I'm Writing Too: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

It's Monday - What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

My books for Febrauary...
(I love when the end of the month falls on a Monday as it makes for a clean end / start of the month for these posts. It's the little things in life.)

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Celebrate This Week - He's (almost) Home!

Today I am celebrating having (basically) made it through a week of solo parenting. There were only tears twice. More importantly there was lots of quality girl time. In fact, at breakfast this morning when I told her Daddy is on the plane, she sighed and her bottom lip came out. It isn't that she is not looking forward to him being home, she adores him. I'll take it as a sign we had a good week. And that's something to celebrate!

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Thankful Thursday

Some right reserved by minivan1411

Today I am thankful for blogging.

Something that I started as a means for accountability to be actually writing, like I was asking of my students, has turned much more. With 500 posts on this blog I have done more than simply put words down.

I have connected with people whom I would have never met otherwise.
I have learned the discipline of sitting down and writing, even when I don't want to.
I have experienced the wave of rhythm that comes with writing regularly (especially during the March challenges!)
I have been encouraged to keep writing, particularly by the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Community.
I have forced myself to form thoughts into words - and hopefully in ways that allow others to understand my thinking, experiences, and memories.
I am become a better teacher of writing as I can now consider myself a writer and, with my students (and others), share in the joys and struggles that go along with that.
I have found inspiration along this journey of life by reading other's blogs.

Color me thankful!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wordless Wednesday - #WRAD16

Extended read aloud time for #wrad16 Roller Girl on the doc cam. Thanks @JamiesonV pic.twitter.com/hQzQHbh9yZ
— Kristi Lonheim (@lonheim) February 24, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The Start Of This Day

Join the writing love at

Two Writing Teachers to share a Slice of Life

each Tuesday, or every day in March.

I don't solo parent well. This round will last for six days. Sometimes things go swimmingly, while other times we bang heads - over and over and over.

This morning did not start out as planned as I was awakened by some really loud cats outside my bedroom window. (With my husband gone I can sleep in the silence without the AC on. I suppose that one downside is there is no white noise to drown out the possible interruption of sleep from outside.) When the alarm did go off I did not bounce out of bed and, though I had plenty of sleep, did not feel rested.

The minutes marched on and we have two tasks left until we are out the door and headed for school - teeth and shoes. For a bit of 'just the girls' fun I pulled my phone out of my pocket and turned on a 'dance party' playlist. As "Born This Way" bounced off the walls of the bathroom I put toothpaste on each of our toothbrushes; she was already dancing. We moved into the hall for a bit more space as we enjoyed our toothbrushing dance party. Smiles and happiness danced among us while we accomplished our usually mundane task. Still bopping along we spit, rinsed our brushes, and then frolicked downstairs to put on our shoes and backpacks and head to school.

Monday, February 22, 2016

It's Monday - What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

Right now I am plodding through The Alex Crow. I don't know why I can't abandon books! This particular one I know that part of the reason is that it has made many people's recommended book lists. I'm still hoping the reason why will become apparent to me.

The audio book I am currently listening to is In The Unlikely Event by Judy Bloom. It is adult fiction and a book I had never heard of. When I am flying I like to have an audio book to listen to. (I also will listen to an audio book when I have a migraine and can't open my eyes, but am waiting for the drugs to kick in so I can sleep.) This book was under the 'currently available' choices from the library. Anyone else read it? The intertwining of characters is complex and the premise has me wondering where she is going.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Celebrate This Week - Getting My Groove Back

Look for the joy in life - the things to be thankful for - and celebrate them! Thanks to Ruth Ayres you can join in the celebration with links on her blog.

Today I am celebrating getting my groove back. This week is the first time I can remember that I have had time in my days.

Time to walk (inspired by the fact that I gave up sitting on my arse for Lent!)
Time for more reading (both on my own and snuggled with my daughter)

Time to think about the next project I will undertake in the 'sewing' room

Time to get the little things completed that have been waiting around the house

Time to play cribbage

Time to go to the desert for sunset and playing in the sand

Time to sort pictures and start to post them again

Time to write

When we lived in the States we kept a bottle of champagne in the fridge with a removable pressure 'cork' on it. Many evenings we would pour two glasses of bubbly and celebrate the little things in our lives. Living in Saudi there is not the option of champagne in my fridge, but thanks to Ruth's inspiration I can make room, make time, at least once a week by sharing what I am celebrating here.

What can you celebrate?

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for GoGirl. Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out the link for all the details. Quite simply, it is a small piece of pliable plastic that makes it possible for a female to have the same convenience of peeing standing up as a man.

I have used a GoGirl for years camping with a bottle clearly labeled "DO NOT DRINK". It sure beats having to leave the tent in the middle of the night!

Now I have a new reason to love it. We are for a long adventure. We've been in the car for many hours. That morning's tea has more than run its course. The border guards are enjoying the intrigue of a group of white folk and every time we think they will leave another jeep pulls up. There are no buildings within at least 30 minutes jog. I have no problem squatting, but if these guys don't leave that isn't an option either.

The GoGirl, coupled with an abaya, standing facing into the truck with the back door open and the windows tinted black make it impossible for anyone walking around behind you to know that the plastic bottle you are holding is bringing much joy! Relief and thanksgiving fill me as I fill the bottle and then quietly dump the contents behind the back tire.

I am thankful to have this trick figured out and to know that I won't have to be that uncomfortable again. So, perhaps I am also thankful for an abaya!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

A Rabbit Trail Of Memories

Have you ever seen the Beloit College Mindset List? I hadn't, until now. One of my Facebook Friends posted the list for those entering college this year. As I began to read I realized that this list has a huge significance for me. This list sums up what has and hasn't been present for a young woman who has held a chunk of my heart, but is no longer in my life. Those born in 1997 include someone who was once my step daughter.

I have had no contact with this young lady in over 14 years, yet this list gives an insight into a group of people and the world that has shaped their experiences thus far, including her.

As my mind wandered down this rabbit trail I was struck with another pause - do those that were once married to my dad have a place in their heart for me, even now? If so, it would be very different. I was not little and I wasn't in their house half the time with them doing all the things that parents of little ones do. Still, a pondering.

The rabbit trail of my mind continues and I am flooded with memories; painting Valentines for her classmates together and the glitter that was sprinkled everywhere, nursing her when she was struck with salmonella, her giggling with flapping arms as we drove with the sun roof open and the wind rushed around her, and so many more.

There have been two happenstances that have occurred over the years - people close to me having an encounter that included her. From these I know that she seems to be doing well, for which I am both happy and thankful.

Whichever friend shared the list, thanks for the memories.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Clearing of the 'Grief Fog'

I'm back!

I can't believe how little I have blogged in the past several months. The clearing of the 'grief fog', as my best friend calls it, brings perspective and rejuvenation.

Grief is a crazy thing and it ~~doesn't always~~ will rarely look and act like you expect it to. Looking back I know I was grieving long before he was gone. Cancer sucks and the last months of in and out the hospital and rehab and then hospice were a roller coaster. (I don't recommend having shingles on top of metastasized melanoma.)

Now he is 'hanging out with Jesus', as my six year old puts it and we are at peace, knowing he is no longer hurting.

So, with the bulk of the expected funk ('cause I know it will still creep up on me) out of the way (or at least until summer when we are used to having him nearby to hang out with) I am starting routines that hadn't found their groove since we moved. (The stage four diagnosis came about the same time. As did my daughter's epilepsy diagnosis.)

Guess I have all kinds of fuel for the writing fire, which is good - since March is coming!