The 41 Books I Managed to Read This Year

Seems my writing aspirations have taken a backseat to the family life I never thought I'd have. And I've been enjoying every bit of it. A husband whose company I enjoy. A grandson I will drop everything for. And two doggies who are always by my side.

I have a full-time job that often comes home with me. Yes, even in the summer, I'm writing lesson plans. And education is changing at a rate that I've never seen before. I'm not sure I even understand what is happening. I feel like an old time teacher, a bit out of touch.

But I am trying. Trying to tweet. Trying Instagram. Making those connections with educators from all over America and connecting with the students I teach. When I whipped out my new cell phone to snap pictures with it in class and the kids noticed, I felt a little more with it.

I'm in year number three with my Kindle, and I'm still loving it. But like others, I complained when the Silk Browser update locked me out of my downloaded documents for a couple months. I still had the e-books though, and most of the books I read this year were from my small town public library.

I read a lot of chapter books and middle grade books. I am fascinated with the authors who can develop a character and just keep going with it. How I long for the inspiration and gumption to get my character all figured out.

It feels like a pipe dream now, something that's beyond someday. But a girl can still dream. She just has to act on it--probably with more baby steps than the giant ones she started off with.

What I read from May 2015 to June 2016

1. The Creepy Sleepover by Beverly Lewis
2. Walking to Lose Weight by Susan Campbell
3. Past Forward Book 1 by Chautona Havig
4. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
5. Outlining Your Novel by KM Weiland
6. Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business by Barbara Park
7. Junie B. Jones: 1st Graders at Last by Barbara Park
8. Junie B. Jones 1st Grader Aloha-la-la! by Barbara Park
9. Outlining Your Novel Workbook by KM Weiland
10. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry
11. My Path to Obedience by Janet Fowler
12. Anastasia Again by Lois Lowry
13. Magic Carpet Ride by Rich Simmons
14. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell
15. Horrible Harry in Room 2B by Suzy Kline
16. Horrible harry and the Green Slime by Suzy Kline
17. Horrible Harry and the Ant Invasion by Suzy Kline
18. The Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant
19. Heidi Hecklebeck Say "Cheese" by Wanda Coven
20. Heidi Hecklebeck and the Cookie Contest by Wanda Coven
21. Judy Moody Gets Famous by Megan McDonald
22. Ava and Pip by Carol Weston
23. Ava and Taco Cat by Carol Weston
24. Miss Daisy is Crazy by Dan Gutman
25. Mrs. Harrison is Embarrasin' by Dan Gutman
26. Mrs. Lilly is Silly by Dan Gutman
27. A Crazy little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt
28. Julia Jones' Diary: My Worst Day Ever by Katrina Kohler
29. My Mother Got Married (and other disasters) by Barbara Park
30. Teacher's Pet by Johanna Hurwitz
31. Elisa Michaels, Bigger & Better by Johanna Hurwitz
32. Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary
33. Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary
34. Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen
35. Flat Broke by Gary Paulsen
36. Vote by Gary Paulsen
37. Writing Short Stories for Amazon, Magazine and Other Publications by Ora Rosalin and Bey Rosalian
38. The League of Unexceptional Children by Gitty Daneshvari
39. Family Ties by Gary Paulsen
40. Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again by Donald J. Trump
41. Anastasia Off Her Rocker by Lois Lowry

Letters to a Baby

Our grandson turned one-year-old today. This past year, I kept a journal as though I was writing to him. Here are a few excerpts from it. Most are from before he was born.



8.15.14. Today I heard about you for the first time. A little baby. A baby. Brittany is barely not one herself at 20-years-old. I think her dad, your grandpa who is my husband, got teary-eyed after she told us. He was pretty quiet. Worrying. I wonder how you will change our lives. Will we get to see you often? Will we spoil you? Will we get alone time with you? I have mixed emotions, it seems. I look forward to being in your life, yet I’m afraid that I won’t be in it much. Oh, how I already love you, and I just heard about you. I was only in your momma’s life for six years before she left for college, and so much has changed since then. Oh little baby, I pray for your soul.

8.27.14. A week ago today we found out you were for real. Doctor said so and Bee called her dad. I am excited. I really am. I think it will be neat seeing your firsts. I wonder if you are a boy or a girl. We'll probably know because if Bee wants to know—she won’t be able to not tell. I pray for your soul, little one, that some day you’ll understand your purpose in Christ. I haven’t even met you, and I love you.

9.17.14. Your momma told the world about you today on Facebook. She must be excited. She sure gobbled down the food when we took her out to eat on Sunday. Your daddy was watching football with his family. I got to meet your daddy's mom and his sisters and some others. It's a full house. I think you will be well-loved there. You were at the doctor today with your momma, and I guess you’re okay in there since she announced it.

9.27.14. Oh, little baby, your parents got married today at the Keeper of Plains in Wichita, Kansas at 3 pm. I hope you know you are loved. I hope you bring your mom around here more often.

11.13.14. I know your name. Jack Von. You are a boy. A grandson. Saw pictures of you today. Your momma posted sonogram photos on Facebook. She called your grandpa too. Jack Von Schmidt. Such a neat name. I bet you’ll be an interesting person. A deep thinker. Your mommy really loves your daddy. I think that’s important. I hope you see that. But more importantly, I hope you love Christ. 

11.17.14. Oh Little Jack Von, your momma came out for a visit today. She told us something might be wrong. Weird stuff showed up on your sonogram that could lead to extra chromosomes. You may be a special needs little fella. We love you all the same. God is making you the way He wants you to be for His reasons.

2.21.15. Baby shower tonight for you, Jack Von. Your mommy got lots of nice things. Glad your Great Aunt Brenda took the time to meet me and come as we’d planned—even though the time had changed. Wonder if I’ll get to be a part of your life. So ready to meet you, learn to know you, learn to have fun with you, watch you grow and become.

4.13.15. Today you were born. I met you, Jack Von Schmidt. I’ve never been around a baby only a few hours old. It was really something. Seeing you get all that love from both sides of the family. You, little one, just might be the tie that binds. I hope I really get to be a grandma to you. I love you, little guy. Just love you. 

8.2.15. You, little baby, have brought Brittany home. Home to Cheney. She and your daddy Nathaniel have moved here for the time being. Today your mommy became a full-fledged adult. She turned 21. Had someone told me two years ago that she would want to be here with us calmly celebrating her birthday, I wouldn’t have believed it. God seems to be using you to bring the family back together. Tonight your bio grandma, Grandma Danita, and your Great Grandparents were all here. It was just like it was when your mommy was growing up. I spent all Sunday afternoon preparing your mommy’s favorites: pineapple ham and twice-baked potatoes. It was a labor of love, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Tonight I held you in front of our bedroom mirror and talked to you about the things on the little shelf nearby: the doggie figurines, pictures, a crystal heart, the cross symbol, the courageous Cameron bracelet. That's for your second cousin who fought lymphoma cancer and won.

8.13.15. It is the day before I report to work, teaching school for the twenty-seventh year. Your momma called. She asked me to watch you this afternoon while she goes to work. This is the first time we’ll be all alone together. Just you, me, and the doggies in my house. My first reaction was yikes, for I haven’t baby sat much. But your mommy said, “I know you won’t neglect him.” It means the world to me that she has allowed us into her life with you and your daddy. For that, I am blessed and thankful. May you and me love each other—always and forever.

4.13.16. It's your birthday, little fella. You're a year old. Already.

Words escape me now.