"I MEANT to do that!"

Youngest Son feels neglected. Oh, how I know that feeling, having grown up the youngest also. He claims to have been a part of stories that I tell, but which he is left out of in the retelling. This is true. He is such a stickler for truth that I fear his wrath if every jot and tittle isn't just so. But, casting all my fear aside, I will launch into my favorite ever "Youngest Son" story. And it is ALL true.

The boy could say words at the age of six months. "Kitty" covered every furry thing he saw. Really. I'm not kidding or bragging, and yes I did hear the pediatrician on 'Ellen' tell Brittany Murphy that it was impossible. It isn't. My boy did it too.

He also embarrassed easily at a very early age. I remember the spring he turned three. He had gotten some new shirts for his birthday. Spring shirts. Short sleeves. I saw him sitting on the couch, looking at his arms, while all of his friends were playing outside. I asked him way he wasn't outside playing. His reply? "I'm just so embarrassed about these arms!"

Another fun thing about him - he NEVER did anything wrong. Never. If he fell, tripped, mispronounced a word or burped - he 'MEANT to do that!'.

One day, as I sat on the couch with a magazine, and he sat beside me with a book, he got up and somehow tripped and flipped backwards over the coffee table and landed on the other side flat on his back. He quickly hopped up, looked over at me with blushing pink cheeks and said in a firm yet somewhat shaky voice "I'VE BEEN TRYING FOR THE LONGEST TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT!"

Other INTJ's

I found this interesting.

A list of 'famous' INTJ's.

Dan Aykroyd, Susan B. Anthony, Ayn Rand, Stephen Hawking, Arthur Ashe, Augustus Caesar, Thomas Edison, Jane Austin, J. F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Katharine Hepburn, William J. Bennett, William F. Buckley, Jr., Raymond Burr, Chevy Chase, Phil Donahue, C. Everett Koop, Donald Rumsfeld, Joan Lunden, C. S. Lewis

And fictional characters

Gandalf, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mulder of the X-files, Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, Dr. House of House

People who don't matter

Have you ever noticed that their are people who are treated as if they do not matter? These are the people who in our lives we treat as extras in a movie. To quote Jerry Seinfeld (who wanted movie subtitles to clue us in), we say of them - "pay no attention to this man, he's only in this one scene".

But aren't they just as alive as we are? Don't they have feelings, dreams and plans just like us? Is it a sign of how we tend to gravitate toward people that benefit us? I hope not. But I fear it is so.

I've been this person to some degree at different times in my life. I listened to a woman at my first job go on and on about how horribly gross Dutch people are, listing specifics. Hmmm, I thought as a seventeen year old. Even then I was cynical, and the horrible things she spouted off about Dutch people didn't even come near to some of the horrible things I happened to know about them, being one. But, I held my tongue, as I was only seventeen and she was my elder (and having been raised by wonderful Dutch parents, I knew better than she). But, apparently it didn't matter to her who was in ear shot. And I learned that not everything someone says is true.

I was this person again when invited by a friend to spend time with her at the hospital. She had a child who was seriously ill. We were acquaintances, not good friends. I was delighted to be invited. But when I got there, I learned just why I was her choice. She hadn't showered in days, nor bleached her mustache. She told me she didn't want her friends to see her like that. Oh. I got it. I must be gross enough to be worked in in a pinch. THGGM denies this vehemently, and claims that she could sense that I was a 'real' person. He brought up the 'skin horse' in the book "The Velveteen Rabbit", but even though I love that book and totally agree with it's point, being compared to a horse when you are already feeling pretty low didn't bring me much comfort.

Every year around graduation time, I'm reminded of a favorite C.S. Lewis address that he gave at a college graduation. It's entitled "The Inner Ring". It helped me to put into perspective how as people we are all trying to belong. All of us. And when we think we have arrived, we just may find out that we haven't.

Do we ever achieve this sense of belonging that we all so passionately try to find? Does it only 'feel' right if there are those who then CAN'T belong? How sad. How frighteningly sad.

I'm going to name it the 'sin of exclusion'. And, I'm going to repent of it. Everyone matters. Even the least of us.

"He drew a circle that shut me out -
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win,
We drew a circle that took him in."

Edwin Markham

My Weekend

My weekend started after work Friday morning. We met Daughter for breakfast. At 11:00 The Husband God Gave Me and I hit the road.

