December 28 - Reading Challenge

Last year I made a goal to complete the Eclectic Reader challenge.  I haven't done very well submitting book reviews.  To be honest I haven't submitted ANY!  I have read all the different types of books, except for horror.  I don't read horror books or watch horror movies.  They scare me!  So here is a list of the books I read in each genre plus a brief review. 

Literary Fiction               Crossing to Safety               Wallace Stegner

       I absolutely love this book!  It is on my list of all time favorites.  Something about the beautiful way he tells the story of the lifelong friendship of two couples just touches my soul.

Crime/Mystery Fiction      The Only Witness               Pamela Beason

        I enjoyed reading this book although I know that it probably wouldn't be considered 'great literature'.  I have always been fascinated by the great apes who learn to sign and communicate with people so well.  

Romantic Fiction                 The Shoemaker's Wife       Andriana Trigiani

       This is the type of book that I love to read, expecially on an airplane or at the beach.  I am going to steal a line from a Goodreads review that sums it up well, "The old Italian-immigrant-comes-to-America-makes-good-intergenerational-story that your preteen daughter could read and write home from camp about! There are no surprises but it makes you happy and you go to sleep at night with no sad sighs or regrets about what this world is coming to. "

HIstorical Fiction                 Cathedral of the Sea             Ildefonso Falconso

        In order to love this book you have to enjoy reading historical fiction and you have to love Barcelona and want to know more about the history of the city.  And since I do love both and I never tire of learning more about my favorite city in the world, I completely enjoyed reading and picturing the areas of the city that he mentioned.  I learned so so much about medieval Barcelona and the building of the very beautiful Cathedral del Mar!  George read it and enjoyed it too!

Young Adult/Science Fiction    Delirium                        Lauren Oliver

                                                    Pandemonium

           These are the first two books in a trilogy.  The 3rd comes out in March. Since they are youth science fiction and there are two books I decided to count them for both categories.  After reading the Hunger Games series I was curious about these dystopian books and wondered how much I'd like them.  They are definite page turners.  I don't think they were quite as violent as Hunger Games but there is violence, as well as romance.  I am anxious to read the 3rd one! 

Fantasy                                        Entwined                   Heather Dixon

     I am not big fan of fantasy or princess stories but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was just sweet and fun with a big of danger and excitement thrown in.  I have to add that I was describing it to one of the teenagers at Girl's Camp and she said, "Oh, I know that story.  It is a Barbie movie."  So keep that in mind if you decide to read it.  It is cute and enjoyable and definitely NOTShakespeare! 

Non Fiction                                  Desert Queen              Janet Wallach

            A detailed account of the life of Gertrude Bell who along with Lawrence of Arabia changed the face of the Middle Ease! Extremely interesting book! There are so many parallels to what is happening in the Middle East today. At times it was a bit repetitious but I learned so much. Anyone who has an interest in the Middle East and in history should enjoy this book. 

           This sentence sums up the book quite well: "Great persons, like great empires, leave their mark on history."

Thriller/Suspense                        Gone Girl                 Gilliam Flynn

           I do believe that this is the only book that I have ever rated one star on Goodreads! Let me first say that this book does draw you in and I found myself wanting to make time to read it. I read it in a couple of days. That said, I also think reading it was as The Chicago Tribune described. It “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction". I'm not sure I would use the word pure. I disliked all the main characters. I could not stand the way the characters made fun of midwestern values, of the 'neighborly casseroles' even! I related to Nick's mother as much or more than anyone in the book.....and I really hated all the nasty, crude sexual references. I'm sure I am someone the author would make fun of and that made me uncomfortable but glad at the same time. I don't understand why a book like this is considered 'brilliant' while books like Nicholas Sparks or At Home in Mitford are 'cheesy' and trite. Ok, I'm off my soap box!

The plot takes many twists and turns and you never know what to expect. Just as you think you've figured out the story line things go off in a completely different direction. And the ending...well don't get me started on the ending!

Classic                                       The Hobbit                 J R R Tolkien

Is it kosher to call a book written in 1937 a classic? However it is classified, I am so glad that I read this again before I saw the movie.  It is brilliant and fun and just a wonderful read and this is from a woman who doesn't even really like fantasy all that much!

Book I read just because I like the author so much

                                           The Spectator Bird          Wallace Stegner 

As I mentioned, Crossing to Safety is one of my all time favorite books.  Angle of Repose is right up there on the list also so I decided to read The Spectator Bird. Again I'm going to steal from a review on Goodreads: "For a short book it is multi-layered with the themes of settling into retirement, being part of an old married couple and at some point in your life, you get to decide, as an adult, the course you will take with the full knowledge of the rewards and pitfalls of your choice.  This book captures that white-hot moment when you are confronted with your selection."

