The First Stack of Books for 2016

I've loved immersing myself in all the Advent and Christmas books, but after I packed them away, I felt this moment of exhilaration as I started thinking about the good reading I had to look forward to in the new year.  I've set the goal to read fifty-five books in 2016 and many of those will be from the TBR stacks all over my house.  I'm trying desperately to adhere to my self imposed book buying ban ( for a whole year!), and instead of letting my eyes turn toward the "new shiny things" out there (I'm talking to you Amazon.), I'm having fun browsing and choosing from my own library. 

Preparing for an upcoming book club meeting, these were the first two books I read this year, Longing for Home and Longing for Home- Hope Springs.  I borrowed them from my friend Darlene (see, no buying), who suggested these as our next selection.  After reading the books, I can see why she loved them so much.  The lovely, young protagonist is a musician and the story takes place in Wyoming - two things very dear to my friend's heart. 

The publisher, Shadow Mountain, has placed these books in their Proper Romance selection, described to readers as, "romance at it's very best - and at it's cleanest- portraying everything they love about a passionate, romantic novel, without busting corsets or bed scenes."  

I enjoyed both books, reading through them quickly, anxious to find out what was going to happen to "sweet Katie".   I'm thinking this could easily be a continuing series, so maybe the story has just begun.  My love for historical fiction is what helped draw me into the story the most, but a little romance never hurts either.

I knew about the potato blight in Ireland and how many people escaped starvation by immigrating to other countries, but I didn't know about the the conditions in which they lived once they arrived in America.  The land of opportunity presented hardships for these people as jobs were scarce and the living conditions were often filthy and inhumane.  These books present a glimpse into what life was like for these immigrants and the harsh prejudices they faced.  

I like a book with a strong female character who isn't afraid to work hard and prove she can overcome great trials.  Katie is that girl.  The books have reading group discussion questions in the back, which should help with our book club discussion and of course I'm thinking about the refreshments for the evening.  We try to gear the food we eat to the book in some way, and since Katie has a bakery business, the possibilities here are endless.

The next book I read was The American Way of Eating- Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table, this one from my TBR stack.  I don't know how long I've had it, but the book was published in 2012, so I think the statistics are fairly current.  I loved this book, and could hardly put it down once I started.  It's about food, and why people eat the way they do.  It puts you squarely in other people's shoes, or should I say kitchens, helping you understand (hopefully in a less judgmental way) the incredibly difficult situations that people living in poverty face when it comes to feeding their families.  The author who is a working-class journalist, goes undercover for a year, working in food related jobs and living in the same communities where her coworkers live.  The book begins when she seeks employment in California as a farm worker and works as the only caucasian in grape fields, peach orchards and with garlic crops.  She sees first hand how the food is grown, harvested and shipped to the stores, organic and conventional.   Even though you may think buying organic puts the workers at an advantage in some way, and it is true that they are exposed to fewer chemicals, they are still overworked and underpaid.  They often live in horrible housing situations and there is child labor involved along with dishonesty in payroll. 

She proceeds to work in the produce department in Walmart (Michigan) and in the kitchen in a New York Applebee's.  Did you know that Walmart is the largest grocer in the United States and in the world?  And did you know that other than a few tomatoes, some iceberg lettuce for the burgers, grape tomatoes, a few peppers, and  lemons and limes, everything you eat in Applebee's comes prepackaged and processed.  The soups, salads, every sauce, every thing... Well, I didn't know any of that and I can tell you it only reinforces my desire to eat at home and know where my food is coming from.

If you don't want to think about these kinds of things, as they relate to your grocery purchases, you shouldn't read this book.  If you want to go into a store, and mindlessly toss food into your buggy, never thinking about where it was sourced or how it was grown, then don't read this book.  I'm just warning you, I will never look at a bag of carrots or lettuce greens the same way again.  Reading this  does gives me the push I need to follow through with my desires to help young families learn about real food and how to prepare it in their own kitchens.  I know there is a need for this kind of thing.  I'm just not sure how to go about it.

The Lord Will Give Grace and Glory was my spiritual selection for this month.  A compilation of talks from the BYU Women's Conference in 2014, this was a perfect accompaniment to my scripture study.  The conference talks were based on this scripture:

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give

grace and glory; 

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." 

