54

This is what 54 looks like folks. Yup. Wrinkles and greying but hey, I'm still here. True I move slower and not as much stamina, but I can't complain.

There was a time in my life when I wondered if I would live to see the next morning. Well, I did live and every birthday since my 29th has been a bonus. Bad times, dark times, good times, all a gift. I am glad to have reached 54.

ld surprised me with a CRV, one he had his eye on for a while. Sweet ride. Sweet man.

Keny gave me a wok pan I have been hinting for and JLW gave me a sweet and funny JannyCoupon.

And that Martha-Meghan made the most amazing chocolate cheesecake. She'll post the recipe over at Humble Pie soon.

Thanks for the phone calls, texts, treats, gifts and good wishes everyone. I love you all. Mean it.

Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked

In honor of my pioneer heritage I spent the wee hours this morning walking, er, reading. I like this:
http://mormonscholarstestify.org/396/richard-lyman-bushman

and this, too:
http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=107&chapid=1202

I begin with an insistent question that shoulders aside even truth in demanding our attention: How should we live a life? It may take a long time to discover the truth, especially if we follow the tortuous path of scientific rigor. But we must answer the question of how to live a life every second of every day. We may have only tentative answers, to be replaced from day to day, but some answer we must find for the inescapable query, What is good? What is worth pursuing? What should we give our time to? How should we treat other people? How should we think of them? How should we feel and act? These questions thrust themselves insistently upon us and demand immediate answers in our actions and thoughts. We cannot wait to hear from science or the universities about these matters. We are in the middle of the fray the minute we open our eyes each morning.
We sometimes think that if we knew the true, then we would know the good. The right way to live should grow out of the right way to understand. A goodness based on falsehood would be faith built on the sand. The true and the good should come together, we want to think, and indeed may be close to equivalent. In the pragmatic tradition that has influenced my thinking, I carry that hope one step further to say that what we find to be truly good is the truth. The only truth we can know is the truth that works.

and then later he concludes with this:

The Mormon truth, above all, tells us how to be good and helps us to get there. Faith and repentance are wrapped up together. The goodness that I see in the Mormon lives about me, and day after day in my own life when I construct myself as the scripture directs, is every bit as real as the abstractions of scientific scholarship. I can, if I wish, cast an aura of rationality over this belief in an effort to explain and justify myself to my academic colleagues. Our valiant apologists will go on defending the faith with scholarly evidence, to keep up our connection with the academic establishment. But I hold to my beliefs not because of the evidence or the arguments but because I find our Mormon truth good and yearn to install it at the center of my life. After losing many followers when he taught an especially hard doctrine, Jesus asked his disciples, "Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:67–68). The truth we have is truth to live by.

Go read, people. Go read.

Am I a cultural or a converted Mormon? Would I have recognized the gospel and joined like my ancestors did? What were they thinking and feeling?

Dunno. But they were drawn to powerful ideas. Ideas that motivated them and set the course for future generations. I am grateful to them, all of them.

connecting desert dots

Had wonderful discussions today about part of this talk:
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=12737&x=60&y=3

Visited with Meghan about it in the morning and then with JLW this afternoon. I think it has application to evaluating our own upbringing and how we were parented as well. It’s a healthy thing to re-visit our childhood and look at our parents objectively. Warts and all. Most therapy sessions will go there. Formal therapy or not, emerging adults tend to do this consciously or not. I did it, we all do.

It’s an important step because once we get past all the parental flaws and weirdness and the blame ‘they pinned my diapers on too tight’ stuff we are free to forgive our parents and love them with a new maturity.

It is a little scary recognizing my children have and are working out all my parenting mistakes. But I encourage this pursuit with the hope that they will one day come full circle and realize how much ld and I have loved them. And still love them. And always will.

The sweetest words have come already. Words I never thought I would hear. Today. While he didn’t ‘rise up and call us blessed’ the appreciation and love expressed shows he has matured. I will take this kind of love, love that has been tested and strained and recovered over any kind of shallow childlike adulation.

It wasn’t a leap for Megs and JLW and I to see the parallels in this talk. Faith and love, they are not so far apart, I think. Indeed, a maturing faith and spirituality is the hoped for result in all our desert wanderings.

This then:

First, a few words about faith.

As a freshman at Georgetown University, I took a required course, The Problem of God, from a wonderful professor, Dr. John F. Haught. This Catholic theologian became one of my most influential teachers and mentors.

One day toward the end of fall semester, Dr. Haught introduced theologian Paul Ricoeur’s concept of the three stages of religious faith. 6

The first stage, childlike faith, may be likened to the clear, unimpeded view that one enjoys standing atop a tall mountain. As children, our faith is simple and uncritical, and we can see clearly in every direction. There is something quite beautiful about this stage of faith. To me it is exemplified by hearing a chorus of Primary children sing “I Know My Father Lives.”

The second stage Ricoeur calls the desert of criticism. At some point, often during adolescence, we descend from the mountain of childlike faith and enter the critical world. We might label this world “high school” or, better yet, “college.” Here we find that others do not share our faith. In fact, some openly disparage what we hold dear. We learn that the very idea of faith is thought by many to be childish or delusional. We may become skeptical, perhaps even cynical.

The desert of criticism is akin to being in the midst of a blinding sandstorm, where you are forced to lean into the wind and take one step at a time without a clear view of where you are going. Walking by faith becomes difficult. Some of our former beliefs cannot survive the desert of criticism.

Ricoeur did not malign the desert of criticism, for some childish beliefs are incorrect and should be abandoned. As the Apostle Paul says in his discourse on faith, hope, and charity, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

Furthermore, it is only in coming down from the mountain that we are able to enter into the world and engage others who are different from us. To a great extent this is where life is lived and where we can make a difference in the world. Some people never leave the desert of criticism, and in time the memory of their childlike faith may dim. After prolonged exposure to the desert of criticism, some even lose their faith altogether. Ricoeur maintained that once one has entered the desert of criticism, it is not possible to return to the mountain of childlike faith. It is a little like leaving Eden. Something has been lost; life and faith can never be quite so simple again.

But he held out the possibility of a third stage of religious faith. On the other side of the desert of criticism lies another mountain, not as tall as the mountain of childlike faith, with views that are not quite as clear and unobstructed. But we can, as Dr. Haught explained it, remove ourselves periodically from the desert of criticism and ascend this somewhat less majestic mountain. Ricoeur calls this possibility of a second faith “postcritical” naivete or a “second naivete.”

