Saturday, Dec 31, 2011
Author: Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-0-8499-4615-8
Publish Date: November 2, 2010
Pages: 162 Trade Paperback
Type: Biography: Religious
Purchase: $8.75 at Amazon.com
Review
After a minister’s son undergoes emergency appendectomy and nearly loses his life, Colton Burpo begins to reveal to his parents the tale of his visit to heaven while in the hospital. At the young age of 4 years old, he begins to describe to his parents events of his out of his body experience. For example, he tells them what he witnessed them doing in another section of the hospital while he was in surgery. He then begins to share with him the glory of heaven and all that had witnessed, including meeting his great-grandfather and unborn sister. Colton describes in great detail how angels appeared, what Jesus looked like, and the glorious beauty of heaven.
As Colton shares the details of his visit, these provided facts to his father mirror the words which are stated in the Bible. At his young age, he had not yet read or heard about such things. Some of the sweeter points of the book were how Colton described that nobody is old in heaven and everybody appears as their best self. He held such a vivid image in his mind of the way that Jesus appeared, that he claimed that Jesus didn’t look like most of the pictures that were shown to him. However, upon meeting a young female artist who had also claimed to have seen Jesus and subsequently painted his portrait, Colton confirmed that image as being what Jesus truly looked like. Colton also shares his amazement of how “really, really big” God is.
After reading similar tales such as 90 Minutes in Heaven, this story mirrors other books which I have read before about eye-witness accounts of God’s heavenly home for us. It doesn’t provide a complete validation that there is, in fact, truly a heaven. However, the book makes a strong case for believing in it.
Rating
For Christians, a book such as this is a loving reminder of what we have to look forward to after we have finished our earthly life. For non-believers, I maintain that this book will, at minimum, raise eyebrows and make them consider the possibility of life in heaven after death. Children of such a young age cannot muster up the facts that Colton was able to bring forth to his parents out of a simple imagination. Colton was even able to identify a picture of “Pop” after meeting him in heaven (as he had never met him in life). This boy was also able to reaffirm the greatness and glory of God and heaven. It was the perfect reminder during the Christmas holiday season of my Christian faith and of what I have to look forward to.
|
Posted in Books Books Books
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011
We are so blessed this year! It is such a gift to have such wonderful friends and family in our lives… your impact on our lives this year means more to us than we can possibly say. More importantly, God has shown his amazing grace to our family through some of our greatest challenges this year. Like many Americans, we have faced struggles during this economic downturn, however we are so grateful for all of God’s wonderful blessings. In 2011, I have been fortunate to be working for a dynamic and professional organization which keeps me challenged and quite busy. I am grateful for the steady employment in a time when so many cannot find good jobs. The twins have entered Huntington Beach High School and are learning the ropes of high school life. With honors classes, learning to play guitar, church, and playing soccer, they lead a life with a full schedule. As always, I am quite proud of their accomplishments. Always addicted to their music, cell phones, and laptops, it’s a rarity to see them unplugged and just wanting to hang out with good ole’ Mom. However, we were able to visit Big Bear on vacation this year and get in some good game playing and cooking time. Living with teenagers is a new and, well, interesting experience! As we look towards 2012, we are hopeful that we are able to continue to survive in today’s economy and pray that God bless you and your families with his amazing grace.
|
Posted in Personal Blogs
Saturday, Nov 26, 2011
Deanna & Nicole at Big Bear Lake
We have enjoyed our vacation this year. The twins, the dogs, and I have spent the past several days up at Big Bear Lake, CA. We were hoping to get snow on Thanksgiving, but didn’t luck out. Although, snow is plentiful on the mountain and we got to see plenty of it (such a treat for beach girls)! We were able to play games, eat well, visit the zoo, go on walks, hit the shops downtown, and relax in the jacuzzi. Everybody had a great time.
Here’s a pic of our favorite owl from the zoo:
We’re heading down the mountain on Sunday around noon after a hearty breakfast and all is packed up at the cabin. After we unpack, I plan on doing a little house cleaning and errand running before returning to work on Tuesday. It’s been a nice long vacation off from work – nearly 10 days off in a row (I had to go into work one afternoon and have been “on-call” while out). At the beginning of my vacation from work, I worked on the front of the house. Deanna and I planted a flower garden. After my ex-husband and I fixed my gates, the twins and I painted the gates the color of Chianti. The front of our home is looking nice… and we’re proud.
I’m planning on starting to read a book tonight called Heaven is For Real. I heard that it’s a sweet book and am looking forward to it. I hope that you are enjoying your current read.
On the entertainment side… the twins went and saw Breaking Dawn – Part I. They said they enjoyed it. I’m still addicted to Revenge on ABC and Welcome to Sweetie Pies on the OWN Channel. What are you watching?
I hope that y’all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and that Black Friday didn’t completely swallow you whole!
