Book Reviews: Bittersweet and Notes from a Blue Bike

I have recently read two eBooks, Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist and Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenrider. Both are available in paper form also, but I got a good deal on them in Kindle format, so I decided to read them that way.

I am still totally a paper book acolyte, but I do appreciate having a book or two on my iPad to read. Ebooks are really handy when I am out and about and waiting, don't have wifi access, but would like to use my time somehow. Having a book on my iPad allows me to spend slivers of available time feeding my soul instead of doing nothing or wasting time on mindless games.

I've said before that I am not a big fan of self-help books or devotionals. And I much prefer fiction to nonfiction. Yet, I have been reading more nonfiction lately. And I've been enjoying it.

I finally figured out why. Just what types of nonfiction do I like?

Poetry.

And books that are essentially collections of essays. By this I mean that each chapter pretty much stands on its own. They might all have a common theme, but you can read just one and feel benefited. One chapter does not depend on the previous, per se. These types of book allow me to read and digest in small bites without getting overwhelmed by information or bored out of my gourd. I can peruse whenever I have the time, and it works.

Which is why Malcolm Gladwell is one of my favorite nonfiction authors. His chapters are longer, but they all stand enough on their own. They each contain fascinating stories and facts and have a nutshell concept to take away. I love it.

Bittersweet and Notes from a Blue Bike were both very much this way. In both books, the chapters ranged from 2-4 pages. Perfect for reading during an oil change or an orthodontist appointment. Their length reminds me of a blog post. Few words, complete thoughts.

Both of these books have gotten a lot of hype in the blogging world. It's because the authors are friends of other bloggers/authors and they all promote each other's books. Meaning that sometimes books are promoted on the merit of friendship not just on the merits of the book. (to see what I mean, look at the graphic for Notes from a Blue Bike)

This isn't necessarily a bad or a good thing. It is simply the reality of social media and books these days.

But this also doesn't mean they aren't decent books. I think each is a good read, and something can be gleaned from both. My caveat is that just because every blogger you read may be talking about a book does not mean that it is going to fall into the category of one of your favorite, re-read forever, books.

So, Bittersweet was a poignant book about a year or two in Shauna Niequist's life. It was a rough year. But, the foundational concept of the book is that it takes the bitter things of life to remind us of the sweet things. It was a story of pain and loss, redemption and healing. It was real and sometimes raw. It didn't actually have a happy ending. As a matter of fact, if I hadn't read her later book, Bread and Wine, I'd probably think her life kind of stunk. Regardless, I think her point of the beauty in the broken, the sweet in the bitter, came through. I know I have found that to be true in my own life.

I loved her references to Grand Rapids. I know the places she mentions. I've been there. I can picture her in my town. It was a neat side line.

Notes from a Blue Bike is somewhat of a memoir. Tsh writes about living simply and intentionally in our world that embraces busyness and stuff. She writes about technology, travel, schooling, eating, houses and stuff. My favorite section was on travel, because I have the same philosophy. I'd rather travel and see the world than use my money to buy a huge house and a fancy car. My least favorite section was about food. It leaned a bit towards preachy and I just don't care that much where my food comes from.

If you enjoy Tsh's blog, Art of Simple, you will probably enjoy this book, because you are already striving for a simpler life style. I must insert that this is not really a how-to book. It doesn't really give tips for how to live more simply. It is more an account of what they have chosen to do.

Anyway, that is what I've been reading lately, as well as skipping amongst chapters in Malcolm Gladwell's What the Dog Saw. (a marketing type book with anecdotal stories about iconic products)

What have you been reading lately?

Most Precious Commodities

Commodity: a useful or valuable thing

Last night I was mentioning to a friend how much bicycling I did this summer and the fact that I love it so much. The sunshine. The exercise factor. The wind in my face.

The quiet.

Most of my bike rides are by myself. It is just me and my thoughts. No one is talking to me or talking at me. Having four kid talkers, you have got to know that silence is golden.

There are a few people out and about when I cycle, and I greet them. But, for the most part, it is just me, myself and I. In the wind. With the crickets.

So wonderful.

