It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Ice Storm?!?!?

Dear Friends,

I feel that this post must be long (ahem should I say LONG) overdue.  Probably a good 1.5 months or more overdue.  However, I cannot apologize for spending time on things like being a mommy, being a wife, being a focused student, a dedicated counseling intern, or even more recently also a full time employee at a popular coffee shop (read: in my "free" time!! ahahaha! NOT!).  My life has been full, full to the max.  For the most part, I truly like it that way.  Sometimes I do not.  However, I am grateful for so many things as well as several people as we rapidly approach this special time of year, Christmas.

Speaking of which, it's beginning to look a lot like ICE STORM in my neck of the woods, friends!  Hence the title of this post.  No, I'm not one itsy bits teensy weensy bit excited about an ice storm. I was, however, very excited when I thought I spotted a possible snowstorm in the forecast! Snow is just so much prettier and so much easier to play in and....well....I guess ice can b pretty, but it's just not safe. And it causes power outages and angry, desperate people stuck in their homes without heat and such. Snow on the other hand, can be a nice little part of the winter season. And what could be more Christmas-y than snow, I must ask?? We will just have to wait and see the weather we get this coming weekend. But I will pray that it is snow and not the dreadful, dangerous and damaging ice!  What's the weather like where you live? Warm and sunny, temperate, dry?  Snowy or icy and cold, gray skies and gusts of wind? We've had several very gray days lately, as if the sun has decided to sulk for a while.  But the weather on and around Thanksgiving day was actually quite pleasant!

So today I'm thinking of Christmas songs, or carols.  There are so many I love.  The list of the songs or carols I enjoy is gargantuan compared to the tiny list of the few that quite honestly bug the bugs right out of me each and every year. Yes, I honestly have a few.  But it's because they are a few that the radio station where we live ALWAYS plays, over and over and over and over and . . . . well, you catch my drift!  I hear them and think to myself, I know there are a great deal of songs and carols with a wide variety of styles and rhythms and performers and lyrics. Could we not attempt to try a few of those and sprinkle the over-played, overused songs here and there a bit more artfully?  Alas, I am not in charge of the radio programming. If I was......well, that would be a different story!  ;-)

Anyhow, bringing myself back to the moment here.  I'd like to hear, what is your favorite Christmas song or carol? And since I despise being limited to just ONE favorite in basically any category, I will ask you instead, what are your top three favorites?  And for any particular reason?  And then, if you have one you really just are tired of hearing (as I can totally empathize and I am in no sense a Scrooge, so don't feel too bad if you do have one or two that you're just tired of hearing!), what is that one?  Don't worry....on the odd chance the one you're sick of is an especial favorite of my own, I won't take offense!! hahaha  :-)

Happy December, everyone! Thanks for stopping in!!  Stay warm and safe and Happy Happy Holidays!

p.s. (I realized after typing my post that I spoke not a word of my favorite carols or songs this lovely time of year. So, if you care to know my favorites or even my least-liked, please, tell me so when you comment!  Be a dear and comment, too!!! :-)  I'd love to read it! ta-ta-for-now!)

"Autumn is a Second Spring . . . . "

I loved this quote I found while searching the keyword "Autumn" today on Goodreads:

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."  - Albert Camus.

Is this not the truth?  Autumn is quite honestly my favorite time of year.  Especially when there has been enough rain and the right weather conditions for the leaves to turn into vibrant flame, burnished red and sunshiny yellow. I LOVE the changing leaves.  The crisp, earthy air that fills your lungs without pressing upon you as the humid summer air always does.  The rain showers, and the stunning skies that trail behind and can only be seen so dramatically blue and yet filled with shades of grey and white clouds in autumn. The festive, portly orange pumpkins and the ghoulishly white pumpkins, the warty gourds the multi-colored corn. The hot chocolate. The salted caramel mocha at the ever popular Starbucks.  The anticipation of Thanksgiving and then of Christmas.  Wearing long sleeved, cozy shirts and warm, wooly slippers.  Taking walks and just soaking it all in. Watching in wonder every year as the trees slowly shed their summer dresses to stand stark and majestic monuments against the winter sky, their only covering an occasional dusting of sparkling frost.

