What's That Quote? #22 ( Dreams)

"Is a dream the ultimate freedom, or the ultimate prison?"

Buffi Neal

(Wonderfully Dysfunctional)

Today's quote came from a book I recently read. 

Wonderfully Dysfunctional: It Must Be Genetic

I have to say this book is definitely one of my favorites, and it will be one that really sticks with me.

You can read more about it and also my review over at A Novel Experience

I really hope you do. This book is full of wonderful quotes. The kind that really make you think.

  One of the reasons I chose this quote is because it asks us a question. It makes you think about how we perceive things differently. When I think of this quote I see it as "eyes wide open" dreams, not the sound asleep sort of dreams.

I really have been in a place where I am starting to wonder myself. Even before this quote came up.

Am I holding on to a dream so hard that I am imprisoned? A lot of days it feels exactly like that! I have these dreams, and I can't see any way for them to become a reality. Every day seems to be taking me farther from what I dream about. Every day that my life changes. My bank account gets smaller, my children grow older, circumstances keep changing(not in my favor), my own life...keeps going. Day and day and I am no closer to my dream.

So, am I trapped, imprisoned in this dream that most possibly will never be a reality?

I truly believe in dreaming. It is what gives us hope. It keeps us going. If we didn't have hope, goals, DREAMS, what would be the point in looking forward to tomorrow? I get that! I really do. I want my daughters to know that it is okay to dream. I completely encourage them to chase every one they have.

I don't want them to let anyone or anything stop them from chasing their own dreams and passions.

I just don't want them to feel this weight of imprisonment that may come with it.

Dreams shouldn't hurt. They shouldn't make us feel stuck or helpless, or even hopeless!

I want them to light up from the inside out and have that gorgeous smile that they can't contain when they think about their dreams, or talk about them. I want them to feel freedom when they dream.

I don't want them to look and feel like I do when someone mentions my dreams. The saddened look of...yea, maybe, someday...

All the while I'm crumbling inside. Thinking, knowing. Telling myself, "It's not gonna happen. Just smile and move on."

I hate that feeling. I hate that I can't even think about it or talk about it without feeling completely crushed on the inside.

I still have some hope. I know that God has a plan for me...I'm just completely blind to what that is at the moment. I will still dream. I will pray that God sees a way to show me where I am supposed to be.

I will be thankful for my blessings and try to let my dreams be my freedom.

I would love to hear how you take this quote! That is one of the main reasons I do these, "What's That Quote?" posts! I want to know how someone else sees or interprets the same quote.

Happy Monday! 

Remembering the Holocaust: Book List *Updated List*

" Fear makes you weak, anger makes you strong."
Irena Sendler

*This post contains affiliate links

The Holocaust, which was a genocide of Jews and anyone not considered of their "pure Aryan race"; officially began on January 30, 1933, when Adolf Hilter became Chancellor of Germany.

For the next twelve years, Nazis and their supporters, humiliated, tortured, and killed over 6 million Jews and almost 5 million others. Gypsies, Jewish supporters, handicapped, homosexuals, and anyone they feared were not like them.

VE Day, May 8, 1945 officially marks the end of WWII by the formal surrender by German Forces.

January 30, 1933- May 8, 1945

While, I understand dates, statistics, and facts are a huge part of learning history, and figuring out who done what, when, where and why; I want this post to be more about the actual people.

I have always been intrigued by the history of the Holocaust. For me, it is one of the most fascinating and tragic wars ever. 

The first time I ever heard of it was probably around grade 5 or 6. Yes, reading The Diary of Anne Frank. While I didn't have the mentality to fully grasp the severity, nor the horror of these events; I was captured by her! I truly believe my learning of Anne Frank and hearing her story is where I began my love of reading and being fascinated by people. Real people who have shared their stories, their truths, their lives with the world.

I am always in awe of the things people endure. The strength that we as humans have. Not just physically, but emotionally, and mostly spiritually.

How amazing their lives are.

