Quote of the Day

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."
-Mark Twain

When I first read this quote, I was struck by the fact that some of us find out why we are on this Earth earlier then others and some of us never seem to quite figure it out.  It makes me think of all of the children that are cursed with an incurable ailment.  What are they here for?  To teach others to be thankful for what they have, to prove a point?  Why should they suffer the consequence of a short life?  I guess what I am trying to say is do something with your time here.  Whether you find out what your purpose is early on or it takes you your entire life to figure it out, make it count.

I don't feel like I am not supposed to be here, but I'm not sure if I have found out why yet.  I have a wonderful career, husband and children.  We are in the process of buying our house, but is that it?  I don't mean to trivialize my life's path, but I want to fulfill my purpose here.  Am I just a mother, wife, educator, sister, daughter, granddaughter...Yes, I am!  It is okay to be just.  I am here to be a mother to two spitfire boys.  To show them that life is amazing and hard and scary and worthwhile.   I am here to create moments of joy that become imprinted into their brain. I am here to be the wife to a man who loves me. I am here to be the sister that my siblings can look up to and be proud of.  I am here to be the daughter that appreciates her parents decisions even if it was hard to make those choices.  I am here to be the granddaughter that remembers and holds onto and passes on the traditions.  I am here and that is why.  It is just enough.

Have you found out why you are here?  Does it matter if you ever find out?

It's Monday...What are you reading???

So, I am starting something new with this post today.  Each Monday, I will post what I am currently reading, both personal and professional and also share some books that are on my TBR shelf.  Please share with me what you are currently reading, I love getting new recommendations.  Happy Reading!!!

It appears that I am on a spooky read theme this month, which makes sense in light of Halloween.  I am trying to finish These Shallow Graves by November 1st so that when I attend her event at Oblong, I will have finished the book. I love reading Slasher Girls and Monster Boys because it is a collection of short stories that I can pick up when I have a few free minutes of down time.  Short story collections are a great way to get your reading in if you are "short" on time...haha.  No More Phonics and Spelling Worksheets is part of a book study group I am leading with some of my teachers.  We are going to discuss the book over three sessions and create some understanding around word work and think about how best to teach children to understand words without given the dreaded worksheet.

What I am currently reading...
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
Slasher Girls and Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke
No More Phonics and Spelling Worksheets by Jennifer L. Palmer and Marcia Invernizzi

I have just finished...
Asylum by Madeleine Roux
Check out my blog post or my review on Goodreads

What I want to read...
Sactum by Madeleine Roux
Catacomb by Madeleine Roux

Review: Asylum

Asylum by Madeleine Roux
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Okay, so it's been awhile since I have read anything scary or twisted and I'm glad I had the chance to get back into a genre I so frequently read when I was younger. Let me preface by saying, I only gave this book three stars because most events were very predictable. I think in part because I have read so many books like this, I picked up on clues very early on that lead me to believe a certain character was just not right or this happened because it means this. The book does leave off with a cliffhanger and I have taken out the other two books in the trilogy from my library, because I am curious to follow Dan, Abby and Jordan. I also still have some questions that I am hoping to find out the answers to in the subsequent stories. All in all it was a good read and I'm sure will be an interesting discussion at next month's book club.

View all my reviews

It's Week Three!!! #GNCelebration

This week I would like to talk about some more advanced Graphic Novels that I have had the pleasure of reading.

Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash Goodreads Review











   The Lost Boy by Greg Ruth Goodreads Review

  This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki Goodreads Review

Enjoy!

Book Review from NPR

http://www.npr.org/2015/10/14/446676045/the-rest-of-us-is-apocalypse-adjacent

Here Ye, Here Ye...The Finalists Have Arrived!!!!

It's that time of year again.  Did your favorites make the cut or were they tossed aside?  I know several of my favs are on here.


Finalists for this year's National Book Awards

#GNCelebration Week #2 The Baby Sitters Club in Graphic Form!!!

As we get into week two, I would like to shout out Raina Telgemeier's graphic adaptation of Ann M. Martin's The Baby Sitters Club.  More particularity Claudia and the Mean Janine.  This was always my favorite BSC book, because my name is Janine.  I know, but that's all it took when I was a kid.  For the record, I am NOTHING like Claudia's sister Janine.  I am so thrilled that The BSC is now in graphic form.  I think it totally reinvents itself to a whole new generation of readers as well as to graphic novel fans.  I am eagerly awaiting the release of every single one.  I also really appreciate the black and white pictures, it has that traditional comic appeal.  If you are a BSC fan and have not read this adaptation yet, please do so.  Also, if you are just a fan of graphic novels in general or Raina's, please read it.