Our first stop was to an antique mall in Holland, Michigan. I could have become a really really poor woman there, but, I only bought three things. An Eiffel Tower tea cup for Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law, just because I thought it was cool. It was actually Limoges china made in France, and not china made in China. And, for myself I added a children's cup and saucer to my small collection. The graphics on this one are wonderful. Also for myself I added to my extremely small collection of Zells. This one, a small bowl with a dutch boy and girl on it, joins my small collection of a cup and saucer and a baby plate.

Our next stop was in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Here we found a delightful sale on the porch at the Cracker Barrel. This inspired us to pick up a map of all the Cracker Barrel's, as they were all having the sale. I got a very nice wrought iron lamp for $5.00 and two small quilts for the same.

Then, it was on to some serious driving, as we hit the usual traffic jam in Indiana. I seriously regretted all of the coffee I drank.

After four hours in the car, we arrived safely in the town of West Dundee, and were happy to find a Cracker Barrel right on our corner. So, we took Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law to dinner there. It was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL to see them again! And very nice to shop some more. They were still extremely tired from travel, so they went back home, and we continued on...

...to shop at Spring Hill Mall. I was pretty tired by then also. I do remember that we found a Michael's Craft Store and I used my 40% off coupon on a paper crafts magazine. Ahhh...back to the hotel to glean more IDEAS.

On Saturday morning we drove to Gurnee to meet my aunt, uncle, cousin and her two daughters (they drove down from Wisconsin) for breakfast at Cracker Barrel (really...and cracker barrel isn't even paying me to advertise for them!). They are the nicest people in the world, and it was a pleasure to have breakfast with them. I feel sorry for everyone I know who doesn't know my family. They are great people. And, the shopping was good too. We bought three mugs, another quilt and some little baskets. I also bought a lunch box with a Kewpee doll in it, and some stacking boxes that make up a doll house (my three year old friend is going to love these).

From breakfast, we crossed the highway to the Gurnee Mills Mall. I found a scrapbook/stamping store and spent all my time and all the rest of my money there. THGGM continued to shop, as scrapbook/stamping stores don't do a thing for him. He found some fantastic buys though, and was a happy man. I bought two sets of alphabet stamps - one of typewriter keys, and one of typewriter print letters.

From there we traveled to Daughter-in-law's family home, were she and Oldest Son will be living for now. The drive from Gurnee across Northern Illinois was lovely. Illinois is certainly a lot more than just Chicago. We had a lovely visit with Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law and their friends and family. The food was wonderful too. Yum. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back!

We left at 4:00. It was really hard to drive past IKEA and not stop. But, we had to be home by 9:00 so I could get medications organized for my parents, and THGGM had a baptismal tank to fill. The drive was uneventful, until we hit Michigan. Then, it was blowing snow all the way home. We slid around a bit, but it wasn't too bad. I was angry though. Why snow, at the end of April? Monday and Tuesday of the week had temperatures in the 80's. With the wind on Saturday, it felt like 20.

At 9:00 i dropped THGGM off at home, and I went on to my parents.

It was a great trip. Great to see the Chicago skyline. Great to watch the planes land at O'Hare. Great to see Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law after their semester abroad. Great to have breakfast with the relatives from Wisconsin. Great to have a really good start on my Christmas shopping.

Christmas...it's eight months from today.

They're home.

Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law just called. They landed safely at O'hare International Airport.

I never thought I was worried, until I realized how utterly thrilled and relieved I was to hear that voice on the phone that said "We're home."

Tomorrow THGGM and I leave for a quick reunion in Illinois. Blogs, e-mails and IM's made them seem close, even while far away. But nothing will be as sweet as a hug.

Styrofoam Heads

I usually like to do things that have a purpose, but lately, not so much.

I've discovered a fondness for styrofoam heads. I only have three of them, but I have heard that three equals a collection. So there, it's out. I collect styrofoam heads.

And, you might ask, what does one DO with a collection of styrofoam heads?

Well, what prompted me to blog about this was that I just went out into my front entryway and discovered the three heads on the library table, sinisterly staring at me. Two of them are lovely. I ripped up bits of masking tape and stuck it all over them. Then, I stained them with shoe polish and sealed them.

The other one, I just bought Saturday. I had to buy a wig to get the styrofoam head, but I'm sure a wig will come in handy in the 'dress-up' box. Daughter has already used it to scare the dogs, and her Youngest brother.

