In the Storm

what I've been reading | August

It is that time of the month again when I share what I have been reading, lately. This month I hosted our second book club meeting and discussed our first book club read, The Alice Network. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I could not have envisioned a more perfect first book - club - discussion. Everyone contributed compelling and persuasive dialogue and we all left highly charged for next month's meeting. Huge answer to prayer and yet still blown away by how God worked it all out.

That being said I think that 'required' reading - my book club read - was the culprit in a less than stellar reading finish for August. I only read 8 books this month I know, say it isn't so! But, when I am used to reading 10-12 books a month I consider this sorely lacking. I have already learned from my book club reading hiccup and will be reading September's selection first with a quick review prior to our next reading. Then, the remaining days of September will be for pleasure reading. Although, I am sure I will derive substantial delight from Where the Crawdads Sing, my book club's September selection.

Again, this month I have created pages for inclusion into my READ traveler's notebook. As always I have been using digital products from mostly Ali Edwards, In a Creative Bubble, and Kellie's Stamps. Enjoy.

Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George. The second installment in the Inspector Lynley series with his proverbial sidekick Sergeant Inspector Barbara Havers in another exceptional, twisted, and complex murder mystery. A couple dropped clues had me believing I knew who the killer was - suckered me and except for a bit of an anti-climactic ending, Payment in Blood was particularly un-put-down-able. 74/120

The Lieutenants, Brotherhood of War series by W.E.B. Griffin. I'm sure The Lieutenants is not for everyone because it is replete with military terms and lingo. As retired Air Force and married to a former Army special operations aviation regiment (airborne) soldier, it is right up my genre alley and I am comfortable with most of the language peppered throughout the book, even though it is in 1940's military vernacular. Griffin seamlessly entwines the plethora of character-driven story lines with military history. My attention was caught, immediately, and held as the book moved rapidly through time and through characters back and forth. While we are being introduced to Lieutenants, there are various ranks represented with strong supporting parts, as mentors, or if this was Griffin's police series, the term Rabbi might be used. This series begins at the end of WWII and takes us, historically, through often little-known military presence and the men (and women) impacted and their parts in the story. Loved The Lieutenants so much I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. Jeff has the entire series and it is his favorite of all of W.E.B. Griffin's series', which he has read all - and has all for that matter. 75/120

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. An amazing first book club read. 76/120

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. 77/120

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. Make it past chapter eleven because that is as long as it takes to get real with the book and the characters and you fall in love with them. So hang on. You're gonna' love it. And, it is the characters who are amazing! It is not simply the main characters, either, but, the supporting cast of characters are perfection. 78/120

Like Lions by Brian Panowich. Think of the wild west but set in the hills of northern Georgia when family's rule the region and are only loved because of the fear they elicit. There is so much meanness and harshness and frustration and little redeeming qualities of any of the characters, even the main character Clayton, although he has truly been dealt life's harshest of blows in the family he was raised, but man, it was like watching a movie of the cattle baron who takes over the town because he is feared. 79/120

Night by Elie Wiesel. Wiesel, winner of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, having survived Nazi death camps, writes a horrifying personal accounting of his agonizing witness and participation to shocking brutality toward Jews, the death of his family, the death of innocence, and the death of his God. 80/120

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips. After the first chapter (chapters are set in months) sets up the mystery, every chapter following introduces portraits of women within a small Russian community on the Kamchatka Peninsula, each women searching for something other than what they are living. On the one hand it was intriguing, revealing the people, the natives, the immigrants of this tundra community. How they existed and dwelled, yet not really living, each a part of the missing girls even as a glance. And on the other hand, frustrating with each passing chapter, and little mystery resolution. Could it be simply the portraits of women that was the point? Aside from the story I loved reading about some place else, the living in the unknown. 81/120

All About Me 2019 | Book Club

Our Between the Covers book club held the second meeting last Monday and it was a resounding success. We came together to discuss our FIRST book club selection, The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. After a short time of fellowship, dessert, a delectable Southern Caramel Cake I had baked that afternoon, and coffee, we began a lengthy and compelling discussion of The Alice Network. Everyone participated and contributed without a conversation intermission.

I had great trepidation leading up to the meeting, but I prayed fervently for a successful book club, and by the end of the meeting I was giddy. It seemed to be a resounding success. The last few minutes of the night we reviewed the selection of 6 books I had chosen for September's book club reading. It truly was a difficult choice but we all agreed upon Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens with the caveat that several of the books from the list would make it into offerings for October.

52 Weeks of Giving 2019 | 32

This practicing giving is truly about growing. Growing me into new wine. I am a work in progress. All those nooks and crannies of selfishness are being yanked out, You are breaking new ground in me - and I am growing in selflessness. It's all true that "Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:17). In this new creation - me - the old [wineskin] has gone and the new has come - ready for new wine.

