fall in love like: Almonzo and Laura

So, why Almonzo and Laura? Beyond the absolutely amazingly cool name, Almonzo, is an amazing man. I thing that Almonzo has to be one of the most patient and gentle men in the entire world. He is never controlling and is always supportive. Best of all, he goes out of his way to do special things and take care of Laura, long before they were ever together. He allowed her to fall in love with him in her own time never.

How do I relate? Personally, I don't relate to much of Laura Ingalls as a whole, but I have always admired her. The world she grew up in was so different then anything I have ever known. Maybe, that is why I have a hard time putting myself in her shoes. What I hope to have in common with Laura, is her strength and self-confidence, even as a child she stood up for what she thought was right. Beyond it all, she was always up for an adventure, but loves the simplify of being at home with the people she loves.

The moral of the relationship?
Almonzo and Laura are so gentle with each other, and no matter what, Almonzo is ever supportive and steady for a somewhat flighty Laura.

**Another amazing relationships that is ported in the Little House series is Laura's parents. I love the way Charles Ingalls takes care of his family, he is a very strong, intelligent man. Caroline Ingalls is wonderfully supportive and knows how to take care of her family through thick and thin.

little house on the prairie

This Book in the Little House series always made me a little sad. This was supposed to be it, the big move on to the frontier, but then the Indians got so riled up, so they left before trouble could come.

Re-reading this book as an adult I feel for Caroline. She finally thought they had settled. She had already dealt with leaving family behind in the big woods, not they had to move again, just one year later.

They were out on the frontier, away from people, with just a few good neighbors miles away. Then, right when everything had settled down. Right when they thought everything was going their way. Crops were planted, the house was built and they had glass windows, there was a cow and a well. Everything was good, they had to pick up and leave.

It's funny who you relate to when you re-read books at different points in your life. 

water droplets make everything magic.

little house in the big woods

Every once and a while I have an odd craving to re-read books. The past few weeks I have wanted to read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Since my initial read as a child, I have read the entire series a few times in my life. It is just one of those series that I find a new way to relate the lessons and ideals in the books to my life.

Family is so important in the Little House books, and Caroline and Charles are so strong and supportive of each other. A great example of what a marriage should be. Mary and Laura have such fun adventures up in the attic among the pumpkins in the winter and under the trees in the summer.

It's funny, I'd forgotten how short this book is. It was nice to be reintroduced to the characters in this series. To see the love that is shared and how simple life was. It makes me wish that I could go back to that time. A time that there is no technology nothing but the clouds in the sky and the birds of the field. Nothing to hold you back from enjoying the beauty around you.

just hanging around.

swings.

bubbles!

Seriously, I think that bubbles are one of the worlds greatest inventions. Any good day at the park needs them.

dogwood flowers in the snow.

On Sunday, I noticed that the dogwood tree had bloomed. Then, Monday, it snowed. I thought the contrast between the white snow and the pink dogwood flowers was absolutely beautiful. I am quite proud of how these pictures turned out. Such a unique opportunity to take pictures of a flowering tree with snow weighing down the petals. 

one last romp in the snow.

On Monday, we had snow. Yes I said it. Snow. After having May in March, we have now had January in April. The dogs loved it. Daisy in particular, she's not so fond of 60+ weather. It will be a very long summer for the poor puppy, but at least she had this one last romp in the snow.

when in doubt, build a fort.

In the back yard is this great tree, the kids want to climb it and make a fort in it with old boards... Well, I didn't think that was a good idea. Instead, I told the kids to go get some blankets and we would make a fort in the under the tree by hanging blankets in the tree. Yes, I believe I channeled a little bit of Mary Poppins to come up with that idea, but it worked and we had a ball with it! Basically, when it comes to kids, when in doubt, build a fort. After all, weren't forts your favorite part of childhood?

fall in love like: anne and gilbert

So, why Anne and Gilbert? You see... the thing about Gilbert is that he lets Anne find her own way. Lets her make mistakes, and get herself in some awful spots, but is always there when she needs a shoulder to cry on. He knows what she needs and what she wants before she does. I think what makes me love him so much, is that he is patient with her. No matter how hard, or how often she pushes him away, even when he was firmly planted on the "friend shelf" he never gave up on the love he felt for her. He trusted that she would find her own way to him. After all, this is Anne we are talking about, she can never take the easy way.






How do I relate? Well, every Anne needs her Gilbert. I believe that Gilbert Blyth was my first movie crush. As a little girl I made a solemn vow to myself that someday, I would find my own Gilbert and marry him. Basically, I am Anne. I'm not scared to say what I mean and I mean what I say. I'm hot headed and not always the most graceful when it comes to social events. I tend to attract attention, and in general, people tend to like me. Well, guys tend to like me, girls never really know what to do with me. Luckily, I have had a few bosom friends along the way to keep me on my feet.