Psalm 84:11

Here are a few quotes that got all kinds of markings and comments in my book...

"I doubt we quote any scripture on grace more often than Nephi's that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."  As covenant women, we have a tendency to zoom in on the  "after all we can do" part of the grace-and-works equation, but then wonder how we can possibly do more than we already are- though we're pretty sure whatever we're doing isn't enough.  This scripture is not about sequence, and it is not about feverishly working our way though an exhaustive list of good works.  Jesus Christ is the only one to walk this earth and do all that could be done.  Instead, doing "all we can do" is about the direction we're headed and what kind of women we are becoming.  Doing "all we can do" is about discipleship."              Sheri Dew

(I need to copy this and put it in my scriptures for those moments when I'm in a gospel doctrine class and the comments on this verse start to make me crazy.  And they do, every time!)

And along those same lines...

"Grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted.  Rather, it is our constant energy source.  It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that surrounds us and moves us through the tunnel.  Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road,.  It is received right here and now."    Brad Wilcox

In a fantastic talk about learning to respond to promptings from the Lord, Richard Holazpfel counsels us to keep a study journal with our scriptures.  He said, "I counsel you that as you begin to record your spiritual experiences, you will see a pattern- you will see how the Lord speaks to you personally."

"Our repentance does not repay Christ- in that sense, we don't "earn" His grace.  However, as a condition of extending grace to us- and to help us grow- He asks us to undertake a process of change or rehabilitation that begins with forsaking our sins."

Bruce Hafen

"If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are the most difficult for us to do."          Neal A. Maxwell

Good stuff.  Good, good stuff.  I've been collecting these women's conference volumes for a long time.  This year, I plan to attend in person.  I'm pretty excited about that.

Sacramental Reflections by Truman Madsen is a little book I've been reading before I go to church on Sundays to help prepare me to partake of the Sacrament.  This one will probably go into my church bag, for frequent referencing, instead of back on the shelf when I'm finished with it.  

Last, but not least by any means, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver.  I'm a big Kingsolver fan, both fiction and nonfiction.  This fictional story takes place in rural Virginia.  It's about family relationships and climate change.  This author knows how to take important issues that can be complicated to understand on their own (like climate change) and intertwine them into the lives of characters with which you can relate.  I enjoyed it very much and learned more than a few things along the way.  The best kind of reading as far as I'm concerned.

*Take the Time Goal #7 - Read fifty-five books.

BINGO

Back in June, I decided to jump on board with the Books On the Nightstand crowd and play their summer reading Bingo game.  I liked the challenge of reading through different genres and wanted to see if I could read enough books to get Bingo by Labor Day.  I made it, barely.  This is what my summer reading looked like.

10 Short Stories

I don't usually read short stories, but a few years ago, a story by Alice Monroe was assigned as part of a Great Books Discussion group that I was attending.  I liked it and bought this book so I could read more of her work.  It has been perched in a "to be read" pile for some time.  This summer was the right time to dig it out.  The author is Canadian and most of these stories take place in the small towns around Lake Huron.  Not always happy and upbeat, but thoughtful nonetheless, the characters in these short stories find their lives altered forever by a random encounter with someone who crosses their path.  I didn't love this book in it's entirety, but I like Alice Monroe's writing style and will probably read more of her work in the future.  

With a Child on the Cover

This book was recommended by Leila on her blog.  I love her Library Project, where she reviews and recommends some of what she considers to be the best books for families.  I enjoy children's literature and like to slide a selection into my reading rotation on a regular basis.  The Railway Children was first published in 1906, so it's been around a long time, but I had never heard of it before.  I really enjoyed the story and think it would make a great read aloud (in an English accent) for a family.  Or maybe there's an audio version.  I need to start checking into more audiobooks.  Some stories are better when you can listen to someone else read them.

