Reading: Radvent journal Dec. 14
Posted on 14. Dec, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in inspiration, radvent
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while doing your christmas shopping, buy a few copies of your favorite childrens book: One for you to re-read, and the others to gift to your loved ones.
Did you like to read as a child? Do you read more or less now?
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As a child, I loved reading. I would hide under the covers at night and hold my red plastic flashlight under my chin reading late into the night–midnight, 1am, 2am, and then my parents would come in and tell me to turn the light off. I was buddies with my school and public librarians, and I had so many book orders every month in class that I carried them home in a big cardboard box. Now I am lucky to read a magazine article, or half the e-mail in my inbox, let alone commit to a book. I do a lot of skimming–magazine articles, blogs, chapters in non-fiction books. But I don’t think I’ve read a story, anything fictional, since required reading in college.
My favorite books:
Charlotte’s Web, Boxcar Children, The Handmaid’s Tale, A Wrinkle in Time, Peter Rabbit, The Golden Compass, The Castle, McCall’s Make-It Book, The Anti-Coloring Book, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, Have You Seen Hyacinth Macaw?, The Road to Serfdom, The Big Hungry Bear and the Red Ripe Strawberry, Olivia Saves the Circus, The Creative Family, Siddhartha
Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul. -Pope John XXIII
I was a bright kid, and it’s all because of the books I read when I was growing up. I learned how to spell words, I learned about grammar rules, I learned about new geographic places, I learned how to decoupage! I learned how to make a pom pom! I learned what Pangea is! I learned how spiders make silk! I learned the proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth on a face and how to draw a figure! I learned the Russian alphabet. I learned that lemurs only live in Madagascar. I learned how to set a formal place setting. I learned how people migrated to North America on the Bering Land Bridge and how Vikings and ancient Egyptians floated their dead out to sea. I learned so much as a little kid, all the time, because I read so much.
When I had Alice, I committed to reading to her every day, and now I’m falling in love with board book characters–especially Olivia and all of the Richard Scarry characters. I want her to love reading and love learning. I want to ride bikes with her to the library and peek into her room to see her under her covers with a flashlight. Maybe it’s just because I was that way–like I am another parent wanting their kid to turn out just like them. But whatever.
I don’t think there’s a best way to read. Some people like grown-up novels on Oprah’s book list, some people like newspapers, some people like to read blurbs in magazines, some people like to scroll through blogs full of pretty pictures. I like to read magazines. I like how they are a combination of everything great–pretty pictures, quotes and lists that can be skimmed and read quickly, shopping guides, and sources of information. I love holding them in my hands, being able to rip the pages out without guilt, and throwing them away after I’ve exhausted them of inspiration and received a fresh stack of new ones on my porch.
“A day can shift into a profound place by the reading of a single perfect sentence, at the perfect time.” -SARK
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Make a place to read in your home. A place that welcomes calm and reflection and invites you to transport your mind.
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Cozy chair, cozy blanket, natural light, beautiful fake light, candle, chalkboard table, flowers.
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Click on the thumbnail below to download a printable .pdf of today’s radvent journaling prompt! Or check out the graphic on Flickr.
Are you writing your own radvent responses in your journal or blog? Feel free to share the link–they are awesome sources of inspiration for everyone!
20 Responses to “Reading: Radvent journal Dec. 14”
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Marianne Carter
23. Dec, 2010
5:01 pm
For more Alice books, you might want to check out the “Max & Ruby” series by Rosemary Wells (http://www.rosemarywells.com). They’re cute books, and I seem to remember them in cardboard versions for babies. Also love the Beatrix Potter stories–I’ve never seen them in cardboard versions, but the illustrations are classic and the animal characters are fun.
Joanne
17. Dec, 2010
1:29 am
Love the pic of you and ur husband.. so warm and cosy..
Rachelle
16. Dec, 2010
10:27 pm
I ADORE magazines for the very same reasons. Crafty magazines and home decor magazines make my heart flutter!!
