Book fairs are exciting times at an elementary school. But they can be frustrating too.
For one reason: the one that comes to our school has decided the only payment method available is by pre-loading a card for each child with some money. They recommend starting with $30. Well, we share that load with the grandparents and each of us contributes a bit to get them up close to that, though we don't always make it. Because wow that's a lot of money for a child to have at once. Another frustrating part is that you don't know exactly what books are available ahead of time to help your child plan and budget. So, when they visit the book fair with their class, they find a book they want and buy it, not worrying about how much it costs or if they'll have enough left over for something else.
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When you see new neighbors moving in, do you have a list of hopes or expectations about future interactions? Are you the kind of person who just waves as you pass or spot each other when checking the mail? Or are you the kind who stops to chat at the corner of your yards several times a week because you truly enjoy the people you live near?
We've been super blessed the last six and a half years while living in our house. Right beside us is the sweetest older couple who have basically adopted our kids as grandkids. And my kids love them just as much. Down the street are others who I chat with when we see each other walking or stop to say "hi" as we pass in our cars. It's a friendly neighborhood and feels relatively safe. I've talked several times on here about the amazing program we're part of called Lads to Leaders. It allows my children to learn and grow in their abilities so they can serve the church when they're older.
My husband and I have also been blessed to help coach other kids as they went through the program ... back before our kids were old enough. Now, some of those "children" are helping with the program and coaching my kids. How amazing is that? Another amazing thing, though, is to see those "children," now grown, doing exactly what they trained to do all those years growing up. They're serving in the church. They're stepping up and filling rolls. And it's awesome. It's been a crazy few weeks around here. Between my husband having surgery right before Spring Break, my tax-job schedule being quite a few more hours than normal, extra events at school, and several other things, I've been running a bit crazy. So, when I jokingly told my son to go get me a chocolate milkshake, I didn't really expect anything to happen. For one, because he's seven, and for two, because I was joking--mostly.
So, when my husband jumped up and put his shoes on, I was a bit floored. Pleased, but surprised. He was going to do it? Over the past few years, I've been reading the Laura Ingalls books with my children. We go faster in the summer months and then slow down during the school year, so it's taking us a while. But we're nearing the end. Only a couple more books to go.
I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to revisit all these tales my mom read to my sister and me when we were growing up. But I also forgot a lot of things that were included in these books. They seem like simple, innocent little stories at first glance. After all, they're about a little girl growing up out on the prairie, right? Yes. But what you might not realize/remember is that back then, they saw some things a bit differently than we do today. I have a fairly good work ethic. I have to considering I'm basically working four jobs right now. If I don't stay on top of things, it gets to be too much and things fall through the cracks.
That being said, I'm not always in work mode. In fact, since my book release, I've sort of been in "don't wanna" mode. I'm tired. I went from editing several books back-to-back to tax season starting in the middle of that to Spring semester which always feels like it has twenty more things than fall semester to book launch. And I'm exhausted. So, when I decided I need to write my novella right now for next February, my brain said, "No." Easter is such a fun holiday. New dresses, sandals, eggs, Spring! Not to mention everything wrapped up in the hope of the Resurrection.
The last few years, our family has added to all our traditions. I pick up a lamb roast from Aldi for my husband to grill. I make cheesy au gratin potatoes. We have homemade cinnamon rolls that morning. Can you tell I love foods associated with holidays? To me, food is a big part of our traditions. That being said, it hasn't always been easy to maintain our fancy menu. If someone says, "Whatever you want, dear," does it frustrate you or make you happy. In the case of fellow author, Christina Sinisi, you might be surprised! Read on about her latest anniversary trip. My husband and I have been together for more than 40 years. We met in college—both representing our schools as honors students. I was a sophomore, and he was a senior. His older, wiser self might have been the reason he went back to barracks (he attended Virginia Military Institute) and told his roommate he’d met the woman he was going to marry. His roommate said the same. My husband was right (he often is, but ssh), his roommate wasn’t.
Flash forward to this past year. For some context—my husband grew up in New Orleans up to age 12 and then moved to a Connecticut suburb. He’s a city boy by training. On the other hand, I grew up in the mountains of Virginia and wandered the woods. Whenever my family traveled, we avoided cities and searched out wilderness. Can a pet spell romance? Maybe not for everyone, but if you're an animal-lover, it just might. Guest author Kara Leigh Miller is chatting today about how it turned into a real-life romance story for her. More than once. ;) The year was 2007. My husband and I had just moved into a new home less than six months prior, and it was the dead of winter in Central New York. For those who don’t know, this region of NY gets lake effect snow, and getting a foot or more in just a couple of hours isn’t uncommon. One night, we were huddled inside watching some nature program about snow leopards, and I LOVE cats of any kind. So there I am, oohing and aahing about the cute fluffy kitties on the TV.
Our daughter was barely 3 years old, and she was still learning proper enunciation. Fluffy was fuffy and I jokingly said to my husband, “We need to get a white cat to name Snowball so our daughter can call it, “fuffy noball.” She couldn’t quite pronounce her S’s. My husband laughed and said no. Absolutely no cats. I don't know about where you are, but here in Tennessee, we've had a lot of cloudy days lately. It's just that time of year. January and February come with lots of clouds, rain (sometimes snow), and chilly days. It's called winter. And after a while, it starts to get to me.
Don't misunderstand. I don't mind rain every now and then. But I need some sunshine too. especially this time of year when the days are shorter and we're inside more. It's not full-blown SADD, but it's close. So, what can I find in clouds to be good? |
This is a place for me to share thoughts and ideas not just related to writing. Thoughts about what's going on in my life, about an idea I got that I thought shareworthy, or just a funny anecdote.
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