No Faint Hearts

CECS Class Post (i.e. The Blog is Not Just About the Baby)

2012-01-25T13:25:00.002-06:00

For regular readers, I'm taking a course this semester called Learning and Cognition, and I'll be posting here a few times with items related to the course. The readings have been interesting so far, so I hope you find it interesting, too!

For those of you coming from the class, welcome!

Again, I'm Tiffany in Fort Worth, and you can contact me at tiffanydavisnorris@yahoo.com.

I'm working on my PhD in Information Science and as the Public Services Librarian at Southwestern Seminary. I'm interested in cognition and learning especially as it relates to student workers in academic libraries--a group I'm interested in studying both professionally and academically.

I'm a fan of incorporating new technologies into the library experience, and I'm fairly proficient with technology (but I'm no tech wizard or anything).

As one of our classmates said, I hope this course helps us better understand the mind of the information seeker.

Thanks for all your congratulations on baby Catherine. This new pace of the school-work-life balance is challenging to say the least, but if you have patience with me, I'll do my best. :)

Catherine's Birth Story

2012-01-23T09:20:00.001-06:00

I'll try not to get all gross with this, but I did want to go ahead and record what I remember (because forgetful pregnancy brain does not go away with the birth apparently). I'll also intersperse with a few more pictures, so hopefully you won't get too bored. ;)

I was due on Tuesday and more than ready! We were scheduled to have another doctor's appointment and ultrasound on Thursday to get an idea of how big she was getting (more on that later). But my water broke on Wednesday night right after supper. I had just gotten up to get a grape coke (that was the last pregnancy craving).

Side note here. One thing that has really surprised me about pregnancy is that not everything is obvious. I wasn't sure when I felt her first movements, and I wasn't sure that my water had broken. But I knew something different was happening, and I thought it was probably that. It's just not like you see on television.

So we went to the hospital, all nervous and excited. They couldn't tell at first whether my water had actually broken, so they had to do a couple of tests. After the second one, they concluded it had, so we knew we weren't leaving until we had our little girl!

However, I was not having any contractions, so after monitoring me for a few hours, they kick-started those. I didn't want to have an epidural, but the contractions were progressing more rapidly than the rest of my body was. It was looking like it could be another 12 hours or so (and it was), and the contractions were between 1 and 5 minutes apart. After two or three hours, I caved (see Ray Stevens' Having a Baby the Natural Way), and now I totally understand why epidurals are so popular.

We got just about to the point where I was ready to push, and I had not felt a thing. In fact, I had slept for a few hours. However, her position was a little off, and she was pushed up against my pelvic bone (an area immune to the blessed epidural, apparently). That, combined with her size, made the pushing part long and difficult.

But I was so blessed by my doctor and nurses (and Jason...wow). They were just the right mix of compassion and encouragement, letting me rest and coaching me to keep going. And pretty soon she was here!

We sort of fell over-the-cliff in love with her immediately.

The hospital stay went well, too. She had to spend her first night in the NICU and supplement her feedings with formula because of persistent low blood sugar, but it didn't take her long to get that under control. She is also a bit jaundiced, but we should see the doctor today about that.

Otherwise, we are so very thankful for our healthy girl. Our lives have just gotten a lot more complicated, but we're so excited to be her parents and to teach her about God and everything else she will need to know.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading about Catherine's birth! (It has taken me three days to write this post. I fear this is how life is going to be now.) ;)

Baby McBookworm!

2012-01-20T10:38:00.001-06:00

Also to be known as Catherine Gayle Janice Norris (or just Catherine).

She arrived Thursday afternoon and weighed in at 9 lbs. 1 oz.

Aside from some low blood sugar issues, she's doing great, and we just adore her already!

Baby's Office

2012-01-16T11:41:00.000-06:00

We've just about finished the baby's room, which she is sharing with Jason. (So we've been referring to it as the baby's office.)

Until the last month, this was my least favorite room in the house because it had become the catch-all place for our random stuff. I hate clutter, and it was nothing but clutter.

But now it's one of my favorite places because, for one, it's clean! But also because it's going to be my little girl's room. And the walls are painted a light gray (the official Alabama light gray...Roll Tide). Mostly, though, I love it because so many things in here represent this huge outpouring of love and support we've gotten from our family and friends (as well as my husband's hard work).

So here's a quick tour...

This is her little book nook. The shelf is filled with books we've collected for her and books we received at her book shower. (That's also where the sparklies behind the frame are from...courtesy of my pal Shelley.) We picked up the Pooh print at Half Price, and the rocking chair and banks (except the one on top) were mine.

And this is the other half of her half of the room...

I'm a little smitten with the "N" drawer pulls. Meanwhile, Baby McB's dad painted the picture many, many years ago, and our talented friend, Brittany, made the book mobile out of a Jane Austen book. (I am still so excited about that.)

We haven't gotten her sheets yet (since we're planning for her to be in a cradle in our room for a few weeks), so we enlisted the stuffed elephant brigade to fill the space. The prints above the crib courtesy of The Handmade Home.

Fred isn't sure what to make of the room, but he likes the rug (that, oddly enough, turned out to look exactly like his fur). He's also trotted off with her doll a couple of times, so we'll have to watch that. :)

In other news, I've been having font trouble since switching the layout, so I'll be playing around with that for a few posts. Pardon any strange looks.

Conflict and Community in Corinth (and Commentaries!)

2012-01-12T17:00:00.000-06:00

I've just finished listening to 1 and 2 Corinthians while reading Ben Witherington's Conflict and Community in Corinth. This was such a great experience!

Witherington, as usual, examines theological concepts thoughtfully and intellectually, and I'm not going to focus on reviewing the commentary itself.

I'm actually more interested in talking about biblical resources. Reading this was a good reminder that context and culture are incredibly important when trying to understand the Bible. I believe that it's always a good thing to read what I consider to be God's word to us, but there is so much that can be misunderstood if we just give it a surface reading (or a surface listen as I'm doing this year).

For instance, I knew Paul used some rhetorical devices when writing the two books, but I had no idea about the HUGE influence rhetoric played in his construction of arguments and in the organization of the entire books themselves. I also, for instance, had no idea about the role that head-coverings played in pagan worship at the time, a view that must inform how we read and apply these verses now.

Reading this commentary reminded me that the old saying, "The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it." is inadequate. Reading does not equal understanding. If we are to become more biblically literate (ask my husband about this topic!), if we are to truly grow in our Christian walk, if we are to even begin to understand what the Bible is all about, we need outside help.

Bible teachers within your church community, seminaries, and theological libraries are great places to get that help. I also highly recommend commentaries like these as valuable tools for your personal Bible study.

How about you? Any biblical resources to recommend? How do you go about understanding the Bible?

Learning to Listen

2012-01-05T17:00:00.000-06:00

I'm much more of a visual learner than auditory. And, even though I've been listening to podcasts for awhile, I still have trouble focusing when I'm only listening.

But this year I'm trying to listen through the Bible. Jason found a version he liked and did that last year, so I'm going to try this year. (And I like the idea of Baby Girl listening with me, too.)

I've also started reading Ben Witherington's commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians--Conflict and Community in Corinth. I'll listen to a chapter, then read his notes on it.

One thing for the first chapter that stood out to me:

1 Corinthians 1 raises deep and abiding questions for our own culture...For instance, this chapter requires that we ask how much of our sense of self-worth and identity is grounded in our culture's evaluation of us in terms of wealth, education, and the like, and how much it is grounded in our identity as sinners saved by grace...Christian attitudes about wealth, family, country, and other things held dear are often more grounded in certain cultural assumptions than in any Christian teaching.

Good stuff (and a good reminder to always read your footnotes).

How about you? Do you prefer listening to reading? If you listen, do you just listen, or do you multi-task (i.e. commute to work while listening to an audiobook)?

Speaking of 38 weeks...

2012-01-03T17:00:00.000-06:00

Getting closer! (Thank goodness.)

Fred was pre-bark in this picture. His little face cracks me up!

And forgive the white socks. Let's just say that very few things fit anywhere anymore. (Did I mention I'm ready?) ;)

Irony is...

2012-01-02T11:21:00.003-06:00

...people telling you to rest before the baby comes "while you can."

Do these people know how much preparatory work a baby takes?

More realistically, do they know how hard it is to rest when you're 38 weeks pregnant, your back aches all the time, and you're awake every two hours at night and in the restroom every hour during the day?

Also ironic? Continuing to get clumsier (thus dropping more things) as it gets harder and harder to pick them up.

And irony is searching for a close parking place at the gym...but that doesn't really apply here.

Resolutions, 2012-style

2012-01-01T06:37:00.000-06:00

I've always been big on making resolutions (the actual keeping being harder than the making, am I right?). But this year, we're having a kid. And that really does change everything.

We knew it would, and I think that's part of the reason we (or at least I) hesitated for so long about taking the plunge. I knew life would be different, and I knew I would be different. In my head, that was always a negative. But, month after month, as this little person has grown and seemed more real, it hit me that the changes I want to make are positive.

Because I know she'll be watching and learning, I want to be a better person. I want to be in good shape spiritually, financially, physically, in every aspect of life--not perfect by any stretch--but stretching to be better.

(Like this)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

So I figure that is enough of a resolution for this year. Have a kid, and learn how to be a good parent to her, becoming a better person myself in the process. I suspect I will need plenty of prayers for this.

I might also try to conquer my fear of birds, but we'll see. ;) If so, that will be another post entirely.

Oh, and happy new year, everyone! I hope your 2012 is simply lovely!

See ya, 2011

2011-12-31T07:28:00.003-06:00

I don't think I've ever done a year-end recap...always thinking ahead to the next one, I guess. But 2011 was a big one for us, so I thought it might be fun to spend a few minutes looking back this year.

Obviously, the big news of the year is Baby McBookworm. It took us a long time to decide whether to have kids, then when to have kids, and all the ensuing logistics (we're big on thinking things through), but we know she will be worth the wait. And since we took so much time to plan, we'll be sure to be perfect parents, right? ;)

A close second on the 2011 happenings would be buying a house. This was another huge step for us that was a long time coming. I love owning our own home, but, as with all good things, it has come with plenty of challenges (like the fence collapsing the week we closed).

Wrapping up the top three, Jason and I both completed another year of doctoral work. I finished my residency requirement (two back-to-back full-time semesters) and am now a living testament to "that which does not kill us makes us stronger." ;P We both learned a lot, and we're excited that we just have one(ish) more year of coursework. (This was us during spring finals, I believe.)

Finally, after several years of maintaining two separate blogging identities, I combined my personal and professional lives right here! It's going well so far, but I'll probably at least keep tweaking the look as the year goes along. (Suggestions for that are always welcome, btw!)

Other fun happenings of 2011...our major snow storm in February, our sixth anniversary, and our trip to Seattle. I read about 35 books this year, and favorites included The Power of Half, Bringing Up Girls (and Cinderella Ate My Daughter), and Pretty in Plaid (no review, but it was mighty fun Christmas reading).

