The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright

 A friend of mine gave me this book to read.  She is from Australia, isn't a reader, but loved this book.  So I gave it a try.  It is a bout this man who loses his wife and unborn child in a car crash.  To help with his depression and loss, he goes daily to the crosses on the side of the road.  And that is where he meets "The cross gardener". 
The relationship between these 2 men is unique.  They both teach each other and help with reality.  I cried at the end when the true identity of the cross gardener is identified. 

When Thou Art Converted by M. Russell Ballard

Loved this book. Brother Ballard talked about our life being a boat and the anchor holds us stable.  Well you have to have a good chain in order to stay grounded.  So he goes on and talks about those chains.  The chains are the everyday things, read your scriptures, go to church, say your prayers, BUT he goes into detail about them.  And since he is an disciple, he has great stories and details about each chain.  I really truly enjoyed this book.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I like Sue Kidd so thought I would give this book a try.   And I am glad I did.   The story started out with a 11 year old girl (Sarah) and for her birthday she gets a slave (Hetty).  The book is about their relationship.  They grow up together yet so far apart due to living in the South and in a slave state.  I couldn't believe how horrible slaves were treated.  I couldn't believe how cruel slave owners were.  Even though the book was fiction, it opened my eyes to the relativity of slavery. the end was great so I do recommend it to anyone.  

The Story of My Life by Hellon Keller

I am in wow of this woman.  She accomplished much and at such a young age.  I used to think of Helen Keller as a spoiled-rich-girl who had to be tamed by Anne.  Now I realize that she was a determined-bright-spiritual-spirited young woman who loved the life she was given.  
Helen taught herself to talk, read braille, speak German and Latin, appreciate art, and love books.  She reminded me that I have 5 senses.  She used only 3, and learned to love life.  We all take our eyes and ears for grated.  I have a new respect for anyone who is blind or deaf.

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

Very interesting book.  I read it because it was a New York best seller and I thought it was going to be about David & Goliath.  It kind of was, because it talked about how "big" isn't always better.  How disabilities aren't always weaknesses.  And how more isn't always the best. 
There was examples and stories or how these  principles are true.  I enjoyed it, but did skim through some parts.  In the end I was happy with where I am in life.  I have little and that's ok.

My Story by Elizabeth Smart

Great Book.!!!  And one amazing young woman!!  I thought this book might be difficult to read but Elizabeth did a great job of not giving details.  She stated the facts of the kidnapping and then told about the tender mercies of the Lord. 
She told about the miracles that happened and the prayer that were answered. 

I cried when she was found and felt joy.   Great book.

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

This book was very interesting. It was about Carolyn who was a member of the FLDS church who became a 3rd wife at the age of 19.  Her husband gained 4 more wives making a total of 7.  It is her story of hate and despair.  And then it tells how she escaped and was the first woman to gain full custody of her 8 kids.

I was engaged in the story but I disliked how negative Carolyn was.  She was depressing.  She was full of hate and revenge.  Not at all centered on Christ.  I did skip through a lot of chapters.

But in the end so happy that she did get out.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

This is a very quick read.  It is a little over 100 pages and tells the true story of 2 different people living in South Sudan.  One takes place in 2009 and the other 1980's.  In the end the 2 stories come together. 

Each story talks about a family living in South Sudan and how hard life was for them.  Girls truly spent their whole days walking to get water.  And in the 1980 there were many wars. 

It was a quick and good read.

Bedtime and Naptime by Hilary Weeks

A friend gave me this book for Christmas.  I like Hilary Weeks as a singer and was excited to read her only book. 

The book was full of her favorite quotes, experiences, memories, insights, and recipes. 

2 things I will do from her book is...

Make a thankful wall during November.
Make Labor Day into a memorable Day were we do something crazy as a family.

The Christmas Box Miracle

I first rented this book think it was The Christmas Box.  But this is a book about the miracle of The Christmas Box.  Richard talks of how he never intended this book to be published.  His intentions for writing the book was to give to his daughters.  But his extended family read it and then everyone in Salt Lake City wanted a copy. 