Now for the sinister part. The unfinished styrofoam head is a pasty white and aged yellow combination. It has funny pins stuck all over it, which used to hold the wig on. When I took the wig off the head, I just shoved most of the pins into the neck.

The grouping on the library table gives the look of a strange sort of altar. The heads are all bare, as mink hats just weren't appropriate for spring. So, now I must start a spring hat collection.

Anyway...I think that properly finished and nicely arranged, the hatted heads will look lovely displayed on the library table. And, in the mean time, they might just serve to keep bad guys away.

Must go. Have to pull the pins out of the head and start ripping the tape!

Warmer Weather

An unusual occurrence for West Michigan, two 80 degree days this week! A storm blew through this morning and brought some cooler temps, but those days reminded me to give some thought to warmer weather.

My Top Ten Things to Love about Warmer Weather!

10. THGGM's flea market finds

9. Going 'out' for ice cream

8. Viewing a sunset off the pier at Grand Haven

7. Campfire smell

6. Homemade potato salad

5. Son-in-law's grilling skills

4. Drinking coffee on the front porch

3. Hanging laundry on the line outside

2. The sweet smell of sweaty kid hair

1. Sleeping with a fan in the window

My Shorter List of Things to NOT Like about Warmer Weather

5. EXTREMELY loud neighborhood kids

4. Earwigs on the laundry I bring in from the line

3. Mosquitos

2. High humidity

1. Sweating

Okay, those are mine. Now tell me yours! (thanks to www.blueyedtracy.blogspot.com, for her inspiration!)

Bubbly, energetic three year old vs. dull, tired 46 year old

She won. Little miss no nap came to visit. She is always a delight. I do not believe that I have ever been a 'delight' in my life, even with a nap.

She came early. I was still watching my very large granddog, my recently emasculated granddog and also dealing with MY elderly dog who never is exactly sure what is going on, and my cat who can hiss non stop for 15 minutes straight when the granddogs visit.

Mixing three dogs and a three year old is never a good idea, so I did my darnedest to keep them separate. It worked okay, except for the recently emasculated dog, who had no trouble scaling the gate...again, and again, and again. My legs go weak just thinking about that.

I tried to put little miss no nap down for a nap. It worked pretty well, although she did not sleep. She did lay there. We ate a banana, sang, read poetry and covered up the dollies. Then, she discovered Daughter's Marushka dolls and that entertained her for a good hour. She named the teeny tiny one after herself, and the rest for her aunts, mommy and grandma. Then she discovered the Boggle game on the shelf, and quiet time was over.

While I picked up the room, she headed for our bedroom. She threw her entire body weight against the closed door. For once, my having lots of body weight worked in my favor. I asked why she wouldn't let me in. She replied, "I am doing my hair!" When I got in, she had a scissors tangled in her hair. No damage was done. I have no idea where she found a scissors, but I'm thankful it was the blunt nosed kid kind that doesn't cut anything. She still has all of her gorgeous long blonde hair.

The Husband God Gave Me came home from work, and she was delighted to have some time with just him. She knows him well. Whenever she visits, he gets us pizza and buys her ice cream at the wonderful ice cream shop across the street. They swang together on the porch swing. Her sporty little pink dress went home covered in chocolate ice cream.

By the time her mommy came to pick her up, she was scrubbed clean and happily watching a Veggie Tales video while coloring in the Bob the Builder coloring book and eating root beer out of a tiny tin cup with a tiny spoon.

Yes, she won.

She won our hearts.

One of THOSE days...

It's one of those days. I've nothing to say. That rarely stops me. I will just include what is happening in my little corner of the woods.

Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law are flying home from Oxford on Thursday. We will make a quick trip to Illinois to welcome them back. I am excited.

My parents are both feeling somewhat better after having endured skin cancer surgery, gout and high potassium levels in the past week.

One of my 'granddogs' was fixed yesterday. He survived. We visited him in his affliction, and brought him a box of 'good boy' treats.

I've done fabulously purchasing books at the thrift store this week. Several really nice hardcovers.

My three year old friend is coming to play today. I will not have to cook, as she thinks that all we ever eat is pizza. Wouldn't want to disappoint her.

I'm feeling overwhelmingly sad for the pain and suffering of so many people that I know. Is there any worse feeling than not being able to eliminate the pain and suffering and heartbreak? If there is, I do not know what it is, and I do not want to know.

