Virginia’s 2009 Book Review

The ONLY up side of having a 45 minute 1-way commute is that I get to read books like crazy. It also helps that Chicago has a fabulous and massive library system, with a branch conveniently located mid-commute. I’m always interested in book recommendations, so I figured you might be too and I’d give you my thoughts on what I read in 2009.

This year I was much more interested in good, true stories, mostly about other people’s faith journeys. For some reason all the “ How to be a more satisfied Christian” stuff was just not interesting me. I tried one by Max Lucado and gave up on it about 2/3 of the way through. I don’t want to hear how great and wonderful God is in theory; I want to SEE it!

So without further delay, here ya go!

100 Amazing Answers to Prayer by William Petersen(5/5 stars)
This book was absolutely amazing. I know I often get in these prayer ruts where I don’t see the point, and a lot of times I get too comfortable with God and forget what He is capable of, and this book is the jaw-dropping reminder of the power of God that I needed. There's a chapter on Angels, which I never really thought much about, but I do now! DL Moody also gets a few mentions, which was fun since I’m a member at Moody Church.

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken (4/5 stars if you’re bitter about love, 5/5 if you're sappy)
A wonderful love story! This is the only book I’ve read since being married where I truly related to the kind of love being described. Basically, this atheist couple falls deeply in love, gets married, and then they start wondering about God and if He exists. The wife gets saved, but the husband is still reluctant, so he writes C.S. Lewis (who was once atheist and became one of the strongest Christian apologists in history) and C.S. Lewis WRITES BACK! I’ve got to warn you, it’s a tradgedy. I literally cried on the train.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (3/5 stars: Good, but not for everybody)
Okay, so it was kinda touchy-feely, in true Miller fashion, but I liked it. It’s another book by Don Miller about Don Miller, but it was a good story. In the wake of the success of his book, Blue Like Jazz, two movie guys approach Don to see if he wants to make a movie about the book, which if you’ve read it, you'll know it doesn’t exactly lend itself easily to a screenplay because it’s all over the place. The movie guys basically tell Don that they need to make up and exaggerate stuff from the book to make his life “a better story”. So his whole point in the book is him living a good, interesting story in real life… which sounds lamer than it was. HIGHLIGHT: he goes on a cross-country bike ride, which ends in the Atlantic ocean, which he said was in Dealware, and I can tell from context is the Cape Henlopen State Park in my hometown of LEWES! He even stops at a Dairy Queen a mile before the end of the trip…. And I know which Dairy Queen he’s talking about because that’s MY Dairy Queen!

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis(2.5/5 stars: the movie is sufficient, but it’s a great story, so I enjoyed hearing it again with details.)
I saw the movie, and had to read the book to see how much was exaggerated. It turns out that it wasn’t much! Some details were left out or hinted at the movie, I’m sure for the sake of brevity. The book talks waaaay too much about football and football history and famous football players, so I skipped most of those chapters.

It’s all About Him by Denise Jackson (3/5 stars: good, but not for everybody)
Another great story where the wife of one of country music’s biggest stars, Alan Jackson, goes from being totally obsessed with pleasing and seeking approval from her husband to realizing that she needs to be getting that from God alone. It covers Alan’s rise to fame, the near-demise of their marriage, and how she went from being “culturally Christian” just from growing up in the South to joining a women’s Bible study that sparked her true relationship with God.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom (5/5: Absolutely amazing, must-read!)
It’s about Corrie, who lived in Holland around WWII and hid Jews, then got caught and sent to a Nazi concentration camp, but God was gracious to her even there. I was very touched and inspired by her faith and humility. Ask my husband... I couldn't put it down!

The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun(4/5 stars: Better than I thought it would be)
Maybe I’m partial, but it’s great to hear how the underground church is moving and thriving in China. Chinese people have a capacity for intensity that is beyond most Americans, and when it’s applied to their love for Christ it’s the kind of thing that gives you goose bumps!

The Non-runner’s Marathon Guide for Women by Dawn Dias(5/5 stars if you have my sense of humor about running. 2/5 stars if you don’t)
This was more encouragement than technique, and I loved it! If Dawn can do it, so I can I!

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (4/5 stars)
There are 30 chapters, so I’ve decided to read this one every September, the month of my wedding anniversary. With all the marriages going crazy these days, it’s more important than ever to PRAY for it, to pray for your husband, to pray for yourself. This is an excellent tool to get you started. This, along with “the Power of a Praying Husband” and “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey (a whoooole ‘nother post) are going to be our signature wedding gift.

