If you were wondering...

I am still reading August's book. I failed at completing my 3rd book in three months, but I will excuse it away because the book I picked was three books in one. It's a bit lengthy if you want to finish it in the month that you go on vacation and start working, especially if you don't get it from the library until the middle of the month.  I'm starting the 3rd of three books, enjoying the vivid characters and can't wait to finish. I don't know if we're going to keep blogging here, (We should discuss that Ann.) but I like how blogging about a book gives me the motivation to read, so I think I will set a goal to reading a book every two months and still blog about them somewhere.

August Book

I finished Castaway Kid and well before the end of the month actually. I passed it off to my sister and she finished it in 2 days. That just shows how good it is that I don't currently have any Gilmore Girl seasons to watch.

The book for next month is...

1. ...a very easy read if it's like any of the author's other books.
2. ...written by our parent's cousin, Mary Connealy
3. ...entertaining, enjoyable and might even make us laugh out loud
4. ...a mystery
5. ...actually not checked out at libraries around my town. Her latest book is all checked out so I though this option would better suit those strapped for cash. If you don't live in Nebraska, I don't know about your libraries. I hope they have it for you!
6. ...3 books in 1.

Ready for the title?

Nosy in Nebraska

Get ready to read!

As far as us always posting on Tuesdays.....ummm...clearly we're not keeping our end on that plan. We hope you read along and check back anyway!

Confessions of a Book Clubber

I agree with Ann. You should read this month's book. She read it in a few days. I, on the other hand, have only read a few chapters. 

The problem is I ordered the book online and was waiting for it to come. I wanted to read something while I was waiting since I was on a reading kick, so I started reading Black Hills Blessing (Romancing America) by Mary Conneally. (The author is Ann and I's parents' cousin FYI.) All the books I've read of hers are easy, enjoyable reads, but reading this one delayed me starting our book this month. 

I put finishing that book on hold and started Castaway Kid. The first chapter made me so sad. I sort of put my kids in his place and my heart just breaks. Then my mind starts to go down a morbid road. It didn't make me want to continue.

Then I should've had more time to read since my husband's been gone for a few days, but instead of being a productive citizen and educating myself through reading, I've been a slave to watching the Gilmore Girls. I'm completely addicted. Instead of going to bed a little early, so I can read a little before falling asleep. I just watch one more epidose. They really ought to put that series in a book. I'd read it.

I really have apprecieated the few chapters I have read, and I will finish Castaway Kid by the end of the month! That's is why we have a book club, so that I read and finish books! I'll probably be praying for the little guy in the book once I read a few more chapters because that's how involved I get in the books (and TV series) I really like. Sort of pathetic and strange, isn't it?    

Castaway Kid by r.b. Mitchell

Have you started reading this book yet?  If you are not sure you have time -- I would encourage you to try.  I found it to be a quick, very engaging book.  Although the topic is rather grim, abandonment and orphans, the book itself is uplifting and hopeful.

I have been thinking about two main things after reading the book....

1-Forgiveness and freeing it can be

2- What can we do/should we be doing for people in less-fortunate situations?

I hope you will decide to read it!

Here is a link about food served in the orphanage.

So Long Insecurity Survey

How about a little survey to conclude our first month of the book club?  If you'd like to participate, just leave your answers in the comments. Answer one, some or all.

1. Would you recommend this book to a friend?  
Yes

2. Would you read it again?
I have a hard time wanting to reread something I've read before, but I would consider rereading parts of this book in a year or two.

3. What did you like about the writing style?
Normally I can't get through a book unless it's a good novel. I didn't have a lot of trouble with this one, partially because I related so well to a lot of it, and partially because of her conversational writing style. She writes like she talks, very entertaining.

4. What did you dislike about the writing style?
At times it seems somewhat disorganized. I didn't know how one idea quite connected with another, but she said that herself at the end of the book so I'll cut her some slack on that.

5. Right off the top of your head, how will you be different after reading this book? 
- I had to return my book to the library so you're going to get my paraphrase of the line that I hope will have lasting impact on me. It's the line I remember most and have thought on extensively.  Here's my version of what I read that just blew me over - Lord, Forgive me for considering myself chopped liver, even though You made me.  I could go on and on about that, but I'll save that for a post all it's own.
- I love the phrases I am clothed with strength and dignity and I have this Treasure.
- I really like what she said about Trusting God, period.
- I so appreciate her encouragement to be different for the next generation of women and the women all around us, especially since Elliana was playing with a little toy mirror today, looked at me in it and said, "You look fat!" Where did she come up with that!?

