January book club pick

In case anyone is interested in following our book club, I'm planning to blog about the book we read each month. For January, I chose Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.

Several people recommended this book as one of their favorites, and I recently read it. I wanted to start with something everyone would enjoy, and this seemed to appeal to a variety of interests. In the future, though, I hope everyone feels free to choose a personal favorite, whether or not the whole group appreciates the book. One of the purposes of having a book club is to open your mind to new material, after all!

Before We Were Yours is a story based on the real-life Tennessee Children's Home Society, which existed in Memphis from 1897 to 1950. This orphanage operated under the guise of a respectable institution, supported by high-profile individuals. In reality, many of the children had been kidnapped or stolen from their families, and were sold at a huge profit. To read more of its scandalous history, check out the Wikipedia article here. The characters in Before We Were Yours are fictionalized, but their story is very likely similar to that of many children who suffered from the cruelty of the Society. 

Maybe I'll add more in another post after we gather in February to discuss this book. In the meantime, check it out for yourself!

morning musings

Being quarantined from work for three weeks has been wonderful and stressful. Although I was aware of this before, I'm even more conscious of the fact that my job has a huge impact on my life. You only have to look at this blog to see that. When I work full-time, I don't write nearly as often, and the theme is mostly work. In the last three weeks, I've written more frequently and the content has changed. I even feel different! My creative side has time to bloom, and my mind is filled with writing ideas, future goals, and dreams. Having time to walk most days helps my mood, and housework isn't so frustrating since I can keep up with it better. I've had time for some wonderful one-on-one chats with friends. My life feels enriched. Working saps my energy, and sometimes it seems the best part of my self goes to my job. I've found myself dreaming of ways to combine my love for home, reading, and writing into an occupation, but a reality check soon brings me back to earth.

On the other side, I've also realized work is good for me. It gives me a purpose. In the last few months, a short quote has impressed me. I'd heard it so often that it almost had no meaning, but one day it really struck me. "Be the best of whatever you are." Be the best pharmacy technician, if that's your job. Be the best teacher, if that's the place you fill. Be the best stay-at-home mom, if that's your calling in life. That quote is part of a longer poem by Douglas Malloch.

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill

Be a scrub in the valley - but be

The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,

And some highway happier make;

If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass -

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,

And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,

If you can't be the sun be a star;

It isn't by size that you win or you fail -

Be the best of whatever you are!

I think I've just found the content for my April goal - memorize something. 

On another note, it's time for a confession. I've mentioned before that I sometimes question having this blog - it seems selfish and it's brought me reproof, among other things. Being an introvert, trying to make small talk terrifies me and I express myself much better in writing. Putting my thoughts out there has felt risky at times, but usually ends up being rewarding. If I'm going to honestly measure the encouragement I've received against the criticism, encouragement outweighs criticism by far. I don't want to turn away reproof or criticism by saying that, though. I value and will consider it as well. 

With that in mind, I want to say one more thing. As someone who has always loved reading, I want others to know the pleasure a good book can give. Everyone has their own taste when it comes to books, and what I recommend may not be your style, or go against your convictions regarding reading material. The books I read often contain language and/or actions that would not be right for a Christian. When I read those things, I know they're wrong and don't spend a lot of time thinking about it. I might even forget there is such a thing in that book and recommend it to someone else. To me, the good outweighs the bad. Please use your own judgment in deciding whether a book I've mentioned is appropriate for you or your children. 

 

juvenile literature

For a long time I've wanted to write about books for adolescent and school age children. I kept putting it off, hoping to read more in that category, but finally decided to start with what I have and add posts in the future. Many adults, including me, still enjoy children's books. In the last few years I've made it a point to read some classics that I'd always heard of but hadn't read as a child. These included The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Tale of Despereaux, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Holes, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. They were all worth reading and if you haven't read them, go for it!