The moral of the relationship is... Anne and Gilbert are, kindred spirits. They would have to be for Gilbert to put up with Anne's hair brained ideas. Which is exactly why, I need Gilbert Blyth.

the lunar chronicles

Honestly, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when starting these books this morning. Yes, I said this morning. As soon as I started the pre-quill Glitch, I was hooked. I knew from the title that it was going to be a Cinderella type story, but what I got was so much more.

Marissa Meyer creates a world in the future that is so simple, yet so perfect. Glitch, is just an introduction to this world. You get to meet the "evil step mom" and learn about Cinders special talents that make her so valuable and unique.

From the beginning, I knew there would be something very special in store for this amazing character. I couldn't wait to find out what adventures Cinder would have with her new friend, Iko, a house robot she repaired, by her side. And so, as soon as I turned the last page of Glitches, and met family that Cinder was left with I couldn't wait to start in on Cinder, and was so glad I was just a few clicks away from page one.

---

Cinder, has not had it easy since her adoptive father was taken away after catching Letumosis, a plague that has been ravaging the earth with no cure. The story opens just as you might expect any Cinderella Story to open, with our wonderful pure young woman totaling away for the family that never wanted her to begin with.

Along with Iko, Cinders one true friend and ally, Cinder runs a small stand at the market where she is known as the best mechanic in the area, but the real mystery is that she has her tallent because she is a cyborg. One day, when the prince shows up at her stand needing repairs done her world takes a drastic change from the status quo.

Through a series of unlikely events, Cinder ends up as a test subject agains the deadly desase. However, this takes her to the exact place she should be. A place that she learns more about herself and how special she really is.

And don't forget about falling in love with the hansom prince and saving the kingdom from great evil. But honestly, what Cinderella Story would be complete without that?

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The Lunar Chronicles will continue in 2013. Ug. I know, I hate having to wait as well. The next story will carry on with Cinders adventure, but also introduce the character of Red Riding Hood. Hum. I wonder where all of this will take our little Cinderella character. All I know, is I can't wait to find out! 

the amazing kids I babysit.

So basically, the kids I babysit for are adorable. You've got K, is a smart, pretty little girl, who is just starting to figure out who she is, and always has a story to tell. Then R, who is a cutie and draws me pretty pictures. Last, but not least is T, and well, he is all boy, but then, who wouldn't love dump trucks and digging in the dirt?

They keep me smiling and are always entertaining. Right now, they are teaching me so much about who I am, more then so many other things I've ever done, or people I've been around. This is one AMAZING family, one that I am very privileged to have my small hand in.

the last song

This book, like every Nicholas Sparks books I've read I cried. Honesty, you would have thought I would learn my lesson, but obviously, I haven't.

There is something about the way that Nicholas Sparks builds a story. He takes people through an awful situation, in a way brings them back from the dead. It's amazing the emotional connection you create with the characters, and each grow in ways beyond imagining.

I cried as Steve, Ronnie's father was over taken with sickness. I cried as she played the piano once again. I cried as Steve died. And I'm sure I cried a few more places as well.

Ronnie became the person she was always meant to be the summer she spent with her father. Although everything started out a little rocky, with one collision her summer changed, for the better. She fell in love, a love that brought her out of herself, that gave her a strength she didn't know she had. A love that was not always approved by some, but a love that stood through some hard tests.

By the end of the summer, Ronnie learned that sometimes the unexpected is more perfect then anything you could plan. At the same time, sometimes things are never what they seem, and as her father grew more and more sick she learned what having true inner-straight means. Most importantly she found her way into faith.

the dressmaker

Maybe it is the mystery surrounding the Sinking of the Titanic, maybe it is the struggle between classes or the adventure of starting fresh. Or maybe it is fact that an amazing story will always draws you in and makes you want more. Whatever the reason, I hated putting this book down... So I read it in basically two sittings. (stoping to sleep in between)

The great tragedy of the Titanic may have happened 100 years ago in history, but Kate Alcott took me back to that time with such skill. The magnificence of the boat has never been lost on anyone, and the loss the of the rich and poor alike makes it so much more then a disaster.

The Dressmaker is a captivating story that bounces between perspectives helping to round out events, yet there is still so much mystery as to what actually happened. I was Tess as she took up the oar with Mrs. Brown. I felt for Jim as he stood up for what was right. As the story unfolded in Pinky Wade's eye's it did before mine as well. I felt the hatred for the Duff Gorden's no matter what the perspective I was reading.

There was friendship, loss, hatred, and above all fear and guilt. The fear of coming so close to death and the guilt for surviving. In the end, just as Miss. Stacy, from Anne of Green Gables, says "the truth will set you free".

just watching the clouds roll by

It was a beautiful day. The kind that all you want to do is lay down in the grass and watch the clouds roll by.