I Got Engaged... No, I'm Serious.

Most people know already, but... I got engaged! On Christmas Eve to be precise. Jackson posted about it on his blog already, but I've really been slacking lately when it comes to anything word related... writing... blogging... reading... You get the picture. We've already told family, close friends, and made it Facebook Official. Not to mention tweeting about it... It's been fun.

Jackson and I have known each other for several years even before we were "together". We've been in a relationship for 2 and a half years, and now I am really excited to take this next step of being engaged. Shhhh, don't tell, but I think we've both known we found "the one" for a while. 

So... He had to work Christmas Eve day, and I had been at home when I received a text from him when he got off his shift. I was told to get ready to go because he was going to kidnap me for the evening. I got ready excitedly, trying to have some sort of composure and not really succeeding...

About an hour or so later he was coming up my driveway. Fast forward one car ride with me promising to keep my eyes closed, which I did, and badgering him for where we were going.... and we finally came to a stop. "You can open your eyes now," Jackson said, the smile in his voice.

It took me a few seconds to finally open my eyes, where were we?? I had guessed that we went up on the parkway, and when I opened my eyes, we were pulled off at one of the mountain look outs.

The sun was setting. Bright pink and blue hues were coloring the sky, and he suggested that we get out and take a picture. Now Jackson and I take pictures together all the time, and this would not have been unusual at all if it hadn't been for the fact my eyes were closed the whole way there.

He sets up the camera as usual. I stand in front of the camera at a distance so he can get everything configured... as usual. We both are shivering and remarking on how freezing it turned out to be outside... not as usual.

I'm standing in my spot when Jackson quickly walks over and stands beside me, I know something is up, but smile for the picture regardless. Waiting for the the light to start blinking, waiting for the camera to click... Nothing.

Jackson turns and hugs me, I wrap my arms around him, feeling his warmth that takes off some of the bite from the chilly air. When he pulls away, he lowers down to one knee. I can't remember if it was his right or left... But he's looking up at me when he finally says, "Marissa, will you marry me?"

"Yes! ...Yes. Yes. Yes!" I managed half a dozen times. I said something how this didn't even feel real, and he said, "I know." I think Jackson was collecting himself for a moment (or time froze, or my brain left me, I have no idea), then he stood back up and slipped the ring on my finger. We wrapped our arms around each other again, and he told me he loved me. For the first time. "I love you."

"I love you too."

After a moment we both looked at each other again, he leaned his head down to mine and kissed me.

It was one of the most amazing moments in my life. Simple... personal... and perfect for us.

My best friend proposed... to me.

Book Review: Immanuel's Veins

Immanuel's Veins

By: Ted Dekker

Publisher: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Genre: Fiction; Christian; Love; Romance; Suspense; Good vs. Evil

Number of Pages: 367

Overview:

     He is known for his reputation of being a skilled and fearless warrior, a fighter for the empress of Russia herself, but Toma could never imagine what his next charge will bring him to. What he would do for her. . . for them.

     He is bound by an unbreakable duty. A duty he will not, can not, fail to serve.

     This is a story of love, lust, and what lies in between. It is a story of sacrifice. It is a battle between powerful beings. And it most definitely is an emotionally-stirring book.

Star Rating:

      4.75 stars

Content Rating:

     PG-13 (For mature audiences.)

Opinions:

     I understand why some people found this book controversial. It is definitely different from books I typically read, and did have some sensual pulls and moments that left me begging the characters not to give in. I think this is what happens when you deal with a topic about the world's view of love, human desires and cravings, and what true love is. Most of the book kept me wondering what on earth was going on! I knew what was happening, I could feel that something evil was lurking, but you couldn't place your finger on exactly what it was! Until finally we are given some answers as the main character, Toma, learns them.

    Though this is not the best book I have ever read in terms of quality/writing, it is definitely a good one. The ending redeems any negatives I might have held against its somewhat slow, but necessary, beginning and the fact that Dekker wouldn't tell me right away what was wrong with this picture! He did a pretty good job tying things up in a way that said what he was trying to say about true love versus the misconceptions we have about it, without spelling it out like we went from a fiction novel to a sermon session. (Nothing meant rudely against sermons, I am just saying he didn't have to rely on preaching to us to make his point, which is a good thing when you are writing fiction.)

     The ending was just about perfect. I dislike using that word just because no one and nothing we do can be truly perfect, but it ended the book very well. It suited the story. (If one of the things hadn't happened, it would have felt too cheesy. Or if something else had happened, it would have been a bit too typical.)

     But it was unique, satisfactory, insightful, and compelling.

     Overall, I would recommend this book, but note that the topics and content may not be for everyone. I would not recommend it for younger teens, since most of Ted Dekker's books are for a more mature audience. So I would say make your own judgement on it, because it really comes down to you and your choices. 

     In the end, I say it is worth reading- even if it does make you squirm a little. 