Overall, it's been another fabulous, frustrating, fun-filled, faith-requiring year in Fort Worth. We've been blessed to see God's amazing provision time and again, and we're humbled at the blessings He has showered on us this year. We know that He is with us through good and bad circumstances, but we really are grateful for a "good" year. Now we're excited to see where He leads us in 2012!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T15:15:00.001-06:00

Hope you're all having a fantastic Christmas! We neglected to take our traditional picture in front of the tree, so here is one of our own little Santa Paws instead...

It's been a wonderful weekend--our church's lovely Christmas Eve service last night, then opening presents while watching A Christmas Story this morning. Now for two more days off!

Since this is our last Christmas as a family of three, we've been thinking of traditions we'd like to start or continue for Baby Girl next year. Jason read her the story of Jesus's birth last night, and I like that idea. We have our favorite movies we watch, of course, and we always include fruit (clementines!) in our stockings. We usually have plenty of reading, cookie-eating, and music-listening, too.

What about yours? What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Non-School Reading, Alternative Guide to Dallas, and Renewing Wedding Vows

2011-12-13T17:00:00.000-06:00

Anyone reading anything good these days? I've been devouring N.T. Wright's work lately (The Way of the Lord was the latest), and I'm also reading Murdering Mr. Monti by Judith Viorst (of Alexander--the one with the very bad day--fame). It's always fun to take a break from school reading.

But one of the class books I did enjoy from this semester was The Information by James Gleick. It was looong and had some overly technical (from my perspective) chunks in the middle...but, overall, a good read.

One of the bits I found interesting was the discussion on Wikipedia--its history, what gets left in and what gets removed (bringing up the ubiquitous question for information scientists of what is information). I especially enjoy reading the histories on pages to see what edits have been made.

Anyway, here's an article with more on that. I believe there's even a wiki-morgue of sorts out there paying tribute to what is gone.

Moving on...anyone visiting Dallas this holiday season? (If you are, be sure to say hello!) Here's an alternative guide for you, complete with vegan dining options and "cool, random stuff." (And, oddly enough, I just noticed that this came from a site I referenced in my qualitative research final paper...random indeed.)

An update on the digital natives...

And if Mr. McBookworm and I ever renew those vows, I'm thinking this is how we'll do it.

Updates

2011-12-10T19:45:00.001-06:00

Creative title, huh? ;)

I'm at the exhausted holiday/end-of-the-semester point, so that's all I got. One more final to go, and I'm not gonna lie, this semester just about did me in. But we believe God has called us to this place in our life, so we believe He has also equipped us to handle the circumstances.

Other than school and work, we've also been blessed with two more baby showers! My pals at work threw us a book shower, and the sweet ladies at church hosted a lovely shower for us as well. {Can I just say that they both knocked it out of the park on the food? Gingerbread men, sugar coated cranberries, cider punch...WOW}

We're so grateful for everything we've received for Baby Girl!

Now, no update post would be complete without a photo dump, right?

34 weeks and counting...

Random shot with my wonderful Reference workers {a rare photo op of all of us after a staff meeting}...

We've finally started decorating for Christmas. {Motivation being the above students workers and about 15 others coming over for a partay tomorrow night.}

It's going to be fun seeing how apartment decorations transition into a house. More {hopefully better quality} photos to follow, but we've gotten off to the most important start...the bookshelf...

Meanwhile, we've always just taped the Christmas cards we received to the front closet door, but we wanted to do something different this year. Jason came up with the idea of putting them on a bulletin board we're not using. I covered it in Christmas wrapping paper, and it turned out pretty cute! Also filled a sad, lonely space on our mantel.

We're not super crafty, so this was a big step for us.

So now you're updated, and my break's over. Time to put up the tree. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far!

Updates and Giving Thanks

2011-11-28T00:32:00.001-06:00

Welcome! The blogs are officially combined, and we've got a new look here. If you're specifically interested in books, baby news, or photos, those are all separate tabs at the top now, or you can just read all posts from this home page.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking about a new name. I didn't want anything as prosaic as Norris News (although I always appreciate alliteration), but Considering All Things Literary was obviously too specific. For now, it's No Faint Hearts, from the JFK quote--There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth--but I'm open to suggestions. Any thoughts?

Lots has been going on, mostly school and work and traveling to Alabama and back for Thanksgiving (where we had our first baby shower).

A few shots out at the lake, where we stayed this year. Cannot tell you how much I loved waking up to the sight of the Tennessee River, one of the things I miss most about Alabama...

Fred enjoyed the view, too...

The day after Thanksgiving, my sweet aunt and cousin threw us a family baby shower. Baby Girl was so blessed! We were so thankful to get a lot of things we needed, and it was wonderful to reconnect with family we hadn't seen in awhile. (Spent a lot of time telling stories and looking at old photos.)

Also, this was the first time we had been home since the tornado hit in April. My aunt's house (in Phil Campbell) was heavily damaged, so that was another thing to add to the "thankful for" list this year--that their home is repaired, but, more importantly, that they were spared.

That "thankful for" list was incredibly long this year! One more I'm adding is that we just have two weeks left in the semester. Incredibly busy weeks, but then we can concentrate on relaxing and preparing for Baby Girl!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Again--let me know those blog name suggestions!

Geaux Tide?

2011-11-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

My Friday started off nicely enough...

But inside I found...

I would be offended if I weren't laughing so hard!

I've been smack-talking with an LSU fan who works with me at the library (who also happened to watch over Freddy while we were in Seattle). She won this round for sure!

Poor Fred is so confused. ;)

Seattle Day Four: Space Needle and Other Surprises

2011-10-23T23:25:00.000-05:00

We packed a lot into day four in Seattle: the Space Needle, Public Library, Hard Rock Cafe, and lots more walking around the city.

Picture overload to follow, but first I wanted to outline a few surprises we found here:

-I learned at the Space Needle that I have apparently developed a new fear of/sensitivity to heights. I have never had an issue with this at all, so I'm blaming Baby McB. Anyone else experience this when pregnant? I spent most of the time at the Space Needle (and the Public Library, which also had a "high viewing point") clinging to the wall.

-Steep, San Francisco size hills...or what I picture them to be anyway. Maybe we've just gotten used to Texas, but the hills were crazy steep here! I can't imagine driving on them--especially in bad weather.

-Recycling at restaurants. There are usually three "bins"--one for recycling, one for compost, and one for garbage. Impressive! But sometimes a little confusing.

-Smoking. Maybe this is just more of an urban thing, but I was slightly appalled at the number of smokers. Why do people still do that? There is not a single benefit to smoking (and, of course, plenty of negatives), and it's horrific to those around you who don't smoke.

-Finally, I was surprised to learn that Nancy Pearl no longer works at the Seattle Public Library. I kind of thought she kept a home base there and that I might could go there and find her {blush}. Anyway...

Now for the rest of the pictures!

Seattle Days Two and Three: Seattle Pacific University

2011-10-22T14:03:00.000-05:00

Jason presented a paper yesterday morning about biblical illiteracy and did a great job! I was so proud of him (and excited that I got to sneak in to hear him speak).

After that, it was back to the library for me. But I did get a few shots around campus...

In the afternoon, I had finished up all my immediate school work, so I spent some time reading and relaxing with a cup of hot chocolate. Downright luxurious these days.

Last night, we hit the town with the other SWBTS folks and ate at The Crab Pot (OK but not nearly as yummy as The Fisherman's).

Then this morning, we had our first hard Seattle rain. It's just been drizzly so far. But we still navigated the bus system (starting to feel like pros at that) and made it back to campus to finish up the conference! They have a road called the Tiffany Loop on campus, and this is me standing on it. :)

The next day and a half are ours to explore this rainy city.

Seattle: Day One (and a blog update)

2011-10-20T22:50:00.000-05:00

We're in cloudy Seattle! Jason is presenting at a conference here, so I'm tagging along.

We've already taken tons of pictures, so I thought I'd go ahead and start sharing.

Quick housekeeping note first, though. I'm going to be combining my blogs as soon as I can, um, figure out how. Not sure how that will work, so if you want to keep keeping up, be sure to go ahead and follow me at http://tiffanynorris.blogspot.com as well. I'll keep you posted as that develops, though.

On to the pictures!

We got here late yesterday and checked out a place called Local 360, where all their food comes from within 360 miles of Seattle. It was delicious! I had the cooked greens and mac and cheese. Then we got up early this morning (but it still felt late to us--thanks, Pacific time!) and headed to the mothership...the original Starbucks...

I haven't had coffee in five months, so I savored that {decaf} pumpkin spice latte! Then we toured around the waterfront and took in the Pike Place Market. Such a cool area--little shops {fish, flowers, pepper jelly!} and street performers {playing the piano and the cello and making balloon animals}.

A few odd sightings. We spotted some goats on a hill in the middle of the city. They were for rent, and they had a goat puppy guarding them...

There was also a gum wall, which was pretty disgusting but kind of cool, too...

Then we stumbled onto what we thought might be an Occupy Seattle protest but turned out to be a Today Show taping with Kathie Lee Gifford...

After wandering around a bit longer, we grabbed some lunch at The Fisherman's, which was right on the water, and played a four-player Pac-Man game.

First impressions: the city has a fun, diverse, cool vibe that sort of reminded us of Austin--but bigger. We LOVE the grey skies and light drizzle. I could be wrong, but I don't think I would ever get tired of that weather.

We're also pleased with our hotel, which is within walking distance of a lot of this stuff, and has been around for more than 100 years. There are some odd things...like the radiator (the heat comes through it on a timing system) and the sink.

But we (OK, I) really love the tub and the towel sculptures (an elephant!).

Finally, gotta represent--even on vacation. Go Rangers!

Tomorrow...more on the NAPCE conference and hanging out at Seattle Pacific University. (Hint--I'm spending a lot of time at the library.)

Housekeeping Note

2011-10-20T21:46:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let you know I'm planning to combine my blogs as soon as I can figure out how {blush}, so if you want to keep keeping up, you might want to go ahead and follow me at http://tiffdnorris.blogspot.com as well. Not sure how all this will work, but I'll keep you posted!

Her Fearful Symmetry

2011-10-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

This book was the perfect way to begin October.

Haunting ghosts, spooky twin sisters (two sets, mind you), and even a cemetery setting made for an ideal read during glorious fall days.

The book is primarily set in a small London apartment building (next to the cemetery) occupied by:

Elspeth. Well, her ghost, that is. (No spoilers, she dies at the beginning.)
Robert, Elspeth's love
Martin and Marijke, a long-married couple coping (but not very well) with Martin's OCD

Elspeth leaves her flat to her American nieces, Julia and Valentina, the twin daughters of Elspeth's twin sister, Edie, with the request that they live there for one year and not allow their parents inside. However, Elspeth hasn't technically vacated the premises.

Spooky, right?

I enjoyed the book, but my expectations were really high after The Time Traveler's Wife. And, honestly, I didn't enjoy this one as much. The characters were interesting but not as endearing, and there were parts of Her Fearful Symmetry that were downright creepy (and not in the isn't-it-fun-to-get-spooked way).

Overall, though, it was a nice read, especially for seasonal readers like me, and Niffenegger fans won't be too disappointed.

