Book Club Details

Since I have received some positive feedback on the book club idea, I'll be moving forward with it.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read here.

October's pick will be Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza. The discussion will be held here on my blog, on October 25th. Please read the book and prepare to comment on it that day. (of course, the discussion can continue beyond one day... but let's get it started that day.)

If you'd rather write up an entire post on your own blog about the book, (kind of like the way a fair works) that would be fine. Just leave me a link in my comments by the afternoon before, so the discussions can be continued on your own blogs.

Of course, if you don't have a blog, please participate anyway! Leave lots of comments all around. The more participation, the better.

And let's get the next few months hammered out.

Would you all like to pick a book and a month?

Or do you want me to post my "real life" book club list for y'all?

Thanks for making this work!

:)

It's that time of year again...

Now that the temps are dipping below 90 degrees, my little peanuts have decided that it's safe to venture outdoors again.

Clothed in their shorts and sandals, and covered in mosquito repellent, they zoom off on their bikes and scooters through the neighborhood, striking fear into the hearts of the elderly, retired peaceful folk on our street.

Alas! It's those darn home schoolers. They have emerged!

Accessing our front door after such an adventuresome afternoon is akin to scaling the heights of Mount Doom...















So, what are your afternoons like these days?

:)

Loveliness Fair!!

October 1st will be a banner day over here at the Nut House.

We will be hosting a Loveliness Fair.

Now I know there is nothing lovely about a Nut House... too many squirrels.

But while this Nut House cannot promise to be tidy, it does guarantee that it will be filled with the many wonderful tastes and smells of comfort drinks.

To all of my in-state blogging friends who may scoff at the notion of discussing comfort drinks in 90+ degree heat, let me say one thing:

Pretend, people.

For the sake of our bloggy neighbors to the north. Pretend it's 65 degrees and we're freezing.

'K?

I will be taking your submissions through Sunday morning, September 30th. And will hopefully have it all up and running by Monday.

No lemonade posts allowed.

:)

"Mama, I Fwee!"

Guess who's birthday was today?

Yes.

(sigh)

My baby girl's...

:)

Sending You Elsewhere...

In the spirit of cultivating friendships and community here in my own utopian blog-o-sphere, here are some happenings that have enlightened and inspired me lately...

A dear friend who is an amazing artist and wonderful mama to her adopted daughter is using her talent in order to fund a second adoption. Go see her beautiful Christmas cards, and check back often as she adds to her collections...

This doctor's 4 year-old son is learning much from his super smart dad. See if you can match his intelligence by answering his precocious question...

Mrs. Bear has come up with a new motto that fits my philosophy of blogging perfectly. Writing without regard for audience or popularity or feelings of shyness.... That is exactly the frame of mind I try to cultivate. I write because I truly love to.

Last but not least... this gem from Holy Mama from February (yes, I frantically searched her archives. totally fun and not a waste of time). I am hoping for such a drop in temps soon. Fall is in the air. I feel it. Right?!?

:)

A Proposition...

How about a little online bookclub?

It could work a bit like a Fair, in that each person would pick a month, assign a book, and host that book on their blog for the day. Those of us who read it could comment on it, and a bit of a discussion could ensue. Of course, if picking a book and a month is too overwhelming, I could subject you all to my "real life" bookclub picks for the year...

And, also, please don't think that in order to participate you need to host! No no. The goal is to generate discussion, so the more the merrier!

You can see what my pick for October 25th would be. Thank you to Kristen for recommending this one. I am on page 41 already and completely hooked.


So... who's in?

:)

Virtual Friendships

I've met a few wonderful people through the blog-o-sphere. I hold firmly to the belief that meeting people through this medium is actually ideal. As a reader of someone's blog, you are privy to all of the thoughts and ruminations they have shared, and you really get a sense of that person's true self. As a bonus, you get to do this without the visual effect... not knowing if their teeth are straight or crooked, their hair brown or gray, and that annoying twitch? Non-existent. In other words, the visual does not at all hamper the message, the words on the screen that convey who they are.

I love getting to know all of these women I host on my side bar. And have begun to think of them as good friends, even if I haven't met them. Sounds strange, I know. But when someone asks for prayers, or isn't feeling well one day, I truly care and want to know how they are faring, or how God answered our prayers... and that is why I keep going back!

As with all "in real life" friendships, virtual friendships must be cultivated and cared for. If both parties don't reach out, the friendship will suffer. And so that is what I have been doing... (on the internet, and in real life) Instead of burning through my bloglines to get a snippet of how everyone is doing, I resolve to take the time to actually click over and leave a comment, to reinforce the friendship, and re-connect.

And since I am trying to limit my computer time,(see Karen's #1) this means less blabbing from me. But don't worry, I'm too addicted to go away forever...

Thank you all for bringing so much to my life!

:)

Family Movie Night

From the ultra-discriminating movie critics who reside in the Nut House, I present to you a two thumbs up, sure-to-be-a-winner family movie selection.

We got it from Netflix for the weekend, and are on round two of the popcorn and sodas...



Have a great weekend!

:)

Can I Just Say...

... that this Christian woman's faith puts mine to shame?

I especially love this part:

I believe that Christs calling on my life is bigger than myself. I believe that he has given me a thorn in my flesh so that I might boldly proclaim Him through out my sickness.

And how it relates so beautifully to this:

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Go read how Heather is doing these days.

Say a prayer for her.

And while you're at it, say one for me and all of our bloggy friends...

"Lord, increase my Faith!"

The Perfect Cure...

... for a "sure-to-be-burnt-out" Mama?

A spontaneous trip to the lake.

The perfect pictures of said trip?

The ones you take with your mind and hold in your memory.

:)