perfect hour of the day.

Nights can be a chaotic, crazy time.  Hopefully, before dinner, the house was straightened up and we've had a pretty calm dinner discussing the best and the worst of the day.   Then it's time to get into pjs, brush teeth, have a scripture story, song, and prayer.  I love all of this time.  So much of the evening ends up being a time to get things done.  So by the time the time everyone is in their pjs and we've had our devotional time we're all feeling a little more calm.

About that time we start reading...and it feels...magical.

Right now we're reading "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.  If you've not read this book, it's amazing.  The thing about reading outloud to the kids when everyone is settled into their beds is the opportunity we get to talk about all kinds of things.  Books bring up topics that you may not think to talk about in normal every day life.  I also love that it gives us a chance to go into more depth about things we have talked about before.

This book is about a community that believes it's achieved the perfect society.  In order to arrive at this perfection they've had to make sure everything is the same, no differences, only 'sameness'.  What that means is completely surprising.

Every time the kids find out about something that is missing from this 'perfect' community they are shocked to find that such a simple joy or pain doesn't exist for them.  It has given us all a new appreciation for seemingly little, wonderful things around us...sunshine, red apples, beautiful fabric, snow, eyes, the wonder of being a teenager, family, and love.

All of my kids get nestled into their beds and I sit and read.  Occassionally all of their heads will pop up at the same time to say, "No way!" Other times, everyone will be very quiet, feeling every word that I read, holding on to every emotion that a character is feeling.  I love how invested they get into the characters.  Often they will come up to me in the middle of the day and wonder what is going to happen next and say that they can't wait to read again tonight to find out what is going to happen. There have been times when they will bring me the book in the middle of the day and say, "Please read right now.  We have to know what happens to Jonas..."

There are nights that we end up reading really late because every time I say, "And we'll stop there for tonight."  The kids all say in unison, "No!  One more chapter."

Other nights, we'll get to the end of reading and a couple of the kids will have dozed off taking the characters in the book with them as they drift into dreamland.

It's my favorite hour or so of the day.  Faces intent, perplexed, joyous, excited, worried...and then quiet...sweet quiet in the place between awakeness and sleeping.

Once the book is over, as most of you know who follow my blog, I get to lay in the peaceful dark and talk to each of my kids individually.  I listen to their day, their little secrets, their moments that they've saved out from the day until now to share...it's a peaceful, wonderful bliss.

And the perfect way to end any day.

sweet. LIFE.

it just pulls you in.

I'm in the middle of reading 'The Soloist' and I'm having a hard time pulling myself away from it. 

It's the story of Nathaniel.  He received a scholarship to Julliard because of his musical genius on the bass.  However, almost any instrument he picks up he can play effortlessly.  He has a promising future.  His peers and professors alike respect him and know that he has a beautiful life ahead of him.

Unfortunately,  Nathaniel begins to have some agressive and abnormal behavior and eventually a mental breakdown.  A short time later he is diagnosed with schizophrenia and his life takes a turn that no one would have ever expected of someone with so much talent and potential...he lives on the street fighting off rats while trying to sleep.

A writer from the L.A. Times discovers him, decides he may be able to write a column about him and before he realizes it Nathaniel has become a major part of  his life.  He's torn between wanting a better mental health care system, helping Nathaniel in some way, his wife and daughter, and keeping his job.

It's a heartbreaking story so far but one I'm so glad that I'm reading.  You will not regret picking it up yourself.  It's a view into a world that is hard to imagine and one that we rarely consider.  It will change your Christmas...for the better.

beautiful. LIFE.

meaning.

I love things with meaning.  Things that have a history.  A story.

I went to the Farmer's Market in Salt Lake with Freda and Matt for their get to know you shoot (more on that next week sometime) and while we were there we met Lauren.  She is the founder and designer of Ruthie Pearl  ** bags.

The name: Ruthie Pearl is Lauren's Gramma.  Every bag she makes is named after someone that Lauren loves, is close to, a friend, a sister.  Listening to her talk and hearing how she has brought together two things she loves...the people in her life and her talent made me want to have one of her bags.  Lauren's bags are wonderful but I'd like one of her bags if for no other reason than to have a constant reminder to treasure the people closest to me, to love and to celebrate the relationships in my life.

So check out Gramma's bag and celebrate someone you love.  Go to www.ruthiepearl.com.**

**Lauren is going to be adding more and more bags over the next few weeks so make sure to check back for your fave if you don't see it right away.**

meaningful. LIFE.

Date Night. Every Week.

Every week I go on a date with my all time favorite person...my husband.  Tonight is the night of the week that I look forward to every time my Friday night ends.

We're always glad to get a way for some fun and good times together.  A chance to be somewhere without the kids, away from the cares of the world, and to just get to be us.  We love this time and absolutely feel that our week is not complete if we miss it.  It fills up our hearts and our buckets...especially after a long week.

We've done all kinds of things.  Tonight we'll be getting something to eat (and I'll be leaving a little on my plate...), go for a walk, and then later maybe the movies. 

Other times we've gone to Barnes and Noble, gotten a steamed milk, and played a game in the cafe.  We've also gone ice skating at the ice sheet, hiking, to the movies, a picnic, to the theatre, dinner theatre, walked around downtown, gone the gallery stroll, and so much more.

If you're not dating your fave person...start.

If you are dating your fave person but are stuck in a rut, plan ahead.  Occassionally, we end up doing the same thing every week (especially in the middle of the winter) so we take turns planning the date.  If you want to spice things up you definitely have to try this.  Whatever the person for the week plans, you both do.

We've considered getting twenty $1 bills and just going to the mall and giving one out out to anyone we see...just to do a little study on everyone's reactions.  We've also given ourselves each $1 and we go to the dollar store and see if we can find something the other person would like.

Whatever you do...usually the cheaper it is...the more fun it is.  Find your true love and sweep them off on a date...tonight!!!

love. LIFE.

you.

Women try to be so much to everyone else in their world.  A mother, daughter, sister, wife, taxi driver, nurse, comedienne, chef, laundress, maid, psychologist, friend, lover, den leader, soccer coach, philanthropist, entrepreneur, cheerleader, home room mom, dog walker, and.....

There are times when it feels like you've given every last ounce you've got to all of the people who need a piece of you.  Your tank is empty. Your bucket is dry. Your energy is gone.  There's nothing left in you but there's still more you need to give.

I was first introduced to this book when I saw information on one of my artist friend's door about a workshop being offered that said "For when you're feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from who you are and how you'd like to live."  I immediately knew I had to be part of it.  I think so many women want to feel like there is great meaning in the life they are living, in the person they are becoming.  Sometimes we lose touch with that (which is why I'm a huge advocate of journaling...it gives us the chance to tap into our real self, our real wisdom).  Somewhere in the jumble of it all we lose the meaning, that real person that we are.  I signed up for the class which is offered in person or online (email: Alison at  benjali@msn.com  for more information).

Just reading the book is an eye opening and soul searching experience.  I loved the opportunity to explore love and healing and become more of the person I'm meant to be.  Even if you can't do the class the book itself is completely worth reading.  (With the class you get homework every week so it makes you take the ideas in the book and put them to work.)  I highly recommend the experience and the book to everyone.

"Do the things that really delight your heart." 

Fill your tank.  Overflow your bucket. Give energy to your life.

full. LIFE.