Because
This post is sponsored by Disney Book Group. I’m thrilled to be a Mo Willems ambassador this year and to share several of his new books with you in 2019!
As I was finishing up my junior year in high school, my parents asked me if I wanted to transfer to the new high school that had just opened that year.
That new high school had taken a huge chunk of the students from my high school, including two of my very best friends. It had also taken the theater director who I’d worked with since my freshman year and absolutely adored, plus one of the best AP Government teachers around and a beloved principal. Frankly, many of the great teachers from my high school left to go to the new school when it opened.
Also, my younger sister Merrick had transferred to that high school a few weeks after it opened during her freshman year.
It seemed an obvious choice for me to switch.
But for some reason, I never could feel very settled about the idea of transferring and over the summer, I finally decided to stay at the school I’d been at since my freshman year.
Because I decided to stay, I ended up in a speech and debate class (Forensics) with an absolutely phenomenal teacher. He was kind of an intense guy, but we clicked pretty quickly and I had an outstanding year competing at the county and state level in both dramatic interpretation and Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Because I loved Forensics so much, when I declared my major in the spring for my upcoming freshman year at BYU, I chose Public Relations.
Because I chose Public Relations, my on-campus housing was assigned with other Communications majors.
Because I was living with other Communications majors, I lived next door to a girl named Sherry who was majoring in Advertising.
Because I lived next door to Sherry and became good friends with her, we decided to room together the next year when we moved off-campus.
Because I lived with Sherry the next fall, I met her co-worker at her new job, mentoring incoming freshman students.
Because I thought her co-worker was cute and smart and nice, we started dating.
And because we started dating, we ended up getting married and having four darling baby girls.
Because I didn’t transfer to a different high school.
All of this came flooding back to me when I read Mo Willems’ newest book, Because, which just came out on Tuesday and is illustrated by the crazy talented Amber Ren (it’s her debut picture book – can you imagine having your first picture book contract being for a Mo Willems book??).
This stunning book begins with Beethoven composing beautiful music which inspired Franz Schubert to write his own music.
Because of that music, many years later, an orchestra was created to play that music. Because various musicians practiced and learned and worked, they joined the orchestra. Because of the staff, the music hall was ready for that orchestra to perform.
And because an uncle got sick, an aunt had an extra ticket to take along a little niece to that performance.
And because of that performance, that little girl was changed and grew up to become a musician herself.
Which changed someone else’s life.
You guys – I always like Mo Willems’ books, but this one gave me chills. It is SO beautiful, both from a story perspective and an art perspective.
I love this book so much.
I’d love to hear your “Because” experiences – would you share them with me in the comments?
Photos by Heather Mildenstein
ohh, I love this. I read a book a few years ago about a harmonica that made this kind of journey. I can’t remember the name of the book, but it was set in WWII and I would love to re-readit.
Was it Echo?
Just put it on hold!!
Okay. Because you started dating Bart and eventually married him, I now have four beautiful grandchildren, one of whom loves to play peek-a-boo with me over Google Hangouts. And because you and I share a love of reading (and delicious food) I am a faithful reader of your blog. Because I am a faithful reader of your blog, I have been introduced to many interesting and useful things that I might not otherwise encounter including free kindle books for members of Amazon Prime (I just downloaded my March book today), Quip toothbrushes (perfect for use while we are living abroad this year, as it is battery powered and I don’t have to worry about 220 instead of 110 current) and StoryWorth. Because I knew about StoryWorth, I thought it might be the perfect way to encourage my mom to start recording some of her life experiences, so I chose to give her a subscription for Christmas this past December. And because my mother received that present, she has been writing weekly installments of her life history that George and I thoroughly enjoy and that she has been also sharing with her children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren. Because I have been enjoying my mother’s life stories, I am considering doing the same thing myself and I am thinking of doing something similar with several of the classes I am presently teaching, hoping that it will encourage them to start writing their life stories and share them with their families. And because “children who know stories about relatives who came before them show higher levels of emotional well-being, according to Emory University researchers . . . . [and] Family stories provide a sense of identity through time, and help children understand who they are in the world,” so they “are less likely to struggle and get into trouble.” (online Journal of Family Life), who knows how many problems will be avoided just through the sharing of stories? (Very interesting to think about the many “becauses” in my life, where they have taken me and where they may eventually lead—thanks for the idea.)
This is the nicest note. We’ve been missing you and Dad lots (including on Tuesday when I went to your house and “borrowed” some jam for muffins I was making for dinner when Andrew and Natalie came over). I’m looking forward to seeing Grandma’s memories!