Richard tells the hardships and miracles of how this book went on to be a top seller.  He also explains how he got the brass angle to be placed in the Salt Lake cemetery.  Mother around the world can now have a place to place a white rose for any lost child.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

The Christmas Box was a very short read (finished it in one day), and a great book around the holidays.  I thought I would have been more emotional when reading this book because it is about a mother who lost a child.  The mother keeps writing letters to her lost daughter and keeps then in "The Christmas Box".  It is called the Christmas Box because Heavenly Father gave His Son away on the first Christmas many years ago.

This book reminded me that I WILL see my Kaden again.  I will get to be his Mother in heaven.  God knows I lost a son. God lost (or gave away freely) His Son. 

I wish I could have cried while reading this story.  Sometime I just want to cry and remember Kaden.  So today I will go and write him a letter on his blog. 

This is a great book for anyone who has lost someone.

The Carousel by Richard paul Evans

I found this book at the church and decided to give it a try.  Well AFTER I finished reading it, I realized that it is the 3rd book in The Locket trilogy.  So now I have reserved 2 new books at the library. 

I did like this novel.  It was a very easy read  and was a love story.  I do like love stories but not ones that are unreal.  Yet this novel totally related to me because the couple were in medical school.  Micahael and Faye eloped and then tried to make their marriage work long-distant.  Their relationship started to struggle and then the book goes on. 

It was a very sweet story with a sweet ending.

Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza

Left to tell was a fast read. Immaculee is one amazing person.  Her story is one of courage, endurance, love, faith, and mostly forgiveness.  Immaclee was "left to tell" her story about the Rwanda genocide that happened in 1994.  She lost all she had, hid in a bathroom for 3 months, and through it all gained a testimony of faith and love.  She is my new hero. 

This book was hard to read at times, due to the true facts of any genocide.  My eyes were open to "true evil".  I heat ached for the Tusi people.  I was thankful for the plan of salvation.  I was thankful for my faith.  And Immaculee helped that faith to grow. 

I would recommend this book to anyone.  One of my new favorite books.

Hearts of the Children by; Dean Hughes

 All-right... I started another series.  Hearts of the Children in a historic fiction series of 4 cousins living in the 1960's.  (It is funny, because I keep thinking about my parents throughout these books.)  These cousins are live in different parts of the world and therefore get to experience the different events/issues that happened in the late 1900's.

Hans lives in Germany and experiences the Berlin Wall, the closing of East Germany ect.

Gene lives in Provo but serves a mission in Germany and then comes home only to be sent off to the Vietnam War.

Diana lives in Salt Lake but ends up going to BUY.

Kathy goes to school in New York visits Mississippi a few times and becomes a hippie who is all about "peace". 

Between their 4 lives I have learned a lot about the Vietnam War,

 Martin Luther King, the church's growth, and life in the 60's.

I have really enjoyed these books.

Whistling pass the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

I can't remember who recommended this book to me.  BUT I couldn't put it down.  This book is a lot like the book The Help or Secret lie of Bees.  It is a novel based in the 1960's and tell of a 10 year old girl named Starla.  Starla run away from her white Grandmothers home in search for her mother.  Alone her rote she meets Eula (an African American) and they head off in a journey together.

Throughout their journey you see how the black were treated and feel their pain (in the eyes of a 10 year old).  It was a very moving book where love and friendship conquers all.

Refuge and Reality by John H. Groberg

 

This is the final book that Groberg wrote or book # 4.  John wrote of his 3 year experience as the temple President in the Idaho Falls Temple.  He told story after story of event that happened and people he meet.  Each story taught a new principle or lesson.  I enjoyed reading the stories and learning about the responsibilities of a Temple President.  My love for temples grew and so did my love for the Idaho Falls Temple (which I attended while going to Ricks College).

This is the 2nd book of Groberg's stories.  It is John H. Grobergs experience as a mission president back to the islands of Tonga and the surrounding Pacific Islands.  John is 30 years, with a family of 5 small daughter, and is called to leave his home in Idaho Falls and serve as mission president for 3 years.  Full of faith, he packs up his family and moves to Nuku'alofa, Tonga.    He oversees the missionaries in Tonga along with all the branches of the church. This book is full of many stories and event that truly are miracles.  I really enjoyed learning about what a mission president does along with his family.  Another great book.  

