FAQ: How Do You Read So Much?

If you have been reading this blog for an length of time, you probably know that I love books and reading.  Much of this was born in me in childhood as I grew up in a home where books were valued.  My mom is a middle and high school librarian and an avid reader.  She read to me from the second I was born, continued for many years and always encouraged me to be reading.  Because I spent so many years reading, I became a much faster and proficient reader and it became a habit that never died.  I am not a big television watcher and enjoy spending the free time that I do have reading books.

Add into all of that the fact that I married Joe, who loves to read as well (although this only became the case once he was a Christian…before that he could have rivaled almost anyone on his knowledge of “Saved By the Bell” episodes!)  Joe loves reading on a variety of topics and has helped me to really expand my genres of reading.  When we dated (and still now) we would spend many nights together just reading.  We would call them “reading parties” and sit reading separate books and sharing things we read that was interesting from time to time.  We knew we were odd, but we didn’t really care!

And now with the lifestyle of living overseas that we have, I have even more time for reading.  You never realize how much extra time you have without all the extra curricular family activities, church activities and extra life stuff that are present when you live a “normal” life in the U.S.  My reading drops off a bit in the summer when we are home (except when I am visiting my parents!)  Here the things we are involved in are very minimal and the pace of life much slower, which gives much more time for reading.  Plus I can squeeze in reading time any spare 5 minutes I find!

So although I wouldn’t consider myself the most proficient or accomplished reader, I do love it and hope it is a habit that continues.