How do "wii" get a wii?

I feel like I am stalking the Electronics Dept. at Walmart. I must say I am getting to know the employees in that section really well. It's likely I am developing a reputation among them. Every time I go to Walmart, I go back to Electronics, looking pitiful and deprived, hoping they will be able to scrounge up a Wii in their infamous "backroom." (I don't think there really is a "backroom." They just tell people there is. Have you ever been to a store that has something you want in the "backroom?" Really! ) Walmart NEVER has any Wiis! NEVER!! At least not when I am in there. They might get 3-4 in a day, but the employees snatch them up before any customer can get their hands on one. Totally unfair! I think there should be some rule about that. Maybe if I don the blue "May I help you" vest with the happy face on the back, I just might have a chance. There's an idea!

Gregg has been on the search too, but he keeps returning home empty handed. He looks so defeated when he comes through the door, like a hunter who returns to the homestead without food for his family. The incredible demand for this item reminds me of the "Cabbage Patch Kids" insanity of the 80's....or more recently "Tickle Me Elmo." Why is the demand for this item so high, and the supply so low? "Inquiring minds want to know....Wii want to know."

Mascara Madness

OK....I know it may be trivial, but I am about to run out of mascara and I need help! And you know I don't need another episode at Macy's (see "Oops! I did it again" post on Nov. 25, 2007 in the archives for a refresher). I need something heavy duty....because my eyelashes are blond and they are very short. Plus, I haven't been pleased with any mascara I have tried lately. I know some of you are shy in the comment section of my blog. But I think this question is one that won't reveal too much. It's only mascara. Do you have one that you absolutely love? Leave it in the comment section. Come on....it's ok....I know you can do it. Just keep saying, "I think I can....I think I can."

From the "Friendship" Files

Since we have been talking a lot about friendships lately, I thought I would pass along this quote I ran across yesterday.

"People who feel like they have friends and family they can turn to generally feel less stressed when things get tough."

Sheldon Cohen, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.


I think this one says it better.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;
(and they can get it done faster)
if one falls down,
(and you know that is going to happen)
her friend can help her up.
(careful with those lower back muscles...lift from the knees)
But pity the woman who falls and has no one to help her up!
("Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!")
Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm.
(Blankets and hot chocolate work well, too.)
But how can one keep warm alone?
(This was written before "Cuddle duds" right? My grandma loves those things!)
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
("I pity the fool"-Laurence Tureaud aka "Mr. T")
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
("Two can be as bad as one...It's the loneliest number since the number one."-Three Dog Night....Guess they hadn't read their Ecclesiastes that day. Shame on them!)


Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Well said, Solomon. Well said.

No words.....just laughter!

Culturally irrelevant?

I am beginning to wonder if I am not "hip" anymore....which doesn't help my anxiety regarding approaching 40 next year. A couple of weeks ago the Grammy's were on. I didn't watch it. I heard that Tina Turner did a duet with Beyonce. I know who Tina Turner is, but what's Beyonce "got to do, got to do with it?" I don't know who Beyonce is. I couldn't tell you one song that she sings. I wouldn't recognize her if I passed her on the street. Am I becoming culturally irrelevant?

Last night, the Oscars were on. Again, I didn't watch it. I am not familiar with any of the movies that were up for Best Picture. The last movie I went to see was "Enchanted" with my girls and my step-mom Linda. I barely made it through the picture as I was coming down with the flu. The scenes with the pizza and the hot dogs nearly sent me running to the restroom. But the thought of getting sick in a movie theater restroom was too much for me. Oops! Digressing again!

Maybe it is ok to be culturally irrelevant. It seems God is ok with it, because He tells me to "be in the world, but not of the world." But I wonder who really watches this stuff, besides the people in the entertainment industry and the media, of course. Is there anyone outside the states of New York and California who care about the Grammy's and the Oscar's? Or is this the first sign of me "letting myself go" in my old age?

Winter in Ohio- You've gotta love it!

Today is our 3rd snow day in 2 weeks. We had last Friday and Monday off due to conferences and President's Day. So....in the last 10 days, we have had 5 days of school. I know teachers must have a "love-hate" relationship with our current rate of snow days. It is so nice to have a day off....but there is so much "repair" work that needs to take place, just to get back on track.

