A Reading Journey.... Together

While on vacation, with a couple of hours to kill, the kids and I found a HUGE bookstore. It was fun to wander around and just browse. Oh, to have hours and hours to read and ingest knowledge and facts and just have fun. Among my wanderings, I found Little Pilgrim's Progress adapted from the John Bunyan classic, written by Helen L. Taylor. It is designed for ages 6-12. The book is 323 pages, but the chapters are only 2-3 pages long so it is ideal for short attention spans.If I let her, my daughter would have taken that thing and read it in a day, skipping meals if need be to get to the end. My son, on the other hand, would have looked through the pictures and been content with that. What I really wanted to do however, is read it nightly, out loud and together. The first few nights were rough for them, having to actually focus on my words and listen. It has been a struggle. Usually I read two chapters and call it a night feeling somewhat defeated, however tonight was the first time that both of them wanted me to keep going. Breakthrough! I am really enjoying this time together and they are using their imaginations to hear this story in a unique way. So, even at ages 7 and 9 and 38, it is so worth it to read together and have this special time that I will never forget.

The Story of "the Mustang"

Slide in to hear the story of one man owning the same car twice....

Here it is, the 1966 Ford Mustang, my husband's beloved. Originally purchased in Memphis, Tennessee in 1989. The purchase price was $3,300. He drove this car for 5 years unencumbered and happy.

He tells the story of meeting me, falling instantly in love and knowing that his carefree Mustang days were coming to a close. The car was sold to pay for our honeymoon to Nassau when we were married in 1995.

Come to find out that the man he sold it to died a few years later. It was willed to a grand-daugther. Then it got sold twice more after that. My husband quotes "if you love something, set it free, if it comes back, it's yours....."

Here it is in 2007 at a car dealership less than 1/4 of a mile from our house! Sale price of $10,200. Wow, what a deal! But how could he be so sure that it was his.....? The original VIN# that my husband memorized.
Is that normal? I'm lucky if I know my licence plate number.

So fess up, which ones of you are the sentimental, love a happy ending types and which ones are the practical, thrifty, tight wads like me?

Think About it Thursdays

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. Victor Hugo

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. Robert Byrne

Haiku Fun

My daughter did a haiku in school that I thought was great:

Robin Eggs

Robins lay their eggs

The robins' eggs are hatching

Lots of baby birds.

My attempt with her encouragement:

Going out boating

Jumping in the waves so high

Landing with a splash.

Medicinal Laughter

We've all heard that laughter is the best medicine; too bad we can't bottle it up and prescribe it. I wish everyday, just like my multi-vitamin, I could take a laughter pill and just have a good laugh. I mean a good eye watering, ugly face making, gas passing, belly laugh. Wouldn't it be great!For me the two things that I absolutely know I will get a deep laugh from are:

1. Anything involving a bathroom. I don't know why. Yes, I realize I am imbalanced. When my husband (or anyone for that matter) is in the bathroom throwing up and I have to muffle my laughter in a pillow, I know there is a problem.

2. My husband imitating our Russian neighbor. Specifically, him recounting how I made blueberry jam and gave my neighbor a jar for Christmas and when he opened it in front of my husband and noticed mold on the top, (OK, this was NOT entirely my fault, because it was sealed correctly, but I left it in our room with our wood stove and it obviously got heated up and took a turn for the worse and need I say more....) then he proceeded to remove the mold and eat some of the jam right in front of my husband. For some reason this story also cracks me up as many times as my husband tells it with a dramatic Russian accent of course. Maybe it makes me laugh thinking that a bathroom story is on its way next.....???

Anyways, any sure fire areas where you just can't help yourself and you laugh yourself silly? Please do share, so maybe I can find a new area of humor!

My Heart Swells

My son bought me a ring. We were at the gumball machines inside a restaurant and my son had 50 cents to spend. He did opt to spend quarter number one on a gumball for himself. What kid wouldn't? Quarter number two went into a ring machine and this is what came out. He bounded over and gave it to me. It fit perfectly, and is actually quite hardy and does not bend like the usual ones do. I have worn it out and enjoy it very much. He loves to see me wearing it and is proud to have given it to me. I love the fact that it is an "X" that reminds me of the X's and O's in kisses and hugs.

Think About it Thursdays

I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.

First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up and finally, you forget to pull it down.

Comedian George Burns