Guilty pleasure...

I love curling up on the couch with a good book. Especially in the winter. A nice heavy blanket, a warm cup of hot chocolate, and a good book. It doesn't get much better than that. If it's a really good book, I'll stay up half the night to finish it. And to be honest, I'll even neglect my house (and meal prep) and just indulge.

These days, I'm lucky if I can sit down & have peace to focus on things that are important - like devotions, balancing the checkbook, paying bills, responding to emails, etc. It would be so much simpler if my children didn't ask as many questions as they do - "Can I please...?" "Where is...?" "Now can I go...?" I can't tell you how many times this summer I have tried to ban inquiries. It's completely fruitless. Hopeless. Pointless. The first question I get is "Why can't I ask you any more questions?"

So if accomplishing menial tasks requires some quiet, I can't expect there to be any for something as leisure as reading. Until today.

We have enjoyed many books-on-tape on road trips & as a family, and I've listened to books in my kitchen while I work. But today I pulled out my daughters "out-dated" CD walkman, plugged in my earphones, crammed the walkman in my pocket & got to listen to my story as I went about my day. I loved being able to multi-task & still enjoy a "guilty pleasure".

And the best part?

I don't have to answer all those questions. After a couple "Huh?" questions of my own...they give up & go figure out the answer for themselves.

My Busy Book...

While the girls were away at church camp, I had fun working on a project. My husband teased me because I became completely immersed, to the expense of housework and meals. But he survived just fine...he still got fed & had clean clothes. ;) And I enjoyed the chance to be creative and see something move from imagination to completion.

When Abbie was little my sister-in-law sewed a busy book for us. She was only in high school, but spent countless hours working on this "labor of love" and didn't make one book, but two. Despite missing a few pieces, our "busy book" has survived our family, seen a lot of Cheerios, and helped our little ones sit quietly through many sermons. It is still around to entertain company and hopefully grandkids someday. I had wanted to make one for my nephew & was inspired to do different animals/creatures that corresponded with the seasons. Abbie liked it so much she wanted to know if I could make one for HER. ;) I told her to give me a few years & I will happily hunch over my sewing machine to make one for her little one...

Weekend celebration...

We had a fun 36 hours celebrating our nephew's 1st year of life. It was HOT, and the AC had a hard time keeping up with all the activity, but we were blessed with a pool & a fun time together.

Happy Birthday, Elliot!!