My Favorite Books of 2011

These are a few of the books I've read this year that I enjoyed, in no particular order of preference:

1. Heading Home by John Robinson. In a church service, God revealed that Jesus was returning in the coming week. Two Vietnam vets spend the time finding the ones they fought with to tell them the good news of Jesus. Well written, with believable characters. I'm still thinking about the message I gleamed from this book. Mr Robinson writes a Joe Box detective series that are some of my favorite books.

2. A Stand-Up Guy by Michael Snyder. Mr Snyder is also one of my favorite authors because of his, how do I say this, different type of humor. The main character in this is a stand up comic wantabe that has to work through many issues. Maybe Mr. Snyder's style appeals to me because I have a "different" style of humor. Dunno, but I enjoy his books.

3. Give The Lady A Ride by Linda Yezak. This is Linda's first book, and you really couldn't tell it. Enjoyable cast of characters that you fall in love with. See the review I wrote a few months ago.

4. The Baer Truth by Linda McMaken. Another Linda and another first book and another cowboy story. This is the first in a series about the Baer Brothers, so I'm sure next year when I write about my favorite books, a Baer book will be among them. I also already review this a few months ago, so go read it to find out more about it.

Those are four that stand out, there are several more that I read that didn't set my world on fire and several that lost me after the first few chapters. Here's to 2012, may the new crop of books be great ones, and may there be many first time author friends publishing this year.

He was heard as he soared away, "Happy reading to all, and to all a good book!"

Why I Don't Write Poetry 1011-6

Another year is ending,
So much that is left pending,
So much water under the bridge,
Too many times falling off the ridge.

The loss of many my heart held dear,
Our eyes clouded with tears.
New life with a cry arrives
Welcomed into our lives.

A year of shouting praise,
Blessed in so many ways.
A year of wiping tears,
Celebrating a life we share.

So much that transpired.
So much that inspired.
A new year to look forward to,
Wishing blessings for you.

A Stable?

It was a stable. A dirty stable filled with animals and all the things associated with them. Cow patties, donkey dung, sheep sh--well, you get the idea. What a place for the Savior of the world to be born.

But that was the plan, a plan that was put in motion all the way back when Adam and Eve ate the apple. A lot of water had passed under that bridge between Adam and the stable. Prophetic promises answered, the King of Kings, the Bright and Morning Star, the Messiah was born. Born in a dirty and stinky mess, to save us from our mess.

Merry Christmas, may the One we celebrate this season bless you this coming year.

Peter Pan

With two broken legs and one arm in a cast, George had a hard time doing what most people take for granted. For instance, flipping channels with the remote made him really thirsty, so he drink two large glasses of tea. A little while later he realized that wasn’t such a good idea as now he had to recycle that tea.

He called his wife and she started pushing him down the hall. About halfway to the bathroom he yell, “I ain’t gonna make it, there she blows.”

His wife grabbed the bedpan and threw it at him yelling, “Peter Pan. Peter Pan. Peter Pan.”

And that’s why they are redecorating the hallway. Now you know the rest of the story.

Dishes

She stands at the sink, doing the dishes again. The window over the sink gives her the perfect view of him walking up the sidewalk. She heart skips a beat just thinking of being in his arms again. She sloshes suds over the plate and stares out the window, her mind thousands of miles away. She imagines him sitting in the sand, water bottle in hand, and laughing with those gathered around him. He was their class clown, and she knew he would be making all those around him laugh, he would be lifting their spirits for a few minutes anyway.

She puts the dish down, her eyes blurring with the tears that never seem to dry up. She turns and walks into the living room and over to the fireplace. On the mantle is his picture, how handsome he is in his uniform. As she places the picture back, she picks up the black case beside it and opens it. Inside placed on the gray lining is his purple heart and gold star. She then runs her hand over the tri-folded flag and realized he would never walk up that sidewalk again.