The Expectation of SOMETHING

EXPECTATIONS.  If I had to tag this picture, that's what I'd call it.
It tells such a story.
Lanie is so happy to be opening her first Christmas present of the morning.  Lydia, while watching, is so hopeful, so expectant for her.  I love that image.
I'm not sure why Elijah's head is in his hand.  Maybe he just expected to be next in line to open his presents, but never fear, by the end of the day, his turn came several times.

Before the big grandparent, aunt, uncle and cousin gathering for the ultimate12-person gift opening craziness, we had our small family Christmas.  For the past 3 years, we've held tight to a theme.  On paper, it's pretty simple.  Each kid gets 4 gifts -


1. Something You Want. 
(Lanie got her wish for doll clothes)

















2. Something You Need.
(Lydia got her much needed bedspread.  She got her last one for Christmas when she was two and moving into the bunk bed from her toddler bed. It was definitely time.)

3. Something to Wear. 
( Elijah loves the random "What does the Fox Say" song that the rest of the world can't stand - but I gave in and bought him a shirt with a fox that says "ring-ding-ding-ding-ding" or something like that.  Oh, and behind him you'll see Lydia in her new owl shirt she immediately put one.)

4.  Something to Read.
(Of course, out of the 3, Elijah is the one who actually opens the books I got him and reads the first chapter.  Love my bookworm.)

I love the theme, and want to thank my friend Jenelle for ever sparking the idea in us.  It gives us parameters and purpose when buying.  Of course, because I am my mother's daughter, I like to go overboard and then push random gifts into those parameters.  But at least it's a start.

For me?  My joyful expectations for Christmas rested on two things -
1.  "Silent Night" by candlelight in my home church, Good Shepherd.  If I had to be anywhere else to sing this lullaby of Jesus birth, it would be here: My parents and my family of 5 squished into a pew, holding tight to our candles while the lights slowly fade to black.  If I'm not choked up, I always like to stop, be still and listen to the harmony around me.  This tradition happens in churches world-wide, and I'm not alone in how much I look forward to it, but to be in the church you were baptized in, grew up in, was confirmed in, and married in -- makes it all the more sweet.

2.  A family meal.  It's not often that every Buehring/Morrison/Downum/Ward gets to press 12 bodies around a table and share a home-made meal together. I can always count on a few things:  that at least one child (Lanie) will spill or get food on them, that Mimi will tear up during the prayer, that my children will eat only two things on their plate and run away, and that my undigested dinner will be followed up with too much banana pudding. And it all happened - just like I thought it would.

Thank you mom and dad for letting us invade your home, and completely mess it up.  Thank you for the time you gave to us, for the gifts you gave our family, and for all the surprises along the way. And while gifts are great to open, the expectation of coming home again was just what I needed.  

A Not-Quite-Snowy Christmas Eve

     If you live in a northern part of the world that sees snow and blustery weather on a regular basis, you may not have a complete understanding for those of us, with kids, that don't.  For those who have never spent a year past the Mason-Dixon line, I'd like to paint a picture for you.  Imagine you're a kindergartener and when October hits, the class units turn to Falling Leaves, Changing Colors, Seasons, Cool Weather and you're walking around in tank tops and shorts.  Then after Thanksgiving, the arts and crafts unit center around snowflakes and mittens and you're still wearing short sleeves and the typical southern five-year-old is wondering when snow will fall from the sky.
If you're lucky like us, you'll have grandparents who live in great states where snow always falls.

      What is unlucky though is that we can't plan the date of the big blizzard, and our wishes don't always play out in real life.

        We left our warm Texas weather and ventured into frigid Oklahoma, and by the time we stopped at a gas station in Dallas, it really was getting cooler.  Light coat worthy.  We had such anticipation.  Then when we cruised into Tulsa late at night, we had freezing temps. Mitten and hat worthy.  And in the mind of a child (and mine too) anything this cold should be accompanied by wet flakes.  Instead, we had frozen grass and icicles on trees and a few minutes of glorious dry flakes.  It isn't what you envision when you think of a true White Christmas (Eve),  but to these completely unspoiled snow kids, it was just as exciting as you could get.  They spent tons of time in and out of the house breaking icicles and throwing rocks at a frozen creek behind my parent's house.   When it came down to it, I was more concerned then they were that snow angels wouldn't be on the agenda for the day.

