Christmas Time is Here

I was talking with a friend the other day about Christmas. Shocking, right? Amidst all the stress of finding the right present in the right price range ( a feat nearly impossible for me to do - especially for my nephew) I began to reflect on what Christmas really is. This reflection has been prompted by many events - the latest being the conversation I mentioned above.

I have written before of my love for advent and how during this particular season I feel the most connected to the people of the Old Testament. In the four weeks leading to Christmas we are all bound in anticipation of the coming savior. Granted, I can never know exactly how they felt because my anticipation is for something that has already taken place. Seems a little strange to anticipate a past event, yet that is what we are meant to do. Or is it?

One thing I have learned during my theological study is that our faith is full of past events that have ongoing meaning and significance. The incarnation or the Word of God made flesh (as it says in John 1:1-2) was a unique event that occurred over 2,000 years ago, but ask any evangelical Christian if they have a personal relationship with Jesus, and they'll respond in the positive. How is that possible? Because these events of God are ongoing. They can be placed in history, but they are not limited to history.

Steve Foss, a former boss of mine and Methodist pastor, delivered a sermon on Sunday to a group of his former employees about looking for the ongoing significance of Christmas in our lives today. But really, shouldn't we be looking for God's continuing action throughout history instead? The events of the Christmas story are one story among many of God's love and faithfulness to his people. The real Christmas story begins at creation and never ends because Christmas is about God and what he has done and what he continues to do.

Therefore, as we celebrate Christmas and spend time with family and friends and eat turkey or ham or meatballs or whatever tradition you have, don't forget to tell the story. And not just the parts with shepherds and angels, but the parts where God loves the world he creates and Christ dies to save that world and the Holy Spirit is with us now to lead us back to God.

I hope I haven't said anything too heretical. If you come away from this post with nothing else, remember this: Christmas is only part of the story. A wonderful part, no doubt.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

PS - I'm currently in South Dakota and there have been 2 blizzards since I've been home. Today we had a heat wave - it was 20 degrees above 0! Needless to say - I'll be having a White Christmas.

This paper is going to kill me...

but in the mean time enjoy this video of the group "Straight No Chaser" performing "The 12 Days of Christmas." I heard it on the radio on the way home from work and laughed... like a lot.



Other than that - I have this one paper to finish, one final to take, one day left to work, one concert to attend, two friends to say goodbye to (as they are done at GCTS), and two suitcases to pack before I take two flights to get to Sioux Falls. I'll post more once I'm on the other side of this week.

The Girls of GCTS Elffed

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

a week to be thankful for

Recap:

Monday: I went down into Boston on Monday to meet up with Kim and one of my professors from USF. I met up with Kim at the Prudential Center and we walked around and chatted for a couple of hours. Then we met up with my professor and talked of USF and life in (and around) Boston. Good times. That also marks the first time I have traveled to and from Boston on my own.

Tuesday: I agreed to help out a friend by doing some typing for one of the appendices to his thesis. We went to Borders and he dictated the text to me for awhile. We definitely got a lot of strange looks because the text consisted of theological arguments concerning the practice of believer's baptism. One thing to realize about theology - it can get ridiculous at times. Periodically while typing I would start laughing. One reason is that the text reminded me of a skit that Rowan Atkinson did spoofing the church. (Worth watching!)



Thursday: I spent my Thanksgiving at my pastor Sarah's house with her husband, daughter and another couple from the church. It was wonderful to spend time with them - they have become my Massachusetts family. Since I could not be with my real family - they were the next best thing. I got to help mash potatoes and I made the crumb topping for an apple cranberry pie (so good!)

Saturday: My friend Kim, who I saw on Monday, came up to the North Shore to visit me. We ate at Depot Diner and then went to the North Shore Mall and hung out. It is nice to spend time with someone from home. We spent a lot of time talking about things happening at home. She is from Brookings, originally.

I realized today that I am coming home in less than 2 weeks! I am so ready to be home for awhile. All I have left before I come home is 1 research paper and 1 final. Please pray that I can stay focused long enough to accomplish these two things!

Happy Advent!

Sorry for the delay

I dropped the ball a little bit. I usually try to update every week but last week I was suffering from apathy towards my blog. Forgive me.

There have been a few highlights over the last week.

Last Sunday: I was lay reader at church. This is only interesting because a guy from the finance board stole my lay reading right before I was supposed to do it. Luckily I can go with the flow and managed to find the passage in the wrong translation of the bible for the Old Testament reading. During the passing of the peace I got my lay reading back so I could read the New Testament passage in the "correct" version.

Thursday: I went into Boston with my roommate Jennifer. We saw my friend Kim (from USF) play in an orchestra. Kim is going to grad school in Boston for library science, yet still manages to find time to play in the orchestra. It was so fun! I have a theory that in order to be first violin, one has to be an extremely animated musician. That guy was moving all over the place. I was just waiting for him to hit the girl next to him with his bow! That night Jen and I didn't pay for our subway ride back to Wonderland station. We are bad bad bad girls... oh the shame.

Saturday: In the morning I went to a Bridal Shower Brunch for my friend Shelly. Shelly is going to be done at Gordon Conwell in December and is getting married on February 14. (She'll share her anniversary with my cousin Jeff! Oh yeah... and valentines day...) Anyway this was the second lingerie party I have attended while at seminary/ in my life. It was fun and the food was great.

Saturday night I also went to this fund raising dinner hosted by my friend Jana Pinto. Jana spent the summer in Ghana, Africa working with Liberian refugees on coping with their trauma. She started an organization there called Refugee 2nd Chance. It was such an eye-opening night. We actually got to talk with some of the refugees through a webcam and hear their stories. I cannot even begin to describe what these people have been through. Jana's goal is, through counseling, to help them work through their trauma so the past doesn't keep coming back to haunt them. I really believe in the work she is doing. She has set up a website which she will complete once finals are over here at Gordon Conwell. I hope that you check it out and watch the videos - they are very powerful.

Refugee 2nd Chance

This upcoming week is Thanksgiving (which I am sure you are aware of that fact). For those of you who are worried about what I'll be doing for the holiday - I've been invited to my pastor's house for the traditional turkey dinner. She is even letting me help by mashing the potatoes. It's a big responsibility.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday. And remember, be thankful for more than the turkey.

Unbelievable.

I came across this video today. Unbelievable.

