Secret Garden

Again!

(It probably seems that all I've done lately is to read book after book after book. I have been reading a lot, but also I've just finished several at the same time).

Diana and I read it this time. When Caitlin was in first grade, she had a 20 min/day reading paper we had to fill out. It was always overwhelming, until I figured out she would listen to something I wanted to read. I read it with her, and once again with Diana. I did the majority of the reading, but a few times she insisted reading it herself (until she was tired).

Along with Charlotte's Web, this is one of my all time favorite stories. I like finishing it in spring . . . . when the outside world awakes from its winter slumber. So much symbolism here and a really great story. If you haven't read it recently, I HIGHLY recommend it. We own the movie as well so will probably be watching it in the next 48 hours or so as a celebration that we finished.

Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

I tried to check this out in January. (No e-audiobook option . . . only CD's, which was not appealing).  There were 15 or 16 holds already but since our library had multiple copies, I only had to wait until mid-March to get it.

I like money management and have lots of room in my life for improving it. This is an inspiring read if you want to make changes in yours--he has a proven plan for how. He's successful in what he does with a large, dedicated group of fans. I haven't listened to his radio program ever, but some enjoy it.

What I like about his ideas are that he gives manageable steps. They may not be "easy" but are helpful. The first is to establish an emergency fund of $1000, then get out of debt. I appreciate his idea of paying off the smallest debt first--that appeals to me. Other steps follow, more emergency fund 3-6 months worth, investing for retirement, funding college, paying off the house, and giving. Perhaps the most interesting idea was that your income is your most valuable asset. Hadn't heard that before, but I like it. Still chewing on it but I see truth in it. I appreciate it's value in my children's lives (walking the dog, babysitting for others).

Have you read this? Used his ideas? I'd love to know any success stories you have with them.

I recommend this book to everyone and am considering it for the non-fiction book of the summer. Because it's so popular at my library, I would even consider buying a copy of it in the future . . . . but not for awhile.

Spring Break 2014

This year we stayed home. We had many relaxing hours at home, plus a full day in Cheyenne and took the older kids (and their friends) to the temple in Denver. We ate out a bit and in a lot and went hiking without DAD, a first for us. Nathan took advantage of many of the doctors being out of town and worked a lot more than normal. Many surgeries before and after clinic this week.

Parking lot is at the end of the road

Same cyclist, only closer. He moved a lot faster than we did.

Ed thrived when I gave him visual cues of our next stops. Next stop is the building, where we ate lunch.

Friends

Me, Diana, Andrew

After lunch

First time holding a caterpillar

Our turnaround spot

Most of our hike was the wide road you saw in the other pictures. Some of it looked like this.

Prairie dogs a plenty

School starts again on Monday and it's the last quarter.

Time to start planning for summer.

Seabiscuit

In a quest to only read and listen to uplifting things, I have generally avoided adult fiction. (Sadly).

I enjoy biography or autobiographies, because they often offer inspiring stories with minimal trash. Nathan and I enjoy reading a book together from time to time. We were thrilled to realize this would be simpler, faster, etc. if we listened to an audio book together. I can't remember if he picked this one or if I did, but Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand was our first. (Neither of us have seen the 2003 movie).

We loved it!

(Of course, there was that section on the prostitution house right near the racetrack that we skipped and the the whole topic of gambling, and the occasional expletive that I want to warn you about).

The unique partnership of  Charles Howard, Owner,  Red Pollard, Rider; Tom Smith, Trainer; and Seabiscuit, horse; was inspiring. Each needed the others, and each was very successful. Mostly they trained to win a race called the Santa Anita Handicap, whose purse was $100,000, an incredible amount of money in the 1930's. (Wikipedia told me that now the purse is $750,000). I won't tell you if they won, but I will tell you they overcame many hurdles in their time together.

The reader had a great voice and it was very well written. Lots of background information went into the telling of this delightful story.

Going into this book I knew very little about horse racing. It was interesting to observe it through reading about it. I was shocked by the poor conditions the jockeys endured, and their low payment. I was impressed by how many miles Seabiscuit traveled, and had a particular fondness for his trainer, Tom Smith for the kind and gentle way he worked with the horse. Charles Howard, the owner, truly loved Seabiscuit. 

Charlotte's Web

Loved this audiobook.
The edition I had was read by the author, E. B. White. There are a couple of classic books whose quality and universality I would like to approximate, and this is one. There was an Afterword as well that said this book has sold over 8 million copies and gave some history about the story. One night on his family farm, E. B. White attempted to nurse a sick pig back to health, lamenting that it was going to die anyway. That was a key event in choosing a pig to be one of the main characters. It took him 2-3 years to write this story.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Very interesting read (or listen to).
A few years ago he spoke at a math conference, but I didn't go to his presentation. Have been interested in his work mainly because of his success.
I liked listening to the examples he used to illustrate his theories: from Canadian hockey to Bill Gates, the Beatles to Korean pilots, Jewish lawyers in NYC and the successful KIPP schools. I liked his main ideas: talent isn't enough, it is coupled with opportunity and 10, 000 hours of hard work. It made me ask what my opportunities are and what my future holds. He is Canadian and dislikes the American ideal of the self made man--more of a believer in community and what you bring to the table because of your background. Reading this on paper would be interesting, I would like to see his references. He seems to be very knowledgeable & is a great writer.

I liked his idea of giving opportunities to more people--specifically the KIPP schools. What a life changer they are for the students who are able to attend them.

I disliked the profanity in this book. Not very prevalent, but after listening to Clayton Christensen's book, a let down. I want to listen to my audiobooks in an environment I would be comfortable if my children walked into and that was not the case--I never was able to identify when an expletive was coming. I moved his other books a little further down my wishlist . . . to the maybe's.    

Siete

 Our milk drinker turned 7 . . . . so glad she's in our family.

Fudge instead of cake . . . breakfast burritos with yogurt and steak for dinner (with celery). She's got great taste.

(400th post)

One more reason we want the Temple close

We just don't go to the Temple in bad weather . . . this is why.
Denver 104 car pile up

It will be nice not to have to get on I-25 to go to the Temple.

I drove on I-25 yesterday morning, but not to Denver. I was on it for 30 long minutes from Ft. Collins to just south of Longmont. I saw no fewer than 10 cars off the road, three pointed in the wrong direction and several on their sides. It was a harrowing experience--but could have been much worse.