       And though I'm pretty disappointed we missed out on a winter wonderland, the mitten-worthy weather, the actual enforcement of heavier coats and being able to see our breath was just enough to satisfy these warm-weather kids.

(And we still have Nebraska to look forward to.)

Wherever you are -- may your Christmas weather be just what it you want it to be.

Perspective

Instead of trying to post all the things I've missed the past month, I am going to start with what's on my mind.
And no pics, not today.
A few days ago, I was emailing a friend and giving her the chronology of all the rotten things that had happened that day. Here are some snippets:

6:35am - we notice that Elijah's eye looks like a baseball - the little red and pus I saw yesterday is now a full blown pink eye.  I read on the internet that pink eye is only contagious if you touch your eye and then touch someone else'e eye.  I don't see that as a problem and Elijah should go to school but since he can't even see out of his eye -- it's looking like we have to scramble to figure out drop off and pick up. 

7:35 - call Kenny back and here was his morning:  Get out to the van to take the girls to school and Elijah to the minute clinic.  Van won't start. Borrows our neighbors car and realizes he left his wallet in the truck (which I have - 35 minutes away) and no easy tag to get through the toll booths to get to school. I promise to call back when I get to school so we can figure it out. 

9:15 - Call Kenny and he and Elijah used friend's car to take girls to school, drive to my school to get his wallet (paying $3.00 for the toll in credit card) and stopped at the minute clinic. Waiting much more than a minute to see a doctor. (Sidenote:  It actually took two hours. Argh.)

And it really has been a tough Winter so far - between sickness, dust allergies and lice (Don't get me started - I am now a full blown expert), some cranky vehicles, and now pink eye - we are ready for our silent night.
But as things often go, everything gets put into perspective when something tragic happens.  And it did.

Another student from LSA, Paul Riley, a boy I taught nine years ago, was in a one-car accident yesterday morning.  This is the second student I taught who has died so much earlier than they should have.  And while I mourn the loss of these young souls - who I'm really mourning for right now is Paul's mother, Perrilyn.  You see, Perrilyn is one of my favorite people at LSA. Not only was she a great parent to work with when I was teacher, we then switched roles and she became both Lydia and Lanie's helper teacher in preschool and Kindergarten.  She is a delight to me.  She loved telling stories about her boys - Paul and Mitchell.

I ache for her right now.  And I know so many others do as well.  Whenever I pause my constant activity, my mind goes straight to her and what she's doing right now.  Is she curled up in the fetal position on her bed, like I would be?  Is she playing out over and over again what put Paul in the car that morning, what caused him to veer off the road - was it a stray dog, a text?  Did he fall asleep?
And then my mind swishes and I wonder if Perrilyn and her husband, Sam had Christmas plans? Did they have gifts wrapped?  Did their other son Mitchell hope for some brotherly time together over the break? Did they talk about Paul and his strengths and wonder what he would do in the new year? In his future?

I know they have an army of loved ones and church friends surrounding them and I'm so glad.  I have not a doubt that God is hand-picking his perfect servants right now who will become their comforters, who will walk in and help this amazing family find solid ground in the months to come, who will say what they need to hear. Who will hold them and guide them to the love of Christ and remind me that there is nothing He can't handle.
For now though, in this infant state of shock, despair and what I can only imagine is hell on earth, I pray:

Lord, protect this family and cover them with your peace.
Amen.

Give Thanks

I hope your Thanksgiving was Blessed and full of Thanks.

Love, from the Wards
& the Epiphany Children's Choir

Autumn with the Wards

Since I've done a terrible job keeping up with things, I wanted to throw together a bunch of pictures, and why not just use my favorite web 2.0 tool - ANIMOTO to do it.  I finally broke down and bought a subscription so I might as well use it.

