Book Club Reading Selections. . .

After talking with our local librarian about our book club, she gave me a list of books that might be of interest.  Here is a list she gave me:  The Fallen Angel, Backfire, Shadow of Night, Sandcastle Girls, Creole Belle, and Next Best Thing.  These are all fiction titles.  Here are some non-fiction titles:  Wild, Unbroken, Killing Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe:  The Final Years, and The Amateur.  You can also google to find the latest book club lists.

I think I would like to read the Marilyn Monroe book or the one about Lincoln next.  They both seem like they would be worth while.  If you are interested in joining a book club you can always start one of your own or check out your local Library and see what they have to offer.  The group I am with started on Facebook.  

Book Club, Book # 2

The second book we are reading for book club is "The Memory Keepers Daughter."   This title reached out and grabbed me, the book has been very different than what I was expecting.  It has it's tear jerking moments and then it has points where you want to smack the main character.  I have not finished but, I am only a chapter or two away.   We have our next meeting on Friday, I am excited about it because I have not been on Facebook since we started the book.  I cannot wait to hear what everyone else has thought about this one.  We wrote comments on Facebook when we were reading the first book and I kinda liked that.  It was neat to see what everyone else was thinking while they were reading the book.  I have missed that about not being on Facebook.  
I was not sure I would do well in a book club.  I read slowly and I really have to be in to a book to read it.  The book we have read and this one were not books I would have picked for my self so, I feel like I am broadening my horizons.  I personally like a good mystery; medical murder mysteries.   The first book we read was "Water for Elephants," it was hard to get around some of it but I am glad I read it.   I cannot wait to find out what we will be reading next.

Bedtime. . .

My oldest son is 13 and thinks he is 19, he has complained the last several months about his bedtime.  My kids start toward bed around 8:15 to 8:30 with a goal that they are in the bed by 8:45.  Don't everyone blow up my comments section with how strict I am being.   My kids are so grouchy when they don't get enough sleep I just believe they need to go to bed early.  Dear hubby has been championing the cause for a later bedtime for my oldest.
Here is the other grab.  My youngest is 10 and  the boys share a room.  They have only been sharing a room maybe 5 years.  Since they are sharing a room it is hard to send the youngest to bed by himself.  I am really trying to adapt our bedtime routine to fit both boys.  Our bedtime routine consists of:  nightly devotions, Bible readings, prayer, and teeth brushing.  I know that my oldest is growing up and that he should probably not have to go to bed so early but, I also know how bad they need their sleep during the week.  Now I am way more relaxed about bedtime on the weekends and during the Summer.  It is just during the school year that I stick to my early bedtime.
For about a month now the oldest has been going to bed at 9 and the youngest still going to bed at 8:30ish.  So far it is working out ok, the oldest is getting up and getting ready fairly well in the mornings and the youngest is not too traumatized going to bed alone.  The first of many hurdles to having two boys only three years apart.

Flashback to dating. . .

Dear hubby and I were talking the other night about when we first met.  We were talking about this because we were wondering how our boys would be when they met "the one."   Dear hubby and I met working together third shift in a lab.  I never thought in a million years I would be working third shift or that I would meet my husband at that time.   We ran a test together and he was the lead tech, so I guess you could say he was my supervisor.  When we first met I thought he was a dumb jock.  He listened to heavy metal music and loved football.  He was always saying dumb things about women and how we were inferior to men.  I went with him to a concert for what I thought was  a first date.  He let me know quickly after the fact, that was not a date.  I was a little confused because he picked me up, he paid for everything, and he took me home.  That to me was a date.  I was very upset when he announced to everyone that it was not a date.  I told him he need not worry about asking me on a "date" because I would not go anywhere with him again.   We both worried the poor girl that worked behind us to death.  He would go to her and complain about me and I would go to her and complain about him.  After almost two months we did have an official date.  We went to  a nice restaurant that had horse drawn carriage rides out in front.  When I saw the carriage rides out front my heart just fell, I had always wanted to do that.  We had drinks at the bar and then went to our table and ate.  Over dinner he asked if I would like to go on a carriage ride.  I just about jumped across the table with glee, but I nonchalantly said yes that would be nice. Deep inside I was a 10 year old little girl doing cartwheels.  Dear hubby at this time did not use credit cards and the drinks were more than he expected.  You guessed it, he did not have enough money to pay for dinner.  When he made that face and looked so pitiful I offered to help with the tab.  I was quite sad because I figured that this meant no carriage ride for us.   Dear hubby was determined to keep his word on the carriage ride so he went to the teller  to get enough cash so we could take our ride.  We got there just in time, we were the last ride before they closed up shop and took the horses back to the barn.  It was the most romantic date I had ever been on.  That is what he considered a date and was our official first date.   He always finds a way to surprise me, even now after twenty years.  