This whole train of thought continued on (incidentally, on a bike ride this afternoon). What else do I value? What is precious to me? What do I miss the most when it becomes increasingly absent from my life?

Time. I think everyone values time to some degree. Most people are keen to save time. We want to use our time wisely. Because, the thing about time is, that once it is gone-its gone forever. You will never get that moment, that sliver of time back. And, each one of us is only allocated a very finite amount of time in this life. Every day we have less and less time left to us.

My kids. They fill the corners of my life 24/7. They are always around. Tugging, talking, asking, fighting. But, I really don't know what I'd do without them. They are my most precious commodity. They are the primary thing entrusted to my care. To nurture and train and love.

Water. So, this is not a green agenda thing-'cause I am not green. But, I do value water. I value cold water for drinking and hot water for showers. I value the sound of water cascading over rocks and spilling out of fountains and thundering on beaches. I appreciate water in pools and lakes for swimming. And I really value water when I am on a long training run or in a race. Every drop seems necessary to combat dehydration. Water is awesome!

Chocolate. Dark chocolate. Is there any need to say more?

Sunshine. I love the sunshine. I LOVE the SUNSHINE. I wilt in dreary November and February. I lag and drag on gloomy days but perk right up when the sun is shining. There is no such thing as too much sunshine (imho). I soak up the rays and glory in it during the spring, summer and fall, because the winter is so long, grey and gloomy.

Mr. Hippie. I don't think there is a limit on how much time I can spend with him. The more time we have together, the more I want. The conversations. The fun times. The quiet times.

I can live with out a whole lot-I think. I can even live a month without chocolate if need be. But, I crave sunshine, quiet, water, time, Mr. Hippie and my kids (generally). These things are my core commodities. Some are tangible. Some are intangible. They are the things that I put first when I am arranging my schedule. I will arrange and rearrange my days to fit as much of these things in as possible.

These thoughts bring to mind two verses...

...you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18,19)

For the redemption of their soul is precious...(Psalm 49:8)

God's most precious commodity was His Son, Jesus Christ. But, He gave that precious commodity out of sacrificial love for the world. The price you are willing to pay for something drives up it's value. Which makes the value of a soul very high. Very precious indeed.

What is your most precious commodity? 

Team "Barefoot Hippie Girl"

So, about that triathlon. Well, it was good. The weather was perfect. Dry. Cool. Warm water. Sunny.

Last year I finished in 2 hours, 12 minutes and some odd seconds. My goal, as I wrapped that one up, was to knock 10 minutes off when I competed this year. I did it. I finished in 2:02:17. I took 7 of those minutes off the bike and over 4 off the run. So I must have transitioned slower. Which makes sense because I had to switch shoes.

It was hard. I mean, I am pretty sure during the first mile of the run I was convinced that this might be the dumbest thing I have ever thought to do.

But, then, about the 2 mile point I realized there was less than 3 miles to go. And right at that point was when another race in town was starting. The Komen 5K, that my sil was running. And so I ended up running that last bit with her. In spirit, if not side by side. And that was a cool thought that kept my legs a-pumping, moving forward one step at a time.

So, I know I keep posting this picture, but it works. And it's the only one I have right now.=)

So, I am pretty thrilled. And I have a new goal for next year. Take that 2 minutes and a bit, and say, "so long" to them. My goal will be to finish in less than 2 hours. Maybe just at 1:59:59. But, you know. Get it under the wire.

We have 2 more events this month. Our donut bike race. (the more donuts you eat, the more time gets deducted from your overall race time). Our half marathon. We are putting in some serious mileage on our tennis shoes over the next couple weeks. Probably less mileage on the bike odometer. But, its all good.

At most of our races there is a good representation of Team Triumph competitors. These are teams of multiple members that are each headed by a captain who has a disability. The team alternately pulls or pushes their captain through the water, on the bike or on the run, or all three.

It always gives me that slightly choked up feeling to see them. It is inspiring. I have a hard enough time hauling my own booty through the finish line. Let alone the strength and determination to bring someone with you.

Like I said...it's inspiring.

As I was reflecting this morning over Saturday's triathlon, I got to thinking that I have a team too. My team may not push and pull me through the finish line in a raft or cart (wouldn't that be nice?!), but they have certainly pushed and pulled me through the finish line.

