The books we would be enjoying if we were actually reading

I know how much I say I love reading with my kids, but let's be real... reading is slim pickings these days. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but with the start of home school this past Fall, reading kind of took the back burner. That feels a little opposite of home schooling to me and is something I want to better incorporate into our school day. Oh yea, and we just had a baby, so there's that. Needless to say, reading is just not happening near as much as I'd like to pretend that it is.

Buuuuut, we are reading a tiny bit. And as one who always loves to give and receive book recommendations, I wanted to share the things our family is loving right now. Please share your favorite books with me too because we are always looking for new reads.

 In no particular order, here are the books I am loving reading with my boys:

 

Yum! Yuck! by Linda Sue Park. An endearing read that teaches how different kids from around the world say various people sounds. Our boys have a blast hearing me try to pronounce the different languages presented in this book and they squeal with laughter when we they discover the English word that is being said. A super fun & engaging read for both my 2 and 5 year olds. Plus, it's written by a Korean American author. Score.

The Hello Atlas by Ben Handicott. Okay, this book is amazing. I am old fashioned and nerdy and am not one to typically use a whole lot of technology with my kids, but I soaked up this super engaging book + app pair. The book looks at kids from all over the world and if you use the accompanying app you can listen to and learn how to say common greetings in over 100 different languages. What's even better than me trying to pronounce the languages in Yum! Yuck!? Actually hearing how they are said and using them correctly thanks to The Hello Atlas app. We may be a tad partial, but we had the most fun listening to the Korean child's greetings. Duh.

This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe. Confession: I actually have not read this one with my kids, despite the fact that it is sitting in plain daylight in our library bin. I'll blame Baby #3. But me and DJ did look through it on our library date (nerd alert) and we both commented on how awesome it was and how we actually wanted to read it sans kids. It looks at the lives of seven real life kids from around the world and in the end shows how similar and united we are with all of humanity despite having different languages, cultures, traditions, and daily rhythms. I loved getting a glimpse at the lives of real kids from around the world. This is a neat read for sure.

God's Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell. Oh my goodness, me and Moses are loving this book. The gospel is clearly presented all the while including a diversity angel that is often left out of other children's books on the gospel. The illustrations are stunning and beautiful and so clearly depict the author's intent. We have soaked up this precious read a lot over the past few weeks.

My ABC Bible Verses by Susan Hunt. A really great little devo that we have been enjoying as a family. I have loved watching DJ read this with our boys and lead them into scripture memory. What a stud.

Found by Sally Lloyd Jones. If you love The Jesus Storybook bible by Sally Lloyd Jones, then you will love this gem of a read. It's based on Psalm 23. The words and illustrations are beautiful and captivating. My boys have been going to bed with crazy energy lately and this book seems to calm the room before tucking them in for the night. Just like Psalm 23 is intended to do, right?

What Do You Do With A Problem? by Kobi Yamada A cute read that helps you to see the potential and opportunities that can come from the problems and upsets that life will inevitably bring. Plus, the author and main character are both Asian. Bonus.

My New Baby by Annie Kubler. I read this book for Jones as we anticipated the arrival of Henry True. Never underestimate a book without words. Jones is only just now getting to the point where he wants to sit and read a book, but he would stop and listen to this one with such diligent intent and concentration as I explained to him the story behind each picture. He truly soaked up the illustrations and I could watch his eyes and face and mind as he sought to comprehend all that the book was preparing him for. In fact, I see it more even now--- with Henry here in the flesh, Jones continues to refer back to this little book and all that it prepared him for. It's pretty neat to see how a book without words can truly teach so much.

And, here is a book we don't have but I want so bad for Jones. Good theology on a toddler's level? And beautiful pictures? Yes please:

Here are a few audio books that Moses is loving lately:

Disney's Pete's Dragon. Though the movie is geared towards kids 7+, we had Moses listen to the book several times before deciding to watch it as a family. I love getting to watch stories come to life for him and it is pretty incredible to see how much his little brain comprehends and absorbs spoken word. He was able to articulate what the story was about and when we sat down to watch the movie together, he was basically our little spoiler alert who told us everything that was going to happen moments before it did. Also, I loved the new version of this story. I remember loving this movie as a kid, but the modern version is even better than I remember.

 

The Magic Tree House Knight At Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne. Moses loves the Magic Tree House series and they has been a fun way to continue introducing themes he has learned in school this year... from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to Abraham Lincoln, Mary Pope Osborne incorporates these historical events and figures into fun stories that he enjoys. She has also been the one to teach him about all things Knights and Ninjas and Dragons because I am not a boy and don't know squat about those things. I got this title specifically because I saw that the North Texas Performing Arts Center in Plano was putting on a production of this book and I wanted him to see the characters come alive. We go next Saturday if anyone wants to join us!

Lastly, he has been listening to the second book in the Rush Revere series. Here's the deal: I actually don't know anything about Rush Limbaugh other than that he is pretty controversial and people either love him or hate him. I have zero opinion because I don't know who he is, but the reviews I've seen on his children's series have been positive and it sounds like a sweet story that leaves out the tone and controversy that he is otherwise often critiqued for. What I like about this series is that they seem to be helping Moses connect the dots with things he has learned at school- from the pilgrims to the Boston Tea Party and other things that sparked the American Revolution. Bonus.

I might not be reading much with my kids, but I'm making sure I read on my own because I like my sanity. Here are my first few reads of the year:

Different by Sally and Nathan Clarkson. I basically have a woman crush on Sally Clarkson and while her and her son, Nathan, claim this isn't really a parenting book, there are a ton of little nuggets that I took away and have implemented in my momming since reading it. Sally's words of wisdom always leave me thinking and encouraged and challenged.

A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold. You guys. I just finished this book and it was so good. For some reason I wasn't expecting much from it, but I really enjoyed it as a memoir and it's one of the better books I have read in a while. I was fascinated and heart broken as I read the story of Sue's grief in the aftermath of her son's participation in the Columbine school shooting. Highly recommended. 

Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult. I had a few people recommend this one to me and though I am only just now starting it, I am already really enjoying it and am eager to see what happens. 

Last but not least and while we are on the subject of books, I just became an Usborne consultant! I have loved learning more about this company, and as a home school momma am super impressed with the quality of their educational reads and how closely they correspond with the curriculum I am doing with Moses. They have some really great products that are super engaging and informative for little minds! If anyone has made it this far down in my post and would like to host an online party in January, you can receive double the free and half priced books that hostesses normally get at any other point in the year. My first party was super easy and fun and I earned $240 in free books that I got to use to stock up our home library. It's really simple-- you just invite your family and friends into the party and participate the night of the event, and I do the rest! Text or message me if you are interested and feel free to follow along in my personal VIP page for Usborne news, updates, and promotions! 

Happy reading!
courtney

The Good Things In Life

It's the most wonderful time of the year,  ya'll! And it is precisely because of that that I thought it would be timely for another Good Things In Life post. There are so many things to enjoy in our little lives and here are a few of my favorites as of late:

Book Club. Okay, hello... if you love friends and food and reading,  you should be in one of these stat. I joined one this past summer and it has been such a favorite thing! I look forward to it every month and leave feeling refreshed and encouraged and full of new book suggestions. It has also expanded my reading palette, because if it were up to me I would probably just read memoirs all the live long day. So far we have read Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, A Fierce Love by Shauna Shanks, The Summer Before The War by Helen Simonson, The Road Back To You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, and My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier and I cannot wait to see what 2018 brings. And let's just talk about my book club's Christmas party because it was amazing. Not only did our lovely hostess, Lydia, make the best food of my life (things like a cranberry goat cheese dip, orange and pomegranate pavlovas, bacon wrapped butternut squash, toffee bread pudding, pear and brie crostinis with a honey, balsamic, and thyme drizzle, parsnip fries with curry mayo and let's not forget the (virgin) bubbly with floating pomegranates... basically what I'm saying is that I died and went to heaven), but we also ended the evening with a Blind Date With A Book exchange which is my new favorite kind of party because I'm cool like that. Here's how it works: Just take a book you currently have or (if you’re greedy and don’t want to give yours up you can hit up Half Priced Books) and wrap it up. Then on the wrapping paper or an attached tag you give some hints as to what your book is about without revealing too many details or, obviously, the title.  When it's party time, you draw numbers to see who gets to pick a book first and from there it basically plays out just like a White Elephant Gift Exchange. I'm telling you: Genius. Host one and invite me, okay?

 

The Big Sick. Definitely one of the most charming movies I have seen in a while, which might not say much because when on earth do I ever go to the movies?! Almost never.  But still, I adored this film so much. I watched it without DJ which was a big mistake because it's totally one we would have enjoyed together, but it worked out in my favor because it allowed me to rope him in less than a week later and watch it all over again. Score. A huge plus to this movie? I think it might have been the first ever appropriate Judd Apatow production. I honestly didn't think those existed and I was pleasantly surprised. Sex was alluded to but nothing inappropriate was ever shown, and while language was bad at times, it was done realistically and well rather than inappropriately and unnecessarily crude like all his other movies. Way to go, Judd. This movie rocked. I would watch it again and again.

 

Hinge: A podcast about doubt, identity, and the search for the real Jesus. Let's be honest: podcast time in my life is super limited these days, but this one peaked my interest so I threw the kids in the car for a car nap and gave it a go. And I am so glad I did. One of the things I love most is that it is put out by a pastor and atheist friend duo who incredibly, beautifully, deepen their friendship by seeking out evidence for Jesus together despite their polar opposite views. Together they interview both Christian and secular historians, psychiatrists, theologians, and various other experts to try and find the answer to one of the most polarizing questions in human history: Who is Jesus Christ? It is fascinating. And an even bigger plus for those of you with limited podcast time: it's only ten episodes long and episodes are roughly 30 minutes in length. A totally doable commitment. You're welcome. 

 

Audio books and headphones for Moses. You guys. These things are the best. When we moved Moses and Jones into the same bedroom, I had to figure out a way to keep Moses occupied from the time he wakes up (a horrifying 6:30am) until the time I am ready to function (an appropriate 7:45) all without waking up Jones (who sleeps until like 9:30... who does that?! I'm jealy.). Enter audio books, which we were already doing, but also... headphones, which was a new big kid privilege we introduced him to! He listens quietly each morning, and then AGAIN at Jones' nap time, which gives me an excuse to nap too and I will hang on to this glorious trend as long as I can...read: until like, tomorrow, when we have a newborn. But it gets even better. I thought this would solely be a way for me to engage his mind and encourage rest at various times throughout the day, which it absolutely does. But you know what else it does? It tricks him into napping which is good for this pregnant momma AND IT ALLOWS ME TO SNEAK SNACKS WITHOUT HIM HEARING. He seriously has a hawk eye and impeccable hearing and a sixth sense when it comes to food, so I am for real when I say that this is a huge plus. He gets rest and I get to eat chocolate out in the open and in peace. Score. Double Score. 

Lush. I discovered this store earlier this year (thanks to my awesome sister & brother in law!) and I can't get enough of it. Here are a few of my favorite products that you have to check out because they are wonderful: 

• Bath Bombs... my favorite being this Sex Bomb, and just excuse the name because really it just smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling like a thousand babies bottoms.   
• Imperials Face Moistorizer... I don't think I'll ever use anything else ever again. 
• Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, great for both the hands AND the feet.
• Handy Guru Hand Cream. Love. 

Basically what I am saying is feel free to buy me anything from this store if you ever want to. This is next on my wish list. And yes, I am putting it out there for the internet to see. Ain't no shame.