It's hard for me to know what age group these books are suitable for, but they'd probably be most appropriate for grade 5 and older. Each book is linked to Amazon so if you want to purchase any of them, just click on the blue italicized book title.

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

nonfiction

This is an absolute must read for all! In fact, it would be a great one to read out loud to your family. It tells the heartwarming true story of the correspondence and friendship between a white schoolgirl from Pennsylvania and a poor black boy in Uganda. 

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

fiction

A mystery revolving around the will of Samuel W. Westing and sixteen unrelated people who are named in it. Whoever solves the riddle will win a large sum of money. Funny and unpredictable!

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

fiction

Claudia Kincaid and her younger brother Jamie run away from home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They manage to hide at closing time and spend the night in the Museum.  I was thoroughly wrapped up in their adventures and how they solved a mystery!

Sparrow Hawk Red by Ben Mikaelsen

fiction

This was quite popular when I read it to my 7th & 8th graders, so I recommend it for that age group. I'm not going to leave a review because it's not a personal favorite, but one I know they enjoyed!

goals, plans, and more about books

A new year always gives me a boost of energy and I enjoy giving thought to what I want to accomplish in the next 365 days. Making lists of goals is the fun part, but I haven't been very successful at putting them into action! Last year I made a "20 for 2020" list, and although I made progress, sadly, I couldn't cross any of them off. This idea comes from author/blogger Gretchen Rubin. If you want to know more, you can read about it here. The idea is to make a list of concrete goals you want to accomplish by the end of the year. It can be things you want to start or stop doing, and you can have fun with the year number, such as "walk 20 minutes a day in 2020." I like to include things I know I'll do anyway, so it's not too overwhelming. I also list a few fun things to do, books to read, and so on. This year I want to make my goals more specific, so instead of saying "make time for exercise" my goal is to walk 500 miles in 2021. I'm trying to come up with ways to hold myself accountable too, and asked a friend to compete in the walking challenge with me. Another approach I'm trying is to break down some of the goals by month, instead of resolving to do it all year long and failing. January is the month I chose to start a book club! (So excited! 😊) In February I want to take 21 minutes every day to do something I enjoy. In March I want to read for at least 21 minutes every day from an actual book. (More on that later.)  August is the month for biking the Walkway Over the Hudson because that's already planned. I'm still tweaking the list and thinking of ways to make my goals attainable and specific. 

As I was making my list, it struck me how many of my goals started with "make time for" or "schedule". Clearly, time management is something I need to work on. I have a feeling if I can accomplish #17 on my list,  (come up with a plan to limit phone time) that will go a long way in freeing up more time. I do think I'm slowly learning how to make better use of my time since I found a planner I love and am doing meal planning and grocery shopping ahead of time. The Homemaker's Friend 2021 planner has already given me so much joy!

Among my favorite features are the space for a menu on each day, a place for writing tasks at the beginning of every week, and tabbed sections for tasks, projects, info, and shopping. I keep a running list of menu ideas in the tasks section, grocery list in the shopping section, and random thoughts/blog ideas/21 for 2021 list under "projects". The blank spaces are highly important to me for writing reminders, random ideas, and other things that keep me awake at night. All I have to do is grab my planner, write it down, and move on! 

Since my last post, I've had some questions about where to get some of the books I mentioned and how to listen to audiobooks. I very rarely own any of the books I recommend. I can't even remember when the last time was that I read a hard copy of a book! I'm fairly certain if I didn't listen to books, I'd hardly read at all. There's always other things to be done, but I can listen to a book while I drive, walk, cook, clean, do wash, sew... anytime, anywhere! Now, I understand my situation is different from those with families and it is probably not advisable to go around with earbuds in your ears, listening to a book, while there are children in the house. I'm just saying what works for me! It helps me stay motivated to do tasks I don't really enjoy if I can escape through a book at the same time! As for where I get the audiobooks, I mostly use the apps Overdrive (Libby is similar), hoopla, and LibriVox. With the exception of LibriVox, these apps are through a public library - I do not pay for audiobooks. Because the book has to be purchased by the library, there are a limited amount of titles available, but I can almost always find what I want. Sometimes you might have to put a hold on a popular book and wait awhile until you can borrow it. You can also electronically recommend the library purchase a book you want to read. They may or may not buy it, but if they do, you'll be notified. Another thing you can do if your library doesn't have a wide selection is get a library card from another county (in the same state). For example, I can also borrow from Allentown library, and I suppose there are others I could sign up for. I'd be interested in ideas from others who listen to audiobooks, as well!

