Best Books of 2013

How long does a story stay with you?  

My very favorite books are ones that I find myself excitedly describing to friends weeks - and even months - after reading them.

The following books are ones that I read quite some time ago but whose characters are still hopping around inside my head. I've searched for sequels, sought out prequels, and wanted to email characters for holiday updates.  

So these may no longer be the hottest new releases, but they're my top picks from 2013.  If you haven't read them yet, these are the books that need to top your reading list for 2014.  

Ready?  Here goes, in no particular order:

"Dark Halo" by Shannon Dittemore.  These YA books about a girl who can see the celestial are unforgettable.  They've made me want to dive into the Bible to find out exactly what it has to say about angels and demons and spiritual warfare.  They're completely fascinating - and more than deep enough for adults.

"Once Upon a Prince" by Rachel Hauck.  This modern-day fairy tale is both fun and dramatic.  I loved the lessons that Hauck writes and have been eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

"Serpent of Moses" by Don Hoesel.  This Indiana Jones-style adventure is fun and full-out and safe for kids.  It's an adventure the whole family will enjoy - and I recommend it as such often.

"Tales of the Defended Ones" by Beth Guckenberger  This book, written by Mexican missionary Beth Guckenberger, contains stories of kids around the world and the ways that God is defending and protecting them even when they themselves can't see it.  I'm currently using this curriculum with our church's elementary-aged youth group, and I love it every bit as much as I did the first book in the series.  A very provocative read. 

"Return to Me" by Lynn Austin  This newest historical fiction by Austin is a real winner.  I'm saving it for my kids to read and have already loaned it out to several friends.  Be sure to read this soon so that you're ready when the sequel hits the stands!

"Submerged" by Dani Pettrey  This is one series that my husband and I are reading together, and it's fun to be able to discuss books with my husband, the determined non-reader!  He enjoys these just as much as I do, though, and with action, adventure, and mystery-romance all in each book, these are great reads for us both.

"The Tehran Initiative" by Joel C. Rosenberg  Rosenberg has completely altered my view of the news and of the Middle East with this series of books.  Never having had ANY interest in politics, world events, or understanding people's actions all the way around the world, Rosenberg has brought the Middle East conflicts to life.

What tops your reading list for 2014??

GratiTuesday - Setting Giant-Sized Goals

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Over the past few months I've gotten to work with the elementary-aged youth at our church.  We used the fabulous curriculum that came with Tales of the Not Forgotten  by Beth Guckenberger.  (You can read my review of that book here.)

The conversations that we had sparked something in my Big Helper - something new and special.  She decided to raise money for the Hands and Feet Project's orphans' home in Haiti - and then, upon learning that it was possible to go there on mission, she set that as her goal.

Now, I think this is a wonderful thing.  As hard as it will be to let her go, and even harder if she's heading off to our continental American shores, she's only eight.

Fortunately for me, Hands and Feet requires that you be thirteen years old before going there to do mission work, but my Big Helper is not letting that stop her.

Last month she decided that it was time to plan her annual lemonade stand, and about a week before setting up, her face lit up.  She looked at me and announced, "Mommy, this year I want the money to go towards my Haiti trip!"

I wasn't sure what to say to that.  Does she realize that this trip is five years away - minimum?  Does she realize how much it's going to cost to get her - and her daddy - and the four other people they require all the way there?

No, she doesn't.  She wasn't counting the cost - she was just stepping out in faith.

And then she decided to expand upon last year's lemonade stand and sell orangeades - and art.

She was so pleased with her debut piece of oil pastel artwork that she decided to add art to her lemonade stand.

As word spread about what she was trying to do, the demand for her artwork far surpassed what she was able to create in the few days' time prior to her sale.  In fact, she's still trying to catch up.

But she's happy.  

Her lemonade stand efforts went so well - and people were so generous when they learned what she wants to do - that she raised many times over what she's ever made before.

So much so that a few days later we visited the bank, where she opened a new account to keep her Haiti money safe.

Life has slowed down since her lemonade stand supplies were packed up for this year, but her dreams haven't.  She's dreaming as big as ever - with a giant-sized goal heaped upon lots of faith and sweetened with lemonade and sugar.

If you came by My Big Helper's lemonade stand and supported her efforts to go to Haiti, we thank you.  If you're one of the people waiting in line for her original artwork, we thank you, too - you're both increasing her faith and her confidence.  To Beth Guckenberger and the See the Light Crew - only God could have mashed together my Big Helper, oily sunflowers, and Haitian orphans with your outstanding lessons to get a goal this beautiful.  Thank you.

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Want to know more about how she began her own "art business?"  Check it out here!