Second Saturday Scrapbook: Books and Such

I miss my books. Even my favorite picture books! For the second time in my life, most of my personal library is boxed up and sitting in a storage unit. The first time that happened was after I retired as a library director to move in with my mother and be her full-time caregiver. But at least I had her and Daddy's bookshelves to peruse.

We moved many boxes of books from that KS storage unit to our first home in NC. It was like Christmas to finally unpack and shelve my books! Since Dennis retired from teaching last July, and we have moved to our temporary "camper home," so my books are once again boxed, stacked, and stored. Along with my books are my collection of statues of people and animals reading books. I miss them, too. Now I collect photos and memes of books and all things literary, store them on in my "phone scrapbook," and share those with you.

I took quite of few of my books to our church and started a library, so I can borrow my own books from there. I satisfy my "librarian" side by sharing them with others, which I love to do. Books are meant to be shared. 

Since my last Tresia book came out in November, I have taken a break from writing, (though I'm brainstorming and making notes on my next project.) The fact that my current writing desk is one quarter of our camper kitchen table also has something to do with that choice. But in lieu of reading and writing my books, there are always the public library and my favorite used book store to frequent. I admit that I have already added another box of newly acquired and already read books to our storage unit. I've even read a couple books on my iPad, though that is from desperation.

There is one good thing about my lack of books on hand at this time. For the past nine years I have prayed about and then chosen a "Word of the Year." This year's word is PRACTICE. I write my goals with my yearly word in mind so one of my goals this year is to practice studying my Bible, the one Book I always have with me. Instead of a read-through program or random reading, the Lord led me to choose three books to study this year. I need practice on how to dig out the hidden treasures and mysteries He has in those precious pages and then applying them to my life. I take it slow, digest, and meditate on each verse. I've found that studying is much different than just reading the Word. I look forward this year to receiving more insight, instruction, and developing an even greater love for the Word and spending time in God's presence. 

After we moved to NC, I wrote an article in our local newspaper about the boxes and boxes of books that our movers had to load and unload. They had quite a few comments about it. I wanted to include a photo of that article here, but my article scrapbook is also in storage. So, I will do my best to find other sources for my literary endeavors while I wait to unpack my books and such. My cabin and Christmas are coming.