Tuesday, December 28, 2010

My top 5 books for 2010

I got this idea from my SIL go to My Meandering Musing for my SIL's picks for 2010.
Some of these books may not have been published in 2010, but they are still my top picks for the books that I have read this year. Unfortunate I only picked 5 books, there are others that I have loved from start to finish. I tried not to put up series. I have read book series and they tend to drive-me-up-the-wall and yet I keep reading book series..........hmmmm that explains it. So my 2010 picks are:


I couldn't believe it took me so long to pick this book up, and I am so glad that I had. I had felt so sympathetic for the Invisible Man, I just couldn't help it. So you can possibly imagine my surprise when I found out that this main character (Griffin) was just a deluded, mad, stupid, smartest, albino scientist, I have ever met. All in all I did have fun reading this book. H. G. Wells makes the question of invisibility a possibility, however after reading this book and the adventures that Griffin has, I think being invisible is an option that I don't want want to make.

Synopsis:A gripping and entertaining tale of terror and suspense as well as a potent Faustian allegory of hubris and science run amok, The Invisible Man endures as one of the signature stories in the literature of science fiction. A brilliant scientist uncovers the secret to invisibility, but his grandiose dreams and the power he unleashes cause him to spiral into intrigue, madness, and murder. The inspiration for countless imitations and film adaptations, The Invisible Man is as remarkable and relevant today as it was a hundred years ago.


I was so surprised by this book, The Mark by M.R. Bunderson. Perhaps you have notice that I have this book on my side bar under the list of my favorite books to read. I didn't want to put this one down at all once I started to read it. There are twist, turns, teen love, forgiveness, murder, mystery, plotting, prejudice, fantasy, puzzle, with an emotional roller coaster. Oh yeah, this was fun for me to read.

Synopsis:
She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.


All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined.

Before My Heart Stops by Paul Cardall. Wow this one is emotional, and a hard one to read when you, yourself are going through a some hard trials. I have never had any heart problems but I have had some hard times myself. So even as different as our trials are, I still learned a lot on how to over come hard times.

Synopsis:"I was born with half a heart. God made up the difference."

After living for more than three decades with congenital heart disease, popular musician Paul Cardall has undergone twenty-eight operations and seven open-heart surgeries. But the one surgery he needed most - his last chance at seeing his three-year-old daughter, Eden, grow up - was a heart transplant. This is the remarkable true story of one man's struggle to survive long enough to get a second chance at life.

Along the way, Paul wrote down his thoughts, feelings, and observations in an online blog called Living for Eden. This book reflects those weekly blog entries - insights and wisdom beyond his years. After reading his story, you may come away asking yourself, "Who do I need to love ... before my heart stops?"


My Fair Godmother is a very fun, fast read loved it to the very end. As a younger sister I can relate in more ways then one. I loved how Janette Rallison put together different fairy tales to make a delightful read. I can't wait until the next one.

Synopsis:After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

As one of my non fiction picks this one is amazing! I learned a lot from this book by Dieter F. Uchtdorf .

Synopsis:If you are feeling overwhelmed with change, challenges, or checklists, you may wonder how you can partake now of God's happiness and find your pathway to peace, hope, and joy. With loving insight, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addresses two attributes that contribute to our Heavenly Father's perfect happiness the power of creation and service with compassion. As a treasured daughter of our Heavenly Father, you can develop those remarkable abilities as well as find happiness in the journey. In The Remarkable Soul of a Woman, President Uchtdorf's timely thoughts on creating and being compassionate will buoy you up, give you strength, and help you realize what a great power for good you truly are.



Friday, December 24, 2010

Waffle Cookies

This is a fun cookie/brownie. It's fun, fast, and easy!

4 one ounce square of Unsweetened baking chocolate/or 1 Cup of coco powder.
1 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour

Method:
Heat your waffle iron.
Melt together chocolate and butter in heavy sauce pan,(or you can use a glass bowl, melt in microwave on high 2 min. stir then 2 min. more.) Stir in sugar until dissolved,(I placed back in microwave for 30 seconds, it dissolved faster). Remove from heat whisk in eggs, vanilla and flour, mix until blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a heated waffle iron, bake according to manufactures instructions. ( I bake mine for about 2 min.) Top with chocolate frosting, confectioners sugar, melted chocolate chips, etc. Makes about 4 dozen. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

A very surprise day!

Yey an updated blog post.

During choir practice the last couple of months the other choir members and I have been learning various Christmas songs. No matter what I have did I couldn't get into these songs. I would mess up the ASL on Silent Night, be out of tune, my heart would just not be into the songs. I was dreading today when we would perform the songs for the Christmas program. Two reasons I was dreading this day, one it's my birthday,(by-the-way I got tons of wonderfully awesome birthday wishes, thank you!), I don't do Christmas on my birthday. Reason is that I like to keep the two separate. The other big one was that I just couldn't get into the songs to do them justice. I worried over that. I fared that that what I was feeling would come out in the performance.

When I got to church this morning I was still concerned about my performance for these songs. During the first song something happen to me. I finely got into the songs. I was wondering about the change, what made the drastic change. All morning I was trying to remember that a lot of people forgets what Christmas is about. People forget Jesus birthday and why He came to earth. During this program I was finely able to forget my problems and focus on what I was doing. I wasn't just singing but I was singing praises to Jesus, thanking Him for coming down to earth to do the most important thing that one man could do; redeem mankind.

I remember back in 2006 I directed a play that was performed by special needs. It was the Nativity, special needs style. One special needs man was our angle in the play. What made the play so special was that this little special needs man kept kneeling down in front of baby Jesus during the performance and saying:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Ever sense that performance night I have wondered if I did the same thing if I didn't then singing praises to Him I hope would be my thank you!

By-the-way I so got an awesome Happy Birthday song from some cool guys. What more could a girl ask for??

Cheers everyone and Happy Holidays!