From the Memory Box - "Books"

"You have to read one good-for-you book every time you go the library."

Once a week, I would load all the children into the car and we would go to the library. I put a limit on the number of books they could check out, 10 each, and they would push the limit every time. Silence reigned as we drove home. The children were engrossed in the books they had checked out. I would already be worrying about keeping the books accounted for so we could return them promptly and not have to pay a fine. That was a lot of books to keep an eye on!

As we pulled into the drive at home, the children would complain that they had almost finished reading everything they had checked out. Suggestions that they should up their reading levels fell on deaf ears. Finally, I refused to take them to the library unless they got at least one good-for-you book. At least one had to address a subject that had some substance to it, was hard enough to read that it took longer than a 30 minute ride from the library, and presented enough challenge to keep them occupied for a while.

There were some perfunctory complaints, especially from DS who was in a reading competition at school when he was in first grade.
"All the other kids get to read books that have 1-2 words or even no words on a page. Why can't I?" he complained.
"Everyone has his own abilities and I know you can do better," I pointed out.
He redoubled his efforts and won first place, having read some 200 books in the allotted time period. When his teacher asked what he wanted for a prize, he never missed a beat...."Money," he told her.

Precious Moments

We left St. Louis this morning, much later than planned of course. Nevertheless, we reached our goal of arriving in Carthage, Missouri, to visit the Precious Moments Chapel. I have been there several times, so I volunteered to keep Junior and let the others enjoy the visit more leisurely.

I am not a collector and only a distant admirer of the Precious Moments collectibles, but the chapel is touching with its paintings and references to children gone from this life all too soon. I cannot imagine the deep grief of a parent who loses a child in its youth.


While Junior munched on an apple, we walked around the small statues in the park outside the main complex. We later walked around a portion of the park inside, and shared a rather incredible sunset. Check out inside photos on ABW's blog.

A Little Cup of Sherbert

Jay came to cut my lawn today. It was blazing hot , but he is always an affable fellow. At one point, I noticed a small face looking in the window of the front door. I opened the door for an eight year old boy who asked to use the bathroom.
I decided it would be a real treat for the child to have a cup of sherbert to cool him off and fixed the treat for him. I inquired if he could have such food, sugars, allergy, etc.
"Oh, yes," he replied, "my daddy lets me have sugar." He didn't take his eyes off the dish of sherbert and left happily by the front door.
I went back to my tasks until I heard noises on the back porch. I glanced out and saw the young boy plus two other children about the same age. They were all sitting on the back porch swing sharing the small cup of sherbert. I was shocked! One small cup of sherbert being shared by 3 young children, without any quibbling, cross words, or selfishness. Of course, I immediately supplied more cups of sherbert for the others.
What a joy to know there are such children being groomed to lead our world. I wonder if there will be enough.