Book Review: Finding God In The Dark

God has not forgotten about you.

That's hard to remember in the face of disillusionment or heartache. Ted Kluck's world was turned upside down after experiencing a failed adoption, where he found himself propelled into a year of doubt and disillusionment. Ronnie Martin struggled with the kind of identity and idolatry issues that come with being a well-known recording artist, before the unexpected death of his father allowed those sins to be brought to the surface of his heart. it is in the midst of these and other everyday stories that we learn how God reveals His boundless grace to every one of us.

Whether you've lost someone you loved, suffered career failure, or simply been let down by a fellow Christian, it's natural to wonder whether God has forgotten about you. You're not alone. Kluck and Martin's raw revelations about their mistakes and disappointments will help you on your own journey to finding God when you're standing in the dark.

 

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I'd bet my last dollar that you have been in circumstances so dark that you wonder where God is, and how He could allow you to be where you are.

I'll admit it, I've spent much of the last two and half years in the dark, wondering if God has forgotten about us. Life is quiet, our hearts have been dry, the burden of our circumstances have been heavy. While I knew in my head that He will never leave us, my heart felt otherwise.

So, considering how long this season of darkness has gone on, I was curious to read this book, as the title intrigued me.

I wasn't overwhelmed by this book. At only 139 pages, it's a very quick and easy read, almost blog-like in the writing.  Each author has his own writing style, yet the book didn't mesh together. It's two authors in the same book, not relating to the other.

While I appreciated the authentic sharing of the author's hearts, I didn't feel inspired or as though I learned anything new about navigating the darkness of this season we are in. It was a good reminder that we all struggle with disappointments and tragedy. I just felt as though the book didn't go deep enough for me to connect with it. I'm not disappointed in it, it just came across as very light, blog reading.

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

5QF ~ Apr 26

I'm so glad it's Friday. It was a very heavy week 'round these parts, so I'm really looking forward to recharging with my family for the next two days.

I had a new temp start today. She wore a lovely purple sweater that matched her hair. I hope she works out. We've had so many temps come and go over the last year and it's been frustrating. Someday I will tell you allll about it.

I had a girls night out this week with two friends from church. We talked and laughed for over 3 hours!

My course will be over at the end of May, with the graduation ceremony in early June. Some day I will tell you allll about that too.

Ok. So since it's Friday, I'm going to do Mama M's Five Question Friday blog thingamaroo.

Ready?

Let's go.

 

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1. Who drives when your family is together, you or your spouse?
99% of the time Ian does. I don't like driving in the dark, rain, snow, highway or traffic. Also, Ian does these weird jerky movements when I'm braking like he thinks I'm going to bang into the guy next to me or something. And I think he presses both feet on the floor like he has some invisible brakes going on down there. I can't take it. So, he drives and I look at the scenery.

2. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
My understanding of an introvert is someone who is recharged by being alone, while an extrovert is recharged by being with others.

So, assuming I'm not too way off base with my understanding, I am an introvert. I find being around other people to be exhausting sometimes, so I require a bit of quiet time to myself every day so my head doesn't pop off. I might read or pray or colour.. it doesn't matter. Just as long as I am alone it's all good.

3. Are you married to an introvert or extrovert?
Ian is an extrovert for sure. He loves being around other people and is very social. He'd have the entire world over every single night if he could. He loves people, he craves fellowship and fun with others.

I imagine it is very hard for an extrovert to live with an introvert.

4. What's your favorite type of social media?
It's a tie between Facebook and Twitter. I love them both. But I love Instagram and Snap Chat too.

I love me some social media.

5. What's your favorite way to "recharge"?

Probably by colouring. I have my own stash of colouring books and crayons and I can just zone out.

 

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Good night!!

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday

Whoa nelly, today went by much too fast. One minute it was 10:00, then next it was 12:30, then 3:00. I didn't accomplish a fraction of the things I'd hoped to. Seems my inbox gets fuller and my to-do list gets longer. I'm trying to find another temp to replace the one that is leaving at the end of the week and so far it's a slow process. I've seen so many different people come through our department...it's hard to find what we're looking for.

I didn't work as late tonight as I usually do, because last night Jordan asked me to promise her that I would leave on time today so I could take her to the park. She's such a sweetheart, but oh... the mama guilt. I'm struggling with balancing everything and I'm not doing a great job at it. I did make it home in time to take her and Mattie to the park for a bit, then just as the sun started setting we headed home so they could do some sidewalk chalking with Julie.

I feel very restless these days. Not sure if it's a sign that change is coming, or that I'm anxious for Spring or what, but it's getting super annoying. Tommorrow night I'm meeting up with a couple of friends for coffee and I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe that will help me snap out of whatever this restless feeling is all about.

My personal goal for this week is to figure out how to turn on our new tv that Ian gave me for my birthday in January. It's lovely but I can't figure out how to turn on and get the right inputs going so that it works... then I can't find my shows because I haven't watched tv in over a year and I have no idea what shows are on which nights, and what time they're on at. I used to know all my shows and what channel they were on back when we used Rogers Cable, but since we switched to Bell I can't find anything. I feel like an idiot. I like that I'm not bound to the tv anymore, but lately I find myself missing all the crazy nonsense on TLC.

Alright. My tea is over, and i've come to the end of my ramblings for tonight. 6 am will be here before I know it.

Sleep well friends.

