Confessions: I took a few years off from going on regular library visits with my kids. What kind of homeschool mom am I, anyway?
A busy one. One who works from home and finds that when she’s not home, it’s very easy to get behind on work. (Imagine that.) Something had to give, and committing to go to the library regularly was one of them.
Sad, I know. But we have full bookshelves in five different rooms in our house. Trust me – we are not without books. Purchasing books to have for easy school access became much easier than going to the library once a week to get what we needed for assignments. Books are a great investment, after all. I don’t mind spending money on good books that we’ll use over and over again.
So here we are, with our full bookshelves, saving a fair amount of time each week on the chore of finding our resources at the library. I’m grateful to check that off my list of jobs I need to do. But what about activities we want to do? Well now, that’s become a different story.
The past few months, the younger boys and I have started going to the library more frequently again. We go because we want to. We go because the boys are older now and have new and varied interests. We search the shelves, finding books that seem intriguing, and we go home with a big pile. I love that these books are used in addition to our school books. These books are “just for fun.” (You know, because for some reason, we can’t call school “fun.” Oh please.)
We’ve learned new recipes, become experts on volcanos, tried our hand at drawing comics, learned new card tricks – and by “we” I really mean “they.” I love watching the boys take off with a book and come back full of new ideas and knowledge.
Today was a library day for us. Looking at all the amazing books available to us made me pretty excited. Yep, today I’m thankful for the library – one of the most basic perks of life there is.
Lisa Appelo says
Yes! We also love the library! And the email reminder system our library has (Library Elf) has saved me many times. This week, I’m thankful for prayer and that we can count on others for prayer. http://lisaappelo.com/prayer-postcards-free-printable/
Kelley says
This particular Tuesday, I’m grateful that it’s payday and that I’m still alive. My REALLY bad health doesn’t allow me to work, so my husband’s income is the only income e have. I have been really sick for the last few weeks because we haven’t been able to afford my medicine, and I get to get it today! :) My sugar went so high a few weeks ago that my husband couldn’t wake me up, so he called 911. At the hospital, the doctor told my husband that all the medicine I was on was all wrong and that it was a miracle I was still alive. He referred me to a new doctor that would help me, even though this new doctor wasn’t taking patients. He told me to call the next day for an appointment and tell them he sent me. He turned out to be that doctor, LOL. He said he really wanted to help me because it was unacceptable that I’m that sick at my age (34) when I could be helped. So far, he’s changed my insulin and oral medication, and taken me completely off of 3 others. He also told me to start taking a good fish oil and multivitamin (any recommendations?) The fish oil is for my cholesterol ( my triglycerides were 1,318!, but I have got them down to 699 by following your menu plans :) …..NO MORE sneaking McDonald’s or anything else my hubby brings home) and I am Vitamin D deficient. We also found out that I’m anemic, and my platelets are moderately clumping. I also have high liver enzymes, a high white cell count, and heart inflammation (I have a heart defect and I’ve had a pacemaker since I was 15). So, not only am I grateful for payday to buy fish oil and vitamins, and not only am I grateful to be alive for my husband, my 3 children, and myself, but I am grateful for YOU, for sharing your knowledge, and information that IS helping others!!
Shannon says
Kelly,
A good fish oil that has really helped my triglicerides is Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil. you can get it at most health food stores and I think Amazon has it too, but you have to pay the shipping. It’s kind of pricey ($29/bottle), but the bottle last about 3 months. You can get it in pill or liquid. I buy the liquid because it’s cheaper. They have flavored ones (orange is my favorite). I hold my nose when I take my dose and then drink a swallow of orange juice and you don’t get the fishy taste at all. It’s helped my trigs and I haven’t had one sinus infection since I started taking it. I used to get 2 or 3 a year. I also don’t seem to be getting as many colds as I used to.
Shannon
Sandra @ Sandra's Ark says
I am thankful that God does not think we are worthless or failures
http://www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/nothing-kept-that-boy-down-dose-of.html
ms.p says
Menu plan. I did it this week and it so much easier. I change things around but I have an idea. I have free steaks so guess what for supper tonight. What plan for today will be thursday.
Annie T. says
hehe! I laughed rather loudly when I read this post. We don’t go the library very often either, because we own more books than our local library. When we do go to the big library, we take suitcases to haul our hundred+ books out! My mother and I want to start our own private library, when we finally get enough bookshelves to hold all our books! :)
Today, I’m thankful for nice warm sweaters! It’s pretty cold around here, and if I didn’t have my thick sweaters, I would have gotten a cold last weekend when my brothers and I helped at camp, taking the dock system apart for the winter. That water was cold! :)
Shannon says
I LOVE the library and I love it even more since my DH bought me a Kindle a couple of years ago for Christmas. I don’t even have to go to the library to get books now, can check them out on-line. I still go about once a month to get magazines, movies and CD’s, but Kindle library books are the bomb. You don’t even have to worry about returning them. They automatically “return” when it’s time.
Shaelahaney says
I am thankful I can teach my kids new games. Today my 9 and 7 year old learned checkers.
Karen says
Today is library day for us too!!
Today I’m grateful for my very supportive husband and the continued blessing he is to our family, and for God’s grace to uphold us for more than 25 years.
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
I have found that as my kids have gotten older, we do spend less time at the library. I am so thankful for our library, though. What a wealth of knowledge that is found there! Today, I am thankful to have had a cup of coffee with a friend while we encouraged each other regarding a common hurt in our lives. God is good, even in the hard things. I love these posts, Laura, as they help us keep focused on how much we truly have to be thankful for.