Retreat and Rest

Jen, Kerry and Me (varying shades of red hair at Women's Retreat)

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the Women's Resource Network Retreat in New Hampshire. I'm not going to try to spell the name of the lake where the camp was, but it's a famous one.

The speaker for the 24 hour retreat was Donna Petter who is a professor at Gordon Conwell. She spoke about how God is working on us because we are his temple. Much like people work on their houses to make them fit to live in, or to make them a home, God is doing the same to us. He is working to make us fit for him. In theology, this process is called santification. Her final message was that we are "wired for worship." It was a message that I really needed to hear, so I am thankful for that.

On the retreat I met a lot of women I had never even seen before, even though Gordon Conwell isn't that big of a campus. There is a divide between single students and married students - not intentionally, but since married students live in apartments - they don't tend to eat in the cafeteria where most of the socializing happens.

I also learned a new card game at the retreat called "Dutch Blitz" which is very similar to "Nerts" that I love to play. The game has its own cards that are very Dutch looking. Apparently the game originated with some ultra-conservative Christians who did not think playing with regular cards was appropriate. It is fascinating to me that you can play pretty much the same game, but if you have different cards - it makes all the difference. Anyway - it was fun.

We got back on Saturday night and then I spent Sunday recovering. It is kind of nice that this is my 2nd reading week - I can sleep in and still get work done. I finished a book yesterday by Christopher Hitchens - wasn't very impressed with it. Now I am researching Ralph Waldo Emerson for a research paper - much more enjoyable. Both men critique Christianity - but Emerson is at least respectable.

Not much else is going on. No visitors this break... which is probably good since I have a lot to do!

Fun on the Hill

My friend Isaac and I like to go to this hill in Gloucester. It has wonderful views of the ocean and the fall foliage. Today we decided to have a little fun while we were there. (Normally we don't have fun.) (Last parenthetical statement: not true.) Anyway, we went today because I finished my OT survey semlink finally by taking the final this morning and needed to relax for a few hours. Thanks to those of you who had to be around me this week as I was such a grump because I hate to study.

So, we're having fun, exploring nature and having deep meaningful discussion. For those of you who wonder what seminary students talk about with one another, today is your lucky day. I recorded one of our conversations for the benefit of the masses. And yes, Camber, I was talking about your video prior to the filming of this one.

Top Ten Facts of the Week:

10. Delsym 12 hour cough syrup is only effective for 6 hours.
9. Drinking 64 ounces of water during a 3 hours class is not a good idea.
8. "Tongue Out" is the name of an emoticon and not a Romanian expression.
7. Throat drops are just as effective as stopping coughing as mentholated cough drops.
6. Size 10 shoes are hard to give away, but not impossible.
5. Big Fish is the 10th Tim Burton film I've seen in my lifetime.
4. 1 chewable Vitamin C tablet has 833% of a person's recommended daily vitamin C
3. One doesn't need to go to a pharmacy when one has good friends (who've already been there)
2. When a cell phone call is dropped - don't wait for the other person to call you back.. they might not.
1. Psych Season 2 is now on my shelf thanks to my aunt Karen (You rock!)

Mom and Karen's visit

Warning: This post will be extremely long and may contain videos and pictures. Please allot sufficient time to savor every word written. The people involved in these stories deserve your attention. Also, if you can make it to the end, I will link the over 300 pictures taken on this trip. Now, sit back, relax, and armchair travel to New England with two of the Henry girls and their guide: Katie.

Saturday: Shirley and Karen arrive in Boston in matching sweat suits. Thankfully, Katie's dad had already warned her of this so she was prepared. Karen pulls out her camera before they even make it to the car and takes a picture of the ocean.

Get checked into the Beverly Garden Suites in Beverly and Shirley opens her suitcase only to find her shampoo has exploded over 3 of her coats. Lucky for her, Gordon Conwell is nearby and the laundry facilities weren't busy. While waiting on laundry Karen and Shirley were given a tour of Gordon Conwell.

On this tour they also met one of Katie's friends. The first of many they were to encounter on this trip. Isaac regaled them with stories of how he gets groceries for free and donates food to soup kitchens. They were suitably impressed. From this point on Karen will forever think of Isaac when she sees cornbread.


That night they were finally fed at Not Your Average Joe's. Shirley and Karen had not eaten since 4 am and Katie had not eaten since 10 am. Needless to say their eyes were bigger than their stomachs, but the South Dakotans were treated to one of Katie's East Coast favorites: coconut shrimp.

Sunday:
Sunday began with a bang - or more accurately - a burglar alarm. Shirley inadvertently set off the burglar alarm when attempting to return the room keys to the front desk. Our immediate reaction: leave. So we left and hoped for the best. Karen and Shirley were taken to Dunkin Donuts for a traditional New England breakfast of donuts and coffee. This was also the beginning Katie's pumpkin craze that was to continue throughout the week. From Dunkin Donuts, the trio headed to Immanuel Church. This is where Katie works as a secretary. There they heard the musical stylings of the choir and a vocal solo of Tom Edmunds. After a year of bragging him up, Karen and Shirley finally understood what Katie meant by a powerful voice.

From church the three musketeers headed to Maine via route 1A which ran along the beach. There they stopped at Hampton Beach, NH. Long time readers of the blog might remember that Katie was here before for a Josh Turner concert.

From there we headed to the Portland Head Light (the famous light house). There Shirley and Katie discovered Karen's illiteracy when it comes to publicly posted signs. The following picture was taken after Karen almost ran into it.

From there the group headed into Portland to visit Ruth and her two daughters - long lost relatives. Ok - if you have read this before you know that they really weren't lost - I've visited them before... Anyway - many pictures were taken, but in an effort to get Ruth to smile, someone thought it would be funny to say the word "fart." Ruth is 89. She can't hear very well. After many attempts, she finally understands that they want her to say "fart" and not "fudge".





That night the group stayed at Nelson and Jackie's in Casco Maine. Thanksgiving was shared by all. The highlight of the night was the pumpkin roll. (That's #2 pumpkin product for those of you keeping track.)

Monday:
That morning it was decided that the group would see Judy's house in Bethel, Maine (a big ski resort town.) But a note prior to that excursion: there were a bowl of grapes on the counter at Jackie's. Karen wanted to convey to Katie how "awesome" these grapes were and this is what she said: "Those grapes taste like... grapes!" Yep. Just like that. She has such a way with words - you feel like you can taste them right? In her defense, the grapes were amazing and tasted like a grape Popsicle.

