So sad, but such a beautiful song

I watched this video for the first time at Anna's blog. So sad. As I'm getting married soon, I think about children often. I love children. I still dream of having many. But sometimes I wonder - what if I will not be able to conceive? What if there will be no children? How will I handle it if we have to wait for a long time. I have several dear friends who had to wait a long time or are still waiting. It can be so heart-wrenching.
No matter what God's plan is for me, I know I want to act in a sensitive way around young married couples who have not had children yet. Who knows their story?

Book shelf revelations

I was looking at my book shelf and wondered what its contents reveal about me. Owner definately likes historical fiction (mainly Tudor period), biographies (missionaries/preachers) and children's books (especially old-fashioned or Astrid Lindgren). Has already finished the last Harry Potter too (loved the end).
But when I look at my books on faith and Christian living I can really see the different stages of my walk with Christ. I think the first Christian book I bought must have been"Questions: I have always wanted to ask..." by Werner Gitt. The cover is so 80s... I don't think I ever read all of it.
Then I think started a period when I mainly read books associated with Pentecostal or Charismatic churches. Some that stand out (for different reasons): Don Gossett's Praise Avenue, Benny Hinn's Good morning, Holy Spirit, Jackie Pullinger's Chasing the Dragon.
I definately went through a YWAM-period: Loren Cunningham's Is it really you, God and Winning God's way, Floyd McClung's Father Heart of God, Holiness and the spirit of the age and Living on the devil's doorstep, Joy Dawson's Intimate Friendship with God and Intercession: Thrilling, Fulfilling, Steve Shamblin's How to grow up spiritually and Tom Marshall's Right relationships. I still love those books. They helped me to grow so much.
Afterwards I started reading biographies. Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, John Wesley, Jay Bakker (Son of a Preacher Man - great book), Bill Wilson, ...
But when I look at the books I bought and read over the last year or so is when I look at the books that definately provided a growth spurt and mean the most to me: R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God, John Piper's Desiring God (although I'm still not through this one), Elisabeth Elliot, Let me be a woman, Nancy Leigh DeMoss' Brokenness, Elisabeth Prentiss' Stepping Heavenward, C.J. Mahaney's Living the cross-centered life and Jerry Bridges' The discipline of grace. I'm still reading the last one and on my shelf Jeremiah Burrough's Jewel of Christian Contentment is waiting for me as well as Mary DeMuth' Building the Christian family you never had. I love to read.
Which books mean the most to you in your Christian walk?

Impressions from Southern France

I'm finally back - through with the written part of the legal bar exam and back from a two week vacation in France with my beloved.
Here are some impression from our trip:

BEcause of the warm weather flowers grow fabulously in Southern France. This is just some random house in the village of Ramatuelle. We hiked there one day.

Here I am in St. Tropez. I know it's mainly famous as the vacation place of the rich (do you see that boat in the background!?), but we love it for its port and the tiny streets and the Place des Lices where we can sit, have a drink and watch the old men of the village play "Boules".


We went on several hikes during the first week. This one went along the coast, it included quite some climbing. I was wiped afterwards. But it was great for the tan ... ;)


Last Monday we decided to do a day trip and went to the Gorges du Verdon (Canyon of the Verdon River). We drove along the Southern shore of the canyon with lots of stops to take pictures. Afterwards we rented a pedal boat and paddled into the canyon to watch the scenery from down below and take a dip into the Verdon.



Afterwards we visited Moustiers and the Abby of Thoronet (see above picture). It is one three Cistercian abbeys in the Provence and was just beautiful.