Anne Girl Giveaway

When I went to the bookstore in search of Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery and the clerk had to escort me to the children's section, I must admit, I was a little embarrassed. I had the sinking sensation that perhaps my girlhood friend Anne would not live up to the idealizations I've cast in my memory.

But it turns out that a kindred spirit remains a kindred spirit at any age. I have loved, loved, LOVED reacquainting myself with this delightful little girl. Only now I find myself equally drawn to the other kindred spirits in the book. I want to know more about Miss Stacy, for example. She seems like such a good teacher. And I had forgotten about Mrs. Allen, as well.

Anyway, tomorrow night I plan to post some of my favorite quotes from the book. If you'd like a chance to win a FREE copy of Anne of Green Gables (not my copy, since I want to read it again, but another copy without any flu germs on it) then you need to post your favorite quote (it does not have to be from the book) in my response section before midnight Wednesday Sunday night. (Time extended to fit in with the Bloggy Giveaway carnival. Check it out for more chances to win free stuff!)

I will pick MY favorite of the quotes posted and then I will get in touch with the winner so that I can ship you a brand new copy of Anne of Green Gables (most likely from Amazon.com). Please make sure that I can contact you. I am not a mind reader. So please, leave a link to your blog or an e-mail address where I can find you if you win!

Enjoy!

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Over Spring Break I had a chance to catch up on some fun reading. One of the books on my list was The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I've seen lots of commercials on Lifetime for the movie based on this book and I was excited to read it.

The commercial hits all the happy highlights. The book is easy to read and it feels like real life. But the downside is that it feels like real life. I've discovered that I enjoy escaping into a happier place when I read. If the book is not happier than my real life, then I'd rather get a pedicure.

I know I'm pretty pathetic.

Sadly enough, I kept turning those pages hoping that the good part was about to start. When I finished the book I felt so depressed. What a wasted clump of relationships. There was so much potential. The book really emphasized the fact that no secret is worth the cost of a destroyed family.

Wicked lived up to its name

My New Year's Resolution was to read a book each month. I did not consider what I would do if I found the book distasteful.

I stopped reading Wicked back in February because it contained several really bad, bad words and the overall direction of the book seemed to be going in a negative spiral. I was really disappointed because I've heard such great things about the play.

Hopefully I'll get the chance to see the play myself. It seems that the book does not do it justice.

Book Review

My New Year's Resolution this year is to read more. And my goal is to read at least one book each month. So ... to kick off the new semester I thought I'd start with The Freedom Writer's Diary. Let me tell you ... it is an amazing story!

I was awed!

I was inspired!

I felt like quitting my job.


Because let's face it ... I could never be half as good of a teacher as Erin Gruwell. She actually worked three jobs so that she could take her classes on trips and have parties for their families!!! Three jobs! And on top of that, her kids would sometimes work on projects with her until 9 and 10 pm. She was soooo dedicated. Me - I grumble if I have to take papers home to grade them.

But the progress she made... I just hope that one day I will have been able to impact even one of my students the way she impacted all of her classes. She really taught them how to succeed. And as a result her low-income, impoverished, least likely to graduate classes, not only graduated but went on to go to college!

Hello 2008...

It's hard to believe that 2008 has actually arrived. That number always meant finishing medical school and putting an M.D. behind my name. So looking at the new year is both strange and exciting this year. I can hardly believe how many changes 2007 brought. Who knows what this year may bring?

I've had a hard time deciding what my New Year's Resolution should be this year. Working out didn't really work out. It's difficult to take the baby to the gym and it turns out that she could get shaken baby syndrome from riding in the papoose carrier while I jog.

I enjoyed memorizing verses while I was on maternity leave, but found that I didn't have the extra time when I went back to work. And it was kind of lonely. I think I will try again when I have more accountability.

I have two goals for this year. The first is to read more. I want to read 12 books this year. And the second goal is to start a young mom's Bible study in our home.

The idea of making littler lists has really revolutionized my day. I used to overwhelm myself with to-do-lists and I won't lie ... sometimes I still do. But if there's one thing I've learned since having a baby, it's that there's never enough time to do everything. When I went back to work I was very careful not to bring work home with me anymore. That has really made a difference in my life at home. Everyone's a lot happier and I can fully focus on what I'm doing.

It's hard to see results when you are trying to clean up your thought-life and speech. So becoming G-rated was too vague of a resolution. Instead, I want to participate in a regular Bible Study this year. I hope to start one in our home.

Anyway, I wish you both happiness and health in the New Year. May God bless you and make His face shine upon you... in 2008.