Weekend Encouragement {a few thoughts and a pile of links}

We completed a full week of school on this first full week of September.  As in, we did our work on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday without taking a break for a summer activity. Things went smoothly, and one student admitted a subject that was hated last week was now "okay."  


Still I battled feelings of discouragement.  As she moves closer to a year old, Macie is needing less sleep in the afternoon.  Her morning nap is solid and falls during our busiest school hours which is a help, but I crave the quiet time in the afternoons, too.  It's all good, and I may grow to love this new routine, especially as several of our afternoon extracurriculars begin again this fall. I'll be happy that she doesn't get grumpy if she misses a long rest time.  Transitions are difficult, though, and my body and mind are weary.

 As   summer winds down and all our friends are back to school, too, we're home more which is also a good thing, but I miss the hubbub of activity and the conversation with other moms. For years, I thought I was an introvert, but this summer made me suspect I'm more extroverted than I realized.

Brian's work season is slowing slightly, and we have been intentional about our evening walk.  Those, and an invitation from a friend to hang out and talk while our kids played yesterday after school, buoyed the end of my week.

I've also been encouraged by exchanging scriptures with various friends via text message. "A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray." (Proverbs 25:11 HCSB)  On Thursday, I asked if any reader on the blog's Facebook page would leave a comment with a scripture that brought encouragement to them. I was blessed all day by the responses.  Click here to find encouragement, too, and click below on the links to read other articles (by other people) that I loved this week.

Do It Afraid  by Sarah Mackenzie @ Amongst the Lovely Things 

About starting something hard: "So here we are, starting our calendar square in the face and running out of excuses to put off starting. I say just leap in. It isn't going to be perfect-- it won't even if you try to make it so, so just do your best and let God feed the 5,000 with your measly basket of loaves and  fish."   

To Think God Had This in Mind for My Family 15 Years Ago by Rachel @ Thriving Home

Timely for our family as in the last year as each of us has made new friendships, renewed some old ones, and explored "what it means to do life with others in Christ."

Start the Homeschool Year Off RIGHT by Homeschooling YOUR Way by Lea Ann Garfias @ Raising Arrows

This has nothing to do with ego, selfishness, or pushing God out of the picture but simply leaving behind the comparison game and teaching your children the way that works best for your family.

 

Weekend Links...and What I'm Reading

Yes, to this:
"I could have chosen to be less tired. I could. I could have chosen to have more free time or a firmer tummy. I could be living a whole different life right now... But it would have been what I chose.  I can make really bad choices. Instead, I have what God chose for me."

And this, too:

"We long to do greater things than making another dinner. But out of obedience, we serve. We are here. We are present."

On a wholly unrelated note, this is a great source of children's literature from each decade of the 20th century.

And here's a peek at what I'm reading this weekend, by myself and with the kids:

Children's Book Exchange

It's January, it's cold,  and my kids are sick (again).  I'm not a fan of either of those things.  Well, I like January, but only if I'm inside eating comfort food or reading a book.  Today no one felt like doing much of anything so we spent many minutes on the couch reading together.  (We ate chocolate cake, too, so the day met both of my criteria.)

In honor of the month, Allyson and I are hosting a book exchange.

Here's a quick run-down on how it will work:

1. Go here and fill out the form, letting us know you'd like to participate.  Your name and address will be kept confidential.  Only Allyson and I (plus your book exchange partner) will see where you live.

2. In the form, list at least 3 -5 (or more!) books or authors you'd like to own.  They can be picture books, chapter books, Bible story books, educational books-- anything, as long as they are children's books.

3. Sign up begins today and runs through midnight EST on January 19.  After everyone is signed up, give us a few days and we'll e-mail everyone a partner's name and information.  You'll have 2 weeks to pick a book from her list and mail it off to your new friend!

4. Anyone can participate, as long as your mailing address is within in the continental United States. Even if you don't have kids at home, you can participate for your grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or the children you babysit.

5. We will have a linky up in February so that everyone can share a photo or a few words about their new book treasure. For those of you who don't have a blog, you can link a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram photo.

I hope this can be lots of fun and add some cheer to dull winter days. 

You can spread the word by sharing our button on your blog or on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

{Weekend Links} on Friday

"Things That Fascinate Me" Links

• I could have written this post.  Actually, I did write something similar last year. I could have written it again last week when I told Gavin that his favorite pair of pants was too short to wear again and one hour later a friend gave us a bag of clothes that contained an identical pair of pants in the next size up!

• I want to try these simple art appreciation lessons with my kids over the winter. 

• I've been reading through this series with fascination and awe. Brian and I have a history of twins in both of our families and I have an underlying apprehension that this could be me someday.

