Food for Thought

Time for an update on what I've been reading lately...it's been a season of challenging stories, most of them life stories about real people. They aren't the typical autobiographies like I remember reading in school in the 50's and 60's, but very interesting and enlightening, disturbing and depressing at times. Several are about people in parts of the world where I have never been ~ the Middle East and Africa. Many of the books were recommended by my girls.
These books have been impactful for me, but I have not yet processed how they might affect my life in days to come...that might have to be a blog later on.

A three part series by Jean Sasson (who lived in Saudi Arabia from 1978-1990) gives an insiders view of life among the royals. The story comes from a princess who has a desire to alleviate the suffering of women in her country where women are often ignored by their fathers, sold into marriage to men 4-5 times their age, treated as slaves by their husbands, and murdered or isolated in a small windowless room for the rest of their lives for the slightest transgression. From extravagant shopping trips spending millions in just a few days to camping trips in the dessert complete with Persian rugs, servants, and 25 Mercedes at their disposal, the decadent opulence of the royal family is described in detail. Image your 15 year old daughter with a safe in her bedroom containing over a million dollars worth of jewels. The books are "Princess: a true story of life behind the veil in Saudi Arabia", "Princess Sultana's Daughter's", and "Princess Sultana's Circle". The danger of male dominance and the desperate lives of the women they rule comes to life. The royal women respond in acceptance, minor rebellion, alcohol and drug abuse. In the end, Princess Sultana determines she will never again allow an individual woman to be mistreated.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah describes "how wars are fought now ~ by children, traumatized, hopped-up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. Children have become the soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers." As a young boy of, Ishmael fled attacking rebels and wandered about Sierra Leone with other boys his age. Within a year he was picked up by the government army and...well, you need to read the book! I cannot imagine what it was like for him...it was gut-wrenching and unforgettable.

"This is where you'll stay," he said, swinging the door open to reveal our new home: a small bathroom about four feel long and three feet wide....There was a shower stall at one end and a toilet at the other - the room wasn't big enough for sink." But six women of various ages lived in this room for three months, packed in tight and on top of one another, absolutely quiet, silent, because if any one could hear them they would be found and killed. This is the story of Immaculee Ilibagiza...in 1994 her world was ripped apart as the bloody genocide in Rwanda claimed nearly a million lives. In the midst of the killing spree Immaculee discovered the power of prayer and a relationship with God. Amazing...again I cannot imagine what it was like for her...the fear and suffering and loss. "Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust". Read it and weep.

Then there's a four part novel series by Terri Blackstock. (Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn's Light) The story centers around the Banning family in Birmingham, Alabama. An electromagnetic pulse from a star millions of miles away causes electricity on earth to fail ~ without warning. Suddenly planes are dropping out of the skies, millions of cars stop in place, refrigerators shut off, and lights are no more. Think of the implications in such a world wide crisis...people fighting over bicycles they haven't ridden in years, tearing up your newly landscaped front yard to plant food, taking turns guarding your home and your gardens 24 hours a day, hauling water from a pond...with crime running rampant around your upscale suburban neighborhood. The implications are huge. The Bannings are a Christian family and their faith is tested on every front. In the process of surviving they are challenged by the Sermon on the Mount. Instead of hoarding, they decide...you'll have to read it and see for yourself. There are no easy answers.

Last but not least, Nancy Ortberg has come out with her first book called LOOKING FOR GOD: a unexpected journey through tattoos, tofu & pronouns. Nancy has a carefree style of writing and a wonderful storytelling ability. It's different, but effective. I liked it and found it helpful as I strive to see God at work in my life and the world around me day by day. "We get so prescriptive with the spiritual life. We prepackage it, duplicate it, mass-produce it, insist upon it, and brag about it. We make it a formula. As a result, we tend to see God from such a narrow perspective."

Girl Time in Colorado

What's better than time in Colorado? Time in Colorado with your two daughters!

Aimee, Sarah and I enjoyed a few days away together in early June ~ a first for us since the
girls have been married. I'm hoping we can do it again some time ~ it was so much fun.



Sarah and I picked Aimee up at the airport and we headed out to Summit County. It was cool and rainy the first couple of days but we managed...scrapbooking for much of a day, shopping at the outlet malls, dinner out. One night we watched not just one, but two chick flicks! Catching up on all the latest, remembering days gone by, planning for our family time in Wisconsin in July...conversation flowed easily and non-stop.
The day we headed back to Denver it was a pretty sunny day so we took Loveland Pass up and over the Continental Divide, stopping along the way for some pictures.


Friday night we joined 40 of Sarah friends for a shower in her honor. Everyone had an opportunity to introduce themselves and tell how they knew Sarah. Lots of stories were shared ~ funny, encouraging, and affirming of Sarah as well.
Sarah had requested I make a jean quilt for Baby J out of pieces of jeans from Hagen family members. It was a challenge for me (and for my sewing machine) but it turned out well. It will fit right in with the Cowboy theme in the baby's new room!

Easter in Virginia

Week at Selah Inn at the Ranch

I just got back from leading a PRN retreat at our Texas site. It's located off of Route 30 about 100 miles east of Dallas...a beautiful place this time of the year. They have had lots of the rain and the wildflowers are plentiful...several appeared out of no where during the short 6 days I was there. The staff at the Inn is fabulous and friendly plus they serve wonderful meals three times a day like clockwork...all I had to do was show up and enjoy. I tooks lots of walks, explored some in the area, read a lot, and enjoyed quiet time with God.

I am hooked on the slide shows ~ enjoy the latest from Texas!

East Texas in Spring

Heart Friends March 2008

Just who are the Heart Friends? A collection of remarkable women who connected during their years at West Point. Over time they have stayed in touch thru phone calls, e-mail and yearly gatherings (now twice a year gatherings). We just enjoyed a fabulous time on the beach in Wilmington, North Carolina. It was a grand time of laughing, sharing, praying, eating, being...and it is precious to each of us.

Right now I am reading John Ortberg's book, EVERYBODY'S NORMAL TILL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM. In the first chapter he makes it clear that we are all weird, slightly irregular, damaged goods...all we like sheep have gone astray.

One of the great marks of maturity is to accept the fact that everybody comes 'as is.' We have been able to do that, and actually enjoy it. Our yearning to attach and connect, to love and be loved, makes that possible. John describes it as the fiercest longing of the soul.

He talks about a research project on relationships called the Alameda County Study that discovered the most isolated people were three times more likely to die than those with strong relational connections.

"People who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, obesity, or alcohol use) but strong social ties lived significantly longer than people who had great health habits but were isolated. In other words, IT IS BETTER TO EAT TWINKIES WITH GOOD FRIENDS THAN TO EAT BROCCOLI ALONE."

So, the Heart Friends gather and hope to live significantly long lives together!

Heart Friends in Wilmington