Family Weekend

With four brothers, three sisters, three sister-in-laws, two nephews, a niece, plus the parents, any weekend family get together means lots of people. Any family get-together tends to be fast and only about twenty-four hours. With work schedules, commitments, and travel time, we usually have about twenty-four hours together. With four siblings, three sister-in-laws, two nephews, and a niece out of state, it is a rare occasion when all sixteen can be together.

For this trip, four siblings stopped along the way to the parents to enjoy dinner with a brother and sister-in-law. Though a bit of a detour, it worked out perfectly since they were enjoying an anniversary weekend and were going to miss the other family. The dinner passed way too quickly as we caught up on life happenings--sharing work stories, hearing about various trips and adventures, and updating on general life. An outsider would have noticed the six of us engaging in small-group conversations or whole table discussions. The outsider would have noticed the conversations ranged from work stories and general life updating, to books read, and movies to see plus upcoming events to plan for. Sadly, dinner passed too quickly, and the time came for us to say our good-byes. The two celebrating their anniversary continued their weekend get-away, and the other four traveled on to visit the parents and a niece and nephew.

Though we pulled in around 10:00 and we were all positively exhausted from a full week of work, it wasn't time for bed. Hugs were given all around as travelers and hosts settled on the infamous couches to catch up on life and enjoy each other's company in the short amount of time.

The lights turned out at midnight as the nine month old niece was fed and put back to bed by her adoring uncle while the rest crawled gratefully into their beds. But family weekends aren't for long nights of sleep, before we knew it, the morning arrived, and we were back to visiting.

Throughout the day, an outsider would have observed a rotating group of people in the kitchen as they made muffins, peanut butter blossoms, pizza dough, then the pizzas, and finally chocolate pudding. Conversations in the kitchen ranged from how to make all the food, to possible weekends for other visits, to life, to dancing, movies, work, and people.

In the living room, people came and went all day long as they discussed classes, concerts, practicing, and people. Family talked, family napped, and family played with the nephew and niece. The nephew used his excavator and the niece crawled and explored everything. Sometimes the nephew would cuddle up with grandpa, or an aunt or uncle for a book or Daniel Tiger. A trip to the park with the nephew and niece was an absolute must.

Wherever you were in the house, people were around. Singing would start randomly or someone would be playing the piano. The house was filled with family and love. People came and went all day long as two other sisters dropped in for the day and six friends visited, some for the morning and some for the evening. The house was filled with family and love. As people went their separate ways, the house became quiet again and was slowly put back to order, but the love was still evident as each person went back to their lives.

Books and Memories

Some books are linked with my memories. When I reflect on some memories, a certain book comes to mind; or when I talk about a book, a specific memory comes to mind. 

I remember always carrying an Agatha Christie around in my purse. I remember being at camp and just wanting to sit and read it instead of talking to my counselor or participating in activities. All the Agatha Christie book memories are a blur since I read so many of them. 

I remember sitting and reading The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner in one sitting in RuthAnn's room in my favorite chair. This past week I added a new memory in conjunction to the Queen's Thief Series by Turner. Starting at 2:00 PM, last Friday, I read The Thief, then went right into The Queen of Attolia, and finally straight into The King of Attolia which I concluded at 3:00 AM, Saturday morning. If I owned Conspiracy of Kings, I probably would have read that one on Saturday. Instead, I finished it last night since my copy had arrived. Will Turner please publish the next one? 

I remember finishing Emma by Jane Austen, for the first time, on the couch as people were talking and walking around. I was flat on my stomach soaking it all in frustrated with the noise but too engrossed in my book to stand up and walk upstairs.

I was in eighth or ninth grade, and my parents had invited a family over for dinner. The family had a daughter about my age, and I remember asking if she liked to read. She responded yes. I was excited to find another person who said she liked to read, so I asked if she had read Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, which was one of my favorites at that time. She just stared at me as if I was crazy for asking if she liked that book. I came to realize that she didn't read like I did.