Daily Devotions. . .

I was reading the daily devotions with the boys one night before bed and this particular one talked about improper touching.   As I was reading this I was thinking to myself, do I really want to broach this subject with my boys now.  We have talked about the fact that nobody should touch their body.   What we had not talked about was that they should not touch anyone else either.  I always thought I was glad I did not have girls because this was one issue I did not want to have to deal with.  You always think of girls being victims but boys can be victims too.  As a mother I want to protect my children from everything; from bicycle injuries, bullies, drugs, and all things evil.  I have said numerous times that God has a plan and he puts things in our path sometimes to help us and sometimes to slow us down.  I feel like this particular devotion was in his plan.  I believe this because I had gotten off schedule with their devotions and I was catching up.  This devotion made me have that talk I had been avoiding.  We had a good conversation about how to behave and that they can tell their Dad and I anything.  I know that God is watching over our family and I am so thankful for that.   I know that he sends things to me when I need them and that is comforting.  I know that he is leading me so that I may lead my children.

Lent. . .

As we enter the season of Lent, everyone is talking about what they are giving up for Lent.   I grew up Baptist and we never really talked about giving things up for Lent.  The first time I remember hearing someone talk about giving up something for Lent was right out of college.  I worked with a girl that was Catholic and she was talking about what she was giving up and what she had given up in the past.  I never gave things up for Lent until three years ago when my oldest son came home from Church and said I am giving up the X Box for Lent.  I was surprised to say the least, since the world often revolves around the X Box at his age.  He did well and he did not give in to temptation.  I decided since my son at 10 could give up something that I should also reflect and give up something that meant a lot to me.  That season I gave up soda.  That was not easy.  This year I decided I would give up Facebook during Lent.  My oldest is giving up caffeine and my youngest is giving up sugary drinks.  I am really proud of them and so glad that we are able talk about our spiritual lives together.  I did not tell them they had to give up anything, this is their idea of what they want to do for themselves.  I haven chosen to give up Facebook all together for Lent.  No checking, no updates, nothing, I am not even going to log on.   I did post an update on the Famine the kids were doing on Saturday but that will be the last time until the end of Lent.
Our minister talked about Lent yesterday and he said it was not a season of anticipation and joy like Advent but, of reflection and soul searching.  It is a time for us to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God.

The Famine is over. . .

The boys survived the 30 hour famine.  It ended with our Day of Prayer Lovefeast at our Church.  They enjoyed their Lovefeast and then had pizza, baked spaghetti and doughnuts to round out the evening.  So proud of the boys.  They learned what hunger is and they learned about different countries too.  They were aligned with a particular tribe and ate a traditional meal from that area.  Jack said he did get a little bit of a headache from not eating but he was ok.  They are tired and grouchy, which I was anticipating.  Thomas said Jack was talking in his sleep last night.  I think they had a good time.  I hope they make it through school tomorrow.  Mark and I enjoyed a quiet evening at home last night.  Just us and the B.  She seemed to miss the boys too, she didn't have anyone to chase and play with.  The boys raised $185 to go to World Vision.