2011

Dec 19, 2011

Fall Into Reading 2011: Only a Few Days Left!

In case you can’t tell, time is getting away from me! Here we are, on December 19th already — in fact, as I type this post, it’s past my bedtime on December 19th. Which means, I have about 48 hours to fit in any last-minute reading for Fall Into Reading 2011.

I’ll tell you right now — I’m not going to finish all the books I picked. But I’ll save the details for my wrap-up post.

And speaking of wrap-up posts, I’ll be posting the final wrap-up post (complete with a Mr. Linky to collect your links) on Thursday, December 22nd.

I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone did on their personal goals! I hope you will take time to write a post letting us all know how Fall Into Reading 2011 went for you. Once you have your post written and posted on your blog, you can come here on Thursday and add your link to the Mr. Linky I’ll have ready.

I don’t have any specific requirements for your wrap-up post. Feel free to just ramble about your fall reading experiences — that works for me! (And I admit, I tend to ramble, too.) But if you like a little more structure or direction, here are some questions that can help guide your post. (Remember — these are just suggestions and are optional. You can approach your wrap-up post in whatever way works for you!)

Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?
Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?
What was your favorite book that you read this fall? Least favorite? Why?
Did you discover a new author or genre this fall? Did you love them? Not love them?
Did you learn something new because of Fall Into Reading 2011 – something about reading, about yourself, or about a topic you read about?
What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

The official wrap-up post and Mr. Linky will go live this Thursday at 9:00 a.m. EST. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

And don’t forget — you only have a few days left to see if you can finish your Fall Into Reading books!

Filed Under: Fall Into Reading 2011 5 Comments

Dec 15, 2011

I’m not a poet, and boy, I know it

written by katrina · 7 Comments

Here is something I never say:

I spent last night working on a poem.

The reasons I never say that are:

I am not a poet
I do not write poems
Also, I am not a poet

However, in this rare instance, this one time…today, that statement is true. I did spend last night working on a poem. While my kids were at our church’s midweek activities, I sat in Starbucks, decaf Peppermint Mocha nearby, working on a poem.

And it’s all because of my small group.

I’ve mentioned our small group before — we are a group of six couples that get together regularly for Bible study, fellowship, and the eating of yummy snacks (not always necessarily in that order). (Also, sometimes they make me go camping.) I genuinely like the folks in our small group — they’re kind, funny, dependable, friendly.

But they’ve asked me to write a poem.

This Friday is our Christmas dinner party, and in addition to food, fellowship, and a white elephant gift exchange…there will be the reading of a poem. A poem about — well, I guess it’s up to me. In past years, a former member of the group wrote very witty and clever poems to sum up the group’s year together. And now, that task has fallen (or should I say, has been forcibly transferred) to yours truly.

So I’ve been trying.

It’s not like I have NO experience in the writing of poems.

After all, in sixth grade, our teacher had us do a huge poetry project, wherein we wrote a variety of poems in a variety of formats. (I was particularly proud of my haiku.)

In high school, my friends and I would pass notes in class, written entirely in rhyme.

As a mom, I’ve been known to spontaneously create a poem about dinner or bedtime or any number of mundane topics. (And they’re usually really elaborate, like: “Get in your seat, it’s time to eat” or “It’s time to climb in bed, my friend; this day is coming to an end.”)

And of course, I am a person who (quite often, I admit) repeats lines from The Princess Bride:

Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?
If there are, we’ll all be dead!

No more rhymes now, I mean it!
Anybody want a peanut?

Now those were some good rhymes.

But the ones I write? Well…no literature professor would ever commend me for paying excellent attention to meter and rhyme. My rhymes are often “almost-rhymes” and my meter is often, well, not very metered.

Ah well, I know my small group won’t be grading me on meter and rhyme. But I’d feel a lot more comfortable if I had any confidence in my poetry ability. I’m just going to have to push my silly insecurities aside and attempt to channel a little Dr. Seuss. Or Fezzik.

I wonder if they’d accept haiku? I’m really good at counting syllables.

Filed Under: Etc. 7 Comments

Dec 14, 2011

FIR ’11: Reading Question #12

written by katrina · 12 Comments

Believe it or not, this is the final reading question for Fall Into Reading 2011. I want to say thank you to those of you who have faithfully visited each week, and shared your answers to the questions I’ve posed here. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you — and your reading habits and experiences — better over the last few months!

