My Favorite Book right now!

Listen to the Wind: the Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am finishing reading Three Cups of Tea - the book that this children's book is based on. In many ways, I enjoyed this children's book even better than the adult non-fiction. I recommend this to everyone. There is much to learn about helping cultures grow and change as well as learning what we can from them. This is my favorite book right now.

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Easy Reader review

The Tortoise and the Hare - A Tale About Determination by Joanne Barkan


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
These books, though hard to find, have awesome interactive new/relevant play instructions in the back for parents wishing to help drive home the concepts told in the fabel.

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Life's A Beach!

Life's a Beach by Claire Cook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars I think Cook's books are whimsical and fun. It's what I need to lighten my days. Her sense of humor is really helpful for our times, even. I wish there were more of her books for me to read. I fear I'm through most of them. I'll have to wait patiently for the next. View all my reviews >>

I need to wrap my brain around change. Usually I really like it. I'm having a hard time enveloping it this time. How can I relate this to past events? What changes that I have encountered unexpectedly worked out for the best? Moving to Texas. Starting piano lessons. Accepting humble life goals - simplifying my idea of success (not lowering, but simplifying). Overcoming anxiety - this is a big one. Bigger than I give it credit for. I was ready to accept a certain amount of anxiety in my life as a given. I wasn't even aware enough to understand that it was something that could be overcome. This meant big, overwhelming change. Also, joining my church. It was sooooo time for me to be more aware of the world. Life is not my small life. Life is bigger than even the world. My church helps me stay grounded in everything. The point is that I know it's there and I just don't see it yet. The thing that I am missing will help even if I never recognize it for what it is. That and time. Time heals all wounds. This too shall pass. Know that it is there. That I already have it.

Not sure.

I'm in a place of uncertainty right now. It's when a goal that you've set looks so different from what you thought. Or many goals. And it feels different. Than what you thought. I'm so proud that I'm learning to see the good in everything and that I'm learning to trust even those times when I give up. I trust the giving up. I think I'm a happier person. My house is not as clean. My clothes, not as pressed. My event calendar, full, but not as scattered. If I can just get past this little hump. I know there is a certainty on the other side. If I'm honest, I have always been a nonbeliever in absolute certainty. So why I'm looking for it right now is, actually, beyond me! 

A Great Leap of Faith

These next few weeks will be a leap of faith for me. I have many activities scheduled. It's that time in my life where people make comments about how busy I am. This is hard for me to hear because I don't feel like I'm much busier than the average person. What I like about my choices are that everything I start has a clear ending (usually less than a year); whether that is a craft project or volunteering for a project in the community such as the town Musical here or the Silent Auction at my Austin church. There are end dates. I don't mean to be down on people who say this to me. But it seems like they have their hands full too either with their demanding jobs, family, travel - even time spent on the internet. I wish that people could be sensitive to others choices of how they spend their time. I don't like to verbally call attention to other people and how they choose to spend their time. I do judge others choices. That is part of being human and something I am working on training myself out of. But, at least, I don't comment for now. Spend your time the way you want to. Deal with the consequences of your choices. Above all else, have fun.

To Be Humbled

Believe it or not, I love those times in life when you are humbled. Like when you thought you'd be good at something and you find that you are not good. Oh, no. No. No. You are not so good at that thing. I'm learning to have peace with the word No. I'm learning to have peace with the phrase I Don't Know. At church a couple of weeks ago, our pastor shared with us several thoughts. He asked us the question, What about when Love says No? It's a tough question, but we have to become friends with that concept if we are to have peace in our lives. He also said, Ambiguity is a gift. Some times we don't get to know. And we can enjoy those times. Breathe and enjoy not knowing.