When Joanne had her stroke and she was in the ICU in a coma I remember praying two things. One was that Joanne would survive the stroke and wake up from her coma and the other prayer was that however she came out of it I wanted her to have the ability to read. I called that my top-secret prayer because I thought people would think it was foolish considering the shape she was in. But Joanne has always been a voracious reader and I knew that if she retained the ability to read, she could have at least some quality of life.
Joanne will read anything. She loves spy novels and "cotton candy fiction." She loves the Bible and classic literature. She pretty much loves it all.
Earlier this week she was in the middle of Plutarch's Lives which is supposed to be some big deal classic that everyone is supposed to read. But she said it was dry and a little boring, so I encouraged her to hit Amazon and get some fun stuff for her Kindle which Sarah so graciously brought her on one of her trips to visit. So she downloaded The Hunger Games thanks to a recommendation from the Franklin boys. Since she did that we have spoken to each other conversationally for about 10 minutes! She is fully engrossed. And that's a good thing.
I think for all of us if we just sit around and think about our lot in life we can get a little down, a little myopic, a little narcissistic. I don't think we were meant to have a ton of time to sit around and navel-gaze. Not that self reflection in a bad thing, but there is a time and a place for it and like anything, too much of it is probably not the best thing for us. I know this is true for our family. If we over-think it it's not the greatest, but if we stay in the moment we do OK.
So I am thrilled for the answer to my long-ago prayer that Joanne is able to read and that it gives her something pleasurable to do and keeps her mind occupied, even if it means I lose my conversation partner for a couple of days. Not sure what she'll read next but I am sure she would be open to suggestions.
We are still so pleased to have pumpkin back. She is much more mellow and less skittish then when she left us. She seems to be very happy to be near us, to be petted and held. She never used to be like that. Somehow her time in the wild has mellowed her out.
Today we have nothing planned. We have tried to do that with our Sundays since Joanne got back. It is a much needed day for us to be together as a family with no agenda. Going places isn't easy. It takes some planning, some fore-thought and effort. I'll talk more about that in a future post. But being at home is easy and relaxing for the whole family. This is especially critical now that the girls are in school. They need their Sunday to do whatever it is they want to do before jumping back in to their busy week. And my favorite thing has always been to have the whole family under one roof. Makes me feel like all is right with the world.
Prayer Requests:
1. The girls had a great half-week of school last week and we would love to see that continue. We want them to like school as much as that is possible for a 10 and 13 year old.
2. Joanne is still desperate for sleep. May have to give a call to her doctor this week and see if there is something we can do about that.
3. Praise that despite all she's been through, Joanne can still lose herself in a good book!
Toben
I just reserved Hunger Games at the library last week... Now, I know I'll enjoy it :)
Posted by: angela | August 21, 2011 at 07:40 AM
Make sure she reads all three, the last one is great! Glad to hear she's reading, we'll be praying for sleeping and other needs.
Posted by: Daisy | August 21, 2011 at 08:47 AM
So glad to hear Joanne is enjoying her latest book! Has she read "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress" by Rhoda Janzen or "The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickenson? I read them both this summer and enjoyed them. The are both non-fiction and were entertaining. Enjoy your Sunday!
Barb from CNY
Posted by: Barb from CNY | August 21, 2011 at 10:44 AM
I don't think it's foolish to pray to still be able to read, it is such a wonderful gift. I would be lost if I couldn't, that is one of my greatest fears.
I do indeed hope the girls have a good week at school and enjoy it as much as possible. Also for sleep for Joanne, I know how draining it is to run on empty and that must be so much worse when recovering from such a major event as a stroke.
Continued best wishes to you all.
Posted by: Penbleth | August 21, 2011 at 10:46 AM
See about Room and The Help if she hasn't already read them. Unbroken is also really good despite it's length. Toben, you might like this one also.
Posted by: Erin Koss | August 21, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Hello! I love the books of Charles Martin, with THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US being my favorite. I highly recommend that one! Praying for Joanne and trusting God for complete healing. ~Sally
Posted by: Sally Campbell | August 21, 2011 at 11:49 AM
I can totally understand your prayer for Joanne. I have always been an avid reader and it is something I thank God for, often. It is such a blessing to be able to sit down (or lay down) and devour a good book. I'm so happy to hear that Joanne is reading again. Praying for sleep. Trying to live life without enough sleep is brutal, and even more so when you have other challenges thrown your way at the same time.