I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird on a trip to Pennsylvania to meet up with my Uncle Danny. I remember trying to continue to read even though it was too dark outside because I couldn't put the book down. I was in the third seat of the van sitting all the way against the window.

I remember on another Christmas visit to Pennsylvania laying on my cousin's bed as I read My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. That was also one of the first books where I wrote down my thoughts about the book as I was reading.

I remember reading Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers and furiously typing in all the great quotes in to my phone. Tracking your reading thoughts on your phone is not the most permanent ways to preserve those thoughts and quotes.  

Savvy and Scumble by Ingrid Law will always be connected as I read them back to back on my couch this year. I'll also, strangely, connect Gone Girl by Gillen Flynn and American Gods by Neil Gaimen with my awfully unpatriotic 4th of July since I read those two back to back. Thankfully, I started with Gone Girl and then moved to the much better novel, American Gods.  

I could probably continue to sit here and reflect over the books and memories which are forever tied to one another, but it's time for me to move on to other things this evening.

Which might include making more memories which will forever be tied to a book.

Or just memories in general. 

Ten Year Friend

Last evening I was chatting with my good friend Charity. We realized we had been friends for almost ten years. We both mentioned that we thought we were each others first ten year friend. Looking back, we were so young and different when we first met. We've grown over these ten years. I can't wait to see where we will be in another ten years.

July of Family

July has flown by in a whir of busy weekends and packed full weeks visiting family, teaching, packing, and moving. For the first two weeks in July, I was still teaching summer school. During that time, I started to dive into curriculum planning. The joys of lining up lessons, units, and timing to standards and expectations. It also started my multiple weekends visiting families.

July 4th, I headed to my brother's in Minneapolis where we made DELICIOUS food. Skirt steak with chimmy churry sauce, grilled German potato salad, fresh fruit, and homemade lemonade.

After wrapping up summer school, I headed to Madison for a sister weekend. There we enjoyed amazing food which included a Brazilian Steakhouse and an amazing Thai Restaurant. The amazing experience of finding Far from the Madding Crowd in a bargain theater which was a great movie experience with my sisters and the wonderful lady who gasped the whole way through. Pedicures and talking throughout the whole weekend made for another fantastic weekend.

The following week was filled with packing, packing, and more packing as I prepared to move. But before moving was camping with my sister. We had a beautiful campsite (a lake front site) and highly enjoyed our experience!

We arrived back Sunday afternoon. Naomi swapped places with Philip, and then the moving began. We moved Sunday evening and Monday morning. Plus short trips Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon of random things. Good thing it was only a move across town. We unpacked, cleaned, organized, and took many a trip to Walmart. By Wednesday, most everything was finished, and Philip headed on his way, and my week ended with unpacking the last couple of boxes and catching up on my grad class work and Mom and Dad stopping by for a short visit.

Now, I'm heading into the final week of July, and all my visits with family for the month of July are finished. It is back to work I go as I school plan and continue to work on my class. Of course, there will still be time for relaxation, books, movies, and friends.

Proud Teacher Moment

A moment happened this year that I never want to forget, and I never want to forget it for all the good reasons. 

My fourth graders had become increasingly passionate about the social issue of racism throughout the year. It was the last week in April. The long sprint to the end was just beginning. The crazy testing schedule was just beginning. All the end of the year field trips were right around the corner. The last month was going to be absolutely crazy. 

Our reading lesson was in the afternoon because something had taken up our normal morning slot. We were learning the strategy of comparing and analyzing two different accounts of the same events. I was using a non-fiction text which described the March on Washington. 

It wasn't long before my students were heated and passionate about the inequality. One student called out, "Why do we call them black and white people, aren't we all just people?" Other similar statements were stated about how horrible racism is. Another said, "I wish we could do something to stop racism, but we're just kids." They wanted to do something but felt like they couldn't be cause of their age. I didn't want to let this moment pass, so I chose to step in. 

I told them that it didn't matter that they were kids, they too could help. In our writing, we had been studying social issues and the students were currently working on action plans in regards to a specific social issue. They could take what they had learned and put it into action right now. 

