I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy Summary and Reviews

"I'm predicting Ann Voskamp's personal narrative will soon be many people's favorite book. It's like C.S. Lewis for mortals." -- Mick Silva, former editor with Focus on the Family

"This book is the most gorgeous thing I've ever read. Ever. Ann Voskamp weaves the sacred and ordinary into a tapestry of grace. And each beautiful word is a thread that binds our hearts closer to God's so He can fill our hollow places with joy. This book is the real gift--one that will stay with you and keep blessing your life long after you've read the last page." --Holley Gerth, editorial director, DaySpring

"Ann Voskamp is truly one of the most gifted writers I have ever read. If you want a book that will challenge you and mess with you in the most beautiful of ways, this is it. And you won't just read it and put it away. You will return to this treasure for years to come." ----Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and bestselling author of Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl

"A book destined to become a classic; the sort of book you dog-ear and re-read for the sheer joy of cherishing the words and experiencing the depth of the heart that wrote it." ----Mary DeMuth, author of Thin Places: A Memoir

"This book is one that will change the way you see the world." ----Marybeth Whalen, author of The Mailbox and She Makes It Look Easy and director of www.shereads.org

"Where do I begin? Do I tell you that Ann Voskamp writes like a poet with the heart of a mystic? Or do I share with you how One Thousand Gifts is so profound that if we internalize this message of lifestyle gratitude and all-pervasive grace, we can know Christ like Adam knew Eve. To write of such beautiful, intimate union requires the pen of a spiritual artist. Open this book, then open your heart." ----Lisa Whelchel, actress, speaker, and author of Creative Correction and Friendship for Grown-Ups 

Customer Reviews

1. When I sat down to read this book I expected to enjoy the writing of one of my favorite Christian bloggers, what I didn't expect is what I experienced - a miracle - a renewing of faith and a fresh perspective on life. Ann Voskamp takes the reader by the hand and leads them on a journey filled with slap-your-forehead-aha moments. My eyes were opened to what I couldn't see even though it had been in front of me the whole time. I jumped from my bed this morning anxious to start the day with this new perspective. I encourage you to read this book and I pray that you experience the same miracle that I did.
2. I am only half-way through One Thousand Gifts...but already, it has made an impact on me. Ann has a beautiful way with words. God has gifted her enormously and this book will challenge, encourage and bless you immensely!
   
   I am an *underliner*. I underline in books...important, thought-provoking, and encouraging sentences. To say this book is now "marked up" would be an understatement. So much wisdom can be gleaned from these pages.
   
   If God is pulling on your heart-strings. If you are here, now, reading these words wondering if the book is worth the cost...know that it *is* (and more). Let God speak to you through Ann. Let Him fill your heart with His goodness. I promise, you'll be glad you did! :)
3. This book hardly needs yet another 5-star review to recommend, but here I go, because Ann deserves it.
   
   This is a book to be savored slowly. I'm reading it bits at a time in the Kindle version, highlighting abundantly and then letting it all sink in and permeate my thoughts during the ordinary moments of my day. There's so much depth, honesty, and poetry in these pages. If you ever wonder if there really is a God, if you ever feel frustrated at all the tempting treasures of the world you will never taste, if you ever doubt the Lord's heart toward you ... Ann has been there and the light she has received is for you. For all of us.
   
   Read it and be blessed!
4. A few years ago I came across Ann's web site. I was dumbfounded. I felt like I had this gift and I tried to share it with everybody. First of all, how the heck does this Canadian farmer's wife find the time to raise six children and homeschool them? Amazed, I studied her life. But what kept me coming back was the beauty of her words juxtaposed with stirring still-life photographs. Ann makes an ordinary life look sublime.
   
   I couldn't wait for this book to be released so I ordered three copies several months ahead of time. I was not disappointed. In order to succeed in grad school I learned the fine art of skimming, but that would be impossible to do with this book. It begs to be read aloud. I have never read another author who writes in such a way that each word has to be savored. It's sort of ironic because that is the smashing point of the book: Life is not an emergency. Slow down. Sip. Taste. Savor. Enjoy.
   
   Besides the beauty of the words, there is a life-changing message.Ann admits an early childhood tragedy caused her to feel cheated and to doubt God's goodness, but a challenge to find one thousand things to be thankful for made her a different person. As a counselor, I know that our self-talk and the lens we choose to see the world through, affects our experience. This is a book for all of us: Men, women, young, and old. Read  More...

