This month I hope to -
laugh more
go on a date with my hubby
have a coffee date with friends
continue my Beth Moore bible study
play with my kids
do some valentine crafts
love people just a little bit more than I did last month
take my precious princess to see Sound of Music
pray and read the bible more
jump in a few puddles
get some awesome pictures taken of my kids
become a drill sergeant on the ABCs and their sounds - I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can
begin planning some wondrous things for my grandparents
busy, busy, busy!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Water for Elephants - by Sara Gruen
I'm not sure where I heard of this book and that it was good. It could be that I just saw it on the bookshelf in Target and was interested. Well, I checked it out from the library and was excited to read it - until I started to. It was full of cuss words!! I kept reading it for a little while to see if maybe it would change but nope - it didn't. So - my relationship with that book ended rather quickly. I know that some Christian people can read a book like this and it wouldn't bother them or affect them in any way. Me on the other hand would stay up at night thinking about the happenings in the book and soon would be saying those nasty words in my head if I heard them too often. That's just me - so to guard my mind and my mouth I'm stearing clear. If anyone else reads it I would be curious to see what their opinion is since it looked like the plot and story line were quite interesting.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
I was debating on whether or not I should pick up another Nicholas Sparks book since I was a little "put out" by the last one that I read. However, I remember seeing the previews for the movie "Dear John" and thinking that it looked super cute. After I saw the preview someone told me that it was based on a Nicholas Sparks book and so I was determined to read it before watching it at the movies. So - what did I think? Well, I have to say that the author has a way of playing on all of my emotions. I was happy, excited, sad, tired, depressed and teary-eyed on and off throughout this book. It was a HUGE step above "The Lucky One" and was an amazing love story. There were a few things about the book that I think the author could have left out - but like the smart author he is he played to the emotions of "the worldy public" as well as the Christian audience.
Instead of "going" to see it at the movies I may just wait to see it when it comes out at the Redbox. I really want to watch it but I know that my money could be better spent somewhere else than watching a movie in which I know FOR SURE that a certain scene will NOT be left out of the "movie" - in fact it will probably be intensified and prolonged unfortunately. Good ole Hollywood huh?
Well - I don't mean to be a downer on Nicholas Sparks books however I just have a difficult time when he drags Christianity into his books and then throws integrity and Christian morals out the window with his characters and their actions. I know that people screw up in real life - I'm very aware of that and luckily God's grace covers us all. But I just wish that Christianity would be taken seriously and having fiction authors create a fiction perspective of what a "Christian" is just gives others false hope.
O.K. - jumping off my soapbox and on to the book rating.
Rating: 7
Instead of "going" to see it at the movies I may just wait to see it when it comes out at the Redbox. I really want to watch it but I know that my money could be better spent somewhere else than watching a movie in which I know FOR SURE that a certain scene will NOT be left out of the "movie" - in fact it will probably be intensified and prolonged unfortunately. Good ole Hollywood huh?
Well - I don't mean to be a downer on Nicholas Sparks books however I just have a difficult time when he drags Christianity into his books and then throws integrity and Christian morals out the window with his characters and their actions. I know that people screw up in real life - I'm very aware of that and luckily God's grace covers us all. But I just wish that Christianity would be taken seriously and having fiction authors create a fiction perspective of what a "Christian" is just gives others false hope.
O.K. - jumping off my soapbox and on to the book rating.
Rating: 7
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Random Happenings
Random Happenings in the Franklin Household
Rhett:
1) always running
2) enjoying life like always
3) loves the attention he gets when he dresses up like a cowboy
4) typically getting into trouble
Addison:
1) getting her beauty sleep
2) loving to draw and color and tape them around the house
3) dressing herself - and not too badly this time
4) spending some time in mommy's kindergarten class making crafts
The Last Resort - by Hannah Alexander
I just finished reading my second book "The Last Resort" by Hannah Alexander. She is a Christian author who writes mystery and suspense novels. I remember as a kid loving the Nancy Drew series and the Mandie books so it was fun to pick up a book that had that same kind of mystery. I would definately recommend this book to anyone if they enjoy suspense and mystery. It was about a missing 12 year old girl, their desperate search to find her, a suspicion that someone in the family took her and a BIG family secret. It was a quick, easy read and very entertaining.
