Tea & Reading

I like to sit at the kitchen island and sip tea with my sister... or in this case, today I tried to make her a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso.  It wasn't as good as the ones Blossom1 makes for me, but it was drinkable.  I'll try again when she's over again next week.  

We talk about all sorts of things at the kitchen island while the little boys are doing activities with the Younger Blossoms in the dining room.  I kept glancing over and noticing Blossom3 helping one of her cousins memorize and choreograph a Shel Silverstein poem... something about April Fools.  Their big motions and enunciation made me smile.  

Sometimes we talk about giving our husbands haircuts.  Sometimes we talk about our latest thrifting finds.  Sometimes we talk about what the girls or the boys are up to.  

We haven't talked about books lately, but books are always a good idea!  That's the kind of post this is... a sitting at the kitchen island, talking about books kind of post.  

Have you read anything good lately?  

A friend sent me this very thought-provoking post about the valorization of busyness.  Read it.  It's totally worth it!  This article re-iterated an unpopular truth that what I do in a day might not be "productive," but it is good.  Am I following the leading of the Spirit as to how I fill my days?  Am I measuring my days with His standard or the world's standard?  Busyness, in and of itself, is not a measure of success.  Have I chosen according to the Lord's wisdom?

I just finished Creative Love by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff.  It was a quick little read that I picked up when the Rugged Mountain Man and I were wandering the aisles of the Ollie's book section on his birthday.  The Ollie's book section is our small town equivalent of a bookstore date.  Creative Love was a quick little read that was inspiring.  Their stories kept it light-hearted and their style kept it personal.  It was full of ideas for investing in your marriage and relationship for the long haul. I really liked hearing what they were doing to build a marriage that lasts a lifetime.  Overall, I would recommend it as a mini-manual of ideas and principles for anyone building a healthy, long-lasting relationship.  

Somebody mentioned something in conversation the other day about starting a bakery, and it took me back to the Baxter Family Bakery series by Elizabeth Maddrey.  I first read this series a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Perhaps it's the fact that it's centered around four siblings in a small town.  Whatever the reason, I love the small town vibe, the new business startup, the real characters, and the easy reading.  Clean Christian romance for the win!  Her Billionaire Next Door series is awfully fun too!

Christy Barritt is another favorite author of mine.  She released Shadow Operative, a new book in her latest new series.  I love every one of her series that are based in and around Lantern Beach.  Her bent is suspense and there's still the Nancy Drew fan in me that craves suspense.  This is clean and fun. I'm looking forward to more in the Shadow Agency series!

I'd love to know what you're reading.  

Hold on... I'll get out my Goodreads app and add that to my "Want to Read" list.  

The best recommendations come from friends!

Winter Reading

Winter time is for reading... among other things!

The thrill that went through my heart when I saw Blossom4 kneeling at this veritable buffet of Nancy Drew was worth all the time I've spent investing in her reading journey.

She's been knocking out Nancy Drew books in less than a day each.  

On the read-aloud front, we're putt-putt-putting through Christmas with Anne.  It's a collection of Lucy Maude Montgomery's short stories and excerpts that involve Christmas and New Year's themes.  Even though Christmas has marched back into our great-grandmother's storage steamer trunk for another year, the cozy winter lights remain and we snuggle down during lunch and I read.  

We get busy.  Our days move faster and faster it seems.  And yet, why do I keep coming back to reading aloud, even when I'm only hitting my goal 2-3 times a week?  

That lunch time pause brings us together.  It restores a peace to our time at home.  It helps us linger over quality words and thoughts that take us deeper than mundane life.  It brings opportunities for deeper discussion.  It's just so good.  And yes, the older Blossoms meander back to their laptops to dig back in to their college work... but sometimes they still soak up a little Anne while they're eating.  

So, as the days are busy... as my goals for our routine change, ebb, and flow, we keep coming back to reading this winter.

Lately, I've Been

I've been sipping:
~homemade Chai lattes and exquisitely delicious loose leaf Earl Gray tea.  A friend gave it to me and it's superb!

I've been reading:
~ The Book of John
Seeing John's perspective again is enough to make me read slowly and think a lot.  I especially enjoyed the first part of John 12, thinking about how Mary, Martha and Lazarus were all honoring Jesus in different ways.

~ The Book of Jonah
We've been studying this book in Ladies' Bible Study.  It's such a great reminder of redemption!  Jonah ran from what God wanted him to do and yet, God offered him another chance to obey.  He finally took it and was able to testify of God's mercy to the people of Ninevah.  It's refreshing to think about how God uses real, regular people in His plan, people just like you and me.

