Is there ever any time to read a regular book?

I don't even remember when this started, but sometime this year, I started buying a vast number of books off of Amazon as well as walking myself down to BN after work some days during the summer. I've got quite the collection now. It's not quite as magnificent as I would like it to be, but it's getting there. There's another thing... I haven't really had all that much time to read them, therefore, some of them sit there without having been read and I really would like to read them, but these thoughts always cross my mind everytime I look at them and am craving to read them:

Either: "No, I really shouldn't read right now. I've got other things I could be doing. I have to do chores and homework and get(stay) caught up on everything. I just don't have time."

OR: "I shouldn't be reading those books when I could be reading my scriptures. I wish I could read the Book of Mormon for hours on end like I do other books and just wiz right through it." (I wonder if there's a reason for that... Is there a reason that I can't just read the book? It's probably my perceptive mind and my strange ability to have to think about it. Interesting.) I also find myself thinking "I should be spending time reading the Book of Mormon so that I'll be able to finish the challenge by completing it by the end of March." (It was a challenge given by our bishopric.) So what happens when I do finish? Do I just start over? That's another thing. I have a hard time reading a book twice if I can remember what it's about. But then again, by the time I finish and start over, it won't be the same. I'll always find new things? I think so. Especially since it takes me so long to read.

Anyways, see all these thoughts going through my head? I just feel as though you can't successfully read that special book without studying it. It's not the same if you don't. Well, one day I'll have time to read all seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia (that I have in one big awesome book, by the way...) and one day I'll have time to sit down and find out what happens to Cassia and Ky in the "Matched" trilogy to see if they ever truly fall in love and run away together or wait and see it she ends up marrying Xander.

Meantime, I'm off to clean bedroom, do laundry and catch up on some homework (mainly the reproductive systems in health... can you tell why I've been putting it off? yeah, me too). Now just to do them in a fashionable order, while staying downstairs as to not catch mom's... illness... I guess you could say.

Santa's Lap

I had this whole paragraph typed up explaining and expressing feelings, but instead I'm just going to show you pictures and leave it at that. :)

Put A Puzzle Together With Dad.

#5 on the list is complete. It's awesome. I bought a puzzle with Nikki last Friday night (along with some ice cream) and since Nikki and I didn't finish it (the puzzle that is), I thought that Dad and I might enjoy it. It would be some good "time for bonding". While we did it at the kitchen table, not much was said except for, "Where do you think this piece goes?" or "Which building do you think this piece belongs to?" or even "No, no, no, that piece doesn't go there." The puzzle was of temple square. It took us together about 3 hours to do. It was totally worth it. It's beautiful. I even had a frame all ready to go that I had found a few months ago for it to go in. It's incredible. The picture that I put up doesn't do it justice. You'll have to come by and see it for yourself sometime :)

Reasons to Blog

• Sharing Stories
• I love sharing the most random stories. They make me laugh and I like to think that they make others smile too. For instance, today after I got off work and went to the store and stuff I went to the last part of mutual just to visit and make an appearance. (I needed it. It was fun.) And then mostly everyone had gone and Amber was taking my sister and I, as well as my neighbor's home and she was chatting with Carla. I asked if I could have an apple, (Actually, my exact words were, "I don't want to seem like a mooch, but can I have an apple?") and she said yes, so she pulled one out of the bowl and I noticed that there was an unusual looking stem on the apple. The stem started to move and before I realize it, I'm screaming like a little girl and jumping away into the other room as fast as I can. There was a spider... on the apple. It was scary. I'm sorry, but apple stems don't normally move. I'm sure you can understand right? Well, we certainly got a good laugh out of that.

• Sharing Pictures 
• What I love about pictures is that they're fun and vibrant and add some snazz to the blog. They contrast the simple layout too. Haha :) They also normally come with a story and some quotes. Anyways, here's an example:

This picture was drawn by Agnes in tech this morning when we were talking about lighting and costumes. It was interesting to find out that when you put a green light on a magenta dress, it will turn black. Interesting huh? Well, this picture is Abby! Haha, Agnes said, "I'm not good at drawing pelvic thrusts!" This is Abby "being the diva she is". I don't know. I guess you might not think it funny unless you were there, but let me tell you, if you were there, it was hilarious!

• Sharing Inspiration
• I'm not quite sure I have a current example of this one, but I love sharing all kinds of stories (obviously), but some of my favorite are those that have the capability of having a more personal connection to others. I shared this scripture on Facebook the other day:

‎2 Nephi 10:23 - "Therefore, cheer up your hearts and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves -- to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."

I read that a few nights ago, and it's stuck with me ever since. I'm glad I have it posted everywhere because I've had a really rough day. I can act however I want and I can choose to be whatever, so why wouldn't I choose to be happy? Why should I let others get in the way of my happiness. Next time I'm going to shove them over and walk on past (metaphorically of course). I shared it on Facebook and then my good friend, Kiara Pratt, posted this as her status (which made me really happy):

"So I have been having a challenging couple of weeks with school and all and it's not fun when you're grades down but I read this [scripture] on my dear friend Savanna Skinner's page...Thank you for helping me remember to stay positive my friend! You are amazing!"

Kiara, thanks for letting me be inspiring. It helped me a lot to boost your mood, even for just one day. I love you and thank you for your kind words.

• To VENT
• Sometimes these aren't as enjoyable for me to read, but I know that some people don't mind reading them, so every once in a while I'll share a personal upset feeling or two. But due to my need to remain positive, I don't feel it appropriate to talk about negative things right now. I'm trying to stay positive.

• To Procrastinate and/or Cure Boredom
• Let's be honest, of course there's something better I could be doing with my time (e.g. sleeping). HA, of course, but am I? Nope. In fact, I'm slowing dwindling to unconscienceness as I'm typing and slowly convincing myself that I'm too lazy to go and jump in the shower right now. Well, I had better go and take care of that so that I can go to sleep.

What are some of the reasons you blog? 

Yep, this is my dad... and yep, he's went head first into the pile of leaves. Solid. :)