Why Not Smile?

R.E.M. performs a song entitled "Why Not Smile?" It is easy to get wound up in negative things when you have a tough day, etc.... But many times this week I have been reminded that my little issues, whatever they may be, only pale in comparison to real suffering in the world. I am very fortunate. So, as a recovering pessimist, I struggle with keeping the good ol' attitude up. Thanks to those who make me smile every day....why not smile?

Makin' Stuff

Okay...I had a booth at our school bazaar, and it was quite fun! I did quite a bit of crocheting this summer (and even more frantically the last couple of weeks) and was able to sell a few of my wares this last weekend. People kept asking me "How do you have the time?"....well, to be honest, it is therapy for me. I crochet and it helps me empty my mind, similar to feelings I get when I pray with prayer beads....somehow the stress of the day melts away when you stitch and count. Plus, the great part is that now (hopefully) I have shared a tiny bit of my art with others and (hopefully) it will bring a little bit of joy to them. Anyway, it was pure fun. Danner helped me sell some goodies too, so it was fun to see him be a little salesman (2 for $5!!!--that's a bargain!).

Conference

I just got back from Seattle where I attending the International Reading Association's Regional conference. I went with Brenda Paxton, a teacher at our school. We had a great time, but of course I also learned so much! I usually leave conferences feeling extremely guilty about all of the amazing things that I could be doing, but this time I was a little more patient with myself and decided on figuring out two things that I could take back to school.
I heard a writer, Ralph Fletcher, speak about how we as a society have "hushed" boys and their writing...Boys writing is often not "nice", like girl's writing, and usually has spaceships, blasters, and images of war or violence....He believes, and I do too, that boys write to be social, to communicate with their friends, to fight virtual "monsters", to create worlds of fantasy, and to impress other boys....we shouldn't be afraid of this, but we should encourage boys to be imaginative!
I came home to many green pumpkins....the boys and Lance harvested them, but many of them are still not orange....any ideas about how green pumpkins taste? I am sure they would make some funny looking jack o lanterns.

Blogging

I never thought I would blog....but then I thought that it might be nice to share stuff that's going on for those people in my life that might care a bit (like my mom!)
In all the busy-ness of life, I have realized that I relish, religiously and jealously, the time that I spend reading with my children. It is the one sacred time that never gets missed, skipped, or pushed aside by other activities. It calms me, connects me, and brings me back to simplicity.
Isn't it amazing all of the great conversations that you can have over a good book? Or even a not so good one?