On the way up to Bethel, Maine the caravan stopped at a store and tried some pumpkin fudge (#3). It was fabulous (to borrow a word from Judy.)

The drive to Bethel was beyond beautiful. Words cannot describe it - but perhaps this video will help.




While at Judy's Karen got a brilliant idea. "Why don't we do a jumping picture?" So there Katie was trying to keep it together watching these women (all above age 50) trying to jump together. Here is just a sample of the golden memories made that afternoon: (more in the linked photo album)


Tuesday:
Tuesday morning the group headed back down to Portland to say goodbye to Ruth. They ate lunch at the famous Susan's Fish and Chips. Karen had her only taste of lobster there. Katie sort of regrets that... but not really. Once back in Massachusetts Karen and Shirley decided they wanted to see Salem. Unfortunately, the traffic was horrific and Katie is very paranoid about getting into a car accident. Therefore, they saw Salem, but only briefly and only from the car. Then they spent a couple of hours in the mall where Katie acquired a new sweater and Karen some new pants and earrings. Then they headed to the Cheesecake factory for supper. They met up with 3 of Katie's friends: Natalie, Jennifer and Jua. Natalie entertained the group with her many accurate impressions - favorites include Dr. Lints and Paula Dean. Thank you Natalie for being such a good sport.

Wednesday:
Wednesday was spent in Boston. The day started with a duck tour. The tour guide was "Ace Bandage." One of the many things learned on that tour was this bird called a "Canada goose" that "quacks." Not one of the South Dakotans could tell the different between that bird and a "Canadian Goose" that "honks." Oh well. After that, the girls explored the Italian North End and had lunch at Limoncello's. From their the group hit Quincy Market, bought some souveniers, then finished the freedom trail backwards - ending at Boston Common. Another highlight was the balls surrounding this building named after some guy (this would be a better story if I could remember the name.) Anyway, we began referring to the balls as his balls. Here is Karen posing with one of them:


Katie felt kind of bad that she wasn't a part of the "jumping pictures" on Monday. So, she decided to jump while in Boston.


Thursday:
The group travelled to Cape Ann after convincing themselves that whale watching was not a good idea. They all had their reasons. First stop: Halibut Point. The interesting thing about Halibut Point was an area dedicated to creating inookshuks. The basic story is that these stacks of rocks told early pioneers that the pathway was clear and safe. They later had spiritual significance and were built in honor of those who have passed on and made the pathway safe and clear. Karen and Shirley built an inookshuk in honor of their late father: John Henry.

From there the group headed to Rockport and had lunch and a good time shopping. Many souvenirs were bought. Katie even discovered a t-shirt that reminded her of her uncle Jerry. She hopes he enjoys wearing it as much as she did finding it. While in a pewter shop the girls found a pewter statue of Mt. Rushmore. Katie tried convincing her mother to buy it as a souvenir of her trip to the East Coast, but for some reason her mother did not think it was suitable. The group drove back through Gloucester and stopped to see the fisherman's memorial which Karen insisted on calling "the old man in the sea." (not the correct name)

When back at Gordon Conwell, Shirley and Karen met a few more of Katie's friends: Jesse, Ruth and Adam. They also met Gina while at the grocery store (Katie had to buy sugar and butter for the lefse her wonderful mother had made and brought for her.)

Thursday night was spent relaxing and watching tv.

Friday:
The three women got up early and headed to the airport. Shirley and Karen left knowing that Katie would be home again in a couple of months. Katie spent the rest of the day sleeping or watching movies.

So, that is the trip. I left a quite a bit out, but I'll link the rest of the pictures and you might get a sense of what I didn't include. If you are really curious about something - just ask. If you are in SD - ask Shirley or Karen. Or maybe both - there is a better chance of getting what truly happened that way :)

Thanks so much for visiting! If you thought that looked like fun - remember you can visit too! I'm here until May and love having visitors. Just let me know!

http://picasaweb.google.com/kjrowen/October08?authkey=bi1p3hNjntA#

Seasons of Life

Today at work I found myself writing thank you letters to people who had given contributions in memory of loved ones. Two men connected with the church passed away recently. As I wrote the line, "We are thinking and praying for you in this season of grief" I couldn't help but think of the word "season." Just as fall is a season in New England, grief seems to be a season of life. Just as fall comes around once a year, long periods of grief seem to come around a few times to each of us.

As many of you know, I lost two grandparents this last year, and one the year before that. This last year has been a season of grief for me, for my parents, for my extended family on either side. We all went through it and some of us, I suspect, are still going through it. I think especially of my grandmother - who has been adjusting to a new life this year.

I have been reading a lot this semester about justice. Inherent in the concept of justice is the concept of "injustice." I finished a book last week that talked a lot about the injustices that occured during World War II. The grief and pain that is still very real today as it was 60 years ago. So, perhaps there are seasons of grief in our lives, but our lives are also marked by our griefs. I am not the same person I was when I came to MA because I have had to say goodbye to people I dearly love. One can't help but grow in those experiences.

Just when I think that I am done thinking about what has happened - I blog about it again. I am not sure I will fully move on from this. Death has entered my life and altered its course. Not dramatically, but there is a change.

I really miss Albert. I really miss John. I really miss Vivian.

The good news is that grief isn't the only season in life. There are also seasons of joy, of contentment, of learning, and the list goes on. We learn from all these seasons and they offer insight into who we are and who God is shaping us to be. I struggle at different times because I often am anxious to be done with whatever season I am currently in. But that is silly. It would be like driving around in New England in the fall and wishing the trees would be bare already.

I pray that I will slow down and listen to God's voice. I pray that I will see and hear and feel and take what I am meant to from this season of life. I pray that I do not become overwhelmed by any one season and therefore miss out on all the joy and wonder and dare I say it... grief... other seasons have to offer.

And finally, I pray for my mom and Karen that they may be safe as they travel out here to visit me for the week. They arrive on Saturday. Pray also that they can have a fun trip. Just having my mom here is enough of a blessing for me.

Dunkin Donuts and other highlights

This has been a great week - full of little ups and downs. The culmination of the week happened yesterday at Dunkin Donuts, but let me come back to that.

Sunday: I went to the airport to pick up Sarah (one of my roommates) and her boyfriend Jonathan. The news on Sarah is that she has been super sick this week. She was in Florida to play soccer. She wasn't feeling well before she left, but when she came back she had bronchitis. Not only that, after 2 trips to the ER this week, it was determined she actually has walking pneumonia. Yes. I am happy to report she is doing better - still coughing but active. There are a lot of people getting sick around here and even more in denial about it. I have been a little paranoid about getting sick because I really want to be able to enjoy Mom and Karen's visit.