My team is quite diverse and rather large. It consists of friends and family from 3-80 years old. Friends and family who have supported me and cheered me on through 6 races (3 running, 3 triathlons), 6 three-discipline training sessions, and countless regular practices since the second week in May.

It is my sister in laws, and the bff, and the Wolcotts, and the Bjorlies, and my parents and parent-in-law, who have all babysat at least once this summer so we could train or compete.

It is Seth and Bethany, who share my excitement about competing and beating my times and listen to my blow-by-blow break downs of the events.

It is the tri practice group. The ones who pedaled slower in order to give me tips and to not leave me in the dust. It is Dan and Sharon opening their home and slice of beach every Friday evening throughout the summer so we can have open water swims and hilly bike rides. It is Mark who invited us to the training time and who comes out to the tri with a cow bell and encourages each one of us to pedal harder and keep going.

It is countless of you who have told me that you are praying for me. It is my kids who think I am amazing. And it's Meres who knows the difference between a practice triathlon and the real deal.

It is my husband who always is waiting at the finish line for me. Every time.

You are my people. My team. And I thank you! I could not have done it without your tangible support.

At every race I don't just see the competition. I see people with back stories. I see choices and discipline, training and determination. I see back stories and journeys. I see villages and teams. I see people who have fought their own demons in order to compete. I see people who are winners no matter whether they place first or in the middle or dead last. Each one has done something marvelous. Each one has done something that many, many other people never have. Each one is amazing.

That's why I keep competing. That is why I keep finding myself at mile one of the running leg of a triathlon. Or mile 10 of a half marathon. That is why I wonder if it is the dumbest thing I've ever done.

Or one of the bravest and hardest.

Either-or, I do it because my team, my village, is right there with me.

Thank you!

Chicken & Strawberry Spinach Salad

Well, we have successfully navigated our very first week of school this year. It was rather dicey at times, but I think we have established a good foundation.

And it has been a great mail week. A school book. Our wine of the month quarterly shipment. Decaf coffee pods. Checks and not just bills.

Plus, tomorrow is our last triathlon of the summer. We'll see if all those miles swam, run and biked this year have paid off. My goal is to finish in right around 2 hours. We'll see. My goal is also to have fun. Why put myself through all this stuff if it isn't at least a wee bit enjoyable?!

Today's recipe is definitely more summery than fall. I just finally made it for the third time, and finally remembered to photograph it.

But, I am still sharing it, because it is super easy. And super easy is key when it comes to easing into our fall schedules.

Grilled chicken. Diced fresh fruit. Pre-washed, packaged baby spinach. Already made up dressing.

Can't get any easier. Really and truly.

Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad
2 (10 oz.) bags of baby spinach
1 pound strawberries, diced
3 kiwis, peeled and diced
1-1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
salt and pepper
1/3 cup poppyseed dressing

-Spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Lightly sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, and brown in skillet on both sides until cooked through. OR...Heat your grill to medium high, and grill the chicken breasts until lightly browned.
-Wash, hull and chop strawberries. Peel and dice the kiwis.
-Place spinach and cut fruit in large salad bowl. Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and allow to cool slightly before adding to greens. Pour dressing over salad and chicken, and toss to coat.

Isn't that gorgeous?! I am planning to keep interspersing this recipe amongst the casseroles and soups this winter. It will remind me that it isn't always winter. Plus, the spinach is so healthy. Wow!

Have a great weekend!

I Don't Know How She Does It

While on our trip up north a couple weeks ago, we watched the movie, I Don't Know How She Does It. The reviews said it was ridiculous, etc. but I enjoyed it. It was clean, not violent, and not a horrible way to spend an hour or two.

The storyline is that Sarah Jessica Parker is a mom who has a high powered job in the finance world. She is doing everything, until she starts to fall apart. Her husband, Greg Kinnear is an architect. They have a nanny and their daughter goes to a nice private school.

Sarah Jessica Parker is juggling everything well until she forgets to bake something for a school bake sale, and ends up buying a pie and pie-plate, and smashing the pie into said pie-plate.

The story progresses as her career gets more successful and demanding while her home life simultaneously falls apart from neglect and such.

