Maranatha - C. Wood

Summary:  The Holy Spear of Destiny has been removed from its display in the Vienna Hofburg Museum, and strangely vandalised.

When she is called upon by the Hofburg authorities to test the authenticity of the spear, metallurgist Vanessa Descartes quickly realises she is involved in a horrific murder case.  The severed head of a museum security guard has been left upon a silver plate, and grotesque and baffling mutilations carried out upon the body.

She is joined in the investigation by eccentric Oxford scholar Dr. Emmanuel Khalamanga, who is convinced of a connection to ancient Holy Grail legends and Professor Tomas de Carranza, a best-selling author of radical Biblical histories.

This diverse trio find themselves in a race against time with the Vienna police department to solve the growing mystery.  But as they interpret the symbols left at the scene, and discover more pieces of the puzzle, a greater and even more terrifying reality reveals itself; the existence of an invisible 'holy war' that has been fought since the Middle Ages, and is about to end in blood and death on the streets of Vienna.

And should the wrong side claim victory with the power of the holy relics, an unthinkable holocaust will be unleashed, driven by dark mysticism and insane genetic science...  (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com - Book given free for review )

My Review:  Maranatha begins with a murder, a rape, another murder, and then a gruesome ritualistic slaying. I knew that there was some violence in this book, but I wasn’t prepared to be smacked with high velocity spatter within the first few pages. After the initial slaughter, things die down a bit (ha!) while the main characters try to piece together a frighteningly complex puzzle and prevent further casualties. This was the part of the book that I felt most lost. To be honest, much of the deeper theorizing went soaring over my head. Way over. As in, spaceships had a better view.  This continued on for a while, but once the characters understood what they were facing, I became more interested in the story and was delighted by some of the twists and turns in the plot.

It is impossible to read Maranatha without comparing it to The Da Vinci Code – a comparison that is sure to delight (or infuriate) the author of this book. Both begin with brutal ritualistic killings laden with symbolism that send the main characters on a frantic quest for answers. They both have deeply religious themes and equal amounts of what might be considered blasphemous and radical historical and religious theories. While Maranatha had a similar feel to The Da Vinci Code, the latter was easier to understand and did a better job relating to the average reader. I think this book would fare better with someone who had a basic knowledge or passing interest in religious mythology, radical Christain beliefs, gnostic mysticism, alchemy, and esoteric Christianity.

Maranatha has some delicious surprises and raises some interesting ideas about the duality of faith (with its destructive and sustaining powers), but ultimately it just wasn’t my bag. I didn’t like the illustrations, had a hard time understanding many of the references, and I never felt pulled to read it when I was doing other things.

For those who want a teensy spoiler: While the book never flat-out explains how the title, Maranatha, relates to the story, a quick Wikipedia search hints at certain aspects of the plot.

My Rating: 2.75 Stars

For the sensitive reader: As with The Da Vinci Code, there is the possibility that some might find this book extremely offensive. I consider myself a conservative Christian, but I also recognize fiction when I see it and usually let a lot of things slide. There is violence (murder/rape), the occasional profanity, a great deal of radical religious theorizing, and a particularly disturbing drug-induced fantasy involving Christ.

Sum it up: A mystery/thriller for someone with a basic knowledge of (or desire to learn about) gnostic mysticism, esoteric Christianity, alchemy, and other radical theories.

Facing Forward : A Life Reclaimed - Reba D + GIVEAWAY

I will be giving this book to someone who really needs it.  See the bottom of this post for details.

Summary:  Like so many women, I wanted a home, children, a loving husband, and a pet.  When life didn't work out the way I'd hoped by the time I was 30, I started to panic.  I was actively looking for love when I met a man who would ultimately change my life and the lives of those closest to me.

This story has a happy ending.  Unfortunately, not all victims of domestic violence are so fortunate.  There are steps you can take to free yourself or help free someone you know.  Through my story, you'll find out how.  You will walk away with a better understanding of how someone can lose everything to an abuser -- and when she is ready, reclaim her life.

