Book Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo

Do not read this book unless you have a really strong stomach, and even then, I can't say that I would recommend it. Yes..it is a good thriller. It does keep you guessing and wanting to unravel the mystery. However, that's about the only good thing I can say about it.

There's alot of sex and violence and often together. It's very graphic and there are things I wish I had never read. This surprised me somewhat because I've read some pretty violent and psychopathic books by Ted Dekker. What I think makes the difference is that Dekker's books have a redeeming quality. There is a reason, there is hope. This book did not have that hope. It's depressing and so awfully sad that I wanted to cry at every turn. The characters are so depraved and selfish. I could not relate to many of them.

Needless to say, I would strongly caution against the movie. I haven't seen it, but I can't imagine wanting to see this book come alive, I didn't even like it flat on the page. Please, save yourself the trouble on this one and let your mind dwell on more wholesome things.

Our "Moment"

Last Sunday we were at church for an event. Afterwards we headed out to the parking lot to leave and I noticed there was some paint scraped off on the back right side of our car. It looked like someone had side swiped the back end. Upon further inspection we noticed that there was a rubber part on the back end, near the tire, that was completely ripped from where it was supposed to be attached as well. We were poking and prodding  and pondering when this could have happened and how it would be that I wouldn’t have noticed it before now. Then I moved to the back bumper and noticed some more scratches and even some bolt marks. I was completely clueless and confused. It was about that time that John, after trying to unlock the car unsuccessfully a few times and looking at the license plate, came to the realization that this was in fact, NOT our car.

I’m not sure which I felt more of, relief or embarrassment. I think I’ll go with relief, since there was no one else in the parking lot. Thank goodness! As we walked a few cars over to OUR car we just both had to laugh at ourselves. We are a pair, that’s for sure!

Spring is Coming

Life is always a little crazy...hence the title of our blog. This past few months I feel like our decision to buy or not to buy (a condo) has been consuming our thoughts and actions. Soon it will come to a culmination.

Winter is ending and with it decisions will be made. Life will turn a corner and head in a new direction. I am sitting here this morning listening to the birds singing. Birds singing, a beautiful sound I haven't heard in a while, a reminder of fresh starts and change. A reminder that the cloudiness will give way to sunshine. A reminder that change can be a wonderful thing.

I am so looking forward to spring! I want to hear the birds sing again. I hate when my alarm wakes me up, but if the birds singing wakes me up, it's somehow much more soothing. I look forward to the changes that are to come. Bring it on Spring! I am ready for you!

Deadline: Movie Review

John and I were privileged to be able to view a feature film online yesterday. It's an independent film that was recently premiered in Nashville and will be showcased in theaters across the country. Below is a synopsis according to the deadline website:

Steve Talley and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts star in Deadline, the story of the murder of an African American youth in rural Alabama that has gone uninvestigated, unsolved and unpunished for almost twenty years. But that changes when Nashville Times reporter Matt Harper meets an idealistic young blueblood bent on discovering the truth. Harper undertakes the investigation despite the opposition of his publisher, violent threats from mysterious forces, a break-up with his fiancée and his father's cancer diagnosis. Deadline is a story of murder, family, race, and of redemption — for a small Southern town and for Matt Harper.

Inspired by a true story, Deadline is adapted from Mark Ethridge's novel Grievances. Ethridge is a former managing editor of The Charlotte Observer. Deadline will be released in theaters nationwide in 2012.

At first I know John especially wasn't too keen on sitting down to watch this with me. We thought it would be a low budget film with bad acting. Even though the beginning started out only so-so, it wasn't long before we were drawn in. The story is compelling and knowing it was based on a true story made me grieve how we humans can often treat each other so inhumanely. This movie certainly highlighted the best and worst of humanity. It was well done and will definitely leave you rooting for the truth! I wish more journalists would have the courage of the men and women in this movie. It's a great independent film that you will want to support.

Be sure to check out the website to see the trailer, sign up for email updates and find out about where you can go see this in a theater near you.

Heaven is For Real

As most of you know, I read alot. I read fiction, non-fiction, Christian living, kids books, all kinds. I really enjoy reading. I love learning and imagining and books are the perfect avenue for those activities. In the course of my life as a reader I certainly have my favorite authors and books. In all of my reading, though, I don't know that any book, other than the Bible,  has quite impacted me the way this book has.

