on my nightstand

My posts are collecting a theme: The Bed Rest Chronicles.

It might be reasonable to think I would devour books while on bed rest. At another point in my life I absolutely would have. But, the reading has not kept the pace I would have expected. "Why," you ask? I think it is equal parts knitting a blanket for Joey, messing around on the internet, watching crazy shows on Netflix, and tweaking my blog.

If you noticed that the picture of books does not look like it was taken of my nightstand, you would be correct. My nightstand is currently cluttered with a teapot, enough glasses to put the girl from Signs to shame, a nail file, 2 pens, lavender essential oils, my discarded hospital bracelet, and my phone. While I do not mind the written form of true confessions, photographic evidence seems damning. So, you have a picture from my lovely antique table at the foot of my bed that houses the BEAUTIFUL tulips my husband gave me as an early Mother's Day present. I'll tell you more about that later. I do not want to use up all the interesting things in my life in one post. I'm not sure you, my one dear blog reader, could contain all that excitement.

In other breaking news: we changed the sheets on our bed a few minutes ago. Yes, I said we. Josh helped. These days, sheet changing is a two person job. It has also been my big event of the day, I've been looking forward to it since breakfast. I know, the excitement in Casa LW is on the call the police for noise pollution level. Just wait until tomorrow, I might tell you how many times I went to the bathroom. Don't scoff unless you have been pregnant and have had your bladder shrink to the size of a walnut.

Great with Child by Beth Ann Fennelly
It is a book of letters from one mother to another. I am 2/3rds of the way through this one and I need to finish it ASAP since it was due back to the library 3 days ago. (I'm a rebel...or a slacker. Lets not take a vote) This book has been wonderful. It will officially be the first parenting/motherhood book I have finished. I quit all the others within a couple of chapters. Beth Ann's (I feel as if we are friends even though she doesn't have any idea who I am) writing is raw and encouraging. She makes me laugh and cry and think and feel a million times better about my own insecurities surrounding parenthood. It reads quickly because it is a book of letters, although I have skipped two letters that talked about her miscarriage because I can not read about the death of a woman's child as I lay in bed fighting for the life of mine.

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott
My friend Laura sent this over to me yesterday in a care package. I was glad to receive it. Emily and Anne have both read this book and recommended it on their blogs. I have loved Anne's other works and welcome her perspective on motherhood. She writes honestly and weaves joy and sadness together in a way that hits what is true and real in life. (PS - you should absolutely click on Emily and Anne's blogs. I love them. I'm quite sure they do not read my blog but you should add theirs to your list. I promie)

Daughters of Parvati by Sarah Pinto
Sarah is easily on my list of favorite people. She is absolutely amazing. This book is heavier than the other two on the list. It centers on the lives of women in different settings of psychatriac care in northern India. (Similar to the area I lived back in 2005) Sarah urges the reader to think about the different ways that women of the vulnerabilities of love in their minds, bodies and social worlds.

Awesome by Neil Pasricha
I know very little about this book. It was given to me by a friend from church and my book group. She sent it my way because it is a light and fun and she thought I might enjoy it while resting. The back cover says that the book's aim is to remind us that the best things in life are free. The book is meant to be a celebration of humanity and life's little moments.

On the iPad (Not Pictured)
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
I have read this book several times during life and have recently picked it up again. If you have not read this lovely children's book, pick it up.

I am following along with lovehappydaily's Every Day in May blog prompts. Todays' prompt: Share a book that you'd like to read, but haven't yet. What draws you to it?