What would ever make a woman settle for someone she knew in her heart wasn't right?  Worse, what would make her stay in an abusive marriage or relationship once she realized the truth?  A lot of things, among them, shame and fear.  Shame of leaving, shame of failure, fear of his retaliation, fear of personal marital details becoming public in a divorce proceeding -- and fear of suffering socially or financially by a divorce.  For some, there's the fear of being alone.  If you're unable to understand this, be thankful.  But also be careful.  Prior to my marriage to the pastor, I would never have tolerated anyone treating me this way.  (Summary from book - Image from www.mondialbooks.com  - Book given free for review)

My Review:  Facing Forward is a heartbreaking account of one woman's struggle to endure nearly two years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her husband. I warn you, this story is both compelling and disturbing. Once I picked it up, I could think of little else. I read it all in a day because I could not go to sleep without seeing the author safely out of her marriage.

Reba’s husband Philip is a seemingly dedicated Lutheran pastor, affectionate and attentive when he has an audience, but frightfully domineering and vindictive behind closed doors. Almost immediately after the wedding (and to be perfectly honest, even before it), Philip begins to insult Reba and berate her for the smallest of perceived offenses. To make matters worse, Philip's parents – who are, quite possibly, the most offensive, psychotic, and dysfunctional parents I have ever heard, seen, or read about – visit frequently and only uphold their son’s treatment of his wife. At first, Reba tries to stand up for herself, but when the verbal abuse escalates to the occasional physical confrontation, she discovers it is far easier to walk on eggshells and give in to her husband’s demands in order to keep the peace.

In Facing Forward, Reba acknowledges the red flags she missed, and those she simply ignored or rationalized away. From a outsider's perspective, it would be easy to see the same warning signs and say, "She's such an idiot. She should have seen it coming” or “There is no way I would have put up with that behavior. I would have left right away." However, the reality of abuse is always more complicated than it seems. Reba states "living in an abusive relationship can turn the most confident, secure, independent person into someone she never would have previously believed possible." Nowhere is this more evident than in Reba's own brief marriage as she transforms from an assertive, passionate woman to a fearful, desensitized submissive. Although Reba's situation deteriorated more quickly than most, such abuse is not uncommon. Her husband exhibited behavior typical of an abusive partner and it wasn’t long before she showed all the signs of being abused. It was only through her own determination and the loving support of family and friends that Reba was finally able to leave her husband and regain her sense of self-worth.

If I've learned anything from James Frey, Milli Vanilli, and the allegations currently swirling around Greg Mortenson, it is that sometimes people embellish the truth, pay lip service, or outright lie to make themselves look better. While it is true that there are always two people in a marriage and two sides to every story, I felt that Reba gave an honest portrayal of her marital woes. She was upfront about her own, relatively microscopic, failings in the marriage and accepted the blame for times when she erred, regardless of her husband's inexcusable behavior.

Facing Foward is a riveting narrative, but the author did not write it to entertain. She shared her story in the hope that it could serve as a wake-up call for someone currently living in an abusive relationship or lend some perspective to those trying to support a love one who is being abused. I recommend this book to everyone. Read it and you might recognize the signs. Read it and you might find the strength to leave.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader: There were a handful of times in this book when the couple's sex life came into play. While I understand its relevance to their relationship and this book, I would have been okay with a little less detail. The pastor is also quite fond of profanity-laced tirades.

Sum it up: A compelling memoir of abuse and a life reclaimed.

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A Note from Reba:

For too long, domestic violence was something no one talked about in polite circles. But that didn't mean it didn't exist. Today, few people haven't been touched by it personally or known someone who has.  Today, we know longer accept it the way things have to be. We know we have choices, options and that help is available. As we continue to raise our social consciousness, we learn that it's only by facing this openly together that we can bring about the awareness that ultimately leads to change. If you know someone in need of help anywhere in the US, download a free state-by-state resource guide at http://www.facingforward-alifereclaimed.com/ 

__________________________________________

As of right now, this book has been claimed. 