top 7 books of 2020

Over the last few days I've been compiling a list of my top favorite books for 2020. I keep track of all the books I read on goodreads, and especially like the feature of "my year in books". If you want to see mine, here's a link. Books are given a star rating of 1 - 5. I don't very often rate a book at 5 stars because my personal criteria is that it has to be memorable enough that I won't quickly forget it, or make a lasting impression. Of the 67 books I read in 2020, I gave 7 a 5 star rating. Here's a brief description of each of those seven books.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Nonfiction

After reading about the death penalty and the work of Bryan Stevenson with the Equal Justice Initiative in The Sun Does Shine, I wanted more. Just Mercy tells stories of death row convicts, how they got there, and the injustices many suffer. A thought-provoking, worthwhile read.

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman

Nonfiction 

I'm fascinated by true medical stories and the unbelievable nature of what happened to Phineas Gage, a man who had a hole blown through his head and lived, thoroughly interested me. 

A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

Nonfiction 

At 5 years old, Saroo became separated from his family after getting lost on a train in India, ending up in the dangerous city of Calcutta. Surviving homelessness and hunger, he was eventually adopted by an Australian couple. He never forgot his home and family in India, and when he became older, spent years searching Google Maps for a place that matched his memories. He finally found his hometown and was reunited with his family as an adult. An astonishing, engrossing book!

Devotion by Adam Makos

Nonfiction

From the same author as another favorite, A Higher Call, Devotion takes place in the Korean War and tells the story of Jesse Brown, an African American Navy pilot. Heartwarming friendship, heroism, and tragedy make this an unforgettable book. 

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie

Historical fiction

This novel uses true events, letters, and original sources to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza. Just like in America's First Daughter, history comes to life! Who knew the characters in history books had such rich, real, even scandalous lives!

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Classic fiction

I don't know why I waited until I was 35 years old to read this wonderful classic. Even though it's a looong book (49 hours of listening) I could not get enough! I loved the romance, Southern charm, and historical setting of this Pulitzer Prize winning novel. What surprised me is how tragic the whole story is, and it doesn't turn out perfectly in the end!

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

Historical fiction 

I've read many WWII historical fiction novels and rate most of them 3 - 4 stars.  I consider The Huntress as one of the best, along with The Alice Network by the same author. A Nazi murderess, a Soviet female night bomber, and long-hidden secrets make this vividly written book one to remember. 

adventures fill your soul

Taking time off and getting away from the daily routine of work and home life almost always refreshes me. I feel new inspiration and can somehow see the big picture better when I take a step away. Home is still the best - there's no other place where I feel as comfortable - but traveling is important to expand the edges of our world. 

This past week was the time we were planning to go to Ireland, but those plans were smashed because of the pandemic. I still hope to go someday, but for now I'll continue to dream. Half the fun is in planning and looking forward to a trip, anyway! Instead of Ireland, we went to Tennessee, where we spent a few days with Shelby & Kait and two nights in the Smoky Mountains on the way home.

I have visited only a few national parks, but consider them one of the best places to travel. There's nothing like seeing the vast Grand Canyon for the first time, or the rolling peaks shrouded in mist of the Great Smoky Mountains. We go to the Smokies as often as we can, and this year we were fortunate enough to visit twice! Cade's Cove, a picturesque valley nestled in the mountains, has always charmed me. The carefully preserved log homes, churches, and a mill from bygone days can be visited while driving along an 11 mile loop, which we've done several times. 

