Sweet to the Core

Right now, Molly looked over and me and said, "Mom, I think we should get more Veggie Tales movies from the library.  Because the vegetables always talk about God and Jesus.  So, we should get more of those movies."  So sweet!

Olympic Victory

decathlon - noun, An athletic event taking place over two days, in which each competitor takes part in the same prescribed ten events (100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500-meter run)

Decathletes stress their bodies often just short of their breaking points. Just to finish the decathlon is a feat to be lauded, and it is the only event in which all finishers take a victory lap together. Decathletes face frequent heartache. Training for the decathlon is arguably the most demanding of any sport. And in competition, there are so many variables involved in the ten different events that make it somewhat common for superstars to have poor outcomes.

 Defending Olympic Champion Bryan Clay missed his opportunity to compete in the 2012 London Games after failing in the 110 meter hurdles race at the 2012 Olympic Trials. Although this failing performance surely brought tremendous heartache, more importantly Bryan is a winner at life.

In his memoir, Redemption: A Rebellious Spirit, A Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold, with Joel Kilpatrick, Bryan tells of his tumultuous upbringing wrought with pain, strife, and poor choices. Along the way, Bryan is exposed to God’s truth and to mentors that point him to success. However, it isn’t until Bryan is a few years into college that he decides to clean up his life style and pursue excellence in all areas of his life by putting God first. This book had me cheering for Bryan as he trained, competed, and fell in love. I’ve been a long time track and field fan, but I learned a lot about the decathlon and Bryan’s career that culminated in his victory at the 2008 Olympic Games. This is a great read in anticipation of the 2012 London Games.

I received a free copy of this book as part of my participation in Thomas Nelson Publishers booksneeze.com program.

An Olympic Story

This is God’s story, and He wants it told: Lopez Lomong qualified for the 2012 London Olympics tonight by placing third in the 5000 meter race at the U.S. track and field trials. He will be proudly wearing the uniform for the United States, the country that gave him a second chance at life. When Lopez was six years-old, he was kidnapped by rebel soldiers in his native South Sudan and imprisoned. Miraculously, he escaped to Kenya where he spent the next ten years as an orphan (he had no idea if his parents were alive) in a refugee camp where the conditions in which he lived seemed hopeless and desperate. By contrast, Lopez remained filled with hope and the pragmatism necessary to thrive in this environment. Drawing upon the faithfulness of a loving God taught to him by his parents, he was certain that God had important plans for him. Running for My Life is Lopez’s story of his journey to America and eventual trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a 1500 meter runner. His sharing his story with the world is truly a gift. This book is not only nearly impossible to put down, I believe it will be life-changing for many that read it. My spirit was encouraged, and I have been challenged by the abundance in my life compared to what refugees around the world live without. I am eager to help those hurting in South Sudan; you’ll likely be, too, after you read this book. Lopez also has a blog at LopezLomong.com. There, you’ll learn about opportunities to help this cause. I was given a copy of Running for My Life by Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Molly's Pre-K Graduation

Here's a picture of Molly and her BFF Rylee both graduating from Pre-K!

Interesting Memoir

One Call Away is the memoir of Brenda Warner, wife of NFL football player Kurt Warner. Brenda’s story is gripping. Throughout her journey are tragedies and triumphs. In addition to the stress of being a public figure and the ups and downs of Kurt’s career in professional football, Brenda experiences a child being handicapped as a result of an accident, the devastating end to a marriage and the loss of her parents to a tornado While her story contains many trying experiences, the descriptions of the sad moments are neither overwhelmingly dark nor emotional. In the tragic moments, Brenda relies on her always faithful God. It is apparent that she has faith, but none of her intimate times with God are described in depth. She talks about the role God plays in her life, but she often relies on her own strength and principles. Brenda is mostly likeable; she is completely accepting of herself and her many uniquenesses. She is fiercely committed to her family and is strong in the face of public scrutiny. It is an entertaining read that feels like a conversation with a friend. Apparently she felt like she was having a conversation with a friend when she wrote it because she reveals details that are shockingly personal.