90 minutes in heaven by Don Piper

I really enjoyed this book. It really made me think about how our time on earth is short and we do not know how much time we really have. God has a purpose for each one of us and we do not know how our pain, our trials can help someone else. Perhaps our struggles are to bless others by allowing them to serve us. I really enjoyed the perspective of the person who was healthy and young and went blind. He was stuck on all the things he could not do and when he finally listed all the things he could still do is when he changed. He decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life doing all the things he could still do. The more he realized he could do, the less limitations he saw. "I'm not going to worry about what I can't do. I'm going to worry about what I can do well." Sometimes we have to realize what we have now. We need to celebrate and see that we are not helpless besides our mortality. We have more going for us. When we focus on our losses we forget what we have left. We need to think of what opportunities our trials brought us that we might not have otherwise experienced.

Larry King

In August I listened to Larry King's "My Remarkable Journey" Biography and Memoirs. If I were to have the option to read or listen to this book I would for sure choose listen. It was cool because Larry read it. When it would come to parts that other people close to him would be sharing their memories, they would speak. The way it was completed made me feel like they were sharing it for the first time, because it included laughs, and other pauses that was not just like reading a book.

I found this book very interesting. Larry King is not a young guy, and I knew he had a show called Larry King Live, but I have maybe watched 2 episodes of it before. Hearing how he grew up, what makes him tick, how he got to where he is was just amazing. I truly felt like there will not be another person like Larry King again. But then again, it made me feel like the way he sees people - he doesn't see them as famous or regular people - he sees people as all being amazing and that we can learn something from everybody. I truly felt that I would be interested to listen to some of his previous shows.

I was so shocked at how sexual he is. I mean really 8 wives? Not even the wives, so much was about women and how many he loved and made love with. I guess we are talking the 60's, but wow - he really is not an attractive guy - plus he smoked for so long. Gross. The thing that I still don't quite understand is what his current wife sees in him. Mainly I wonder because she is Mormon or LDS just like me and he is of no religion and does not believe in God. It honestly shocks me. I don't know how religious she is specifically, but still that would be so difficult - plus they are like 30 years in age difference. People think it is because of money - but she was a multi-millionaire on her own prior to the marriage.

I was surprised at how much history he shared, just his thoughts about the various presidents as he has known all of them. I by far not a history buff, and actually consider myself quite clueless in this arena, but it was very interesting. This was a quick 8-9 hours of my life in the car and I recommend it.

July Books

This past month I read 2 more books. I don't know if audio books count as reading, but anyhow.

This was my first time reading a book by Dean Koontz. It wasn't that this was a bad book. I have read worse for sure, I at least got through the whole thing. But the book was very frustrating to me. Dean Koontz is SO descriptive, so much so that it would bore me. The plot was interesting and many aspects were very creative, it just took too long for any action. Lets just say that for 2 hours to pass in the book was over half the book! Really, do we need to be that descriptive? The unfortunate thing with audio book in this case is I couldn't scan to get to the stuff I cared about. I had to listen and listen and listen, because who knew when something important would happen. I don't think I will be picking up another Dean Koontz novel though.

After learning a little more about Bob Barker in Chuck Norris's autobiography I happened to come across Bob Barker's. He is one interesting guy. I of course watched him on the Price is Right, and enjoyed him. I did not realize that he was host of another show called Truth or Consequences. It was interesting hearing about those stories and make me want to go and watch a few shows. Something that really stands out to me about Bob is that he never did try to get laughs or fame by putting others down. Everything he did was about building others up and he would work to make them funny, not to be funny himself. I like that, I wish more comedians were that way. I never realized how involved he has been with animal rights, now the whole "help control the pet population, have your pets spayed and neutered" makes complete sense. Not only has he been involved with animal rights, I would deem to say that he has been central and a key player to all they have accomplished. It was a good book.

June's Books

So this past June I read 2 books.

