Books Books and more Books

I didn't finish up my Fall Into Reading challenge, I completed 5 books, and yet I didn't finish 3 that I had partially read, one thing that interrupted that progress was the purchase of an early birthday gift....a KINDLE!!  I've read 2.5 books completely on the Kindle, one was a combo Christmas book by Debbie Macomber and I haven't completed part 2 yet. 
The best book I read this fall was "The Red Thread" by Ann Hood.

The story is about a woman, Maya, that has an adoption agency that handles adoptions from China.  The book includes stories of the birth mothers in China, and the sadness of giving up their baby girls.  The reader also meets the parents these babies are going to, and the many diverse reasons for adoption.  It is beautifully written, and I think I cried at the ending.  I rated it a 5/5 stars.
I've also been exploring a new to me book blog Girlfriends Book Club, it's filled with posts by authors and tons of give-aways.  I won a book, "Love Goddess' Cooking School" by Melissa Senate, and she is a new author to me.  Love finding new things, I also followed a link  over to another site and won another book  "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky" by Heidi W. Durrow, such fun finding new books and authors.
Since the Kindle came into my life in November(I feel like I have a new lover), I've been searching out what I want to download from my LONG TBR list.  Don't believe me, friend me on Goodreads and take a look at that ever growing list.  What I have found is some free books that there is no risk in buying and trying.  Oh and I love the "sample" feature on Kindle, it's like visiting the B&N store and reading the first chapter, only in my own home in my PJ's.  I've also found another blog, whose writer does all the leg work on free and low cost e-reader deals, Books on the Knob, is a time saver for anyone with an e-reader. 
I'm looking forward to more reading in 2011, and I hope to share reviews and finds with all my bloggy friends.
What have you been reading lately?

Merry Christmas Wishes!!

Merry Christmas dear friends and fellow bloggers.  I am so lucky to have found this medium to write and share and to meet so many new friends. 
As I type this it is nearly midnight and my children have all gone to bed.  I've set out the makings of breakfast monkey bread, and the coffee is made. Santa just has to fill up the stockings and then we can head to bed.
I'd like to share two former Christmas pictures with you.  This first one from 2000

Nick was almost 3 and the girls were 7, notice Caitie's missing teeth. 
This next one is 2001

Nick was almost 4 and it was our worst photo session ever, lasting over 2 hours and with Nick mostly misbehaving, I thought I was going to have pictures with just two kids....eeek!!  Love these pajamas, they were so great!!  This was our first Christmas without Kevin's mom, and we missed her so. 

I just wanted to share some of past.  Tomorrow will be filled with opening gifts, and eating,and hopefully feeling loved and filled with the blessings of having Jesus being born.  We went to Mass tonight, and I try to keep the real meaning foremost in our lives, and I admit it's hard, because we get caught up in everything else. 

Merry Christmas again, from our family to you and yours!!!

The" Do You?" List of Christmas.

I really enjoy most holidays, and I have decorations for most too, I have outdoor flags and little do dads for the house, for Valentines Day, Easter, 4th of July, etc.............but none compare to Christmas.
This year we got a sluggish start, and you know what, I've adapted the less is more concept and yet our home still feels warm and welcoming, I love our big take it out of the box tree, though  I miss the smell of pine, but not the needles. 
I always like the differences and traditions that each family has, I've picked up a few over the years, some have stuck, others have not, but I love the differences each family has.
Do you send out Christmas cards?  I do.  In nearly 30 years of living independently, not with my parents or in college, I've only missed a few year, likely a few when I was single, and once a few years ago when I was just overwhelmed.  Now I don't get overwhelmed, I want to do them, I want to receive them and I plan it out.  I love ones with pictures, and I love ones with letters or at least a note, but I enjoy them all.  A few years ago a a friend or website mentioned a good use for your Christmas cards received is to take out one each week or so, and pray for that family.  There are also groups that collect the fronts of traditional cards to re-use for projects.

Do you bake?  I do, in some years I've baked for sharing gifts, but mostly now I bake for us and share with a few friends.  I make a few cookies I only make once a year.

Do you decorate outside?  We do and we don't.  Lights don't go up on the  house every year, it's a time thing.  We do have 3 inflatables and some candy canes that are out this year.
Do you have a real tree?  Chop yours down?  As I said, big 9 ft tree in box, and I only wish we had places to chop your own tree in Florida, it is a picturesque tradition I can't really imagine, but I think I'd like it.
Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?  Our kids get new PJ's on Christmas eve, something we started several years ago.  Everything else is Christmas morning, when the kids wake.  We open one at a time, kids handing out gifts.
Do you do stockings?  We do, and I never had one as a kid.........but when we married we bought stockings and they always  have small things in it. 
Most of my adult life I worked in retail or banking and I was always working right up until Christmas day, in retail it's a fact of life.  I liked retail until I had kids, and missed seeing more of them.   Now I am just plain lucky to be an at home mom, and have this extra time.  Kevin is working away, he has 2 three day weekends, but hey somebody has to manage the Credit Union finances.  In our years of marriage, he's only take vacation two or three times at Christmas. 
Want to share some traditions your family has?  I'd love to hear them.