I will end this with gratitude to God that evil does not win in the end. Thank You for that. It sure does look that way as we muddle around in the middle, and a reminder that it isn't over yet helps.

My Favorite Brownies

I found this recipe in the July 14, 2004, issue of the Grand Rapids Press. Sadly, I discovered it the week I learned that I have diabetes, so I haven't had very many of them. But the ones I have had were great, so mix them up, bake them and ENJOY!

Coconut Pecan Brownies

1 package (21 ounces) fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 can (15.5 ounces) coconut pecan frosting
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine brownie mix, water, oil and egg. Beat 50 strokes by hand. Add the frosting and sour cream; mix well.

Spread batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle pecans and chocolate chips evenly over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 42-47 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (mine have always been done in 45).

Cool completely.

Be My Guest!

I have an idea for a guest bedroom. The house I live in with The Husband God Gave Me is large. In the past year, several of these rooms have been repainted and reworked to accommodate guests. Last on the horizon is the room that has been occupied by Youngest Son, who mostly lives in his own apartment about 50 miles from here.

My plan is to create a guest room that will reflect my interest in old children's books. I already have two old desks - and two old metal twin beds that used to be in a lodge on Lake Michigan. Oh, and piles of old books. Piles.

The walls will be a mustard yellow (think gouldens). The furniture will be dark wood. THGGM will either need to make or buy some sturdy low book shelves to line one wall. I think we can fit a large old desk into the closet, but I'm not sure yet.

I've been collecting alphabet books for several years now, so I might be putting the alphabet around the room that way - in small frames making a boarder around the room. I really want to get an old round oak library table and four chairs, but I might have to stick with the child size folding table and two folding chairs that I already have (i paid $10 for those, i recently saw a five piece oak library set for around $600).

I'd love to find some really old venetian blinds for the three windows. I can't even count how many of those I have thrown out over the years. But, I will be happy with mini-blinds and old linen tablecloths draped over the rods.

I want Dick, Jane and Sally to feel right at home. But I don't know why.

Please check this out...

Marla, at http://www.marlaswoffer.com/ has begun a new blog based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. You can find it at http://www.typeblogs.com/. I will happily add a link to the site on my 'sidebar' once I figure out exactly how to do that. Please visit, join, and let me know what you think! (okay, for MY family, let me know how you 'FEEL'!)

I am an INTJ. Everytime I think that this might have somehow changed, I retest and find that I am a dyed-in-the-wool INTJ. It has never varied. Not even once.

I also have absolutely no 'E' in me. Unless, of course, you count those other three letters that periodically describe me, PMS. Then, if you ride your bike across my lawn, I will yell at you.

I was raised by two 'S's, so for a while many people thought that I also was a sensor. But, low, I'm just an 'N' who had developed some good habits, that after 26 years out of that environment have sadly disappeared.

I realized early in my marriage that I am a 'T' and THGGM is an 'F'. This happened in the middle of the lamest movie I ever saw. I leaned over to him to tell him that, and noticed he was crying. Maybe he was just overwhelmed by how incredibly lame it was.

I'm a 'J'. Everyone else in my family - 'P's.

Just last week it came to my attention that THGGM, Oldest Son and Youngest Son are all ENFP's. Chips off the ol' block. Daughter is an ESFP, the exact opposite of me.

So...run along now, and check it out!

Have a nice day, or...

For the two years my daughter was home schooled for high school, she worked part time as a grocery story carry-out. All of the carry-outs were instructed to say "Have a nice day!" when they left the customer at the car. After a particularly long shift of saying "Have a nice day!" repeatedly, my daughter got to thinking about how someone should come up with an idea for something different to say, as "Have a nice day!" was getting monotonous.

Upon leaving her next customer at the car, she inadvertently said, "Have a good idea!"

Of course, she felt like an idiot. But as she related the story to me later that day, I couldn't think of a better thing to say. I've been signing letters like that for a few years now.

HAVE A GOOD IDEA!

My Favorite Magazines

I have to confess, that I absolutely love magazines. It is an obsession with me. I have the hardest time getting rid of them too, and actually have over two decades worth of some of them. I don't have trouble throwing out Car and Driver, Motor Trend or any of the sports kind (except the Rick O'Rielly page - I like those.), but if it is a magazine that has IDEAS, even if it only has one good IDEA, I will keep it, and cherish it, and return to it, and dream about what wonderful things I could do with that IDEA.