~ Along The Cane River series by Mary Jane Hathaway
Since I've been snatching so little time for recreational reading lately, I've fallen back on old favorites that never disappoint. Mary Jane's writing is top quality and the content is wholesome and uplifting.  Always a good choice!

I've been cooking:
~ White Chicken Enchiladas  This is a family favorite here and the girls were practically dancing when they saw it on the menu last night.

I've been noticing:
~ The signs of Autumn. Black walnuts scattered across rural roadways. Tassled corn that's crisply drying. Farmers starting their harvest field work. Pumpkins scattered around the garden.  Longer shadows. The cadence of crickets and katydids. Fall fragrances in the air.

I've been wearing:
~ Flannels!!!

I've been listening:
~ to Here Again by Elevation Worship.  It's my current favorite, especially since it reminds of PDYM Convention this past Spring.

I've been loving:
~ The Rugged Mountain Man's good reminders.  Sometimes I need an attitude adjustment and he's been gently encouraging me in those times.  Though sometimes it's painful to hear the truth, it's good to hear it gently so I can grow.

Hope you had a lovely Fall week,

Dominique

Spring Pushing

The signs of spring are pushing, pushing, pushing!*

It's easy for me to think that any new season just means more work, 

but I'm reminding myself to savor the joy in every task.  

It's a challenge, a reminder, that I need often.  

This is ALL unto the Lord.

Dominique

*If you haven't read Miracles on Maple Hill yet, you should.  It's been the perfect read-aloud for the season.  My opening line was a wink and a nod to it.

Photo Credit to Blossom2

On Pippi

We finished Pippi Longstocking!  The audio book was delightful; even more delightful than I remembered! 

Pippi is outlandish and yet, amidst her outlandish antics are bits of truth that made me think.  I like that!  Pippi had us laughing often on account of her high jinks.

We keep an audio book in our van at all times.  They begged to go along on every little errand, just so they could listen to Pippi.  

They were a little perturbed at the very abrupt ending, which I'm almost positive is meant to draw you into a sequel.  I can't wait to see what else Pippi gets into, but first, we're finishing Miracles on Maple Hill.  I think one of the girls mentioned another Trixie Belden book too.  

Dominique

Its Emergence

I'm thoroughly enamored with the emergence of spring.  You'd think I've never seen a spring before. 

I spontaneously pulled over to the side of the road to snap pics of the girls in front of these splendid Forsythia bushes. Their riot of color has been inspiring my soul for the past several days.

I took note earlier this week that it was the day the green made herself known.  In one day it seemed that the barren remnants of winter went away and spring exerted her happy verdure. 

The Blossoms have taken to scampering in the woods, especially in their "garden."  Yes, that's the garden inspired by the Vanderbeekers.  

My soul fairly leapt when I saw my lettuce seeds were sprouting today.  Every new bulb persistently bursting forth makes me grateful.

Thank God for another beautiful season.

Dominique

Photo credit to Blossom2 and Blossom3

On the Hardest, Most Tiring Days...

"What are the best parts of our days, even when we are tired, 

the progress is slow and the morale is down?"

I asked myself this question this afternoon.  A few things instantly came to mind. 

Listening to audio books ranks at the top of the list!

I ALWAYS have an audio book going in the van.  Always. 

I get recommendations from all my super star homeschooling mama friends and my awesome librarian friends.  These ladies are treasure troves of information. 

Recently, we finished The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street.  It was tale of a family of children, coming together to convince their reclusive and grieving landlord to let them stay.  It was full of mischief, kindness, lessons and humor. 

We moved on to The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden.  It was reminiscent of the Secret Garden.  The story was heartfelt and so inspiring that the little Blossoms have since started a "garden" in the front woods.  I love books that inspire the girls to go, play and try new things. 

Yesterday, I picked up Pippi Longstocking.  I remember reading her escapades as a girl, but none of the girls have really gotten into her adventures yet.  Now, her high jinks and unabashed antics have the Blossoms completely enamored.  We're finding ourselves laughing out loud.  Inwardly, I'm marveling at the lessons entwined in the pages.

On the hardest, most tiring days, when the schedule is full, it is comforting to know that I'm filling their minds and hearts with solid literature. 

“When you read a book as a child, 

it becomes a part of your identity 

in a way that no other reading in your whole life does."

Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly,

from "You've Got Mail"

Like it, Share it

My policy is that if you love a good book, get the word out!  Even Blossom1 commented that I was encouraging everybody to read "Beauty," a book I recently shared with you.  For that reason, I'm relaying a few more of my recent favorites.

~ The Starling & Swift series
by Mary Jane Hathaway or M.J. Mandrake or Virginia Carmichael
This author has never disappointed me.  Her writing is clean, full of excellent literary and poetic references and well-written.  I was so excited when I found out she recently released a set of cozy mysteries.  The main character is an interpreter for the deaf on a cruise ship, so the six books are set in various Caribbean type locations.  Bonus points for the service dog who plays a huge role in the books!  I also could enjoy all the fun canine references for a dog lover like myself.  I continue to heartily recommend anything written by this homeschool mama under any of her three pen names.  (The first book in the series is called Murder at the Mayan Temple.)

~ Trixie Belden and the Happy Valley Mystery #9
by Kathryn Kenny
We're slowly working our way through the Trixie Belden mysteries.  I read them as a girl and they certainly have not lost their appeal to the girls in this house.  It holds all of their attention well, so this is the ninth one I've read aloud to them.  Trixie and her friends are fun, hard-working and respect their parents and each other.  This is the first book that had the barest hints of romantic boy-girl relationship dynamics in it and I really used it to stop and talk about our family's thoughts on the matter.  Overall, another great classic from my girlhood that I enjoyed sharing with the Blossoms.

~ The Princess Bride
by William Goldman
The movie is one of my favorites, so I really wanted to get around to reading this book.  I am firmly in the "Book is better than the Movie" camp and this book reinforced my stance there.  I found the characters to be highly entertaining.  In fact, I felt that I got to know the characters quite a bit better.  Even if you've never seen the movie, you'll enjoy the quirkiness of this timeless story.

If you have a good book recommendation, feel free to email me!

Dominique

What I've Been Reading Lately

I love the way a good book is restful.  I enjoy how a good book can reinforce good morals.  I savor the way carefully chosen literature is the best kind of wholesome entertainment.  Here's a glimpse into what I've enjoyed reading lately.

~ Beauty: A Retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast
by Robin McKinley
What caught my eye when I stumbled on this gem was that it was lauded to be a "squeaky clean" fairy tale retelling.  Sign. me. up.   It did not disappoint!  The writing was exquisite and the descriptions were superb, painting Thomas Kinkade like pictures in my minds' eye.  If you saw the Disney movie as a child, I'd put this on your list for sure.  Blossom1 and Blossom2 read it multiple times too.  You know it was clean if I let them read it.

~ The Cherokee Trail
by Louis L'amour
I've never read anything by this author, despite his fame and reputation for Western classics.  As kids, we watched an old movie series called "Five Mile Creek."  It was about a woman trying to make a go of a way station beside a stage coach line.  That series was based on this book and once I knew that, I HAD to read it.  It was a strong female character, working against the odds to provide for her daughter.  I found it believable and humorous.  I enjoyed the Western setting, the diverse set of characters and the entertaining situations she finds herself in.  What an entertaining read!

~ Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte
I'd never read this classic and decided to give it a go, despite negative preconceived ideas I had about it.  It's a story of a girl who did not have a loving home or family her whole life.  Her story is told in language and writing that was deserving of "classic status."  She finds love, but chooses to make a hard decision, based on principle.  Throughout the book, her steps seem directed by Providence.  Her life looks a bit like a tapestry - knotty and tangled up close, but in hindsight, the beautiful weaving takes masterful shape.  I feel like my 19 year old self would not have appreciated this classic, like my 38 year old self does.  Jane inspired me.  I'll definitely be flipping back through to reread my highlights for days to come.  And I'll have to convince the girls to name a rabbit Mr. Rochester.

Dominique

When Your Mom Gives You a Book...

Not long ago, Mom handed me Seated with Christ; Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison by Heather Holleman.  She excitedly shared that she'd heard Heather speak and as a result, bought a whole stack of books to share with family and friends.  That's code for:

It must be a really great message that Mom feels would touch the hearts of those she loves.

So, when your mom gives you a book, you read it.  

Even if you don't think you really struggle a whole lot with comparison.

Even if you read chapter one and it doesn't thoroughly and immediately resonate.

The thing is, I had a solid, loving upbringing.  I just didn't struggle with comparison to the degree that Heather did as she shares her heart.

