Book Critique

It is often said that the truth is more fantastical than fiction. This is true – you should hear the story I heard in the office last week! – but in the case of Delia Parr’s Hidden Affections, I have to wonder…

The novel is about two young people from two entirely different walks in life (one filthy rich, the other poor as dirt) who are coerced into marriage. No, not for any of the typical 19^th century reasons of morality, but on account of thieves, handcuffs and pay-back. And, I think, because this is Christian fiction. Which is why the heroine has a faith in God that is convenient at best and her womanizing husband she is forced to marry no longer womanizes the moment he’s married to this woman who is known to him by name only. Of course both characters have “dark” secrets neither cares to share, and they can’t help but change their lives within a few months and fall madly in love.

I have truly enjoyed Delia Parr’s Love’s First Bloom and Heart’s Awakening, but I found the characters in Hidden Affections to be unbelievable and the plot a bit fantastic. But then I like books that are at least somewhat realistic – and being handcuff to a handsome, filthy rich man so I am forced to marry him is NEVER likely to happen!

http://www.bethanyhouse.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=0477683E4046471488BD7BAC8DCFB004&nm=&type=PubCom&mod=PubComProductCatalog&mid=BF1316AF9E334B7BA1C33CB61CF48A4E&tier=3&id=AA7ADDB735C24503B727935BE87E7335

This book was provided by Bethany House Publishers for review purposes.

Dear Dad,

Today is your…well, we won’t tell the public your age. :) And it’s funny, but just yesterday I was remembering some of the things my daddy use to do with me. Because, you know, you were quite young when I was a little girl…younger than I am today.

How many times did I ride around the house on your back? Or did we wrestle on the floor, you teaching me I had to pin down your shoulders and count to three before I could raise my hands in victory and proclaim, “I’m the winner!” You shared your M&M’s with me (well, sort of…), taught me to roll grapes down the table and catch them in my mouth, and how to ball up my napkin and shoot it into the trashcan after dinner. And I should probably cut this list of all-important-life-lessons short…

Of course, you have also taught me many other things. Like how to play checkers (and I did beat you once!), how to cast a fishing line, how to blow bubbles with my gum and how to throw a softball (even if I do throw like a girl). Of course, you did wander amiss now and then – I didn’t know how to weed-eat a yard until after I left home, but I forgive you. Of course most importantly, you taught me about my God. You read Bible stories to me every night before bedtime, helped me memorize Bible verses and answered all my questions. Every Sunday (and most Wednesdays) you took us to church where we learned not only to listen to the preaching of God’s Word but also how to serve those around us. And even though it was hard, you never backed down from what you believe is the Truth.

I’ll never know what it’s like to be a father, but I do know I want my husband to have many of the same qualities. (Not necessarily wiggling his ears and nose, but I won’t complain if he can…) I want him to have fun with his kids, sing crazy songs for them and teach them to throw balls. I also want him to teach them the importance of God’s Word and what God wants for our lives. And, despite all his faults, I want him to be their first hero. Just like you are to me. For even though your role in my life will change in different ways, you will always be MY dad – the first man I ever loved.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Love, Melissa

Me and my young dad at the beach.

Happy 25th Birthday, Daniel!


(So, according to him, if he is now 25 that makes me as old as dirt...maybe I should have hit him with that little golf club!)

Charming Billy

For the past year or so, there is something I have wanted to try to do. No, not bungee jump. Or skydive. Or deep sea fishing. I'm afraid I shall never be that adventurous. I just wanted to make a fresh cherry pie.

Last week I went to the grocery store. While shopping around the produce area, sticking to my list but looking at what was on sale to add some good things to my being-single diet, I saw cherries. I haven't had them all year and they will soon be out of season, so I picked some up. On the way home, I decided there was enough to make a pie and nibble on a few in the process. So, on Friday night, I set up shop in our to-die-for kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Haley asked as she scurried around searching for something for her being-single evening meal.

"A fresh cherry pie," I said. "I always wanted to try making one."

"Really?" Silence for a while. Then: "Is it for anything special?"

"No," I shrugged. "I just have the cherries and I have the time."

"Then could I try a slice?" Haley hinted.

I laughed. "You can have more than one," I promised.

"Great!" And off she went with her dinner to watch a murder mystery in the living room. A moment later, she calls out. "You know, Melissa, you remind me of that song."

"What song?" I asked as my mind searched my library of tunes stored for random playing.

"You know. Can you bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Can you bake a cherry pie, Charming Billy?" Haley sang.

I guess the answer to that question is yes (even if my name isn't "Billy"). For we tried small slivers that night at about 9:30 after it came out of the oven. Delicious! So much so, we had larger slices the next night - this time topped with vanilla ice cream. I shared more of it yesterday when I went over the my assistant pastor's house for lunch after church. And there is still one slice left, which Haley and I will have to split. Unless one of you would like to stop by. Then we'll be glad to share - three ways...

Success!

Can it get any hotter than this?

