Grace for the Good Girl

Ok, here goes...

I finished reading Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman sometime last week.  Truth is, I'm still processing it, and I think I will be for a long time.  I don't know if I've ever connected more with a book than I did with this one.

Here's the Amazon description if you're interested:

Many of us believe that we are saved by grace--but for too many, that's the last time grace defines our life. Instead of clinging to grace, we strive for good and believe that the Christian life means hard work and a sweet disposition. As good girls, we focus on the things we can handle, our disciplined lives, and our unshakable good moods. When we fail to measure up to our own impossible standards, we hide behind our good girl masks, determined to keep our weakness a secret.

In Grace for the Good Girl, Emily Freeman invites women to let go of the try-hard life and realize that in Christ we are free to receive from him rather than constantly try to achieve for him. With an open hand and a whimsical style, Emily uncovers the truth about the hiding, encouraging women to move from hiding behind girl-made masks and do-good performances to a life hidden with Christ in God.

I already feel like God has taught me so much in the past several years about topics that the author discusses in the book, but I just couldn't get over how much I related to her.  My high-lighter got a work out that's for sure.  Claire even asked me why I was writing all in my book! At times, I almost stopped high-lighting all together because it seemed like a waste of time when it was almost every word.  

So here's the thing...I'm a good girl.  At least I try to be.  That's always been the goal.  I was a "good" child, a "good" teenager, and so forth.  Chances are, lots of you all are too.  I never had a big rebellion.  I was saved at a young age and raised in church by wonderful Christian parents.  I was WAY too responsible to risk my reputation, hurting my parents, or disappointing Jesus.  Kind of like a mother hen, I kept all of my friends in line.  At least I tried to, and I felt responsible if they didn't "follow the rules".  Yep, that's me.  Pretty much a big ol' goody two shoes.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm far from perfect.  I've made more than my share of mistakes.  Way more.  It's just that I'm one of those girls with a really boring testimony.  At least that's how I've always felt.  I'm so thankful for my boring testimony, but along with that comes my "good girlness".  

I've rambled long enough, but I must share some of these quotes from the book with you.

"My idea of who I should be is at war with who I am.  I want to be perfect in every situation. I just do. I want to know what to do. I want to know how to do it right."

"Because I care so much what you think, my hiding has everything to do with you. I desperately want to manage your opinion of me."

Preach, sister, preach. 

"Still, I like knowing the rules.  If the sign says Don't Tough, I don't touch. If it says Keep Out, I stay away.  If the form is due on Friday, I'll turn it in on Thursday just in case.  If the doctor says take one in the morning and one at night, I am sure to space them out exactly twelve hours. And even though I admit to occasionally bringing candy into the movie theater, I am always worried that the ticket person will search my bags and throw me out for smuggling in a bottle of water and two Peppermint Patties". 

"It is the false belief that I, myself, am the cause or explanation for the bad, uncomfortable, or dissatisfied people or circumstances around me.  Likewise, it also means that I feel the need to prevent the bad, uncomfortable, or dissatisfactory circumstances from happening in the first place.  I can't remember a time when I didn't feel responsible. I was responsible to be right. I was responsible to look good. I was responsible to have it all together. I was responsible for being responsible."

I'm going to stop quoting now because this post is way too long.  Also, I REALLY want you good girls out there to read the book.  I could write so much more.  SO MUCH MORE.  I want to, and I'm holding back because you need to read it for yourself and see if any of her words resonate with you.  Obviously, the book goes into ways to overcome the fear and anxiety that accompanies being a good girl.  And in the end, it's all about Jesus of course.  

I know I encourage you to read books fairly often, but this time I really mean it with my whole heart.  Especially if you are a good girl.  

(If you read it, please let me know.  I'd love to discuss more of the book with a fellow recovering good girl.)

52 Things Kids Need From A Mom

I recently read 52 Things Kids Need From A Mom by Angela Thomas.  I've enjoyed her speaking and writing for some time, so I thought her new book would also be good.  It is written in short, easy to read chapters, so it was handy to just pick up when I had half a minute here and there.  Overall, there really wasn't very much new information, but I still enjoyed the reminders.  I think you would like it too!

