Book Group Friends

Can you guess the book?  80's.  Host had Cheetos in comic-book paper cones.  A vinyl record cake stand.  And she made us mixed tape cupcakes.

Black eye-liner makeup all the way around the eyes, big big hair, pastels, popped polo collars, side ponytails.  So far with three meetings, this book group has dressed up with the book themes.  For silly fun.  "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell.

This was last month on way to The Night Circus, a 2011 fantasy novel by Erin Morgenstern.

All black with red, and circus treats popcorn, lemonade and chocolate (no chocolate mice).
Next month's book:  (Even though all of us but one has read it, we will re-read)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows  

The first month we met at my home, no photo, really it was just the organize-and-figure-out-what-we-want-to-read meeting, "Beekeeper's Apprentice" by Laurie King, my offering (with honey treats to eat) but only half the group read it, not really a discussion.  BUT we learned how interested we all were in the film rights of the books we are reading, how we would cast them, the visual elements, characters.  And it has sort of clicked "dressing up"  --not cosplay serious-- but playing with the book themes. 

Two hours of talking about the book, how it relates to our lives, what good lessons we can take from them.  Serious therapy, small group of friends meeting and talking.  And hugs.  I needed the hugs this week.

Open meeting, all others welcome to join us.  January 9th at JB's home, 10:30 Friday am. Dress:  WWII British!

summer thoughts

Sam is at a church youth conference.  Johnny at work.  He encouraged Roxie and I to go see "Guardians of the Galaxy" for fun, reminding me that my dad had taken me to see "Star Wars" episode IV when I was 12.  The dancing was my favorite part, in Guardians.

Does it deserve all the great reviews?  Ehhh.  It was fun, but I got confused early on about who was whose father.  The word play was clever, the music hitting my demographic.  Trolls?  Had one, yes, green hair.

It seems strange that life goes on, mostly just as it was a month ago.  I've read 4 out of the 20 books daughter Emma checked out for me from public library.  Easy distractions. 

The sympathy cards keep coming, with very few duplicates.  Sometimes we get sympathy for our "grandson" and those get put in the "give to grandma & grandpa" pile. 

I've ordered pictures of each of our children to put in new frames, to go with the memorial picture of Max.   Maybe hang them in the hallway?

I want to paint, but my back is still giving me trouble.  Somehow I know painting would help.

We cried watching the funeral home 22 minute movie of Maxwell.  Then we ate chicken dinner and rice made from left-over Bob Evan's gravy.

Cooking is a chore.  I can mostly muster, rally from my reading day and cook a little.

But not last night.  John and Roxie cleaned Billie's condo and brought home Burger King.

It has been a couple of sad days in a row.  Missing my family, since they've gone back to Utah. 

I was scheduled to work all this week, but when they found out what had happened, they found a substitute for me subbing for them.  Maybe it would have been better staying busier?

Haven't started t-shirt quilts yet, but that is on the list.

Dieting hints are not good timing.   Chocolate has been helpful.

John and I are going to the ocean tomorrow with Roxie & Sam.  We had talked about all of us going, with Max.  He seemed eager for that, too.  Doing things we were going to do with him, having fun without him is hard.  But we do it anyway.  We talk about him.  We wish he were here with us.

Aberdeen baseball game Monday night, seats at a table behind home plate.  Max would have loved it!

A Recommendation

We finished reading last night.  Moroni 10:14 stood out differently after our weekend of loss.  I love this book, and I am thankful for the truths and testimonies of prophets within these pages.  Thankful our children have been good sports about reading it as a family.  This is our nightly devotional ritual, followed by a prayer and the tradition of giving each other hugs & kisses and saying, "I love you!"

Proof we can still smile (mostly at John's goofy back and forth setting the camera timer).  Life goes on.  We miss Maxwell.  We are grateful for the support and love family and friends and strangers/new friends have shown us.

So this is us living our beliefs.  We believe families can be together forever.  That death is a temporary separation.  That we will all be resurrected, perfected, with not a hair missing.  That we are loved by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  That all will be well, eventually, and we can find peace during trials and hard things.

Crochet Wire Necklaces, Cousins, Inside Out Smore Brownies

I've been having way too much fun making crocheted-wire necklaces with buttons, pearls, felted wool beads

Double Cousin baptism!

Proof that I met one of my favorite authors! (World Con in the 80's)

I saw this recipe on Pin-trist: inside out s'more brownies.  I used marshmallow cream instead of mini marshmallows and added chocolate chips to center layer.  Tasty.

Family Holiday Traditions

Just finished YA novel:  Sean Griswold's Head, by Lindsey Leavitt and was inspired by a family Valentine's Day tradition described (pg 141).  Names chosen (doesn't discuss, rotation, picked from a hat?) to make a Valentine card from...trash!  All the cards are gathered at dinnertime and voted which is the worse/trashiest, honoring the Mom & Dad's first Valentine exchange.  To continue the trash theme, Mom makes gummy worm & dirt (crushed Oreos) sundaes, the family eats fish & chips from rolled up newspapers, sitting on the floor, and an out-of-town brother mails his card so it arrives in time for the festivities with Skype appointment to see family reaction when his card is opened.

Funny, fun, wishing our family had something like that each year.  But it isn't too late to start one...

Let the brainstorming begin!  This Christmas will be HUGE with family gathering, all our children home.  We need some good (new) traditions, memory-making silliness.

We've discussed name-drawing in the past.  It never worked in my growing-up-family (too big?  Age spread?  Maybe someday we will try it?) but mother-in-law's sisters draw niece/nephew names and give great Christmas gifts.  Brother Michael's married-into-family does elaborate, thoughtful gifts with emphasis on labors of love and time rather than $, and they are super creative...John's sisters talk about it every once in awhile.  Pros include cutting down on costs if you are focusing only on one family.

I think we may try it, if we can be united on it.  Date-night discussion topic #1.  Come up with a plan.

We are planning on visiting some caverns in VA over the holiday.  That's all we have so far. 

Stockings
Christmas play
Caroling
FUDGE
guacamole/Mexican food
piñata for our birthday celebration?

Last year for New Year's we included extended family in Reindeer Game Competition, silly fun.  Maybe more of that?

Copy Good Ideas Freely

A family in our stake takes a picture each time they finish reading The Book of Mormon. So here we are!

Found this at the Public Library

One of the best books I have read this year.

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

I Know Why Suzanna Was Sad

A certain third book in a trilogy was just released. Our library is amazing at getting copies, and I am married to a man who can get a book reserved before it is even available. Suzu was at the bookstore with a friend to buy their copies the same day John checked out a copy and graciously gave it to me to read first.

Sometimes book don't end the way you were hoping. Sometimes it is even better! This series took me by surprise (and yes, I think it is better written than Harry Potter. Suzanne Collins writes a tight, well-crafted story. High recommendations for Hunger Games trilogy. Find it at your local library, for free!)
I think today I am especially thankful that we share a love for reading. Well, that and kissing, and being good.