Friday Five - Read any good books lately?

RevHRod from the RevGals site asks fabulous questions for my birthday! I love to read, and am as proud as I can be that WonderGirl is an insane reader, as I was, at the ripe old age of 7. (She's on the fifth Harry Potter book right now, and takes her book everywhere. She sulked at the Thai food place last night because I wouldn't let her read at the table. An occasional conversation, please!)

So with the given that some books are indeed better than others, here are my answers to this week's Friday Five:

1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why?

My problem is that I usually inhale a book quickly, then forget all about it....six months, huh? Well, I just finished Wicked, in preparation for a springtime touring production of it. I must say, it wasn't what I expected, and I'll keep thinking about it, since I don't know how they are going to make a musical (comedy?) of it.

2. What is one of your favorite childhood books?

Sorry, can't do just one. Here's a VERY abbreviated list: Anne of Green Gables, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Charlotte's Web, Julie of the Wolves, A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, etc.

3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Do tell!

Genesis, because of the great narratives. Epic, sweeping, full of wonderful characters. I love a good story.

4. What is one book you could read again and again?

I read Jane Austen just about every year, especially Pride and Prejudice. But I must admit, I also need some Harry Potter fixes every now and again.

5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why?

I don't have a specific book to suggest, but I look forward to the suggestions of others.

And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent?

Right now I'm actually working (very beginning stages) on what I think will be a middle-grade novel in the spirit of Roald Dahl (think big, why not!) For the jacket for this one, I'll take Katherine Paterson, please.

Friday Five - Birthdays!

Mother Laura from RevGalBlogpals, just a few days away from her birthday, asks these questions:

1. When is your birthday?
Does anyone else (famous or in your own life) share it?

Mine is next week, on January 18th.
Famous people: Cary Grant, A.A. Milne, Kevin Costner, Oliver Hardy, Danny Kaye, and Roget (the thesaurus guy)

2. Do you prefer a big party or an intimate celebration for the chosen few?

Just a few special people will do it for me.

3. Describe your most memorable birthday(s)--good, bad, or both.

The worst was the one where not one of my sisters called me. AWFUL!

There was the 10 year old party at Putt-Putt (mini golf) where my name was on the sign by the road. Loved that one.

Also the 21st one while I was studying abroad in England. There was a special drink and the whole pub celebrated, and I think I crawled back to my flat vowing never to celebrate quite so much again. It was both good and bad.

WonderBoy was baptized on my birthday. That was a good day, but bittersweet, missing his twin.

Every birthday after cancer is a GREAT ONE!

4. What is your favorite cake and ice cream? (Bonus points if you share the cake recipe). Or would you rather have a different treat altogether?

Growing up I wanted my mother's chess or pecan pie instead of cake. For my mom's pecan pie, you take the recipe from the back of the Karo corn syrup bottle and change it like this: Use a combination of both light and dark corn syrup. Turn the heat down, and cook it longer. Perfect. Now, I like any cake or pie that the kids pick out for me. Chocolate and Reese's cups somewhere on it are a bonus.

5. Surprise parties: love 'em or hate 'em?

Never had one....sniff, sniff. But I think I would like it....maybe.....?

Bonus: Describe your ideal birthday--the sky's the limit.

My whole family calls me. I get taken out to dinner (it will be a grown-up one with friends this year). The kids make me cards. There is a cake (or pie) at home with singing and candles. I spend a little time grateful to have had another year. Cards or emails or calls from a few friends. And if the sky's the limit, I'll take that new battery for my laptop, and a trip, too. Okay, maybe a whole new laptop and several trips. (And the 3 pairs of shoes I already bought over Christmas.....)

Enough

It's been a sobering night and morning. I got word last night that a colleague from a former church died suddenly, in his 50s. He has a wife and two high school/college-aged children. Then this morning I learned of the death of a former neighbor. Something went wrong on a snowy road out west. Details are sketchy. Another colleague recently lost 3 members of her family in two days.

I know that death happens. To all of us. As a pastor I have walked though enough too-early, too-sudden deaths with families. I know that the most powerful message I can give someone at a time like that is, "you are not alone", and represent the God who grieves with them. But sometimes I want to say "enough already". There are days when I just feel weary of bearing up under loss. Today is one of them.

In other news, my sister and her family have made it safely to Kenya, and are settling in. The jet lag has been fierce. But the violence seems to be calming down. I will continue to pray for peace. In Kenya, on snowy roads out west, in congregations and in families where loss is swift and sharp, and here at home. Dona nobis pacem....

Friday Five - New Year's Edition

1. Do you make New Year resolutions?

Yes, but I don't often talk about them. Or keep them.

2. Is this something you take seriously, or is it a bit of fun?

I intend them to be serious, but you wouldn't know it from my follow-through, usually.

3. Share one goal for 2008.

Write more. It was going to be to write every day, but I have already blown that one, so I am going for "more".

4. Money is no barrier, share one wild/ impossible dream for 2008

To visit my sister and her family who are moving to Kenya TODAY. Pray for peace and safety, please....

5. Someone wants to publish a story of your year in 2008, what will the title of that book be?

She Wrote More: The true tale of how one woman discovered again the creative process inside herself, and behold, it was very good. (The process of discovery, I mean, but the writing wasn't bad either.)