This week's writing prompt is about three favorite places. I am going to write about one each day.
1) Library/book store - I know, I talk about books ALL the time! But I love them. I can't help it. I love walking through the library to see what's new. I love wandering the shelves and discovering a little gem I would never have known to even look for. I love the freedom of checking things out knowing I can just return them if I don't like them.
I love the potential in a book store or a library - the stories, the information, the ideas that are waiting to be discovered. I love the peacefulness I usually find in those places.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
How you see me
Writing prompt - How do you think people see you? How do you want people to see you? How does God see you?
This one was hard for me. I have no idea how others see me. I'm often afraid people see me as someone who talks too much, someone who takes charge too much, and someone who doesn't let others in very easily.
I want people to see me as compassionate, competent, and approachable.
I think God sees me as a flawed child who wants to get everything right but rarely does.
So, how would YOU answer these questions?
This one was hard for me. I have no idea how others see me. I'm often afraid people see me as someone who talks too much, someone who takes charge too much, and someone who doesn't let others in very easily.
I want people to see me as compassionate, competent, and approachable.
I think God sees me as a flawed child who wants to get everything right but rarely does.
So, how would YOU answer these questions?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Marriage
Writing prompt - What does marriage mean to you?
To me, marriage is forever. Marriage is companionship, commitment, and sacrifice. Marriage is putting someone else's needs before your own. Marriage is partnership. Marriage is communication, especially about your expectations. Marriage is ups and downs. Marriage is hard work and great bliss. Marriage is being known.
So, what does marriage mean to YOU?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A Happy List
Today's writing prompt is - 10 things that make you happy and why?
1. My son - He's an interesting boy with a lot of interests and great conversational skills. I love talking with him and hearing what is on his mind.
2. My husband - I enjoy talking with him and spending time together.
3. Kindergarteners - In general, I am not a "fan" of young children. I thought my son's kindergarten class was okay, but once he moved on, I was ready to leave kindergarten behind. This year I have two kindergarten classes that come to the library and I adore them. They make me smile. They are fun, excited about things going on in their lives, and they want to read books.
4. My work - I can't imagine what this fall would have been like if I hadn't had this new job to throw myself into. I look forward to going to school every day, eager to see my students.
5. Book release Tuesdays - I love going to the bookstore on Tuesdays and checking out new books. I keep track of when new books are coming out and I love to see those books in person.
6. The Green Bay Packers - I love cheering for my Packers every week!
7. Talking to people about books - I love when kids come into our library and tell me what they thought of the book they read. I love talking to strangers in the bookstore about books. I love talking with the tweens at church about favorite series like Harry Potter or 39 Clues or Mysterious Benedict Society or Heroes of Olympus.
8. New cross stitch magazines - Honestly, I love most crafting magazines - quilting, card making, scrapbooking, etc., - but cross stitch is my current favorite.
9. Psych - Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster are my favorite fellas on television. I love watching them banter on TV and reading about them in paperbacks. The gang from Big Bang Theory are a close second.
10. Laughing with family and friends - I spent a lunch hour at school the other day laughing. We laughed about 80s fashion and things we did as kids. It felt great. Fellowship and laughter make me happy.
So, what makes YOU happy?
1. My son - He's an interesting boy with a lot of interests and great conversational skills. I love talking with him and hearing what is on his mind.
2. My husband - I enjoy talking with him and spending time together.
3. Kindergarteners - In general, I am not a "fan" of young children. I thought my son's kindergarten class was okay, but once he moved on, I was ready to leave kindergarten behind. This year I have two kindergarten classes that come to the library and I adore them. They make me smile. They are fun, excited about things going on in their lives, and they want to read books.
4. My work - I can't imagine what this fall would have been like if I hadn't had this new job to throw myself into. I look forward to going to school every day, eager to see my students.
5. Book release Tuesdays - I love going to the bookstore on Tuesdays and checking out new books. I keep track of when new books are coming out and I love to see those books in person.
6. The Green Bay Packers - I love cheering for my Packers every week!
7. Talking to people about books - I love when kids come into our library and tell me what they thought of the book they read. I love talking to strangers in the bookstore about books. I love talking with the tweens at church about favorite series like Harry Potter or 39 Clues or Mysterious Benedict Society or Heroes of Olympus.
8. New cross stitch magazines - Honestly, I love most crafting magazines - quilting, card making, scrapbooking, etc., - but cross stitch is my current favorite.
9. Psych - Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster are my favorite fellas on television. I love watching them banter on TV and reading about them in paperbacks. The gang from Big Bang Theory are a close second.
10. Laughing with family and friends - I spent a lunch hour at school the other day laughing. We laughed about 80s fashion and things we did as kids. It felt great. Fellowship and laughter make me happy.
So, what makes YOU happy?
