You may remember we’ve been discussing what books we would choose if we could only read five titles, over and over again, until the end of our days.  Aside from the Bible for me, which is the one I do read over and over again, and will until the end of my days, I’ve posted two other titles so far: The Calvary Road by Roy Hession, and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

Today I’m adding to that list, but because I view these seven books almost as one, I’m counting them as such. These seven books make up The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The separate titles in chronological, rather than originally published, order are:

The Magician’s Nephew

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Horse and His Boy

Prince Caspian

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Silver Chair

The Last Battle

I read these first when I was living in Germany almost thirty years ago. I read them again out loud to my children about twenty years ago. I read them again about ten years ago, and they just got better and better. And these seven books were my “Summer Read” about three years ago, and I devoured them one right after the other. I will probably read these books another time before I’m an old woman, and when I get to the part where Lucy buries her face in Aslan’s mane, I’ll most likely weep all over again. When I reach the account of Aslan soberly telling Eustace how to get rid of his horrible dragon skin, I’ll wish it was me He was changing. And I know that Reepicheep will always make me laugh.

In case there’s any doubt that I may be carrying things a little too far with my love for all things Aslan/Narnia, here’s a photo of what the drawers look like in my kitchen:

If you haven’t read The Chronicles of Narnia yet, it’s time to head to the library soon.

Time is up and we have five winners for our second blog giveaway.  Yay!  Each person who posted a comment regarding the books they could read over and over again wins a copy of The Calvary Road by Roy Hession.

Our winners are Carey, Kay, Tauni, Carolyn and Jessica!  Thank you for commenting, and please be sure to let me know what you think of the book. 

Watch for December’s blog giveaway in……December.

I’ve enjoyed reading about some of your book favorites, and I found myself mmm-hmmming in agreement to so many. I have three takers on our book giveaway so far, and six books to give! So maybe there are a few more of you who might just be brave and share your favorite book or two with our myriad blog readers. 🙂

Another book that I could read over and over again is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

If you haven’t read it, you really must. I first read it in ninth grade in Mrs. Grimley’s Novel class, and groaned when I saw the drabness and thickness of the book. But I wanted an A in the class, so read it, and half enjoyed it.

I read Les Mis again in 1985, and was floored by its scope, and saw things at age twenty-eight that of course I had missed when I was fourteen.

I read it for the third time a few years ago and marveled at the book and its message. I recommend it every time the opportunity arises. It’s worth the time.

In January of 2007, my husband and I pinched ourselves as we sat with dear friends in the elegant Queen’s Theatre in London, and watched the breathtaking production of the musical Les Miserables on that famous revolving stage. When the final curtain went down, we weren’t the only ones with tears on our faces. What a memory.

Sometimes there are huge books I want to read, but because of different involvements I just don’t want to start on 1000 pages during the school year. So I plan for longer “Summer Reads”.  Maybe you could make Les Miserables a summer read, or a vacation read.

Last time I read it, it made me a little Les(s) Miserables. You might find it helps your mood too.

I love to talk books. I can’t think of a time in my entire life when I haven’t been reading a book or three. Right now I’m reading a unique and delightful one called Cider With Rosie, recommended by a dear friend in northern Scotland.

But I would like to know what books have touched you the most. If you could only have five books to read for the rest of your life, what would they be?  Which ones would you want to read over and over? I’m assuming for some of you, The Bible is one of them. It is the first one I would choose. (Hebrews 4:12)

What else would you choose? Tell about one (or more) of the books you would pick, and why.

One of my choices would be The Calvary Road by Roy Hession. It was recommended to my husband and me years ago by a godly friend. Michael and I read it out loud together, slowly. We both wept our way through the pages. And it changed our lives. It’s one of those books that needs to be read and reread every year. I’m at a place in my life where I need a balm and a true course, and I think it’s time for me to read it again.

Even one of my favorite ministries, Community Bible Study, puts this book on their recommended reading list every single year. CBS’s executive director reads The Calvary Road each January, to help set her course for the coming year.

I have other books I would choose, and I will post about those another time. If you’re reading this today, won’t you share with us what your choices would be?  What books have made you laugh, given you hope, changed the course of your life, delivered new insight, made you dream?  What books would feed your soul if you could read only those for the rest of your life?