Meanwhile, her husband's career and home life just plod along-without all the conflicting junk and guilt that accompanies a woman and her career. A man's role is provider. A woman's role is home-maker and mother. If she throws in a career, well, she deserves everything she gets. Everything.

The moral of the story is that she doesn't. (I don't know how she does it-she doesn't)

The moral of the story is that we are jugglers. That all that is between us and chaos is one.dropped.ball.

Does this have to be?

Do we have to live in a constant state of stressful, hectic, barely keeping all the balls in the air, activity?

It makes for a nice movie plot, but must our lives reflect this if this is the path we have chosen? The path of woman, wife, mom, home-maker, business whatever. Is this the only option available to us?

I have to believe it is not so. I have to believe that life does not have to be one hectic, harried, stressful pot of barely restrained chaos.

I know all the cliches. Truths-but cliches. I preach them.

We can't do it all. Every yes requires a no. There are busy seasons-both yearly and in life.

I just have to remember to LIVE them. This month. This September.

With a new product launch. With the start of school. With insurances renewing and the accompanying audits.(I shouldn't have even mentioned that, 'cause guess who got an email from her agent even while she typed? Sigh...) With the preparation and teaching of a workshop for a woman's retreat. With Art Prize. With a triathlon, bike race, and 1/2 marathon plus the continued training for each. With planning our church campout the first weekend in October. With family in town.

I need to remember it today. I need to live the facts of a best yes and what I don't do is as defining as the things I do.

So, I supervise school, correct school work and dust my house. I read to my kids at lunch and pull on my biking clothes. I get out and pedal in the sunshine and listen to the crickets and cicadas. I send emails and write posts about what life really is like, and how I really struggle. I shut my computer and vacuum my house and then scrub the bathrooms and floors. And then make a fairly healthy, but definitely quick and easy dinner for my family.

We cut what we can. And we don't do it all.

We have to let of being in control. We don't have to maintain an aura or facade of perfection. We don't have to have everything exactly balanced every moment of our lives. Sometimes though, we do have to do the busy. We can't get out of the responsibilities. We have to keep moving forward.

Because the moral of the real story is that we don't do it but we each does it. My does it may look different than yours, but it doesn't make either of our does it's more legitimate. Or more or less. We just both are doing what we need to do.

Everyday. 

-For an interesting male perspective on work-life balance, read this post.
-I also love the fact that one of my favorite bloggers, Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy, writes a regular post, How She Does It. It is about how real live women are achieving work-life balance. It is so encouraging for the stage of life I'm in.

First Day of School

As most of you know, I am a home schooling mom. As anyone who follows me on FB or read my last Friday's post knows, I'm not thrilled that school is back in session already.

Where, oh where, have the past 3-1/2 months gone? I know, I know. Most teachers don't get 3-1/2 months off school. I need 3-1/2 months to recover from the last year, relax, and then get re-enthused for the new year.

Maybe I need 4 months. 'Cause I was having a hard time getting my enthusiasm on.

Labor Day I bit the bullet. And it was just the impetus I needed to get excited! (read in an excited voice!)

I threw away old papers. And broken crayons. And old school books. I emptied out the drawers and my beautiful corner hutch cupboards. And then I sorted new books, and made nice and neat stacks in the hutch.

Somewhere between the bags going out of the house, and the orderliness happening in the house, I started getting anticipatory. In a good way.

I sat down with Mr. Hippie and looked at our new curriculum, and I ordered two books to fill in a gap in our history curriculum. They should arrive sometime before or after my wine shipment this week. The one will ease the arrival of the other.

I jest....

We are doing a lot of things the same way as the past 2 years. We are, of necessity, shaking some things up.

We are still doing fun Friday school. I believe in the power of ending the school week on a positive note. We are still only schooling 3 kids. We are still emphasizing the core triumvirate of reading, writing and history. You thought I was going to say math? Ha! 

We do math too. Monday through Thursday.

Freckles and LC are both doing math, spelling, grammar and handwriting every day.