Please click here to check One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook

Definitely get this cookbook if you're following/thinking about following the South Beach Diet, or even if you just want to eat healthier. All recipes (except a few) take 30 minutes or less to both prepare and cook (shortcuts are also listed in lots of recipes, as in "you can use a frozen bag of broccoli here to save time"), and there are literally dozens of them that sound delicious to my boyfriend even, a hamburger and fries kind of guy. Nothing is too gourmet to be a good weeknight meal. Remember the "Stocking the South Beach Diet Kitchen" guide in the regular cookbook? It's much expanded here, with a short paragraph for each item, telling you what to look for at the store, what the item is good for, etc. Very helpful! There's also pages of meal and snack ideas that don't require a recipe. These are really simple ideas or tips for throwing together something quick. For instance, "take a whole wheat tortilla, slather spaghetti sauce and cheese on it, and broil it until done." No, that's not exactly what was written, but it gives you an idea. This will be my main cookbook on the South Beach Diet, and it's much MUCH more accessible for people like me who want a good, healthy meal, but don't want to spend an hour or two putting it together.

Buy The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook

How to Cook Everything (Completely Revised 10th Anniversary Edition)

I got my copy of the new edition of How to Cook Everything the other day and am beyond thrilled. I own the old yellow edition and have cooked from it far more than any other book, so I knew the new book had a lot to live up to. Well, it by far exceeded my expectations. While the book still feels familiar, it also feels new and improved. The essential recipe sections beginning each chapter are a great way to find the basics. But even the basics have changed. For example, Mark's roast chicken recipe, which I've used and liked in the past (though I still love Barbara Kafka's) has changed. He suggests you heat the pan before putting the chicken in and placing the chicken breast side up (instead of side down as he suggested in his old book). The heat of the pan helps cook the thighs faster so the breasts don't dry out. It worked perfectly the first time I tried it. Beyond the basics, there are just so many new recipes in here. The variations, lists, and charts that Mark is famous for seem even more plentiful than before, and there are tons of beautiful new illustrations. I'm so excited to cook with this new edition and foresee a day when it's pages will be stained with grease and flour just like the old edition. But I still can't get rid of the old one. It's like a good friend. I'll just put the new one on the shelf right next to it, red by yellow, and know that I can always count on them.

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Joy of Cooking

I heard about this book long time ago but never was interested in getting one because I'm only interested in cookbooks with glossy pictures and fancy mouthwatering covers. While I was waiting for my car's rountine maintenance at Costco, I read it just to kill time there. I discovered that it was such a wonderful cookbook that I just got to buy it! I have about 100 cookbooks at home but this one is the best I ever bought. This book covers all kinds of dishes, and all cooking methods. They are easy to read and very illustrative. I think lots of recipes in other cookbooks are originated from this cookbook, or adapted from the ones in this cookbook. I think being the first comprehensive, illustrative and reliable cookbook in history, lots of cookbook authors referred to it when writing cookbooks of their own as time goes by. By reading this cook book, I can see Raychael Ray, Martha Stewart, and many other cooking moguls' recipes here. My suggestion is, buy this cookbook and you can toss away Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals and others. This books has all the recipes you want to cook exactly as it is or to adapt to create your own. This book is valuable in that it help you build a very solid foundation and understanding in cooking, equipment and all kinds of food ingredients, like "fig" which the Chinese believe to have healing power on your acid damaged GI tract.... Now I can cook it like a tasty American desert instead of the boring dull tasting Chinese herbal soup my mom taught me to make regularly to stay healthy. Like I say, with the cooking basics and all the wonderful recipes in Joy, I'm confident that I can create better recipes than Rachel Ray or Martha Steward. It's a cook book that is inspirational and helps everybody to discover new knowledge in cookery every time you refer to it! This is the cookbook that I'm definitely keeping and cherishing for the rest of my life ! I highly recommend this to everyone who wants to give a meaningful gift to the ones you care and love!

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The Food You Crave

Ellie Krieger is different from the exercise fanatics and diet gurus out there in that she doesn't promise you'll lose 10 pounds or two inches off your waist if you adhere to a strict regimen over the course of a week. Instead, she provides all the tools you'll need to develop a healthy attitude toward eating that doesn't sacrifice flavor or require intensive labor. The crux of her approach is common-sensical: fresh ingredients, lots of whole grains, reasonable portions. But while the idea seems easy enough, Ellie makes it even simpler by outlining what ingredients to keep in stock (for a quick meal anytime) and what small but oh-so-important finishing touches change a dish from bland into brilliant. So far, I've made about a dozen of the recipes in this book (including 4 alone for one meal), and all have been met with rave reviews from the appreciative attendees. I recommend a meal consisting of the Oven-Fried Chicken, Garlic Fries, Zucchini Parmesan Crisps, and finishing off with the Ricotta Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries. Let your oven do all the work, and stop worrying about your waistline!

