Category Archives: Uncategorized

#SOL19 Day 2 Spark!

March 2, 2019Uncategorizedpaulabourque

Today’s Spark comes from Chapter 7 Social Emotional Quick Writes, p. 130.

I share a video with students called “Just Breathe” to introduce the idea of breath meditation and then ask them, “What are you thinking, feeling, or wondering?”

Here’s the video, my quick write follows.

My Quick Write:

When our students are at their most unloveable, is when they need loving kindness, they need us to see that they are in pain and under stresses we cannot perceive. When I watch this video I try to imagine one of my most challenging students sharing what their experience is like when they are mad. They often cannot articulate it as well as these children, but I know this is what they would say if they could.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had the self-calming skills that are promoted in this video-I know it’s not some miracle pill, but we have to start somewhere, we have to try and teach our students (and even ourselves) how to self-soothe, how to regulate, how to cope in healthy and helpful ways. There are helpful tools we can provide our students, but we don’t need to purchase wiggle seats, squeeze balls, or fidget spinners. For centuries meditation has worked for millions by starting with focusing on our breath.

I love that this video shows a visual for students with the jar of glitter-when they are made it is all shook up but as they calm down the glitter gentle settles down to the bottom of the jar.

I know this will be met with skepticism and with alarm by some who might think we are teaching new age mysticism to students, but the simple act of JUST BREATHING could be a game changer.

I could say more, but that’s my 10 minutes. Would love to hear your thinking.

#SOL19 Day 1 Spark!

March 1, 2019Uncategorizedpaulabourque

This quick write Spark! is a sentence stem from Chapter 8 Teacher Quick Writes (p.155) I sometimes share a Google doc with teachers with stems like this one for them to share their ideas. These collaborative quick writes are a fun way to build a writing community.

You know you are a nerdy teacher if…

You have a hard time watching movies that have been adapted from novels.
Your Facebook memories pop up at least one book you’ve read, reviewed, or posted for that date in your history.
Your Amazon suggestions are almost always kidlit, professional books, or new pens.
You keep a notebook by your bedside for those ideas that pop into your head at 3:30 a.m. and you know if you don’t jot them down you’ll either be haunted by the memory loss or you’ll never get back to sleep.
You plan your vacations around nErDcamps, conferences, or other PD dates.
Your social media is filled with t-shirts ads with catchy phrases like, “Hogwarts wasn’t hiring so I teach muggles instead” or “Keep Calm and pretend its on the lesson plan”
You can’t wait for Tuesdays because that means it’s time to celebrate a few book birthdays.
You envy kids who have started reading the Harry Potter series for the first time.
You celebrate book birthdays every Tuesday.
You see everything as a teachable moment and your husband doesn’t fully appreciate that.
You share Gerry Brooks Facebook videos and only your teacher friends get it.
You have a love/hate relationship with back to school sale flyers.

Ok, there are so many more obvious tell for us nerdy teachers but I am truly blogging as a quick write and limiting myself to ten minutes. Would love to hear how you can recognize the nerdy teacher in YOU.

The Story Behind Our Stories

February 23, 2019UncategorizedFrame Your Story, Half Full or Half Empty, Meditation, Reframingpaulabourque

For the past few years meditation has become a daily practice for me. I love my Headspace and Calm apps that have made creating this habit of self-care so easy. This week one of my Daily Calm meditations was called “Stories”. It really resonated with me because I believe so profoundly in the power of story to shape how we experience life. I wrote a blog post entitled How Do You Frame Your Teaching Story in September of 2017. Each day we create a narrative in our minds, or that we share with others, conveying the events. And even though we may teach lessons about perspective of the narrator, we often forget this when it comes to our own stories, our own narration. As I suggested in my 2017 blog post: “Whether we tell or retell these stories to others, we replay these narratives in our heads and in our hearts. They begin to define those moments and ourselves as though they are the singular truth. They begin to shape our perceptions of our students, our teaching, our lives.“

But there are stories we tell ourselves about all aspects of our lives. As Tamara Levitt (Head of Mindfulness at Calm) teaches us, “The stories we tell ourselves can be limiting. We have these ingrained stories about who we are they can go way back into our past and formed by others. Sometimes it only takes one person’s opinions that can create a story that lasts a lifetime. Stories can dictate our beliefs and limit our ideas of who we are, what we’re good at, and what we’re not. We can second guess ourselves and lose confidence in ourselves. We need to challenge these stories and ask:

Who created that story?
When was it created
Is it entirely true
Does it serve us?
Can we let it go?

