Book Review: Unfinished by Richard Stearns

Unfinished: Believing is Only the Beginning by Richard Stearns * Thomas Nelson * 9780849948510 * $24.99 HC * The leader of World Vision has penned an inspiring call to action for God’s Kingdom. His premise: Why did Jesus overcome death, remain with us here on earth for 40 days, but then leave us? His answer is well worth reading, and as my life and responsibilities pulled me away from the pages, I eagerly returned again and again. If you’re feeling like you don’t know your life’s purpose or have lost your way, read this book and be reignited in your passion for God’s work. Lord, how can I serve your Kingdom today, here in this place? Thank you Mr. Stearns, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley!

Book Review: Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist

Bread & Wine: Finding Community and Life Around the Table * Shauna Niequist * 9780310328179 * $18.99 HC ** Zondervan *** I was so bummed when I finished this book! Pun intended, I completely devoured every word, every chapter, every recipe. And in fact, within two hours of finishing it I had already made two of her recipes and ordered three copies of the hardcover book—two for gifts and one for me. My husband will not know about this purchase . . . I am already in trouble for having more books than I could read in a lifetime, and more keep arriving. Hazard of my job, I tell him. Anyway, back to Bread & Wine—this book paints a picture of the life I imagine and sometimes get to enjoy—family and friends around the table, creating and sharing beautiful and delicious food in every circumstance. Every vignette tells a story of real life--longing for a pregnancy to no avail while everyone around you seems to be pregnant, using food as comfort to an extreme, learning to cook, creating wonderful friendships around milestones. There is a recipe for each chapter, and they are written lovingly and with all sorts of encouragement; I even feel empowered to bake bread, which I have tried many, many times, with very little success! I had to have this book in my collection so that I can come back to the recipes time and again. Wonderful!! Thank you Ms. Niequist, Zondervan, and NetGalley!

Book Review: The Beauty of Broken by Elisa Morgan

The Beauty of Broken Elisa Morgan * September 9, 2013 * 9780849964886 * $15.99 pb *** In this soul-baring memoir, the president of the International MOPs organization (Mothers of Preschoolers) shares her story. From a broken family—her mother an alcoholic and a mostly absent father—to trying to build her own “perfect” family, she shines a light into the hidden corners of the human condition. We are all full of pride and striving to do the impossible, be perfect and have perfect children and perfect families. Through her experiences, she continues to learn that we’re all broken, and in this brokenness is where we seek and find God. In forgiving others, we ourselves are forgiven and can be fully loved. Elisa’s story is profoundly real, and I found myself wishing for more after it had ended. Now, having children myself and constantly battling my fears for their future, it was comforting to learn of her tragedies and struggles—that others have gone through terrible times, yet have recovered, gone on, and come closer to God and his goodness in all things. Thank you Ms. Morgan, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley!

Book Review: Victim of Grace by Robin Jones Gunn

Book Review Victim of Grace: When God's Goodness Prevails * by Robin Jones Gunn * Zondervan * April 23, 2013 * 9780310412670 * Robin Jones Gunn has written a beautiful book, with lovely language, honesty, and humility. I loved hearing about her writing career and the ups and downs of her life. She reminded me that although it may seem like other people’s lives are perfect, we all have similar cycles of good times and bad—even, and perhaps, especially, Christians. Along the way, she brought several women of the Bible to vivid life, describing their stories in ways we can relate to today. The theme of grace being showered on us each and every minute, whether or not we understand God’s plan for us in the moment, is something to keep in our hearts and minds all along our life’s journey. Thank you Ms. Gunn, Zondervan, and NetGalley!

Finally, a Post!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted on my blog! it's been quite a tough year for us, so I think I haven't really wanted to write about it. But, today is such a nice day, with time at home with my babies, getting chores done, and relaxing a little bit, that I'm motivated to post. I'm writing this on my new i-pad that I won through a contest a work--thank you Gale! It's so fun to have this little gadget. I'm suddenly so wired in with an i-phone, an i-pad, and a Kindle! Never thought I'd be into these things, but I'm really enjoying them. Mainly, I'm never without reading material!