• Another use for the spotted bananas on my counter!
  
  
  
  

• I used this Thanksgiving copywork with my 8-year-old on Wednesday and I've printed more to use in the future. 

"Christmas is Coming!" Links

If you are savoring every last second of this autumn and Thanksgiving season, you may want to skip this specific section of links, but if you are like me and getting all your ducks in a row before Christmas helps you enjoy this season a little better, read on!

• Now is the time to put holds on your favorite Christmas books at the library before they are all checked out!
  
  
  
  
  
  
• This looks like one of the simplest Christmas crafts ever! 
  
  
  

• I'm planning to go through Truth in the Tinsel with my littlest ones (ages 4 and 6) during school time in the month of December. The ladies on my Facebook page confirm that it is worth the extra few dollars to also purchase the printable ornaments. We're using the free tracing cards from my friend Allyson's blog to make a little booklet to gather all the ornaments we color.  I've printed and compiled my things now to make the coming days easier.

My Favorite Podcasts

I want to start by saying I am not an audio learner.  I zone out on audio books and if you try to explain the direction to a game out loud to me, I'll politely nod and then read the instructions for myself.  

I've discovered this school year that one of my children is also a strong visual learner. We read a large part of our history and science curriculum together, including every child and grade level in a group learning environment.  It's becoming obvious that this method is not working with my visual learner.  He appears to listen, but when asked a question or asked to retell what he's heard, he remembers nothing. Sometimes he can't even tell me the name of the person we spent the past 20 minutes studying.  We are working on developing a new plan of action for him that I'll share on the blog soon.

Having said all that, I am surprised at how much I enjoy listening to podcasts. A couple of times per week I go out for a long, steady run and podcasts keep my mind occupied while I go the distance.  (For shorter speed runs, music is best because it doesn't require as much concentration.)  I also occasionally enjoy podcasts while I'm folding the laundry, when I'm in the car alone, during quiet time, or before I go to sleep at night.  (I generally don't wear earbuds when my kids are in the room.)

Here a few podcasts I enjoy and you may, too:

The Inspired to Action Podcast
If you're not sure which to choose, start with this one: My Story: How God Takes Brokenness and Makes it Beautiful.

The Simple Mom Podcast

It's the next best thing to having someone to talk to while I run.  A great conversational podcast? All the Sheets with Myquillyn Smith (The Nester)

Another Mother Runner Podcast

This is a secular podcast that covers a variety of running topics for women (specifically mothers) at all fitness levels, but it's not boring.  I promise!  My fave episode lately is this one: How to Run a Sub 2 Hour Half Marathon.

Read Aloud Revival Podcast

If you've read my blog for very long, you know this episode is right up my alley: A Lifestyle of Reading Aloud.

Do you listen to podcasts?  Any to recommend?

{More Weekend Links}

4 things (both frivolous and serious!) that I'm loving this weekend:

12 Simple Things That Can Bring Peace Into Your Home  Love #1, #4, #10...really, I love them all!

Book It! Alumni Program  no reason to turn down free pizza

Simplify. series  (especially meal planning week, starting on Day 13)

The Literary United States  Have you read the book  representing your state?

{Weekend Links}

5 things (both frivolous and serious!) that I'm savoring this weekend:

Classic cult: 5 Jane Austen-inspired romantic comedies    I want to see #5

Fall decorating + the back story...    an honest look at life with 5 kids

31 Days of Date Nights    accessible at-home ideas

What is the Biblical way to think about family size?  food for thought

Write 31 Days (2014) pinboard  a collection of series that grabbed my interest

You've Got Mail!

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know one of my favorite pastimes is reading.  It's a personal hobby, but I also spend large chunks of time reading with my kids, both for pleasure and for school.

I shared on my blog Facebook page in mid-August about a book exchange on another blog. It was nearing the deadline when I decided to participate. I had to compile a short wishlist and e-mail it to the hostess, Stephanie. She passed my list on to another participant, then sent me another reader's wishlist.  I got to choose a book from the list and mail it on its way(with or without some special little bonus goodies).

When I told Brian how much fun it sounded, he said, "So basically you are buying a book for yourself?"  I see his point, but I guess he didn't get the surprise element or the appeal of the social/friendship interaction.

Last Saturday I was inside alone cleaning and cooking in anticipation of dinner guests.  My toes were sore from a 9-mile run I had done that morning.  Brian was mowing the lawn and the kids were outside doing yard work and swinging on the tire swing. I decided to sneak a break with a cup of high-test hot chocolate when Maddie came running into the house with a package. 

My book exchange package had arrived at the most perfect of times!

