Titles on Tammi's Bookshelf: Any Minute by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford

Most people know Joyce Meyer from her Bible teaching and her New York Times bestselling inspirational books, and some may know that Any Minute is not her first work of fiction. The Penny was the first novel she wrote with Deborah Bedford.

I must confess, I didn't know that Meyer had written a previous novel and was delighted to discover her second at my local supermarket (perusing the book and magazine section takes some of the drudgery out of grocery shopping, and if I happen to make a serendipitous find like this one, turns it into a treat).

Sarah Harper is a woman who gets what she wants, most often at the expense of others. She is so determined to achieve and succeed at work that she uses the people there to climb the corporate ladder and gain the things she desires, while at home she neglects her husband and two young children and is losing what is most important.

As a commodities trader, Sarah is driven. In more ways than one. Not only is she a force to be reckoned with on the trading floor, she's one to steer clear of on the way to the office as well. Sarah is notorious for the reckless Nascaresque maneuvers she dares in her Lincoln MKX as she vies for the coveted spot in the parking tower closest to the elevator. She is willing to do whatever it takes to 'get hers'. And everyone knows it.

With her self-centered tunnel vision, Sarah is blind to the fact that she is speeding headlong toward a collision that will alter the course of her life and the lives of all those around her.

Though she finally has to admit that she's floundering in all of her relationships, and especially with her husband, Joe, try as she might, Sarah is unable to strike a balance between advancing her career and saving her marriage. Every time she gets ahead at work, she and Joe take several steps backwards at home. As she struggles with self esteem issues stemming from her painful past where she could never earn her mother's approval or praise, she continues to self medicate on the high she receives whenever she receives recognition at work. Because she needs this rush, and is addicted to it, she continues to nurture her professional life and sorely neglect her private one.

Mitchell, Sarah's perceptive little eight-year-old Chicago Cubs fan, feels the strain on the home front more than either of his parents realize. Though his vision is impaired, he is able to see things that they miss. Like the man in the scoreboard at Wrigley Field who later appears as a homeless beggar searching for shoes on the Windy City's streets. With his childlike faith, Mitchell is not surprised by the instrumental role this eccentric character will play in his family's life.

One fateful morning Sarah's 'take what you want from life' attitude spurs her to try to beat a bridge closing over the river. Her Lincoln plummets into the water, but Sarah's spirit is suspended somewhere between life and death. The lessons she learns about priorities and the value she has in Christ as she hangs in the balance cause her to long to go back and do life differently. But will she be given the chance?

Any Minute is a timely novel that paints a vivid picture of a woman juggling home and career while desperately searching for a sense of self worth. Whether we work outside the home out of necessity, a desire for professional and/or personal fulfillment, or in an attempt to establish our worth through our contributions, trying to divide and compartmentalize home and work is a full-time job in and of itself.

This has seldom been more apparent to me than it was this week. My son was very sick from last Sunday afternoon until yesterday. So sick that I wanted nothing more than to be home with him. But alas, it was also the week my regional vice president was scheduled to visit my child care center. Needless to say, it was not a good week for me to call off.

For four days I performed an intricate dance of trying to take care of my sick child (two doctor visits, interrupted sleep, etc.), my well child (Kindergarten Open House/Picnic), and trying not to compromise my job performance (no small fete as you working moms know). It was physically, logistically and emotionally challenging.

Thankfully I have the support of faithful friends, a super staff, and strength from my Heavenly Father who enables me to keep all the balls in the air. What a relief it is to know that as I hold everything on my plate, He holds me.

Sarah was a commodities broker who didn't know her own value. Since I've come to see myself through my Father's eyes, I do. Like her, it would be so easy to let the hurts of my abusive past make me believe that I'm not worth anything, no matter what I accomplish or acquire.

Instead, like Sarah's son, I'm able to see what the world sometimes misses - that apart from anything the world uses to measure success - I'm immeasurably valuable to Him. I'm pretty sure being a dedicated mother and a hard working employee are just bonuses as far as He's concerned. He treasures me because I'm His precious daughter.

