September Reads

We try to make a library run once a week, and each week Cheerio is allowed to pick out four books, and I pick out one I think I'd like to read to her, for a total of five books, this month we read:

The two books on top in the photo above are books we added to our own personal collection this month.

Cheerio's Top Two: Caps For Sale and Another Brother

Mom's Top Two: ERNEST, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit and Ox-Cart Man

And we both loved: Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf

Okay, this last set of books was just super fun, and I do believe we both enjoyed reading ALL of the books selected. 

AND...Mom's books. I was just going to review my favorite book, but that ended up being TOO hard to choose! Ahh, the joys of a good book. :)

The books I read this month, in two sentences or less, were:

An amazing book about a young woman who embraces the challenges God asks of her and moves to Uganda fresh out of high school. Truly inspiring.

 An old mansion in small town Ireland is refurbished into a relaxing bed-and-breakfast style destination by the sea. We get a brief look into the lives of each of the guests who stay during opening week.

 A 12 year old girl lives with her often-gone mother in a single trailer by the tracks. She works hard to keep a semblance of normal in their lives with cheerful positivity.

 A college student takes on a job for a seemingly eccentric old woman to transcribe the diary of an accused Salem witch. Brings you into the emotions of Salem which will leave you wondering if it was a true story! :) P.S. If you ever decide to read this book, you may be interested in THIS link when you're finished. :)

NEVER hesitate to ask for more information about ANY book! What book do you recommend I read next? (Not that I don't have a long list already, but I'm always eager to add to it!)

This was NOT a drill...

Last week we experience a fire in our apartment building. We were incredibly lucky to be evacuated and out safely while seeing nothing more than a few tendrils of billowing smoke curling along the ceiling. The firemen came and went. When all was said and done, we came out with no damage but a lingering smoke smell seeping in through our walls from the hallway. For me it was inconvenient, a little surreal (these are things you only HEAR about right??), and a touch scary: Okay, I'll be honest here, I had nothing prepared for in case of fire, and since my cell phone and purse are rarely in their designated "spots" I left the house with my mostly-to-half naked children and one very large blanket dragging along behind us to curl up in-thankfully I was dressed at least! We had a very kind lady from the next building over take us into her apartment shortly after arriving slipper-footed in the parking lot (another thing I'm thankful for-I rarely wear slippers in the apartment!). While Cheerio doesn't seem to be traumatized (again, thankful!), neither do I appreciate comments about how 'exciting' this must have been for her! Honestly, I think she just found it rather inconvenient as well, she just wanted to go back home and continue her day! As did my poor baby, who was yanked from the comfort of her nap with none of her paci's to keep her calm. But, back to my point; A fire is not exciting, someone lost their home-at least temporarily- and probably a great number of belongings that day. Why do we teach our children that firemen and police officers have exciting careers? While I have great respect and a deep sense of wonder for all these hero's accomplish in their every day lives, neither do I wish my children willy-nilly choose to risk their lives in this type of profession. If my child should choose to become a firefighter, or a police officer, or to fight for my freedom, or any other such profession, I can only hope it would be for much more honorable reasons than the fact that people view it as exciting. I can only hope they will be more passionate about their career choice-whatever it may be.

Image from here.

An old part of me....

I discovered a small book of poems I had written quite a few years ago. It is amazing to look at them and see how far I have come in finding meaning and happiness for my life. I have chosen to share them with you in the next few weeks/months and hope you will be kind to the person I once was. It is hard for me to type them up exactly as they are and not change anything-wording, content, punctuation, but I did it! They're all typed up, but I'll share them one at a time as seems appropriate. I actually feel they are quite poetic in their own way. Who knew poems were so fun? Enjoy!

gone
with a gentle hug
you wiped away the tears.

sunlight dazzled off the water,
sparkles glittered in the dew.

and you promised
all you wanted for me was happiness.

then you went home for the day, the week, the year,
and you took all of the sunshine away.

I could no longer believe everything you had to say
and I need relief from that pain.
~2006

Do you like to write poems, read poems, or are poems a bit too vague for you, generally?

