sometimes books grow on me...

Yesterday, I read a book that at first I thought was just okay. As I read on, it got funnier and funnier to me. Then, my husband and I sat for 15 minutes last night while I shared with him some anecdotes form the book. Amidst a stressful eating (of Sami not eating her dinner) and after a long day, it was a welcome break of laughter for us. The mark of a good book to me is starting to be that I feel the same about the book after I've read it as before. And I'm still smiling this morning when I think of this book.

For me, it's a little like when I remember a good meal I've had. The best meals are the ones that I've eaten and then still feel good about afterwards and that I'd love to have again. Sometimes, I find, that I'll enjoy a meal while I'm eating it, but then feel horrible afterwards because there was so much fat in it or because it gives me heartburn.

I feel the same way about books. There are some that I enjoy while I'm reading and that I still enjoy afterwards and feel good about. But, there are others that, though I enjoy them while I'm reading them, afterwards I don't feel as good about them and which I can't recommend whole heartedly.

By the way, I will be posting a review about the book that made us laugh (How do you tuck in a Superhero?) at the end of the month =).

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Missing Pieces

The other day I was discussing a book with my mom and explaining to her my concern about how "blame" is cast upon the child in the story. My mom commented about how deeply I read and consider what is written. Sometimes I wonder if I go overboard. Am I questioning too much? Am I overreacting? Why am I reacting this way? I come back to knowing that God wired me this way. But, I also reflect on how God has guided my path through the maze of books I've read over the past few years and what I've learned from the books themselves and from reading them. Recently, I read a book that troubled me. The book I finished reading was Guiltless Living by Ginger Hubbard. When I began reading it, I found myself puzzled and then disconcerted. And in the end, I cried. But, I cried for a different reason than one might suspect. I'd like to explain. I did not read Ms. Hubbard's previous book “ Don't Make Me Count to Three ”, but I knew from f...

listening or rather not listening to directions...

This week has been very eye opening. I am observing and noticing what I need to learn in order to be a better homeschooling mom and teacher and what my daughter needs to learn to be a good homeschooling student. My weakness when I was a teacher in a first grade classroom was not understanding how small concepts had to be broken down--and I lost my patience very quickly. This week, in particular today, I am seeing how detailed my directions need to be. I am going to be working very consciously and deliberately on this. On the other hand, I realized that my daughter does not listen! Wowsers! In a classroom, Autumn listens very well. She is a compliant child and very influenced by peer pressure and conformity. So, she listens along with everyone else and follows directions. But, at home, it's just Autumn and maybe Sami and Mommy. Very, very different! I had forgotten that most of kindergarten in the public schools is not focused on teaching students academic and learning co...

Listening to the Bible

The Word of Promise (Bible on CD) I have been reading the Bible for as long as I can remember. I remember being given a Good News Bible when I was in third grade. When I was 14, my great grandmother gave me a copy of the Living Bible. When I went to college, I began to read the NIV and held onto a thin paperback copy for 4 years that I wrote all over. After I graduated from college, I really wanted a nice NIV study Bible and I saved up to buy one. I have held onto it ever since. Last year, I found a tiny ESV leatherbound Bible on clearance and it is now the one I carry with me in my purse. Interestingly enough, after all these years of reading the Bible, I have never listened to it on CD. I've often considered it. I've listened to lots of teaching on CD from Ravi Zacharias, John Piper, and others, but I've never actually listened to the Word on CD. Two weeks ago, I received a copy of the Word of Promise Bible on CD. I opened it up with excitement ...

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