So Good

Been awhile since my last post...literally was reading a series the entire time.  Just kidding.  But I did finish Fablehaven and LOVED it.  Very fun.  Very beautiful.  Very Creative.  Very entertaining.  I don't want to say much more, but if you are up for the world of dragons, fairies, demons, magic, and mystery...dive into Fablehaven.

Keep on Reading, Friends!

P.S.

I just began John Green's newest book, Turtles all the way Down.  I'll let you know :)

Fablehaven

Finished Book #1 in the five book series this weekend.  Very fun, lighthearted, entertaining read.  Basic premise: Two children spend two weeks at their grandparents home in the country while their parents head off for a cruise.  During this time they find out that their grandparents are caretakers of Fablehaven, a refuge for mystical creatures both good and evil.  The kids have many adventures and end of in one of the most daring rescue trips ever!  I look forward to the next four books.  Keep reading friends!

The Door Within...

What a great series!  It is rare that I get to book #3 without posting.  I think it is because I have been reading them so quickly.  Wayne Batson writes a beautiful series that begins with, The Door Within.  The story centers on Aidan Thomas as he leaves his world and enters THE REALM.  There he quickly becomes the 12th knight and helps save Allebele.  In book #2, The Rise of the Warm Lord, Aidan's friend Antionette is called into THE REALM and try to help the knights save Yehwood.  I cam currently reading book #3, The Final Storm.  Antoinette is still in The REALM and Aidan is battling in this world to save his best friend Robby from following Lord Paragor.  If you like fantasy...If you enjoy the story of what God did for us...If you like reading...Dive deep my friends.  You certainly will enjoy!!

Keep Reading,

Happy/Sad

The older I get, the more I am finding that I am both happy and sad at the same time far too often.  Maybe, my father's passing has heightened this awareness in me, as I am both happy that he is home and free of the pain that he was suffering from, but also lamenting that he is gone from me here and now.  Either way my heart is full.  It is full of emotion - love, joy, pain, hurt, loss, and grace.  I get a little of this sense when I finish a book series.  As I wrapped up The SYLO Chronicles, I am happy to have read the story, but sad that I end my relationship with characters whom I have grown fond of.  I think it is why I love reading so very much.  Authors that create genuine, authentic, caring characters are magicians.  To me, that is beauty.  I know that the story is fiction...yet, I allow myself to revert back to childhood days; I let myself IMAGINE.  In doing so, I am so very often swept away into a world for a time, and my sincere hope is that I learn deeply and grow richly, from my experience there.  After reading this trilogy I desire two things: I want to passionate do my part to transform the world so that I indeed, leave it better than I found it, and as my heart continue to heal from the loss of my father, I want to be incredibly intentional about investing in the lives of those whom i care deeply about. Love you friends.

2 out of 3...

Last night I finished book two!  It is so wonderful to finish a book, but it is even better when you know that the story is not over.  This morning I will begin reading book three, Strike.  I hope that you all have been enjoying this unit.  I really like slowing down and wallowing in a a good book.  I always learn from he author and from the characters that I meet along the way.  Slow down.  Enjoy the present.  Read carefully. Enjoy!

A New Trilogy...

I'm so excited to being a new trilogy!  We are just beginning our Independent Reading unit with My Grade 9 class.  I am excited to read along with each of them and to learn new strategies to help guide my reading, and seeping my understanding of what it is that I am reading.  The series that I am undertaking during this unit is written by D.J. MacHale and begins with a book called Sylo. After 38 pages I am already hooked and am excited to keep reading more.  I don't want to give the storyline away but the books takes place up in Maine and the central character is a high school freshmen named Tucker.  So far a boy has tragically died during a Friday night football game, a mysterious flying object has blown up off the coast, and Ticket and his best friend are currently in the backseat of a police jeep trying to explain they had nothing to do with it.  Clearly, this is my kind of story:)  Enjoy reading friends!!

September 27

Finished Orbiting Jupiter.  Highly recommend.  Easy read.  Hard content.  Life is not always easy or beautiful.  Gary Schmidt reminds us that there are deep deep troughs in life.  I am reminded again of that today.  My heart is heavy.