12 photos on the 12th—April

The 12th of April was busy, productive and fun. I went to my last kindergarten program as a parent! Hopefully I'll have many more as a grandma and great-grandma someday. :) Rob was working from home, so we went out to lunch (Zupas, Ainsley's choice). It snowed, and I finally got our taxes filed. Book group was great—we did something different, and picked a theme, rather than a specific book. The theme was whole food, plant-based nutrition, and we had a potluck in addition to our discussion. It was a record turnout and a fabulous evening.

Overcoming Overwhelming.

A couple of years ago I decided to take a daily photo, and have managed to post 313 daily photo entries since then. But it just isn't fitting into my life right now, so I was excited when I saw this post about a project that seems a little more doable right now. The idea is to take (or narrow down to) twelve photos every month on the 12th, ending, of course, on 12-12-12.

I immediately loved the idea, and spent some time considering what 12 photos I wanted to take this month. Twelve things for which I'm grateful? That was nixed by Rob, who didn't want to have his photo taken. Twelve resolutions? Even I'm not that crazy. Twelve favorite things? I might do that one in a future month. For this month I decided to do a photo essay about my life right now. If you read my belated November entry, and noticed the still-missing-but-soon-to-come December report, you might (correctly) assume that I've been overwhelmed. I am working on overcoming that—here's how:

I'm a "half-empty" girl by nature, but I've learned that happiness really is a choice, and a result of positive, "half-full" thinking. So for each negative, dark thought, I try to find at least a silver lining.

Overwhelming is the cold, gray deadness of winter. Today was an exception, actually, with beautiful blue skies. Still, I don't even start feeling warm unless it's at least 72 degrees, and going outside in the inversion is pretty much the equivalent of smoking a pack, so I have a hard time wanting to go out and enjoy the much needed sunshine. Rob tells me he recently read an article stating that there is no scientific evidence for seasonal depression. Hmm, sounds like a man saying there is no such thing as PMS to me. :) My personal experience tells me that light, warmth and color all have a major impact on my sense of well-being.

Overcoming means a daily dose of Vitamin D. I do try to get outside as often as I can, but as it's dark and icy at 6:00 a.m., most of my walks get moved inside a gym on a treadmill. Again, I have only personal experience, not scientific evidence, but D3 seems to help me cope.

Overwhelming is illness, in its many forms. Today Ellie was home from school, after throwing up the night before. She's not one to tough it out, and spent a lot of time crying, sobbing and moaning. This isn't something that makes me (or Rob) very sympathetic, unfortunately, though it did break my heart when she told me that she thought she must have cancer and be dying. I reassured her about that, but couldn't do much about her sadness that she would not be receiving the perfect attendance award she'd hoped for this year.

Overcoming happens when a wonderful friend brings by 7-Up for your sick child so you don't have to leave her, and then stays to visit for an hour and lifts your spirits too. My good friend Jackie Moulton saved the day today, and although she's super modest, I talked her into sharing some of her wonderful poems at book group tonight. It was such a great evening, I came home feeling completely recharged, and so grateful for beautiful writing and amazing friends. I've struggled with multiple health challenges this year, with my back and eyes, and although it stinks, it may actually be worth it just to discover how generous and kind people are.

Overwhelming is being called to teach gospel doctrine. I'm intimidated by the idea of teaching people more experienced and well-read than I, and the sheer volume of available resources to help is more overwhelming than comforting. These are just a few of the books we have; there are enough online resources to keep me reading 40+ hours a week. (Speaking of online resources, I've started keeping my study notes on another blog: http://gospeldoctrinenotes.blogspot.com/). Yes, I shouldn't be complaining about feeling overwhelmed when I make work for myself. I figure I'm preparing anyway, so if it can help anyone else, great. Ideally I'll start posting my thoughts before the lesson, not after. :)

Overcoming is the realization that this is really the only essential reading. Reading the Book of Mormon has been one of the best tools I've discovered for coping with feelings of being overwhelmed. I am grateful to have a calling that motivates me to do this more regularly and with greater intensity.

