Paperdoll Blog Party Day THREE!

“Our worth isn’t wrapped in what other people say about us, either. Our worth is woven into the fabric of God’s Word, into the ultimate truth that sets us free to be the unique, beautiful, godly women we were created to be. Pageant queens, trombone players, theater girls, bookworms, geeks, and glamour girls can all take heart. It doesn’t matter where we rank in life’s silly social hierarchy. We’ve never been unnoticed by God, and He has a message for us to carry as well.” –Natalie Lloyd, “Paperdoll”

I’ve been trying to put into words all of the things that one little book taught me and made me feel and inspired in me. That book is “Paperdoll,” by Natalie Lloyd. It’s about a phenomenon that happens to all of us girls. We know the truth and most days we can live by it. But other days it’s not as simple. We become obsessed with what the world thinks of us and expects of us. We put on our fake face and pretend to be something we’re not. Natalie compares this to paperdolls, those fragile toys that can become anything we want them to, look like anything we want them to (as long as it’s completely flawless).

In her book, Natalie focuses on the story of the woman by the well that Jesus stopped by to talk to. To be honest, this Bible story was never really my favorite. I never really gathered anything from reading it. Natalie, however, brings this familiar story into a whole new light by digging deeper into it and including a lot of interesting historical information about it. She breaks it down so that it becomes clearly relevant to us as young women. You’ll find that you have a lot more in common with the woman by the well than you thought! “Paperdoll” is the perfect balance of Biblical information and personal experiences from Natalie’s life. Her style of writing is so unique. It is obvious that she puts her heart into each word, painting pictures and reaching out to her readers in every beautiful sentence. She reminds us that we no longer have to live our lives in fear and insecurity and pain: “We can walk in the confidence, grace, and beauty of a woman who is infinitely loved by the God of the universe.”
“Paperdoll” covers such a variety of topics that touch our lives- love, beauty, dark and difficult times, worship, romance, materialism, and more. God has spoken to me so much through this book, but there are a few parts in particular.

I love the chapter called “Waiting for Gilbert.” It seems that one of the major places that the woman by the well had gone searching for love and acceptance was in relationships, particularly with men. You probably remember that she had had five husbands, and she wasn’t even married to the man that she was living with at the time. This chapter (titled after the handsome, clever, and kind Gilbert Blythe) talks about how we girls often look to guys for the kind of love and fulfillment that only God can give. This issue is such a huge part of my life right now. No, I don’t go chasing after guys. But probably the deepest desire in my heart is to fall in love with Mr. Right, get married, and have a family. I am guilty of spending way too much of my time dwelling on this, daydreaming and getting emotionally attached when I come across a guy who has the potential to be Mr. Right, and mistakenly believing that the right guy will complete me. I feel convicted when I see other girls who are wonderfully in love with God and seem to feel no pain at still being single. Natalie writes: “The first myth is that we should never, ever long for true love if we’re living in the fullness of Christ.” What a relief to know that I can be in love with Christ but still long for marriage and my future husband’s love!  And then there’s the part that Natalie calls “Monkey’s Paw Theology.” I was shocked when I read her words about that, because they were identical to what I had thought so many times: “I try to hide my loneliness from Him, thinking that if He sees my real desire, He will dangle love in front of me and then take it away…They believe if they tell Him their deepest dreams and desires, He’ll make them wait even longer to find someone.” I know that God is love. I know that He is not cruel and teasing. But sometimes I’ve sat, unable to find the words to pray, because I’ve been afraid that if I completely turn over my love life to him, it’s like admitting that I don’t really want to fall in love. The realization that someone else has been through this, too, is such a comfort to me.

There is a section about being a chronic church girl, which I have definitely been during my life. Even though it is a huge blessing to be raised in a Christian home and involved in church from our earliest days, we have to be extra careful not to become complacent and take our relationship with God for granted. Natalie also writes about how most of us girls are constantly waiting for a certain point in our lives. I was waiting to get my driver’s license. I was waiting to graduate high school and to start college. Now I’m waiting to finish college, for my sewing business to pick up, to meet my future husband. Natalie says, ““Most of us are like that, don’t you think? We’re waiting to fall in love. We’re waiting for the moment we set foot on foreign soil for the first time, or the day we see our book on a shelf, or the day we hold a baby in our arms. It’s easy to wrap up life flat on a page like that-a long list of Cinderella moments somewhere out in the future, but never close enough to touch.” I don’t want to keep living in the future, do you? I’m ready to realize that my life is happening now, and if I’m always waiting for someday, I will miss everything.