I am a fan of Ellie's television show and completely agree with her food philosophy. If we all learn to love the way food tastes, instead of over-processing and masking it in fats and chemicals, then we can once again relish our meals instead of feeling guilty about them. Ellie will show you how in this book full of great recipes. Not only does she transform comfort foods like mashed potatoes and meatloaf into her better-for-you versions, but she also provides recipes inspired by a variety of cuisines ranging from Asian, Greek, and Middle-Eastern and covering every meal, including side dishes and desserts.

Don't expect a strict plan or any guaranteed weight loss. Ellie herself doesn't tout the "Never" approach and teaches us all that foods belong in three categories: Usually, Sometimes, and Rarely. The main reason most diets fail is because they are unrealistic and too limiting. Ellie's approach is different; it shows you a better way to eat "The Food You Crave." Anyone who wants to learn how to prepare delicious AND healthful foods should pick up a copy of this book!

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Hungry Girl

I am a gourmet cook that gained too much weight with the Barefoot Contessa. This cookbook has some good creative and tasty ideas. The cold peanut noodles made with tofu are a favorite - once I got past the fishy smell that goes away once the noodles are rinsed and dried. The meat loaf was also very tasty. My husband and daughter loved it too. While I was a bit turned off by her silly, childish style, I find the recipes to be low calorie, easy to make, and very flavorable. I like how she shows the nutritional composition with each recipe.

I also signed up on her web site to receive a daily informative food tip.

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Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

It is possible to live off the land. The Kingsolver family are proof of that. They grew their own food for a year on a farm in Virginia's Applachian mountains. It only cost 50 cents a meal to feed the Kingsolver family of four for a year, and I found that to be amazing. It is much healthier to eat organic foods which are foods produced without chemicals. This is one of the main ideas of this insightful book. I love Camille's Kingsolver's contributions in this book. She is the college age daughter of the primary author. Camille's reflections about food are thoughtful, and her recipes sound delicious. I loved her essay about how she learned to love asparagus. I learned that asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin C, which I did not know before. There is a recipe in here for an asparagus mushroom bread pudding. I never thought of putting these ingredients together. Another interesting recipe in the book is one for zucchini chocolate chip cookies. The recipe sounds so unusual, I am tempted to try it. The recipe for pumpkin soup and sweet potato quesadillas sound yummy too. Everyone in the Kingsolver family contributed in this local food project. Barbara raised and bred turkeys, while her nine year old daughter raised her own chickens and provided the family with eggs for a year. They even made their own cheese.

I also enjoyed the contributions of Steven L. Hopp in this book. He is a professor who teaches environmental science at Emory and Henry College. His short contributions in the every chapter are very insightful. He really compliments the main text written by Kingsolver. I enjoyed reading his thoughts about the popularity of agricultural education in public schools. This is a fascinating and informative book about food.

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Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics

I waited eagerly for this, the sixth of Ina Garten's books. I love it. It's beautiful and the recipes are both simple AND exciting. She always reminds me that I don't have to eat boring, redundant meals every day just because I work and have limited cooking time at night. Many of these recipes require only a handful of ingredients and no more than an hour of preparation from start to finish. And they're elegant meals that provide nourishment and beauty. The scallop dish is lovely. The mustard fish surprising with the touch of salty capers. The wedding soup I'm planning to make tomorrow, but already I see that her recipe respects the cook's time while not sacrificing creativity and flavor. I love The Barefoot.

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The Art of Simple Food

Nothing more to say: in every generation there exists one memorable cookbook behind which all others pale in comparison. In the early 60s, it was Mastering the Art of French Cooking; in the late 70s, it was Silver Palate. It's always been The Joy of Cooking, and Jean Anderson's Doubleday Cookbook. But for this generation, tired of overwrought recipes created by celeb TV chefs and meant for the restaurant kitchen, The Art of Simple Food is a brilliant instant classic packed with recipes that are as close to perfection as I've seen. This is a keeper that will endure for years and years.

