Why do I fight this sleep thing???

I love the readathon and plan and dream about it for days . . . actually for six months . . . once one ends I'm ready to go again!!  But darn it if I don't fall asleep while reading!!!  I even asked Mr. Google today why???   I think I know . . . #1 I have sleep apnea and need to get it treated so I'm tired . . . #2 I take several medications that make you drowsy . . . #3 I relax and that's all it takes???  or #4 and I haven't researched this yet . . . but maybe I -gasp- have reached an age where the small print is hard for me to read - even with great glasses and updated prescription . . . should we say Large Print???

So - I promise myself to fix some of those things before next April.  

1. What are you reading right now?  I am really enjoying Sod and Stubble by John Ise.  It is a pioneer story of the truest kind, in fact was more of actual diary notations than it was intended to be a book.  The Ise family came from Germany and eventually came to "western" Kansas . . . Downs and Osborne Kansas to take hold of some free ground.  Little did they know how much of Kansas was really Out West yet.  

2. How many books have you read so far?  None completely - but a chapter of Colossians, four chapters of The Winter Street and a couple of Sod and Stubble.  Plus one chapter of In Pursuit of God.  

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I'm going to go back and forth between Sod and Stubble and the Christmas book, Winter Street.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  Quite a few - self made - so who can I blame but myself.   I really have vowed to be able to set aside EVERYTHING next time for 24 hours.  That means hubs will not be getting any honey do jobs that he needs my help with, it means no guests, it means no phone calls, it also means no plans for Sunday so that I can sleep as needed.  I love it that you can make the readathon your own, but just once I want to take in the full experience of being all alone with my books.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far - - - I'm always amazed at how many people join in.  And especially happy to share one more picture from my granddaughter Rachel's first readathon at six months of age.  Her big sister came home to visit today and so she got to read the 4th and final book with her tonight:  Guess How Much I Love You.

Reading with interruptions . . .

Not quite how I planned my morning to go for readathon . . . but basically my plan is always not to plan . . . I took a short nap . . . and because I had a pot of soup on . . . and was home for a change . . . I decided to invite my mom down for soup . . . her visits are usually short . . . she has places to go . . . today we enjoyed a longer chat . . . looking at doll clothes she made for me . . . and washing her car . . . so I return to read just to find that my phone has locked itself up for some reason . . . But not before my daughter Casey sent me four pics of she and her six month old Rachel as they participate in Dewey's 24 hour Readathon . . . they make me proud!

Her reading choices for today include Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See?  and I Like it When! Thank you for participating in your first ever Readathon Rachel!!

Good morning my fellow readers . . .

Coffee is brewing . . . smells so good . . . I slept away my headache last night . . . I'm set to go today with my books laid out.  As I mentioned in my previous post - I have a few books to choose from.  I'll be starting my day with the Bible and prayer time - One Minute Prayers for Women by Hope Lyda.  I've been taking a few minutes each morning to sit and read from this book.  Short and powerful prayers.

Here is my spread . . . including books on Kindle.  

I'm also a rah-rah girl as my toddler son used to call the cheerleaders!   Go Team Sycamores!

Happy Reading Friends!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is here again!

It is one of my favorite days of the year!  24 hours set aside to spend in books, online talking about books, meeting new friends, reading new blogs, taking fun challenges, and possibly even winning a prize!  You can read more about Dewey's Readathon here.

Many will set goals . . . I have no goals . . . just to read for the 24 hours - minus the time that I must take out to rest and get some sleep.  Or my job will suffer on Monday.

These are the books I plan to read . . . The Bible . . . In Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer . . . Sod and Stubble by John Ise, The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, and Winter Street by Elin Hilderand.  Winter Street is one that my sister Tami and I will read together for the readathon - - - a sweet, short, Christmas novel - what could be better!

My favorite parts of the Readathon are the anticipation . . . which means for me that I finish all the household chores by Friday evening and then I declare it Readathonville . . . I like the first hour with my fresh coffee and time spent in God's word and in prayer . . . I enjoy checking each hour to see how my sister Tami is coming along . . . afterall I have her to thank for telling me about the readathon several years back.   I think it's fun to check out the readers' blogs . . . I'm always looking to find a really good one to follow.

This year I'm adding a twist . . . I asked my daughter if she thought the busy new mom of a 5 month old would like to participate in the readathon . . . she would of course love it . . . but knew that it would not be happening for her this year.  But I did throw out the challenge for her to read to my granddaughter four books throughout the day.  She eagerly took me up on that challenge!    Next I will be challenging my 13 year old granddaughter who is not a stranger to Dewey's . . . in fact a couple of years ago she was here with me and so we joined in together - made a trip to the library for her - - - and like she always does . . . made reading with grandma fun!  I think that since she is a busy preteen . . . with volleyball, a best friend, and a lab named Mandy to keep her busy . . . I will challenge her to one hour of reading throughout the weekend . . . and maybe grams will provide her own prize!

I had better sign off - get this posted. . . three more days of work and housework to have done by 9 p.m. Friday evening . . . that's when I declare it Readathonville and I stop with housework, yardwork, etc. . . . and just plain enjoy!  

My readers . . .