So, if I haven’t made it obvious, Natalie Lloyd’s book has really had an impact on my life and on my relationship with my Savior.  There is even a great resources section at the back, with questions, Scriptures, song suggestions, websites, and more. It’s a book that I highly recommend for any women, but especially teen girls and young women. You’ll find yourself reading it over and over.

“Paperdoll” makes me want to be the best I can be. It makes me want to pick up my Bible again and get lost in a good worship song. It makes me want to walk with my head up and start living my life the way God intended for me to instead of standing on the sidelines, bogged down with insecurity, waiting for “someday.” Finally, here is a last bit of encouragement from Natalie’s book:

“Look people in the eye when you talk to them. Move into your life with courage, not fear. Start living like a girl who is loved. Don’t waste any more time.”

You can find Kristin here. Thanks so much!

Across the Universe.

So there's this book that I just read yesterday. I originally saw it on Natalie Lloyd's blog, and I thought, hmm, that looks good. So I bought it. It's a love story on a spaceship. How amazing is that? It happens to come out today, which is awesome because 1) I bought this book, like, two weeks ago, and that's a long time to wait; 2) It looks so fantastic; and 3) There's tons of fun stuff about the book that you should check out (and then maybe go get your own copy!)

Fun thing 1) Penguin Books published it. And I love Penguin Books. (unrelated information: "I have just met you, and I love you." name that movie.) Here's all the different places you can find them: Twitter, Facebook (linked above), and the Penguin Teen website.

Fun thing 2) The author, Beth Revis, is super cool and fun. You can find her here: Twitter, blog, and website.

Fun thing 3) The book! You can find the book on Facebook, the website, and Amazon, where I bought my copy.

Fun thing 4) The ship. On the website, you can explore the ship Godspeed. Most of the story actually takes place on this ship. It is so incredible. I loved looking at the hatch, where they can see the stars. (keep your eyes open for that in the book!)

Fun thing 5) At this website there's  a 111 page excerpt from the book...it will be up for twelve hours, so make sure to check it out before it's taken down!

Fun thing 6) The videos. 

How cool is the book trailer? And the ship? And the author? One of my absolute favorite things is hearing authors talk about their books and what the books mean to them.

Paperdoll Blog Party Day TWO!

Most of you have probably read "In Step" in an article of Brio, or Natalie Lloyd's blog. Therefore you know about her extreme talent of being able to write about faith, beauty, imagination, and dorky ways all at once. She tells stories with nonfiction in a way that no one can.

In her book Paperdoll, she helps unravel a story that's familiar, yet viewed as plain. The story of the woman at the well. We tend to just view this Bible story as one of Jesus' many accomplishments. And nothing more. It gets put on the back burner when it comes to other miracles performed by God's son while on this earth. The Samaritan women was just that, a woman. We don't even know her name. She doesn't seem as special as Mary, Ruth, or Esther. But that's the irony of it all.

We, as a world, see them more important because of what???...their fame, their faith...the fact they seemed to have everything together...the fact that even in their darkest hour, they were stronger, more faithful, more powerful than we think we could be? Those are the women that tend to be remembered from the Bible because those are the women we want to be. We don't what to be the woman at the well that's lost everything, destroyed her own life, and has become an outcast to her people. We want to be like the girls that got it all, we want to be paperdolls.

The pretty one, the lucky one, the rich one, the smart one, the really brave one, the one with the cute boyfriend. We all know people that fit into those categories, their names are probably already swimming in your head. Your enemies, your friends. They seem different and suddenly you want to be them. So you trade in that one of kind hand painted china doll for one more easy to change, easy to blend in doll.

One made of paper.