Sharing Another's Joy

I have recently had a couple conversations lately where I have been telling someone about an aspect in my life and they responded with "I'm so happy for you!" and I wonder...why don't I use that phrase more often? It is such a simple thing that can mean so much. Often it's the big things we wish to share with our friends- A move, deciding on a major in college, a marriage, a new baby, a vacation. But sometimes it's the little things that make the most impact on the person sharing the news, because they say more about who we are: A far-away friend blessed with a sunny day, a cup of coffee, a new pair of shoes, a secret pleasure (like coloring in coloring books at 26 years old), even a pack of bubble gum! So, when someone comes to us to share news that they are excited about, why is it so hard for us to say "I'm so happy for you!"? I know sometimes it can be hard to feel excited. I mean, a new pack of gum? Yeah. Great. That's practically an every day occurrence around here....but perhaps this person doesn't purchase gum that often. Or maybe it's a new flavor. Or possibly they just really, really like gum. And the fact that they came to YOU to share their joy should have meaning to you. They chose YOU to be the person in their lives that they wanted to talk to! So open your heart and be excited! Stop a moment and SEE them, watch the twinkle in their eye, follow the bounce in their step, realize how much this means to them and join them in their joy. Their joy can become your joy if you just let it.

Photo taken from here.

While we tend to have a hard time getting excited about the little things, because-well, to us, they're little, it's the big things that have the biggest impact on us as the news receivers. Perhaps your best friend is moving to a new state-or even a new country! Maybe your co-worker is having her fifth child while you're still trying for your first. Or your brother purchased a new house while you're struggling to make rent on your dingy apartment.... remember, when you give a less-than-enthusiastic response, you just may be stealing their happiness, which does not help you in the least. Having a best friend who is no longer excitedly looking forward to moving does not keep them in the house across the street. Neither does stealing your brothers joy over his new house get you into one of your own faster...so why not just let them be happy?

Photo taken from here.

Often times when someone comes to us with great news, it is our reaction to feel jealous. We compare. We look at their sparkle and find that it exposes our shadows. And so, we desire to quickly turn out the light. How can we stop that natural instinct? How can we go from wishing their home was our home, to celebrating in the light they are giving off?

It may help to understand exactly what causes our jealousy. When our best friend decides to move to an exciting new country, we feel jealous of her. We may look at her and wonder, "what did she do to deserve that?" "How can she leave me here all alone?" "Why can she afford that when I cannot?" The problem is, these questions quickly and subtly turn into questions about ourselves-"what quality am I lacking that I am not provided these opportunities?" "Why doesn't anyone love me?" "Why am I not smart enough to land her job?" and these insecurities are very damaging to ourselves, while not harming your best friend in the least. Irish writer Elizabeth Bowen once wrote, "Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies." But our best friend didn't plan to move just to spite us. And we are not alone. It is really not HER we are jealous of, but the circumstances she finds herself in. "Envy, after all, comes from wanting something that isn't yours." -Jodi Picoult, Perfect Match. What we need to do is find the real source of our jealousy and let the person off the hook. Why do her circumstances make us jealous? Once we have pinned down why we are jealous, let this knowledge help us grow in our own lives. We have a choice. We can choose to grow bitter , or we can choose to make peace with our lives. We can remind ourselves of the good things we DO have. We can remind ourselves that we cannot stop feeling envious, but we can choose the way we deal with it. Do we take away another's joy? Or to we add to it? Do we build resentment towards another's circumstances? Or do we find a way to make peace with it's lack in our own lives (over and over if need be) and participate in the genuine joy radiating off the people around us? My new goal is to always choose joy, and to be sure I make the other person aware of that choice. What's your choice?

What other phrases have you heard, or use, that you think should become more commonplace?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/compassion-matters/201109/what-drives-jealousy
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/01/22/jealous
http://tinybuddha.com/blog/when-your-friends-happy-news-fills-you-with-envy-instead-of-joy/

My blog has been awarded!

Sofia over at Star-Spangled Sisu has presented me with the 

Thanks Sofia! She has given me a short list of questions she would like me to answer about myself, so here goes:

1. What's your favorite school subject?
You know, there are so many factors that go into this question, while I was in school I think I'd have to go with English-type classes. Reading...writing...just no vocab quizzes please, and seriously, not every book has some secret, hidden agenda!
2. Where would be your dream place to live?
Hmmm.....it must include water. Preferably a natural source. And sunshine. And finally, I'd want a view (anyplace with natural water, you've pretty much got your view, guaranteed). Someplace that makes my heart sing. I have imagined living on a house boat. Yes, I probably totally romanticize it, plus houseboats don't really ever just float down the river with no actual home these days, which is what is always a part of this fantasy. Somewhere near the ocean sounds amazing, but I know I'd miss the snow; building snow sculptures and snow angels and skating and hot chocolate afterwards. Plus I'd miss the fall; the rainbow of golds and the brilliant reds that splash out against the browns and greens of the leaves and the briskness of the air that makes you feel alive and awake. And what about spring? The tiny, delicate, you-nearly-miss-it splash of color as the flowers come back. So....where can I live that has water, sunshine, seasons, and a view? The only place I know, a lake in MN. Find me that lake house (that I can afford) and I'm back in a heartbeat. So long, dear husband. ;)

©Jenae Karvonen

3. What have you read lately?
 Aside from starting and finishing the book that had been waiting on my nightstand in my previous post(LEFT neglected by Lisa Genova, a slow start, but totally worth it)? The comics from the Sunday paper (yes, I know it is Friday already), a pile of children's books my daughter and I just brought home from the library, and a couple blogs I was nosing into by following the awards nominations backwards :) But, I just picked up, TODAY, a book I have been looking forward to reading for a long time now-Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis with Beth Clark and can't wait to get started!

