Love. What's Love got to do with it?

Or:  You've reverted to your inner child self again

Or:  Book Review - 3 books at a time.

Or:  What have you been doing for the past several hours?  Why did you take the day off, and what do you have to show for it?

I really do love to read.  I was a HUGE reader all my life growing up and when my kids were little.  I can remember reading book after book after book.   I owned the entire Nancy Drew series.  As a young married gal, I moved onto huge novels, joined a book club and maintained at least a book a week record.

 I lost that appetite gradually over the past few years.  I don't know what happened, but my trips to the library dwindled to nothing more than every other year when I would go once to grab several for the beach.

For the most part, I make it through my weekly People magazine, occasionally my Runner's World, and sadly, I am several months behind on my Ensign.  This last week though?  I have devoured 3 different books.  Sure they are all three small and quick reads, but they each made an impression on me and in their own way, caused my little old, black heart to swell with love.

Alphabet Soup
I know, I know I already  reviewed it in this post.  And if you want to be in the running for a copy, you'll have to go there and post a comment, but it does merit another mention.  Not only because I am the best book pimp in the world, and an even better SIL, but because I am still laughing over the stories, many of which I had forgetten.  The family armed with their paintball guns going after the rodents.  Push-ups on the side of the road and yes it was Luka who barfed in the cookie dough.  It's such a fun read and when I was finished, I pondered all the good times my family has had together.  I thought of my brother, his wife and children and was reminded how much I freakin LOVE them!

Prepare Now for the Temple
Okay, I won this back in August of LAST YEAR in a blog give away, and I confess that it has been in my reading basket on my nightstand since then. I keep dropping my monthly magazines on top of it and forgetting that I had it.  Wednesday night, I did a little cleaning and de-cluttering and my basket got my wrath.  I rediscovered a whole lot of reading material that I had put aside for a "later date".
I loved this read.  Brittany  (private blog - sorry) does a great job of addressing the importance of preparing to attend the temple and directed it to young women.  Who am I kidding?  I even learned a thing or two.  Ever since I have served in YW - I have made a deal with each of them.  When they get married in the temple, I will give them their first pair of  "good girls"  (that is what I call the garments).  I've tried to make is a special occasion and impress on them what a big deal it is.  I decided after reading her book, I am going to include a copy of it for each of my girls when I give them their "goods".  I am also inspired to get myself back to the temple.  I need to worship there more often.  I am reminded how much I love it.
PS - sorry it took me so long to review it Brittany!

The Shack
Martie was telling me all about this earlier this week and I was so intrigued I actually asked to borrow the book and then spent a good several hours reading it.  I had a hard time putting it down.  I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but let me say this.....it is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read in a long time, and while the specific's aren't necessarily important, the message can be life-altering.  I absolutely view my purpose and my relationships with every single person I encounter different than I did this morning.  Isn't that a strange thing?  Here it is 4:00pm MST and I am a different person than I was 8 hours ago. 
In fact, I finished the book, laid it down on my chest and just rested quietly on the couch thinking.  THINKING.  In my mind's eye I pictured my parents, my siblings, my husband, my children, my friends.  Individually.

I picked the book up again, thumbed through and found some of my favorite thoughts and then wished the copy was my own so I could pull out my highlighter.  It centers completely on love and relationships.  I looked at my book marker which happened to be a pink doily heart I had on hand for Valentine's.   I then thought how fitting it was that I read this book on Valentine's day weekend.  Love.

That's really what it's all about anyway right?  Love.  Valentine's day isn't just a day for romance, chocolate, hearts and devotions to our sweethearts, it also includes expressions of love for ALL of our relationships.

Great book.  Great read.  Great thought provoker and life changer.



And now, I think I'll hit the library tomorrow and start embracing that piece of me that LOVES to read.