How Many Books Can YOU Read In a Year?

A few years ago I started logging the books have read. I write them in a pretty journal given to me by my youngest son. I have been averaging about 40 books a year not counting the Bible. I have read health books, romance novels, poetry (good and bad), self help books and many genres to numerous to mention. I am becoming well rounded in my reading which is a comfort since I tend to be "well rounded" in other areas as well, thus my lifetime membership at the local weight loss club. However, my stacks of unread books continues to grow. Library sales, gifts, downloaded coupons that are to good to pass up, all contribute to my bookish addiction! My New Years Resolution will be to read all my new books before buying new...I'll never make it!

If you will notice, I have added a new page element to my blog (that was an accomplishment for me). I will be posting the books I am currently reading. I would love to know YOUR favorites and what you are reading also. It is a treat to find new authors, explore new genres and share favorites.

Hope your New Year brings you many happy hours of reading!

Merry Christmas

Today is Christmas Eve. I like Christmas Eve even better than Christmas Day. The expectation is still in the air, the spirit of giving is abundant, and I still get to look forward to all that wonderful food. Christmas Evening I will be picking up wrapping paper, making appointments to take kids for gift exchanging at the various stores, and feeling guilty and bloated after eating "the whole thing!" Yes, Christmas Eve is the best!

This Christmas is extra special since we have a new grand baby to spoil. He has the biggest and most gifts under the tree. No one begrudges him this special treat as we were all at one time the "youngest" and got the lion's share of the gifts. He also makes us remember how amazing it is that a little boy was born in a stable and laid in a manger. We do our best to make everything clean, warm and soft for Julian, but Jesus had meager comforts as a baby. Yet he had angels singing, shepherds shouting and wisemen kneeling. Amazing!

I hope your Christmas Eve evening is everything you hope for, your Christmas Day is a shining success and your New Year the best ever.

Pictures of the Little Prince

Here is little Prince Julian. He's already changed so much. He is bigger, rounder and sweeter than ever. Jordan and Jonae are so patient and good with him.

GRANDma

Oh, joy in the extreme! I am now a grandma! Who knew that I would find it so exciting? Probably all you other grandmas who have pictures in your purses and Christmas shopping lists that reach to the floor. I guess I heard that it would be bliss, but never really believed it until now.

My son Jordan and his lovely wife Jonae have a new baby boy, born the day before Thanksgiving. So appropriate since we are so thankful for him. His name is Julian and weighed in at 6 lbs, 7 oz. I wish I had a picture of him with me but alas I'm not where one is available. If I could just download an image from my heart you would know how perfect he is.

Thank you, Jordan and Jonae, for such a lovely gift. Thank you for being near enough for me to plan moments to be with the three of you during the years to come. It doesn't make me feel old, it makes me feel GRAND!

Phi Kappa Who?

I have never been a great scholar. I did finish high school, barely, and did about a years worth of college. I completed a three-year study program to receive my Ordination with the Assemblies of God; but that deep, long, all encompassing learning, I’ve never been a part of. Last night I had the most wonderful experience of watching my daughter, Jolene, be inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. I somehow felt the mixed feelings of pride and regret, as if I had been left behind.

We learned, from a white-haired, 72 year old professor, who is working on his 4th degree, that Phi Kappa Phi stands for the Latin motto: “Philosophía Krateíto Photôn.” This motto, being interpreted means: “Let the love of learning rule humanity.” This quote follows close on the heels of what Sally Brown (Charlie Brown’s little sister) had to say in regards to education, “I’m glad we live in a C- family,” with which I strongly identify!

The push for higher education ceased to exist on my side of the family somewhere between my grandmother Olive and my children, that is, until Jolene broke free and be came a Phi Kappa Phi inductee. No longer are we a “C- family.” We have been raised to new educational heights!!! Wahoo! Way to go, Jolene!

Seriously, I know the love of learning is not going to solve all of humanity’s problems. Nevertheless, I do wish I had studied that extra hour, aced a few more tests, and stuck it out during those college years. I believe it’s not to late for me to return to the halls of higher education, but it is definitely more complicated. My higher education may from this point, consist of radio trivia questions, Starbucks coffee cups and endless reading of books (the main book being the Bible of course!). My professors will consist of those who have walked the path of life experiences before me, and the babes whose innocent take on life teaches me endless truths.

