All HALE!

Most of you that know me know that I love to read. I don't read for great literary content, I don't read to "help" myself, I don't even read non-fiction to learn more about real life, I read for fun. I want a book to take me into it's world and lose me there. I want a book to make me forget about my dishes, and laundry, and the guy at the grocery store who stole my parking spot, and my feet hurting so bad from work. I want a book to take me OUT of real life and plunk me down deep right in it's fantasy.

My friends here introduced me to an author named Shannon Hale. She has written lots of books ranging from Young Adult Fiction, to Adult Fiction. I have only read the Young Adult books (with plans to read them all) and have loved each one. My favorite has to be Book of a Thousand Days, if you haven't read it you should. I am a lover of books, however I am not a purchaser of books. I don't typically reread them, so mostly I borrow from the library, or purchase second hand, and quickly pass them along. There are some instances where I do purchase a new book and hold onto it for dear life and reread the crud out of it. This is one of those instances, I know I will read this book over and over, so I purchased it to take to a Shannon Hale book signing my friends invited me to last night.

It was my first book signing so I was nervous. I don't read Shannon Hale's blog, I don't follow her on her website, if I had passed her on the street before the signing I wouldn't have known who she was, I don't aspire to be an author, I don't even for the life of me remember the characters names in most of her books, but I love her writing. I was just a lowly fan, with one paperback book to have signed, what was I going to say to her for the 20 whole seconds it would take for her to sign my name and hers??? Like so many things in my life this was something new and it terrified me. Now that it's over and I didn't say something stupid and she was very sweet and funny and nice I wonder what I was so worried about. Now I'm a book signing PRO!!!

Along with being an award winning author, mother, wife, going on this book tour, and being pregnant with twins, she is also Primary President in her Ward...CrAzY lady, or should we say Wonder Woman? I highly recommend her books, they are great literature, they have endearing characters, and are very refreshing.

It was hard for all of us mom's to get away on a weekday like that. Between the four of us we have 18 children, who had to be at various activities. Tuesday nights are our ward's mutual/scouts nights, so we had children who had to be at Young Women's, Young Men's, and Scouts. We have hubby's that are in the YM presidency, Ward Mission Leader, and Bishop. One of us had a nursing baby at home that was left with only 4 ounces of milk to last 8 hours, and some of us relied on older children to be home and baby sit. The amount of rearranging that our families did so that we could attend this fun event was very much appreciated, we are all lucky to have such great husbands that encourage us to take time for ourselves and seize the opportunities that will only come along once!