Two days old

Wednesday, January 4: I was talking to my mom on the phone and it beeped that another call was coming through. I looked down and saw the numbers 562 and immediately knew who it was and what they wanted.  I quickly said goodbye and then hello.  There was no small talk.  Just some basic information relayed while she awaited my answer.  I knew the answer was yes, but called Cale to make sure.  And just like that, life shifted.  A phone call bearing news of a two day old little boy who needed a place to be loved and protected and care for.  And that place was with us.  

Shall I back up and fill you in a little bit?  It's a long God-filled story, but I'm going to give you the Cliff Note version.  Last April, having already known that it was God's plan for our family to grow through adoption, He began to shift that vision to something we'd never considered: foster care.  Dun, dun, duh. And that's totally how we felt about it.  Not something we'd ever considered, but He had.  So a few short weeks later, after some praying and crying and peace overflowing, we signed up for Foster Care classes through our county. It took til the end of September for our home study to be approved, but when it was done we were officially licensed Foster Parents.  And then we waited.  

And we waited some more.  We were well aware that it is a good problem to not have children come into the Foster Care system, but at the same time were so ready to see who God would bring to our family, for how ever long.  And a week and a half ago that waiting and wondering came to an end.  He brought us the sweetest little guy, E, who has turned our family upside down in the best possible way.  We have no idea how long he will be with us, but we are all resolved to love him well everyday that he's here.  I don't know what the Lord is going to do in E's life or in our family, but I know it will be good.  And for today I'm going to soak up some newborn love and every little squeak and wriggle!

My 2011 Book Awards

I love to read.  I can still remember the first story I read in my first grade reader.  It was called "A Fish Out of Water" and I was so proud of myself to have read it through with no help.  Once I could read, I never stopped.  My physical location has never limited me...the library aboard the SS Anastasis kept me sane during my Discipleship Training School in Western Africa.  And my husband didn't even bat an eye when I needed practically a whole suitcase for books when we moved to Namibia.  He knows I need them!

I go through an ebb and flow with reading.  Sometimes I'll read 2 books in a week and then go a few without reading any.  Depends on how busy life is and if I have any room in my brain to add to.  I've never kept track of the books I read, but decided to in 2011.  I was interested to know how many I actually read in a year and I was completely surprised by the number.  I read 47 books in 2011.  Some were great, some were challenging and some were just an easy read to escape with.  If reading more is on your list of goals for the New Year, here's a few of my favorites  from last year.

Hands down, the best book I read is Somewhere More Holy by Tony Woodlief. I wrote about it here already, and I can still say it is a beautiful testament to God making beauty from ashes and filling our lives, every room of them, with His goodness. I still think of this book on a weekly basis and plan to read it again this year.

I discovered a new author that writes "Christian fiction" (FYI- I don't like that term!) that isn't brain numbingly bad.  There are good ones out there and she is one of them- Sally John.  She's written several and a few different series and I've really enjoyed them all.  Some are better then others, but overall engaging characters and stories that ultimately honor God.  I think I read 8 of her books last year if that tells you anything!

Belong to Me by Maria de los Santos was a beautiful follow-up to the author's debut novel (Love Walked In) which I read in 2010.  The second book was even better then the first.  Warning: this does have some explicit language which I'm usually very careful about, but didn't find it overly offensive in context.  Wonderfully written with characters you will be sad to leave.  I just requested her newest one from the library and can't wait to read it.

One of my top five books of all time was revisted this year, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. It was as beautiful and gut-wrenching as I remembered it to be.  I think it says a lot about a book that on my third time through, I was still moved to tears at times and laughed aloud at others.  If you haven't read this book...do yourself a favor and read it this year. It contains some of the most perfect sentences you'll ever read.

And here's a few honorable mentions that I really enjoyed, in no particular order.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society..drug my heels on this one because everyone kept saying how good it was.  They were not lying; especially enjoyable if you like historical fiction set in WW II.  This book, Before I Go to Sleep  by SJ Watson is so not my usual style, but I ended up really enjoying it.  Kinda freaky, but good! One of my first books of 2011 was Little Bee by Chris Cleave.  Difficult and heart-breaking to read, but also can't turn the pages fast enough.

My only goal in regards to reading in this new year is to beef up my non-fiction list.  I love to collect non-fiction and slowly read them.  It's time to dust off that stack and get busy.  I aim to read at least 2 non-fiction each month.  As for the rest, I'm open to suggestions.  Read any good books lately?