Heaven

So, either Lena sleeps too much or I read way too fast because I finished another book yesterday.

And once again, it was amazing. It was a touching story about Stephanie Nielson who, about 4 years ago, was in a terrible plane accident where over 80% of her body was burned. This is a story about her life before the accident, how she met  her husband, the accident itself, and then her recovery. She talks a lot about God and how He helped her, and is still helping her, through this trial of hers. She shares her experience re-learning how to be a wife and mother. And how all the things she had took for granted before were now things she looked forward to - like laundry. How often am I really grateful to have hands that are capable of doing laundry? Usually never.

This book got me thinking about the short time I spent in the hospital after I was in a serious car accident a few years ago. My wounds were not even remotely close to Stephanie's, but God was still highly involved in my healing process. I don't remember a lot about what happened while I was in the hospital, but when I got home and continued to heal, I remember being very close to my Heavenly Father and Savior as I prayed for his help to overcome the trial I had found myself in. And how grateful I am for all His help.

This book is truly a testament to how real God is, and how willing and able He is to help us when we really need Him. If anyone needs a reminder of how anything is possible, especially with God's help, this is a book you'll want to read. It's a touching story of how a family was able to grow closer together as they went through one of the hardest parts of their lives.

Unbroken

A couple of days ago, I finished this book.

It is one of  the best I've ever read.

This is a story of a man, Louie Zampernini, and his experience during World War II. Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of Louie's life as a child, how he became an Olympic runner, his time during the war, and how his life changed once he came home. At first, it took me a little bit to really get into it. It was a lot of history and character development (all of which are necessary for this, and all, books) and I just couldn't see how it was going to pick up. But once I pushed myself through the first couple of chapters, I couldn't put it down. Such a touching story. And a reminder of how strong and resilient the human spirit is. And how much God is watching out for us, even through our most painful and horrific trials. My heart ached as I read about the things that Louie had to go through. I never imagined that war was how Laura described it. Some parts are difficult to read, as you're told of the abuse and suffering that these men went through. Hard to believe that this is a true story. If anyone's looking for a good book, this is definitely worth picking up.