The past month has been a blur. As a result, I’ve made plans for this trip to Chicago with Maddie, but haven’t engaged the process very well. I made appropriate reservations and such, but haven’t thought much beyond just that.
Today, I mapped out everywhere we will go and printed off directions both for walking and for public transit (thank you, Google Maps for providing the public transit directions). I’m starting to get both excited and a little freaked out. I’m not used to being the Adult-In-Charge whenever I go somewhere because I don’t usually go on trips without Craig.
This time tomorrow night we’ll probably be watching some random movie on cable TV (we loves us some hotel with cable TV!). We’ll be resting and relaxing and enjoying. Craig offered to let me take his laptop on the trip and I was tempted. But you know, I need the three days without it. Maddie needs the three days with me without it.
We’ll take lots of photos and compose lots of stories in our minds. Maybe some of them will get transferred back here on Sunday. Or maybe not. Either way, the trip will be memorable and, I hope, honoring to Maddie and the girl she is and growing into.
Good-bye for now.
by Jan Karon – Officially the last book of the Mitford series, though not the last of the Father Tim stories (I'm told). I began the series when I was pregnant with M9 and they have been enjoyable books over the past nine years. Karon is a good writer and the Christian story comes out naturally through Father Tim. It isn't forced or uncomfortable. I like these.
by Carolyn Mahaney – This was very good, and I'm thinking about re-reading it with a friend here in town. I'm also thinking about posting thoughts from it, by chapter, on my blog. If anyone would be interested in reading it with me, let me know. Maybe we can get 
by Gloria Handel and Mickey Baskett – I know. You don't really read this book, but I've had it for a while and actually used it last night to give the girls haircuts. I've cut their hair before, but I've never really liked what I've done. I was pleased with how their cuts turned out last night, though, and I attribute the simple changes I made to the book, which paid for itself last night (four kids' cuts locally would cost $32 at a cheap place). A good investment.
by Madeleine L'Engle – It's hard to beat Madeleine L'Engle. Truthfully, I liked 
better, but I don't know. I don't really know much about L'Engle's worldview. I presume she was writing from a Christian one, as there is much biblical truth within the text, but there were some troubling allusions to universalism within the text as well. Still a good story, and good writing. The girls clapped at the end (which didn't help the going-to-bed part). We'll read more.
by Madeleine L'Engle – Ummm, can anyone say "teenage romance?" I had no idea! I didn't exactly finish it (I was reading it to my girls and didn't think it was quite appropriate at their ages). Maybe I should go back and finish it completely, but it's steered me away from L'Engle for quite a while. So much for the Austins. Disappointed.
by John Grisham – I've always been a Grisham junkie. Loved all his lawyer stuff. Really liked 
. This one, though? Yawn.
by Rudolf K. Markwald – Biography of the wife of Martin Luther. I'd not known too much about the wife of the reformer. From page 89:
by E. L. Konigsburg – Another bedtime read-aloud. I'm not sure how I ended up with a copy of this, but I'm glad I did. This 1967 Newberry award winner about two siblings who run away from home and spend a week in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was a cute read and the writing was great. There were plenty of things to discuss with the girls from the book (namely, please don't ever run away from home!), but also Michaelangelo, art museums in general, and the value of the dollar and how it has changed in 40+ years. Fun story.
by Ray Blackston – A fast read that fulfilled my desire for the easy and mindless. I've read Blackston's other books which are in the same genre: Christian Chick Lit for Everyone. His first book was his best, the other two in that triliogy were so-so and this one was, well, it was what I expected, so I shouldn't be disappointed. It pokes fun at the Christiany sub-culture and poses the idea of what if the world were made up of only cheesy Christians with just a few non-Christians left? It would be their worst nightmare. Really? It would also be mine. The writing is funny, and the idea was intriguing enough to keep me reading, but it never really went anywhere. Keep trying, Ray.
by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson – A prequel of sorts to the classic story of Peter Pan. For some reason I didn't realize this before beginning it – had simply fixated on "Dave Barry" and "Children's Book" and popped it into my paperbackswap queue. It was an enjoyable read and we'll probably tackle the second book sometime, but we're taking a break from it because it was quite long.
by Anne Tyler – Anne writes an amazing story. They are so sad but so good. She makes you believe the people she's writing about could very well be some neighbors down your street. This one was no different – heartbreaking, but true-to-life, good storytelling.
by E. Nesbitt – Sort of a "Five Children and It" with different children and different magical consequences. Still, good story and the girls enjoyed it.
by Leif Enger – I read this several years ago, but think this needs to go on my rotating list of rereads. Enger's wordcrafting is untouchable and his storytelling brings tears. Beautiful, heartbreaking, powerful. One of my favorite books.
by Jeannie Birdsall – Jeannie does it again. She has quickly moved into a top position for the Dunham Family's favorite children's authors ever. We're all impatient that we have to wait for her to write her next one. Snap to it, please!
by Neil Gaiman – An interesting story, well-written, well-told. It had a Tim Burtonish feel to it and was a bit on the creepy side, but not so much that the girls couldn't sleep afterwards. I heard there's a movie being made, so that will be fun to see after reading this.
by Elisabeth George Speare
by Esther Forbes
by Betty Baker
by Nicole Mazzarella – I was predictably skeptical of this work of "Christian" fiction, but it was very different from what most would consider to be "Christian" fiction and therefore I liked it. That sounds sad, but the stereotype exists for a reason, you know what I'm saying? I should have written this mini-review right away for I can't remember specifics here. I do remember thinking some of the story was forced, a bit of it was less than believable, but overall, it was well done and I'll read more by her in the future.
by Leif Enger – This was certainly no Peace Like a River, but it was still very good writing. It took me forever to finish this book which is more of a commentary on how goofy our summer was and less about the captivating quality of the book. Enger is a rare breed. I look forward to reading more.
by Tim Kimmel – Excellent book. I've had it on the shelf for four years now and needed the incentive of the class to read it, but I'm so glad I did. Great book, well-written, worth your time.
by Ted and Margy Tripp – More of the same. Don't anybody shoot me here, but I remember really liking Shepherding a Child's Heart when I read it many years ago. I thought I'd like this one too, but reading it immediatly after reading Kimmel's book was tough. And the writing just wasn't that great. 
Half-Pint House 