Exciting

There are some ways that I really like to spend time, one of those is reading. The ladies in our Ward have recently started a book club. Last night was the first meeting that I attended. We read "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine. I really enjoyed this updated version of the classic Cinderella story. It read extremely fast, less than one day fast. We outlined books for the upcoming months. I am excited to reread some books I have already enjoyed. We are reading "The Christmas Box" by Paul Evans for December and "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamante for January. I will be hosting the January get together as the January book was my choice. I have some kind of fun ideas in the back of my head as to how we can enjoy discussing this book . . . does anyone have a red tent they aren't using???? I love the "Anne of Green Gables" books and we will be reading those too.

As of this point I am the oldest member of the book club, all these young women could literally be my daughter. In fact, most of them are the age of my daughter. I thoroughly enjoy all of them though. As I listen to them talk about the everyday struggles of being a mom and a wife in today's world I hope that I can help them to walk through this season of their lives. They will one day be amazed at how quickly it passed. I look at my oldest son who is thirty-two and it seems to me like yesterday that he was the age of Josh and Lucas and I was wondering how I was going to keep my sanity but I did and while I am enjoying this season of my life that also was an enjoyable season. What better feeling is there than rocking or cradling your child you has just had a bath and they smell so good and then there is that smile as they are sleeping. I always felt they were remembering fondly their time with Heavenly Father because the veil was not heavy for them yet. Those of the memories that they will have and cherish.

On the home front, I am looking through cook books for great Christmas cookie recipes. I am looking for one in particular to surprise my husband. I am also, of course, knitting. Nothing in particular is on the needles right now I am trying to come up with a pattern for a shawl to wear in the temple. The challenge is to find something that is pretty but not too pretty that will also be warm. If anyone has any ideas I am open to suggestions. I borrowed the "Pride and Prejudice" DVDs (the BBC version) and as this afternoon is supposed to be very gloomy I think I will begin to watch them.