- 08:33 So tired this morning. I wish I could've gotten a bit more sleep. #
- 09:01 Absolutely nothing I want to eat this morning. Ugh. #
- 19:31 @jnjackson as how cute. I haven't read any of the books yet (library is out), but from what I know I think I'd be Team Edward as well. #
- 19:49 So tired, and it's not even 8pm. Got to stay up though cause the family is coming over tonight. Why am I always tired lately? #
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Finished Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren F. Winner.
As detailed in her memoir Girl Meets God (which is amazing and a must-read, in the world according to me), she was an Orthodox Jew before converting to Christianity. In this book, she talks about 11 specific things Jews do that would possibly enrich Christian lives.
For example, she says that much of Judaism is an action--specific prayers, for instance, and rituals--and there tend not to be counterparts for that in Christianity.
So she compares and contrasts things like weddings and the Sabbath/Shabbat and mourning and even eating.
I think the mourning chapter was my favorite (I know, right?) but it's so fascinating and, I think, appropriate the way the Jewish faith deals with mourning. (It's broken up into specific segments--the first week is the one most people have heard of, where the bereaved sit shiva and don't leave the house. But then there's another month where each Shabbat, they get increasingly involved back in their lives (specifically getting more involved in synagogue again). And then there's the rest of the first year of mourning. There are specific prayers and rituals, and I think it's just a really meaningful thing that makes a lot of sense. Mourning isn't something that's done by the time the funeral's over.
Finished Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren F. Winner.
As detailed in her memoir Girl Meets God (which is amazing and a must-read, in the world according to me), she was an Orthodox Jew before converting to Christianity. In this book, she talks about 11 specific things Jews do that would possibly enrich Christian lives.
For example, she says that much of Judaism is an action--specific prayers, for instance, and rituals--and there tend not to be counterparts for that in Christianity.
So she compares and contrasts things like weddings and the Sabbath/Shabbat and mourning and even eating.
I think the mourning chapter was my favorite (I know, right?) but it's so fascinating and, I think, appropriate the way the Jewish faith deals with mourning. (It's broken up into specific segments--the first week is the one most people have heard of, where the bereaved sit shiva and don't leave the house. But then there's another month where each Shabbat, they get increasingly involved back in their lives (specifically getting more involved in synagogue again). And then there's the rest of the first year of mourning. There are specific prayers and rituals, and I think it's just a really meaningful thing that makes a lot of sense. Mourning isn't something that's done by the time the funeral's over.
- 20:23 Chillin with the girls, the Gilmore Girls! #
- 10:47 Just watched @ladygaga 's "Bad Romance" video for the first time, crazy video, love the song! Cant wait for the new album. #
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Finished The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate.
I absolutely loved this book. :) I've read all her books (this is the eighth, I think) and this is my favorite.
Rebecca Strand is not doing so well. Her job isn't a perfect fit (she's a paralegal at a divorce law firm, and she's surrounded by angry couples all day) and things aren't right with her boyfriend either (he's a partner at her firm). But the worst thing is that her dad's dying of cancer. And one day, not long before the end, he tells her that she has a half-sister that she didn't know about, one who's two years younger than she is (making the sister 26).
After her dad dies, Rebecca heads to Maine, where her sister (Joy--so the title's clever) lives. She has this big fantasy that she and Joy will be insta-BFF, but Joy's not so excited to meet her back. So now Rebecca has to figure out what to do with her life and how to make Joy her sister.
I think part of the reason I loved this book so much is that a lot of it is true for me, too. It's not exactly right--my dad did die of cancer and I do have a half-sister, but from my biological father, not my dad. But it's hard, because she's 10 years younger than me and we're not close. And we may never be, but that's okay. There's a line in the book that Joy says, and it's something like, "We're not sisters. We're related by DNA." (That is not an exact quote.)
And that's the thing. My best friend Jen is my sister. Meredith and I are related by DNA. (And not even good DNA; our biological father is an ass.) But I think most people get the distinction. There are people that you consider family and there are those that you're related to. And "family" doesn't always mean that there's a blood tie.
But her books are always good, so even without the weird family dynamics I have, I bet you'll like it. :)
- 12:00 @dearbarbz are those the ones they had at target? I wanted to get those, but waited too long. #
- 20:32 @TiaMowry my husband and I just finished watching that. Very cute movie! Hope you enjoy it. #
- 20:32 Just finished watching UP! Cute movie. And had some touching moments as well. I liked it. Though I guess I usually do like the Pixar movies #
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- 20:02 Makin biscuits.... and when I say make, I mean i popped open the can, and turned on the oven. #
- 20:35 @BigGirlBlue twitpic.com/q60ma - too cute!! #
- 07:26 Ahhhh solid 9 hours of sleep. Feels good! Could still use like 5 more though, at least its friday! #
- 17:57 I'm thinkin Crab Legs for dinner mmmmm Yum #
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Weigh-in last night revealed that I had lost another 5 pounds this week. This makes 23 since starting the MITLI class 8 weeks ago and 27 total. I feel good. I feel really good. The hard part comes next weekend and through the month of December. I really want to keep up this good progress, so I'm going to do my best to avoid temptation and when I do give in, to only do it in moderation.