Overwhelming is what I think when I consider the amount of cleaning and organizing that need to happen around here. I could have taken any number of photos for this—the piles of laundry waiting to be washed, folded and put away, or the messy storage room. The lockers seemed least objectionable, even though Rob had to warn Joey not to put an important assignment in his locker, so it wouldn't be lost in "the vortex of crap." It makes me tired just thinking about it.

Overcoming, for me, means doing a least a few household chores consistently. Starting the day with our bed made always makes me feel better, and Rob too, since he always makes a point of thanking me when I do it. I like clean surfaces, even if I know that a "vortex of crap" is lurking behind closed doors. One other mind trick that helps me when I'm overwhelmed with the mundane repetitiveness of it all, is to focus on the person (or people) I'm serving. Thinking of Ainsley while I fold her tiny, fancy, girly clothes always makes me smile.

Overwhelming: trying to help not just my own two boys, but a group of Webelos, and now 11 year-old boy scouts earn their rank advancements and merit badges. Anyone who read my Ode to Lois Banks will know what kind of standard I'm trying to live up to. It's a pretty big deal. Overwhelming pretty much sums it up.

Overcoming. Here's the thing though. I love this quote by Kahlil Gibran, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." I really want to be someone who makes a difference in other people's lives, the way I've seen Lois make a difference in Robbie's life. I don't think this is something that just happens without any effort. I hope I will make the most of this opportunity.

Overwhelming is feeling over-scheduled. My schedule is pretty relaxed compared to others. I know this, but also know myself well enough to know that I need down-time almost as much as I need clean counters. :) I want the kids to have opportunities to develop talents and discipline, so we're involved in piano, scouting, sports, ballet, sewing lessons, etc. I want to be involved in their education, and so I volunteer in their classrooms and help in the PTA. Yet I hate feeling like I don't have time to read, which restores me.

Overcoming: Although I love every opportunity to sit down and turn actual pages, when there just isn't time, I listen to audiobooks. There are many books that I actually prefer the audio version. The Harry Potter series, narrated by Jim Dale, is amazing; and The Help and Ender's Game were both better listening than reading. Today I finished a spy novel that Rob recommended, The Kill Artist, by Daniel Silva. Not very high-brow, just some suspense. Sometimes that's exactly what I need in my upward-spiral efforts. I almost never watch TV, but have just discovered the BBC's Downton Abbey, so I can add that to my guilty-pleasure escapism.

Whew. That's a long, semi-confessional post. One written mostly for my kids, since I hope it's a lesson they'll learn much earlier than I did. Anyone have any good ideas for next's month's twelve photos?

Next Generation Book Group

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all." — Jacqueline Kennedy

If any of my kids make it to adulthood without a passion for reading, I think I can honestly say it is not my fault. I don't see that happening. And the girls have now had their first experience at a book group. They loved it, with good reason.

We read The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schultz, aloud, a chapter or two a night. They would beg me for just one more chapter, and Ellie secretly read ahead and finished, but still loved listening to me read. My good friends Deyanne and Virginia planned the book group, and I was happy to help a little.

The girls were encouraged to dress like fairies, and when they arrived, picked out their fairy name. Ellie went with "Rosebud" but Ainsley knew that she already had the perfect fairy name, and she stuck with it.

Two of my favorite people, Virginia and Deyanne, leading the discussion. Virginia is an avid reader and a librarian, and Deyanne is an amazing English teacher and education expert. It would be an understatement to say they know what they're doing.

The girls were really engaged in the book discussion, even though they knew that crafts and treats were next.

They remembered characters, and setting, and told about their favorite parts. They made connections about forgiveness and selflessness and courage.

When the discussion ended, they split into groups to do some fun crafts. I helped them make a cute little fairy-sized bookmark (that I found on Pinterest!). I wish I'd taken photos, but sort of had my hands full...here's the inspiration photo:

You can see the top end of the book marks that Ellie made, sticking out of the notebook, decorated with a cute fairy card. And that necklace? A real acorn, with an eye screw and ribbon attached. In addition to the crafts, the girls had their pictures taken by my friend Christianne, who is an amazing photographer, in front of the beautiful pond in Deyanne's yard. Again, I'm kicking myself for not taking more photos, but will hopefully get the copies of Christianne's photos soon, and will add them here.

