Did you ever wonder?...

I've always loved books. My mom bought me books all the time when I was very little. But honestly by the time I was in 5th or 6th grade, I stopped reading for fun. You want to know a secret? I was scared to go into the "big kid" section of the library. I just wasn't sure where to go or what to do and I certainly was not about to ask because then "people would know". So, I went on for years with little in the way of "fun" reading. Then in college (I was sick and missing my morning classes, so I got to watch "Good Morning America"), I saw an interview with Jean M. Auel. The book she was talking about fascinated me. When my roommate, Katie, came in I told her about it and she said she had read the first book in the series and thought I would like it. It was two weeks before Christmas break so I decided to get it and read it over break. I read it in one day!! I had never read a book that thick, let alone in one day. I went back and bought the second and third books and finished them over the break too. I was hooked! Reading had become a passion again.

So, now it is not surprising when I tell you that when I found out I was pregnant I started buying books every paycheck. About $50 a paycheck, sometimes less, sometimes more. I think John thought I was crazy but there were so many good books that I had never read as a child and I wanted my children to know them. I dreamed of having a little library all their own in our house with cozy places to sit and read. I dreamed they would love to read (even before there was a "they"). I wanted them to embrace reading. Have they? Yes. They love to read. They love to pick out their own books, even Chloe (who loves the Magic Tree House series). I am so grateful for the books I bought at AJ's (even though I was picked on by most of my co-workers at the time) and sorry to see AJ's went out of business a while back. But they were instrumental in my girls reading and I'm grateful.

Now, you may ask what has suddenly brought all of this into my mind again. I'll tell you...my Dad. My wonderful, loves to read anything Dad. I remember in high school having to read "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and for the love of pete I could not get into it. I woke up one morning for school to find my Dad had just read the book in an hour. He liked it. I remember this because the girls and I went to Charlotte this weekend for my cousin Elizabeth's wedding. I finished reading "Bud, not Buddy" (thanks Courtney it was a great book!) while I was there. I started to put it away then asked Dad if he wanted me to leave it out. He said yes. By the time we returned from the wedding he had read the entire book. We discussed it a bit (not much because if was 9pm and I had to get the girls ready for bed, or the bed ready for the girls) and again, he liked it. So, thanks Dad for loving to read and making me want to read, which in turn has led my girls to read. Your awesome!