Book rating: 7
Book rating: 7
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
"The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks review:
It was an easy read. It didn't quite intrigue me as some other books that I've read but it had it's own mystery and of course romance which was the part about the book that bothered me. I've never been one to pick up and read steamy romance novels and at this point in my life I seriously try and avoid them at all costs. I do not think that this book was a steamy romance novel - in fact the romance in it was completely normal to the average person who isn't in a relationship with Christ and is familiar with his teachings. The book did not go into great detail about their "bedroom" relationship but just simply stated that their relationship had escalated to that stage. The part that bothered me most was not the fact that they were sleeping together without being married (not to say that it didn't bother me because it did but I expected it from a non-Christian author). What bothered me most was the constant referral to the woman "Beth" being an avid church-goer. In fact in one chapter it relayed the information that after they had a night together they got up and got ready for church like it was the most normal thing in the world. The guy "Logan" even played the piano for the choir. I don't know about you but that really made me angry - so much so that I contimplated writing Mr. Sparks a personal message. For that reason alone I would not recommend that book, especially to the non-Christian who already believes that most Christians are hypocrites. Well, in this book it was certainly true and unfortunately not many people would think too much of it. I tell ya it didn't sit well with me and I'm still angered by it.
Other than that it was a story of a Marine who found a picture of a woman in Iraq and it had kept him safe. When he returned home he went in search of this woman and eventually fell in love with her. It's their story and it's actually quite a cute one if the other junk hadn't been thrown in there. I swear some day these movie directors and authors are going to get a clue and write and produce books and movies without all of the wordly garbage. Let's leave everyone with a good taste in their mouth, challenging them to be better people then justifying their behavior and making them feel that what they do is totally "normal".
Rating Scale of 1-10 (1 being awesomely amazing and 10 being the worst waste of time): 4
It was an easy read. It didn't quite intrigue me as some other books that I've read but it had it's own mystery and of course romance which was the part about the book that bothered me. I've never been one to pick up and read steamy romance novels and at this point in my life I seriously try and avoid them at all costs. I do not think that this book was a steamy romance novel - in fact the romance in it was completely normal to the average person who isn't in a relationship with Christ and is familiar with his teachings. The book did not go into great detail about their "bedroom" relationship but just simply stated that their relationship had escalated to that stage. The part that bothered me most was not the fact that they were sleeping together without being married (not to say that it didn't bother me because it did but I expected it from a non-Christian author). What bothered me most was the constant referral to the woman "Beth" being an avid church-goer. In fact in one chapter it relayed the information that after they had a night together they got up and got ready for church like it was the most normal thing in the world. The guy "Logan" even played the piano for the choir. I don't know about you but that really made me angry - so much so that I contimplated writing Mr. Sparks a personal message. For that reason alone I would not recommend that book, especially to the non-Christian who already believes that most Christians are hypocrites. Well, in this book it was certainly true and unfortunately not many people would think too much of it. I tell ya it didn't sit well with me and I'm still angered by it.
Other than that it was a story of a Marine who found a picture of a woman in Iraq and it had kept him safe. When he returned home he went in search of this woman and eventually fell in love with her. It's their story and it's actually quite a cute one if the other junk hadn't been thrown in there. I swear some day these movie directors and authors are going to get a clue and write and produce books and movies without all of the wordly garbage. Let's leave everyone with a good taste in their mouth, challenging them to be better people then justifying their behavior and making them feel that what they do is totally "normal".
Rating Scale of 1-10 (1 being awesomely amazing and 10 being the worst waste of time): 4
Thursday, January 14, 2010
My Book List
I'm excited about reading again - and getting into a good book!! I have constructed a list of books through the help of some of my friends that I would like to read this year - some of them classics and some of them just normal fiction novels. My goal is to get through this entire list this year. However, I am aware of some of the strain that reading those classics will have on my time so we'll see. I am determined to trudge through them because I know that there are many old gems to be found. My personal favorite has always been Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and I look forward to reading that one again this year just to rekindle my love for British literature and the old classics. I am going to list my book "aspirations" on my wall and cross them off as I read them. I am also looking forward to posting a reading review about each book as I read it to encourage others or discourage others. I am looking forward to posting about my journey through the book and the feelings that I had as well as what I might have learned along the way. I guess I've always wanted to be a part of a "book club" so this is my way of getting my thoughts down and expressing my opinions. I also will add a few books to the list if I come across or hear of one that is really good. I'm looking forward to this journey and am ready to hit the library.
Oh - and if you have any further suggestions of any good books please let me know!!
Oh - and if you have any further suggestions of any good books please let me know!!
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