Book Report

Emily will be presenting a book report in front of her class in the morning. Here's her poster:

For the love of reading

Since school was out last Tuesday for elections, I took the day off. After I voted, we went to the library. It would be an understatement to say that Emily loves to read.

10 Ways to Soar Through Life

Paraphrased from the book Unstoppable Me! by Dr. Wayne W Dyer with Kristina Tracy

Ten Ways to Soar Through Life

You’re Great - No Matter What

You are worthwhile. Learn from your mistakes, value yourself and all what you are.

Persistence Pays Off

It’s not about talent or if you are smart; it’s about never quitting. Don’t tell yourself that you can’t or dwell on mistakes. Patience and determination are really all that it takes.

Welcome the Unknown

Change is a good thing; it happens every day- don’t fear change, embrace it instead and life will be an adventure and you’ll look forward to what’s ahead.

You Have a Choice

Be true to yourself, don’t look to others to say you’re okay, you know it-so believe it! Don’t blame others for the things you say or do. Every choice that you make is all up to you.

Farewell to Worry

When stressful thoughts attack, remember positive actions on your part are the best way to fight back.

Peace Begins with You

Don’t let anger in your heart, take anger and let it go. When you’re mad and let it change the things you say and do, not only do you hurt yourself, but those around you, too.

Enjoy the Here-and-Now

Take pleasure in the here-and-now; don’t always be on the run. The road you take to reach your goal should be part of the fun.

Healthy Me!

Your body responds to what you think. Good thoughts and good humor are truly the best start for a super-healthy mind, body, spirit, and heart.

Creativity is the Key

Find your own way to meet the challenges life brings, stay true to yourself and let your ideas shine.

What Can You Give?

See goodness and beauty everywhere you turn, take every experience in life as a chance for you to learn. Don’t wonder what you can get, wonder what you can give.

I've printed this out and put on Emily's board that is in her room. Second grade is just around the corner and I want her to have the tools to successfully face the challenges. Oh, I'm not concerned about the subjects that the teacher will teach, those come easy to her. I'm concerned about her giving up too easily, holding grudges, thinking of only herself, her worrying, and her blaming of others. When situations arise this coming school year, I want her to encourage her to begin learning these words and applying them to her life. I've got to remember that she is her own person and I can't fight her battles and more times than not, I need to listen with my mouth completely shut and just give lots of hugs.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Last weekend Synchronicity Performance Group presented If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Since Emily and I have read the book a couple of times and she enjoyed it, we attended play. Emily laughed often during the performance. Here are some pictures of the entrance of the theater.


Here's a picture of the set.

Reading

I read to Emily a lot. I started reading to her early because I wanted her to have a love for books. I didn't love books as a child. Actually, I hated them. Even in my tween years when I read a few books, I hated them. How I made it through college without the love of reading in way beyond me.

It wasn't until after college and I was married that that I began reading for enjoyment. The first book that I read and truly enjoyed was "To Kill a Mockingbird". It took Hartford months to convince me that I would love it, if I read it. Reluctantly, I finally agreed and it is one of, if not, my very favorite book. Since then, I have found a love for reading.

However once Emily came along, there wasn't much time to read all the best sellers. But I discovered a blessing with sharing my love for reading with her. We have bonded even more by not only sharing time together but also sharing a common interest that I hope that will continue for a lifetime.

From the very get go I picked out books that appealed to me. I wanted her to feel my excitement and not my dread in reading them. For the most part, it has worked out wonderfully. However, it doesn't matter how much a person enjoys a particular book, it will not be a pleasurable experience every time you read it when you read it a million times. Luckily, Emily knows better than to ask me to read books about dinosaurs, trolls, or Sponge Bob. She knows to go directly to her Daddy for those books. Likewise, I don't force Hartford to read books to her that don't appeal to him.

Mrs. Bliss, Emily's Pre-K teacher introduced the children to first chapter book. I am so thankful for Mrs. Bliss for this as well as so much more. Since then, Emily and I have stepped up our reading level. It has become our mission to seek out books. Mrs. Bliss would always go the the public library and check out a bunch of books. Emily would tell me or show me the titles and I would also check them out from the library.

A new stage has developed in our book time since Emily is now reading books to me. I am so proud of her and I enjoy seeing her confidence grow as she learns new words. I will admit that there are times that she absolutely drives me bonkers when her mind and mouth wonders wildly. I try to never make her read a book that she doesn't want to read. Reading at home should be fun. Currently, we are making a reading chain. She is very proud of this and keeps her more focused.