The snacks were mini-cupcakes, and rainbow sherbet, served in these cute cupcake cups I found. I'd hoped to get some of those sample-sized spoons from Baskin Robbins, but I was informed that they no longer give them out, since their corporate headquarters decided they had no way of knowing what they would be used for, and didn't want their brand sullied. :(

I feel so lucky to have such amazing friends, who share my passion for reading and are helping me to pass that on to my girls. May their lives be filled with great books and good book group friends, as mine has.

Let Me Count the Ways...

Yes, I know I've posted many times about my love of books and book groups. I can't say it enough. Tonight it was at my house, so reason #157 I love book group is that it gives me a great reason to clean my house. :)

I served homemade orange rolls, which I've never made before, so now I've got a new skill too. This month we discussed Opening Skinner's Box, Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century by Lauren Slater. This is the third book group I've been in that has covered this book, and each time it's been a great discussion. I found the entire book online, so if you want to read it, click here.

Book group

I went to book group tonight. I already took a photo there last month, so for today's post I thought I'd pull some photos from the archives.

This is my first book group. This wasn't actually a book group meeting, but these are our friends from college that formed the group not long after we got married. It's my only experience with a coed book group, and my memory was that the group didn't last long.
But I checked my planners from that time period (yes I'm a nerd) and we actually kept it going for 2 1/2 years. Not bad. Rob and I brainstormed and remembered almost all of the books we read. We're toying with the idea of trying to get this group (at least those still around) going again.

While that group was still going, I got in on the start of another group. Unfortunately I was not yet a photo nazi, so I have no photos of that group. Some of the women in that group were also in a playgroup, which would have more appropriately been called a mom's group, since we all had babies and there wasn't a whole lot of playing going on. Here's a shot of a few of us at Red Butte Gardens.
I wish I had kept the bookmarks that Jenni made so I had a complete list of the books we read. I have the dates we met written down, and I wrote down the book occasionally. I believe this group is still going, with a few of the original members and many others who have come and gone since I was there. Amy, if you read this and can fill in any blanks I will make you some homemade bread. I miss this group!
I started another book group almost as soon as I moved to Idaho Falls, and these women became my best friends. Some of us would go out for dinner before book group, and we would often end up talking well past midnight. I miss this group too!

I have a complete record of what we read there. The person leading the discussion would bring three books and the group would vote on which one to read. I even have a list of the extras, but couldn't fit it all on one page.

Here's a very incomplete list of what we've read in my current book group. I'm hoping to fill in some gaps here too.

"Good friends, good books...this is the ideal life."

~Mark Twain

Book group

Tonight's group was small, but the discussion was good. I love book group!

Book group

I meant to take my camera to book group tonight, but barely managed to remember the food I was bringing, so here's the after book group shot. Our book this month was Remembering Isaac by a local author/potter, Ben Behunin. My review is here. Like I said, it's not great writing, but it was a really great meeting. The author came and told us how he came to write these books, and it was a super-fascinating and inspiring story. If it were my story I'd be posting it here. If you have a book group, I highly recommend inviting Ben to come and tell his story. Even if you don't love the book, you'll love this. He brought some of his pottery, and I bought a small bowl. I love book group, and as usual, stayed up way past my bedtime talking to good friends there, which is why this didn't get posted until now.

Great books

I read The Peacegiver by James Ferrell yesterday, and loved it. Our ward book group read it last year but I couldn't make it and never got around to reading it. When our stake president recommended Ferrell's book The Hidden Christ as a supplement to our Old Testament study I picked it up as a Christmas gift for Rob, and after starting that book he went out and bought The Peacegiver. He's not big on church fiction—if it's not doctrinal, it's not worth his time. The fact that he liked it is probably a better endorsement than mine. Click here if you want to read a summary, reviews, etc. I included Bonds That Make Us Free by Terry Warner, another of my favorite books, because it goes right along with The Peacegiver, although it's written for a larger, non-denominational market.