All four kids have a 30 minute reading time in the mornings also. I have a partial reading list assembled. I have to do more research on appropriate books that fit our historical time period, but we are diving right in on some of the books. BMV and LC are both reading independently. Freckles is reading to Meres. I feel like he needs the aloud practice and she needs the listening practice.

We are switching some things up. BMV is now a middle schooler. He's in that really awkward, smelly stage, but that really has nothing to do with school.

Being in 7th grade, he is no longer doing spelling or grammar. Instead, I have purchased a new writing program for him. It is a 2 year course that focuses on creative writing. We'll pick up high school level grammar again in high school.

BMV is also doing an online typing course and math.

Another change-which ties in with the middle school concept-is that we will all be learning Spanish this year. I bought a course through Fluenz. It sounds good. I still have to figure out what foreign language study is going to look like for all of us. We will start Spanish next week.

A third change is that we are doing Science every day. I bought the Apologia General Science course with the student notebooks. It looks involved, but each assignment is supposed to only take 30-60 minutes per day. LC will join the boys for the daily readings and any experiments. Both boys will do their notebook work on top of that.

I do heavily emphasize history, and Friday fun school is based on historical time periods. Last year we studied from 1600 to 1800 AD. This year we are moving back several thousand years. We will be studying ancient history up to Alexander the Great. (we will not be touching on any Greek history. That will be next year.)

So, basically, last year we studied 200 years. This year we are studying 3500 years. It will be lightening fast, but I think it is doable. I have our syllabus mapped out. We'll listen to lectures and read what we can, and make a many layered timeline and read the Epic of Gilgamesh. It will all be epic. Possibly.

I also am going to introduce a poet and poem every month for the kids to memorize. These will probably have little to do with our subject matter, though if I can find poems to tie in, I will. I am toying around with doing some ancient style art-like cave paintings and Egyptians writing. (I'd spell it, but I have no.idea.)

Anyway, that's what our year looks like from this end. I'm sure I will be updating where we are at as we go along.

Happy First Day of School! And, we survived our first day of school....

What I Don't Do

We all have things we do that we loved to do. Things we feel called to do. Things that make us feel alive.

We all have things we do because they fall into the realm of our responsibility. As wives, mothers, home-makers, employees.

We all only have so much time. 24 hours in a day. 168 hours in a week. A very finite amount of time. So, in order to do the things we are called to and the things we love and the things that are our responsibilities, we all have things we don't do.

Every yes has its corresponding no. I even think that every yes means you are saying no to several things.

It's the best yes.

I'm not talking about facetious no's. I mean conscientious and deliberate choices. They are no's to things that are often good things. And sometimes the no's are for a season.

Such as the fact that Mr. Hippie wants us to participate in both a full marathon and a half Ironman. I know that I could do either/or with training. But, its the training that is the hitch right now. I can't give the hours required each day for training at this point in time. My kids are too young still. But, in another couple years, it will be possible.

A lot of the things I don't do are a matter of time. I am choosing not to devote my limited time to them in this season.

I don't...

-scrapbook

-eat organic (or gluten-free, Paleo, or anything else)

-brush my girls' hair somedays. (this probably falls into the realm of responsibility, but, I'm just being real...)

-read my kids' bedtime stories. (we read at lunch time. Bedtime is NOT my finest hour.)

-throw elaborate parties. (I am good at facilitating, and feeding, but not the elaborate decorating stuff.)

-lead in the Bible study that I led for 10 years. (I now only attend as a participant.)

-do laundry on Tuesdays, Thursdays or the weekends.

-iron. (like ever)

-do my own taxes. (I assemble the info, and then spend about an hour per year with our tax guy. It saves me major stress.)

-can and freeze like my mom did. (It is no longer the most economical option-especially since I also don't....)

-have a humongous garden.

-do well child check ups. (I've taken one child to one. I waited almost an hour past my scheduled appointment time for the doctor to tell me my child was healthy. I already knew that.)

-Instagram. (its my one more social media thing)

-do late nights. (going to bed late and getting up early don't jive)

-clip coupons. (ain't nobody got time for that!)

I think the goal is to say yes to the best as much as possible. Whether that best yes is to scrubbing toilets, or exercising, reading to your kids or making dinner, taking a nap or writing a blog post.

What don't you do?