Book Review: Sin Boldly

Delicious.

Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace is simply that. Cathleen Falsani’s new book explores the subject of grace in a delightfully personal way. Instead of talking about the topic directly too often, she hints toward it and points at it through stories of her own experiences. Cathleen, through courageous honesty and good humor, explores how grace can (and does) pop up in a variety of different circumstances – some exotic, some painful, some mundane. She shares a wide variety of experiences, from being “mothered” by courageous widows in Africa to falling in love with a tree (named Henry) in her backyard. Each story is different and simple and profound.

This book reminds me a little of Cold Tangerines (which is one of my favorites, so that isn’t a bad thing) because I walk away from it looking closer for grace in my own life.

I love what Lee Strobel, author of The Case For Christ, said about it:

"Here's an utterly original, unflinchingly honest, heart-expanding treatment of my favorite topic: the grace of God. I was so captivated that I missed church while reading it – and Cathleen's lyrical insights refreshed my soul more than any sermon could have. I won't be the same having read it."

This book is like eating a lineup of little delicious treats. I taste one chapter, love it, and can’t wait to see what she has prepared next.

Highly recommended.

It releases in August (mean of me to post the review now, I realize) but in the meantime, Cathleen has a great religion/pop culture blog you can visit. I do, on a daily basis.

Jan Shoes

We have a running disagreement in our family about cute dress shoes.

I'm off to LA tomorrow for a trade show and knew I needed to purchase some new black heels. My existing pairs include a cheap-o Target purchase that have been worn to death and a nicer, cute set that unfortunately are missing one heel. Thanks to a little brown rascal.

I spotted this pair a few weeks ago at the Nine West outlet store in Michigan city, and liked them immediately. I mean, they're professional and stylish, right? Plus relatively versatile.

Josh hated them.

Actually, he immediately described them as "witchy" - except with a "b." He thinks they looked severe and a little bit like they could be used for weapons.

But they will go so nice with my suit!

The good wife in me decided to wait and continue to shop around. Well I looked. And looked. And found nothing that I liked that was black, not a sling-back, and didn't have a crocodile print feel to them. So Josh finally relented, under the promise that I'd only wear them for work-related events.

And now they're mine. We now call them my "Jan shoes" - a la Jan Levinson back when she was still Michael's boss.

I just hope they don't KILL my feet as I have to stand in them ALL WEEKEND LONG. Maybe I should take some flats (and run the risk of stepping on the hems all day) just in case.

Good Neighbors

Josh's parents were in the backyard with Riley this past weekend, enjoying the sunshine and chatting it up with our neighbors, when all of a sudden everyone heard a loud buzzing. As though someone nearby was working on a home improvement project. But then they all looked up, and were shocked by what they saw.

Bees. Hundreds of bees.



Josh's parents quickly took Riley inside and called us to the kitchen window to check things out. Never in my life have I seen so many in one place. And that one place was our backyard.

Upon further investigation we all spotted a new nest on the branch of a tree than hung over the yard. And if I thought I'd seen a ton of bees flying about in the air, it was nothing in comparison to this branch. I think teeming is an appropriate word. Perfect.

And what in the world do you do in this situation?

I mean, we're in a rental house and the tree was technically on city property. They came out of nowhere and we hadn't the first clue what to do. I certainly wasn't going to volunteer to climb up that tree and cut the branch down.

However, before we could even start to wonder, our new neighbors were on the phone. We didn't know exactly what they had in mind, but were thankful they were investigating options. When we returned back to the house later that day we found a note taped to the door. They'd actually called a beekeeper friend and he'd brought a special box to collect them all. He apparently did his beekeeping thing and coerced them all into the box, because later that night the box was gone and we haven't seen another bee since.

How nice of our new neighbors to literally take care of the whole situation! In like, 6 hours. We're really thankful.

As it turns out our buzzing friends were actually honey bees. And the beekeeper friend of our neighbors was thankful to get them, having lost a bee herd (I don't actually think herd is the word I want to use there) earlier this year.

And these sweet people even gave us a jar of homemade honey.

Memorial Day Weekend - Lake Michigan

Are you sensing a theme?

Josh's parents are visiting for the holiday weekend and we took them - where else? - to the dog-friendly beach in Stevensville.

Riley was SUPER good and was even allowed to trot along without a leash. He especially loved running up and down the shore with us. It was the perfect day for it - sunny without being hot.

My in-laws walking down to the water.

Loving the sand dunes.

The family shot.

I could run with my dog on the beach all day every day. We both love it.

The beach bum...

My Childhood Church

For 18 years of my life I went to the same medium-sized, CRC, inner-city, church. I was baptized there as an infant, publicly declared my faith as an adolescent, and even got married there a couple of years ago. It is the same church my dad grew up in, and the same one that sponsored his family to immigrate from The Netherlands back before he was born.



I have so many memories in that place…

Hiding from my parents in a random stairwell – just for fun.
Sitting in the grass in the front lawn during vacation Bible school.
Counting the stained glass window panes while sitting on the wodden pew.
Drinking terribly weak punch after Sunday services.
Singing a duet with my cousin Mark where we fought over the microphone the entire time.



And even though I haven’t regularly attended there since I was in high school, it still feels like “home” when I go there now. I get to see people that have guided and taught and prayed for me my entire life, and it is such a blessing to me. I still feel a part of the community there. After the service I am greeted by a variety of people, young and old, who have had a significant impact on my life. These people truly care about me and I'm confident that I'm still in their prayers.

It isn't just me. My friend Rachel, who also grew up in that church, is currently working in Africa, doing AIDS education with the Peace Corps. She lives in a hut in a remote village, and her work there is often difficult and thankless. She is determined to stick it out, and the church community has completely come along side her with prayers and support. She even regularly receives letters and packages from people there.

It sounds SO cliche to say "church family" but in this case it is true.

I haven't experienced anything close to it at any other church I've attended. Not because those churches was at fault, necessarily, but because I haven't spent most of my life at those places. I just know that wherever I go in this world, they'll be there to support and encourage. I'll always have a home there, no matter what.

I don't know what God has planned us, but I hope my future children can be a part of that kind of church community as they grow up. I know that the kind of support, love, and encouragement I have always experienced there has significantly impacted my life.

Playdate

Tonight we drove up to Holland for dinner with our friends Matt and Erin and took Riley with us to meet their dog, Dilbert. We enjoyed food, conversation, euchre, and American Idol, while the dogs completely wore themselves out playing.

Although we witnessed some... um... less-than-PG-rated behavior from both, they seemed to enjoy each other. Favorite activities included chasing each other around the yard and playing tug-of-war with Dilbert's toys.

And now Riley has already put himself to bed for the evening. Yes, he actually marches himself upstairs without us and lies down in bed. We'll be surprised if he makes it up before noon tomorrow.

Aren't they cute?

Monday Morning Meme - With Pictures!

I saw this one at Sarah's last week and new immediately that it was for me...

Here are the directions:
1. Go to photobucket.com.
2. Type in your “answer” to each question in the search box.
3. Use only the first page!
4. Insert the picture on your blog.

1. What is your current relationship status?



2. What is your current mood?



3. What is your favorite movie?



4.Who is your favorite band/singer?



5. Where do you live?



6. Where do you work?



7. What do you look like?





8. What do you drive?



9. What's your favorite T.V. show?



or



10. Describe yourself.



11. What are you doing today?



12. What did you do last night?



(I didn't watch the movie - I actually helped to plan a wedding!)

13. What is your name?



This is pretty fun! Feel free to play along.