Hay Rides

Dragged the kids to a primary activity [church group for kids 3-12] today. It was snowing, just the fat fluffy flakes that sort of drift down slowly, and we were sitting on hay bales stacked into the back of an open trailer pulled by a diesel truck. It was awesome :). We brought fruit and vegetables [or nothing if we forgot LOL], and made up 12 bags to deliver to people in the neighborhood. Then we all [parents, teachers, and children] hopped onto the trailer and sang holiday songs while we slowly drove around and delivered them all. Some of the songs weren't very holiday-like [911-away, for example], but it was pretty awesome to see the kids' faces when they got to sing our made-up thanksgiving song to each recipient. They'd race up to the door, thrust the bag into the person's hands, belt out the song, and race back to the trailer.

So, my reading list:
John Adams -David McCullough
Already posted about this book- absolutely worth the time it took me to read it. I'm a pretty fast reader, so working on this book got frustrating, especially since I had a list of books I wanted to read and I wouldn't let myself start any of the non-fiction ones until I finished this one. I'm looking forward to watching the HBO movie when it comes from Netflix.

The Go-Getter -Peter B Kyne
This is a very short book, and currently out of print. I ordered it through Dave Ramsey's website, because they keep this book in their shop. Very good, very thought-provoking, and one I'll be reading to my kids soon.

Glenn Beck's Common Sense
I wasn't sure if I would like this or not. Mostly because I'm not sure about whether I can agree with too much of what Glenn Beck says. [i.e. his support of the gold standard, which has not been used as a foundation for economics since the fall of the Roman Empire. If the world is really coming to an end, I'm going to stockpile food, water, and ammunition for the many guns my husband owns. Oh, and yarn :). I'll be stockpiling a lot of yarn.] He has a valid point, though, and I really appreciated the copy of Thomas Paine's Common Sense that was included in the appendix of the book. I do need to be more involved in what my representatives in Congress are doing. I do need to be aware that my freedoms are at risk whenever a politician gets a brilliant [or not] idea. So, overall, worth the hour it took to read it.

Handmade Home -Amanda Blake Soule
Wonderful [and sometimes weird] ideas for re-using fabric and other supplies around my house to create new things for my loved ones. I got a lot of good ideas, and I'm adding ideas to my list of projects.

Boundaries -Cloud and Townsend
Read this once before, and I was grateful for the reminder. I feel like I have pretty healthy boundaries, but getting a reminder of where the lines should be drawn is always nice. Since I got a bit carried away with volunteer work this year, I am making notes for myself for next year. :)

Tribes -Seth Godin
Another short read, and this author is a genius marketing guy. Very common-sense stuff about leadership. Looking for his other books [Purple Cow and Permission Marketing] just because I enjoyed this one so much.

The Last Lecture -Randy Pausch
Major tear-jerker. Lots of good advice. Quick, but intense, read.

Scratch Beginnings -Adam Shepard
AWESOME. This book needs to be taught to each and every person who is currently looking for a job [because they're unemployed, or don't like their job]. Basically, Adam decided to see if "The American Dream" still existed in modern America. He took $25, the clothes on his back, a duffle, and a sleeping bag, and took a train to a city he'd never been to before. He wasn't allowed to use his college education, any of his assets, or any contacts he already had. His goal was, at the end of a year, to have $2500 in savings, a car that reliably worked, and a furnished apartment [with or without a roommate]. He made it, and his story was a wake-up call to me.

We're also listening to The Mysterious Benedict Society audiobook. Very amusing :) and the kids are begging to go somewhere- anywhere- so they can listen to the end of it.

And, I've updated my list, on the sidebar, of books I'm reading. Well, actually, it isn't all the books I'm reading. That would be too long. The list is just the non-fiction books, or the really REALLY good fiction ones.

Gratitude List:

* Snow. Part of the blessing [or curse] of living in a mountain valley is that we'll get a lot of snow every winter. I am excited about this :)
* Kids who are old enough and strong enough to shovel snow. Probably this is why I'm so excited about the snow LOL.
* Books. I have so many of them, and access to so many more. Truly a blessing- knowledge is power, after all.
* I can vote, and I did vote. My voice counts. Plus, since I participated, I have the right to complain about the people I voted for :).
* Hot chocolate on cold days. Mmmmm.
* Cookies anytime. Really, you can't go wrong with cookies. Unless you leave out the chocolate chips...
* This recipe for Carrot and Squash Curry Soup. Yummy with homemade wheat bread. Or storebought wheat bread. Whatever ;)
* We have enough for ourselves, and plenty to spare.
* Showing my kids that giving to others will bless and enrich their own lives.
* My husband is home the rest of the year!!! [except for the hunting and fishing trips...]
* Rearranging furniture is almost as much fun as buying new furniture. Bonus: it is completely free, which is not true about buying new stuff, alas.
* I'm making cards again, after taking a break for a few months. Hobbies are only hobbies if they're for fun.
* Knitting a beautiful, soft, blue blanket. Not sure I want to give it away at this point LOL.
* Getting excited for Thanksgiving dinner with some of my family. Wish they could all come, but I'm thinking that 2 parents plus 5 out of 7 kids is a pretty good turnout.
* Family.
* Friends.
* Neighbors.
* God. He is so good to me.