Meet Us On Monday

We thought you might like to get to know us better so we will do this meme now and then hosted by Never Growing Old. Here's the questions from last week because I work so don't have time to do these posts on Monday mornings.

Questions:

1.  Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
2.  What food item are you craving right now?
3.  When is your birthday?
4.  What were you doing an hour ago?
5.  Last thing you cooked?

1. Our New Year's resolutions are:

• Read 100 books each in 2011. Last year Gerard read 98 and Karen read 89.
• Do something fun every week--preferably every day but want to keep this doable.
• Try two new things, go to 4 new places in 2011.
• Donate $25 to sponsor a dog at Best Friends on a bi-monthly basis.
• Work out at least three times a week.
• Karen: Take more breaks from the computer. I sit entirely too much which isn't healthy. Gerard is always on the go, he walks around all day at work. (When I do read on breaks at work, I walk as I read.)
• Give up the donuts.
• Be a blessing to someone each day.
Here's how we did last year: How Did You Do On Last Year's Resolutions?

Christmas Dinner 2010

2. I'm not craving any food at the moment. I just had cereal two hours ago.

3. Our birthdays are both the first half of December, just 10 days apart.

4. An hour ago, Gerard was walking our dog, Abby and Karen was working on our blogs.

5. Last thing Karen cooked was scrambled eggs in the microwave and Gerard last cooked sloppy Joes for our Christmas dinner.  Karen bought those reindeer double-decker cookies with the chocolate frosting. We usually don't cook.

"The Way Back To Mayberry—Lessons From A Simpler Time" by Joey Fann

The Way Back To Mayberry—Lessons From A Simpler Time by Joey Fann is a nostalgic trip back to the “Andy Griffith Show” from the 60s, but with lessons we can learn from 30 different episodes to apply to our life today.  The author, Joey Fann, uses specific episodes to illustrate a point and take it further to reflect on how God can be at work in similar situations in our lives today by sharing from his own experiences.  Each episode is connected to some scripture which the author has included to give each lesson a spiritual application.  Some churches throughout the country have used Finding The Way Back To Mayberry as material for informal Bible classes. 

For those unfamiliar with the show, Mayberry is a small, quiet town and Andy is the Sheriff.  The show was just about everyday life and experiences that happened in the small town and in the lives of the different characters.  Andy’s son, Opie, is often the one to learn the lessons, but also is the one who is first to “get” it. 

Here is a quote from one of my favorite episodes, “What’s Your Hurry?”:

Consider .. . consider how we live our lives today.  Everything is run, run, run.  We bolt our breakfast, we scan the headlines, we race to the office.  The full schedule and the split second:  these are our gauges of success.  We drive ourselves from morn to night.  We have forgotten the meaning of the word relaxation.  What has become of the old-fashioned ways, the simple pleasures of the past?

I don’t know about you, but this sure sounds a lot like our life.  The chapters are short so this could easily be used as a family devotional book.  This was a fun read for me because I used to watch the show.  Goober, the auto mechanic in the show, wrote the foreword.  I think anyone who enjoyed the "Andy Griffith Show" would like The Way Back To Mayberry—Lessons From A Simpler Time and those who haven’t seen the show would find this book wholesome and inspirational. 

(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Insane Train" by Sheldon Russell -- A Wild Read

I enjoyed the ride!  Insane Train by Sheldon Russell tells the story of a detective named Hook, whose job it is to safe guard a train of patients from an insane asylum to Oklahoma.  As you can imagine, not everything goes as planned.  This is a fun mystery that will keep you guessing who the killer is.  I enjoyed it.  I give it 7 stars.  Did you see my teaser for this one?

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"A Very Simple Crime" by Grant Jenkins

Wow!  What a twist at the end in A Very Simple Crime by Grant Jenkins.  This is about two brothers, Adam and Monty.  One day Adam comes home after a weekend escape with someone not his wife to find his wife dead.  The only other person home was their mentally impaired son who is known for violent outbursts.  When Adam is charged with murder, Monty becomes his lawyer. 

A Very Simple Crime goes very fast.  I got into it quickly and found it hard to put down.  I was only going to give it a 7 plus rating, but the twist at the end boosted it up to a 10!  Yes, it’s that good!  I enjoyed it a lot!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Rules" by Cynthia Lord: A Good First Read Of 2011

I finished this on New Year's Eve and really enjoyed Rules by Cynthia Lord a lot.  This book is about a 12-yr.-old girl named Catherine who has a brother with Autism.  He lives by a set of rules.  Catherine also has a relationship with a wheelchair-bound boy named Jason.  This is a fast read and very believable for a fiction book.  Well done, Ms. Lord, your first book is okay by me.
(Gerard's Review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?