And so are you.

~Truly Tammi

Tammi's Take on "Julie and Julia"

I must confess. I don't go to very many movies, but I'd been anxious to see Julie and Julia since the first time I saw a preview back in July. A film about a wannabe writer who blogs? They had me at the trailer! I finally got to go last weekend, and I'm so glad I did. Like a scrumptious meal, it was well worth the wait.

Though not a foodie, I am a self professed girly girl who loves a good chick flick, and for me this one had many of the irresistible ingredients that make me want to buy the DVD as soon as it's released: Shabby Chic decorating (reminiscent of Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, also by Nora Ephron), a really sweet guy (as in personality and eye candy), and a plot that takes the writer along on two women's journeys toward personal and professional fulfillment. The bonus? Though there is some strong language and there are a few sensual scenes (rated PG 13), the former is mild by today's standards, and the latter is between married couples (no nudity) who actually adore and are committed to one another, flaws and all. How rare, refreshing and truly romantic is that?

The movie is based on the autobiographical novel by Julie Powell about her real-life as a government secretary by day/aspiring author by night. Julie feels her life, and especially her writing career, is dull and bland so she decides to literally spice it up by cooking through Julia Child's classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julie's Julie/Julia Project involves her doing just that during the course of a year while whipping up a daily blog about her ambitious culinary endeavours. All 527 of them.

Cooking had always been a hobby for Julie, and was something she was relatively good at, but following 9/11, it had begun to serve as a de-stresser from her job dealing with the tragedy's aftermath. When she takes on her 365 day project, her pastime evolves into a passion. Much like her invisible mentor, American icon Julia Child, prior to discovering the joy of cooking, Julie's life lacked direction. The goal of cooking and writing about it provides both women with much needed purpose. And more than a pinch of that missing zest.

These heroines live out their cooking/writing destinies five decades and an ocean apart, and both do so in two of the world's most fascinating metropolises (Julie in 21st century New York City and Julia in Paris during the 1950s), yet they are drawn closely together by their parallel projects. Viewers are treated to insightful glimpses into each woman's trials and triumphs in their relationships with friends, coworkers, colleagues, family members and spouses. We see not only the differences and similarities between two women with similar names, we see the commonality of the female experience - trying to find our place in/leave our mark on this great big world. With a healthy and liberal dash of humor and a sprinkling of McCarthy era political intrigue stirred into the mix, Julie and Julia serves up a delectable winning recipe and makes it a movie de resistance!

One of the things I love most about the movie is how it demonstrates how having a project or goal to focus on can be powerful.

For both women discovering a gift and then fully exploring its potential, changes their lives. Cooking allowed them to channel their creativity. Writing allowed them to share what they learned from it with the world.

Near the end of the movie Julie tearfully says, "Julia saved me." I can relate. For two and a half years following a malicious divorce and custody battle initiated by my abusive ex-husband, I was without creative purpose. The time I could have spent writing was wasted being angry, bitter and depressed. Last year, I picked up my pen/ laptop again. ; - ). In many ways writing saved me. But I know it wasn't the gift of writing that saved me, it was the Giver of writing that did. He saved me from my sins when His Son died on the cross for me. He saved me from myself when He restored my desire to write. Writing allowed me to channel all of my self-destructive hurt and pain from my abusive marriage into something positive. It allowed me to redeem it. It also restored the joy of my salvation and my joie de vive!

What are your God given gifts? Are you using and sharing them to glorify Him? No matter where you are in life - content and fulfilled, bored and restless, or in a personal/professional malaise - if you tap into the creative resources He's placed within all of us (writing, cooking, sewing, singing, playing an instrument, painting, photography, scrap booking, party planning, decorating, gardening, and the list could go on and on), if you savor and cultivate them, then channel them into a project for His purposes (i.e. encouraging and teaching others, pointing to the Creator of all things beautiful, extending hospitality, creating memories for loved ones, meeting the needs of those less fortunate than you), like Julie and Julia, and like me, you may be amazed at the feast of blessings He prepares for you.

~Truly, Tammi