When I was growing up in Michigan, we had snow days, but not for the reasons Ohio has them. We had to have significant snow fall (not 1-2 inches), in order to be cancelled. But then again, we also had to walk 3 miles to school each way, trudging through the snow with no boots, mittens, or hats to keep us warm. Oh, wait a minute. I'm getting a little confused. My memories seem to be intermingling with someone else's. That is not my story....that's my grandpa's story.

A prayer time pep-up

I have been very disappointed in myself for about the last year when it comes to my prayer life.....i.e. my concentrated time with God each day. For the first time in 13 years of following hard after God, I have allowed the precious privilege of communicating with God to take a back seat.....like almost the "last seat in the back of the bus" kind. Personally, I think it has shown in me. I think the lack of making prayer a priority has led to more abundant negative thought patterns and an over-all cynical disposition within me.

What happened to me? Well, at first I internally blamed it on a specific situation in my life that caused me deep disappointment, discouragement, and disbelief. Not in God, but in a person. But as the months have passed, I have realized that it is completely unfair and completely unfounded to hang my lack of prayer on one major event in my life. It is both extreme and absurd.

When I finally became fed up with "talking the talk, but not walking the walk," I decided to revert back to a prayer vehicle that was extremely helpful to me about 8 years ago. It is Beth Moore's Whispers of Hope - an in depth (Beth Moore always = in depth) devotional/prayer journal that guides the process of your prayers and helps you to be more intentional in your conversations with God. If you are a journal-er by nature, you would really enjoy the format of the book. Coupled with Beth's spiritual deepness (I love this!) and scripture to read along with it, it has all the components of taking your prayer life to a new place. It is a little hard to find, because it is relatively "old" in the book world, but I found it on amazon, and was very grateful.

PS- I was able to put a label on my prayer problem. It is called "rebellion." Simply said, "It's a drawing back from God's Word and refusing His counsel. It is "continuing to seek answers elsewhere and not taking God's Word seriously." I have caused spiritual damage in my life that is going to take a lot of intentionality and more grace from God to recover from. Am I discouraged? No! I am looking forward to the journey. I am excited!

This is......American Idol

While most of America has already been into this season of Idol, the Hesterfamily doesn't start watching it until the final 24 have been selected. The auditions are just too difficult for me to stomach. Last night, we really enjoyed the men chosen for this season and there seems to be a lot of talent to choose from (besides "Leif and Ellen," of course). We will have to see what happens with the women tonight.....

It is a fun show to watch together as a family....but we have to switch the channel real quickly during commercials. Whew! The commercials are actually worse than the show. I am finding this to be more and more true depending on what we are watching.

Friendship-Part 2

My friendship entry a few days ago is generating some interesting discussions behind the scenes at hesterfamily@insight.rr.com . Some thoughts and feelings regarding friendships are just too personal to use in the blog's "comment" section, so I have been very grateful for the level of sharing you have been willing to do with me via email. It has been both encouraging and insightful. While none of us seem to have solid answers to many of the questions posed in the "friendship" post, it is obvious that it is something you have been thinking about too.

After reading and listening to what you have had to say re: your own friendships, I would like to extend this question to you....as it is something I have been asking myself.

Are you a pursuer......or a pursuee? In other words, if you would like to get to know someone better, how often do you ask her to do something? Are you an initiator or are you waiting for the opportunity to come to you?

Just some food for thought for all of us.

Last year in the 30's

Today, I begin my last year in my 30's. It doesn't seem possible to me. I have always joked about "women over 40" and how crabby and short-tempered they can be. You know....the ones you encounter in the checkout at Wal-Mart, hand on hip, huffing, puffing, and rolling their eyes about the long lines... the ones that stare you down when you are trying to pass them on the highway, the ones that haven't smiled since they turned 40. Well, either I need to really enjoy this last year in my 30's, or I need to change my stereo-type. I am going for the "changing my stereo-type" option and bump it up to "women over 50." There, that ought to buy me some time, at least for a little while.

As said before, I am a reflective person, by gift or by curse, however you want to look at it. So, today, in honor of my last year in my 30's, I will reflect upon and share some crazy "unknowns" about myself. These unknowns, of course, are in no order of importance.

1) I love the smell of fresh cut grass and the sound of lawn mowers in the distance. It is very comforting to me.

2) I love to see my husband's truck in the driveway when I get home.