Here the truths and realities of our childlike faith can be reaffirmed or revised. Although the view is not completely unimpeded, and the storms of the desert of criticism remain in view, and some of our childish beliefs may be left behind, we can emerge from the storm and reaffirm our faith. Our faith will not be as simple as it once was, but it need not be lost. In fact, I believe our faith may become more powerful than before, for it will have weathered and survived the assaults of the desert of criticism.

To me, postcritical naivete is a state in which both our hearts and our minds are open and we remain willing to experience childlike spiritual wonder; it is a place where we remain open to the promptings of the Holy spirit. As Paul puts it, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

-- The Most Important Three things in the World
Brett G. Scharffs (Given at BYU devotional on 12 May 2009)
(Yes, Meghan. Years ago you babysat the authors kids☺)

Much more to think about here.


*6. Dr. Haught’s discussion was an adaption of Paul Ricoeur’s thought. See Paul Ricoeur, The Symbolism of Evil, trans. Emerson Buchanan (Boston, Massachusetts: Beacon Press, 1967), 347-57; see also John F. Haught, The Cosmic Adventure: Science, Religion and the Quest for Purpose (New York: Paulist Press, 1984), 94-95.

Begin. The rest is easy.

Oh man. Delay, procrastination. It's such a demon.

Lose this day loitering, ’twill be the same story

To-morrow, and the next more dilatory;

True indecision brings its own delays,

And days are lost, lamenting over days.

Are you in earnest? Seize the very minute:

What you can do, or think you can, begin it;

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Only begin it, and the mind grows heated:

Begin it, and the work will be completed.

--attributed to John Anster, also found p. 476 of the 1908 edition of Notes and Queries

Napkinry

Yup. All made from it. Clicky clicky.

My girls make fun of me. I have discovered a new medium. As much as I love cardboard, duct tape, paper mache and felt I am crazy about napkins. Oh family crafters, do you realize what a fantastic material this is to work with?

In one of my gluing sessions this year, I discovered by accident its many versatile properties.

It sews up like fabric, unlike paper is easily moldable when glue is applied, has a great texture and look, doesn’t fray and is cheap, cheap , cheap as in dollar store cheap.

I have made bows, flowers, banners, costumes, sculptures and even wrapped gifts with it.

Have I persuaded you yet? Give it a go.

Paper napkins make my day.

we celebrate

Kenz and Brig were manning a booth all weekend but Megs, the grandgirls ld and yours truly got up early and went to see the Balloons yesterday.

Great fun, especially if you bring along party-in-a-box Meghan. She taught the girls the Macarena, walk-like-an-Egyptian and all the actions to Y.M.C.A.

Because the 4th is a potato-salad-kind-of-day we headed up the canyon for a little BBQ. Bratts on the menu and big tub of red vines.

More pics over at GP.

I say that the strongest principle of growth lies in human choice. --Daniel Deronda (George Eliot)

Been in this George Eliot phase the last couple of weeks, helped along I’m sure by the DVD collection ld gave me for Christmas. Here:
http://www.bbcamericashop.com/dvd/the-george-eliot-collection-14080.html

I watched Daniel Deronda a couple of nights ago and while a lot is missing from the book it’s a pretty decent rendering. I know, I know Deronda is not her best book and has many criticisms. Still, there is something about Daniel that is compelling to me. So much so, that it is this months MoDa selection.

Read it/see it, girlies. Let’s discuss.

http://www.online-literature.com/george_eliot/daniel-deronda/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/deronda/synopsis.html

goldilocks for the grandies

Our first Grandsbury meeting had us making finger puppets. Thanks to Meghan for the 3 Bears idea. Penee fixed a nice lunch and we chatted as we sewed. What exactly is Grandsbury? Our newly formed sister-in-law Grandma's club. We make stuff for our grandkids and discuss the grand themes of life. Yup, productive visiting.

the creative process teaches

Liking this today:

"What you need to know about [your next piece of art] is contained in the last piece. The place to learn about your materials is in the last use of your materials. The place to learn about your execution is in your execution. The best information about what you love is in your last contact with what you love. Put simply, your work is your guide: a complete, comprehensive, limitless reference book on your work. There is no other such book, and it is yours alone. It functions this way for no one else. Your fingerprints are all over your work, and you alone know how they got there. Your work tells you about your working methods, your discipline, your strengths and weaknesses, your habitual gestures, your willingness to embrace.

"The lessons you are meant to learn are in your work. To see them, you need only look at the work clearly -- without judgement, without need or fear, without wishes or hopes. Without emotional expectations. Ask your work what it needs, not what you need. Then set aside your fears and listen, the way a good parent listens to a child."

-- David Bayles & Ted Orland, Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

A definite weekend read.

guadium # 99,995

Sitting in the temple this morning, remembered this from Elder Bruce C. Hafen:

A wonderful place to gain greater insight about the atonement is in the temple. In moses 5:11 we read:

“Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and they joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.”

This insight is a central message of the temple endowment, taught to us through the story of Adam and Eve.

He goes on:

, “A friend once said, “if the temple is our holiest place of worship and learning, shouldn’t it teach the Atonement, our most sacred and central doctrine? And to do that, shouldn’t the endowment focus on the life of Christ rather than on the lives of Adam and Eve?”

The temple endowment does teach the atonement, but it focuses on Adam and Eve to teach the story of receiving the Atonement. The Savior’s life is the story of giving the Atonement. We who must receive the Atonement can identify with the lost feelings and the sorrows of Adam and Eve so fully as to say, “That is the story of my life.”

When we see how much their story is our story, perhaps we too will exclaim, “Blessed be the name of God” Because Christ came mortality is not my enemy—it is precisely because of my mortality that, in this life, I shall find joy, understanding, and even the presence of God.”

This is because the Atonement is fundamentally a doctrine of human development, not a doctrine that simply erases black marks.