Here are some major orange - fall-like pics of the Ward kids.  Oh, and a not-so-fall Homecoming pic of Lanie as a crown bearer during the LSA halftime show.  I had to include it - I knew I never would get around to writing about how she really didn't want to get in front of an entire crowd and walk across a football field,  but how her sister changed her mind, oh and everyone else who knew she'd been asked - tried to convince her.  When she finally decided she could handle it and not hide behind my leg the entire time, she actually surprised me with her determination. I always like those kind of kid surprises.

Anyway, here's to just a lot of pics of kids and pumpkins and trick or treating (& crown bearers.)

Have a wonderful weekend.

10 on 11-12-13

40 and 10

Is it possible?  Did I really just celebrate a milestone 40 years only to follow it up two weeks later with my baby turning 10??  Was it really that long ago?  Have we really been parenting for a decade?
It's 11-12-13 (love when it works out like that) but almost midnight.  I just went into Elijah's room, just one more time to tell him happy birthday (even though he's asleep) and to tell him that I love him.  These past ten years have got to be THE decade of the most change in my life.  I went from a newly married gal working 10-12 hour days to a clueless parent of a fussy, reflux-plagued baby with a towhead.  And I didn't even know what tow-head meant until I had him. Then he moved into this rascal who craved constant motion and  loved parking cars, trains, and all things involving his dad and a ball.  How quickly and smoothly he's moved into a school kid who loves sports, loves reading and still loves constant activity - only now with his video games.

I think I'm going to love double digits.  I asked Elijah earlier to tell me what will make age ten different.  His response was so mature:  "I know I'll have more responsibility but I'll also get to do a lot more things for kids like ten years and up."  When I asked him what's one thing he wanted to do before he turned 11, he told me he wanted to stay at the house for a whole night by himself.  This coming from the kid who told me just yesterday he wasn't sure he wanted to go to a sleepover camp next summer because he likes being at home more.  When I questioned a "whole night" he quickly changed that to "Just an hour or so."  Maybe just a small dose of independence - but not too much.

My baby is trying to grow up and sometimes I want to let him.  I like to imagine him as an 17 or 18-year-old, trying to figure out his future.  Other times, okay, usually, I want to sit down with him on his bed and talk about old times.  I want to remind him of all the baby things he did, of all the crying it out, the temper tantrums, the crazy made-up games, of all the funny things he's said.  He's my first and (sadly to my girls) I have clearer memories of him.  I don't want to let them go.  And while I have umpteen pictures, there's nothing better than a "remember when" story.  My kids relish those moments. They love to be the star of the story.

And today Elijah was the star.

I will relish 10.  It's a good age.
Of course you'll need to remind me of that when I'm rolling my eyes at the armpit noises in the backseat, but yeah, I like double digits.  It's looking good so far.

-------------------------------------
Picture side note:  Elijah spent his birthday with a few friends at Dave and Buster's.  His favorite game -- 4 person Pac Man.  Who would have guessed?

My kind of Hill

     

 
      I just finished watching the Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy movie "Before Midnight."  If you've been a fan favorite like me and journeyed the past 20 years with this dialogue-driven movie from the onset, with "Before Sunrise" while I was in college (1995), followed by "Before Sunset" (2004) a decade later, and now, "Before Midnight" you would be as contemplative as I am now.   In the first movie, the young couple who meet on a train while in Europe and spend the rest of the evening walking and talking are 23-years-old.  I remember how much the movie resonated with me.  It was one you had to sit quietly for to hear all the phrases, the nuances, the meanings.  These two characters Jesse and Celine were the epitome of me and my analytical ravings at that age.  I loved this movie, I ached with the characters in this movie.  It's strange now to watch these same characters, aged and consumed by a few decades of life, worry, work and kids.  And how apropos that Kenny and I choose this third installment of the characters, who are now forty, to watch tonight - just days after making the turn to my forties.

      To be honest, When I saw the big 4 - 0 on a card my mom gave me, it took me by surprise.  The number carried such weight with it. For so long, I've been proud to be older, wiser, full of clearer perception.  Not this time.  I have instead felt, what's that word we throw around - - old. 