That is what I want to share with you.

I want to pass on some of these wonderful books. I want you to learn who the people were, not just the events. These are real life people who lived through trials, tragedies, turmoils, and came out triumphant!

They are sharing their own lives with us. Whether it be to educate, to cleanse themselves, or just for a chance to be heard. 

These are their stories.

**UPDATED LISTS**

Here is a list of some of the books I have read personally.

You can click here to read more about each one: Goodreads: Holocaust and WWII Book List

1. The Diary of Anne Frank- Anne Frank

2. Behind the Secret Window- Nelly S. Toll

3. The Secret Holocaust Diaries- Nonna Bannister

4. Sarah's Key-Tatiana De Rosnay

5. The Nazi Officer's Wife-Edith Hahn Beer

6. Thanks for My Journey- Erica Miller

7. The Seamstress- Sara Tuvel Bernstein

8. A Lucky Child- Thomas Buergenthal

9. Witnesses to War- Michael Leapman

10. The Last Train- Rona Arato

11. Irena's Children- Mary Cronk Farrell

12. The Hiding Place- Corrie Ten Boom

13. Don't Forget To Write- Pam Hobbs

These books below are considered Historical Fiction. I still highly recommend them!

14. One eye laughing, the Other Weeping(Dear America)- Barry Denenberg

15. A Faraway Island-Annika Thor

16. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel- Louise Murphy

17. Block 11- Piero Degli Antoni

18. While We're far Apart- Lynn Austin

19. Between Shades of Grey- Ruta Sepetys

20.The Lily Pond- Annika Thor

These books are by far some of my favorites of all the books I have read.
Be sure to also check out A Novel Experience my blog dedicated to all things I love about books!

**Updated**

A few more I have read more recently,

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

The Night Trilogy by Elie Wiesel

River In the Sea by Tina Boscha

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson

I also wanted to list a few people that I recommend learning about. Some "heroes or heroines" of the Holocaust

Corrie Ten Boom

Irena Sendler

Oskar Schindler

Nancy Wake

"You see a man drowning, you must try to save him. Even if you cannot swim."

Irena Sendler

I hope you enjoy this list and will read as many as you wish!

What are your favorite stories/books?

I would love to know and add to my own list!

Please Share!!

Wednesday?....What the Heck?

Wowza Wednesday, Whoa Wednesday, Wacky Wednesday...
I seriously could think of at least five more names for these posts.
Somehow, I don't think just WIP(Work in Progress) is cutting it anymore. Why are my Wednesdays so crazy, chaotic?(I'm on my second pot of coffee)
Maybe, this post, blog day theme, meme, follow up, needs a new name...
I'll worry about it later!

On to more important business!

This week I have really been trying to get so much together!
I've been working on homeschool stuff, blogging, crocheting projects for the craft show(less than 4 weeks away!!!), and trying to miserably finish the book I'm stuck on! I would like to get one review done this month over on:
 A Novel Experience

Homeschool Business:
Little E has been painting up a mess of wonderful Fall pictures. We've been doing so much with her alphabet, numbers, and some fun learning games(more of this on Friday's post)!


Blogging Business:
I have been researching and working super hard on my Blog! I have found some wonderful ladies to help answer my never ending questions!...There will be more!
Super awesome shout outs to:

Confessions of Parenting

A Splendid Messy Life

Just Redefine

I have joined a ton of FB groups and even came across a great follow up to join in on! Michele over at:
Confessions of Parenting is hosting a link up party, Wandering Wednesday! It is such a great way to not only get your name linked up, but also to meet other great bloggers. Everyone loves to get love! Make sure you stop by!

Crochet Business:
I have been crocheting so much my hands are starting to cramp up!
I'm seriously down to crunch time people! I have made so many hats, headwraps, and boot cuffs!
Luckily, I enjoy it so much, and it usually is relaxing. I can just curl up and work on something while Little E watches a movie or plays at my feet.
Since I need a visual for this post:

Here are a few things I have been working on! I'm also thinking about  hoping to get a real Facebook page up and running. I need to combine my blog and my crafts. The one I currently have started out just for crochet projects, but it is becoming too much to handle all the different pages for each aspect.

