There’s one portion of my 25 things list that I think I am going to be able to knock out rather easily. Reading 19 books. When I first made the commitment, I thought reading that many books in a year would really be a challenge for me, but it’s going by quicker than I thought.

90 Minutes in Heaven is a book about a pastor that gets in a severe car wreck on his way home from a conference. It’s so severe that they pronounce him dead on the scene and leave him in his mangled car as they patiently wait for the jaws of life to come peel him out of the car and the wreckage to be cleared.

Another pastor who was at the same conference happens upon the accident scene. He feels lead to pray for the man, the dead man. He crawls through the trunk of the car, his only way to access the dead man, lays his hand on him and begins to pray. At some point in his prayer, the pastor began to sing and was shocked and scared when the dead man began to sing with him. Sounds like something out of Days of Our Lives (minus the prayer part), but it’s the true story of one man’s return from death and his taste of Heaven.

The heaven that the author describes in the book is incredible, freeing – everything you would link it would be. He talks about the people he loves waiting for him in Heaven. Someone had told me once that we wouldn’t recognize our loved ones from Earth in Heaven. Honestly, this made me sad. To think that I could spend 60 years of my life married to Casey and then not even recognize him for eternity. This book gave me new hope that won’t be the case.

It also painted an incredible picture of the transcending peace that God’s love gives us. An ultimate joy. A freeing peace. A love greater than anything we can experience on Earth. It makes my heart melt to hear the stories and imagine the feeling.

Here’s hoping that we get to experience this amazing place with the ones we love one day.

Have you read this book? What were you thoughts/takeaways?

And another book bites the dust. I couldn’t put this one down. It was so well written. The humor, the passion, the drama, the heartbreak… it just draws you in. You fall in love with the characters so easily and build contempt for others that makes you second guess your ability to love people unconditionally.

This book set in the, 1960s paints some vivid images of marriage and the role of a wife.

The Mrs. Degree

Mothers forcing daughters on dates with well-to-do gentlemen. A mother’s hope that lies solely in her daughters ability to marry a handsome, successful man from a good family. A journey to college made only to find a spouse. It’s amazing how times have changed, at least for some people I suppose. I know there are still some families where this stigma rings true today, but in my home it was quite the opposite. In fact, my mom encouraged me to wait until I was 30 to get married to make sure that I was able to live the life I wanted before I settled down. Oops…

The Battered Bride

Minny, the most out-spoken and sassy character in the book, is known for talking back to her bosses and not taking crap from anyone. Yet we find out that her boldness stops at home. That her husband uses her as a punching bag. That his alcoholism blinds him to see her as nothing, but an outlet for his anger. Our once aggressive and sassy Minny is reduced to a puddle on the floor. Why does she stay with him? We don’t really know. Does her definance and ‘don’t tell me what to do’ attitude come from the abuse she experiences at home? We could only assume. It breaks my heart to see this picture of marriage diminished into something so evil. Even more to know that this is reality for many.

The Trophee Wife

Many women in the movie play this role. They spend more time beautifying themselves then caring for their kids. Are more worried about what others think and fitting the mold than standing up for what’s right. They are putting on a show. Appear to have it all together. But is it just an act? These women seem to be lost in the crowd. They’ve forgotten who they are after years of trying to be what their husband wants. They’re ignored. Shiny on the outside, but empty on the inside.

Have you read the book? What are your thoughts?

Special note: If you only saw the movie, you’re missing out. The movie was great, but the book was much better. It’s worth the read.