My book exchange friend, Christy, does not know me and did not have any way to know what I like aside from the short list of books she was given, but I love that she included page markers in my very favorite of colors-- aqua and turquoise. 

A quick word on the books Christy chose from my wishlist:

Both books are outside of my normal reading comfort zone.  The Witch of Blackbird Pond is historical fiction and I tend to shy away from that genre.  However, two bloggers who have book opinions that I trust highly recommended this book, plus I've been reading more than my share of Newbery books this year so it was fitting that I read another.

Life After Life could be called fantasy and I read even less fantasy than I do historical fiction. Still, the story sounds highly plot and character driven.  I first heard about it on another long Saturday morning run earlier this summer.  I was listening to my favorite running podcast, but the theme for the day deviated from the sport and instead centered on summer reading. The hosts were discussing can't-put-down novels and mentioned this one.


Do you ever challenge yourself to read books that are outside of your norm? Have you read either of these two books?

31 Days, 31 Printables {Day 27}: Lego Writing Prompts

 

During the month of October, Sundays will be devoted to pointing you to a printable that our family has used and enjoyed  from another blog or website.

Gavin, my 6th grader, is a struggling speller.  He believes that if he can read what he has written, it's good enough.  I've tried multiple approaches to spelling, but have found that he is most motivated by writing.  In other words, lists of words are meaningless to him, but spelling in the context of a sentence is a little more motivating.  This year we've been using a fabulous set of printables from Homegrown Learners called LEGO Minifigure Writing Prompts. 

                          
        
  Have a child who could benefit from some
           spelling or creative writing practice?
                          Click the graphic to download.

                                                   →

Don't miss a post!  Join my new Facebook community!

31 Days, 31 Printables {Day 20}: Fall Color Chart

During the month of October, Sundays will be devoted to pointing you to a printable that our family has used and enjoyed  from another blog or website.

Last year, my children enjoyed a challenging coloring activity from Hearts and Trees.

In the Advanced Fall Color Activity, each box had to be shaded in with a different shade of fall.  Some colors like brown and yellow were easy.  Others like bronze and scarlet were a little trickier.  Then there were colors like plum and persimmon that required the kids to mix colors to achieve the right shade. 

                                       
       Sound like something your kids might enjoy?
                          Click the graphic to download.

                                                   →

Don't miss a post!  Join my new Facebook community!

Today I wanted to share something exciting going on in the life of my real-life friend, Allyson.  (Aside from the exciting news that she is expecting her fifth baby-- and fourth girl-- this summer!) 

This week, she opened a new Etsy shop, All Our Days, selling digital download prints for your home. 

(order here)

This is my favorite print from her shop.  This shade of aqua is my favorite color (it's all over my house!), but I also have a strong mental and emotional connection to the verse.  I remember listening to Elisabeth Elliot's radio show for years and hearing her open every broadcast with,

" 'You are loved with an everlasting love,'-- that's what the Bible says-- 'and underneath are the everlasting arms.' "

For her first month in business, Allyson and her family will be donating 50% of their profits to the adoption fund of another blogging mama, Lauren from MercyInk. 

Preparing For the Days to Come

Brian returns to work next week which puts me back into the role of all-day, full-time mom again.  I anticipate the feelings of being pulled thin as I readjust to being the only adult at home.  I'm praying for patience and grace.  

Benjamin and Brian repairing the girls' bunk bed during the winter break

I read both of these articles last night, and boy, were they timely!  I'm passing them on to you in the hope that they bless you as they blessed me.

Redeeming the Time: On the Loss of My Pyrex Dish

from Kim @ In a Shoe

 Spilled Milk and the Power of a Mama's Words

from Crystal @ Money Saving Mom

eReaderGirl

Do you prefer paper or screen?  I'm referring to reading, of course.  My husband and I met in high school when we both worked for the public library so libraries make me feel all sentimental and cozy.

But... I was given a Kindle for Mother's Day and it didn't take me long to become a convert.  I still prefer my paper books, but I love my e-books, too!  The problem is, I'm a bibliophile that's also cheap, and it's a hard concept to pay for a book that I can't put on my shelf or loan to my sister when I'm done!  Except for one item, every single e-book on my Kindle I got for free.   

eReaderGirl  is a brand new website, created with the purpose of

"rescuing your wallet from overpriced ebooks."

Featuring discounted and free e-books and PDFs, I will be a frequent visitor of this site.

Not Enough Time

“There are not enough hours in the day,” I grumbled.

As I folded towels and sorted socks, I thought about my attitude.  When God created the world, he gave us 24 hours per day. In His infinite wisdom, He knew those 24 hours were all we needed to work and play and sleep.  Could it be that the problem wasn’t with the clock but with me? 

