Summer Reading Countdown!

     I am a self-declared bookworm. I LOVE to read! The main problem with intense college classes is that I get so burned out on my hours of scholarly reading (which by the way, I still enjoy) that I don't have the time or eye-strength to read the stuff I really want to read; the books I choose, the ones that draw me into the pages and make me a part of the story while still safe in my own room :) Ya know the feeling?
      Well, now it is SUMMER, so I have time to READ AWESOME BOOKSES!!!! My current summer reading list consists of Radical by David Platt, In His Steps by Charles Sheldon,  How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler OR How to Read Better and Faster by Norman Lewis (So I can improve my speed-reading skillz for college), a new novel written by a good friend of mine (not published...yet. Think Narnia-type genre), and Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black. That's my personal list.
     But I just started thinking about all the great books I have read in the past, and thought I would share a list of my top 10 picks for summer reading in 2014 (in no particular order, and no, these are not necessarily my 10 favorite books, but they are all very good)! Let me know if you decide to read any of them and what you thought! Also feel free to comment with books you think I should add to my own list :) If you click on the title of one of the books, it will take you to where you can find it on Amazon. So here go the very random suggestions...

10- Pilgrim's Progress by Paul Bunyan. This one is a Christian classic for a reason. Yes, it can be a rather tedious piece of literature, but take the time to read it out loud in an Old English accent, and I promise you'll feel 10 times more epic! If you read this, you will be a truly accomplished reader :)

9- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Like I said about number 10, some books are classics for a reason. I read this one in my Junior year of high school, and I do not regret it. It deals with some touchy subjects (very tastefully, I might add), so I would suggest this one for high school or above. It is different, engaging, thought-provoking, and very well-written.

8- Unfriend Yourself by Kyle Tennant. I actually read this little (literally, it's like 90 small pages long) book for my first-ever college class. Take a weekend to unplug from FB with this quick read, and you'll re-enter the world of social media with a different and more biblical perspective, I assure you!

7- The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. I also read this one for high-school (I was homeschooled, in case you haven't guessed), and it really impacted me. Too often we see the Old Testament as the less-desirable portion of the Bible, when it is just as much the Word of God as Matthew or Romans! I love Yancey's commentaries on several of the OT books :)

6- Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black. This one, as you probably noticed, is on my own reading list. No, I have not read it before, but I'm suggesting it anyway. It just came out in March by one of my favorite authors. I should be getting it in the mail in a day or two, and maybe I'll write a more comprehensive review of it once I've dug into it myself!

5- The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. You are never too old for Narnia, in my opinion. And this book is probably my favorite of the seven Chronicles. I actually started out my last blog post with a quote from it.... Maybe they'll make a movie one day :D

4- In His Steps by Charles Sheldon. I have only just started this one, but it is already so good! Ever heard the phrase, "What Would Jesus Do?" Well, I believe this book is where it originated. Another Christian classic :)

3- The Kneeling Christian by An Unknown Christian. Ahhh... this book. Short and sweet, convicting, inspiring, and (if you let it), life-changing. Probably the best book on prayer I have ever read!

2- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. If you like fantasy... this is awesome! All the more perfect because the final movie of the new Hobbit trilogy is coming out this December (midnight premiere, anyone?). Not nearly as hard to read as LOTR (Tolkien actually wrote this one with kids in mind), and VERY entertaining!

1- Living by the Book by Howard Hendricks. If you ignore all my other suggestions, read this one! Seriously, I think every Christian who desires to really dig into God's Word needs this book on their shelf! It will change the way you view and study the Bible, which for most of us is very needed. I originally zoomed through this one for a class, but am now slowly working through it again with my family. Don't let the size intimidate you, it's an easy read, I promise! I haven't read many non-fiction books I would classify as page-turners, but this is definitely one :)

So that's that! Let me know what you think :) Oh, and if you want to see some random bookwormish-type things, check out my Pinterest boards: "This Is So Me :)",  "What I'm Reading in 2013", and "Words Worth Repeating" (the link to my Pinterest is at the top of my blog).

This is way too relatable...