3) My dad was the first man I wanted to marry......when I was four.

4) My sister and I can make each other laugh like no one else. We once laughed at the dinner table when we were growing up, and had milk literally shoot through our noses. It was painful like all get out (what does that exactly mean....."all get out"), but it was funny.

5) I used to love Breakstone's Cottage Cheese.....now I love Michigan brand. Strange that Michigan Brand Cottage Cheese is really made in Delphos, Ohio. I wonder why they just didn't call it Ohio Brand.

6) I absolutely adore old people. I love to see old men wearing hats when they are out and about. I think it is precious. I have to smile at them when they walk by me. I wonder what they are thinking. "Does she think I am cute? I bet she does. Whew-wee! I've still got it!"

7) Seeing moms at Wal-mart with their preschoolers in tow, just tugs at my heartstrings. I loved the days when Hopie and I would go to the grocery store together, when Faith had just started school. Don't get me wrong. I do treasure the opportunity to get the shopping done by myself, but there is just something sweet about those preschool years.

8) Along with my mom, I have a crush on Robert Redford......the early days, mind you. Of course, I feel like I am married to my own Robert Redford, blue eyes and blond hair to boot. :)

9) I love the Beatles and probably shouldn't.

10) I long to go to England with my husband some day.

11) I love the smell of black Sharpie's and gas...... fuel, that is.

12) My sister and I have our own language we speak with one another that few would understand. It consists of various movie quotes, toddler-speak from Faith's early years when my sister lived with us, and silly things from our childhood. It is such a part of our speech with one another, we have little idea how strange it would sound to the average human ear.

13) I have always had an affection for cats and I talk to them in a high pitched voice, certain that they understand everything I am saying. I've heard it's like "nails on a chalkboard" for those having to listen to it. Sorry about that.

14) I marvel at how clean my mom and my grandma have kept their houses all my life and wonder why I can't do it too. What's their secret?

15) I like to chew ice. It is a horrible habit, and probably has reaked havoc on my teeth.

16) I don't eat cereal with milk on it. I can't. I won't. I eat it dry with a glass of milk on the side. Seriously, what's the difference?

17) If I buy a book, I have issues with bending the cover back. I try to read the book and finish it without breaking the binding.....making it look like it has never been read. Thank goodness for the library. All their bindings are already broken anyway.

18) Mr. Mom is still my favorite movie. I know it came out in the early 80's....but I still love it. I laugh in the same spots every time. Ferris Bueller runs a close second. "Bueller....Bueller..."

19) Laura Bush is my favorite First Lady. I think I could easily go out to lunch with her and have a great time. Maybe after George W. is done with this "president gig," she might have some time for me.

20) The morning dove is my favorite bird. When I hear it, I know that summer is here.

21) I used to have a problem writing in my Bible. I thought it was "sacreligious." Now, the notes I have taken over the years in my Bible are very valuable to me....not as valuable as The Word itself.....but I think you know what I mean.

22) People have told me several times that I look like Katie Couric. In the early 90's, Gregg and I were eating in a small TX town and the waitress was all star-struck when she took our order. Frankly, I don't see it. And now that Katie isn't on the Today Show, frankly I don't see her.

23) I still love to watch "Schoolhouse Rock" with my girls. Thankfully, the good folks at ABC decided to put it on DVD. "I'm just a bill......"

24) I love cherry malts, cherry cokes, cherry cough drops, cherry lip balm, etc.....but I don't think I could stomach eating a real cherry. There is nothing like a true Cherry coke from Sonic. Thankfully, we just got a Sonic not too far from here. Already been, and it was fabulous.

Must stop here. I had hoped to come up with "39 strange things you thought you knew about Amy Hesterman"....one for every year, but I am tapped out. Thank you for choosing to read my blog today. At amyhesterman.blogspot.com, we know you have a choice when it comes to reading blogs and we thank you for choosing this one.

Keeping The Secret

Today, Hopie and I went on our third SKG date. If you are unfamiliar with SKG (Secret Keeper Girl) and you are a mother of a 8-12 yr. old girl, this is some treasured time with your daughter you won't want to miss. The premise of Secret Keeper Girl is to begin the discussion of purity and modesty with your daughter by going on 8 creative dates surrounding the subject. The SKG "curriculum" comes with a guide, a diary/devotional for your daughter, and a CD with 5 minute segments of helpful information to start and end your date. I did this with Faith when she was in 4th grade and I am so glad that I did it then. I think by 6th grade, you need to move into something a little more serious, which is why I am considering "Passport to Purity" with Faith in the near future.