Jolene,
Dad and I are so proud of you. You have accomplished what I have only dreamed.
I love you,
Mom.

LET IT SNOW!!!

It's October 31st and no snow! Hallelujah! I feel like I have had a real autumn. The leaves are past their crunchy golden prime and are rather soggy. The last of the flowers are gone and the lawns are beginning to turn brown. My pumpkin on the porch escaped major freezing so I can cook him and that will be the end of my lovely fall season.

November 1st will bring the winter season, I hope. I am now ready for snow! Big honkin' flakes that sit on fence posts and have to be shoveled, not swept off sidewalks and driveways will be a welcome sight. A snow day from school and work sounds delicious and I wouldn't complain about two. I am ready for the light the snow brings on my morning walks, the contrast of white snow and dark moose is a winter blessing!

I am thankful for the extra fall days, but am looking forward to that "winter wonder land" Alaska becomes! Yipee! LET IT SNOW!!!

Swans On The Lake

Remember that piano piece Swans on the Lake in the Thompson piano course series? I remember as a child thinking I could actually play the piano when I got to that piece. It sounds like swans gliding gently between the water lilies. Not too long ago one of my own students glided through the old favorite, leaving me with the calm relaxed feeling of having earned a relaxing “swan” moment after long lessons of counting, fingering and dynamics.

While at women’s retreat I heard that there were two swans that lived on the lake at Little Beaver Camp. I longed to take a few minutes to run down the hill to catch a glimpse of them as they serenely floated over the still waters, until someone said, “Swans are so MEAN!” She proceeded to speak of pecking, chasing and violence that would cause the heartiest CSI fan to cringe. What?! No way! Not MY swans! I never did catch a glimpse of them serene or mean, but my image of “swans on the lake” has been permanently altered.

Upon arriving home from Girlfriend’s Get Away, I entered my house feeling calm and serene, but in less than an hour I had, like the swans, had turned “mean”. The waves and undercurrents of family life met me full force and I went from floating on that spiritual high to trying to walk on water unexpectedly. Like Peter, I almost sang my swan song!

Thankfully Paul tells us, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us.” (Ephesians 1:7)

Hopefully (with God’s lavish grace) I will not have the same reputation of the mean swan. I want people to think of me as that graceful “swan on the lake”, serene and peaceful.

The Lights of Home

The days are shorter now here in Alaska, that means I walk in the dark at 6:00 in the morning. The months of September and October are particularly dark as there is no snow to reflect streetlight, starlight, or moonlight. I’m not afraid to walk in the dark. By that time of the morning, the late night street haunters are usually asleep where ever it is they sleep, traffic is minimal, and the only other scary things that might be out there are moose. I have learned if I don’t panic and keep walking, they usually take a look at me and my doggy companion and keep eating. It’s when I sneak up on them because I don’t see them as they blend into the darkness of trees and houses that we both get a fright!

The other day as I turned the last corner of my walk, a little chilled, a little tired and very hungry, I saw the welcome sight of home. The tall windows across the front of my house were lit by my reading light in my favorite corner, the glowing chandler in the dining room formed the familiar silhouette of my husband as he stood, cereal bowl in hand, eating his trusty Cheerios. As there was no other movement, I anticipated the usual wake-up call for my teenagers and the irritation that comes with oversleeping. Nevertheless, I knew from experience of many mornings that the coffee would be hot, the welcome warm, and all things familiar and loved were right there on the other side of those lighted windows. I paused to savor the moment, even though the morning would be rushed, said a grateful prayer of thanksgiving, and thought, “Who am I to deserve such riches?”

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His people… For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100 (NLT)

Eye, Tooth, Arm and Leg

I'm thinking "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" was misquoted. I believe it should be, "An eye for an eye and an arm and a leg for a tooth!"

