Defiant Joy: A Review

I’ve been interested in G.K. Chesterton ever since I heard a professional storyteller tell one of Chesterton’s stories. It was funny, witty and thought-provoking. So I was really excited to read and review this book on such an interesting and unusual man.

However, this book disappointed me a bit. At times dry and hard to wade through all the intellectual-speak, it also could have used a little more down-to-earth approach. I felt like the author Kevin Belmonte was trying to come across as a little too scholarly and theological himself, rather than just letting Chesterton’s life and style shine through.

All in all, not a book I would highly recommend; it was not as engaging and interesting as I was hoping, but not a bad read, if you don’t mind plugging along when the going gets dry.

3 out of 5 stars.

(This book was sent to me from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Abbie Wrote

Yo. Abbie here. (Who else?)

I’ve moved my blog because the url “laisi” was beginning to get on my nerves. They’re initials for “life as I see it”, but for some reason, I see “laisi” and I can only think of this:

…and I can’t live with that.

So, abbiewrote.wordpress.com is my new web address.

Be there, or be despondent.

: )

Lady in Waiting

It’s no secret: I hate waiting.

Waiting makes me break out in a cold sweat. Waiting makes me nervous and unsettled for one simple, pesky reason: I’m not in control.

Now, I’m not what you’d call a super control freak. In most areas, I’d just as soon hand the reins over to someone else who can do the job better. But when it comes to my own life, my own future, I morph into a grotesque, prideful creature, quite certain I know what’s best for me.

Pathetic, huh? But, as He does with all our faults if we will let Him, God is dealing with me on this. I’m learning to wait.

More specifically, I’m learning to be a lady in waiting.

As hard as it is to wait for the simple things in life, it is exponentially harder when we find ourselves stuck in a holding pattern, circling round and round…and round and round…waiting for the man of our dreams to happen by.

Meanwhile, down below, friends and loved ones are joyfully tying the knot. Clocks are ticking. We feel a slight tinge of panic that increases with the years and we begin to wonder…Am I going to be single forever?

This is where my favorite verse comes in:

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:11-13

As we wait, no matter how long or how short our waiting season may be, no matter how long we’re stuck in the “holding pattern”, He will give us the strength to go through it. And not only go through it, but be a lady in waiting while we do. Not waiting for life to start, but waiting on God and serving Him however we can this day.

Update:

It’s 10:22 pm. I’m sitting here, about to close out my internet windows and put this big oaf of a computer to sleep for the night. Wearing my PJ’s and a borrowed pair of (clean) underwear because I haven’t washed laundry in 32 months. (What will I do when my big sister moves out?)

(Sorry if that was a little TMI there.)

I was trying in vain to get the Chex Party Mix remains out of my teeth, my gaze wandering innocently around the room when I saw it;

A big, gross brown spider on the wall.

So, being the gutsy, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar type of gal I am, I grabbed the nearest handy thing – a tissue box – and killed the spider.

It’s crumbled remains still cling pitifully to the wall, a testament to my heroism.

This morning, I woke up laughing.

Last night, I dreamed a dream that succeeded in defying logic, rationality and common sense. I dreamed a dream that held zero similarities to my everyday life. I dreamed a dream that probably makes me a prime candidate for therapy. And I’m going to share it with you in minute detail because…well…just because.

First, I was thrust into the plotline of Christmas with the Kranks/Homeward Bound II, and found myself frantically running around outside in the cold trying to string Christmas lights before the “blood red van” drove by and caught us being un-festive and anti-holiday. I guess the best we could do was a string of old-fashioned colored lights stretched across the front of the house, going right across of the front door.

I succeeded in getting the lights plugged in before the ominous “blood red van” cruised by, and the next thing I knew, I was inside with my mom/Jami Lee Curtis, who was flopping her hands around and shoving me out the door in a panic. “You’re dad wants you to meet him at the seafood store downtown!” She was freaking out because we were running out of time. (Not sure why.)

So we jumped in a Subaru/Hybrid station wagon thingy and rushed downtown, where we met my dad/Tim Allen. Inside the seafood store, we went up to the counter to order some kind of fish, and be quick about it. Behind the counter, chaos reigned. There were at least 12 employees, all wearing dark blue polo shirts and dirty white aprons, falling over each other, chattering, hollering, laughing. The kid helping us had a major attitude issue, so my dad demanded that an Asian guy also working there serve us.

Asian Guy went to the chest-style freezer unit and peered down into it. “Not much left!” He exclaimed, shrugging helplessly. Then he reached down inside, pulled out a long, thick piece of fish, about the size of a Louisville Slugger (only fatter), and slapped it on the counter in front of us. “This is all we have left.” He announced. “Swordfish.”

“Okay, we’ll take it.” My dad/Tim Allen said.

Before we knew what was happening, the entire staff of the seafood store descended upon our swordfish – which was now somehow the length of the whole counter. It was filleted the long way and laid open like a hot dog bun. Everyone began to pile the slab of meat with chopped celery, onion, pickles and avocado. The staff talked in some kind of high-speed gibberish that I couldn’t understand, but I somehow managed to communicate with them as I broke up pieces of avocado and helped “stuff” our fish. They were laughing constantly, excited and happy and apparently loving life.

When we were finished stuffing the fish fillet, Asian Guy flipped it closed and wrapped it in some sort of plastic covering with handles. By this time, our swordfish fillet had grown so immense and fat that it took around 8 people to carry it outside to the waiting car. We all grabbed one of the handles and started hefting, laughing and giggling so much we could hardly walk. (The source of the hilarity is unknown.) But clearly, we found something about this scenario uproariously funny.

Out on the city street, where ice and slush coated the roads and snow fell slowly from the dark sky, we popped open the back hatch of our Subaru/Hybrid thing, and on the count of three, we tossed the massive piece of seafood into the back. Then we all congratulated each other. And hugged each other like we were saying goodbye to old friends.  I suppose we built a sort of comradery, stuffing a swordfish with onions and avocado on Christmas Eve. We were still laughing, absolutely, positively, about-to-die laughing, and after we’d all hugged each other goodbye, me, Tim Allen and Jami Lee Curtis hopped into the car. Faye was in the backseat.

“You wanna drive, Abbie?” She asked.

I looked at the dashboard clock, then back at Faye. “Duh, I can’t drive after 9. It’s 10:38.”

Then I woke up. I looked at the alarm clock at my bedside. It read 10:38 am.

NOTE:

For the record, I have not
watched either Christmas with
the Kranks or Homeward
Bound II any time in recent history.