Curiosity Journal : February 9, 2011

Friends, this was not a banner week for the Curiosity Journal. Feeling lazy. And I want spring! Go away, Old Man Winter.

Reading: Unshaken (Rising from the Ruins of Haiti’s Hotel Montana) by Dan Woolley with Jennifer Schuchmann

This was an unexpected gift in the mailbox from Compassion International. Woolley works with the organization, and it was that work that had him on Haiti when the tragic earthquake hit. Woolley tells his story of being trapped inside a small space for 65 hours, not knowing if he would live or die. The most touching moments of the book come when his wife, Christy, tells her side of the story. How she coped with not knowing if her husband was dead or alive.

The Missional Mom (Living with Purpose at Home and in the World) by Helen Lee

A review copy; I’ll have more to say about this later, because this book is . . . stirring up lots of emotions, desires, fears, etc. and will demand a lengthy response.  Honestly, I think Helen wrote this book especially for me.

Playing: Uh oh. What have I played this week? I’m at a loss.

Learning: Told you it wasn’t a good week. What have I been doing with myself? Lazy Monica.

I did find a few good websites for our homeschooling: Livebinders.com and Young Scientist Challenge.

Reacting: Alas, I haven’t been paying attention to the news as much as I did last week. Perhaps the result of overloading on Egypt and her troubles?

There you have it, my week’s Curiosity Journal. If anything, the discipline of keeping this weekly, written record of what I’m doing with my days is bringing home to me how exactly I’m spending my time. It’s embarrassing to admit how little I accomplished over the last week in the above areas.

Not that we don’t have our off days, because we do. Yet was I off because I was busy doing good, worthy endeavors? Of is my lack of good playing, learning, reacting a testimony of me being too distracted by TV, social media or whatever shiny object I could find?

That is a question worth pondering, don’t you think?

Ok. Your turn. What did you do this past week in reading, playing, learning. What are you reacting too? What do you have an opinion about? Write it up at your blog, pop it into the linky below or list in the comments if you have resisted the urge to begin a blog (kudos to you if you have said no to the blogosphere. It’s a bizarre world, we bloggers have made for ourselves.)

Curiosity Journal : February 2, 2011

A fast update for the ice storm inspired me to go on a photo walk today, taking up my writing time. I’ll be posting more pictures on my Flickr account later if you are interested.

Reading: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I’m on page 103 out of 426. I can’t say this is the page turner I hoped it would be. Hopefully, if I keep going, it will get better. I hate giving up on books, especially popular fiction.

Playing: Blokus

My five-year-old can’t get enough of this simple, yet strategic game. Win.

Learning: National Geographic: Lord of the Rings : Beyond the Movie

This week we watched a documentary regarding JRR Tolkien and his real-life influences behind Lord of the Rings. Did you know. . . ? Wait a minute, I won’t spoil it for you. If you are a Tolkien fan (and you are, right?), you need to watch the documentary yourself.

Reacting: Egypt, a country in crisis

If you’re like me, then you’ve been keeping an eye on this all week. It’s mesmerizing, isn’t it? Watching a government under protest from it’s people. Of course, all of it accessible to us via Google, Twitter, news channels, etc. I don’t pretend to be a political expert, but I do love a good story, especially one such as the Egyptian people v. a dictator.

God’s speed, Egyptians.

What about you? Have you been following closely what’s been happening in Egypt? Why or why not?

What was your week like in reading, playing, learning, and reacting?

Add your Curiosity Journal post to the linky tool below.

Or if you don’t have a blog, leave your answers in the comment section.

What’s On Your Nightstand? : Jan. 2011

Joining in with the monthly listing of what reading material I have next to the bed, on the computer, or scattered through out the house:

Borrowed from a friend:

In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham with Dean Merrill

Bought at library sale:

The Lady and the Panda (The True Adventures of the Fist American Explorer to Bring Back China’s Most Exotic Animal) by Vicki Constantine Croke

Bought not too long ago at local bookstore:

The Backyard Homestead Edited by Carleen Madigan

Bought long ago when I worked at a bookstore:

Love Sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

E-books for the computer:

Radical (Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream) by David Platt

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I’m reading these e-books with the Barnes and Noble Nook app on my laptop. This will be my first attempt to read a novel off of the computer screen and already I suspect I don’t like it. I want to be able to snuggle down in the covers of my bed or sit next to the warm wood stove. Hopefully once I get into the story, I won’t mind sitting at the computer so much to turn “pages.” I’ll let you know how it goes.

What's On Your Nightstand