Melting my Body. Growing my Mind

This last weekends ago, my father's work provided their employees with a wonderful opportunity....to die of heat stroke. Ok, that's not really it, but that's sure what it felt like. You see, every August they have a "picnic" which involves varying activities from year to year; this year was going to a Texas Rangers baseball game. My family doesn't go things like this very often, so with the inticement of free food and a Mercy Me concert, we obliged. Let's just say we had some difficulties..... Just to name a few, it was hot -- like 105 at 7:00p.m. hot-- which after a summer of 115 I can deal with but stuck in a crowd with no air flow...the food was hot... our seats were high and in the sun almost the whole game. But not that I'm whining or anything.

Watching the game itself was really cool. It has been a long time since I have been to a game and it was fun just to be in a huge group of people with one purpose (even if that purpose is to have a team win). It reminded me of the influence that mission-minded people can have.

Once the sun went down the real fun began; by that time we had gotten used the flow of the game (this is Texas, people, we like baseball but football...that's our sport) and it was significantly cooler (and by that i mean it was like 95.) It was a smelly car ride home (note to self: deodorant should be for more places than pits) but it was good family bonding experience, all in all.

  Preparing to be a Help Meet by Debi Pearl
What its about: Lots of girls think that once you get married you will become perfect and your husband will be perfect, and never have any problems. This book shows, in a Godly way, how, in essence, life isn't a bowl of cherries, but that there are some attitudes that can make relationships deadly and how to biblically approach the whole concept of finding a husband, and what it takes to make that work.
@: @@@ Now I'm not out to find a husband, but this book, though written more for a 19ish year old, has some good principles that aren't always explained well to young women, as well as wonderful reminders about how you can't just drop into the wonderful role that you think being a wife is, that it takes hard work, commitment a Godly foundation, ect.
Not so wonderful parts: First of all, I hate the phrase Help Meet/Mate.  A help mate is a golden retriver, a wife is something totally different. This book is written by a fairly legalistic lady who though doesn't make the point of the book 'All women should wear long skirts all the time' but it seeps in. Also in one story told courting is taken to a point where its more like an arranged marrige. Once again its written for the slightly older girls and some parts I feel like were little strange ( do I really need to know how to make yogurt?)
All in all: This a helpful book to use in looking to the future, as well as helpful ways to prepare your heart, but as with so many things, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Proper Life Skills from Regency England by Margret C. Sullivan
What its about: This is fun little book that has lovely helpful information such as How to Elope to Scotland.
@: This book isn't going to get a rating because its not really a proper book; its written in bullet points and doesn't really have full sentences.
All in all: This book is just a silly little book that I was interested because of ECD, however if I ever need to know how to elope in Scotland or how to get on an off a horse in proper regency garb Im all set! ;) 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
What its about: In the former North America, there are 12 districts. To show their control, the government takes one boy and one girl from each district and puts them in a huge arena to compete to survive, and only one can win.
@: @@@@ @/2 out of five.  although this book has a violent basis, its FAR less violent or descripive than book's like The Iliad. The main character takes her younger sister's place in the games,  and its the hunting and gathering skills she learned while providing for her famly that give her a chance of survival.
Not so great parts: This book is based on teens killing each other, and has a lot of kissing, though its not described any more than 'I kissed him and then...'
All in all: I love this book; it was written at a level slightly younger than the Harry Potter books, but (at least for me) it was written so well that I didn't even notice the writing!

 

I intend to live forever or die trying ~ Groucho Marx