Books of 2015

I always aspire to read more "real" books as each new year starts.  So, in order to keep track - I'm going to keep editing this post all year and list all of the books I read in this one place.  Because nobody reads my blog anyway!

Currently reading:

Insurgent (by Veronica Roth)
Take One (Karen Kingsbury)
The Scorch Trials (by James Dashner)


Books waiting for me:

When I found You (by Catherine Ryan Hyde)
Closing the Gap (by Patty Slack)
Maya's Notebook (by Isabel Allende)


Books I need to finish before the movie comes out:

None!

What I've read so far in 2015:

The Lost Gate (by Orson Scott Card)
The Gate Thief (by Orson Scott Card)
The Thief Lord (by Cornelia Funke)
Tropical Spice (by Sandy Loyd)
Unleashed (by Nancy Holder)
The Rescue (by Nicholas Sparks)
True Believer (by Nicholas Sparks)
The Billionaire's Whim (by Liliana Rhodes)
Soldier (by Liliana Rhodes)
At First Sight (by Nicholas Sparks)
Fever (by Elizabeth Lowell)
Match Me if You Can (by Susan Elizabeth Phillips)
The Marine's E-mail Order Bride (by Cora Seton)
Annihilate Me (by Christina Ross)
Book of the Dead (by Patricia Cornwell)
Texas! Lucky (by Sandra Brown)
Texas! Sage (by Sandra Brown)
Texas! Chase (by Sandra Brown)
The Defiant Hero (by Suzanne Brockmann)
The Longest Ride (by Nicholas Sparks)
The Unsung Hero (by Suzanne Brockmann)
Over the Edge (by Suzanne Brockman)


If you do read this blog, feel free to leave a comment with your book suggestion(s).

Out of Context

There's phenomenon out there where some religious "scholars" / believers create posts, tweets, even memes about how someone else uses a verse out of context of its original meaning.  And I get that we need to know context of scripture.But - wasn't all scripture originally written for a different group of people in a different time? 

One example of this: Posts, tweets and memes of how people have applied Jeremiah 29:11 "incorrectly" - making it personal - trying to apply it to their lives and how God cares for them.  Making sure to impress that Jeremiah 29:11 isn't personal to you - that it wasn't written about God's plans for you. 

However, other verses don't get this same treatment.  For example: What is the true context around Philippians 4:13 (being content in anything vs. being able to do anything?). 

And I know, I'm probably over-thinking this (though many will believe I am "under" thinking this).

However, this is what keeps running through my head:

2 Timothy 3:16 - 17.

" All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

I guess I'm just not going to bash someone about their use of a bible verse when it may be the only bible verse they ever read.  Maybe it's that one verse that will lead them to look further into the bible.

The posts, tweets, and memes do not seem conducive to creating an opportunity for personal conversation that leads to a real discussion of scripture. 

I believe - Supporters version

sup·port·er

/sə’pôrtər/

Noun

1.  A person who approves of and encourages someone or something 

I believe we are supporters who together create an Army.

I believe that neither conditions nor outcome should alter our dedication as supporters.

I believe that we should prove to the MLS that belief in our team is bigger than any amount of money they can spend on one individual player.

I believe that we will grow as an Army when we positively influence the individuals among us.

I believe that we will win the hearts of the many by becoming the soul of the team.

We are Timbers Army.

Without words

Ryan Woods is in his last days.  I have read the posts on facebook by many, including Ryan himself, over the last year or so, and know that words of encouragement, sorrow, and understanding are welcomed and embraced.  Yet somehow, I cannot say them.  It's too hard.  Too close to home.  I know what it's like to be in that vigil - awaiting something you dread, while still coveting the end of suffering.  Today they posted a sweet picture of Ryan's daughter India laying in bed with him watching something on a laptop...and my heart breaks because Ryan's facial expression is so like that of my mom's during that time.  The words that I know I should say are too hard to say, mostly because the words don't truly ease the pain of what is to come.  Only God can ease that pain. So, I continue to pray...

Words...

Today I am struggling with how to deal with teenagers who choose to use social media to harass, annoy, bully others...

These scriptures come to mind:
  
Ephesians 4: 29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. "

1 Thessalonians 5:14 - 18 "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

These seem so clear.  

The grace of a little sunshine

The sun showed up for a bit today.  A small glimpse of poetry spewed forth.



Streams of sunlight awake my soul
and play upon the recesses of my imagination,
the light begging to be deeply imbedded in my memory
so that is is easily recalled in the days to come
which will be filled with bitter cold and gray.

Grandma's Hot Chocolate

There is a card in the recipe box at my house that has this recipe:

Hot Chocolate

1 box of instant milk
1 jar of Pream
17 oz Nestle's chocolate
1/2 box of powdered sugar

That's it.  No directions, nothing.  And what is "Pream"?

However, I can show this card to any of my nieces or my nephew, they would know exactly what it is.  It's Grandma's hot chocolate mix and WAY better than anything you can ever get out of a little bag.  I'm updating the recipe for you here - because I promise, you'll love it!

Gwen/Grandma's Hot Chocolate Mix

1 box of instant milk powder (the one that says it makes 8 quarts of milk)
1 11 oz. container of creamer - plain (the powdered kind)
20 oz Nestle's chocolate milk mix (the dry powdered stuff)
1 lb of powdered sugar

Mix together in a large bowl.  Save in a air-tight container.  I don't know how many servings it makes, but the recipe above fills my large Tupperware "thatsa" bowl. We generally add 3 - 4 heaping spoonfuls of the mix to hot/boiling water in a regular coffee mug.  

Please note: Try your mix and adjust ingredients as needed.  I'm a "little of this, little of that" kind of person, but I think the proportions above work well.  You can add mini-marshmallows if you want (or just keep a can of whipped cream available).  I'm also debating adding shaved dark chocolate pieces to my mix next time.

I promise it's fantastic.

And after delivery to my nieces, I promise that I will be the favorite aunt (at least for the day)!