I had my teeth cleaned and the dentist told me I had a little cavity that needed filling. "Great," I say, "It doesn't hurt at all! Let's do it!" So the day before my appointment to have it filled, I'm eating a nice soft piece of bread and you guessed it, the back half of my tooth drops off! I go in and the dental assistant assures me it's not so bad. We can still fill it. Then comes "Dr. X" with his handy dandy tooth drill! Yikes!!!, "Yes, of course that hurts! You're drilling my tooth!" I yell. He proceeds to tell me he's given me enough Novocaine to drop a horse (not his exact words, but close). Well, to make a long procedure short, he tells me I have two choices: 1. pull the stinkin' tooth, or 2. get a root canal and crown. Of course I'm remembering all the pain and suffering I went through with braces and I dread having that lovely evenness in my mouth disturbed, so I say root canal without hesitation. I go to the front desk, they make me an appointment, tell me it will be $950.00 for the root canal and then we'll talk about the crown (I've heard vicious rumors that it could be as much as $1200.00)! When I have sufficiently recovered I point at my tooth and say, "I don't need a crown crown, just a little one for my little tooth..." The receptionist did not think that was one bite, ummm, bit funny! ARGH!!!! I should have said "pull the sucker!"

Okay, maybe I took the quote out of context, but the truth remains, it is an arm and a leg for a tooth.

"Me! Me! Me!"

Myself along with a couple of friends are planning a Girlfriend Getaway for about 30 ladies this fall. How did we come up with the title? I tend to call the ladies in my life "girlfriend" as a term of endearment so I suppose that's where it came from. The task is fun, we laugh as much as we plan and I'm so looking forward to the moment we all sequester ourselves away at a campground with food, fun and fellowship.


I have just finished reading Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables". One of my favorite parts was when Jean Valjean discovered Collette and Marius had fallen in love. This man who had done nothing but care for, and love this child now realized he was no longer the most important person in her life. The book says, roughly, that his soul howled, "Me! Me! Me!" and suddenly selfishness was born where only selflessness had been. I tell you this because I had the same experience as Jean Valjean.

Upon arriving at church a couple of Sundays ago, I was told my friend, Carol, was at the hospital with what was apparently a stroke. As soon as this shock sunk in, my soul, as did Jean Valjean's, howled, "Me! Me! Me!" How could my friend possibly be in danger of leaving me! I need her! As it turned out, my friend had a mild TIA due to out of control blood pressure and is now on the mend, thank God! (Take your meds, Carol!)

Anyway, girlfriends (very few men read my blog), I do need you, and I hope you need me also. Yes, I am selfish about my friends, I want you around FOREVER!

Ouch!

I have been reading Lisa See's book, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I found myself intrigued with the Chinese custom of foot binding. How odd that women would go through so much for what they considered to be beautiful and what I would consider to be grotesque (I Googled food binding and saw the pictures...UGH!). What is it that makes people see beauty so differently? Some cultures see chubby women as beautiful (I was born in the wrong culture) while another thinks bone thin is the most attractive. And what about piercings? Tongue, lip, eye, belly buttons and other places I hesitate to mention are not exempt from torture. I even have six extra holes in my head, three in each ear! Why wasn't one or even two enough?

I don't know about you, but I'm thankful that I get to make the decision of when and how to change the looks of my physical appearance, whether it be changing my hair color, adding another earring or just buying a new shade of lipstick. All these things make us interesting people, don't you think?

PS It's weird, but my feet are suddenly killing me!!!

Back On Track

After skipping my weight loss classes for two months this summer, I discovered upon return that I had gain five pounds! So, back to measuring, counting points, planning ahead, and all those good for me habits that I let lapse while "vacationing". Last night I brought home pizza for dinner. I just had a good weight loss, I was feeling confident, I knew I could eat one piece, a few veggies and a diet drink and stay within my daily allotted points.... WRONG! One bite of that deliciously greasy, cheesy, crusty delicacy sent me down the road of points overload!

Last Saturday at my weight loss class one of the "big losers", who was now skinny and svelte, asked the director, "Now that I am at my goal weight, how do I get rid of the desire to binge eat?" The director ask the class if anyone had a comment for her and 25 women (and one man) ducked behind the person ahead of them. Even the director had no advice for this woman. I immediately thought of the Apostle Paul who wrote: I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right (eat veggies), I inevitably do what is wrong (eat half a pizza)... Oh what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin (overeating) and death (fat)?" Paul basically asked the same question as the woman at my weight loss class...Paul must have struggled with pizza too! But the difference is, Paul realized the desire will always be there. The trick is finding a way to overcome the desire, and he did find the answer: Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we take the time to read chapters seven and eight of Romans, we find the Solution for more than just our desire to overeat. This principle that Paul teaches us (and first had to learn himself!) will make a difference in how we overcome what we don't want to be and to become what we do want to be.