I have read 51 books this year...not too bad.  Right now I'm in 3 book clubs so that keeps me reading.  Making a list of the books that I read has been a  good experience.  I enjoy looking back and thinking of all my favorites and where I was when I was reading them. 

December 27 - Oregon Aquarium

We spent a fun morning at the Oregon aquarium in Newport.  I've never seen an active octopus before.    Usually I've just seen them sleeping over in the corner of the tank.  This fellow put on quite a show as he went through his morning yoga poses!  When I look at those tentacles and suckers I can't believe I've actually eaten one! Of course like many delicacies in Spain, octopus mostly just tastes like garlic and olive oil!

                           

 Johnny actually agreed to pose for this picture and no bribery was involved!!

 I'm never sure why I think sea otters are so darn cute!  In some ways they just look like giant rats!

 Watching these sea nettle jelly fish was mesmerizing! I think a video might help me sleep at night!

 The bright colors and fish in this tank reminded us of our recent snorkeling in St. Thomas!

 Boys will be boys!

And this one was not at the aquarium but on our way back to the beach house!  I'm just adding it to prove that yes, I was there on this Christmas vacation!

December 26 - Traditions

I love family Christmas traditions!  I love that as the family changes we can make new traditions while keeping the old ones that still work! Here are a few of ours:

Jigsaw puzzles that actually get finished!

Breakfast at the Otis Cafe!

 Making Christmas tree ornaments rather than buying them!

 Opening presents one at a time!  Takes forever but so fun to watch all the reactions!

 An I-pad mini for George!

Look at that smile!  A Bogus Basin ski pass for Matt!

CS Lewis book for Mark!

 Nike Fuel band for Scott!

 New Madrid scarf for our Madridista Johnny!

                      

New silverware for Mary!

                      

 Steaks for Christmas Dinner! Super easy and delicious!

 Bonfire on the beach!

"Christmas Eve on the Desert".  

Now George not Grandpa Lewis recites this poem each Christmas Eve. Our children have heard it ever single Christmas of their lives. They all admit that for many years they didn't understand it but now they do and it rekindles tender memories of Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house and resolutions to be better people in the coming year!

Tonight, not one alone am I, but three—

The Lad I was, the Man I am, and he

Who looks down the coming future years

And wonders at my sloth. His hopes and fears

Should goad me to the manly game

Of adding to the honor of my name.

I'm Fate to him—that chap that's I, grown old.

No matter how much stocks and land and gold

I save for him, he can't buy back a single day

On which I built a pattern for his way.

I, in turn, am product of that Boy

Who rarely thought of After Selves. His joy

Was in the present. He might have saved me woe

Had he but thought. The ways that I must go

Are his. He marked them all for me.

And I must follow—and so must he—

My Future Self—Unless I save him!

Save?—Somehow that word,

Deep down, a precious thought has stirred

Savior?—Yes, I'm savior to that "Me."

That thoughtful After Person whom I see!—

The thought is staggering! I sit and gaze

At my two Other Selves, joint keepers of my days!

Master of Christmas, You dared to bleed and die

That others might find life. How much more I

Should willingly give up my present days

To lofty deeds; seek out the ways

To build a splendid life. I should not fail

To set my feet upon the star-bound trail

For him—that After Self. You said that he

Who'd lose his life should find it, and I know

You found a larger life, still live and grow.

Your doctrine was, so I've been told, serve man.

I wonder if I'm doing all I can

To serve? Will serving help that Older Me

To be the man he'd fondly like to be?

Last night I passed a shack

Where hunger lurked. I must go back

And take a lamb, Is that the message of the Star

Whose rays, please God, can shine this far?

Tonight, not one alone am I, but three—

The Lad I was, the Man I am, and he

Who is my Future Self—nay, more:

I am His savior—that thought makes me four!

Master of Christmas, that Star of Thine shines clear—

Bless Thou the four of me—out here!

December 25 - Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas from our family!

"It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season - like all other seasons- is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them." Lemony Snicket, The Lump of Coal 

I love the miracles in my life - a wonderful husband that makes me so happy, 4 great kids who are fun to be around, a kind, hard working, caring son-in-law who loves & takes good care of my daughter!  And a four legged friend who makes me smile!