Sunday

Today was one of those days I wanted to get out of the house and do something together as a family. It wasn't warm enough to go to the park, so we all headed off to Square One to poke around. My search for The Perfect Orange Purse continues, and I was hopeful I'd find it there.

 

Our first stop was here:

 

I don't know what it is about this store but it makes me cry every.single.time I go there. I just get so caught up in the magic of everything and it makes me want to buy all the things.

 

Like THIS!!

 

 

Ahh! Isn't it adorable?!?

 

It's absolutely huge, like two cups of tea in one! So far tonight I've had two cups, which is really like four cups... so I'm not even a little bit tired right now.

 

Oops. I'll probably fall asleep sometime around 3am and then want to beat myself up when my alarm goes off at 6am.

 

Eventually Sam took off for a bit on his own, and we decided to let Julie go off on her own for the first time. She had her cell phone with her and I gave her a million things to be careful of, and off she went.

 

Ian went off on his own for a bit and it was just the Littles and me. Not the family afternoon I was hoping for!

 

Jordan started griping about how her feet hurt and she wanted me to carry her. (um..what?!) So, I stuffed both of them into the stroller.

 

 

Not the most comfortable fit, but it worked. Although she wouldn't stop tickling Matthew, and he wouldn't stop pulling Jordan's hair. I could move through the mall so much quicker this way. I don't think Ian was all that impressed that I had a stroller stuffed with children ;-)

 

Sadly, I left the mall orange purse-less. The hunt continues.

 

We did some grocery shopping and when we got home I hung outside with the Littles for a bit. Matthew had endless fun running up and down the driveway, until he tripped and fell and the party was over. Jordan chalked up the driveway until SHE fell and we packed up and headed inside before I ended up falling as well ;-)

 

And now the Sunday evening blues are settling in.

 

I'm off to fold my laundry that I left to the last minute!

 



Catching Up

Oh my poor neglected little blog.

Gone are the days when I could blog about life every other day or so. Nowadays, there is so much happening all at once and I just never seem to make it here.

I'll do a quick drive by post.

Work is very busy and I think I've been handling this manager gig fairly well. I have a very heavy workload and the week goes by so quickly. I'm often still at the office at 6 or 6:30 at night which doesn't leave me much time with the children when I get home. I'm missing them, and they're missing me. 

Tomorrow Ian and I will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. We have weathered many storms together but we just keep getting stronger. So much love.

My course that I've been taking at my church since September ends next month. So many thoughts to share about this journey. Another day...

My sweet blog friends have been loving on me for a couple of months and last week just blew my mind and warmed my heart. THAT is definitely a blog post all on it's own. COMING SOON!

My sidebar pictures need to be updated.

I am so in love with my Ian.

Sam has been asked by the school to design a logo for t-shirts for the special education classes. He's very talented and I know he'll come up with something amazing. He's longing for school to end for the summer.

Julie reached a goal of hers this week and we're so proud of her. She is being noticed by the boys a lot lately. Not sure how I feel about that. Heck yeah I do... I don't like it!

Jordan is slaying us with her humour. She is working so hard to speak more clearly but some words she says just get me. She calls popcorn "pock-porn". She and I had some Mommy/Jordan time this week - a solo trip to the grocery store, and she told me three times how much she loved being with me. Afterwards we took Mattie to the park. She's been telling me every day how much she misses me while I'm at work. Oh my heart.

Matthew is a chatter. Sweet mercy. He doesn't make sense, but glory...it must be a never ending story because he's forever chattering away. He has inflections and raises his eyebrows while he talks, and it sounds as though he's asking questions. When I leave for the day he lifts his face for my kiss, and at the end of the day he comes running to give me a hug, and just melts into me, letting me cuddle him.

I have recently been introduced to SnapChat and I am addicted to sending pictures of stupid and random things to my friends.

I wish my cat wouldn't flick the litter all over the place when he does his business. So messy.

I'm on a mission to find an orange purse.

I'm going to try to blog more. I have a lot of things I want to talk about and I miss having this outlet.

But for now, I'm going to bed.

Book Review: Taylor's Gift

 

It was the last run of their first day on the slopes, the beginning of another great family vacation for Todd and Tara Storch and their three children. But when thirteen-year-old Taylor's life was tragically cut short in a skiing accident, the Storches were overcome by the devastating loss of their daughter. Still in shock, they were asked a question no parents ever think they will hear: "Would you be willing to donate Taylor's organs?"

 

Their answer would change their family's lives forever and provide comfort during their darkest moments. It would also save the lives of five desperate people anxiously waiting for a heart, a liver, a cornea, a pancreas, and a kidney.

 

This is a story of finding strength in God and creating good even in the darkest times.

 

It's a story of hope.

 

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Beautifully written, Taylor's Gift is the story of the tightly knit Storch family, and their struggle for survival after the death of their first child, their daughter Taylor.

This book takes the reader through the first excruciating painful year without her, and their calling to create Taylor's Gift Foundation to teach others of the importance of organ donation.

Not only is this book written from Todd and Tara's perspective, but by the organ recipients as well. Tara longed to meet the woman who received Taylor's heart so she could hear it beating one last time, knowing that her daughter lived on. It was powerful and moving to read how both women were impacted by Taylor, and to know that these recipients would have a second chance at life because of her.

What I really appreciated most about this book was how it was written in such a way that I felt as though I got to know who Taylor was, and who the Storch family is. Their grief led them to the Lord, and He led them to start Taylor's Gift Foundation. He took the ashes of her daughter's death, and gave them beauty in the form of helping others.
 

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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.