I just found out this week that my ILA proposals were rejected and I won’t be presenting with some colleagues that I was so excited to work with. There were a number of avenues for telling that story. I could tell it with an angle of bitterness, depression, resentment, or discouragement. Sure, I was disappointed but I don’t want that rejection to define me, my efforts, or the proposal of my colleagues. We’ve got some great ideas and we are going to keep proposing them. I’m not letting our story end with a rejection letter.

Sometimes we create stories in our personal, as well as professional lives that keep us locked in cycle of discouragement. Teaching is hard. Balancing work and family is hard. Trying to stay fit and healthy is hard. Building financial security is hard. But are the stories we are telling ourselves inspiring us to achieve in these aspects of life, or reinforcing the difficulties and hindering our success?

A friend posted this quote by C.S. Lewis to her Facebook wall this week that fits so well.We all want a happy ending to our life story, but are we actively creating it or are we drafting story arcs that no hero can overcome? We can reflect and ask ourselves:

Are we victims waiting for rescue from another character in the story, or are we shaping our own destinies?
Are we aware of the trajectories we are creating in our stories?
Are we aware of the power we have to revise our stories?

Don’t reflect with a sense of guilt or shame, just curiosity and awareness. Be kind and forgiving to yourself in your stories and then be empowered to embrace them, revise them, or change them. You can’t go back, but you can go forward.

Screen Shot 2019-02-21 at 10.11.27 AM — May your stories be great!

Shared Spark! Starting next weekend (March 1) I will be participating in the Slice of Life Challenge and blogging every day using sparks from my new book. You can preview it here for free at the Stenhouse Website.

In the meantime, here’s a reframing Spark!

“HALF-FULL or HALF-EMPTY”

Think about your day and quick write with each of these perspectives. First try the half-empty perspective and playfully recount your day as though you were Debbie Downer for 5 minutes. Now tell the story as if you were playing Pollyanna’s “Glad Game”. What do you notice? Which is easier? Which is closer to your default approach? How could this reframing be helpful to you or your students?

One More Off My TBR Stack!

REBOUND by Kwame Alexander

Kwame is a master of novels in verse. In this follow up to “The Crossover” we read the story of Charlie (Chuck) Bell as a boy- before becoming the dad to Jordan and Josh Bell. In the summer of 88 he’s just lost his own dad and is sent to live with his grandparents when he can’t seem to make good choices and crawl out of his grief. It’s a pivotal summer for Charlie and told in poignant and often humorous verse that will draw you in and trigger every emotion. Can’t get enough of Kwame’s writing and his compassionate messages for kids coming of age

What’s Your Win?

February 9, 2019UncategorizedGratitude, inspiration, Quick Writespaulabourque

This week as I was meeting with my mentee (and brilliant new teacher) Heather, we were discussing some of the challenges of teaching kindergarten. But then she talked about how she and her kinder colleagues try to share a “win” with one another each day. When they see each other they’ll ask, “What’s your win for today?” This got me jazzed because one of my mantras for this year is Nothing is too small to celebrate, and here these teachers were putting that idea into action.

The next day at my “lunch bunch” (5th and 6th grade teachers in a different school) we were discussing our day and I thought I’d try asking “What’s your win for today?” to each of them. Though some were humorous, and some took a little thinking, they all had a positive aspect to what is often a very tough job. It certainly brought some levity and light to the table.

We see what we look for.

It’s not always easy to recognize a win unless you are looking for it. Sure, we sometimes have those amazing moments that reaffirm for us why we became teachers or that fill us with pride. (Here’s a link to one of my proud teaching moments)But more often there are dozens of wins going on in our day that we don’t celebrate, and might not even notice. Did a quiet student find their voice? Did kids transition well between activities? Did turn-and-talk produce good conversation? Was someone kind to a classmate? Did students enjoy the read aloud? Did you make it to the end of the day!?

We create an environment in which kids can thrive each day and sometimes we don’t realize what the impact is of the choices and decisions we make has on their social-emotional and academic learning. We tend to notice (and perseverate) on what didn’t go well, especially when we are tired and frustrated. But so often the conditions we’ve created spark lots of small victories for our students. We just need to look for them.

This week, try and ask yourself, “What’s my win?” Then perhaps ask a colleague, “What’s your win?“Encourage one another to look for and notice those small (or large) successes that happen each day in your classrooms. They’re there! I plan to revisit this topic in the future after checking in with more teachers on their wins. I’d love to hear about your wins!

