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  • coffeehousereader 6:57 am on March 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,   

    An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor 

    This book is a gem. Mrs. Taylor talks about so many different ways to worship God that doesn’t include the four walls of a church building. The way in which she writes is like music. The imagry she uses is beautiful and she makes you think outside the box.

    I wish I had my own copy because so many sentences jumped out at me as being profound. The whole idea that in life there are so many sacred moments and spots that we pass/experience daily that we don’t acknowledge. I’ve always had moments of restlessness with being stuck in a stuffy church building. Why not worship out in the fresh air instead?

    I am definitely going to find her other title. I sense she is a kindred spirit from reading her words.

     

  • coffeehousereader 9:17 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Doubt, , , ,   

    Silent Savior by A. J. Gregory 

    I was a bit leery on checking this book out of the library. I’ve read books on how to deal when it seems as though God is silent.  They read like a giant Christian cliché.  I was hoping this was not going to be another ones of those types of books.  I was in for a pleasant surprise.

    A. J. Gregory writes with honesty.  She doesn’t sugar coat the tough times or make you feel that if you aren’t praying enough or doing x, y, z that you’re not following God’s will and that’s why He’s silent.  Nope.  She struggles with doubts as well.  Some days faith isn’t as easy as it appears and trusting God is a challenge.  It was very refreshing to read a book by a believer where they let themselves be completely vulnerable with their audience.  There was no fakery in her words.

    If you’re struggling with knowing that God is there I recommend this book.  I’ve had my own dry spiritual spells and they suck.  I used to have such a stronger faith, but sometimes it feels as though it’s been put on the back burner.  I know it takes trust and patience. I know in time I’ll come full circle and be in the spot I am meant to be in my walk with Christ.  There’s no cookie cutter way to get there.  I’m glad for the time for growth and contemplation.  It’s tough going from a place where you’re fed Christianity 24/7 to having to work on it yourself.

     

    • wellwateredgarden 9:46 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink

      Re: I know I’ll come full circle and be in that spot I’m supposed to be … actually – faith says that you’re in that spot all the time … believe it!

  • coffeehousereader 1:31 pm on February 14, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Drug Addiciton, Jodie Sweetin, , , Sobriety, UnSweetined   

    UnSweetined by Jodie Sweetin 

    Growing up one of my favorite shows was, “Full House.” I always idolized Candace Cameron.  I always thought she was gorgeous and this perfect role model.  I never really thought much about her middle sister on the show Stephanie.  Then I was browsing the library this past week and saw a memoir with a really gorgeous woman on the cover.  I flipped it over and there was Stephanie Tanner staring back at me.  I looked through it and thought this might be a very cheesy read, but I’m game for it.

    I started it yesterday and I could not put it down.  From the first sentence I was hooked.  Maybe I’m a total sap, but this book wasn’t sugar-coated to make the words go down easy.  Growing up a child star was not easy for Jodie.  From the age of five until she was thirteen she had the routine of being on “Full House” and gaining a whole new family on set and off the set.  The cast was very close and they actually enjoyed hanging out with each other when they weren’t airing an episode.  Once “Full House” was no longer in production Jodie didn’t know where she fit in.  This is her story of having to grow up quick and what life altering adventures she gets into.

    I usually don’t read celebrity gossip type of books.  This won won my heart over.  Jodie tells it like it is honestly and to the point.  It’s refreshing to read about an actress and feel like by the end of the book that you can actually know her in a way.  Not in a, “I know all this dirt on you,” kind of way, but in more of a shared in special confidence kind of way.  If you’re a fan of “Full House,” or the actress I definitely recommend this book.

     

  • coffeehousereader 3:43 pm on February 13, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Community, , , Women Equality   

    Quitting Church by Julia Duin 

    I confess I’m a church drop out. I found this little book filled with insightful reasons why people quit attending church. I found my own personal reasons listed among the many listed.

    Julia goes visiting different types of churches to interview well known preachers and unknown ones to find out the reasons for declining attendence. Issues range from control freaks that are pastors or the leadership team, to no ministries for singles who long to be married, but are told instead they are meant to be single, to women feeling like there is no real place for them in the church except to be stuck in the nursery or to organize potluck dinners. It’s not mainly new comers who are fleeing, but the seasoned members who are leaving in droves. To some church has become entertainment that you watch to get a spiritual high, but are given so solid spiritual food to help sustain you in the real world.

    I do long to go to church. I miss the community and the worship. I grew up in a reformed congergation. I have attended a charismatic church and a Church of Christ church where no instraments are used, to a Unity church that felt like I’d stepped back into the 70’s hippie era. Finding my perfect fit is not easy. I want to be challenged, not babied, but I don’t want to be treated as merely a woman. I would like equality. Does this mean I have become a liberal femenist? I can’t pretend that old school church satisfys. I feel the need for growth. To grow outside the box that is church. I long for a strong authentic faith. I had one as a child, but being an adult brings it’s own discoveries. It’s an ever evolving growth. I hope to find a church home where I am seen as an equal and challenged to grow.

