Why do it the easy way?

Cheeky's favorite source of water.

Greats of '08

You know how Time magazine (or is it Life?) does a special edition every December highlighting the major events of the past year? Well, I've been thinking about some highlights of my year, and using the little wordplay popular last New Year's, am titling them "Greats of 2008."

Great Books

These aren't all the books I read, but the especially good ones that stand out in my memory and I'd recommend to others.

• A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken -- The true love story of a couple back in the 30s - 50s who were not only deeply devoted to each other, but were transformed by coming to faith in Jesus.
• For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn -- A wonderful book for learning to understand men and how to meet your husband's needs better.
• The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliott -- The story of Elisabeth's parents and growing up in the Howard family. Full of interesting stories as well as practical and spiritual wisdom on raising a family.
• The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge -- Just a wholesome novel set in the late 1800s with some thought-provoking lessons
• Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver -- We've been going through this in our church ladies' meetings and it's been rich. She brings out the concepts of true priorities, rest, and our proper motivations for service.
• Stepping Heavenward by Elisabeth Prentiss -- The diary of a woman in the mid-19th century which covers her marriage and child-bearing years, plus the many struggles and trials she endures which draw her closer to God and develop beautiful character
• Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund -- I'm currently reading this classic book and finding it full of wisdom in both spiritual and practical areas.
• The Listener by Terri Blackstock -- Almost done with this little book. It's a fictional account of a man who received a gift for a time of hearing the inner cries of people's souls, and how he used that gift to talk to them about how Jesus can meet their deepest needs. I've found it convicting and challenging.

Great Events

• Our engagement! So he didn't kneel down and ask me in the middle of a rose-adorned bower (we were in his car), nor were there fireworks, but just joy that this was God's will and our will aligned with His!
• Lasts in Washington -- last concert with the Olympia Symphony, last student recital, last church fellowship...these were special and sad for me because of the love and appreciation expressed by colleauges, students, and friends.
• The wedding! Need I say more?
• The two-fold honeymoon -- two days at a charming inn on the Pacific, and then two weeks in Greece
• Marriage to a loving, Godly man which only grows better all the time. We count ourselves daily blessed to have one another.
• The blessing of a child on the way. We prayed for God's timing for our family and are thrilled about our coming baby boy.
• Visits to family -- Dennis' family in September and my family in both September and December
• Studies at church on training children and then on the book Love and Respect.

Those are some that stand out anyway. I may think of more later! This morning I made some resolutions for the year and I'm excited at all God is going to do in 2009!