Winter Recipes! Here are two of my favorite soup recipes for these cold winter nights:

• Butternut Squash Soup (seriously, there is so much cream cheese it will melt in your mouth and put the cellulite right on your thighs, it's just that delicious.) This is also why I need the Rump Booty Rub that I mentioned above. Obviously.
• Bean and Chicken Sausage Stew... because YUM. Add crushed red pepper for heat and it'll warm your body right up. 
• And, just because it's Christmastime and I can't NOT post about these..... Oreo Balls. So easy, yet so delicious. 

Last but not least, our Christmas was wonderful and we have a new glorious plan that I hope lasts forever. With both boys having December birthdays, we had a front row seat into how crazy and overstimulating all the presents could be with young kids. The five year old wanted to "help" the two year old open all his presents....and then play with all his presents. Gifts were torn open and then hastily thrown aside to hurry up and get to the next best thing. Trash was everywhere. Meltdowns ensued (perhaps even from me). If it sounds crazy, it's because it was. All the excitement can be overwhelming and overstimulating for me, much less a kid, and opening their birthday presents  honestly just felt more stressful than fun. And I totally get that some people enjoy the chaos and excitement and activity of Christmas morning, but I am learning that I am totally not one of those people and our boys' birthdays made me want something more slow and leisurely and calm for our Christmas day. I was hesitant that we could pull it off, but we did and it was more magical than I imagined. Moses woke up late that day (7:30... what, what!) so we had him cuddle in our bed and watch a Christmas movie until we were ready to wake up Jones. Then we made our coffee and and gathered the boys around the tree and told them the plan: Each person would open one gift at a time and we would all watch and rejoice in one another's gifts. Then, we would spend time enjoying that present before moving on to the next thing. And you know what? It actually worked. And was heavenly. We don't even get our boys many gifts at Christmas, but between gifts from other family members and all the leisurely breaks we took throughout the day, Christmas gift giving literally lasted from 9:00am-6:00pm. The boys would open a gift and then play with it for 20-30 minutes until we told them it was time to open another one; we were even pleasantly surprised when we told the boys that it was time to open another gift and Moses responded that he wanted to wait because he was having so much fun with his current toy-- this was what we hoped for and we were overjoyed to see it come to fruition! We took breaks to make breakfast, eat breakfast, drink all the coffee, devour oreo balls, and even took a family nap, and between all of that, we did not get to the big reveal (our family's famous scavenger hunt for the best gift) until evening. You guys, it was just the best. It was slow and calm and peaceful for me, and the boys got to practice patience and gratitude and enjoying what they were given in the moment. It was such a neat thing to experience the joy of gift giving all day long... because when I was a kid, I would wake up at 4:30 and all the gifts were opened by 5:30 and it felt like Christmas was over before the sun came up. My poor mother. Seriously, this way was the best it was the merriest Christmas for our little family. I hope we can make it a tradition.

What things are YOU loving this time of year? 

Happy Christmas!
courtney

Advent Guide

Hey, hey! Advent starts on Sunday and it is truly one of my most favorite times of the year. As easy as it is for December to be one of the busier months in our culture, our family has really tried to slow it down these past few years and I have grown to love the simplicity, slow pace, and togetherness that our holiday season brings. Between having both boys birthdays + Christmas in December, our wallets and time just won't allow for much else so we try to hunker down and enjoy a lot of sweet time at home together and I so hope it is something we can continue to do for years to come. One of the ways we have worked to achieve this is by creating an Advent guide for our family to do together at home. It is becoming a sweet tradition and something we look forward to and it gives our holiday meaning and purpose and intentionality in a season where we might otherwise feel pressure to attend all the things and make all the purchases. And so, I wanted to share this year's guide with you in case you were looking for a simple guide to walk your family through this Advent season as well.

This was obviously written with our boys in mind so there is so much freedom for you to take it and adjust it for your family. My biggest hope (aside from learning about the names of Jesus, who is He, why He came, and why He is coming again!) is that it will free you from the pressure of making Advent activities or buying craft supplies or spending a lot of money. Nearly every one of these activities is free and can be done in a few minutes at home. With the exception of a few additional outings, it really can be done with zero prep at all! You can switch days around or skip them altogether and pick back up without interfering with it's original intent.

What's mine is yours so I'd love for you to have it! Please let me know if you use it, how it goes, and what changes or modifications you make for your family. I'd love to hear all about it!

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Sunday, December 3 | Exact Representation | Read Hebrews 1:1-3. Talk about how God the Father is a spirit; we can not see Him but we can look to Jesus to know what He is like. Jesus is all of God poured into flesh. He is the exact and perfect representation of who God is. Explain what Advent is and how we will spend the next few weeks talking about the different names of Jesus so that we can better know who He is, why He came, and why He will come again.

Monday, December 4 | Carpenter | Read Mark 6:1-6. Give Jones some toy tools and let Moses hammer some nails into a block of wood. Talk about how Jesus was fully God, but also fully man. He was a man just like daddy. He had a job and his job was a carpenter. He built and fixed things. Talk about how it was hard for Jesus’ family and friends to recognize Him as God because they only thought of Him as an ordinary man with an ordinary job.

Tuesday, December 5 | Almighty God | God is Almighty- nothing is too hard for Him. Have DJ and the boys do a couple of strength games: arm wrestling, wrestling match, lifting contest, etc. Talk about how strong DJ is compared to them and then talk about how much stronger God is. He is the strongest one. Nothing is too hard for Him. Read Isaiah 59:1 (NLT) and talk about how the Lord is strong enough to save us.

Wednesday, December 6 | Indescribable Gift | Talk about all the presents Moses got for his birthday today. Have him describe his presents; what they are like and what he enjoys about them. Then read 2 Corinthians 9:15 and talk about how Jesus is the very best gift. He is so good that there are not enough words to fully describe Him!

