Simple Gifts

a call from a friend
a hug from my daughter
a book from my husband
     because he remembers I prefer them to flowers
a scripture like "come unto me"
a day to finally be over a cold 
     and be able to taste sweet things again (like birthday cake)
a good laugh with my sister
and a good cry for gratitude
     for kindness and love, forgiveness and joy
     for the simple gift of life.
     

Super Awesome Summer Reading List 2011

I asked and you answered.

I complied and now I'm showing off the 

Super Awesome Summer Reading List

30 titles, a few classics, one about to debut (check out Possession, June 7th). Fiction, non-fiction, a few series & lots of great reads!
Thanks Everyone!

Possession by Elana Johnson
Divergent (Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Ruth
Sapphique (Incarceron) by Catherine Fisher

The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) by Robert Jordan

The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive) by Brandon Sanderson
Freefall, A Novel by Traci Hunter Abramson
Cold as Ice by Stephanie Black

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Akasha by Heather Tregaskes
Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival by Dene Low
Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel

Dracula: Complete, Original Text by Bram Stoker
Justice by Karen Robards

Skin Hunger (Resurrection of Magic) by Kathleen Duey
The Battle for Skandia: Book Four (Ranger's Apprentice) by John Flanagan

Devil's Food Cake: A Culinary Mystery & Key Lime Pie: A Culinary Mystery by Josi S. Kilpack
Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch

Fire by Night (Refiners Fire, Book 2) & A Light to My Path (Refiner's Fire, Book 3) by Lynn Austin
Lady of Milkweed Manor & Silent Governess, The by Julie Klassen

Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Sense And Sensibility by Jane Austen

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder by Le Grand Richards
To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson by Heidi Swinton

She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel

The Assignment by Jean Matthews

And its June!

What happened to May? It's like it grew wings and flew away when I wasn't looking! School ended. The holiday came and went. 

And it's June. 

Glorious, beautiful June. 

Maybe I love this month because I was born in it. But I know people who don't love their birth month - so I think it has more to do with my love of summer. Lots of daylight. Watermelon. Fun and freedom. 

What's not to love? 

Of course I'm a Mom now. 

And I live in the desert. 

Hmmm. Three kids out of school and triple digits for all 100 days (really 75 days here, but that's another post) --you'd think I'd rethink my June love. 

Not a chance. Still love it.

It also might have something to do with reading.

Aren't summer and reading synonymous? Pretty much.

I asked you last week what you're reading this summer --

And I still want to know! Because I really am giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card at the end of August and a lot of you have answered, but I know some of you haven't. I love finding out about cool books, or fun ones or ones I wouldn't think about picking up, except for hearing about them from cool, fun friends.

I am still planning on compiling the list and posting it by next week.

As for me, I've started Sense And Sensibility (Austen) while I wait for Possession (Elana Johnson). I'm not sure why. It's like last summer when I read Pride and Prejudice while waiting for Mockingjay. Go figure. It made for some interesting comparisons! 

Well, here's to June and summer reading :)