Book List for 2013

This year, my goal is to read 24 books. That's an average of 2 a month. I realize this may be difficult one the baby comes, but I'm going to try. I have twelve for sure because of my monthly book club. Here is a list of some others. I'm hoping to update once/month with what I've read. I'm also attempting to read through the bible again this year. This list does not include the books I hope to get ahold of for reviewing from Bethany House Publishers. I'll be over 24 if I can get more of those. Yeah!

The Bible
January Book Club
February Book Club
March Book Club
April Book Club
May Book Club
June Book Club
July Book Club
August Book Club
September Book Club
October Book Club
November Book Club
December Book Club
I Knew Jesus Before He was a Christian   Rubel Shelly
Revolution in World Missions    K. P. Yahannan
Baby Wise Book One (reread)
Baby Wise Book Two (reread)
7 Things Kids Never Forget   Ron Rose
Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day   Garry R. Morgan
The Secrets of Biblical Wisdom   Kyle Searcy
What to Expect When You're Expecting (reread)
The Non Runner's Marathon Guide for Women (reread)
1,000 Gifts   Ann Voskamp

And 2 others that I'll figure out as I go. If you have suggestions for my final two, let me know!

Back at it and flu shots

Clearly, I've been a little busy. It's been almost four months since my last post. I'm hoping to change that in 2013. We moved in with my inlaws in order to rent our place and then moved into our house 7 weeks later when we finally closed. My little one had a horrible stomach bug and two weeks later spent the weekend in the hospital with croup. On top of it all, the first trimester of pregnancy hit me hard and I was very sick. So, I'm hoping the next four months will be calmer and I'll be able spend more time keeping this going.

For starters, let's clear some things up. Doctor J has asked me to pass on some information from the doctor world.
1. The stomach flu and the flu (influenza) are NOT the same thing. Technically, they're not related. One hits your digestive system and the other your respiratory system.
2. The flu shot protects against influenza or respiratory related flus. It will not protect against the stomach flu.
3. Yes, you will sometimes get influenza even with a flu shot. They can never put all the strains in a single shot. Most times, they have to guess which will be the worst and hope they're right.
4. Your doctor's office will typically order a set amount of shots and sprays. When they run out, they run out. Reordering usually happens just at pharmacies that give the shots.
5. If you think you do have genuine influenza, go to the doctor. DON'T call him expecting tami flu over the phone. That won't happen and antibiotics can't kill the flu. Go to the doctor. They can also run a test to see if that's really what you have.

Questions? Leave me a comment.

Book Review: Over the Edge

Over the Edge, by Mary Connealy

Apparently, this is book 3 in a series and I would love to read the first two. It was pretty good. There were so many surprises in the first 75 pages, that I had to keep reading. I think maybe the storyline with the surprise brother was a little unnecessary, but it was still good. Heath added a fun dynamic to the already crazy Callie and Seth love story. Callie was one tough cookie and I admired her from the beginning. I can't imagine leaving my home to find the husband that abandoned me. I really can't imagine my husband forgetting who I was and abandoning me, though. There were so many tough breaks that brought Callie and Seth together. It was a beautiful love story and I'm looking forward to reading the first two books in this series.

Book Review: Word, Spirit, Power

Word, Spirit, Power: What Happens When You Seek All God Has to Offer
        by R.T.Kendall, Charles Carrin and Jack Taylor

This book was full of great information and thoughts, but I had a difficult time reading it. It was drier than I am used. I had a very hard time staying with it to finish it. It took me several weeks. I did appreciate the way each author focused on one of the subjects, the Word, the Spirit and Power. That made it a tad easier than each of them tackling each subject. Honestly, it was just too dry for me.

Book Review: Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson

I've heard for years that I should try reading Tracie Peterson books, but have never given in. I'm glad I chose to review this book. Touching the Sky takes place in Corpus Christi, TX, just after the Civil War has ended. Level-headed Laura watches her sister marry a Confederate soldier only to have her life tumble down the drain. I loved and understood the struggle between letting someone you love make life-changing mistakes and supporting them through those mistakes. I loved the connection between Laura and her Captain Brandon. I am a hopeless romantic and loved the way he swept her off her feet from the beginning. I was desperately afraid things were going to end badly. I was convinced and couldn't put the book down towards the end. I had to know what happened.
The depiction of the continuing struggle between Union and Confederate soldiers even after the war, especially in the state of Texas, was also a good history lesson for me. It was very well-written, entertaining, and I will be looking for more Tracie Peterson books to lose myself in.

Book Review: Travelers Rest by Ann Tatlock

This was my first Ann Tatlock book, and I can honestly say I was hooked from page 1. I had no difficulty getting into this one. It was a heart-breaking look at wounded veterans, but I was intrigued by the way Ann handled her characters. It was obvious Jane was struggling with the changes she and Seth would face, should they continue their engagement, but she was determined to make things work. She had already committed to Seth. That's a rare thing in this day and age, but she was committed when she accepted his proposal. I appreciated the ending, sad as it was. The whole book seemed genuine and true-to-life, not sugar-coated. It was a fast, but wonderful read. I highly recommend Travelers Rest and will be looking for other Ann Tatlock books.

Book Review: Unstuck: Your Life. God's Design. Real Change.

Oh my. This one was a game changer for me. I was skeptical at first glance, but was hooked and changing myself by page 5. This book is backed by page after page of research on reading the Bible and is packed with resources to help you do exactly what the research findings suggest. I loved it. It has challenged my thinking and helped me make drastic changes in my Bible reading habits and views on the importance of being in the Word. As a Believer, I've struggled my whole life with making Bible reading a habit. The idea that four days of Bible "engagement," as the authors refer to it, can change your life and deepen your faith seems like a long shot. It's true. 22 days into the daily assignments, I believe it. I think about scripture more often. I engage in biblical conversations more frequently. My husband and I are talking about what I'm reading in the book and in the Bible almost every day.
The website connected to Unstuck offers texts, emails and phone calls with scripture to help with the daily engagement. You're able to sign up for as little or as much prodding as you want. You can even get a daily encouragement/check-in call from a real, live person. It's incredible.
This was not a difficult read, but it was difficult to realize how nonexistent scripture was in my life. I knew it, but being confronted with the facts was not pleasant. I've already told Jared his men's Bible study group and our small group need to read this one together. The discussions he and I have had have been wonderful. Just four days will "unstick" you. I believe it after just three weeks. I have been encouraged and convicted. This is a must read for anyone professing to be a Christian!