Back at it & New Book Club Read

There is nothing like a routine to get things back moving again.  Praise the Lord that Mothers Morning Out started back this week.  How did I manage without it!?!  Grant and I agreed last night that this has been the best week after a long couple of weeks.  We are both thriving at work and that so easily is seen at home also.  Throw in a little rain in the forecast and you have a couple of happy landscapers.

Book Club has started a new book and I was completed reeled in yesterday. 
It's called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  The first chapter is a little hard to read, not because it's difficult but the story just weighs down on your heart.  But there is a bright light shining in the chapters to follow, so if you pick it up be sure to push through because it is well worth it.  A friend in book club had already read it and said it changed her life.  Well, if that doesn't make you want to pick it up, then I don't know what will.  And I have to admit, after just a few chapters I believe I will completely agree with her in the end.  I look forward to implementing my own "One Thousand Gifts" each and every day.  Can you name one thousand things that you are thankful for?

1. hugs and kisses in the morning
2. dinner with my daughter
3. the smell of coffee brewing when I step out of the shower

I dare you to start your own list.  Mine makes me smile, which I think makes each day a little better.

Detachment and Devotion

Book Club met last week to discuss tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.  It was a very easy read with several great life lessons.  Since we met, one topic has stayed on my brain - the idea of detachment.  And it came up in two different forms.  


One way to detach yourself is once something happens and is over you completely detach yourself.  You don't hang on to all the words said or not said.  You don't relive the moments over and over in your head.  You were there, it happened, it was said and now you detach yourself and move forward.  You take that piece of your life with you, but it just becomes a part of your past.


The second idea of detachment we discussed had to do with living in the moment, detaching yourself from all the noises and distractions around you and only focusing on where you are in the moment, who you are talking to in that moment, and what you are doing in that single moment.  


There are so many things in our society that jockey for our attention - TV, books, magazines, phones, blackberries, the Internet, sports, school, work, kids, family - and on and on.  It is so easy to be distracted, but almost hard to focus.  And with all the choices, decisions, opportunities out there its no wonder that we can't focus.


So, how do we go about detaching ourselves?  And how do we decide what to detach ourselves from?  Morrie put it very simply when he discussed getting meaning in your life.


"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." (p.43)


I guess one way to look at detachment is through the avenue of devotion.  Some things in my life could probably use less of my attention while others could definitely use more of it.  By detaching myself from certain things I will have more time, energy, and a greater ability to focus and in turn the ability to devote my mind, heart and soul to the things in my life that truly matter.


I hope this idea of detachment and devotion continues to stir in my soul because I like the direction it is taking me.

The Pioneer Woman's New Book

Does anyone else love the Pioneer Woman?  Well, she is giving away 5 copies of her new book, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

Check out her blog here to enter to win!

Looks like a great read.

Book Club 101

Growing up I never was a big reader.  I always wanted to play outside instead.  But my mom had a rule that we always had to have a book going.  Even if it just meant reading a few pages at bedtime.  Over time I grew to love reading.  My sister - who is now a librarian - used to recommend books to me.  We figured out that if she enjoyed a book I probably wouldn't like it, and vice versa.

I now am a part of a book club.  We are all newbies having just started our second book.  But I think everyone is really enjoying it.  Some come with English degrees, some with just a love of books, and some who couldn't even fathom the idea of getting together to discuss books.  We have different tastes in books.  But somehow we all mesh well together, and everyone has something special to bring to the group.

But after our second meeting where we actually discussed our first book I realized something - it really isn't about the reading or the books, although they are important.  The books are just our avenue and excuse for getting together.  What I value about our book club is that we are just an ordinary group of girls learning from each other's life experiences that inevitably come out over the snacks, book discussions and hang time.

Every girl needs a girls group.  Mine just happens to be about books.