Journey to Joy

I am not a religious person. I was as a child - I was raised in a very loving, welcoming family of devout followers. We spent several days a week in church and when my family stopped going when I was ten, I was devastated. I didn't know how to fill that void. I spent every Sunday going with friends to different churches all over town, but nothing worked for me. I learned to find spirituality eventually, on my own and it has been fulfilling to have gone down a hard and difficult path and learned something about myself and what I need in my life.

So, it is not surprising to me how many religious and spiritual books I come across when I am looking for inscribed books. So many discarded titles left to sit idle on the shelves, looking for a home. I imagine that if one book doesn't work for a person, they move on to the next to help them find some peace or enlightenment.

It isn't even surprising how many of these books are inscribed - for many people, sharing their faith is the most important thing they can do.

What is surprising to me is how it makes me a little sad when I do find a spiritual book that someone gave to a friend or loved one with an inscription and then I find it discarded. I never thought I would get so maudlin over a lonesome book.

 

Inscription reads: "Dear Elaine, Hope this book brings to you a "Journey to Joy". Merry Christmas! 12/97. Love, Paul, Celinda, Kyly & Khelsea"

Buy this Book New: Journey to Joy

For a Special Teenager

I like how this book says that it is from "Alabama Grandpa". What a cute way to remember someone that you might not see on a regular basis.

 

Inscription reads, "Kasi Kahles. 11/20/97. From Alabama Grandpa. (Phone number and address hidden) Molalla, OR 97038"

Life at its Best

I found this book at PACS, Portland Adventist Community Services thrift store. It's not surprising that this book was available; the author, Ellen G. White is an admired author among Seventh-Day Adventists. "Seventh-day Adventists believe that Mrs. White was more than a gifted writer; they believe she was appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world's attention to the Holy Scriptures and help prepare people for Christ's second advent".  Information found at The Ellen G. White Estate

I found so many copies of this book at PACS, I could have filled up an entire shopping cart with them. I don't know how many printings there are of this book, but there was at least 20 copies that looked exactly like this one. This is the only one that I found that had an inscription.

 

Inscription reads: "Sherry Hillmon. 1965. Graduation. Pat & Loraine Vehmann, Lenore Mucico. Ladi Academy"

Three O'Clock Dinner

This book is so threadbare that I had to open it to see what the title was. I imagine it sit on someone's bookshelf for a very long time before it ended up in the thrift store.

One of the best things about finding older books is the names. How often nowadays does anyone hear the name Gertrude?

This book is also still in print. Pretty impressive for a book printed in 1945.

On the inside cover there is this statement: This edition is produced in full compliance with all war production board conservation orders.

 

Inscription reads: "To Donna. From Gertrude. Xmas '48"

Buy this Book New: Three O'Clock Dinner

Planet in Rebellion

I posted on September 11 and September 13 about Hilda Cohrs. Well, I was at my favorite thrift store just this past Tuesday, two weeks after I found the first two books and I found this third book with an inscription from Hilda. Hilda is starting to become one of my favorite people, just because she loved books so much.

I like how she writes exactly when and where she got her books. This one was bought at a Goodwill store in Gresham, Oregon for 69 cents in 1984. It was a Friday.

Hilda especially liked a verse on page 210, "No wonder Paul says, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31."

I hope I'm lucky enough to come across some more of Hilda's library.

 

 

Inscription reads: "From the library of Ray and Hilda Cohrs. Gresham, Oregon. Friday, 3/16/1984. *Bought at Gresham Goodwill store this day! 69 cents"

Bottom of page reads: "(About eat, P.210, Hilda) Beautiful picture next to page 128"

Children and Their Fathers

I don't know if I can even describe how happy the inscription in this book makes me; it is so beautiful and touching.

This was given on a Saturday and the next day would have been Father's Day.

 

Inscription reads: "Gary - You are a father that displays a special nature around your wife and son. During the past four years I have watched you build a foundation for a future which will last and enable you to continue in years to come. I have grown to admire your patience and understanding which will aid you as you raise your family. Thank you for helping me on this special day and in all of the days that have passed since we first met! Edmund. June 20, 1970

A Baby for Grace

I like that this book is from a Ralph, but Ralph is in parenthesis, like he's not a real person.

 

Inscription reads: "To: Sarabeth. From: "Ralph". Merry Christmas 1998"

Buy this Book New: A Baby for Grace