The Duggars: 20 and Counting By Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar(?/5 - depends of how much you love the Duggars)
I admire the Duggars because they are so strong and consistent with their beliefs, and they are raising delightful children. The book is kind of like the TV show on paper; the various happenings and systems of the Duggars, but it gets into more detail and back story, which is nice.

Multiple Blessings By Jon and Kate Gosselin with Beth Carson (0/5 - Don’t read it now. Nothing in it applies anymore)
This was a gift from Christmas 2008, so I read it about a year ago, and it’s absolutely shocking that the same people who wrote this book all about God and faith are the same people who got divorced and ended up on tabloid covers as the year went on. God did some amazing things in their lives, and it seems like they’ve totally forgotten about that.

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell (3/5 stars: Good, but not for everyone)
Another Christmas 2008 gift. It’s very interesting if you’re into sociology and social patterns and stuff, which I am. He talks about Jewish lawyers in New York and how Bill Gates had an advantage to becomming "THE Bill Gates" he is today... that kind of stuff.


The End of Overeating by David Kessler (5/5 stars: highly recommended)
Not the most interesting to read in a page-turner way, but the information is absolutely fascinating and everyone in America should read it. It’s not all about shock-value like Skinny B*tch and doesn’t talk about baby cows or anything. Instead, it’s written by a doctor, who ultimately presents a research-based theory about why Americans overeat (both chemical and cultural reasons) and how the food industry loads our food with sugar, fat and salt. It’s eye-opening for sure!

NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman(2/5)
It’s basically a bunch of long articles about what we think is good and right for kids is actually not true. It includes praising kids, talking about race, and why kids lie. It was interesting, but it’s not like you’re going your kid’s life or anything if you don’t read it.

Rudolph Ramble EIGHT K!

My last post kind of made me look like a slacker, so I thought I would announce that previous to all that, I ran my very first 8K (5 mile) race! And we had antlers!

I don't know what my time was and I don't really care much either. My competition is my cholesterol. If I get below the 150 triglyceride level, I win.

The most important thing I learned from the race was that it is actually kind of possible to run outside in Chicago after September. It might depend on the day, and February still might be prohibitively freezing, but I can try!





Warming up with Santa and the beautiful women of Covenant!



Mile 3! Only 2 more to go!



Finish Line! Woo hoo!

Running Behind

I've taken an unplanned break in posting, and... okay, running too. Blame Christmas.

I stopped logging my food, started slacking a little on the mid-week runs, and haven't done a long run in a while either. But I had a FABULOUS Christmas at home in Delaware, and I ate soooo much amazing food. I'm glad I didn't keep track. And if intentions count for anything, I at least packed my running clothes and shoes.



So all told, the damage done was about 2 pounds. It was worth it.




But never fear, I'm back, and thanks to Santa, more sporty/stylish than ever ;)

My first 5k!

Naperville Turkey Trot '09 - Post Race

This race is actually sort of what got me running in the first place over a year ago. At a gathering of Mark's side of the family in October '08, Mark's uncle mentioned the Turkey Trot 5K and how it would be a fun thing to do, blah blah blah... I don't remember all the details, but Mark was a cross country runner once upon a time whereas I had just joined the family and taken a very sedentary job and was already gaining post-wedding/transitional weight, so some combination of those things probably led me to believe a 5k was a good idea. There was only one problem. I hated running and could not run 3 miles if my life depended on it. (okay, I guess that's two problems.)

So, not knowing a thing about how training worked, or that it was at all possible for me to kinda sorta be athletic or, well, run 3 miles -straight -and not pass out or give up, I decided I better start training early...like, a year early! (Translation for those who are like I was and don't get the humor: you can train from 0 miles and work up to 3 miles in about 3 months, give or take.)

Regardless, this is about the time I googled Couch to 5K, and I guess my secret's out: it all started from fear of not being able to keep up with the veteran Walczaks!

Better than ever!

The coolest part about training for the first time is that nearly every week I get to say that I ran/will run farther than I've EVER run before! And it's dramatic and true!

And yes, today I ran farther than I've ever run before! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I ran SEVEN MILES today! Now I know this is considered a warm up for some people... but I'm not one of those people.

This time last year I was running in 30 second intervals. Today I ran over a quarter marathon! I may not have done with grace or style, and I did not do it quickly or without stopping or wondering if my hip bones were going to fall off my pelvis in protest, but I DID IT!

