For the love of books

Friday September 6, 2013

If you know me, that title didn’t surprise you in the least.

I’ll have more to say on that when you get to Fave #5.

I’m linking up today with Susanne of Living to Tell the Story for Friday’s Fave Five, where we share the blessings of our week.

Won’t you join us?

My favorites this week:

1. Being back at grocery shopping! I know, who enjoys grocery shopping? But I had a little minor foot surgery in early August and my sweet husband offered to do the shopping so I could keep my foot up on Saturdays…and get some things done on the computer. Last Saturday, I was back full force at Publix, and I found I had missed it. While my foot was propped, I made lists for my hubby and he did well, but you just see stuff and remember stuff and catch bargains when you do the shopping. Glad to be back at it. (In related news, glad to be back in my own shoes! I’ve gone two days now without the boot thing without any problems. So glad.)

2. Creativity. I do think it’s a blessing and a bane. I am thankful for it, but sometimes I get so many ideas that I just don’t have time to follow through on. That’s when it’s frustrating. But “to everything a season,” I keep telling myself.

3. BIG adoption news! My son and daughter-in-law’s paperwork is now all official and is in India, awaiting a match. There’s no telling when we’ll hear, but it’s still very exciting. Praying for the little one who’s already matched to them in the Father’s heart.

4. Students. I think of a precious former student who has grown so dear, even more in the last year. And of a current one who has trusted me with what she’s facing. I’m blessed to be a part of their lives!

5. A quote:

“I love movies, but through this book, I was made aware of a whole new kind of movie: my imagination. I watched a movie that no one had ever seen before because it was mine.” (A student)

One of my students wrote that last week, and I just couldn’t resist sharing. I know just how she feels, and it’s such a joy to share that feeling…and to share the love of books.

Wishing you the love of books this week,

Dr. Seuss, My Inspiration

Thursday February 28, 2013

Dr. Seuss's birthday is March 2nd, and Read Across America Day is being celebrated in schools tomorrow.

I love me a good Dr. Seuss book and, as you can see, so does grandson Aiden and his monkey friend, George.

And in that same celebratory spirit, I've penned a verse for Aiden and all boys who love to hug their monkeys and read.

(Dr. Seuss it isn't, but you get the idea.)

Books and Magic and Monkeys, Too

As he sat in the house on that cold, cold wet day
The boy in the blue shirt just wanted to play!
Little Aiden was dreaming of planes, trains and cars
And forklifts and race cars and ships to the stars.

With his chin in his hand and a frown on his face
He looked round at the toys all over the place.
Little monkey sat still with no gleam in his eye
He seemed to be saying, “I want me some pie!
We will run and we’ll jump and we’ll have us some fun
Just give us some sunlight and out we will run.”

For the monkey and Aiden would often explore
Their missions would take them right out of the door.
Their adventures were magic, they were quite pretend
They’d rescue fair maidens, their honor defend.
They’d blast off to the moon and find treasure and land
Build snowmen and tall forts and castles of sand.

But inside they were stuck on that cold, cold wet day
No sun could be found, not a sliver or ray.
Little monkey was ready for joy and for fun
But things seemed so blue-y without the bright sun.

Then a gleam caught his eye and he looked at the floor
Saw blue books and red books stretched all to the door.
They were tales of great daring, of men strong and true
He fell from his perch and it seemed like he flew.

Aiden saw monkey fall and he followed him down
Saw book after book, tales of country and town.
They did gleam and they glistened like treasures of gold
Like tickets to places—far, near, new and old.

As the clouds spread their way o’er the now-darkening sky
The boy and his monkey felt like they could fly.
With a book in his hand and a friend by his side
A boy could fly rockets or zoom down a slide.

It can snow or rain buckets, with a book in your hands
You fly off to sunshine-filled kingdoms and lands.
For the world is a place of great joy with a book
So open one up, dive right in, take a look.

Little Aiden and monkey have flown on their way
With dump trucks and castles, race cars they will play.
For a book, it is magic, its spell is divine.
New people and places, love in every line.

Books, Friends, and a Good Meal: Friday's Fave Five

Friday August 19, 2011 Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Click on over and see her if you’d like to join in!

FFF Friends, I've been so busy my first week back at school! I'm hoping to get around to leave more comment love this weekend.

Here are my favorites from this week:

1. Chicken pot pie. This was my son’s last week at home, so I cooked for him. One of his requests was Chicken Pot Pie. It had been a while since I’d made it, and I’d forgotten how good it is! We all enjoyed it that night, and I took it to school for lunches a couple of days, too. (Barbara, I think this recipe came from you!)

2. Community. Being back at school is its own kind of community. I do love the people I teach with. I love their hearts. It’s been great to be together, laugh together, and worship together this week.

3. Friends across the country. Sometimes it seems no matter where our boys go, someone we have known is there. Our youngest is stopping to stay with friends in Atlanta on his way back to college—a beloved football coach who’s married to a good teacher friend of mine. What a blessing to have friends like that, who take your kids in on short notice.

4. The pile of books by my bed. It’s a little frustrating knowing I can’t dive into them at will, but there’s a book lover’s security in knowing a book is waiting. (That probably sounds crazy! The other day I told the librarian I needed a book to get me through the weekend.) There’s a certain anticipation that goes along with that stack that sits by the bed.

5. This quote.

"A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us." (Henri Nouwen)

Earlier this week I posted Keep Me Listening and Keep Me Faithful—all about waiting. This quote really spoke to my heart, especially the part about staying where we are and living the situation out to the full. A good reminder.

Hope your week ahead is filled with good books, good friends, and a homecooked meal or two!

Books: A Child's Best Friend

Wednesday September 15, 2010 I’m such a sucker for books. And my boys know that.

They always knew Mom would say no to a new game or Matchbox car, but she’d never say no to a new book.

Memories of stories and characters embed themselves in our hearts and minds and stick with us for a long time. What will be your child’s memories of storytime?

I asked my sons to give me their first impression when they heard “book from your childhood,” and the answers were interesting.

My oldest said immediately, “Hardy Boys!” He read every one he could get his hands on, working his way through Franklin W. Dixon’s series.

The next said, “That Richard Scarry book.” I can see the cover now – it’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. They really all loved that book with its silly hot dog car, umbrella car, you name it. It was so creative and fun.

Son number three said, “That dragonfly book. The one about the dragonfly that was lonely and found his friends.” I responded, “What dragonfly book?” Then I remembered – it was a firefly. “The one that lit up at the end?” I asked. That was it. The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle.

And the youngest said, “That caterpillar book that lit up on the last page.” He was mixing his Eric Carle creations (Carle also wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar), but he remembered the same firefly book that his brother had. I was surprised at first, but then I realized since they shared a room and bedtime rituals until he was 9, it’s not surprising their favorite book would be the same.

I was transported back to lazy summer days and sweet bedtime hours as I heard their answers. And I thought of my own favorites: Corduroy, Goodnight Moon, The Velveteen Rabbit and Is Your Mama a Llama (by Deborah Guarino).

I remembered sitting with one as we read the closing chapters of Where the Red Fern Grows, tears running down both our faces. He said, “Mom, this is sad. But it’s so good.”

I recalled the excitement and humor of Holes, a book that drew in one of my less eager readers. I loved to see the anticipation on his face as we opened the book together.

I remember having the boys choose two poems from the A Child’s Garden of Verses when I thought we were pushed for time. That early exposure to rhyme and rhythm, the lilt of verse, sometimes soothed the savage little beast and introduced them to a few of the finer things in life.

Magical moments, all made possible because of books.

Have you had those moments?
Which books will find a lasting place in your child’s heart?