December 24 - Advent Calendar

I made this advent calendar when Mary was a baby so it has been a part of our Christmas traditions for a long time.  Some years I'd put candy in each pocket.  Other years I'd have a little note explaining what Christmas activity we were doing that day.  I always had to keep a careful record of whose turn it was to pin the decoration on the tree or we would have tears and tantrums.  Luckily we were at the beach house for 4 nights before Christmas so each of my 'kids' had a turn this year....no tears or tantrums!!!!!  I enjoyed listening to our children talk about their memories of the advent calendar.  Mary, Matt, Johnny and Scott are old enough now that they have recognized how quickly time passes.  When they were kids the wait from December 1 until Christmas seemed to take forever!  Christmas was so slow in coming.  Now the month just flies by.  No argument from me!  In fact the years seem to just fly by.

December 23 - New Arrivals

For the first time in 5 years, Mary and Mark are with us for Christmas!  I love having the whole family together!

December 22- Sagrada Familia

Gaudi's massive cathedral in Barcelona is an amazing monument to Christianity and perseverance.  Work was begun on the cathedral in 1882 and it is still not completed; that is 130 years of construction!  The Pope did consecrate it in 2010 so progress is being made.  In the 12 years that we've been gone from Barcelona a lot of it has been finished. We can hardly wait to go back and see it someday.  The boys have promised to travel with us to Barcelona when it is finished.  They are assuming we'll be too old and decrepit to travel by ourselves by that time.

In celebration of Christmas, here is a part of the Nativity facade.  You can find the choirs and musicians of angels, and just a glimpse of the three kings and the shepherds near the bottom of the photo.  And of course Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus in the middle.  I love this cathedral!

It only took Matt and Scott a day to finish their model of La Sagrada Familia. 

                                  

December 21 - Christmas Tree

New tradition for our family - cutting a Christmas tree for the beach house!


Jackson enjoys the outing!



70% off tree decorations at Joanne's Fabrics helped us have a beautiful little tree!

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December 20 - A Christmas Story

How have I missed watching this movie before? I love Ralphie! I believe this will be a new tradition!

December 19 - A Christmas Miracle

One of the best parts of my trip to Kenya last summer was getting to know Joseph Mwengea and his beautiful wife Mwaka. Joseph is the Kenyan Director of Kenya Keys. http://kenyakeys.org His vision of providing scholarships to worthy students in the poorest area of Kenya is changing so many lives.  Joseph can tell you the story of each recipent of a Kenya Keys sponsorship and I think at last count that is around 300 students.  He is a brilliant man. Mwaka is equally amazing.  She graciously opens her home to batches of Kenya Keys interns each summer and fall and makes each feel loved and like a part of her family.

 Joseph and Mwaka have a 12 year old daughter named Patience who performed so well on her exams that she boards at a prestigious National School.  For several years Joseph and Mwaka have hoped for an addition to their family.   In December of 2011 they lost a full term baby girl.  This December a miracle occurred when Victor was born by C-section in Mombasa.   C-sections, that we take so much for granted, are a miracle in Kenya.  In the words of Rinda the US Director of Kenya Keys, "Everyone refers to the baby as Lucky Victor, because he wouldn't have made it without the friends that made it possible for Mwaka to get the good care she has received.  As most of you know, C-sections are unheard of in Mwaka's world.  They are an unreachable luxury for the women of Taru.  It breaks my heart to think of how much women suffer in many parts of the world as they give birth, especially the ones in Kenya that are suffering and dying right now because all government clinics are closed due to the nurse's strike.  I wish we could save all of them!  But at least we can know that we've saved this one - and allowed Joseph's son to make a triumphant entry. If he's anything like his parents, he'll shine a bright light in this world."

Welcome to the world, Victor!

December 18 - The Christmas Train

Tomorrow is our Christmas seminary breakfast.  A grandmother of one of the students lives right by the high school and she has very graciously agreed to feed our group of 16 teenagers!

After they are full of crepes and bacon and hot chocolate and fruit, we'll have a short devotional.  This year I decided to share a true story from our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson.  I have a picture book illustrating this story and a CD of President Monson reading his story.

One ever remembers that Christmas day when giving replaced getting. In my life, this took place in my tenth year. As Christmas approached, I yearned as only a boy can yearn for an electric train. My desire was not to receive the economical and everywhere-to-be-found windup model train; rather, I wanted one that operated through the miracle of electricity. The times were those of economic depression; yet Mother and Dad, through some sacrifice, I am sure, presented to me on Christmas morning a beautiful electric train.

