no one else like her.

This is my opportunity to share with you about the unique and special person that God made, my mom, Florence Wardrop.

My mom was born on January 14, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to my grandparents, Axel and Anna Walter, both immigrants from Sweden. They both immigrated as single people and found each other in the Swedish community there. They were married in 1926, and my mom was born shortly after that, followed by my aunt Annie, who died earlier this year, and her sister, Eleanor, who is with us here today. What you may not know about my mom is that her first language was Swedish, and she did not learn English until she went to Kindergarten. She would often tell stories about trying to communicate with the teacher and not understanding why the teacher wouldn't respond. It was because she was speaking Swedish.

In spite of having to learn a new language, my mom excelled at school. She was always a good student and was the first person in her family to receive a college education. She went to the University of Illinois, Urbana where she studied to become a medical technologist. Shortly after this, she won the Miss Chicago Tall contest and competed in Southern California for the national title. She did not win, but she did decide that she wanted to move to Sunny Southern California after this.

Wedding June 23, 1956

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June 23, 1956

Mom and Dad on their honeymoon - June 1956

Mom and Bill - July 1956

Christopher Walter Wardrop (6/6/57)

Carol and Chris Wardrop 

Chris Wardrop

California Tip Topper 4th of July in Pasadena (I have my ears plugged and dad is holding a cup in his mouth)

Mom and Dad in Hawaii in the 80's

Mom's 2nd Career as a realtor in the 80's

Grandma Flo with the Grandkids (pre-Mitchell)

Miss Tall Chicago 1950's

Karakoram Sunrise

Karakoram Sunrise, originally uploaded by dalecottam.

From Dalecottam on Flickr.

I am reading a book called Three Cups of Tea, and this is the area where he builds the schools. Isn't this lovely?

My Mermorial To Mom

I thought it would be good to write out what I said at the memorial service.

My dad used to say, "When God made your mom, He broke the mold." It was hard to me as a young kid to imagine God literally up in heaven breaking someone's mold after He made them. Somehow, it seemed like a negative thing to break that mold. It wasn't until I was in high school that it dawned on me what my dad meant by that statement. He meant that my mom was unique and special and there would be no one else like her.

This is my opportunity to share with you about the unique and special person that God made, my mom, Florence Wardrop.

My mom was born on January 14, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to my grandparents, Axel and Anna Walter, both immigrants from Sweden. They both immigrated as single people and found each other in the Swedish community there. They were married in 1926, and my mom was born shortly after that, followed by my aunt Annie, who died earlier this year, and her sister, Eleanor, who is with us here today. What you may not know about my mom is that her first language was Swedish, and she did not learn English until she went to Kindergarten. She would often tell stories about trying to communicate with the teacher and not understanding why the teacher wouldn't respond. It was because she was speaking Swedish.

In spite of having to learn a new language, my mom excelled at school. She was always a good student and was the first person in her family to receive a college education. She went to the University of Illinois, Urbana where she studied to become a medical technologist. Shortly after this, she won the Miss Chicago Tall contest and competed in Southern California for the national title. She did not win, but she did decide that she wanted to move to Sunny Southern California after this.

(someday, I will continue this!)

A Freed-Write

Yes, that is what it says: Freedwrite. I feel released from staying down her anymore. I have been here almost four weeks, and I would love to stay and see mom ushered into heaven, but I think I need to go back to Oregon and be with my family. I feel freed. I feel like she knows that I have been there, and I wish I could stay, but it is time to go. Debbie said that she stayed with her mom as long as she could and she died three days later. It seems inefficient, and this has been so stressful for me to make a decision, but George really thinks I need to go. I don't have a support system here, and I can't see George and the boys driving off back to Oregon without me. It would just be too hard. Too hard for me to see that.

So, we go either tomorrow or the day after. What a journey this November has been for me. I think it will take some time to recover from it all.