I Like to Read...What?!

I've never liked to read.

I really don't remember many times at all in my life when I had some extra time and I would choose to read.

...until now.

There are a couple exceptions to this.

Children's books.

I love them!

I am amused by their stories.  I love their pictures.  I love that they are short.  

And I love the childlike spirit found in them.  

So I did enjoy reading this books while in college getting my education degree, and in preparation for teaching. But other than that, it's not very often that I have the need to read this type of book.

And the other one is Christian non-fiction books.

Since I've gotten older I do enjoy these books at times.

I enjoy reading them when I'm preparing for a seminar at Look Up 

or if it's on a topic I'm interested in..

The kind of books that a lot of people love though, fiction books, novels, I have never cared to read them.

Elementary school, middle school and high school I would find any way I could to cut corners and not actually have to read a book that I was supposed to read. (I know I know, that's wrong.  If you're currently a student...go back and unread that last sentence.  Don't do that.)

But somehow I got through school making really good grades, managing to read very little.  

I've always been a slower reader and I really have to focus to understand what I'm reading.  

I didn't find what I had to read interesting. I just could not get into a book.

There was just so much more I would rather be doing.  

Like I said...until now.

I don't know what has happened.

I guess I found something i like...LOVE to read.

It started a couple years ago when I was cleaning one of our cabins at Look Up.  I found a book that someone had left behind.  It was a book by Karen Kingsbury.  I recognized her name because my sister in law likes her books and I think my mom had mentioned her before.  She writes Christian fiction. 

So, I thought I'd try to read it.  

I did read it.  

After a couple days of getting into it...I couldn't put it down.  

I was sad to learn that the book I was reading was actually the fifth book in one of her series.  I was sad when I finished the book. I knew the ending...I didn't want to go back to the beginning.

Last year I read another one of her books (not part of a series) about adoption and I loved that one too.

The craziest part of this journey started this year.  After our summer program finished at Look Up this summer, I decided to keep my fall schedule pretty relaxed.  I wanted to have time with Eri and to just enjoy working part time and being home with her.  One thing we do every week is go to story time at the library.  I got a library card so I could let her pick out books and movies.  I thought...maybe I'll see if they have a book for me.  I found the Karen Kingsbury books, but long story short I didn't check any out.  I started borrowing them from a friend.  I started the next series (next in line to the book I read a couple years ago).

It's been a little over two months and I've read all five books in that series.  What?!

I can't put them down.  It's crazy!

I catch myself wandering about these characters, thinking about them during the day.  

Yes, I have cried while reading.

Yes, I have heard myself say out loud, "No...You can't do that" while reading.

What in the world?  

I stop myself sometimes and ask, "What is happening? This is just a book.  It's make believe.  These people aren't real." But it doesn't stop me.  I really feel like I'm in their world...a part of their story.

I guess that means Karen Kingsbury is a great author.

I'm making myself take a break for a little while.  

I refuse to become a reading addict!

There are other things in the real world that need my attention and time.  

But I'm sure sometime in the near future, I'll knock on my friends door and say..."I need the next book."

Happy Fall Y'all!

I love fall.

It's my favorite.  

I love when it starts to cool off.  I love when the leaves change.  I love all the decorations.  I love that it means my favorite holidays are coming.

And I love the Pumpkin Festival.

I grew up in Hendersonville so the Apple Festival was a yearly tradition.  

Since I've lived in Greenville, the Pumpkin Festival has become a tradition as well.  

We go.  We walk.  We look at all the booths. We eat boiled peanuts. We listen to bluegrass music.  We watch clogging.  We buy a couple things.  Then we eat lunch at David's aunt's restaurant. 

It's nothing extravagant, but I love it.

Looking at the booths and all the goodies for sale makes me have the same thoughts every time.

"What on earth would anybody do with that?"

"I love that.  I want it." (But I usually don't by it anyway.)

"I probably need that." (Even though I've never seemed to need it before that moment.)

"I could make that." (But I never take the time to do it.)

and...

"Why didn't I think of that?"

Today we got our boiled peanuts and a drink. 

And Eri got four new bows. (That is a popular item there.)

Now I feel like it's fall.

It seems that this day is the start of fall and the holiday season for me.

I'm excited to see how the next days, weeks, and months play out for our little family!

Happy Fall Y'all!

My Child Is Not Like Me

My child might be the most outgoing and personable person I know...most of the time.

Sure, she has her moments, when she's tired or mad about something, when she doesn't really want to talk and be friendly.  But those moments are rare!

Thinking back to when she was sick and in the hospital...only about 3-4 months old, even then she smiled at everyone who came into her room.  She was sick, had tubes attached to her, had to lay in a hospital bed for days...but still she was friendly.  She made people smile.  She made everyone feel welcome in our room.

Now...she's almost two, and this personality has only gotten stronger.  

She does not meet a stranger! 

She doesn't really have a concept of personal space either.  

We go to Story Time at the library on Thursdays.  There are a lot of kids close to her age.  She travels the room, staring the next child in the face, waiting for them to respond to her.  She sits awkwardly close to a child of her choosing...or a grown up sometimes.  She waves until someone waves back at her.  She will crawl over anyone in her way to get to the bubbles.  

And the entire time, she has a smile that takes up her entire face!

In the grocery store it's the same way.  Riding in the shopping cart she waves at everyone, yelling to them. Whoever comes close enough for her to reach she hands them her bug (her blanket with a head).  Sometimes she even reaches for a friendly passer by to get her out of the cart. (Usually that's my cue to start pushing again.)

The funny thing is that people love her.  She never seems to get on anyone's nerves.  They smile and go on and on about how cute she is.  They love her smile, and they love how friendly she is.  

As parents, David and I have found this area to be challenging. 

(First let me say we are always by her side during these times.  We don't let her get into any dangerous or sketchy situations.) 

We are glad that she is friendly and kind to others.  We love that she wants to make new friends.  We love that she's not scared of new people. 

However, at times, we find ourselves apologizing for her.  We don't know how others will take her.  We work to find a balance between encouraging her to be herself, while respecting others and being polite.  

(Come on, that's an easy concept for a two year old to grasp...right?)

The funniest example of all of this happened in September while we were at the beach. 

Eri did not want to sit on the beach and relax.  She did not want to play in the sand for longer than five minutes.  She wanted to run...up the beach....as far as she could go. 

In doing so, she would encounter many new people.

She would make efforts to join in with their fun.  

Her normal approach was to choose someone, get awkwardly close, stare at them...until they responded in some way.  Then, depending on how they responded she would wave and run off, move in to play with their beach toys, try to hold their hand, try to sit in their chair or even try to climb up in their lap.  

Again, everyone loved her.  We kept hearing, "Don't apologize! She's so cute!" 

It seemed like everyone on the beach was watching her.

Her favorite people she met were two women.  They were sitting in beach chairs in the edge of the water, reading history novels.  She tried to climb in one of their laps and asked them to read her their book.  

That was the start.  For the next 30-45 minutes she played with them, pushed their chairs around the sand, ran around carrying their books (she dropped them in the water several times) and talked non-stop.  She screamed when we told her it was time to go.

The next day, they came to find her and the scene played out again.  

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Don't believe me?  See for yourselves.

This brings me to my point.  My child is not like me.  I am not very outgoing.  (I'm sure those who know me are shocked by this statement.) I tend to be pretty reserved...at least until I'm very comfortable.  I enjoy being with people, but after a while I'm ready to sit in my house...by myself.  

Being Eri's mom, I often find myself talking to someone I don't know, sharing our story or narrating for her.  

It's challenging.  

It's good for me.

And if I'm obedient, I know the Lord can use these interactions.