Yes, I love autumn.  To me it is the most beautiful season of all, and truly the quote speaks what I've felt for so long......that autumn IS a second spring, "When every leaf is a flower."

Happy Autumn, friends!

Review of The Outcast: a modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter

To say that "The Outcast" by Jolina Petersheim was unlike any other book I'd ever read having to do with the "Plain" community of either Amish or in this case, Mennonite, is an understatement. And I mean it in an entirely positive way! This book will tug so hard on your heartstrings you might find yourself gasping for breath between a flood of tears. Rachel Stolzfus, Leah Stolzfus King, Tobias King, Judah King, Ida Mae Speck and several other characters are just so vivid. The characters are real, fallible, pained, angry, forgiving, unforgiving, loving, and every other word you could possibly use to describe deep characters. The plot keeps you wanting to read more. And the ending? Well, I don't want to spoil anything, but it will probably surprise you!  I know it did me! I seriously want to read Petersheim's next novel, "The Midwife," that is supposed to hit stores next summer.

"The Outcast" is a novel I can say wholeheartedly that I loved, beginning to end. I give it a robust 5/5 stars! I urge you to find your copy today! You will be SO glad you did!

Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest and original review. 

Redeeming Love: A Book Review

Angel seems to fulfill the adage, "Hurt people hurt people." She has been mistreated, unwanted and unloved for practically as long as she can remember.  Then Michael Hosea, a man who seeks after a God Angel cannot comprehend, comes into her life, bringing an unconditional and determined love.  Will Angel accept redemption? Will she ever truly find "redeeming love?"

The book, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers is lengthy at over 450 pages, the only reason I give it 4/5 stars instead of 5 stars, as I think it would be better with slightly less length. However, it is well worth the lengthy read.  It will pull at your heart, bring tears to your eyes, and a smile of joy to your face.  I highly recommend this retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea, set in California's gold country in the 1850's.

Many thanks to the Blogging for Books program for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please note all opinions expressed are my own. If you are interested in blogging reviews in exchange for books, check out Blogging for books.

Gone South: Book Review of a Lovely Read!

Tish McComb knows what it means to have loved and lost.  Now she is making a major life-changing decision that will take her from the northern United States to the deep South of Alabama, and her geographical journey is not the only one she is about to take.  Tish loves history and collecting items from the past that she feels draw her closer to those who lived before her.  But now she faces her present and future and has to decide which parts of her own history she will allow to influence the potentially full life she can have in the little town of Noble, Alabama.

I loved reading this book! All of the characters were full and interesting. What I loved the most was how relationships both sound and broken were represented, and how the author Meg Moseley wove pain, heartache, loss and distrust between people with the overarching themes of grace, redemption, forgiveness and perseverance.  The setting is fun, with a northern woman being in a small Southern town. This is a Christian fictional novel that is unique in all the good ways!

I would give "Gone South" by Meg Moseley a definite 5/5 stars!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Please note my reviews are entirely my own.

God's Impeccable Timing

Hello Friends!

I am certain that many of you have noticed my conspicuous lack of presence in the blogosphere for the past several months, since the baby boy we are adopting entered our home!  Let me just say that quite honestly, I have found very little "free" time for me to use my two hands for anything, including typing, and of course blogging is all about that.  However, I do believe that my lack of free time or time with my hands free, rather, is being put to good use elsewhere, in loving, taking care of and raising a sweet baby boy.