You can buy your own copy of Facing Forward here or the Kindle edition (for $4.99) here.  

GIVEAWAY:  Because I feel that more people could benefit from this book, I will ship my copy to the first person* who contacts me at mindyoja AT hotmail DOT com.  Please only write if you are currently involved in or know someone who is involved in an abusive relationship.  Read it and, when you're through, pass it on.


*US residents only.  I can't afford to ship internationally.

101 Things Husbands Do to Annoy Their Wives - Ray Comfort

Summary:  This book gives rational explanations to one of life's great mysteries: why men do the (annoying) things they do.  It helps both spouses understand, among other things, why men:

• Dream while driving
• Forget  people's names
• Don't listen when wives speak
• Rattle keys
• Dominate the remote control

As this publication shows, we all do dumb things at times--some more than others.  Two of the keys to a happy marriage are understanding and forgiveness.  Not only will discovering our common idiosyncrasies help you feel better about your marriage, the special chapter "How to Make Your Marriage Blossom" will help you truly bring your relationship to life.  (Summary from back of the book and image from  http://images.amazon.com/)

My Review:  This is a one sitting read. While only a third of his 'annoyances' applied to my marriage, the ones that did got a chuckle out of me.  (And boy am I glad only a third apply--some of the others would make me batty!)  One of my favorites was "He won't turn on the windshield wipers until he can't see a thing in front of him." It's one of those tiny annoyances that I hardly notice, but after reading the book realized it does bother me! Another favorite was " He leaves the plastic ties off the bread," His explanation is so funny. While this is all in jest, it's a fun experiment in couple relationships. I'd recommend this book to all couples who have made it to and past the 7 year itch.

There is a section at the back of the book where the author gives ways to help your relationship. I mention this because it has a religious message. While I enjoyed the message, I realize not all will. 

Rating: 3.75 stars

Sum it up:  A good laugh for any couple that can laugh at their relationship and what drives them batty.

One in a Million : Journey to Your Promised Land - Priscilla Shirer

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This review comes to us today from the unbelievably amazing Sabin Hogue.  If you know her, you love her and if you don't, you are missing out!  Sabin is one of the most giving, caring, spiritually-centered people that I know and I have learned so much from her selfless example and close personal relationship with our Father in Heaven.  Oh, and she also hates it when people pick their nose.  Like, honk-at-them-while-they-dig-for-gold-at-a-stoplight hates it.  So don't do it.  Because she might be watching.
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Summary:  What if life on Monday was as powerful as church on Sunday? 

When you meet someone who lives, eats, and breathes Christian faith, you want what they've got more than anything--their seamless intimacy with God, their prayer power, their spiritual stamina, their passionate sense of expectation, the kind that doesn't shrink into despair at the first sign of setback.

But how badly do you want it? Enough to toss anything from your life that keeps you from being 100 percent His?  Enough to allow God's Spirit to bring radical spiritual change that might just scare you right out of your comfort zone?  Enough to wait on God long and hard and invite whatever He requires to get you ready for what's next?

That's how one-in-a-millions do it.

When approximately two million adult pilgrims of ancient Israel left behind their slavery in Egypt, wandering in the wilderness for an entire generation, only two made it safely to the Promised Land.  That's One in a Million who were brave enough to put abundant life to work no matter where they were, no matter how easy it became to just blend in and be average.

And the next one-in-a-million could be you--the minute you decide you've had your fill of halfway faith, the moment you realize that a week is a long time to put off what God has promised you can put on: the deep, daily experience of His ever-abiding presence. 

Get over being average.  Break out of the box.  Don't just want it.  Live it.  Today and everyday.  (Summary from amazon.com - Image from www.bhpublishinggroup.com )

My Review:  Have you ever wondered if there was more to your spiritual walk than what you have? Have you ever wondered if you were created for greater things? Have you ever wondered what God's original design for you was? Then I have an amazing book for you.