4. What do you wish was for supper today?
Whatever it is, I wish I didn't have to worry about how it would affect my nursing baby, or my own personal health goals. Perhaps huge plate of taco salad loaded with guacamole, and spicy salsa, and CHEESE, with a small sprinkling of olives and Doritos. Cooked, created, and delivered to me by someone else, of course. ;)

5. Make a 5 word sentence that describes your day.
Full of two little girls.

6. Cheese, cake, or cheesecake?
AHHHH, CHEESECAKE!  Can I add cheesecake onto my dream supper for desert?? Please?

7. Name a favorite fictional character and why they're your favorite.
Wow, you obviously do not know how many fictional characters I have fallen in love with-just from books! One of the first to come to mind is Anne Shirley (From Anne of Green Gables) because she is so enthusiastic and funny and bubbly-honestly, how could you not love her??  I also love Jo March from Little Woman who is feisty, but oh so lovable. And Polly from The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. And Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games because he just has such a gentle heart. Plus Ramona Quimby (featured in Ramona Quimby, Age 8)and Junie B. Jones (From the series by Barbara Park) and Madeline (From Ludwig Bemelmans' books). I could go on and on....maybe it will have to be a post someday :)

8. Why did you start your blog?
For this question I will simply refer you to the first paragraphs of my first post here: Another Giant Leap: I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time now...for so long, in fact, that this first post just may be quite lengthy! I'm not sure what originally started my longing to create a blog, perhaps it was my desire for an outlet. I am a stay at home mom to a very special and unique two-year-old bundle of energy in an area where I have zero family. When we first moved here, I also knew a total of zero other people, and I hold anxieties about leaving my dear adorable daughter with anyone, really, but especially with those I don't know intimately (as family or close, long-time friends) and trust explicitly. I'll write more about that in another post. So, essentially, I need an outlet because I spend all my time with my daughter, and don't take much of a break for myself. No babysitters, no daycares, no preschool, no date nights, just a few hours here and there when I leave her behind with my hubby, or she is sleeping /taking much needed time alone.

Anyways, the itch was there, and when my super-creative and talented-writer sister created a few blogs, here and here, as part of a school class, my desire only increased. I longed to write my own meaningful posts, to create my own meaningful discussions (hint, hint: I really would love audience participation here! Go ahead, challenge my thinking!), and its been moving farther and farther to the front of my mind, day by day, until here I am now!

And finally, 9 facts about myself:
1. I used to think the world actually worked the way it did in books. For example I really thought that if I still slept with my doll and told my friends at age seven, in the end everyone would understand and we'd all be better people.
2. I like to color. In coloring books. With Crayons.
3. If I didn't use my computer as a major source to connect with my current far-away family and friends, I think I would get rid of it until my kiddos started school at least because I think it would be better for building the relationships in my own little family, and for my mental health, too.
4. I want to hang my own photographs on my walls, I guess I'm kinda conceited :)
5. I still want to own some My Little Pony's.
6. I love books! Well known, but who cares?
7. I often prefer to sit in the sun, even on hot days.
8. I really like energetic people. I sometimes go through the drive through at Starbucks just to talk to the bubbly barista. I always drive away with a smile on my face.
9. I wish I could go back to high school. Not that I want to be 18 again or anything, but I like that atmosphere of learning and I don't think it would be quite the same with college classes.

And my

goes out to Meriel from Create3.5 who has a surprisingly interesting blog considering I have no idea how to sew.

And Sofia from Understanding Me for THIS amazing post! I have seldom seen it described this well!

Please answer the following questions, then follow by nominating two other "new" bloggers (less than 200 followers, however you would find that out)! Have fun!

1.What's a random word you like and how would you define it?

2. How did you come up with the title for your blog?

3. How has your day gone, no, really, how are you actually feeling today?

4. What is your favorite quote, and who is it by?

5. What is your favorite blog post you have written and why? 

6.How many blogs do you follow?

7. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

8. There is a box. Right there. You just found it. Whats inside?

and 9 random facts about yourself, ready, set go!