However, I do know that comparison is a big problem in our culture and living for Jesus is so counter-cultural, I'm willing to devour anything that helps me swim upstream every day.  I need that in my spiritual diet. I found that the truth that set Heather free was something every Christian needs to grasp, whether or not they struggle with comparison.

So, when your mom gives you a book, you read it.

Is it surprising that Mom just knows best, because I'm so glad I kept reading! 

What a fantastically solid doctrinal book!  How encouraging it is to any believer in any stage of their walk with Christ!  Its application stretches far beyond just struggling with comparison.

What Jesus has done for us changes our outlook over everything!

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:6

We are seated with Christ.  This can be likened to knights around a table, in service to the king.  When we join the family of God, we come to the table, to a seat that He made for us.  No one's worried about another person's seat.  We know our importance and value and we know we each have an important seat.  We don't have to fight for it.  We don't have to be jealous over it.  He gave it to us.  Now we can get busy doing the King's business.

Being seated with Christ is like "a declaration of who I am in the heavenly realms."

It's like knowing and living from that heart knowledge.

Friend, when we know who we are and where we stand with God, we are secure in a way that is not shaken by this life.  When we're free of thinking someone else is better or more important than our part in God's kingdom, we're more usable to Him.

Heather takes these thoughts and brings the application home in these four questions - questions that God used to deeply penetrate my heart afresh.

1. "Is knowing Jesus better than anything?"
2. "Will I live the life God asks me to?"
3. "Is there anything in my life that doesn't please God?"
4. "Am I available to be God's spokesperson?"

We must bare our heart to Him and let Him lay His finger on things that must be dealt with.

"It's because I want to continue to allow God to shape me into a woman who's more and more like Jesus."  That's why this book was so worthwhile.

Grab a copy today!  Her stories will draw you in and its rock solid message will build you up.

Dominique

All direct quotes are from Heather's book.  

Today's pics are from a jaunt in the woods with a friend of mine and a few of her brood.  It was a mere snapshot of a special day with her.  The fellowship was exquisite as we reveled in serving Jesus as mamas in this world.  The pics were as inspiring as this book was, which is why I thought they belonged together.  

And, thanks, Mom.

The Dazzling Dining Room

I probably wouldn't have designed our house with a dining room, and yet our dining room table has become the place for many a fun project and time of fellowship. 

It's also become the home for many, many, many books.

There are two other bookshelves not show here and while I dream of built-in floor to ceiling bookcases, that really wasn't much of a possibility.  

See what I mean about lots of books?

I cleared it all out and there was LOTS and LOTS of chaos as a result.  

And this is just a smidge of the chaos.

We covered that dinged-up, dented, scuffed up flat white paint with my new favorite, Revere Pewter.  

It was an instant transformation.

After emptying that hutch of my china, I moved it myself... by sitting with my back against it and scooching it slowly into place.  I didn't want to wait til the Rugged Mountain Man got home.  I'm just like my mama.

I took my old tired Walmart bookcases, straight out of 1999, painted them white and re-backed them with beadboard.  I also bought one more bargain shelf and painted and re-backed that one too.

But, I also wanted more book space.

The Rugged Mountain Man and I built this cubby unit with MDF.  

I calculated the load it can handle and let's just say, we don't have to be worried about sagging.

We consolidated 6 mismatched bookshelves into four!

Now the "built-in" unit is bracketed to the wall for safety.  Not that we have a mountain goat living here or anything.

I could barely contain my excitement when putting the books back into place.  I was also very motivated to get our house back to some state of normalcy.  However, I sorted the books and gave away duplicates.  The reading levels go from bottom to top, easiest to most difficult.  They are classified into genres.  

Ironically, it was the Blossoms who were most excited about this.  They loved that I found all their cookbooks and craft books and made an activity section.  

"Now we can find our cookbooks easily!!"

We're loving how this room now truly functions as a library and dining room.

I'm definitely the ideas person in our marriage and I don't like to be told reasons why my ideas won't work and can't be done.  The Rugged Mountain Man is deeply rooted in logic and reality.  Nevertheless, I hatched the built-in look alike idea and we collaborated in the carrying out of this idea.  He brought in thoughts on what kind of wood to use and how best to construct it, as well as budget constraints.  We worked closely on the budget and actual construction.  It was good for him to see that my ideas are cool and really look awesome in our house.  It was good for me to see that his tips help make our project better, stronger and more durable.  What a great marriage win for us!

