Walk Two Moons

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the best book I’ve read since, . . . since Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt. I LOVED this book. I wish I could give it 7 stars. It is funny, it is sad, it has mystery and intrigue, and it’s characters are real and oh, so very loveable. I was somewhere in the middle of it when I took a break from reading and went to the grocery store. I found myself thinking about it as I walked up and down the grocery aisles, and found myself crying for Sal and Phoebe. I was literally crying in the grocery store. This book moves you, and believe me, if you don’t cry at the end, something’s seriously wrong with you. It is powerful and moving and, oh how I wish I had written it. I don’t care what age or gender you are, you need to read this powerful book. It will help you understand people better. It will make you more compassionate and caring. And it will entertain you. You’ll have a hard time putting it down. If you know a young person (or an old one) who doesn’t come from a traditional, caring, two-parent family, you need to read this book and maybe give them a copy. The author is most deserving of the Newberry Medal she won for writing it in 1995. This one goes on my "need to read it again sometime" shelf.



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Dreams of Joy

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Well, I’ve done it again. I started a book and didn’t finish it. I just can’t stand reading this book because the main character, Joy, is so stupid. Every page, I’m thinking to myself, “Stupid, stupid girl.” Joy, of Chinese descent, but born in America, thinks she has to return to her roots- now Mao Chang China. She immerses herself in the culture, only to realize too late that she is stuck. The worst part, though, is that because of her great love for her daughter, Joy’s mother also returns to China, and I assume also gets stuck. I don’t know for sure, because, like I said, I didn’t finish the book. I would keep reading if I thought there might be a happy ending. But I’m afraid it will just be sad and frustrating and . . .sad. So the book sits on my shelf with a bookmark marking my place somewhere in the middle of it. I’d like to think someday I’ll get back to it, but I’m afraid I never will. I’ll let you know if I do. Stupid, stupid girl.



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Hinton Sibling Reunion, 2013

Last weekend was our annual Hinton Sibling Reunion.  This year, we stayed in the Dixie College Cabin in Pine Valley.  Though Mark and Kathy are not shown in this picture, all eight of the Hinton siblings and their spouses were in attendance.  Jim was in charge and planned some exceptionally fun activities.  

Since we're all grandparents, we all shared ideas for being better grandparents.  

We each brought a recording of a favorite song and shared it.  It was so fun to hear everyone's favorites and especially to hear the stories of WHY they were their favorites.  I feel like it gave a personal, sweet insight to each person.  

Kathy:  Lord, I Would Follow Thee

Mark Hinton:  The Sound of Music

Ada:  Lullaby sung by Tiffani

Don: How Great Thou Art

Mark Grant:  Theme from A River Runs Through It

Lorene: The Light Within

Sherrie: One More Day

Rick: Theme song from Hooziers (Best Shot)

Leslie:  Jerusalem (anthem of England where they served their mission)

Jim:  Those Were the Days

David: Hope of Israel

Gerri: Search for Me

Clark and Nan:  Learn How to Pretend ("their" song)

Ken: I've Been Working on the Railroad

Kay: I Will Sing with the Spirit

We divided up stacks of letters written and saved by Lavar and Leora (Ken's parents), and each read some and then reported their contents to one another.   Lavar and Leora fell in love as teenagers when Leora would go to Hurricane in the summers to stay with her sister.  When Leora would go back to Salt Lake, they would write back and forth.  This went on for several years.  Then they wrote to each other during his 2 1/2 year mission.  After their marriage, Lavar was in the military and war and they were often separated. They wrote to each other nearly every day, so there are many letters from this time period.  I read letters from when he was stationed in Bedford, Massachusettes and she lived in Springfield.  During this time period they were expecting their first child.  It was so fun to read and feel the love they had for each other.  This was a sweet highlight of the reunion- reading these letters and sharing with each other.  We are embarking on a project to digitize all of them.  There are four big plastic boxes full of them, so it will be a big project.  

We played fun games and the winners got prizes.  This is the front porch of the cabin where we did the football throw (Rick throwing/ Ken catching).  

We ate delicious meals and you had to fight to get to help clean up after.  Literally.  I'm just saying I saw Rick use his power hips to push his brother Clark out of the dishpan.  Those Hintons are basketball players and they know how to box out.  

We played Ancestor Jeopardy and watched an intense movie.  

We each brought an object- a treasure to share with each other.  I liked them all, but my absolute favorite was Rick's bobble head.  It looks just like him!  

Jim put together and showed a video of Lavar Hinton family reunion footage from the 1980/s.  Uncle Jim always had a video camera at the Hinton reunions and was a master at interviewing the little grandchildren on camera.  It was so fun to relive memories of the skits and meals and happy times of those reunions, and to see those little ones, who are all grown up now.  

On Sunday, we attended church at the historic Pine Valley chapel.  It was so fun to be in that historic building and see so many St. George people that we know that have retired and moved up there to live.  It got me thinking . . .