Thursday, December 7 | Immanuel | Read Matthew 1:23. Talk about the significance of names. Donald means “World Ruler”. Courtney means “Short Nose”. Moses means “Drawn Out”. Jones means “God is Gracious.” Talk about why we chose such significant names for our boys and then talk about how Immanuel is a name that was used to describe Jesus. It means “God with us”. Talk about how Jesus came to live with and among people and how He is always with us and has promised to never leave us.

Friday, December 8 | Baby | Talk about babies…What are babies like? What do we think our new baby will be like when he comes? Talk about how amazing it was that God came to earth as a baby; that the Savior of the whole world left His glorious throne in Heaven to be born into a broken world among animals in a barn. Then read Luke 2:8-14 and go see the movie The Star as a family.

Saturday, December 9 | From Bethlehem | Go to Bethlehem Revisited in Waxahachie. On the way there, read John 7:42. Talk about how Jesus was born in Bethlehem and how we are going to see what it must have looked like when and where he was born. On the way home, talk about the things you saw, heard, and smelled. Talk about how humble Jesus was to leave the glories of Heaven to be born in such lowly circumstances.

Sunday, December 10 | Nazarene | Read Matthew 2:23. Look at the map and talk about where we are from. Just like Moses is Korean because he is from Korea, Jesus is called a Nazarene because he was from Nazareth. Point out Nazareth on the map and talk about what it is like there. Look at pictures online and eat pita bread and hummus as a snack.

Monday, December 11 | Consuming Fire | Turn on the fireplace and read Hebrews 12:29. Talk about times God appeared as a fire in scripture (Moses & the burning bush, leading the Israelites by a pillar of fire, etc). Watch The Fire on Owlegories.

Tuesday, December 12 | Healer | Read Matthew 8:14-17. Talk about how Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Talk about how Jesus has healed Moses’ itchy skin. Talk about how just like our physical bodies get sick and hurt and need to be healed, so too are our hearts sick with sin. Talk about how Jesus is the only one who can heal our sinful hearts.

Wednesday, December 13 | Deliverer | Read Galatians 1:3-5. Deliverer means one that saves from danger or destruction. Firemen deliver people from fires. Policemen deliver people from bad guys. Doctors deliver people from sickness. Talk about how we are all in danger of death and eternal separation from God, but that Jesus died to deliver us!

Thursday, December 14 | Living Water | Have a club soda date and watch Episode 3: The Water on Owlegories. Read John 4:7-14. Talk about how just like we cannot live without water and how it satisfies our thirst, so too can we not live without Jesus. He completely satisfies all our desires and needs!

Friday, December 15 | Light of the World | Go look at Christmas lights. Discuss John 8:12. Talk about light- how it lights up the darkness and helps us to see. Jesus is the light. He lights up the darkness of our sinful, broken world and helps us to see the Truth.

Saturday, December 16 | Creator | Go to the Sky Theatre at UNT and watch Seasons Reasons ($3 per person). Afterwards, talk about the weather, clouds, seasons, stars, and moon. Read Colossians 1:16-17 and talk about how God is the creator of all things. (Another option is to go to Zoo Lights and talk about how God created all the animals.)

Sunday, December 17 | Give the boys rocks and sensory sand to play with as we talk. Discuss the differences between a big rock and sand. Then read The Wise and Foolish Builders on page 191 in The Gospel Story Bible. Jesus is our support, our foundation and our refuge; talk about how we can build our lives on Him.

Monday, December 18 | Bread of Life | Bring home hot chocolate and pumpkin bread from Starbucks and watch The Bread on Owlegories together as a family. Read John 6:35. Just like our physical bodies need bread (food) to live and be healthy and strong, so too do our spiritual hearts need Jesus to live.  We eat food every day to survive; we should spend time with Jesus each day too! Talk about different ways that we can spend time with Jesus throughout the day.

Tuesday, December 19 | Man of Sorrows | Read Isaiah 53:3. Talk about what it means that Jesus was a man of sorrows and why he was well acquainted with sadness and grief. He knows what it means when we feel disappointed and sad. He understands when we feel that way and He can comfort us in our sorrow.

Wednesday, December 20 | Advocate | An advocate is someone who pleads on behalf of another. Show Moses pictures of when we went to court. He did not have to appear before a judge to ask for a family, because we did it for him! We went to the judge and advocated on his behalf; we fought to bring him into our family! Satan accuses us of our sin, but we do not have to appear before God because Jesus has already gone before us. Jesus advocated to the Father on our behalf and fought to bring us into His family.

Thursday, December 21 | Servant | Read Philippians 2:7. Talk about what a servant is. Talk about how Jesus was both a servant and a King. Read The Servant and The King on page 286 in The Jesus Storybook Bible and then discuss ways that we can serve like Jesus.

Friday, December 22 |  King of Kings | Talk about how a King is someone who is in charge of a whole country. Use the examples of Daddy being in charge of our family; a teacher being in charge of a class, and the President being in charge of our country. Some countries do not have Presidents, but kings who rule all the people who live there. Jesus is the King of Kings! He is in charge of every other king and of the whole world. He deserves our honor, respect, love, trust, and obedience. Read The King of all Kings on page 192 in the Jesus Storybook Bible and act it out with the Little People Nativity Scene.

Saturday, December 23 | Intercessor | Talk about prayer; what it is, the people and things we pray for, and why we pray. Read Romans 8:34 and talk about how Jesus prays for us too!

Sunday, December 24 | Friend | Talk about friendship. Who are our best friends? Why do we like them? How do we spend time with them? The Bible says that God is our friend too. Read Exodus 33:11 and talk about how we can be friends with God. He wants to walk with us and talk with us and spend time with us. Read Friend of Sinners in Thoughts To Make Your Heart sing and/or John 15:13 to see the different ways that Jesus modeled friendship for us.

Monday, December 25 | JESUS’ BIRTHDAY!

