Just Listen

I may or may not have read this book in 24 hours.  I guess that's what happens with YA fiction...and a delayed flight followed by a lazy day at home! :)

Overall thoughts of the book:  I enjoyed it.  I was a little hesitant with the YA part, but I was also in the mood for an fun, easy read.  This fit both categories.  I'd also heard recommendations about another one of Sarah Dessen's books, and a few people suggested YA fiction when I've asked for books.  So I figured I'd give it a try.  I'm glad I did.  It was in part about a girl in high school figuring out who she is, what role her past will play in her future, and how she fits in socially and in her family.  I really like emotional dramas, and this seemed to be right up my alley.

Falling to Heaven

So the second book on my list was "Falling to Heaven" by James L. Ferrell.  I was super excited to read this book.  I was first introduced to James L. Ferrell when I read his two books, "The Peacegiver" and "The Holy Secret" during my second transfer in the mission field.  My mission president gave me both books and assignment to read them each twice...before the next transfer meeting.  It was an amazing experience and I've read "The Peacegiver" several times since then.  I absolutely love that book!

So, when I saw his newest book "Falling to Heaven" at Deseret Book a couple of weeks ago, I immediately bought it.  I read about three-fourths of the book on Saturday and finished it up tonight.  It's a pretty simple read, but really deep and profound at the same time.  It's different than the Peacegiver, and that's something that I struggled with initially.  The writing style is different, the way he approaches the subject seems different.    It wasn't what I expected.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book.  It was about how to find happiness in this life, and he talked about things in a new way.  It was really interesting, and it makes me want to go back and really study--not just read--the book.  I particularly liked the end, where he talked about living a "confessional life" and being honest with those around us.  He talked about how the key to finding happiness is falling, and it reminded me of a quote from his other book about the Fall of Adam and Eve and how that related to the Atonement.  I'd definitely recommend this book, with the warning that it might be different than you expect, but totally worth it!

Sunday Thought

I love this!!  Don't you?!?

Room

Okay, I have officially finished the first book in my A-Z reading challenge.  Here's my thoughts...

I absolutely LOVED this book!  I had a few people recommend it to me, and it was the perfect book to start off with!  It was a little hard to get into because it was written from a five year old boy's perspective.  But once I got used to that, I couldn't put it down!  It was so hard to work on other projects, or even go to bed at night, because I wanted to just keep reading.

I really enjoyed how the author portrayed the innocence of Jack.  He is such a cute little boy, and the reader can't help but fall in love with him and his simplistic view of the world.  I also liked the book because it was emotional and personal, and I felt like I could enjoy the emotions of the characters without getting caught up in the drama like at work! :)

I'd say more about the book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.  I'd definitely recommend this book!!

A-Z Reading Challenge

Today I had a fabulous idea.  After some researching on Google, I realized that I wasn't the first person to have this idea.  Oh well.  I still think it's fun and I'm still going to do it.  And anyone else who wants to join me is more than welcome!

During the year 2013, I am going to read at least 26 books....one for each letter of the alphabet.  I'll pick a book that starts with each letter of the alphabet (although with X or any other super hard ones I may just let myself pick a book with that letter somewhere in the title).  I'll write a short review of each book I read, and keep this post updated with the book I've chosen for that letter.  Also, feel free to comment with book recommendations!  I'm always looking for new books to read.

So... Here's the list:

A -
B -
C - (The) Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright
   - (The) Christmas Train by David Baldacci
   - (The) Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
D -
E - Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

F - Falling to Heaven by James L. Ferrell
   - Fire by Kristin Cashore
   - Forget Me Not by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
   - Family Pictures by Jane Green

G - Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
   - Graceling by Kristin Cashore

H - Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I -

J - Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
  - January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield

K - Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

L -

M -

N -

O -

P -

Q -

R - Room by Emma Donoghue 

S - (The) Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason F. Wright

T - Through His Eyes by Virginia Pearce
   - Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso

U -

V -

W - (The) Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

X -

Y - Your Happily Ever After by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Z -

What Faith Can Do

Tonight I went to an amazing fireside about becoming our best selves.  We started by listening to and then singing this song.  It's an EFY song most of us had never heard and we didn't have the actual music, just the text, so it didn't sound great, but the message was perfect.  Take a minute to listen to it, and really think about the words:

Isn't that a beautiful message?

"Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise...
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don't you give up now...
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try...
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way...
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do."

That's what faith can do.  I know that through faith, the miracles we seek can become realities in our lives, the broken pieces can be healed and our lives can be guided by our loving Father in Heaven.  Faith can do whatever we need.  Through faith we can do whatever the Lord asks of us.  It's hard, of course, but never impossible.  The Lord will help us, and will make up for what we can't do.  We just have to have the faith to act, the faith to try, and the faith to never give up.  That's the power of faith in our lives.  That's what faith can do.

Quick catch up and on to 2013

Ya, I had great plans of posting a Christmas thing and a year in review and all that jazz.  My parents came out for Christmas and then we were struck with what we've affectionately named "the plague" and all those lofty plans flew out the window.  Having the flu at Christmas isn't fun.  But everyone having the flu just stinks.    But, it was still wonderful to be together and have my parents in town and see my sisters so much!

Anyways, those posts aren't going to happen, and it's time to just focus on 2013.  I feel like I should write the obligatory 2013 New Year's Resolution post, but I'm not going to.  I'm actually not making New Year's Resolutions.  Instead, I'm going to continue something I started in October.

In October, I went to a mission reunion.  (Which was amazing, by the way!)  Anyways, my mission president has always focused on setting and keeping goals and returning and reporting on those goals.  So at the reunion he taught us about his 10 in 90 program.  It was awesome.  Basically, it's a list of ten things (goals) that you will accomplish in the next 90 days (or 3 months).  Specific things, with a deadline!  And not something that you will evaluate in a year.  90 days is the perfect time.  So I started this in October, and it worked really well for me.  I include professional, social, spiritual and personal goals.  And now that it's January, it's time to make my new 10 in 90 list.

And no, I'm not going to post it here.  But I will share three of my items of focus for the next 90 days.  One is to read the entire Book of Mormon in these 90 days.  The other is to create a program and schedule for interns at my facility.  The other is to post more regularly on the blog.

What about you??  What are your goals?