Of Summer

Today was the day the kids have been looking forward to since last August. They have asked almost weekly over the past nine months, "Is it summer?!" (Yes, they even asked as we drove past snow-covered trees and stepped over ice slicks in the parking lot - we might need to work more on our seasons.)

And today was finally the day I could say, "Yes." (without going into the technicalities regarding solstices and the like). Because today was the day we signed up for the Summer Reading Program at our local library.

Because they understand that summer at the library means toys - particularly a small new treasure to take home each week. And everyone knows that's what the library is for - toys (and computer time). Those bookshelves everywhere? Those are just something to run between on our way to the toys.

Fortunately, with those months between the summers, they have learned to enjoy story time at the library and the stacks of books mom picks out to coordinate with the homeschooling theme for the moment (this week is elephants). They enjoy picking out their own books (typically board books, since those are the only kind Mommy lets them look at in the car on the way home - I'll risk my own pages, but the library books are a little more precious!) and movies (but not Pokemon, because . . . well, just because).

But we all know this was just the build-up for the main event. Because nothing beats a sticker chart and a treasure bowl.

Or basically free stuff.

Okay, so maybe they're my children.

This year's Summer Reading Program theme is "Fizz, Boom, Read", which means there are now science-related toys to play with while visiting the library. I'm telling you, it's all about the toys.

Of Our Grand Opening

The church library celebrated its Grand Opening today.  While it wasn't quite as Grand as I'd hoped, I'm just so happy to be officially open to the public.  And we did have our first book checked out (Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love - I couldn't have made a better selection myself), so all is good!

I may not have been terribly surprised when no one came to our 7:45 opening (though the attendance at our later hour was much better), but it did leave me blaming myself, feeling as though others who had been counting on my leadership or initiative or whatever quality was necessary to spearhead this thing had been let down.  I had not done my best and failed in so many areas I had intended to try harder.  I didn't advertise enough, communicate enough - fill in the blank, I wasn't enough.

And then I went the familiar route - this isn't my area.  I'm not a promoter, I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of girl. I am not up to the task - I am in over my head.

This was when I remembered that I did not choose this task alone.  God chose me to lead this library - or at least initiate it.  And His power is made perfect in weakness.  I may not be the best person for the job, but I am the one God chose.  And that, in itself, is enough.

This is not, nor have I ever considered it, my library.  It is His library.  I am merely His workman.  May I be able to present myself unashamed.

The kids enjoyed the fact that the Grand Opening of the library meant leftover donuts and bundles of balloons (or "Noo!" as Emmett calls his) to take home.  Meanwhile, I'm just grateful little man is still of the age where he is just happy to have one "Noo" and doesn't recognize his sister is clinging to four.  (Okay, so maybe he doesn't look to happy here, but that has more to do with Mommy interrupting play time for picture time than an inequality in balloon dispersion.)

Of the Year of Babies

This year would appear to be the year that I birth not just this physical baby but a couple others in my life as well.  As far as gestation periods go, this one which is nearly complete in my womb has been by far the shortest.

This Sunday will mark the Grand Opening of our church library - a baby which has been a couple of years in the making.  I will be ever excited to celebrate it's Birth Day and present it to the world (or our church, whatever).  I'm praying many will accept it into their lives and cherish it as much as I do.

And just today I made my New Year's Resolution (10 days late, but who's counting?) to finally give birth to my longest awaited baby yet - the book I have been writing about my semester in Russia - which will be about three-quarters memoir and one-quarter fiction (for the gaps my memory does not quite fill).  I do not necessarily have high plans to publish for the masses (though I'm writing for it, in case God opens that door), but I know it will be nice to have my entire experience in one place, for myself, for my husband and for my children.

I determined today that as I will turn 28 on the 28th of June this year, I will, by then, my Golden Birthday, have a published copy of my book in my hands (and by "published" I mean printed in hard cover format by my friends over at Blurb - a company I LOVE).  And that baby - five years in the making - will be a grand arrival. To have finally finished I goal which has been gnawing at the back of my brain for such a period of time will be quite the accomplishment indeed.

Here is what I need from you, my friends.  As I labor long in this process, ask me about it.  As many did with the Library, a constant nudge, letting me know my goal has not been forgotten and is anticipated by others serves as a nice kick in the tail.  It is my hope that our shared birthdays will also motivate me where my self-discipline alone has not.

Here is to the year of babies!


Photo of the Day:  Micaiah set up "cakes" for us this morning while she played, complete with candles to sing "Happy Birthday" - I did not until the moment of writing this caption realize just how well this would fit today's topic.  My favorite part, by the way, is how our OCD daughter matched the "candles" to their cakes.

Of Completing the Task

I have very exciting news for everyone:

The church library is hereby complete and ready for its Grand Opening in January!

I'm not sure how many people realize just how exciting this day is for me, but for those of you who may not realize, I began my training to learn how to do any and all of this process over two and a half years ago.  While I have had many a hiatus since that very beginning, work has been done since then - sometimes with the help of magnificent volunteers and sometimes with none.

For the last three to four months, at least, I have gone in (as much as I was available) two to three mornings a week (most often with kids in toe, which always makes a task more interesting, if not hair-pullingly frustrating) to take the to the work of organizing nearly two thousand books, first in one order (the order the computer wanted to print their spine labels, which was not necessarily the most logical for library organization) and then in the final order.

I have gone through the labeling process of each of these two thousand books three times (the first time with bar codes, when initially entered into the computer, the second with spine labels and the third with spine label protectors) and have stamped every single one with the name and address of our church (well, almost every single one - I did have some help).

And now, dear friends, now it is done.  And this library - my blood, sweat and tears (mostly the latter two) will be opening before this tiny little one arrives.

Rejoice!

(Please pardon the blurriness of these shots, but my actual camera was at home, so I had to go with the video camera, which has no flash.)

You can't tell, but those labels at the tops of the shelves list which call numbers are on each shelf.  They make me happy.  Plus, just knowing those books are in order makes me want to do a dance of victory.

This little mobile shelf for the children's books is also a source of happiness for me.  Isn't it just too cute.

(Also, please ignore that some of the books look haphazard as they fall over - I don't actually have bookends yet.  But that will NOT stop me from opening, so we're just dealing with it.)

Of Getting There

I have good news!  After months of putting books in Accession Number order (which probably means nothing to you and, in reality, means nothing as far as the library goes, as the books will still have to be re-organized according to call number), I am done with that step of the process!  Done!

Woohoo!

Now, after fixing in the computer all the erroneous information I found while re-organizing (which are mainly due to my learn-as-I go technique of library management), I will actually be able to put spine labels on the books, which will allow for further re-organization and . . . finally . . . an open church library!!!!

Praying that all of this can happen while I'm still able to move around comfortably and before a certain little baby enters the world and occupies the majority of my time for a season.