Awwww, would you just look at the title of that book Lily is pouring over?

Y’all don’t give up on me! I’m trying to get caught up on my design business (started taking new orders again) which makes me a more sporadic blogger. Don’t forget me!

Yesterday I sat outside reading and periodically taking pictures of my kids. One of the books I’m reading now is The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby, and I’m currently in the middle of the chapter on photographing people. When I was looking at my shots, I realized that I need to work on one important tip he gave: focus on the eyes.

I’m not sure if you can really appreciate it when looking at these photos which are reduced to 450px wide, but the difference is striking at larger sizes. In the first two shots, the focus is on the eyes:

In the next two, it isn’t:

These shots were taken at the cabin we’re renting on vacation. I love the shot of my daughter behind the heart cutout in the chair, but I’m definitely going to shoot it again later and make sure the focus is on her eyes. I just thought I’d share this tip in case it helps you improve your shots, too.

Check out this shot of my son shooting pool on my photoblog and let me know what you think of the point of focus in that shot.

I recently read Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, which was filled with commentaries on character and its formation. As a parent, I found the following observations by a father in the story quite thought-provoking:

He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting, that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers, by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments - the authorized object of their youth - could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the mind. He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to the understanding and manners, not the disposition; and of the necessity of self-denial and humility, he feared they had never heard from any lips that could profit them.

Wow. Convicting words from someone who never had children of her own. I love reading Jane Austen: delicious fiction with a powerful moral undercurrent from an author with keen insight into human nature.

I am really late in writing this post, but I want to participate in my friend Trish’s Winter Reading Challenge. I used to say that no matter how late it was, I had to have some time to read and wind down before bed. Sadly, evenings are when I get most of my design work done now, so reading has been put on the back burner. That is something I want to correct this year, and hopefully this challenge will help me keep this promise to myself.

Quality reading time for me usually involves one of two things: good fiction or educational tutorials, both of which I love. As a rule, I’m not big on non-fiction. I have a houseful of partially-read books in this category, whereas a work of fiction has to be just plain awful in order to be left unfinished (this brings to mind Heart of Darkness, which I despised but was assigned for two classes in the same semester in my first year of college; unfortunately, I did have to finish it). I love what reading does for my mind; when I’m reading a lovely work of fiction it permeates me, and the thoughts just seem to flow nicer in my brain.

I am going to be practical in my goals. In spite of good intentions, I know my reading time is limited. Here goes!

• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte. I am totally cheating here; I finished the book earlier this month, I’m just late writing my post. We watched the Masterpiece Theatre production of it over the weekend and loved it!
• Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen. My cousin Lynn posted for the second year in a row about about the publisher’s winter sale on the Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen. I ordered it this time - what beautiful editions!
• The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov. I have a bachelor’s degree in Russian and am quite partial to Russian literature (as opposed to Soviet literature, which was mainly hideous stuff). A book unlike any I’ve ever read (I read it once before in college), it’s sitting in my van waiting for spare moments of reading time.
• Classic Photoshop Effects - Scott Kelby. I discovered this book while killing time when the rear brakes in my van were being replaced in November. I finally ordered it this month, and hope it will progress from its current position as a resting place for my desk phone to the learning tool it was designed to be. Can’t wait!
• The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien. I read the LOTR trilogy while nursing my seventh child, but I never read The Hobbit. I think it’s time to remedy that situation.
• Mansfield Park - Jane Austen. Can you have enough Jane Austen?
• In a perfect world, I’d tackle some Robert Ludlum and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, too. I would love to reread the Bourne trilogy; I read it many years ago and love a good spy novel. I adore Sherlock Holmes and have said it’s a miracle (and probably a blessing) that one of my sons doesn’t have Sherlock for a middle name. I’ll be happy if I make a dent in the list I have.

If you would like to join the Winter Reading Challenge, write a post and sign Trish’s Mr. Linky to be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate.

I came upon the following quote tonight. It truly blessed me and I was surprised when I saw the source. It is certainly as relevant today as when it was written:

If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children…, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would only have courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents.
~Charlotte Mason, Volume 3, page 33 of The Original Homeschooling Series.

I don’t know about you, but I feel guilty about anything and everything I do for myself, as if it is unnecessary and purely selfish. As mothers, we need to recharge our batteries sometimes; otherwise it’s easy to become cranky and resentful, and that doesn’t benefit anyone. I’m blessed to have a group of church sisters who love LNOs (ladies’ nights out), whether planned or impromptu. It’s great to have friends you can call and say, “Help! I really need a night out. Can we meet for supper?”

I really loved this encouraging quote for moms.

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about Pride and Prejudice, but it hasn’t been available the library. I finally checked out the book on CD thinking I would listen while I design, but apparently I’m unable to concentrate fully on two things at once. It just didn’t work. I’ve been listening in the car and my two oldest daughters (7- and 10-years old) are hooked, too.

Years ago we rented the A & E mini-series with Colin Firth, not realizing it was 5 HOURS LONG. Once started, however, we were powerless to stop watching. It simply couldn’t be done. So we stayed up until a ridiculously late hour and finished it.

Disc1 arrived in the mail from Netflix today, and I’m expecting disc 2 tomorrow. Sometime during this holiday weekend we will settle down to a P and P marathon, and I CAN’T WAIT!

Do you have any movie plans for the long weekend?

Last week we received an advance copy of I Love You More from Sourcebooks, Inc. This is a sweet children’s book with a unique concept: If you read it from the front, you get a mother’s story of how much she loves her son; flip it and read from the other side, and you hear of the son’s love for his mother; the two stories meet in the middle.

This is one of those books that will get you all choked up, causing your children to look at you strangely and smile when you read it. I enjoyed the contrast between the mother’s descriptions of love - “I love you longer than the longest path ever wound” - and the son’s - “I love you bigger than the biggest bubble ever blown.” This is a “snuggle up and love on your child” kind of a book, and you can never have too many of those.

Here is the story behind this special book:

I Love You More is the product of Laura Duksta’s incredible personal journey in taking her biggest challenge and turning it into her biggest blessing. At the age of 11, she lost all of her hair to alopecia areata. After 19 years of wearing wigs and pretending to be someone she wasn’t, Laura made a decision on her 30th birthday to throw a coming out party as “The Bald Chick” and never looked back. While it took her many years to love herself and to allow others to love her, the lessons she learned along the way are as heartwarming as they are inspiring.

As a testament to the power of love, I Love You More, originally self published in 2001, sold over 180,000 copies before it even hit a bookstore!

ABOUT THE CREATORS OF I LOVE YOU MORE

Author Laura Duksta believes that when people know they are loved, anything is possible. Her mission is to share her story so that others might see that no matter what challenges they are facing, anything is possible with love. She is now fulfilling this mission through her book, school programs and inspirational talks.

Illustrator Karen Keesler earned the nickname “Hippie” from her love for people and the planet. Upon hearing about Laura’s book, Karen took a bag of pastel chalks that she bought at a yard sale for 50 cents and drew the perfect pictures for the text. Together they become known as the author and illustrator dynamic duo, Hippie and The Bald Chick.