The Winter Break Begins

Today marks the last day of school until January 4, 2011, gee how long will I get that year wrong on checks...ha ha. 
My three children are so excited to be out of school.  This week has been mid-terms for Nick and finals for Caitie and Adrienne, happily I can say they have all had a great semester academically, and have earned some much needed time off!
For me the break means sleeping in, feeding them more, and saying yes or no to the multiple requests for social activities.  I'm happy I can say yes to most requests!  What the heck, run around like crazy teens for 2 weeks and have a blast, I remember how much fun that was too.

Oh the holiday forefront I have done less decorating this year than in any I can remember.  The tree is up, the front lawn and exterior is festive.  I have not put out every little thing, and you know what.........I may not!!
I have gifts to wrap, oh so many of them.  I  have baking to do, oh so much. 
I have reading to do....I annually read a few Christmas themed books.

What about you.................how goes the Holiday season?

When your child is not in the Pageant

 Nick and his friend Alex as 3rd grade shephards

 Adrienne as the herald angel rt.

Caitie, Elizabeth, Adrienne and Cody 8th grade

I thought this day would be a couple of years away, after Nick had graduated from St. Teresa and gone on to High School.  I imagined his last year, securing a key role as a reader or maybe even Joseph.  I pictured Caitie and Adrienne home from college and beaming with pride as he participated in his final year just as they had done.  The Christmas Pageant, the telling of the story of Christ's birth, a long tradition in our church and school.  They begin as tiny stars in Pre-K, moving up to faithful followers, angels, part of the tree, shepherds and part of the entourage of the kings, and then for 3 years you sit and sing in the choir only to be rewarded with the main roles in 8th grade. 
But as you recall we moved Nick to public school, where we aren't really suppose to celebrate religious holidays unless we recognize each and everyone.  I have no idea what has been going on in his classes where this is concerned. 
I thought about this lost tradition earlier today, when the kids would have been performing the morning show.  Nick remembered it after school, and several friends mentioned it to him on facebook.  He asked if he could go, to see his former classmates and socialize with them a bit.  We said yes, and off Kevin is taking him now.  He's going to sit with a friend's parents, and we'll pick him up after 8. 
Me, I'm ok, maybe a little sad, but in my heart, I know moving him was the right thing to do.

Reading Challenge Update

I joined in with Fall into Reading, and I set goals back in September.  I now have 5 days left of my time frame.  I only finished one of the books I was reading at the time.  Of the other two, one sits on my shelf, one sits in a bookstore, as I was reading it each time I sat in B&N.  I have completed 4 books total, and nearing 5.  I think I had hoped for 6 or more.  

I wished I'd kept up more and also shared more of the reading questions with all of you, they were really interesting and just fun to talk about different topics.
Questions like....
Once you start a book do you feel compelled to finish it?
Do you read more than one book at a time?
Do you ever read ahead to the end of a book, because you just can't wait?
Where do you get the books you read? Library? borrow, buy new or used? ebooks?  Do you exchange books with others?
How did you get into reading? When and how/why did you really become “a reader”?
Where do you love to read? Note: I don’t mean where do you actually do most of your reading, because that might be the carpool line, the work cafeteria, or even the bathroom (if you have to escape from a few small children in order to read a chapter of your book). I mean, what are a few of the places where you LOVE to read?

In case you are curious....I do not finish all books I begin, if it doesn't grab me I abandon it.  I tend to read a chapter in a book store or library, or sample on my kindle before I purchase now.
I do not always read more than one book at a time, but I can, it's easiest if they are not both fiction.  A memoir or non fiction with fiction book are easier to manage.
I have read the end of books before, tsk tsk!
I get books everywhere!!!  I still own several I have yet to read, and I do give books away more now because of space issues. 
I can't ever remember not reading, I think I learned early and I've always loved it.  I hope that passion never ends.  My mom and sisters are both avid readers, but alas I have not passed that gene onto my children.I love to read everywhere.  At home I'm mostly in my comfy chair, feet up on the ottoman and a cup of coffee at my side.  In warmer temps a glass of water or iced tea is a safe bet.  If in a book store I feel the need for a beverage to browse properly.  I almost always carry a book or now Kindle with me, so I read at every open chance.  
I enjoy reading outside in nice temps.  


So go ahead, answer a few or not, I'm happy to learn anything about you.

Great Trip

Let me start by saying, thank you so much for all the support as I headed out to Texas!!!  I have to let you know that the trip was very fun.  It was so fast, really just 3 nights and only 2 full days so there wasn't much time for trouble.  My parents were gracious and only once did my dad become confused and got a little angry with me when he thought I may have changed something on his computer.  Nick was well behaved.  My brother, well I didn't even see him, but we did text and he sent me pictures of how much fun Nick was having at the game.  Chuck gave him several little things he gets from the games, and he also bought him a new Jersey, which he loved!!!  
I had the BEST time with my sister celebrating my niece Dawn's birthday.  We went with friends and her dad and his third(yep) wife.  A good steak dinner and out to do some dancing and listening to good country music, how I wish I still had the cowboy books I bought 30 years ago!!!  
I was happy to be home, but all in all it was a great visit. 