I know New Englanders gripe and complain as winter marches on and everyone is stuck inside, several days go by without any sunlight, and you’re out of hot chocolate. Well, in Texas summer marches on – endlessly. And we’re stuck inside…unless you get up at 5:30 to run and still break out into an exhausting sweat. Sunlight won’t cease in these cloudless skies. I think we have forgotten what rain looks like, although brown grass is very familiar. And there is no way under the sun we want anything hot – at least water comes right out of the faucet. Right now (or any time), I would trade a month of winter in New Hampshire for a month of summer in Texas for free. In fact, I’d pay for it!

But I guess I can be grateful for one thing: the heat slows things down. I know people who have never been to Texas would think I’m nuts for saying this Southern state is comparable in pace to New York City. But it’s true. If you’re not running down here, better check yourself into a psyche ward. Because if you’re not working you need to be shopping, or eating at one of the million restaurants, or speeding in your boat on the lake. For someone who has trouble relaxing anyhow, it’s easy to get caught up into that mode of life – even if I despise it. But heat does one thing for you: forces you to slow down. For the moment you step outside, your energy disappears. No wonder Hispanics take siestas. I need about ten a day.

So, my life has looked quite odd this past week. For one, work has been slow. Except for an all-out battle with our fax machine and incompetent techs (except the last one who actually knew what he was doing and followed up), my to-do list actually got accomplished. But then I headed home to do nothing. Yes, nothing. No mowers or hated weed-eaters. A few inside chores don’t take much time. I finished an entire mystery in 3 days and am in the midst of another book already. I actually sat down and watched a whole movie in one sitting last night (okay, granted, I was fooling around on my laptop at the same time, but I haven’t even done that for weeks now). Haley and I played a round of Hand and Foot on Wednesday evening, taking a break to take her really odd car rental 2011 HHR (the PT Cruiser wannabe) to Dairy Queen for blizzards. And tonight we’ll both be home as well, lounging on the sofa or playing games. And I actually breathe after work! A miracle…

Also been having a bit of fun with my new smartphone. I know why they call them smart phones. I just wish it sometimes understood that I am smarter than it is and I DON’T want it to do what it just did because it has some odd idea it can read my mind and make my life simpler (when it actually just made it more complicated). Learning for real what I already knew: there are a million apps out there. I think the phone will actually do everything except weed eat (which is exactly what I need it to do…). The GPS is cool. Texting, e-mail, answering questions that come up via the internet. But I’m still getting over the fact that I have a smartphone. Does that mean I’ve finally caught up with the 21^st Century? Probably not. It went out of date the day I bought it. Which means none of us will ever catch up with the 21^st Century, so why try? Which is just as well because it’s way too hot to be catching up with anything…

Rainbows

When I was a little girl, I loved rainbows. I had a Rainbow Bright doll (let me date myself a bit…), loved the My Little Ponies that had rainbow pictures or rainbow colored hair, and if we went to the store and I got to pick out a sticker it was always a rainbow. I even remember a rainbow band-aid I once had. And in science class, rainbows were the one subject I liked to study.

Sadly, today rainbows are used by reprobates to express themselves. But we won’t even go there, for rainbows are a gift from God given to man as a sign of His promise. The first rainbow God hung in the sky for Noah and his family must have been brilliant – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Seven perfect colors standing out against a brilliant blue sky. God’s promise that He would never again destroy the world with a flood.

And God keeps His promises.

Over the years, I “outgrew” rainbows. I mean as far as putting stickers on my bedroom mirror, and buying My Little Ponies, and studying them in science class (had to move on to biology and physics…). But they still hold a special place in my heart. Especially since moving to Texas. Every time I get really discouraged, God has given me a rainbow. One Sunday evening when I was very upset about something, God hung a rainbow in the sky on my way home from church. At 5:30 one morning when I was out running in the dark in order to beat the summer heat and bemoaning that I have to do that, God sent me a rainbow. I kid you not. I saw a rainbow in the clouds around the full moon – and wished I had a camera. Last night was one of those nights. I wasn’t feeling especially discouraged. But I had a lot on my mind, wrestling with my God over something He’s been trying to get through my thick skull for a week now. It’s one of those things I know – I’m just having trouble putting into practice. But like the gracious Father He is, in spite of my stubbornness, God gave me a rainbow. Just a small one in the midst of a wispy cloud. But it was brilliant – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. A sign to me.

God keeps His promises.

I guess we could call this blog "Reflections on my Week", but I'm not sure how deep I'll get into reflecting. I have a lot on my mind. A lot of deep thoughts brought on by conversations throughout the week and figuring out why I'm responding to certain things in particular ways. Definitely don't have all that figured out, but it's amazing what you can learn about yourself that 31 years hasn't already taught you. I'll probably say the same thing when I'm 91 - if I can think at all by then!

Typical Friday. Well, not really. It's not pandemonium around here (at least not yet, but it's only 1:30). That's good. It means my to-do list will actually get finished. I'll leave today without a mountain of work awaiting my arrival Monday morning. My blood pressure might be normal when I leave...now if I could only find a way to gain some energy. Every day this week the home health office manager has asked me if I'm okay. I'm quiet, not quite so up-beat as normal and keep to myself. Never know how to answer that, except to say I'm a bit tired and seem to have a lot on my mind.