Early this week: My friend Adam comes up to me in the lunchroom and asks what I am doing on Friday afternoon, to which I respond - nothing. I ask, "Why?" He responds that we couldn't talk about it there and he would call me later.

Early this week: My roommate Jennifer gives me a DVD of one of my favorite comedians, Daren Streblow. He's from northern Minnesota and absolutely hilarious. If you know me, you have probably seen this or have heard me quote it without realizing it. If you have yet to see it, talk to me - we will watch it.

Later that night: I discover that the DVD doesn't work in my computer. I'm a little upset. Okay, I was inconsolable for at least 14 minutes. I ended up watching more episodes of Corner Gas instead. Never heard of Corner Gas? Look it up. You won't regret it.

Wednesday afternoon: I get a call from Adam. He is wondering if I will help him in an elaborate scheme to give Ruth, his fiance, her engagement ring. Then he asks me if I would be willing to drive to Beverly...

Thursday: I discover that The Office won't be on because of the VP debate. I'm a little upset. Okay, I was inconsolable for at least 14 minutes. But, my friend Ruth (Adam's fiance) was coming over to hang out so that made me feel better. We watched clips of Daren Streblow online, played Snaps!, and had a theological discussion. Awesome night.

Friday: Class all day. 4:15 arrives. I sprint across Gordon Conwell and jump in my car to drive to Dunkin Donuts in Beverly. A single rose and a letter from Adam was in my hands. While walking down the hallway some guy asked if it was my birthday. I replied, "No." I get to Dunkin Donuts and sit at a table with the rose and letter. People stared. Probably reminded them of that scene in You've Got Mail. Ruth shows up. I hand her the rose and the letter. We chat.

Explanation: Adam had devised this elaborate "find the fiance" game for Ruth. He sent her all over Gordon Conwell and to this one Dunkin Donuts in Beverly (where they had their first date.) He involved their friends in this crazy scheme and I was one of those friends. It was my first time being involved in something so unabashedly romantic. It was fun! I am so happy for the two of them. May God bless their love and their upcoming marriage.

May God bless me in my reading and other work this week. 7 days until Mom and Karen come.

my first political party

As many of you know, I have begun going to the gym this year. Both of my roommates are very health-conscious girls and I am hoping that living with them will pull me more in that direction. They excel at staying healthy and I do not. I am hoping our friendship will change that for the better. Last night I had another similar opportunity. One of my friends invited me, very last minute I might add, to a "presidential debate party." After about 5 minutes of questioning him as to what that was - I agreed to go along. Again, as you may know, I am not a very informed person when it comes to politics. I have done a really good job of keeping myself out of the loop when it comes to this campaign. So, going to this debate I didn't have a strong preference for either candidate.

That wasn't the case for everyone else attending the party. This was a party hosted by McCain supporters. Didn't see that one coming, did you? I went to a Republican Party in a mansion (basically) in MA - one of the most liberal states in the country. It was interesting to listen to their political views (especially on taxes) as well as their views on Obama. I'm not sure I have it in me to be so diametrically opposed to people - but perhaps that is just because I have not been watching the campaign commercials for the last year.

As far as the debate goes, I thought it was pretty good. I felt that McCain seemed more comfortable with the topic of the evening - foreign affairs. His main point that Obama is inexperienced definitely hit home. However, Obama did seem to come out on top on the issue of economics, which is the most current crisis (not that I need to be telling any of you.)

I'm glad I went - and not just because I got a huge piece of cake. It was good for me to step out of my ignorance. If the debate taught me anything - it's that our political choices now affect the world at large for years to come.

Yeah, I like apples, you betcha!

I can already tell I will be struggling with interesting things to report this semester just because I spend about 90% of my "free time" reading for class. This week I used my extra 10% to watch the movie Fargo and go to an apple orchard.

What to say about Fargo... if you haven't seen it - don't. There are exceptions to that and if you like Coen brothers' movies - you are the exception. It just really kind of bothered me to think that such horrible things could happen in a place so close to home. On a lighter note - the accents are absolutely hilarious. I found this video on youtube that combines all the times a character says "yeah" in the movie:



Betcha you'll notice when people say "yeah".

Now on to the fun activity of picking apples! I returned to Russell Orchards in Ipswich to get me some apples right off the tree. I had been there previously over the summer to pick strawberries. It is such a cool place. There were a ton of people there today. We had to stand in line in order to get a hayride to the section of the orchard where the apple trees were. I haven't stood in a line that long since I was in NYC to buy tickets for a Broadway show. It was fun though, I have plenty of apples to eat, a few scrapes and a half-gallon of genuine apple cider. I also replenished my strawberry-rhubarb jam supply.

Here are some pictures:

I think was the best apple picked by any human being, ever.

Anna and I split the bag of apples. They were a little pricey,
but the experience is totally worth it.

First official roommate picture of all three of us.
Jen, Katie, Sarah

"Girl, these apples are heavy!" -Teal

Jen told me to climb the tree, even though it was against the rules.
I did climb it - here is the proof.

This picture was taken about 4 seconds after the previous picture.
I did fall off and landed on an apple - here is the proof.

This is my artistic achievement for the day.
Jen belongs outdoors - it is the most natural thing.

**You may notice a playlist on the right side of the screen. You should check out the songs! They are a random sampling of some things I've been listening to lately. Especially you, Dad!**

A snapshot into this life

When trying to write a title I search for a cohesive theme to the activities or thoughts I wish to relate to all of you, my faithful or not so faithful readers. This last week it seems the only common thread seems to be me.

This last week was the first week of class at Gordon Conwell. I now have a better picture of what this semester is going to be like and the word "intense" comes to mind. As a theology major I have so much reading (which is good because I like to read.) Let me give you an example. This was the first week of class, and I have already read an entire book. Also, I managed to get behind on reading.

Not a great way to start the semester - behind. But that is where I am. Specifically on my Semlink classes for the summer. I have to take the final in New Testament and I will be finished with that one, but I have the majority of the Old Testament semlink to finish, not to mention taking what I have heard to be a very difficult final for that class. Lucky me that the final is the only grade for the class.... not.

