Happy New Year 2011

It's a new year. I've spent the evening updating my reading logs & blogs. I fell short of my goal of 144 books in 2010, but read a respectable 48 books, exactly 1/3 of 144. I have been reading the Old Testament since June, so in order to make 48 books, I counted Psalms as a book. I have read 29 of the 39 books of the OT & The Book of Mormon with 15 books in it, for a total of 90 books. Instead, I counted The Book of Mormon as one book & will count the Old Testament as one book in 2011 when I finish it. But Psalms is oft-times published as a separate book.

I am shooting for 50 books in 2011. I already have 13 books on my 2011-reads shelf at Goodreads. Of those 13, there are 7 I am carrying over from 2010. They are:

1. The Old Testament
2. Old Testament: 1 Kings-Malachi Student Manual (Religion 302)
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (this is borrowed & I need to hurry & finish it)
4. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey 
5. Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morganstern
6. Agent Bishop by Mike McPheters (this is borrowed & I need to hurry & finish it)
7. Crewel World by Monica Ferris (1st in a series)

C.S. Lewis quote

I found this quote on a Patricia Wiles signature on a message board & liked it so well, I snagged it.

"Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old for us."

~ C. S. Lewis

Not only snagged it, but added it to the main page of this blog. I'm not sure I like the way it is presented, but I LOVE the quote. It is sooo true.

I remember when Don-Mike was in 2nd grade, he was reading Where the Red Fern Grows by himself because the teacher wasn't reading it fast enough for him. The teacher was reading it out loud to the class. They were so surprised when he showed up in class with his very own copy of the book.

Let's Talk About It updates

The Let's Talk About It series is only EIGHT weeks this year. We have two lectures a week apart, instead of the standard two weeks. I guess I'd better start reading NOW!

For Christmas, Don gave me a gift certificate for any book I wanted to order. So, I went to Amazon & found a NEW copy of The Final Farewell by Patricia Wiles & ordered it. It shipped yesterday, the same day I ordered it!! The library has the first 3 books, but not the last one. I think, after I've read it & read it to Mother, I'll donate it to the library so they'll have a complete set.

I added Patricia Wiles' web site to my list of reading blogs.

Let's Talk About It - 2011

"Our Earth, Our Ethics" is the title of the 2011 Let's Talk About It program at the Larsen-Sant Library. There are 5 books to read in a 10 week period. I got my bag of books today. My bag is #11. Does that mean I am the 11th person to sign up? The first book in the series is Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, a Pulitzer Prize winner. Too late to count for Part 4 of The Four Month Reading Challenge though. Except that was a Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction & Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is a non-fiction winner.


► Pilgrim at Tinker Creek 1/12/11
► Who Owns the West? 1/26/11
► The Solace of Open Spaces 2/9/11
► Desert Solitaire 2/16/11
► Prodigal Summer 3/2/11

I should be able to count all 5 of these towards The Four Month Reading Challenge, Part 5 though.

Studying the scriptures online

Last night I couldn't sleep, mainly because I had been so exhausted I'd taken a nap. I had planned to read, but couldn't get to my book. So, I drifted off to sleep & got up about 11 p.m. to read my scriptures. I went back to bed at 2 a.m., & laid there for what seemed like hours. I was cold & couldn't get warm. I debated about whether to get up again or just lay there. I laid there & wrote a talk in my head. The next thing I knew it was morning & glorious sunshine was bathing the world in it's light. We've had fog for so long that I just lay there & looked at my tiny slice of the outside world, blue sky & bright sunlight. The window is so small, only about 3 feet x 3 feet.

The talk I wrote in my head was about studying the scriptures online. I actually thought this through as I lay there wide awake. I have 4 windows open on the computer when I study the scriptures, which would mean I would have to have at least 3, maybe 4 books, plus table space to put them, PLUS somewhere to store them when I am not studying. As it is, I have one computer & 4-6 windows open. Instead of picking up the books & searching for the page & where the author wants me to look, I move the mouse to what I'm wondering about & with the click of a button, the answer is there. When I am finished, I save my work, turn off the computer & I'm done.

Finished 2 Kings & 2 Chronicles

It surprised me to learn Kings & Chronicles were parallel accounts. I asked Don if he knew & he said yes.

The Old Testament Student Manual does not address Chronicles separately. I read 2 Chronicles as I read 2 Kings. The OTSM would cross-reference 2 Chronicles, so I would read the corresponding chapters. I haven't finished 1 Chronicles yet. It is a genealogy & was not addressed in the OTSM. Wikipedia says Chronicles immediately follows Samuel & Kings as a summary with additional details sometimes added.

The OTSM took 4 chapters to cover 2 Kings.

• Chapter 5: 1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2 - read Nov. 5
• Chapter 6: 2 Kings 3-13 - began Nov. 6, finished Nov. 10
• Chapter 12: 2 Kings 14-20 - began Nov. 24, finished Nov. 26
• Chapter 19: 2 Kings 21-25 - read Nov. 27

Kings is a history of the Northern & Southern Kingdoms of Israel & Judah. Rather a sad commentary.

I have skipped Isaiah at this point. The OTSM takes 6 chapters, plus 2 enrichment chapters to cover Isaiah. I know I skipped the chapters on Isaiah in The Book of Mormon. Well ... I read them, but didn't ponder them.

Finished Deuteronomy

on July 31. It looks like it took me 9 days to read this. Let's see if my scripture journal has anything of interest in it. Not really, still copying the chapter summaries, but did copy some interesting snippets from the OTSM & made a few comments of my own.

According to the Old Testament Student Manual "Deuteronomy is a title formed from the two Greek words deutero, “second,” and nomos, “law.” Thus, the title means “the second law,” or “the repetition of the law” (see Fallows, Bible Encyclopedia, s.v. “Deuteronomy,” 1:522).

The OTSM says Moses did not die, but was translated because he had work to do which he needed his physical body for. I don't remember this either. Where was I in seminary?