A White Bird Flying

When I wrote about how much I loved reading  A Lantern In Her Hand back in January, I was excited when Karey left a comment about some of Bess Streeter Aldrich's other books.  In particular, she recommended A White Bird Flying because it picks up right where the first book left off.  So a huge thank you to Karey is in order because I didn't even know there was another book.  I finally finished reading A White Bird Flying, and it certainly did not disappoint.  I am such a fan of this author's writing and want to read more of her books.  Karey (if you're reading) which one should I read next????

Here is a short description of the book from Amazon:

*Abbie Deal, the matriarch of a pioneer Nebraska family, has died at the beginning of A White Bird Flying, leaving her china and heavy furniture to others and to her granddaughter Laura the secret of her dream of finer things. Grandma Deal's literary aspirations had been thwarted by the hard circumstances of her life, but Laura vows that nothing, no one, will deter her from a successful writing career. Childhood passes, and the more she repeats her vow the more life intervenes.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes, but as usual there are really too many to list.

(Talking about his wife of many years who died a while back)
"Well, now," he began, "You see they just never leave you entirely. Now take me...I set here on the porch...and she seems to be working inside.  When I'm inside, I just think of her as bein' out in the yard for a minute...sometimes I can hear her shut the door and go about her work. It ain't so, I know, don't think I'm off in my head...but it pleases an old man's fancies.  And when the lilacs come out...it always seems she's around.  Lilacs...always associate her with lilacs."

"Home.  What a big word that was.  Lots of attempts made lately to belittle it.  Plenty of fun poked at it.  Young folks laughed about it, called it a place to park.  Everybody wanted to get someplace else, seemed like.  They'd find out.  They'd understand some day.  When they got old, they'd know.  They'd want to go home.  Sometime in their lives, everybody wanted to go home."

I also loved the way this book ended, but I would have to quote way too much for it to make any sense. Of course, I wouldn't want to ruin it for you either if you are considering reading it!

Excellent writing and interesting characters kept me interested. I hope you'll consider reading some of Aldrich's books!

A Lantern In Her Hand

I followed the advice of Sarah over at Clover Lane and read A Lantern In Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich.  If you read her blog, you have probably already heard about this book.  It is historical fiction set in the late 1800s.  It's so hard to even imagine the hardships of that time.  We are so spoiled with modern conveniences! Reading about the life of Abbie (the main character) made me so very thankful for all of our blessings.  The book was actually written in 1956.  The writing was very interesting since it was written by someone who was actually born in the 1800s.  I highly recommend it!!!

*WARNING* I cried multiple times while reading...but keep in mind I cry over everything so you will be fine.  Probably.

Here are a few quotes that I particularly loved:
"Afterwards they went out on the porch and Abbie held the little girl on her lap. She cuddled her up and put her wrinkled cheek against the child's firm one. Oh, why didn't mothers do it more when they had the chance?  What were clubs and social affairs and freedom by comparison? And what was freedom?"

"You know Grace, it's queer but I don't feel narrow.  I feel broad.  How can I explain it to you so you can understand?  I've seen everything....and I've hardly been away from this yard.  I've seen cathedrals in the snow on the Lombard poplars.  I've seen the sun set behind the Alps over there when the clouds have been piled up on the edge of the prairie.  I've seen the ocean billows in the rise and the fall of the paririe grass.  I've seen history in the making....three ugly wars flare up and die down.  I've sent a lover and two brothers to one, a son and a son-in-law to another, and two grandsons to another.  I've seen the feeble beginnings of a raw state and the civilization that developed there, and I've been part of the beginning and part of the growth.  I've married...and borne children and looked into the face of death.   Is childbirth narrow, Grace?  Or marriage?  Or death?  When you've experienced all those things, Grace, the spirit has traveled although the body has been confined.  I think travel is a rare privilege and I'm glad you can have it.  But not every one who stays at home is narrow and not every one who travels is broad."

I especially love the following quote about home.  I'm so thankful for my childhood home, and that Mom still lives there.  When we bought the house we live in now, we knew that it probably wouldn't be our "forever" house.  Chances are our next house won't even be our "forever" house.  I remind myself often that home is where your family is and not a physical building.  That helps me to not get too caught up in the worry that my own children will not have that ONE home to always go back to where ALL of their memories were made.  They will likely have several homes.  I know it's ok! Brian lived in many houses while growing up and he's just fine (or so he says).  He also isn't nearly as sentimental as I am about these things... Oh well!