This last week was also my first week of attending the Bennett Center (the gym on the Gordon College campus.) Both of my suite-mates are very health conscious girls, so I enlisted them in making sure I stay healthy this year. Part of this agreement is that I go to the gym three times a week. This last week I mostly walked/jogged. I think total distance was around 6 miles, which isn't a ton, but I need to work myself into this gradually so I don't get hurt.

Finally, of note is that yesterday I was a leader for the Boston Plunge. I cannot remember if I wrote about this or not last year. The Boston Plunge is sponsored by Gordon Conwell and it is meant to be an introduction into ministries happening in the city of Boston. I went last year as an opportunity to go into Boston for the first time in a group. I really enjoyed the trip last year so I volunteered to help with it this year. One ironic side note: out of the 4 volunteer student leaders, 2 were from South Dakota! Way to represent!

It was a great experience to have a few students in my group and talk to them about their seminary experience thus far. It was strange to be on the side of giving advice, rather than seeking it. It was also strange to be the person responsible for getting people around Boston (which included a bus ride!) The time was wonderful, but it definitely wore me out. Last night I had a surprise birthday party to attend as well, so by the time I got back to my room I wanted to collapse, but I couldn't. Sarah's, my suite-mate, mother stayed over last night so I stayed up to meet her. She was very nice, but it made me a little impatient until my own mother comes to visit. Nobody can hold a candle to MY mother! :)

I am now working on my study guide and doing some reading. Keep me in your prayers as I adjust to a new schedule and learn to be diligent in my reading. This semester has the potential to be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.

Girls' Night Out

Last night I went to see Josh Turner in concert at Hampton Beach, NH. It was a girls night out and it was fun! I cannot say that I'm a huge fan of Hampton Beach - not exactly sure what the appeal is there. Actually, more than once I felt like I was in Deadwood or something - just that touristy.

Josh Turner was amazing though. I've said it before and I'll more than likely say it again: Josh Turner is dreamy. A good-looking, talented, Christian man who loves his wife. His wife is actually a part of his band - plays keyboards and sings backup for him. Very cool!

I would say that was the end of my summer. Tonight is the Clamfest at Gordon Conwell. Classes start on Monday (except that I don't have class on Mondays!) This should be a good year. Busy but good.

Caring for Your Introvert

I came across this article about introverts. As an introvert - I found it to be very true and very helpful. It's also sort of funny - so that's a bonus.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200303/rauch

cool american history

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

A friend of mine from camp came to visit me last weekend. It was such a blessing to have her come out. This was her major vacation for the year - as well as mine even though I wasn't traveling anywhere. We had all kinds of fun. I saw a lot of new things during her trip. Some of the highlights include meeting up with her brother who also happened to be in Boston for work. We ate at Legal Seafoods which is pretty good as far as seafood goes. We saw the Boston Public Gardens which I really enjoyed - very beautiful! We also took a Duck boat tour - which was a first for me. I am going to go again when my mom and aunt come to town - I think they will really love the ducks. You get to see quite a bit- even if they don't go in the north end... Dana and I also did some of my old favorites - the USS constitution (where she got her picture taken with an actual sailor - who was pretty excited that such a beautiful girl wanted a picture with him...), Gloucester, and Rockport.

Dana and I spent a day in Concord, MA. Concord was somewhere I had wanted to visit since moving out here and was just waiting for someone to go with me. It is the hometown of some of the greatest American thinkers ever. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Lousia May Alcott (Little Women), Henry David Thoreau (Walden), Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter) all lived in this small town. Not to mention the guy who sculpted the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial - who was mentored by May Alcott (Lousia's little sister - Amy in the book/movie.) The world gets even smaller: the Alcott's were active in the underground railroad and at one point had Harriet Tubman in their home! HARRIET TUBMAN! The home I am referring to is Orchard House, made famous by Little Women. Not only that, the man who lived in Orchard House after the Alcotts taught a young girl who was legally blind who later went on to teach Helen Keller - Anne Sullivan!

I need to take a breath. Whew!

So, while in Concord we went to Orchard House, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and Walden Pond! The Walden Pond of Thoreau fame. However, that was a bit of a letdown since it was pretty hot that day and so a lot of people where there swimming. I was expecting Walden to be a bit more like one of the lakes that someone has to portage to in Northern Minnesota. I suppose in Thoreau's time it was a little more peaceful.

Monday morning, before Dana left - I took her and my friend Jua to Ocean Lawn. It is part of the Coolidge (as in President Calvin Coolidge) reservation. It is a beautiful rocky shoreline with great views of the ocean. It was a great way to end Dana's New England vacation... I think.

Most of my friends are home, but will soon be returning for the new semester. I don't actually start class until after Labor Day - which is nice. Tomorrow is my last day at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity - for real this time. I am actually working for a couple of hours before I am off to the airport once again. This time to pick up my USF friend Kim who is moving to Boston for graduate school. She will actually live in Boston though - unlike me.

One last story and then the slideshow of pictures.

A couple of days ago I took my friend Jua to the RMV (think DMV) so she could take a test to get her driving permit. Jua is Korean by the way. That is why she doesn't have her license. Anyway... So I brought my large Introduction to the New Testament book - trying to finish my New Testament semlink before the fall semester starts... Anyway, I'm sitting there reading my large book and I look up and there is a HUGE camera pointed directly at me. Not kidding! I was a little shocked - not entirely shocked because when I was in NYC a little kid kept taking pictures of me on the Staten Island Ferry. Apparently I'm photogenic (haha.) Anyway, he explained that he was a reporter doing a story on the RMV staying in downtown Beverly. I thought it was funny that he would take a picture of me - since I wasn't there to take a test nor did I really care about the story. Well, I checked the other day to see if I was famous - and he didn't use my picture. He must have thought I didn't represent the "average" RMV patron. So, I was almost famous.

Good luck to all those who are in a transition to school mode. Whether you are starting a new school, returning as a student or even a teacher or dealing with the absence of a student from home.

...and their glory is in their shame.

"Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame." Phil. 3:19

I read that and thought, "wow, that's kind of harsh! Who would really take pride in their shame?" Then I sat back and actually thought about it and realized how common it really is for people to take pride in shameful things.

For example:

While surfing around facebook I came across many positive references to being drunk such as this catchphrase: "A hangover lasts a day but our drunken memories lasts a lifetime." (2 points if you read that and noticed that grammatical error!)

Some of the major movies over the last couple of years are based on activities that were once considered to be shameful. The Harold and Kumar franchise (more than one movie because it was so popular) follows two male adults who are under the influence of drugs (much like Cheech and Chong before it). The Pineapple Express is another movie that treats drug use lightly. In fact, one of the actors has admits to using drugs off screen.

