On reading...

A few of you ladies have been following my list of books I've read this year and have asked some questions. Those questions prompted me to think about what I've learned through what I've read this year, and it just seemed timely to write a post now that we're almost halfway through the year.

When I started Booklist 2011, I had several goals in mind. First, I wanted a way to record what I was reading in order to evaluate the balance in my reading. Second, I wanted to keep track of books I've read that I might want to revisit or recommend. Third, I thought some of you avid readers might enjoy seeing the list as you think through your own reading.

The list has been helpful in evaluating my first goal -- and in broadening my reading. So far this year, I've learned about Hudson Taylor, biblical womanhood, the futility of modern philosophical ethics, the Greatest Generation, Islamic terrorism in Darfur, and how to distress documents. I've visited Prince Edward Island, England, Ohio, Palestine, Israel, New England, and numerous high profile sporting events. I've even read the best first or last sentences of many classic pieces of literature. All without leaving my home.

At this point, I don't have a great master plan. We have many, many books here in our home -- fiction, non-fiction, classics, Christian -- and I sometimes choose something of interest from these. We also have a good library, and I always browse the new non-fiction book area first to see if anything strikes my fancy. This has done a lot to broaden my horizons. The library also has an interesting themed book display each month that I look at. I'm currently involved in two different business efforts, and sometimes this drives my search. I always take a look at my kids' books to see if anything interests me there -- or needs to be previewed.

I've loved having the list to keep track of the books, as well. I'm the worst at remembering titles and authors -- I sometimes forget I've even read a book (especially Agatha Christie mysteries, which tend to be pubished under multiple titles). One of the books I recently completed included letters written during the Great Depression. I'll want my daughter to read at least part of this book when she studies that time period in a couple of years, so I'm glad I'll have my list to refer to.

Several of you have let me know that you've enjoyed following my list, so my third goal was accomplished -- with the bonus that you've also shared what you're reading with me! I'd love to have more discussion like that, so keep it coming!

And happy reading!

Strutting my Stuff

I've been enjoying a new (to me) blog lately,Somewhat Simple. Talk about a mecca for ideas -- she's constantly sharing ideas and inviting others to share ideas -- and encouraging copycats (and we both know I'm a big copycat). Makes me almost wish I was back in my old Arizona stomping grounds to meet this girl and attend one of her girls' nights out!


When I saw her linky party this week, I couldn't resist relishing my little success with my mother-in-law's birthday gift once again and posting it. I'll bet you either having something to share over there, too, or you'd love to browse through the ideas others are posting, so join the party!

A Smile to Remember

The last time I saw her, she was smiling. She and Daddy had driven out to Georgia from Arizona for my oldest child's high school graduation. This was an especially sweet time for me, as he was the first of our three children to survive my attempts at homeschooling.

We had a great time, that visit, just hanging out together. AnnaKate and I treated her (and she treated us) to a spa pedicure. I watched and laughed as she and Daddy played Uno with the kids, again and again. She probably brought a craft to do with AnnaKate; she usually did.

And there were lots of hugs, lots of laughs, lots of words of encouragement. As always.

As they left, Daddy let me know that he wasn't sure if she could make the drive again; the long trip was awfully hard on her.

But that summer, she seemed to thrive -- even in the Chandler heat. We had worked out a schedule for me to call and check on her whenever Daddy was out of town. I called her one Thursday morning, her day off, but she didn’t answer. I calmly left her a message to check in with me, thinking she might be in the shower. An hour went by, no call. Another hour, I called and left another message… more urgent this time, wondering to myself who would be best to call locally to check on her.

Within a few minutes, she called back. “Sorry, I forgot you’d be calling,” she apologized. “I got up and went shopping this morning at Walmart.”

“Walmart?” I asked disbelievingly, knowing she always dreaded the vastness of Walmart and usually just sent Daddy instead.

“Yes, I just went in and got one of those electric scooters and zipped all around the store!” she proudly reported with her sassy Texas accent. I would have liked to have seen that, and I’ll bet she giggled at least once while she was zipping.

By fall, she and Daddy were planning their 50^th anniversary trip for December, a leisurely drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. I was so excited and prepared a special trip box for them with a leather bound travel journal, traveling music, and other goodies. But then, shortly before their planned departure date, she developed shingles. I didn’t realize how painful shingles were, but even beyond the pain, I know they caused her frustration. Frustration at not being able to go to work. Frustration at not being able to take their trip. Frustration at having to wrap her arms, and at having this ugliness on her limbs.

