"The Shack" (book) attack

I just finished reading The Shack, a novel by Wm. Paul Young. As the book jacket says, "The Shack wrestles with the timeless question: Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" 

It was a very thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, comforting, and exhausting read! A word of warning--if you are like me, you will pick up the book and not be able to put it back down until you're at the final page. So, get a big box of tissues, put on a pot of coffee or tea, and settle into a comfortable chair. I won't say any more about the book, because I don't want to give away the story, but I do recommend it. 

There is a web site for the book at www.TheShackBook.com

If you are interested in a United Methodist take on the book, see the review at http://www.umportal.org/print_article.asp?id=4327

Autumn scenery at home

Yesterday was such a nice day here that I had to take a few minutes to go outside and enjoy the weather. I snapped a few photos of the pretty leaves around the yard. Fall is my favorite season! 

Tim cleaned out the garden last weekend. There are some still some orange and gold marigolds in bloom, but although they lend color, they are reaching the end of their season. 

Happy Autumn!

$ign of the times

Saturday, I went to the dollar store. Our local store includes "dollar" in its name, so it has a heavy investment in that amount. Times have been hard, though, and the dollar no longer is sufficient to buy what it used to purchase. There was a hand-lettered sign on the door: "All items which had been $1.00 are now $1.10."

When I was a child, discount stores offering the same type of goods were called "dime" stores. How times have changed! I'll see you around, maybe at the "dollar-and-a-dime" store.

Tony Hillerman

I'm sad to see that Tony Hillerman passed away yesterday. Tim and I have been readers of his books for years. On the surface, you might say that Tony Hillerman wrote mystery novels set in the Southwest, anchored by two Navajo main characters. His stories were rich in Native American culture and a love of the land. 

If you would like to read his work, I suggest you begin with his first book, The Blessing Way, and continue through the series in order. The books start with Lt. Joe Leaphorn, and later the character Jim Chee enters into the stories. These two characters both come from a Navajo background, but have very different points of view. 

Here is a link to his publisher--

http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/4488/Tony_Hillerman/index.aspx

Fall walk in Illinois

We visited my in-laws in Danville Sunday. After a big lunch at Ryan's, we decided to walk off some of the calories. First, we went to Heron Park, where there are 900 feet of floating boardwalks over the wetlands. We followed the boardwalk, which appears to float on a series of pontoons. Otters have been reintroduced into the wetlands. After Tim spotted the opened mussel shell of an otter's lunch, we saw a little otter swimming along. We also saw several swans (yes, a-swimming), fish, and lots of vegetation on the water. 

Tim is pictured at the railing of the tower which overlooks the wetlands.

Later, we went to Kennekuk County Park. We took pictures in the memorial grove of the tree dedicated to Tim's grandpa, George. Nearby in the park is a little restored "village" with a train depot (complete with dining car), barn and windmill, barbershop, general store, school, printing shop, and a country church. We took a walk down one of the trails, appreciating the views of the lake and the fall foliage. 

It made for a nice, relaxing afternoon. 

Pet camouflage

Time was when animals relied upon their ability to blend into natural surroundings as a tool for success in hunting and survival. Their fur coats might be textured or striped to look like grasses, or buff or brown to match the landscape.

Look to the photo to see the progress of the domesticated cat in adapting to its man-made environment. Just try walking on that black-and-white tile floor when the "tiles" are moving! 

"Joshua: A Parable for Today" book and Bible study

I first read Joshua: A Parable for Today a couple of years ago, and thought what a great book study it would be. It had potential for bringing about discussions of issues the church is struggling with today, and it was easy to find Biblical references the author used in the story. The book was the first of a series of "Joshua" books written by Father Joseph F. Girzone and it had been a bestseller for years. Why not start our own small group at church and study "Joshua"?

Since the book was popular and had been out since 1983, I thought it would be simple to find study guides online. Wrong! So, I am writing study notes as we go through the study. I'm also facilitating the group, and I've never done that before, either. My husband, Tim, has let small groups before so he is helping...a lot. 

