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  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
Home ยป Blog ยป Thinking, Playing, Reading

Thinking, Playing, Reading

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane

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Thinking:

Of how blessed I have been in so many ways, and still continue to be.  I have spent the last couple weeks spring cleaning, making my house smell good, freshening up rooms, and having fun evenings at home together as a family.  AND…March Madness…a big part of our life here for sure.  We have our brackets (mine soley chosen on how much farther south each team is because of SUNSHINE, with the exception of MI of course, who wins it all.  Janey and I made ours cute with gel pens and sunshines, and flowers.  Dad and the boys think we are crazy (not about MI about how we choose) but we might just get lucky.

Playing:

It’s a mud pit outside but that doesn’t stop the kids from wanting to go out.  Patrick has a Lenten basketball shooting practice resolution he must keep.  Andrew has track practice every evening.  Fresh air and exercise!

Reading:

I’m on a roll!  Went on a WWII kick except for one light read.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel by [Morris, Heather]

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Incredible true story-easier to read prose, heartbreaking as all books about the Holocaust would be, but filled with hope also.

Between Shades of Gray

About a young girl surviving in a Siberian work camp-an incredible story-we are SO lucky to live in a peaceful country!

If you don’t want to read the book HERE is the movie.

A New York Times notable book

An international bestseller

A Carnegie Medal nominee

A William C. Morris Award finalist

A Golden Kite Award winner

The Dutch Wife

This one is my favorite out of them all.  Set in a concentration camp-another love and survival story-a wife is forced to serve in the camp brothel, and is saved by a relationship with the enemy, while still holding out hope for reunification with her husband.

And for a light read:

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Written in a unique way (reminds me a little of Bridget Jones).  Really really funny but well written also.

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March 19, 2019 ยท 9 Comments

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  1. KatieL says

    March 19, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    I find it disconcerting that some Amazon reviewers considered The Dutch Wife too graphic and unpleasant. The victims and survivors of the Holocaust didnโ€™t have the luxury of putting the book down. May they rest in eternal peace, in Godโ€™s loving arms.

    Reply
  2. Billie Jo says

    March 20, 2019 at 12:46 am

    Hi Sarah,
    I love your description of spring cleaning.
    That is just how I feel this time of year!
    Good luck with your March Madness.
    Always a fun time of year. : )
    Thanks for the book suggestions. I could read all day!

    Reply
  3. JenJenKMN says

    March 20, 2019 at 3:01 pm

    I love when you mention spring cleaning! Your posts in previous years about cleaning and "house love" are ones I go back to again and again for inspiration! I hope you'll do more!

    Reply
  4. S says

    March 21, 2019 at 9:43 am

    Reading this, Katrina Kenison's quote about the gift of an ordinary day leaps out at me – I am so very glad you seem to be once again enjoying them. (And I am extremely curious about your fun family evenings…this is a struggle for us with older kids so would love to hear more of what this looks like at your home!!)

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 21, 2019 at 5:39 pm

      Homework, dinner together, Jeopardy, boys playing basketball inside, etc. Just HOME without running around to practices etc. (The lull in between basketball ending and soccer and other spring sports starting up.)

      Reply
  5. Unknown says

    March 21, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    I have read many of your book recommendations. Do you read late at night? I'm recently retired and blessed to read whenever! And yes, I love March Madness too.
    PS This is not from Hugh, this is from his wife Kathy. I don't know why it won't let me comment under my own account. GRRRR

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 21, 2019 at 5:38 pm

      Yes Kathy-sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes late at night or if I wake up and can't fall back asleep.

      Reply
  6. Maiden Jane says

    March 21, 2019 at 9:19 pm

    I read Between Shades of Gray – you are right. We have so much to be grateful for!

    I need to do about 10 years worth of spring cleaning! Enjoy the freshness and looking forward to warmer days ahead!

    Reply
  7. Laura Lee says

    March 24, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    Enjoy The Lull Mom!!
    Always great book recommendations, for all ages and stages, thanks.
    In keeping with your recent reads, I would recommend The Lost Wife, by Alyson Richman, to you. The Velvet Hours by Alyson Richman too. Great reads. Take good care. xo

    Reply

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Welcome!

Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. ๐Ÿƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
๐Ÿƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
๐Ÿƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
๐Ÿƒ
Clip on bed lights save space. 
๐Ÿƒ
A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
๐Ÿƒ
When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
๐Ÿƒ
All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
โ˜€๏ธ
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
โ˜€๏ธ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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