--from The Belonging Heart: The Atonement and Relationships

more possible reasons for a dwight shrute shun

This was a Sunday dinner table topic several weeks ago:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/05/22/is-anti-white-bias-a-problem/when-prejudice-is-so-malleable

Fiske employs a grid to predict how social groups will be ranked, using attributed vectors of warmth/coldness and competence/incompetence. In the simplest terms, her metric is as follows:

1. Those stereotyped as high competence and high warmth are met with pride and admiration (like most white people).
2. 
 Groups who rank as high warmth and low competence are treated with pity, sympathy, paternalism (like the elderly).
3. 
Those stereotyped as high competence and low warmth are met with envy (like Jews and Asians).
4. 
Those perceived as low competence and low warmth are greeted with contempt, anger and resentment (like the homeless). 


Fiske is talking about social groups but I am wondering if it applies to individuals as well. Seems the combination of high competence/high warmth traits are the ones we respond to most positively. Makes sense. We get frustrated with ignorance or lack of experience or lack of skills (low competency) and put off by arrogance or anger (low warmth).

Has all sorts of implications in our personal relationships, doesn't it?

Explains why I drive my family nuts. he he he.

unorganized matter

Ok, ok. I can't stop showing pics of my grandgirlies cuteness. The float was the result of some pretty frenzied activity this week. Glue, glitter, paper plates, paper napkins, paint and various other odds and ends. Oh, and cardboard. he he he. When these materials come together it's always an interesting result. Like the dollop of whipped cream on the grandgals head. It's an All a Dollar bath scrubbie thing sewn onto a stretchy headband.

I wasn't the only one who thought the grandgals were excessively adorable. Others did too.

because freedom is sweet

Love me a parade. Love me some family.


Pics from yesterdays Freedom Festival Children's Parade.



Yup, these sweet little cuppycakes won a trophy.



More pics coming over at the GrandParentals. Yes, I am an obnoxiously proud Grandma. Sigh.

Grandy's SRC 0-2 years

The SRC book list for Maddie and Faye, then. For Babies 0-2:

A
Chimp and Zee Catherine and Laurence Anholt
Chimp and Zee's Noisy Book Catherine and Laurence Anholt
Little Rabbit Who Liked to Say Moo Jonathan Allen
Giraffes Can't Dance Giles Andreae
Global Babies Maya Ajmera
The Baby’s Catalogue
 Allan Ahlberg

