I love linking up to a wonderful celebratory community, inspired by Ruth Ayres, every Saturday!
What a wonderful week of celebrations!
- Winter #Bookaday! I've been keeping up with my goal to read a book a day throughout the winter break. So far, so good! Here are some of the wonderful books I've read this week:
- After a delicious filet and shrimp meal at home, we attended Christmas Eve service at Lebanon Presbyterian Church. I think our church is beautiful every day, but on Christmas Eve, it especially shines. I always love our candlelit "Silent Night, Holy Night" finale, and this year, it was wonderful to hear Katie's boyfriend, John, sing "Christmas Hallelujah" (a new version of "Broken Hallelujah") with some other young adults from our church. It was beautiful. If you don't know that song, here it is (with the band Cloverton singing):
- On Christmas morning, after opening all the presents, we went for breakfast at Waffle House. We started this tradition last year and loved it. Then we enjoyed a home-cooked meal at my sister-in-law's house in the afternoon.
- My birthday was yesterday, and what a day it was! It started with finishing Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord, which I loved, and posting the Poetry Friday Roundup (feel free to participate now if you were too busy yesterday). I also got a wonderful phone call from a former colleague, media specialist, Kathy Aurigemma. It was an inspiring, encouraging, affirming call, and I really appreciated it. I shopped in the afternoon with Katie, and at one point heard a chorus of "Happy Birthday"! I turned to see a neighbor family smiling at me. So cute! I also loved that Augusta Scattergood mentioned me in her blog post that morning, in reference to her wonderful new book, The Way to Stay in Destiny - what a surprise! One of the things Kathy and I talked about on the phone was the amazing access we have on social media with children's authors. We love it! The evening was spent at one of my favorite local restaurants, Acapulco's, with Ed, Libby and Jamie, Katie and John, my sister-in-law, Heidi, and brother-in-law, T.J. So fun! I got wonderful gifts. My mom and dad got me a beautiful silver plate engraved with the words: "The best journey always takes us home." I wrote in my Poetry Friday post yesterday that my One Little Word of the year was JOURNEY, and this gift was the perfect culmination of a great word that has woven itself into my life over the last year and a half.
- I celebrate the Nerdy Award winners! Starting yesterday, the Nerdy Book Club is announcing the 2014 kidlit award winners, chosen by Nerdy Book Club participants. Today's category was the Nonfiction Picture Book winners.
- I even celebrate a messy house with the detritus of kids and Christmas. I am so glad Libby and Katie have been home the last week and a half. They're off on travels for awhile, and I'll miss them, but I'm happy for both of them. Libby is traveling to South America with her uncle and will get to explore Chile and Argentina. Katie is traveling with her boyfriend's family to their grandparents' house. It will be quiet around here, but I'll spend the week reading, preparing for school in January, celebrating New Year's, eating a another birthday dinner with friends, and spending time with my husband. Oh, and CLEANING (maybe).
I love hearing your celebrations because I feel like I am a part of your life, in an internet-cyber-friendship sort of way. I met Augusta Scattergood at NCTE and we were fast friends. She is exactly as you would imagine her to be, warm and generous.
ReplyDeleteMy visiting daughter and boyfriend leave tomorrow (insert tears here). I'll have a week of total quiet. I plan to cash in on my Spa gift certificate, write, and read. Cleaning is on the list too (maybe).
Holly, happy celebrations are always a way to light up our lives. Yours this week were perfect for a wonderful entry into another year of events on your journey of life.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful birthday. I like the combination of messy and quiet in your last celebration. Have fun cleaning.
ReplyDeleteWonderful celebrations! I am so impressed with the #bookaday work so many have been doing. I have not done as well as I would have liked. Too distracted! You have inspired me to reattempt - my break isn't done yet. Loved Half a Chance (got to meet Cynthia Lord at NCTE) and I've just found Augusta Scattergood as an author -- looking forward to the new book. Happy birthday and continuing the #bookaday challenge!!
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