Books on Tape…or CDs

Hans and I recently realized that our lives revolve around our boys (which you probably realize too, if you read this blog!), and we have very little time to do much else…we both used to love to read, and have a huge collection of books. Unfortunately, since having kids we don’t have much time to even read all of our parenting books, let alone read for pleasure.  That also means we’ve lost our ability to hold conversations about anything other than our boys…okay, I’m kind of joking.  But in a way, it’s true.

Hans used to be able to read and have quiet times when he rode the bus to and from work, but since his FREX bus service was cut due to the economy, he’s been having to drive.  Since that means almost 3 hours a day in the car, he wanted to use that time productively so he wouldn’t just waste it and be worn out when he got home…

So we’ve started to love the library, and recently discovered books on CDs.  They’re awesome!  I take the boys to the library for story time every week, which they love!  And I also pick up a book or two on CDs for us…so far we’ve read everything from deep theological devotionals to non-fiction stories…and I’m learning a lot from each of them.  I also realize how much time I waste…ahem…spend in the car myself.  It’s kind of sad. 

Anyway, hopefully our blog will begin to get a little more interesting…with more depth of thought and not just pictures of two little boys (though there will still be lots of those!)

Thought of the evening:

Both Hans and I recently finished listening to the book The Year of Living Biblically, by AJ Jacobs.  I’d never heard of it, but it looked interesting and was a little bit lighter than Desiring God, by John Piper, that we had just finished…

Anyway, to give you a background, it’s written by an agnostic man who decided to spend a year trying to follow the Bible as literally as possible.  I have to say I was a little disappointed because he just didn’t get it.  He was from a Jewish background and definitely focused more on the Old Testament “rules” and didn’t really give the New Testament much thought.  And he also twisted a few things, or completely misunderstood something which tainted his entire thought process on a certain subject.  He remained agnostic at the end of his one year experiment.

All that to say…the one thing that’s stuck with me is this:  he stated through his research, and from counsel from other biblical scholars, that the Bible does not teach against polygamy, and that adultery only refers to inappropriate relationships with married women, not women in general.

Hmm.  I’ve always thought that adultery would be inappropriate relationships with any woman, not just a married woman.  I thought that’s what the Bible teaches, but I wonder if I just read that into it.  I’ll have to go back and re-read some things…I don’t think I’m convinced, but it’s still interesting to think about. 

The book I’m currently listening to is Bringing Up Boys, by James Dobson.  It’s convincing me that maybe my boys aren’t little terrors, and maybe, just maybe, they’re only acting like boys.  That’s comforting considering I’m the mom who gets a lot of the “Oooh, poor thing” and “Can’t she control that child??” looks.  Hans’ parents even gave me their copy of the book The Difficult Child.  Not sure what to think about that…but I guess I can’t be too offended…  They’re my wild, sweet, active, emotional, and adorable boys, and I love them both so much!  Even if they do drive me a little crazy.  :)