My "Almost Obsession" with Reading

Usually when someone talks about an obsession, they are referring to a negative thing.  There are many obsessions that can cause harm or at the very least destructiveness to occur in someone's life.  They say that obsessive personalities are more susceptible to be passed on from one generation to the next in your family. 

Knowing this, and that we have a family history of this type of behavior, I have always been sensitive to my behaviors when I start to notice patterns.  It's rather interesting actually.  It isn't just that I want to watch a certain TV show, but I HAVE to watch it and this other one, and the other one and I CAN'T miss it or my attitude, etc is actually changed.  It isn't just that I read for a little bit every day, but I read so much that I don't go to sleep for several days in a row.

Since this is something that I have struggled with in the past, I try hard to watch for when I start to trip up.  I actually have to make myself quit whatever the activity is that I have started to become obsessive with altogether for a while, before I can begin to reintroduce it.  If I don't, it actually begins to impact my life. 

That being said, I don't believe that the best option is to completely cutout these activities from my life.  Although, I do honestly have several friends who have left the TV behind altogether.  I sometimes do consider this, but then someone is sick and man it's nice to be able to watch a couple movies with the kids. 

Reading specifically is one that I have trouble with on and off.  I would call it an almost obsession pretty consistently! It's hard for me to understand those who don't just absolutely love reading, simply because I adore reading so much.  Reading takes me to a different place.  I have found most often that when I am extra stressed or overwhelmed by something, I tend to turn to reading. 

Have you ever picked up a book, whether it's fiction or non-fiction, and just become completely lost in the story.  It's like being transported to that time, to that place and that story.  It moves you from one world to another.  You become a different character as you live through their eyes the story that is occurring.  It takes your mind actively off of anything else that might be going on. 

Most recently, my almost obsession with reading has been hanging out in the paranormal young adult books.  I am so excited about some of them and I want to tell someone.  So, I decided that I might take a stab at writing some book reviews on here, since I read so many!!  Let's see where this goes! :)

Birthday Parties, Trampolines and Broken Things

Now that the kids are a little older, we have started receiving invitations to birthday parties pretty regularly.  We typically accept if we do not already have plans, they are always fun for the kids and they get to see their friends outside of regular settings.  Seems good to us, right? :)

Recently, we were invited to a birthday party at a trampoline park.  The kids were super excited.  Noah, being a 6 year old boy especially.  But even Jordyn, the girl who sits in the 25th percentile and is only 4. 

We got there just a little early and went in to start jumping after we had talked with the birthday girl a bit. Matt went in with Jordyn and I watched Noah to make sure they stayed safe.  We noticed that there was no real separation of ages, so older kids were jumping with younger and this made us a little nervous.  After a little while of watching Noah, I suddenly heard Jordyn screaming, and I turned around and found her in Matt's arms just sobbing. 

Of course, Momma bear instincts kicked in and I wanted to hold her immediately.  We sat down on the ground against a wall and I just spoke words of comfort to her.  After a little while, she just wanted to go out of all the noise, so we went out to the room where the actual 'party' was going to be after jumping. 

She continued to have a hard time for about 30 minutes and finally just said, "Momma, I just want to go home."  Now, let me say, Jordyn is not the type to miss out on any sort of social interaction of ANY KIND.  So, for her to say this, made me worried. 

As soon as we got in the car, she was out, and when I say out, I mean snoring! LOL.  It was absolutely adorable.  We got home and she had stopped crying, but she stayed snuggly.  We gave her ibuprofen and iced the leg.  But, she refused to stand/walk on it that day or the following.  It was not swollen or bruised, so we assumed it was a pulled muscle or ligament.

On Monday, we went to school.  All of my mom friends had been saying to wait for Tuesday to go to the doctor.  One of the mom's at school suggested that if she didn't want to walk on it at all, we might want to go ahead and take her.  After school, I just felt like we should go to the doctor. 

When we got there, of course we ended up with a male doctor.  Jordyn is SUCH a flirt!  She was hamming it up big time, batting her eyelashes, smiling, giggling.  As he checked her leg, he asked a bunch of questions, and she kept up with the flirting.  He finally asked her to stand, and she tried for him, really tried, but wouldn't.  She said that it hurt much too badly.

He ordered an X-ray and she went down to have it.  Shortly after, he came walking in and said, "I am certainly surprised to be saying this, but, she has a fractured femur."  Matt and I looked at each other and were like… whaaaaaaa 

(Universal's Minions)

How is it possible that has no swelling, no bruising, and is in a good mood and has a fracture!?!  He was confused as well.  Needless to say, we ended up getting a cast… a full leg cast.  Of course it was PINK.  When I say pink, I mean HOT PINK.  This girl, LOVES her pink. 

I can't believe how strong and brave my little 4 year old girl is.  She was so calm and peaceful, and yet had a fracture in her leg.  The only thing she wouldn't do was walk on it.  She was still in a good mood and smiled and participated at school, and the whole time, she had a fractured bone. 

I think there is something here that I can learn from this little girl about living a life of joy and tranquility.  Even though we all have pains that we suffer daily, there is something bigger than us that can give us joy and help us find our Touch of Tranquility.