I loved this, and am definitely checking out this book. Our Because story: After Ben and I got married he was toying with Law school. We were looking at different options and though BYU seemed like the logical choice (especially financially) we went with William and Mary across the country in Virginia. It seemed family friendly and we thought the adventure would be great. Because I had fertility issues only a year after E was born we tried to have A, figuring he would take a while to come. He was born 10 months later. Because he had some unusual symptoms at three weeks old I took him to the ER. Because there was air on his abdominal CT scan we knew he needed emergency surgery. Because The doctor who diagnosed him had a daughter exactly A’s age he noticed irregularities in A everyone else missed. Because his surgeon was the Chief of surgery who specialized in abnormal abdominal issues his scary endeavor went quickly and smoothly. Because we were in the premier Children’s hospital for abdominal issues A had the best possible care he could receive, probably better than anywhere else we could have lived. Ace was saved that day because the right doctors were on staff at the right hospital in the right state all because Ben and I thought going to Virginia would be an adventure. It certainly was.
I certainly remember all this scary business with Ace but I didn’t know all those details!
So cute. I always love how your blog posts are so thought provoking and full of deep ideas, while still advertising great products, recipes, etc. So many other blogs and platforms do great at promoting products, but there’s not much depth to them beyond that. Love your blog because of that!
Oh, you are so kind! I really appreciate it.
This got me all touched and teary. My brain is whirling with my life full of because. ❤
What a fun story (his and yours!). I had the same family doctor growing up, and because of that, when I got married and lived in the same sister town as his clinic, I decided to continue to see him as my doctor before my first baby. After my baby was born, we were talking with my sister-in-law about this doctor’s office, and because they had a not-so-great experience working with this doctor’s staff, they had switched to a pediatrician in Provo. Because she spoke so highly of him, we decided to switch to him too, but he wasn’t taking new patients. Because of that, we chose another doctor in the clinic. Four months later our baby developed RSV and we had to take her to the emergency room. Because we were there, her new pediatrician arrived to check on her and scheduled a follow-up visit the next day at the clinic. Because we went in that day, we met with the doctor on call—the same doctor my sister-in-law had recommended. Because we had a connection with a current patient of his, he asked if we wanted to switch to him as our pediatrician. Because of this switch, when we had another baby girl and went in to her well-check, this pediatrician was the one to perform her clinic. Unbeknownst to us, because of this doctor’s fascination with hearts, he had planned to become a pediatric cardiologist. But because he already had three children, he decided to become a pediatrician and simply “listen for heart murmurs.” Because of his resolve and attention, he heard a slight heart murmur in our daughter and recommended a cardiologist. Because of that recommendation, we were seen within three days of the visit and then asked to schedule a follow-up echo. Because of a cancellation with another patient, an opening was available for the next morning. Because of that echo, the cardiologist was able to quickly diagnose heart failure before any outward symptoms. Because our doctor heard a heart murmur on a healthy-looking baby girl.
This is so amazing! I read this twice – what a series of tiny miracles!
I’m so excited about this book!
We talk about this often at our house. Because I got rejected from my top two college choices, I went to CUA. Because I took AP Chem in high school, I got to take the advanced Chem lab. Because I had trouble pronouncing my lab partner’s name, Matt helped me. Because my roommate and several neighbors were engineers, I decided to take an intro engineering class. Because I decided to become an engineering major, Matt and I had many classes together. Because my dorm was closer we (Matt & I) often hung out there between classes. Eventually friendship turned to dating. Because we got married, we have four girls and are where we are in life.
I couldn’t reply above for some reason — yes, Echo! thank you, I want to re-read it.
Oh and I forgot I just listened to these two books that are all about becauses (although they call them accidents). Just One Day and Just One Year by Gayle Forman.
Because I wasn’t interested in the assigned reading from school as a kid, I resisted and even hated reading. Because my mom still wanted me to listen to stories, her and my dad started reading Harry Potter to my siblings and I. Because of listening to them, I learned to love reading and now can’t imagine my life without books. Because of my love of reading I spend time reading to my two daughters and finding books we all love.
Because my high school counselor ( a woman) told my parents that no-one would hire a woman architect, I changed my major to Pre-med. Because after a year, while I still loved science and math I just couldn’t see myself as a doctor, I changed my major to Science Education. Because my student teaching experience was so awesome I accepted a teaching job. I left after 1 1/2 years to have 3 children, then returned 8 years later to the same school, because my former department chair called and offered me a job. I retired after 29 of high school Science teaching, but because my coordinator likes my teaching, I now am teaching elementary students at our districts Nature Center and loving it. Best job ever!
Because we dealt with infertility we listed for adoption. Because we listed to adopt we got our two sweet boys (5 years apart) who I couldn’t imagine our lives without! It makes me very grateful for every time we (tearfully) did not get pregnant!
Oh, this makes ME teary! What a lucky family.
I want to echo what Andria said above! I absolutely understand bloggers’ need and desire to post sponsored content. However, yours is the only sponsored content I actually want and choose to read! Your ad posts always include engaging, meaningful words that I appreciate. (I love all your posts, sponsored or not, but do feel it is worth recognizing that you’re great at what you do.)