My Man Friday

Its Friday, and its a balmy 50 degrees here in Michigan. Does the term "January thaw" fit, when it hasn't really gotten that cold yet? Or when our snowfall has been much less than 10"? Ironies...you got to love them. My kids will go outside during the winter, then come in and ask for hot cocoa to warm up. I make it for them, and they ask for ice cubes to cool it down.
Its Friday, the last day of Christmas break, and my floors have not been washed in two weeks. At least. But we don't stick to them while walking over them. And I really don't like cleaning on Fridays. So, should I whoop it up, and do what I want to do-bake cookies and read all afternoon? Or should I do what I should do? Though, maybe what I should do is relax, because we don't have another school break scheduled until May. What would you do?
I wrote a letter today. And I played a game with the boys-Liar. They aren't very good at it, for which I am very thankful. It makes me hopeful that if they are ever not really telling the truth, the same body language will appear. And I tried a new recipe this week.  Everyone seemed to like the Chicken Provencal, but the potatoes needed more cooking time. I followed the directions, even cooking the dish an extra half hour, but they were still a bit hard. When a new recipe doesn't turn out really well, I am not inspired to make it again. If something turns out good, I may tweak it a bit, and and make it again. We'll, see if this one makes that cut. And I've run three times this week already. Nothing spectacular. But, a run is a run, at this time of year. And I had family over last night, and friends are coming tomorrow. I think I've got a good start on my resolutions. The thing is, you have to do them now. Not put it off until tomorrow or next week.
I am elbow deep into A Team of Rivals, a book about Lincoln and his cabinet. It is well written and interesting. I am enjoying it-when I get around to it.
What are your favorite books? I have favorites, and I have "life-changers". The favorites I return to over and over again. Whenever I have nothing to read, I will pull out one of these. They are old friends, and they are wonderful. This is my Top 10 list of each.
Favorites:
1. Pride and Prejudice-love the irony
2. The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
3. The Lord of the Rings
4. The Scarlet Pimpernel
5. Boleyn novels by Philipa Gregory
6. Oregon Files and Dirk Pitt novels by Clive Cussler
7. Harry Potter-okay, I said it. I love them.
8. The Hobbit
9. Cleopatra by Margaret George
10. Jason Bourne Novels
 As you can see, my taste runs to adventure and spy novels, some mysteries, and historical fiction. I am not really into Christian fiction.

Life-Changers
1. Hudson Taylor, the double volume set-taught me the importance of living by faith
2. George Muller of Bristol-faith and giving
3. Passion and Purity, Elizabeth Elliot-it helped me learn contentment as a single, and encouraged me in a yearly read through the Bible
4. Prayer, Dr. Rice-practical, believing prayer
5. My Utmost for His Highest-devotional, with such high thoughts you can get lost. But wonderful!
6. Borden of Yale-I read this before I was a teen. It really challenged me to live for God now, because I might die young, and what would I have done for Him?
7. How to Win Friends and Influence People-just a good book about relationships.
8. John Adams by David McCoullough-a great book about one of our Founding Fathers, and his wife.
9. Schindler's List-horrible, but inspiring
10. The Bible-it changes my life, day by day, year by year

When I had my milk and cookies, and when Ethan said he
hoped I was making chocolate chip cookies, as opposed to
Christmas cookies, I knew I had made the right choice.

Definitely worth picking up a book, not a bucket.

Part of today's labor too! Deliciousness!