all in all, lots going on, and lots coming up…I’ll be working on the posts soon, well hopefully today, as long as it continues to be a good-notfeelinggrossandIhavesomeenergy-kind of day.

You can now loan books via the kindle…and the other day my mother in law sent me this one. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. I hadn’t heard of it but read the quick description [from Amazon] “Sarah’s Key fictionalizes the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations, in which thousands of Jewish families were arrested, held at the Vélodrome d’Hiver outside the city, then transported to Auschwitz.” and downloaded it immediately. (I’m pretty much a sucker for any novel set during the Holocaust rooted in my love for Corrie Ten Boone’s The Hiding Place). I read it in 3 days. I couldn’t put it down. It was inspiring, sobering and emotional.

I was instantly attached to both girls in the story, Sarah, the little girl dealing with being sent to a camp and separated from her family, and Julia, a journalist looking into the events of July 1942 and finding her family suddenly connected to Sarah’s family. At one point someone asks Julia why she, an American born long after the war and with no connection to the tragedy, is so determined to find Sarah. Julia replies that she wants to apologize, “Sorry for not knowing. Sorry for being 45 years old and not knowing.” Reading Sarah’s Key helps us all know a little more.

the outcome: sinking pirate ship cake

it was fun though. always thankful for time I get to spend with this girl!

Last night I finished What is the What by Dave Eggers. It’s a long book. And very intense in many parts. It tells the story of Achak, a young boy who ran, and then walked, for his life in Sudan. It’s almost a modern day story of Job. Of suffering, of loss, despair…and yet, Achak continues on. But he doesn’t just continue, he continues well. He lives life, he keeps trying, he doesn’t give up, and he never counts himself a victim. I know I haven’t digested it all. It will definitely be one of those books that keeps me thinking, and continues to inspire me. But with all that is going on in Sudan right now, it was helpful to get a small glimpse of what life was and still is for so many people there.

Myka, we are SO proud of you! You amaze us everyday, and this is another moment to celebrate you and all that you are and all that you will become!

I didn’t ask for one…so I was genuinely surprised when I opened it on Christmas morning. My in-laws are both huge fans of theirs and when they visited over Thanksgiving, I showed some interest…so they surprised me. I chose The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls as my first book…great read. But since I’ve finished, I can’t stop browsing the kindle store…to get any and every free book that interests me…to get ideas for things I want to read…and to just browse (I have a list on the fridge of possible purchases). My favorite feature may be that they let you download a sample of any book, to see if you’re going to like it before you buy it. awesome! And it looks so cute in it’s green case. I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy reading digitally…but so far, I’m very impressed.

mission accomplished.