In One in a Million you will discover God's purpose for your life is Abundant Living. Just as the Israelites were His chosen people, so are you as a follower of Christ. One in a Million parallels our current day faith walks with the hardships of the Israelites on their Exodus. God never said it would be easy, He just promised it would be worth every step of the way!

My husband and I dreamt of having more children and then one day the heavenly whispering of a Father to His child began, "Do you trust Me?"and "Are you willing to submit to My will even if your dream isn't part of it?" Over and over again I heard these questions asked of me, and over and over again I responded with anger and fear, "If You love me so much WHERE IS MY BABY???" Hot tears streamed down my face most days. Indignation that He wasn't "fair" clouded my view. I was so close to the situation I couldn't see straight, I couldn't hear, or perhaps I wasn't willing to listen.

I knew this was a time to test my faith. My friend brought me her copy of One in a Million just at the right time. A time the Lord knew my heart would listen. A time when He knew I would need it most.

I choose Him. I choose His perfect Will, perfect knowledge, perfect guidance, perfect love, and perfect desire to create me into His perfect image. It will be a journey, with great highs and great lows, but He will be there with us the entire way. Be bold, step out on faith, and open the pages of One in a Million to a whole new life of ABUNDANCE!

My Rating: 5 Stars

Sum it up: In One in a Million you will discover God's purpose for your life is Abundant Living. Just as the Israelites were His chosen people, so are you as a follower of Christ. One in a Million parallels our current day faith walks with the hardships of the Israelites on their Exodus. God never said it would be easy, He just promised it would be worth every step of the way!

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Sound good?!  Click here for TWO chances to win your very own copy!

Also, click here to read Living My Life on Purpose with One in a Million (Part One)  (Part Two) (Part Three) (Part Four)

Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married - Gary Chapman

Summary: Most people spend far more time in preparation for their vocation than they do in preparation for marriage.

No wonder the divorce rate hovers around fifty percent.

Gary Chapman, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages and marriage counselor, with more than 35 years of counseling couples, believes that divorce is the lack of preparation for marriage and the failure to learn the skills of working together as intimate teammates. This practical book is packed with wisdom and tips to develop a loving, supportive, and mutually beneficial marriage. It's the type of information Gary himself wished he had before he got married.

Dating or engaged couples will enjoy the "Talking It Over" section, extensive resources, a thought provoking appendix, plus a revealing learning exercise! By understanding and balancing the five key aspects of life, dating couples can experience a healthy dating relationship. (Summary from book - Image from - Book given free to review)

My Review:  Despite what The Beatles may say, love is NOT all you need to make a marriage work and a successful marriage requires commitment, compromise, and a boat load of patience and understanding. Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married attempts to shake loose the blinders that so many people wear when they are in the first stage of love, long enough for them to truly understand their intended partner and honestly discuss topics that might cause future conflict. Chapman’s hope is that, in doing so, more people will enter marriage with realistic expectations and be less likely to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

This book outlines the importance of observing and discussing perceived marital roles and expectations with your prospective partner, as well as their level of spirituality, approach to finances, family relationships, etc. It also gives a brief, but helpful, overview of several of his other books (most notable, The Five Love Languages and The Five Languages of Apology).

My complaints about this book are paltry and have little to do with the subject matter. Chapman’s overuse of the phrases “I wish I’d known” or “I wish someone had told me” bordered on condescension. It was at the beginning and end of every chapter and sometimes in the middle as well. While I recognize this technique is an obvious attempt to maintain a connection between the subject matter and the title of the book, it was unnecessary. Repetition is fine and dandy if you are suffering from short-term memory loss, but I am not. There were also times that Chapman would give an example of what someone might say when they apologize, and I felt his examples were far fetched and long-winded. Perhaps this says more about me than anything, but if anyone apologized that thoroughly to me, I would raise a significantly skeptical eyebrow.

