Random Journal Day (Reunion) and Celebration

Apparently, Random Journal Day began several years ago when a group of avid journal keepers decided to share snippets from their scrivenings in a monthly meme post. Due to the busyness of life, however, the regular posts became semi-regular and then ultimately disappeared altogether.

While I've regularly journaled since 2013, I was unaware of this like-minded tribe ... until recently.

Enter my new online friend, Enthusiastically, Dawn.

Week in Review 03.25.18

Those who know me well won't be surprised as I proclaim today is nine months til Christmas. I always use the 25th of the month as the official countdown to my favorite holiday. I receive mixed reactions when I post the announcement on FaceBook, so I'm curious... Are you as excited about this festive celebration as I am ... or do you tend to proclaim bah-humbug?

Today is also Palm Sunday, and while I wish the temperatures were warmer here in the Midwest, I am grateful the snow of the Northeast by-passed us this year.

The picture to the left is a throwback to 1999 when our local church performed the passion play: The Victor. Our entire family participated in this meaningful portrayal of Jesus' final week before the crucifixion. We have fond memories of this collective experience.

2018 A-Z Blogging Challenge: Theme Reveal

I'm excited to participate in my third Blogging A-Z Challenge!

Previous themes for this challenge included Paris (2016) and Journaling (2017). Both these themes coordinated with book topics I was writing at the time (and ultimately self-published). Since this writing strategy worked well in the past, I plan to implement it again this year.

So without further ado, my theme for 2018 is: BOSTON

Week in Review: Spring Break Plans

This year our school break coincides with Daylight Savings Time ... which in my mind is the non-official start to Spring. While I missed the one hour of sleep last night, I will relish the extra hour of afternoon daylight for the next several months.

Reading Progress:

I'm currently reading The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. One of the challenges for #MarchMysteryMadness is to read a historical mystery/thriller, and this book fits the category.

The story focuses on two survivors of World War II: a Jewish woman who witnessed the atrocities of the Halocaust, and a German SS soldier. As is typical of Picoult, the story unfolds with alternative viewpoints as well as alternative time periods, with flashbacks to the 1940s.

Week in Review: March Mystery Madness

March came in like a lion in the Northeast. I hope my friends in that part of the country are safe and warm. Here in the Midwest, we experienced spring-like temperature and sunny skies. I am grateful for this little tease of better weather to come.

Thursday was the official start of March Mystery Madness - a  BookTube and GoodReads reading challenge that coordinates perfectly with my recent obsession with psychological thrillers.

While I don't plan to pressure myself to complete the full challenge or to read solely books in the genre during the month of March, I do have a running list of possible books and even managed to read (almost) two this week.