My Reading Blog

It's been raining and storming for seven days, with only one day of some sunshine (I got to walk).  We've been very fortunate that we only have rain and more rain.  Many other places in Arkansas have been hit with tornadoes and severe storms, damaging/destroying homes and nine deaths related to the storms and high water.  The lakes and rivers are overflowing.  It's hard to get motivated on days like this.  Maybe tomorrow the sun will shine and dry up some of the standing water.  In the meantime, I'll find something to do inside - read a book, crochet or cross stitch. On a positive note, as the saying goes:  April showers, bring May flowers.  It should be a beautiful May!

A spy espionage mystery started out with stolen artwork which led to happenings during the Holocaust and afterwards.  A retired Israeli agent/art restorer became involved in the pursuit of the painting only to find the real story behind the painting.  The book traveled from England to Germany to Argentina and back to Europe.  Once the connection became apparent that the stolen painting held many clues to the money and paintings that was taken from the Jews, the British and American intelligence agencies became involved.  Who would guess that they could all work together for a common cause.  Wonder if they really do.  Or do they work together to get information about each other.  Hmmmm.  Do they often get the "common, every day citizen" to work for them?  I wonder how close this "fiction" is to the real thing.  Silva is a very good author.  Keeps you wanting for more.  A good page turner and of course, a good ending. 

I'm feeling blue today.  Yesterday afternoon, Pearl, Sandee and I had our Wednesday "Attitude Adjustment".  It was a wonderful couple of hours, sharing, laughing, and just being together.  But, then, Pearl asked me to say a prayer for safe travel for them and a few other concerns.  It was one of the hardest prayers to pray, knowing that we wouldn't be getting together every Wednesday, except on the phone.  God helped me say the right words through the tears that I was crying.  We will miss getting together, but we know that this is a good move for her.  But even knowing that, it doesn't make it any easier to part.  We shared so much over the four years we've known each other.  She was as much of a comfort to me as I was to her.  God gave us each other.  For that I'm thankful.

I am so blessed to have such a wide array of friends.  Family is wonderful and I don't know what I'd do without any of them, but FRIENDS....  This past week our friends, Carol & Jim, have taken care of Max & me.  They took Max while I worked and went to Fayetteville.  They fed me and shared their time with me. I renewed a friendship with Judy, who I haven't seen in over 10 years.  We grew up together in Clifton, were best friends in grade school, had different classes in high school, took a vacation to Mackinaw Island after graduating.  Then went our separate ways.  We always kept in contact, at least at Christmas.  I got married, then she got married.  Our lives took different paths.  Five years ago we started e-mailing each other and have been in weekly contact since that time.  Her brother moved to Arkansas and last year he had a stroke.  Judy & her husband decided it was time to visit him in Ft. Smith.  W...

For the past ten days Max and I've been "on our own".  Earlier I wrote "What Should I Do" and upon reviewing it this morning, I see that I've done a little of each.  But then, I probably would have done those things if I was alone or if Len was here.  I guess it's more about being by myself and doing what I want, when I want.  I read, crocheted, cross stitched, made cards, answered e-mails, blogged and read blogs, took long walks with Max, exercised, cleaned and sat on the front porch.  I enjoyed time renewing a friendship from my grade school years and sharing time with a elderly friend who is moving away.  My days were filled, but yet empty because I miss having Len around.  I miss the hugs and kisses, the kidding around and talking.  I miss having my meals cooked for me.  I miss having another "body" in the house.  So even though I enjoyed my time alone, I'm looking forward to his return so we can get back to a "normal" life....

This medical mystery takes place in Sweden at a medical research facility.  A deadly virus has been taken by one of the lab assistants.  He along with a rabbit is found dead - no one else has been exposed.  But this is only the beginning of the story. Another theft is planned by the disgruntled son of the owner/scientist of the research facility.  In some instances, it was a comedy of errors by the thieves and yet it had a very serious undertone.  Even though the security at the facility was exceptional,  the virus was taken. This book makes you really think about what could happen if the deadly viruses that are being tested got into the hands of terrorists or someone crazy.  How easy it would be for someone to blend in with a crowd and release the virus into the air.  The testing needs to be done and an antibody found, but who is in charge of security, how good is it.  What happens if some disgruntled employee decides to sell the virus to ...

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself" - Jim Rohn

M issued a challenge on her blog.  It really made me ponder, think and reflect on my life.  So when talking to God this morning and walking with Max, I came up with many things that express Joy in my life.  I responded on M's Literacy Zone blog with the following: Faith in an awesome God. Enjoying life with my wonderful husband. Surrounded by children and grandchildren. Awaiting a beautiful sunrise. Sipping a glass of wine. Then I shared 25 words on M's Too Much Too Little blog: Twin granddaughters Smiles, giggles Sharing a book Singing a song Watching you grow, learn, investigate Crawling, standing, walking Clapping, babbling, imitating God's miracle of children And after contemplating and pondering, here are 25 words expressing JOY for my blog: God      Parents            Husband                 ...

Again, when perusing Sandra's library, I found an author that I have never read.  This is a medical suspense novel.  Very well written.  Kept me turning page after page and not wanting to put the book down.  A bit gory in places, but that was part of the suspense.  This book is part of a continuing series and I look forward to reading more books by Tess in the future. She made some of her characters very likable and others very standoffish.  The main character, Jane Rizzoli, is a woman detective working in homicide with all male detectives.  She has to prove herself every step of the way, which is just a continuation of her years growing up with 3 brothers.  No one in her family or on the force took her seriously and therefore, she was always down on herself and pushed herself to be the best. I wonder if the author grew up in a similar situation.  At first I didn't like Jane because she was so down on herself and everyone else.  But ...

What Should I do?????   It's just Max and me for ten days.  What should I do???? Should I clean the house? Should I do the laundry? Should I clean out the cabinets? Should I read a book, crochet a prayer shawl, cross stitch the girls' Christmas stockings, make some cards, scrap some pages sort thru pics???? Should I send some e-mails, update my blog, play some computer games, read some blogs? Should I take Max for a long walk? Should I sit on the front porch, sipping coffee, listening to the birds and watching the sun rise? Should I exercise, play Wii or flip thru the channels (I have control of the remote!!!) Should I make lists of what I should do? Maybe I'll put them all in a hat and take one out each day to see what I should do. So much to do, or not. A good time to reflect and pray and appreciate the life I have.

This was a very thought provoking book.  My faith has always been very strong and my view of heaven is one of awe.  This book makes Heaven even more awesome.  To think that Jesus will meet me when I arrive in Heaven - WOW.  To be able to meet all those who have gone before me - especially my Mom & Dad - but not old - we will all be young, healthy, free of pain, in a glorified body (maybe we'll be thin!!!) Colton kept telling his parents that "Jesus loves the little children".  So we need to keep telling those Bible stories, singing Jesus Loves Me, being examples by showing God's love in everything we do and say.  We need to share our faith with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren.  Pass it on. I know that all who believe and are baptized will go to Heaven, but what about those babies who are still born or miscarried or aborted.  Colton found his sister (who was miscarried at two months) in Heaven.  She was never named, but ...