New Wine
In the crushing, in the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil I, now surrender
You are breaking new ground

So I yield to You and to Your careful hand
When I trust You, I don't need to understand

Make me Your vessel, make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing but all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

In the crushing, in the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil I, now surrender
You are breaking new ground
You are breaking new ground

Make me Your vessel, make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing but all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
The Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today

Make me Your vessel, make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing but all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Make me, make me
Make me Your vessel, make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing but all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
The Kingdom is here
I lay down my old flames
To carry Your new fire today
Where there is new wine
There is new power
There is new freedom
And the Kingdom is here
    To carry Your new fire today

I lay down my old flames

As long as You
Make me Your vessel, make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing but all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Hillsong Worship

Make me Your vessel Lord.

Make me an offering.

52 Gratitudes 2019 | 29

The other day Jeff mentioned, along with this picture he took of his morning sunrise and the clouds reaching to the horizon and the Savannah River juxtaposed with his current jobsite, that his was going to miss the view. I can see why with every photo he shares of the skies or the Savannah River rafts. I am thankful he is afforded such pleasures amidst his days of sweat, dehydration, unending movement (his body and the parts and pieces of the jobsite), and leveled frustrations accompanying an commercial construction site.

They have been a respite for his otherwise stressful, hard, hot days - those skies, that river, those slow-moving container ships that pass by the eastern wharf on their way to nowhere and back out again. He has derived such pleasure from the simple, yet profound.

I am thankful he shares his sunrises and that next colorful container ship passing by with me throughout my day that I might experience his joy.

All About Me 2019 | She Wears

In the Craft the Story Facebook group I am a member of we have been participating in an August challenge scrap as a way to get more of our stories told. I haven't completed all of the challenges but one I did finish is the challenge to use circles in repetition on your page. Another was to include a series of selfies and another was to include details in your journaling.

With this She Wears page I fulfilled all of those requirements. I took a selfie each day of what I was wearing and included those selfie's in circles, adding digital circle embellishments and chipboard. Then I listed 'details' I noticed from my endeavor of capturing what I wore that week. It was an interesting and revealing exercise.

1. I didn’t realize it until I snapped a picture a day for 7 days that I wear a lot of blue, unintentionally really, because I am more a fall or warm colors person.

2. I often grab the same outfits every week with few changes - and a closet full of other clothes left - hanging.

3. It’s time for some changes: wear some of the clothes I rarely wear and if I don’t like them give them away. But, maybe I’ll find a new favorite. I succumbed to the same 'ole and bought a few new tops and have added them to my what to wear rotation.

4. One of the most comfortable outfits is a pair of tan capris and a soft blue top with aztec embroidary on the front. I wear it every Tuesday. I’m not sure why. It is something that makes me go - hum? I am dreading the day when that top wears out.

5. A new favorite top is a silky smooth black top that hangs on me amazingly. It has a gold zipper, and gold accoutrements. I purchased it on a whim from Roz & Ali. In fact, I love the top so much and how it fits me I ordered a salmon color of the same, because peach and salmon colors are in that warm family of colors that I love and I think look good on me.

Stories 2019 | From Here to There

We recently had a meeting with the GO Mission's team coordinator for our church. They are assisting us in the logistics of Jeff's next mission trip to Austria and Haus Edelweiss. Last year in October Jeff and I traveled to Austria and spent two weeks serving students of the Word from 13 different countries (there were 13 countries represented the two weeks we were working at the Haus. Sometimes there are more countries represented and sometimes less).

While we were there Jeff, the man with the servant's heart, excelled in every area he was tasked to serve  - and then some. The man worked from sunup to beyond sundown outside, inside, in the kitchen, reclaiming a bridge, and tearing down a wall for refurbishing. He had his hands in everything doing the work of the Lord.

His reward for all his hard work and efforts? Return to the Haus for more hard work.

Jeff was asked by the kitchen chef of Haus Edelweiss (where I worked on our trip in October) to return in November, not during a school session but after the sessions are finished for the year and help them demolish the pre-existing old kitchen that still needs to be up fitted. After we prayed and fasted over the go/no go decision, Jeff accepted and when we asked the missions team to help with logistics they gladly said yes! This trip will only be a week long but it will be another sunup to after sundown work effort to demo out the old to make way for the new. We are so excited for this next adventure. 

52 Gratitudes 2019 | 28

I am thankful for Facebook. I mentioned recently in a blog post my love-hate relationship with the social media piranha of this current age and - rage. While I won't go in to those things I dislike about Facebook here -  because it is a 'things I am thankful for' post, I will say I am thankful for Facebook because it is where both of my daughters who live out of state, hours and many hours away, occasionally post photos of my grandchildren and, thus, it is how I am kept informed of things like - how they are growing, and again, thus, what I am missing, too.

And, yes! I am very thankful for Sophia, too! She is loved from afar. I know how much I have missed. She really doesn't even know me.

Besides Facebook, I wanted to share some creative ways I have been thinking about 'keeping in touch', besides talking on the phone, although this is a great way. And, besides FaceTime: My youngest daughter has an iphone so we are able to FaceTime, regularly. Her youngest son, my youngest grandson, Samuel, calls out 'Grammy' every time Ashley's phone rings to FaceTime. He'll climb on to her lap so he can 'see' me. Geez, I am so thankful for FaceTime.