Making time for these dates is tough, I must admit. It is easy to put it on the back burner, because you can.....you designate when it happens. So there is a temptation to cancel it if something else comes in the way. But we had such a delightful time together and had precious conversation with one another. I am savoring this...because I know this season will come to a close. She held my hand as we walked. She asked me questions about my own childhood, what I liked to do when I was her age. She told me about books she is reading right now, I told her about mine. We found a tree that park rangers were collecting sap from and listened to it "tap, tap, tap" into the bucket. I loved every minute of it.

Sometimes in motherhood you have days (even weeks) when you feel like you are losing the battle. Today, God gave me a gift of a much needed "win", and I am grateful.

Friendships-

I have been toying with writing about this subject for a while....but I "chicken out" every time. It is somewhat revealing....shows some vulnerability....and I feel like I have a tendency to regret my attempts at transparancy from time to time. I have been thinking about "seasons of friendships" lately and I wonder if any of you can agree with some of my "less proven" observations.

It all started with a book I checked out recently from the library entitled "I"ll bring the chocolate: Satisfying a woman's craving for friendship and faith." In the book, which is fairly light-hearted if you can't tell by the title, the author talks about a woman's deep need for friendships and how much she benefits from those relationships in her life. Of course, in most anything I read, I begin to evaluate my own life and how the information correlates with how I think or how I might feel. I love friendships....always have. I felt a connection with what I was reading in "Chocolate"....made some non-verbal "amens to that" in my head, but at times I felt like I was reading about a different culture or possibly a different season of friendships than what I am in now. If this is so true among women, where is everybody?

When I was in the season of early mothering (i.e. newborn, toddler, and even preschool years), it seemed very easy to have a close group of friends walking through life with you. Of course, my views on this may be tainted. It may not be the norm. At this time in my life, I was experiencing true "Christ-following" friendships for the first time in my life, and I was living in Oklahoma...the land of true hospitality. Friendships just didn't seem that difficult to find or maintain for that matter. We were all "at home moms," who were experiencing the sheer joy and sometimes trials of early motherhood for the first time. We would get together for play dates, make some peanut butter sandwiches for the kids, and even lift each other up in prayer together, if the little ones where playing nicely and not biting one another. These friendships were significant for me. I needed them more than I ever knew at the time. My husband was gone most of the time with the Navy and the companionship was truly a gift from God.

Unfortunately, that season for me has been over for quite some time. My girls are in school full time and one will be entering junior high next year. Their biting days are long over. They won't even touch peanut butter and jelly anymore. They still have play dates, but where are mine? I work part-time as a substitute teacher at their school and have for the last 4 years. The busyness of life has increased. The demands of motherhood are definitely different than the early days, yet they are still there. But what hasn't changed in me is my need for friendships. Am I weird? Is there something wrong with me? Does my craving for friendships mean that I am weak? Should I be content with husband, 2 daughters, and cat only? Maybe a true Christ-follower should only need God. But Jesus thrived on friendships Himself. If I voice my "need" for friendships, do I appear "needy?"

I decided to ask a few friends in my life where they were in their own friendships....outside of me, of course. :) Were they content? Did they feel like they wished they had more time with people? Were they noticing seasonal changes in their friendships (i.e. early motherhood vs. current motherhood)? Did they feel alone? My study of sorts doesn't have a large "cue" of women yet. There are only a few people I have asked such deep questions of evaluation. But at this point in my "study," there has been a unanimous sound of "yes" to the question of "Do they feel alone?" Why is that? What is keeping us from having deep friendships with women like we used to? Is it work? Is it our kids' activities? Is it keeping the homefront operational and functioning? Is it our overcommitment to life? What is it?

You must know that I will regret writing this as soon as I push the "publish post" button. I might have to go back in and delete it all together if I feel like I have been too revealing. You also must know that I truly appreciate the friendships I do have. But I am a "question-asker" by nature. I don't think it is bad to evaluate things in your life from time to time. I guess that is what I am doing....I am evaluating my own life, and wondering if there is anyone out there who might agree....might be asking themselves the same questions. If you can relate, what kind of answers are you coming up with?