I'm not going to continue listing movies, although I could.

As a teenager I remember entering high school and thinking that the coolest thing would be to go to a party and get drunk. During lunch I would hear stories of what people did on the weekends. They would entertain us with their stories of stupidity - their dumb actions (at least the ones they could remember.) The more stupid one acted, the cooler they became. More than once a student has shown up to school drunk.

Drugs and alcohol are not the only badges of honor in today's youth. I remember watching an episode of Law and Order where teenage girls wore bracelets indicating sexual favors they were willing to do. These bracelets were a source of pride.

I wonder - how can this be?

I can't help but think that these people have no hope or have lost their hope that they can be whole, good, righteous. They begin to see their flaws realizing that on their own they cannot escape these flaws, so they embrace them. They realize they are selfish - so they wear it as a badge of honor. "You don't like it, who cares?" They desire food and drink - they don't limit themselves. As Paul says, their god is their stomach.

As Christians, Paul calls us to a different kind of life. Our glory is to be in Christ Jesus. Our life is to be characterized by love. Paul gives us some advice as to how we should spend our time, instead of taking pride in our faults.

"Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Phil. 4:8-9

a blue true dream of sky

Sometimes I forget where I am.

I have been reintroduced to the ocean the past couple of weeks. Last weekend I went to Crane beach for the afternoon with a couple of friends. I spent the time people watching and drawing in the sand while looking out on the deep blue ocean.

Today I went to Ocean's Lawn with my friend Natalie. It is part of the Coolidge Reservation (I think that is right...) Anyway - it is beautiful. The shore is very rocky and you can look out and see the ocean go on and on. There are a few little islands right off shore and in between them a smattering of sailboats. As we stood there, we contemplated how we were at the foot of the ocean. We were at the edge of the rest of the world. It was breathtaking. It took my breath away to see such beauty in creation. It also took my breath away to think that I am only a small part of that creation. But then I thought - I am grateful to be a part at all.

Seeing such wonder in nature made me think of a song that the choir sang. The lyrics are a poem from e.e. cummings. I leave you with his words to describe how I felt today - he captures it better than I ever could.

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

So, if you haven't figured it out already, I think I might have a slightly obsessive personality. I really like things for awhile and then I move on. Earlier this summer I blogged about the 10th Kingdom, but now I have a new obsession. It is a made-for-the-internet event called Dr. Horrible's Sing Along blog. It is 40 minutes long and can be found at www.hulu.com

Conceived during the writer's strike, this was created by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). He and some members of his family wrote it, directed it, produced it, etc. It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felica Day. I just had a couple of girls over to watch it and they both really enjoyed it.

Here is the trailer. Watch it. Then go and watch the real thing. Watch it. Love it. Tell others.

Change of Plans

Now I am working at my editing job until the end of August.  Pray that all goes well for me as I rearrange my schedule to make this happen.  Praise God for providing - I can definitely use the extra weeks worth of pay.  Also pray that I am able to work on my semlinks during this time.  While this truly is a blessing - it does require some sacrifice.

What to say...

I have no excuse for not writing other than I didn't have much to say. Since the last post I have gone to a couple of movies: The Dark Knight (fantastic) and Mamma Mia! (very entertaining)

I've been working. This coming week is my last week at my editing job because Gina is coming back from Mongolia. I'm excited for her return. I've enjoyed the job and have learned so much, but I really need time to work on my semlink classes. Speaking of, I took my midterm for my New Testament class this last week. I think it went well.

Today I got back from a trip up to Maine. I just needed to get out of MA for a little bit. I went up to my mom's cousins and spent the weekend at their house. Yesterday I went kayaking on Pleasant Lake with Jackie. I also finished Mansfield Park while there. Overall, I am so thankful to have some family in the area. Here are a couple of pictures:




Things I am looking forward to:

- End of second job
-Two weeks of having a house available to me for laundry and cable tv
-Dana's visit (If Dana wasn't visiting I would have gone to a Neil Diamond concert - but I would choose Dana over Neil any day!)
- Return of seminary friends
- Josh Turner concert on September 5th
- And maybe returning to full-time student status... not sure if I am really excited about that or not...

That's all for now. I hope your summers are all going well!

Blue Man Group

Last night I had the opportunity to go into Boston to see the Blue Man Group. They are a performance artists known for being covered in blue paint, not talking, and playing music using a variety of objects like pvc tubing. My friend Shelly's mother was in town and the people they were planning to go with had to bow out at the last minute - so she invited me and another girl to join them. The show was a lot of fun and I'm so glad I got to experience it!

Justifying a Current Obsession

Could also be called - that blog about the 10th Kingdom.

I recently re-discovered a miniseries called the 10th Kingdom. NBC ran it in the year 2000 - part of a string of miniseries sponsored by Hallmark. I remember watching it at a freshman in high school and really liking it. It came up on Netflix a couple of weeks ago and I thought it would be fun to watch again. I wasn't sure if I would like it as much as I did when I was 15. (When I was a child I really liked the movie Drop Dead Fred and when I watched it recently I was bitterly disappointed.) Turns out I like the movie as much now as I did then. I've watched parts of it repeatedly and in an effort to justify wasting (scratch that, "using") all that time on the movies, I thought I might highlight some of the themes in the series.

First: a quick summary of the 10th kingdom.

The 10th kingdom is an epic adventure that follows a young woman, Virginia, and her father (Tony.) There is an alternate universe comprised of the 10 kingdoms. These kingdoms are based on the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers. Many well known stories are parodied or alluded to throughout the film (Snow White, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Little Bo Peep, Jack and the Beanstalk, 3 little pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, etc.) Along for the adventure is Wolf, who falls in love with Virginia, a prince that has been turned into a dog, an evil queen, and many other colorful characters.

Second: Introduce main characters, the lesson we are to learn from them, allusions to that lesson elsewhere in literature or film, and finally that lesson as found in the Bible or Christian theology. I had a lot of fun doing this - tells you just how nerdy I am.

Virginia (Young heroine): "I'm just a waitress."
Lesson: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things
Literary Parallel: Frodo Baggins from JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Biblical Parallel: King David - Youngest of 8 brothers, a shepherd, yet he becomes the great King David of Israel, a man after God's own heart.