So, to summarize our lives over 2011 thus far . . . we're now nearly completely out of the real estate business. We've lost all but one of our properties, including our home, in this real estate debacle of the last several years. One remaining property is going to also be gone within the month, thank goodness. We found a lovely home to rent in our same town and moved at the end of March. We're happy here--closer to church, where we go every Sunday and where the boys go to preschool. We are happy to be renting and free from the hassle and expense of home-ownership. Perhaps we'll own again one day, but for now, it feels good to be flexible and with reduced expenses. It's still tough to make ends meet, with only one salary, 3 kids, and Chris in school. More about that next . . .

Almost 3 years ago, Chris decided he wanted to become a physical therapist assistant. It took some prerequisites and two years on the waiting list before he finally started school in May. It's a program that will take until September of next year (2012), and so far he's doing great. He has the perfect background for this type of work--fitness and training--so he's able to understand and absorb the material right away. He's working at the Y one night a week and occasionally fills in as needed. We had a lady coming in to take care of the kids 15 hours a week, which was such a wonderful break for us--but even that became too expensive (over $700/mo), so we've had to give her up. The light at the end of the tunnel is that once Chris has his degree, he'll be able to find a good-paying job that will allow us to afford childcare without it eating up his entire paycheck and then some!

We started going to church about a year ago, and we're really happy there. It's amazing to me that I now have a husband who won't miss a Sunday (I think it's because there's free childcare!), who prays with our kids before bed when I'm out of town, and reads his Bible. So happy to have a Godly husband!

I'm still super happy at my job with B&T, though we're suffering with the economy. Library budgets are way down as cities, states, counties, and the federal government all try to deal with huge declines in revenue and climbing expenses. There are some exciting things happening though, mainly the sky-rocketing interest in all sorts of digital media. My company is just launching its own library platform for digital materials, so it's a fun time to be out talking to libraries.

Let's see . . . pets. We still have 3 dogs--Jessie, Brady, and Coco. We are down to one cat--Moonie. We finally lost Chico this week; Chris had this sweet black cat for 18 years, so he had a good life.

The twins are back in 3-year-old preschool 2 days a week for 3 hours. They love it. Christian will start into the 2-year-old class in October when he turns 2. They are all doing great and are growing and changing so fast--it's so fun to watch them.

I've been having a tough spring with a cough that won't go away. I finally got to the doctor, and it turns out I have a partially collapsed lung. A CT scan couldn't give any clue to a cause, so I'm now set to see a pulmonologist on the 30th. Hoping to get my lungs back at 100% one of these days! Maybe then I won't feel as tired and will be motivated to start running or yoga again.

I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of stuff, but this is the gist!

So blessed to have the best life in the world--3 beautiful little boys, a wonderful husband, loving family and friends--couldn't ask for more!

Three Baby Herbs Get Baptized!

Here are pics from the boys' most important day of their lives!

Trike-a-Thon at Preschool!

White Tanks Library & Nature Center--Grand Opening

We had a wonderful time at the opening of the new library and nature center at the White Tanks Regional Park! We got to see snakes, an owl, a kestrel, and the release of two hawks back into the wild. The boys had fun running all around, especially Matt who has decided dirt is the best thing ever. We checked out 3 Thomas the Tank Engine DVDs, and the boys can watch those for hours. It was super crowded--which was great to see. I'm so happy our community is supportive of libraries. It's a gorgeous place, with windows on the entire back of the library looking out into the desert with all the giant saguaros. Can't wait to visit again and check out all the other new books, music, and DVDs in the brand-new collection.

Halloween 2010

We dressed the boys up for the first time this year--they went as little San Diego Chargers. The Goodyear Ballpark had a big Halloween festival with rides, a pumpkin patch, and a kids costume contest. Chris and I and Alicia and Frank brought the guys and met Dave and Kate and Brayden there. It was a fun event. Matt discovered he really, really, really wants to go on a roller-coaster.

Phoenix Zoo!

Our friends Kate & Dave treated us to the zoo last weekend. They have a little boy who's 2, and all of our guys had a great time! They especially liked the lions and the baboons, and they enjoyed petting the goats.

Phoenix Public Library Dinner in the Stacks

Baker & Taylor sponsored a table at the Phoenix Public Library Foundation's annual gala, Dinner in the Stacks. We had a wonderful time! Chris, and I, and Chris's dad, Frank attended, as well as children's book illustrator Lynne Avril and her friend Connie, artist Craig Cheply, Brenda Brown from the Chandler Public Library, and her friend Lois, and Hana Kapic and Elsa Black from Phoenix Public Library.

