Vol. V: The Thursday Edition, because I’m this blog’s owner and I can do that.
The number on the scale? Pffft!! It hasn’t budged. I should probably be concerned about this–about my being ZERO inspiration to ANYONE–and then I thought, you know, I could still maybe inspire you with other equally important things.
(That’s an excuse. Did you see through it?)
(One great big enormous GIGANTIC excuse.)
Still. I have been thinking about important things.
Like…the movie The Book Thief. Have you seen it? We watched it as a family on Sunday night. I cried; John cried. It is so, so good.
Note: there are some very sad and somewhat violent scenes. It’s World War II in Nazi Germany, after all, but the tender poignancy between the girl and her family is worth those moments that make you wince.
Such a good movie. I’m planning to read the book.
Speaking of which, I’m also thinking about The Gift of an Ordinary Day. Have you read it? Also very, very good. Life-changing in terms of my perspective, and so so helpful when it comes to parenting teens.
“Figuring out how to mother these two tall, hairy, taciturn teenagers…is humbling work. Many days this summer I’ve taken a long, deep breath and asked myself, How could I do this better? I haven’t come up with a very satisfactory answer, but I have learned this: Every time I’m able to let go even a little–of control or judgment, of my need to be right or my inclination to worry–I’m rewarded. Life suddenly seems a bit sweeter, and easier, for us all.
“If motherhood has taught me anything, it is that I cannot change my children, I can only change myself.”
I need all the help I can get when it comes to parenting teens. I need help when it comes to parenting period and this book has been a balm for my soul. I’m not alone! Katrina Kenison gets me!
Angela, for example, is the funniest kid ever…though her humor is usually a little rough. She drew an enormous ogre on the driveway today–a pig-nosed troll with a little girl in one hand and the inscription “I hate kids” on his t-shirt.
I thought it was hilarious until she said it was me.
She’d been annoyed, it seems, about an assignment.
When I explained, through my tears, that this was NOT APPROPRIATE, she was quick to explain that it was a joke! And then she drew a new drawing with a much nicer theme.
Sometimes, when the two of us don’t see eye-to-eye, she’ll say, “This will be a funny story someday! You’ll see!” And I know she’s right, she’s totally right, and that is why I write them down. These kids that are our biggest challenge–well, I think it’s because they constantly push us off balance. I have so very much on my plate these days that I don’t want to be taken off guard or surprised, yet what kind of boring life is that? In the end, it’s being taken off guard that makes me laugh the most.
Like yesterday when we were doing Latin. “What’s the word that we get from optime?” I asked, and Felicity responded, “Optimistic!”
“Great!” I said. “How about pessime?”
“Pissy?” guessed Angela.
(I blame her dad.)
John made the cover of Family Foundations this month! The day that it came out, I got a text from my friend Meghan whose daughter announced, “Mom? Mr. Berns is on the cover of one of your magazines.” Lifestyles of the Poor & Famous, that’s us. ; )
I have copy of The Book Thief and haven't read it yet. Didn't know it was a movie, either, so I'll definitely have to read that BEFORE we watch. It's not a book, but I was reading on Like Mother Like Daughter last night, and we're going to change parishes in order to reclaim our Sundays. Mass is at 11AM at our current parish and it seems like there's no time to relax in the morning, and by the time we get home, have lunch, and clean up from that, it's time to make dinner, and so we have no time to relax in the afternoon, either. The next nearest parish has Mass at 8AM, which will take a tad bit more effort to get to on time (okay, a LOT more effort), but means we'll have time to play Settlers of Catan, or watch a movie, or whatever. I just feel like I'm on full throttle all the time and I want to rest. Just a little. Just for a minute.
Jennie C,. I have a package for you waiting to be mailed! And wouldn't you know, it's got a BOOK in it.
For you to read with all your free time. : )
I go to bed with Evie at about 8:30 and have approximately 15 minutes before I can't keep my eyes open. I started Pride and Prejudice with the girls ages ago, and they've been asking for weeks, "Are you done yet?!" But I love books anyway! (Davey is building me a whole new set of bookshelves. Hooray!)
Why, I just sat down to read…your blog. Not a lot of time for much else. I'm listening to an audiobook, but it's been a long time since I read anything as good as The Book Thief, which was five years + ago post-op. Wow. Have not seen the movie, however. Is it rated for 12-year-olds?
Thank you for mentioning "The Gift…" again because I always think about it at the least opportune moments to go buy it. I wonder why that is? Ugh.
I don't remember the rating, Barbara, but we watched with our 11- and 13-year-olds. The scene depicting Kristallnacht, where the Jewish people were dragged from their homes & beaten, was hard to watch, but it happened, didn't it, and prompted a good discussion about religious persecution.
Thank you. Good to know. I think Faith and I might watch it. Nobody else in this house watches movies. I think we'll watch and then read, though I already read. And I bought "The Gift…"
Yay! You joined my book club! : )
Brett says he thinks you should discontinue the study of "Goya" with Angela in Art. š He would say that because he's 1)funny and 2)smarter than me.
Me? I just say, you're awesome!
I've been slowly reading "Common Sense 101" and enjoying Chesterton much more than I thought I could. Honestly, I've always been really intimidated by his stuff, but maybe I'll be able to read it after all. We'll see.
Right now I'm "reading" a bunch of Math papers which has inspired me to not put off correcting the kids' stuff.
Goya and Guernica, that's her. ; )
Alright, alright, I'll look up Guernica. š
It's a painting by Picasso and is full of strife.
Thank you for this post. I will be buying that book. I need something to help me find a new path. This one that I am currently using is not so good. I am praying and reading and contemplating how to make things better.
Tony saw the movie on his flight back to Germany and said it was good.
Jenny, you will love the book! It makes me feel calm & capable.
(Key word: "feel." )
Thanks for the inspiration and keeping it real. I am almost sure had my children been gifted with the humor of your Angela, this week they would've drawn the same picture. Tough days they were. I am jotting down this book title and NEED to find it. I need new perspective. I need something different because I'm stuck in this season which kind of stinks right now. Perhaps a real spring with beautiful weather would help? I think so.
Blessings on your weekend, Margaret.
Family Foundations did a great job showcasing your family. There were some nuggets of wisdom in John's interview… Your whole family is a blessing … Thanks.
I have followed your blog for years, so imagine my surprise when I saw your husband on the cover of Family Foundations! He gave a great interview. Your family is an inspiration, you are down to earth and faith filled.
I am reading nothing that requires my intellect because I am too pregnant to think. So I am picking up an old stand-by: The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is a fast read and the story is satisfying. It is not life changing by any stretch of the imagination!
God Bless!
Deb
I think you will love The Book Thief – a beautiful, sad, wonderful book.
We just finished The Book Thief in my local book club a couple months ago — fantastic! My eldest actually read it before I did and I walked in on her crying in the middle of the book, and she never does that. That's how I knew to pick it up. Right now, I just finished "the Invention of Wings" for our latest book club selection. Another emotionally tough read, about slaves and the earliest suffragettes in Charleston, SC. Good, but not as good as "The Book Thief." I am also reading Jen Fulwiler's book, "Something Other Than God" and Simcha Fisher's "The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning" concurrently.