Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Sunday, January 15, 2017

When Good Things Come to an End


I love a good book and a good cup of coffee. Hence the picture above. However, I do have a confession to make.....

Moments ago, I finished reading Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat.

Well, that may not sound like a newsworthy confession, but I started the book at the end of September. And I'll admit, I had a difficult time getting through the book.

Not because it was terribly awful

But because it was terribly wonderful.

This book holds so much of my heart, and I couldn't let it go quickly. I had to cherish every story, every page because these people, well, they are my people.


The Five Minute Friday Community is an amazing group of writers.  They cheer you on. They encourage you. They pray for you.  They become a part of you.


And this book becomes a part of you.  Page by page, word by word, I found bits and pieces of myself. You know those bits, those pieces you don't want to share because Satan tells you that you are all alone and no one else can relate.  Well, these brave writers share those dark places.  And they share those bright places.  And in all of these places, their words point to God.  Whether the prompt was  JOY, HOPE, SHARE, or TELL, the stories spoke of our struggles as moms, wives, sisters, friends, and sinners and how Christ our Redeemer reveals Himself to us.

And for me, I wanted to hold on to this book as long as possible. I wanted to hurry to page 137 to find my own words, but I went slowly.  And when I reached that part, my hand ran over the page, and I thanked God for the opportunity to share my story.


Now, the book is closed, yet I know it won't stay that way.  I'll come back to it time and time again.  I'll read those words of my Five Minute Friday friends. I'll share those words with others.  And I will hope and pray that maybe, just maybe, there will be a "sequel" one of these days.

I encourage you, get a copy of this book, not because my words are in it, but because it is full of love.  The writers of this book are eager to share with you how your heart can be shared in five minutes flat!


Monday, December 28, 2015

52 Books in 52 Weeks - 2015 Edition

This year, I took part in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge with my online friend Pattie.  I'll admit that I did NOT complete the challenge, but I did read some really awesome books.

These categories were successfully checked off my list:

a book that became a movie



a book published this year



a book with nonhuman characters



a book by a female author




a book from an author you love that you haven't read yet



a book based on a true story




a book that scares you



a book you can finish in one day


a book that made you cry

a graphic novel



a book you own but have never read



a book set during Christmas


a book written by an author with your same initials


a book you started but never finished



I currently have some books we can label "in progress." I'm currently reading All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans, War and Peace, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the first book of the Percy Jackson series.  One or two of those may make the list before the end of the year.

I am looking forward to the 2016 Reading Challenge.  I know I am going to be reading Even if Not by my friend, Kaitlyn Bouchillon.  Be looking for its release in 2016.

How did your reading go this year?  What do you have on your list for the new year?