But this isn't something I tend to dwell on, at least not in this blog post.  I'll save that for my dear husband, who despite my complaints of wrinkles and gray hair, put it upon himself to create for me the best "turning 40" birthday weekend a girl could ask for.  I keep telling him this, so I'll tell you, I don't deserve his kindness, I really don't.  He put together a 4-star weekend of activity at a super-duper, not our regular Super 8 kind of hotel, with a planned itinerary and all.  I feel like a high school girl bragging about her "best boyfriend ever!"  But brag I will.  The highlight of the birthday was being able to check off one more item from my TTBID (things to do before I die) list that I created when I was in the 8th grade -- "ride in a hot air balloon."  It was amazing for me to be up in the air but not in a stuffy airplane, to be an adventurer but not have to bungie jump from anything scary, to put my safety into the hands of some balloon hobbiest I didn't even know.  Now I want to ride a balloon in every single state. Kenny may not be so glad he opened this basket of worms.  

     Tuesday the 29th came and carried with it such fanfare - an egg and bacon breakfast brought to my room (while I rushed around getting ready for work), a small get-together over my favorite mexican food and margaritas, wonderful friends and their considerate gifts, and kind words that made me cry; I was overwhelmed.  I was so deflated when the clock struck midnight, and that day was over.  Now, I'm just 40 and the anticipation is gone.  T h i s   i s   i t.  This is what it looks like.  I've arrived.  (Though my 50 and 60-year-old friends would say I'm still a young chicken.)  Now I get to see how the other side of the hill looks.  I'm hoping for green pastures, long walks as opposed to tumbling and falling,  and sunsets that slowly fall off the horizon in a splash of pinks and oranges and reds.  Yes, that's it. Oh, and lots of hot air balloons.  That's my kind of hill. That's my 40. 

Post balloon ride - followed by a champagne toast, a Balloon certificate, and a kiss

Fall Into Reading

         It's the most simple display I've done yet, but love it.  And I loved the chill of the afternoon as I walked to my car and drove down the highway with my windows down.  We may not have leaves that change colors down here in south Texas, but I think we appreciate an autumn breeze more than anyone else. It makes me downright giddy.

          Thank you Lord for taking the high of 90 degrees and changing it to a high of 75.
We won't take it for granted.

Goodbye Perfect Attendance

             Last week was the kind of week not unusual to your basic family who has children who attend schools full of kids with germs and viruses and runny noses.  They got sick - but not just one, but two days later, another kid fell prey to the sickness and then two days later Kenny and I suffered a bit and then finally, the last of the family of five, and the messiest, got sick all over the van floor and carseat and herself.  This may not be strange to most, I mean people get sick.  But not us.  Not ALL of us.  It has never happened this way.  We're a healthy crew. That's why I say with great sadness that already, just two months into school all three kids have lost any chance at Perfect Attendance.  I know you're thinking, "Really?" But yeah, for a long time the chance at that coveted award sent Elijah in a tailspin on mornings when he thought we'd be late to school.  But times have changed, and school awards have lost their lustre, and my kids don't seem too worried about that fact.  Actually, they all loved getting to stay home from school since their "being sick" only lasted an hour and then it was TV and video games.   Thanks to the school's 24-hour rule Kenny had the pleasure of keeping each kid, each on a different day.  Such a champ he is - taking the heat - all so I can keep up the Ward tradition, go to work and attempt that perfect attendance.

Too Tired Friday

A long, long day after two hours of sleep - - check

Book Fair frenzy come to an end + clean up = home at 6pm - - check

A crying Jackson Intermediate student who yells at me when I call his mom - - check

Two sick kids home from school, one on Wednesday (Elijah), one on Friday (Lydia) - - check

One kid with a lacerated gum/lip (Lanie) after running into a boy during gym class - - check

A guilty heart that I didn't hear the phone ring when the school called about earlier lacerated lip and inconsolable crying child - - check

A Friday family movie at the cheap theatre, "Cloud with a Chance of Meatballs, 2" while previously sick kids and lacerated lip girl eat Luncheables, always a healthy dinner choice - - check

A rock in the van tire, flattened, after coming out of the movie - - check

Three kids who fall asleep quickly  - - check

A good book waiting for me - - check

Thank you Friday, you're lovely, but it's time to put you to bed.

