Thanks, Kati Lynn!

Many thanks to Kati Lynn who has given me the Breathtaking Blog Award... so sweet :  )  I really enjoyed learning more about her through her answers to the questions below.  Here are my responses... happy reading!

Who or What Inspires You?

Tradition.  To me, it means being part of something much bigger than yourself and having a connection to those who have gone before us.  To quote G.K. Chesterton, "Tradition does not mean the living are dead, but that the dead are living".  I find this to be a very powerful statement.  Church hymns bring me great joy and I am awed by the way Scripture can provide instant peace and understanding. 

What is your favorite season and why?

It is a toss up between spring and fall... which is interesting because in Texas we really only have summer and winter!  I say spring because I love the feeling when the weather starts warming, you can throw on a cardigan and sandals, and actually enjoy being outside.  Fall, however, brings all my other favorite things... the weather starts cooling and you can throw on a cardigan and sandals, and actually enjoy being outside (ha!), college football kicks off (Gig 'Em, Aggies) and Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, is right around the corner.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Accomplishing things I have put off far too long... finishing the first book in my children's series and sending it out to publishers by the summer, learning to sew, getting the house organized and keeping it that way :  ) and fulfilling two of my resolutions (send Snail Mail birthday cards to my family and friends and read 25 books... I already broke my third resolution, ha!) 

If you could write a book about anything what would it be about?

Right now I am working on an historical fiction series for children (details later) but I also have a Chick Lit story rolling around in my head... I would love to have expertise to write a fashion book.  It would be amazing to author the Next Great American Classic... but I tend to avoid novels where either people die or you become horribly depressed while reading them... and I think at least one of those is a prerequisite for being a classic :  )

What is your greatest passion?

Social studies education and historic preservation.  As a history teacher, I believe it is neccessary for every citizen and resident of this country to understand why and how America was created and how our government works.  The National Council for the Social Studies provides excellent resources to meet this goal.  Preserving the structures of our heritage is equally as important, whether it be churches, schools, homes, or government buildings, or those that reflect the American social scene, including restaurants, theaters, and storefronts.  These places can be used to teach our history... we cannot erase it so why should we bulldoze it down?  For more information visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

If you could change one thing about your life or yourself what would it be?

Only one thing?!  Hmm... without doubt my patience level.  I do not really have any... not such a good way to be :  (

Lastly, what is your favorite novel?

I LOVE books!  While there are tons I have enjoyed, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Jellyfish Season are my favorites.  Mockingbird was the first "grown-up" book I read (English I in 8th grade) and I love the story.  The Jellyfish Season is a book from childhood I read every year... I am very attached to the characters.  Other top choices include Colored People, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, The Education of Henry Adams, A Bear Called Paddington, and Confessions of a Shopaholic.  I track my books on GoodReads and if you are an avid reader you should check out the site.

I am passing this along to three of my readers:

Preppy Little Dress

Seashells and Southern Belles

Garden State Prep