Beth Stone Studio

Happy Mother's Day...

2013-05-12T09:20:00.002-04:00

...Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised...

I'm really thankful for mine.

Happy Mother's Day.

Our Trip to Cadiz

2013-04-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

We are stationed across the bay from one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Spain - and in all of Europe too, for that matter: Cadiz (pronounced Ca-deeth). As you drive closer to the center of this large city, you begin catching glimpses of the ancient city wall...

Having learned our lesson in Arcos de la Frontera, our first order of business when we got near the historic district was to find a parking garage. We then walked along the water towards the Cadiz Cathedral, which is the large dome you can see behind us.

The scarf was my attempt to look "European." Of course, my big honkin' camera bag classified me as a tourist anyway.... as well as every time I opened my mouth when someone addressed me in Spanish. But anyway.

Everyone dresses up here. Unlike in east Tennessee, where it is only mildly socially unacceptable to be found at the grocery store in your pajamas and hair curlers, people look nice here whenever they're out in public. Even when they're going to the Spanish version of "the Walmart" (Carrefour), the Spanish are dressed to kill. So naturally, I fit right in.

The Cathedral was impressive, both inside and out...

One of the neatest areas was down in the crypt... this room was like an echo chamber.

Creepy!

Back up into daylight...

Unfortunately, the plaster work in this cathedral is deteriorating, so they had nets stretched across the ceiling to catch any crumbling bits...

...which was all very well for the tourists who avoided getting clunked on the head, but not so great for this bat, who had the misfortune to get stuck on the wrong side of the net and so met his untimely demise. (See the skeleton below?)

Farewell, cruel world!

This was another old church right next to the Cathedral, and I have forgotten the name of it at present. I'm showing you this picture because, while the buildings here are very "European" looking, the palm trees, ocean, balmy wind, and flowers give it all a tropical feel, and it's an unusual but lovely combination.

After admiring the Cathedral, we meandered through the narrow streets, taking in the sights...

...and tastes....

...and smells.

The flowers and orange trees smelled lovely.... the strange outdoor meat market, not so much. Each of the stalls you see below contained different vendors, each selling different types of meat, fish, produce, eggs, pastries, or some other local offering. The strange part was that some of the butchers would take their unwanted scraps of meat and fish and just throw them out on the sidewalk, right where everyone was walking. The people on the left are having drinks and tapas from a little outdoor restaurant.

One of my favorite things about Spain, so far, are the orange and lemon trees you find growing just about everywhere. They smell similar to honeysuckle or jasmine, but the fragrance is stronger. Many of the streets here are lined with the trees, and you can smell the blossoms as you walk around. It's great.

Especially after you've walked through a meat market.

So overall, it was another successful day trip...

...and after witnessing some "creative European parking," we were very glad to collect our car from the safety of the parking garage and head home!

¿Cómo se llama?

2013-04-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

Before we left the States, a friend of mine casually mentioned that she and her friends were painting the inside of her car, and naturally, my ears perked up when I heard the word "painting." Intrigued, I asked her a little more about it, and then demanded to know why I had not been invited to paint inside her car, at which point I was formally invited.

A few days later, Bethany showed up with her car, five bottles of craft paint (red, blue, turquoise, white, and glow in the dark), a few Sharpies, and a paintbrush, and told me to have at it... I chose one of the door panels, and about an hour later, there was this...

Bethany likes llamas. She wants me to bring her one home from Spain, although I'm not quite sure if they're even indigenous to Spain, and I'm quite sure one wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment even if they were. So this may have to do...

Painting inside a car was certainly a first for me, and I had never really attempted painting with such a limited palette before, but I kinda like the quirky way it turned out... and Bethany's a little quirky herself, so it suited her.

I think she was happy with it!

Help Me, Ronda!

2013-04-24T06:21:00.000-04:00

With a few hours of daylight remaining after our visit to Arcos de la Frontera, we decided to continue on to the famous city of Ronda, Spain. The drive was gorgeous - we passed acres of open farmland, vineyards, olive groves, and rugged mountain peaks.

The landscape of Spain is nothing like I expected it to be...

We arrived in the cliff-top city of Ronda late in the afternoon, with just enough daylight left to wander around a bit...

Of course, we had to find the overlooks that make Ronda so famous...

Whoa! That's a long way down....

We walked by the famous bull ring (where every matador dreams of competing), and we made plans to come back and visit the bullfighting museum inside one day when we have more time...

Ha ha, Josh is the bull... aren't we funny and original?

The best part of Ronda is simply the location of it - look at that view!

Apparently we weren't the only ones who thought we'd be hilarious with the metal matador statue....

So much for originality.

This beautiful park was by the overlook, and we enjoyed walking through the gardens....

Then we visited inside this church, where they were just about to begin a mass...

We had to head home before it got too late, but we definitely plan on revisiting this amazing city in the not-too-distant future and checking out more of the historic sites, shops, and restaurants!

In which we almost got our car stuck in a church...

2013-04-23T09:34:00.000-04:00

As you know, my husband and I recently moved to Spain. In the midst of the craziness of everything involved with moving overseas, we have taken a little bit of time to sightsee on the weekends.

