Wonder Years with Chris and Wendy

 Good-bye Susan May 31, 1956-December 23, 2024 What can I say about Susan, so you will know who she was?  Susan was a good friend and a wonderful mentor.  She was a leader and an innovator, a teacher, a scholar, a mother, a wife and an aunt.  She was a good friend and a wonderful mentor. Susan taught her students by example, encouraging them, guiding them and showing passion in her lessons.  She was a good friend and a wonderful mentor. I remember her laugh, her joy of life and her love of children, her family and her students.  I remember the display we made detailing the abuse of children and how we taught our students to be warriors for children's safety.  I remember how she always recognized when someone was doing well and she was quick to praise and slow to criticize.  She was a good friend and a wonderful mentor. I remember the books she wrote on art and teaching and story telling and weaving lessons together so all could understand.  I...

    Once again, I read over 100 books (160) this year and I have tried to pick my favorites in both fiction and nonfiction. This is not easy, since there are so many good books out there. Maybe some of your top books are also on my list. Let me know what you like or didn't like! FICTION The Color Purple  by Alice Walker This is a book I had read several years ago and decided to reread it last year because of the new movie/musical based on the book. For some reason, I had not remembered how humorous it was and enjoyed the writer’s voice much more this time around. I also could see the characters as I read based on the new movie which was fresh in my mind. While the events of the story are often tragic and Celie, the main character,  faces so many hardships, the story is much more uplifting than I remembered it. I especially liked the sewing of pants for women. Definitely a classic! Snow Falling on Cedars  by David Guterson Another book I reread last year bec...