Moses did not die, but was translated, transfigured because he had a mission to fulfill in the flesh, before Christ was resurrected. He & Elijah conferred the priesthood on Peter, James & John BEFORE Christ was resurrected. (OTSM)

Finished Exodus

It took me 12 days to finish Exodus. I forgot to read one night. My entry on Day 25 says:

Forgot to read. Remembered when I was in bed.

I finished Exodus June 26 & was quite concerned I was now a day behind! Oh my! It seems I was still reading just to be reading. Case in point: On day 23 I wrote:

Who knew that Exodus was so boring? I remember I thought seminary boring the year we studied the Old Testament. It must have been the subject matter & not the teacher. I do remember that Moses' life is divided into 3 sections of 40 years. The first 40 years he spent as an Egyptian prince; next 40 years, shepherd; last 40 years, a prophet in the wilderness. Brigham Young is referred to as a latter-day Moses because he led the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley.

Finished Genesis

This should have been posted June 14, 2010. This was the first book I finished in the Old Testament. It took me 2 weeks to read. I followed the reading schedule from readthescriptures dot com. My journal entries are rather boring. I copied & pasted the summaries from each chapter with very few comments of my own.

One comment I made on day 3 makes me chuckle:

Interesting that the name Javan is here. Chapter 10:2. I wonder if that is where present day name Javen comes from.

Because look at my comment from last night, day 177

I found in 1 Chronicles 1:7 that Javan was the grandson of Noah. Our little neighbor boy is named Javen. I had never heard the name before they had Javen.

I think one of the main problems I had with Genesis is I had never kept a scripture journal before. I didn't quite know how to keep one. I like to make notations in the margins of books, but even that is not something I do with abandon, mainly because most of the books I read are borrowed from the library or someone else. They are not my books to mark up.

Old Testament

I have a spreadsheet on the network where I track my reading progress, but when it goes down, I don't have access to it. I actually started Rayn-Beau Reads so I'd have a place to track my progress in my scripture reading, besides the journal on readthescriptures dot com.

Then I discovered PAGES! Wow! A whole new dimension! So, I decided to put my Old Testament reading there, a link to the entry where I recap my reading of a particular book in the OT & the date I finished it.

Then I discovered there are six books I didn't blog about: Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Job, Proverbs & Ecclesiastes. Something I will need to rectify.

Finished Jonah, Hosea & Micah

In the last week I have finished Jonah, Hosea & Micah. I read Jonah in one sitting, not hard to do with only 4 chapters.

Chapter 9 in the Old Testament Student Manual, One Should Not Flee From One's Responsibilities. I was surprised to find Jonah was such a whiner, not really a whiner, but a very angry man. He did not want to do what the Lord asked him to do. Are we like Jonah? Do we do what the Lord asks us to do?

I made this entry in my Scripture Journal for Jonah:

This is intriguing, something I have never heard before. Jonah was a type of Christ. He was in the belly of the whale for 3 days & 3 nights. In Matthew 12:39-41 Christ says the sign is Jonah.

Chapter 10 in the OTSM, A Call to Faithfulness. It took 3 days to read Hosea, a total of 14 chapters. But Hosea used a lot of metaphors & symbolism like Isaiah. In fact, he was a contemporary of Isaiah. You have to understand the Jewish way of prophesying & I don't. That's why I am so grateful to have the Institute manual to study as I read the scriptures.

Chapter 11, Promise of Judgment, Promise of Salvation. It took 2 nights to read Micah. The internet was so slow, I couldn't switch from window to window. It took almost half an hour just to read 2 chapters. I gave up.

I thought Micah 4:1-2 was interesting where it says "the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains ... & people shall flow unto it." The exodus of the Mormon pioneers to Utah, in the top of the mountains, in the last half of the 1800s was a fulfillment of this prophecy.

The Savior appears to have had Micah 7:6 in mind when he spoke the words recorded in Matthew 10:35-36.

T4MRC-Part 5

Part 5 of The Four Month Reading Challenge has been released. I made a page for it so I don't have to keep going back to try to find it in past blog entries. I was excited to see a new challenge.

It's A Must Read & other book clubs

I have been a member of an online reading club for several years called It's A Must Read. I completed that group reading challenge this year!

I also joined the local library in a state-wide reading group that runs January-March each year called Let's Talk About It. This year the subject was culinary. I have wanted to join it other years, but have never dared do it. I loved it & will do it again this year, if financial cutbacks don't eliminate it.

The Relief Society (women's group at church) has a book club too. I missed it last night because I didn't have transportation. And, this is a big AND, I hadn't read the book.

2011 reads

It's November & the year is winding down. It seems people are thinking of 2011 reads. I joined the 144 Books in 2010 challenge over on Goodreads & will do good if I get a third of those 144 books read. In order to help myself stay on task, I broke that challenge down into several smaller challenges to add up to 144.

•  Alphabetically by author last name = 26, I have only read 6.
•  Alphabetically by book title: = 26, 3 read
•  Dewey decimal system = 10 (1 book for each category), 3 read
•  Favorite authors = 24, 6 read
•  May Never Read = 10, 1 read
•  Memoir &/or biography = 12, 5 read
•  New author = 12, 11 read
•  Re-reads = 12, 6 read
•  TBR = 12, 3 read

Then I made tickers for each challenge & a cumulative one; built a spreadsheet with a page for each challenge & a page for the cumulative total. As of Nov. 18, I have read 44 books. One third of the total is 48, which is totally doable by Dec. 31, without forcing the issue. Last year, 2009, I only read 20 books all year. I feel  good with my accomplishment this year, I easily doubled last years number.

Last year when I was thinking up categories, I was looking for another category & a friend suggested a category for new authors, which I hadn't even thought of. It is the one I have enjoyed the most & have almost completed the challenge. I plan to finish it before the year is out.

