Catching Up

Oh, how sad is that ... I haven't posted on this blog since 2011.  WOW -- well, now that I'm no longer so bogged down by work I'm going to make an effort to get back into the blogging habit.  So, let's see what do I need to share to get everyone caught up?  Well, probably the biggest news around here is that I changed jobs.  I am now the Systems and Technical Services Librarian for the Chippewa River District Library in Mt. Pleasant, MI.  I am enjoying it quite a bit and really like that I don't have to bring work home with me and I'm not teaching!!  That's a picture of my new office -- I've already killed the plant my predecessor left me -- I need to get a fake plant, those just need to be dusted!  :-)  Chris is still enjoying his band directing at the school -- this year has been a tough one, it seems Mother Nature didn't want him to have any concerts.  I think of all the ones he had scheduled, only 2 have actually taken place.  The boys are doing well in school.  Jonathan's in 4th grade, David's in Jr. High -- 7th grade.  Hard to believe, I know.  Both boys played basketball this year, David ran Cross Country in the fall and just started Track practice last week.  He's also going to take part in the drama production again this year.  David also took part in Solo/Ensemble Festival this year with a Saxophone Quartet.  Tonight his Saxophone Quartet was one of several groups that performed for the County Wide School Board meeting that was hosted by our school. (David is in the back on the right, playing Alto.)  Well ... I really will try to do better about posting on a more regular basis.  Hopefully there are still people out there reading.
~Katrina

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book.  I read two chapters last night before going to bed, then basically finished it in one sitting today.    I really enjoy Karen Witemeyer's books and look forward to reading her next one(s)!

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! I loved how it told the story of a 100 year old wedding dress, but also how it told the story of two women who live(d) in very different times and in the end to find out they were connected was like icing on the cake! I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Hauck's work in the future!

Review: House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson

House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bailee Cooper and her sisters have been summoned to the summer home they haven't visited in 15 years by their father. Bailee and her sisters are curious as to why he wants to have them all together in this place that doesn't hold very good memories for any of them. They also hope to finally get some family secrets out in the open, but they find when one secret is shared it seems to lead to other secrets and what they thought about the way things were when they were little is not at all the truth about the past.

An excellent read about a family how it deals with and has dealt with mental illness, and how God's love can overcome.

2012 Chunkster Challenge

This challenge is found at chunksterchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/12/chunkster-challenge-2012-sign-ups.html.

 

Definition of a chunkster:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature, whether non-fiction or fiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

If you read books in large print, your books will need to be 525 pages or more. The average large type book is 10-15% larger or more so it’s a fair estimate.

The rules:

• No audio books. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• No e-books allowed. This was discussed in much detail in the 2011 challenge. The short version: a chunkster isn’t a challenge if you’re reading it on an e-reader. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• This year for the first time, essay, poetry, and short story collections will be allowed. Collections have to be read in their entirety to count. If you’ve needed a reason to finally pick up your copy of The Collected Works Of ____ now is the time.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone may join. (If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment on this post with your challenge level and your progress throughout the challenge.) 
• You don’t need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you’ve picked a level, that’s it. You’re committed to it!

You must pick a level of participation:

1. The Chubby Chunkster – this option is for the readers who want to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months. 
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

This challenge runs from January 1, 2012-December 31, 2012.  I did not "sign-up" for the actual challenge, I'm just going to do this one "on my own" to see how many I read.  

2012 Christian Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Margaret over at www.creativemadnessmama.com /
www.christianhistoricalfiction.com.  The goal is to read 24 books in this genre throughout the year.  I've participated in this one the last two years and really enjoyed it, so I look forward to doing it again this year!

Here is my list of books ... I will add to it as time goes on (all books for this challenge will be counted for other challenges as well) :

1. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall (Klassen) -- 1/7/12
2. Before the Season Ends (Burkhard) -- 1/20/12
3. A Whisper of Peace (Sawyer) -- 4/2/12
4. This Fine Life (Everson) -- 4/4/12
5. The Lightkeeper's Daughter (Coble) -- 4/17/12
6. The Lightkeeper's Bride (Coble) -- 4/24/12
7. The Lightkeeper's Ball (Coble) -- 5/1/12
8. The Wedding Dress (Hauck) -- 5/29/12
9. The One Who Waits for Me (Copeland) -- 6/22/12
10. Summer of Promise (Cabot) -- 7/5/12
11. Short-Straw Bride (Witemeyer) -- 8/11/12
12. 
    

2011 Reading Challenges Recap

I thought I take a minute and recap how I did on the reading challenges I joined this year.  I'm afraid I didn't do as well as I should have, nor as well as I wanted to.  I'm not sure why, but it seemed that especially during the last few months of this year I just didn't read very much.  I hope this is not a trend that carries into the new year.

I joined a total of 6 reading challenges this year and here's how I did:

• 2011 Chunkster Reading Challenge = 3, which means I didn't even qualify for the lowest level of this challenge. (I really thought I read at least one more that qualified, but if I did, I didn't mark it down.)
• 2011  "Show Me the Free" Reading Challenge = 11.  Again, one short of qualifying for the lowest level of this challenge.
• 2011 - 100+ Reading Challenge = 72.  WOW -- way short.  :-(
• 2011 YA Reading Challenge = 25, qualifying me for the 2nd level (Fun Size) of this challenge.
• 2011 eBook Challenge = 11, qualifying me for the 2nd level (Fascinated) of this challenge.
• 2011 Christian Historical Fiction Challenge = 24, which means I did complete this one, but barely as I didn't finish that last book until Christmas day.

Here's to doing better in 2012!!