218. Booktalking

Activities, Books, Events, Friends, Libraries 0

Booktalking has gone well this year!

It helped that we did the hardest one first – one hour per grade. (Most are 20-30 minutes per grade.) All the rest seemed like a piece of cake after that!

But it has also helped that I have read so very many good books, since I’m reading for the Newbery Award.

And maybe it helped that I have enough experience, I don’t worry as much about it.

And I really enjoy the two co-workers I do it with.

So it was an enjoyable time of booktalking this year – one day left tomorrow!

214. My Blogs

Activities, Little Things 0

It’s been months since I posted on this blog, but a couple days ago I posted the quote above on Sonderquotes, and I decided I want to bring back this practice of trying to think of one thing to be thankful for each day.

For awhile, I was trying to do other gratitude practices. But I like the way this one makes it obvious if I’ve done it or not. The others that were less formal were often getting skipped.

So today I’ll be thankful for blogs. I’ve got my book review blog, Sonderquotes (which now includes quote excerpts displayed on a photo – I love this!), Sonderjourneys (where I posted my life story and also post devotional thoughts), and Sonderblessings. This one is more personal – I’m not really doing it for other people, but for me to make a practice of ending the day by thinking of something I’m grateful for.

And today I am reminded that I love living in a time where I can post my writing for the world to read.

211. Talking about the Newbery in Classrooms

Activities, Libraries 0

I’ve recently contacted some elementary school librarians – and I’m getting to go into the schools and talk with kids about the Newbery process and how the Medal winner is chosen and all the reading I have to do this year.

It’s so much fun!

Talking about the award in the community is part of my charge as a member of the Newbery committee – I hadn’t realized just how much fun it is to do!

208. New Books and Time to Read Them

Activities, Books 0

I’ve got four days off for Christmas. They’ll be sort of busy, but there should be plenty of time to read in there.

And – today our Youth Materials Selector sent me another box of 2018 children’s book ARCs – to get a headstart on my reading for the Newbery. Yay! I had almost read all the middle-grade ones she’d sent before, so I was ready for a new batch.

It’s going to be a lovely Christmas!

203. Close Encounter

Activities, Nature 0

I took a reading retreat in Chincoteague. I was a little disappointed to only see ponies from a distance. I admit, I prayed and asked to have a closer encounter. I didn’t expect to have one actually pass me on a narrow path on the beach! I then walked for a long way following the pony or parallel to the pony.

It was awesome.

202. Concert

Activities, Spiritual Blessings 0

I went to an awesome concert last night featuring Mandisa and Danny Gokey, also with performances by Jasmine Murray and Love & the Outcome.

Besides being stunningly talented singers, they’ve been through hard times and struggled with major depression. Their songs were all about how God is always with you, how God works through pain, and how you will grow, and how you can now step into the light.

Lovely, uplifting stuff. I affirm that it’s all true – and what better way to affirm these things than to sing them?

201. Holding Babies

Activities, Little Things 0

I got to work in the Babies’ classroom this morning at church. There were three workers and three babies, so each of us got to play with and hold one baby. The one I was playing with was actively playing about half the service. Then he got a little fussy. I held him in the rocking chair and showed him some board books that had things to touch and feel.

He didn’t go to sleep, but he did lean back and relax. And when a baby relaxes, he is completely relaxed!

And it was such lovely therapy for me!

Lorna Byrne says that babies are born exuding pure love. I could feel it in those sweet babies today.