Iffy Content:

     Some. It really is up to the reader because I would definitely recommend this book. I am a sucker for romances, but even more so for stories that deal with the true meanings of love and sacrifice. I do also enjoy stories that have a good "happy" ending, but are still realistic. . . Books that allow for a lot of emotional tension and have feeling to them, like any girl I guess. Yet I am drawn to books that deal with topics that run deep, through all of us, and thus allow for a stronger connection between them.

     As far as what Ted Dekker wrote about in this book, I will say there is no apparent sex-scenes. There is some sensuality and some of the characters do not come home at night for various reasons, but I do not feel that it is really there for enticement. It serves a purpose in the story. Also I will note that there are a few "bad" words when referring to some of the women who are. . . well, bad girls. But no misuses of God's name or anything like that I don't think.

     The sensuality is used in displaying some misconceptions about love and how the devil tries to woo us away from God, and without it I fear the story would have been seriously lacking something. However, there is a lot of desire as some of the characters are being encouraged to embrace this so called "love." Some of them do come to believe that this is true love in its most raw, powerful, and fulfilling form, but we see that there is something missing. Something is not right about it all. 

Is not the best lie one that has a bit of truth in it?

     There is some nudity, though it is not the stuff of Hollywood movies; it is used in a somewhat different context I guess. There are several "kiss scenes", some for fulfilling the characters' desires and a few others that are for good.

     I do not find this book "ban-worthy", if you are worried about that. It is sort of a taboo thing to talk about (love, lust, evil, human desires), so I see how some people would just avoid it all together. You have to decide for yourself and listen for how God leads you on whether or not to read this story. The worse part about it is that you really have to read the whole thing in order to see where Dekker is going with all this stuff. The "evil" may be controversial, but it's not something I can explain without giving the story away. I would recommend that if you are going to give the book a shot, read it all the way through. If you do not, you won't be left with a very good picture of what the book is about nor its quality.

     Again, in the end, I say Immanuel's Veins is worth reading- even if it may make you a bit uncomfortable at times. For there is a powerful message behind it.

Have you read Immanuel's Veins?

Any related books about taboo subjects? What were your thoughts?

I'd really like to know! Please comment and share!

The Story Begins in 2013

2013 “Today is the first blank page in a 365 page book. Make it a good one.” - ???

I read something like that somewhere today. (<- Yes, very descriptive, I know.) I plan on doing that, making this year’s story a good one, because this book character decided to make some New Year’s Resolutions. First, however, I need a trusty sword for this journey through 2013 and mine is my survival kit.

Here’s what my survival kit for 2013 looks like:

1) I need some goals. New Year Resolutions suit this purpose quite well.

(1. Read 50 books.  2. Draw 1 picture a month.  3. Exercise a minimum of 2 hours a week.
4. Stop biting my nails...  5. Try something new every month.  6. Write 300 words every week.
7. Get a car.  8. Keep up with all the stuff I do via either blog, journal, picture, videos, voice recordings, etc.  9. Read my Bible everyday.)

2) To make it in 2013, I also need The Book Lover’s Journal. (If you take a look at my New Year’s Resolutions, particularly the first one, you might understand why.)

Now this is a book where I can record and review everything that I read. I stumbled upon it one day in Barnes&Noble and fell in love. Blessedly, I received it as a Christmas gift. I cannot wait to use it! Below is a little sneak peek of what it looks like on the inside. Anyone interested in a book review of a book reviewer??? ;)

3) I need my faith in a God who sustains me. With all the moodiness and adventures that come with being a character in my book, I need more than just something or someone to get me through. (Sorry, Prince Charming, you just aren’t going to cut it.) I need the One who created me in the first place, who loves me enduringly, and made me the secondary character in His story for me. (More plot development on that secondary stuff later.)

4) Do not forget plenty of grace, mercy, and love to go around. . . Did I forget to mention I’m not perfect? Yeah, I’m not and I need a lot of that stuff up there (grace, mercy, love).

5) Words. Bunches of words because I really like them. A lot. <3

I already have a great family, some of the best friends out there, a healthy dose of schooling (yuck), and plenty of books to keep me occupied. But this year is going to be different. This book character has some life changes coming her way between turning eighteen, graduating, starting college, and writing (which is always an adventure). So why not keep track of it? Why not write down my experiences somewhere like. . . I don’t know. . . a blog? I know, I thought it was a clever idea too. ^_^ Well, sort of, I greatly dislike being unoriginal and blogs seem to be pretty popular nowadays. So I am still iffy about the whole idea of blogging.

Am I the only one that thinks of Gollum, in J.R.R. Tolkein’s novels, coughing on that word?

“Blog-blogging. . . Blogging. . .”

Anyways, why not give it a shot though? See what comes of it? I have 365 blank pages to fill, and a wonderful plan that God has written just for me. Seems like the perfect set up for an interesting novel.

How does it feel to be the secondary character in His story?

Come along and we’ll find out.