Our first road trip was to a charming pueblo blanco (white village) in southern Spain, Arcos de la Frontera. As we drove into town, we thought to ourselves, "Hmm. Let's try to drive to the city center - that's probably where all these tiny European cars are headed..."

As we drew closer to the city center (which is on top of a rather steep mountain), we began to notice that the streets were becoming more and more narrow, which made us more and more conscious of the width of our hulking, gas-guzzling, wide-load, "Hi, we're Americans" SUV. When we saw this flying buttress tunnel-type thing looming before us (see picture below), we took a deep gulp, folded in our side mirrors, and prayed that we wouldn't have to try to ask the drivers of the twenty cars lined up behind us to kindly back down the mountain so we could get our ridiculous car out of there. Yeah... In Spanish.

Fortunately, thanks to folding mirrors and the helpful Spanish men who climbed up into door frames and window ledges to let our car pass through, we made it through the narrow gap and squeaked our way down the cobblestone streets out of the historic part of town. Then we circled back and - like sane people - found the first parking garage, parked the hulk, and began exploring Arcos on foot.... Duh.

Unfortunately, we hit town right around Siesta time (yep, they really do that here), so most of the shops and historic buildings were closed. We enjoyed the quaint streets and beautiful architecture anyway.

The Iglesia de Santa Maria

Next to the church sits the Parador Hotel, formerly a palace called the Casa del Corregidor, that has an amazing overlook...

Inside the hotel, we enjoyed some delicious tapas at the hotel restaurant, then explored the public rooms in the lobby... Josh says this was a "real Picasso." Maybe it was.

We'd like to go back and do a little more exploring (now that we know where to park), but overall, we had a wonderful time, and it was worth the drive simply for the amazing view!

A Post for Boston...

2013-04-16T08:52:00.000-04:00

We live in a beautiful world... but it's also broken.

Broken by sin.

Like many of you, I was so sad to hear of the horrible bombings at the Boston Marathon yesterday. I'm sure it will leave scars - both physical and emotional - for a very long time.

My Facebook feed has been buzzing with a number of different reactions to the bombings. Amidst the expressions of compassion and sympathy, some people are angry and want retaliation. Some are fearful that events like this are being used to advance liberal political agendas to take away our rights and guns. Some are wondering how a loving God could let things like this happen to innocent people. Others are pointing to "the helpers," encouraging us to focus on the good that's left in the world. I can relate to all of those feelings.

But...

As a Christian, I am called to look at the world - and events like this - through the lens of what Scripture declares to be true.

When I feel anger towards the people who did this, I have to remember Ephesians 6:12:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The people who did this horrible thing are not my enemies. They are sinners, just like me, who have believed a lie and have been taken captive by my real enemy, Satan. They need a Savior, just like I do.

When I feel fearful that the government will use this to take away my rights, I have to remember Romans 13:1-2:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: and the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

The verses above were written during a time when Christians were being burned at the stake and thrown to the lions by the government, so we can't argue that they only apply to benevolent and conservative leaders. Although I'm a die-hard advocate of the 2nd Amendment and small government, I have to remember that no matter how bad things get, God is still in control, and nothing happens that He does not allow. We are to fear God, not man.

When I wonder why God would allow things like this to happen to "good" people, I have to remember Romans 3:10-18:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

One of the drawbacks of having free will is that it gives us the freedom to act on the impulses of our wicked hearts. Apart from God, man's heart is full of evil, murder, and destruction. These are the kinds of things that we do of our own accord, and the fact that God hasn't wiped us all of the face of the earth for our rebellion against Him is evidence of His compassion, forbearance, and mercy. Evil acts like this will be punished with perfect justice one day, but God is graciously giving mankind time to repent and turn to Him for salvation first. A non-loving God would have destroyed humanity after that first act of rebellion in the Garden; but in His great compassion, God sent His own Son to take the punishment for our sin and die on the cross in our place, so that we could be reconciled to Him. That is love.

I suppose that's why the final reaction I mentioned - the admonitions to "look to the helpers" - leaves me feeling a bit unsettled. Don't get me wrong, I love Mr. Rogers (who wouldn't want a neighbor like that?), and I am very thankful for the bravery and selflessness of the first responders and bystanders who rushed towards the blasts to help when others were running away... But a humanistic optimism in the "goodness of man" is just as eternally damning as the lies believed by the terrorists. We don't look to "the helpers," in the midst of this fallen world. We look to Christ.

He alone can deliver us from evil.

*********************************

To all those affected by yesterday's attack,

you are in my prayers.

May God give you comfort and healing during this difficult time.

*********************************

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

- Psalm 147:3

Hola, Amigos...

2013-04-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

First of all, let me apologize for my long break from posting here.... I didn't fall off the face of the earth - although I came perilously close...

Whoa! That's a long way down!

We simply moved to Spain since the last time I posted... that's all!

As many of you know, my husband just finished up Physician Assistant (PA) school in December. He then spent five weeks in Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, Rhode Island, where he got to experience the fun of 4:00 am (or earlier) wake-up calls, having four impacted wisdom teeth removed, standing at attention with officers screaming in his face, shoveling snow during blizzards, swimming, filling out a mountain of forms, running, ironing uniforms, learning all the words to "Anchors Away," and doing push-ups until he couldn't push-up no mo.' You know, generally having all sorts of fun.