6. Are you going to be reading the book for July, Castaway Kid: One Man's Search for Hope and Home?
Yes! I'm looking forward to it!

Thoughts On Chapters 14-18

The last few chapters of this book focused on being a role model to other women and girls, loving others instead of viewing them as enemies/objects, and looking to God for our ultimate source of security.

Proverbs 31:25 was mentioned throughout the book. 

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

I find this verse to be extremely powerful.  When I am feeling insecure/anxious/frustrated about something it is so easy for me to lose my dignity.  If I can stop for a moment and figure out how to maintain my dignity before reacting to situations I think it will be very helpful (both for me and whoever is around me). 

The second thing that really stuck out at me this week was the emphasis she made on looking out for other women.  She stressed the important role that we have in building up other women -- whether they are friends, daughters, sisters, etc. 

One thing that can cause trouble in our relationships with other women is when we feel threatened by (have done hurtful things to us) or competitive with them (not as pretty, skinny, rich, funny, etc.).   She suggested that if we find ourselves in this situation instead of stabbing each other back or obsessing about the situation you need to view them as equally broken people with real problems, pain, hopes, dreams, disappointments. 

We need to stop....

 ...the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival.

Galatians 5:21

I think I do that sometimes - focus on the features that someone else has that I wish I had and assume that because they have those things their lives are easier/better/etc. or that they won't like me.  I don't think I do this as often as I did when I was younger but it still creeps up from time to time.  When I am feeling this way it makes it difficult to get to know the person, because I have made false assumptions about them, plus it leaves me feeling poorly about myself.  I think Beth's advice regarding personalizing people was really helpful.

What stuck out to you this week?

Thoughts on Chapters 10-13

There were a lot of points that Beth made in these chapters that resonated with me and others that didn’t, but I’m sure would with someone else. I’ll talk about some of the points that I identified with, or that really made me think and see if other things stood out to you. I think I can start to break down my insecurities into some superficial ones and some deeper ones. I feel that this book is helping me with my superficial ones…like concern with what people think of me and my looks. Beth does a good job of pointing out that “…we all, to whatever degree and for whatever reason, battle insecurities.” (192) And she also does a good job of showing how it doesn’t benefit us at all to have those insecurities and that it can be detrimental to relationships. It kind of surprised me, but this really made me pause and think because I realized that somehow, my negative thinking has felt like a protective mechanism. It really made me realize how aptly named the book is because insecurity is a “bad friend to us” but disguises itself as a friend nonetheless. I don’t know if this makes any sense, but often, I think that I’ll put myself down (in my mind mostly; not out loud) before someone else can.

Something else that really spoke to me was that “we attempt to get all the way into somebody’s head and credit ourselves for essentially reading his or her mind. All we’ve really accomplished is a speed reading of our own skewed minds. (224)” I do this a TON without being aware of it and I hadn’t realized “the impact our insecurities have on our relationships.” I’ve already found that just being aware of this line of thinking is helpful in stopping it short in its tracks. Maybe not turning it off or eliminating it, but at least shortening the amount of time I would have spent on the thought.

But what’s really hard for me is not allowing circumstances to influence my emotions:

“By choosing to have a different reaction even prior to having a different emotion, we can effect an immediate sense of heightened security…in the breaking of every habit, someone wills it first and feels it later.” Does this really work? Because what is really difficult to me is to not allow my emotions to be influenced by circumstances or situations. This is where my deeper insecurity falls and really where the work needs to be done. I’m not so much impacted by what someone says or information I receive, but events that happen in life. This is hard for me to say, but I guess I don’t feel that I have the strength to get through all the struggles life may hold and it must come down to a weak faith and is a source of major insecurity for me. I know I need to trust God more. Here were some points that I’m really trying to internalize from pg. 219:
“What God initiates, He equips us to handle.”
“He also provided you with the grace to handle it.”
“Even though…might have caused pain and great conflict, if God initiated the revelation, He had a goal in mind that was steeped in great love.”

I could go on about this for a while, but will stop here for now. I’m looking forward to hearing what stood out to you in these chapters!