Dear Kerri,

July 2008 - the day you left (& me very, very pregnant)

        So you wrote me over two weeks ago.  I was so excited to get an email from you.  It's been so long.  And you had so much to tell me.  You love your new house in Michigan.  I can't wait to see pictures. Abby and Jack are so old, so smart, so active.  You finally have that land for Matt to hunt on.  You're in the country and life moves slower for you.  And you seem so happy.
             And I am so pleased for you. I know you've lived in a cramp space for some time. No one deserves this new living more than you.

I've wanted to write you back but it seems like every time I thought about it, I wasn't at a computer and there's no way I could write a long email via phone.  I needed all my typing fingers for this.  I got your email right about the time when my life was so positively opposite of yours that I had to step back and compare.  And wonder what the heck we are doing rushing.  Wonder why I started a full time job and at the same time signed the kids up for activities that require us driving them somewhere every night of the week.  I treasure any week night we have together as a whole family and I long for weekends when we just sleep in and hang out.

Please don't misunderstand - I love what I'm doing.  After working and volunteering at Lutheran South where I'm guessing most students have what they need and maybe some more, I am working with kids who don't.  Kids whose bed is the living room couch, who depend on the free breakfast served at school, who tell me they've been saving up their money for the book fair all month and have  $10 to spend. And speaking of the Book Fair.  I've put my heart and soul into setting this one up.  I have no idea what I'm doing.  It's a one woman show. At Lutheran South, we had the luxury of 15 or more moms who sign up to help.  In our school, it's just me and some awesome 8th grade helpers.  How blessed I am to have those kids.
And a plus for my drive to work - I get to see some beautiful sunrises -- it almost erases the agony of the 30 minute drive. Almost.

So why am I returning your email and adding it to my blog?   I agree it's kind of weird. But, it just seems like the right thing to do.  So much has been happening with everyone this fall, so I might as well catch you and everyone else up.  It's been a good solid month since I've even clicked open the blog so I think it's time, though I hope not to sound like a Christmas card letter.

 Kenny is a super star who gets the kids ready in the morning and gets them to school and has an intricate car pool system set up for pick up.  He's busy working on, well work things I don't quite understand, and he's helping coach Elijah's flag football team. Oh and he's running most mornings to prepare for the Houston 1/2 marathon.

Elijah is in 4th grade - and for the first time ever tells me he has too much homework and doesn't like
school.  He still gets all his work done either at school or on the long drive home, but he's moved into the category of kid who dreads waking up in the morning.  He's playing flag football this year but has already told us he's not playing in high school because it's not "his sport."

Lydia is Lydia.  Easygoing.  Sensitive.  Enjoys school enough - 2nd grade.  Two of her friends from last year are not at LSA anymore so that makes her sad, but she seems to make friends easily.  She's dancing again this year, and for the first time is in Girl Scouts (sigh of relief from my Girl Scout loving mom :-)) and she loves to be in the kids choir at church.

Lanie is in Kinder.  She tells me how much she misses her days at home with me like last year.  And I miss them too.  Out of all three, she's having the hardest time transitioning with me working.  I feel bad leaving in the morning because she hangs on me, but Kenny says after I leave she's just fine.  Just a show. It's funny though, both girls have drawn pictures lately and the mom is always walking to work.  I don't know to like or dislike that image, but since last year Lydia though all I did was sweep the kitchen floor, it's a nice change.  Lanie is also dancing, in choir, plays in the kids bell choir, and on the fence about joining Girl Scouts.

I am suffering from some serious hip/leg/knee/foot issues that I'll be looking at soon.  I think it has everything to do with driving - being in the sitting position for 30 minutes every morning and every afternoon.  My super Google searches lead me to a piriformis syndrome. Just look it up.
This too shall pass, I'm sure.

I wish we could visit.  I would love nothing more than a cold, snowy Michigan trip.  We will make it happen one of these years.  Can you believe you've been gone from Houston for 5 years?  It doesn't seem that long, it's going so very fast.
And I feel like we could step right back to where we left off.

I'll stop writing to Kerri now, and get back to blogging.