So, I haven't decided what I'm going to do for 2011. Do, I just keep on with the 144 books & take 3 years to finish it? Do I bag it because I didn't make it? Do I double my books again this year? Do I start over on my mini challenges? Or make new mini challenges?

One mini challenge I'd like to do this year is Serial Reads - keep track of books in series. And I want to whittle down my to be read list. It is at an all time high at 226 books & I'm adding new books all the time.

I like the way The 4 Month Reading Challenge is set up too, sigh. What to do? What to do?

One thing I had better do is get off the computer. A friend's husband's viewing is tonight. His funeral is tomorrow & I won't be able to go to it. It's a work day. It's my turn to cook this evening also.

Finished Joel and Amos

It took me 5 days to read Amos & there are only 9 chapters. I have been reading for pleasure instead of studying the scriptures. Several nights I didn't get to bed until 3 a.m. I should know better than to do it. I always end up with a migraine if I don't get enough sleep.

Tonight when I read Amos 8:11-12

 11 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,but of hearing the words of the Lord

  12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

I immediately thought of the Dark Ages, not realizing there was also a "dark ages" from 400 BC until John the Baptist's ministry started in 30 A.D.

I should have known that. I still wonder where I was in Seminary. Luana said she had Jack Cherrington as her Old Testament teacher in Seminary when she was a senior in high school in 1948. Twenty years later I had him as my Old Testament teacher when I was a senior in 1968! I didn't realize Luana had Seminary. Mother didn't, but she graduated from high school in 1944.

Finished 1 Kings

I finished 1 Kings last night, Nov. 4.

The network was taken down Oct. 22 & is still offline. I do not have access to my reading log spreadsheet. If I had been faithful in keeping up this reading blog, I may have been able to recreate it, but .... I'm not sure if I can. According to my count, I have finished 16 books of the Old Testament.

T4MRC

The 4 Month Reading Challenge (T4MRC) ends the end of October. I have read 14 books since the first of July. I wonder how many points I really have.

I read 4 of the 5 choices in the 5 point category. Only one in the 10 point category. I read 3 of the 5 choices in the 15 and 20 point categories. See T4MRC-4 page for books read.

Choices not read
5 point category:

• Read a historical fiction book

10 point category:

• Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)
• Read a Biblical fiction book
• Read a book about a king or queen
• Read a book set in France

15 point category:

• Read a biography or autobiography
• Read any book and then post a review

20 point category:

• Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
• Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100

Another book to count

15 Point Challenges

• Read a book by an author you’ve never read before
• Read a biography or autobiography
• Read a book with a number in the title
• Read any book and then post a review
• Read any book but read it outside

I was reporting my points over on She Read A Book & realized I could count the Old Testament Student Manual - Genesis-2 Samuel as a book with a number in the title. It's a text book, but I studied read it AND it has a number in the title. Cool!

I didn't even count that over on Goodreads. I really ought to do that. Wonder if anyone else has.

Read a series of books

This would be a good challenge for 2011, Serial Reads

20 Point Challenge in The Four Month Reading Challenge (T4MRC).

• Read a book in a series AND the one after it
• Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
• Read a book considered Christian fiction
• Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100
• Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October

I read My Mom's A Mortician by Patricia Wiles & then the next book, Funeral Home Evenings. I am now working on Early Morning Cemetery.

These are wonderful books. I got the first 2 at the library on CD. We can't find these books in the library or to buy. Mother needs them on CD & LOVES them. She listened to Funeral Home Evening twice. The titles of the books are wonderful. Funeral Home Evenings instead of Family Home Evenings. They're both FHE, LOL And what teenager does not call early morning seminary, early morning cemetery?

Pulitzer Prize book

One of the 20 point challenges for T4MRC is "Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction." I didn't think I had ever read a Pulitzer Prize book.

Mother got a book from Talking Books by A. B. Guthrie Jr., titled Arfive. In logging it into her Goodreads account, I found A.B. Guthrie Jr. had written The Way West, the Pulitzer prize winner for fiction in 1950. And I remembered reading it. So, I added it to my books on Goodreads. Not sure of the date read, but I do remember it was a quilting bee & it was before Grandma died.

The Way West
by A.B. Guthrie Jr.

Rayni's review

Aug 22, 10

bookshelves: 1960s, award-winning, westerns

status: Read in July, 1962, read count: 1

I don't remember much about this book except I wasn't supposed to read it. I remember overhearing my teen-aged aunt (Maxine) telling my mother not to let me read it. It was "above my head." I, of course, immediately went to the attic of my grandparents home & found it. I sat in the attic & read all afternoon while my mother, grandmother & other female relatives were quilting in the living room. 

message 1: by Pat,

Aug 23, 2010 07:58pm

LOL----don't remember that much about it huh? Must not have been that good!

 message 2: by Wayne

Aug 28, 2010 10:28pm

Now you know how Adam and Eve felt!!!

Like mother like daughter, it seems!!

message 3: by Rayni - rated it 2 stars

Sep 04, 2010 01:12pm

Ya, Wayne, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Pat, the only thing I remember about it is I wasn't supposed to read it. I do remember I read fast, with a pounding heart, so afraid I'd be caught. 

message 4: by Wayne

Sep 13, 2010 11:01pm

More than just a "reading experience" this episode in the attic!!
It's also a young person's blow for independence from the Adult World and in another way an entry into it as an Equal...regardless of whether they knew of it or not, the step had been taken. You had arrived!!!
Via "The Way West"!!!
So much else going on, no wonder you don't remember the plot!!
God bless you, Rayni.
love from Wayne. 

Not sure what Wayne mean in his first comment. But I love the second comment.

Psalm 91

I wonder if the quote on Sept. 15 should have read "by listening empathetically" instead of emphatically? Listening any way is hard, but I don't quite know how to listen emphatically, sigh.

Tonight there was another quote I want to pull out to ponder

"The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He has shown the way to gain strength during our struggles. With His assistance, we have the ability to succeed."