Warmest wishes from our family to yours…
|
Posted in Personal Blogs
Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central/Hachette
ISBN #: 978-0-446-54765-9
Type: Fiction
Pages: 292 Hardback
Publish Date: October 11, 2011
Website: http://nicholassparks.com/
Purchase: $14.26 (HERE)
The Story
In the small town of Oriental, North Carolina, people tell lies, capture secrets and hold revenge in their hearts. Like other small towns, some of its citizens move away and start lives anew. They move away to escape their secrets and avoid the hurts that once held them captive. Yet, despite their relocations, their roots are tied to their hometown and the love that bounds them there. Amanda and Dawson are two such people. Both moved away from Oriental to start their lives over again. However, neither of them chose the life that they had dreamed of in high school, when they were completely and solely in love with one another.
Amanda Collier came from a wealthy family whose sights were set on her going to college and marrying well. Dawson Cole was born into a less fortunate family. Despite her family’s unwillingness to accept or approve of their relationship, Amanda fell deeply in love with her once-in-a-lifetime soul mate. He was an outcast from a renegade, criminal-minded family with a bad reputation which proceeded them. He left his home and moved in with Tuck, a local auto-mechanic. He kept his meager room and board by working, the majority of the proceeds of which were stolen by his menacing, threatening family. Luckily Tuck understood and allowed Dawson to stay with him. It was there that Amanda would come and visit Dawson. Tuck was the constant, supportive friend who was seemingly always there for Dawson and, later, for Amanda.
Years after life had separated their great love due to instance of tragedy, Amanda and Dawson were brought back together via Tuck’s passing. As they meet up at his home to sort out his belongings and attend his funeral, they were faced with messages from Tuck. He knew and loved them both. As such, he had letters filled with words of wisdom and love for each of them as they rediscover the long-lost love they had for one another. Although they are able to face this great love and open their hearts to one another, their fates would take their worlds in directions they could never imagine.
The Review
The Best of Me is one of the best novels to come from Nicholas Sparks. What amazed me the most about this read was the way in which Sparks painted such a vivid, vital cast of characters, all of which the reader wants to learn the fate of. Like most small towns, everybody is related to another in some manner and this story provided that same feel… that everything and everybody in the story were connected. In following the fates of these characters, Sparks surprises the reader with not always providing the anticipated results as the pages turned. Rather, what the reader anticipated didn’t always materialize in the expected way.
The twists & turns, the underlying love story, the uniquely imaginable characters, and the well synchronized story telling cumulate into a heartfelt and memorable novel.
The Rating
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale,” I am giving The Best of Me a rating of 9 out of 10. It has all of the components that a good novel needs… love, family, tragedy, spirituality and betrayal. A seasoned writer, Nicholas Sparks provides it all!
Disclosure to new readers: I’m a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nicholas Sparks. I have read all of his books, own all of his books and the movies based off of them!
Works By Nicholas Sparks
|
Posted in Books Books Books
Sunday, Nov 13, 2011
November Greetings to You…
I hope that all is well with you as we see Thanksgiving creeping around the corner. It’s already that time of year to start thinking about Christmas presents, cards, and decorating the house. Where has the time flown? The twins, pups and I are planning our annual trip up to Big Bear Mountain. There’s been a dusting of snow and the girls are hoping for a lot more so that they can snowboard while we are there.
I recently celebrated my 42nd birthday with my mom and sister. We went to this fabulous place called The Melting Pot, which is a fondue restaurant. I think I ate until I could eat no more. My mom took me shopping and then a couple of days later surprised me with a copy of Nicholas Sparks’ new one The Best of Me. So far, so great (but, to be expected from one of favorite authors).
For my birthday, I treated myself to a couple of goodies and also got my hair all chopped off.
(I got 3″ taken off my hair… EEK. It will be the perfect length by Christmas time, I’m sure.)
In preparation for the Fall/Winter season, I cut back my overgrown garden in the front yard. It’s nearly bare with the exception of my perineals. We had some wonderful rains over the past 24 hours and I’m hoping for a bit more. I’d like to plant some bright, colorful pansies next weekend and fill in the bare spots with fresh bark.
I’ve also been making little home repairs throughout the house. I’m realizing that I’m falling in love with my house all over again now that I know that the girls and I are safe in our new mortgage. It’s such a sense of relief after an anxious year of not knowing what the future would hold.
O.K. time to gush about my favorite new show of the season… REVENGE! This is the juiciest and most addictive drama since Dynasty! There is intrigue, love, lust, jealousy, and it is filled with a cast of great characters. My two favorites are:
Emily VanCamp portrays Emily Thorne who is the main character who is seeking revenge for the death of her father, who was framed.
Victoria Grayson, played by Madeleine Stowe, is the housewife next door who was involved with Emily’s father, but betrayed him and sent him to jail.
I can’t get enough of this Wednesday night show (ABC). If you are able to get it on-demand or on the web, I highly recommend it!
Well, here’s to a safe and happy week to my friends and readers!
|
Posted in entertainment reviews, Personal Blogs
« Previous Page — « Previous Entries Next Entries » — Next Page »
