Reading again

Let me brag a little on personal accomplishment because...

Holy Moley-- I am reading again. 

It seems like it has been two years since I have been able to sit and read an adult book. Nothing against Pete the Cat or Fancy Nancy but real live adult books. Fiction and Non-Fiction.

AND I have finished my eighth book of 2017. Woohoo to reading! And praise God for allowing me the time and brain capacity of this simple pleasure. Each book piqued my interests in different ways.

Here is what I have read: 

 

Live Right and Find Happiness:

Although Beer is Much Faster

by Dave Barry

The Pearl that Broke Its Shell
by Nadia Hashimi

 

Blessed Is She:

Living Lent with Mary

by Tim Perry

 

 The Kindness of Strangers:
Penniless Across America
by Mike McIntyre






Talking As Fast As I Can
By Lauren Graham

 

Desperate

by Sarah Mae 

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

by Phaedra Patrick

The Rainbow Comes and Goes

by Anderson Cooper &

Gloria Vanderbilt

Spring Crafts

Spring is in the air. Why not do a little bit of crafting?

The girls and I got together with our favorite twin sisters to make Sensory Bottles (sometimes called Discovery Bottles) over our Spring Break. This required a little planning for collecting the right items. Much supervision was needed considering the sorting of small objects but this was a really fun project. We attempted to sort by color but that goal got a little lost in toddler translation.

Here's what you need:

• Empty Water Bottles (I used VOSS water because the mouths are a little wider)
• Small objects (Pom-poms, paper clips, beads, tiny toys, etc.)
• Glue (optional but you could glue the lids on for added safety)

Then, under the inspiration of Aunt Anita, we put together some Resurrection Eggs.  Each egg has an item that tells a part of the Easter story.  I searched online for the list of items to find out there were so many variations. I chose the list that I thought I could collect the easiest. I had some sticker numbers in my craft box, therefore this craft cost me zero dollars. (An ironic contract to the cost Jesus paid for my sins.)

Eva loves these special eggs and it really is helping her remember the story Jesus's true sacrifice. As in, "The orange one is EMPTY because Jesus is ALIVE!!" As well as, "The cracker is because Jesus had Supper with his friends!"

We will definitely bring this out for future Easter seasons.

Chocolate Factory Tour

I grew up with VeggieTales. My kids love the theme song. We play it on cassette tape most mornings. (That's right, cassettes.) There is another song on the VeggieTales cassette that is often running through my head. "...we work real hard at the chocolate factory. We start at eight and we don't get lunch 'til three. I drive truck to make buck so I can send it home to my fam-i-leeeeee." 

This song was running through my head so much that I decided to take the girls to Anthony-Thomas Chocolate factory a week ago.

It was a fun little tour. We learned a lot about chocolate and candy. That was enjoyable. What made it more fun was that there was a kindergarten group on the tour with us. But Eva's favorite part was the "buckeye brownie" (a buckeye) she stuffed into her mouth at the end of the tour. We weren't allowed to take photos on the actual tour so these are just us hanging out in the gift shop.

Happy Valentine's Day!
May it include as much love as a 235-pound buckeye
could offer!

Handwritten

In the days of laptops, iPads, text-messaging, and Twitter, it seems like there isn't a lot of handwriting going on. But I know first hand (no pun intended) of two friends who ACTUALLY worked to improve their handwriting in the year 2016. I am certainly impressed by both these ladies.

I also find it impressive when someone sends you a handwritten note. Even better if it is for your birthday!

Not that a Facebook message or text message don't have the same meaning or sentiment. They do. And the 59 Fb messages and 12 texts brought a smile to my face and there was definitely the benefit of responding quickly to someone's well wishes.

But this year those 11 birthday cards that came by mail or given in-person, created a visual reminder to me of someone's thought. For that, I am thankful.

Keith even hid his birthday card for me in my purse so I would find it later in the day. I loved seeing his handwriting on the paper. So endearing. Also his card was of a T-Rex giving a hug... that is ironically hilarious. What a funny guy!

My children, who are perfecting their handwriting daily, were most excited about the delivery of balloons that came for my birthday (though not willing to show it in a photo that Mommy insisted on). 

It is great to be 35 and still able to enjoy a handwritten note.