Posted by: Sharon | August 21, 2011 at 12:19 PM
I absolutely get what you mean about reading. Since my accident, I pretty much read several hours a day at least. And like Joanne, I'll devour anything written that I can get my hands on.
You might want to check this out: http://blog.booksontheknob.org/p/kindle-free-reads-list.html It is a list of free books for Kindle. Also if you follow her blog, she lists (usually daily) the latest free and almost free books on Amazon.
Posted by: Shari@Rain into Rainbows | August 21, 2011 at 12:19 PM
I suggest The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin. I really like his books and this one kept we sitting for two hours just to finish it!
Posted by: Sue | August 21, 2011 at 01:42 PM
Hey Toben and Joanne. So glad to hear that you're reading and enjoying it. A book that hit me sideways and has stayed with me is "one thousand gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I couldn't put it down.
Posted by: Karen Booker Schelhaas | August 21, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Great post....nothing like a good book! I hear the book "Not A Fan" by Kyle Idleman is good. I plan on downloading it to my kindle real soon. Happy reading, Joanne!
P.S....glad the kitty is back!!
Posted by: Janet Cline | August 21, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Toben and Joanne, I've followed your blog since the time of the stroke but have never commented. I've been praying, though!! So happy to hear that Pumpkin is back home and that Joanne is able to enjoy a good book, despite all the mountains your family is scaling these days.
If you're an avid reader, Joanne, you've most likely read Jan Karon's Mitford series, but just in case you haven't, I had to mention it. It's wonderful
Also, my kids and I all thoroughly enjoyed the Inkheart series.
God bless you!
Posted by: Steph Hollingsworth | August 21, 2011 at 05:47 PM
LOVE the Hunger Games trilogy!! Praying for each of you!
Posted by: kristi walker | August 21, 2011 at 07:07 PM
Lynn Austin authors a series about The Kings and Chronicles. I got the first one on my kindle and have been enamored with them all. Had to get each one as I finished the last. Maybe she would enjoy her as well.
Posted by: Brandi Luiz | August 21, 2011 at 08:11 PM
Ok. As a lover of all things books - here are some:
Biblical - Heaven is for Real. And the Lineage of Grace.
Mystery - James Patterson has a GREAT series with numbers in it. The series is older - but he is still writing for it. Awesome!
I also like Nora Robert's mysteries. Some of her stuff is a little too "cotton candy" for me, but the mystery stories are very good.
... other things on the brain tonight. Hopefully I will be able to talk to God later and soothe my aching heart.
Kristen
Posted by: Kristen | August 21, 2011 at 08:43 PM
I totally understand the love to read! My favorites are:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (absoluetly my favorite...it is a LONG but easy read)
Anything by Francine Rivers is wonderful. I am also a HUGE fan of Lori Wick. She is a Christian fiction writer from our area (WI) that I have gotten to know. I read through all of Lori's book and I don't know if they are available on the Kindle...you would have to check.
Posted by: Sheri H. | August 21, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Hooray and thank you, God, for Pumpkin's return! Regarding book suggestions: Agree with others about The Help and the Gods and Kings series by Lynn Austin. Two books I read this summer and loved were Shanghai Girls and its sequel Dreams of Joy by Lisa See. So glad to hear that Joanne is able to enjoy reading. I will continue to pray for complete healing!
Love from So. Cal.
Posted by: Karene | August 22, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Hunger Games is AMAZING!! I read ALL three of the books in 6 days.
The Help was a great read as well.
Posted by: Alice H | August 22, 2011 at 11:47 AM
How wonderful that you can continue to enjoy your love of reading and books Joann!! I am an avid reader as well and I would be heartbroken if that ability was taken away from me (so I understand how important it is). Some of my favorite books (and I too love variety so I'm kind of all over the board) are:
The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Help
The Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich (starts with One for the Money)
Withering Heights
Jane Eyre
Northanger Abbey
East of Eden
The Secret Life of Bees
All But My Life
The Notebook (which I think everyone has read:)
The Percy Jackson Books (I read them with my 10 yr old daughter and loved them)
The Maze Runner and Scorch Trials
Same Kind of Different as Me
The Christmas Tree
I have so many more but I hope that gives you some new choices. Some are fun and some are old and some are serious...it just depends on my mood as to what I want to read.
I continue to pray for you daily and think about you while I run. I know you're going to come full circle. Hang in there!! Hugs from IN
Posted by: RC | August 22, 2011 at 12:10 PM
I'll add to the suggested reads too. I am a fan of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series. It combines two of my favorite genres, historical fiction and mystery. The setting in the first book takes place during WWI. I also love that the protagonist is a woman. There are seven or eight books in this series. The author's name is Jacqueline Winspeare.
