BEST BOOKS!!

My friend Kris and I were talking about our favorite books so I decided to start my own list and place it on the blog to see if anybody agreed or disagreed with me. By and large my favorite books tend to be Children's literature-- Especially the Newberrys. I have a collection of them and LOVE them. Most adult literature these days tends to offend me in one way or another. Too many people worried about "shock value" instead of real value. Anyway, here's my list with all the asides necessary to explain my choices. Sorry the spacing is so funky. Still trying to get the hang of it

Cry the Beloved Country (Alan Paton)-- An amazing tale of redemption and forgiveness in South Africa
Harry Potter-- Of Course

The Westing Game-- (Ellen Raskin) This is one of my favorite books of all time. I discovered it as a kid and have rediscovered it again and again since. Still clever, still surprising after all these years

Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) I waited an awful long time to read this series. It seemed too heavy and convoluted for my sensibilities, but the movies helped put some things in perspective and I was able to get through it. Looking back now I see that all fantasy since Tolkien is just copying Tolkien.
Ender's Game-- While I've not been a huge fan of anything else Orson Scott Card's written, Ender's game is Really good.
Ella Enchanted-- (Gail Carson Levine) I recently discovered this book when I bought it for my girls and couldn't keep my hands off it. A prince, a maiden, and a curse-- a winning combination

The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger-- (Lois Lowry)-- The Giver blew me away, Gathering Blue confused me, and Messenger brought them all together

Joy Luck Club- (Amy Tan) -- Interesting look at Chinese- American Mothers and daughters (and American ones for that matter) and really good stories to boo

Christy-- Trials of faith in the backcountry of Tennessee

In His Steps-- a really old book that examines how our world would be different if every action were preceded by the decision to do only what Jesus would Do

A Single Shard-- Way cool ideas about creativity, Asia, and pottery

The Chosen-- Deciding WHETHER and WHAT you believe is pretty important stuff!

DaVinci Code-- Really fun, really fast read. High on action, low on credibility, but FUN.

Anne of Green Gables (Books 1-3)-What girl hasn't made a rash decision and then regretted it for the rest of her life!!!!

CRAZY, CRAZY!!!

So, about 9 years ago I got pregnant. My timing was so judicious that my baby was due on the exact same day as my 1 year old daughter. When it came time for me to deliver the baby, I was adamant that they not be born on the same day. The doctor induced me the day before her birthday but Matt just wouldn't come and wouldn't come. Through some very powerful numbing drugs and pretty intense pulling and pushing (not to mention the motivation of a flight to Florida that needed to be caught by 1 a.m.) Robert Matthew Jensen was born. October 1st. 11:40 p.m.

Yes, it's true. I've got one birthday on Oct. 1 and one on Oct. 2. Which is actually very convenient when it comes to remembering their birthdays, or how old or how far apart they are. The convenience ends there. Each year I ask myself, "What was I thinking" as we hold two birthday parties or buy balloons and donuts for breakfast two days in a row. Inevitably, because I'm too tired after all the back-to-school hoopla we have One family party for the both of them. Amy asked me this year why I bothered to have them a day apart when we celebrate it the same day anyway. There's nothing like the wisdom of a tween.

Anyway, this year is especially fun because Matthew is turning 8. We get friend parties when we're eight and Oh, did I mention a baptism, also, is in the works. So if you're wondering WHy I haven't posted it's because I'm the proverbial chicken---with its head cut off. So what else is new?