So, another successful and fun Hinton Sibling reunion is in the books.  

Miracles on Maple Hill

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This sweet (no pun intended) book is written from the point of view of Marly, a young girl. She and her family move from the big city (Pittsburg) to Maple Hill where life is more simple and where good people and the wonders of nature help heal her war-damaged father. I loved reading the detailed and beautifully written descriptions of nature and the characters and the happenings on Maple Hill. I loved Marly's attitude in seeing the beauties of nature and goodness of people as miracles. I loved learning about the process of "sugaring" and making maple syrup from the tree sap. The book made me long for a simpler time when family and friends and the wonders of nature were the center of life and truly were a miracle. It's a delightful book, but I must warn you of one thing: it will give you an overwhelming desire to eat pancakes smothered in maple syrup!



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The Rest of the Story

I'm sure you're dying to find out what happened in the story that Caleb was reading.  Here's the end:

Sorry about the fingers.  Oops.

Caleb "reads" a story

Caleb "read" me this whole book.   He had almost every word memorized.

Trip to Logan for Conference Weekend

We took our 2nd annual trip to Logan for conference weekend.  This year we had added fun as Blake and Shonna treated us to tickets to the BYU/ USU game on Friday night.  It was so fun to be there with them.

The fall colors in Sardine Canyon were beautiful.  

As soon as we walked in Blake and Shonna's home, little Caleb announced- all in one breath:  "There's a baby in my mommy's tummy do you want to come and see the guest bed we set up for you?"  Whoa!  Say what?   Shonna is expecting our 9th grandchild!

Though surrounded by Utah State fans, we cheered loud for our Cougars.  Everyone was congenial and we had a wonderful time!  

Pre-game warm ups.  

We enjoyed pre-game hamburgers.  We got there really early.  

These kids LOVE books.  

During conference, Grandpa, Shonna, and Lily chopped and bagged (Lily was the official bagger) green and red peppers from our garden to put in Shonna's freezer.  Blake froze peaches from our tree.

Lily loves her Marshmallow boots.  

The view from Shonna's house.

We went on a nice drive between sessions.  

Okay, men, have you ever wondered what the women and children do during the priesthood session of conference???

Blake's Spanish Omelette was our Sunday morning breakfast.  Yum!

Lily insisted on wearing her fluffiest dress and finest hat to enjoy conference.

Again, Lily mistook Elder Eyering for her Grandpa Ken.

Lily helped lotion my feet.  

Lily didn't pay much attention to conference until the choir started to sing.  Then she would find her little card that her Aunt Kristen sent her (her hymnbook), open it,  and sing along at the top of her voice.  

If she really loves you, she lets you wear her pretty hat!

It was so fun to be with the Camerons.  Thank you for a fun weekend!

All done!!!

Out of the Best Books, Volume Five

Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Volume 5: Community Responsibility by Bruce Budge Clark, Robert K. Thomas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's a bit daunting to try to review these magnificent collections of literature: short stories, poems, and essays. I am sad that I have now finished this quest to read all five books of this series. I will miss them. I guess I should just start over again!
I will review a few of my favorite selections from this volume (I'm sure most of these could be found on the Internet):
-"The Secret Heart" by Robert P. Tristram Coffin may be my new favorite poem. Who hasn't looked in on a sleeping child and had their heart melt with love for that little one. In this poem, an adult recalls being that child and waking to see the love on his father's face. It is so moving.
-I loved reading letters written by Mark Twain to his wife. He loved her so much. He suggested that his feelings for his wife to Adam's for his. He said Eve's epitaph should be," Wheresoever she was, there was Eden."
-Maybe my favorite of the whole book (and that is saying a lot!) is a short story by Willa Cather called, "Neighbor Rosicky" This great literary hero is most memorable and has already made a big impact on my life.
- I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Devil and Daniel Webster." I've heard of this for years. It is a great story and was especially interesting to me as I had read history books that introduced me to the characters in this story.
- An essay by Milton Mayer, "Mother of Comptons" had some things that rang so true to me. I felt like he was stating my philosophy in raising children when it comes to money, with this statement:
"What's wrong with working for money?"
The mother of Comptoms exploded. "Everything! To teach a child that money-making for the sake of money is worthy is to teach him that the only thing worth while is what the world calls success. That kind of success has nothing to do either with usefulness or happiness. Parents teach it and the schools teach it, and the result is an age that thinks that money means happiness. The man who lives for money never gets enough, and he thinks that is why he isn't happy. The real reason is that he has had the wrong goal of life set before him."
-Another interesting essay, "The Importance of Loafing" was thought-provoking. Lin Yutang says, "the three great American vices seem to be efficiency, punctuality, and the desire for achievement and success." It compares Chinese culture with American. Lots of food for thought in this one!
- I can't ignore the beautiful poem by Robert Frost "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." It is a most insightful poem.
Yes, I think I should read the series again now. It has uplifted me and been a blessing in my life.



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