I had told you at the end of the year that I was about to start a new book called The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay. Well......
little did I know that this historical fiction novel would rock my world. I finished it this past spring and it was by far the best fictional book I have ever read.
Set in South Africa during World War II, the story of a 5 year-old boy named Peekay unfolds. The first chapters are so hard to read, especially if you have children and can only imagine your little one having a childhood completely void of love, laughter, acceptance, trust, and carefree things as a young child should. But what a story of finishing strong!
Peekay overcomes incredible obstacles and builds confidence through the avenue of boxing that takes him to high places. This is a beauiful story woven through the coarse hardships of love, heroes, and trust found.
Heroes jump off the pages....like Hoppie Groenewald, a guard on the train who shared his love for boxing with Peekay- and is the first person who believed in him.
Like Doc, or Professor Karl von Vollensteen, who taught Peekay how to research and discover scientific things, how to play and appreciate music, and how to love.
Like Geel Piet, Peekay's boxing coach who suffered through extreme racism, and eventually paid his life for this cause.
Like Ms. Boxall, librarian and teacher, who instilled a lifetime love for learning in Peekay.
And like Rasputin, a Russian miner who took Peekay under his wing at the end of the book....and who literally saved Peekay's life by sacrificing his own.
As a Christian, there are also so many challenging issues regarding religion and how others view Christianity. It was actually a wonderful reminder that it's our actions, not our words, that speak the loudest. And also that God has called us to be a people of love, not of judgement, condemnation, and a set of rules that must not be broken. Oh how we could change the world if we simply loved first....
This book is so richly written, you will hardly be able to put it down. Just when you think the author can't go anywhere else with the story, a whole new theme emerges. It is incredible. Life-changing.
I hope you can pick it up sometime. But be prepared to see life through a different, better, lens when you've finished it. Oh so good!
After that incredible read, I had to take a few weeks off just to process it all. I didn't want to start another book yet until I felt like I had really soaked it all in.
And then my sweet friend Julie gave me The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas. Another historical fiction set in the 1860s across the frontier from Iowa to the Colorado Territory. An amazing story of a woman's strength, courage, love, faith, and heart break. I flew through this one as it's a much shorter read. But I have to confess, my heart was broken too by the ending. Still a moving, poignant read. Just some sadness....
Now I'm about to start the Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. Can't wait!
Put em up, Jackson!
Grandad and Gran came to cheer him on...
And Granny Boo....
The 4th grade class
And Papa B... 
We just love Coram Deo Academy and their classical christian education....such an awesome school teaching an incredible world view...and encouraging our kids to be a positive change in this next generation.
Our first morning in Crested Butte. This is the view from the Mangum's living room window...
Playing in the snow on the balcony above the ski rental shop....right before the kids first ski lesson...
Tag skiied the "Magic Carpet" the first afternoon. This is the small beginner slope, then they ride this cool conveyor belt back up to the top. He really loved it!
Playing in the snow back at our cabin after the first day of lessons....
Waking to a beautiful sunrise the next morning...
See the sun just peeking over the mountains?
We really put on the sunscreen the second day....after getting pretty roasted the first day. That sun was hot!
This was the day Luke and I got to ski all day by ourselves. We had such a blast! Isn't it beautiful?
Riding the lift. Memories of December 1993....Young Life ski trip. Riding the lift with my "friend" Luke....and him asking me if I needed a "handwarmer". Ha! First time he ever held my hand.
3rd day...we got to ski with our big three! What a fun morning!! We actually skiied as a family...it was a blast. We were so proud of these kids. They skiied so well after only a day and a half of lessons. Tag stayed in the Cubs that last morning...he wasn't quite ready to take on the lift and the big slopes. Still a little too outta control....he didn't really like taking instruction on how to do his "wedge". He really preferred to just ski straight down...really fast. :)
Don't you love Logan's red mohawk? We borrowed that from some friends down the street. It really helped us find him on the slopes! (see those big dark clouds in the background...the blizzard was only a few hours away!!)
Riding the lift was one of our favorite parts...
The boys....
The ladies...
Cute girlies. Big dimple.
The morning we left....look what the blizzard brought us! This was truly amazing because starting around 1pm the day before, the sky turned so white that you couldn't see anything. And it stayed that way all through the night. Literally until the next morning....when we woke to about 6 inches of fresh fallen snow. It was just beautiful.
What a great trip. On the road, passing the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. So pretty. Such a beautiful trip home. The kids had never seen snow on mountains before this trip- that in itself was worth the 30 hour drive. God's creation right there in front of us. Nothing like it!
Mrs. Powers as Mother Goose....with half the Kindergarden class.
...the other half of the class- including our very own Black Kitty.
Presenting her nursery rhyme
Grandparents are the best...
So glad they were all able to come!
Making memories.
Beth and Little Miss Muffet, Juliet.
Beth and Charlotte, Mistress Mary Quite Contrary
Old Mother Goose and her kitty cat
Beth lovin on Tag during a hot game of Duck Duck Goose
Making spiders...
