The Cat in the Hat

A good friend gave this book to James for Christmas.  We have some other Dr. Seuss books,  but James has not been into them yet.  {Perhaps they are too long for him to stay interested...}  Anyway he has fallen in.love with this book.

I think a big part of this love affair is there is a Cat in the Hat cartoon on PBS that we often watch in the morning.  So he already know the characters.  I think that there is really something to be said for reading young ones books about characters they already know!  I am just happy to have kids interested in books and will take it anyway we can get it.

I do LOVE that PBS has shows about some quality literature.  Dr. Seuss is such a classic and I love getting to read this to James each night!

James' age: 2 years 9 months

Unbound

This book was recommended by a lady at church a few months ago.  She described it as a book that would help you see sins that you return to again and again...  I guess I just didn't think that it was about deliverance {even though that is part of the title!}

As I read the first chapter I was a little freaked out.  I won't lie, but I decided to give this book a chance anyway.  It was okay, not life changing.  I did take away a few gems.  One is that the world is very scared of Satan.  This gives him power.  Either we don't want to think about him (or don't think he exists) or we give him too much power.  I have definitely fallen in both categories at various times.

Since I am Catholic and it was really talking about freedom from sin {mostly from deliverance}, I have thought that going to confession regularly would be good.  A lot of what he talked about was feeling freedom and God's love.  I know when I leave confession that is exactly how I feel.

Anyway it was an okay read.  I am not going to tell you to run out and get it though.

Read:  January 2012
Pages:  254

A Separate Country

I was ready for a good non-fiction book since I just finished Love & Respect.  I knew that I wanted one I couldn't put down...  well this was a good one!  I grabbed it at Target one day because I love Civil War area books about the South.

This is the story of General John Hood and his life with his wife Anna Marie in New Orleans after the war.  It was a story about love and redemption.  I had to make myself get through the first chapter, but after that I was hooked!  The story is told from the view of 3 people:  Eli Griffin, General Hood, and Anna Marie.  It was such a neat way to write the book.  I would highly recommend this book if you like books from this era.  I will say that I am not sure how historically accurate it is, but I never really care about that.

If you read and liked The Reliable Wife you may enjoy this one as well.  It had really similar themes.  I thought a lot about it while reading this one.

Read: end of December 2011
Pages:  448

Love & Respect

A good friend gave me this book in January or February after a church retreat.  I read a little of it at first... then life got crazy...then I got on a fiction/book club only kick.  Finally after my latest round of books and being caught up for book club in December, I told myself there was no starting another fiction book until I finished this one.

Now don't let that fool you... this was an amazing book.  It is just hard for me to sit down and read any nonfiction book quickly.  I always have about 3 books going when I read nonfiction.  Even when I love it.  I am so glad that I finished this jewel though.  It just got better and better with each page I read.

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs has been in marriage counseling for years and give conferences based on this book.  The premise is simple.  Women need love, men want respect.  It all comes from Ephesians 5:33 "Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."  Wow, this simple little revelation blew me away.  It got me thinking a lot about previous relationships and the lack of respect I had...

The beginning of the book talks about The Crazy Cycle that many marriages are in, then the middle is about The Energizing Cycle, and finally the best part is The Rewarding Cycle.

 I have to tell you I loved the part about The Rewarding Cycle.  It was all about how even if your spouse doesn't give you what you need, give them what you should.  Know that God sees what you are doing and will reward you.  I think that really resonated with me because of where I am in my spiritual journey.  When we love and respect our spouse, really we are loving and respecting Jesus.  That really got me thinking beyond just my marriage to family and friend relationships.

I think for a long time I didn't read this because Aaron and I have a pretty darn good marriage.  But you can always improve and gentle reminders are always good.  Sometimes I have a bit too much pride.  I felt like if I read this, it must mean I have a "bad" marriage.  Don't let pride get in your way!  Y'all I really, really, really encourage you to read this book.  Even if you have a great marriage.

Read: mostly December 2011
Pages:  303