Soul Carving

       My oldest just turned 11. An avid reader, she has devoured the first 5 Harry Potter books. And, since wizards receive their acceptance letters to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at eleven years of age, she determined this year she would throw a Harry Potter themed birthday party!       (For those unfamiliar with the story, "muggle" is the term used by wizards and witches for non-magic folk.)        There is literally no end to Harry Potter themed party ideas on Pinterest. The trick, therefore, was not in coming up with ideas, but finding ones that would fit our budget, both in terms of time and money. Fortunately for me, I've got a creative genius for a daughter, and she doesn't mind the monetary limits I impose. I often catch her rummaging through the recycling bin in search of materials for her latest projects. Case in point: we had to save our toilet paper tubes for her to use in constructing owls. (In the wiz...

       I got my first job at age 17, working at a Barnes & Noble store. The first thing the manager interviewing me said was, "Well, Bethany I would say you look twelve. But that would be an insult, so. . ."        Umm. Okay?        But I got the job. And the experiences I loved the most there involved working in the children's department: holding storytime, managing field trips, even dressing up as a storybook character. I remember the double-takes from the class of 6th graders as I tried to muscle my way through the crowded aisles to locate a book for a customer. Lots of them were taller than I was and the name tag slung around my neck really threw them for a loop. Then there was the time I was sitting on the floor, rearranging a display when an elderly woman approached me and asked, "Do you work here, or are you one of the children?" I guess I could have answered, "Both!"        Yesterday I turned ...

We had the privilege of celebrating a birthday recently. Richard now has 36 years of mortal experience behind him. He's one year older, and, due in large part to our "little people", he is another year wiser! We enjoyed a trip to an Aerospace museum. Richard may not be a soldier, but he's seen some time in the trenches. And while he's never flown a jet fighter or won any war medals, he has captured my heart. I'm sure glad I ran up that white flag. He may have thought I was surrendering, but I know it was my greatest victory yet. Look at all the little troopers that have joined our ranks since then. With comrades like these, you can face any challenge. Company, atten-TION!  Forward, MARCH!!