Well, I'm back on track today. I know I am because I'm starving! I will joyfully eat my five point microwave lunch and be thankful that I didn't even touch the doughnuts sitting by the coffee pot! Thanks be to God...and fellow "over eater", the Apostle Paul.

...Fire Weed And ALL

Fireweed is an interesting thing. It is the summer season barometer for Alaska. When it first blooms in July we know summer is half over and we pretend not to see the blooms amongst the daises and other wild flowers. When the blooms turn to seed pods we know fall is only moments away, and when the pods are blown into cottony seeds, summer is only a memory and winter is creeping in from the north.

On my daily walks I tend to keep an eye on the fireweed, trying to gauge how much longer I have to do all the things I planned to do this summer and never got finished...or started. Often I think of all my life plans that I have put on hold or dropped and never picked up again. The result of these musings is usually panic, but this year I am feeling differently about it all. I hardly noticed the fireweed in its season telling phases. Instead I have enjoyed my ramblings and talks with my sister, Masha. At first I didn't know what it was I was feeling instead of the usual panic, and then I realized what it was: contentment! Why this year? Maybe it's because I'm finally past that age of competing with life, maybe because I'm less driven and more relaxed, maybe it's because I'm to become a grandmother this winter and I'm looking forward to that event. Whatever the reason, I'm basking in it!

Paul tells the Philippians, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned to be content" (Philippians 4:11 NLT). I have never been in need, but often in "want" of many things and anxious about them. I remember being discontent, but when did I learn the lesson of contentment? At what moment did the lesson sink in? I would guess it was a slow growing process that I may face again, but in any case, I am glad it did finally sink in. Life is good...fireweed and all!

Lest I Forget...

My husband picked up a video camera at a friend's garage sale the other day. We now can watch all those home movie videos which he wore out the old camera taking. The lion's share of the video time is devoted to Christmas and Birthday celebrations that have somehow faded from my memory. Imagine my surprise to see a much younger me, eight and one half months pregnant wearing a beard (a dish cloth tied around my face bandit style), carrying a black bag full of toys over my shoulder calling ho, ho, ho's to a crowd of over excited children. Did I really do that? I plead temporary hormonal insanity! What a wonderful reminder it is to me that all those years of parenting were not only laundry, dishes, cooking, and worry, but surprises, singing, silliness and carefree moments. Needless to say, I dreamed about my "babies" last night and woke with the sweet feeling of having been loved.

Something else I noticed in those videos was I called my husband, Tom, "honey" several times. It's been a really long time since I used this endearment in reference to him. Not only do our memories fade, so does evidently, our affection. Do I still love him? Of course! But where is that comfortable affection that used to flow so easily between us? What do I need to do to change that situation? Maybe I'll just try calling him "h-h-honey" tonight. Yikes! It used to be so easy!

We still have several of those video cassettes to work our way through over the next few weeks. More Christmases, Birthdays and sorrow tinted family reunions centered around the loss of a child, my mother, my father and my brother. But these bittersweet memories deserve a place in the family archives as well and help me remember those I really never want to forget.

I Did My Stint...And Loved It!

It's funny how as I get older the more my desire to take care of small children in the church nursery wanes. I tend to avoid the nursery at all costs, as long as I don't look to undignified in the attempt. Due to poor planning on my part last Sunday evening, we had lovely little girls that needed a nursery attendant and guess who got drafted...you guessed it!

Sunday evening I ate a forty-four course meal of plastic food (no calories), drank countless cups of "air juice" and had my favorite desert six times! Not only was I served these marvelous foods, I was entertained by a princess dancing in a "Little House on the Prarie" bonnet, a pink cape with faux fur and black gloves. I had a story read to me by an amazinging smart reader who informed me her reading level was third-grade and I belive it! She actually read the words sea anemone without hesitation! I still can't believe it!

Maybe next time the nursery worker schedule looks a little low on volunteers, I'll raise my hand.