The Lost Hero Book Review

The Lost Hero was really good. The ending was awesome and makes me REALLY want to read the next one. I was a little nervous about it because I really liked the Percy Jackson series and it's always going to be different with a different series. That's not necessarily true in this book. If you haven't read it, I'd suggest stop reading now. There are a few new characters and a few old characters (yay) as well as new villians, gods, and goddesses. One character enters the story with no memories of his past. As the story goes on we find out more about this character and, at the very end, we find out about a new "enemy" that's been there all along. Of course there are the obligatory obvious assumptions that it takes the characters the whole book to find out even though you know it as soon as you put the pieces together. But the end of the book kept me up at night getting excited about the second book in the new series.

Challenge 31 Day 6/January's Resolution Grade

Day 6
Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?

There have been times, usually when I was in middle and high school, that I was totally self-conscience and would be jealous of the other girls who seemed to be beautiful and perfect. It wasn't until college or later that I truly understood that everyone, even the "perfect" girls, have parts of themselves they'd like to change. Once I met Eric my self-confidence went up because he always told me I was beautiful. He still does. Even when I'm having a fat day and complaining about my stretch marks and extra pounds, he tells me I'm the most beautiful person in the world. I feel bad for the young girls growing up in today's society because the world's definition of beauty is absolutely ridiculous. I would love to instill in my children a sense of self-confidence and the knowledge that they don't need approval from anyone except their Heavenly Father.

January's Grade D-
January's resolution was to be nicer to Lucy. It was awful. I've realized I'm just not a dog person. I would've given myself an F, but there were a few times when I restrained myself instead of getting mad. I don't know why she's so annoying. She acts like any dog would, but I just don't have the patience for her whining and eating Kaleb's food and barking at every little sound. I don't think I'll get another dog when she goes to doggie heaven.

Challenge 31 Day 5

This was the picture from My Favorite Outfit post. It's not really my favorite outfit, but it's one of them. I really like the the zebra print because it's my only animal print piece of clothing and I feel very trendy in it even if I'm not.

Day 5
Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.

First of all, Ha Ha! Makes "your heart come alive". That's funny. Now back to it. It's probably really cheesy and predictable, but I'm going to write my thank you to Eric.

Eric,
Not only do I love you, but I love us. I love the way you make me feel good when I feel poopy. I love the way you challenge me and call me out when needed (but never in front of other people). I love that we're the same person in different genders. All of these things make my heart happy and I couldn't be who I am without you. Thank you for keeping me on track and encouraging me.

Challenge 31 Days 3 & 4

Yesterday was a crazy day so I didn't get to blog about Day 3. Today I'm going to blog about Days 3 and 4.

Day 3
Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?

I'm inspired by my cousin Katharine's wardrobe. I get inspired reading blogs by people I know from high school who seem to have their lives together. The girls in my Sunday School class who I hang out with inspire beauty in me in all sorts of ways. There are about 10 different girls who inspire me in all different ways. Some to take better care of my body, some my mind, some my spiritual life, some my finances, and some my home life. I try to embody a little bit of each one.

Day 4
Post a picture of you in your favorite outfit.

Here's the deal with this day's challenge: I don't really have one favorite outfit in particular. I love wearing pajamas, I have a favorite dressy outfit, I have a favorite casual outfit, but not one favorite in particular. I'll find some and upload them.

Challenge 31 Day 2

What make you uniquely you?
That's a really good question that I probably don't have a good answer to. I guess I'm the only one who can be Kaleb's mommy. And I'm the only one who can teach my students the way I teach them. I'm the only one who can love my husband like God's planned wife. But these things all define me in relation to someone else - Kaleb, student, Eric. If I'm going to think about me not in relationship to anyone else, it gets significantly harder. I am unique because, physically, I have one eye that has a little twitch (I blame teaching) and a freckle on one of my cheeks. This is tough. I'll have to think about it some more this week and amend the post later.

Date Day Part 2/Our Odd Discovery

Eric and I got to have another January Date Day today because we had to go to Biloxi for a bridesmaid's dress fitting. We met my mom in Hattiesburg around 11:15 and gave her Kaleb. Then we went to eat some sushi for lunch at Sakura. I think they've changed their recipe for the snow crab roll because it definitely wasn't as good as it used to be. Plus, it was warm and it's never been that way before. After we ate we started our journey to Biloxi. I can't speak for Eric, but I know that I really enjoy when we go on car trips and we talk about any and everything we think of. I feel very blessed to have a husband I love and can talk to about anything. We got to Biloxi and drove to Gatlins for the bridesmaid's dress fitting. I'm a size SIX! What the crap? That's awesome! Now all I have to do is not gain any weight AND lose a few extra pounds so I'll be able to breathe in the dress. After we put the deposit down for the dress we drove along the coastline and decided to stop and walk around on the beach. It was pretty deserted, but it felt really good outside. We had to put on light jackets, but we took our shoes off and walked in the water a little bit. The water felt cool, but it wasn't freezing so it was kind of nice. We ended up with tar balls on the bottoms of our feet so I kinda feel like I'm a part of history now. Anyway, I found this thing in the sand that I thought was a sand dollar but when I picked it up it had teeth and eye sockets! We still have no idea what the heck it is because it also has a kind of a pig nose snout. We've been trying to figure it out all afternoon and we've still got nothing. Eric's going to give it to the biology teacher at the high school to see if she has any insights, and if not we may take it to the marine biology department at Southern. I'm going to be really disappointed if it turns out to be a cat skull or something. After we left the beach we went to Books A Million and then headed back to Hattiesburg. We went and saw The Tourist, which I liked even though a lot of people didn't. Then we went and picked up Kaleb from Haley and Josh's apartment (they called my baby birth control! Ouch!), went to Krystal, and came back home. Pretty successful date day if I say so myself.

Challenge 31 Day 1

This is a fourth generation blog idea. I saw it on a blog I read who linked it to a blog she reads who got it from a blog she reads. Who knows, it may go back even further. The basis of this post series is to challenge yourself to look at and apply Proverbs 31 by giving a post topic. If I can stick with it I'll have all 31 done by the end of February. This will mean that I'll have a couple posts a day somedays when something interesting happens. This is going to be a challenge for me because I've never been a very consistent blogger.

Day 1 What does beauty mean to you?
In the totally honest, superficial, and shallow aspect, it means clear skin, flat stomach, and well-groomed. In the not-so-superfcial aspect it has many more meanings. It is a pregnant woman playing with a child. A dead tired daddy taking time to spend with his kids. Someone who is totally in love with something and isn't afraid to show it. Children are beautiful because they are innocent and trusting. Elderly people are beautiful because they have lived a full live and have a peace about them. The thing about beauty is that it is so broad that, in someone's eyes, everyone is beautiful. You are beautiful to someone...your husband, your children, your parents, the person you never knew was looking up to you, your siblings, etc. Even on our "ugliest" days, we should remember this. We Are Beautiful.