Saturday, April 7, 2007

Why I recommend "Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (Junie B. Jones)"

by Barbara Park

Favorite Quote

Even if I can’t say dumb bunny out loud, I can still think it inside my head. ‘Cause heads are silent. Which is what I like about heads.
-Junie B.’s journal

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Why I recommend "Forever (Firstborn, Book 5)"

by Karen Kingsbury

Favorite Quotes

“The early years of marriage are often hard. The key is to learn how to love. And for a woman, that means making her husband feel special, important.”
-Reagan’s mother, page 154

Always they’d told their children the same thing. Jeremiah 29:11 – God has plans for each person. Good plans. The key was to walk with Him, step by step, so the Lord could reveal those plans to each of them.
-Narration on John Baxter’s thoughts, page 165

Her shoulders sagged. “I’m not sure I even know where to begin.”
Landon’s eyes shone with love and understanding and strength. “Start where we always start, Ash.” He pointed up…
And of course that’s exactly what she would do. It was what she had been doing. Only most of the time throughout the day praying hadn’t felt like enough. But it was. It always would be. Peace stilled the rough waters in her soul, and she lifted her voice to God…
-Narration on Landon and Ashley Blake, page 230

Somehow everything would work out. God was always faithful, whether a person was in a season of blessing or a season of growing, whether in triumphs or trials. It was like her mother had always said: in the journey of life, it was a better ride if a person took the passenger seat and let God do the driving. Because along the way there were bound to be some unexpected turns.
And some turns only God could maneuver.
-Narration on Ashley Blake’s thoughts, pages 230-1

Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage – from Mom
1. God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.
2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you’d lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share a hobby – find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts. The Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are angry.” Make it a habit to forgive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn the love languages. Not all people show love or receive it the same way. You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is better received when it’s in the language that person speaks.
9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.
10. Men are born to be leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident men do not seek love outside the home.
-A letter from Elizabeth Baxter, pages 238-240

We are always better to be patient and still, waiting on God…Praying, hoping, believing, letting go, and waiting.
-Karen Kingsbury, page 330