Books, Delicious Books

I love to read. I read everyday. Honestly I read so many books that I often can't remember the names and authors of all the books I read and I find myself starting a book only to discover that I've already read it. I know I should keep track. I confess I am a bookaholic, but....I just finished a delicious book. I don't rave about stories very often and I don't share them except with my nearest and dearest. My daughters have suffered through books that I fell in love with years ago and I have insisted that they must read. They are usually gracious and tactful in their responses. But today I finished a delight. The story is told in the form of letters from several people to other people. Usually I detest that sort of writing, but I was starving for something to read, the only other choice I had was a cookbook and since I am dieting I am trying to avoid reading cookbooks - it's very self-defeating. So I forged onward with the letters and it only took a couple of pages to completely captivate me. So I suppose you are wondering what book I am gushing about here. I will tell you; The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The title caught my attention and the story enchanted me. I feel like I have a whole set of wonderful new friends and a charming new dream vacation destination. So I am sharing with you, my friends. Take a couple of hours off from your worries and cares and think of me as you make some new friends of your own.
(There are a few adult situations discreetly mentioned in the book, but I would feel completely comfortable having my 14 year old daughter read this book.)

I know it has been awhile since I last posted - too many things going on. Changes are happening all around. One of my sons graduated from college. Another is engaged. One is in the west doing missionary work and wondering if spring will ever come. My parents will be leaving on their mission soon, but they are coming to Virginia!
Here in Virginia we have our spring. The air is already perfumed, I can smell honeysuckle, roses, and some early magnolias. I love it. The beauties around me help me deal with changes that I don't always want to accept gracefully. I read an interesting quote the other day, it said something like this, "One of the main things in life that you should realize is that life consists of getting used to a great many things that are the results of other people's choices, rather than your own."
There are people I love who are experiencing changes that are painful and that is hard. It is hard for me because as a mother I want to make it all better. I want things to be perfect and right. Life doesn't always happen the way you want it or plan it to. I would have thought that with my advanced years I would be more prepared to deal with things. In reality I've found that being older just means I have more people to fret over, worry about, and pray for. And there are that many more people making choices that give me the opportunity to practice gracefully dealing with change.
Oh for the good old days when diapers were the only things that were always being changed at my house!

Spring

It is spring! We celebrated Easter with blossoms and today as I was walking , I was greeted by the perfume of the first lilacs in bloom. I love the promise of new life, new beginnings, renewal, and fresh starts.
My house is full of flowers and sunshine. I'm doing a little spring cleaning. I confess I'm not a big spring cleaner. For many years we would just move every year or so and I did moving cleaning, so the habit of spring cleaning is a little alien. But I have been rearranging and clearing away, cleaning out and freshening up. It feels good.
As for the diet....now that the peanut butter eggs are off the shelves at the store I will begin again!

Diet Update

I walked and jogged five miles since I determined to get thin. I twisted through an entire episode of Gilmore Girls. I was only slightly sabotaged this weekend by my family - chocolate cookies, apple dumplings, and Girl Scout Thin Mints. But I have managed to lose 1/2 of a pound. Why do I not feel successful? I want skinny NOW! (Sorry for shouting.)
Today I have not yet exercised though I have carefully monitored my caloric intake. I will do my treadmill trekking in a little while. I will not be distracted by my sweet children's affection for my fat or my husband's alleged fondness of curves.( I am determined to weigh less than my husband.) I have a pair of skinny jeans and a lovely pink dress that I try on when the call of food seems overwhelming. Hopefully between the allure of skinny clothes and an ample supple of 0 calorie flavored water I will triumph over the ever present call of chocolate and chips!

Delight in Fatness

I'm going public! I'm fat....my sweet children call me soft. My benevolent husband calls me curvy. I call myself fat and sassy. I don't mind being sassy, but I'd like to be slender. My self image is complicated by the fact that I have three gorgeous daughters to compare myself to every day. I know I will never look like a 16 year old again and I really don't want to, but I would like to be able to see my toes!
So I'm going public and begging your help. I'm going to wean myself from sugar and white flour and I am going to start exercising. My first task is to extract the treadmill from the grip the basement has on it. I am going to use it for at least 30 minutes a day - 5 days a week. I have promised myself one treat a week - a modest serving of sugar or white flour. I know there may be weeks when I have a profound need for a hamburger or a brownie and I don't need any extra guilt so I will allow myself a carefully chosen indulgence.
So I'm asking you, my friends to help me stay accountable. You notice I'm not disclosing my weight - but I will share my weight loss as it happens. Maybe I will even post a picture when I discover my cheekbones again!

Home Evening

We had a lovely home evening. All my children wanted to spend the entire evening together enjoying each others company. Alas, alack.....then they tried to decide how they should spend the time together. I have six children at home this evening and none of them want to watch the same movie or play the same game. They did all agree to eat the same treat and they did a thorough job of that. I have suggested that they watch the Olympics, but as in all compromises no one is completely satisfied. But at least the balloting has stopped. Now the boys have gone to watch something of their own in their room and the girls are gently debating the Olympic events that are being broadcast tonight. I hear someone running a vacuum, at least on of my children has found something productive to do. The sweet and long suffering father has gone out to do some snow removal, it relaxes him. I think I will make some hot chocolate and find a quiet corner and savor a moment of solitude.

A New Journal

My sweetheart gave me a delicious new journal this week. I am so excited to write in it, but I still have a few pages left in my present journal. Blank pages thrill me. I started my first diary when I was 10. It was the kind with a key and yes, I wore the key around my neck on a ribbon. There were a few occasions that I carefully hid the key and the diary. But my brothers always found the key and the diary and then quoted from it to my great embarrassment.
But I kept writing. My journal got me through my teenage years when I was sure I didn't have a friend in the world. It has been gratifying that as I pass my journals on to my teenage daughters they are amazed that I wrote exactly what they have written in their own journals. My journal helped me deal with the homesickness and struggles of college, the joys and thrills of courtship and the delights and fatigues of early motherhood.
One of my great grandmothers kept a diary of sorts and what a surprise to me to read her words that mirrored my own over 50 years later.
Words have power. I hope my words will someday be able to comfort, encourage, and maybe even delight those who read them. I am sure at least that the cover of my new journal will make someone smile!