While he was off learning the ways of the Navy, I was spending some quality time with my family. I also managed to squeeze in a few creative projects, despite the fact that I was living out of two suitcases (and still am). I'll be sharing those projects with you here soon.

Once Josh returned from ODS, we had a couple of weeks to spend time with family and friends and say our goodbyes, then it was time to gather our suitcases and dog carrier (with Harvey in it, of course) and head off to the airport. Our flight was overnight, so we caught our first glimpse of Spain during a beautiful sunrise....

Once we landed, picked up our stuff, and cleared customs, we went outside and were met by our friendly and helpful sponsors. Incidentally, I can't say enough good things about the military's sponsorship program for people who are PCSing (that's military lingo for Permanent Change of Station, in other words, moving). Our sponsor couple, who have been fantastic, met us at the airport, and took us and all of our luggage to our temporary quarters on the Naval Base in Rota. They had arranged for us to stay in an empty house on base, which they filled with loaner furniture from the Navy and some thoughtful extra touches.

Thus we began an incredibly long day, not having slept much on the plane and having lost six hours to boot. Oh and did I mention that this was a week AFTER the American "spring forward" and four days BEFORE the Spanish "spring forward," so we got to throw two extra lost hours into the mix of some extreme jet lag! With the assistance of some strong and delicious cafe con leche (coffee snobs, visit Spain!), we staggered through the check-in process, grocery shopping, picking up our car which had been shipped over weeks earlier, and I can't remember what else... We managed to sneak in some showers and a short nap later in the afternoon (which were glorious), then we headed out for an authentic Spanish dinner with our sponsors.

Tapas, small plates of savory dishes - kind of like appetizers in the States, are a big thing here. We started off sharing a few different tapas. Those are some delicious roasted peppers with oil and rock salt on the left, in the middle is a baked cheese covered in a marinara-like sauce which went on crispy bread (delicious!), and of course, a selection of olives. We also shared a plate of roasted diced potatoes covered in a creamy, mayonnaise-like sauce which were very tasty too. I tried some garlic chicken for my entree, and Josh had a pork kebab. I wish I had all of the Spanish names of these dishes to share with you, along with the name of the restaurant, but at this point I was completely exhausted and lucky to get my fork in my mouth and not my eyeball, so a photo will have to suffice. At any rate, it was a great introduction to traditional Spanish cuisine!

The following week we went through an orientation class which introduced us to various aspects of Navy life, the base, and Spanish culture. In the midst of that, we rushed to and fro, getting forms signed, studying for and passing our Spanish driving tests, getting new IDs, learning our way around the base, and trying to brush off the college Spanish that's lingering somewhere in my mind.

Our first two weekends have included day trips to Arcos de la Frontera, Ronda, and Cadiz (the topic of some future posts), and we celebrated Easter Sunday by visiting the church service at the base chapel and enjoying a delicious meal at our sponsors' home. We've also used our free time to do some house-hunting. While we were looking in Chipiona, we met a very nice Spanish couple who gave us a tour of their town, took us to dinner, introduced us to a local artist, Ceballos, and made us feel so welcome here.

The locals have been very warm, friendly, and patient with our very elementary Spanish, and I am constantly thankful for the many people who have reached out to us and helped us as we adapt to living in a very foreign culture.

The past week has been primarily devoted to house-hunting. We are in the process of deciding whether to live on base or in one of the three small towns nearby. Each option has pros as well as cons. I could go on and on about the advantages and disadvantages of all of the options, but to keep things brief, I'll put it this way:

Living on base would be easy, hassle-free, safe, predictable, and kind of boring. The houses and streets all look pretty much the same, but they're clean, have 110V outlets, and all of the conveniences we take for granted, like electric water heaters, garbage disposals, etc. It's like a little piece of America surrounded by a prison-camp-like fence. It does, however, have a great view of the ocean (minus the fence).

Living off base would be exciting, unique, culturally-rich, and somewhat inconvenient and unpredictable.

We are considering three different towns around the base, and each has a different style to it.

Rota is a lively, crowded town with lots of apartments and townhouses, plenty of restaurants, shops, a nice (but crowded) beach, neat sights to see, and probably a younger crowd more prone to partying late at night, as they tend to do here in Spain.

El Puerto de Santa Maria is a more family-oriented town with a lot of single-family, detached homes with yards; it is also the home to the neighborhood of Vista Hermosa, which is the most expensive "country-club"-type area around, with larger, older, and more expensive homes than the other areas. It also has nice, wide streets and more security. There is a beautiful beach nearby as well.

Chipiona is a smaller, more rural town that's about 25 minutes away from the base. It has an excellent beach, a thriving art community, a pretty cathedral, and a small-town, friendly atmosphere...but it is a longer drive, and you might encounter pothole-filled dirt roads on some of the side streets, or the random donkey cart holding you up in your morning commute...

So there you have it.

I have so much more to tell you about what we've seen and done since we arrived here in Spain, but for the sake of brevity (and of having something else to write about later this week), I'll wrap it up for today. I hope you enjoyed the little tour so far - I'll try to have some more photos for you in a day or two.