We sat their brainstorming different ideas of how they could help. The students wanted to raise money to give to President Obama which he could use to stop racism. I suggested that the money should probably go to a specific organization and not just be sent to the President. We spent the last 15 minutes looking online to see what we could do and gathering fundraising ideas in a document as a class. All the student groaned when I told them we were out of time and had to head to physical education! 

I spent my prep time talking to the principal and getting approval for our fundraising and searching for an organization where we could send our money too. I wanted to be prepared when the students came back. I wanted their idea and passion to be able to come to fruition. 

After snack and read-aloud, we discussed the Ruby Bridges Foundation as a possibility to send our money too. Then we discussed how we were going to fund-raise--Penny Drive and selling items at lunch and recess. The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing signs, writing an informational letter to parents about our Penny Drive, deciding what items we would sell, and preparing items to sell. At the end of the day, I stopped them and told them to look at the clock. I said, "You had an idea at 12:30. It is now 2:45, and we have a plan to raise money and a foundation we are going to donate it to which will help to stop racism. Please don't tell me you as kids can't do something if you want too." 

I was incredibly shook up by the end of the day. My students wanted to help. They saw so clearly that racism was wrong and had to stop. I hadn't forced them into this; they came up with the idea and made it their own. They took their ideas and were ready to start and help as much as they could. I was in complete awe. 

By the end of our selling time and Penny Drive, our school had raised over $700 for the Ruby Bridges Foundation. I have never been more proud of my students than in those moments of them taking action instead of being bystanders. 

Change

The last month of school just flew past in a whirl of upheaval. Between state testing, field trips, finishing up required curriculum, and staff changes, I blinked and the school year was finished. I said good-bye to my fourth graders happily waving them away on the buses at 3:15 on Wednesday, June 3rd. Yesterday, I said good-bye to my coworkers not quite sure who would all be in my building at the start of the 2015-16 school year.

Between the district deciding to do some necessary shake-ups, and staff choosing to make move to other buildings and positions, our small building with a staff of about 35 has been in a whirlwind of what the staffing will look like for next year. Here's the rundown of all the staffing changes which caused the upheaval and whirlwind:

1. Art teacher leaving. At the beginning of the school year art teacher's husband received a job in Northeastern Wisconsin. She would finish out the school year and then move to be with her husband.
2. 4th grade coworker/mentor leaves in March. She took a Title Math position in district.
3. 5th grade coworker leaves in March. He also took a Title Math position in district.
4 and 5. Two long-term subs are hired for the end of the year at the beginning of March, one in fourth and one in fifth to replace the teachers who went to Title Math.
6. 4th grade coworker will leave at the end of the school year. In mid-April, she took a position at one of the lower elementary schools.
7. One of the special education teachers will be taking #6's position for the next school year leave a sped position open.
8. Principal will leave at the end of the school year. Right before Memorial Day, we found out that our principal is being moved to be assistant principal at the middle school and part-time principal at the elementary charter school. The current principal at the middle school will be our new principal.
9. 4th grade coworker will leave at the end of the school year. Following Memorial Day weekend, we learn that this coworker took a sixth grade science and language arts position at the middle school.
10. Guidance counselor will leave at the end of the school year. She announced, following Memorial Day weekend, that she took the guidance counselor position at the middle school.
11. Secretary is retiring. She announces this the second to last day of school. She is moving to be closer to her grandchildren.
12. A paraprofessional is fired. On the last day of school.
13. The long-term substitute in fourth grade will most likely not be given a contract for next year.

It's been great to work with these coworkers for the first two years of my teaching career, and it will be interesting to see what my third year of teaching brings. I've learned so far that teaching is never stagnant!

My 40 for 2014-2015

As blogged about earlier, I set a challenge for myself that I would read 40 books throughout this 2014-2015 school. The challenge and specific amount stemmed from reading The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. Besides my personal challenge, I also made this a requirement in my classroom.