We'll see how it goes! Stay tuned for that "project"!

Book Business:

The book I'm currently reading is:
A Girl Named Zippy

I guess that's about it for my Wednesday!
Shwooo. I need stronger coffee!
What is your Work in Progress? How many projects do you have?

OH! And I got a Twitter!  <<< Come See!
Okay, okay, I got it 2009, but I revamped it, and I'm actually using it now! LOL

Amazing LIST of Books about SCHOOL for PreK and Kindergartners

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents"~ 

Emilie Buchwald

I am an admitted book hoarder and hopefully will pass on this wonderful love of reading to all my children.

I strive to read every day!

My children see me reading, book shopping, logging in or researching books, doing a book review or recommending books on the DAILY!

They can't get away from me and my addiction..err, habit.

Tidbits of my hobby here: A Novel Experience

My youngest just turned 4 years old, and she has already become the boss of..."Read one more, Momma!"

This I hear 3 to 4 times a day. 

Usually, when "Mr. Sun" is sleeping and my coffee has worn off for the day!

It has become a nighttime ritual.

And while...honestly, there are times, I just want to read my OWN book or try to let her "read" independently...I usually end up reading to her, the same book...again!

And again!

I love that this is "our time".

 I could sit and read to her for hours, if we had all that free time. I love that she would allow me to, and she enjoys it.

I see her remembering what happens next and asking questions when she doesn't understand something in the story. She has even begun reading along or "spoiling" the next page by reading ahead because she is remembering the story!

It is so amazing watching her go through this process of learning. I can sit in awe of this accomplishment!

These important times are the beginning steps in her learning to read,...and enjoy reading!

I have learned it is so much easier to get her interested if I let her choose the book and also let her pick out what she likes at the library or bookstore.

It doesn't always have to be "kiddy books".

Non-fiction, science, nature, animals, transportation, even cookbooks with pictures....all these subjects have a book that will intrigue a child if they are interested.

I wanted to try to make some lists and also help organize her books to be ready for homeschool/preschool.

Organizing by author didn't really seem too practical for our needs, so I am trying to separate them by theme or "characters"(Arthur, Berenstain Bears, Disney, etc)

So, My first list is of books about school.

Do you need #books to help your #child get ready for #backtoschool or starting school.
Here are a few we lovehttps://t.co/VKvUMEhgRi

— Trema Renae (@CoffeeWastedMom) August 1, 2018

We seem to be moving backwards in working on "Back to School" in week #2, but that is okay. It's still September and she is enjoying the books. Well, and that seemed to be a subject we found a lot of books about.

Some we have read, some I had read years ago to my older girls, and some I found online or on other great lists.

So here they are:

My List of Amazing Books about School!

**UPDATED LIST**

1. Olivia and the School Carnival~ Tina Gallo

2. Tom's First Day of School~ Beth Robbins

3. Strawberry Shortcake Goes to School~ Grosset & Dunlap

4. Wonder Pets: Off to School~ Sascha Paladino

5. Little Pirate Goes to School~ Lawrence Schimel

6. Kindergarten, Here We Come~ Quinlan B. Lee

7. The Berenstain Bears Go Back to School~ Stan and Jan Berenstain

8. A Place Called Kindergarten~ Jessica Harper

9. First Day, Hooray!~ Nancy Paydor

10. If You Take A Mouse To School~ Laura Numeroff

11. Preschool To The Rescue~ Judy Sierra

12.Llama Llama Misses Mama~ Anna Dewdney

13. Mouse's First Day of School~ Lauren Thompson

14. The Night Before Preschool~ Natasha Wing

15. Back To School? Cool!~ Suzy Spafford

Here is a great "box set" of beginner activity books:

My First Activities Book series

I hope you will find these books to read and enjoy with your littles!

