52 Project, Week 15: Hobby

52 Project, Week 15: Hobby

Choosing one hobby for this project was no easy task!  I have many, many hobbies and interests.  I love learning, I love being busy and creative.  Ultimately, at the base of that, has always been reading

I love to read.  I have always loved reading.  I can remember my Father teaching me to read my first books, The Fox and the Box and Green Eggs and Ham.  As a child, I was teased for being the girl who always had a book in her hand.  I could read 7 books in a day at one point.  My elementary school librarian told me that I read too much and I needed to get out there and live a little.  There was more to life than books!  I still laugh remembering the shock I felt.  If a librarian tells me that I read too much, it might be a wakeup call.

There is no limit to the type of book I like to enjoy.  I love learning about many different topics, so the non-fiction section is where I spend most of my time in the library.  I do love fiction, but I usually listen to those as audiobooks while I work.  With 4 small children, sitting down to enjoy a great novel can be difficult.

When it comes to learning new subjects, I love to have my children join me.  I took an anatomy course online earlier this year and I really loved it, but going through the textbook and pouring over the pages was such a thrill for me.  I read and reread so many sections, took notes and I probably drove my family crazy with my exclamations.  Everyone got a chance to learn along with me as I described the wonders of cell structure, the fascination of a neuron,  The complexity of all of our systems, working together in harmony.  It’s beautiful and awe-inspiring.  I felt closer to God, marveling in how he created us with such intricacy and detail.

Right now I’m listening to a book on neuroscience, a book on pediatrics rounds, a book on integrative holistic medicine, a book on genetics and DNA, a sci-fi novel (I read this series when it first came out.  Now I’m listening to it again while I work),  Anne of Green Gables when the kids are around, and the bible and bible study guides.  I’m reading a couple different books about camping(Minnesota Vacation Days and Camping Activity Books for Families), a book about tiny houses, The Water-Saving Garden, Dakota County in the Twentieth Century, and also, again, the bible.

Personally, I love the feel of a real book in my hands.  I love to look at them and feel their weight in my hands.  I enjoy feeling the surface of the cover, smooth on newer books and soft and bumpy on older ones.  I love turning pages.  If there are diagrams and images to enjoy, or words to mull over, I can pause and take it in.  I love hugging a book to my heart, or a stack cradled in my arms.

Overall, whether a real book or an audiobook, there is always great excitement in something new.  A new book is a whole adventure contained in one small package.  The thoughts and works of the author, which maybe took months or even years to gather and put together for our benefit is such a gift.  A book is a doorway to another place, a guide to a new curiosity, a page away from changing the rest of your life.

For this project, I photographed my daughter Cat, holding an old copy of Shakespeare.  Since my children share my love of reading, I thought it was appropriate to use one of them for my hobby project.

Cat chose to photograph her piano for her hobby project.

What is one of your hobbies?  What do you love about it? Do you love to read?  What books are you reading right now?

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Scripture Memorization

Lately I’ve been working on memorizing my favorite scriptures.  My good friend, who has been helping me with weekly bible studies for the last year, suggested index cards.  Although the idea was a great one, with four kids, my flashcards often ended up scattered or lost.  It was almost perfect timing that I received a great little leather notebook.Leather Compass Book

I first saw this notebook as an advertisement on Facebook for Wish.com.  The moment I saw it, I knew I wanted it.  I have a great love for unique, antiquish (yes, I just made up a word) things.  If it looks classy and old, my heart starts to pitter patter with happy thoughts.  Maybe it’s my love for history, or perhaps a time when things were simpler, but there is a charm in mementos from yesteryear.Anchor & Wheel Charms
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Once I opened my beautiful new book, I was struck by the instant idea about how great it would be to write my favorite scriptures in it.  Truly, losing a book is much harder than losing index cards that can become scattered.  I write a passage, or two, three, sometimes quite a few more, on the front page, highlighting each new verse with a little star.  Snowflake?  Asterisk?  Whatever.  Then on the back I write which book, chapter and verse(s).
Usually, I just love to read my favorite scriptures.  I flip through my pages picking out the ones that bring me comfort depending on the situation.  When the mood strikes, I’ll challenge myself to remember what book it is.  I seem to have a harder time with numbers, not being a great number person, but with practice I’m slowly getting them memorized.
I recently ordered my daughter’s their own books so that they too can hopefully begin writing their favorite scriptures.  I think it would be fun to challenge each other by reading out of each other’s books and quizzing one another.
So, if you are interested in my method to memorization, here is a detailed list of how I do it:
1.I placed colored, opaque, sticker tabs in the front of my bible
2.During bible study or meetings I highlight favorite verses.
3.If there is a long section I want to remember, I point the arrow to the right at the top and to the left at the bottom.
4.After the kids go to bed, or if they are quietly playing, I’ll gather my supplies.  I grab my favorite pen, a BIC Crystal Ballpoint Pen, my book and my bible.  I might make some coffee or tea.  Then I cuddle up in one of my favorite spots with a favorite blanket.   It’s all about comfort.  😉
5.I unbind my book to see where I’ve previously left off writing.
6.I open my bile to a scripture I’d like to write.  I read the initial verse and also the surrounding verses to see what I’d like to write.  Sometimes a single verse will suffice.  Often I find the following 2 or 3 verses go along well with it and I want to include those too.  If there are many, I might write the important verse larger and the accompanying ones in smaller print.  I try to squeeze everything on one page, but there are times I’ve had to use two.  Thankfully, the paper is unlined, so I can write without restriction.
7.I star/snowflake/asterisk the beginning of each verse.
7.On the back of the page, I write the book, chapter and verses.  Sometimes I’ll put the main one at the top and the following verses down below.  I haven’t decided if this is helpful or hindering yet.  I’m starting to think I should just write it all in one spot.
8.Sometimes I’ll doodle a little scrolling along the main verse to separate it from the minor accompanying ones.
9.In free moments I read about 3-6 pages and quiz myself on the book’s name.  If I have that memorized, I work on the chapter.  If I also have that memorized, I work on the exact verse.
10.In moments of stress, I simply read through my favorites that touch my heart.

I find that doing this helps me to recall needed scriptures at times when they are most needed.  If I am stressed, sometimes a soothing passage will pop into my head and help cam me.  When I need to encourage my children, sometimes a related passage will help me, help them.  If I have a friend in need, a certain verse can help me remember how to respond and help them in a delicate and thoughtful way.

What do you use to help you memorize scriptures?  Are you going to, or have you tried my way?  I’d love to hear your success stories!