We wanted to bike the loop this time, and made it a priority on our trip. Experiencing it that way added another dimension of awe. I'm easily moved by emotion, and feeling the atmosphere of Cade's Cove on a closer level than riding in a car was exhilarating. The bike ride was tougher than I expected, but so worth it! 

Stories about events and curious happenings in national parks always interest me. I've collected several books from my visits, and this time I bought Into the Mist - tales of death and disaster in Smoky Mountains National Park. Another favorite of mine is Over the Edge: Death In Grand Canyon. This book is down the same line and is very interesting so far. 

I saw a children's book about national parks called You Are Home at a shop we visited and loved the illustrations and poetry. I added it to my collection also.

Going back to work and daily life after time away is sometimes discouraging. I like this quote, "Jobs fill your pocket. Adventures fill your soul." 

A collection of living

Writing inspiration has been scarce the last while. It seems like I only wrote about work for the last four months and I thought it might be getting monotonous. My job is a major part of my life though, so it will probably continue to come up.

At the end of May I had a week of vacation at home. It was so wonderful to not have a schedule or any place to go! By the end of vacation, I was ready to quit my job and stay at home. However, working does bring a sense of satisfaction and expands my life. I've felt more appreciated at my job the last three years than any other job I've had. Pharmacy seems to be a good fit for me, although I'm still wondering if I want to stay in the same position for the rest of my career. 

During the week I was off I spent a lot of time working in my flower gardens. Digging up rocks for flower bed edging, mulching, and fertilizing plants in the warm sun was just what I needed after weeks of mask-wearing and being around sick people. I got a recipe from a friend for a most delicious drink that hit the spot on those hot days. The recipe comes from Southern Living. If you like tart, sweet, slightly fermented drinks, you'll probably enjoy this raspberry shrub. 

Here's my take on a book I read recently. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is a work of speculative fiction about a flu-like plague that wipes out most of humanity. Some of the language used, like quarantine and unprecedented, was eerily like the times we've been living in. In the book, the world as we know it quickly becomes obsolete. Survivors rely on horses for transportation and hunt deer for food. People die from infected cuts and easily treatable diseases because there are no doctors or medicine. If you are a fearful person who worries about things like this happening, reading Station Eleven is probably not a good idea. Others I know would enjoy this book.

Since I can't seem to blog without mentioning my job, here's what's been going on at work. Our COVID numbers have steadily dropped off over the last few weeks. Now we're down to 3 or 4 positive patients, surgeries have resumed, and we're trying to get back to normal as much as possible. We still get our temperature taken every time we come to work and wear masks at all times. I think some of the changes we've seen because of COVID are here to stay, and we might never go back to life exactly how we knew it. It's likely there will be waves of this virus in the foreseeable future, and maybe times of quarantine again. Not to sound negative, but if we accept that's the way it will likely be, it might be easier to adapt.

Changes are happening in the pharmacy, too. A construction project has been in the works for the last several years, and after many delays, it finally started. The project has taken away our IV room and a large chunk of pharmacy space, and we all try to work around loud noise and blocked off areas. Our director and manager spent a huge amount of time figuring out how to operate in these circumstances. A space that was an office has been turned into a segregated compounding area, where we have a two foot hood to make any IV's that have to be made on demand or can't be ordered pre-made. There is also a fairly large freezer in this small space which stores all the IV's we normally batch but are now getting frozen pre-mixed. It puts off quite a lot of heat, combining with little ventilation and full sterile garb to create a toasty, slightly claustrophobic situation. There is a fully garbed person in the segregated compounding area (SCA) from approximately 5:00 am - 3:30 pm. I've been spending around four hours a day in there. After a whole week of that, I was SO ready for the weekend! I've had the luxury of more than one nap today, 😊 even though there's much I could be doing around the house.