When We Were Young: Review

Karen Kingsbury is back again with a love story for this generation, When We Were Young. Social media plays a role in everyone’s life, but for Noah and Emily it has become their livelihood. Noah started sharing their love story on social media early on and over the years their following has continued to rise, but their picture-perfect reputation is not the reality of their situation. Their marriage is over. For Noah things have become more about the fans than his relationship with Emily and their two kids. During his last night at home, before moving to an apartment, he dreams about the future of the family he’s leaving behind. Emily can’t sleep and starts reliving their story from the beginning to see how this all came about. Can one night really change the course of their family or will they break every promise they made to each other when they were young? 

I am a huge fan of Karen Kingsbury you will continue to see her latest releases pop up on this blog, because her stories are relatable and life-changing. When We Were Young, is a love story for the modern age. There is a lot of buzz about becoming “social media famous” by publishing everything about your story online. Even if you are not “social media famous,” there is pressure to get likes, follows, and mentions. But, online is not real life. Real life is right in front of us, and it is easy to loose sight of it when everyone is on their phones. When We Were Young not only explores the dangers of misplaced time but how easy it is to forget the people right in front of our faces. We can easily forget the love from those that care about and support us in real time and to love them in return, not in social posts but in real time. If you love, love and stories that touch your heart and your mind, you will enjoy When We Were Young. It would make a great Christmas gift for any reader in your life, or if you are planning to observe the Icelandic tradition of reading on Christmas Eve, it would make a great read. I hope you enjoy! 

- Hannah

Through It All: A Poem

One, two

One, two, three

Step-step, cha-cha-cha.

Going for it all the way

Scare and all,

Holding nothing back.

David faces Goliath.

You face the steps.

The mistake

Not holding you back.

Giving it everything

Even if

You are afraid.

But failure isn’t keeping you

From trying,

Keeping you from going,

Taking it all.

You have sparkle.

You have charm.

But perseverance is what will get you through

It all. 

- Hannah 

Only Get Lost In Love

This time of year goes by painfully slow and incredibly fast all at the same time. The past few years I’ve worked during the holidays. I don’t mind because if I’m busy, I don’t dwell on the fact that the holidays are absent of family time and laughter; long car rides; that one relative that always knows how to cut you down before you say grace; and the traditional shooing of the children and recruitment of the dads to take us all out to a movie, so all the ladies of the family can cook in peace. I miss it all. 

Here is the thing about family, you can be hurt by them and lose them, but no matter what you’ll always go to bat for them. 

It reminds me of Jesus. He doesn’t give up on us, even when we break his heart and spit on the blood he shed to save us, he loves us. Family is complex. Love is even more dynamic than our closest ties are. The love of Jesus is so deep and wide that I can’t fathom it, but only get lost in it. 

Yes, our families can be hard, but so can we. Love, it’s the only way. It’s a cute saying that people lean on and throw about flippantly. But, it’s harder to accept love, let alone live it out, and give it out to the people placed in our lives. It’s our struggle as human beings born into the curse of this world, we are hardwired to resist, reject, and at the same time horde love for ourselves. That is the opposite of the love that paid the price for our sins, set us free, and empowers us to love in return. 

Our families feel like something we have to deal with at times, but they are worth more than any pain we feel; they need love just as they are. They are God’s kiddos, just like we are. 

God, help us love them. Help us dive deep into your love, because we need you and our families need you too. Thank you for this season, no matter how we are feeling and dealing, this is a time that either helps us refocus or steals everything. Give us hearts open to your love and that give love, without expectation of receiving it from others but knowing that you will always show up. Thank you for our loved ones and all the ways you have used them to bring us closer to you. 

- Hannah