All of baby nose to toes Victoria Adler
Hug Jez Alborough
Boo Barney Alex Ayliffe
Babies Ros Asquith
Can You Make a Piggy Giggle? Ashman, L.
Baby Signs: a Baby-Sized Guide to Speaking with Sign Language Joy Allen
B
Moo Baa La La La Sandra Boynton
Little Fur Family Margaret Wise Brown
Hippos Go Berserk Sandra Boynton
Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown
Mrs. Moon: Lullabies for Bedtime Clare Beaton
Nibble Nibble Margaret Wise Brown
Barnyard Dance! Sandra Boynton
My Dad and My Mum Anthony Browne
Doggies Sandra Boynton
Baby's Day, Off to Bed, and Let's Play Michael Blake
Wake-Ity Wake!, Yum Tum Tickly and Snuggle Me Snuggily Karen Baiker
Toes, Ears, Nose Marion Bauer
The Going-To-Bed Book Sandra Boynton
Happy Hippo, Angry Duck Sandra Boynton
The Chocolate-Covered-Cookie Tantrum Deborah Blumenthal
While You Were Sleeping John Butler
A Visitor for Bear (Bear and Mouse) Bonny Becker, Kady MacDonald Denton
Handa’s Surprise Eileen Browne
Baby Rock, Baby Roll. Blackstone, Stella.
Big Fat Hen Keith Baker
Blue Hat, Green Hat. Boynton, Sandra
How a Baby Grows Buck, Nola
Ten, Nine, Eight. Bang, Molly Garrett
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs. Barton, Byron.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter Beatrix.
Round and Round the Garden Ian Beck
Mother Goose Remembers Clare Beaton
Miffy Dick Bruna
Finger Rhymes Marc Brown
Colours John Burningham
All Fall Down Magabala Books
What's Wrong, Little Pookie? Sandra Boynton
Belly Button Book! Sandra Boynton
The Runaway Bunny Margaret Wise Brown.
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! Barner, B.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing Barrett, J.
The Little Red Hen Barton, B.
Who ate all the Cookie Dough?
 Beaumont, K.
Fran’s Flower Bruce, L.
A Boy and His Bunny Bryan, S.
Whose Baby Am I? Butler, J.
Hand Rhymes Marc Brown
C
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge
Maisy's Nature Walk: A Maisy First Science Book Lucy Cousins
Baby! Baby! Vicky Ceelen
I can help David Hyde Costello
Baby's Lap Book. Chorao, Kay.
Welcome, Baby! Baby Rhymes for Baby Times. Calmenson, Stephanie.
Count with Maisy. Cousins, Lucy,
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Christelow, Eileen.
Freight Train. Crews, Donald.
You Are My Perfect Baby. Thomas, Joyce Carol. Photos by Nneka Bennett.
What Shall We Do With the Boo Hoo Baby? Cressida Cowell
Wiggle Cronin, D.
One-Dog Canoe Mary Casanova, Ard Hoyt
Tatty Ratty Helen Cooper
I Took the Moon for a Walk Carolyn Curtis Alison Jay
My First Action Rhymes. Lynne Cravath.
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Carlstrom, Nancy White, Bruce Degen.
Maisy's ABC. Cousins, Lucy.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Carle, Eric.
Maisy's Bathtime Lucy Cousins
Lucy Cousins' Book of Nursery Rhymes Lucy Cousins
Humpty Dumpty Lucy Cousins
Buster's Day Rod Campbell
Bedtime Rod Campbell
Spot’s Birthday Balloon Eric Carle
Cows in the Kitchen Crebbin, J.
From Head to Toe Carle, E.
Kitty’s Cuddles
 Cabrera, J.
My Aunt Came Back Pat Cummings
D
Jamberry Degen, Bruce.
My Animals Xavier Deneux
My Circus Xavier Deneux
Tomie’s Baa Baa Black Sheep and Other Rhymes Tomie dePaola
Baby Days: A Quilt of Rhymes and Pictures Belinda Downes
Cha Cha Chimps Durango, J.
E
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z. Ehlert, Lois.
Color Zoo. Ehlert, Lois.
Big Book of Beautiful Babies David Ellwand
Are You My Mother? P.D. Eastman
Go Away, Big Green Monster!
 Emberley, E.
F
The Everything Book Denise Fleming
Where is the green sheep?
 Mem Fox
, Judy Horacek
In the Tall, Tall Grass Fleming, Denise.
Bark, George Feiffer, J.
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Mem Fox,Helen Oxenbury
Time For Bed Mem Fox, Jane Dyer
Hello, baby! Mem Fox
Michael Foreman's Mother Goose Michael Foreman
Ladybird Moves Home! Richard Fowler
G
Baby Gets Dressed Katrina Germein
Mommy Loves and Mommy Hugs Anne Gutman
Daddy Kisses Anne Gutman
Caterpillar Dance Will Grace
, Scott McBee
Baby! Talk! Penny Gentieu
Orange Pear Apple Bear Emily Gravett
Mucky Duck Grindley, S.
The Three Little Pigs Galdone, P.
Cuddle Time Libby Gleeson
Everyone Poops
 Taro Gomi
Book! Kristine O’Connell George, Maggie Smith
H
What's Up, Duck?: A Book of Opposites Tad Hills
A Good Day Kevin Henkes
Where’s Spot? Eric Hill
Flutter by, Butterfly Petr Horacek
Beep Beep Petr Horacek
Black On White and White On Black Tana Hoban
Night-Night Baby Bundt and Splish-Splash Baby Bundt Jamie Harper
Choo Choo Petr Horacek
Big Fish, Little Fish Ed Heck
How Rocket Learned to Read Tad Hills
Kitten's First Full Moon Kevin Henkes
Hey, Little Ant Phillip and Hannah Hoose, Debbie Tilley
Red, Blue, Yellow Shoe. Hoban,Tana.
Zoom City. Hurd, Thatcher.
Construction Zone. Hoban, Tana.
Eyes, Nose, Fingers, Toes Judy Hindley
The Doorbell Rang Hutchins, P.
The Seals on the Bus
 Hort, L.
I
Kipper's Book of Colours Mick Inkpen
Uh-Oh! Rachel Isadora
J
ABC :--A Child's First Alphabet Book Alison Jay
Little Bunny's Bedtime! Jane Johnson,
How to Catch a Star Oliver Jeffers
K
Pat the Bunny Dorothy Kunhardt
Wee Willie Winkie Annie Kubler
Baby! Baby! Viky Kayleen
Peek-A-Boo
 Patty Cake Tony Kenyon
Welcoming Babies Margy Burns Knight, Anne Sibley O'Brien
Lift the Flap: Time
 Dorling Kindersley
Touch and Feel: 123
 Dorling Kindersley
The Carrot Seed Krauss, R.
Ten Tiny Tickles Karen Katz
Baby at the Farm: A Touch-and- Feel Bool Karen Katz
You're Just What I Need. Krauss, Ruth, Julia Noonan.
What's the Time Mr Wolf? Annie Kubler
Toes, Ears, Nose Karen Katz
L
Peek-A Who? Nina Laden
My Monster Mama Loves Me So Laura Leuck, Mark Buehner
My Big Nursery Rhyme Book Julie Lacome
A Color of His Own Leo Lionni
Bibs and Boots Alison Lester
Baby Faces Sandra Lousanda
Quiet as a Mouse Martha Lightfoot
Going Out Anthony Lewis
Getting Ready Anthony Lewis
Baby Face series Teresa Culkin-Lawrence
Hugs and Kisses Christopher Loupy, Eve Tharlet, J. Alison James
Shapes Little Scholastic
M
Mama, Mama Jean Marzollo
Lola at the Library Anna McQuinn
I Kissed the Baby Mary Murphy
Baby Faces Margaret Miller
George Upside-Down Meghan McCarthy
Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin
I Spy Little Board Book Jean Marzollo
Be Gentle! Miller, Virginia
I Went Walking Sue Machin
Countdown to Christmas Kees Moerbeek
Let's Play in the Snow Sam McBratney
I Love Colors. Miller, Margaret.
I Love Animals Flora McDonnell
If I Could: A Mother's Promise Susan Milord, Christopher Denise
My First Baby Games. Manning, Jane.
Dig Dig Digging Margaret Mayo & Alex Ayliffe
Rock and Roll Kees Moerbeek
Little Box of Horrors Kees Moerbeek
Hide and Seek Kees Moerbeek
N
O
Tickle, Tickle Helen Oxenbury
Clap Hands Helen Oxenbury
All Fall Down Oxenbury, Helen.
Animal Crackers: Bedtime Dyer, Jane.
I Can. Oxenbury, Helen.
Maybe, My Baby. O'Book, Irene. Ill. Paula Tible
Tom and Pippo Read a Story. Oxenbury, Helen.
Say goodnight Helen Oxenbury
Hat off, baby! Jan Ormerod
The Farmer in the Dell O’Brien, J.
P
Blankie Leslie Patricelli
Baby Happy, Baby Sad and No No, Yes Yes Leslie Patricelli
Hush, Little Baby Brian Pinkney
Where's the Baby? Paxton, Tom. Mark Graham
Big Dog, Little Dog. Pilkey, Dav.
The Rainbow Fish Marcus Pfister
Farmer in the Dell Isle Plume.David R. Godine
What Does Bunny See?: A Book of Colors and Flowers Linda Sue Park
I Smell Honey. Pinkney, Andrea. Brian J. Pinkney.
Q
R
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
 Rosen, M.
The Wheels on the Bus. Raffi. Sylvie K. Wickstrom.
Mouse Mess. Riley, Linnea A.
Flip, Flap, Fly!: A Book for Babies Everywhere Phyllis Root, David Walker
Cassie's Colorful Day Faith Ringgold
S
Richard Scarry's Biggest Word Book Ever Richard Scarry
The Monster at 
the End of This Book Jon Stone
, Michael Smollin
What Shall We Do With the Boo-Hoo Baby? Mandy Stanley
Down in the woods at sleepytime Carole Lexa Schaefer
Animal Kisses. Saltzberg, Barney
Brown Sugar Babies. Smith, Charles.
Sheep in a Jeep. Shaw, Nancy. Margot Apple.
Duck on a Bike
 Shannon, D.
The Foot Book Dr. Seuss
The Eye Book Dr. Seuss
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss
The Shape of Me and Other Stuff Dr. Seuss
The Tooth Book Dr. Seuss
Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss
There's a Wocket in My Pocket! Dr. Seuss
Ten Apples Up on Top! Dr. Seuss
One Fish, Two Fish, Three, Four, Five Fish (Dr. Seuss Nursery Collection), inspired by Dr. Seuss
The House in the Night Susan Marie Swanson, Beth Krommes
Come Along, Daisy! Simmons, Jane.
Dinosaur Roar! Stickland, Paul and Henrietta Stickland.
On Mother's Lap. Scott, Ann Herbert.
Beautiful Oops! Barney Saltzberg
Three Little Kittens
 Siomades, L.
Clip Clop Smee, N.
I Love Planes! Sturges, P.
T
Spots, Feathers and Curly Tails Nancy Tafuri
Blue Goose Nancy Tafuri
Baby Dance Ann Taylor
Little Quack Lauren Thompsen
Gigantic Turnip Aleksei Tolstoy. Niamh Sharkey
I Love You, Little One Nancy Tafuri
Baby Animals: Black and White. Tildes, Phyllis L.
Silly Little Goose! Tafuri, Nancy.
A Birthday for Cow!
 Thomas, J.
Whose Chick are You?
 Tafuri, N.
U
Hello, Lulu. Uff, Caroline.
V
A Baby's Companion: First Words and Pictures Charlotte Voake
Museum Colors Gisela Voss
Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings Matthew Van Fleet
W
Uh Oh, Calico Karma Wilson
The Wheels on the Bus
 Jeanette Winter
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider Rosemary Wells
Max's First Word Rosemary Wells
Owl Babies Martin Waddell
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear Audrey Wood
Apple Farmer Annie Monica Wellington
Baby, I Love You Karma Wilson, Sam Williams.
Max. Wilson-Max, Ken.