--L. Lionel Kendrick, "Strength During Struggles,", Ensign, Oct 2001, 24

Now, to turn to the title of tonight's entry, Psalm 91. The Old Testament Student Manual gives an assignment to choose 15 psalms to study. I have chosen 91 to be one of my 15 psalms to study.

It is a Messianic Psalm; The Lord shall give his angels charge over Him ...

The choir sang On Eagle's Wings in Sacrament meeting this summer. I had no clue it was adapted from this psalm until I started reading the psalm. I guess this phrase from verse 3, "he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler," caused the jolt of recognition.

Psalm 91:11–12 is quoted in Luke 4:10–11. The song says, "And He will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn ..." It is a beautiful hymn.

Another 5 point book

5 Point Challenges

• Read a chick lit book
• Read a name with a proper name in the title
• Read a historical fiction book
• Read a book with a one word title
• Read a book made into a movie

I think this is my 2nd 5 point book. Looking back through the entries tagged 5 points, I have only tagged 2 entries. And only one of those entries was for reading a book.

So, in 144 Books in 2010, I marked Jillian Hart's book, A McKaslin Homecoming as a 4 & filed it in "Alpha by Author." I already had an "H" with Joanne Harris, so I entered this as "J" for Jillian. I actually filed it under Favorite Authors.

I read Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt the other night, Sept. 16. I filed it as a Reread in 144 Books in 2010. Again I gave it 5 stars. It is an excellent book. I will add it as another 5 point book as A book made into a movie. It was a 1996 Hallmark movie. My mom & I got it from Netflix & watched it.

The Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd, is one of my favorite psalms.

And Psalm 22 is amazing! It is a detailed description of Christ's crucifixion. In Matt. 27:46 Christ quoted Psalm 22:1! In Psalm 22:15-18 it says they will part his clothing among them & cast lots for his vesture (coat). Matt. 27:35 and John 19:23-24 give an account of the fulfilling of this prophecy.

And a quote to share:

"By listening emphatically, we often can help others find their own solutions."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "Straightway", Ensign, May 1983, 30

Working on Psalms

Interesting reading here. There are 150 psalms. That's right 150. Not quite like chapters, it's like hymns in the hymnal, but psalms in the psalter.

I have also discovered the word "selah." Which is Hebrew to tell the reader to pause or as Wikipedia says:

The Amplified Bible states Selah as "pause, and think of that".

I have continued to request reading assignments from readthescriptures.com Tonight's thoughts & quotes are:

"Commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding. It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course."

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A Matter of a Few Degrees", Ensign, May 2008, 57–60

I really like this one from President Monson.

"Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present."

--President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2003, 22

 I have a busy day tomorrow. Six more pages of a 15 page paper & DUP, Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

Finished 2 Samuel

Finished 2 Samuel tonight. The book of 2 Samuel was a study of King David.

King David's life was "a life of greatness, greatness of triumph and greatness of tragedy."

Israel finally controlled the land promised to Abraham's posterity nearly 1,000 years earlier!! They had never been so powerful, nor were they ever again.

It was indeed an interesting study. But I've pondered it here. I'm not going to belabor the subject.

The road less traveled

In the Preface of the (LDS) Institute of Religion's Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings-Malachi, it says

The twenty-eight chapters in the manual are organized to correspond with the chronology of events in the Old Testament. This organization does not strictly follow the sequence of books as they appear in the Old Testament. It is not possible to adhere exactly to the chronology because several accounts overlap in the time periods they cover, and sometimes several prophets ministered at the same time in different areas. Also, the time of the writing of some books is not known (Job and Proverbs, for example). This manual does, however, basically follow the chronology of the Old Testament.

So, I will continue to take advantage of the journal from readthescriptures.com & continue to ask for new reading assignments, but will finish Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis-2 Samuel, by reading Psalms. I will probably even read Song of Solomon, although it is not considered holy scripture & not covered in the manual.

I won't be able to have Read the Scriptures track me as to percentage of completion.

Tonight's quotes

I was closing down the computer & found an untitled Notepad document with tonight's quotes that hadn't been saved. I did not plan to save it, I planned to make a blog entry.

"If we daily exercise faith, meekness, charity, and lowliness in heart, confessing that Jesus is the Christ, and accepting His Atonement, we will be blessed with the strength and hope to face and overcome the trials and pains of this life."

--Adhemar Damiani,, "Be of Good Cheer and Faithful in Adversity", Ensign, May 2005, 94

and this one:

"Faith fuels hope. The truth is that our only safety, our only security, our only hope is to hold fast to that which is good."

--David S. Baxter, "Faith, Service, Constancy", Ensign, Nov 2006, 13–15

Old Testament reading:
21 days behind.
36.6 %

A dilemma

I have a dilemma. According to the reading schedule I set up on readthescriptures.com, I will finish 2 Samuel & begin 1 Kings. However, the Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis-2 Samuel, includes a chapter on the Psalms. It seems appropriate to read the Psalms of David AFTER his reign.

Then, as I look at the next Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings-Malachi, the books of the Bible are not followed in order. So, what to do? What to do? Song of Solomon is not even included in the manual.

( Note: Joseph Smith indicated that “the Song of Solomon is not inspired scripture”; Bible Dictionary, s.v. “Song of Solomon.” It will therefore not be treated in this manual.)

I started just reading the Old Testament. I have learned so much more by studying the Institute manual along with my scriptures. I really don't think I would've stuck with it this long without the additional insight.

So, do I follow the reading schedule & read the scriptures in order or do I now take the road less traveled & follow the Institute manual where it leads me? I do like the journal from readthescriptures.com

Good thing I looked at it now. I can think on it for a couple of days without making a quick decision.

