Recently Reading...

Visiting the library is a weekly occurrence at our house.

Sometimes, even more than weekly.

Let's just say, the librarians know us by name.

And sometimes cringe when they see the bags full of books we're returning.

(I'd insert a picture here of the mountain(s) of books that we have out right now,

if only I could track them all down.

Looks like a scavenger hunt will be in order before our next visit.)

Since I've been seriously focusing on developing my writing,

I've also been reading a lot of poetry.

Did you know that reading other poets' work

helps you write better poetry?

It's true.  And eminently enjoyable as well.

Anyway,

I ran across a great collection I wanted to share with you.

The Household Gods by Daniel Bourne

Not only are the poems fantastic,

but the poet is from a little town not far from where I live.

It's just a little bit inspiring.

{grin}

You should check it out!

The Home Front Goes Visiting

Once again,

I am blogging over at Esther's today.

 Come join us over at LaughWithUsBlog

for more hilarious hijinks!

Yesterday, I disclosed just how dangerous I can be in the kitchen.

Today - well, I could try to explain my penchant for disaster...

but it would be much better for you to read it yourself!

{Anyway, it's not my fault.  It's genetic.}

*grin*

I'm so excited!

And you'll never guess why!

I have a guest post up today for Esther

 over at LaughWithUsBlog.

I'm sharing some favorite family follies,

so hop on over and have a look!

{And wish Esther congratulations on the new addition to her family!}

Five Minute Friday : Unexpected...

You'll never guess what I spent yesterday doing!

The kids and I went to my mother's house

to help clean out the toy loft.

I wish I had thought to take pictures!

We found all sorts of relics from my childhood:  Happy Meal toys,

storybooks with tapes or 45 records, and the record player

to play them on {missing its needle, unfortunately}.

All this to say - once again I'm coming in late for

Five Minute Friday.

Better late than never, right?

You remember the rules, I know, but just in case:

Write for five minutes flat on Lisa-Jo's prompt, which is

unexpected

and then link up at The Gypsy Mama,

and hop around to give some encouragement

to your fellow writers.

Ready?

Here          we          go.

Unexpected…

cleaning out the loft of all the toys

I remember playing with when I was a kid,

and how I knew we’d get sidetracked

no matter what our best intentions might be

driving down a twilight road

to pick up the pizza for PIZZA NIGHT

{yes, it deserves capital letters:

Thank you, Pizza Fast!}

and seeing a buck, antlers spreading wide,

standing against the trees, just yards

from the road, unaffected

just browsing the thick brush for his own

dinner, before stepping into darkness

the fierce joy that doing this

kindles, the way I sometimes can’t stop

it from coming out, even if I’m tired

or busy or worried, when the words

want out I have to sit down

and appease them, and I never

never

would have thought

it would be like this

Thank You, Lord

Don't forget to leave me some feedback!

Felicitous feedback is almost as good as pizza.

{grin}

FMF : Beyond... & Friday Favorites!!

It's time for Five Minute Friday!

Today we are writing for five minutes flat on the prompt:

beyond...

So, limber up your word-weaving fingers and share some thoughts!

(Don't forget to link up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama and then leave some fabulous and encouraging feedback for fellow posters!)

Ready?

Here          we          go.

Beyond…

beyond my expectations –

an awesome morning

at our homeschool co-op today,

with the kids loving their classes

and loving their friends,

and I loving the companionship

of moms who live this same life everyday,

life lived with books on every

available surface,

and math done on couches

and beds and sometimes even

in the aisles of the grocery store,

and big kids helping their littler

brothers/sisters

and beginning to frame up

the dreams that stretch seemingly

forever and will be here

before you can blink,

and amazingly attentive little kids

in my classes today,

bubbling over with joy

at making volcanoes

out of empty water bottles

and one asked,

“where did all these bottles come from?”

{there were 12 or 13}

and I said, “I saved them just so you all

could do volcanoes today”

and her eyes grew wide

with wonder

© Victoria L. Banks

I'm also linking up with Rachel at Finding Joy for Friday Favorites,

because homeschooling, writing,

and enjoying the wonder of children learning

about God's Creation

are all some of my favorite things!

MM : Speechless?

Wow, it’s been so long since I wrote a blog post that I don’t remember how to begin!  Me – at a loss for words? 

Actually, I’ve been doing a lot of word-working.  Just started attending a creative writing class once a week at the local community college.  (Just started – meaning, it began in August.) 

It’s been very good for me.  And a lot of fun.  But also it’s very strange to have homework to do every week.  *grin*

It’s difficult sometimes to find the time to fit everything in.  I’m still giving my best efforts toward running the house smoothly:  the cooking and cleaning and keeping the kids fed and educated properly.

But I’m also making time everyday to write.  That’s what I feel I’ve been called and gifted to do.  But, you don’t become a body-builder by reading books on lifting weights, right?  So, I’ve been regularly exercising my writing muscles.

(You think I jest?  I finished 3 poems and wrote 1000 words of an essay over the weekend, and got a few nonsense ideas for more verse typed up last night.  Whew!  Makes me tired just thinking about it.)

I have such big dreams for the future…but I won’t get there if I don’t put forth the effort.  (Although, if God has a big, fat book contract sitting around that He wants to get rid of … just kidding!)

What does this have to do with The Home Front?

Good question.  I’m going to try to develop a regular posting schedule.  Ask my kids – if a job isn’t posted in plain sight (preferably in several different spots, with multiple colors of sticky notes) I’ll forget, and it won’t get done.  Hopefully, with a planned posting method, I’ll be able to keep you all in the loop. 

So, here’s to big dreams, lots of prayer, juggling moms, and enjoying the journey!

PS - Happy Blogaversary to me!

PS (again!) - Linking up with Carissa at lowercase letters for miscellany monday...even though it's Tuesday...and not very miscellaneous...oh, well!