Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving

I'm up entirely too early, so I will write.

It's  Thanksgiving day an I have a lot to be thankful for.

#1. I have breath in my lungs each moment of the day.
#2. a warm place to live.
#3. a fulltime job when many are jobless and hopeless.
#4. Hope in my God of salvation.
#5. a car that runs.
#6. The heater in said car.
#7. My church family. They are truly the body of Christ to me
#8. The privilege I have of worshipping Jesus openly
#9. The friends I have been blessed with C.M., N.M., S.C., and others
#10. Family, both near and far away.
#11. The animals that share my life. *Cats are awesome*


#12. Jesus. For did you know - He let himself die a criminal's death - for you? What a love that is!




And there is so much more.
But, what are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

'Brentwood' Review/Book Ramblings

I love books. I just re-read 'Brentwood' by Grace Livingston Hill. An old favorite, Mrs. Hill always delivers a good read. Her formula stays the same in nearly every one of her books, rich/poor girl or boy meets rich/poor opposite sex and eventually everything ends up happy.

'Brentwood' is a touch different, but deals with a lot of the same rich person/poor person relationships and the social differences - which were much more strongly divided in the time she writes of.

The book was published in 1937, and deals with a wealthy young woman, whose adopted mother has just died. An envelope is discovered that leads Marjorie to a newfound family, previously unknown. She arrives to find all is in pieces at her family's home.

Love of parents and siblings is strong in this book, even if the protagonist has grown up in luxury, and her family has almost nothing.

Mrs. Hill certainly enjoys large families, 'Brentwood' has a crew of 5 kids - not counting the young heroine of the story. And this story is only one of several that rejoice in families of 5 or more children. 'Head of the House' rejoices in 7 youngsters.

Many of Mrs. Hill's books are fairly light on the romance in the main part of the book, focusing more on renewed relationships with family, with the "romancing" coming all in a heap at the end.