New Class Time!

Since taking a break is not something I do well, and I do intend to continue this blog for a time at least, I thought I would share a few things with the great wide web.  First, I'm taking a readers advisory, fiction class-so reviews of those books will appear on here.  I'm currently reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett and hope to finish it before spring classes begin.  If not, I will some day.  Between full time school, full time work and planning a wedding in 6-9 months (yes, you read that right, I'm engaged!!!) I hope to be able to keep up with this.

My professor for this course is awesome, I had her last term for another and she always shares wonderful snippets with us.  Today she shared this poem and I wanted to share it somewhere and so I thought here would be a lovely place.


The Littlest Christmas Tree by Amy Peterson

The littlest Christmas tree,
lived in a meadow of green,
Among a family,
of tall evergreens,
He learned how to whisper,
the evergreen song,
with the slightest of wind,
that came gently along.

He watched as the birds,
made a home out of twigs,
and couldn't wait till,
he too was big.
For all of the trees,
offered a home,
the maple, the pine, and the oak,
who's so strong.

"I hate being little",
the little tree said,
"I can't even turn colors,
like the maple turns red",
"I can't help the animals,
like the mighty old oak",
"He shelters them all,
in his wide mighty cloak".

The older tree said,
"Why little tree you don't know?
The story of a mighty king,
from the land with no snow?"
Little tree questioned,
"A land with no snow?"
"Yes!" said old tree,
"A very old story,
from so long ago".

"A star appeared,
giving great light,
over a manger,
on long winters night.
A baby was born,
a king of all kings,
and with him comes love,
over all things."

"He lived in a country,
all covered in sand,
and laid down his life,
to save all of man.'

Little tree thought of the gift
given by him,
then the big tree said with the
happiest grin,
"We're not just trees,
but a reminder of that day,
there's a much bigger part,
of a role that we play!"

"For on Christmas eve,
my life I'll lay down,
in exchange for a happier,
loving ground.
And as I stand dying,
they'll adorn me in trim,
this all will be done,
in memory of him".

"Among a warm fire,
with family and friends,
in the sweet songs of Christmas,
I'll find my great end,
then ever so gently,
he'll come down to see,
and take me to heaven,
Jesus and me".

"So you see little tree,
we are not like the oak,
who shelters all things,
beneath his great cloak.
Nor are we like the maple
in fall,
who's colors leave many,
standing in awe".

"The gift that we give,
is ourselves, limb for limb,
the greatest of honor,
in memory of him".

The little tree bowed,
his head down and cried,
and thought of the king,
who willingly died.
For what kind of gift,
can anyone give?
Then to lay down your life,
when you wanted to live.

A swelling of pride
came over the tree,
Can all of this happen?
Because of just me?
Can I really bring honor?
By adorning a home?
By reminding mankind,
that he's never alone?

With this thought, little tree,
began singing with glee,
Happy and proud,
to be a true Christmas tree.

You can still hear them singing,
even the smallest in height,
singing of Christmas,
and that one holy night.

Source: FamilyFriendPoems.com

About Me

bib·li·o·phile

ˈbiblēəˌfīl/

noun

1. a person who collects or has a great love of books.

I am a reader, a bibliophile if you must.  I have three bookshelves and boxes of books I own under my bed.  I have an additional bookshelf devoted to library materials and often have to sort through to return items so I have enough room for them.  I love to read.  One of my classmates said he reads because he lives and I find this to be an adequate reason for reading.  I read because I am alive, I read to see the world, to experience it in new ways.  I read to learn, but also to meet friends and know what it is like to live through wars, to experience being an only child or life on the moon.  

This fall (2014) marks the beginning of my Masters in Library Science program.  For my young adult literature class we are required to read forty-one books and keep a reading journal.  They are to be made available to my classmates at the end of the course, though with the number of patrons and friends asking for book recommendations I decided perhaps a blog would be a useful option.  Since this is for school, feel free to comment with any errors you notice, I would love the best grade possible once I turn it in!  

With that, I thank you for reading this.  The reason for writing will be for class, though I may continue to do so if there is enough interest after the course has completed.  

Happy reading!

Nicole