There's a book review in here somewhere....

Wow, so many things have happened since The Perp broke my snow globe that I don’t know if I’ll be able to post about all of it!

You already know about my previous hair disaster, and my subsequent cry to the people for help, and the result of all your help. 

But what you don’t know is that I’ve been in a book reading/movie watching frenzy around here in my “spare” time, HA! Yes, we homeschool here, and we go year ‘round, so we take vacation whenever we darn well please from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s. The idea is to spend time together making fun Christmas crafts and baking lots of Christmas goodies and just enjoying the holidays together. The reality is that for the first week or so, we all just chill out and relax. The kids spend hours and hours outside on the trampoline, making make-shift BMX tracks in my backyard, and pilfering things out of Dad’s garage without permission to create whatever fantasy world they wish to live in that day! In the meantime, I read and watch movies and other completely mind-numbing activities until I find that I can once again hold a cohesive thought in my brain for more than 5 minutes. At least, that has been the reality in the past…

The reality this year is that I spend my days trying to catch up on chores that have gone neglected for far too long, I run around town looking for black dresses, black pants, and white shirts that the children need for the Christmas program at church. I still cart kids back and forth to ballet, Youth Group, and now, Christmas program rehearsals. Just this month The Man and I have attended a wedding, a Christmas party with over 700 guests, and his office Christmas party…I’ve promised my mother that I won’t ask her to babysit again until next year!

However, I do try to spend at least a few minutes every day reading a book, and I try to wake up before the rest of the crowd to have quiet time, and if possible watch a movie…all by myself. I’ve recently seen and highly recommend, “Amazing Grace” and “End of the Spear”. If there is anybody left on the planet that has not seen either of these movies, they are both really good! I have also been reading an absolutely fabulous book that was sent to me by New Hope Publishing to review. And I am not exaggerating when I tell you that it is one of my most favoritest books ever, and NO, I won’t be giving it away on this blog. I have, however, purchased one and given it away as a prize at my church when it was my turn to host the ladies dinner. And I might just be persuaded to purchase another copy or two to give away here on the blog, but I absolutely will NOT be giving up my copy. I read it every morning during my quiet time, and I intend to read it over and over again.

“What is this book?” you ask. Well, let me tell you. The book is called “Wonderlust; A Spiritual Travelogue for the Adventurous Soul”, and it is by Vicki Kuyper. And she is now officially one of my all-time favorite authors! Reading this book is like reading one of my favorite blogs! Really, I’m not kidding! Just listen to the first paragraph in this book…(and by listen, I mean, of course, read it to yourself!)

“Is it my imagination or are my hiking boots actually mocking me? With each rhythmic step on the rocky trail, they seemed to whisper, ‘Imposter, fraud, fool . . . What are you doing here?’ Whether it was my imagination, the lack of oxygen at this altitude, or an actual protest staged by my brand-spanking-new purple footwear, one thing was certain. I totally agreed with my shoes.”

Now seriously, doesn’t that just make you want to keep reading? Not only is she writing in the style of some of my favorite blogs, but PURPLE HIKING BOOTS!!! We could be related! Because a 5 mile hike up a mountain in Peru is no excuse to abandon funky fashion, can I get an “Amen” sistas? Each chapter relates a lesson that God taught her through whatever situation or country she was in at the time. Some are funny, some are poignant, and some are sad, but all speak to the heart and soul, and all will touch you in some way. There are even discussion questions at the end of each chapter that you can use for group study, or just for your own journaling/reflection. It is truly a resource that I will treasure and use over and over for years to come. Which is why I will not be giving away my copy! However, you may either run right out to your local bookstore and pick up your own copy, go here and order a copy, add it to your Christmas wish list, or leave a comment here for a chance to win one!

If you wish to win one from me, then you must write a post on your blog, to help get the word out to as many people as possible, and then just leave a comment letting me know that you did, and you’ll be entered in the drawing! If you don’t have a blog, then just promise to tell everybody you know all about this fabulous book, and leave a comment with said promise! Really, it is a fabulous book and you will be blessed by the stories and lessons within it’s pages.

So go, post, and return with comments! I've got to tackle some laundry, and then I'll come back and finish catching you all up on life here at the zoo circus looney bin.