Book Report

Papa's Daughter
A little over a year ago I read the charming "Papa's Wife" to my girls. It was such a fun story. Sophie bought me another book by the same author, Thyra Bjorn, for Christmas that year. But "Papa's Wife" is the first in a trilogy of stories about Button (based on the author's own life) and her family. I've been dying to read the second book, "Papa's Daughter," ever since. I finally got it and read it to the girls. It was much more sober than the first. There was a quote in the book that I felt described my blog and how I feel when I'm writing, so I wanted to share it.

There was a discrepancy between the words Button dreamed in her mind and the way they came out on paper. The words on the paper weren't right; somehow they were not really Button's. Oh, some of them were strange and pretty, but they were fake, as if she hadn't held the pencil that jotted them down.

No, I am not a writer. I am terrible at making things sound the way I hear them in my head. Especially talking to people, but writing words down isn't much easier. So, there you go.

Mitten Strings for God
I have had the most wonderful visiting teacher. But after 5 years they decided she needed a break from me and gave her a new assignment. But before they took her away from me, she brought me a wonderful gift. A book. She knows me very well, and found the perfect book for me. It's called "Mitten Strings for God." I think every mother should read this book. And if I still had a book club to attend I'd definitely pick this book for my next discussion. The leader of my old book club just moved, so the group kind of dissolved. Someone else tried to take over, but she lives even further away from me and really changed the format of what the group does. So, I'm not sure if I'll make it to that one or not. Anyway, back to my book. It had so many wonderful quotes in it. I think I have just about every page marked up. Rather than give a "report" I thought I'd share some of my favorites. I tried to keep the list short, but there are just too many!

Ours is a society that places high value on achievement and acquisition. The subtle rewards of contemplation, quiet, and deep connection with another human being are held in low esteem, if they are recognized at all.

I find myself thinking about gifts of time; of our family's need to be quiet together in the midst of all the seasonal events and expectations.

How easy it is to fall into thinking that living well means partaking of all that's offered.

If I pause long enough to listen to my own inner voice... I made better choices for us all.

The closets are packed with stuff--our possessions spred into every available space, cluttering our homes and crowding our imaginations as well.

We know full well that our children are not yet able to distinguish wants from needs.... But many of us are just as confused as our children.

[Our children] teach us whatever hard lessons we most need to learn.

I've learned an enormous amount from both of my children. Different lessons from two very different temperaments, all of them valuable.

I have found my children to be far more accepting of my athletic and musical and artistic shortcomings than my peers were thirty years ago.

All that is really important is invisible: love, God, air [quoting Peggy O'Mara]

Our children do not need any more possessions to be happy; they need only to feel sure that they possess our hearts, our attention, our acceptance of who they are.

Most of what I know of God, I have learned from my children.

See, isn't it just fantastic? Now go out and read the book! And then we can have an online book discussion!