Sarah's Key

I just finished reading Sarah's Key last night. This was a book I inherited from my aunt. I love reading historical fiction and I thought I'd read quite a bit about WW2 (it's my favorite time period because of all the interesting politics that were going on). Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this book dealt with something that happened in France in 1942 that I had read (and known) NOTHING about! It was a super good book. I was about 1/2 way through it when I laid down to read last night. I couldn't put it down (surprise) and finished it at 2:04 am!

Things you should know before you read this book:

1-There were quite a few French names of people & places (glad I took French for 3 out of 4 of my high school years!), but I was able to decipher them well enough to understand what was going on.

2-It deals with a part of the Holocaust that occurred in France. The reason I think you should know this is that not everyone can deal with that (it was harder for me this time - maybe because I'm pregnant?). What was especially heart wrenching was the description of what happened to the little children. (It was told from the point of view of a 10 yr. old girl.)

3-There are a few cuss words (not too bad though).

4-I found the attitude of the French citizens toward what happened difficult to understand. So many people are knowledgeable about the events of the Holocaust and are sensitive to them. The author portrayed the French citizens as totally indifferent to what happened to the French Jews- both in 1942 and in current day. That bothered me. Not that they were indifferent in 1942, I can understand that, but their indifference to what happened today.

Anyway, it was a great book and I'd highly recommend it. If you want to borrow it, just let me know!

Festival of the Trees

Before I tell you about the Festival of the Trees, I must say how thoroughly happy I am that my 5 year old SON will play Barbies with my 7 year old DAUGHTER. In fact, he was perfectly content to play Barbies by HIMSELF while she was busy doing homework! How awesome is that? Not necessarily that he plays Barbies, but that he plays with his big sister so willingly and at HER choice of playing!

Last night Samantha danced at the Festival of Trees with her dance group, LaShar's. I had never been before, so I had no idea what to expect. I know it's a fundraiser for Primary Children's Hospital (which holds a special place in my heart), but that's about it.

I learned that they have AMAZING gingerbread houses that are put up for sale. Can you even imagine creating this sucker?!
They also had quilts, center pieces, wreathes, and trees of all shapes and sizes that had been decorated and placed for sale. I think I might try and find out how to donate items to be sold for next year.

The entire Expo Center was decorated beautifully...
This is Sam all costumed, make up'd and ready to go...

Her group, Dyna-kids...
Getting ready for a practice run...
The entire group of LaShar's girls that performed...
They also have a "kids corner" at Festival of Trees. You buy tickets (3/$1.00) and then the kids can do different activities with their tickets. I bought Sam $5 worth of tickets (so 15 tickets). She got her face tattooed, made a stained glass ornament, painted a plaster ornament, visited the giving tree, made some sand layering (that got shook up and is not a beautiful assortment of colors instead of the nice even layers), oh and she made a reindeer light bulb ornament too.
This tree made of lights was out in the foyer. It was HUGE!
She did great and had fun. I videoed her dances but it is taking FOREVER to try and load them. Perhaps I'll try that again another day!

Winter Fun

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A job, a job!

Today I had 2 job interviews. One job interview was for an ESL aide at South Cache 8-9 center. The other job was at the Valley Montessori pre-school. I interviewed for the job at South Cache at 11 am. I was done in about 20 minutes. At 12, they called and offered me the job! I still interviewed at the Montessori school (I thought it might be afternoon hours). I still have a job interview scheduled at 1:15 at Ellis Elementary tomorrow. I think I'm going to cancel that job. It's not really worth driving to Logan for 2 hrs of work at about $9/hr.

So, my new job should be exciting. I realized when I was at the 8-9 center I hadn't been there since I was in 8th grade (like 15-16 years ago). Wow, that made me feel old! The principal there was the vice principal when I was there in 8th grade. Finally I will be working for a MAN principal! Perhaps things will go better this time (considering the last 3 principals I had were women!).

I will be working with 2 (yes, TWO) students. Let me rephrase that. I will be working with 2 students, but 1 on 1. A teacher's dream come true I think! One of these students recently arrived from Guatamala and doesn't speak English, just Spanish (sounds familiar to my teacher brain). The other student recently arrived from Canada and doesn't speak English, just French (I knew there was a reason I took French all 4 years of high school!). There is actually a curriculum for me to use this time (not like when I was working over in Brigham or teaching English to construction workers). I'm hoping that the curriculum won't seem so juvenile to the students this time (last year was ROUGH because the curriculum was geared more towards beginner English speakers or to be used like a reading curriculum). I will only work for 1.5 hrs a day (9:30-11:00). This means that both of my boys will be in daycare, but, I think what they're paying me will work out fine. Of course, I don't have to figure in 30 min. (or even 2 hrs) travel time per day either, so that helps!

I am excited because this will at least keep me in a classroom working with students. It will also allow me to be home with my kids (no parent teacher conferences, after school "stuff", grading papers, curriculum planning, etc.).

And, to top it all off, since I will be under 40 hrs and less than 30% of my weekly unemployment check, I still qualify for my unemployment. So, this is like extra money in my pocket. Ah the benefits of joblessness!

Have a Little Faith

I love author Mitch Albom. I read his book "Tuesdays with Morrie" back in high school. I recently read "The 5 People You Meet In Heaven" too. There's just something about his style of writing that pulls you in and keeps you completely and totally sucked in his world.

Last night I finished "Have a Little Faith." I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started this book. I actually saw the book listed in a magazine and thought I'd better see if I could find it. The library once again came to my rescue.

This book reminded me of "Tuesdays with Morrie" a little bit. In the beginning of the book he is asked by his childhood rabbi if he would give the eulogy at his funeral when he passed away. Mitch Albom was thinking the man had weeks or days left and decided he'd best learn about "the man" rather than just "the rabbi." Thus begins his visits. His visits continue for EIGHT YEARS. Along the way you begin to hear about a pastor named Henry Covington. I couldn't quite figure out the connection between the three until about 3/4 of the way through the book, but I finally got it.

I think the reason I enjoyed this book so much is because 1-it did remind me of Tuesdays with Morrie & I love that book and 2- ever since my AP European History class in 10th grade with Mrs. Morgan, I have had a growing curiosity to learn more about other religions.

This book gave me the chance to see that religion isn't static and it isn't a completely different idea in my LDS church from what it is in a Jewish synogog (sp?) or a "Christian" church with a Baptist like pastor. The main idea is the same and the people are the same. Mitch Albom mentions that he always separated "us" from "them" and I can see how so many people do that (and how easy it is to do). Perhaps if more people could erase the "us" and "them" line, things would be much better in different places of the world. Easier said than done, I know!

Anyway, I thought this book was a really good one and wanted to tell you that if you have the chance, you should read it. And, if you haven't read his other books, give them a try - I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked just as quickly as I was!