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The Bread Baker's Apprentice

When Peter Reinhart's previous book (Crust and Crumb) was published, I stated in my review that this was the only book any serious baker would need. You can still get by with that one, but Reinhart has outcompeted himself with The Bread Baker's Apprentice. Until he pulls another stunt like this, Baker's Apprentice is now the only book any serious bread baker would ever need, or anyone less serious for that sake. Like the last book, Baker's Apprentice is overflowing with information, experience and wisdom, but this one is also tightly organized and well laid out. It is at the same time a baking tutorial, a recipe collection, a reference work, and for baking freaks like me, bedtime reading. Maybe it is a missionary tract too. The various bread types cover a repertoire worthy of any professional baker, yet one that can be accomplished by us amateurs. The photos are pretty but also inspirational and instructional, showing shaping options and procedures. Reinhart's last book got me away from yeasted white bread and onto the path of rustic, naturally leavened bread (although he by no means forces the reader to follow that path). His chapter in this book about the Poilane-style Miche (the loaf shown on the cover) got me off the path and onto the road.

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Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

I have many bread baking books and was skeptical that this one would be any better or different. I expected either a catch in the "5 minutes", poor quality bread, or both. I made my first batch last week and was very impressed with both the ease and taste. You can really make the dough in just a few minutes and keep it in your fridge for use over the next 2 weeks. It was wonderful to be able to pull a chunk of the dough out of the container and have delicious bread (the last was more like a big roll) in just over an hour. I could make a loaf when I got home from work and serve it for dinner. There are many recipes included, but it also gave me a much more relaxed attitude toward the bread and I found myself making up my own additions by the time I was forming my second batch. I showed the book to a friend and rather than copy a few of the recipes, she decided to order the book herself because she said that everything looked good and it looked like stuff she would really make. Not many cookbooks earn that comment.

The book frequently calls for a pizza peel and baking stone. A set of the peel (or a suitable cutting board), stone (or an unglazed ceramic tile from Home Depot) and this book would make a great gift. In fact, I thought that I could cross several people off of my shopping list by buying the set or just the books for all. Unfortunately, it is already out of stock. Looks like I am not the only one who is impressed by it. I can't even give my book away and wait for a new copy because I spilled olive oil on it while making the sun dried tomato and Parmesan bread. By the way, it was delicious!

This is a great book for all cooking experience levels. The recipes are easy and the results impressive. Buy Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

The Omnivore's Dilemma

Michael Pollan's beautifully written, eye-opening new book already has me thinking about everything I put into my mouth. Clearly, this is an important, even a ground-breaking book. The Omnivore's Dilemma is much more than just an indictment of industrial food systems, or our treatment of animals, though. That's what other reviewers are concentrating on, and they're right. What I took away from this book, though, was just how thoughtless we have become about what we feed ourselves. More than anything else, Pollan's book is a plea for us to stop and think for a moment about our whole process of eating. Just as we get the political leaders we deserve, we also get the food we deserve. Pay attention!

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Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories

I am vegetarian and I don't purchase very many non-vegetarian cookbooks, but HG's books are a must, as I can easily adapt most recipes to work for me. My shopping list is loaded with items so I can cook some new recipes :-) I already made one of the breakfast bakes and it was loaded with vegies and a huge hit with my needs-to-be-healthier hubby. My 11 y/o dd snagged the book before I even had a chance to look at it and has already made several of the recipes, too. (Maybe I should just buy her her own copy? HG, is there a prize for the youngest fan, LOL?)

Buy Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to be very close to Bin Laden with a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, SEAL fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His squadmates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.

A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared. His account of his squadmates' heroism and mutual support renders an experience that is both heartrending and life-affirming. In this rich chronicle of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers a powerful narrative of modern war.

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Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace

After four trips over the past three years to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, and after founding Kashmir Family Aid (www.kashmirfamily.org) to aid victims of the Oct 8, 2005 earthquake, I whole-heartedly endorse Greg Mortenson and his work. This book adds new life to the over-wraught dictum that "one CAN make a difference." Beyond that, if one wants to truly get inside the rural Pakistani's heart and soul, this is mandatory reading.

My personal experience has been that once I met these people (and yes, had tea with them in their tiny homes, or in the quake region, in their tents), it was difficult to want to leave to return to the West. It's a hard thing to explain but Mortenson's book will absolutely do the job. A powerful thread within his story: It would be impossible not to love these people after getting to know them one-on one.

These remote village people are simple, strong and proud. Their lives are spent nurturing their families and working hard in a politically and environmentally tortured region. BUY THE BOOK, get inside the people of this place and then send Greg Mortenson your donation.