For hours I operated the transformer, watching the engine first pull its cars forward, then push them backward around the track. Mother entered the living room and said to me that she had purchased a windup train for Mrs. Hansen’s son Mark, who lived down the lane. I asked if I could see the train. The engine was short and blocky, not long and sleek like the expensive model I had received. However, I did take notice of an oil tanker car that was part of his inexpensive set. My train had no such car, and pangs of envy began to be felt. I put up such a fuss that Mother succumbed to my pleadings and handed me the oil tanker car. She said, “If you need it more than Mark, you take it.” I put it with my train set and felt pleased with the result.

Mother and I took the remaining cars and the engine down to Mark Hansen. The young boy was a year or two older than I. He had never anticipated such a gift and was thrilled beyond words. He wound the key in his engine, it not being electric like mine, and was overjoyed as the engine and two cars, plus a caboose, went around the track. Mother wisely asked, “What do you think of Mark’s train, Tommy?”

I felt a keen sense of guilt and became very much aware of my selfishness. I said to Mother, “Wait just a moment. I’ll be right back!”

As swiftly as my legs could carry me, I ran to our home, picked up the oil tanker car, plus an additional car from my train set, ran back down the lane to the Hansen home, and joyfully said to Mark, “We forgot to bring two cars that belong to your train.” Mark coupled the two extra cars to his set. I watched the engine make its labored way around the track and felt a supreme joy, difficult to describe and impossible to forget. The spirit of Christmas had filled my very soul.

I was lucky to find these really great cardboard train engines that I made into ornaments.  I'll give the kids each one of those and a bag of candy too!  Hopefully the spirit of Christmas will fill all our souls!

December 17 - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together!

Garrison Keillor

December 16 - Magical Messi

Mr. Messi scored 2 more goals today to take his total for the year to 90 and he has one more game left to add to his total! The previous record for goals scored in a calendar year, a record that held for 40 years, was 85!  Is there any doubt that he is the greatest player ever?  Plus from all I can read about him, he is a genuinely nice guy!  So proud to be an FC Barcelona fan!

December 15 - Homeward Bound

St. Thomas to the Atlanta airport!  I have been through the Atlanta airport many, many times but this was the first time I actually left the airport in a car.  Because Delta changed some of their flights we had to spend the night in Atlanta.  Fine with me....it just extended the vacation a day longer.  We flew back to Portland on the 16th.

In case you've ever wondered... in October of 2012 the airport in Atlanta  handled 55,884 meteoric tons of cargo and 8,270,232 travelers passed through.  Makes you doubly thankful when you luggage isn't lost and your flight is on time!  I can't even imagine the logistics handling all those suitcases, plus the mail and other cargo, plus more than eight million travelers.  Wow!

December 14 - Sigh! Last day in Paradise!

Last day but it was a great day!  We left the room at 6:15 a.m. to be at the pier  by 7:00 so that we could go on a excursion to Virgin Gorda to see the famous "Baths".  The most well-known attraction on the island, (actually the ONLY attraction on the island as far as I could tell) these giant boulders or batholiths were brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions and and are scattered about forming beautiful grottos and tranquil pools.  The word batholith literally means 'deep stones'. The stones are actually still growing at a rate of about 1 centimeter a year.  I guess that means that there is still volcanic activity going on under the ground.  All I know is that it is a magical place and we loved climbing around and through the grottos and wading in the pools.   

After lunch we went snorkeling.  Fish love milk bone dog biscuits. Who knew? They would swim by and take a little nibble, occasionally checking to see if our hands were as delicious as the dog food!

 Last stop for the day was on the island Jost Van Dyke where we had to swim from the boat to the beach to get a drink at the "Soggy Dollar Bar." Calm, blue and warm water, palm trees, hammocks!  What can you say except that it was near perfection!

December 13 It's a tough job!

Our job this week - find the perfect Caribbean beach! We may have accomplished our mission today at Magen's Bay Beach! If you like beautiful soft sand, calm warm water, trees that offer some shade, and pelicans dive bombing very near you, then this is the beach for you! After the cruise ship tourists left it was even closer to perfection!

Pelicans and yellow footed boobies entertained us all day with their sky diving fishing technique!

And as we left we were 'udderly delighted' with milkshakes from the appropriately named Udder Delite!



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12-12-12 Crossing one off the bucket list!

Today we swam with dolphins! Pretty amazing waiting there in the water for two big strong dolphins to push or pull you through the water!  We loved it!