Not Alone!

I just saw this picture on Facebook and it immediately spoke to me.  I knew I had to blog about it.  

Ever feel like life is just complicated sometimes and you need some type of small retreat?  Of course you do! We all have from time to time.  Sometimes, you just need a break.  You just need to get lost in a different world for a few minutes to be able to refocus on reality and deal with the pressures and stress of troubles or just every day life.  Sounds totally like doom and gloom, but that's not what's intended by this post.  Life is wonderful and a lot of good happens around us each and every day.  Along with the good, we all know there is stress that comes our way.  Ever wish you could go back  to your childhood and live those carefree days again? You can! Pick up a book and get lost in it!

Some of my very best friends are ones I have never met in person.  For example: Jane Austen, E. Nesbit, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Kate Seredy, L.M. Montgomery, etc.  I've never met these authors, but oh how I love them!  Their characters are also some of my favorite people!  I cry every time Daddy comes home in E. Nesbit's, The Railway Children.  I get a sense of excitement every time I read, The Chestry Oak, and Prince Michael is running through the Hungarian forest to get away from the nazi soldiers who are chasing him.  I fall in love all over again each time I read L.M. Montgomery's, Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat. And who doesn't love Mr. Darcy's speech professing how ardently he loves Elizabeth in Jane Austen's, Pride and Prejudice?  I rejoice, weep, agonize, love, escape danger, and laugh with these "people" each time I read their stories.  I have formed a friendship with people, I am sad to say, I will never meet face to face!

If you are reading this and thinking, "this girl is nuts! She needs to get a real life!" then I dare say you have never found yourself so lost in a good book that for a few brief moments you are part of  a different world. Sometimes, when life gets crazy all around me, I go spend some time with my "friends" and enjoy their world for awhile.  When I leave their world and enter mine again, I feel refreshed and less stressed!  We all have real life friends who do that for us.  "Story friends" can do the same!   If that seems crazy to you, go try it, I know you'll enjoy my friends too! 

Happy Reading!

New Year's Reading Resolution

It has been way too long since I posted on this blog, but my New Year's resolution is to be a bit more consistent, which shouldn't be too hard since I haven't posted since July!! :)

Speaking of New Year's resolutions - Here's one for you! Why not make a resolution to read at least one book to your child each day?  For parents, this may seem like an incredibly hard task.  Running to and from school, activities after school, getting to work on time, laundry, changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, on and on it goes!  However, to read one book to your child will probably only take you about five minutes a day!  

Those five minutes each day will be some of the best minutes you'll spend.  Reading to our children creates a bond between parent and child, encourages them to read on their own as soon as they are able, develops a love for reading, and shows them that reading is fun!

You could keep a record of each book you read for 2013.  It would be so fun at the end of the year for you and your child to look back and remember the books you've read.  You would also have a great resource of 365 children's books.  Mark which ones you really liked and how your child responded to the book.  What a fun project!!

So, how about making a resolution that will help not only your child, but also you?!  Read at least one book a day to your child and you'll see multiple wonderful effects!!  You can check out my other blog posts for book ideas to help you with your reading resolution!

Happy Reading!!