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Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion

This is an amazing book and completly worth the price. Anyone who is a Twilight fan and cannot wait for the movie's release date will really enjoy this book. Many images are never before seen pictures from the movie. I was truly blown away by the amount and quailty of the images. There are great pictures of stills of the movie and production shots, especially a number of great shots of Edward and Bella, along with the rest of the Cullen family. I truly was able to grasp a better sense of the movie and how the filmmaker's created the world of Twilight. Many scenes of the film are shown throughout the book that I was very happy to see in the Twilight movie that I had not seen before in any trailers or previous movie stills. The book also contains many interesting details about how decisions were made along the filmmaking process from the director, set designer, stunt coordinator, and hair and make-up artists. Details are included you won't find anywhere else, right down to the progression of each character's distinct appearance through the film and how they got Edward to sparkle.

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Twilight

This book is a great modern story. Thsi is the story of Isabella Swan and how her average life was turned upside down when she decided to go live with her dad in the small town of Forks. She did not expect to find danger and near death experiences. She also did not expect to find Edward Cullen. They develop their tentative romance only to find that they might not hve long together. This is a great book and worth buying.

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New Moon

Twilight saga is narrated via 4 books and is a fast paced love story of the two most unlikely beings that keeps you glued to the book. And this feeling does not end with the first book. You are compelled to run to the store and pick the next one in the series to know how their story unfolds. This book was delivered promptly and was in excellent condition and looked like a new books inspite of it being a second hand one. The price was great and I will keep coming back to get more books from here. About the story:

Twilight is essentially a love story between two star crossed lovers.The duo, a vampire Edward Cullen and a human Bella are irrevocably drawn to each other. The 2nd one "New Moon" has a subtle hint hidden in the title as it simultaneously implies the introduction of another main lead! The second book new moon almost had me weeping as the immortal vampire leaves our vulnerable human to keep her safe. I couldn't bare to read as the author narrated the human's anguish as she struggles to forget her love! This is where Stephanie's second male lead is brought into focus.

This character becomes Bella's best friend... almost her confidant! By the time the second book is wrapped up, the vampire with his unconditional love has earned himself a very real image by acting like all the other male "humans" that populate today's world!

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The Shack (Kindle Edition)

You'll find over a hundred superlatively glowing reviews of this book on Amazon.com, and I think it's because in two of its primary aims -- to challenge your notions of God's "personality" and to assert that He, in all three Persons, loves you deeply and wants an actual relationship with you -- it succeeds vividly. Its colorful language and poignant approach, not to mention its straightforward, "why-didn't-I-think-of-that?" theodicy, are apparently helping to change multitudes of people's minds about what God is like, thankfully liberating them from soul-constricting religion along the way.

Its vividness and popularity are unsettling to me, however, for the book is but one man's fictional and very incomplete depiction of God: God is love, yes, without doubt -- hallelujah! -- but what of the God who kills Ananias and Sapphira for lying (Acts 5:1ff)? Or He who has His angel strike down King Herod because he doesn't properly ascribe praise (Acts 12:19ff)? Let alone the God who "deals out retribution to those who do not know [Him]" in the form of "eternal destruction" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) and the Jesus who, robe dipped in blood, mouth filled with a sharp sword, eyes like a flame, "judges and wages war," "strike[s] down the nations," "rules...with a rod of iron," and "treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God" (Revelation 19:11ff).

Without even a passing reference to God as ineffable King or worthy Judge, The Shack, despite its merits, is a simplistic, untrustworthy portrait of God. I think part of the reason for the growing hoopla surrounding the book is that in its pictorial writing style, The Shack is all too easily consumed and adopted by people who want their ears -- or eyes, to fit the mode of the prose more accurately -- tickled with images of a doting (if powerful), permanently good-humored god who makes them pancakes on the weekends. Certainly, it's easier to follow a God like this, but it's also delusional, if you take the Bible as truth.

Don't get me wrong: William Young's appreciation for and ability to communicate God's lovingkindness is wonderful, and necessary to a Christian world choked with Law. Nevertheless, if my criticism of The Shack is overly forceful -- and it is; I do like this book -- it's because I see the book being embraced with nothing but naive, uncritical, and untempered enthusiasm.

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The Twilight Saga Collection

Product Description
This stunning set, complete with all four hardcover books as well as four collectible prints, makes the perfect gift for fans of the bestselling vampire love story. Buy Books