Serials and Scenarios - They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on My Dipstick...

Synopsis:

News anchor and reporter for Fox News Radio, Todd Starnes takes a humorous but serious look at life and faith.

"Todd's story reminds me of the many ups and downs I faced during my weight loss. Along his journey Todd not only lost a significant amount of weight, but he also lost his parents to sudden illnesses. He survived a significant surgery, ran a marathon, and despite it all still managed to complete the task. Todd's story reminds us that God uses the least of us to do the greatest things, that way there is no question that it is indeed God at work."
Mike Huckabee

My Review:

I found myself groaning at corny one-liners, gritting my teeth at a few well aimed comments that convicted me, and laughing with Todd Starnes on his journey of discovery. With self-deprecation and a sweet, sometimes dipped in churlishness, spirit Todd details his journey from death to life. I appreciated his candor and wit. And I appreciated his willingness to share the hard stuff and the blessings he discovered along the way. I’m giving a copy to a friend who recently had an emergency quadruple by-pass. After all, laughter is great medicine, and we all are given today with no promise of tomorrow, so why not spend the majority of our time laughing.

Todd’s own words sum up the heart of his message and journey and I can't come up with anything better.

“It’s that simple. Really.

I may never go skydiving or ride a bull, but I have survived open-heart surgery. I’ve lost a lot of weight, and I’ve run the New Your City Marathon. And somewhere along the way, I learned that Gods’ mercies are new every morning and that His strength is perfect when mine is not. And with apologies to Tim McGraw, I’ve chosen to live the rest of my days not like I was dying. Instead, I’ve chosen to live like I was living.”

Scribbles and Scrambles - A Nostalgic Find

We've been cleaning lately. With all the remodeling we've done, we've become really good at packing, hauling and temporarily moving something to a new home.

Unfortunately, with things packed in cardboard and stacked, it's easy to forget what's where. It's also kind of nice to look at clutterless sections of new and improved and it seems kind of criminal to load em up right away.

That said. We've found some treasures. This is my childhood piggy bank. I believe my mom made it in a ceramic class when I was very young. You can see that it may have taken a tumble or two and possibly has had surgery.

I had forgotten all about Petunia Pig. It was fun to find her nestled away in a box of treasures.

And now I can look at her whenever I want. And I just knew you'd want to meet her.

Scribble and Scrambles ~ To Do List

One of the best things about blogging is that I can actually write a post and schedule it to post magically while I'm busy doing something else.

I'd like to share my to-do list for the day.

1. Get up whenever I darn well feel like and toast the day with french press.

2. Ignore Blogger.com completely, and my e-mail, and the phone...because there is not a phone to ignore and the internet requires a twenty minute trip into town.

3. Read a bit...while sitting in the sun and listening to the sound of water lapping against the shoreline.

4. Decide to create something delicious from a pile of produce, or not.

5. Laugh a little, or a lot, depending on how funny Twenty-Two and Rob are choosing to be, actually, maybe I'll be the funny one.

6. Float on the lake amongst the loons and the occasional seagull.

7. Read a little more. Or take a nap. Or just hang out doing absolutely nothing.

8. Maybe a trip into town for a peek via wifi and over an iced double mocha of some sort.

9. Say a prayer or two. After all, a relaxing week is a GIFT from God.

10. Enjoy every laid-back minute of the day and hope you are having a great day, too.

Scribble and Scrambles ~ Uhhh, Hello!!!

Am I invisible?

Well, obviously I've chosen stark black and white, no picture to make my point. But, seriously, even then I'm not invisible am I?

I've had a bit of a problem within society of late. Cars turn in front of me as if I'm not there. My vehicle is an emerald green mini-van...kind of hard to overlook. And at the grocery store the other evening, twenty-two and I were both nearly mown down twice. Once when a woman dived for Kashi bars, where we stood, discussing which ones to get. Maybe she was hungry, really, really hungry or had horrible low blood sugar. Who knows. The second incident involved a cart and an angry elderly lady. I've blocked out the details though I may still have the resulting nervous tic.