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

I started reading Don Miller's latest book, and in it, he talks about how he watched the Tour de France on TV and it inspired him to start riding a bike. I haven't finished the book yet, but from what I can gather, it sounds like he ended up riding his bike across the country!

I related very well to his inspiration. The Chicago Marathon made me cry. Seriously, who cries at watching people run?! That experience combined with the determination to live a healthy, diabetes-free life inspired me to run a marathon myself. But I've learned it sounds easier and more fun than it actually is. There have been many days where I've concluded that I hate running. Then there are the post run highs that make me think I'm the most awesome super-athlete in the world and I can do anything. (Today was one of those days. I ran 4 miles, and the first 3.25 felt like a warm up... go me! But then there's the 7 mile run waiting for me on Saturday that I'm already loathing.)

Here's a quote from Don to sum up my/our thoughts:

"Here's the truth about telling stories with your life. It's going to sound like a great idea, and you are going to get excited about it, and then when it comes time to do the work, you're not going to want to do it. It's like that with writing books, and it's like that with life. People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain."

-Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, pp. 99-100

So you've decided to run a marathon.

Wow, I guess it's been a (very long) while since my last post. I've wanted to start back so many times, but... well obviously that didn't happen... until now! Woo hoo!

A lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same. I'm still working at DeVry, but in a new, less stressful position, still head-over-heels in love 1 year later. Expect more on the anniversary in another post, but here's a sneak peek:

New news: I have high cholesterol... at 24-years-old! This news freaked me out more than almost anything else in my life, so more news - I've decided to run a marathon. I guess crazy medical news will make you do crazy things.

I actually started running about a year ago just because I realized my lifestyle was pretty sedentary and I should probably do something if I didn't want to gain 3-5 pounds per year or give up ice cream forever. I literally googled running for people who hate running and came across the Couch to 5K running plan. On this plan, you start by running 30 seconds at a time, walking for a minute, and repeating that pattern for 10 or 15 minutes. You can do anything for 30 seconds, right? Then over the next few weeks, they bump you up to running for a minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes... until one day you run 3 miles! Straight! It's like magic! Or building endurance...whatever.

Here's how it happened:

A few weeks ago I was feeling really proud of myself on the health front going into my annual check-up. I'd been running pretty regularly 3 days a week, eating oatmeal and turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread everyday, and cooking most dinners at home. So when the doctor dropped the high-cholesterol bomb and started talking about diabetes and stuff, I was pretty shocked. Then she told me I need to lose 30 pounds. (by the way, 30 pounds ago, I was in the 5th grade. Everybody wants the body of a 10-year-old, right?) Regardless of thinking my doctor was taking the BMI chart a little too seriously, the term "diabetes" scared me so badly that I decided I needed to step up my cardio.

The Chicago Marathon also just happened to be around this time, and if you've never watched a live marathon, you should because it's one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen. I'd actually been toying with the marathon idea since last year's marathon literately made me teary-eyed. Unfortunately, to train with a group, you have to fundraise a bunch of money, and I think I've pretty well tapped my asking-people-for-money-so-I can-do-cool-stuff-for-good-causes resources, but I researched training groups anyway. As it turns out, Team World Vision (an organization I really like who feeds Children in Africa) doesn't have a fundraising minimum! I can make a personal contribution, spread the word, but no pressure.

And then I decided to run a marathon...someday. First things first. I knew before I could run 26.2 miles, I'd have to get past my lifetime record of 3.1 miles. Since the Couch to 5K worked out so well, I decided to go from 5K to 25K, which just happens to be within a couple miles of a half marathon (measuring in "k's" just sounds more hardcore and European, I guess.) I learned after my first attempt at 4 miles to add "God-willing" to all of my statements about running. So, allow me to clarify, God-willing, I am going to run a marathon.

I intend to post lots and lots of updates about running, my progress, my ailments, and the funny things that happen when you decide to do something crazy. At least this isn't the first nonsensical thing I've done. Let's see, there was China, getting married in an abnormal amount of time, skydiving (in flip-flops). Yeah, I can handle a marathon "...because when you decide to run a marathon, it will inevitably be against your better judgement." - The Nonrunners Marathon Guide for Women (aka the book about running that sounds exactly like what I would have written had I been smart enough to come up with the idea.) Expect many more quotes to come.