Most of this book is common sense – the kind of common sense that seems to be lacking in this day and age – and the kind of common sense that deserts us when we are in the throws of passionate love. Many of the issues Chapman raises would have been extremely beneficial for my spouse and I to discuss before we were married.   That having been said, the book is rather short and really  more of an "intro to" book than an in depth discussion.

If you’re single and looking, this might be a good book to look over so that you can be better informed when you do meet that special someone. If you’re engaged and waiting, Chapman gives several questions for couples discussion and evaluation that would be helpful if you are reading the book together as a couple. While this book could be moderately helpful after marriage, I can think of several others that would be more in depth and effective*.

Sidenote: On a personal note, I feel that that finding your perfect “match”, or someone who is like you in every way is not necessarily the best thing or a guarantee of marital bliss. From conflict can come growth. It is up to the couple, their attitude, level of commitment, and their communication skills as to whether they grow together or grow apart.

My Rating: 3.75 Stars.  For the sensitive reader: This book also has a slightly religious bent --nothing too heavy handed-- but I appreciated the more spiritual take on the institution of marriage.

Sum it up: A Cliff’s notes version of pre-marital counseling that touches on many useful topics without digging too deep.

*See our next post!

An Accidental Monk - Marylee Mitcham

Excerpts from An Accidental Monk :  "A monk, he said, is a man who is truly searching for God. My husband and I wanted to find a way of life capable of testing the truth of our desire. We longed to 'be made worthy of the promises of Christ,' but we were finding it difficult, in our ordinary circumstances, to grapple with the side of ourselves that wasn't truly searching for God."

"Not infrequently I am asked, 'But what do you do with yourself?' 'Not much,' I usually reply and wonder if I should mention how many hours it all takes. Next time I'll look my visitor right in the eye and say, 'I work at being peaceful' or 'I'm studying how to be content.' "  (Excerpts and Image from http://www.anaccidentalmonk.blogspot.com/ )

My Review: Marylee Mitcham and her husband had an overwhelming desire to discover God in their lives, both within and without. They moved to a small community and commenced living a spare, yet spiritually sating, life next to an order of monks. What follows in this book is a collection of her thoughts, experiences, poetry, and personal anecdotes from that time in her life.

Marylee Daniel Mitcham has become a friend of mine this past year and when she sent me a copy of her book to review I will admit to being completely intimidated by a 65-page book. What if I hate it? What if it’s no good? WHAT IF IT’S AWFUL? Then I’d be faced with that impossible task of letting her down easy while still remaining true to my promise of honest reviews. It’d be a nightmare.

You can imagine my relief, upon the book’s completion, that I can honestly say I thought it was fascinating! If you were to add a dash of the simplicity in Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a pinch of the “pray” in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, and a heaping spoonful of spiritual examination and personal reflection, you would have Marylee Mitcham’s An Accidental Monk.

An Accidental Monk is an interesting glimpse of a woman’s search for connection with God on a sacred, personal level and would be an excellent beginning to a conversation about our own relationships with God. That having been said, I wish it were longer. I would have liked to hear more of her experiences and conclusions especially when she converted to the Mormon faith and how that either conformed with or altered her perceptions.

Marylee’s search for connection with God echoes my own desires in many ways. I want to see Him, feel Him, be Him in so many ways and yet at times I feel I am miserably short of my own goals. Marylee’s book offered the opportunity for some serious introspection and examination of my own beliefs and spoke to that woman inside of me who is all the things that I want to be and is simply waiting for me to catch up.

If you are interested in reading An Accidental Monk, you can either pay a great deal to get it online (it's out of print) or you can zip over to MaryLee's blog and read it online.  I suggest the latter, but it's your money.

Be sure to check out her newest book Blacktime Song by Rosalie Wolfe that should be appearing on our review pages soon!

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

Sum it up:  For its diminutive size, this book packs quite a contemplative punch.

