Reading and Random

1.  I love reading; I've tried very hard over the years to turn my non-reading kids into readers.  I'll let them read anything - even dare I confess it - Captain Underpants, to get them to catch the reading bug.  Nolan caught it and always has a good book to read.

A while back he finished reading the Book of Mormon - I was ridiculously proud, because although I gave lots of encouragement, he ultimately was the one who had to read it.  The older he gets the more I can see how essential it is for these teens to have their testimonies growing. 

Today he was chatty when he got home from school.  He is normally quite silent and stingy with the information he is willing to share, so I sat there and soaked it in, appreciating the moment of free flowing information.  He has two girls at school who want him to ask them to the upcoming dance.  He's 11.  We talked about how he felt, what he wanted to do and then we talked about the counsel from the prophet; 14 is the age to start attending dances.  He seemed relieved.  There is safety and comfort in following the prophet.

Anyhow, I sort of went in a different direction there then I intended; my purpose in telling you Nolan finished the Book of Mormon was to lead into something he said that I always want to remember.  The boys and I were driving out to my parents and Nolan and I were discussing personal scripture study and how it was important that he continue to read a little bit every day.  Then he said, "Mom, it's so hard for me just to read a little bit.  When I read it's so real.  It's like I'm the main character in the story and everything is happening to me".  Awesome!

Family Picture August 2011

2.  Lately I've been reading non-fiction.  Our book club read Driven - the Larry H. Miller Biography a few months ago and ever since I've enjoyed reading life lessons others have to share.  Currently I'm reading Katie Couric's The Best Advice I Ever Got - Lessons from extraordinary lives. One quote in there I love - "Along the way, you're bound to encounter people who are naysayers and buzz killers.  Maybe they're insecure, maybe they're bitter, maybe they simply lack imagination.  Those people need to be strained from your life like sand from a colander of freshly washed seashells."  Great Metaphor!

3.  Spencer is gone for the week.  He's in Regina attending a conference.  I hate it when he's gone; life doesn't seem to run as smooth.

4.  Yesterday during dinner, Jarom took a scoop of Mayo.  Looked at it and said it looked like a pile of bird poop.  I looked at it and thought, you're right, it does. 

5.  A couple of weeks back I finally got to talk to one of my best friends from Winnipeg I hadn't talked to her for a long time.  We chatted for hours and then because it was after midnight we hung up.  After I was so "homesick" for her and all of my good friends from Winnipeg.  I was reminded how much I love talking to her and how much I miss our chats about life and parenting.