The 3 Signs of a Miserable Job: A Fable for Managers (and their employees)
by Patrick Lencioni

I found this book to be attention grabbing. I found so much truth as to why jobs can be miserable to people. I thought the auther completely portrayed the way to bring meaning, purpose, and satisfaction into a job. It truly does need to be measurable, and people need to feel they are known and cared about.

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

by Bill Clinton

It amazes me how much the Clintons have done and the experiences they have had. I think Clinton showed how there are ways for everyone to give. I really enjoyed the chapter on the non-profit Heffer, as my husband is from a third world country and I can totally see the people benefiting from an organization like Heffer. I read this book as there is something about the non-profit world that excites and interests me. I would love to work for one again. 

"Against All Odds" Chuck Norris

A work colleague told me about this book he got from the library and let me borrow it on cd. I really enjoyed listening to his son's narration of the book, and think that maybe audio books might be the best way for me to "read" for the next while as I drive to and from work.

I was shocked at how much I actually enjoyed this book. Chuck Norris is one incredible guy! I really knew nothing about him. I don't even think I have seen one of his movies and have never seen a Walker Texas Ranger episode. Now, after learning about his past and his beliefs and values, I can honestly say that I want to see some of his stuff. He is someone that did not have an easy life, but truly God had plans for him. This book was entertaining and thought provoking. It helped me to think more about the importance of visualizing success and that we have to work hard for our dreams, they will not just happen. Now, I just need to figure out what exactly my dreams are because I know God has plans for me too.

Silent Night & 2 Girls in Blue Dresses

Silent Night is the second book that I have read from Mary Higgins Clark. 2 Girls in Blue Dresses was the first one I read. It was short, but a good story. Her books read the same - they are quick reads and not uninteresting, but they all kind of are the same. As the reader you just want to strangle the stupidity of some of the characters and how things just fall into place and work out. I think I will check out some more

The Treasure Box

It took me only 2 days while sub teaching to read this book. It is nice that I could do that during my "planning period". I really enjoyed it. Orson Scott Card just really has a way of hooking you at the beginning and then all of a sudden the story just completely changes and it becomes almost so crazy, it is believable. I always enjoy reading his book. This book really makes you wonder if there are witches all around us and we just don't know it. I always like how he throws in "Mormon" things too - like the character driving by the Mormon temple or something like that. It was interesting how he talked about how the dead live here on earth, but that we just don't see them. hmmm...sounds familiar.

The Celestine Prophecy

I finally finished this book a few weeks ago. It was so awesome! I felt this connection with this book. It talks about a manuscript that is in Peru. I have been thinking about going to Peru and this book talks about how there are no coincidences and people and things are placed in our path to help us to be able to learn, grow, and be able to fulfill our mission. I really liked how this book talks about the energy that we receive from others and how everything in this life truly is an energy battle - everything is about receiving and giving more energy. That the people we fear are energy takers and that we give our energy to them by allowing them to manipulate or control us. Also that those that we generally like to be around are those that give us energy - they make us feel good. That life truly is about learning how to control and increase our energy. This book allowed me to think more about what religion or God - there roles are in life. I totally recommend this book to all...it will get you to think and wonder - is the Manuscript real?

Welcome Home - Warrior's Don't Cry

So I finished 2 books - one my old boss from BYU sent to me - "Welcome Home: Advice for the Returned Missionary" - it had some good reminders and showed me a little of what I can try to be better to keep up with the spirit and the things that I learned in the mission. The other book Warrior's Don't Cry I thought I would read since about a week ago was the 50th anniversary of integration in Little Rock High. This book taught me more about the need to act, rather than to be acted upon. One quote that I really liked was where the grandma says: "Embarrassment is not a life-threatening problem. It can be washed away with a prayer and a smile...Dignity is a state of mind, just like freedom. These are both precious gifts from God that no one can take away unless you allow them to." Truly, we may not be able to choose what happens to us, but we can definitely choose how we will react to it. The Little Rock 9 to me, were great examples of courage, bravery, and choosing to act. I'm grateful for their part of giving this country a little more freedom.
I love this picture of Elizabeth Eckford - I just can't imagine!!!