In the meantime, I'll take a little poll - maybe you can help us decide:

Would you live on base, in Rota, El Puerto de Santa Maria, or Chipiona?

Book Review: Illusion by Frank Peretti

2013-03-01T02:57:00.000-05:00

In general, I'm a big Frank Peretti fan. Considering he takes his time publishing new work, it's always quite an event when I discover his latest book on the shelf. When I do, life gets put on hold and I pull an all-night-er or two as I devour the thing (with doors locked and checked twice, lots of lights on, and snuggled up close to Josh while gripping a baseball bat - because, hey, his books are creepy and get me "deliciously scared," as Anne Shirley would say).

That being said, this particular novel wasn't my favorite.

Illusion, by Frank Peretti

Without giving away too much, Illusion opens with a car crash involving a husband-and-wife magic act who are nearing retirement. The wife is killed in the accident, and the husband tries to move on with his life. He soon bumps into a 19-year-old aspiring magician who bears an uncanny resemblance to his wife's younger self. Her resemblance to his late wife, inexplicable magical abilities, and mysterious identity and past fascinate him and lead him to become her professional mentor. As she tries to piece together her own history, she finds herself strangely drawn to him too. Throw in a few sinister dudes lurking in the shadows, a science experiment gone horribly wrong, and some jargon about physics and time travel, and you have a fairly engaging and entertaining novel.

I guess what left me a bit disappointed was the fact that the story, while giving you a definite "what in the world is going on here?" vibe, isn't exactly scary or allegorical like I've come to expect from Peretti. It's primarily a love story (inspired by Peretti's relationship with his own wife), and it also touches on themes of the dangers of science without ethics, and Christ pursuing His bride in the midst of a lost and sinful world. It was interesting, and the love story was sweet, but I prefer reading Peretti doing what he does best - spiritual allegories set in hair-raising, creepy thrillers, and this just wasn't one of those. It also felt a bit disjointed at times: the descriptions of the magic tricks were drawn out and repetitive; and the references to God, church, the Bible, and spiritual issues in general were inserted rather awkwardly (especially considering he usually weaves those themes in so seamlessly and powerfully).

So, if you're already a Peretti fan, you might want to pick this up just to see what he does with a different sort of genre. But if you're just discovering his work, I'd recommend one - or all - of the following fantastic books instead:

The Oath
House (co-authored with Ted Dekker)
This Present Darkness
Piercing the Darkness
The Visitation

I'm an Amazon Associate... blah blah blah....Consider yourself disclosed.

*******

I'm now reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I've listened to the entire audio book before, but I wanted to read a physical copy for myself. Maybe one day I'll blog about the recent movie version of the musical - oh how I loved it... but I've already blathered on enough for one day... and believe me, I'll be blathering on and on about that!

What are YOU reading?

The Weekend Gallery of Miscellany....

2013-02-16T03:24:00.001-05:00

"What's going on with her? Isn't she moving or something?"

Yes. Yes, I am. Virtually everything in my life is in major transition right now, which is why I haven't been blogging lately. So here are a few random tidbits for those of you who were kind enough to stop by and see if the drought has ended.... Thanks for coming back.

1. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind.... Virtually everything I own (except for what fits in our suitcases and a few items I'm leaving behind in storage) is on the long boat to ~~China~~ Spain. Our movers came and packed us up a few weeks ago, and that part of the process has been much less stressful than I anticipated.

I really didn't know how I would handle having total strangers go through every nook and cranny in my home. I envisioned having a nervous breakdown as I watched them handling, packing, and driving off with my stuff (to be handled by who-knows-how-many-more people as it made its way overseas), but I guess I'm mellowing out as I get older. I managed to stay not only calm, but downright chippy throughout the pack out. My attitude then and now is, "Well, if it gets stolen or the boat sinks, at least I won't have to clean/dust/organize it anymore.....or scrape off those ten thousand inventory stickers. And we'll always have Wal-Mart."

Of course, I don't mean to make light of people who lose everything they own in fires or other disasters.... There are certainly a few things with sentimental value that I'd hate to lose, but living out of four suitcases for the last three weeks has made me realize that I really have a lot more stuff than I need or even want. I see a ruthless purge in my future, once we get settled in....

2. What HAS been stressful, however, is the never-ending red tape involved in any government-related venture.... and ours is kind of complicated. We're new to the military, going from reserves to active duty status, experiencing our first PCS (Permanent Change of Station) from a non-military starting location, (Josh is) finishing school and starting a new career, AND moving overseas, all at once. Oh yeah, and Josh is away at ODS (Officer Development School) for 5 weeks. Throw in medical and dental screenings, passport and ID card applications, a change of address, selling/buying/shipping vehicles, making travel arrangements (with a dog), and now - surprise! - four impacted wisdom teeth that need to be removed before leaving (poor Josh!), and that's where we're at. The only thing keeping me from putting my head through a wall is a description of what Dickens dubbed "The Circumlocution Office" in his novel, Little Dorrit. (Follow the link for an excerpt if you haven't read it.) Somehow, just knowing that another person found the never-ending-paperwork of bureaucracy as ludicrous as I do makes me feel better, and it stifles the urge to barricade myself in a government building and threaten to feed their forms one by one through a shredder every ninety minutes if they don't just give me my rotten stamp of approval and let me move on with my life.