Shared Spark! In keeping with the theme of this week’s blog post, invite students or colleagues to quick write the answer to the question, “What’s My Win Today?” There’s a large body of research that shows writing or journaling about positive events or what we are grateful for can have a powerful impact on our mental health and mood. Taking 3 to 5 minutes to reflect on a win could set you on a more positive trajectory for the rest of the day. Try it for a few days and see what you begin to notice.

One More Off My TBR Stack!

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal! Meg Medina has written a compassionate story about a family coming to grips with the brutal reality of Alzheimer’s disease while also dealing with the everyday struggles of daily life. Merci Suárez is beginning her 6th grade at a private school where she was “lucky” to get scholarship, but she doesn’t feel so lucky when she comes up against the most popular girl at school and when her beloved Grandfather, Lolo’s, behavior makes her feel like she doesn’t know him anymore. You’ll fall in love with these characters and find yourself rooting for them to overcome hardship, I know I did.

How Can We Increase Our Touches With Writing?

January 27, 2019Uncategorized#QuickWriting, Jacqueline Woodson, Quick Writes, SPARK!paulabourque

This week was the book birthday of my second professional text with Stenhouse Publishers – SPARK! Quick Writes to Kindle Hearts and Minds in Elementary Classrooms. I felt a great deal of joy on this occasion, but I also experience what many authors have shared-a bit of trepidation. When you have put everything you have into your “baby”, you want the world to welcome it and love it as much as you do. I can tell you that my admiration for all writers and authors has increased exponentially as I appreciate the courage it takes to put a piece of you out into the world and let it go.

I created SPARK! because I know that the only way we get better at something is with practice, I could see that with my own kids in dance and soccer, as well as any task they excelled in. But with our tight teaching schedules many kids aren’t getting nearly enough writing practice as they need.

My son Casey’s soccer coach gave his team some great advice, “If you want to up your game you need to increase your touches with the ball, every-single-day.” That meant time and touches outside of practice. Casey found dozens of small moments each day to increase his touches and practice his footwork and ball drills-usually in our living room! It made all the difference for him as a player.

I want to increase the touches our kids have with writing each day-outside of the regular practice of writing workshop. Short bursts of practice throughout the day that can increase their skill and confidence. But I also wanted those touches to move beyond the same drill and skill and kindle creativity, engagement, and enjoyment.

I curated a collection of “SPARKS” or prompts to “Kindle the Hearts and Minds” of our students because I wanted them to grow as writers, but also as humans through their writing. The obvious benefit is that builds up the volume of writing. We’re building in opportunities for fluent practice and because they are low stakes (not graded or assessed) they encourage more creativity and risk-taking. Maybe less obvious, but also important, are how they can be used to develop off-page skills. We aren’t just raising readers and writers who are college and career ready, we are raising human beings who need to be life-ready These quick writes encourage critical thinking, creativity, communication, mindfulness, appreciation and a host of other social emotional skills in addition to writing skills. I’ve set up each chapter with a different focus so teachers can choose from a variety of beneficial sparks.

And the beauty is that it doesn’t require much of our most precious commodity–TIME. Most of us can find 5-10 minutes in our busy schedules, why not use it to increase those touches our kids have with paper and pencil, or even keyboards, to spark wonder and curiosity, explore their thinking, increase their appreciation and compassion, or play with ideas. I believe with a short investment of time we can yield some terrific results with our students’ learning and lives.

I’ll try to share a SPARK! with each blog post this year to encourage you to give them a go, or you can preview the whole book here for free at the Stenhouse Website.

Shared Spark! One way we can use quick writes is to help our students reframe their thinking. I offer some quotes as sparks for students to respond to that give them an opportunity to reflect and possibly reframe their thinking to embrace a more positive outlook or mindset. Try one of these:

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”-Abe Lincoln
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”-Wayne Gretsky
“What doesn’t challenge you, doesn’t change you.”

Students are free to respond in any way they choose for about 5 minutes. I often take the next 5 minutes to let them share their thinking and appreciate the diversity of responses. Let me know if you give it a go!

One More Off My TBR Stack!

