New Year! New Goals!

So with the beginning of a new year always comes new goals.  What are my goals this year?  To read more of course! I want to read more for myself and more to my kids.  Here are a few books on my to read list this year:

Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
Small Steps for Catholic Moms by Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Ross
Creative Schools by Ken Robinson
Grit by Angela Duckworth
5 Love Languages of Children by Gary D. Chapman
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskers
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

In addition to reading this books I plan on using The Modern Mrs. Darcy's 2016 Reading Challenge checklist, just to help keep my reading interesting.

Another big goal I have for this year is to really get the word out about reading from birth and growing Books for Babes.  Books for Babes is a project I have been working on the last year where I give board books to moms and their new babies in the hospital.  I have been working with University Hospital and last year we were able to give 350 books to the babies there.  I would LOVE to double that number this year to 700, but I need YOUR help.  Please consider donating books or money so that we can get books into the hands of moms.  You can check in here every week to find information on reading aloud to kids of all ages (including why it is so beneficial), great book recommendations as well as where I am on my goal of giving out 700 board books.

"One of the greatest gifts adults can give- their offspring and to their society- is to read to children."
                                                                                         - Carl Sagan

What are your goals this year?  What books are on your to read list for 2016?

Happy Reading!
Laura

New Year's Eve

Do you have a goal for the New Year?  A resolution?  A hope of a wish for 2014?  Most people being a new year with loft goals and dreams only to become discouraged after a few weeks, or even few days of everything life is throwing at them.

Well this year when the going gets tough and it seems easier to give up then stick with it I want you to remember The Littlest Tall Fellow by Barry Rudner.  This is a story you can read aloud to your children when talking to them about goals, hard work and determination, or just read it to yourself for a little inspiration.

The Littlest Tall Fellow is the story of a very little boy (no bigger than a goldfish) who had very big dreams.  He would do whatever he put his mind to, he went to school and got good grades.  He even tried playing sports, but the coach just wouldn't let him.  "You're the size of the ball. I want you to play.  You're simply too small.  You must stop having dreams such as these.  People can't always reach what they please, " is what the coach told him when he wanted to play.  After those words from the coach they boy was a little sad, but then he realized that reaching for dreams is not just for the tall.   He began to cry when he heard a voice.  The voice reminded him that he had reached high dreams before and that reaching your dreams is not about size, talent, or brains, but about the courage that you have inside to keep working hard.  Dreams don't come to you, you have to work hard and go to them.  The Littlest Tall Fellow decided to gather his courage and start working towards his dreams.  Everyone else was amazed at all he was able to do and accomplish and he told them, "Reaching for dreams isn't measured by far, the length of your reach or the size that you are. For all that matters is the strength of your heart. The size of your heart will set you apart.  If you reach for your dreams you'll never be small."

So on this last day of 2013 I encourage you to make the year 2014 a year of gathering your courage to reach for your dreams, not matter how big or how small they might be.

Good Luck! Happy New Year!
Keep Reading!
Laura