Not Just for Kids Anymore

I have been away for a couple of weeks because I have been revisiting my younger days and taking classes again. Actually I took two graduate level education classes at the same time in order to renew my teaching certification before the next school year. The classes were very interesting - New Children's Lit and Internet Safety - but taking two graduate level classes at the same time in an intensive summer session kicked my butt. In order to get everything done, I had to ignore all non-school aspects of my life including my home, grocery shopping, and even my kids. So I've been spending this week trying to get caught up on everything. I'm still not there, but at least our laundry is caught up. Next time I have to do this I'm going to remember not to take both classes at the same time. Whew!

Despite being busy with my classes, I did manage to find time to read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which appeared in my mailbox right in the middle of my classes. Sigh. Being the Harry Potter fanatics that we are, there was no way I could wait before starting. So J and I read most of it together (me reading aloud to him like I've done ever since he was little). But by Thursday of last week I was knee-deep in coursework and didn't have time to read. J, however, was getting ready to spend the weekend away with his best friend's family and didn't want to leave without reading the ending. So he finished it on his own on Thursday. I had to wait until early Saturday morning to finish for myself. Oh, Harry, Harry, Harry...I'd hug that boy were he real.

Meanwhile, earlier this week I took the boys to the public library to occupy them during our latest heatwave. J picked up an interesting book called God, the Devil & Harry Potter : A Christian Minister's Defense of the Beloved Novels by John Killinger. J started reading it but it includes a lot of biblical references that he just doesn't get. I picked it up the other day and I am mesmerized. This is almost as good as reading the books themselves. It combines two of my loves: Harry Potter and religion. I'm finding this book very spiritually fulfilling as Killinger points out the elements of the series that stem from Judeo-Christian values and history. I highly recommend it for Christian Harry Potter fans.