So, as of lately, I've been on a reading kick. I devoured 4 books while on our vacation (3 of which were Francine Rivers), and just this past weekend, while I was sick with strep throat - I'm all better now! - I started and finished another of hers. I read Redeeming Love last summer, and that really stole my heart. She's just a really good author. I do have to say, though, that if I had read the one I read this past weekend first, I would not have been totally sold on her, like I was after reading Redeeming Love. The four books I read on vacation were: Elizabeth Clark Higgs' Thorn in my Heart, and then Francine Rivers' The Last Sin Eater, And the Shofar Blew, and Leota's Garden. The one I read of hers this past weekend was The Scarlet Thread. It was an interesting story, but I'm just not that into stories about women whose lives are completely falling apart because her husband is acting like a jerk, and she's too quiet and meek to communicate with him about what's happening. Then she discovers in the last third of the book that she's the one with the problem, and they realize that they both need to stop being so self-centered, and make God the center of their lives, and then everyone lives happily ever after... I read one of Karen Kingsbury's fiction novels, and that was the whole story - blah blah blah...
I realize that we all have problems, and yeah, life and marriage aren't always going to be grand, but I don't necessarily want to read about how another (completely fictional) couple can't communicate. I want to read about how God transforms peoples' lives, and about how they surrender their whole life to him. Leota's Garden was like that. I enjoyed Redeeming Love because it was a historical fiction in more recent times in America (mid-1800's) of the story of Hosea and his wife Gomer. So good!
Anyway, I've really enjoyed just losing myself in these books, and I hope to continue in this desire.
I also got quite a bit done on Gary's quilt this weekend. I almost have the top comletely done. Then, after that, it's just a matter of sandwiching the top, batting, and backing, and then quilting, and binding the completed blanket. It's been a long time in coming, also seeing as I messed up on one of the patterns, and had to rip out a whole bunch of seams and do lots more ironing. Needless to say, the quilt took the back burner for about a month, until I had the patience built up enough to pull it out and work on it again. Our quilting ministry's motto at Northside is "Not perfect, just forgiven..." That couldn't be more true. I can't wait for the time that I can finally post pictures of this (soon-to-be) beautiful quilt.
You know, I love coming to my blog because it gives me the chance to link up to the other blogs that our friends have. Seeing all of your blogs just gives me such happiness, and shows me just how amazingly blessed we are to have such wonderful friends with such beautiful families. I love to see how much you guys are adoring your beautiful babies (and older children) and how the Lord is working in and through you. I love to read the scriptures that God has laid on your hearts, and how He is working around and in you through His Word. Praise the Lord for His blessings on us!! What a wonderful God we serve!!
Thanks for reading!!
K