    This book was fairly well written. There are a lot of statistics and a lot of famous Christian names thrown around. It definitely made me feel not alone.

     

    • Natalie 7:08 pm on March 6, 2010 Permalink

      I, too, have found that faith is an evolving process depending on your experiences and where you are in life. I hope you find a place where you fit too.

  • coffeehousereader 6:48 pm on February 12, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Asthma, First Love   

    Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman 

    Breathing is about a teenage girl named Savannah who was named after a tornado that came through the day she was born.  She’s a bookworm who works part-time at her local library and she has her two best friends she hangs around.  Savannah lives in South Carolina near the beach where she loves to go on the weekend.  She’s had crushes before, but then one day at the beach she notices a cute guy hanging around these older boys who are from the rich side of town.  He tries to get her to talk to him, but she rides off towards home on her bike too shy to say anything.

    Eventually they bump into each other again at the library this time and they finally exchange names.  The cute boy is named Jackson and the older snotty kids are his cousins who he’s staying with for the time being.  The only hard thing is, is that he’s 18 and Savannah is only nearing sixteen.  She knows her mama won’t let her date such an older boy.  Luckily they meet up at the church picnic where Savannah has to introduce her mother to Jackson.  He sneaks her behind a tree to give her a kiss and after that kiss Savannah starts to have an asthma attack.  Jackson thought she only had them once in a while, but this is such a severe attack he carries her to her mama’s car and rides with them to the hospital where he stays by her side till she’s better.  This act of honest caring definitely earns brownie points with her mom.

    Savannah learns from Jackson that his mom has asked him to return home to Greenville.  She’s crushed he has to leave.  In order to try to get Jackson to stay longer she inquires about a painting job since Jackson loves to paint.  Jackson tries to explain to Savannah that his mom needs him at him at home since after his dad passed away she needs the extra help and income.  Savannah is crushed that he won’t stay by her.  She understands he has to help his mom out, but she also wonders when is his mom going to allow him to be an adult and make his own decisions.

    Savannah is left figuring out if she can breathe on her own.  This book made me feel as if I was in the south and the author nailed down all the little mannerisms.  Reading about Savannah brought back memories of my first high school boyfriend and how you can feel as if they are you’re whole world.  It’s weird to look back on your life and see how obsessed you can be with just one boy and not see the bigger picture.  I enjoyed this book and will be looking for future books by Cheryl Herbsman.

     

    • Addie 12:16 pm on February 13, 2010 Permalink

      This sounds like a really good book. I will have to add it to my never ending to read list :)

  • coffeehousereader 6:47 pm on February 12, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Antisocical, Dinner Parties, Friendship, Game Nights, Online Friends, Work Friends   

    Life Is Friends by Jeanne Martinet 

    I checked this book out of the library because I have become quite the homebody.  When I was younger I had a social life and I’ve dwindled in that department.  Oh I do have friends.  I have a lot of online ones.  Online friends are great, but the main problem is they’re not face to face interaction.  This year my goal is to cultivate face to face friends who live near by.  I’m improving slowly in that area which is good. :)

    This book was a great refresher course on basic tools to making new friends, having different kinds of friends, fun ways to get together with friends, how to let friends go, and how to welcome new ones into your life.  It was a short book with a lot of helpful admonishment.  The great thing about this book is that it wasn’t boring to read.  Sometimes relationship books can feel boring and dry, but this one was lively and enjoyable.

    One of my big goals this year is to make local friends.  I have a lot of acquaintances, but I really need a core group of girl friends.  I need to learn to be patient and to choose my friends wisely and put more energy into a being a great friend.

     

  • coffeehousereader 3:30 pm on January 31, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Adults, Kids, Reading, Writing   

    Had An “Ah Ha” Moment 

    While I was at work this past week I had one of those light bulb moments.  For some reason sitting at my desk brings on inspiration.  How irritating when I want to be more productive at home.  Having read, Crush It, by Gary Vaynerchuk awhile back I feel like I hadn’t had my passion hit me upside the head and well the other day it did certainly did.  I love to read.  I love helping people find what they love to read.  Why not start a blog that could be a way to help people find books they’ll love and give them resources/suggestions on great books to check out.  My blog idea was born.

    This new blog is in its infant stages. It’s not ready yet for the big world, but it will be and soon.  I’m so excited about this!!! I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I know with lots of hard work and loving support from my husband, friends and family I can truly KICK BUTT! :)   It’s crazy how having an idea and feeling like I can make a difference in the world brings this sense of peace inside.  Like I’m doing what I was meant to be doing. I LOVE Ah HA moments!