Haul Out the Holly!!

It's December and while I live in Florida we look like a holiday wonderland.  We've got blow up characters in the yard.  We've got a big (artificial) tree in our den, and it's sparkly and bright.  I do miss a real tree, but here it's so hard.  The trees are shipped from up North, and between the time of cut to sale, the trees are already losing needles and a mess.  The pollens really messed Nick up too.  Adaption and adjustment are a good thing, right?

I've been shopping, not really a chore for me, I like to shop, I like new things for me and my family.  The kids made lists, and I was able to get most of what they wanted.  Less big items this year.  One item I got for my parents was an album of my girl's Senior Photos.  I sent it early, they love it. 

I often also dislike this hustle and bustle and attitude of buy buy buy and greed.  Not everyone gets lost in the money and I love people like that.  I love those that focus on family and love and the being together.  I admire those who put their faith first.  As you can observe I have mixed emotions.

In 3 days, Nick and I are headed to Dallas for a long weekend with my family.  Originally Nick was going alone, so he could go to a Cowboy football game with my brother, who happens to have Season Tickets.  My parents were flying him in, etc etc.  Because Nick is just 12 he would be an unaccompanied minor, and it would cost an extra $100 each way.  So then Kevin was going to go with him, my family loves him, but he is busy planning a board meeting.  I am going!!  Now don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be going, I love my folks, sister etc.  It's just a busy time.  I also have issues...........no surprise!!

How is it possible that there are two people who can make me feel like 15 instead of 50?  I am also filled with guilt, guilt that I live far away and don't see them as much as they would like.  Guilt that my whole family doesn't often go to TX at the same time.  Guilt that I don't call enough, you know in general I'm not sure I'm doing the best thing for them.  They do love me, I'm not trying to say it's all bad stuff.  The other issue is their age, and the toll it's taken on them and their health.  My dad has Parkinson's and he is legally blind from macular degeneration.  He has some signs of dementia, and it's sad to see he's not the same man that raised me.  I try to look for the moments when he is more like his old self.  It's not always easy.  Oddly enough my kids are so patient and sweet with them.  I admire their compassion at such a young age. 
My other stress with family is my brother, who can be a total ass.  He is 6 years older than me, he has 3 children, one from a first marriage, he is now grown 32, married with a business of his own.  His other kids are 24 and 22 and in grad school and college respectively.  I like his current wife(of 25+ years) but I am not really close to her.  She has 3 sisters and a close relationship to them, their families and her mom.  My brother is not close to my sister an I, not in a way that he calls us just to say hi, talk about how we are, our families, just chat about mom and dad etc.  Now he is always there in a crisis with my folks, he is strong and caring in the moments of stress.  We've always had a weird relationship, he has always treated me like the "little" sister, oddly enough his wife is younger than me...but I'm the "kid".  My brother can be crass, and a jerk.  Last summer as Caitie was interning in Dallas her then boyfriend went to visit for a long weekend.  My brother thought it would be funny to tease me a bit by suggesting they were just having sex all weekend, hope she's using condoms, oh what will they name the baby, etc. etc.  Now I can take a joke, but the not so funny thing was that while he called me and was teasing me, my parents were right with him.  My parents who thought he was being rude and crass and knew I was ticked off when I hung up on him.  It was a month later before I found out he was saying all this in front of them.  My mom confessed my dad was upset for two nights, and she was worried Caitie would learn of it and be so embarrassed.  Seeing him is just a chore now, it takes all I have to just ignore him, and not rip him another bowel opening, if you know what I mean. 

Well you know what, if you read this and give me just a little atta girl, encouragement I am way ahead, blogging is good therapy!!!  Writing it out is good for my brain, the rest is just a little icing!

So Very Tragic

The group picture above is from Homecoming this year.  The couple on the left are very good friends of Caitie's.  She may be Caitie's room mate at UNF.  Her boyfriend is a fine young man, he has plans to go into the Army after graduation. 
Tragically this week his father took his own life.  I don't know many details, but I do know that he had been depressed, and he had been stressed in his work.  He took his life with a gun, and I really know nothing else.
Suicide leaves so many unanswered questions.  I know there are many who have said about suicide that it is a cowards way out, and honestly I don't understand that comment either.  Can any of us imagine the depth of depression a person must be in to take their own life, to feel there is no way out?  I can't and I've dealt with my own depression but certainly not to that degree.
My heart and prayers go out to his wife and two sons.  Their grief must be beyond consoling at this time. 
I decided to share this because it's just been on my mind so much.  My girls have never know anyone involved in this kind of family tragedy before.  I try to help them, to encourage them to be available to their friend.  I plan on sending either food or something that may help them.  The obituary asked for no flowers but donations to the family. 
I also want to remind each of my friends and fellow bloggers that depression is real, and if you know anyone suffering to reach out, seek help for that person or yourself. 
These sad realities make me hold on to my loved ones a bit tighter, and be thankful for what I have.