That's right.... we read to know we are not alone.

3. The up side to all of this is that I have gotten to spend some quality time with my parents, brother, nephew, and nieces while Josh has been gone. It's been fun.... and I've had lots of "help" from my youngest niece (well, youngest on my side, that is).

Helping me clean...

4. Poor Josh. He's at ODS right now, getting up at 0-dark-thirty to do push ups, get yelled at, shovel snow, have his ironing-skills scrutinized, and other such festivities. Today he got a little free time for the first time in two weeks, and something super-exciting happened to him....

You know this SUPER-FAMOUS photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt taken on V-J Day in Times Square?

Josh bumped into the kiss-stealing sailor at dinner last night! Here he is with him...

Mr. Mendonsa was kind enough to sit down with Josh and his classmates and tell them the story behind the photo and a little about his experiences in the Navy. You know what's funny? Mr. Mendonsa's wife (they weren't married yet at the time, obviously) is in the iconic photo too, but she's not the one being kissed! She's in the background, behind the kissing couple. (Click on the link above to read more about it.)

Cool beans. I think I'm going to send Josh a copy of the photo and see if he can get it autographed for me.... So cool! I remember talking about that photo in my History of Photography class in college - I can't believe Josh actually got to meet him! A little piece of history.... He was out celebrating his 90th birthday.

5. The Shamrock Shake is back at McDonald's. And there was great rejoicing in all the land....

Well, that's all I've got for now! I'm hoping to work on a creative project next week, and I'll try to have some pictures of that to share with you soon. And of course, I'll keep you posted on our moving-to-Spain adventures.

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

2013-01-16T11:23:00.001-05:00

My latest read was The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain.

The plot centers on the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, "The Paris Wife." It follows them through their courting days in the US, their obscurity and struggles while he's trying to "make it" as a writer in Paris, and then as a "successful" artistic couple living the Bohemian international life in a circle of wealthy and famous friends. While the writing itself is fictional, it's based on actual events in the real lives of the Hemingways, so it's an odd blend of fiction and biography.

The book is summed up well by this quote:

Ernest once told me that the word paradise was a Persian word that meant "walled garden." I knew then that he understood how necessary the promises we made to each other were to our happiness. You couldn't have real freedom unless you knew where the walls were and tended them.

This quote occurs near the end of the novel, and sadly, everything leading up to this point is about how those boundaries that are so necessary for a healthy marriage were allowed to crumble.

This book was well-written, and I did find it interesting, in spite of the fact that I don't care much for Hemingway. I care less for him now after reading this book. He struck me as a completely self-centered, egotistical, proud, ungrateful wretch who used people to get what he wanted, and then threw them under the bus when it became convenient. Considering he took his own life after a string of four marriages and many other illicit relationships, he seems to have been a pretty miserable person, in spite of his "success" as a writer.

The story is depressing - it's sad to see their relationship unravel as they become more and more like the "bohemian" (aka licentious and immoral) culture they've surrounded themselves with in early 20th Century Paris. But I think the author makes a pretty strong case for fidelity by showing how miserable unfaithfulness makes everyone involved - including the guilty parties.

A few words of caution: there are a couple of brief but graphic explicit scenes, as well as a few curse words scattered throughout - enough to make me hesitant to recommend it to anyone.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

2012 Reading in Review

2013-01-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

Hi there.

Before I update my "What I'm Reading" page to include my 2013 books, I thought I'd recap the books I read in 2012 here and share a few favorites with you. I managed to complete 22 books last year, which wasn't as many as I'd hoped, but we had a lot going on last year. I'm hoping to have more free time to read this year, but in the end, I think the quality of books you read is more important than the quantity, so I'm not going to get hung up on numbers.

Some of the following books have links to longer reviews, in case you'd like to know more about them. Others I never got around to reviewing, so I added a few thoughts below.

Books I Read in 2012:

Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton - Typical Chesterton - witty, brilliant, hilarious, insightful, profound, and highly-quotable. I'll be revisiting this one for sure.
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - An excellent, well-written, tragically poignant and compelling novel about World War II and the Holocaust. Keep the tissues handy.
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith - A hilarious addition to the Scotland Street series. This series is perfect if you're looking for something entertaining and light - just right for the beach.
The Emotionally Destructive Relationship by Leslie Vernick - If you've got a difficult person in your life, this book could be extremely helpful to you.
Jesus in My Art by Robin Norgren - Read my full review HERE. There's a chapter featuring yours truly in this book, in case you're interested. I was honored to be included.
Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce A. Ware - This was good, although I was expecting it to be more of a "how-to" for parents rather than a devotional to read to kids... but it would be a great book to read with your kids. He definitely leans more towards Calvinistic theology than I do, but he's got a lot of good stuff in there nevertheless.
Can Christianity Cure Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?: A Psychiatrist Explores the Role of Faith in Treatment by Ian Osborn - An interesting look at three different historical figures (Martin Luther is one) and the possibility that they may have struggled with some obsessive-compulsive tendencies (compulsive fears, etc.). Osborn suggests that faith and better theology may be the cure.
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson - Read my full review HERE.
Whiter than Snow:Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul David Tripp - Read my full review HERE.
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry - Read my full review HERE.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - Read my full review HERE.
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon - Read my full review HERE.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - Read my full review HERE.
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn - Read my full review HERE.
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell - If you like Jane Austen, you will probably enjoy this book. Although there's no over-arching plot line or love story going on, you will come to love the eccentric old ladies of this small town and enjoy watching them deal with the predicaments in which they find themselves.
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend - Read my full review HERE.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson - Read my full review HERE.
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry - Read my full review HERE.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - Read my full review HERE.
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation! by Lynne Truss - Read my full review HERE.
A Gal Named Jo by DeeDee Hall - Read my full review HERE.
The Defender's Study Bible (KJV) - I read through this every year. I used THIS reading plan.

