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.

Eternal on the Water by Josph Moninger

The book starts with the end.  Mary is found dead on in a river yet, we don't know how or why.  But her husband, Cobb, isn't upset.  Cobb then tells a Ranger "their" story.  It is a true love story about 2 tree hugger and how to live in nature and in the world. I cried at the end (but I always do).  Really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Interesting book. Couldn't believe it is a Young Adult read.  It is not descriptive but does talk about rap, abuse, sex, and lesbians.  Yet, the story line is truly about love and trust.  It is a story of 2 sisters who lived total different lives.  One sister became a wife at 14 who was put into an arranged and abusive marriage.  The other sister lived in South Africa as a Christian Missionary.  The whole book is written in letters that one sister writes to the other.  They have a deep love for each other.  The book spans over 30 years and in the end you will cry.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

After reading this book all I can say is, "I want to move back to the Northwest and GO HIKING".  Cheryl explained her backpacking experience so well, that it made me crave the Forrest.  This true story is about a 28 year old woman who loses everything and goes for a 4 month backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail.  It is a trail that goes from the Mexico boarder to Canada.  It goes through national parks, national forests, mountains, and plains.  Cheryl did this alone and meet a lot of interesting people on the way.  She experienced much and in the end.. found herself.

Note;  I did not like Cheryl's morals and values.  She lived a life of drugs, sex, and no God.  But I respect her wanting to change and leaning that she could have more in life.

The book of Mormon Girl by Joanna Brooks

OK I read this book because it was a memoir of a Mormon, and I thought it might be interesting.  Well, it was a memoir girl who grew up in a normal Mormon home in California, loved Young Woman's, went to BYU, then became involved in the woman's right.  She joined some feminist group and started praying to Heavenly Mother.  She then got involved in Gay Marriages, and became an advocate of EQUALITY or everyone should be treated equal.  In the end she marries a Jewish Man.  She now has 2 children. Her children go to a Jewish school but then go to the Mormon Church on Sunday.  She is going to let then decide what religion they want in the end.  So I just ruined the whole story for you..... but it really isn't worth reading.  It is just Joanna's thoughts on how to make this world PEACEFUL and EQUAL.  Really not worth your time.

Fire of the Covenant by Gerald N. Lund

Leif and I watched the movie 17 Miracles.  It was about the Martin and Willie Handcart companies that came to Zion late in the Season and all the miracles that happened on the track.  Well, I fell in love with the story and wanted to learn more.  So I actually bought this 750 page book and started reading.  It is a historic fiction book about 4 families who came to Zion with the Martin and Willie companies.  I learned SO SO much about handcart companies and how they worked.  It was an amazing book with lots of true fact.  I am so glad that I bought this book.

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

I love all of Mitch Albom's book. This book is no exception.  It was a novel about time.  Some people have too much and some people not enough.  In the end eithor person realizes that time is a gift and we need to do the most with it. Time is a Gift and that's what Mitch really tries to show his readers. 

Heaven Is Here by Stephanie Nielson

Best book I have read in a while.  I loved this book, it made me cry.  It made me smile.  It made me appreciate my children, husband, sisters, and parents.  Stephanie is the author and also a survivor of  a plane crash.  She was burned on 80% of her body.  She had a 6 month say in the hospital and another 6 month with rehab and rest.  She lost everything.  And this book is how she overcame.  I loved this book.  Stephanie is a woman who loves being a mother.  And she does a great job at it.

While I was Gone by Sue Miller

I saw that this was a recommended book club book from our library and rented it.  Well, it was different!  But I liked the overall message.. Forgiveness.  It was about a grown woman who meet up with a male roommate, Eli, from her past.  They had a lot of memories together and therefor started hanging out as couples then alone.  In the end you learn a lot about their past and how it helped shaped their futures.  And in the very end you learn that who you are today tells more about you then the past life you lived.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I love Mitch Albom books, but this one was my least favorite.  It is a true story of Mitch interactions with 2 very different men; a Rebi and a Priest.  Mitch is asked to write a eulogy for the Rabi and therefore gets to personally know him.  In doing so he meet an Aferican-American Priest who had a crazy past.  In the end you learn that these 2 men really are a lot alike.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan By:Lisa See

AWESOME BOOK!!!!! My second Lisa See book, and this one just as great.  This story takes place in China during the time they bound woman's feet, had arranged marriages, and a woman's job was to sumit to her husband.  It was also a time when woman had assigned lotang "sworn sisters", and learned "nu-shu" "a secret woman language".  All the Chinese History in this book is true. 
The story line follow two "sworn sisters" as they bind their feet, marry and then  start families.  It is a story of true friendship. 

Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay

I read this book because I had never read Oprah's Book Clubs before and I really like this author.  She is an author that I feel is Real.  Her books don't end with happy endings.  Her books are real life situations.  The two book I have read have made me appreciate my family and situation. 
Vinegar Hill is a dear story about a wife and mother who is trying to keep peace.  She lives with her husband, 2 children and her in-laws in the in-laws home.  The in-law are Catholic and believe that if you aren't with God, then you are with the Devil.  Life is hard living in that home.  But in the end you see family come together and apart.

Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay

I read this book because it was a on the library's book club list.  AND it was an awesome read.  I felt like the novel was so real-life.  It is a story about a mother who loses her only son to a drunk-driver.  She and her husband then sail the seas to get away from memories of their past.  On the water they meet interesting people who help her realize that forgiveness is everywhere.

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

I saw this book on and rented it due to the title and once living in China.  AND I loved it!  It helped me remember China.  It made me have a deeper love for my sisters.  It made me understand Communism better.  And it was such a great read.  The story is about 2 sisters who grew up in China. Who endured WWII. Who had arranged marriages to brothers and moved to America.  And when in America underwent trials, happiness, and love.  Their adventure together was amazing.  Their love was indescribable.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

I have read this book before but wanted to read it again.  It is such a quick, fun, and eye-opening read.  I loved it.  Morrie is on his death bed.  He has lived a good life.  Mitch is in his 30's and come to visit with his old professor.  Mitch ends up having a lot more visits and learns a lot of valuable lessons.  Morrie shares his advice on how to live a good life.  And what is shares is a great reminder of how we should all be living.  Family, hope, service and more become Morrie's lessons.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

My friend, Kara, recommended this book to me.  It is about a boy named Colton who claims he has been to heaven.  Colton was 4 years old when he had a major surgery and visited Haven for 3 minutes.  He explained heaven as colorful, lots of animals, everyone being young, everyone had wings, and he sat on Jesus' lap.   Colton also meet his sister who his mother had miscarried years earlier.   Colton's father is the author of the book who writes  about conversation he had with his son.  This is a book that claims what heaven is like, but it was a very interesting story.  It was a short and fun read.  I do recommend it.