Sorry to those readers (mom) who've been awaiting a new entry for almost a month.  Things just got a little crazy and writing tends to be the last on the long list.  But please know the Ward family is good.  We're busy, but we're good, and loving every moment.  Okay, that's sappy, we may not love every moment - kids fighting, driving a tempermental truck, complaining kids, homework, getting to sleep at midnight only to wake up at 5am, but we are laughing through every moment - and that's good.

He Restores My Soul

Last Thursday I was going to write a post called "Transitions Make Me Cry" but I think the good Lord kept me from writing until I could get to this Labor Day weekend. After a first full week of teaching and early mornings, and still late nights, confusing car pools, guilt, activity start dates coupled with Open Houses, and so much on my plate, I was about to scream, or well, cry with a completely selfish pity party.  It always happens that way.  I tend to fall into myself and forget God's big picture.  So for those who crossed my sad path last week, I can only say that I'm coming into the new week refreshed, and my soul more at peace.

For the second year in a row, we've gone to Galveston for Labor day weekend.  And just like last year, it was the respite needed.  I started the weekend grumpy and after 48 hours with the Hergenraders, their beautiful beach house, 7 kids who I adore, 1 golf cart, 9 jellyfish caught in nets, 1 night ghost crab caught by bucket (& then unfortunately stepped on), and of course the beach, I was restored.  In fact, I took some needed time to walk out as far as I could in the water, with kid sounds far behind me, and just listen to the waves and have a talk with God. I was a bit reminiscent of my Florida days when I truly was alone at the beach every weekend and I could wade far out in the water alone in prayer. Of course not TOO far out, I'm still afraid of shore-loving sharks. But far enough.

The kids had such a good time.  In fact, Lanie now wants her own sandhouse, as she continued to call it.  But Sam, age 6, kept her straight, "It's a BEACH house, Lanie. Not sand."

Elijah didn't even give me too hard of a time that we didn't stop at Paradise Pier or the Go-Karts or Schlitterbahn.  One of these days. It was a purely hangin' out kind of time.

Thank you Mike and Tina for letting 3/5 of us crash on your floor and sharing this amazing place with us.

Now for all the pictures:

It Begins

Early to rise. Peaceful morning.  Uniform ready.  Easy Photo session.  All Smiles. Lots of traffic. Car ride questions.

Mom:  What are you most afraid of this school year?

Lanie:  Making new friends.
Lydia:  My new teacher.
Elijah:  Homework.

On time Drop off. No tears. Approachable teachers. Busy building. Rush to library meeting late.

Day of work. Leave early. Rush to school.  Hallway standing.  Parents sneaking peaks.  Old friends uniting. Classes dismissed. Chatty pick-up.  Excited plans. Tons to share.

Elijah:  I loved my cheeseburger.  I ate it in two bites.
Lydia:  My teacher is so, so nice.  She doesn't yell at all.
Lanie:  A little girl asked me if I wanted to play with her outside.

Celebrate with ice cream. Go home.

Day One - Complete.

Twas the Night Before . . .

Twas the night before Lanie's Birthday and all through the house 

All the flashlights turned on; All the light switches down

All the candles we had moved from one room to the next

While we waited for the electricity to be fixed.

The children were not snuggled all snug in their beds

To lay in the heat would fill them with dread

To the streets we did walk meeting neighbors and friends

And chatting about weather and damaged tree limbs.  

A little white kitten tossed from the storm

Ran across the porch and right past our door

Child 1, Child 2, a Kenny and me

Chased after that kitten, but it was not to be.

By the time that we realized it was nearing midnight

To the living room couch we went to tuck them in tight

With windows wide open and hardly a breeze

The kids slept with ice packs, I hoped they'd not freeze.

Before sleep could meet Lanie's drowsy eyes

I reminded her that tomorrow She would be FIVE

It seems merely days, instead of years

That we awaited this new baby with such joy, such tears.

With air so still, and moonlight shining down

The kids fell asleep, there wasn't a sound

Kenny and I went to work taping streamers and things

In the morning, we knew what a smile it would bring.

