What are you reading?

I love to read. I think we have covered this in earlier posts, right?!?

 Right now I am finishing up "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth. This is the 3rd book in the series that began with "Divergent". I am going to miss these characters when I am done. They are interesting and complex, a great mixture of fragility and strength, of anger and love. In other words, very real. I have enjoyed this peek into a world so different from my own very much, it is so different and yet the humanity of it is so much the same. For example, I found the following passage really spoke to my heart about my own relationship.

"I used to think that when people fell in love, they just landed where they landed, and they had no choice in the matter afterward. And maybe that's true of beginnings, but it's not true of this, now."

"I fell in love with him. But I don't stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me."

I choose him and he chooses me. Every day. Over and over again. Not because we don't have other choices available to us, but because those choices pale in comparison to what who we already have. I can't imagine my life without him in it. Plain and simple. He is perfect for me. I love him.

Don't you just love those moments when a story speaks the words hidden deep in your heart, words you didn't even realize were there until you read them?

Read any good books lately?

I am  working my way through a few! Currently I am reading "Divergent" by Veronica Roth. I picked this up on a whim and I am hooked! This is a great story about a girl trying to find her way in a world that is alien to me. I don't want to give away the story though, so go read this book!

"Divergent" isn't the only book I am reading though. I am also reading "Pharisectomy" by Peter Haas. This one is about "how to joyfully remove your inner Pharisee and other religiously transmitted diseases". This one I have been reading for a couple of weeks. I want to take my time with it and let it sink in. It is a really well written book with a lot to teach me. Personally, I have always struggled with reading "religious" books, they tend to be very dull. Not this one! Mr. Haas has injected quite a bit of humor into his words and used it to reenforce his points. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to reconnect with their personal faith and loosen their grip on "religious" thinking. (I should mention that I got this one has a freebie from myhealthychurch.com but my opinions are entirely my own!)

My current daily devotional is "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. LOVE THIS DEVOTIONAL!!

But that's not all (as they say on the infomercials!) I am also listening to Stephen King's "11/22/63" on my mp3 player. This one was a birthday gift to myself. I have been wanting to read it for a long time and finally talked myself into it! I fell in love with listening to Stephen King's books on audio after listening to "Bag of Bones" (which I also have on CD). There are just so many nuances in his books that I know I would miss on the printed page. But on audio! If you have never listened to an audiobook before, you really need to give it a try, you will not regret it! In fact, I will probably end up looking for "Divergent" and "Pharisectomy" on audio very soon! :)

Okay, that is all I am currently reading. I do have 2 short stories written by friends that I need to tackle (which I have promised myself I will do over the long weekend!) and several blogs I need to catch up on (also waiting for the weekend!). Oh, and there is this advance reading copy of a book I won on "Goodreads" that just came in the mail last night! "Fallen Women" by Sandra Dallas. I will be starting it as soon as I clear a spot in my line up!

By the way, what are you reading??

What is your favorite way to recharge when you feel drained of energy?

When I feel drained, I sleep. And I sleep a lot. More than I think is healthy. For years it has been my preferred method for dealing with stress. Upset me and I won't stay up all night plotting revenge or arguing with you, I will sleep.

I have pretty severe sleep apnea, and it went undiagnosed for at least a year because I slept through it. My brain kept me moving all night to keep me breathing, but I never woke up. As a child I slept through a tornado right outside my bedroom window. As an adult I slept through a hurricane.

But, you know, I am not sure I would say sleep is my favorite way to recharge. My default, yeah. But my favorite? No, I think that would have to be reading and writing. Writing is still pretty new to me, and nothing gives a bigger thrill than seeing those page views go up! Now, reading has been with me for as long as I can remember. I loved having stories read to me as a child, and once I figured out reading for myself, I was never without something to occupy me.

Over the years, I have gradually spent less and less time reading. Discovering the blogosphere has changed that. It has inspired me and renewed my enthusiasm for reading. I haven't really set any firm resolutions in place for 2013, but I would like to read more. That seems to be a worthwhile goal. One that will recharge and inspire me in new ways.

While I am thinking about it, I want to share with you a great novella I just finished. It is called Carson's Love and is a beautiful story of love and remembering what's really important in life. Here is a link, I highly recommend it!

Hey, don't forget to stop over at my "Thursday Thankfulness" page to see what I am thankful for today! :-)

This post is in response to today's NaBloPoMo writing prompt!