Please comment on any you have found or any you would like added to the list!

I know there are SO many more wonderful books out there!

What are your favorites?

Happy Reading and Happy Learning!

Thursday. This, That, and the other...

Where did Wednesday go???

Hello, 

 I guess I should be totally bummed that I missed my weekly Wednesday(WIP) post and I do apologize. I hate missing anything planned or scheduled. I'm sure you all are devastated there wasn't anything new to read on here. Again, I apologize. 

Yesterday kind of started out lazy and relaxing(which was super nice) but then as usual, got crazy busy and time just flew. I finally decided, no post was better than a crappy one written in my exhausted state with a three year old who didn't settle down until around 1 am...Which technically means I would have missed Wednesday anyway.

Although I did get a few things accomplished yesterday.

First off, I wanted to share in my excitement! I received my very first international mail!!

I didn't actually receive it yesterday, but I did manage to grab a few pics, get them loaded, edited and reread my letter and enjoy my "fun mail". 

As, I've told y'all before one of my dear friends lives over in England and we have decided to also rekindle the lost art of pen palling! It is so wonderful to get real letters! Sure, we chat online, do video chats and IM but it isn't the same. I love having a letter I can cherish and look back on years from now. And her penmanship is AMAZING! It is quite an inspiration. We definitely need to bring back real handwriting classes here folks. This girl is putting our school system to shame in one 4 page letter!

I also managed a trip to the store to add to my "stash". I admit, I am addicted to yarn/wool! I have become the "one more skein" girl every time I go out. Although I am actually using it and learning a lot of new tricks and "patterns". I have a craft fair that I will be participating in coming up in November at a local church so I do actually need things to sell! 

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

These are my newest project. They are super cute and so easy to make!(And, they actually work!) Even I got the whole pattern figured out, start to finish and have about 6 of them made up!

Here is where I found this quick and free pattern! >>Bath Scrubby Pattern

And as usual... You know I have been reading something!

This is book #1 in a trilogy and so far I'm liking it, not love but it is a nice easy read.with a good bit of history(my fave).

Accidentally Amish: Valley of Choice #1

Hope y'all have a blessed weekend. Happy blogging and happy reading!

Wednesday WIP

Welcome and Happy Wednesday!

You know that theme I have about my 100 projects at once??

Well, you guessed it....

I've given myself yet another one!!

For those that have known me awhile and been my friend and "followers", you may remember waaaaay back when I had a book review blog.

Well, actually, I still do! I just kind of gave up, got busy, burnt out and let it get shoved way back in a corner.

Today, I decided I wanted to just jump over and see where I had left off, what I had written about and see how it looked compared to this "new" blog.

To my utter shock, I STILL have followers! There are still people using my links, reading my old reviews and viewing my blog!!!

Seriously, my last post was like 3 years ago!

Well, of course now I have to start it back up and see where it goes....

I have to say, I really have missed writing my reviews, sharing books and getting comments and others opinions. I'm kind of excited to have a fresh start with both blogs.

I obviously love being a wife, momma  and sharing about life but I loved having my book review blog solely for that part of me.

I do hope any and all of my friends that share this passion will also start anew with me and stop by, say hi, shout out, comment and share their thoughts!

A Novel Experience  <<<< Click This Link

Happy, reading, blogging and sharing.

Introductions and beginnings

Coffee Wasted Momma(Intro)

      Hello, it's me. The momma who is usually running solely on caffeine and a prayer.

I'm giving this blog another go. A fresh start to....me.?...writing?, a way to vent and hold on to my sanity while raising 3 girls, keeping my husband happy, and doing this thing called life.

So, here is the beginnings of another, this is it blog!

I truly am hoping to get this up, running, and have a great run at it.

All are welcome. Come share the musing, ramblings, recipes, crafts, tips, tricks, advice and probably rants of a Coffee Wasted Momma.