Tragedy in DEKALB

I am sure you heard about the shootings at NIU yesterday. I am absolutely astounded by the level of frequency this kind of behavior is taking place. I went to NIU for summer school between my junior and senior years of college. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought about something like this taking place as I sat in a classroom there almost 20 years ago. Something is happening within our culture that is incredibly disturbing. What drives people to this? Why do they always shoot themselves afterwards?

Attention.....Friends with "issues"

If you do not have Target issues, please don't waste your time reading this. Friends with issues........NOW HEAR THIS!!!!!

All Targets have gone 30% off on Global Bazaar stuff. However, for some odd reason, the Target in Lancaster just went 50% off today. I have been sick with a cold for two days, but I feel some instant healing coming on. :)

Growing up Kellogg's-style.....It was Grrrrrr-eat!!!

The Kellogg logo probably had more significance for me as a kid than it did for most. My heritage on my mom's side is all about the cereal industry. Living most their lives in Battle Creek, MI, my Grandpa retired from Ralston Purina Co. and my Grandma, from Kellogg's over 20 years ago. As kids, we benefitted greatly from her job. She brought home all kinds of amazing stuff for us during our growing up years, and it brings back "grrrrr-eat" memories when I think about how much fun we had as a result. Besides allowing us to be some of the first kids in America to test a new cereal coming out for Kellogg's, my sister and I enjoyed many "premiums" (toys sent away on the back of the cereal box) and never had to save one box top or UPC code.

One of our favorite premiums was the "Fruit Loops Tiki Hut." Long before Little Tykes had their plastic play houses, there was our "Fruit Loops Tiki Hut, complete with mock bamboo polls, and cardboard windows to open and close. My grandma had it all set up for us down the basement and we had no idea what was awaiting us as we raced down the stairs to find it. We absolutely loved this thing!! We loved it so much, we destroyed it. We didn't mean to, but it became a well-loved toy, and with any well-loved toy, it begins to show its wear and tear after a while. I've always wondered when my grandma decided it was time for the "tiki hut" to take up new residence in the garbage can. Because one weekend we came for a stay, and it was gone. I imagine my grandpa told her it was time for it to go. "Norris, (he always calls her by her middle name) those kids have destroyed that thing! Somebody's going to get a cardboard cut (as opposed to a paper cut) from those sharp edges. It is an accident waiting to happen. Let's get it out of here before they notice." He was always worried about us hurting ourselves. Now, he worries about his great-grands that way.

Fast forward 30 years and my grandma spoils us in another way through her still present Kellogg ties. Every Wednesday, she goes to the "Kellogg Store" with all the other retirees and purchases Kellogg's food items at a marked discount. When we come to stay, she loads us up with everything from Pop-Tarts to Keebler crackers. (Kellogg's now owns Keebler.) And I am overwhelmed by her generosity. This has been a great help as it gives me something different and unusual to put in the girls' lunches when we return to Ohio. And it saves me a ton of money too. Feels good even at 39 years old (almost), to still be spoiled by my grandma. She's always been grrrr-eat to me!!!!

PS- I looked for a picture of the "tiki hut" on the internet, in hopes that someone would have posted one. I knew it was a long shot. Never found one, and I don't think my grandparents took any pictures of us in it. I am not sure they were even aware how much we enjoyed it. I wish I could show it to you because I remember it as plain as day. Even checked the Kellogg's archives site....but nothing. :(

But this one scares me more!

This picture scares me!

Getting the "maxx" for the minimum

You may remember several months back, I blogged about being on a Customer service "mission" of sorts.....that is, whenever I would experience the rare occurrance of quality customer service, I would take the time to bring it to the manager's attention. Since that entry (in August, I believe), I have made 3 phone calls. The last one I made was on Thursday, when I had the pleasure of being served by Harriet Rush at TJMAXX. Harriet is probably my mom's age....maybe older....dressed very stylish for her generation (probably uses her breaks looking for good deals)....and apparently enjoys her job. She was adorable!