My Very First Mother Goose. Opie, Iona, Rosemary Wells
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Winter, Jeanette.
The Bear Went Over the Mountain. Wells, Rosemary.
Rabbit's Bedtime. Wallace, Nancy
Read to Your Bunny. Wells, Rosemary.
My Very First Mother Goose Rosemary Wells
Jazz Baby Carole Boston Weatherford, Laura Freeman
That's Not My Bunny Fiona Watt
Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons Rob D. Walker. Leo and Diane Dillon
More More More," Said the Baby. Williams, Vera
Special Delivery Brigitte Weninger
I See the Moon David Wojtowycz
Can You Choo Choo Too? David Wojtowycz
Who's Under That Hat? Sarah Weeks
Kisses for Daddy Frances Watts
Itsy Bitsy Babies Margaret Wild
Give a Little Clap Kay Widdowson
Clap Your Hands Kay Widdowson
Napping House
 Audrey Wood
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub Audrey Wood
Barn Sneeze
 Winnick, K.
I Went Walking Williams, S.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Willems, M.
If You’re Happy and You Know It (Jungle Edition)
 Warhola, J.
Do Monkeys Tweet? Walsh, M.
X
Y
Sad, Mad, Glad Hippos Jane Yolen
Five Little Ducks Dan Yaccarino
Off We Go Jane Yolen
Puff, the Magic Dragon Peter Yarrow
Good Night, Little Bunny Jane Yolen
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? Yolen, Jane, Mark Teague.
This Little Piggy and Other Rhymes To Sing and Play Adam StempleJane Yolen, Will Hillenbrand
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? Yolen, J.
Z
Who Said Moo? Harriet Ziefert. Simms Taback
Little White Duck. Zaritsky, Bernard and Walt Whippo.

Grandy's SRC 3-5 years

A cobbled together list of possible books for Cate’s Grandma sponsored Summer Reading Challenge.

The goal is to read 100 books by the end of the summer. I tailored made the list for her and tried to mix it up- some old favorites, some to challenge her. Granted many are my own personal loves i.e. Hey, Al. It’s not exhaustive, no way it could be, but a good start. Also, there is allowance for her to choose her own books, that’s important. But with so many books and no possible way of reading them all, why waste the time on an inferior book, eh? A little guidance is needed or she might miss some great reads.

I always hesitate using a ‘list’ when it comes to literature or the arts for obvious reasons. Still it’s a starting point and my thinking goes along the lines of Pearsons law (also famously quote by Pres Monson):
That which is measured improves. That which is measured and reported improves exponentially.

So yeah, keeping track of which books you’ve read and been exposed to can be helpful, especially for young readers.

The grand gals will have to sign a contract, Cate with her scribbles and Maddie and Faye with their thumbprint.

I, Cate, promise to read 100 books by the end of August. _________________
I, Grandy Toots, promise a surprise. Maybe a pink bike. ____________________

I haven’t finished putting together the reading list (0-2 years) for Faye and Maddie quite yet, will post it tomorrow.