I plan on reading to her as long as she will allow me to read. I don't foresee me reading to a teenager every night, but I plan on trying to sneak in a book here and there every once in awhile and maybe even a snuggle. Wish me luck. I know that only time will tell.

For the Love of Books

From the very beginning, I have read to Emily with the hopes that she would be a book lover. There has been times in the past that we have given her a choice between read a book or watch television and she has excitedly exclaimed, "read a book!" One day when she was four, I asked her if she could go anyplace where would she go? She quickly replied, "the library." There was a time that I had to limit the book reading to three books at bed time. Then when she was in Pre-K, I had to break the news to her that she wouldn't always get three books at bed time because some books were longer than others and if the book was a chapter book it may take more nights than one to finish it.

Sunday, Hartford was in his chair reading and Emily was on the couch reading.
Since books are expensive and are extremely hard to store, I use the library a lot. I can easily reserve books on-line. Which is awesome since Emily frequently has requests and the county has a number of libraries. We get e-mails to let us know that our items are being held at the requested branch. Here's a picture of the loot that I got at the library yesterday. 41 items to be correct. The bottom three are Christmas decorating books that I checked out for myself. I tell you, I'm in the mood to decorate for Christmas. In addition, I got Emily a Magic School Bus DVD. She tells me that this series teaches her things and her brain isn't turning into mush when she watches them. I also got 3 Cd's for Emily who has finally discovered there is more songs than Country Road and Father Abraham. She is definitely growing up in many ways.
At the end of Kindergarten, Emily was reading on a 1st grade level. However, she acted as if she was in agonizing pain if I tried to get her to read to me. She just wanted me to do all the reading. Her attitude had to be changed. Since she is turning a deaf ear on my sermons, I had to put some thought into the situation, thus the reading chain. Every time that she reads a book, she gets a link in the chain and I explained to her that I would continue to read to her and even re-read the same book that she just read if she wanted me to. This chain is a success. When I suggested it, she immediately stated that her goal was to get it long enough to reach from one wall to the other wall in her room. Emily has gained the enjoyment and the confidence through this project. I wished that I had thought of it sooner, but better late than never.
Speaking of chains, one of the Christmas projects that I want to do is a ribbon chain. Surely goodness if Martha Stewart can do, I can too. Don't answer that, I'm going to give it a try anyway.

Someday

Someday by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds:

"One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one.
One day the first snowflakes fell, and I held you up and watched them melt on your baby skin.
One day we crossed the street, and you held my hand tight.
Then, you were my baby, and now you are my child.

Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream and I dream too...
That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake.

Someday you will walk into a deep wood.
Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine.
Someday you will run so fast and so far your heart will feel like fire.
Someday you will swing high - so high, higher than you ever dared to swing.
Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow.
Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away.
Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you.
Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small.
Someday you will feel a small weight against your strong back.
Someday I will watch you brushing your child's hair.
Someday, a long time from now, your own hair will glow silver in the sun.
And when that day comes, love, you will remember me."

Emily doesn't yet appreciate books that make tears come into my eyes. She tries to be silly and make me laugh. Just another reason that I love her. I tell her that some tears are happy and she looks at me as if I really have gone bonkers.

I love children books that touches my heart and makes tears come to into my eyes. I love sharing these books with Emily. One day, I believe that her mind will remember my tears and her heart will finally understand them, understand the love, the happiness, the joy, the everything that fills my heart because of her. And then, we will be bonded together even tighter. This is just one of the many dreams that I have when I dream of her. God willing, it will come true.

Truth from a child's book #1

The Perfect Bear by Gillian Shields & Gary Blythe:

The old pink rabbit looked down and asked kindly, "What's the matter, Bear?"

"I want all my finery back," cried the bear, "so that everyone will admire me."

"It's so much better to be loved than admired, you know," said the old pink rabbit.

"What is love?" asked the bear.

"It's what we're all about, little silly," laughed the old pink rabbit. "Hats and fur and keys don't matter. They're only on the outside. It's what's inside us that's important."

There are more times than not that I look in the mirror and wish that I had my finery back. I wished that I still had my youthful figure. I wished that I still had a smooth tan skin. I wish my hair was still the color that it was before the need to dye it. I wished that I wore those beautiful stylish clothes that I used to wear. I wished that my feet could still fit into those cute little shoes that they used to fit into before Emily came along. I miss the admiration.

But alas, I have love. Emily hugs me tight many times day. She often and freely tells that she loves me. Saturday mornings are the absolute best when I have Hartford on my left side and Emily is on my right side and Missy cat is curled up on my belly. I wouldn't trade this love and affection for all the admiration in the world.