Miller proposes the only way to become a better reader is to read more. By requiring 40 books to be read in the school year, children must read all year long. If you have read The Book Whisperer, you know that Miller doesn't give a grade or a consequence for not reaching the 40. If a child has read 20 books this year as opposed to the couple that were completely read last year, that's an accomplishment. Celebrate the accomplishments.

Miller suggests dividing the 40 books into different genres to encourage children to read across all the genres and to build a wide interest in a variety of books. I encouraged my students to read across the genres, but if they chose to read in one or two genres only, I didn't push it too much. For my class and myself, the requirements were:

• 5 Traditional Literature
• 5 Realistic Fiction
• 4 Historical Fiction
• 2 Poetry Anthologies 
• 4 Fantasy
• 2 Science Fiction
• 3 Mystery
• 2 Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
• 4 Informational
• 9 Chapter Book Choice 

Tonight, I finished my 40th book for the school year. A mixture of kids books, young adult, and adult literature make up this 40. I've never read so much non-fiction in my life and enjoyed it so much. I read some books because they were recommended to me, some were read to stretch me as a reader, I read others for school book clubs, and some I read for pure pleasure. Here are my 40 for the 2014-2015 school year.

Traditional Literature 

1. The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson

2. The Wedding of Mistress Fox by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm

3. Ouch! by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm retold by Natalie Babbit

4. Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm retold by Paul Fleischman

5. Sally Ann, Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett by Steven Kellogg 

Realistic Fiction

1. Each Little Bird that Sings by Deborah Wiles

2. There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom by Louis Sachar

3. Landry News by Andrew Clement  

4. The Strange Case of Orgiami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

5. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Historical Fiction

1. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

2. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyle

3. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor by Lauren Tarshis

4. I Survived the Nazi Invasion by Lauren Tarshsis

Poetry Anthologies

1. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman

2. Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson edited by France Schoonmaker Bolin. 

Fantasy

1. Savvy by Ingrid Law

2. Scramble by Ingrid Law

3. The Flames of Olympus by Kate O'Hearn 

4. Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst

Science Fiction

1. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

2. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd 

Mystery

1. Who Could that be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket

2. The Bride Wore a Size 12 by Meg Cabot

3. The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle 

Biography, Autobiography, Memoir

1. Knots in my Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli 

2. A Promise Kept by Robert McQuilkin

Informational 

1. Personality Plus by Florence Littauer

2. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

3. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

4. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai 

Chapter Book Choice

1. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

3. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

4. Shakespeare Saved My Life by Lauren Bates

5. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

6. Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

7. Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth 

8. Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth 

9. The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne

Two Years Ago

Two years ago, I was student teaching and starting the job application process. I was ready to graduate in two weeks, and then finish up another month of my student teaching. I was anxiously waiting for job interviews and that job offer while praying, writing, and thinking about it every waking moment.

Now, I'm moving toward finishing my second year of teaching, and Philip is the one graduating in two weeks. RuthAnn is the one anxiously waiting for that job offer. I'm now praying for her job for the fall.

As I think through my job searching experience two years ago, I'm dumbfounded at God's leading and direction. 6 weeks after graduation and 2 weeks after completing my student teaching, I was offered my full-time teaching job up North.* During those weeks, I had four other interviews, my Grandma died, and I finished up my college experience. 6 weeks after my job offer I was out on my own for the first time in my life.

It's amazing to see God orchestrating every step along the way as I now look back which only makes me even more thrilled to see how He will continue to guide and direct my life in the years to come. One day, I'll probably be looking back on this post and time in my life reflecting on God's continued direction in my life.

*May 3: I walked across the stage for graduation after months of reminiscing and reflecting.
June 6: I finished student teaching. 
June 19: I had my (unbeknownst to me) last interview at 11:15 AM. 
June 19: I, technically, started my summer school job, but I missed the first day because of my interview. 
June 19: I was offered my full-time job up North at 4:30 PM. 

Pappy and Grandma Memories

My roommates grandmother passed away about three weeks ago. Through her loss, I couldn't help but remember the loss of Pappy and Grandma and be transported back to those crazy weeks.