Grandy’s suggested books, then. In alphabetical order. Sort of.
For 3-5 year olds.
A
Each Peach Pear Plum Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Where's My Teddy? Jez Alborough
Up, Down, and Around Katherine Ayres; illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
**There was an old lady who swallowed a fly Pam Adams
*Jumanji Chris Van Allsburg
The Mitten Jim Aylesworth, reteller; illustrated by Barbara McClintock
All Things Bright and Beautiful. Alexander, Cecil Frances
**Who Sank the Boat Pamela Allen
**The Farmer in the Dell Pam Adams
*Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears , illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: retold by Verna Aardema
*Song and Dance Man, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Karen Ackerman
The Very Fairy Princess. Andrews, Julie, and Emma Walton Hamilton
*The Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg
B
*Once a Mouse, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown
**Whose baby am I? John Butler
Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and Other Things Not to Do) Judi Barrett; illustrated by John Nickle
Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown
Little Gorilla Ruth Bornstein
*The Little House Virginia Lee Burton
Mr. Gumpy's Outing John Burningham
Turtle's Race with Beaver: A Traditional Seneca Story Joseph Bruchac
Big Bad Bunny Frannie Billingsley; illustrated by G. Brian Karas
The Little Red Hen Byron Barton
Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans
The Three Bears Byron Barton
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing Judi Barrett
Ten, Nine, Eight Molly Bang
LMNO Peas. Baker, Keith
Shark vs. Train. Barton, Chris
The Jungle Grapevine. Beard, Alex
Ivy Loves to Give. Blackwood, Freya
Calvin Can't Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie. Berne, Jennifer
**Bugs, Bugs, Bugs Bob Barner
Ducking for Apples. Berry, Lynne
What about Bear? Bloom, Suzanne
Flora's Very Windy Day. Birdsall, Jeanne
Miss Brooks Loves Books! Bottner, Barbara
Back to Bed, Ed! Braun, Sebastien
Children Make Terrible Pets. Brown, Peter
Big Wolf & Little Wolf. Brun-Cosme, Nadine
*Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz; text: Eve Bunting
*Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown
*Madeline's Rescue Ludwig Bemelmans
**The Mitten Jan Brett
**We all go traveling Sheena Roberts, Siobhan Bell
**My mum Anthony Browne
C
**Mrs. Wishy Washy Joy Cowley
Tadpole Rex Kurt Cyrus
*Dear Zoo Rod Campbell
**The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle
Freight Train Donald Crews
Click, Clack, Moo : Cows That Type Doreen Cronin
Rescue Bunnies. Cronin, Doreen
Me and My Animal Friends. Covert, Ralph
The Boy and the Moon. Carroll, James Christopher
Dancing Feet! Craig, Lindsey
Fortunately Remy Charlip
*Chanticleer and the Fox, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: adapted from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cooney
The Handiest Things in the World. Clements, Andrew
**Five little monkeys jumping on the bed Eileen Christelow
Some Dog! Casanova, Mary
At the Edge of the Woods: A Counting Book. Cotten, Cynthia
*Shadow, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown; original text in French: Blaise Cendrars
**Papa, please get the moon for me Eric Carle
**From Head to Toe Animals Eric Carle
**Today is Monday Eric Carle
D
I Love Bugs! Dodd, Emma
Happy Birthday, Jamela! Niki Daly
What the Ladybug Heard. Donaldson, Julia
Abuela Arthur Dorros
Rap a Tap Tap : Here's Bojangles-Think of That! Leo Dillon
Jamberry Bruce Degen
Strega Nona: An Original Tale Tomie De Paola
The Empty Pot Demi
E
**Go Away, Big Green Monster! Ed Emberley
Mean Soup Betsy Everitt
A Handful of Sunshine : Growing a Sunflower Melanie Eclare
Growing Vegetable Soup Lois Ehlert
Go, Dog, Go! P.D. Eastman
**Over in the Meadow Michael Evans
In the Wild. Elliott, David
*Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
The Turn-around, Upside-down Alphabet Book. Ernst, Lisa Campbell
**Color Farm Lois Ehlert
*Drummer Hoff, illustrated by Ed Emberley; text: adapted by Barbara Emberley
**Eating the Alphabet Lois Ehlert
F
Is Your Mama a Llama? Deborah Guarino
*Prayer for a Child, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: Rachel Field
**Time for Bed Mem Fox/Jane Dyer
Corduroy Don Freeman
**Barnyard Banter Denise Fleming
The Everything Book Denise Fleming
*Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop; text: selected by Helen Dean Fish
Ask Mr. Bear Marjorie Flack
Bark, George Jules Feiffer
But I Wanted a Baby Brother! Feiffer, Kate
Pet Shop Fraser, Mary Ann
Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair. Fox, Lee
Olivia Ian Falconer
Diary of a Baby Wombat. French, Jackie
Jump! Fischer, Scott M
Seven Hungry Babies. Fleming, Candace
The Cow Who Clucked. Fleming, Denise
G
Monkey and Me Emily Gravett
Orange Pear Apple Bear Emily Gravett
*Millions of Cats Wanda Gag
Tap Tap Bang Bang. Garcia, Emma
*The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Mordicai Gerstein
Dogs. Gravett, Emily
*The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses Paul Goble
How to Heal a Broken Wing Bob Graham; illustrated by the author
**Spring is Here Taro Gomi
The Three Little Pigs Paul Galdone
H
**Rosie’s Walk Pat Hutchins
*Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret Hodges
*Ox-Cart Man, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: Donald Hall
Is it red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue?: An Adventure In Color Tana Hoban
**Where's Spot? Eric Hill
It's Moving Day! Pamela Hickma; illustrated by Geraldo Valerio
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Kevin Henkes
Bedtime for Frances Russell Hoban
**Bear About Town Stella Blackstone/Debbie Harter
My Heart Is Like a Zoo. Hall, Michael
You'll Soon Grow Into Them, Titch Pat Hutchins
Brontorina. Howe, James
*Mei Li Thomas Handforth
My Garden. Henkes, Kevin
Cupcake: A Journey to Special. Harper, Charise Mericle
*Kitten's First Full Moon Kevin Henkes
A World of Colors: Seeing Colors in a New Way. Houblon, Marie
The Doorbell Rang. Hutchins, Pat
**Walking through the Jungle Debbie Harter
*One Fine Day, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian
**My Crayons talk Patricia Hubbard
*A Story A Story, retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley
*Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
*The Big Snow Berta & Elmer Hader
**Animal Boogie Debbie Harter
I
Say Hello! Isadora, Rachel
J
Harold and the Purple Crayon Crockett Johnson
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest Steve Jenkins
Mama, Do You Love Me? Barbara Joosse
*The Hello, Goodbye Window Illustrated by Chris Raschka, written by Norton Juster
K
Leo the Late Bloomer Robert Kraus
*The Snowy Day Ezra Jack Keats
I Took My Frog to the Library Eric Kimmel
The Wolf's Chicken Stew Keiko Kasza
Little Pink Pup. Kerby, Johanna
Big Red Lollipop Khan, Rukhsana
Goodnight, Little Monster. Ketteman, Helen
The Village Garage. Karas, G. Brian
The Caterpillar and the Polliwog Jack Kent
The Carrot Seed Ruth Krauss
**Rain Robert Kalan
L
Fables Arnold Lobel
*Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian; text: Sorche Nic Leodhas,
The Story of Ferdinand Munro Leaf; illustrated by Robert Lawson
*They Were Strong and Good, Robert Lawson