Dominique

What I'm Reading... Lately

I love hearing what folks are reading.  It helps me to understand what they are thinking about.  It helps me see what they are interested in.  It opens my eyes to what is important to them.  Sharing about what you're reading is the meat of a good conversation.  Here's a little peek in to what I've been reading lately:

- A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
It's a novel about a dog's lives and his purpose.  My neighbor friend recommended this book to me.  It's her favorite.  It was an enjoyable read, mainly because I love my dogs and I think that it seemed to give insight into a dog's point of view on humans.  I've still never seen the movie, but I suspect, as it goes with most good books, that the movie doesn't do it justice. 

- Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson
This was an excellent quick read that reinforced the importance of praying for your kids.  There was no condemnation in this book, just encouragement to pray regularly for them.  My favorite quote went something like this, "You will never be a perfect parent, but you CAN be a praying parent." 

- George Muller on Faith, compiled and edited by Lance Wubbels
I love these bite size nuggets of encouragement on faith.  When the Holy Spirit shined His light on my heart, illuminating bits of fear that had taken up residence there, I felt it was time to dig into faith more deeply.  This little book has been so good for me. 

- Hidden Currents by Christy Barritt
This is a squeaky clean mystery set in Lantern Beach, North Carolina.  I really do love my fiction squeaky clean and this fit the bill as a modern mystery with some good sarcasm and humor thrown in the mix.  The main character is hiding from a gang, under the cover as the local ice cream truck lady.  Book 1 didn't wrap up the plot though, so I guess I'll have to read book 2 now...

- II Chronicles, book of the Bible
I especially loved II Chronicles 13:14, where it talks about how the army of Judah was being attacked from the front and the rear.  When they realized this, they cried out to the Lord for help.  Then, they fought!  I love the lesson in that.  When you realize things are bad, cry out to God right away... but then fight!  And then God did a miracle.  Yep, that's the God I serve!

-The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
My sister-in-law lent me this book, mentioning that she thought I'd really like it.  She was right!  I enjoyed Chip & Jo's down-home point of view and sharing of their story.  I also really appreciated how they shared the workings of their marriage - learning to play off each other's strengths, recognizing the nuances in each other's personalities and appreciating each other's differences.

- Just Open the Door by Jen Schmidt
This is a book about hospitality, but really, in a much deeper way, this is a book about community.  Community is central to the living and sharing the Gospel.  Hospitality is modeled throughout Scripture.  I was encouraged to keep opening the door to my home and let Jesus use me in any way He can. 

Next time we chat, I'd love to hear what you're reading...

Dominique

Vignettes and Sun Tea with Me

When I went outside the other day, I took a few minutes to snap some pics of some of my current favorite vignettes.  You know, the little good things that make me smile, but I don't normally think to capture for you.  I wanted to share them, along with a few snippets of what might come up in conversation if we sat together on my porch swing.  Perhaps you'd like a glass of sun tea while we chat?

Right now I'm excited:

Blossom3 gave me a squeeze the other day and told me that I've been so nice the past couple of days.  If that isn't humbling, I don't know what is.  You're familiar with some of my previously shared parenting struggles here  The encouraging note in her comment was that she said it during a week rife with Fair preparations, so I knew that the Lord has truly been helping me make some positive changes in my interactions with the girlies ~ more affirmation, more one-on-one time, more smiles, more slowing down.  Thank God for progress.  Mamas, we CAN be Godly, with His help and grace!

We're busy too:
Now we're getting ready for vacation!  We've been looking forward to it all summer, since the cabin is one of our most favorite places on Earth.  I'm excited about the big chunks of family time and the time away from "civilization."  

I'm thankful:
I'm still relishing the good week we had at the Fair.  I do believe that the Lord's hand is on all parts of our lives, so I thank Him when that is evident in little AND big ways.  I really think we were able to be a witness there and that's what I'm most grateful for!

And what have I been reading lately?
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell.  It's one of my favorites and I've been zipping through it since some off-handed reference sent me looking for it on my tablet the other day.  I also picked up Leaving Liberty by Virginia Carmicheal.  It's another clean and uplifting read by a favorite author.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James.  It's a fictional account of Jane Austen's life, written with superb Austen-esque accuracy and style.  If you're a Pride and Prejudice fan, just grab this to quelch your Austen craving for the day.