(Continue reading at Chasing Babies...Growing in Grace where I am today's guest poster.)

A Different Side of Gardening

Yesterday, I talked about literal gardening.  Today, I turn philosophical.

Last week, my friend, Kim, shared this Robert Louis Stevenson quote as her Facebook status. 

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant."

After a particularly defeating day-- one of those days where there were tears over spelling lessons and more complaining than cheerfulness-- the quote spoke to me.  I'm planning to display it on my kitchen chalkboard for awhile as a daily reminder that the seeds planted in little hearts must be tended slowly and carefully.

Later in the week, my mom shared an article on her Facebook page that reinforced the idea.  Perhaps you will be encouraged, too.

Lessons From Frog and Toad: A Growing Time  @ from Simply Charlotte Mason

Tri Moms: The Winter Blahs

Do you get the winter stuck-in-the-house blues?  I'm a homebody and love to be at home...except when I have to be at home.  When we are snowed in or the kids are sick or the car is in the shop, those are the days when I long to be able to go somewhere.  Sometimes I need a burst of inspiration to make staying home an adventure.  Here is a collection of ideas from around the web to turn your blahs into smiles:

• Make a batch of Marathon Mom's Sparkly Snow Playdough.  It's my month to host our Charlotte Mason-style co-op so I made a batch for today's craft time.
  
  
  • Kathi suggests having the kids play outside an hour a day, no matter the weather (within reason, of course).  
    
    
    • Why not try a new recipe like Hyperactive Lu's Middle Class Rice and Beans or Tammy's Farmhouse Chicken or my Taco Soup?
    
    
  • You could make a leaf wreath with Jenna or a song-sheet candle with Amy.  I want to make both of these for my bookshelf area once we get our built-ins installed.
    
    
    • You could read a new  book or e-book written by a blogger like  The Money Saving Mom's Budget or The No-Brainer Wardrobe, or read this neat snippet which shares what Robert Frost (the poet) thought about home education.

• Think ahead to next month and make these SUPER easy Valentine's with your kids or make Valentine heart barrettes by yourself during naptime.

Be inspired!





As always...take a moment to visit my fellow Tri-Moms,
Allyson @ A Heart For Home and Christy @ A Living Homeschool.

Upcoming February Topics:

February 7: Frugal Date Ideas

February 21: Romancing Your Husband

More Links For the Struggling Mama

Go...and be encouraged!

Remembering my life two years ago by Stacy

Embracing Neediness by Lindsay Edmonds

I Am Not Enough by Amy

And then meet up back here for my Cyber Monday Giveaway!

31 Days {Day 30}: Links

Today I am quiet.  These are words I could have written myself, but they said them better (and first!). 

Savor them...

The Tunnel of Parenthood by Emily Sederstrand

Are your children under the age of 5?  This should encourage you!
 

The Easiest Years by Amy Scott

Are your children a little older? This is for you!

There Is No Rewind Button in Life by Trudy Cathy
Good reminder for every stage of motherhood...and for life!

My Field and the Good Portion by Hayley
Short and sweet...on being joyful and content.

Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman
 "You're picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today."

Does that grab you like it grabs me? 
(I'm not linking to the official music video because, frankly, it weirded me out.)

 Stirring the Gravy and All Needing Something by Amy Scott
I've linked to this pair of posts before, but they are my all-time favorite parenting articles! 

 Stay-At-Home Vs. Working Parents: Questions to help spouses bridge the communication gap by Heather Ridby
One of the funniest things I've ever read!  (My husband wasn't as amused.)

***

Someone also asked me to share a few parenting books that I recommend.   I thought and thought (and thought and thought).  I love Dr. Sears's The Baby Book and How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Robert Mendelsohn for medical advice, but I can't think of one single parenting philosophy book that I've ever read!  That being said,  I've heard only good things about these books:

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger
Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

*all links, including book links, are for your ease in navigation; I do not profit or benefit in any way by your clicking.

Collection of Goodness-- Homeschool Edition

The Homeschool Kids Who Don't Do Anything on YouTube

~ Watch it if you need some good, cute fun! ~

My Annual Catalog Post from Cindy

~ Read if you feel the overwhelming need to buy it/gather it/ teach it all! ~

Motherhood as a Mission Field from Rachel Jankovic

~Read if you wonder if you are making enough impact by staying home~

Curing Scope and Sequence Syndrome from Joy
~Read if you worry that your kids aren't learning what "all the other kids" are learning~

Are You Doing Enough?  from Misty
~Read if you fear the "bumps" on this year's schooling journey~