On Reading

I've been thinking (believe it or not). When so many people are using the Internet or watching TV, how many still read books? I used to read tons of books... I think I've read about 3/4 of the books in our house (and we have a lot of books), a good number of which I've read several times. But over the year's, it's gradually dwindled to a very small number. As I've had some more free time lately, I've been trying to get back into it again. I'm happy to say that it is definitely well worth it.

Here's a couple of books I've read lately that I really enjoyed.

How Sleep the Brave, by James Hunter.
This book is historical fiction (fiction in history) about the persecution of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland by King James Stuart of England. It's a really neat story about the incredible exploits of Duncan Fenwick (I am not sure how much of the book is real) and how he took up the cause of the Kirk to become the Black Avenger, the avenger and protector of the weak and helpless of the land. I think Duncan is somewhat based upon William Wallace, the real (almost legendary) defender of Scotland (on which Braveheart is based.) This book is exciting, has a beautiful love story threaded through it, and demonstrates throughout simple faith and trust in God acting in difficult situations. A very good book (though it is a little over-dramatic at times.)

Twice Pardoned, by Harold Morris.
This book is the life-story of Harold Morris, an ex-con. He writes telling about his own life as he moved from starting a friendship with some slick criminals. His 'friends' got caught and framed him so well that he was sent to the Georgia State Penitentiary with two life sentences. He quickly became a hardened convict, until by the grace of God, his family finally tracked him down and started visiting him. He finally gave his life to Christ, and after much hard work and petitions received his freedom (hence the name 'Twice Pardoned'). This book is quite a powerful testimony.. I read most of it twice. (It is NOT a kid's book however.)

Three Shall Be One, by Francena Arnold
(F. A. is also author of Not My Will, which I haven't read, but I believe it is quite well-known).
This fiction starts off with a happy marriage between a lonely woman (Pat) and a lonely man (Tony), and is told from Pat's perspective. Pat and Tony are not Christians, but are very happy together (the two are one). However, things start to go wrong between the two when Tony's mother-in-law steps in. Midway through the book, Pat gets in a car accident, and gets a solid case of amnesia. Tony, meanwhile, thinks that Pat has separated from him and has run off. I'm not going to wreck the ending (which has quite a non-expected twist), but suffice it to say that they both come to love the Lord, and are reconciled to each other, such that Three Shall Be One (Christ becomes the center of their marriage).
This was the second time I read this book. The first time I read it, the ending didn't make any sense to me. But now that I reread it, everything made sense. Very well-written, and quite an enjoyable book.

If any of you have any good books you'd like to suggest, then comment away! Brad V. also has an excellent post on reading books at his blog: http://bjv-maranatha.blogspot.com/2006/12/books.html

Funny Faces (Finally)

So here is part of my funny-faces pictures... some of my best ones. I hope you enjoy them! And to anyone who's featured here, I hope you don't get too annoyed with me... all I can say is if you pictures like this of me or others, then go ahead and post them! It's a lot of fun! :D :D :D

Laurie has some good ones here too at her blog.

Just to clarify, I don't think there is any editing done on any of these except for cropping.

Single Shots

Dad, who can pull off some of the most amazing faces I've ever seen. (Yes, that was a big fish, but not ...that... big.)


Jorge, a good friend from Mexico, practicing to be an opera singer. (Actually, Josh B was trying to steal his nose :) ).


Steve... always stands out in a crowd, eh?



My new cousin Joseph, VERY happily married to Sarah out West.



Two's A Pair, Three's Company

My dear brother and his wife. They are one of a kind, eh? :)


Like brother, like sister? (The picture of Rachel on the right was posed for last year's Boxing Day 'Movies'. You can find the pictures on www.ypfriends.com.)


Jason & Stef. Believe it or not, this was NOT planned.


Kevin and Dan, brothers.


Mark showing one of his skills and Ruth's reaction. (Well... not really, but the pic's do go together well.)


One of my all time favorites.


My sisters and niece all having a "blonde moment". (This one's compliments of Curt.)


And lest I make too many enemies (though I think it's too late already), here's one to make fun of me too. :)

Our New Home

30 comments so far, and growing! It would be interesting to stop writing and see what that number grows to! :) Ruth has definitely done her ad campaign well. So here I am writing away on a blog that I never expected to be on. I suppose that you won for now, Ruth, but I'll find a way somehow or other to get the upper hand. Maybe some pictures from my 'Funny Faces' album would do the trick.... :)

Anyways, as some people might know, and some people might not, we have moved! We now live in Jordan Station, close to St. Catherines, ON. It's in a tiny subdivision out in the middle of vineyards. Dad walks back and forth to school every day and we've been walking to church too! It's very nice to live so close... much different from Dundas days.

As per Curt's request, here's some pictures of the main floor:




And Curt, here are two pictures of the downstairs appartment. (Sorry, I couldn't find any nice ones of the kitchen area... it's on the right of the first picture.) Mom took these pictures before we bought the house, so the stuff isn't ours. I hope you don't mind a nice, PINK room! It will certainly wake you up in the morning!



I can't say I like the colors of most of the rooms, but other than that, I do like the new place, especially being so close to everything (except work, that is). Now Ruth and I are both prescribing the exact opposite course we did all through high-school! (Before we drove from Hamilton to Jordan St every day, and now we're both driving from Jordan St. to Hamilton every day!) :) But we are very thankful for where we are now. God has definitely blessed us in
giving us a home right next to the school and church.

It's 11:24pm and I am beginning to remember why I didn't want to start a blog. I guess I had better sign off here. ¡Hasta luego a todos!

To Blog Or Not To Blog

Hmm.... I said to myself (and to others) before that I would never start a blog. I seem to have done so however, the reason being that I encountered a blog which required me to have a blog to comment on it, so I am starting a blog so that I can comment on someone's else's blog. The inanities of blogging are quite beyond me. (Maybe there should be an 's' character in the second word of the last sentence.) However, I will desist. Hopefully my foray into blogging will curtail itself with this post. If anyone is reading this, then my apologies. :)