Aside from reading the book of Deuteronomy, I've been meandering around a bit in I Corinthians 12-14.  The thing that caught my eye is "love bears all things" in I Corinthians 13.  Oh man, that is SO convicting!  That gives me enough to focus on for the next three months.  Do I bear all things because of love?  If I'm truly operating through love, I will bear all things and bear them differently!!  

Thanks for having sun tea with me!

Dominique

At Grammie's

The Blossoms have been sharing their daily-daily joy at Grammie's this week.  I'm so thrilled that they get to have this experience.  I've been taking the time to get a few things done around the homestead, but also using this time to refresh myself.  

I had Coke with a friend.  

Actually, she's in Maine right now, but her text of this oddity made me smile multiple times today.  Surprisingly, I have a small stash of similarly personalized items.  With such a unique name, most of my family and friends snag something for me when they see "Dominique" plastered on it.  I laugh because buried in my basement fabric hoard is a pretty fabric that actually has my name woven into it.  I've yet to decide what to do with it, but by george, I bought that material lickety-split!  

I've spent extra time here over the last few days, swaying in the temperate weather and soaking in the gorgeous country stillness.  I bought Maris by Grace Livingston Hill.  Her fiction never disappoints.  It's clean, it's inspiring and it's always a good wholesome story.  She was such a talented writer and story-teller!  I appreciate that her books rarely break the bank, with most coming in at $1.40 or less.

I also purchased There's an Easier Way by Bonni Greiner.  Her other book, Recapturing the Joy of Motherhood, was a steal at $0.99 and gave me the attitude adjustment that I needed.  It was one of the best motherhood books I've ever read.  

I've been sitting at Bonni's feet a little, yearning to learn as much from her as I can through her writings, reminding me of the Titus 2:3-4 command to let the older women teach the younger women how to love their husbands and children.

Living as a Godly family in this day and age is so different than what we actually see all around us.  Having a healthy marriage and family is rather counter-cultural, a way that is often unpopular.  For me and other Godly women to keep going against the flow, we must realize that we can't get away with just a shot in the arm here and there of Truth.  

To keep the vision front and center, 

we have to fill up on good solid Truth.  

Bonni's books have been a conduit of that solid Truth for me lately.  

If you need some more good child-rearing reading, one of my favorite bloggers just did a terrific two part series that reflects much of the same way we're raising our Blossoms.  Abbie, from M is for Mama, lays out their Christian child-training philosophy after being asked to do so.  Part one is here and part two is here.  It's definitely a worthwhile read and Abbie has a style of writing that is humble, easy to read and encouraging.  

If you're a coconut lover, you could grab some of these Trader Joe's Chocolate Coconut Almonds to munch on while you read.   I don't recommend it, but only because I might know from experience what happens.  In all fairness, my sister warned me.  

Well, the girlies will be home soon.  I'm glad, but I'm guessing the rabbits, chickens and ducks are gladder.  They are far better micro-farmers than I am.  

Keep the faith, friends!

Dominique

Your Long Lost Library Books

We love the library!  The Blossoms are blessed with a love of books, reading, and learning.  Since I can't make multiple trips to the library in a month, I'm not exaggerating when I say that we bring home 60-100 books at a time.

I keep the titles in a checklist in Evernote, so that I can keep track of what we have floating around our place.  The due dates are recorded in my Google calendar so we don't accrue fines.

The girls are allowed to read any time, excluding chore time, meal time and loading time.  They are also allowed to read anywhere, as it's too constricting to say that they can only read library books by the shelf in the dining room or near a book basket in any given room.

On library day, the Blossoms brings stacks and stacks of books to the computer in the schoolroom.  I make sure they've been entered on their book lists, check them off the library list and drop them in the library bags.

Inevitably, there are books missing.  

By now, we're professionals at performing massive search efforts in all the usual spots, under the couch, under their beds, and on our book shelves.  

During our recent efforts to return books to the library, I discovered a terrific #mamalifehack that helped immensely in locating the last few missing titles.

I googled the missing book titles.  

Why would that be helpful?

We can't always remember what the book looks like, but our internet search brought up the author and a picture of the book cover.

I could then see if the book was an easy reader, hardback, story book, or chapter book, etc.

I could tell which Blossom probably had the book last.

I could more easily sift through our bookshelves, because I knew the approximate size, type and look of the book.

Mamas, I located two missing books in a matter of five minutes, which left me wondering why in the world I'd never googled the books before!

The next time you're frantically digging through the couch cushions, vowing never to visit the library again, just google it.  Your search just might end with a smile and a sigh of relief.

Dominique

#mamalifehacks