Dream Job and Banned Books Week

2011-09-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

This is pretty much my dream job...

http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/next-steps/broadcast-collaboration

Even though we love where we are, Jason and I both still miss public radio at times, and to be a librarian at NPR...well, that would just be the perfect combination, right?

I also get a little excited thinking about embedded librarians and the possibilities for that--especially in classrooms. It's probably going to look different for every library and school, but the trend seems to be going that way--if not actual embedding, then at least librarians getting out of the (physical) library.

In other news, just as a reminder, Banned Books Week starts Saturday. What are you guys reading (or championing)?

No banned books on my list this year, but I am still enjoying Her Fearful Symmetry and Cinderella Ate My Daughter. Can't say I'm enjoying Strategy and the Business Landscape quite as much, but it is pretty informative.

Classes, Quick Links, and an Update

2011-09-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

I can't remember if I updated what classes I'm taking this semester, so here they are just for the record: Qualitative Research, Strategic Decision Making (a Management class), and our required doctoral seminar, technically a one-hour class that's turning out to have the work load of a three-hour.

I could go on for awhile about that (as the husband can attest), but enough with the complaints.

It's been awhile since I've updated links, too! So long that some I had slated to post were related to Tuscaloosa's devastating tornado and the UA-SLIS response to that. We'll just sum those up by saying they--and the community and state as a whole--were amazing. Couldn't be more proud to be from Alabama.

Meanwhile, this article about students and research generated a lot of discussion here in Texas--at least at my school and the library where I work.

Speaking of my library, I want one of these mystery paper sculptures to show up here!

Moving on, I just finished reading Anne Lamott's Grace Eventually, and I liked this quote:

I see [librarians] as healers and magicians. Librarians can tease out of inarticulate individuals enough information about what they are after to lead them on the path of connection. They are trail guides through the forest of shelves and aisles--you turn a person loose who has limited skills, and he'll be walloped by the branches. But librarians match up readers with the right books.

She talked a lot about the downside to downsizing libraries, and here's another author concerned about that trend.

Meanwhile, Jessamyn West (saw her speak at TechNet this summer--holla!) and others discussed whether school librarians are expendable as well.

I'm still dreaming of getting a reader like the iPad, Kindle, or Nook, and articles like this don't help!

And, just for funsies, Gotta Be Scholar. Didn't BYU do another well-produced "the library is cool" video a year or so ago? (Are you ever like me and too lazy to Google something like that?)

Finally, I'm working on finishing Her Fearful Symmetry, which will be my last "official" review book (about a year after I said I was going to stop doing these, right? ha). After that, you'll see some changes to the ol' blog, but I'll keep you posted as that goes along.

Happy reading!

Bringing Up Girls

2011-09-15T18:46:00.001-05:00

As my pal Shelley (whose own little girl is due any day now) said recently, "It's time to stop reading about what I'm going through [pregnancy books] and start figuring out what to do when the baby gets here."

Cue the parenting books.

I'd heard good things about James Dobson's Bringing Up Girls, so I started with it. But I knew within the first couple of chapters that I would have to grit my teeth through the rest.

Three things I took issue with:

-The absence of any acknowledgement of work-at-home (or stay-at-home) dads. It hit two options: mom making the sacrifices by giving up her career or leaving Baby Girl with a trusted friend or relative. (day care = bad in this book) This one didn't bug me too much, though. I hear it's a rising trend for dads to be the primary caretaker (and my amazing husband will be one of those next year), but it does still seem to be somewhat uncommon. At least Dobson didn't ream it; it just didn't seem to be on his radar.

-Also, I was bothered by the lauding of the princess culture. He seemed to think it was all fun and innocence when there are actually quite a few troubling issues (at least to me) about it. Specifically, the focus on outer beauty, the belief that a happy ending depends on getting your prince, and ohmygoodness the materialism (especially if we're talking specifically about the Disney princess culture). I'm now reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein, and this one seems to be more in my line of thinking. No idea, though, how to completely shield Baby Girl from all of that. She's never allowed to go shopping with us? No tv, movies, or internet allowed? Limited (if any) social interaction with other kids at all? That sounds about right. ;)

-Finally, I didn't really like the book because it perpetuated one of my pet peeves: gender stereotypes. I'm not getting into a theology discussion here; I'm talking about personality traits that people often assign to men and women. Men are physical, blunt, uncommunicative, logical, while women are nurturing, emotional, sensitive, talkative, and relational. You can look no farther than my husband and me to see that this is just not always the case. In fact, if we're to believe the Myers-Briggs people, 20-30 percent of women are "thinkers" and vice versa (that same percentage of men would be classified as "feelers").

But here's why I kept reading.

Because even if I am not talkative, emotional, or sensitive, my daughter just might be, and I want to know how to deal with her on a level that she understands and appreciates. I want to be able to speak her love language (if we're still talking books here).

Also, despite the issues I had with some of his conclusions, Dobson does raise some valid concerns about morality, oversexualization in the culture, and appropriate use of technology, and he gives some great general parenting advice about communication and quality time with kids.

So I guess Bringing Up Girls was kind of like all parenting advice you get--take what you like and what you think will work for your family, let the rest go.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Feel free to dispense your own advice because we've got a pretty steep learning curve ahead. :)

Bringing Up Girls

2011-09-15T18:46:00.000-05:00

Cue the parenting books.

I'd heard good things about James Dobson's Bringing Up Girls, so I started with it. But I knew within the first couple of chapters that I would have to grit my teeth through the rest.

Three things I took issue with:

But here's why I kept reading.

So I guess Bringing Up Girls was kind of like all parenting advice you get--take what you like and what you think will work for your family, let the rest go.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Feel free to dispense your own advice because we've got a pretty steep learning curve ahead. :)

So much for mother's intuition...

2011-09-01T19:56:00.000-05:00

Daily Guideposts 2011

2011-08-30T07:07:00.000-05:00

Daily Guideposts 2011

Even though we're three-quarters of the way through the year, it's not too late to check out the Daily Guideposts 2011. This collection of one-page, daily devotionals features a story centered around a Bible verse and includes a small, sample prayer at the end.

This book is just right for those who are looking to bring more discipline into their daily devotional lives or who just want to supplement a current Bible study with something perhaps more personal.

This edition is the 35th anniversary edition of Daily Guideposts, and it comes with a place for notes at the end of each month. I would be surprised if there weren't a 2012 version, so if you'd rather wait until the new year to start this up, you should have an option then as well.

Christian Encounters: Jane Austen

2011-08-29T21:20:00.000-05:00

Christian Encounters: Jane Austen by Peter Leithart

For the Austen devotee, Leithart's biography is a must. He loosely centers the chapters around her faith, but it's not an overriding portion of the book.

Her piety is so drastically understated; it is a reticent eighteenth-century Anglican piety that barely breathes its own name. She refrains from religious passion and speaks of Christian truths in a balanced, matter-of-fact manner that lacks existential power and is completely free of the spiritual terrors of a Luther or Bunyan.

The book begins by poking a little fun at Janeia (Jane mania) and bemoans the whole Pride and Prejudice and Zombies culture. But Leithart seems to be an admirer, too.

Either way, he does a thorough job covering her writing career as well as her home life, dispels some of the romantic myths surrounding her personality and love life, and, overall, gives the Janeites another look at their favorite author.

Surprise, Surprise

2011-08-29T21:13:00.000-05:00

We're so grateful to have a house and a baby on the way, but here are a few of the surprises/things no one told us that have thrown us for a bit of a loop...

(I went back and added a few of these that I forgot last night. Re: pregnancy brain.)

House surprises:

The junk mail--Oh my word. We keep a UPS box, but that doesn't stop the flood of junk mail from showing up at our house. My own little fun game is to return it to the sender with little notes inside. I feel like I've gained a tiny victory every time.

The $$--So we had prepared for the mortgage and insurance and all. But we didn't totally prepare for the other stuff that came along with the house. Namely, things like the...warranty, alarm system, garden hose, sealing stuff for the door, curtains, long dusters (for the ceiling fans), door mats, garbage disposal, fence, garage door opener...you get the picture.

The time--Our house isn't that big, but it's three times larger than the apartment we've been in for the past four years. So everything from getting my backpack ready in the morning to putting away laundry literally takes three times as long to finish! We've definitely had to adjust our morning routine.

Baby surprises:

The exhaustion--I'm sort of a "pick yourself up and get over it" type of girl when it comes to physical ailments, but God seems to be teaching me to be a bit more compassionate on that sort of thing. I have never ever felt so tired and so incapable of doing anything about it! It's definitely better in this second trimester, but sheesh!

The lack of sleep--I get really cranky if I don't get my eight hours, but this baby has me up every two or three (preparation, I suppose?). If I'm not going to the bathroom, I'm trying to find a position where my back doesn't hurt. Speaking of positions, it is tough going from being a back/stomach sleeper to being on your side! It's getting better, but it takes practice for sure.

The weird cravings/aversions--OK, so you are sort of prepared for this, but you never know what you're gonna get. Being a vegetarian, I get a lot of my protein from nut and nut butters. And peanut butter has pretty much always been my favorite food. (What else is good on both oreos and spaghetti noodles?!) No longer. Cannot take nuts. The other aversions (to cold vegetables, sweets, and chili cheese chips) seem to have passed in these last few weeks, too, but nuts are still right out.

The pregnancy brain--yeah, it's real. I stare at the phone racking my brain for extensions I have automatically dialed for four years. I forget what I'm going to say (or blog), often interchange Fred and Jason's names, and lose track mid-sentence all the time. If I don't write it down, forget about it!

One more semi-surprise will be Baby McBookworm's gender. We should find out boy or girl this week, and I have a pretty strong boy hunch. So we'll see if Mom's intuition is right or if we're in for yet another surprise!

In the meantime...

16 weeks...

18 weeks...(Fred makes another appearance)

And 20 weeks...

Halfway there!

The Power of Half

2011-08-24T07:13:00.000-05:00

The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen

Doing with a little less ourselves can improve the lives of people surviving on less than a dollar a day.

Sometimes when I like a book this much, it's hard not to just gush in the review. So I'm going to try not to do that, but I make no promises. ;)

This book rocked.my.world. For more of my personal reaction to it, you can read here. Now on with the review.

The Salwen family had always been aware of others' misfortunes and eager to help. However, probably as for many of us, this often came in the form of writing a check...

As necessary as financial gifts may be, they didn't resonate with our kids. We parents might have been feeling good, but our kids weren't feeling much of anything.

Their paradigm shift began when they were sitting at a traffic light, and their daughter noticed a homeless man sitting on the corner and another man driving a black Mercedes convertible. She pointed out that if the driver had a less expensive car, the homeless man could have a meal.

Instead of getting into complicated economics or social theory, her parents embraced her concern for others, and the family started researching, discussing, and brainstorming about what they could do to help.

They decided to sell their house and give away half of the money.

Kevin and Hannah take readers through their family's process, including deciding what they did not want to do...

We presumed that involvement would reflect what Westerners traditionally see as their role. We'd be digging wells or laying bricks or painting walls. We'd be working side by side with Africans, spending our money and our time catalyzing brighter futures for them...But then we read and learned....mission and service trips often have a negative long-term impact on the very people they are aiming to serve--not positive, not even neutral, but negative...Unless service trips empower local people in some important way, they do little but help to foster dependence.