" It was the only old home the children had ever known.  There ought to be a home for children to come to, and their children, a central place, to which they could always bring their joys and sorrows, an old familiar place for them to return to on Sundays and Christmases.  an old home ought always to stand like a mother with open arms.  It ought to be here waiting for the children to come to it, like homing pigeons."  

I hope you'll consider reading this book especially if you like historical fiction at all.  If you do, let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

I recently read Pioneer Woman's Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.  I really enjoyed finding out more about her background since I have read her blog for a long time and enjoy her cookbook and new cooking show.  The book tells her love story with her husband.  It was quite interesting!



Currently

I copied this from another blog and decided to write down some of my current stuff.

Current Books:  Finally starting The Hunger Games, spending a lot of time on my current Bible study Breaking Free. I'm really enjoying it, and I'm hoping to write more about it soon.

Current Playlist:  Why, Jason Aldean of course!

Current Color: ORANGE!

Current Drink: Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi (Brian accidentally bought me a 12 pack of Diet Coke a couple of weeks ago, and I was in major distress.  I forced myself to drink them so I wouldn't waste money, but yuck!)

Current Food: Pizza ~ it's always my favorite!

Current Wishlist: rocking chairs and swings for my front porch, mums & more fall weather   

Current Needs: I'm currently out of my makeup and "the only thing that keeps me from going totally bald" shampoo

Current Triumph: Surviving six weeks of first grade ~ I'm enjoying it but still trying to figure out what in the world I'm doing!

Current Bane of my Existence: My alarm clock ~ I really hate that thing

Current #1 Blessing: Family & Health

Current Excitement:  Fall, My birthday is coming soon, a few little trips we have planned 

Current Link: http://www.pinterest.com/ I AM SO ADDICTED!

Made To Crave

I borrowed Made To Crave from Lisa a while back.  I really like Lysa Terkeurst, and I knew I would enjoy the topic of the book.  There was LOTS of good information in the book, even if I did spend half the time I read it texting Lisa asking if "any of it was really doable" and "why can't I be as strong as Lysa".  As usual, she calmed me down and said I could just use the overall great ideas and not be so hard on myself for not liking Lysa's cold-turkey, crazy as all get out, plan.  Sorry Lysa Terkeust...just a wee bit extreme for me!

I do recommend the book because it really has some great thoughts!

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

Because so much of Flagg's third novel takes place in the 1970s media-celebrity echelons of New York City, it doesn't offer the regional and historical color and texture of its predecessor, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Instead, Flagg's achievement here lies in a well-choreographed story of loyalty and survival that zigzags deftly across the post-war years, panning in on the never-changing decency of Elmwood Springs, Mo., then pulling back to watch national TV news devolve into sensationalism?all the while drawing us into the compelling life of Dena Nordstrom. Star of America's most popular morning news show, Dena shuts herself down and shuts men out for painful reasons that are unknown even to her. Only after the stress of ambush- and sound-byte journalism brings on a hemorrhaging ulcer does Dena slowly unearth the scandal that, when Dena was four, drove her mother from Elmwood Springs, hometown of the war hero father that Dena never knew. That her mother's nemesis is a newspaper gossipmonger is nicely ironic, although her mother's secret shame seems slightly larger than life. In contrast, Dena's college friend Sookie and great aunt Elner are reminders of how well Flagg can cook up memorable women from the most down-to-earth ingredients, while a cameo by Tennessee Williams is uncannily true to life. Fans may be sorry at first to leave Elmwood Springs for the big city, but even the most reluctant will get wrapped up in Dena's search for the truth about her family and her past.

*** I had a VERY hard time getting into this book.  It just seemed to drag on and on with very little excitement in the story line.  I even considered not finishing it, which is unusual for me.  I persevered, and it finally picked up in the last half.  I'm glad I finished it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

Summer Sisters

Summer Sisters looked like a fun book to read at the beach, so I did just that.  Having enjoyed Judy Blume's books since I was a little girl, I wasn't surprised that I liked it!  The story made me want to visit the Northeast coast with maybe a little less drama than the book describes.  The two friends, the summer sisters, had many adventures throughout their lives with some expected betrayal along the way.  I was left wondering what their lives would look like ten more years down the road.  A sequel would be nice.