We must study the scriptures

I started a new chapter in the Old Testament Student Manual tonight & read 109 scriptures. The quote I chose to share is:

"We must study the scriptures to the Lord's commandment (3 Ne. 23:1-5) and we must let them govern our lives and the lives of our children ... So I ask all to begin now to study the scriptures in earnest, if you have not already done so"

--President Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

It was given a year after I came home from my mission. I am still 21 days behind, but 36.2% completed

The Fall of King David

I finished Chapter 26 of the Old Testament Student Manual, Genesis to 2 Samuel. I have 2 more chapters to go before I finish the manual. I've learned a lot reading the Old Testament by studying the OTSM.

I've always thought of King David as a failure. Yet, here is a thought-provoking question raised in the first part of chapter 26:

Do we emphasize the David who killed Goliath, or the David who killed Uriah? Should we view him as the servant who refused to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed, or as the Lord’s anointed who lifted his hand against a faithful and loyal servant? Was his life a tragedy, or a triumph? 

It made me think of "great men of history."

Ask anybody: “Who are the great men in human history?” Likely you will hear names such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, or perhaps even Ronald Reagan. What do these men have in common? What made them great? They were successful because they were powerful, and with this power they changed the course of history by their heroic actions, or by ruling countries or even whole continents.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/the-great-men-of-history-322731.html#ixzz0yolQdZu3
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

So, if looked at in this way, yes, King David was successful.

For the first time, under his direction the chosen people controlled the whole land promised to Abraham’s seed nearly a thousand years earlier. Israel had not achieved such heights before, nor did they ever again.

But, he caused the murder of Uriah & so therefore committed an unpardonable sin, he did not reach the celestial kingdom. He did not "endure to the end."

Today's quotes

Today's Reading Completed quote from readthescriptures.com was:

"While we cannot agree with others on certain matters, we must never be disagreeable. We must be friendly, soft-spoken, neighborly, and understanding."

--President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 2003, 83

and Request Next Reading

"In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father."

--L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It with Simplicity", Ensign, Nov 2008, 7–10

I am 35.2% complete and 21 days behind.

Finished 1 Samuel

I finished 1 Samuel. For some reason, this was a hard book to read. I am a third of the way through the Old Testament.

I didn't do very well on secular reading in August either. I'm hoping I can do better in September & that we can get the foreclosure cleared up.

Behind on my scripture reading

I am 21 days behind on the reading schedule I set up for the Old Testament. Unless I do a reading marathon, I will not be finished by Dec. 31.

I love the quotes that readthescriptures.com send with the Reading Completed and Request Next Reading notifications. Today Reading Completed was:

"Because of Christ there is hope smiling brightly before you, and you need not worry too much about sickness, death, poverty, or other afflictions. The Lord will take care of you. Your responsibility is to keep the commandments, feast upon the words of Christ, and stay in the path to your heavenly home."

--Julie B. Beck, "There Is Hope Smiling Brightly before Us", Ensign, May 2003, 103

and from Request Next Reading:

"Please don't nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort."

--Gordon B. Hinckley, "Rise to the Stature of the Divine within You," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 94

 Today I had 3 legals at work. One was a foreclosure. I translated the document, opened it & scanned down through it to find the name of who was being foreclosed on so I could write it on the form. Mine & Don's name literally jumped out on me. Interesting how most of the time I have to search for those names, but not today. It was like I'd been kicked in the gut.

I'd been thinking of the scripture in the Gospels where Christ says "Consider the lilies of the field" & here were these 2 quotes. Kind of cool, huh?

More scripture reading

The internet was down most of Monday evening. By the time I got through checking my communities, it was almost midnight. I had a long day at work, so I only read 1 Samuel chapter 16.

I didn't read Tuesday evening  because I went to Logan to a business meeting for doTerra, an essential oils company.

Wednesday I got a blinding headache at the doctor's office. I wondered if we were going to get home. When the visual disturbance finally left, it felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to the base of my skull & then was so very nauseated. I went to bed at 10:30 p.m. & slept until 10:10 a.m. Of course, there was no reading, of any kind.

Tonight when I logged in to read my scriptures, I had an email from readthescriptures.com informing me I am 15 days behind schedule. In requesting another reading assignment, this was the quote:

"Our Heavenly Father never gives up on us... But we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life... Our Father in Heaven will never take away our agency. We must seek after or desire to know our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ."

--Elder Ronald T. Halverson, "I Stand at the Door, and Knock," Ensign, November 2004, 32

I plan to go to bed early again tonight because I had another visual disturbance this afternoon. I hate it when they piggy back on to each other. Tomorrow's another busy day.

"We should not allow our personal values to erode, even if others think we are peculiar. "

--President James E. Faust Ensign, May 1998, 19

I did read tonight from the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 17-18 for a total of 88 scriptures.

Finished Ruth

Started & finished Ruth tonight. It was grouped with Judges in the Old Testament Student Manual. I  thought it interesting, until I realized it took place during the reign of the Judges.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” ( Romans 8:6 ). The truth of this declaration is evident in the contrasting stories of Samson and Ruth. The prophets have always been anxious that the Saints find that peace which comes from living a Christlike life. ( OTSM )

The Old Testament Student Manual also brought out another interesting fact. Ruth was a convert. And her famous speech, "Intreat me not to leave thee ..." ( Ruth 1:16-17 ) makes perfect sense when viewed in that light. I always thought Ruth's speech should have been between a man & a woman, but

President John Taylor used the example of Ruth to describe modern Saints who also were willing to give up homes and kinships to be where their God wanted them to be. ( OTSM )

It is one of my favorite books of scriptures. I read a novel about Ruth when I was in junior high. I can remember exactly where it was in the old Carnegie Library, but I can't remember the name or the author.

Finished Judges

Judges is a very interesting book. I made a couple of notes to use in this entry.

The theme of the book is captured with the last scripture in the book:

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

I didn't remember the stories of Deborah & Samson being in this book. I have never noticed the references to lefthandedness either. There were 2 in Judges.

Judges 20:16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

My DH & DSY are both lefthanded, as is the assistant editor at work.