Biography or Memoir

I loved this one.  My copy is underlined and flagged from beginning to end.  I'm a sucker for a good homesteading tale, and this one was amazing.  It's hard for me to imagine growing up as this little girl did, miles from any town, living off the land.  Some of the things I read left me shaking my head in amazement.  They strived to follow the formula of what they considered to be the "good life" by dividing their time into three four hour segments a day, between hands, head and heart.  Four hours of bread labor would be used for things such as, chopping wood, making food, woodworking, sewing.  Four hours were devoted to intellectual pursuits, such as reading or learning to play the dulcimer.  The last four hour segment was for social time, talking and laughing together.  The pursuit of the purer, simpler lifestyle they were seeking came at a price.  One thing I really liked about this book, was all the practical tips and ideas for organic gardening.  I'll be using this as a reference guide.

Translation

 Here's a classic that I've been wanting to read for years, because  I've heard it referenced so many times in other books.  It was written in 1678 by John Bunyan and has been translated into many languages.  It's been said, there was a time when there was hardly an English speaking Christian household without a copy in their home. This religious allegory is about a man named Pilgrim and his journey through life.  He faced many difficulties and hardships along the way, but he learned to find joy in the journey.   You  might be asking, "Who was John Bunyan?"  I know I was.  I learned that he lived in Bedford, England and that his faith led him to leave the Church of England, and join a group of Puritans, where he eventually became a lay preacher.  In 1660, under the reign of Charles ll, freedom of worship was threatened and any religious services, other than those of the official Church were outlawed.  John refused to stop preaching his beliefs and was arrested.  He remained in prison for twelve years, holding firm to his beliefs.  He wrote Pilgrims Progress while imprisoned.  His life story was as interesting to me as the book he wrote.  It was a reminder of the blessing I enjoy, and often take for granted, to worship as my heart desires.

Set in Another Country

This was my adventure story.  It was about relationships and doing hard things, like climbing Mount Everest.  In this book, a fourteen year old boy, named Peak, recounts his climb to the top of the world.  I enjoyed every thing about this young adult book.

Ok.  So, those were the books I read to get BINGO.  I read a few others as I went along, before I decided for sure which direction I was headed on the Bingo board.  They were:

Recommended by a Family Member

This was recommended by my sister Cindy.  We are both Jodi Picoult fans.  I found this book hard to get into, but then all at once, it had me.  It was hard reading at times.  Books with holocaust themes always are.  And even though I wasn't really in the mood for a heavy book, there were a lot of other themes going on here too.  Not my favorite Picoult, but I would recommend it.

With a Number In the Title

I've been on a Janice Holt Giles kick this summer.  This author was beloved by my Nana, and although I had read The Enduring Hills and Miss Willie a long time ago, and loved them both, I wanted to read some of her other publications.  This author was from Kentucky and her books take place in that rugged hill country.  40 Acres and No Mule was written in 1950 and is her account of leaving the city (Louisville) and making a home with her husband on the ridge.  Her description of settling into life in a little corner of Appalachia is delightful reading.

Found In A Used Bookstore

More Janice Holt Giles.  Hannah Fowler is a pioneer woman, who along with her husband helps tame the Kentucky wilderness.  This woman is one tough cookie.  If you like novels about this period in American history, you'll like this one.

Nonfiction

Have you ever taken the time to look through the footnotes at the end of the General Conference talks?  I've found some great books to read by doing this.  I mean, if the prophets are reading them, it's probably a pretty good recommendation, don't you think? President Uchtdorf quoted selections from this book in his wonderful talk  in April's conference. I loved this talk!  It's been my tradition to read a book about the Mormon pioneers in the month of July, seeing as how we celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24th.  It helps me to remember the sacrifices that were made by those valiant  saints.  I've read plenty about the Willie and Martin handcart pioneers before, but this book was different.  It's always heartbreaking to read of the suffering that these church members went through, but it really affected me this time around, so much so that I could only read for short segments at a time and then had to close the book.  Such hardship!  What I especially liked about the way this book was laid out, was that the author introduced you to individual families from each company and followed them from their conversion to the restored gospel in England, across the ocean, to Iowa City, where they were outfitted with their handcarts and supplies, on to the 1000  mile trek across the plains.  Using information from the diaries and personal accounts of the pioneers really made the story come to life for me.  A number of summers ago, I had the privilege of pulling a handcart (with Jantzen and Kenzie's help) across Rocky Ridge, a part of the Mormon Trail in Wyoming.  It was hard work, and we didn't even have our cart loaded with supplies.  I'm so glad I had that experience, because as I read the book and came across that part of the trek, where so many died, I was back there again.  I knew what that ridge looked like in my mind.  This book humbled me to the core.  I won't even think about complaining when I have to go to "another" meeting.  I promise.

"Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart?  No.  Neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin handcart company."

Francis Webster

I had a great time reading these books this summer and enjoyed playing the BINGO game.  Did I get a prize for winning?  Yes, I rewarded myself with a new book, or two.  I think I'll play again next year.   So how about you?  Did you read any great books this summer?  I would love to hear about them. 

Summer Reading Bingo

When I was a child I loved the reading programs at the library.  One of my sweetest memories is spending time with my grandmother during the summer and having her take me to the local library and sign me up.  I would take home as many books as I could carry, and then curl up on the bed in the "front bedroom" and read.   Of course there were cheap prizes involved with reading a certain number of books, but I don't remember any of those.  She was probably just trying to find things to keep me busy, but I think my love of reading may have begun that summer in that little library in Elkin.  I've been in much larger libraries since, but I can still easily evoke the feelings of being in that particular one.  For starters, it was situated beside a waterfall with large windows for viewing, so when you got tired of picking out books, you could sit by the windows and look out over the water.  How cool is that?  

I still love libraries and feel a sense of awe and almost reverence when I walk in the door.  They are special places.  And even though I'm very grown up, I still get excited about summer reading.  One of the podcasts I enjoy listening to is Books on the Nightstand and they are doing a summer reading bingo game.  Sign me up!  All I had to do is go to the website and click the link for the bingo game.  A different board comes up each time you refresh.  I wanted to play fairly, so I closed my eyes and went with the third click and this is the board I came up with.  The printing isn't perfect, but you can get the idea.

 I just have to decide which direction I'm trying to complete my Bingo and start reading.  I'm going to use the free square as an opportunity to watch a movie that's based on a book.  

 Here's another card, so you can see other possible categories.

Now, don't you want to play with me?  Come on, it'll be fun!  Just go to this link and get your board,

Summer Reading Bingo

then pick out a book and start reading.  We have until Labor Day to try and get Bingo and yes, there will be prizes involved for all who participate.  Happy Reading!

Latest Reads

Ok, it's time to share some of my latest reads.  I tend to forget to do this and then I have a huge stack, and the thought of reviewing the books is overwhelming, so I just don 't do it.  This year however, I'm going to try to do this every couple of months, and it will be easier.  I get my list of "must read" books from the recommendations of others (you might see your name in this post), when titles are dropped in conversation, on favorite blogs and sometimes on Goodreads (when I remember to go there).  I love listening to Fresh Air on NPR, because Terry Gross often interviews an author, promoting his or her latest work.  I won't even tell you how many stacks of books are placed strategically all over my house, books that are waiting to be read.  I couldn't put them all in one place, because that would just be embarrassing, and my husband already thinks I'm a little obsessed.  However, this doesn't prevent me from adding something new to the Amazon cart if it sounds good.  I've also started pulling a previously read book off my bookshelf and adding it to the rotation. I'm trying to decide what needs to stay and what needs to go, because even I am beginning to realize there is only so much room in a house for books.  A good book won't make the cut.  It has to be a great book, that will be read again, for it to take up space on my bookshelves.  I have some classics that are the exception to that rule.  These are books that I hope I will "grow into".  A friend of mine recently reminded me, that in order to really understand a book, you have to read it more than once.  I have some that I think might take three or four readings, for me to begin to understand them.  But even if an initial reading brings only an introduction to a new thought, then it's been worth my time.  I think I'm better off than I would've been had I not read it in the first place.  Although, Lolita comes to mind and I think I would've been better off not to read that one.  Whew!  It may be a classic, but it was very disturbing. 

Even though I may have a bent towards a certain style of book ( like historical fiction), I try to throw a book in from time to time that might not be something I would ordinarily read. Gretchin Rubin's book club is good for this.  She is the author of the The Happiness Project and Happier at Home (both excellent books) and she offers an eclectic mix of suggestions each month.  I've linked all the books to Amazon, so you can learn more about them and maybe even decide you want to read one yourself.  You're welcome.