Harbor Me

HARBOR ME by Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson has an uncanny ability to create incredible stories that speak directly to her readers’ hearts and to tap into the raging currents of our time. I can no longer read one of her books without hearing her voice- layered with passion and lyricism. In this story six 5th grade students in Brooklyn are sent to the art room alone each Friday- just to talk- by their very wise and trusting teacher. It becomes the ARTT (A Room to Talk) room and gradually each shares their hopes, fears, and experiences in such a way that you do not pity them, but want to embrace them. As Ms. Laverne shares, “Every day we should ask ourselves, ‘If the worst thing in the world happened, would I protect someone else? Would I let myself be a harbor for someone who needs it?” The response of these students in word and deed is a resounding, “I WILL HARBOR YOU.“

When One Is Enough

January 13, 2019UncategorizedOne Little Wordpaulabourque

I love reading through posts in January to see what One Little Word people choose to help them focus their energies and passions in the upcoming year. It is often hard to think of just one when there are so many ideas racing around in my head and so many passions beating in my heart.

One thing I want to do as a coach and colleague this year is to help us all become more mindful and present during our days. I would often find at the end of the day that I’d wonder, “What did I even get done?” There would be times that I’d notice my shoulders were tense or my jaw was clenching and I’d realize, “Oh, I’m feeling stressed.” In my post last week, I shared my first activity toward encouraging greater mindfulness.

So I thought, sure MINDFUL would be my One Little Word. But then I pushed that thinking and wondered, “To what end?” and I realized it was because I wanted to appreciate the moments and experiences I have in this short life. I wanted to experience more gratitude for what is, and less angst for what isn’t. Comparing what could be or nostalgia for what was can suck all the joy out of what IS. Being more present with what is happening around me and inside of me can help me focus on the gift of being alive.

GRATITUDE encompasses so many other intentions as well-it encourages me to be thankful for KINDNESS, GROWTH, CALM, TRUTH, POSITIVITY, LOVE, MINDFULNESS…you name it. It encourages me to accept people and events in my life for what they are and not feel so compelled to change them. I can only change ME, and if I do it with a grateful heart I believe it will lead me to a more gratifying life.

I‘ve got a few ways to intentionally focus on my GRATITUDE this year (and build a more writerly life!) They involve quick writes each day to reflect on my blessings, happiness, and gratitude. They won’t take a lot of time, and the research on how gratitude can change the brain is pretty profound, and I’ll explore/share some of that this year as well. I believe these will be a valuable investment of a small amount of time each day!

So as challenging as it was to choose ONE little word, I am satisfied that this one is enough! Whatever your One Little Word is, may it lead you to a richer life in 2019.

One More Off My TBR Stack!

24 HOURS IN NOWHERE by Dusti Bowling

I wanted this to be my first book in 2019 because I wanted my year of reading to start out with a bang-and it did! Dusti Bowling takes me to a part of our country as different from my home in Maine as possible-offering a window into the lives of several poverty-stricken children in Nowhere, Arizona.
But being poor is relative for Gus, Rossi, Jessie, and Matthew who enter into a deadly Frenchman mine to seek a piece of gold, each for differing reasons. As the mine collapses they begin to bond over how hard their lives have been and find that if they survive, their lives could be altered forever. I love Dusti’s writing; she is somehow able to weave humor into trauma, peel back layers of her complex characters, and bring us to her beloved desert with vivid descriptions. Kids are going to love this adventurous tale!

A Gift to Remember

January 6, 2019Uncategorizedcoaching, Jarrett Krosoczka, Mindfulness, self-carepaulabourque

We teachers are part of the village that raises our communities’ children, but somehow it seems we are increasingly the only ones being held accountable. So much is continually asked of us, expected of us, and evaluated of us that many teachers are leaving the profession and fewer are choosing this path as a vocation. We need to find ways to support one another in an increasingly stressful life as teachers. As an instructional coach, I see part of my job as encouraging greater self-care and supporting teachers hearts and minds as well as their professional learning.

This year I wanted to give a small gift to our teachers that might make a meaningful impact. I’ve been practicing greater mindfulness in the past few years that has helped me find a better balance in my personal and professional life, as well as in experiencing a greater sense of harmony and presence in my day to day life. A weekly yoga practice, a daily meditation practice, and lots of ‘Zen’ reading has fueled this awakening.

