Show us Your Life Friday....Books!!!!

So, I've been MIA for awhile. I'm going to try to make blogging more of a routine around here, but we'll see how that gooes.

Today is "Show us Your Life Friday" over at Kelly's Korner. I've never participated before, but today's topic is BOOKS, and I love to read!! I think my children are going to inherit that trait from me. As a matter of fact, my five-year-old genius very smart son has taught himself a whole slew of sight words already, and can in fact already read the Dick and Jane books. His pre-K teacher described him as a "phenomenal" student, and said that he is pretty certain he will be reading with ease before Christmas break of kindergarten. I think he's a prodigy {but I am a little partial}. So, Ethan's favorite book right now is the Storybook Treasury of Dick and Jane. He has read to page 96 all on his own!

Ethan and Addy love to sit on my lap before bedtime and read a book together. They have two favorite bedtime books and they are:

Fish Kisses and Gorilla Hugs

and

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Bethany (along with about every other pre-teen girl I know) loves the Twilight Saga. I must say that I quite enjoyed them as well, and I took full advantage of using her as my excuse to go see New Moon in the theater! I didn't feel quite as embarassed because I had three teenage girls with me.

I have read so many books I probably could never even count them all. Some of my favorite authors are Nicolas Sparks, James Patterson, Beth Moore, Anita Renfroe, and Anne Graham Lotz.

One of the books that has probably helped me more than anything in dealing with my sickness and just the everyday problems of life is Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. The pages in that book are written all over, highlighted, and pretty much look like they have been through a war. The main theme of the book is that every trial we go through is ordained by a Sovereign God, and how each of those trials is intended for our good and for His glory. My favorite line from the entire book is this: "God never wastes pain." Love it.

I have read Angie Smith's blog, Bring the Rain for a long time, and I seriously counted down the days until her book was released. My sister pre-ordered a copy for both of us that way we could get them before the release date. We live next door to each other, and I kept walking to her house looking to see if the Amazon box was on her porch!! I certainly did not have any intentions of ripping opening the box and stealing kindly taking my copy! Too bad she had them sent to her work! This book definitely did not disappoint; rather it was even better than I had anticipated. I think I started crying on page 5, and the tears didn't cease until after about two hours of finishing the book. I am a super fast reader, and I tried to tell myself that I was going to savor it and not devour it all in one sitting. However, when I sat down to read it, all three of my children were gone, and I couldn't resist the opportunity. I did make myself take a couple of breaks to switch out laundry. I read the entire book in three hours, and after my friends all finish with my copy, I plan on reading it again. And again. And again. And probably yet again. I love that woman and the way she writes. And, above all else, she is GEN-U-INE. Her love for the Lord, even through her pain, radiates from the pages of that book, and her hope and faith are so contagious.



Anywhoo, I LOVE to read, and I could probably go on and on for hours talking about my favorite books and authors. These are the ones who top the list.