Show Me A Family

I believe Napoleon said it best:

“Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.”

 

 

In April, on a Saturday afternoon, nearly closing time, an elderly couple arrived at the shop with their daughter, Laura. She was in Mentone visiting them and would be heading home to North Carolina soon. As luck would have it the Times Union newspaper article had appeared the week she was here. Even though Laura's parents had lived in this area for many years they were unaware of a bookstore in downtown Mentone. There was much excitement to be had at the prospect of book buying.

 

A bibliophile's heart does little leaps and bounds when a fellow booklover wants to talk "shop". As a shop owner we darn near dance in the various nooks and crannies of the shop when a customer shows as much enthusiasm--or more--about the inked pages we call friends and lovers. Laura and I got along smashingly and her pile grew and grew. I stood behind the counter to give her the comfort and quiet of browsing to heart's content. Every now and then I would hear exclamations of joy of another treasure found and added to the pile.

 

Laura left the shop with quite the hull and promises to be back the following month, for Mother's Day, with her daughters. "They will just love the shop!"

 

It is not as though I was disbelieving, but first time meetings and the knowledge that you are from many, many miles away led me to not think anything more of a promised return. I was simply blessed by an afternoon visit from a new customer...a book loving encourager to the cause that is our shop.

 

Fast-forward to May...

 

The day before Mother's Day dawned and I was happily in my own world of creating for the shop; when I heard the door open, signaling the arrival of customers. I glanced up from work and greeted two young ladies and went back to my project. I heard the door open again and more people coming through from the main room. Low and behold...it was Laura and the two girls before were two of her three daughters. I couldn't stop smiling and happily running around the shop giving suggestions and searching for requests. Laura's daughters after all are bibliophiles too and that means...we come prepared...we come with lists!

 

I hope to see this lovely family again in the future. They were kind enough to allow me to take their picture together in the shop. Thank you ladies for blessing me the day before Mother's Day (and my birthday) with your visit. Thank you for loving books!

 

(Left to right) Abigail, Lydia, Laura, Mary (grandmother), and Hannah

'Time She is a Flyin'

There are a great many simple pleasures in life. Many with no cost and many more with little cost. Perhaps, gone are the days of fire side story telling, but reading aloud with your family can be such a joy.

As a family we really enjoy hunting for that next good read. Used books are a simple pleasure, one that can draw your family together. If you're saying right now, "how can I find time to read aloud"? Well a dear friend (who has since gone to be with the Lord) always said, "If you're too busy, you're too busy." Studies show children want their parents attention for more than extracurricular activities. Believe me when I tell you 5, 10, 15 or more years down the road you will not miss the extra activities and no one will be interested 20 years from now if you played ________________. However, Mom and Dad, as a mother of grown children they will remember those times laughing over a funny book together.

My 17 year old son and I are reading Randy Alcorn's Book, Money, Possessions and Eternity. A statistic he quotes that I found distressing was "the average parent spends 14 hours a week shopping, but only 40 minutes playing with their children. Folks "time is a flyin" way too quickly, get off the consumer tred mill, seek out a great used book and cuddle up with the family for a old fashion story telling.

Some Books we have read aloud and loved:

• Ten Peas in a Pod by Arnold Pent III


• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott


• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson


• Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
  
• The Best Christmas Pagent Ever by Barbara Robinson


• The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom


• Who Gets the Drumstick by Helen Beardsley


• In His Steps by Charles Sheldon


• Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery


• Short Stories by Washington Irving (especially The Spectre Bridegroom)


• Gib Rides Home by Zipha K. Snyder
  
• Animal Farm by George Orwell


• The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp


• Christy by Catherine Marshall
  
• O'Henry's Short Stories
  

Tell us what books you would suggest to families to read out loud?

P.S. Reading a book out loud as a couple is wonderful too. It makes a great addition to date night.

P.P.S. My grandchildren know me already as "the book grandma" and I love it!