Now that that's over, I am committing to start 2010 to discuss 2 loves of my heart; my son and books. That's right, your girl is Mother Bookworm. These days I rarely have time to actually read a book (at least anything that's not a textbook) so I listen to them on CD in my car. This works especially well since I spend a ton of time in my car driving for my job (for which I also spend a LOT of money for car insurance for...but I digress).
So here's the deal. I am going to, "read," a book, post my thoughts/feelings, and give an update of the little one. This should work for all my friends and family members who want to know what's going on in the life of my 13-month old (can you believe it??). On the other hand, I get to talk about one other thing in my life that brings me joy...books.
Let's begin.
This book came to me by way of a recommendation from a friend. It came to her by recommendation of a trainer whose session we'd taken together. I must admit that I had heard about this book before, but couldn't quite remember what it had been known for. After reading this book, I now understand.
Let me begin this by saying that I grew up a nondenominational Christian. We believe not in religion, but relationship with God and Jesus Christ. This concept is key to this novel. The author, William P. Young, brings a very new and fresh concept to the idea of being in a relationship with God.
The premise of this novel begins with a father, Mack, who takes his 3 children camping. Everything is going fine and dandy until one of his children, Kate, decides she wants to go canoeing. She takes her brother with her. Missy, the third child hangs back to color. Unfortunately, something goes awry in the water and Mack's son begins to drown. Mack leaves his post with Missy to immediately assist in his son. While all of this is going on, (STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS)...
...Missy is subsequently kidnapped and murdered by the Ladybug Killer. The story continues from there in all the ways that a normal murder mystery occurs; the search party, the FBI, the town PD, all that. But the story only begins when Mack, back home from his camping trip sans his youngest daughter, and receives a letter in the mailbox from "Papa," (the nickname used by his wife, Nan, to mean God). Mack is told in this letter to go back to the shack where Missy was murdered.
Of course Mack goes. This is where the story really takes off from being, what I think, to be a mystery of what happened to Missy to the mystery of who is this Holy Trinity anyway? Mack encounters God, who happens to appear as a female, Jesus, as an Arab, and the Holy Ghost (named Sarayu...meaning wind). Mack spends a weekend with the three learning more about himself and letting go of the past.
This book really touched me. I am not taking everything this book says as Bible, but it really showed me the type of relationship I would want to have with God. It really surprised me that this novel was fiction because it had so many non-fiction inspirational nuggets. It forced the main character to drop his luggage at the door (this includes his anger toward God for his daughter's death), and open his heart to who God could really be for him. Too many times, I think that most people (Christians included) think of God as this far away being who is untouchable. In fact, this is not the way it should be. God should be (and honestly, really is) as close as is possible. He's ALWAYS there.
One thing that stood out to me in this book is the topic of forgiveness. I have been through a lot in my short time here on earth and boy have I had to forgive people for a lot of things. I always wondered how God could know everything, yet he forgets our sins. It never made sense. This book opened my eyes to this a little. It implies that God OBVIOUSLY remembers and knows, but yet He chooses to not think about it and looks at us as the repentant children that we are. How awesome to think that someone knows about ALL our mess yet STILL loves us. That's unconditional love, people!
I highly recommend this book for everyone, not just Christians. Actually, ESPECIALLY not just Christians. It's an eye opener to non-believers and believers alike. I am so delighted that I kicked off my year with this book!
And now the moment you have all been waiting for... THE MAN! I am proud to say that my little boy is 13 months old (14 months on 01/29/10). He is walking and saying "bye bye" (with a wave might I add!). He says dada, mama (which sometimes sounds more like baba...can't win 'em all), up, as well as other non-distinguishable syllables.
Most recently, HE IS OFF FORMULA! Woohoo!! I have yet to see what that will do for my bank account, but man, I can't wait!
He was 20lbs at his 1 year appointment as well as 26 and some change inches. (Poor kid, I don't think he has much of a chance height wise. Sorry!) He's an all around amazing child and as a good friend of mine put it, my, "accidental happily ever after."
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