Book of the Week: Fifty Shades of Grey

Oh, man, did I stoop, or what??

This week's book of the week. I'm a little embarrassed to say it! I read Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James this week, pretty much only because the movie just came out and I wanted to change up the style of book I read for once. It was not very well written, the story line was depressing (that's my opinion of that lifestyle, anyway), the characters are terrible, and their "relationship" is abusive and nauseating. That said, I think the author accomplished what she was going for, so good for her, though I certainly wouldn't care to claim the book as my work if I were the author. Also, I am a fan of the names of the main characters!

Book of the Week: The Choice

I believe today marks the final kid book that I'm "qualifying" as a book of the week! I read The Choice, by Nancy Rue (who I am sure is commonly mistaken for Nancy Drew- man, I wish I was!), which was the final book of the Christian Heritage Series. I loved them so much growing up, and the last two books were never purchased and read like the others. I completed the collection in late January so that I could read them all to Magoo like my dad read them to me! I can't wait until he's old enough to listen to chapter books! The nerd in me is so psyched about reading different book series' (serieses? seri?) with Magoo!

Happy day!

Today was a big milestone for me and Magoo! Hooray for us!

"New beginnings invariably come from old false things that are allowed to die. " ~Richard Rohr

What I've Been Listening To..

My all time favorite artist is Johnny Cash, the man in black. I have always loved his songs, his style, and OH MAN his voice! There is just something about his deep bass-baritone voice that is so beautiful and comforting. With everything that's been going on in my life in the last few weeks though, I have found myself listening to his cover of this Paul Simon song over and over.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all

I'm on your side

Oh when times get rough
And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you

I'll take your part
Oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine

Oh, if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

~Paul Simon

Book of the Week: The Mountain of Marvels

This week's book was more of a short story: "The Mountain of Marvels" from The Mabinogion, a collection of old Celtic stories.

It was a fun little read for a quick break! :)

My friend, T.

T died this past week. He was a friend to me, and to many others, of all ages. Magoo loved him. I loved him. All of our friends loved him. The farmers at church loved him. Kids loved him. Musicians loved him. His coworkers loved him. Everyone loved T. I don't believe a person exists on this earth that knew T and didn't love him.

He was kind and ever thoughtful. He would do anything for anyone, no matter how big or small. He genuinely cared about his friends, telling them point blank, or showing them through his actions. T was sensitive. He was hilarious!! I have so many memories of absolutely goofy things he said and did. He was so smart. He knew just about everything there was to know about a lot of really strange, different things. The first time I saw T, he spent 1.5 hours educating my boss on the ins and outs and pros and cons of two way radios. In the days and weeks that followed, we became such great friends that it felt like I had known him forever.

He helped me through a very bad time in my life, encouraging and uplifting me when I was discouraged and felt like giving up. He gave so much of himself to the people around him that it is hard to fully grasp that he really gone, especially when I see so many little reminders of him everywhere. It feels like someone is playing a sick joke, and that he's going to pop out from behind a door when I come into a building- "Hey, guys, just kidding! I've been here this whole time!" It's so unreal.

I truly love my friends. They became my family in the last two years, and T was one of them. He was ripped out of my life without me expressing to him exactly how much I valued him as a human, how much I cared about him as my friend, and how greatly he has influenced me and changed who I am as a mother, sister, friend, and human being.

T's death has rocked my life. I hope that I can have as much impact and meaning in others' lives as T had on mine and Magoo's this last year. Thank you, T, for helping me see that I am strong and capable, and a wonderful mom. You are loved, and you will always be missed.