There have been challenges, and many of them.  I won't lie and tell you it's been all a bed of roses. Transitioning into new parenthood is HARD and now that I'm in the thick of it, I have to say I believe it's HARD whether or not you actually gave birth to the new baby or adopted the new baby! Sure I didn't have to carry him around in the womb for 9 months and I did not have to go through labor or postpartum issues. I have great respect for all mothers who become mothers the usual way. But just the same, I've felt a whole spectrum of emotions, and sometimes in the course of one day. I've been exhausted beyond imagination.  I've been frustrated when I couldn't find the source of baby's persistent crying (figured out he has been colicky, fits the bill hands-down!) and it felt like my ears were going to explode. I've cried at the entirely new and frightening feeling that I'm not as prepared as I attempted to be in order to be the great mom I've wanted to my entire life, but in fact am sorely lacking. I've spent a lot of time just praying and crying out to God to help me, give me wisdom and strength and just 15 minutes more sleep!

And then, there are the unique joys of new parenthood. And let me tell you, these joys are not only what help balance out all of the challenges and the frustrations, the exhaustion and the worries and the stress that just go hand-in-hand with a new baby.  They make it an utter blessing to be a parent, and prove to you every single day what a miracle it truly is that God knows how to knit a family together and how to bond a parent with a child. 

Some joys in the past few weeks......seeing baby boy smile for the first time. And guess what, he genuinely smiled (it lit up his eyes, even!) for the first time at me on my birthday! That's right! I was so thrilled I nearly cried.  What better present could a little newborn give you than that?!? Another is how he has begun to "talk" to us more. He will smile and then start cooing and oohing and making raspberry sounds and it just makes my heart swell with happiness, because I can see that he is happy and feels loved and wanted and safe.  And I so desperately want him to know that he definitely is all three of those.  I tell him so every day, and I pray for him aloud as I hold him. Another highlight is the eye contact he has begun to make much more now.  Eye contact promotes bonding, of course, so I am all for it.  But I also could just get lost in those sweet, deep wells.  And I always feel as if he is memorizing my face and looking for the affirmation in my eyes.  Talk about feeling important!

I do feel he is bonding quite well with both my husband and me. And that is just a wonder in and of itself.  I realize that parents and infants bond at different rates, and it is not always immediate. I loved this baby before I ever laid eyes on him.......but I love him even more now than I did the first time I held him in my arms.  The fact that he is not of my blood is irrelevant. And I felt it would be when the time came. But actually feeling how my heart is bonding to his and knowing that I will always have a special place in my heart for this precious boy is just overwhelming to me.  Truly a gift from God.

And then there is the funny thing I was thinking about when I chose the title for this post. God's impeccable timing.  Maybe you recall the book I read and reviewed in late May, The Christian Mama's Guide to Pregnancy? Well I am not pregnant. However, it was not three days after I wrote that review that we received the call about our baby boy. I thought to myself, how perfect is that? I just read a book that includes a little postpartum insight and advice, and now we are getting a newborn in our home! Entirely applicable. I was wanting so much to be a mommy, and suddenly I was! All I can say is, God's timing is truly impeccable!!

Hope that you are having a lovely day and that this post proves a blessing to you.  If you are a new parent, a parent-to-be or a seasoned parent and have anything you want to share (joys, challenges, insights, or just good ol' comments!) please do. I would love to hear from you!

What has been keeping me busy: my baby!

My Baby

(c) Rachel Rudin

Dedicated to baby P 

Little pink toes,

Cute button nose,

Adorable clothes,

My baby.

Sweetest boy you’ll meet,

No one can compete,

He makes my life complete,

My baby.

Though his cries are shrill,

Especially when he’s ill,

I’ll always love him still,

My baby.

When I stroke his face,

Hold him warm in my embrace,

No one can replace,

My baby.

Eyes of deepest blue,

He coos and sighs on cue,

My love for him renewed,

My baby.

 Hands of softest skin,

Hair so fine and thin,

Cheeks that draw you in,

My baby.

Sent from up above,

God’s wondrous gift of love,

I’ll never get enough of

My baby.

All images and written material are strictly the property of Rachel Rudin, 2013.  Do not republish or use without permission.