Happy Adventing,
courtney

Thanksgiving Devotionals

Last year I hung up a Thanksgiving banner and each night of Thanksgiving week, we kept Moses up a little late to read a bible verse and draw pictures of the things we were thankful for to hang on the banner. It was so sweet for our family that I decided to keep up the tradition. Last night I fleshed this idea out a tad more (though trust me, this is still a super rough draft) and although it's not fully formed, I wanted to share in case anyone desired to have more intentional conversation on gratitude this holiday season but may not have the bandwidth or desire to come up with something on their own.

I wrote these with Moses in mind, but feel free to modify according to your family! I think that this year, we will only do one or two devotionals a week instead of water hosing him with verses and conversation seven straight nights in a row. Because my sweet one is going through a season of grumbling and complaining and struggling to find things to be thankful for (....one of those things I think he might get from his momma!) my hope is that we can talk about one at a time and then give it a few days to simmer before we move on.

Also, special props to DJ who will actually be the one to lead this out with Moses! While the Lord usually prompts me with the desire to create and formalize little things like this, DJ is the one who takes the work and implements it and it is such a joy for me to watch him lead our family in this way. I love to see the different ways God has wired us and allows us to combine our efforts to work as a team in shepherding these little souls He has entrusted to us. My three guys... what a gift they are to me.

Again... super informal and not well drafted but I hope it blesses some (one!) of you. Take it and change it as desired. Also, I had major formatting issues when writing this post so if anything is wonky, I blame technology. Especially if the mistake is theological (wink).

Here you go:

One

Read Philippians 2:14. Do all things without grumbling or complaining.

What does it mean to grumble and complain? Take turns acting it out as a family.

What should we do without grumbling or complaining? Just some things? No, all things!

Read Philippians 2:14-15a: Do all things without grumbling and complaining, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God.

Who does this verse say that we look like when we do all things without grumbling and complaining? We look like children of God.

Who are children of God? Those who love and trust Jesus.

Read Philippians 2:14-15 in full: Do all things without grumbling and complaining, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Who do we look like when we grumble and complain? The world- those who do not know, love, or trust Jesus.

What does this verse say we are like when we do all things without grumbling and complaining? Lights in the world.

What do lights do? Help people to see in the darkness.

What can we help people to see when we give thanks instead of grumbling and complaining? We help them to see more of Jesus. We show them what it is like to trust God and have joy even when it doesn't make sense to.

What kind of things does our family grumble and complain about?

What should we do when we feel like grumbling and complaining? We can tell God how we feel and ask Him to give us grateful hearts. We can ask for his forgiveness. We can look for ways to be thankful even when things are not how we want them to be.

What can we be thankful for today?

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Two

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

What does the word circumstance mean? The things that are happening to us or around us.

When does God tell us to give thanks? In just some circumstances? No, in all circumstances. We should give thanks in everything!

Do you think this sounds easy or hard to do?

What can we do when it feels hard to give thanks in all circumstances? We can ask God to help us!

Why does God say we should give thanks in all circumstances? Because this is His will for us.

What does that mean? That this is something that God wants for us to do. 

What are some circumstances that seem hard to give thanks in? How can we give thanks in those circumstances?

Some examples might be....

Being sick. Thank you God for making me a strong and healthy boy. Thank you for legs that walk, eyes that see, ears that hear, a brain that thinks, and a body that can play. Thank you that in heaven we will never experience sickness again. Please heal my body and make me well.

When we lose a toy. Thank you God for giving me toys. Thank you for being such a fun God who created such fun things. Thank you that nothing is hidden from you; thank you that you see me and thank you that you see my toy. Please help me to patiently look for it. 

When a toy breaks. Thank you God that I got to enjoy that toy while I did. Thank you that I still have many other toys to play with. Thank you that even though our toys change and break and do not last, it helps us to remember that you will never change. You are always the same and you will last perfectly forever. 

When we don't get what we want. Thank you God that you know what is best. Thank you that you do what is best when it is best. Help me to be patient and to trust your perfect timing.

When we get sent to our room. Thank you God for parents who love me. Thank you that discipline is for my good and leads to my joy. Thank you for a cozy room and a bed to sleep in and a home to live in.

When we don't get seconds or dessert. Thank you God for providing our food. Thank you that we get three meals a day and snacks in between. Thank you for a full belly and a healthy body. Thank you that you created delicious food. Thank you for all the times I get to enjoy the good tastes that you have made.

What can we be thankful for today?

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Three

Read Psalm 118:24: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

What does this verse say that God has made? This day.

How are we supposed to respond to God today? By rejoicing and being glad.

What do you think it means to rejoice? To feel and express great joy and delight.

Do you think we should just have joy and delight and gladness on the really good days? No, on all days! 

How can we rejoice on days that it is raining out? By thanking God for watering the earth and playing in the rain!

How can we rejoice on days when we have school? By thanking God for minds that think and honoring him with a good attitude and hard work.

How can we be glad on days when we feel disappointed or angry or sad? By giving thanks in all circumstances and finding things to thank God for in the midst of our disappointment, anger, and sadness.

How can we rejoice when it feels like there is nothing to be glad about? We can remember what God has done in the past and thank Him for those things! We can look ahead to what God has promised and thank God that He is faithful to bring about those things. We can ask Him to help us find ways to be thankful today.

What can we be thankful for today?

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Four

As a family, build a kingdom made of blocks.

Read Hebrews 12:18a- Let us be thankful for receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

What is a kingdom? A kingdom is an area that is ruled by a King, Queen, or President. It is run by the person in charge.

What Kingdom do you think this verse is talking about? God's Kingdom!

What is God's Kingdom? All of heaven and earth. God is in charge of everything!

What does this verse say we should be thankful for? That God's Kingdom cannot be shaken.

What happens when something is shaken? It falls apart or breaks or becomes less sturdy.

Shake your block kingdom and talk about what happens as it is moved and shaken and beaten around. Did it stay together or fall apart? Was it strong or weak?