We meet once a week, and hope to finish in six weeks. The book is easy reading, just right for a summer study. Our Disciple Bible Study group was looking for something "lighter" to do in the summer, and they and another study group joined "Joshua." We only had 13 copies of the books (including the one Tim and I share) and we quickly had handed out all of the books. For a "small" group, about 12 members is a good number so that everyone gets an opportunity to participate in the discussion. We filled all of the "spots" in the small group almost immediately, never needing or having the opportunity to advertise for more people to join. Hopefully, that indicates that small groups are needed and desired and more will be able to spring up at the church!

Spring--are we there yet?

I admit it, I am whining about winter. The charm of the first snow of the season has long ago worn off, and now I view each unique little flake as just another thing to have to scrape off my windshield. We in the Chicago area, like many others, have already seen our average snow amount surpassed. Today, the forecast is for another one to three inches of snow. 

S-n-o-w. Today, it just feels like another four-letter word. 

What kind of lettuce is this?

It occurs to me, now that my son is grown, that maybe I could have taught him more. Oh, he has a good head on his shoulders, and is quite able to make reasonable and thoughtful decisions. Maybe there are things I should have told him, or taught him, or just exposed him to, so he would be well-equipped for life. My husband and I both tried to teach him about different things, to experience new things and not be close-minded to unusual experiences. Perhaps we missed some of the more mundane stuff. 

Even when it comes to lettuce, I tried to make sure he had eaten romaine, Boston, green-leafed, red-leafed, and others so that he didn't always go for the bland boring iceberg. (You wonder why I'm telling you about the lettuce he's eaten? Read on.)

Today, he walked into my office, carrying a rather round green vegetable. 

"Mom," he said, "What kind of lettuce is this?" 

"Cabbage," I answered. 

Patience is a virtue?

Patience is a virtue, or so I've been told. I've also been told that "anything worth having is worth waiting for." I know the 1 Corinthians 13:4 reference, "Love is patient, love is kind..." and the Bible is chock full of verses about the goodness of patience. 

I know all of this, but I find it hard to live patiently. I was born in the generation of immediate gratification. I stand in front of the microwave, warming a cup of coffee, tapping my foot and saying, "C'mon, c'mon, hurry up." Yes, I even speak in contractions--who has time to use whole words? 

One of my friends has her own saying about patience, and it's one I love. "Patience," she says, "is not a flower that grows in my garden."

I named my cat Patience. When I call her, the neighbors hear, "Patience, Patience! PATIENCE!"

Patience the cat is elusive. I have to wait on Patience, which, of course, drives me crazy. 

Patience is a virtue? Patience is a cat.

Good as new?

I sprained my ankle a couple of weeks ago. After a trip to the emergency room, x-rays, a week of crutches, ice and heating pads, it was pronounced "okay" by my doctor. I am amazed at how well it has healed, although it strikes me that this healing at my age of 50 is not the same as the healing of a sprained ankle when I was a teen. When I was younger, I didn't use crutches, limped around on the ankle and re-injured it, and yet it was "good as new" after two weeks. Now, being more, uh, mature, my ankle two weeks after the accident is only slightly swollen. I can, with effort, maneuver it into a shoe other than the tennis shoes I have been wearing since the swelling went down enough to force my foot into a loosely-laced tennis shoe. I am still slow in going down stairs. (If I had been cautious like that before, I could have avoided the sprain entirely, but what would be the fun in that?) My foot isn't "good as new," but it does have a new ache that I think will be quite handy in predicting weather changes.

And, all of those little wounds of youth that healed "good as new" are not really gone, either. They are now the cumulative odd aches and pains that strike us suddenly when we get up from a chair or move too quickly in later years. If you are around my age or better, you know what I am talking about. That cramp in your leg or quick zing in your shoulder? Where did that come from? If it comes out of nowhere and goes away quickly, it may just be "good as new."