Ender's Game

I've been told this is my sister's favorite book - I got it and read it before she even knew, so I have talked to her about it yet.

This book for some reason seemed to effect me. I can't tell why. I feel like I was part of Ender, part of his mind, his feelings. I wanted to cry - because everything seemed so unfair. Is that how it is with people today - that have what seems all the talent, all the abilities - but yet they are cheated out of what is the most important thing perhaps - real life. What others experience? What really is real life? Is anyone's situation really better than another - what do people really think - do they mean what they do or is it all just miscommunication? I think that it all goes with the relationship with the Buggers and Ender. We are all trying to figure out ourselves really during our whole life - what makes us happy? what do we love? whom do we love? what is important? for what reason do we really do what we do? what is our mission? Somehow the Buggers were at peace. Maybe if we knew who we were and our true mission and purpose, we could all live happily like the buggers did because they could communicate perfectly. Or maybe it would all be just boring. But with humans we feel there is some competition because of the fact that we don't understand one another. Or maybe that miscommunication really is somehow perfection that allows us to use our agency. Or maybe I make absolutely no sense.

Rachel & Leah

Once again I am amazed by Orson Scott Card and his ability to think of how in the world things might have happened in the Bible the way they did. How would Jacob possibly mistake Leah for Rachel on their wedding night and how it could all work out okay. He truly can write to your heart and open your eyes. I think the thing that I learned most from this book though is truly how we are the leaders of our own destinies. That often times we pray for the things that end up happening and little do we realize that was what we were praying for the whole time. Not only that, but how important it is for us to "choose" to be happy. Leah, spent practically her whole childhood being unhappy and causing everyone to be miserable and feel bad for her. The interesting thing is that she never realized that it was her choice - she always thought that God was the one who was punishing her and that her life was meant to be that way. How often I am like Leah. How often I don't know how "to walk with Him" because of my choices. What a difference in her life when she realized that she could and needed to change and worked to rid herself of her weaknesses in her thinking. What poison we can be to ourselves sometimes - killing our inner, spiritual person. When we truly are walking with God, as Leah became better at doing, that is when the pride, the jealousy, the hate, the pure selfishness can leave us and we can be the person that we were created to be and fulfill our divine destiny.

Rebekah: Women of Genesis

This book really opened my eyes to learn more about the culture and the way day-to-day life must have been in the Bible. Not only that, but I really saw through the characters, just how much we are self-criticizers and doubt ourselves. We doubt the love that others have for us, we doubt most especially the love that God has for us. How do we compare ourselves to others - maybe its an older or "more-loved" sibling, a mere friend who seems to have unending talents that are unachievable, or someone who just seems to have complete faith and trust in God. Really, God wants to love and show us the same tender mercies and blessings - but the person most likely standing in the way is ourselves. It all comes back to that first basic principle - faith.

Out of Egypt

I’ve been reading the Book “Out of Egypt” by Anne Rice. It is about Christ and when he and his family left Egypt when he was about 7 years old. It has been really interesting. It talks a lot about maybe his experiences in coming to figure out who He is and what that must have been like for him and his family. It gives the genealogy of his family, how learning was back then, the culture, the wars, society in general. It is all very interesting. I have found that I have never really thought about that before. What it must have been like for him. How he really did figure it out. How much help was he given? Was he really treated differently? It is all very interesting. By learning more about the circumstances and culture that surrounds the life of Christ I can understand a little bit more about Judaism and also about the stories in the Bible and how the play into Christ’s latter life.
I think the same is for me. I’m also still trying to figure out who I am. What does the Lord want with me? What truly is my divine nature and my worth? I feel that it is a blessing right now that the Lord is actually giving me time in my life between the mission and working to think and ponder these things – a little break from just working and working and working. Maybe I can figure out a little bit of my mission here.