She was mostly recovered from the shingles, but still not feeling well, when the holidays rolled around. She rallied her spirits, if not her body, enough to share Christmas Eve with my brother, my younger sister, and their families.

And then she was gone. Gone home to her Lord on His birthday, just a few weeks shy of her own 70^th birthday. When Daddy called to tell me, it was just surreal. How could this woman, so full of life on even her worst days, no longer live? This woman, this mother of mine, had overcome so many things in her lifetime. Yet she would have been the first to say, “Not I, but Christ who lives within me.”

And at the end, at least the end from an earthly perspective, it was again Christ who overcame, this time overcoming death for her. And I am confident that this was the day that she really began to live, really live, more than she ever lived here on earth.

Why, oh, why do I homeschool?

Is it just me, or do all homeschooling moms feel tempted to quit their jobs around March each year? I think I heard Susan Wise Bauer say that she feels like quitting every October and March -- and we all know she's the uber-homeschooler -- so I don't feel too alone.

Maybe it's due to spring coming on. It's harder for all of us to keep our focus on academics inside when it's so beautiful outside.

Maybe it's the time change. We all feel like we're a little more sluggish since we crept forward early Sunday morning (there was no springing forward at our house). {Note: don't even get me started on Daylight Savings Time. This Arizona girl is still in mutiny about this}

Maybe it's the fact that we can almost see the end of curriculum... but we're not there yet.

Maybe it's the weight of needing to begin planning for next year while still trying to finish up this year. In the Atlanta area, we have two major homeschool conventions -- the first in early May, which requires me to begin thinking about the future... right now.  The second is at the end of July. We typically start school in very early August, so that's a bit late for me.

On the bright side, I've come to realize that any discouragement is my cue to remind myself of the reasons we homeschool. In no particular order, these include:

• We love being with our kids
• I can customize my children's educational plans to meet their needs and our goals, and I'm the first to know if they are struggling with something
• I wouldn't trade seeing the light bulbs going on above their heads for anything
• I'm encouraged each time I see that my children are learning to think, to process the facts
• We can spend as much time as we like praying, teaching them about God, discussing a biblical worldview
• Family flexibility -- we can make up sick days on our schedule, take vacations when everyone else is in school, and enjoy custom field trips
• We don't have to start the day at dark-thirty
• No offense, but our food is infinitely better than what is served in any cafeteria
• It's easier to teach my children life skills when we are spending more time living together
• I learn new things every day

And I'm so thankful that those blessings make it easier to remind myself to be content in this season.

Risk Taker? Join the Club!

I'm not a huge risk taker. I enjoy the occasional roller coaster, I'll eat certain kinds of sushi, and I own my own business. However, at this point, I don't think I would skydive, eat blowfish, or wear an alligator on my head.

Nester over at The Nesting Place had a cool idea for her blog today. She's created a holiday, National Take A Risk Day, and has invited risk-takers to link up with the post. I felt like it was very timely, as I'd just written this post about a project that I'd been quite uncertain about but decided to try.

One of the blogs I subscribe to (gotta love google reader) participated, as well. It was an encouraging insight into this mom's life and journey -- stop by and read it if you have time. And check out her gorgeous photography -- it always inspires me to try to take more (and more interesting) photos of everyday life.

I love it when a plan comes together!

I don't consider myself to be an especially creative person. I'm just a big copycat. And not a very good one, at that.

My daughter and I have a running joke whenever we go to the Yellow Daisy Festival or cute shops. I say: "We could so do that!" (as I'm making notes or sketches of some fantastically cute and creative thing). And she always responds, "Yes, but we never will." And she is right, 99% of the time.

So I saw this book at the library, I think it was called Bent, Bound, and Stitched. The author presented some very creative (and somewhat offbeat) ways to collage all sorts of paraphenalia -- old photos, ticket stubs, book pages, paint, wire, thread, you name it. And it just got me thinking about a project I want to do. It involves some old letters and photos from my parents. But it just hasn't all come together in my mind yet.

However, my sweet mother-in-law recently turned... well, a year that ends with zero. So it's a milestone. I wanted to give her something special, but I was just stumped. Then I remembered that other project I've been wanting to do. And some old photos I had, along with a letter and recipe that my sweet mother-in-law's own mother had mailed to me way back when I was a young bride.

And, somehow, I managed to pull it all together like this:

So often, my creative efforts just pale (or maybe fail) in comparison to what I had pictured in my mind. I was so happy that this one turned out just like I had hoped, and made a special gift for my sweet mother-in-law. I hope she enjoys it half as much as I enjoyed making it!

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Once upon a time, it was March 13, 1996. And then I blinked.