My oldest daughter doesn't have an iPhone. I think hers is a Samsung so we are unable to FaceTime, so getting to see her kids, my other 3 grandchildren, just doesn't happen except through photos. Anyway, I wanted to share some ideas I've had to keep in touch. And, maybe these will be ideas we could potentially implement.

1. A letter journal or a round robin journal. This could be something I could do with my oldest granddaughter, Ella. We could pass a journal back and forth with a continuous letter from each other. It could include more than letters even: Favorite quotes, funny sayings, things someone said, gratitudes, photos of each other...I think this would be such a fun connection between us.

2. With my youngest it is super easy to stay connected because we FaceTime. But, with my older daughter as we have different phones, Skyping would be a great alternative. Definitely should set up a Skype app account.

3. Long-distance book club. As a reader this would be awesome to do with all of my older grandkids. I could read a young adult book with Ella, and even middle school books with my grandsons. We could talk about them while FaceTime or Skyping. Win-win. Connecting with my grandchildren in their likes and reading! 

52 Weeks of Giving 2019 | 31

"I am only one; but still I am one. I may not be able to do everything, but still I can do something."

- Helen Keller

It is how I resolve doing those small acts that do not seem like much, when others are doing so much more. Yet, I know in my heart my small something is - something. Just as those doing something big (in eyes according to me) cannot do everything, because if they could do everything they would not be asking for help. For others to come along side them to be able to do more. Thus, we are all working together. Some small acts, some bigger. All important to the work being done.

I can't go to the border's of Texas and Arizona and New Mexico and serve those who are impacted by the asylum laws of our country but I can come along side Hope Academy and serve the refugee's who have fled war-torn countries and have been accepted into ours and transplanted in my city. It is such a small part. But, I'm thankful they allow me to participate.

 

 

All About Me 2019 | In My Bag

This bag. I’m not sure if I will ever get tired of it. I love the color of the leather and I love the size, truly - and surprisingly. My friend Melinda is a Noonday Ambassador and I love the business practices of Noonday and often buy their jewelry. This purse has been on my dream list - on the ‘dream’ list because of the price point. But, when another friend hosted a Noonday trunk show with all of Melinda’s proceeds going towards her mission trip to India with Rahab’s Rope, I knew it was the perfect time to spend the extra money for this bag! Because - it was for a good cause!

I knew when I bought this bag it was big and anything I would carry inside would get lost if I didn’t come up with a system to preclude having to hunt for something at the bottom of the bag. From JOYN, another fair trade company, and with exceptional business practices empowering women artisan accessories with hand-stamped designs, I purchased a large and small pouch. I received a She Reads Truth pouch for free with a purchase which I use for miscellaneous stuff. I have a purple pouch handmade in India which Melinda brought back for me from her mission trip as a thank you gift for supporting her. I picked up the blue design pouch at JAARS from my mission trip this past summer, made by fair trade artisan’s JAARS seeks to support.

What’s in my bag? In the JOYN wallet: one credit card, library card, driver’s license, military identification, bills and change. Large JOYN pouch is for tissues, pads, coupons, and other miscellaneous papers. In the small JOYN pouch I keep a few hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, nail file and clippers, roll on perfume. My Thailand pouch is a pencil case. My India purple pouch is for my hearing aids (when I need to take them out and I’m not at home) and extra hearing aid batteries because my hearing aids go through batteries weekly but it is always at different days of the week. The tennis ball, thankfully is light weight, is for getting rid of headaches due to pinched nerves. I learned this from my months of physical therapy and I don't leave hope without it. I received a Bath & Body Works gift card for serving with the Sunshine Girls, two books (because I never know what I’m in the mood for, my grocery list, Monkfruit packets, and my access badge for work. And, a checkbook, because I'm still very old school!

52 Weeks of Giving 2019 | 30

I have such issues with Facebook. It truly is a love-hate relationship, although I don't have a lot invested in the relationship. I am a member of quite a few groups that have been a huge blessing in my life, in particularly Craft the Story and December Daily, because they support my hobby. And, hearing about what is going on in ministries I support either financially, or otherwise, is endearing. But, the bitterness and biting and anger and spewing of hate on Facebook, the dissension and ugliness, the censorship (because I believe 100% it happens regularly by Facebook) is so disheartening, and frustrating, and sad.

But, Facebook does something well. They promote giving. Facebook has made it easy for any of its members to set up a page for others to give. One of those ways is the Facebook Birthday Fundraiser. For the person having the birthday, in lieu of gifts, they ask others to give to charity. It is one of the coolest - and easiest ways to give.

For my sister's birthday, to celebrate, she initiated a Facebook Birthday Fundraiser for the Mid-Florida Homeless Coalition. So, this week, this is where we gave. A little somethin', somethin' and we supported the homeless and gave a birthday gift to my sister.