I look forward to your answers. And this sounds like a good time for another blog giveaway. I will send a copy of The Calvary Road to every person who comments on this post.

Happy reading,

It’s Thankful Thursday. Today I give thanks to the Lord for prayer. For the promise that He hears. For His power that can move mountains. For His love that has made me His daughter.

I thank God for friends who will pray. I thank Him for the invitation to come boldly to His throne of grace. For His words, “Bring them here to me” regarding people or situations where miracles were desperately needed.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and power. Thank you for hearing us when we pray. Thank you for defeating the enemy of our souls. Thank you for being my God and King and Father.

Now that snow is in our forecast, it seems all the more imperative to have some carols playing in October.  Here’s what’s going through the house on the stereo/intercom system today:

Windham Hill’s Celtic Christmas – this one makes me wish I could spend all day with a book by a roaring blaze in our bedroom fireplace. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas will take you right back to your childhood, but aside from the familiar songs from the Peanuts cartoons, this is a mild, jazzy CD that I love to play each year.

Carpenters Christmas Portrait – “Merry Christmas Darling” is our favorite.

Happy Holidays by Jo Stafford is a wonderful old recording that reminds me of my mother, who loved and played this kind of music.

What’s on your playlist today, even if it’s not yet Christmas music?

I will drive five lovely women to the Twin Cities soon to attend a leadership conference for Community Bible Study. My dear husband will be at home taking care of people, dogs and details here.

Here are some things on my to-do list that really should be attended to before we depart:

1.   Put gas in the Odyssey and check the oil.

2.   Make sure a fresh box of Kleenex is in the van.

3.   Print out driving directions to hotel.

4.   Remove the old computer keyboard from the back of the van.

5.   Remove the green and camouflage snake costume from the way-back of the van.

6.   Pack a Honeycrisp apple and a Kashi Peanut Butter bar for snacks.

7.   Make sure I wear the jeans with Lycra.

8.   Wear turtleneck since my neck gets cold when I drive long distances.

9.   Make sure meals at home are planned for.

10.  Kiss everyone goodbye, see the emotion in my husband’s eyes and begin to question why I ever agreed to go in the first place.

Last week I introduced a weekly feature on the blog here. I know I’m being frequently reminded about how vital it is to live in a grateful manner. And I don’t want to grow into a bitter, complaining old woman. Bitter, complaining old women generally aren’t fun to be around. I want to grow in grace and gratitude.

Today I thank God for my vision. Blurry as it is without corrective lenses, I can still see. With my glasses, I can clearly see the gorgeous fall displays outside my windows. I can see the three huge deer that wander into our yard each morning. I can see my husband’s kind eyes look at me. And oh, the wonder of seeing the smiles of my grandchildren! I can see the words of friends typed in e-mails. I can read God’s Word. I can see. And I give thanks to the Lord today, for the amazing gift of sight.

Are you thankful for anything today?  I would love to know.

It doesn’t sound right does it?  (Julie) Ann of Beige Gables. Or Julie of Eight Gables. Not when Anne of Green Gables rolls right off the tongue and evokes wonderful literary recollections of wistfulness, innocent antics and simplicity. 

I’ve always felt transported by the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery, and would someday love to visit Prince Edward Island. I even play the sound track to the movie, and have a very specific prayer I ask the Lord about, relating to one of the songs on the CD. (Strange, I know).

And long before I loved these books, I have favored gable roofs. With a husband who’s a carpenter, I soon learned the difference between a hip roof, a mansard roof, a gable roof, a shed or a gambrel roof. And I always liked the looks of gable roofs, especially if their pitch was steep.

Yesterday I just realized that we live in a house with a total of eight gables. Eight beige gables. And my middle name is Ann. So I ask you – if I had fancy personal calling cards made up with “(Julie) Ann of Beige Gables” or “Julie of Eight Gables” printed on them, do you think it would fly? 

When introduced to someone new, if I firmly shook their hand, smiled warmly and looked straight into their eyes and said, “Hello, so nice to meet you. I’m Julie Ann of Beige Gables”, do you think they would feel right away that we were kindred spirits?