And Now for Something Completely Different...

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across the opportunity to participate in a blog tour. I'd never heard of such a thing, but it's a fun idea. Andrew Peterson wrote a book. And as a blogger, I've been invited to write about it. Other AP fans all over the place are writing reviews this week as well. Hence the "tour" part. I finally finished it tonight (it's been a busy week). It was good stuff!

The book is called On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and is filled with all sorts of adventure, peril and humor. Andrew Peterson makes me laugh, that's all there is to it. The fantasy world in which this tale takes place is Aerwiar ("The old stories tell that when the first person woke up on the first morning in the world where this tale takes place, he yawned, stretched, and said to the first thing he saw, 'Well, here we are.'"- Aerwiar). Aerwiar is filled with all sorts of strange and bewildering creatures frolicking around in all sorts of strange and bewildering circumstances.

Here's the skinny: "In the once-quiet land of Skree, Janner Igiby, little brother Tink, and crippled sister Leeli stumble upon lost jewels of the mysterious King of the Shining Isle Anniera. But Gnag the Nameless seeks the treasure for purely evil ends, so our brave trio, accompanied by their trusty dog Nugget and ex-pirate grandfather, must escape his minion Fangs."

Pieces of spiritual truth are woven throughout the pages of this story. It's subtle, but it's there. I've always said that all good stories come from The Story. And this one's no different. Early on in the book, I found myself relating to Janner's sentiments about his hometown of Glipwood- even though he'd never been anywhere else, let alone lived anywhere else, the town made him feel homesick. I can't describe it, but I understand that feeling.

It's been awhile since I've read fiction like this. I always forget how much I love a good story until I get lost in one again. The book speeds from one life-threatening adventure to another. The town feels oddly familiar from the get-go. The footnotes are hilarious. And I pictured little Leeli as a miniature version of my friend Aleeta (is the name pronounced Lee-lee or Lee-lie?) But the best part of reading books like this is getting towards the end, when all the previous 200 pages worth of mysteries start to come together. And I felt that excitement tonight as I turned page after page leading up to the 'Aha' moments at the end of this tale.

But for as much fun as it was to put the pieces of the mysteries together, a lot is still up in the air at the end of this book. It's definitely begging for a sequel, and I'm already looking forward to reading the next chapter of the Wingfeather Saga. Now, for those of you who were children of the 80's and grew up watching Reading Rainbow, you'll appreciate this segue: It's a good book. But don't just take my word for it...

Charlotte read it, too (and much quicker than I did!).
(This is Charlotte posting now!) and yes, I did read it much quicker than Nicole. When Nicole (who is my roommate by the way) told me about this blog tour, I almost started a blog just so that I could participate; then when she told me she would be getting 2 books, I gave her no option but to give the other one to me. In fact, when I found the package on our front doorstep when I got home from class late one night, it took all my willpower not to rip it open right then (or at least go wake Nicole up so she could rip it open!) I started the book on a Tuesday and I think I was finished by Thursday morning. And ever since then I have been pestering Nicole to hurry up and finish!

Let me start by saying that I am a relatively new AP fan. When I first met Nicole 4 years ago, she told me about this singer/songwriter whom she knew that I "would just love." I resisted even listening to any AP songs for a long time I was so sure that I was not going to like this guy from Nashville. And then Nicole dragged me to a concert in Lincoln...three minutes in I was hooked. Ever since then I have been an AP and the Captains Courageous fan because of the way they can tell stories and their ability to draw me in not only to the old, old Story, but also the way that I feel I have known these people for years as opposed to them actually being complete strangers. So when I heard about Andrew's book, I couldn't wait to experience the transition from song to written story. I wasn't disappointed.

Because Nicole did such a fabulous job outlining the story, I won't repeat anything here. But I too enjoyed entering Aerwiar and the lives of Janner, Tink and Leeli Igiby as well as all the other residents of Glipwood. I found myself seeing myself, my older sister and my little brother reflected in the lives of the Igiby siblings and heard rumblings of Truth echo throughout the pages. My God is a God of emotion, a God of humor, a God of Truth and most importantly, a God of Love. God was really able to use Andrew Peterson to show characteristics of Himself through this book. Thank you, Andrew Peterson for allowing yourself to be used this way.

I think I can speak on behalf of both Nicole and myself when I say that we would highly recommend this fun book for people of all ages! But our copies will soon be well worn out, so you should just go ahead and buy your own!