And discussing what they learned and how their family changed through the process...

I realized how much tougher that kind of transformation is than digging a well and moving on to the next community. For the villagers, real change requires teamwork, shared sacrifice, and faith in one another. For the nonprofit groups, these efforts take time, consistency, reinforcement, patience. This is not aid; it is metamorphosis.

Kevin writes the main part of the chapters, and Hannah's "take" on things is included at the end. She gives readers--especially younger ones--some practical advice of how to find their own way to help and make a difference in the lives of others.

That's another thing I loved--they stress that they are not suggesting that everyone sell their house and give away half of the money. The book never comes across as preachy, but they do point out two main things. They discuss that most of us can give more than we are giving, and they talk about why we should be doing that.

Again, I loved the book. It's a quick read, a compelling story, and full of practical advice if you want to impact others in a similar way.

For more information, check out their website.

The Power of Half

2011-08-24T07:12:00.000-05:00

I usually keep my book reviews on my other blog, but I just had to share this one here as well because it rocked. my. world. I've pasted the official review below, but this one really has some questions stuck in my head.

How can we help? How can we make sure what we're giving is actually helping? What kind of family do we want to be?

We've always been a tithing family (and have the goal of one day reverse tithing--living on 10 percent of our income, giving away 90). But we also know that we could always do more. I don't know about y'all, but, for us, there's a constant tension between materialism and doing more for others--especially now that we have a kid on the way.

"Don't get me wrong: money is not a bad thing...But spend, spend, spend becomes a brutal way to raise kids; they start to believe that everything is replaceable or that everything costs the same amount. An ever-escalating standard of living becomes the New Normal, something they grow accustomed to."

I'm kind of passionate about not sending our kid into a tailspin of wanting (because that happens so easily to me!), and this book is a great resource for a variety of practical ways to help as well as ways to think through how you're giving.

That's where we are right now--in the thinking/researching/brainstorming stage. But I like action, so, even though it's a very small start--I started by giving away half of my hair. :P

The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen

Doing with a little less ourselves can improve the lives of people surviving on less than a dollar a day.

Sometimes when I like a book this much, it's hard not to just gush in the review. So I'm going to try not to do that, but I make no promises. ;)

The Salwen family had always been aware of others' misfortunes and eager to help. However, probably as for many of us, this often came in the form of writing a check...

As necessary as financial gifts may be, they didn't resonate with our kids. We parents might have been feeling good, but our kids weren't feeling much of anything.

Their paradigm shift began when they were sitting at a traffic light, and their daughter noticed a homeless man sitting on the corner and another man driving a black Mercedes convertible. She pointed out that if the driver had a less expensive car, the homeless man could have a meal.

Instead of getting into complicated economics or social theory, her parents embraced her concern for others, and the family started researching, discussing, and brainstorming about what they could do to help.

They decided to sell their house and give away half of the money.

Kevin and Hannah take readers through their family's process, including deciding what they did not want to do...

We presumed that involvement would reflect what Westerners traditionally see as their role. We'd be digging wells or laying bricks or painting walls. We'd be working side by side with Africans, spending our money and our time catalyzing brighter futures for them...But then we read and learned....mission and service trips often have a negative long-term impact on the very people they are aiming to serve--not positive, not even neutral, but negative...Unless service trips empower local people in some important way, they do little but help to foster dependence.

And discussing what they learned and how their family changed through the process...

I realized how much tougher that kind of transformation is than digging a well and moving on to the next community. For the villagers, real change requires teamwork, shared sacrifice, and faith in one another. For the nonprofit groups, these efforts take time, consistency, reinforcement, patience. This is not aid; it is metamorphosis.

Kevin writes the main part of the chapters, and Hannah's "take" on things is included at the end. She gives readers--especially younger ones--some practical advice of how to find their own way to help and make a difference in the lives of others.

That's another thing I loved--they stress that they are not suggesting that everyone sell their house and give away half of the money. The book never comes across as preachy, but they do point out two main things. They discuss that most of us can give more than we are giving, and they talk about why we should be doing that.

Again, I loved the book. It's a quick read, a compelling story, and full of practical advice if you want to impact others in a similar way.

For more information, check out their website.

Kitchen update

2011-07-14T17:16:00.000-05:00

I hate to cook and would rather be anywhere else than in the kitchen, so it's fitting that the kitchen is our first "finished" room.

Jason painted it a pale yellow, and we finally decided on curtains. I do like having a pantry and counter space (neither of which we had in the apartment).

Then my sweet friend Shelley and her husband gave us the beautiful table (and vase) as a housewarming gift. And, yep, that's a high chair already! Another gift from a couple at church. We're so grateful for all the support from our friends!

On the long-term projects list, I think I'd like to paint the cabinets white (or a lighter color), and I'd love to do a big checker-board black and white tile floor. One day. Maybe. There are a lot of priorities in life that outrank the house, right? :)

Currently Reading...

2011-07-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

Although it's a bit late for that last one. There's a Baby McBookworm headed our way! Due January 17. Wow!

Any other reading recommendations?

News of the Year

2011-07-05T13:14:00.000-05:00

Well, of our year, anyway.

There's a baby on the way! Due January 17.

We're pretty excited. And incredibly nervous. And thankful. {And I'm not used to having so many emotions running around.}

I'll be doing some only-interesting-to-family-and-maybe-not-even-to-them documenting stuff, so feel free to skim those posts. ;)

For example, two pre-bump pictures that I don't feel awesome about posting but know Baby McBookworm will treasure in his/her scrapbook for years to come.

Six-ish weeks...nothing but too much junk in the trunk and painters' plastic on the windows...

Eight-ish weeks...we got curtains! And Fred is still confused...

More thoughts to come, I'm sure. And advice? Anyone? Everyone? We'll take it!

Serious Sixth

2011-07-02T06:54:00.000-05:00

Jason and I are celebrating six years of holy matrimony today. :) On Facebook, I said that I'm celebrating with a guy who cleans the kitchen, walks the dog, and is never grumpy. This is all true {and a little silly}, but it just scratches the surface of things I love about Jason. So, here are six more things I seriously love about my husband...

-He challenges me spiritually. Whether it's looking at a passage of Scripture, how church is conducted, or the way I handle a conflict with a friend, he always asks good questions and provokes me to think about things differently--exploring what God seems to be indicating in a given situation.

-He prays with me. We pray before meals, often before he drops me off at work, and when we're anxious.

-He helps me look at the world in new ways. On the Myers-Briggs types, Jason is an N, and I am an S. He is analytical; I am concrete. He's a dreamer; I'm a realist. He's curious; I'm...not. But being able to get a glimpse of things through his eyes has stretched my mind and made me a better thinker.

-He never judges me when I have a lazy day or when I run screaming from a bird.

{OK, all these have been halfway about me, but that's often how it goes in marriage, right? ha} Moving on...

-He's creative! I love how he goes at a problem, works at it {sometimes for forever, it seems} until it is conquered and perfectly solved. Right now, for example, he's turning one of our closets into a voiceover studio.

-He really is never grumpy. I'm sure he'll appreciate this comparison, but, like Annette Funicello in Back to the Beach, he has been in a good mood for 22 {or 39} years. And that's hard not to like.

RIP, KTW

2011-06-12T22:44:00.001-05:00

I was so sorry to hear that Kathryn Tucker Windham passed. What an amazing Alabamian and beautiful lady.

I first encountered Ms. Windham in fourth grade when I had the flu. I was stuck in bed for almost a week, and I plowed through the 13 Ghosts and Jeffrey series, enchanted by her descriptions and spooked (in a fun way) by the idea of ghosts roaming around the Southern states.

Jason and I had the privilege of getting to know her when we worked at Alabama Public Radio. He knew her much better than I did, editing her stories and interviewing her for her spots on air.

I mostly admired her from a distance, but I will forever cherish her willingness to support public radio (to listen and not give, as she said, was "just plumb tacky"), her recipe for apricot bread, and her everyday sort of stories that meant so much more to us than just the everyday. She leaves quite a legacy.

Go Rangers!

2011-06-03T17:53:00.000-05:00

While Dad was here, we hit up a Rangers game. Exciting finish...coming from behind to win in the 9th.

In my ideal summer, I would be at the ballpark each and every night. So relaxing!

Isn't there a SchoolHouse Rock for that?

2011-06-02T22:53:00.000-05:00

One of the things we were excited to learn about the new place is the opportunity to recycle. I've wanted to do this for awhile, but, I confess, it's just been too difficult to gather the recycles (separately in our small place), then haul them to a place that takes them.

But when the recycle bin is just in the garage, that's a lot easier!

However, I have a question for all you current recyclers. How do you collect your recyclables?

Ours are supposed to be unbagged, which presents a problem with what to do with them in the kitchen.

Every time I empty a bottle of ginger ale, for example, do I have to haul it out to the garage? Am I just being lazy? Or is there a better gathering system?

One down...

2011-06-01T18:09:00.000-05:00

I finished my first summer class, an i-term--Organizational Behavior and Analysis.

The professor referred to it as bootcamp. Indeed--18 days, four tests, almost 500 pages of reading.

But it was, hands down, the most practical bootcamp...er, class...that I've taken so far. Management skills, motivations behind behavior, still lots of theories and models, but all great stuff that I can put to use in what I do every single day.

Whew! Now for a week's break where I try to cram in all the fun reading I can before diving into the next two.

Summer Vacay!

2011-06-01T17:50:00.000-05:00

So, I only have a week between my i-term class finishing and my next two summer classes starting, but it feels a little bit like a vacation. Therefore, reading, blogging, watching House and Stargate, and unpacking are all on the list! (Pleasures are simple these days.)

Anyway, to commence with the blogging, there have been some almost-summer lovelies popping up lately...

Remember this guy?

And, in the winter?

Look at him now!

Wow--greenery explosion!

I'll try to post some updates on the house soon. It's coming along. My dad came to visit on Memorial Day weekend and brought us an abundance of furniture (thanks, Dad!) as well as his many years of homeownership expertise. We learned that we still have a lot to learn.

But we have curtains and a grill, and Fred seems to like his new room. Life is good.

Pigs in the Pulpit

2011-05-16T18:41:00.012-05:00

Pigs in the Pulpit by J. Michael Wittman

Michael Wittman tells a painful, but powerful, story of his experience in a church with controlling, destructive leaders.

Wittman became a Christian after years of struggling with drugs and other difficulties, and he stumbled into a conservative, Pentecostal church that, while warm and inviting, didn't always line up with his idea of what it meant to be a Christian.

I just began to quietly talk to God. I had no preconceptions, no religious ideas and no expectations. It was just Him and me. I don’t remember exactly what I said or how I said it. I do remember calling on the name of Jesus, even though I didn’t really know who He was. I just started pouring out my heart to Him, apologizing, confessing, asking for forgiveness, begging for His help.

I didn’t know it at the time, but what I found myself thrust into that wonderfully wacky Sunday morning was a church organization that many believe departs from orthodox Christianity on several key doctrines, even by their own admission.