I have really slowed down in reading my scriptures. Even though I still read daily, I don't read the recommended 109 verses every night. I am 13 days behind the schedule I set for myself. I wanted to finish the Old Testament by Dec. 31. It is better to read consistently though. I may be able to catch up. Ruth is coming up & it is one of my favorite books of scripture.

5 Point Challenge

5 Point Challenges

• Read a book with a one word title

My first 5 point book. A book with a one word title, Blessings by Anna Quindlen. I didn't think of T4MRC when I picked up this book. I needed some mindless reading & besides, I needed a Q for an author's last name in the Author's Last Name mini challenge of my 144 Books in 2010

A book read outside

is a 15 point read for 80 points. I read this book out on the porch. I couldn't even wait to get in the door. I sat down to look at my loot, 13 books for $7 from Jenson's Books in Providence. There were 8 hardback & 5 paperback.

I didn't get past this one, still have 12 books to look at, LOL.

I also shelved it as a favorite author, Mary Higgins Clark, On the Street Where You Live.
(c)2001, 5 stars, Mystery, giving me 2 out of 24 books read, 22 to go.

It is also unputdownable. I was bad. I only read 1 chapter in Judges in the Old Testament tonight.

Splintering

My mother's family of 8 brothers & sisters were close when their parents were alive. A family reunion was held annually because their mother wanted her family to remain close. When Mother's brother Woodrow died, the annual reunions stopped. He was the first sibling to die, but the reunions ceased. The splintering had started before then though.

I read this in my nightly reading tonight at the beginning of chapter 22 of the OTSM

When Joshua and the leaders of Israel who served under him died, the national spirit of Israel also died. Tribal loyalty replaced national unity. Each tribe began to look to its own resources without giving help or asking aid from their fellow Israelites.

Old Testament Student Manual

It reminded me of how Mother's families has splintered. Luana's family has a big family reunion & the grandkids come from Texas, Virginia, Boise, Salt Lake. Dorin's family also has a big family reunion every other year.

Sandee Taylor Matthews commented on something that was posted on Facebook about a "Porter reunion," she deleted it before it could be read there, but I got it in my email.

Wasn't really a reunion.  My parents invited Donna and some of their kids came. They had 4 wheelers and just camped up my where my Dad was raised. I wouldn't call it a reunion. Kind of like when Maxine and family go up Willow Flat.  But it would be fun to do a reunion an afternoon somewhere. There are enough extended family now that hopefully nobody gets bent out of shape for no reason if everyone isn't invited. It gets pretty hard to get to everything. I think the park thing in July would be great!

This year Donna, Onda & Maxine's families met at the "Porter Reunion," but no one else was invited. I commented on Tanya's blog & she deleted my comment. Oh, well, "hopefully nobody gets bent out of shape for no reason." I do, but it is a sad commentary on me.

My mother's immediate family is me, my husband & my 2 sons. We live in the same town & almost in the same house. She doesn't get to see the others, but she sits there all alone in her house & memorizes the nieces & nephews & their children & their children & their birthdays.Why can't we be like the Levites? The other tribes of Israel shared what they had with them.

Finished Joshua

Finished Joshua & started Judges. It is like deja vu. My gosh, it's a vicious cycle. Moses delivers the Israelites from the Egyptians, they wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Lehi & his family flee to the wilderness. The Lord parts the Red Sea. Lehi's family cross the ocean.

The reign of the judges is similar in many ways to the history of the Nephites prior to the coming of Christ. It is a story of one continuous cycle of apostasy and repentance.

Old Testament Student Manual

I studied the Book of Mormon in 9th grade in high school & the Old Testament as a senior. I remember I did not like the Old Testament. I always thought it was my seminary teacher, but ... could it have been the actual volume of scripture??? I have never seen the similarities before.

Disappointed in response

to my Facebook challenge of 15 books in 15 minutes. I have not had anyone do it.

I finished Deuteronomy, but haven't summarized it yet. I will get to it though.

15 books in 15 minutes

Last night on Facebook, I saw a friend had done this, so I swiped it & created my own list.

The rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag fifteen friends, including me, because I'm interested in seeing what books my friends choose. (To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your fifteen picks, and tag people in the note -- upper right hand side.)

1.  The Book of Mormon
2. Homecoming & the rest of the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voight
3. The Giver by Lois Lowry
4. Dawn's Early Light & the rest of the Williamsburg series by Elswyth Thane
5. Chocolat by Joanne Harris & the sequel, The Girl Without a Shadow
   
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
   
7. Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
   
8. An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
   
9. Anne of Greene Gables series by LM Montgomery
   
10. Harry Potter books by JK Rowling
    
11. Zane Grey's books
    
12. Ammie Come Home by Barbara Michaels (gave me nightmares for years)
    
13. Mary Stewart's books, especially The Moon Spinners
    
14. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
    

OK, it said 15, but if you'll look at my list, there are way more than 15 books in that list.

I tagged 15 people. It will be interesting to see if anyone comments back.

I found out last night when I was looking for author's names, I couldn't remember Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird is a Pulitzer Prize winner. I can reread it & count it as a Reread in that mini challenge & count it as points toward T4MRC!!

Dewey Decimal System

Look what I found!!!

The Dewey Decimal Classification System
000 – Computer science, information & general works
100 – Philosophy and psychology
200 – Religion
300 – Social sciences
400 – Language
500 – Science (including mathematics)
600 – Technology
700 – Arts and recreation
800 – Literature
900 – History, geography, and biography

Can you tell I'm excited??? This year I have a general Dewey Decimal challenge. One book per classification for a total of 10 books in a year. I split the 900 series out into it's own category for 12 biographies/memoir for the year. Actually, by the time I read the biography, history, geography, whatever, I will have read 13 from the 900 series, plus another one (14) that I counted in the to be read (TBR) challenge. The classifications I'm most interested in are the 200 series, religion; 600, technology; & 900, biography/memoir.

