Finished: The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlett Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Finished: Depression...Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness

Depression:  Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness by Edward T. Welch

Finished: Moonfleet

Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner

Finished: Many Waters

Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engel

Finished: The Story Girl

The Story Girl by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Finished: Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Finished: The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories

The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories by George MacDonald

Finished: The Princess and Curdie

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald

Finished: The Princess and the Goblin

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Finished: Les Miserables

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Finished: Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Finished: The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Finished: Fierce Women

Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner

Dead Sneakers

In case you're ever tempted to leave your sneakers at the bottom of the steps in a dark place:  don't.

It will feel strangely similar to what you think stepping on a dead animal might feel like, and you just might have adrenaline shooting through you for a very brief, heart-pounding moment.

Not that that's happened to me, or anything.

Prayer-Wish

I am finding it a struggle to not treat praying like wishing.

Brundibar

There is an essay written here that relates Maurice Sendak's worldview.  Because it touches on his strange book, Brundibar, which I own, I am including here for future reference.

Application of Motherhood

I was encouraged by this blog post today. Here is an excerpt:

Imagine yourself in your kitchen trying to make dinner for a group of little kids who are tired and should have eaten a half hour ago. Imagine that things are going wrong beyond that — maybe you are out of something you assumed you had, children are fussing with one another, and maybe your littlest is still at the age where they come stand on your feet and pull on your pant leg. Bonus points if you are wearing maternity pants and this little person is actually capable of pulling your pants down. You are hot, you are tired, and you are sick of it.

This is no time for a gospel presentation. There isn’t time. There isn’t anyone to lead the discussion around the felt board, because you are still scrambling to figure out dinner. This isn’t a time for a gospel presentation because it is a time for gospel application. This is a time to take the grace that God has extended to you, and feed your children with it. Apply what you believe about God’s mercy and kindness and long suffering towards us, and pour it out to them — in a form they can believe in.

Holiday Shopping

OK. I seriously spit my soup out all over my computer while watching this.

Finished: Singing in the Fire

Beautifully written brief biographies about those who persevered under suffering. I was able to read one a night before bed.

Singing in the Fire, Faith Cook

Finished: The Sound of Trumpets

Beautifully written brief biographys about believers who made a difference in their lives until the Lord called them home.

The Sound of Trumpets, Faith Cook