Wittman ultimately began to question some of the ideas of the church, in particular the ideas of the senior pastor, but he still ended up following one of its leaders to another church, where he experienced many of the same red flags, frustrations, and spiritual abuse.

After a time, many, many things that would certainly be looked upon as “gray areas” by other

Christians, situations and things which were clearly not covered topically in the Bible, actually became a salvational, i.e. a heaven or hell issue.

One of the techniques they used to modify my mindset is called “love bombing.” Despite my initial misgivings about Jason’s behavior and our head-butting exercises, despite my internal queries about the “rules and regs” ...these cultish warning flags were easily overcome by the amount of love, affection, attention and sincere friendship I was shown by other members of the congregation.

To avoid accountability, they [these types of leaders] want you to think that you’re the one sinning, instead of them.

Wittman finally disengaged himself and his family from the troubled church and its leadership.

I began to ponder some questions like, how did I get here? I am a reasonably intelligent person. I love Jesus. I want to serve God. I love my wife and kids. I want to serve the church. But how did I give my- self permission to get to this point?

He is frank about his own faults but cautions readers against believing they could not find themselves in a similar situation. Also, he does a great job of including warning signs and suggested resources for those who do believe they are in a cult-like environment. The book is well-written, sincere, and moving.

And he even discussed one of my biggest pet peeves...

I’d been around long enough to know that if someone throws out “God said” or “God told me,” there was no point in pushing the issue any further. After all, if “God said” or “God told me” and you disagree with anything else, you’re not disagreeing with me, you’re disagreeing with God!

However, as a Christian myself, I was troubled by one of his conclusions.

My advice is, if you make the decision to finally leave a less-than-healthy church, don’t allow yourself to feel pressured to go to another church. Don’t even put a timetable on it. You’re already a member of the most important church and, frankly, the only one that really matters: the Body of Christ. Don’t let anyone tell you that you must “punch a clock” on Sundays in order to be a healthy Christian. Especially, don’t allow yourself to feel pressured by some internal guilt feelings or “drive” that says you’re somehow falling short of God’s expectations for you by not attending “church.” We need to be the church, not go to church.

He does go on to clarify, saying...

I’m not saying that you should never attend another church again. What I am saying is, get to know your God better, work on your relationship with Him first. Allow yourself time to heal and recover. Life is a marathon journey, not a sprint.

I have never personally experienced a cult; although, I do have close friends who have. I don't dispute at all the idea of needing time to heal, and some might need time away from church to do that.

However, if we're using the Bible as a guide, I don't think you can overstate the importance of the community of believers. From the community of Israel in the Old Testament to the new Christian church we read about in Acts, we see God dealing with His people through community much more often than we see Him dealing with them through personal revelation.

Almost all of the letters in the New Testament were addressed to, read aloud in, and interpreted within the church itself. Ideally, being part of a church helps ensure that we are correctly understanding the Bible and keeps us from basing too many of our beliefs on personal experience and feelings. Verses like these, these, and these underscore the importance placed on the local church and echo Christ's instruction to "love one another."

On another note, Wittman seems to be a thorough reader and a student of theology, so I would recommend that he read some "meatier" material than Joel Osteen and Dr. Phil. I'm not criticizing these authors, but I think Wittman could easily handle and benefit from Wayne Grudem, James Garrett, or N.T. Wright.

Again, Wittman's book is a troubling read--in both the abuses and his conclusions--but it is an authentic and well-told look at the misuse of the church and those who serve in it.

LOEX Conference Photo Essay

2011-05-07T21:08:00.000-05:00

I just finished an intense two days of the LOEX conference (related to academic library instruction). I haven't been to a huge number of conferences in my career, but, so far, this was the best one.

The organization was flawless, the hotel was amazing, and the sessions were informative, entertaining, inspiring (the list of adjectives could go on and on). I'm heading back to work on Monday better equipped and eager to implement some of the things I learned!

In the meantime, I couldn't resist getting some shots of the Omni Hotel in downtown Fort Worth where the conference was held...

(Insert here: the chef at the Omni has a rooftop garden where he grows his own herbs.)

And I know I've said it before, but I really am almost done with the Pigs in the Pulpit review. Tomorrow? Maybe?

Dairy Mayd and Prayers for Alabama

2011-04-30T10:02:00.000-05:00

We were so saddened to see the destruction in our home state this week. Our prayers are with all of you there. While we're incredibly thankful that our families are safe, our hearts are hurting for those who have lost loved ones. It could so easily have been any of us. I have an aunt and uncle in Phil Campbell, a tiny town of about 1,000 people that lost, I believe, 25 of their residents. Their house was severely damaged, but they are OK.

There are so many news stories, pictures, and ways to help that I wasn't even sure what to link to. If you don't know where to start, though, leave a comment, and I'll put you in touch with resources.

On a much less important note, since this blog is serving as my resolution record-keeper and accountability place, I wanted to post that I'm giving up dairy in May. Doctors have advised me to do this for years because I have severe sinus problems. Also, though, it's just a cleaner and healthier way to eat. So I'd like to maintain it beyond May if I can make it.

However, after cutting out sugar and meat, it's going to be tough. Really, really tough. Because I'm a cheese ADDICT. I could take a bath in a tub of cheese...and eat my way out.

I drink almond milk already, and we've used non-dairy "butter" for years, but all the fake cheeses I've tried make me gag. It's like eating fat-free cheese or drinking decaf coffee. Thanks, but no thanks.

If you have any suggestions for tasty faux cheese products, I'd love to hear them. Also, thanks to a vegan friend, I've found some apps that clue you in about hidden dairy products, which I was also concerned about. But any of you have tips on being sure to get enough calcium and protein when not eating dairy or meat?

So, I'll keep you posted on how the non-dairy thing goes in May, and let's all keep praying for Alabama.

Fun All Summer Long?

2011-04-24T20:43:00.000-05:00

I'm finishing up my residency requirement this summer (yay), so things should slow down in the fall. But it's going to be a busy summer. Here's the class schedule:

May: Organizational Behavior and Analysis (my first management course!)
June: Research Methods
June-August: Information and Communication Measurement

We also just bought a house, so life is a little crazy right now. But I am working on a review of Pigs in the Pulpit that I'll try to finish when this semester ends (but before the next one begins).

Happy Easter, and have a great week!

All this time like a vagabond...

2011-04-22T15:17:00.000-05:00

We bought a house. :)

This is it.

I'm excited and humbled and ready to see what God wants us to do with this tremendous blessing. The first thing I want to do is paint! ;)

{FYI...this post title is from "The House You're Building" by Audrey Assad. If you haven't checked it out, do it!}

Spring Tunes

2011-04-07T05:18:00.000-05:00

I tried to make a Spring playlist, but I can't stop listening to a Kate Spade playlist that came out a few months ago. It's 30 minutes of Zee Avi, Mayer Hawthorne, and She and Him, Volume 1 of which is also on the playlist {that's not really a playlist}.

Light. Peppy. Bubbly.

Highly recommended bliss.

April Additions

2011-04-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

Hasn't this Spring weather been wonderful? I love seeing pretties like these everywhere...

Meanwhile, Meatless March was a great success! I feel much lighter, and my conscience is clean. :) Haven't missed meat once.

However, I haven't really slimmed down any, so my April habit is going to be tracking my eating through Lose It. Have y'all heard of this app? It's awesome! I've had it for awhile, but I've been hit-or-miss on actually using it.

After the first five days of tracking, it looks like the chips are going to have to go! While I haven't missed meat, I have struggled with replacing it with salty and sweet snacks. I tried to stay off the sugar through March, too, but that plan was as blown as my bracket. {Don't you just love blogging accountability?}

So I've made a new deal with myself for April. If I eat something sweet, I have to eat meat, too. So far, it's worked pretty well. I was drooling over the sprinkle-covered donuts at church on Sunday morning when I remembered that I would have to eat the kolache next to it. So I just walked away and headed for the coffee. {Hey, you can't expect me to give up everything!}

There was a Radio Lab episode about this same kind of deal-making, too. So I got some "scientific" confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. :P

Besides not eating meat and continuing on with school and work, we've also been doing this...

Can't share too much more yet, but I'm hoping to fill everyone in soon!

Information, Instruction...and Puppies in the Library

2011-04-05T06:45:00.000-05:00

Congrats to UConn! Of course, I had picked Texas...and four entirely different teams to go to the Final Four, but that's the way it goes. This librarian was more accurate. As was my husband, who used some kind of statistical analysis to pick his teams...and predicted VCU making it. Next year, everyone...next year...

Has anyone read The Information? It's going on my TBR list, and I'm curious about it {of course} from the librarian's perspective.

Also, does anyone have experience with LibGuides? I've seen some great ones, and I've been fiddling around with them. But I'm graphically challenged apparently because I can't make them look that good!

I've become more interested in library instruction recently, and this article is a great one about how to teach students to read journal articles. Sometimes you can't read every word of every one--especially when you get to the doctoral level...and there are just.so.many.

It's a long video, but apparently research is showing that having a good library school at a university can help with the effects of poverty.

And, I saved my favorite for last. Freddy gets to come to work with me once a year, but what he if got to go EVERY DAY? Squee!

Letters to Rosy

2011-04-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

Letters to Rosy by C. Ellene Bartlett

Letters to Rosy is primarily the story of two families--Ken and Bridget Mitchell and Trevor and Mendy Arnold--as well as the surrounding characters of their tumultuous lives. All of the stories are told in light of letters between the mysterious Rene and Rosy.

After facing personal tragedy, Ken sets sail for Europe, where he meets Bridget. Meanwhile, Mendy and her daughter, Misty, are kidnapped, and Trevor must put aside his moral failures to search for his wife and daughter.

I was initially intrigued by the idea of a semi-epistolary novel, but the letters tell little of the plot and don't seem to be a significant part of the novel until the end. Unfortunately, this was not the only disappointing element of the book.

It was difficult to tell when the book was set. Clues pointed to present-day, but some scenes seemed better suited to the 1980s (where the timeline would loosely indicate the bulk of the book was set as well). Meanwhile, much of the dialogue and observations sounded as if they came out of the 1950s.

This could be forgiven if the plot or characters were strong, but there were so many twists, turns, and overdramatic developments that it seemed like a typical week on a soap opera in book form. I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to believe in either one, and, as much as I hate to hate a book, I can't recommend Letters to Rosy.

Baylor Day

2011-03-06T19:20:00.000-06:00

My brother was in Waco for the weekend, so we drove down to visit with him. And, yay, Dad flew in, too! We realized it was the first time all three of us had been together in two years. Yikes.

It was a lot of fun. I've been to Baylor's library, but that was it.

We ate some yummy Tex-Mex and watched a mighty fine basketball game before heading back to Cowtown. Love my fam...even if I don't see them that often!

Meatless March...and Beyond!

2011-03-01T05:01:00.000-06:00

I've been doing the vegetarian thing on an on-again-off-again basis for about 15 years now. I decided at Christmas that it was going to be one of the things I would give up this year, and I've just grown more convinced since then.

For the most part, a vegetarian diet is healthier; it's cleaner; and it was apparently the way God started us out.