Decorations all done, birthday presents all wrapped

We moved the kids from the couch to their beds in a snap

But before I left Lanie, I whispered once more

Happy Birthday dear Lanie, you are loved and adored. 

THE DAY AFTER . . . 

Our electricity switched back on permanently at 2am and I finally fell asleep. 

It wasn't a long sleep.  Lanie was up and ready to celebrate her day by 8am. 

And did she ever celebrate. 

She got the circus animal waffles she requested. 

The fancy, schmancy princess dress she wanted.

The chick-fil-a lunch she asked for. 

The wedding Barbie & Ken she begged her Grammie and Grandpa for. 

The Sweet & Sassy date with her friend Ella she longed for. 

And the macaroni & cheese dinner at Jimmy Changas (with free ice cream) she insisted on.  

It was a good day. A good day to celebrate five years. 

Happy Birthday Elaine Oleta.  We love you!

My Lone Star List

     While the kids all had their Summer To-Do lists, I also had mine.  It had very little to do with getting into a car and going anywhere, but instead everything to do with laying in my bed or sitting in my favorite chair and reading, reading, reading, which if I wanted to wax poetic, I would say that reading also takes me to other worlds.

     For my new job, my main goal for the summer is to read books on this list:  The Lone Star Book List. For my Texas friends, this compilation is like the Bluebonnet Books.  Teachers and librarians have gathered the best books written for intermediate or junior high students into one great list.  And lucky me (and I don't say that sarcastically, but happily) -- I am responsible for knowing these books, for advertising these books, for book-talking these books to 7th and 8th graders in hopes that they will fall in love with them, like me.

       I have learned a lot about myself this summer, or at least a lot about myself as a reader.  While I certainly have my more favorite genres, mostly realistic girlie fiction, I have come to understand that I just really like to read anything written well.  On my own, I would have never chosen Insignia, a story bout a boy with a chip on his shoulder who joins the military of the future that inserts a computer chip in his brain and teaches him to fights wars via video screens in space.  I would most likely have not picked up The False Prince, a story set during sword-fighting days, which started my least favorite way - with a mean guy hurting an orphan kid.  I hate stories that have injustice, but I stuck with it and the climax and aha moment was enough to keep me up hiding my kindle light under covers 'til 2am.  There were others that I recommend immediately for readers like me.  If you liked the Sisters with Secret Pants, then you'll love Smart Girls Get What they Want about three best friends who are all at the top of their class.  But after finding a yearbook of an older sister, a sister who was also Yale-driven smart, that said things like, "I didn't really know you," They decide not to make her mistakes and be a nobody, but to do it all - be smart, and yet still make their mark and maybe even fall in love.  There's also Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip about two boys, best friends, and great baseball players.  They've made the perfect pitcher and catcher team for years until one of them gets hurt.  Not only does it challenge the friendship, but the accident turns a boy from an athlete to a photographer.  It's great writing, so honest, and so real.  And finally, my last recommendation that is by far the best book I've ever read that sends the message of tolerance for people who look different is Wonder.  I believe Wonder is on every level book list this year and rightfully so.  I don't care you're age, pick up the book my friend, and read it for yourself or read it to your kid.  You'll be glad you did.
I really could go on and on, but seeing the length of this paragraph, I feel like I've probably already said too much.

     I have only a few days left and I won't get the list completed in time, but I've made a valiant effort with 12 down, 8 to go. I'm hoping that by October, I've completed them all.  If you want to jump on the teen reading with me, I'd be happy to take you along on this ride. There are some amazing writers who speak to this age level, and if you remember those years as a thirteen and fourteen-year-old you remember how moody they can be.  From loving one moment, angry the next, then sad, then happy again and filled with angst, any writer who can capture those somersaults in a kid, can also capture my attention as an adult reader.

    And for every Hunger Games written, there are also less than stellar young adult books that I suppose I should also read because usually, those are the ones that the kids check out - the predictable books, the gross books, the overly dramatic books.  It's good to know my audience.

    But I'll keep pushing the Lone Stars, because they are just. that. good.

* Apologies for all the Amazon book covers.  I was just too lazy to get them without the Look Inside! message.