But until it becomes a habit, it can be easy to forget to be more mindful. So I wanted to gift a reminder to my colleagues that might help them. I gave each a mindful marble as well as this letter:

My hope is that we are able to reduce some of the stress in our lives and develop a deeper sense of gratitude for what IS and worry less about what COULD or SHOULD be. I would love to hear how you are practicing self-care and welcome ideas for how we can support one another in the coming year(s) and open our hearts and minds to more meaningful experiences.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One More Off My TBR Stack!

hey kiddo HEY, KIDDO by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

A powerful graphic memoir by author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka, this left me with greater appreciation for his artistic success and deeper empathy for our children growing up in homes with addiction. Krosoczka offers us glimpses into his life that are raw and real; heartbreaking at times and inspiring at others. He cleverly incorporates original artwork from his childhood and teen years, as well as letters from his incarcerated mother to share his story. This is no pity party, but it is sure to move you. With difficult subject matter and authentic obscenities I’d say this is a powerful window-book for older readers, but could be an inspiring mirror-book for children growing up in similar situations. A National Book Award Finalist, this novel deserves all the praise it is receiving. You can see Jarrett’s TED Talk about his journey from boy to artist here:

Letting Go

December 23, 2018Uncategorizedpaulabourque

My post this week isn’t about school, books, teaching, or even the holidays. Though they have all been on my mind, their importance was diminished by the passing of my dearest buddy, Murphy, and the shock and sorrow that enveloped my family.

Thirteen years ago we rescued a little dog, or maybe he rescued us. He came into our lives and brought so much joy each day. Walking through the door we were always welcomed with an exuberant wag and warm cuddle. He would patiently wait for one of us to sit and then take up residence in our lap. He lived to snuggle and we loved it so.

In recent months he’d slowed down and was no longer able to jump into our laps so we bought little stairs to ease his way. We knew there would be no forever, but we were never ready for no more. I think he waited for my daughter to come home from college, to see his Bailey one last time, and for that I am beholden.

We relive our last moments as though they were somehow more significant than the thousands of kisses and snuggles and other precious moments that preceded them. For me, I recall kissing him goodnight, chucking his chin, and whispering, “I love you, buddy,” the way I did each evening. Then during the night his sleep became permanence and my buddy was gone.

Our heartache was excruciating at the discovery, and the tears flowed until we could literally cry no more. But “after great pain a formal feeling comes”, a gratitude so deep it is lifting me out of anguish. I realized I would not feel this grief if I had not loved so deeply, and that is the price we pay for loving others in our tenuous lives. If we outlive those we love we will grieve, and hopefully our grief evolves into a gratitude that sustains us.

I know others are suffering far greater traumas in life, but to compare is to miss the point. We each in our lives must navigate great pain. “First chill, then stupor, then the letting go.“I am hurting, I am sad, I am finding a new normal, I am letting go.

Goodbye, Murphy. We love you so.

IMG_0900-1 — Casey’s first kiss from Murphy

48396834_1935184976578150_8451929274075578368_n — A million snuggles with Murphy.

48412942_1935184876578160_969041576569339904_n — Always in search of a lap.

48402888_1935184913244823_7656178452394934272_n — A face we will never forget.

Delicious Words

December 16, 2018Literacy, Uncategorized#DeliciousWords, Author's Craft, Beautiful Words, Reader's Notebook, Writers Notebookspaulabourque

Have you ever been reading along in a book and suddenly the words wake you out of your reading trance? The precise selection, the unique arrangement, or the magnitude of their meaning dawns on you as pure delicious reading. And once you are awakened to their presence you hunger for more-then unsurprisingly you find more. You just needed to be stirred from your suspended animation.

I’ve decided I want to start collecting these delicious words so that I can go back and savor their flavor, but also to share them with others to give them a sample taste. Last week I started a hashtag on Twitter #DeliciousWords to begin collecting lines that caused me to pause and reread, to ponder the author’s process at that moment in selecting just the right words to convey their thoughts so beautifully. Here are a few from this week’s reading:

THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE by Dan Gemeinhart

And then Friday I attended a Heinemann workshop with Penny Kittle and Linda Rief in which they shared their writer/reader notebooks with us. I was totally mesmerized at the way Penny crafted “Beautiful Words” entries into her notebooks. This took #DeliciousWords to a whole new level for me! Now I want to collect even more deliciousness and preserve them in a notebook. Check out some examples she shared (used with permission):So if you are looking for ways to revitalize your writer/reader notebooks, literally take a page from Penny and Linda. They weave the look of Found Poems with the skill of noticing authors’ craft with these beautiful entries. If these creations of art are too intimidating, just start collecting with photos, copying lines, or tweeting out the #DeliciousWords you find. Share what you savor knowing no two readers have the exact same tastes, variety is the spice of life!

What’s On My Book Radar?