Audio Books I Listened to in 2012:

The Litigators by John Grisham
The Adventures of Sherlock Homes by Arthur Conan Doyle

(I'm an Amazon Associate, so consider yourself disclosed.)

If I had to choose three favorites to recommend to you (besides the Bible, obviously), they would be the following:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

At Home by Bill Bryson

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

As far as my reading for 2013 goes, I've completed The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo so far, and I'm well on my way into The Paris Wife by Paula McLain now. I will probably have reviews of both up for you soon.

Later on this year, I may be taking part in another blog project that involves several ladies from different walks of life sharing book reviews, but I've got to get this move to Spain sorted out before I take on anything else! In the meantime, I'll still be sharing reviews here when I have time.

So, what are you reading right now? Feel free to share recommendations or links to your reading list in the comments! Happy reading!

The One Resolution You Should Make This New Year's Eve....

2012-12-31T12:44:00.000-05:00

I haven't looked at any other blogs yet today, but I can imagine that there are a lot of posts going up that are full of goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. While there's certainly nothing wrong with setting goals and aiming to do better, our track records in keeping New Year's resolutions are pretty sad, to say the least.

If you don't believe me, look at the parking lot at the gym on February 1st compared with January 1st....

Robert Burns put it this way:

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley...

Or, in American English:

The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often awry...

Although people undoubtedly have the best of intentions when they make their resolutions, our own personal histories demonstrate that we often have trouble following through.

I read THIS ARTICLE by Paul Tripp this morning, and it was a good reminder to me that personal growth is a slow, gradual process. Change happens in the small, daily decisions to do what is right, not in the big, dramatic, once-a-year resolutions we make. If you don't read Tripp's entire article (which you should), here's an excerpt that sort of sums it up:

Most of us won't be written up in history books. Most of us only make three or four momentous decisions in our lives, and several decades after we die, the people we leave behind will struggle to remember the events of our lives. You and I live in little moments, and if God doesn't rule our little moments and doesn't work to recreate us in the middle of them, then there is no hope for us, because that's where you and I live.

So if you're bound and determined to set some resolutions for the upcoming year, let this be the one thing you stick with: commit to reading through the Bible in 2013, and as you're reading, pray that the Holy Spirit would speak to you and change you in the areas where you need it. Let it be a daily process, because that's where real change will happen. As God's Word speaks to you and transforms you, chances are, you will notice transformation spilling over into other areas of your life...

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much... - Luke 16:10a

God's Word has the power to transform you, much more than any grandiose commitment you impulsively make because the date is December 31st. So dig in!

If you'd like some help keeping track of your reading, here are some resources to get you started:

THIS is the reading plan I used in 2012, and it's been one of my favorites so far. It takes you through the Bible chronologically, but it also gives you daily readings in both the Old and New Testaments. It also gives you a few "make up" days each month, in case you get behind...

THIS website has a whole list of Bible reading plans, some of which allow you to read at your own pace or spread out your readings over up to three years (although reading through in one year is very doable).

Feeling ambitious? HERE's a plan that will take you through the Bible in 90 days.

Want to get crazy? HERE's a plan for reading the Bible in 1 month!

There are a number of reading plans online, so if you don't see one you like here, do a Google search for "Bible Reading Plans." Or simply read as much as you can wherever you want, every day. You can also listen to audio versions while driving in your car or working around the house... The point is to immerse yourself in God's Word, and there's no wrong way to do that....

Happy New Year!

Some December Highlights....

2012-12-28T14:52:00.000-05:00

December was a busy month for us, and in the midst of all the hooplah, I forgot to share two highlights with you....

Some Crazy- Good Artistic Culinary Skills

We celebrated our 9th Anniversary by going to see the gingerbread competition at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. Here are some of the amazing entries that were on display. Check out the details!

This was the Best in Show winning entry - the detail was amazing...

My personal favorite, this was the winner of the teen category - A Muppets' Christmas. Amazing!

It's hard to believe these things were made of FOOD!

This was the winner of the children's division: how cute is this scene from Winnie the Pooh?

This was called "Not a Creature Was Stirring," I think, and it was a collection of tiny mice asleep after pigging out on candy. The "glass" Mason jars fascinated me - I think they were made from sugar! Such detail....

Whoville! So cute and cheery....