What does this verse mean when it says that God's Kingdom cannot be shaken? That it cannot come undone. It will not fall apart. It is not weak or able to be destroyed. It is strong and sturdy and will last forever.

What can we do on days where we feel shaken, worried, grumpy, scared, or weak? We can remember that we are weak but God is strong! We may be shaken, but He never is. We can thank God that His plans, purposes, and ways will never change or fall apart. We can thank God that His Kingdom lasts forever.

What are some things that we know about God's Kingdom that we can give thanks for? That all of His promises are true. That God uses all things (even the bad ones) for our good. That a day is coming where there will be no more sickness, sadness, tears, or death.

What can we be thankful for today?

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Five

Watch Veggie Tales: Madame Blueberry on Netflix together as a family. Afterwards, talk through the following questions:

Why is Madame Blueberry sad?

What does she wish she had more of?

Was Madame Blueberry thankful for all that she had?

Can more and bigger and better and nicer and cooler and yummier things bring us true and lasting happiness? Why or why not?

What do you wish you had more of? How do you think you would feel if you had more of it? How would you feel when those things began to break or get lost or taken or run out?

Mom and Dad- talk about a time that you wanted more of something. Did it truly satisfy? Why or why not?

Read Matthew 6:19-21 out loud. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What does this verse say can happen to the things that we love here on earth? Bugs can eat them, rust can destroy them, people can come and take them away from us. 

Is it wrong to love things here on earth? Things like toys and chocolate and family? No!

What do you think it looks like to love those things rightly? To thank God for those things and to enjoy them, but to remember that those things will not last forever and cannot bring us full happiness. 

What does this verse say we should love even more than the treasures we have on earth? Treasures in heaven.

What do you think that means? Loving Jesus most of all. Loving and trusting Him more than our stuff. Remembering his promises. Thinking about and looking forward to heaven.

Why does the bible say that these things should be our greatest treasure? Because these things last forever! They will never change or go away or break or be taken from us.

What can we be thankful for today?

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Six

As a family, read 1 Timothy 6:7-8. For we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

What does this verse say that we bring into this world when we are born? Nothing.

What does this verse say that we take with us when we die? Nothing.

This verse mentions two things that we need. What are they? Food and clothing. 

How does this verse say we should respond if we have food and clothing? With contentment. 

What is contentment? To be happy and satisfied and to feel like you have enough or all that you need.  

Do you believe that you can be happy with just those two things?

What can we do when we notice our hearts not being content with what we already have? We can talk to God about the things we are unhappy with. We can always ask him for more, but then we can trust that He knows what is best and gives what is best when He knows it is best. We can wait patiently and learn to be content with what we have. We can learn to be okay even if God says "no" or "not right now". We can express thanks for what we have instead of always looking for more.

What can we be thankful for today?

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Seven

Read Psalm 9:1. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

What does this verse say that we should give to the Lord? Thanks

What do you think it means to give thanks with our whole hearts? To not just say thank you because we are supposed to, but to truly feel thankful and to tell him!

What can we do when we do not feel fully thankful? We can be honest with God and tell him that sometimes it is hard to feel thankful. We can practice saying thank you and ask God to give us hearts that mean it. 

What else does this verse tell us to do? Remember all of God's wonderful deeds.

Why do you think it might be important to remember what God has done? Remembering what God has already done for us can help us to feel grateful for the past and present! When we look back on what God has done, we are reminded of His goodness to us and can trust Him with what is to come.

Play a game of Pictionary and draw pictures of the wonderful things that God has already done for our family. Talk about those things together.

What can we be thankful for today?

xoxo,
courtney

The Good Things In Life

Lately, and especially in light of yet another mass shooting, I am becoming more and more aware of my inability to fully protect my children from harm. Their salvation, safety, and protection are all ultimately things I cannot guarantee or ensure and that is a heartbreaking and scary reality for me. This alone is a weight too heavy to bear, let alone the fact that I am struggling to entrust them to the Lord all the while knowing that somehow, in His perfect wisdom, God sometimes still allows horrific things to happen. I can trust Him with my children, but they could still get cancer, be abused, reject God, or lose their lives. We live in a fallen and broken world where horrific things happen and I just don't want to accept that.

And so, in an attempt to ignore my feelings and not process through such weighty things, I think another post on the good things in life is in order because we could all use a little happy today, am I right? In no particular order, here are some things I am loving lately:

Gifs. Oh my word, I think these have been around a while but they are my new best friend. I try to respond to as many of DJ's texts as possible with them, and even then I usually respond with multiple because there are too many outright hilarious ones to choose just one. Also, I love my children but let's not pretend I haven't sent this one to DJ on multiple occasions when he asks how my day is going:

Atypical. Have you guys seen this show? It is the most endearing thing ever. It follows the story of an 18 year old boy on the autism spectrum as he pursues love and dating and the show gets you all entangled in the personal lives and dynamics of his family as well. If you liked Max Braverman's story line on Parenthood, you will love this show too. DJ and I watched the entire first season all too quickly and I am so sad it's over. Season Two needs to hurry it up.

 

All You Do Is Good. This song by Nathan Partain is the cry of my heart lately. On repeat. All day, every day. 

Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker. Why do I even feel like I have to make a disclaimer here? I know that Jen is a hot topic button in the evangelical world right now. I know the controversies and there are a number of really important issues that I personally do not agree with her on. But a wise friend once told me to eat the fish and spit out the bones, and I'm honestly proud of myself for not doing away with Jen altogether just because we disagree on some things. I would have done that in the past and I think it's possible that you can miss out on a lot when you throw the baby out with the bathwater. When it comes down to it, I still think she is hilarious and a great story teller and she even has some really valuable things to say and challenge me on when it comes to Christian living. And, I read this book on the heels of a real snoozer so I appreciated her ability to make me laugh out loud and keep me engaged all the way through. I still encourage it as a fun, light hearted, LOL kind of read.

 

My husband. I think I adore him too much, ya'll. I often joke that if he ever dies and I get remarried, that next guy is screwed because there is just no way another man could add up in my eyes. DJ is just the best and here are just a few reasons why as of late: He values my girl time and makes sure I get it. We might not be rolling in the dough and yet he didn't think twice about getting me a plane ticket to go see my best friend this week. He knows it's important for me to get away and maintain one of my favorite friendships and he works hard to make it happen even when it would just be easier not to. And, even though I was created to be his helpmate, goodness he is such a helper to me. This man surprised me by taking off work tomorrow to follow me to the airport, get our luggage on the shuttle, get the suit case and car seat checked in and get me and the boys through check in and off to security, not because he thinks I can't do it on my own but because he recognizes that it will be hard and he just wants to come help and serve us. What a man, ya'll. He's not afraid to load us all up in the car and take us to Target IN OUR PJ's because everyone is stressed and losing it at home and we just need to get out of the house stat without bothering to change before we go. He makes sure my kids get things like fast food and ice cream and hot wheels and he sends them hilarious Snap Chat videos and if it wasn't for him, I'm convinced that my kids wouldn't know what fun, junk food, or the internet even are. He does the dishes every night. He is more lenient than me on some things with the kids, and yet he supports me, parents alongside of me, and goes at my pace, always patiently waiting for me to take the next step without hurrying me along. He sacrifices the things he loves to do to be home an extra amount of time while our boys need their daddy and I need his help, and he is all around just the very best one. And he does all of that while being so dang good to look at.  Even when he's in his PJ's at Target.

Desiring God's Here We Stand daily devotionals on the Reformation. I am loving learning about the wise and brave men who paved the way for such an amazing, massive, difficult and beautiful movement and am grateful for the opportunity to understand more of what happened 500 years ago to shape the Church into what it is today. It's a fascinating read and will only take up 5 minutes of your day. Check it out.

There's still of good and beautiful things that God is doing and a lot to be thankful for and to enjoy even in this heartbreaking and messed up world. So let's hear more of it. What are some things that you are loving lately?

much love,

courtney

Why We Chose Classical Conversations

In my last post, I wrote about why we decided to home school this year. And because I know you are all on the edge of your seats and dying to hear more, I wanted to spend this post elaborating on why we chose the particular program that we did. We are just four weeks in and I am already so in love with Classical Conversations. Here are just a few reasons why:

1. On a totally joking yet completely serious note, I think it appeals to my inner self... you know, the part of me that feels more like Laura Ingalls Wilder or Dr. Quinn Medicine Women than my obviously misplaced Millennial self. I truly think I belong on a prairie, wearing bonnets and pioneer dresses, driving covered wagons, and teaching in a one room school house more than I do existing in the here and now. Not that this program is outdated by any means, because it most definitely is not.... but there is something about the model, values, curriculum, parent-led instruction, and small classroom feel that just appeals to the New Worlder in me. I seriously wish I lived in the 1800's. I mean, doesn't this just look so charming and wonderful?!

2. It's Classical. Let's be honest: the term "Classical Education" was super ambiguous to me until just a few months ago. Kind of like how "Spiritual Leadership" feels in Christian circles, where everyone knows it's important, but no one knows what it's supposed to practically look like (amiright?!). That was me and Classical Education until just recently. For the longest time it felt like a cool club that I wanted to be a part of without even knowing what the club was. Since, though, I have learned that in terms of education, the word "classical" in it's broadest sense just means that the method is timeless and proven. It has been effectively used for over 2500 years and is the model that great minds like Aristotle, C.S. Lewis, Plato, Thomas Jefferson, and Helen Keller were schooled by. It's history, repertoire, and alumni alone are super impressive to me. 

3. The Trivium. Classical Conversations also implements another important facet of classical education: the Three Stages of Learning, also known as the Trivium. These three phases are Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric and they appeal to the developmental stages of learning that children naturally go through. For the sake of space, I will only focus on Moses' phase in this blog, but you can learn more about the entire Trivium here. As for us, we are currently in the Grammar phase which is basically just memorization, memorization, memorization. In this phase of development, children learn the vocabulary, rules, and facts associated with any given subject. Kids are not yet understanding how or why this information matters, they are simply memorizing the terminology through repetition, songs, chanting, and rhymes. If you have spent any time with a young child, you know that they are brilliant. Their minds are sponges which is beautiful and fascinating, but also terrifying for me because Moses doesn't forget all of the crazy momma moments I wish that he would. I'm just waiting for the day when he says, "Momma, remember the day you acted like a fool and stomped your foot at me?!" or, "Momma, remember that time you were so frustrated that you screamed bloody murder at the top of your lungs like a crazy mad woman?" Yes, these things happened because I am awesome at momming. And yes, they are things that I desperately want to pretend never happened all the while knowing that they are seared in his brain forever. Lucky me. On a more positive note, he has easily and quickly memorized 4 weeks of New Grammar like it was his job so this program knows what's up. He can tell you what happened in American History from 1492-1776, has memorized his multiplication tables up to 8's, and can define what an infinitive, present participle, and past participle are. He may not have any context for those things, but that thought hasn't even occurred to him; his development stage of learning is primed for memorization and he is perfectly content to just soak up the terminology for now. One day he will need to apply this material, and when that day comes he will already have the terms and facts memorized and will easily be able to plow ahead into understanding and application. Also, it is fascinating how much he is seeing his curriculum play out in real life. If we are reading a book and it randomly mentions Delaware, he proudly exclaims that the capital of Delaware is Dover, something he has learned in Geography (who knew?!). This morning he hit Jones on the head and when I gave him a look of warning, he happily told me that he had hit his brother's cranium. I mean, it's just hard to get mad when he is adequately identifying the axial skeleton. The other day we were reading a book on church history and without it even being mentioned, Moses was able to pull from context that Anne Bradstreet was a Pilgrim who came over for the same reasons as those on board the Mayflower. A quick google search confirmed that he was right, and I was amazed. His face lights up with glee at any mention of Christopher Columbus, the Mayflower, George Washington, or Thomas Jefferson, which who even realized these things were talked about in real life anymore but he sees and hears things that remind him of school all the the time and can't wait to tell you what he has learned about those people and subjects... it is so fun to watch him connect the dots and to enjoy learning.