Wolf: "I might fight against what I am!"
Lesson: Even though we may have a dark past, true transformation can and does happen.
Literary Parallel: Jean Val Jean from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables
Biblical Parallel: Saul, a notorious killer of Christians, who was transformed into the Apostle Paul

Tony (Virginia's Father): "No longer is he selfishly driven by envy and greed."
Lesson: True heroism stems from self-sacrifice.
Literary parallel: Interestingly enough - the Spiderman movies explore this in a fascinating way.
Biblical Parallel: 1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

The Queen (Villain): "Kill the girl or I'll do it myself."
Lesson: Doing evil multiplies until you are a slave to it and eventually lose your identity altogether
Literary parallel: Darth Vader from Star Wars
Biblical Parallel: John 8:34 "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."

Other characters also bring up the question of fate or determinism. On one level the theme of the movie is to live out your destiny - but a closer look reveals that the theme is often challenged within the movie. This is seen primarily in the character of the huntsman who inadvertantly murdered his own young son. He was offered a magic bow that would never fail to hit the heart of a living thing when shot. All he had to do to possess it was to shut his eyes and shoot. The arrow landed in his young son's heart. His consolation was that it was his "destiny" to kill his son and his subsequent destiny to commit the many murders he has since then. This is repulsive to the main characters and causes us as the audience to question the reality of destiny. This also leads to the question of whether or not we are held personally responsible for our destiny. The end of the movie again raises this question, but I will not reveal exactly what happens in case any of you want to watch it.

One of the funniest parts of the whole series is a scene where Tony, the father, frustrated with yet another riddle, questions the frog as to the purpose of its existence. In the fairy tale world many of the characters seem to exist for only one purpose and often do not question that purpose. That is why the transformation of the wolf character is such a strong theme throughout the movies because he is in contrast to the entire world in which he is set.

The series incorporates so much, but it is generally entertaining and raises a lot of good questions. I think that is why it does not get old after multiple viewings. Each time raises a new question for me to ponder and explore. Also, parts of the movie are extremely funny. I leave you with one such scene:

These are the children of the troll king who are in pursuit of Virginia and her company. While in the 10th kingdom (New York) they discover a boombox playing the song "Night Fever" by the Bee Gees, which they really enjoy.

Weekend of Boston Firsts

This last weekend (read Friday and Monday...) I had two amazing Boston experiences. On Friday I went down to Cambridge to see the Boston fireworks on the Charles River. There were so many people there and the fireworks were unbelievable. On Monday I went to Boston again to see the Red Sox play the Twins at Fenway Park. It was so great! I never knew which team I should cheer for, however. When you see the pictures - I look like a Red Sox fan but I think I clapped more for the Twins, even though they lost. What can I say - I'm a South Dakota girl through and through. Enjoy the pictures!

Anna is not actually that much shorter than me, I am standing on a curb.
Fun fact: She recently came back from a 6 week trip to Zimbabwe.

Natalie, Anna, Me
Fun Fact: We all live in Lamont Hall.

Natalie and me
Fun Fact: Natalie does not like taking "fun pictures" but I forced her.

Me and Ruth
Fun Fact: Ruth shares her name with a Biblical character and my grandmother.

Boston skyline
Fun Fact: I took this picture while standing in front of MIT.

Wendy! She is the wonderful person who took me to Fenway.
Fun Fact: Wendy is the organist and choir director at Immanuel Church.

Me in front of Yawkey Way
Fun Fact: Yawkey Way is named for the original owners of Fenway Park.

Me in front of another part of Fenway
Fun Fact: Fenway Park is the only ballpark that still has a manual scoreboard.

Me in front of the foul pole (aka the "fair pole") and the Green Monster
Fun Fact: On the scoreboard is morse code that spells out the initials of the original owners.

Crowds behind the Outfield.
Fun Fact: There is one red seat in the stadium that marks the furthest homerun hit in the stadium. No balls have ever been hit out of the park.

Me in my new green Red Sox cap.
Fun Fact: I look good in green. :)

Favorite Authors

My friend Jennifer tagged me in her blog about favorite authors inviting me to answer three questions concerning my favorite authors. This is more difficult that I originally anticipated because I read quite diverse things and have my favorites within the different genres in which I read. It is also difficult because I really get into one author for awhile and then I move on and rarely go back to read them again. So, with that said, here are my responses.

Who is your favorite author and why?

There are a lot of authors that I have a great deal of respect for and have enjoyed the books of theirs that I have read: Victor Hugo, John Steinbeck, JK Rowling (weird to put her on this list...) CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Lois Lowry, etc. With the except of Rowling, I have not read the entire repertoire of any of these authors and do not feel motivated to do so, yet. However, I have had a strong desire for awhile to read all of Jane Austen, so I will list her as my favorite author. Currently I am in the middle of Mansfield Park and am enjoying it very much.

As far as my academic reading is concerned (I feel this should be included since I spend more time reading this stuff than fiction) I have two primary favorites: Stanley Hauerwas and Dallas Willard. Both of these men appealed to me intellectually and spiritually. They are challenging and uplifting at the same time and I have tremendous respect for both of these men and their writing.

Who was your first favorite author and why?

This is a little embarrasing, but it is true and so I need to just own up to it. My first favorite author was R.L. Stine. He wrote the Goosebumps series. When I was a kid, I liked reading these books instead of the more traditional Boxcar Children or Little House on the Prairie books. I think I read most of the goosebumps series. The first book I read in one day was a Goosebumps book (Phantom of the Auditorium). Thankfully, I have grown out of that stage.

My first favorite author in the field of theological writing was actually Max Lucado. I remember walking into a Christian bookstore for the first time in my life and looking through the books. His book And He Still Moves Stones had a nice cover and seemed interesting so I bought it. For about a year after that I just consumed his books. I borrowed them from the pastor across the street. They were crucial to my early development as a Christian and I am thankful for that.

Who is the newest addition to your favorite authors and why?

The newest addition is probably L.M. Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series. I finally read them this year and fell in love with the world she created on Prince Edward Island. Anyone who creates a heroine with red hair and have her hate her red hair has got it right in my book.

As for theology - I am always looking for new favorites. This may not count, but Kathleen Norris' book Dakota was great and I would love to read more of her. I also enjoyed reading Barth's Evangelical Theology, but am not in a hurry to read more of his right now.


So, Jennifer, this blog was primarily for you. I hope you enjoyed it.

For everyone else - Happy 4th of July!