Kelly
15. Dec, 2010
10:39 pm
Great prompt idea!! I’m behind a bit, but jumping back in with this one
http://ourlincolnlog.blogspot.com/2010/12/reading-radvent-day-14.html
SteffanyF
15. Dec, 2010
12:12 pm
I LOVED the Boxcar Children and The Little Mouse, The Big Hungry Brear, and The Red Ripe Strawberry. I gave all of my Boxcar Children books to my 13 year old cousin, and a new copy of the Red Ripe Strawberry book to my friend’s 4 year old daughter. Love love love. I wanted to eat that big red strawberry so badly. NOM.
marienkafer
15. Dec, 2010
11:55 am
Still keeping at it… this was a good one! Brought back some great childhood memories.
http://lebendesmarienkafers.blogspot.com/2010/12/radvent-day-14-reading.html
Today’s is going to be tough!
Lady
15. Dec, 2010
10:09 am
For more Alice books, you might want to check out the “Max & Ruby” series by Rosemary Wells (http://www.rosemarywells.com). They’re cute books, and I seem to remember them in cardboard versions for babies.
Also love the Beatrix Potter stories–I’ve never seen them in cardboard versions, but the illustrations are classic and the animal characters are fun.
Natalie
14. Dec, 2010
9:36 pm
I love this one! http://nataliesnotebook.com/?p=196
alycia
14. Dec, 2010
8:17 pm
my favorite book was The Bed Just So! i loved it and would love to get my hands on a copy of it today
http://www.thecuriouspug.com/2010/12/radvent-2010-reading.html
Georgia
14. Dec, 2010
2:32 pm
Writing my post for today as we speak,
Love the Yellow Bag, where is it from? xx
georgia
14. Dec, 2010
3:39 pm
No worries found it on an old outfit post! – ted baker! love it
Princess Lasertron
14. Dec, 2010
10:30 pm
you got it!! I love that bag so much!
Emma Erickson
14. Dec, 2010
2:15 pm
Oooooh! Yaaaaaaaaaaay The Golden Compass is your list!! Excited because I LOVE Philip Pullman!! <3
Check him out friends!!
http://www.philip-pullman.com/
Lindsey
14. Dec, 2010
12:42 pm
Random musing:
Who takes your photos? I know you take your own candids and stuff, but you have so many nice, casual photos of you and your husband — they’re all so lovely! Photos of the two of us usually involve me holding the camera as far away as I can (thankfully, I have long arms…)
Princess Lasertron
14. Dec, 2010
10:35 pm
aw thanks! usually my mom takes them–my mom took that one.
Creole Wisdom
14. Dec, 2010
12:28 pm
I could read “The Handmaid’s Tale” over and over again. It never gets old. It is still gripping. I found an old DVD of the movie with Natasha Richards (I think). It was pretty good. The story is just so gripping.
Godmama Teresa
14. Dec, 2010
11:27 am
I used to be a HUGE reader. If it was one of my favorite authors (all sorts of scholastic books in grade school, romance in jr. high and high school, then mysterys and thrillers), I could literally stay up all night and finish a book. Nowadays, I’m lucky if I can stay awake to finish the latest issue of “People.” I’m inspired by your “Radvent” series, but this particular post really touched me. I am going to commit to getting back into the daily habit of reading! This will make my mother the Librarian happy I think! By the way, I remember being in awe of your reading ability at age 3 – if I tried to skip words in the “Red Ripe Strawberry” you’d correct me:)
Lenore
14. Dec, 2010
11:04 am
Oh man, my favorite post so far! I love reading, and I am trying to motivate myself to restart my goal of reading 50 books a year in 2011. I’ve done it two years in a row, but this year I just couldn’t make it. Blerg!
Here’s my Radvent!
http://asmallbird.tumblr.com/post/2313643239
Amanda @geekdetails
14. Dec, 2010
10:30 am
I loved this radvent. I read all the time and it’s one thing that I absolutely have to make time for in my life. Everything else can go to hell in a handbasket, but the books must continue to be read.
I love your little reading nook area. I lost mine recently due to cold weather rearranging, but i think i NEED to work on getting it back today.
http://geekdetails.com/blog/?p=4103
Sarah
14. Dec, 2010
7:13 am
I LOVE to read and my mum was the same she used to have to come in late at night telling me to go to sleep and stop reading, I rarely find the time since the kids, I’ve a stack of books I keep meaning to read. Your post has given me the push I needed to start reading, Love this series of blogs post.