Joyfully Weary

Primary Literature: On the Same Day in March by Marilyn Singer. This book uses poetic prose and bright illustrations to not only highlight different places around the world, but to also showcase different types of weather. A short author's note in the back of the book explains, in kid friendly terms, the scientific reasons why different parts of the earth could have such drastically different weather on the same day.  Vocabulary words to review stalking - watching intently, following boulevards - a wide street in a city, usually with trees or plants on the side crouched - low to the ground vanish - to disappear from sight

These pictures are from last spring; I just never got around to posting them. I, however, just added this activity to our to-do calendar for this week. It's one of those art activities that we do almost every year. It's simple, process oriented, and one that kids will enjoy no matter their age. 

I wholeheartedly agreed with parts  of Jen Hatmakers article,  "What Would My Mom Do" . I think her words,   " A good parent prepares the child for the path, not the path for the child. We can still demonstrate gentle and attached parenting without raising children who melt on a warm day. " are so wise. I think kids need freedom. They need lots of chances to explore and chances to fail. I also strongly believe that kids need lots of unstructured time; time where nobody is there to  entertain them  but their imaginations.  So many of the words in this article and many of the articles like it are full of good thoughts. Thoughts that I think mothers need to hear: we don't need to bubblewrap our children, it's ok to tell them to go play, our purpose as parents is not to just entertainment them, etc . What bothers me is that in order to make this point there seems to be a need to bash the activities that are bringing another mother joy.  J...

On Saturday Jeremy and I went on a midday date to Half Priced books. It's one of my favorite dates. We always stop by Starbucks for coffee first and when we arrive we separate for a half-hour or so as each of us looks for our own treasures. Then we meet up and discuss the fun books we've discovered. For an introvert, like me, it's perfect! I get a spend time with my most favorite person in the world and I get a the chance to get lost in my own thoughts for awhile. Last week, was packed full of people, good people who I love dearly, but people all the same. I was really looking forward to being alone in a tiny aisle full of books. After being there for less then five minutes though I got interrupted. An elderly gentleman asked me if I knew where they kept the children's history books. picture via foter As I showed him he started talking about his granddaughter and how she loves history, "she's a prodigy"! I love children's books and histo...

The last couple of weeks has been full of good events and even better people. We got to celebrate a friends birthday with pizza and some fun board games. Last weekend we also had a family overnight which included a nightly bonfire and a breakfast of amazing cinnamon rolls. Today we went and watched some of our  friends perform in a local production of Willy Wonka. Last but not least, my littlest sister decided to spend her spring break with us. I feel so overwhelming lucky that our family's life is filled with such amazing loving people.  Little Lady trying to wake daddy up with some kisses

Saint Patricks Day, or Green day as my like kids like to call it, is one of our favorite holidays. We have small traditions for each holiday but these are the ones the kids talk about the most throughout the year. We decorate I home in sorts of green decor and the night before Jeremy and I blow up lots of green balloons. Everybody wears their best green attire. We also always have Lucky Charms and green milk for breakfast...this is an extra special treat because most of the time breakfast is hardboiled eggs, yogurt, and oatmeal or Cheerios. Then in the afternoon the children follow a rhyming scavenger hunt to find their hidden rainbow and it's gold. 

Primary Literature Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland   by Tomie dePaola. This book is a great introduction to kids on not only Saint Patrick but on biographies in general. It is full of factual information yet still offers and engaging story. dePaola's classic bright illustrations also help to draw in young listeners. My children were especially intrigued by five legends it includes about Saint Patrick. 

A few  worthwhile things I've stumbled upon while wandering the internet.... I've really enjoyed reading and watching the events that have surrounded International Women's Day. The HeForShe   campaign has really resonated with me. I've considered myself a feminist since early high school but the word "feminism", especially in evangelical christianity, gets a bad rap. I'm not a man hater and I am not promoting promiscuity. I do, however, believe that men and and women are equal bearers of the image of God. I think it's great how Emma Watson has made it clear that being a feminist simple means you want equality for all.  via the Huffington Post. Eight other great quotes from Emma Watson's International Women's Day   talk or if you have time you can just watch the  video .   If you still need some convincing that Christians should be feminist this is a great article .  This blog post, "To My Sons on International Women's...

This past week was the hard week of the month for me. I often felt sluggish and behind and one morning I woke up full of anxiety. I had no reason to feel anxious, it just hit me out of nowhere and all the sudden the common tasks of the day felt insurmountable. It's funny...and sad...and frustrating the way that our minds can sometimes play tricks on us. Jeremy prayed over me and I read Psalm 73:21-28 and Lamentations 3:19-24.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my potion forever. Psalm 73:26 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end:  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,  "therefore I will hope in him." Lamenations 3:22-24 These verses have become a bit of a battle cry for me on my dark days. It's a comfort to know I trust in a God who is not controlled by the whims of the human heart. He doesn't change, ...