Frog and Toad All Year Arnold Lobel
Frederick Leo Lionni
1+1=5: And Other Unlikely Additions. LaRochelle, David
Swimmy Leo Lionni
Tacky Goes to Camp. Lester, Helen
*Froggy Gets Dressed Jonathan London
Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love Story. Lloyd, Sam
**The wheels on the bus Annie Kubler
A Plane Goes Ka-zoom. London, Jonathan
*Frog Went A-Courtin', illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky; text: retold by John Langstaff
You Are My Wish. Love, Maryann Cusimano
Trucks Roll! Lyon, George Ella
M
**Bown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin
Bubble Trouble Magaret Mahy
Widget Lyn McFarland
Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney
*Make Way for Ducklings Robert McCloskey
Flora McDonnell's ABC Flora McDonnell
I'm Bad! Kate McMullan; illustrated by Jim McMullan
Raven: a Trickster Tale From the Pacific Northwest Gerald McDermott
Too Much Noise Ann McGovern
Mabela the Clever Margaret MacDonald
Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move. Macken, JoAnn Early.
George and Martha James Marshall
Growing Colors Bruce McMillan
** Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Martin, Bill, Jr. and John Archambault
Go! Go! GO! Munro, Roxie
Dig Dig Digging. Mayo, Margaret
Fabian Escapes. McCarty, Peter
Elmer's Special Day. McKee, David
Not Last Night But the Night Before. McNaughton, Colin
Hibernation Station. Meadows, Michelle
Hugless Douglas. Melling, David
Bear in the Air. Meyers, Susan
Subway Ride. Miller, Heather
Call Me Gorgeous! Milton, Giles
*Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: Margaret Musgrove
*Time of Wonder Robert McCloskey
*Mirette on the High Wire Emily Arnold McCully
*Snowflake Bentley, Illustrated by Mary Azarian ; text by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
*Black and White David Macaulay
**Here are my hands Bill Martin, Jr
*Arrow to the Sun Gerald McDermott
*The Funny Little Woman, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel
*The Egg Tree Katherine Milhous
*Finders Keepers, illustrated by Nicolas, pseud. (Nicholas Mordvinoff);
*The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Golden MacDonald, pseud. [Margaret Wise Brown]
**Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? Jane Manning
N
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Laura Numeroff
Sylvia Long's Mother Goose Goose Mother
I Stink! Kate McMullan
The Thingamabob. Na, Il Sung
*Sam, Bangs & Moonshine Evaline Ness
O
**We’re going on a bear hunt Michael Rosen, Helen Oxenbury
The King's Taster. Oppel, Kenneth
P
Not a Box Antoinette Portis
The Little Engine that Could Watty Piper
Kermit the Hermit Bill Peet
Do's and Don'ts Todd Parr
Bee-Bim Bop! Linda Park
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Beatrix Potter
* The Lion & the Mouse Jerry Pinkney
The Bicklebys' Birdbath. Perry, Andrea
Me I Am! Prelutsky, Jack
*The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot Alice & Martin Provensen
*Song of the Swallows Leo Politi
*The Rooster Crows Maud & Miska Petersham
**Mary Wore her red dress Merle Peek
**I am the Music Man Debra Potter
*Abraham Lincoln Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Q
R
Dog Heaven Cynthia Rylant
We're Going On a Bear Hunt Michael Rosen
The Toolbox Anne Rockwell
Mouse Mess Linnea Riley
Curious George Hans Rey
Good Night, Gorilla Peggy Rathmann
A Kitten Tale Eric Rohmann
Too Pickley! Reidy, Jean
Bedtime for Mommy. Rosenthal, Amy Krouse
*Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov; text: Ruth Robbins
Windows with Birds. Ritz, Karen
Jacob O'Reilly Wants a Pet Rickards, Lynne
My Race Car. Rex, Michael
*My Friend Rabbit Eric Rohmann
*Officer Buckle and Gloria Peggy Rathmann
*The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz; text: retold by Arthur Ransome
S
Caps for Sale : a Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business Esphyr Slobodkina
**I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean Kevin Sherry
**It Looked Like Spilt Milk Charles Green Shaw
No, David! David Shannon
Lizard's Song George Shannon
The Cat in the Hat Dr Seuss
Richard Scarry's Best First Book Ever Richard Scarry
*The House in the Night
Susan Marie Swanson; illusustrated by Beth Krommes
Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories Laura Vaccaro Seeger
We're All in the Same Boat. Shapiro, Zachary
*Sylvester and the Magic Pebble William Steig
*Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak
A Hat for Minerva Louise Janet Stoeke
All the World Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee
The Snow Day Komako Sakai; illustrated by the author
Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job. Swinburne, Stephen R
*Noah's Ark Peter Spier
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth. Siddals, Mary McKenna.
All God's Critters. Staines, Bill.
I Can Be Anything! Spinelli, Jerry.
What If? Seeger, Laura Vaccaro.
Don't Spill the Beans! Schoenherr, Ian.
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way. Schertle, Alice.
Beautiful OOPS! Saltzberg, Barney.
*The Invention of Hugo Cabret Brian Selznick
Pirates don’t take baths John Segal
*Grandfather's Journey Allen Say; text: edited by Walter Lorraine
*So You Want to Be President? Illustrated by David Small; text by Judith St. George
*May I Bring a Friend? illustrated by Beni Montresor; text: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
** Down by the Station Jess Stockham
*A Sick Day for Amos McGee Philip & Erin Stead
T
*Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber
Funny Farm. Teague, Mark
*White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; text: Alvin Tresselt
**The Great Big Enormous TurnipAlexei Tolstoy
*Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Simms Taback
Pumpkin, Pumpkin Jeanne Titherington
**What’s the time, Mr. Wolf? A. Twinn, Annie Kubler
U
* A Tree Is Nice, illustrated by Marc Simont; text: Janice Udry
The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights Ufer, David A.
Sitting Duck. Urbanovic, Jackie.
The Quiet Book. Underwood, Deborah.
Duck Soup Jackie Urbanovic
V
Insect Detective. Voake, Steve.
Harry and Horsie. Balzer & Bray, Van Camp, Katie.
W
Knuffle Bunny: a Cautionary Tale Mo Willems
Owl Babies Martin Waddell
**Mouse Paint Ellen Stoll Walsh
"More, More, More," Said the Baby Vera B. Williams; illustrated by the author
Mr. Cookie Baker Monica Wellington
Yoko Rosemary Wells
*The Three Pigs David Wiesner
**The Napping House Audrey Wood
Bear Snores On Karma Wilson
I Went Walking Sue Williams
** Silly Sally. Wood, Audrey.
*Flotsam David Wiesner
Don't Be Afraid, Little Pip. Wilson, Karma.
Cottonball Colin. Willis, Jeanne.
City Dog, Country Frog. Willems, Mo.
Dino-baseball. Wheeler, Lisa.
*Tuesday David Wiesner
Monster Monster Melanie Walsh
*Golem David Wisniewski
*The Biggest Bear Lynd Ward
**Quick as a Cricket Don Wood
X
Y
*Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen
Every Friday Dan Yaccarino
**Seven Blind Mice Ed Young
*Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski; text: Arthur Yorinks
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? Jane Yolen
*Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China Ed Young
Z
*Duffy and the Devil, illustrated by Margot Zemach; retold by Harve Zemach
*Rapunzel Paul O. Zelinsky
Harry, the Dirty Dog Gene Zion