Saturday, October 8, 2011
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Another writing prompt today - What did you want to be as a child? How does that fit with the person you are today?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately.
I always thought I would be a teacher. I hit a snag in those plans in college, and went a different direction. Here I am, though, almost 20 years later, and I am teaching. So, I feel like, in a way, I came back full circle, although not in any way I ever considered as a kid.
I wonder why it never occurred to me as a child to be a librarian. I have always been a book freak yet "librarian" was never a primary plan for me. I do wonder if my university had a library program when I knew I wouldn't be a music teacher if I would have put 2 and 2 together and tried a library career.
During the book festival I attended recently, I was reminded that I said I wanted to be an illustrator for awhile when I was a kid - maybe even an author, too. I wonder, though, if I really wanted that sort of job or if I just liked using the word "illustrator" in conversation.
What did you want to be? How did those aspirations work out for you?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately.
I always thought I would be a teacher. I hit a snag in those plans in college, and went a different direction. Here I am, though, almost 20 years later, and I am teaching. So, I feel like, in a way, I came back full circle, although not in any way I ever considered as a kid.
I wonder why it never occurred to me as a child to be a librarian. I have always been a book freak yet "librarian" was never a primary plan for me. I do wonder if my university had a library program when I knew I wouldn't be a music teacher if I would have put 2 and 2 together and tried a library career.
During the book festival I attended recently, I was reminded that I said I wanted to be an illustrator for awhile when I was a kid - maybe even an author, too. I wonder, though, if I really wanted that sort of job or if I just liked using the word "illustrator" in conversation.
What did you want to be? How did those aspirations work out for you?
Thursday, October 6, 2011
10 Things
I've got another writing prompt for today - What are 10 things you want to accomplish by the end of the year?
Wow! The end of the year is less than 3 months away! I can't say I will be sad to see 2011 move behind me. This has been a cruel year.
Okay - 10 things
1. Add at least 30 new books to the school library's catalog and shelves.
2. Clean and organize my house so that I feel like I could have someone over without embarrassment.
3. Hold a book fair at least as successful as last year.
4. Clean out the magazine box of "new" magazines I haven't gotten around to reading.
5. Clean off crafting table.
6. Move scrapbook albums into new shelves (which means the new shelves have to be built)
7. Finish a cross stitch project started already
8. Organize enough of my work to be able to take most of Christmas break "off."
9. Finish a book on my Nook
10. Survive the rest of the year's estate activities for Dad.
So, what 10 things (or 5 things or 3 things) do you want to accomplish by the end of the year?
Wow! The end of the year is less than 3 months away! I can't say I will be sad to see 2011 move behind me. This has been a cruel year.
Okay - 10 things
1. Add at least 30 new books to the school library's catalog and shelves.
2. Clean and organize my house so that I feel like I could have someone over without embarrassment.
3. Hold a book fair at least as successful as last year.
4. Clean out the magazine box of "new" magazines I haven't gotten around to reading.
5. Clean off crafting table.
6. Move scrapbook albums into new shelves (which means the new shelves have to be built)
7. Finish a cross stitch project started already
8. Organize enough of my work to be able to take most of Christmas break "off."
9. Finish a book on my Nook
10. Survive the rest of the year's estate activities for Dad.
So, what 10 things (or 5 things or 3 things) do you want to accomplish by the end of the year?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Children's Literature Festival
A couple weeks ago I was able to attend a free Children's Literature Festival. It was a great event and I left inspired.
Two sessions were led by Bryan Collier, the illustrator of books like Martin's Big Words and Dave the Potter. Mr. Collier is also an author. I loved listening to him talk about art, about history and about his research process.
April Pulley Sayre also did a session about non-fiction picture books that was a lot more fun than I expected it to be. She had a great sense of humor.
I hadn't planned to buy any books at the festival, but after each of the authors spoke, I just had to have something they created for our school library or my personal library.
The fourth session was about book collecting, which wasn't as good of a fit for me but it was cool to see some of the books from the local rare book collection.
The whole thing renewed my desire to some day attend the National Book Festival in Washington DC. I love the idea of being surrounded by books and other people who love books as much as I do.
Two sessions were led by Bryan Collier, the illustrator of books like Martin's Big Words and Dave the Potter. Mr. Collier is also an author. I loved listening to him talk about art, about history and about his research process.
April Pulley Sayre also did a session about non-fiction picture books that was a lot more fun than I expected it to be. She had a great sense of humor.
I hadn't planned to buy any books at the festival, but after each of the authors spoke, I just had to have something they created for our school library or my personal library.
The fourth session was about book collecting, which wasn't as good of a fit for me but it was cool to see some of the books from the local rare book collection.
The whole thing renewed my desire to some day attend the National Book Festival in Washington DC. I love the idea of being surrounded by books and other people who love books as much as I do.
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