     

    • theothergardener 3:51 pm on January 31, 2010 Permalink

      I had never heard of Vaynerchuk. Is this a recommendation?

    • Addie 4:19 pm on January 31, 2010 Permalink

      Can’t wait to see your new blog. I look forward to it. Wish I would have thought of it. What kind of content will be on it?

    • theothergardener 10:40 pm on February 1, 2010 Permalink

      Hm? No, no, I’ll keep going as I have been, just a pause.

    • Jo 11:22 am on February 2, 2010 Permalink

      It’s awesome when you find something that fills you with excitement like this, isn’t it?!

    • Kris 3:12 pm on February 5, 2010 Permalink

      Good luck with the new blog! Can’t wait to take a peak at it once it’s released.

  • coffeehousereader 3:13 pm on January 31, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: England, , NY, Survival, War   

    How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff 

    This book has a cartoonish like cover.  It’s the story of Elizabeth who decides at a young age she prefers to be called Daisy.  Her mom sadly died when she was born.  Daisy’s dad has remarried and she’s sure her dad has picked the classic wicked step-mother.  For some reason the wicked step-mother decides to ship off Daisy to England to live with her aunt and cousins who she’s never met before.

    When Daisy meets her younger cousin Edmond who picks her up from the airport she’s shocked he’s smoking a cigarette and driving the car all by himself at 14.  She’s only fifteen and thinks he’s quite cool.  Daisy further meets her other cousins Issac, Piper, Osbert and her aunt Penn.  At first England is dreary and boring, but soon its charms warm up to Daisy.  Her aunt’s family own a lot of pets: goats, 2 dogs and some sheep.  Aunt Penn has to go away on business for a few days and the cousins are delighted to be free of adult supervision.  This gives Edmond and Daisy time to bond further as cousins.  They do make sure they read plenty and study off and on while helping around the farm.

    While Aunt Penn is away there is an attack on England and she’s not able to make her way back.  Pretty soon Daisy and her cousins are on their own and learning that having family is sometimes all you’ve got.  This book follows Daisy and her cousins on how they deal with war.  It’s tough when all you want to do is be a kid and not have to grow up so soon.

    This novel deals with many difficult topics, but I think for a junior higher it covers a lot of important topics like dealing with family you’ve never met before, living and surviving while a war is going on and learning to go with your gut instinct.

     

  • coffeehousereader 12:33 pm on January 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Blank 

    Why does life have to be refreshing one moment and the next a whirlwind of craziness?  I know there are up and downs with life.  There’s an ebb and flow to go along with. Sometimes I feel like I’m too nice half the time and the other half I’m a total bitch.

    I’m in the middle of a godzilla book that’s 808 pages and I’m halfway through.  Completely enjoying it, but taking a breather from it to read a book on discovering my passion.  I’m looking forward to a bit lighter reading for a while then dive back into my other book.

    Today is going to be spent reading, watching football and trying to calm my idiot brain from working too hard. :)

     

  • coffeehousereader 7:37 am on January 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Bisbee   

    A Magical Place 

    Sometimes a place grabs you and won’t let you go. I found such a place. The firdt time I experienced Bisbee back in Spetember I felt as though I’d dropped right into a fairytale book. It’s narrow little streets and allyways had the charm of what I imagine European towns to be like. The slighty steep streets make you want to walk forever and to not stay idle for long. The little independent shops are cozy and welcoming. This old mining town’s charm is still as strong.

    This second visit feels like coming home. Going through the mountain tunnel that is like going through the wardrobe and stepping into Narnia. As we entered town yesterday I felt like I could breathe and be calm. The air is crisp and beautiful. The sights and sounds like an old friend welcoming you home after a long journey away. This place just feels right. Amazing how an old historic town can capture your heart and imagination with just one visit. It’s like being addicted to an atmosphere of days gone by. You have to keep coming back for more and more. It’s a place that settles in your bones.

    Maybe some day my husband and I can retire here. That would be beyond awesome. It’s nice to know I discovered a place in state that captured our hearts and imaginations. It’s going to be tough to return to normal life, but I know for sure we’ve found our future magical home.

     

    • Jo 9:44 am on January 15, 2010 Permalink

      Sounds truly wonderful! Do you have any pics? I’m very curious to see it!

    • octoberrose 12:04 pm on January 19, 2010 Permalink

      This post reminds me of when I visited Assisi, Italy … but I was only fourteen at the time, and it was kind of experience overload, so my memories aren’t as vivid as I wish they were.

      I also love Pittsburgh. Which is great, because I live here for now. :)

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