Pappy died 6 February 2010. Mom had driven down a week and a half before his death because we knew the end was in sight. Mom called Dad on Monday or Tuesday and said that she didn't think Pappy was going to last more than two days. Dad took the first available flight out. The rest of us were at home waiting for the call. I was in my first year of college trying to figure out how much school I could miss for the death of a grandparent. I was busy trying to get work off and be ready to leave at the drop of a hat.

By Friday, Pappy was still alive, though he hadn't eaten or drunk in days. Mom told us to drive to Matt and Michelle's in Indiana. The Four and Naomi piled into Naomi's car, which didn't have a working car adapter, and made the drive to Indiana. A horrible snowstorm was coming through which meant it took us closer to nine or ten hours to arrive instead of the normal seven. It also meant we spent a good hour sitting on the highway without moving. We entertained by crouching around Joanna's iPod watching What's Up Doc. Also enjoying Naomi's crazy heat--burning hot one minute and then not working at all later.
 
We arrived late at Matt and Michelle's tiny apartment and crowded in crashing on their sofas and floor. Saturday, we were in limbo as Pappy was still hanging on throughout the day. Michelle introduced us to her delicious White Chicken Chili, we watched Arrested Development, and 500 Days of Summer, waiting, waiting for the call and trying to decide what we would do for school and work if the call didn't come through that weekend. I don't remember if it was dinner time or past, but the call finally came. I cried knowing that I would never see Pappy again on this earlth but would one day be reunited with him in heaven.

We drove Sunday morning to Pennsylvania, I, with Matt and Michelle in their truck, and the rest with Naomi in her car. We arrived and ended up watching the New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl. Still one of the greatest Super Bowls I remember just because it was a great time to bond and watch it with my family and relatives.

Monday, the family started to trickle on in. Dan and The Four made homemade pizza for dinner. People made runs to and from the airport for all those who were flying in.

Tuesday was all day visitation. One at two and one at seven. That was one of the longest days of my life. I hadn't ever seen anyone I loved so much dead before. I hadn't seen them with all the make-up and wrinkles gone as they lay in the casket. I sobbed uncontrollably. I remember Mom and Matt comforting me. After the initial burst, I was okay, but I walked away with such a nauseous headache. Carol's family provided dinner at her mom's house which was just superb. But my head raged on and we still had two more hours to go in the evening. Finally everything wrapped up. I was raw and hurting and lashed out my sister for worrying about the sleeping arrangements at a time like this. I was being foolish.    

The service was Wednesday morning starting at the funeral home and then ending at the church. There was too much snow on the ground and the roads were too dangerous for everyone to go to the burial, so the color guard played Taps and folded the flag of honor for Pappy and gave it to Grandma just outside of the sanctuary. I could not keep it together during that moment. Two of my aunts went to bury Pappy while we went downstairs for the luncheon. It also happened to be my cousin's birthday. We ate and caught up, waiting to sing and eat his cake until his mom returned from burying her dad. It was fitting to sing the Ledgerwood version of Happy Birthday on the day we buried Pappy, to honor him and let him know his legacy was living on.

Then began the long drive home throughout the afternoon and evening arriving early Thursday morning where I then stumbled to bed and woke scant hours latter to arrive bleary eyed at my 7:20 AM class.

Grandma held out for three more years and passed away 30 May 2013, just a couple of weeks after Calin was born making Grandma a Great-Grandma for the second time and my Dad a Pappy for the first. Grandma's health had been failing for a good while too. She defied all odds and lived for many, many years after her severe car accident which partially paralyzed her.  

This loss happened when I had one week left of student teaching. I received the call that Thursday as I was at school. School had finished for the day, and I was prepping for the next day. Mom was the one who called, just like when Pappy died. I remember my cooperating teacher giving me a hug and comforting me after I hung up. We left early Saturday morning, but this time we drove down with The Four picking Joanna up in Milwaukee. From there, we enjoyed the ten hour car ride to Pennsylvania like only The Four can.