First things first, Harriet allowed me to have 8 items in the dressing room, as opposed to six. She also offered to exchange items out for me, so I could try on as many as possible. Sprinkled with a "Honey" here and a "Honey" there, she would applaud my efforts at trying to put outfits together, and when something didn't look quite so right, she wasn't afraid to say it. When I needed a different size in a blouse, she paged someone to get it for me. Did I mention this was TJMAXX, and not Nordstrom's? (Probably wouldn't get this kind of service at Nordstrom's either.) She was so warm and friendly, I felt compelled to give her a hug afterwards....but I didn't. This is Ohio, you know. It's the Midwest. You can't be too overt in the appreciation dept. They might get unneccessarily suspicious. So, I opted for the "asking for the manager" choice instead, letting Harriet know how much she had blessed me. (Have you ever noticed that at TJMAXX, they always call their managers by "Mr." or "Mrs?" Just wondering. ) Anyway, I had a great talk with the manager and left the store feeling blessed by being in the presense of someone as joyful as Harriet.

When I got in the van, I grabbed my phone and happily made my call to their customer service line to share about my experience. Incidentally, their customer service people need to take a lesson from Harriet. Monotoned, unenthusiastic voices on the other end are a huge downer after Harriet. I don't know what retail does, if anything, to reward their employees when they actually do their jobs and do them well. But I truly hope that Harriet receives something. And the next time you are at TJMAXX in Lancaster, OH, ask for Harriet Rush. She'll take good care of you, Honey.

Super Sleuths

Last Saturday, we celebrated Hopie's 10th birthday by having a "Nancy Drew" themed party. Friends had to help Hopie solve the "Case of the Missing Birthday Present" by finding and following 10 clues hidden throughout our church. The church was a great, safe place to have the party because there was ample space to hide all the clues. I loved seeing their enthusiasm as they figured out one clue after another. They were so cute!! (Can I say that about 10 year olds?) I have had so much fun planning this party, and have been working on it since she came up with the idea last summer. Oh, don't get me wrong. I love planning their parties, but I am not that organized. No Martha Stewart tendancies here. When I say "working on it," what I am really saying is when I was out shopping anytime during the last 6 months, I might run across something for the party that would work really well. The Dollar section at Target was a big help, especially when they would have items on sale for 50% off. (Don't you love seeing the sale signs in that section? I feel like I am instantly at a garage sale of really cool stuff.) And Dollar Tree had huge magnifying glasses that were just too unbelievable to pass up. (See pic) I can't imagine why anyone would buy these other than planning a Nancy Drew party....and I am pretty confident that there aren't too many of those going around. :)

If you haven't seen the Nancy Drew movie from last summer yet (this is what prompted the idea for the party, I think), it is coming to DVD sometime in March. It has an excellent message for young girls on being comfortable with who you are, even when your peers ridicule you. Nancy is depicted as both classy, fashionable, and responsible. A breath of fresh air from a lot of characters pre-teens seem to be interested in at the moment.

"The Shack"

I have been mustering through a book that has been both difficult for me to read and difficult to put down at the same time. I don't know if I have ever had that kind of dichotomy before in something that I have read. But this morning, after waking up for the day at 3:40am (absolutely ridiculous, isn't it???), I had the blessing of finally closing the cover of The Shack. And now I am left with the "huge" task of digesting what I have read....chewing slowly, of course.



The Shack is both disturbing and enlightening. I am bound and uncomfortable with much of what I read, and at the same time I am liberated (one of Faith's vocabulary words for this week. Guess all that studying I have done with her has paid off....for me, that is.) and set free. I wish, in hindsight, that I could have read this book with a few close friends. I would have valued their take on it, and what they found The Shack doing to them. I don't think I would be alone in how it has left me.



I wish that I could encourage you to read it yourself, but by now I have scared you with what I have said. I know that you hear me often go on and on about something I have recently read, or am in the midst of reading. I am sorry about that....I am sure that is annoying. I would like to say I won't let it happen again, but I would be lying I am afraid. I have a friend whom I have been talking with about the book, more than the average person I encounter. (Poor thing!) She and I have the same issues when it comes to reading something that might be a little "out there." I don't think it is an issue of "closed-mindedness," just more of being careful, I guess. She told me that she likes to see who the book is endorsed by, as a safety net of sorts, before she is willing to crack the cover. I find that tendency in myself too. The Shack is endorsed by a handful of people, both recognizable and unrecognizable to me. But if my name carried any value at all, I would endorse it myself, because I think it is that good. If by chance you do pick it up and are willing to dive into something completely different than your standard "religious read", please let me know. I would love to hear about it.