Twinkle

Would you like to know how to share your faith? Here's a great book about that - it's called twinkle by Elisa Morgan. This book is an easy read, but it's filled with ideas that each of us can do to share our faith.

What kind of light are you? Are you a spotlight- you shine the light on others more than yourself? Maybe you are a flashlight - you click on in emergencies. Or are you a candle- able to light up a room but vulnerable to things that can snuff you out. You might be a neon light, a sunlamp, a lighthouse, or a pilot light. A firefly, a floodlight, a nightlight, or a lantern. Twinkle urges you to think about your light, to accept your light and not try to be something you're not, and then to let your light shine in your own unique way, the way God designed you.

Don't hide your light under a bushel - twinkle!

Sisterchicks Series

This weekend I am flying to Guatemala for a week's vacation, and the Sisterchicks are going with me. Robin Jones Gunn is the author of this wonderful series. I wrote about the newest addition on my blog, Nana's Notes and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

The Sisterchicks books are all about friendship, and the lessons the women in the books learn as they go on an adventure. Each book has a different destination and a different pair of women, but the common threads are the the value of friendship, the sense of adventure the women have, and the faith they have in God. Robin Jones Gunn has such a gift for weaving humor, truth and faith into her stories.

Looking for a good summer book, check out the Sisterchicks. Hmmm- I wonder if Robin could write a Sisterchicks story about Guatemala. Maybe I should make some notes while I'm there.......

I love books!

Books to the ceiling,

Books to the sky,

My pile of books is a mile high.

How I love them!

How I need them!

I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
Arnold Lobel

I do have piles of books - children's books, romances, how-to books, inspirational books, and more. There books in my bedroom, my craft room, in our family room at home and everywhere at the cabin. I should also mention the cookbooks in my kitchen! A book always travels with me - so that if I ever have to wait I don't wait alone. A book keeps me company. I don't think I'll ever get them all read- and I hope I don't grow a beard while I'm reading :)

Arnold Lobel has written alot of great children's books. Check out his stories about Frog and Toad. These two friends have many adventures together. They're excellent books for the beginning reader. Add them to your piles!

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.

I found this quote, and it fits me. I love to buy books. Barnes and Noble is a dangerous store - I don't dare go near unless I have money in my pocket. Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com are listed in my favorites on my computer. I am drawn to the book section of every store I go into,including the antique stores my husband and I visit. My daughter buys shoes. I buy books. I prefer hard cover books, but often buy paperbacks because of the price.
This love affair began early in life. My mom was a children's librarian so we always had books to read. She often read to me, and always gave me books for gifts. For example, I have the complete set of Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, given to me one at a time by my mom. And I continue the tradition. I often buy books as gifts.

When I read I am transported to a different place. Books take my mind away from the things I should be doing. They educate, entertain, and inspire me. Some books help me to relax. Others give me instructions on how to do things, and some give inspiration for future projects. Some help to explain the world around me, and often they open up whole new worlds.

So, to begin chapter one of this new blog I will share my most recent purchase.

Once upon a time...



I bought Sarah Susanka's new book, not so big remodeling.
My husband and I have been a follower of Sarah since we began the remodeling/addition project at our cabin. Her ideas about home design really made sense to us. Basically, she believes that bigger is not better. It isn't the size of the house that makes it a home, but it's the details - the way spaces are designed, connected, decorated and used- that make a home better. We have tried to incorporate some of her ideas into our cabin, and we love the results. Most of her previous books, however, dealt with new construction so I was really excited to see this newest book - it's about what you can do with your existing house to make it a home - a wonderful, comfortable place to live.
If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be reading books on home design I would have called you crazy. But that's the great thing about books - there is always one waiting to open up a new world to you.
A coat covers you for a season, and then goes out of style. But a book - a book can take you places, teach you things, make you laugh or cry, keep you on the edge of your seat, expand your vocabulary, be a companion and a friend. A book never goes out of style.
What are you reading? Enjoy!
Wear the old coat and buy a new book.