Posted by: Christine H. | August 22, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Hi Joanne!
This is my first time to comment but I have followed your blog for awhile. I am so excited for you for the progress you are making in your recovery. I am able to look back on the hardest time in my life (when my parents went through a divorce) and see that I grew so much closer to God during that time. I know that your struggle is so much more difficult than mine, but I think that means you will grow even closer to Jesus during this time.
I wanted to recommend the book "Christy" by Catherine Marshall. They have recently divided the book up into a series, but I love the original book (just one volume). Also, I am sure you have read it but the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers is my favorite (along with ALL books by Francine Rivers)! Happy Reading :)
Posted by: Anne R | August 22, 2011 at 04:15 PM
Yay for the return of Pumpkin! Here are a few of my favorite reads that I always love to recommend:
1. 'Til We Have Faces, C.S. Lewis
2. East of Eden, John Steinbeck (An interesting companion book is his Journal of a Novel, literally the journal he kept as he wrote E of E.)
3. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Moshin Hamed -- really enjoyed the pared-down prose style; overall writing was terrific; thought-provoking.
4. Persuasion, Jane Austen
Posted by: Kristin | August 22, 2011 at 08:46 PM
I remember reading a facebook note one day from Joanne that she hated reading and that broke my heart - knowing in this girls heart there are pages turning vs. beats beating. So glad the 'book' has returned as a joy. Praying for sleep, rest, renewal and PTL Pumpkin is home! Hugs and prayers, j
Posted by: Jan Maniatis | August 23, 2011 at 06:45 AM
Oh, I forgot! Shanghai Girls - really liked this and I have Dreams of Joy (the 2nd one) ready to read. Read ROSES - it's like Dallas series from TV, bold, great characters, just a fun read. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn always makes me grateful for all I have. Hugs, j
Posted by: Jan Maniatis | August 23, 2011 at 06:48 AM
So good to hear that you love to read, Joanne. I love my Kindle too!!!
I just thought I would share a website with you. If you sign up with them they send you e-mails weekly with FREE Kindle books and they are Christian books, some fiction some non-fiction. I love it. I have tons of books on my Kindle and most of them were free!
http://vesselproject.com/
ENJOY!!!
You have been such an inspiration to me.
Hugs to my sister in Christ,
Devanee
Posted by: Devanee Cogburn | August 23, 2011 at 08:42 AM
I just read the The Hunger Games because my reading club made me...then I went nuts and bought the whole series on my Kindle cuz i couldn't wait...Joanne will LOVE it or HATE it...I don't know anyone who was in between! Joanne...I'm SO happy (praise Him)that you can depart to far off worlds in your head!
Posted by: Bobbi | August 23, 2011 at 11:49 AM
The Help - awesome read!
The Secret Life of Bees
Glass Castle - Amazing true story.
Posted by: Karen | August 23, 2011 at 03:20 PM
I live in Canada and followed Joanne's progress closely. Life then caught up and I have not--for too long. Well today, I read many weeks worth. Why do I think, after a quick calculation, that today is your birthday, Toben. If I am right, May God bless you much this new year of your life. May you be fiulled with hope and trust during those dark hours. May you be given a double dose of all you lost these last few months and may all that the moth and rust took away be restored to you in this new year of your life. Happy Birthday Toben. God bless from Canada.
Anna.
Posted by: Anna | August 23, 2011 at 05:46 PM
A couple of gripping stroke memoirs:
Don't Leave Me This Way by Julia Fox Garrison
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
Neither is exactly Christian, but both are amazing accounts honestly told.
Posted by: Katharinetrauger.wordpress.com | August 24, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Happy Birthday Toben! I continue to pray for all of you sweet family. -Ginger
Posted by: [email protected] | August 24, 2011 at 01:39 PM
Francine Rivers newest two book series, Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream were amazing! She will especially enjoy tbem since she has daughters!
Posted by: Jennifer | August 25, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Toben, it just occurred to me--was Pumpkin "fixed"? It not, um, could be she mellow because she is going to be a momma?! I have heard of such feline behaviors before. . . ; )
As for books, I think Joanne (and the girls!) would really enjoy the Mistmantle Chronicles, which are young adult fantasy in the vein of the Narnia books, and have the most amazing story arc of sacrifice and redemption.
I am so sorry for your scare last night, and am praying you get the answers you need soon.
love,
lisa craddock
Posted by: blessed | August 26, 2011 at 11:00 AM