October Update

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I forgot to take any pictures of our big birthday party bash, and I've been paralyzed since then!! It's so disappointing to have had such a nice day with wonderful family, friends, kids, and cake and have no picture record of it!

It's October, my very favorite month. It's finally getting a little cooler so that we can spend time outside. A couple of Saturday's ago we went to a birthday party at a local park for our friends, Dave & Kate's little boy Brayden, which was really fun. Later that evening Alicia and Scott (picture of him wiped out on the chair!) and Gramps came over to babysit for us while Chris and I got to go out for a date night! It was really nice to enjoy a dinner out together. It was quite embarrassing, though, when after dinner we were too tired to do anything else and were home by 9!

Baby Christian is finally holding his own bottle. This is a nice step to free us up a little bit. For the longest time he preferred that someone else hold it. It seems to me the twins held their bottles much earlier--I think that was probably out of desperation! Christian is also very, very close to walking. He cruises all around and holds on to our hands and walks very well. It's just a matter of time before he's on his own.

We're looking forward to Christmas! Mom is coming out for 10 days. And, we're getting the boys all baptized on December 19!

Matt loves trains, and we watch Thomas the Tank Engine non-stop, day in and day out . . . Thomas love planes. Christian plays with whatever the twins will let him have, until they decide they want it back.

Thought I'd post the picture of our family room--it doesn't always look like that--this was just one particularly horrifying day!! Avert your eyes all you neat people out there!

Chris is enjoying his new job at the physical therapy clinic, and everything's going well at B&T. Looking forward to an evening out tonight at the Phoenix Public Library's Dinner in the Stacks Foundation fund-raiser.

I think that's all!

Love, j&c, m&t&c

Our Summer Vacation 2010

We've just returned from Oregon, where we enjoyed a wonderful week of being with family and playing in the outdoors. The trip started with a long drive to Roseburg--24 hours. The boys did incredibly well, and there was very little crying or screaming from any of us!

We arrived on Sunday afternoon and got settled in to the barn/shop/apartment which was just perfect. The apartment had its own kitchen and bath, and we shoved two couches together to make the perfect bed with edges for the twins. Dad and Shari had a portable crib for Christian.

Mom came down from Salem and also spent the week with us. Michael and Jill and Olivia arrived on Monday. Troy and Crea and Theo and Mose were there, and we got to see Lee and Morgan a little bit, too. Carol came to see us one day; Betty and Joan and Allan visited one evening.

Dad has created a beautiful swimming lake, complete with island, dock, boats, lounge chairs, picnic table, umbrellas, toys, and a sandy beach. We spent time relaxing there. The boys mainly played on the dock and the beach. Chris did a lot of swimming and some boating. Chris also brought his bike along so he could ride--I was impressed with how he tackled all those crazy hills!

On Wednesday, Michael, Jill, Olivia, and the Herb-5 went to the Wildlife Safari. We drove through the park and saw all sorts of animals. Then we had lunch there, and after that we let the boys feed the goats at the petting zoo.

Dad has several "Mules" which are open-aired vehicles that everyone uses to tool around the ranch. This was Thomas's favorite thing--he liked riding in them, and was happy just sitting on one when it wasn't moving. Matthew enjoyed all the space to run around, though he really suffered from allergies. Christian had a good time, too--he liked the people holding him and the good food. On Thursday, we rode the mule to go blackberry picking, and the twins loved blackberries. Blackberry picking was over, however, when I got stung by a bee or hornet. Ouch!

Michael and Chris (and Jill, too) did a bunch of shooting at the gun range on the ranch. It was great for them to get practice and enjoy the challenge, too.

Finally, Friday was our day to make the long trek home. Another 24 hours--this time at least one baby, and often 2 or 3, were crying or screaming nearly the entire trip. It was quite miserable, and we were so happy when we finally arrived home yesterday at about 12:30. We did have one enjoyable stop--we picked up Taco Bell and enjoyed dinner in a park in Yreka. The boys played on the slides, and we thought we'd worn them out so that the would sleep for hours . . . unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Matthew didn't get sick (normally the puker), but Thomas got sick from the winding hills.

Can't wait to go again next year!!

xo, j&c, m&t&c