Sunday was visitation. Going through the good-bye process is never easy, but the second time I knew more what to expect. Again, Carol's family provided a delicious dinner in between the visitations. The service and burial were on Monday. This time, the weather was nice so we all were able to drive to the burial site. Lunch was next and more catch up time with the cousins and relatives.

Joanna left to catch a flight right after the funeral and lunch. RuthAnn, Philip, and I were going to leave Wednesday morning, but we arrived back at Dennis and Carol's around 2 and just decided to get in the car and drive back. None of us had to be back until Thursday. RuthAnn and I traded off as Philip helped keep us awake. We made it back, exhausted and fell into bed grateful for the full-day at home before returning to work Thursday.

The hardest part about loss is all you want to share with those who are gone. Many things have happened in these five years that I want to share with my Pappy and Grandma. I think of Grandma and how she always encouraged me to get an education and never held me back from my dreams. I think of how proud she was of all her grandchildren and their various accomplishments. I want to tell her that I was able to get a job right out of college and how I have lived on my own for almost two years. I want to sit next to her and learn more about her childhood and her nursing escapades. I want to talk with Pappy about the Oldies and how I think about him every time I hear Blue Skies. I want to walk with him and learn more about his time in World War 2, his work for the tire companies, and how he finally started his own business. I want to tell them about my students and coworkers and all the crazy things which happen throughout a teaching day. I want to share with them my new life on my own. I want to sit and play Uno with Grandma and take a walk with Pappy.

My time to share my life and learn more about their life is past. I cling to the special memories of my years with them and thank God for the precious years I was able to have with Grandma and Pappy. I will always miss you Grandma and Pappy, but I look forward to the day we will be reunited in heaven!
 

Something's Coming

I feel like Tony from West Side Story. Maybe it's just the day, maybe it's the fact that spring is coming, maybe it's the fact that there's about 12 weeks of the school year left, maybe it's the fact that my first graduate class is coming closer and closer, or maybe I've spent too much time thinking, but it just feels like something big is right around the corner.

 

Read-Aloud

Their eyes are glued to me, all their mouths are closed, and there is a hush in the room as I thunder and yell away. Kim's class to the left and Megan's class across the hall are away at their specials, so they miss these daily tirades. Lori's class closes their door firmly to keep out the noise. Chad and Kyle, though they are further down the hall-way, also have their doors closed.

This is my favorite part of the school day. Reading to my students.

Our current read-aloud is Matilda by Roald Dahl, hence the daily tirades as I attempt to convey Miss. Trunchbull. When I read to my students, I am reminded of the power of the written word. Holding a child's attention is never easy, but the power of the words can captivate them for those few precious moments.

Then those few precious moments are gone, and we are on to the next part of a day. I know they look forward to those twenty minutes as much as I do.  

Challenges

Too long I had been coasting--reading what was easy and fun but not what would challenge or grow me as a reader or a thinker. My steady diet was children's, young adult, and fluff books. I didn't want to think as a reader. I wanted to escape into another world.  But I realized the escapism I had found in reading was no longer satisfying me. I had matured and grown but my choice in literature had not.

By the time I started full-time teaching, I was barely reading and definitely not challenging myself as a reader. I taught my students how to challenge themselves as readers yet I would not do the same for myself. I would listen to my siblings discuss their thinking from their reading and come up short because I had read nothing to challenge myself.

I came to the conclusion, about a year ago, that enough was enough. A personal challenge and determination had to be set. I was going to challenge myself as a reader. I didn't set any specific goals of how many books I was going to read through the year or what books I was going to read. My decision was to read a variety of books, books I might not first pick-up, books recommended by people I trust, books recommended by random people. I was going to read, and I was going to think as I read.

My reading discipline started slowly, but it started. By the summer, I was choosing and reading books from all over. I was encouraged in my challenge through my reading of The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I started her 40 book challenge in my classroom this year and took the challenge myself. With the majority of books, I kept track of my thoughts in my reading journal. Today, I just finished my 24th book toward my 40--some children's books, some adult books, a graphic novel, and more informational than I expected. Today, I'm challenging myself as I read a variety of books and pause to think about them.