Screen Shot 2018-12-16 at 8.36.19 AM SWEEP: THE STORY OF A GIRL AND HER MONSTER by Jonathan Auxier

Every once in awhile you read a book that you simultaneously can’t put down and yet want to it to stay immersed in that world and linger on-SWEEP is one of those books. Jonathan Auxier takes us to the world of child chimney climbers in Victorian London, who are typically indentured servants trapped in a life of cruel and dangerous work. Society turns it’s face away from the horrible child labor because their fear of fire is greater. We meet Nan who was raised by the Sweep, but when he mysteriously disappears she is forced into the servitude of Wilkie Crudd-a Fagin-like master who works his children to the brink of death. When Nan is nearly burned alive in a chimney she wakes to find herself in the care of a mysterious creature. She befriends “Charlie” and learns that he is a Golem sent by the Sweep to protect her. But in this hard life they struggle to save each other and the children that no one cares for. Beautifully told with so many lines I needed to write down to remember. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book-a perfect Dickensian read for the holidays!

A Different Gift This Year

December 2, 2018UncategorizedAnne Ursu, Book Talks, Colby Sharp, Guilt-free Holiday, Mindfulness, The Lost Girlpaulabourque

Most of us are well into the holiday season already. Thanksgiving was early this year, which stretched the festivities by an extra week for most. Hannukah starts today for my my Jewish friends and Black Friday is already in the rearview mirror. Talk at the staff room table often centers around plans and shopping for the holidays.

It’s festive, it’s fun…it’s frenetic!

This year we’ve already had several snow days before December even arrived and during our last one I realized it was the first time I didn’t have some project or plan waiting for me to work on . My book is off being printed, my National Boards are completed, my workshops and conferences for the year are behind me. I had a day to myself without a TO-DO list nudging me along. It was incredible!

It got me thinking about how infrequently I experience that situation. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining about my ‘busyness’-I love living life to the fullest and packing in as many experiences as I can into this short journey I’ll have on this earth. I rarely regret any of the choices I make to do, go, or create – but I also realize there is a cost that I sometimes ignore. In order for the value of these experiences to be more meaningful, I need to appreciate that.

I decided that for this December I am going to give myself a guilt-free gift that I can unwrap each day and appreciate…the gift of NO. (or No, Thank You!) I work at four schools and each has it’s own Secret Santas, Goodie Days, Gift Exchanges, and Christmas Parties. In the past I have tried to participate in something at each school to feel connected to my colleagues with the spirit of the season. And I enjoyed each experience very much, but what I neglected to recognize was the cost of participating. Sure there is a monetary cost, but it was the mental cost of planning, scheduling, shopping, remembering that I didn’t fully appreciate. I almost always found myself scrambling to fit it all in and over-scheduling myself with the preparation parts.

I have no worries that anyone will feel slighted, in fact, I think that’s a bit of hubris to think that my absence would negatively impact anyone. I love leaving my own notes and gifts to teachers and friends that fill me with gratitude and offer them some holiday cheer-and that doesn’t need to be on anyone’s schedule but my own.

Saying “NO.” is not saying “Bah-Humbug”!

“No” offers me the gift of space. Space to say “Yes” to something I may not have had time for. Space to be open to in-the-moment simple joys-to sit and listen to music, watch my tree twinkle, snuggle with my pets, gaze at the flames in the fireplace, savor a Christmas cookie nibble by nibble. “No” invites more mindfulness because it reminds me that I have choice in all I do-that I can make choices with more intention. It encourages me to BREATHE IN the spirit of the season. May you find a little of this guilt-free gift in your stocking this December as well. You deserve it.

One More Off My TBR Stack!

THE LOST GIRL by Anne Ursu

Anne Ursu is a brilliant storyteller. She knows how to dangle just enough foreshadowing and mystery in front of her readers to pull us in and keep us captivated. She knows how to create characters we cheer for and cringe at. She knows how to weave the threads of plotlines together to create a gorgeous tapestry of story. The Lost Girl (releasing Feb 12,2019) is her latest gem.
Identical twins Iris and Lark have been inseparable until 5th grade when their parents think it best for them to be in separate classrooms. They have no idea the impact this will have on their girls, especially at a time when strange things are happening in their community. A mysterious shop sets up in town that Iris can’t seem to resist. Lark keeps having possessions go missing and becomes more reclusive. Neither has any idea of the danger that awaits them, but our surreptitious narrator tries to warn the readers-are they paying attention? Not all is as it seems!

Here’s a book talk by Colby Sharp!