Okay, so here we go.  This is the second time I've read , Cry the Beloved Country (pulled this one from the bookshelf), and I loved it even more the second time around.  It's a fiction classic that takes place in South Africa.  Be prepared to have your heart strings tugged, or maybe ripped out, as you read about a Zulu pastor and his son Absalom, whose lives are affected by the injustices of apartheid.  There's a glossary at the back of the book that's helpful in understanding the Zulu and Afrikaner words.  The author's description of the geography of the area is so rich, I felt like I could see it for myself. My copy of this book is heavily underlined, there's so much good stuff here.  It's not light reading, but it's important reading.

I already mentioned Between the Lines back here, so I won't go into too much detail.  This was my spiritual pick for the month and I read it in the mornings, along with my scriptures.  Joseph Fielding McConkie is a gifted LDS scholar and this book has chapter after chapter of ideas on how to glean more from your time in the scriptures.  He says, "scriptures are meant to be read, consistently, in context and with the Spirit.  We cannot be blessed by principles we do not live; and we cannot live principles we do not know."  Not only does he share techniques on how to better understand the scriptures, but he pulls texts from their pages to demonstrate what he is teaching.  My favorite McConkie quote is, "The best commentary on scripture is scripture."   A great read for any student of the scriptures.

I love kid lit, and read quite a bit of it.  This month I read two great books.  Don't let the size of Wonderstruck fool you (626 pages), it's a quick read.  Over half of the book is illustrations, which draws you into the story as much as the prose. I think my sister Cindy, recommended this one a while back and I'm just now getting to it.  It may be the best book I've read about the challenges facing the  hearing impaired.  Interestingly enough the other book I read,  The Silent Boy, was about another young boy, this one, facing life with autism at the turn of the century.  Although that term isn't used in the book, today we would recognize it as such.  Unless you've had experience with either of these conditions, you might find yourself like me, appreciating the opportunity to see through a new lens. Lois Lowry, the author of The Silent Boy also wrote, The Giver, another one of my favorites.   

My nonfiction read was Boundaries.  I wish I had read this years ago.  Although the life of hard knocks has taught me a few things about learning to set boundaries, it would have been helpful to have learned the principles in this book an easier way.  And yes, I am one of those people who can learn from the mistakes of others.  I don't necessarily have to go through it myself, like some people do.   The book begins by discussing what boundaries are and why we need them.  Then the authors go into the possible conflicts that exist in families, at work, with friends and even with God and yourself, when boundaries are ignored.  The last part of the book teaches you how to set healthy boundaries.  I can think of a number of people who would benefit from reading this book and I may have to buy a few extra copies to hand out.  I know it's helped me and will be one that doesn't get pushed back on a shelf, but will remain on my desk to be used as needed.

I saved the best for last.  Thanks to Cindy, a Facebook friend, who recommended this last fall, I read and loved What Alice Forgot.   This was a "just for fun" fiction, that was just that, fun!  Once I started it, I didn't want to put it down. I had a few late nights until this one was completed.  When Alice falls and bumps her head during an exercise class, she wakes up to find she's lost the memory of the last ten years of her life.  Surprise, frustration and pain are the results of her quest to understand the person she has become and she struggles to pick up where she's left off, especially with her relationships.  I found myself asking a lot of questions as to what my life would be like if the events of the last ten years were erased from my memory.  How would that effect my relationships?  This book seemed to me to be all about relationships, about grace and forgiveness, with yourself and others.  It reminded me of the movie Regarding Henry, with Harrison Ford, which if you haven't seen it, you should put it on your Netflix list immediately.  I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at the character he plays in this flick, which is completely unlike his other roles.

Okay, now it's your turn.  I'd love to hear what you've been reading.  Please share! 

Why I Love Father Tim and the Folks from Mitford

When life seems crazy and when I feel tired, discontent or a little bit ornery, I like to curl up on the couch for a few hours and go to Mitford.  I know Mitford isn't a real town, but I want it to be and I want to live there!   Visiting this mountain town and it's residents is like a breath of fresh air to me. I get completely caught up in the lives of Father Tim, Cynthia, Dooley and Puny.  Then there's Miss Sadie, Uncle Billy and Rose Watson, Emma and Esther.  I love them all!  This book just makes me smile...