Again, the details on these things were amazing - look at those bricks!

This was a fun one - the Twelve Days of Christmas - each of the gifts is included....

Some of these houses were huge - like 2-3' tall!

I love Charles Dickens, so this was another favorite....

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - I loved the candy "glass" panes in the windows....

Puss in Boots

Anyway, we had a nice, relaxing day at the Inn, then came home for some dinner and a movie.

************

Another milestone was Josh's graduation from PA school! We celebrated with family and friends in Knoxville, and it was the first time Josh had appeared in his Navy uniform!

Doesn't he look good in it?

And of course, we've also spent a lot of time with both of our families, which has been nice. Since we probably won't be in Tennessee next Christmas, we've been trying to soak it all in....

I hope you and your family had a nice Christmas, and have a happy 2013!

Merry Christmas

2012-12-24T16:32:00.000-05:00

As you celebrate tonight and tomorrow with your family and friends, here's Linus with a little reminder of what it's really all about, Charlie Brown.
(If you can't watch this video here, you may have to click through and watch it on Youtube.) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. - John 3:17

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. - II Corinthians 9:15 Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas....

When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll...

2012-12-19T13:59:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of last Friday's horrible event in Connecticut. I can't even imagine what you must be going through. I am praying that God will give you comfort, and a peace that passes understanding in the midst of this terrible loss.

The above collage was inspired by the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."

It was written by a man who also lost his children in a tragic event....

I hope the words bring you some comfort...

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

{Home} It's Coming on Christmas...

2012-12-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Once again I'm linking up at The Inspired Room and the Cottage Magpie, as well as with the Nester for their annual Christmas tours of homes! It's always so fun to see how other people decorate for the season.

This is what I do....

First, start with something festive on the door....

....which includes a wreath I make myself....

...next up, bag that most iconic of Christmas decorations...a tree.....

...take it home and deck it out with lights and special ornaments....

...add some festively wrapped gifts underneath.... (I had a blast making snowflakes to replace bows on some of the packages...)

...jazz up the mantle and coffee table too.....

....find some honkin' big pine cones to bring a little nature in..... (I was so excited to have this pine tree near our house when we were in VA earlier this year - I gathered up a bag of cones and brought them home to use for Christmas!)...

....complete the mantle with another homemade wreath....

....add some lights with bows and greenery to the windows....

....and bring in some childhood traditions - a "Williamsburg" apple tree...

...break out the Christmas dishes....

...try to keep the birdies away from the berries....

....light up the orbs, yet again.... (they just keep coming in handy!) ....

.... pretend we've got snow in this crazy-warm December weather by adding some crocheted snowflakes made by a special friend to the window....

....add in a wooden nativity that I carved when I was in junior high....

...and my childhood Christmas village....

...and don't forget to add reminders of the REAL Reason for the Season....

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.

Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7a

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas...

********

Need to buy a few last minute gifts?
My Etsy shop will be open until December 20th.

A little Christmas gift for you:
use the coupon code GIVETHANKS when checking out to save 10%!

9 Years....

2012-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'd do it again.

Happy Anniversary to us. :o)

Love you, Josh.

Just a Reminder...

2012-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

You have until December 20th to place your final orders in my Etsy Shop before I close down for Christmas and our move to Spain. I'm not sure how long it will take me to reopen once we're settled in (which will be in March), so if there's anything you'd like to purchase, now is the time to do it!

The good news is, you can still get a discount. My Thanksgiving SALE is still on, because giving thanks shouldn't end in November...

To save 10% on your order, simply enter the coupon code GIVETHANKS when you're checking out.

I have a bunch of necklaces, brooches, and magnets left over from my last show that I haven't had a chance to list on Etsy yet. If there's a piece you'd like but can't find in the shop, send me a message - chances are, I do have that item available. I can set up a special reserved listing just for you...

If you're looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, this is a great place to do it.... ;o)

Click HERE to start shopping!

{Art} Needle Felted Ant and Bee

2012-12-10T10:33:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago I was contacted by someone with a request for a custom item. She had seen my needle felted animals on Etsy and asked if I could do a set from her favorite childhood storybooks: the Ant and Bee series, by Angela Banner.

Here's the reference photo she sent me:

And here's my needle-felted version:

I used jewelry wire to create the armatures, legs, antennae, and mustache, and I used polymer clay (Sculpey brand) to make the feet and hands. After baking them, I used super glue to attach them to the wires (I made little holes in the clay where the wires were going to go before baking), then painted them with black epoxy.

You can learn more about the art of needle felting here, here, or here.

In other news, today is my friend Carrie's birthday! If you get a chance, stop by her blog and send her some birthday love! {Happy Birthday, Carrie!}

The People that Walked In Darkness Have Seen a Great Light...

2012-12-09T22:08:00.000-05:00

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.

- John 8:12

Happy Hanukkah!

Quotables: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2012-12-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

Advent is a time of waiting. Our whole life, however, is
Advent--that is, a time of waiting for the ultimate, for the
time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, when all
people are brothers and sisters and one rejoices in the words
of the angels: "On earth peace to those on whom God's favor
rests." Learn to wait, because he has promised to come. "I
stand at the door..." We however call to him: "Yes, come soon,
Lord Jesus!"