I have read 6 memoir/biographies already this year, however, only 4 have been counted as memoir/biography. I have read 4 in the 200 series & am working on my 5th. And I have read several in the 600 series.

Serving others

Although this thought comes from the Ensign magazine, it is in the vein of Debbie Macomber's  One Simple Act

"Serving others need not come from spectacular events. Often it is the simple daily act that gives comfort, uplifts, encourages, sustains, and brings smiles to others."
--Elder Michael J. Teh of the Seventy, "Out of Small Things", Ensign November 2007, p.37

15 point challenges

15 Point Challenges

• Read a book by an author you’ve never read before
• Read a biography or autobiography
• Read a book with a number in the title
• Read any book and then post a review
• Read any book but read it outside

Hmmmm, I am in a quandary. What to do? What to do? I read Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

I decided to call it a 15-point read because a) it's a new author, one I've never read before; b) it's a biography (the ISBN notes it as a biography); c) I read the majority of it outside. For my mini challenges of 144 Books in 2010, I have counted it as a TBR, giving me 3 out of 12 in that category.

readthescriptures.com

Quotes and scriptures from my daily reading of readthescriptures.com

"The truth is that not yet usually means never. Trying to run away from the responsibility to decide about Christ is childish. Pilate sought to refuse responsibility for deciding about Christ, but Pilate's hands were never dirtier than just after he had washed them."
--Neal A. Maxwell, "Why Not Now?", Ensign, Nov. 1974, 12

Another

"Only One who was with God, and was God, can answer the deepest and most urgent questions of our soul."
--Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Ensign, Nov. 1997, 65

One Simple Act

Finished reading Debbie Macomber's One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity.

I will count this book as a 10 point hard cover book in T4MRC & as a favorite author in my 144 books for 2010 challenge because I've already read a book in the 200 series of the Dewey Decimal Challenge. Also, the reason I picked the book up is because Debbie Macomber wrote it. I will read anything Macomber has written.

Don used a story from the book in his Sacrament meeting talk on Sunday, July 25, regarding sacrifice. I was going to use something about listening when you pray, but ... my talk veered off another way & I didn't use it.

I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. This book is a must have. I want to make notes in the margins, underline passages & have some of the stories for reference.

10 point challenges

10 Point Challenges

• Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)
• Read a Biblical fiction book
• Read a hardcover book
• Read a book about a king or queen
• Read a book set in France

Working on 2 books for this challenge. I've mentioned them both in earlier posts, but I need a post specifically for 10 point books.

Biblical fiction is The Red Tent and the hardcover book is Debbie Macomber's One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity. I'm not finished with either one, but ...

Finished Numbers

I finished Numbers, the 4th book of the Old Testament. I started reading it on July 7. It has been an interesting read, but seems like it has taken a long time to read. The Old Testament Student Manual (OTSM) titles the chapters on Numbers as "Wilderness Wanderings."

The first 3 chapters of Numbers is a census

Numbers 1: Moses and princes in Israel number in each tribe (except Levi) those males twenty years of age and older; They total 603,550; Levites appointed to attend tabernacle (KJV) & were not numbered as "able to go forth to war."  

According to OTSM, it is a matter of "translating correctly."

Chapter 2: Order and leaders of tribes and armies of Israel in their tents are set forth. (KJV)

The tribes were deployed in four groups of three tribes. (OTSM) They marched in order & camped in order.

I have heard the first 5 books of the Old Testament called the Torah, which is Hebrew for teaching or law, or the Pentateuch, Greek for penta [five] and teuchos [tool, vessel, book]. I chose not to read Moses from the Pearl of Great Price.

According to Wikipedia, The Torah contains a variety of literary genres, including allegories, historical narrative, poetry, genealogy, and the exposition of various types of law.

Frankly, I'm rather relieved to be finished with Numbers.

I started reading The Red Tent last night. It has been on my to be read (TBR) list since November 2007. I picked it up at Jenson Books in Providence  & found it the other night when I was putting something in the trunk of my car. It is the story of Dinah & her mothers from Genesis.

The review says this, "In fact, it's been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters, instead of her sons." The King James Version this is not, LOL.

Which blog??

Which blog?? LOL, I'm having a hard time deciding where to put what. I wanted to save this quote, but where to put it?

"Day-to-day acts of service, whether for good or evil, may not seem important, but they are building cords of love that become so strong they can seldom be broken. Ours is to place our areas of love in proper perspective. Meaningful love always works for our eternal progress and not against it."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "We Serve That Which We Love", Ensign, May 1981, 22

I decided here, because it is goes so well with one of the books I'm reading, One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity, by Debbie Macomber

TBR book = 20 points

20 Point Challenge in The Four Month Reading Challenge (T4MRC).

• Read a book in a series AND the one after it
• Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
• Read a book considered Christian fiction
• Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100
• Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October

I finished Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling today. It has been on my To Be Read (TBR) list since Jan. 31, 2009. Janene Morgan sent it to me in March of '09. So, I can count it on my original TBR challenge, 2 read out of 12 scheduled. AND it counts in T4MRC challenge also because J.K. Rowling's birthday is July 31, the same day as Harry Potter's. Or is Harry Potter's birthday the same day as J.K. Rowling's? Whatever. I now have 40 points out of 250.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard 
J.K. Rowling (2008), 5, 7/16/10

This book was awesome. I wavered between "really liked it" & "awesome."

The book is presented as if it really existed. It is so well done, one could ask, "You mean it didn't really exist? But it is quoted extensively in Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows!! How could it NOT exist?"

My favorite story is Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump. Smart witch & the moral of the story is ... read it & find out.

I did not care for The Warlock's Hairy Heart. I call this one selfish & gruesome. Worthy of the Brothers Grimm.

The best part, however, is Dumbledore's commentary (Cliff's Notes) after each story.

I am glad that the proceeds from this book is helping The Children's High Level Group, now known as Lumos.

After finishing this book, I want to read Deathly Hallows again.

