Califoregon Living

I was tagged by Timbuk2mom.  Here we go…

7 of my favorite books: 
I must confess.  I only started reading fiction again recently.  The only fiction I have that made the list from this last year was the trilogy by Francine Rivers.  The remaining six I listed, I read over five years ago.  My faith has definitely grown and changed since then and if I were to read these again, the list might be changed.  But, I do recall these as being very well written and memorable for me. 

Fiction:
1-The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers (a trilogy)
This classic series has inspired over half a million readers. Journey back to the crumbling Roman Empire and meet Haddassah, a young slave girl; Marcus, a handsome aristocrat; Atretes, a brave gladiator; and Rizpah, a beautiful young widow. The gospel of Christ is the only weapon they have to battle the immorality that surrounds them –will they be wise enough to use it?
2-The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon (6 books)
Diana Gabaldon is the New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series, which tells the story of Jamie Fraser, a Scottish Highlander from the 18th century, and his time-traveling wife, Claire. The latest book in the series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, is on bookshelves now.
3- The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
Much has been written about the mighty, egotistical Henry VIII: the man who dismantled the Church because it would not grant him the divorce he wanted; who married six women and beheaded two of them; who executed his friend Thomas More; who sacked the monasteries; who longed for a son and neglected his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth; who finally grew fat, disease-ridden, dissolute.
Now, in her magnificent work of storytelling and imagination, Margaret George bring us Henry VIII’s story as he himself might have told it, in memoirs interspersed with irreverent comments from his jester and confidant, Will Somers. Brilliantly combining history, wit, dramatic narrative, and an extraordinary grasp of the pleasures and perils of power, this monumental novel shows us Henry the man more vividly than he has ever been seen before.
4- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Joy Luck Club, published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in 1989, presents the stories of four Chinese-immigrant women and their American-born daughters. Each of the four Chinese women has her own view of the world based on her experiences in China and wants to share that vision with her daughter. The daughters try to understand and appreciate their mothers’ pasts, adapt to the American way of life, and win their mothers’ acceptance. The book’s name comes from the club formed in China by one of the mothers, Suyuan Woo, in order to lift her friends’ spirits and distract them from their problems during the Japanese invasion. Suyuan continued the club when she came to the United States—hoping to bring luck to her family and friends and finding joy in that hope.
5- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Cleo Threadgood, 86, shares a lifetime of memories of Whistle Stop, Ala.where the social scene centered on its one cafe with Evelyn Couch, a younger woman who is looking for meaning in her life. PW described this as "lively reading the kind that eventually nourishes Evelyn and the reader as well."
6-Watership Down by Richard Adams
A picaresque saga about a motley band of rabbits who desert their ancient warren when the gentle Fiver predicts imminent destructions of all who remain. Led by Fiver’s intelligent brother, Hazel, the refugees set out on an epic search for a new home.
7- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it–from garden seeds to Scripture–is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

Non Fiction

1- Created to Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl (my review)

2- Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gotto (my review)

3-Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp (my review)

4-The Key to You Child’s Heart by Gary Smalley (my review)

5-For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macauley (my review)

6-When Dreams Come True by Eric and Leslie Ludy (my review)

7- Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola (although this is "technically" fiction, it is an excellent reference and resource book, so I am counting it as non-fiction).

7 of my Favorite Devotionals:
1- Keeping God in the Small Stuff by Bruce&Stan
2-Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
3-Quiet Times for Couples by H. Norman Wright
4-Night Light for Parents by Dr. James and Shirley Dobson

7 of my favorite Bible Studies:  
1- The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
2-Proverbs (Lifechange series) by Nav Press
3-Mom’s Ordinary Day Series (five different studies):Mothering without Guilt, Managing Your Time, Winning Over Worry, Making Praise a Priority, Finding Joy in all you do
4-She’s Gonna Blow by Julie Barnhill
5-21 Days Building Healthy Habits for Your Family by Dr. Criswell Freeman

7 of my favorite movies:
1- Last of the Mohicans
2-Truly, Madly, Deeply
3-Amadeus
4-Anne of Green Gables
5-Forrest Gump
6- FACING THE GIANTS (a must see!)
7-The Phantom of the Opera

 

7 of my favorite foods: 
1-Nachos
2-Fajitas
3-Cioppino or Bouillabaisse 
4-Haagen Daz Vanilla Swiss Almond
5-Funnel Cakes
6-Kettle Corn
7-Jelly Bellies (green apple, mojito, margarita, pink grapfruit, juicy pear, sour mix, peach)

7 of my favorite drinks: 
1-Starbuck’s Cinnamon Dolce Latte
2-Starbuck’s Caramel Frappucino
3-Huxdotter’s (a local coffee stand) Irish Smooch-a chocolate mint ice cream drink
4-Diet Dr. Pepper
5-Cranberry Juice
6-a good red wine shared with friends
7-Mexican Hot Chocolate