The Midwife's Confession

My little book club (aka my little Bible study group) recently read and discussed The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture!!! I read the book quickly and thought I had it all figured out all along the way.  The author succeeded in "throwing me off" several times even if I did find a few of the events a bit convenient.  In the end, I was left with a few unanswered questions and a burning desire to call one of the main characters to fill her in on a few things! Overall, I felt it was well written and fun to read.  Recommended!

Between Friends

Debbie Macomber tells the story of a remarkable friendship -- and tells it in a remarkable way. Between Friends is a story in which every woman will recognize herself . . . and her best friend.
The friendship between Jillian Lawton and Lesley Adamski begins in the postwar era of the 1950s. As they grow up, their circumstances, their choices -- and their mistakes -- take them invirtually opposite directions. Lesley gets pregnant and marries young, living a cramped life defined by the demands of small children, not enough money, an unfaithful husband. Jillian lives those years on a college campus shaken by the Vietnam War and then as an idealistic young lawyer in New York City. Over the years and across the miles, through marriage, children, divorce and widowhood, Jillian and Lesley remain close, sharing every grief and every joy. There are no secrets between friends . . .

***I really enjoyed this book that was written entirely in letters, journal entries, postcards, etc. between two friends. The book followed their friendship from childhood through late adulthood. Recommended!

Best Friends Forever

Some bonds can never be broken...Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That's what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they're both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school's scapegoat.Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents' house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She's just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. "Something horrible has happened," Val tells Addie, "and you're the only one who can help."Best Friends Forever is a grand, hilarious, edge-of-your-seat adventure; a story about betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets. It's about living through tragedy, finding love where you least expect it, and the ties that keep best friends together.

*** The story was pretty good, but there was too much questionable language for me! I'm not sure I'll read more from this author.

One Thousand Gifts

I read One Thousand Gifts a couple of months ago. The author has such a unique way of writing. She's extremely poetic, and while I enjoyed the first couple of chapters, it was just too much for me. I found myself reading and then wondering what I had read. Often a chapter would seem just like the previous one with no new information. It is clear that Ann Voskamp loves Jesus and has such a sweet heart. I'm sure she is a lovely person, I just didn't enjoy the book very much.

Her Mother's Hope

I recently read Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. As usual, I enjoyed the writing of this author. The sequel, Her Daughter's Dream, is definitely on my "list" especially since the book kind of left me longing for a resolution. A short description of the book is below if you're interested in finding out more.
The first part of unforgettable epic family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter and the very nature of unconditional love. On the eve of the First World War, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland and her difficult childhood behind, determined to find a new life on her own terms. Barely out of her teens, Marta is haunted by a devastating loss that fuels her ambition to one day own a hotel. From the cramped quarters of a French housekeeping school to the portrait-lined halls of a stately English manor, Marta becomes a hard working domestic who has little time to dwell on what might have been. Instead, she draws her strength from what could be. Then, Marta meets Niclas Waltert, a man just as determined as she to forge a better life in a new place. Niclas captures her heart and together they endure the harshness of life as tenant farmers on the vast prairies of Winnipeg, Canada, before following the promise of the American dream and migrating to the agriculturally rich Central Valley of California. Marriage and motherhood bring both joy and heartbreak, as Marta must surrender her long-held ambitions for the sake of her husband and children, including her daughter, Hildemara, upon whose shoulders her own hopes now squarely rest. Only the strong survive and Marta is determined to raise a daughter as strong as she. But as Hildie reaches young womanhood and another war is fast approaching, those hopes become too heavy a burden for Hildie to bear. Born with a heart to serve others, Hildie pursues her calling as a nurse, something Marta can’t understand. Marta’s years of hardnosed parenting have left Hildie still hungry for her mother’s love…and now for her mother’s respect. Amid the drama of WWII, Hildie falls in love and begins a family of her own. She wants her daughter, Carolyn, never to doubt her love—but the challenges of life conspire against her vow and the only person who can come to her aid is the person she remains so desperate to please: Marta, her mother. With hallmark touches of brilliant prose and gripping characterizations, Her Mother’s Hope is a rich, moving epic about faith and dreams, heartache and disappointment, and ultimately the resilience and tenacity of love.