So, this is a partial list of my favorite magazines, I've narrowed the field to five - and a brief description about why I love them so.

#5 - QUICK COOKING, or any Reimen Publication cooking magazine. The pictures are great, the people seem genuine, and I've never made anything from this magazine that wasn't good.

#4 - SOMERSET STUDIO, because it is packed full of unbelievable ideas. It's incredibly 'artsy' but I've learned stuff that I could 'dumb down' to work in my homely art endeavours. I love paper arts, rubber stamping, calligraphy, decoupage, book arts and collage, so there is always something for me to drool over.

#3 - COUNTRY LIVING AND COUNTRY HOME tie for third place. That's because I have never actually been able to distinguish between the two. I have Country Living magazines from as far back as the late 70's. Back then, everything was dark. Everything. I'm glad that has changed.

#2 - COTTAGE LIVING, because it is the style I enjoy the most. After all, aren't our home's just 'cottages' anyway? This magazine is new, and I hope it stays around for a long time.

#1 - Mary Englebriet's HOME COMPANION rates number one, because of all the IDEAS packed into every issue. Once, my son had some decoupaging friends who asked if they could have my magazine when I was done. DONE? Never. I'll never be done. Not with these. I love the 'artist's workshops'. Once, they even showed one as messy as mine.

Five that rate honorable mention are WORLD MAGAZINE, MIDWEST LIVING, STAMPER'S SAMPLER, THE READER'S DIGEST, and all of those 'extras' from BETTER HOMES AND GARDEN'S.

So, these are mine, what are your favorites?

The One that Got Away...

I've written a little about the births of two of my three living children. I've haven't yet written about the birth of Oldest Son, quite possibly because it involved a lot of screaming. Yes, I'm sure he has been affected by hearing muffled shouts of "KILL ME" while he was struggling to be born. Anyway...that's for another day.

My first pregnancy began as a delight. I did all of the 'right' things. Announced it to THGGM via a birthday card to 'daddy'. Attended all of the 'right' classes. We were so happy. The first thing we bought was a crib mattress. I still remember trying to hide this fact (in line at the local Meijer) when we came upon some people we knew. It is very hard to hide a crib mattress, yet, somehow we managed to. My mother made us a baby blanket and bought some booties at a local craft show. We waited the required three months before making our announcement.

But, something went terribly wrong in the second trimester. Things that should have happened, didn't. Things that shouldn't have, did. I had to stay in bed. I read a lot. I ended up in emergency. I had the most horrible hospital experiences, one in the ER and one in the OB wing. I had surgery. We were so young. Twenty-one.

I required frequent blood tests and chest x-rays to be sure that the evils that took the baby did not enter my blood stream. They didn't. And, one year to the date of that awful day, we brought Oldest Son home. He wouldn't be here, were it not for that awful day. I'm glad he is.

But, losing a life that you were responsible for is an extremely trying thing. I rethought everything I had done, even though my doctor (equally appalled by my hospital experience - i saw him turn away, and he had tears) said it wasn't due to anything I had or had not done. But, she died inside of ME, and I felt responsible.

I never have 'settled' this in my mind. Death is awful, even when it allows new life to follow. An overwhelming thought has always been that in that great sea in heaven where all the unborn children float (while we down here try to theorize on where they actually go) could someone please find her, and tell her she was wanted?

She has a name. Emily Jane.

More than a decade later, on December 15th - the anniversary of her death - I noticed a yellow bud on our very old and dying rose bush. This doesn't happen in Michigan in December. I picked it, and brought it inside. The bud never opened. I still have it.

Someone wise once said, 'God gave us memories, so that we might have roses in December'. Someone less wise says: God gave me a rosebud, so that I might have memories in December.

Thank you God, for the rosebuds in December neither which opened, yet still exist. I have one, you have the other.

This Just In...

Oldest Son and Daughter-In-Law got word today from across the ocean that they both received Humanity Awards, and will be graduating Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude on May 7th.

THGGM and I will be in the audience, clapping 'laude'.

I am SO proud of them both!

(have i mentioned that i homeschooled oldest son for high school? oh...i have, have i! well, it doesn't hurt to mention it again!)

