Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. If I have to be inside, then I really need a book in my hands.

I have read hundreds of books, but still have trouble answering what makes a book ‘good’?

My mom and sisters don’t really understand my love for personal development/leadership/self-help/non-fiction works. I occasionally read a popular novel just to have something to talk to them about that doesn’t sound like a lecture. It is not that I dislike novels. I would just rather learn about something I could implement in my own life or in helping others. I enjoy reading for purpose.

I tend to cycle through a series of topics. My husband cringes when I suggest something from a stronger marriage book. This is not because he is against a stronger marriage, but I am often asking him some question that requires feelings. He often volunteers for housework or something else unexpected just to escape what he fears may be coming.

My boys like the parenting books I read (they follow the marriage improvement books in the cycle) if they perceive the book is making me a ‘better/nicer’ mom. If my new mom knowledge will require them to have more responsibility around the house or to treat their brothers better, they will declare it to be a ‘bad’ book.

My staff is usually split when I share the latest research from the book I am reading and how we could implement it in our program. They typically fall into one of two camps. Either they have already purchased the book on Amazon before the end of the staff meeting or they roll their eyes and later talk about how the book may work other places but not for us. Thankfully, the latter group continues to shrink.

I recently read the book, Heartland. It is a memoir about a girl growing up in Kanas in the 80’s. There were so many parts of the book that exactly described my life growing up in Missouri during the same time period and with some similar life experiences. But there were other parts, when the author went into discussions about class, equity, poverty, and politics, which I did not agree with nor think were accurate portrayals of the Midwest. So was it a good book?

I had to land on the positive with this book because it made me think and because I am still thinking about it four books later! I believe it is vital to teach our youth that it is important to read as a way to impact our own behaviors and improve our lives. And that often means we will not agree with everything we read, but should read books which make us think and challenge our own ideas or assumptions.

Death has been on my mind and in my life a great deal lately. From just before Christmas when we unexpectedly lost a favorite uncle to many friends, acquaintances, church and community members who have passed on since the start of 2020. This is some of what I have learned.

From my Uncle Bob – always be sure to give one more hug when you say good-bye – everyone could use one more hug. Try to have an easy laugh and keep doing what you love as long as you feel like doing it.

From Mrs. Limbach – as a teacher for 47 years, she never lost her passion – only her partial loss of eyesight took her out of the classroom. Remember to pray for your students and attend as many weddings as you can to be a part of their special day.

From John Wood – even though I only knew him as my friend’s brother, the tribute his friends gave at the memorial made me want to be a better friend. The memories they shared also made me realize how a day on the river or just time on the farm may be worth so much more to our family than some expensive trip somewhere. We can’t forget that who we spend our time with is often more important than what we are doing.

From Boomer – hug my boys and husband every opportunity I get and don’t take life too seriously. If there is a way to make other people smile or laugh, that will never be wasted time.

There have been more that we have said good-bye to in the past couple months as death has visited our small community too often. But even in the hurt, I try to see the lessons as their final gift and to strive to live my life so that my final farewell, whenever it may come, would be my last inspirational lesson.

Life with my boys and husband keep me laughing most of the time. Tonight’s laughter reminded me of the famous Abbott and Costello Who’s On First.

My Abbott boys were simply trying to stay up a little longer while my husband and I were planning to watch our next online video in our current course.

‘Why do you get to stay up and watch You Tube?’ whined the first.

‘Why can’t we watch it with you?” asked the next.

‘What are you watching? That David guy?’ asked the third.

‘I told you boys to get your teeth brushed and to bed,’ Dad raises his voice down the hallway. ‘Your mom and I are watching our Dale Brisby videos.’

‘What!! I want to watch Dale Brisby!’

‘Me, too!’

‘That’s not fair! Mom, you said I couldn’t watch Dale Brisby, but you and Dad get to. That is not fair!’ shouted with the explanation of the slamming bedroom door (This son is knocking on the door of middle school and really honing his dramatic flair!)

‘We are watching Dave Ramsey, not Dale Brisby.’ Mom corrects with a roll of the eye.

‘That is what I meant. I get their names messed up,’ Dad shrugs as he comes back into the living room.

Silence from the boys.

PS to reader – If you don’t know these characters, just Google search. Their images are enough of a picture of the vast difference of subject matter!