A Unique Story

     The above quote comes from C.S. Lewis' The Horse and His Boy, one of my all-time favorite books. When Shasta, a runaway slave (and a prince, though he doesn't know it yet) encounters the great Lion Aslan, he asks why a certain thing happened to his friend. Aslan replies that "no one is told any story but his own."
      And every story is different. As different as each snowflake falling silently to the ground on a cold December night. As different as each and every fingerprint, each strand of DNA, each personality. Sure, our stories have similarities, but they are each definitely, beautifully unique.
      I would never have guessed a couple years ago where my story was going, and even now, looking back, I am amazed at where I find myself right now! Here is a short update on what's been going on with me that past year (yes, its been THAT long since I've been on here, but thanks to the inspiration of a good friend of mine, I'm giving blogging another go :D)-
    * Last summer, I worked as a senior counselor at a local Bible camp. It was definitely not easy being in charge of several energetic kids 24-hours a day, but it was totally worth it. A great experience!
    * In the fall semester, I did a 10-week ministry internship helping out at a neighborhood Bible club as part of my college adventure (more about that in a minute).
    * In December, I went with several amazing friends to the midnight premiere of The Desolation of Smaug (in costume, of course!), which was tons of fun.
    * I just completed my first year of college online with Moody Bible Institute... another great growing experience. Classes like Christian Missions, Studying and Teaching the Bible, and Old Testament Survey are right down my alley!
    * And presently, I am preparing to head off to Chicago in about 3 months!!! I still find it hard to believe I will be on campus (at MBI) for my Sophomore year, but I am looking forward this adventure, the next chapter in my story :)
    * Of course, throughout all of the above, I have been reading, learning new theatrical songs on the piano, watching movies with friends, trying new recipes from Pinterest, hanging out with my family, and doing my fair share of traveling.
       I am going to try to post again in the next week or so... we'll see how that goes!

VERSE OF THE DAY:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
           declares the Lord. 
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts."
                                  ~Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

RANDOM PICTURE OF THE DAY: 

This is from our Hobbit photoshoot; thanks to my friend for letting me borrow her awesome handmade elvish costume!

Above the clouds (no matter how thick and dark),

The sky is always blue.

Whether or not I can see them,

The stars are always shining.

Above my circumstances (no matter how dark they seem),

Whether or not I FEEL His love and presence,

God is ALWAYS God.

He is ALWAYS good.

Unchanging.

Through all the ages of eternity.

          

From the runway, the day looked bleak. Drizzly and overcast...I find that type of day sort of depressing. I was on my way to Chicago, my first time flying by myself, for college orientation at Moody Bible Institute. (I'll be doing my first year online, and we'll see what happens after that :)). Well, once the 737 broke the clouds, the day looked anything BUT bleak and depressing! From my excellent window seat vantage point, I could count several layers of clouds, each unique and beautiful. I love flying. Of course I couldn't resist taking tons of photos! That glorious view from above the dark clouds inspired me to write in my journal, expressing my thanks to God for His unchanging, unfailing goodness, no matter what the weather looks like from the ground.

I have to be honest, this past year hasn't been the greatest for me, but I'm finally starting to see how God's been "working everything together for good" behind the scenes, or should I say, above the clouds :) 

Working as a counselor at Cumberland Springs Bible Camp (something I felt totally inadequate to do, but God proved faithful) and spending that week in Chicago in preparation for this year of college....both of those things have made this summer quite possibly the best summer ever! No. GOD has made this summer the best summer ever, and I am SOOOO thankful for His goodness and love!

Here are a few random photos from Chicago:

FYOP (First Year Online Program) Students

A view of Chicago from the dorm roof

Sporting our new Moody sweatshirts

Genuine Chicago Pizza

I'm Back! And Spring Photography :)

No, I haven't been gone, at least not for as long as it would appear from the date of my last blog post! I'm back on blogger now, though :) We'll see how faithfully I write on here this time...

For now, I'm just going to post some photos of SPRING on Brayton Mtn.!

Like the Noonday Sun...

"Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..."

~Psalm 37:4-7a (NIV)

A Prayer for 2012

Dear Heavenly Father,

     Thank You for a wonderful start to this new year. 

     Thank You for birthdays, and for my "little" brother's birthday coming up this Wednesday. It's hard for me to believe he'll be 16! Boy, how time flies! 

     Thank you for our pets, especially Clarabelle, who still acts like a kitten, even though she's about 13 years old. :) 

     Thank You for my family, and the wonderful memories we've made this year, though it's only just begun.      

     Thank You for the little bit of snow we got the other day, it was beautiful!

     Please help me as I get ready to start college in just a few months. I need to finish my application, please give me the motivation to finish that essay! :) You know I don't like writing, but it's something I have to do...

     Bless my family, and my friends, and may this year be better than any before it!

     More than anything, please use me in 2012 to share Your love with people who don't know You.
     I love You.
Your Friend,
AMBER

Slowly Getting Better...

          Yesterday was the best day I've had since having my tonsils removed a little over two weeks ago! I actually got out of the house and went to town! (I had been to my grandparents house once, but no farther than that). We went to Dayton's new bookstore, The Book Barn. Imagine that! Dayton actually has a bookstore!!! Then we went to Sonic, where I had a Double Stuff Oreo Sonic Blast and French Toast Sticks. It doesn't sound like much, but for someone who's been stuck in the house for over two weeks, it was amazing :) Thanks everyone for your prayers!!!

P.S. Don't forget to feed my turtles and my fish :)