In the Eye of the Storm by John H. Groberg

  

This is the first book of the 4 John Groberg series (I read the 3rd one first).  It is also a movie called, "The Other Side of Heaven".  And this is by far my favorite of all his books.  It is WAY better then the movie and truly had me falling in love with the Tongan People.  Elder Groberg served a 3 year mission to the Tongan Island and stayed mainly in 2 locations; Niuatoputapu (a small island of 200 people), and Ha'apai Group of Island (14 small islands close together).  He is told to learn the language and preach the gospel.  How he accomplishes this is truly amazing.  He falls in love with the Tongan Culture and then learn to love and respect the "Mormon Missionary".  I learned a lot about how the Tongan Cultural works, and a lot about my own testimony.  

Anytime, Anywhere by John Groberg

LOVED this book.  John Groberg was called to be an General Authority when his family was young and living in Idaho Falls.  Due to this calling, he and his family moved anywhere and at anytime.  In his 30 years as a General authority he served all around the world.  Each of his chapters is a story from somewhere around the world.  They are each stories of faith and dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ. John and his family were truly amazing people who learned to sacrifice and listen to the Holy Spirit.  I loved all the stories he would recommend this book to anyone... anywhere. 

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Awesome book!!!!  I first learned that "I would never ever want to climb Mt. Everest".  I also learned how expensive, time consuming, dangerous, long, and truly exhausting climbing Everest would be.  This book is a true account of 2 groups that summited on May 10, 1996.  5 people didn't make it home due to reasons that didn't have to happen.   Jon was on this summit, and gives a first hand account to what truly happens on "The worlds tallest Mountain."

After the Martyrdom by Jerald Johansen

I bought this book for Leif's birthday present, then found myself reading it for the 2nd time.  I truly enjoyed this book both times reading it.  It talks about Emma and her kids and what happened to them in Nauvoo.  I really grew to respect Emma.  Not for what she didn't do, but for what she did do.  I also enjoyed reading about Joseph's 3 boys.  They were all good men, who needed support.  Very interesting book.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Very Interesting book.  A running friend recommended it to me. I thought it was going to talk about how to be a good runner.  Yet it talked about a group of Indians named the Tarahmara.  They live in Central Mexico and run everywhere, with only rubber sandals.  These Indians can run hundreds of miles at a time, and at an incredible pace.  And the book goes on to tell you why.  In the end I realized that I don't need to buy new running shoes each year.  I learned that protein isn't the best before a race, and it is ok to run bare-foot on the beach.  Very interesting book.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

I have read 3 other Jodi Picoult books, and have always been blown away by the ending(s).  This was the only book where I predicted the end result.  I kept waiting for a crazy ending, but it never came.  So in the end I was a little disappointed. 
Yet, I did lean a lot about Autism and Aspergers Syndrome.  In fact I grew to love the characteristic of an Aspergers kiddo.  This story was about a 18 year old Aspergers boy, Jacob, who loved forensic science.  He also loves his college social skills tutor.  But one day she is found dead in her bathroom and the evidence falls onto Jacob, or does it????

Dibs in Search of Self by Virgina M. Axline

OK.. I will start out by saying this book was printed in 1967 and I would NEVER have read a book like this if a good friend did not give it to me, and tell me to read it.  I was not excited to read this book, and had a hard time picking it up BUT loved it. 
So it is a true story of a 6 year old boy named Dibs who people think is M.R. He doesn't talk, interact, or smile.  He has crying fits to get what he wants.  His school and parents can no longer handle him and are thinking about putting him in a Mental Hospital.  Well, a Play Therapist is called in and does 1 hour sessions weekly. 
This book is her sessions along with conversations from mom and teachers.  You will be amazed at what Play Therapy can do.  Loved that ending.

Mothering w. Spiritual Power by Debra Woods

I am not of fan of self-help books, and think that my mothering skills are fine where they are.  BUT my little sister gave me this book for Christmas so I thought I would give it a go.  AND I loved everything about this book.  Debra does a wonderful job of sharing Book of Mormon Scriptures and then explaining how it relates to motherhood.  There are 24 scriptures or 24 mini chapters. For example chapter one give the Scripture 3 Nephi 17:21 "And he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them."  The chapter then goes on to talk about having one-on-one time with our children, and how our children are really "God's Children".  I LOVED EACH CHAPTER.  And the main concept I learned was that we really need to have personal scripture/prayer time with ourselves.  When we (mothers) are spiritually feed, then we in return are better moms.  I recommend this book to everyone.