    ... Dietrich Bonhoeffer, A Testament to
          Freedom: the essential writings of Dietrich
          Bonhoeffer

{Worldview} Book Review: A Gal Named Jo by DeeDee Hall

2012-11-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's selection is a book written by one of my Mom's friends from her hometown of Dyersburg, TN. The book is:

A Gal Named Jo

by DeeDee Hall

The story is pieced together from letters written between Hall's artist parents, Dick and Jo Flowers, during World War II. Dick was away in the War, Jo was staying with an artistic couple who mentored her as she prepared to enter art school in the fall. The story is well-written, entertaining, and sweet.

There were several things I liked about this read. First of all, it's the story of two artists who don't let unfortunate circumstances - like separation due to war - get in the way of their relationship or their passion for pursuing their dreams. It was also fun to read about the lives of people my Mom grew up around (Mom remembers having her picture made as a child in Dick's photography studio that he opened after returning from the War). I also appreciated the spiritual insights and parallels that Hall subtly weaves into the story. For instance, Jo, whose attempts to earn her keep and repay her hosts for the summer often are thwarted or completely flop, eventually realizes that some gifts - like salvation - can never be earned or repaid.

Overall, it's a well-written, enjoyable, and thought-provoking read, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in art, World War II, or the lives of members of "the greatest generation."

What are you reading?

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He Is Good...

2012-11-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

- Psalm 100 -

Happy Thanksgiving!

{Worldview} Book Review: Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss

2012-11-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Who would think that a book about punctuation (of all things) could be hilariously funny? Well, maybe not everyone, but if you're a word nerd like me, you will.

I'm referring to today's selection:

Eats, Shoots & Leaves:

The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

by Lynne Truss

If you've ever gritted your teeth through church services or school lectures because of spelling and grammar mistakes in the PowerPoint slides, smirked when you found typos that editors missed in books or magazines, or even returned a friend's letters with spelling and punctuation mistakes corrected in red ink , then this book is for you.

I mean, the chapter titles themselves will crack you up (if you're a dork, that is). How can you not chuckle when Truss compares commas to sheep dogs, herding and organizing words and phrases into comprehensible English in the chapter hilariously entitled, "That'll Do, Comma"?

But the book isn't just funny: it's also informative. Truss walks you through tricky subjects, such as the subtle nuances of when it's appropriate to use a semicolon vs. a colon, for instance. If any of what you learned in your college or high school grammar classes has gotten a bit fuzzy (and let's be real here - it has), this book will be an educational and entertaining refresher course. And if you've ever felt alone in your G~~rammar Nazi manic frenzy~~ noble quest to right all of the atrocities committed upon the English language by poor grammarians, then this one's for you. You are not alone. Check it out, because punctuation matters....

{The funny pictures were found on Pinterest.}

What are you reading?

{Worldview} Book Review: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

2012-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

2012 will be remembered as the year I discovered Bill Bryson. What a treat. This is the third of his books that I've finished this year, and - true to Bryson form - it succeeded in being both incredibly informative and hilariously entertaining as well. The book I'm referring to is:

A Walk in the Woods:

Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

by Bill Bryson

When it comes to spending time in the great outdoors, I am all for going on a robust hike - provided at the end of the day, I've got a hot shower, tasty meal, and warm bed to go home to. Basically, this is me:

{image source}

However, reading this book almost made me want to devote the next several months of my life to hiking (and camping) the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. Almost.

Bryson's description of his own attempt to hike the AT is informative, sobering, inspiring, and downright hilarious. I found myself laughing-out-loud all throughout the book. For instance, in Chapter 4, Bryson discusses the possibility of encountering bears on the trail. He has just described how even nature-loving Henry David Thoreau was unnerved by the wild savageness of the Katahdin wilderness in 1846, and follows it with this gem:

But even men far tougher and more attuned to the wilderness than Thoreau were sobered by its strange and palpable menace. Daniel Boone, who not only wrestled bears but tried to date their sisters, described corners of the southern Appalachians as "so wild and horrid that it is impossible to behold them without terror." When Daniel Boone is uneasy, you know it's time to watch your step.

The entire book is filled with hilariously dry commentary such as this. I also enjoyed hearing what he thought of Gatlinburg, TN, which is near my own stomping grounds. Good stuff.

Following Bryson along the trail is quite an educational experience. He shares the history of the Trail's formation, along with ecological information, tips for safety and survival, and fascinating trivia about many points of interest along the way. Reading along allows you to experience the AT from the comfort of your armchair.

My only reservation in recommending this book, however, is this: Bryson writes from a secular worldview, and his writing includes everything that comes with that. In his discussion of the formation of the mountains, he refers to the theory of evolution as if it's fact. In addition, this book included several incidents of foul language and some crass "guy talk," which easily could have been left out. Bryson's hiking companion was a rather rough (but likable) character, and most of the crassness and language comes from him. So, consider yourself warned about that aspect of the book.

Overall, it was a great read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in the outdoors, hiking, or the Appalachian Trail. Who knows, it may even inspire you to attempt hiking the AT and become a "mountain man" yourself!

What are you reading?