I'm short. Maybe that's the problem. Most people look right OVER my head not even noticing that I'm standing right in front of them. Or, maybe, the issue has to do with the silver in my hair. You know how hard it is to see gray or white cars on cement at twilight...

Serials and Scenarios - Blue Like Playdough - Tricia Goyer

Book Summary:

In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own.

As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible. Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

Author Bio:

Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.

My thoughts: (You silly, little readers, of course I have thoughts. : ) )

If you've read Tricia Goyer's previous non-fiction you may be expecting discussion questions and anecdotal stories from other Gen X'ers, and, of course, a section for journaling in each chapter.

But, Blue Like Play Dough is simply a peek inside the thoughts and heart of a woman brave enough to bare her soul.

Writing requires blood. Birth always does, and sharing something as intimate as thoughts and shaping them for someone else to understand is a vulnerable and sometimes messy delivery. A pin prick, from a good writer, is often plenty to get thoughts communicated. But, in a work like Play Dough, Tricia had to open a vein and share struggles and challenges that many of us attempt to bury from even ourselves.

Moms aren't the only women who can benefit from the wisdom that Tricia has discovered during her walk of faith. Any woman who struggles with feeling inadequate, alone, like a failure, overwhelmed or ashamed may find a soft, brightly colored nugget of truth that could open her heart to the reality that God loves her very, very much and that He has created an adventure for her if she'll only place herself in His capable and loving hands.

Scribble and Scrambles ~ Happy 18...

So, homemade strawberry krispie bars can't hold a candle to Eileen...but it's the thought that counts, right. (and sorry for the traumatizing book. )

Happy number 18, Shelby. I hope today is just the beginning of an amazing adulthood. I love you very much.

Yo Mama.

Serials and Scenarios ~ A Perfect Mess - Lisa Harper

Book Summary:

Caught up in the self-imposed pressure to do and be all the things they think a Christian woman ought to do and be, countless women are working desperately to convince everyone, including God, that they have it all together. Few have any idea that the Creator of the universe looks at them with delight even when they yell at the dog, drive a minivan littered with French fries, or think bad words about that rude clerk at the store.

A Perfect Mess offers hope to every woman who yearns for a vibrant relationship with God but worries she isn’t good enough or doesn’t do enough to merit His affection. With characteristic authenticity, speaker and author Lisa Harper shares poignant stories from her own imperfect life to showcase the real-life relevancy of the Bible in the lives of modern women.

As she guides readers on a story-driven journey through selected Psalms, they will be inspired to experience for themselves how God’s incomparable love transforms the messiness of life into a gorgeous work of grace.



My Review:


Lisa Harper shares some powerful truth wrapped in stories and humor and self-deprecation. Harper covers a baker's dozen of Psalms, the better loved and known like 119, 23, 139 and 51 among them. Life issues and emotions common to all humanity like overwhelming emotions, fear, paths, faith are discussed in twelve simple chapters and roughly 200 pages. Most illustrations are woman focused but a man could find some areas that would either convict or be balm to his soul as well. The format and transparent, honest writing coupled with discussion questions makes Mess a great idea for a woman's Bible or small group study.

Each chapter covers a Psalm and Harper breaks it down a few verses at a time adding illustrations from her colorful life. A dead goat and baggy pants ended up being quite a little story about the love of God and His mercy toward His pathetic little messy ones.
Other scripture and some historical and/or Biblical information is tossed into each chapter as well. Six or seven questions for consideration/study end each chapter. The questions are ones that could be verbalized, given a little time for thought, in a large group or journalized for personal study.

Harper is charming and often funny, but also capable of diving deep into teaching truth and allowing the Spirit to convict the reader's heart. I folded over several pages to go back to and ponder the truth within and I also plan to hand the book over to my anxiously awaiting twenty-two-year-old daughter who will get much out of this simply complex study of human nature and God's divine design.