The Real Prince Charming : Discovering God's Plan for a Lifetime of Fulfilling Romance - Michelle Raftery

Summary: An entire generation of young women are being consumed by today's dating trend; immersing them in various dating relationships. Over and over again these young women struggle with purity, the lack of self confidence, and security in God to stand up for their beliefs and values. They long for a fairytale ending and cling to unrealistic expectations, past hurts and guilt, turning most toward romantic pursuits. However, the secret to finding The Real Prince Charming is becoming the woman that God has called you to be and learning that He longs to have an intimate relationship with you.

Why would you settle for less when you could have God's best?

Facing common dating pitfalls, author Michelle Raftery points out that when you ask the Creator Himself, you learn what a special and unique place God has for women! (Summary from book - Image from amazon.com - Book given to me for review from BringItOn Communications )

My Review: The Real Prince Charming is a book for the single Christian woman who is looking to meet and marry the man of her dreams. Raftery disregards the standards set by romantic comedies and recommends against impractical expectations when looking for a spouse and focusing on the qualities that God values – kindness, love, constancy, optimism, and humility (among others). She suggests that a woman should abandon the concept of finding the perfect man and look for the man that God has created perfectly for her. She also encourages young women to accept their God-given personalities as gifts from Him that will enable them to live out His plan for them and to live lives of emotional, mental, and physical purity.

My favorite part of the book was the chapter entitled Waiting for the White Horse where Raftery outlines the pitfalls of sitting around waiting for a man to save you from a life of perpetual single-ness. She goes on to explain how to rescue yourself from life’s troubles, or at the very least, see them in a different light that will enable you to live life fully regardless of your marital status.

Spiritual truths aside, The Real Prince Charming was not without its writing flaws. By the end of the book I was royally bothered by the Prince Charming/Princess metaphor, as well as several non-Biblical analogies and embellished characters that I felt weren’t necessary to understand the text. I wish that Raftery put a little more faith in the reader to be able to draw obvious spiritual parallels without the aid of a metaphor or analogy. On the other hand, I appreciated how she made frequent reference to Bible verses and drew comparisons between problems we face today and those found in the Bible. Raftery uses many different translation of the Bible throughout this book (NIV, NLT, NASB, MSG, etc.) and, although I prefer the King James Version of the Bible, most of the verses that she used would be difficult to misinterpret regardless of the translation chosen. I was thankful that she drew so much from the scriptures and didn’t write solely based on her own personal beliefs without a doctrinal foundation.

My largest complaint is that Raftery skirted the giant elephant sitting in the middle of her book. What about those people who don’t get married--who don’t find someone “made just for them”? Is it their fault? Were they not looking hard enough, or in the right places? I’m fairly certain that I know what she would say and that I would agree with it, but the issue wasn’t even addressed and I felt that it should have been.

The final chapter of this book (and many places throughout) speaks to the importance of having a personal relationship with God, our Father in Heaven, and his son Jesus Christ. He is our Rescuer and Redeemer and the one person we can always turn to for support. I enjoyed the opportunities that this book offered for introspection, evaluation, and personal growth. At 100 pages, it was remarkably filling food for thought.

Sidenote: I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (you probably know us as “Mormons”). While there are some differences between the author’s beliefs and my own in regards to the nature of the Trinity and the repentance process, I believe the principal message of this book transcends individual religion and echoes important truths about women, our Father in Heaven's love for us, and His divine plan for each of his children.

My Rating: 4 Stars (Books with a strong, important moral message, regardless of certain writing idiosyncrasies, will always get my recommendation.)

Sum it up: A brief, but thoughtful, book that offers an infinitely more divine perspective on dating, relationships, self-acceptance, than the media-inspired (and ultimately flawed) concept of Prince Charming.

Skid & the Too Tiny Tunnel - Jeffery Stoddard

Summary: A story of courage based on Deuteronomy 3:16

Skid, the littlest yellow tractor in the equipment yard, wants to be mighty like the giant bulldozers, tall cranes and massive diggers who tower over him. But some of the big machines tell him he is just a dinky tractor with a putt-putt engine. While they are busy building a new road through the mountain, Skid is left behind to take out the garbage.

