August

Well, I finally started the organizing project, and it is quite the project. Between having fun with the boys and working on the basement there hasn't been too much time for books. However, the ones I did get to read I enjoyed.

1. These is my Words by Nancy E Turner This has been on the "To Read List" for years. Now I know why. This is a spectacular book. It is written by a girl in journal style. You learn about her family, growing up, defending herself, death, marriage, having children, and LOVE...and I would like to meet this character who is described so well and whose journal is narrated in such a way that she must be a real person.
2. Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate This book was touching. It is about a girl, now married with a child of her own, who goes to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother's health is failing and despite this she learns much during the visit. I was already missing my Nana because I am going through the basement and discovering letters, photographs, and even clothes that belonged to her. This book made me wish I could take her to lunch and talk like old times. As you might imagine, I cried reading the book. I could read this again.
3. Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson Okay, the fun part of this book other than it is a great fantasy, is that it is written by a friend of mine who works at the library in the children's department. Thrilled that her ideas have come to life in such a magnificent way! It is about girl whose life is filled with a hardships, unkindness, and a mysterious island myth that turns out to be true. The story draws you in and you wonder what decision she might make and the natural consequences that will follow. Glad this isn't the end of the story. There is another one on its way.

Wish me luck with my organizing. The basement is the worst for me. It requires emotional decisions. Even when I was cleaning out all of my school stuff it wasn't easy to throw it away. I found myself missing my teaching days and the fun of seeing children learning and laughing. I even missed the challenge of it. Other than my teaching stuff to go through, I am going through my scrapbook room which is overflowing with sentimental nonsense. I am still going through it paper by paper because there is meaning behind my madness and along the way I have found some real treasures.
Happy reading!