For the Love Review

I got this book as I was preparing to move across North America. For the Love gave me laughter, it gave me teary-eyed moments, and it gave me new phrases, like "off the beam" and "leggings as pants" (just say no, friends...) and the best of all: "Be Kind. Be You. Love Jesus."

If there is a book you want to give to all your friends, this would be the one. Jen Hatmaker has a smart and sassy sense of humor, and this book makes all of us feel that she's our very own bestie. She speaks truth in love and humor.

Here is my endorsement of the book. It wasn't chosen to be printed in the book itself, but it's on the website.

Biblical, humorous, poignant, and sometimes just a little bit irreverent, every chapter in Jen Hatmaker’s latest book For the Love is focused on what the title says: Everything we do, we do for the Love: love for God, love for His Son Jesus, love for His people. All His people: the people in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, in the world. I laughed and cried in turn, and my heart was moved to love God and His people in real and tangible ways. What more could one ask for in one book?

31 Days of . . .

Oh goodness, friends. I haven't been blogging as much this week as last week. Getting my girls geared up for school (younger settled into 10th grade, older ready to move to college next week) has been my top priority.

So when I got an email today about the Write 31 Days community changing hostesses and gearing up for another October full of writing and fun, I was a bit jarred. Um, it's August. For the love!

But it's never too early to plan. So I will give myself next week to drive to Oklahoma and back home to Georgia, and I'll have plenty of car ride time to think of something. My best idea was last year's challenge. But who knows, with a move to another region of this great nation, maybe I can think of some other things too.

The Nester is the creator and original hostess, and Crystal is taking over this year as the challenge's hostess.

Also, I think I need to learn Periscope.

Austen in August? Yes, please!

My friend Leann posted about this reading challenge at Roof Beam Reader (intro post is here, master post is here) and I decided to go all in! I have been unpacking my books a few at a time, deciding which unread ones I want to read (and putting the ones I don't or no longer wish to own in the Paperbackswap.com list or the donation box). I have unearthed five Austenesque fiction and nonfiction books I haven't yet read, so I am going to read them during August. I have filled my July with fictiony fluff, so reading Austen may be a good grounding experience for me.

I will also add Emma to my Kindle as well, because I haven't read it in a while. I reread Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility over the past several months, so it's about time for an Emma reread.

What I Learned in July...

Emily Freeman started it.

No, really, she did. And then my friend Teri Lynne continued it. So now for the first time I'm joining in.

1. Georgia is hot. 

2. After four years living in Alaska, I didn't think I'd miss it this much. But I do. I miss my friends, the familiarity, the mountain views, and of course the moose.

3. I stressed about and struggled with our choice of internet service provider when we realized (after we purchased the house and moved all the way in) that we are in a rural area and only had one choice: satellite (well, either that or pay just as much for a hotspot in the house with less data, that might not be reliable in service based on my cell phone coverage in the house). Imagine my relief when I saw a photo on The Nester's blog of her satellite dishes. JUST LIKE MINE except she has a cute flower bed. I felt better. She's a pro and she has the same internet as I do. I felt much better (and now that we've used up our "high speed' we're on regular speed, and may I just say it's just fine for just using the internet? I did cancel Netflix, though).

4. Apparently a supportive wife sitting in the front seat of the car while her husband drives most of the 6000+ miles across North America, holding her Kindle, can injure her shoulder enough to require a trip to the doctor for prescription-strength naproxen and a packet of physical therapy exercises to do for the next two weeks. Who knew reading was so hazardous?

5. I am blessed indeed as a book reviewer. I have been getting advance copies of books I have longed to read ever since I first heard of their existence, and they're blessing my socks off! Stay tuned to my newly-active blog for more book reviews over the next six weeks or so.

6. I read 20 books this month alone. I still have 16 boxes of books and teaching materials to sort through that are sitting in our very hot garage. With all the lizards who are hiding behind them. 

What have you learned this month?

Dancing Through Life - Review and Giveaway

Welcome to my review and giveaway of Candace Cameron Bure's new book Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction (written with Erin Davis).

I received a copy of the book in exchange for my review, and thanks to Icon Media I'll be able to offer a giveaway as well!

Pattie and her addiction

So I'm a book addict. I think we all know that by now, right?

I did spend last October writing about my favorite books, after all...

Now I am going to take a moment and catch up on what I have been reading lately.

First, I wanted to update my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

When it was first announced that Harper Lee had a second book, a predecessor of sorts to her beloved and wonderful To Kill a Mockingbird, I think many of us who are readers and writers and teachers were first shocked, then delighted. Another novel by Lee! How wonderful! Of course it should be published with pomp and ceremony and fanfare!

I know that there is much debate in the press about this novel, not only about the odd timing (after Alice Lee’s death, it was suddenly found underneath a Mockingbird manuscript), but also that it was the rough first novel that led to the editor suggesting the change in point of view and age of the heroine. I read a couple of articles on the eve of its publication with attention-grabbing headlines about Atticus Finch being a racist, and I decided then and there to avoid reading anything else (including my friends’ reviews and comments on social media sites) and, to borrow a line from The Great Gatsby’s narrator Nick, “to reserve all judgments” until I had finished the book myself.