And now for our last question…

Christmas is quickly approaching. What book- or reading-related gift would you love to receive for Christmas?

Naturally, there are a few books on my Christmas list this year. I included Death Comes to Pemberley (mostly because I’m just really, really curious about this one) and Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day (because I love and have heavily used the first book in this series…and because I might have a minor cookbook addiction).

I also would love a bath caddy — one of those metal things that stretches across your bathtub, on which you can prop or fasten a book, to make reading and bubble baths work better together. Alas, the one I really like is currently backordered, so this one will have to wait.

And of course, since I will forever and always be acquiring books in one way or another, my friends and family know that gift cards to Amazon or Barnes & Noble are always appreciated (and quickly used!).

Oh, and don’t tell anyone, but I’m also giving quite a few book- and reading-related gifts this year. I can’t help it. I’m just convinced that people need more books!

Your turn: what book- or reading-related gift would be great to find under the tree this year?

Dec 14, 2011

FIR Giveaway: Deeper Into the Word

written by katrina · 4 Comments

It’s time for our final Fall Into Reading 2011 book giveaway sponsored by Bethany House. But before I tell you about this week’s book — actually, its two books, let me reveal the winner of last week’s giveaway.

The winner of Wonderland Creek is:

Comment #1: Renee

Congrats!

Here’s how the giveaways during Fall Into Reading 2011 work:

Every Wednesday, I will post about a new book that’s up for grabs. If it sounds like a book you’d like and you want to be eligible to win it, just leave a comment on the post and I’ll put your name in the virtual hat. (You do not have to be a Fall Into Reading participant to enter these giveaways.) I’ll leave the post open for comments until the following Tuesday at noon. I’ll then randomly pick a commenter and announce that person as the winner when I put up the next giveaway.

Also, I apologize to my international readers, but these giveaways are only open to readers in the U.S. at this time.

Now for this week’s giveaway…

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Book giveaways, Giveaways 4 Comments

Dec 13, 2011

Aw, Mom, do we have to sing?

written by katrina · 4 Comments

For Advent, our family is going through the book Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room by Nancy Guthrie.

So far, so good. We’re on track, which doesn’t always happen in this family. And the daily devotionals have been good — they’ve made us think, and they’ve kept our focus on the wonderful Christmas story. I admit that some of the material might be a little “old” for L.(5) — or maybe he’d say “dry.” But he hangs in there. And the discussion starters that go with each day get him involved and help drive the daily focus home for all of us.

But then there’s the singing.

Every so often, after the evening devotional, there’s a Christmas song (complete with the sheet music) that goes along with that day’s theme. And I figure, since it’s there, we should probably sing it.

Together.

Out loud.

Right?

Here’s the thing: we are not exactly what you would call a “singing family.” Oh, we like music. And I dare say that we’ve all been known to belt out a tune. When we’re alone. Say, in the car. Or the shower.

But Chad and I are not really shining examples of great singers. Our kids are stuck with parents who are a bit deficient in the vocal department.

It’s not that we can’t carry a tune. It’s more like we can only carry a tune if it only involves about 4 or 5 specific notes — the only notes in our range. Except, our ranges are different ranges. And neither of us can harmonize much at all.

And if you know anything about music, you know that those facts basically mean that you don’t want to be sitting in front of us at church.

However.

We’re doing this Advent devotional, and just because we maybe can’t sing wonderfully doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sing at all. We can make a joyful noise unto the Lord, knowing that He made us, and He fully knows our vocal limitations…but that He also knows our hearts.

Therefore, I am the Song Enforcer.

If we turn a page and there’s a song, the kids know: we’re going to sing it. And we’re probably going to sing all the verses. Even if I’m sick and have to stop to cough at least once during every verse.

Truth be told, I’ve had a tiny bit of push-back from the kids, but all in all, they’ve been great about it. Whether they’re humoring me or whether they genuinely enjoy singing together, I’m not sure. But I think they’re pretty good singers and I have to say that I’ve been thoroughly enjoying singing Christmas carols with them.

There’s something special about sitting around the dinner table, after the plates have been pushed back, after we’ve read and talked and prayed…and singing together — just us — about the baby Jesus.

These are memories I will treasure for a lifetime.

So yes, kids, we do have to sing. And I love you all the more for singing along with me.

Filed Under: Family 4 Comments