Readathon Update #4

Phew! 18 hours down, 6 to go!

I'm still here, still reading away. I am starting to get just the tiniest bit droopy but I think a bit of caffeine and a midnight snack will perk me right up! So far, this isn't turning out to be as hard as I anticipated but I guess the toughest 6 hours is still ahead of me. But I will press on, no giving up now!!!

Current stats:

Pages Read: 892
Audio Books: 1.5 hours

Currently Reading:
Finnikin of the Rock  (pg 320 of 399)
Book Scavenger (pg 36 of 343)
The Hobbit (audiobook) 1.5 hours

Books Completed:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (274 pages)

The Penderwicks (262 pages)

Readathon Update #3

Yay! We have reached the halfway point. I still feel like I'm going strong, in fact, if anything, I think I have become even more inspired as the day has progressed. And, best of all, I'm excited that I still have 12 hours of reading time ahead of me!!!

So here are my stats as they now stand:

Pages Read: 597
Audio Books: 1 hour

Currently Reading:
Finnikin of the Rock  (pg 200 of 399)
The Penderwicks (pg 123 of 262)
The Hobbit (audiobook) 1 hour

Books Completed:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (274 pages)

Readathon Update #2

Okay, seriously, Six and a half hours in and I'm loving every minute of this day, but how have I never realized what a slow reader I am? I know it's not a competition and I'm not worried about keeping up with other people but I just thought I would be further along than I am. *sigh* Oh well. I'm having fun and that's what matters.

So here are the current numbers:

Pages Read: 322

Currently Reading:
Finnikin of the Rock  (pg 48 of 399)

Books Completed:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (274 pages)

Also, thanks to those of you that have been stopping by and commenting. It's so encouraging! I'm off for a quick bathroom break and then to raid the fridge. Happy Reading! (and snacking!)

Readathon Update #1

Good morning all! Its not quite 3 hours in and I am 155 pages into The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I love it, just so you know. I am taking my first quick break to check in online and get some breakfast. Also, I discovered I won a prize in Hour 1! YAY!!! Totally wasn't expecting that one!

So here's the official info:

Pages Read:155

Currently Reading:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Books Completed:

Readathon Prep

I am counting down the hours until my first readathon begins (13 if you want to know). This week has been spent planning, making lists, and accomplishing any tasks that might distract me from my books. I have 20 books carefully selected, I have snacks prepared, I have a plan, I even have the electric kettle set up in my bathroom so I can make hot chocolate at 5am without disturbing the rest of the household. The bathroom is clean, the floors are vacuumed, random papers are tucked away in drawers. Nothing will distract me from crossing that finish line at 5am Sunday morning. 

Just in case you are as obsessive about reading as I am, I thought I would include a list of the books I have selected as potential reads. No, I will not read all twenty. I wanted variety but limited options so I don't get overwhelmed. So here they are:

 From left to right:
A Tale for the Time Being 
A Sense of the Infinite
Death Comes to Pemberly
Finnikin of the Rock
Howl's Moving Castle
Golden Urchin
Book Scavenger
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Confessions of a Prarie Bitch
Murkmere
The Golden Name Day
Code Name Verity
The Queen's Fool
I Have Lived a Thousand Years
The Sherwood Ring
The Penderwicks
The Color of Magic
The Enchanted Wood
Out of the Silent Planet

I also have The Hobbit loaded on my ipod so I can take a couple long walks during the day.

I've tried to include a little bit of everything: Fiction, non fiction, memoir, historical, fantasy, mystery, childrens, young adult...hopefully something for whatever mood takes me. And if that fails, I guess I can always choose something from all my other shelves!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

This Saturday, beginning at 5am, I am participating in my first ever 24 hour readathon. I am ridiculously excited about this. 

What is a readathon you ask? A readathon is a time set aside specifically for reading. What's the point? Um...the point is that I have an excuse to read for 24 hours without interruption. Am I planning to stay up all night and actually read for 24 hours? Yes, that is the plan. I have a stack of books as well as a couple audio books loaded on my ipod so I can go out and take a walk and stretch my legs. I have been researching what foods to eat to stay awake and alert. I have been reading blogs about other prepping tips. I am in nerd heaven preparing for this. 

I will be updating my blog periodically throughout the day with the amount of pages read, books read, etc. Feel free to check in and cheer me on, gather reading suggestions, and/or make fun of me. And if you feel like joining me in my reading journey you can sign up here: http://www.24hourreadathon.com/

It's NOT about the kids!!!

It's all about the kids!!!

This is the phrase I hear almost daily, from worn out coworkers reminding each other that what we do is worth it and from smiling visitors who are in smitten with Mexican babies. Once in a while I even catch myself saying it. But I have a secret and for someone who works in an orphanage, it's a pretty dirty little secret. So here it is: I don't like kids all that much. 

Don't get me wrong, I love kids that are mine (and by mine I mean nieces and nephews). I love soft cuddly babies that smile and fall asleep in your arms. I love toddlers that do and say hilarious things without even knowing it. I love watching children grow, seeing their personalities and gifts and character develop.

On the other hand, I don't like kids. I do not like dealing with kids who are screaming and are outright defiant. I do not like cleaning vomit off the floor and wiping diarrhea off their legs. I do not like spending a good portion of my day in the laundry room scrubbing soiled clothes. I do not like coming home every afternoon smelling of...well...crap...and bleach. I do not like seeing their selfishness and hearing their demands of "Me first!" (In other words, I don't like it when the remind me of me.) The truth is, I wouldn't do this for the kids. 

And that's where God comes into the picture. It's not about the kids. It's about something so much bigger than the kids. It's about a God who loved us so much that He made a way for us to be with Him. He became one of us so that we could be one with Him. It's about the God of the universe. It's all about HIM! 

That is why I do what I do. It's not because of the kids. It's because of what he did for me. 

"Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."