It's a short read. I read it in one sitting in under 3 hours. It's very easy to understand. However, it will rock your world! I feel like my passion for my Savior has been renewed a hundred fold and I am in love with this amazing God/man who redeemed me and waits to greet me one day.

I had heard about this book and have always been a little skeptical of near death experiences or people who claim to have died and had these "experiences" and then come back. So naturally, I was skeptical of this book as well. However, nothing in this book was contradictory to scripture. In fact most of what was shared was very much consistent with what the Bible teaches about Heaven. The evidences for the reality of this little boy's trip to heaven are astounding and I am choosing to believe them because there is no other choice, logically. There is no way he could have known some of the things he shared. If you are a Christian, you will be encouraged and dazzled by his story. If you're not, all I can say is what Colton said, "you really, really, need Jesus."

Throughout the book, as the story unfolds of his visit to heaven, his family would play a game and show him all these various pictures of Jesus to see if they could find one to match the likeness of the Jesus that Colton saw in heaven. Of course, none fit the bill. Towards the end of the book they show him one more picture thinking it will be wrong too, but this one is right. Not only is this one right, but unbeknown to him, this painting was done by a young girl who claimed she went to heaven as well. Could this be what Jesus actually looks like? Granted, I don't think any picture can do justice to his Glory and Majesty in Heaven. But still, is this what Jesus the man looked like? This picture took my breath away and I find myself longing to be with Him. It stirred something in me, passion. My husband was taken with it in a similar manner.

Oh that we may have the faith of children and the boldness to proclaim what we know to be true. Jesus is alive! Heaven is real! And there is only one way to get there! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

What History Forgets

One of my least favorite subjects growing up was History. That's kind of ironic considering I married a History buff. Nonetheless, I just couldn't see the relevance and more to the point, I just couldn't remember all those dates.

However, now that I am a bit older, and out of school, I find that I am fascinated in regards to the stories of history. I still am not good with dates, but I am intrigued by things that happened in the past. I think that if History class was presented as more of a story time instead of facts and figures then I would have relished that class back in the day.  I also think there are tons of things you don't learn about in history class that are so relevant and so interesting.

More to the point, I just finished an enlightening read, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. It's the story of the World's Fair that took place in Chicago around 1893. What struck me the most was how little I knew of what this fair entailed. My knowledge was limited to the fact that the Museum of Science and Industry building was a product of this world fair. But that is a grain of sand in the desert of knowledge and information that has eluded me until now.

This fair was a huge event. I mean, it changed Chicago and the whole country. It influenced architecture and engineering and pushed them to new heights, both literally and figuratively. It captured the imagination and captivated a country hit hard by recession. It was a phenomenal feat that it even happened at all. I wish I could have seen it. And that, my friends, is just scratching the surface. The story of how it came together is somewhat of a miracle, though not without hard work, sacrifice, and many hardships along the way.

The other part of story is that of a serial killer, H.H. Holmes that resided in Chicago during the building of and duration of the fair. Sadly, his is not a pleasant story and though he did hang for three murders committed in another state, Chicago will never know the extent of his rampage here. He was a sick, sick man, with the charm and beauty of the Devil himself, hence the title.

This story, this history, was completely intriguing and made me wonder why all history cannot be presented as such. It made me want to learn more. And I think I shall do some more research at the library when I get a chance. I want to see some pictures from this unbelievable fair! It also made me wonder how such a momentous event in the history of America seems to be omitted from history learned in school. I don't ever remember hearing about this. It's a shame!

Fun Gifts

Christmas has come and gone but the remnants will last a long time. We still have many cookies left over, which I am not complaining about. It's rather nice in fact. I know there will come a day when I go to have my tea and cookies and find that the there are, in fact, no more cookies. That will be a sad day. But for now, that day seems quite far away. Of course we have the wonderful memories. We also have some gifts.

I was rather excited this year about giving John his gift because I know it's something he's wanted for a while. And he loved it, which just made my day!

So here is my ode to three gifts we received this year that I thought were rather fun:

Here's to my "Little Drummer Boy", now you can use an actual drum at home.

Here's to the smiles that my Muppet's Snuggie brings to my face every time I put it on. Thanks Jen.

Here's to the most creative gift we received...cold hard cash! Thanks Mom.