Recent Top Pics

I never get to read as much during the school year as I would like to, but the books I have read recently are fantastic.  If you're looking for something and don't know what, you may consider giving one of these a try.

P.S. None of these are LDS fiction.

I Am the Messenger

I wish I could have every single one of my students - especially the boys - read this.  A little too mature for freshmen in this town...but I can't stop thinking about it, that's how good I think it is.  I've already gotten four other teachers/staff at this school to read it.  I can't wait to finish other's on my "Don't put off any longer" list so I can read this one again.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Another I am spreading the word on.  I haven't seen the movie yet, but would recommend the book to EVERYONE.  A Holocaust story from the point of view of a German child who really has no idea of what is going on...I don't think I've ever read a story about the Holocaust from this point of view.  Haunting.  A quick but meaningful read.

The Book Thief

I'm still reading this one but I'm already in love with it and decided to pass on the title.  This one is also about a girl during the Holocaust who steals books, including from Nazi book burnings.  The story is narrated by Death...who better to tell the story of the Holocaust.

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult's novel's are so interesting because they all (of the three I've read) all center around a legal and moral issue.  This one is about a 13 year old who seeks medical emancipation from her parents because she is sick of being a donor for her sister with lukemia, while knowing that if she does this it could very well lead to the death of her best friend.  I kept thinking of my own sisters the whole time, which made the conflict even more heartbreaking.  I read this one almost straight through.  I actually don't think I did much those three days!  

Kissing Sweet Cheeks

Claudia and Adam blessed their baby Claire this past weekend, so we all trooped out to Portland for the occasion and to finally meet our newest family member.  Of all of the pictures I took over the four days of the children, I never had anyone take one of me with Claire.  So Adam may get his wish after all of his brother Trent being the favorite because he probably has proof of himself snuggling with this little sweetheart and I don't...which means she won't either.  But enough sobbing over my wounds!  There is a theme to my pictures:  babies and scenery.  And when it boils down to it, what made the trip fun was not so much what we did but that we were together.  So while I hate not being verbose (which I guess is what a blog was originally intended for), this is mostly pictures of the children whose cheeks I just adore smootching!

I WASN'T FIBBING...

...when I said the lovely ladies in my department have a habit of showing up dressed like the others! Here are two more examples: