I love reading.
I love being transported into another time or place or world.
I love the crackling binding as I open up a new book for the first time.
I always bury my face in the pages and breath deep the words I’m about to devour.
True story.
I want my kids to love reading.
So we read.
A lot.
We are going to read our first chapter book out loud this summer – Charlotte’s Web. The first book my mom read to me out loud. I vividly remember us finishing the book together and her crying like a baby when (spoiler alert) Charlotte dies. What a treasured memory of my mom.
Small Things are Big Things.
I miss her.
After she died, (ug, I hate saying that!!!) my aunt found all of our Christmas presents, and the organized list of what-went-to-who. Oh the care my mom put in the details! Gifts she had probably bought on sale throughout the year, all perfectly tailored for each grandchild and Brad and I. One of my gifts was Stories for the Family’s Heart: Over 100 stories to Encourage your Soul.
So I’m starting My Personal Book Club with this book. My book club of one, isn’t formal. I’ll just be writing a short post after I read a book.
Stories for the Family’s Heart is divided into sections – Compassion, Encouragement, Virtue, Growing up, Love, Memories, Grandparents and Faith – and all are inspirational. There is a huge variety of writing styles, and the stories range in length, from a few short paragraphs to about 10 pages.
Just perfect for reading aloud next to the fireplace as your four children listen attentively whilst sipping hot cocoa in matching pajamas.
Oh wait… is that just my fantasy?
Some of my favorite…
- “A Good Lesson” written by W. & R. Chambers, first published in 1916
- “The Bobby Pins” by Linda Goodman
- “Breakfast with the Polar Bears” by Allison Harms
- “Stiches in Time” by Philip Gulley
And my favorite line from the book comes from “Amazing Grace” by Philip Yancey – “ When grace descends, the world falls silent before it.”
This is a great book to read out loud with your family and will probably inspire some great conversations with your kids. But I just read a couple of stories at a time before bed.
That was good too.
Stay tuned for the rest of our RV trip coming soon!
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Sharon Garofalow says
I love this. I take so much away from each of your posts. You are remarkable. I also love reading. And I know my kids will too. My oldest is resistant but I know he will, one day, understand how fun it is to get lost in a book. And most actual book clubs turn in to more of a social thing anyway. I love the idea of doing it alone and really enjoying the time spent reading.
wendy says
I’m reading Charlotte’s Web to my five year old now!
Kyla @ Funky PolkaDot Giraffe says
Love you and love this idea – we started our chapter book for the summer this week too. So glad your sweet mama can still be part of your life in small ways.
Anna says
This is a great idea! I can’t wait follow along with your reading adventures. And I love that you are going to read Charlotte’s Web to your kids. We’ve just started on chapter books, and I think I enjoy it even more than the kids do.
Rosy says
I have great memories of reading Charlotte’s web when I was younger. Thanks for sharing!!
Dinah says
So touching! I love reading your blog, Kara Noel. I sincerely mean it when I say that. I think of you and your mom often and send positive thoughts and prayers over to you. I’m a big reader too. I take Mia to the library once a week and we pick out five books. We read those books every night at bedtime. I hope it’s something she’ll remember when she gets older.