* Caldecott winner:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottwinners/caldecottmedal.cfm

** flannelboard visuals at Story Props/KizClub:
http://www.kizclub.com/stories2.htm
(these are great if you want to have young readers process the story a little more, the flannelboard figures come in color or b/w, just print them out. Awesome).

my children continue to teach me the most amazing things.

Megs called last night and wondered if I would go to the grocery store with her as ‘backup’, to stand by the cart if she needed to dash off to the bathroom. Reason being she and Faye (and now Kody) have been sick all week with a stomach bug.

I agreed to come of course because I enjoy her company and because Walker women have a notorious history of embarrassingly inconvenient pooplosions. Sorry, TMI.

But fortunately for us last night there were no mishaps and we rather pleasantly and leisurely perused the aisles.

Nearly an hour later we got in line. I started emptying the shopping cart onto the conveyor belt. I tossed the cereal boxes on and then the plums. Meghan appeared a little flustered. So I worked faster. When I threw the Baguette on top of the dish soap, she protested.

Mom, wait. Stop! You aren’t putting these into any kind of order.

I stared at her blankly.

She continued, If you put them on the conveyor belt according to category then it’s easier to bag.

What? Really? Who knew?

So feeling chagrined I started trying to categorize the rest of the groceries when Megs finally suggested I just be the bagger.

I confess to feeling a little ashamed, like there was/is something definitely defective with my brain. I don’t think to organize my grocery cart or my bagging, but mindlessly throw hot dogs next to the pop tarts.

When we left the store I told Meghan, just so you know, I put your disposable diapers on top of the spare ribs. I did it out of spite.

We laughed.

Truth is, I recognize my brain doesn’t fire quite right. Oh, it fires in some places but not in the areas I sometimes wish it would. And I am in absolute awe of someone who can think to organize their coupons and groceries. That’s awesome. Because I see the enormous value in that.

When we got to the car, Megs wanted me to taste some of the cheese we bought. So she started rummaging through the bags trying to find the Babybel cheese wheels. Due to my defective-brain-synapses-grocery-bagging skills she was having trouble. She couldn’t seem to find them. I knew I had bagged them, albeit randomly.

Mom, are you sure you bagged them, I can’t find them. They are just not here.

Yes, they are, keep looking.

I started rummaging too and less than a minute later triumphantly produced the said cheese. It was next to the Jello and Immodium.

We are different. Gloriously and wonderfully different.

from the Children's Songbook then, p 263:
I know you, and you know me.
We are as diff’rent as the sun and the sea.
I know you, and you know me,
And that’s the way it is supposed to be.
Words and music: Patricia Kelsey Graham, b. 1940. © 1989 LDS

Random Post-Script: Janny refuses to shop at Winco because they make you bag your own groceries and because he says the savings are not worth the cost in distress. When pressed about what kind of distress he means, he cites the unbelievable unattractiveness of Winco shoppers. (In the shoppers defense, WinCo does have really bad lighting, it makes everyone look bad). When I point out that his thinking is so unkind and judgmental, he replies. "I know, and that causes me enormous distress. I feel bad that I think that and therefore I can't shop there."
Yup, different.

gaudium # 99,996

In my high school civics class, taught by blind Mr. Heath, he asked the class: What do you want to be or do when you grow up?
My hand shot up and then I yelled his name so he would call on me. (He was blind, remember).
All right Candy, what do you see yourself doing as an adult?
Need I tell you that my answer then turned out to be pretty prophetic.
I blurted out enthusiastically: I want to be a professional reader. That's what I want to do.
Mr. Heath laughed. The whole class did. But I was not trying to be funny.

I did become a reader, although not a professional one. Not sure what that even is really - an editor, a paid and published book critic, perhaps, maybe even working for a press clipping service, a librarian, etc

Ah, I am just an amateur reader, then. Fell a little short on the professional part and the monetary compensation for reading all day. But the whole Reach for the stars and if you fall short, at least you get the moon bit holds true. The moon is not exactly a bad deal. My amateur bookishness has blessed my life more than I can say.

Liking this:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/philip-hensher/philip-hensher-fifty-books-a-year-is-ideal-but-why-stop-at-school-children-2249935.html

Let the Government stop thinking of reading and books as part of "education", and more as part of a healthy existence. If they can set a target of five fruit and vegetables a day for the adult population, why can't they set a target of 20 books a year? Why shouldn't the GP, faced with an aimless, purposeless, depressed patient, not inquire "Are you reading enough?" just as they might say "Are you eating sensibly?"

Fifty books a year while in education; 20 a year throughout adult life. That might turn our lives around.

can I be your friend? can I follow you?

Recent news of a certain congressman's inappropriate and crazy twittering and facebooking have everyone shaking their heads, no? Oh. my.

And then today on althouse she linked to this:

This just cracks me up.

I deleted my facebook a month or so ago because I thought I had been hacked. JLW says I wasn't. I'll probably re-open it again soon but I never could quite get the hang of what it was supposed to be. A mini blog? A place to post pictures and cool videos? I love that when it is with people I actually know and care about. But beyond that it is potentially creepy. Sort of. And yet! I read (and sometimes comment) on blogs of people I don't know all the time and my life is better for it. I have been enriched by the thinking and writing of others. Blogstalking and facebook (twittering, haven't gotten into that, yet) stalking, we all do it. It's the nature of the medium. But taking photos of your privates and sending them out, don't think that's in the revised edition of How to Win Friends and Influence People, is it?

http://pathologydocs.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people.pdf