With three boys there are a few things we are never lacking in our house. Here are a few:

• All sorts of strange and unpleasant odors, many of which we never find the source
• Nerf bullets found in many unusual places
• John Wayne, Sam Elliott, and Tom Seleck westerns on the tv
• Boots, boots, and more boots
• Almost always some sort of fighting or picking on one another
• And laughing. So many funny stories – this is the latest

My youngest son, Judd, had a mishap with his brothers who were throwing a rope. He ‘got in the way’ and ended up with a burn on his neck/shoulder blade. That story was not quite adventurous enough so he told first grade teacher/class today that he got horned by a bull. I am not sure if it is more funny that his stories keep growing or that his teacher half believed him! Never a dull moment . . .

Green day lily sprouts coming up from the brown dead leaves of last year’s flowers.

The bright green moss and blue lichen clinging to the rocks.

Buds are appearing on the trees and new growth emerging on my rose bushes.

Even the cows seem to walk a little faster as their new calves frolic in the field. The newest calf, with her little white face and black body, sniffs at the hay as it unrolls behind the tractor.

And for the boys, any weather above 50 degrees feels like summer. They streak through the yard, shooting Nerf guns, jumping on the trampoline and constantly asking if they can play in the creek and when can we open the pool to swim. Not yet, Boys. But soon . . . as we are just starting to see the signs of spring.

Her stature may be shorter, but in my eyes she always stands tall.

Her talents are as many as the kinds of Jelly Bellies at the mall.

As a wife, she is loving.

As a mother, so very giving.

She teaches young minds, even those who speak language of a different kind.

She is a cheerleader who keeps up morale with chocolate and coffee and dancing to Vanilla Ice.

Everyone who meets sees her as so much more than nice.

I am so grateful to her for many, many lessons and especially for introducing me to the Slice.

Why is it that I cannot rid myself of clutter?

I hate it desperately.

It consumes my time with no return.

It causes more fights with my sons and husband than most anything else.

Clutter should be a curse word spoken only in fits of rage or hushed tones as an unthinkable menace.

I am breaking up with clutter.

NOW!

Well, it’s late.

Maybe tomorrow.

Or Monday.

Monday is a good time to start.

And that is the first of the month.

Yes, I am sure I will start the break up on Monday . . .

Two of the joys of working in a sort of peripheral position (I am the admin for our before and afterschool program) at school are interacting with all ages PreK throughly seniors and getting to have fun at random times for random events.

Today’s fun included a circus themed reading rally at our lower elementary. Not many people knew that I have some incredible hula hooping skills. I actually cannot hula, like around the waist, to save my life, but I have a lot of other tricks.

I was a bit worried when I learned the hoops I knew the PE teacher had were actually replaced earlier this year with more durable, flat and much heavier hoops. I practiced and knew I could not do all I wanted to with those, but the show must go on! I ran across the parking lot and found want I needed at the Upper Elem.

I changed into my sparkly shirt and sequine shoes. The Ringmaster introduced me, and I could almost feel the spotlight. Do you know how much fun it is to get a couple hundred elementary students chanting their school cheer really loudly in order to get my hoop to finally hit the ceiling!

After the shows, I was greeted with lots of smiles and hugs. The kids were amazed and thought I should really try out for the circus or at least be in tv. Almost all wanted to touch the hula hoops and wanted to know how I learned to do that. I told them with a lot of time outside practicing and to be sure to complete their reading logs!

Today I learned exactly what it feels like to be a super star – at least a super star of South Elementary for the day!

As I was trying to decide if I should check out the silent auction or get a drink, he approached suddenly, with way too much enthusiasm in his voice.

His appearance was a mix between Jack Sparrow and someone preparing for the Last Supper production – fully bearded, with long brown hair – well groomed, but not my cup of tea.

How are you?

I am great.

Do you remember me?

As I quickly look at his name tag, Josey.

But then I really looked at his eyes and the face under the beard. Yes! I know these eyes, but haven’t seen them for a very long time.

I love running into former students. Josey was one of my first.

We caught up with what was going on in his life – landscaping to boat captain (he is actually Jack Sparrow during events in the summer!) to managing a success bar at the Lake. He went on to say he had to come over to tell me what a difference I made in his life and how I was the ‘kick-in the pants’ he needed at a time he could have gone really off course. He used the skills and knowledge gained in my class. He said about five times how glad he was to see me so he could tell me how much he appreciated ‘everything’ – even though I really can’t remember what everything was.

He was just a freshman/sophomore boy who listened and smiled a lot – even his eyes smile.

He was not any class star or anyone I could remember specific stories about, but he cared enough to spend a few moments saying thanks.

I am so thankful when I get or hear about these little zoot-zoots that touch right at our hearts. Be sure to send someone a zoot-zoot to share the difference he or she has made in your life.