For me, though, it's mostly been because I have a hard time seeing why it's ok to eat these little guys...

...and not this one...

I think about the conditions they are kept in, the ways they suffer, and I realize it's for my dietary preferences. I suspect if I had to look a pig in the eye and kill it before I had some ribs, I'd have more trouble with that. (And, yes, I know it was different in the pioneer days, but I have plenty of other options now.)

Here's where I've had a hard time in the past. Despite their cuteness, I have a hard time working up a lot of sympathy for these fellows...

It's the whole bird-phobia thing...also applies to chickens. {Look at the claws on that thing! The claws!} But it's a gateway meat for me. Once I'm in the habit of eating it, I put away the broader ethical issues that concern me, and, before long, I'm back to burgers and barbecue.

So I wanted to post this for accountability and also to share some of the reasoning behind my decision. And, while this has become a matter of conscience for me, I hope I haven't given the impression that I am issuing a blanket condemnation of carnivores! I understand that everyone won't reach the same conclusions that I have, but I do think it's important for everyone to be purposeful about their diet. Educate yourself, and decide what's OK, what's off-limits, and why. You never know what you might find!

Budget Cuts?

2011-02-27T17:00:00.000-06:00

What government budget cuts are you concerned about?

I've been disturbed to see the proposals concerning public radio and libraries, despite this good news from earlier in February.

Classes continue to heat up, so I've not been around as much as I'd like. Happy reading, everyone!

Snow Day Remnants

2011-02-26T21:04:00.000-06:00

Came across these photos I took during the snow days a couple of weeks ago.

I might have gotten just a bit punchy...

Heard in Our House

2011-02-23T06:15:00.000-06:00

Jason has a hard time waking up in the morning, so I try to get him a glass of cold water to help in that. This morning, he was stirring, and I said, "I'll get you some water as soon as I finish this."

Him: That's sweet.

Me: That's not a word I hear used to describe me very often.

Him: Silence.

Me: Maybe I should work on that!

lol
To his credit, he was pretty tired. And I'm not that sweet. ;)

February Fun

2011-02-20T08:14:00.000-06:00

Jason and I went out last weekend to celebrate our engagement anniversary (six years...woop!). Then we had some fun taking pictures at Starbucks.

Can you see us in the iPods? Silliness. :)

Fred also enjoyed his eighth birthday!

Weekend Wrap-Up

2011-02-14T17:29:00.000-06:00

I really meant to finish First Mothers this weekend and get a ton of homework done and catch up on a few things. Instead, I just...didn't. *sigh* Sometimes you need a break, right?

Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits from the reading world...

An Alabama-produced peculiar little video about plagiarism (but I like the librarians at the end)...

Glad to see the library at Alexandria is holding up in the midst of the unrest in Egypt...

Meanwhile...Apple is trying to get a better share of the e-book market, and apps are changing how people read on the Internet.

Back to those e-books (and that pesky plagiarism issue), how do you cite them anyway?

And I'm not looking to take on any more book reviews, but if you are, check out Shelf Awareness.

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day!

Give Life for Lent

2011-02-11T05:44:00.000-06:00

I don't usually do videos...or fundraising, for that matter, but this one (it's only a minute-and-a-half) is worth watching--especially if you're giving up something for Lent.

I'm giving up meat...more on that to come.

Wearing Wednesday: Pajamas and Makeup

2011-02-09T06:33:00.000-06:00

We have another snow day here in Fort Worth (after our four last week), so I'm back in my PJs today. However, it wasn't clear what the weather was going to do until the last minute, so I had to be ready to go to work as usual. Thus, the makeup, which, unlike the pajamas, was something I did not wear at all last week. (Yay for my skin; sad for Jason.)

Snow Day 4

2011-02-04T08:20:00.000-06:00

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.

I haven't taken too many snow pictures this year. Felt a bit anticlimactic after last year's dumping. But I kept thinking of that verse this morning when I saw that about another inch fell overnight on top of the solid sheet of ice we've had since Tuesday.

It really was beautiful!

Kamsahamnida's first snow...

Snow nose...

And here are a few of the ice. It completely encased the leaves on one of our bushes and then left icicles hanging from it. Weird, but lovely!

Word of warning: the snow makes the ice a bit easier to walk on. It does not make you invincible. {Ouch.}

Shakeology Cleanse: a review

2011-02-03T16:12:00.000-06:00

Before I introduce you to Shakeology, let me introduce you to Michelle. I first encountered Michelle on a list of seminary students' blogs, and I quickly got hooked on her encouraging writing and fresh perspective. I highly recommend following her on Twitter--she'll bless your day!

Anyway, Michelle is a big fan of Shakeology and, at the new year, proposed a three-day cleansing challenge. I was intrigued with the idea of a healthy cleanse, but our grad school budget combined with holiday travel meant that it wasn't a good time for me to do it. So I saved some pennies and decided to go for it in February.

Here's what I liked:
-It really was a healthy cleanse. No three days of cabbage soup, grapefruit, and lemon-pepper water or anything like that. You still had a bit of fruit, veggies, and protein incorporated into what you ate, and I think I had around 600 calories/day. (Very rough estimate.)
-It tasted pretty good! On a normal basis, you would combine the Shakeology with almond milk, peanut butter, fruit juice, and all other sorts of yumminess. This was just the mix, water, and ice. It wasn't the best thing I've ever tasted, but it certainly wasn't as bad as cabbage soup. :) I can imagine that, added to the other stuff, it would really be delicious.
-I was never hungry or shaky. Sure, I craved the taste of other types of food, but my stomach felt full the entire time. The thing I missed most was my coffee, but I was so excited that I never even got a caffeine headache. Definitely doable.

Here's what I didn't like:
-Even though I didn't get hungry, my energy levels were a little low. I think it turned out to be a blessing that I was off of work those three days!
-As with any cleanse, by the end I was ready for some regular food and, again, COFFEE.
-The cost. Sad, but true. The cleanse was affordable, but I don't think I could shake (bad pun intended) the monthly cost of this stuff. Maybe one day. :) If you can, I'd recommend giving it a try!

Saved by Grace

2011-02-03T09:02:00.000-06:00

Saved by Grace by Sonya Buchanan

SunnyFaith Christenson is a girl who loses her way. A Christian, but entranced by college, relationships, and the distractions of the world, she heads down a path that is not pleasing to God.

Saved by Grace is the story of the consequences of her decisions and the redemption of her life.

It's a familiar story. My walk with Christ was not what it should have been in college, so I could relate to SunnyFaith.

However, I think I was expecting a novel, and the book read more like a series of devotionals that you might find in the introduction to a Sunday School lesson. It wasn't bad, but it was told on a surface level that wouldn't allow readers to become fully involved in the plot or emotionally invested in the characters.

Buchanan also includes Bible verses and discussion questions that could be helpful; although, I was curious about which translation she used for the verses. But these also served to break up the story, and I was reminded again that it didn't seem like a novel.

Saved by Grace would be an interesting book for church groups to use as a starting point for discussions, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're just looking for a good read.

Wearing Wednesday: Mittens

2011-02-02T19:21:00.000-06:00

We're going on our third snow/ice day here in Texas. Woohoo!

Normally, on a break like this, I would drink lots of hot chocolate, eat chili, and play plenty of Mario Kart.

Instead, I drank lots of Shakeology, ate...well, mostly Shakeology, and played homework.

But even though I didn't goof off, I was so so grateful for this break. I hate feeling behind--especially this early in the semester, and this was a huge help in getting caught up. It's been good thinking time, healthy eating time, and I've actually been able to get some sleep.

Good way to start off February!

February Focus

2011-01-30T17:08:00.000-06:00

So a January sans sugar went pretty well.

{This was my oh-so-delicious cupcake treat.}

I only lost an inch, but that is likely due to my replacing sugary snacks with more salty ones. :) This is something I will obviously need to work on in February.

As part of my 2011 plan, I'll also be working on cultivating good habits--not just breaking bad ones. So, for February, I'm going to focus on two: brushing Fred and drinking my water.

I do both of these sporadically but not on a regular basis.

If you know Bichons, you know they are high maintenance little balls of fluff. Fred is on a constant quest for me to spend more quality time with him, so a brushing with a good game of growl as follow-up should be helpful in that area.

Also, I can usually get in about five glasses of water each day, but I struggle with those last three-five that I need. {That should help with those inches as well, yes?}

To kick off February, I'm doing a Shakeology cleanse. I'm pretty sure I can get by with the limited calories, but I'm a bit nervous about three days with no caffeine. I'll be sure to report back next weekend and let you know how it goes.

The field stinks, so I am giving it up!

2011-01-29T07:51:00.002-06:00

In one of my recent posts, Iliana asked me if I still had any time for fun reading. Short answer: not much!

I do still have a few books going, and I've been trying to read just a little bit every day--even if it's just a page or two. Even that, though, has been really hard!

I started thinking about it, and here are some other things that I've either been giving up or finding I just don't have as much time or energy for since starting school...

Cleaning (Jason has become a rockstar in this department.)
Exercise
Facebook
Podcasts
Sweets (yep, that includes chocolate)
Weeknight to-dos

Here are some things that I've been a little surprised to find still fit into the schedule...

Blogging
Healthy eating
Sleep (although not quite as much as I'd like)
TV (not marathons...but we can do one show during dinner)
Twitter
Weekend to-dos (just not as many)

What about you? What do you give up when life gets busy? And any suggestions for this ongoing difficulty of balancing work, school, family, and...sleep? :)

Vacuum Blowout

2011-01-29T07:38:00.000-06:00

So, our vacuum died. The second casualty of a combination of Fred and kind of cruddy, thick carpet.

Here's the thing. We've been hoping to buy something like this...

Or (*swoon*) this...

We wanted to wait just a little longer...maybe until we get a house. We're praying that we can do that this year, so, in a way, it makes sense to just bite the bullet and get the nicer vacuum.

But I'm kind of paranoid that our cruddy carpet will "mess up" the really nice vacuum.

So, dear blog friends, I'm turning to you for advice. Should we get a temporary cheapy one while we figure out the house thing, or should we go ahead and splurge? And if you were buying a vacuum, what kind would you get?

Because I'm Lazy...

2011-01-24T21:12:00.001-06:00

I'll just link to my other blog with a post about our newest bookstore find, Recycled Books.

I'm in love.

Downtown Denton

2011-01-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

Most of what we've seen of Denton has been connected to the university there, but we did a little exploring of the downtown this past weekend. I say a little because the first thing we discovered was Recycled Books, an opera house-turned-book store with three stories of miles after miles of treasures.

And we, of course, got stuck browsing...the books and the quirkiness...

Then, all of a sudden, it was night.

And we made another fun discovery--a local coffee shop, the Jupiter. They make a mean cafe au lait and have tons of tables and space for studying. Starbucks, you've got yourself a little competition in Denton.

Spring 2011 Schedule

2011-01-20T17:29:00.000-06:00

Did I tell you the classes I'm taking this semester? I didn't think so. :)

Statistics for Educational Research

Communication and Use of Information

Seminar in Information Issues

And a {surprise!} addition, Telecommunications and Information Professionals.