Got my phone last night - FINALLY!!!! It's called Fed-ex delivery people do not think for themselves. Or are scared to cross railroad tracks and venture down dirt roads. Don't know which (for the UPS guy has no trouble getting to our house), but I called about a million times to make sure they would dare to be adventurous, the package was on the truck and it got delivered. For it's a pain to be without phone service for almost two days. (Okay, okay - so I had my work cell phone. Which was good because Haley was flying standby back from California, so she had to be able to reach me and tell me when she was getting in...) Anyhow, the phone is pretty cool. My first smartphone. Will probably never use everything on it, but it is fun to play with - not games, just figuring it out. (Of course, as usual, sometimes it tries to be smarter than you are. I wish it wouldn't do that!)

Will be headed to the Rangers game tonight. Hopefully any tragedies will be avoided, unlike last night's game. I remarked to a friend who's going that it's sure going to be hot.

"Well, it's a night game. The sun will go down and it will cool off."

"Oh, right. 90 instead of 100. Remind me to bring a sweater."

My first professional baseball game. After 31 years, I guess it's about time...

A Touch of Homesickness

"I know you're homesick," a friend told me this weekend. "You've been complaining about Texas ever since you got back."

Let's not dramatize things (although, I confess, I have been snubbing Texas quite a bit as late - going into a Texas shop in the mall didn't help). But I don't mean that kind of homesick. Like wanting to be where it's cooler, and there are trees, and the whole landscape isn't covered in pavement. I mean the sincere kind. Which hasn't hit me in a while. But it did this weekend.

No, not because the house was a like a tomb with only me banging about in it. Or because I lost the fight with the weed-eater and wished my dad were just here to do it. Or because the Texas temperatures continue to sore to 100 without a raincloud or break in sight. It's just for the first time in 31 years, I'm not on the family vacation.

Not that we had a lot of vacations, but I did grace each of them with my presence. But this week my family is in Chicago and then they'll meet an aunt and cousin in Santa Claus, Indiana for a day at an amusement park. I hope they think of me while they're enjoying their rest - and then I hope they don't...

Meanwhile, work piles up around me. And despite a long weekend with more than one nap, I feel like I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm going to have one last bout with the weed-eater, which shall probably be highly unsuccessful, but I will make the attempt. And there's a bit more mowing to do around the outside of the fence. Need to balance my bank accounts and put my expenses in order. Some things need to be printed from my laptop, and I have some pictures to edit. All in all, not much to look forward to this week. But I do have plans to attend a Rangers game on Friday. It will insufferably hot, but our assistant pastor is singing The Star Spangled Banner. And I'll be with friends. Guess that just about makes up for the Texas heat - sort of.

It's the Little Things

Friday afternoon. The dawn of a long weekend. And do I ever need it. The first time I checked the clock today it was already a quarter til noon. And I was on the phone (should have actually been on three phones, but I have yet to figure out how to multi-task phone calls), I had a pile of work in front of me, another pile beside me, another pile in the chart room and there has got to be another one somewhere in this office waiting to jump out and pounce on me the moment I conquer the other piles. In some ways I think: bad timing for a long weekend. For the first time in nearly 10 months (since the last audit), I can't catch up. (I probably just jinxed myself saying that: watch an auditor show up Tuesday morning...) On the other hand, maybe somewhere in the "restful" hours of this long weekend I can track down my sanity. (Only to misplace it again Tuesday morning.)

Don't even have any down time at home. With Haley gone, I get to take care of everything. Which meant mowing the lawn last night (a nearly 2 hour job on a riding mower, so you get the idea of the yard size). Tomorrow I have a date with a weed-eater. Never dated before (and never shall), but it feels like going out with someone you can't stand. The weed-eater and I don't have a love/hate relationship - we just flat out hate each other. That job will probably take me nearly four hours. In the insufferable Texas heat. Not sure anyone is going to show up on July 4th, even though I feel like I've invited a hundred people. But regardless, I will need to dustmop the house Monday morning and clean some bathrooms (like mine). But if no one shows up, at least I don't have to move all my dollhouse pieces out of the living room. Although I would rather do that than spend the entire holiday by myself. (I really need a dog...)

Okay, so my readers probably think of late I've got nothing better to do than gripe. That's not really true. Actually, I don't mind being busy. What I don't like is not being able to keep up with it all in my head. For in truth I keep to-do lists as a back-up: everything I do is in neat order in my head like a perfectly bulleted document. If it's not that way, I feel like I don't operate as I should. I'm letting others down. I'm letting myself down. Hate it when my perfectionist tendencies rear their ugly heads...

So on a truly wonderful note: something awesome happened earlier this week. It's going to sound stupid. Perfectly ridiculous. But it's a special blessing to me. For personal reasons I won't elaborate on, I'm switching cell phone carriers. The biggest thing to overcome for me was the fact that I could loose my cell phone number doing that. For me, my cell number is a little piece of New Hampshire I have gotten to keep with me. And as silly as it sounds, I didn't want to give up the one thing I still have from there. So, I prayed about it. And guess what? I get to keep it! Everything else will change next week, but my gracious Heavenly Father has shaken His head, laughed with me, and given me a special little gift. :)