Another new book

I started another new book this week called Son of Hamas. I found it in the Christian section of the bookstore. It is by Mosab Hassan Yousef. He is the oldest son of one of the founders of Hamas. He was being groomed to be a leader of the group, but then became a Christian and fled to America. I haven't made it very far in the book, but so far it is really interesting. It has a lot of historical background on the root of the problems in the Middle East. It's not exactly a summer novel, but it makes me feel smart.

Julie and Julia

I finally saw the movie Julie and Julia. I loved it. And it made me so inspired to cook and to try new things. So, being the lame-o, super impressionable person that I am, I want to now cook my way through a cookbook. Just like the movie. The only problem is that I don't know which one to do. And I wouldn't mind having company on my journey, if anyone is interested. The idea is to buy a new cookbook (hurray!) and then make a new recipe from it each day. Ok, maybe 5 a week would be a better goal? This is all still in the works. I'm thinking about starting in May. Here are my initial thoughts on cookbooks:
1> I want to be somewhat healthy, as in, not adding a stick of butter to each thing I make. So that rules out Paula Deen. Sorry Paula.
2> I want something that will stretch me to try new things. A little more than Betty Crocker, but not quite as difficult as Julia Child.
3> Barefoot Contessa?

I think I might need to go to Borders and look through cookbooks. Let me know if you have any suggestions and/or if you are interested in joining in the fun.

Easter

I've noticed a LOT this Easter that people on facebook have been leaving parts of hymns or worship songs as their status updates. I think the reason for this is that the message of Easter is so profound and beautiful that our own words don't seem to do it any justice. AND so many great words have already been written about it. So here is my pick for an Easter song. It is from the song 'In Christ Alone', which is one of my all-time favorites. This is just one of the verses:

There in the ground his body lay,
Light of the World by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the gave he rose again.
And as he stands in victory,
sin's curse has lost it's grip on me.
For I am his, and he is mine,
bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Happy Easter!