For those of you who know me pretty well, you know that I'm not really one to cry a lot. I typically only cry when
1. I'm at a funeral
(I lose it and have zero control of myself...it's bad)2. I'm sleep-deprived and don't know how to do my job
(some of you had the "opportunity" to see this in my first year of teaching)3. I'm laughing really hard
(those are the good tears)Sometimes people think I'm heartless when I don't cry in movies or when I hear a touching story that makes everyone else cry.
But I'm hear to say that I've found a couple of books that have apparently broken me. They were both recommended by former students and are geared toward a young, LDS audience
(and both by the same author...Kay Lynn Mangum).The first one I read last year...
The Secret Journal of Brett Colton.
I remember sitting on the plane to go to Tammy's in Seattle and just crying as I read it! It was sad, but really good.
The second one is called
When the Bough Breaks.
This is a SAD book! It's about a girl who just seems to have everything in her life changed abruptly
(dad dies, mom is depressed, brother is an alcoholic, mom gets remarried). It was good, but so sad! I started reading it last spring and couldn't handle the beginning because it was so sad. I picked it up again a few days ago to find that
(shocking) it was still sad, but I haven't been able to put it down! It really is good, and the last few pages give you a satisfied, happy ending, but I have been crying every night as I read.
Tonight as I finished it, I thought about how blessed I am. Today at church, we had a great lesson on faith and some great talks
(one particularly amazing one courtesy of my roommate Annie) on agency. I've had some friends going through some really hard times lately with their health and other rough things
(I love you girls!), and it's been incredible to see their great faith. I try to put myself in their position and realize that I'm not sure I could be so strong if I were in their situations. I am so blessed to have such incredible friends and family members in my life who are such "rocks" for me. I know I have a lot of work to do to build my own "rock", but I'm so grateful that I have all of you in my life and have a knowledge and testimony that my Father in Heaven loves me very much and knows my weaknesses and can heal me. What a blessing!
So tonight I have a few more things to add to my list of things that make me cry...
4. Books written by Kay Lynn Mangum
5. Emails and blog posts written by a certain friend
(you know who you are, you old stinker...I love you!)
Here's the original Mike.
This is with Brittany and Rachel. They are the other two FACS teachers at my school. They are awesome. :)