April 5, 1984

Very early in the morning on this day 21 years ago, Youngest Son was born. He made his appearance early, yet still managed to weigh 10 pounds, 8 and one half ounces. He was extremely cute and snuggly, and slept a lot. This is still true about him.

I didn't believe I was actually in labor, but my doctor thought it a good idea to go to the hospital just to be sure. Three year old Oldest Son, and 17 month old Daughter were brought to grandma and grandpa's, where they dined on hamburgers, green beans and chocolate cake. I remember this, because of that question they asked me at the hospital, 'what was the last thing you ate'? ' Green beans and chocolate cake', as I passed on the hamburger. (why do they want to know this? i was tempted to say...'stick around, you'll find out'!)

I didn't have back labor with my other two. This one did the hokey pokey on my spine for 7 hours. Of course, doing the hokey pokey doesn't register on the monitor, so The Husband God Gave Me kept pointing out that I should not be in pain, as the contraction had passed. With some effort, I chose to continue to love him. The thought of raising 3 young children on my own never did appeal to me.

Youngest Son was born, took a quick look around, and went back to sleep. He woke up about 10 days later, at the time he was supposed to be born. But he never quite got over being a sleepy baby (and as a toddler, it was not unusual for him to put himself to bed).

The next day I was given the chance to realize what my life was going to be like for the next few years. I had a private room in the hospital, because I figured it was my last chance for anything private for awhile. Twenty-one years ago one was still allowed a three day stay. THGGM brought Oldest Son and Daughter up to meet the new baby. He dropped them off with me, and then left to go place his dinner order. Youngest Son started crying, Oldest Son wanted me to hold HIM, Daughter dropped a glass, tipped over my water pitcher, and flushed something down the toilet. I realized that the next few years where going to be a) noisy, b) wet, c) not boring.

One of the greatest things for Youngest Son, was having a friend whose birthday was on April 6. This friend got to have a birthday party every year. Mine got one in a lifetime. They had all of the same friends, so it was always fun. Now, Youngest Son shares an apartment with this friend. I am Instant Messaging him as I write this, and he assures me that they were not riding bikes with their friends at 6:30 this morning. They are adults now, and are both at work.

But, I remember when...

(bonus question: why was this child our last? the clue is in the first paragraph.)

Marla, from www.MarlaSwoffer.com passed this 'stick' on to me.

She said I am wise. That, I wonder about. Anyway, I AM game...(and thank you, Marla!)

YOU'RE STUCK INSIDE FAHRENHEIT 451, WHICH BOOK DO YOU WANT TO BE?

"The Time Tables of History". I know, it would be hard to memorize, but I couldn't imagine living without it!

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CRUSH ON A FICTIONAL CHARACTER?

Why, yes, I have.
Oh...you want to know which one?
I'm slightly embarrassed to admit it, but I have always had a crush on Clark from Janette Oke's book "Love Comes Softly".

THE LAST BOOK YOU BOUGHT IS?

Yesterday I bought two, Randy Alcorn's "Heaven" which I passed along for someone else to read first and "Revelation - Four Views - a Parallel Commentary". Those were actually church library purchases. For myself, at my favorite thrift store, I bought the autobiography, "Terry Waite, Taken on Trust", which looks very interesting, and well worth the 59 cents it cost me.

THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

"Because of Winn Dixie". It was very good.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

Amy Tan's "The Opposite of Fate"

FIVE BOOKS YOU WOULD TAKE TO A DESERTED ISLAND?

My Hebrew/Greek Lexicon Bible
"My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers
"Worst Case Scenario" handbook
"A Bird in a Tree" by Elizabeth Goudge, because it is my favorite fiction book ever.
"The Brother's Karamazov" as I believe that would be the only way I will EVER read it.

(it should be added here, that i have dragged way more books than this to a deserted beach...one called p.j. hoffmaster state park on lake michigan - i was on my own with this venture, as my husband and three wonderful children would have no part of toting my heavy book bag.)

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO PASS THIS STICK TO?

To Buddy at www.oxfordblues.blogspot.com because he reads things I would never dream of even attempting.

To Mel at www.melodee128.blogspot.com because she is my favorite writer.

And to this kid I know, who has a very new blog at www.evanishandsome.blogspot.com It is his birthday on April 5. He will be 21. (and, i must tell you that he once won the 'humility' award at his school...no one in the family can figure out why.)