Since I added the class, that means I've officially started my residency (two back-to-back nine hour semesters).

I've already started looking at classes for the summer and fall, and it looks like I'm on track to finish my course work in the fall or summer of next year {2012}. How is it passing so quickly?

I'm excited and scared and overwhelmedly pleased with all the goings-on. Hope your week is going well!

Wearing Wednesday: Accessorizing

2011-01-19T22:59:00.000-06:00

I love black on black; it's just really hard to pull off.

It's easier than you think.

{Smallville, anyone?}

How did I pull off my black blazer-on-black jersey dress look today? By adding some of my mom's vintage jewelry and crimson tights (that go with the garnet or ruby colored stone in the earrings and brooch).

I almost went with my red boots as well, but Wednesdays are long days for me {class}, so I opted for my more comfy black ones. And, at the end of the day, I can confirm: good decision.

The Great Grammar Book

2011-01-16T22:24:00.004-06:00

The Great Grammar Book by Marsha Sramek

Always have trouble with your vs. you're? Their, there, and they're? It's and its?

Like it or not, common misuse of these words, misspellings of others, unnecessary or omitted commas, and general poor writing looks really bad to potential employers, professors, and even fellow bloggers.

But Marsha Sramek's The Great Grammar Book is here to help.

A primer on basic grammar concepts, the book is packed with examples, reviews, and tests (and, of course, an excellent index). Sramek has gone out of her way to make those examples interesting for adult writers and to not sound pedantic.

As a bit of a grammar nerd, I really appreciated the thorough, accurate information included, but I also liked the chapter on good writing principles. Because even if you get all the grammar right, it can still be difficult to write well.

The Great Grammar Book is by no means a final stop for learning about grammar and writing, but it is, indeed, a great start.

Where the Heart Was

2011-01-16T18:51:00.004-06:00

Where the Heart Was by Glenn Boyer

Where the Heart Was is a coming-of-age, historical fiction novel that primarily follows Bennie Todd and his family from the Civil War to World War II.

Bennie is young, sick, and poor at the height of the Great Depression, but he loves books, learning, and history. These passions serve him well as his family's luck finally improves, and they are able to acquire farm land in Wisconsin.

The question of Bennie's fate is always in the background as he travels, falls in love, learns about life, and watches war get continually closer.

Bennie's and his family's stories are compelling, and the characters are tragic, funny, and believable.

However, the book employs many, many flashbacks and is terribly long--long and complicated enough, in fact, that I think it would have been better as two or even three books. Boyer writes so well that readers wouldn't lose anything by dividing up and slightly simplifying the story. There are some sections that I would have edited out as well just because, in my opinion, they didn't add much of value.

On the other hand, the detail is part of what makes the story so authentic and engaging, and, despite its length, the book is definitely that. I look forward to reading anything else that Boyer offers.

Favorite quotes...

He'd learned long ago that you had to be sneaky sometimes and get scared pretty good to really have fun.

He often dreamed of that library thereafter; in some enchanted metamorphosis it had expanded. Shelf on shelf was filled with exotic, large books with covers all in glowing colors. He always knew they were books that could be obtained absolutely nowhere else. In one of them he would find the secret of creation and life, if only he opened the right book in time.

A person with him would have been a nuisance, wanting to talk when he wanted to listen, to go home when he wanted to linger and watch.

She smiled, the first time either of them had seen her smile, and it changed her wonderfully, lighting up her serious countenance in some remarkable way.

He contrasted it with all the romantic movies he'd seen about cabins in the West and Alaska and figured it was a good thing you couldn't smell movies, or they wouldn't make a cent.

He'd brought his Ph.D. to a jerkwater high school, rather than to a university, so he could live the contemplative life without having to publish or perish. The contemplative life was just about to be derailed.

Some men are as maternal as women, but they never get credit for it. Most of them hate to admit it themselves. And people, like the ninnies that most of them are, say, "Men are all alike." I know better.

Goof

2011-01-14T23:40:00.000-06:00

Don't you hate it when you mess up?

We had taken advantage of the Shutterfly-blogger deal to get our Christmas cards, and they turned out to be quite lovely!

I was so pleased, in fact, that I went ahead and started a Shutterfly account and got my pics from the last few years uploaded. As another reward, they gave me 50 free prints...and I kept meaning to get around to choosing them.

I finally did get around to it today, spending plenty of time looking back through my albums and deciding which ones I wanted. And, by the end, I was pretty excited.

When I went to checkout, I was surprised to see that my discount hadn't kicked in (the email said it would be applied automatically). So I went back to re-check the details and scrolled down to the fine print to see that it had expired a mere two days ago.

Blerg.

It was totally not Shutterfly's fault, and I still ended up making some cute Happy Birthday cards with Freddy on the front. I'll probably also order more prints at some point, too. But, for now...blerg.

I hate it when I'm reminded that I'm not perfect. ;)

Wrapping Up Christmas

2011-01-13T17:58:00.000-06:00

Well, we had a lovely Christmas in Alabama.

I was so taken with the trees above in the window of one of Tuscumbia's downtown shops. I would probably have a pink tree if Jason would let me get away with it.

Here was another nice one from our favorite stop, Coldwater Books.

And the hubs perusing there. Some good finds this year...

Below you'll see Fred checking out our Snoopy collection and the amazement and confusion of a Davis Christmas morning...

Jason and I were being silly in the last two and swapped gifts. He was very pleased with his purple high heel ornament, and I loved my giant flannel shirt.

We celebrated Christmas and New Year's (and Alabama football) with my best pal Shelley and her husband when we got back...

Long lost sisters, I tell you. We both got each other houndstooth blankets this year. Mine has been oh-so-warm on these cold winter {yet still snowless} nights.

OK, that was Christmas! Back to the 2011 posts.

Wearing Wednesday: Black and Blue {and Belted} All Over

2011-01-12T17:16:00.000-06:00

Two of the lovely, stylish blogs I like {Style Rookie and What I Wore} have inspired me this year to be a little more experimental on the fashion front.

Now, experimental for me is still pretty tame. I'm a librarian, but I'm also a manager--so a higher level of professional dress is expected.

But two things I want to try in the new year are incorporating more color {I wear A LOT of black} and more belts {because it's nice to remember that I have a waist}...

And I have really enjoyed this outfit today!

Just enough blue peeking out in the tights and the layered shirt to make me smile {and not look like a Smurf}, and the belt reminded me to keep my stomach in and stand up straight {in a good way, not in an I-can't-breathe way}.

On another note, Fred is not a fan of the ol' photo booth. Look how disapproving he seems. :)

Thoughts of an Alabama Christian

2011-01-11T00:52:00.000-06:00

I was checking my email after checking the national championship score last night and found my pastor's blog. It kind of hit me like...well, a linebacker...because this is something that I've been marinating on during the last football season.

I grew up in a Bama house, and that meant not only pulling for Alabama but also pulling against Auburn and Tennessee. Those rivalries have always been strong and, at different times in my life, pretty personal. But something felt wrong this season about the level of trash talk, the intense emotions these games stirred. I know for a lot of people (my calm, cool husband, for one), it's only a game and all in good fun. But it stopped being fun for me and started being something I was convicted about but couldn't pin down...until tonight.

Here's some of what Dr. Dean wrote...{emphasis and italics my additions}

Following Jesus requires obedience to Him...But Jesus also knows that something in our sinful selves will always resist going His way. He knows that when we determine we will follow him it will require denying ourselves...Though over time some of the battles with self-denial will grow easier, other desires may doggedly hold on...

Contrary to our wishes, there never is a time when God stops confronting our sinful self with His righteous commands. We may reach a level of maturity where some commands of Jesus no longer require a great battle...But having overcome that habit the Holy Spirit may begin to put His finger on another area of disobedience you had never discovered. It may relate to anger or lust or doing good things to be seen by others...or our attitudes during football season. Rest assured that God will be about this pruning work in our lives until the day we die.

Rejoice when the demands of Jesus call you to deny yourself in a certain area. Know that in that event Christ is pulling you more tightly into His orbit to where everything in your life--even football--revolves around Him.

So {deep breath}, congratulations to Auburn. Let's see if I can be a bit nicer this fall.

Let It Snow! {Again, Please!}

2011-01-10T17:33:00.000-06:00

This is what I was hoping the outside would look like when I woke up this morning...

Nope. Our flurries from yesterday didn't stick.

What's all this then? Oh, this was Alabama on Christmas Day.

And I hear you guys have even more now!

Send some back our way!

Resolutions: 2011 Style

2011-01-08T07:45:00.000-06:00

The idea of destinations worked really well last year for me, even though I didn't reach all my "goals." {But that's the beauty of destinations, oui? The journey is just as much a part of it.}

I'm doing something similar this year, taking a look at what my life looks like and what I want it to look like. I still like the spirituality, responsibility, creativity, relationships, physical, and fun divisions, but I'm thinking a little more holistically this year. For instance, if I'm physically fit, I'm more likely to feel up to investing some time and energy in relationships.

I'm continuing to try to live more simply and cleanly, too, and cultivate good habits. So, each month, I'm going to alternate between dropping a bad habit and starting a good one. {They say it usually takes about three weeks, right? Easy, I'm sure.}

So, for January, I'm giving up sweets. I'm not being legalistic about it. I'm definitely still eating fruit {Fit for Life disciple}, ketchup, even honey. But I'm nixing the cookies, cakes, Little Debbies, candy bars, shots of syrup into my coffee...you get the idea. It's been a week, and it's really been OK so far.

I've missed my nightly Yoplait dessert {Who knew the "good for you" stuff had high fructose corn syrup?}, but sugar-free popsicles are an acceptable substitute. And I have a feeling the weekends will be tough because we tend to splurge then.

But I'm hoping to feel better and, honestly, be a little slimmer by the end of the month. If so, I'll have a treat {perhaps a caramel sundae from McD's?} and continue with the sugar-free life in February.

Censoring Huck Finn, Predicting the Future, and the Demise? of Delicious

2011-01-08T06:51:00.007-06:00

Happy 2011! {We're all agreed on pronouncing it twenty-eleven now, correct? Two-thousand-eleven is such a mouthful.} Several noteworthy things going on the literary world, so let's start the year with some quick links!

Dear NewSouth Books, just what do you think you're doing messing with Huckleberry Finn? Why stop at removing offensive words? Why not just delete any plot lines that, although historically accurate and/or merely descriptive, you find offensive? Bah. You won't be getting my book business.

Almost as controversial...a couple of articles concerning the potential future of academic libraries...

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/dec/23/library-three-jeremiads/?pagination=false

http://chronicle.com/article/Academic-Library-Autopsy/125767/

A challenge for my fellow PhD students to really make that reference list pop!

Has everyone heard about the reported demise (and then refuted demise) of Delicious? Caused a lot of conversation on the listserv I subscribe to, and it seems that many are backing up their bookmarks just in case.

Anyone tried out any of these?

Diigo

Google Bookmarks {Google really is taking over the world, isn't it?}

Finally, congrats to one of my very favorite librarians--Nancy Pearl--on being named Library Journal's 2011 Librarian of the Year! Brilliant!