4. It's cyclical. Classical Conversations has three cycles in their grammar stage and they fascinate me. If we stick with CC, Moses will go through each cycle 3 times before he graduates to the dialectic stage. Not only does the repetition appeal to his developmental stage of learning, but it will also help ensure that the information sticks. Here's a brief look at each cycle. I get giddy just looking at it.

5. I am redeeming my own education. As a student, I made good grades but I wouldn't say that I was well educated. I was taught to memorize something long enough to pass a test and as soon as I did, the information was forgotten. It was never truly memorized, repeated, or brought up again. I see this play out in my daily life even now, in that as soon as I complete a job it is out of my mind and I forget about it altogether. Even worse, I see how this has made it difficult to study, learn, and memorize scripture because I don't know how to truly study, meditate on, or memorize anything. So forget Moses, I have learned SO MUCH these past four weeks and I am loving it. Classical Conversations doesn't teach you what to think, it teaches you how to think and there is a big difference. As for me, I feel like I am understanding the world with great clarity for the first time, particularly when it comes to history. I am learning about how our nation was formed and from Christopher Columbus to the Pilgrims to the Boston Tea Party and the Declaration of Independence, I see how these events are all connected and a part of what made our nation form. We are learning about the world's timeline from creation to current day and I am fascinated to see how biblical & world history intertwine. I also love how Classical Conversations doesn't shy away from secular ideas and information. We have been introduced to different philosophers and world religions and get to have small conversations about what other people believe all the while pointing back to the one true God. (Side note: Moses may or may not refer to Confucius as Confu-shits, and I am pretty sure I will never correct him.) I love to write and for the first time I feel like I am getting a grasp of true grammar rules and how to properly structure sentences (no judging my post, please. I'm still learning and only on a four year old level). The other day I was really sick and felt like I was able to identify and pinpoint exactly what system in my body was not functioning properly, all thanks to CC teaching me all about tissue, muscle, the axial skeletal system, the nervous system and more. It is amazing. I feel like I am enjoying education for the first time ever.

6. It's an international program. I love that CC is literally everywhere, but my favorite part is that my best friend is doing it in D.C. and no matter where you are in the world, the information being taught is the same. My friend and I talk all throughout the week about the lessons and share ideas and activities with one another and it is just one more way that our lives are intersecting even from states away. In a few weeks me and the boys are going to visit her family and because we are doing the same program, our Fall Breaks align and we get to vacay together without anyone's kids missing school. Our kids will have been learning the same things and will be able to relate to one another on that level, which will be fun to see. And, if we ever were to move, we could pick up and find a local CC group near us without missing or skipping a beat because the information taught is universal no matter where you are geographically located. Score.

7. It's Christian. Everything about this curriculum points to God. It seeks to find truth, goodness, and beauty in all that is taught and it points to God as the Creator of all that can be studied, discovered, and known. For a momma who tries to live out Deuteronomy 6:6-9, this curriculum only better helps me to do that and that is a huge win.

8. It's done in community. I'm a little too black and white to be thrown to the wolves and trust myself to home school ALL BY MYSELF WITHOUT ANY HELP. That sounds terrible and like a recipe for failure. I need something to follow, and people to do it with. Mondays are our Community Day where Moses sits in a classroom with a tutor and 8 other students. He is getting the traditional, modern classroom experience while I learn from the tutor and become better equipped on how to continue teaching the material the rest of the week at home. This program allows for mommas to not only share ideas and activities with one another, but to get together and tag team on schoolwork throughout the week. Bonus. Plus, almost all of the curriculum is provided for me and all I am having to supplement this year is Reading, Writing, and Math. I feel like that is totally doable for an amateur momma like me.

And though the curriculum may seem rigorous, don't think we aren't having fun over here. School takes us two hours at the very most and includes a lot of fun & games. Moses is learning his states and capitals by placing chocolate chips on a map, and for every correct answer he and Jones get rewarded with chocolate. What's not to love?! We learn about fine arts by drawing 17th century merchant ships, painting abstract art, step-by-step drawing, and blob mapping. Today we made a spinal cord out of candy and there is a lot of running, jumping, throwing, and hop scotch involved as he learns his numbers, vowels and syllables. And we read a lot! There are a ton of fun children's books on all the history, science, and art lessons we have done. But let's be honest, I think I'm having more fun than he is. 

Here are a few pictures of school so far this year. Jones participates with us too but because he is usually in his undies, I'll save him the shame.

 Abstract Art

Spinal Cord Candy Craft

Drawing the Mayflower

 

Today's Nervous System activity. Confession: I may have yelled at my kids in the making of this project. I mean, they were traipsing over and ripping the paper BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED. My controlling nature just cannot deal. We had to stop to pray, confess, and repent of momma's sinful heart before the fun even began. Nothing but real life over here. This activity was actually really fun and helped Moses to learn how the nervous system works. And, because we like to keep things saucy over here, we added undies to our guy. Modesty first, ya'll.

Science Copywork on three kinds of muscle

Moses' first free hand drawing of the United States

 

Using bean bags to count syllables

 

Some of our favorite books so far this year are below. Click the pictures to be taken to the Amazon link.

 

 

Not that you can tell by the length of this, but I really am trying to weed out my words and shorten my posts so that people can actually hang in there and get through them without falling asleep. So even though I could go on and on and on about why I am loving CC, I think I will stop there. If you ever want to know more, please ask me and I will gladly talk your ear off about it.

Love,

Courtney