Dickens' Friend Wilkie

Day 16 of Blogtember: Review a book, place, or product.

picture credit: Alan Bresloff

To any of you other literary enthusiast or classic works obsessed, I highly recommend Wilkie Collins. As a good friend of the brilliant Charles Dickens, his books come highly recommended by association alone. He was the very first author to write a sensation novel and so his works carry you through suspense, mystery, excitement, romance, and all of the best of fiction. To top it all off, these wonderful elements of literature are written in such a profoundly beautiful and eloquent way.

I am part of a book club and we recently finished his work “The Moonstone”. This book starts out a little slower than his other works, and I did not feel bonded with the characters right off the bat (I am one of those readers who become emotionally involved in the lives of those in the story). However, once it got going, the story was very entertaining, having the feel of a classic adventure novel. I learned to love the character of Betteredge as he looks for all of life’s answers in Robinson Crusoe. The story follows the trail of a priceless gem through generations, demonstrating the destruction the stone leaves in its wake. 

One of the most interesting elements about the narration of this work is that the story is told by many different characters, voices, and writing styles. Brilliant. 

I am not going to go into details regarding the plot of the story. I don’t want to give anything away to those readers out there who would enjoy a new classic novelist. Just know that he is a truly talented writer and this was a very entertaining piece of fiction.

Life Lately

Day 15 of Blogtember: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

Life… what a wonderful thing it is. Sometimes I just feel so full of thankfulness for how amazingly blessed I am. 

Just this morning, while we were laying in bed (putting off the moment where we have to step out of the coziness into the frigid open air) Cory was saying that we have the most wonderful life. I couldn’t agree more. But you know, it is not as if we have a ton of money, or we are stress free, or we never argue, we are no different than the next couple in those areas. However, we (mostly Cory) try to make the most of every situation. Cory has the most incredible, positive attitude of anyone I have ever known. And through all of the difficulties and trials that life inevitably brings, he helps me to see things that way. And for that, for him, I am so very grateful!

With that being said our life is currently an adventure. Cory has been working in Tahoe for three weeks, so we have been tenting it in the wilderness. Although it gets chilly, we camp semi 21 century style. I have electricity (obviously), a heater, a fridge, a nice blow up mattress, bathroom… basically everything I need for a comfortable home in the wilderness. 

And so “life lately” is pretty great. We just take it one adventure at a time.

 

A Little Monday Boost

Happy Monday everyone! I feel so refreshed after church on Sundays. Ever feel like Monday comes crazy quick? Sometimes the weekend come down starts for me before I am even in bed on Sunday night. However, the name of the day of the week should not dictate our attitudes :)

Therefore I have decided that I am going to begin each week on a very positive note. I am going to make a habit of jotting down a post for a little spiritual boost as we trudge on in this great thing called life. I may share something I have been reading, learning myself, or simply a scripture that has been particularly impactful.

Without further ado here is my little “devotional” for this fabulous Monday.

Jeremiah 1:4-9

The word of the Lord came to me saying, “before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nation.” “Ah Sovereign Lord,“ I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the Lord said to me.  “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.”

What an amazing passage! 

When I was a teenager I was not a very outgoing individual. Frankly, I would rather have stayed at home all day and read. One year I read 87 books. Extroverts just don’t make time for that much reading… but I digress.

Because it was such a struggle for me to get out of myself, I often wondered how I was going to make an impact for Jesus in the world. At that time I distinctly remember reading Jeremiah 1:4-9 and it drastically changed my outlook and level of confidence. I remember thinking I could exactly relate. I felt as if I were only a child! And yet God had formed me for a purpose; A purpose which I would fulfill because he would direct me every step of the way. What a God!

Yesterday morning I think the Lord wanted to remind me of that. Quite by accident I opened my Bible up to this passage and as I began reading, the familiar words jumped off the page and into my heart. It was not as if I had forgotten that scripture or how powerful it was for me and my life; but perhaps I had not been walking in the specific facet faith which this scripture should bolster.

So be encouraged today; in whatever goals you have set or challenge you are facing. You may feel totally ill qualified, as a child would feel, and yet God says “go” and he will guide you. More than that, he will put HIS words into YOUR mouth.

Staying Fit in the Sticks

picture credit comrades.runnersworld.co

Well I have once more locked up my cozy little house for yet another adventure. I honestly don’t think that I have spent half the summer at home. If Cory and I were not off in Europe we were off working on Tough Mudder (well one of us was doing the working part anyway), and if we were not on Tough Mudder we were enjoying the beautiful California beaches in the summer. What a life.

And so I have found myself once more nestled in a cozy tent when it is 30 degrees outside. Freezing, yet strangely cozy.

Anyway, I have been faced with a fitness trial. I am a gym girl. That is what I do. I get into a routine and I happily spend my hours working out. But you pull me out of my environment and…ugh.

My sisters and I pledged that this trip we would not let our good habits die away so easily. And so we started the squat + challenge. 50 squats a day, add five every day for a month (who needs a break on the third day… just suck it up and do your squats), in addition to running, sit ups, push-ups, and triceps dips.

Four days in and we are still going strong.

That is a complete full body workout… without weights or any other equipment (though I do suggest an ipod for a faster run time).

So, no excuses. If we can stay fit while we are camping in the middle of nowhere in below freezing weather with five crazy (but wonderful) children, so can you. Set yourself some goals, make yourself a little workout list. Or you can just give ours a try for 30 days… yes THIRTY :)

-       

 -          3 mile run

-          50 squats (add five every day)

-          Thirty pushups (add one every day)

-          Thirty triceps dips (add one every day)

-          250 crunches

By the way… we do our squats holding one of my HUGE baby nephews. So find yourself a baby and give it a whirl :)

The Skinny Jean Dance

photo credit: healthymomskitchen.com

Well the summer is winding down. The evenings are beginning to get crisp… a sure sign of the pending Autumn. Pretty soon I will have to put my shorts away for the year.

Anyone ever go the whole summer without wearing a pair of jeans? You wear shorts, leggings, dresses, skirts… perhaps jeggings? All o f the above have a decent amount of stretch in them. At least the ones I own.

Well today was that fatal day… the one that you never think is going to happen because you work out so much and eat so well. I pulled one of my favorite pairs of jeans out of my closet for the first time in months. Dinner out on the town, casual dressy… seemed like a good idea. 

I am a scale hater. I believe that as long as my clothes fit me okay and I feel pretty good about myself, I shouldn’t have to count calories and weigh myself religiously every morning. Well in theory this works… provided your entire wardrobe doesn’t consist of material that could stretch to fit a small elephant!

Well needless to say, I am glad no one was around to see me do the skinny jean dance before giving up altogether. I am going to have to go back into my closet and find something to wear that will both fit nicely and make me feel good about myself…. Tall order for a girl who just realized is a sufferer of hip expansion.  

I am going to have to give my belief system some thought…. Perhaps I will fit a scale into the equation after all….