Winter Wind Hymnal

2011-01-07T17:38:00.000-06:00

I've been working on my Winter playlist. Some of these made the cut simply because of their names; others have snow on the album covers; and others just feel cold to me.

But I'm not as excited about this one as I have been the other two for some reason. Perhaps more Fleet Foxes would help...

Auld Lang Syne-Straight No Chaser (a nod to my a capella loving hubby)
Belfast, Believe, and Cold-Elton John
The Box-Johnny Flynn
Cold Cold Heart-Norah Jones
December-Norah Jones
Dindi-Allison King
The Downeaster "Alexa"-Billy Joel
Here Comes the Sun-The Beatles
House-Elton John
It Never Snows (in Charlotte)-Philmont
Latitude-Elton John
Leningrad-Billy Joel
Please-Elton John
Running on Ice-Billy Joel
Scandinavian Skies-Billy Joel
Snowbird-Anne Murray
Snowglobe-Allison King
Song for a Winter's Night-Sarah McLachlan and The Full Moon Ensemble versions
Spell-Allison King
White Winter Hymnal-Fleet Foxes (a close second favorite)
Winter Night-Little & Ashley
Winter White-A Fine Frenzy
Winter Wind-The Full Moon Ensemble (absolute favorite on the list)
Yellow-Coldplay

Any I'm missing?

And, on another note, do those of you who use Google Reader find that it makes you lazier about commenting? I've read several really nice posts lately, and I've wanted to comment but been all...ergh, I have to click on the blog link, then on the comments...

Lazy. Lazy. Lazy. I resolve to do better about that this year. More about my other 2011 resolutions coming soon.

Birthday Randomness

2011-01-06T19:27:00.000-06:00

So I'd been working on a post for awhile but never could get it to come out right. {Ever happen to you?} And, anyway, it basically came down to...let's all be nice to each other...so there you go. Some excellent advice for the New Year.

Let's catch up. In December, I took a picture of pretty trees...

...celebrated my birthday with lots of free food...

...a lot...

...a lot a lot...

{and this might have been the best sandwich ever. I seriously talked about it for days.}

...got some birthday boots!

...and took a funny pro-PETA picture of Jason

We also went to Alabama and played a lot of Mario Kart. But enough about us...how've you been?

On a Facebreak

2011-01-02T21:53:00.000-06:00

Taking a break from Facebook for awhile. Here's some of what I wrote there to explain why...

In a lot of ways, 2010 was an awesome year. We've continued to see God provide for us and guide us in amazing ways, and we're ready to see how we can serve him this year, too. Jason finished his master's, and we both started pursuing our doctorates. I've taken on some challenging, but exciting, new responsibilities at work, and Fred learned to roll over. :) But in the midst of all the work and school stuff, I got pretty overwhelmed.

A new friend (hi Ms. Leah!) wrote to me a few months ago, "Sometimes when the schedule's too full, it's because we are trying to shoe-horn in new stuff into an old routine. Sometimes it's easier to go with a new routine. Some of what might have been necessary before may not be now." And, since I read that, I just haven't been able to get this idea of a new routine out of my head.

I can't do anything about my work and class schedules, but I can reevaluate how I spend my time outside of there and, maybe equally importantly, what I spend my time thinking about and where I pour my energy. Time and energy have become valuable commodities, and I really want to use them wisely and in ways that please God.

Facebook has been awesome and fun, and I love connecting with friends. But I just need to do that in different ways right now. So I won't be around here for awhile (with the exception of maintaining the library's page and, of course, I'll still get direct messages in my email if you want to get in touch that way).

If you do want to stay connected with me, here's how. Even though it's become old school, I'm a rockstar emailer. Also, I'm reevaluating all of this social media stuff, but I'm planning to keep on blogging and stay on Twitter (@MrsMcBookworm) for now.

So I'm not trying to be legalistic or hibernate or anything...I'm just hoping I can create a new wineskin for this new stage of life that God has placed me in. And I thought I'd give you a heads-up about it.

Thanks for reading, and best wishes for 2011!

The Art of Meaningful Living

2010-12-26T06:41:00.004-06:00

The Art of Meaningful Living by Christopher Brown, illus. by John Palmer

Part self-help, part coffee table book, The Art of Meaningful Living combines beautiful abstract art with thought-provoking questions.

Christopher Brown, a psychotherapist and social worker, provides ideas and guidance for living more thoughtfully and uses the art by John Palmer to inspire readers to think through those ideas and discover how to apply them to their own lives.

Divided into three main sections (wisdom, action, and resilience), the book strategically places quotes and text beside the art to lead readers into thoughtfulness.

It's the kind of book you can read straight through, but you can also take it in smaller bits, return to a particular section again, or just spend time "marinating on" the inspiration found there.

I found the combination of psychology and art a natural one, and it turned out to be quite interesting. Also, the book really is lovely.

If you're looking for a little life improvement in 2011 (resolutions, anyone?), The Art of Meaningful Living is a nice place to start. Find more information at the website.

Lucky Number Two...er, Eight!

2010-12-20T06:49:00.003-06:00

Sorry, Anonymous, but I didn't hear back from you, and I'd really like this to get to the winner before Christmas.

So, I randomized again and got Ann!

Congrats, Ann! I'll email you to get your address!

Thanks again, everyone, for playing!

Merry Christmas 2010!

2010-12-18T21:35:00.000-06:00

Lucky Number Seven!

2010-12-17T06:24:00.003-06:00

Hello Anonymous!

Thanks for the blog love! Just email me with your address by Sunday (tiffanydavisnorris at yahoo), and I'll get the package on the way.

Thanks to all who commented! It's been a fun year!

End-of-the-Year Giveaway!

2010-12-12T11:28:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who has played along with my monthly giveaways this year! I've had a lot of fun choosing, making, and sending along goodies, and I want to go out with a bang. So, for December's giveaway, you'll receive...

Four holiday books: Aurora of the Northern Lights, The Turkey's Treat, Angels for Christmas, and Max Lucado's Christmas Collection

A seasonal NorrisCreations bookmark

Various yummies (let me just tell you...this will involve chocolate and peppermint)

And...a $10 Starbucks gift card. Because you just can't go wrong with Sbux.

OK, I'll randomize a winner early on Friday, Dec. 17 (hopefully in time to get there by Christmas), so leave a comment to enter. For an additional entry, follow me on Twitter, and leave another comment telling me you did that.

Good luck, and happy holidays!

Abstract...Part Two

2010-12-11T11:23:00.002-06:00

The final project in one of my seminars was a paper on social networking. Since I shared the abstract for my author report, I thought I'd share this one as well...

Although online social networking is perhaps better known in popular culture, the overall field of social networking has a rich history of discussing communities, analyzing the people within those groups, and developing models and theories related to their interactions. From the man that many call the father of social networking, Jacob Moreno, to noted professor Harrison White, social networking researchers have built upon the concept’s roots in sociology and anthropology to develop a significant research area that not only studies, but also contributes to social structures. Likewise, information science has a vested interest in these connections as well—when researching information transfer and knowledge management, for instance. The fields of social networking and information science overlap in several other arenas, too, and inter-disciplinary research possibilities are plentiful, as are options for studying how the Internet is affecting both fields. Although research about social networking has significantly increased with the advent of online social networks, researchers agree that there is more information to discover.

Check back tomorrow for the final giveaway of the year!

Social Lives

2010-12-05T15:44:00.003-06:00

Social Lives by Wendy Walker

Immersed in luxury and unable to find in it the slightest bit of pleasure.

This seems to be the state of most families in Wilshire, a wealthy suburb of New York City where the rules are strictly defined.

The standard agreement between men and women in places like Wilshire. Husband works. Wife tends to the house, children, and the husband's needs. And she had done that...she had cultivated one of the most envied social lives in Wilshire...she had done the social research and placed herself wherever she needed to be. Getting to this position had been her job, and she had done it well.

The plot centers on four families, each with their own set of worries or problems from financial deceit to infidelity to typical teenage angst. Walker makes the characters' stories compelling without portraying them as overly tragic figures, and she works in plenty of comic relief. Without giving anything away, the end is satisfying but not as picture-perfect as much of chick lit, which was pretty satisfying in itself.

And there's no denying that this is chick-lit, but it's the best kind. Thought-provoking, timely, well-written--all the while striking a balance between light and heavy.

My best endorsement? I'm in the middle of finals, and I couldn't put it down. When I took a study break, this is what I did.

Other favorite quotes...

I don't think you can actually be a feminist anymore. Feminism is really a way of life.

From one topic to the next, there were loud bursts of raucous teenage laughter, the occasional spattering of the word f---, and exaggerated hand iterations--all of which were meant to draw attention and differentiate the young, irreverent free spirits from the older folks who came into Starbucks for a legitimate caffeine fix.

No Faint Hearts

CECS Class Post (i.e. The Blog is Not Just About the Baby)

Catherine's Birth Story

Baby McBookworm!

Baby's Office

Conflict and Community in Corinth (and Commentaries!)

Learning to Listen

Speaking of 38 weeks...

Irony is...

Resolutions, 2012-style

See ya, 2011

Merry Christmas!

Non-School Reading, Alternative Guide to Dallas, and Renewing Wedding Vows

Updates

Updates and Giving Thanks

Geaux Tide?

Seattle Day Four: Space Needle and Other Surprises

Seattle Days Two and Three: Seattle Pacific University

Seattle: Day One (and a blog update)

Housekeeping Note

Her Fearful Symmetry

Dream Job and Banned Books Week

Classes, Quick Links, and an Update

Bringing Up Girls

Bringing Up Girls

Recommended Reading?

So much for mother's intuition...

Daily Guideposts 2011

Christian Encounters: Jane Austen

Surprise, Surprise

The Power of Half

The Power of Half

Kitchen update

Currently Reading...

News of the Year

Serious Sixth

RIP, KTW

Go Rangers!

Isn't there a SchoolHouse Rock for that?

One down...

Summer Vacay!

Pigs in the Pulpit

LOEX Conference Photo Essay

Dairy Mayd and Prayers for Alabama

Fun All Summer Long?

All this time like a vagabond...

Spring Tunes

April Additions

Information, Instruction...and Puppies in the Library

Letters to Rosy

Baylor Day

Meatless March...and Beyond!

Budget Cuts?

Snow Day Remnants

Heard in Our House

February Fun

Weekend Wrap-Up

Give Life for Lent

Wearing Wednesday: Pajamas and Makeup

Snow Day 4

Shakeology Cleanse: a review

Saved by Grace

Wearing Wednesday: Mittens

February Focus

The field stinks, so I am giving it up!

Vacuum Blowout

Because I'm Lazy...

Downtown Denton

Spring 2011 Schedule

Wearing Wednesday: Accessorizing

The Great Grammar Book

Where the Heart Was

Goof

Wrapping Up Christmas

Wearing Wednesday: Black and Blue {and Belted} All Over

Thoughts of an Alabama Christian

Let It Snow! {Again, Please!}

Resolutions: 2011 Style

Censoring Huck Finn, Predicting the Future, and the Demise? of Delicious

Winter Wind Hymnal