Pride and Prejudice

Recently I watched the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice for the very first time. I have been aware for quite some time the strong preference many people (mostly female I will admit) have for the BBC version of the film over the newer Focus Features version starring Kiera Knightley. I am a fan of the Focus Features version, but after actually reading the novel this fall I wanted to see the other version and form my own assessment.

Since it is on 2 DVDs, I watched it over 2 nights. The first night I watched the first disc and the second night I watched the second. Not sure that needed to be said.. oh well. After the first night I was still favoring the Focus Features version of the film, but after the second night I found myself favoring the BBC version as well.

As a movie buff, I watched the two movies and was determined to compare them based on their appeal as movies and not their faithfulness to the books. It is a difficult task, but I think that is only fair because the Focus Features version has no choice but to leave out certain parts in the book lest the movie be 5 hours long like the BBC version.

What I like about the BBC version:
- Portrayal of Mr. Darcy. Colin Firth really makes you dislike Darcy. His first proposal was fantastically rude and arrogant and you completely understand why Elizabeth can refuse him. But, Firth also does a wonderful job of the transformation of Darcy that is more evident in this version of the film. By the end he is truly desirable and the Darcy all Austen fans know and love.

- The extended Wickam storyline. I don't blame focus features for leaving this out, but this film makes it more understandable as to why Wickam and Lydia run away together. It is not quite clear in the focus features version.

- The inclusion of Charolotte's younger sister. This is so minor that I probably shouldn't mention it, but whenever this character was on the screen I found myself laughing out loud. Also, it should be mentioned that the actress portrayed Dawn (Pam's counterpart) on the British version of the Office.

What I liked about the Focus Features version:
- Lady Catherine played by Dame Judy Dench. Frankly, you just cannot have a better Lady Catherine. She just oozes condemnation - love it.

- Mr. Darcy's profession of love. I really do enjoy MacFadyen when he just blurts out how he loves Elizabeth. It is like he is surprized by his statement as much as he is about his feelings toward her.

- I much prefer Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennett. He is just more subtle in his portrayal. The actor in the BBC version is by no means bad, but he gave me the impression of being on stage rather than in a movie.

Things I liked about both:

- I enjoyed both portrayals of Mr. Collins. Tom Hollander especially is just fantastic, but the BBC is quite good as well. The character itself is just comic gold.

- The overbearing and dramatic mothers are quite good in both.

- The portrayal of Jane in both is quite good. I think that the BBC version does a better job of giving Jane some depth, but the Focus Features version really does a great job of making us understand how someone could believe her indifference.

I am sure there is more I could say, but I need to get going. Feel free to disagree with me, if you must.

Strawberry Picking

These strawberries were picked by me.

Proof that I was actually picking the strawberries.

This past Sunday a group of girls went to an orchard in Ipswich in MA to go strawberry picking. It was a fun afternoon full of walking, nature, and strawberries! The orchard had a festival going on, so they had all kinds of fun things happening. Besides the strawberries that I picked, I also got some homemade strawberry-rhubarb jam and some strawberry ice cream. I ate the ice cream while listening to a local bluegrass group play.

Later that night I talked to my dad on the phone and it turned out that he also picked strawberries that day. We bonded without even knowing it!

This coming weekend I am planning to go up to Gloucester for another festival. Hopefully it works out!

Books...

This last week I had a conversation with an old friend about books. I read a lot for school, but I also try to always have a book to read for fun. I thought it might be fun to keep track of the books I've read for fun this past year. Also, it might be helpful for me sometime to have a record somewhere.

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

I have wanted to read this book since I watched the movie Conspiracy Theory with Mel Gibson. His character buys a copy whenever he sees it because it makes him feel normal. Something about how everyone has read that book. I hadn't read that book, so I thought I better so I could be "normal" too. It was a well-written book, but it made me very apathetic. The main character is restless and I felt the same when I read the book. That is a mark of good writing because I was drawn into the world of the book, but bad because it took me forever to finish the book. Like the main character, I would stop caring about stuff - including finishing the book.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I own the newer version of this movie and I had seen the Wishbone episode featuring this story way back in the day, but I had never read the book before now. The only Austen book I had read prior to this was Northanger Abbey. This is a great book. It is no wonder Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett are beloved literature characters.

Half of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I liked Jane Eyre written by Emily's sister Charlotte, but I did not like Wuthering Heights. In fact, it is the only book that I stopped reading halfway through because I hated it. There is not one character that I like or that I could identify with. Some told me that it would redeem itself in the end, so I watched a movie version of the book. The end did not justify the book for me. In fact, I wanted to shut off the movie at the same point I quit reading the book.

Dakota by Kathleen Norris

This is a nonfictional spiritual book by Kathleen Norris who lives in Lemmon, SD. She talks about what life is like in Western SD from someone who is not a native and combines her experiences with her spiritual growth. It was a fascinating book and she is very insightful into the culture of a small Dakota town.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

I finally finished the Harry Potter series. Great books. Lots of interesting themes to explore within them.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

The prequel to The DaVinci Code which I have also read. I think Dan Brown is a good writer and I liked this book better than the DaVinci Code. However, after reading 4 or 5 of his books, it is easy to see the pattern and predict the outcome. Having said that, they are great travel books.

Pontoon by Garrison Keillor

My first Keillor book. A funny book that utilizes the small northern midwestern quirks for its humor. I found myself laughing hysterically at his portrayal of the different characters because there is a kernel of truth in them. At the same time I felt a little defensive while reading the book thinking that people shouldn't be laughing at my upbringing. But in the end - an enjoyable book.

Emma by Jane Austen

It is my goal to read all of Jane Austen's books. I really liked Emma, but I knew I would. I had seen and liked the movie version with Gwenyth Paltrow and it usually follows that the books are better than the movies. Also, I like Mr. Knightley more than I like Mr. Darcy.

Anne of Green Gables series (Books 1-6) by LM Montgomery

I have decided to take a break from the Anne books before reading the last two. I've been reading these books since the end of March - I need a break. My favorite book was Anne of the Island with Anne's House of Dreams coming in a close second. I also watched the first 2 movies while I was home. I was a little disappointed that they didn't draw more from Anne of the Island for the second movie. It is really too bad they didn't ask me!

Currently reading: Temptation by Diogenes Allen

It is the book all the theology majors received when we graduated from USF. I've been meaning to read it for about a year. It is sort of like a devotional going through the temptations that Christ went through and what we should take from Christ's example in dealing with those temptations.

Planning to read:

My next book will probably be Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I'm ready to dive back into some Austen!