That's why I suggested it for a recent book club meeting.  I wanted to read it again and I wanted all my friends to get to know these characters for themselves.  I knew we would have a great time discussing the book and there would be so many options for refreshments.  There's a lot of good eating that goes on in this town!  In fact, there's even a cookbook that has recipes for all the delectable Mitford fare.  I thought purchasing this would help me decide what to  prepare and since I have a slight weakness for cookbooks, it was amazing how quickly I talked myself into it.   It is a great cookbook though and it's almost as much fun to read as the novel.

 After this latest reading, I've been trying to decide what it is I love so much about this series.  Oh, did I mention there's nine books in the series?  (Yes, and I've read them all. )  Here's what I've come up with.

*First of all, Father Tim is adorable.  I love his sweet, kind manner, his desire to serve his friends in Mitford (those who belong to his parish and everyone else too), his humility and graciousness.  The first  page finds him arriving at his office, uttering the prayer that he's offered at it's door every morning for twelve years, "Father, make me a blessing to someone today, through Christ our Lord, Amen."  Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all said that same prayer each day?  This book is full of people showing love to one another and meeting each other's needs.  

*This make believe town is small enough that people can walk to their destinations.  In fact, Father Tim gave up his car for Lent and for seven years, walked everywhere he needed to go.  I once lived in a small town in Vermont and because we were young marrieds and poor, found myself in a similar situation.  We only had one car and Mark drove to work most days.  If I wanted to go somewhere, I put Travis in the stroller and we walked.  Our quaint little town had a village green and the longest covered bridge in Vermont.   It was really wonderful.  Gosh, I could go back and live that time over again.  

*People correspond with each other through letters.  With life moving at a hectic pace, to receive a handwritten letter is truly a gift.  Father Tim's Bishop sends him hand written letters and the joy with which they are received is touching.  I feel excitement when I pull a card or letter from my mailbox.  I know someone has sacrificed time on my behalf, when it's so much easier to send an email or text.  Those forms of communication have their place, but a thoughtful hand written letter can be enjoyed over and over.

* Friends in Mitford entertain each other around the dinner table.  Having a dinner party is another simple pleasure that seems to have gone by the wayside in our busy lives.  Taking the time to plan and prepare a meal and sit down with friends to eat is one of life's greatest pleasures.  A pot of homemade soup and a loaf of bread can be a feast with the right company.  I want to do more of this.

*Time in nature is seen as necessary and restorative to the soul.  When Father Tim needs a much needed break, he takes a walk in the woods or visits his friend's farm where he can be outside and enjoy nature.  We miss so much when we don't step out of our doors and breathe in fresh air and turn our faces to the sun.  

* Faith in God is central in the lives of the folks of Mitford.  Even though some might find this story too sweet and idyllic, there are a number of difficult and real life issues that some of the people are struggling to overcome.  A child and his siblings who have to be placed in separate homes because their alcoholic mother can no longer care for them, a woman dying of cancer, a lonely widow and a thief who is running from the law are just a few of the situations in which Father Tim finds himself involved.  He seeks inspiration on behalf of each of them and helps them turn their problems to the Lord.  I love the constant reminder that God is in control.

*People make time for each other.  Whether it's lunch at the local diner or a visit on the front porch, people take the time to talk with one another.  Today's "friends" are becoming names and pictures on a Facebook page, while real friends are genuinely interested in each other's lives and having face to face conversations.  Again, I think busyness is the enemy to relationships.  It takes intentional effort to step outside of our agendas and spend real time with someone else. 

*Reading is valued.   Father Tim loves C.S. Lewis, Oswald Chambers and poetry by Wordsworth. He likes to hang out in the local bookstore and discuss great books. He keeps a commonplace book where he records his favorite quotes and thoughts from others.  I don't think there's one mention of anyone watching tv in this series, although I'm sure they do.  These folks are into living life, not watching others live life on the screen.  