20 Point Challenges

There are 5 books in the 20 Point Challenge in The Four Month Reading Challenge (T4MRC).

• Read a book in a series AND the one after it
• Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
• Read a book considered Christian fiction
• Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100
• Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October

I have read a book considered Christian fiction, "Awakening Avery," by Laurie L.C. Lewis. Actually, as I look at the list, there are SIX books. Read a book in a series AND the one after it, makes that particular challenge a 2-parter. Hmmm.

The reason I'm making this entry is challenge #4, Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100. Which top 100? There are 4 lists of 100 books each!!! Giving a choice of 400 books. And none of them sound very interesting.

Then there is the challenge to read a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. I had to smile as I read through this list. I found I have read several of them. Nothing since 1961s winner, "To Kill A Mockingbird." The 1950 winner is "The Way West," by A.B. Guthrie, Jr. I remember my aunt Maxine told Mother not to let me read it because it had "adult content." That's not the way she worded it, but I heard her tell Mother, so I found the book in the attic at Grandpa's & Grandma's house & read it one afternoon while my mother, aunts & grandmother were quilting.

A 20 point book

In the Four Month Reading Challenge, Read a book considered Christian fiction is 20 points. One of the other choices is to read a book by an author you've never read before, but it is only 15 points. However, you can't read one book & count it for 3 different categories. I will, however, count the book three times, once in the 4MRC, once in 144 books & once in New Authors category, which is a sub-category of 144 books.

Awakening Avery

by Laurie L.C. Lewis

This was an unputdownable book. I would have read it in one sitting, if I could have. As it was, I'd grudgingly put it down to do what I HAD to do. And then stayed up way too late, finishing it.

The book leaped into my arms as I was leaving the library. Our librarians put new books on bookshelves as you enter/leave the library. I wasn't sure who the author was, I'd never heard of her, but I couldn't deny the book & turned back to check it out with my other books. Of course, the fact that the first chapter heading said, "Logan, Utah," sealed the deal. If it took place here, I had to see what it was like.

I seldom read LDS authors because, to quote another reviewer, "I feel as if the story is more about the author wanting to include their religious views on those reading, than they want to tell a good story."

I was pleasantly surprised. There were some twists that I didn't even see coming.

Finished Leviticus

I finished Leviticus last night, July 6. I started it on June 27. Here are some excerpts from my Read the Scriptures daily journal. I read the scriptures from the Church's online edition of the scriptures (KJV) & also from the Church's Institute of Religion Courses Old Testament Student Manual (OTSM)

• June 27: It is interesting to me that Leviticus is the priesthood manual of that generation. This reading assignment was again accomplished with my nose wrinkled & a hasty read, more of a skimming  &  w/a more thorough read of the OTSM.

• July 2: Read through chapter 20 last night & became quite overwhelmed, so gave up & decided to finish the reading assignment tonight. And perhaps start on Day 32's assignment. Another note I made that night was: Question: With all this killing of animals, first born no less, how did they ever have any animals?

• July 3: (Lev. 24:20) Was the Law of Moses Really an Eye for an Eye? (OTSM) This misunderstanding is unfortunate because it makes the law appear cold, unbending, and revengeful. This misconception has resulted from a failure to distinguish between the social law and the criminal law." Hmmm, interesting, I  I didn't know there was a difference. actually did not know there was a social law AND a criminal law.

• July 5: Chapter 26 - Blessings or Cursings: An Option for Israel (OTSM) Wow! The OTSM says this is one of the most powerful chapters in the OT. It also quoted extensively from President Spencer W. Kimball's talk in the April 1977 General Conference, LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Lord Expects His Saints to Follow the Commandments

Four Month Reading Challenge

Another reading challenge, OMG, what am I thinking??? Here is a list for me. The original list can be found here

Only 25 books, but maybe not. Unless I can make some of my other challenges fit this challenge.

ETA: This post was edited & a separate page was created with the list.

Where the Wild Things Are

Yesterday, Mother & I watched the movie "Where the Wild Things Are." It is one of my favorite books, but ... I have mixed feelings about the movie. I know movies & books are different media types. I don't know that I liked the animals fighting among themselves.

Mother didn't like it, which I can understand because it didn't have a lot of dialog. It was a movie I wanted to see in the theaters, but am really glad I didn't spend the money to see it there. I got it from Netflix. Don-Mike says he already has a copy of it, which I didn't know.

The book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, was the 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner. According to Wikipedia at first the book was banned in libraries and received negative reviews. Francis Spufford suggests that the book is "one of the very few picture books to make an entirely deliberate, and beautiful, use of the psychoanalytic story of anger".

---

Editor's Note: I chose to use a link, instead of embedding the video. For one, the video was too wide & covered up my sidebar, so I didn't like the looks of it, LOL, & 2, the cookies issue (see below).

Like most web properties, YouTube uses what are known as "cookies" to collect information. Cookies can be used to store data about the user's computer or the user watching a video. YouTube uses cookies to help maintain the integrity of video statistics, prevent fraud and to improve the site experience, among other things. We use cookies on both youtube.com and on videos embedded from youtube.com.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

Designing my book blog

I moved some of my gadgets from RaDoMiNic & placed them here. My Old Testament ticker, cumulative reads ticker & my GoodReads box.

My book blog

I decided the other night that I need a book blog. Today when I took Mother to Logan for her pro-time, I played around with names. My online name is Rayni. I chose Rayni because when I was younger a neighbor lady always called me RayNay, LOL. RaNae is usually spelled Renee & people would call me Reenie. I would protest it wasn't spelled that way. Don's middle name is Ray, so, thinking that RaNae is rather unique, I just went with Rayni.

I told DH we needed to name our children weather names because he has a degree in  meteorology. Rain & Beau were names I suggested. No, we didn't do it. I don't think I could've done that to my kids. But I love a play on words. One of my favorite TV programs is Reading Rainbow, so, one thing led to another & I decided on Rayn-Beau Reads.