God doesn't want His daughters to be paper. He wants us to have a heart, a soul, a mind, a spirit, He wants us to be ourselves. Even if that means pimples, baby-sized hands, bad eyesight, braces, ugly feet. Even if that means a C in science, a tutor in math, a fear of tests. Even if that means the inability to draw anything with detail, being a dancer whose never done a triple pirouette, the girl that can't sing, not always being nice and sometimes regretting what you say, wanting something more than anything but constantly wondering if you're talented enough to get. Those of you that don't know me should know that I just described myself. But I'm okay with that, because I'm okay with who I am. I know that even though I'm ALL those things and a million more, I'm witty, and funny, and a good friend, I'm honest, and brave, and beautiful and I have the biggest imagination.

But most important I'm a child of God. I'm worth something, He loves me. He loves Mary, Ruth, Esther, and the Samaritan woman and you all the same way. He loves look-a-like, act-a-like paper dolls. But he made hand-painted, unique, china dolls, which one do you what to be???

You can find Little Fairy here. Go give her some love, mkay?

Paperdoll Blog Party Day ONE!

This is the first day of the week-long Paperdoll Blog Party. I'm super excited about this. I can't wait for you to read the great reviews that I have lined up.

For day one, we have something special planned. Today, we're giving away two copies of Paperdoll.

Mandatory entry: comment on this post. Tell me why you want to read the book. Or tell me about your week. Or tell me what your favorite dessert is. I don't really care, I just wanna see your comments. (USA only.)

That being said, I would love it if you could spread the word about our Seven Days of Paperdoll Wonderfulness. Let your readers know about the giveaway. The more the better! I'm sorry to tell you, it won't get you any more entries. Only one per person.

It would be totally awesome if you could stop by and give Natalie some love. Come back tomorrow for Day Two of the Paperdoll Blog Party. We'll have reviews all throughout the week, and on the seventh day, two someones will go home with a copy of Paperdoll!

The Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndall.

The Blue Enchantress is a story of a young woman finding redemption when she never thought it possible. Hope is destitute. She is captured with no way out when a saviour comes from an unlikely place. This is a love story about a girl trying to forget her past, trying to make things right, and always failing. Captain Nathaniel Mason is trying to build his business and make a name for himself. He needs nothing less than a spoiled girl to look after. When he has to give up his prize ship to save Hope, he didn’t realize how much it would take.

This book is a yes. It was fun to read, light, and fast paced. Nathaniel and Hope’s relationship grew slowly, and it had enough setbacks to be believable. I don’t know how historically accurate it was, but it fit well with the story. I think you would enjoy it if you’re a fan of historical fiction, or if you’re just looking for a light read.

Note: I received this book free of charge from NetGalley. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

Seeds of Turmoil by Bryant Wright

Author Bryant Wright describes the roots of the conflict in the Middle East. He goes back to the Old Testament. Visiting Abraham’s decisions with his offspring, he describes the Biblical roots of the conflict.

This book was interesting. It was well researched and well thought out. Wright is insightful as to what the root of the conflict is and why there is such an issue over land. It was interesting to see how the term Arab developed, and the Biblical geography. The history in it was interesting as well, and especially to see how he tied it into what is happening there today.

Personally, this isn’t my kind of book. I’d usually read anything like this, and I picked it up because it was about the Middle East, and I kinda like that place. :) Usually I read fiction, so it was a bit slow to be reading this type of book. It was good for what it is, just not something I’d pick up again. But again, just my personal reading tastes. 

If you’re interested in history, Biblical or not, or the issues in the Middle East, you may enjoy this.

Note: I received this book free of charge from BookSneeze. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

the Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Macy watched her father die the day after Christmas, and there was nothing she could do. Since then, her life has been put back together: she has a perfect boyfriend, Jason, a new job working the research desk at the library, her older sister Caroline married a wealthy man, and her parents' business, now run by her mother, has begun to expand. On the inside, though, nothing is right. She feels stifled by Jason's perfection, her stagnant life, and her busy mother.

Then she meets Wish Catering. They cater a party of her mother's and she finds herself with a job and friends like she's never known. Slowly, she begins to step out.

Out of the four or five Dessen books I've read, this is my favorite. It doesn't move too fast, and Macy, the main character, really grows on you. The artwork...my favorite part of the story. The game of Truth...my other favorite. If you've read any Dessen, or just want a sweet love story, you should try this one out.