When disaster strikes and a tunnel the machines are digging collapses, Pillar, the biggest bulldozers, is trapped in the rubble. Only a small opening remains at the tunnel entrance and the only one who can fit through the opening is Skid--who is afraid of the dark.

Now it's up to the tiniest tractor to save the day. Can Skid find the courage to do what he was made to do and prove that he doesn't have to be big to be mighty? (Summary from book - Image from walmart.com)

My Review: I received a digital copy of this book for review and read it to my children (ages 4 and 6) this morning while they were supposed to be eating their cereal. It didn’t take long before the cereal was soggy and their little minds were fully absorbed in Skid’s little predicament. When we finished the story and I asked them what they thought, they were both emphatic that it was "a really cool story". We talked briefly about how Skid did what he was made to do even when he was afraid and that what he had thought was a bad thing was actually what made him special.

Skid & the Too Tiny Tunnel manages to teach a spiritual principle with a gentle hand -- without being pushy or overly explanatory. It can be read with a deeper meaning but, for those who aren’t of a religious bent, can simply be a well-illustrated book about a courageous tractor that learns his own worth. I really appreciated this book because I have a six-year-old daughter who has always been a little on the small side. My four year old is only millimeters away from surpassing her in height and has already passed her on the scale. Sometimes she gets worried about being smaller than others (especially when they tell her she is) and it was nice to see her eyes light up as I read. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she drew the parallels between Skid's size and fears and her own.

There are so many books out there that teach the wrong message, or don’t teach any message at all. It is nice to find a morally based children’s book that offers teaching moments and is both engaging and uplifting.

For more books like this one, visit http://www.peteandpillar.com/

My Rating: 4.5 Stars. The only thing that could have made it better would be if it had rhymed.

Sum it up: Skid & the Too Tiny Tunnel teaches the value of courage, self-worth, and the importance of trusting in the Lord to make us “mighty” in the face of our fears.

The Totaled Woman : True Slices of Life from a Mother of Five - Marcia Veldhuis

Summary: Everyone knows that life happens--the secret is finding God at work through it all!

Comprising individual true stories, The Totaled Woman shares the challenges and joys from a mother's perspective in a home with five precocious children and a brilliant (if impractical) scientist husband. Marcia Veldhuis looks beyond the crisis of the moment and finds the lessons that God would have. Enter into the joy, sorrow, hilarity, and difficulty of each unbelievable situation. (Image and summary from BringItOn Communications)

My Review: Hallelujah! Picking up The Totaled Woman was a breath of fresh air in a room full of stinky review copies. I've picked some losers lately, to be sure, but this one wasn't one of them. All I can say is, thank heavens for mothers like Marcia Veldhuis! She made me laugh when I desperately needed to. I took great pleasure in reading each “slice” of her demanding yet wonderful, chaotic yet joyous, tiring yet faith-filled life. Her short stories, rarely more than a page in length, were frequently amusing, only occasionally heartbreaking, and always relatable. I fell more in love with this woman, her life, and her family with each turn of the page.

Whether Marcia is dealing with grumpy neighbors, bizarre late-night visitors, an absent-minded husband, or some seriously troublesome animals her short stories manage to be uplifting without being “preachy” and were often, but not always, accompanied by a sentence or two at the end that, ever so gently, gave a deeper spiritual meaning to her experience. These little moments taught more, in my opinion, than a library full of doctrine as she taught by her humble example how to pull divine meaning from the smallest moments and see God’s hand in our lives and in our families.

I am certain that I have many such experiences in my future while I attempt to raise my young family and can only hope and pray for the same perspective that Marcia embraces throughout this book.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

Sum it up: A simple, unaffected and delightful slice of (her) family life.

*Note to Marcia* There is no way (barring meth addiction) that, at thirty, you looked old enough to be your children’s grandmother. Rest assured, that lady was just plain out of her mind. Oh, and the owl story was real HOOT! (Sorry, I absolutely could not resist).