*Hard work is considered a virtue.  People in Mitford don't expect a handout, they work for what they get.  From Father Tim's hard working housekeeper to the young Dooley who works after school to earn money for a much desired bicycle, everyone is hard at work on something.  

*The folks in Mitford take care of their own.  One of my favorite parts of the book is when every church is represented at Homeless Hobbs shack for Thanksgiving, bearing gifts of food for the poorest in Mitford.  The sick are visited in the hospital and the elderly are ensured comfortable homes.  The folks look out for one another, just as they should.  

I don't know about you, but I would love to live in a place like this.  I guess I enjoy life a little on the old fashioned side.  I know, I know, this is just make believe, but couldn't we try harder to make our own towns a little more like Mitford?   This is what we talked about at our book club meeting and I for one plan to work on each one of these areas.  After discussing the book, we sat around my dining room table and indulged in Esther Bolick's famous Orange Marmalade Cake.  As I spent the afternoon making the cake, I thought it couldn't really be good enough to be worth all the trouble- three "from scratch" layers, soaked in orange syrup, layered with orange marmalade, with a whipped cream frosting.  But the first bite proved me wrong.  It was definitely a delicious cake worthy of Mitford fame.

Daily Rituals

What does your typical day look like?
Do your daily routines reflect what you claim to value, what you believe?
Do you live your faith intentionally each day?

These were some thought provoking questions offered by Sister Platt at a fantastic class that I attended while at Education Week.  This instructor had a personal list of twenty rituals that were important enough to her that she tried to fit them into each day.  These rituals were really just "good habits" that she had initiated to help her stay focused on her values.  They helped her to live intentionally.  As I've thought about this class and tried to glean from her ideas, I realize that we all have "habits" that we engage in each day, some good, some maybe, not so good.  But most of us are creatures of habit and if we think about it, we would realize that there are some things that we do day after day.  And it's the things we do day in and day out that add up to who we are.  If our habits are congruent with our beliefs, then we experience greater peace and clarity in our lives.  When our habits don't line up with what we know to be true, then we struggle with frustration, stress and guilt.

Since my year of fifty, when I set all those goals and worked steadily to achieve them, I find that I am happiest when I am living intentionally.  I once heard someone ask, "What is it that gets you out of the bed in the mornings?  Is it an alarm or a mission?" I like being excited about a mission for the day.   I know that I'm not completely in control of my life, who is?  But waking up each day with some kind of plan on how to spend my time, helps me to feel like I have a little control.  Slowly and surely, I can accomplish the things that are most important to me if I've had the forethought to prepare and plan a time to make them happen.  The trick to all this is learning to be flexible and not being chained to your agenda.  I'm certain there are days when the Lord's plan looks different from mine and I want to be able to switch gears as needed.  As I pray about my plans in the morning and seek his will for my day, I hope I can respond to promptings that would help me to be an instrument in his hands.  It's a lofty goal to be sure, but it's what's expected of disciples of Christ.

As I sat in this class and heard Sister Platt share her daily rituals, I realized that I had some  myself.  I hadn't called them by that name, but they were things I did each day that helped keep me on the right track.  And many of them were symbolic of deep commitments that I've made to live out my faith each day.  As I've formulated and put on paper my Daily Rituals, I've kept my list to ten things I consider important enough to deserve my attention and effort.  Being a list lover, I could have kept going and thought of more, but ten's a good number.   Here's my Daily Rituals with a brief explanation as to why they made the list.

*Stretch and pray.  As I roll out of the bed each morning, I have a little stretching routine that I do to wake things up (and to get the blood flowing so some parts hurt a little less ).   One thing I've learned as I've aged is how to make the most of my movements.  I never gave a thought to all the bending I did when I was 30, but let me tell you, I notice those things now and I try to protect my back as much as possible.  So since I'm already down on the floor, I kneel and say my morning prayers.  