For more information about Andrew Peterson, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, or this blog tour, visit: http://www.andrew-peterson.com/

Hosanna

Earlier this week, I read on Jonas Borntreger (Aroea's dad)'s blog this beautiful little nugget about the coming of spring. I don't think he'd mind me reproducing it here:

It’s March the ninth, 2008; it’s East Central Iowa, and lying awake in bed this morning I heard the unmistakable signal of spring. Never mind that we’ve had a very hard winter with more than five feet of snow. Never mind that the temperature yesterday morning was down close to zero and most of our yard is still covered with eight plus inches of snow/ice. The Robin is back! The Robin’s prophetic voice pierced the darkness this morning and announced the end of doom and gloom: “Joy comes in the morning.”

I wonder every spring what the poor thing will eat; how he will stay warm; how he will survive until the nightcrawlers are washed to the surface by spring rains. It always seems he might have a forty-day fast until it happens. But then, that’s the way it often is for God’s prophets. They always come too early and with (what seems like,) too little provision.

I've never before thought of the robin as a prophet, but find it is a beautiful notion. Joy comes in the morning. That sense of renewal comes every spring, and, more to the point, every Easter.

Today was a splendid day. I woke up on time, feeling renewed and energized and ready to take on the world. I don't often feel this way in the morning. I have a feeling that God was singing over me as I slept last night. That's the only explanation. On my drive into work, I listened to one of my favorite albums, Love and Thunder (by Andrew Peterson). It's a soft, deep little album that always reminds me of the start of spring. And since the weather has been refreshingly spring-like this week, it was time to pull it off the shelf and usher in the changing season.

One of the most powerful tracks on the album is "High Noon". It's pretty much the story of the Resurrection and all of the boundless promise that word holds. The thunderous refrain of the song began just as I turned onto I-480. The bright pink sun was rising over the Qwest Center and the whole moment just filled me with an indescribable sense of awe. It was a lovely way to start the day.

And it just got better from there. My work day was good, I had a good lunch with Annie, and Aleeta called me in the middle of the day, just to tell me that she loves me. I have been feeling so abundantly blessed by my friends as of late. Beth and Charlotte are like my sisters. Tauna is my person. Ann is so supportive. Naldo is so protective of all of us. Lisa made me laugh out loud this afternoon with just a simple message on Facebook. I am blessed.

So, my day was unusually wonderful anyway, but it only got better as it drew to a close. Beth, Matt, the Van Schoonevelds and I went out to Elkhorn to yet another Andrew Peterson concert (he comes here a lot, as you now know). He had the whole gang with him once again- Andy Gullahorn, Jill Phillips, Ben Shive. And tonight they told the story of the Resurrection. It was an evening of hymns woven with readings about Holy Week, woven with original songs that celebrate Easter. The songs humbled me (I am such a sinful wreck) and challenged me and encouraged me (there is freedom). The closing number was, appropriately, "High Noon", and I ended my day much like I started it- in awe of the Story God is still telling, even today:

Let the people rejoice

Let the heavens resound

Let the name of Jesus, who sought us

And freed us forever ring out

All praise to the fighter of the night

Who rides on the light

Whose gun is the grace of the God of the sky

High noon in the valley of the shadow

When the shadows were shot through with light

When the mouth of the tomb

Shouted, "Glory, the Groom is alive"

Be gone, you wages of sin

Go on, don't you come back again

I've been raised and redeemed

All praise to the king

The victor of the battle

High noon in the valley

In the valley of the shadow

Remembering the Sabbath

The past few weeks I've felt very convicted that I need to do a better job of finding time regularly, each week, to just rest. I've been running pretty ragged. Each night of the week always seems to hold some activity. The weekends are usually more tiring than the work week. And it's just getting harder and harder to say 'no' and to take a break and just be.

What's interesting is that everyone I've talked to recently seems to be having the same problem. Aleeta has actually made it her goal to find a way to function on six hours of sleep each night so that she has more time in her life. The busyness of life is a common epidemic that can be hard to control, especially for people like me who don't want to miss out on the excitement.

So, I've been praying that God would show me a way to make tmore time for myself and for Him on a regular basis. So he made me sick. I have no choice today but to sit and rest. I'm not so sick that I'm unable to function, so I can get a few things done at home, but I'm sick enough that I knew that going to work would not be a productive endeavor. So today I am forced to take a break. Hopefully tomorrow I can return to my life renewed and re-energized.

Drastic times call for drastic measures.