*Quiet time for reading scriptures, studying and journaling.  This is the most precious part of my day and I feel out of rhythm when it doesn't happen.  It's my belief that if I want to put God first in my life, then I show him that by putting him first in my day.  This discipline has varied over the years.  When I had children at home and had to get everyone ready for school, this time was abbreviated, but I still tried to make it happen.  Now I allow myself an hour and there are days when I yearn for even more.  I've learned that nothing can take the place of spending time in God's presence.  As Elizabeth George (a Christian author) states in her book , A Woman After God's Own Heart, "time spent sitting at His feet fuels and focuses all acts of service.  We want our strength in public to be explained by what goes on in private between us and God.  I call this time with God the 'great exchange'.  Away from the world and hidden from public view, I exchange my weariness for his strength, my weakness for His power, my darkness for His light, my problems for His solutions, my burdens for His freedom, my frustrations for His peace, my turmoil for His calm, my hope for His promises, my afflictions for His balm of comfort, my questions for His answers..."  Isn't that beautiful?  That's exactly how I feel and  this ritual protects me from becoming so busy doing things for the Lord that I fail to spend time with the Lord.  I've been there before and I don't want to go back.  It leaves you dried up and burned out.

*Exercise.   I try to exercise some each day.   For me it's a health issue.  As a diabetic it's as important as taking my medication and I try not to allow myself time to think about not doing it.  Which means I am more successful if I do it in the morning, because you wouldn't believe all the excuses I can come up with as the day moves on.  

*Be outdoors.  It's good for my spirit to be outdoors each day and breathe in fresh air.  I'm a bit of a homebody and could be content piddling away at things inside.  This ritual gives me a break and usually goes nicely with my exercise goal as I walk on my mountain road.  

*Make bed, wash dishes, sweep floors and tidy.   These are my daily housekeeping chores and no matter what kind of day I have, I try to see that this much is done around the house.  Sometimes I have weeks when this is all that gets done, but on the surface there's order and that's as good as it gets.

*Drink water and cook dinner.  Have you tried a Hydro flask water bottle? They are amazing.  Fill it with cold water and it stays cold.  I mean like straight out of the refrigerator cold!   I keep them filled up and drink all day.  I try to cook dinner almost every night, because it's less expensive than eating out and theoretically it's healthier.  Unless your making Fettucine Alfredo with cream and lots of cheese!  But I don't make rich food like that every night, in fact we eat meatless two or three nights a week and try to eat local, even" grown by me" food, when possible.  I value a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and unprocessed foods.  I like to know what's in my food and where it came from.  Eating in restaurants limits your ability to have that connection with your dinner.  Now don't get me wrong, we eat out sometimes.  Just today I had a Chick-fil-a sandwich and waffle fries!!!  So I'm not a purist by any means.  

* Say my covenants.   As I get dressed in the mornings and when I say my morning prayers I remind myself of my baptismal and temple covenants.  I do this for the obvious reason that I'm serious about my faith and when I start the day reminding myself of the promises I've made it helps to guide my conversations and actions.  It helps me to keep my focus on Christ.   The day will get busy and I'll get distracted and may not always remember Him as I would like to, but at least I've started off in the right direction.

* Pray with my husband.  I don't like it when we're running behind in the mornings and Mark leaves for work without saying prayers with me.  That doesn't happen too often, but when it does I feel distanced from him throughout the day.  We both need the protection that comes from petitioning Heavenly Father before we head out in the "world".   Our marriage needs the protection.

* Read and write.  I try to write something each day-like blogging, journaling, thoughts on things I'm studying or reading, letters, etc.  I'm not a great writer, but I'm hoping to improve with practice.  Reading doesn't even take effort, it just happens.  I can't not read.  It's my obsession.  This year I'm reading children's classics and I've joined a Great Books Discussion Group at the local college.  I'm loving both of these pursuits.  So many books, so little time.  Reading and writing helps me learn something new each day.

* Try to be present and search for beauty.  "Wherever you are, be all there."  This takes work for type A's who can multi task like no other.  But I understand the value in being fully present with people and with activities.  I'm trying.  I'm also on a quest to find beauty in the every day, simple things in life.  This is also taking some retraining, but having my gratitude journal open on my desk is a reminder to look for blessings and beauty.  

"Blessed are they who see the beautiful things

in humble places where other people see nothing."

Camille Pissarro

These are my daily rituals and when I at least, attempt to do them, life is better.  How about you?  What are the things that you do each day that keep you centered?