Tuesday, March 31, 2026

What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Aloud ll March 2026

What I Read:

 

Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

One of my favorite books in college was P.G. Wodehouse's Money for Nothing.  I remember loving his whitty storytelling.  So whnn someone suggested his Jeeves series, I thought it might be time to return to some lighthearted silliness.  Carry On, Jeeves contains 10 short stories about a butler named Jeeves, his employer, Bertie, and the hilarious situations they find themselves in.  All of these scraps are absolutely ridiculous as well as the solutions that Jeeves invents.  They are utterly impossible and yet completely hilarious.  Antics abound as these two navigate the sticky world of upper class relationships.  I'm not usually one for short stories, but these were a nice break from heavier subjects


Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery

The 7th book in the Anne of Green Gables chronicles, Rainbow Valley continues the story of Anne's children as they grow up.  Also introduced in this book are the Meredith children,   The Merediths play a heavy part in this book as well as their father, the new Presbyterian minister John Meredith.  Rainbow Valley takes the series right up to the cusp of World War I, which takes a prominent role in the final book.  I did enjoy this book, although it's strange to think of books six through eight as part of the same series when they focus so heavily on the children.  But it is fun to read about new characters and their interactions.  Rainbow Valley reintroduces some of that spark of Anne's youth.

A Forest Walk by Felix Salten


Christian Heroes: Richard Wurmbrand
by Janet & Geoff Benge

Still working our way through these Christian Heroes books.  We used to talk about Wurmband when we were in the Vineyard.  I knew that he had quite a testimony, but his story is amazing.  To have gone through the torture and uncertainty, it turns my stomach.  And to know that he still loved the Lord and loved others in the end, is a phenomenal testimony.  This is definitely one to read.


Raising Gender Confident Kids
by Kathy Koch & Jeff Myers

This book is packed with grounded, Biblically-sound ideas for raising kids confident in who God made them.  Written with truth and compassion, parents are equipped to stand in confidence in their identity.  This book is very short, but fill of information.  While it reads quickly, this is a book that needs to be read and reread... over and over.  There is so much information here.  This is a book that needs to be in the hands of every parent or childcare worker.


Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

Couldn't even finish it.  Almost threw it across the room at multiple times.  Decided it wasn't worth my test or frustration... or even my time to write this review.  :-)  Definitely a pass for me.

Our Homeschool Read Aloud:


Shooting Kabul by N.H. Sense

The story of a family torn apart by war, Shooting Kabul follows a middle school boy as he and his family flee Afghanistan.  In the midst of the chaos, he looses his little sister's hand.  The truck lurches, stalls, and accelerates as the Taliban arrives, and the sister is left behind.  When the family arrives in America, they work with the governments to find her, but Sept 11th occurs and the whole world is turned upside down.
Powerful, insightful, beautiful.... this gave us a way of understanding and empathizing with a culture very different from our own.

Seesaw Girl

SeeSaw Girl by Linda Sue Park

Growing up in 17th century Korea, Jade Blossom lives her whole life in the Inner Court of her family's home.  When her cousin marries and leaves the home, Jade determines to escape and visit her.  But when she's caught in the act, she quickly learns that her choices have consequences.  Resigned to a life of solitude, Jade longs for a glimpse of the surrounding mountains.  Will she find a way to please both her family and satisfy her need for freedom?  This was a quick read for us, but gave my son a peek into this time period and part of the world.  It led to a lot of conversation about roles and expectations.  Well-worth a couple of days reading.

What are you reading?

Monday, March 30, 2026

Christ Centered Easter Books

  *This post was originally published on 3/6/17.  Enjoy!

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  Spring is just around the corner, the days are lightening up, and we're all getting just a bit giddy.  It's the promise of new life and sunshine just around the corner, grass is turning just a bit greener and the trees are showing off new green shoots.

Easter is all about new life, ... redemption, ... second chances, ... hope!

So I love to fill our home library with children's books that reflect that feeling of new beginnings and fresh starts.  Additionally, I look for books that announce the HOPE of the season.

These are just a few of our favorites:


The Easter Story by Patricia A. Pingry


The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story by Jan & Mike Berenstain


God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergen


The First Easter by Carol Heyer


Easter in the Garden by Pamela Kennedy


The Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs


What do you read during the Easter season?

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Ways to Keep Your Easter Christ-Centered

It can often seem like keeping Easter Christ-Centered is a challenge.  Remembering the message behind the day isn't as easy as it is at Christmas.  But the truth of this date is surely a reason for all Christians to celebrate!  While I always enjoy hunting Easter eggs with the kids and munching on a spring peep. I try to focus and draw our attention back to the wonderful event that we celebrate.

Over the years, we've tried a few different things.  Some ideas we repeat year after year, others have come and gone with different seasons.  But they've all been fun ways of remembering the joy of the holiday.  I hope they inspire you into new ways of celebrating Easter!

*Keep Your Weekend Anchored by Sunday Church
--help them anticipate Easter service(talk about your why)
--talk about the resurrection
--incorporate a count down focusing on the resurrection (read the scriptures that start on Palm Sunday and end on Easter)

*Tell the Easter story
--ressurrection eggs (countdown or all at once)
--learn the origins of Hot Cross Buns
--eat pretzels

*Make Christ-focused Easter baskets
--give gifts that draw them into relationship with the Lord
     --Bibles, devotionals, and prayer journals
--give gifts that focus on the meaning of Easter

*Decorate with resurrection decor
--create a stained glass window
--hang an Easter banner
--decorate with Easter lilies

*Teach Your Children about Communion
--ask for forgiveness from those you've wronged
--offer forgiveness to those who've wronged you

*Serve as a Family
--Consider ways you can bless others with your time or talents
--Wash your children's feet in imitation of Christ
--Collect items for charity

*Looking for More Ideas:
--Bake a loaf of Paska bread
--Study Passion of the Christ artwork
--Attend a sunrise service
--Plant an Easter garden
--Re-enact Palm Sunday with construction paper palms
--Write Easter messages in the driveway with chalk
--Color white carnations and discuss how Jesus took on our sins
--Paint a fingerprint cross 
--Complete a lent word search
--Dip Chocolate covered pretzel crosses

What are some of your favorite Christ-Centered Easter traditions?

Monday, March 23, 2026

Spring Reading List ll 2026

 Nonfiction:


Help!  My Kid Hates Writing by Julie Bogart


Christian Heroes: Richard Wurmbrand
by Janet and Geoff Being


Christian Heroes: Wilfred Grenfel
by Janet and Geoff Benge


The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart

Fiction:


A Forest World by Felix Salten


Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery


Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


The Secret, Book, and Scone Society by Ellery Adams

Read Alouds:


Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald


Ice Drift by Theodore Taylor


SeeSaw Girl by Linda Sue Park


The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert DeJong



Which One Would You Read First?

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Resources for Spring Learning

Spring has officially arrived here in Northern California.  In fact, it's seemed to come on with a vengence.  A case of coming in like a lion!  It's about this time of year that I turn into an unschooler and want to spend all day outside... gardening... watching birds... hiking in the woods.

If you ask me, there's nothing better than hands-on nature learning in the spring.  In fact, my head is full of plans for planting sunflowers and hatching butterflies.  Even though my kids are older, there are still a few projects we enjoy repeating year after year.  And there's really nothing like a hone grown tomato.

With that in mind, I've been collecting spring resources... remember the younger years of our homeschool and how in the spring we turned to the outdoors.  I hope you'll find these to be a blessing.













Looking for More Ideas:

*Watch for signs of spring like new buds appearing on the trees
*Sketch a spring bulb as it blooms
*Watch for the first birds to arrive in the spring
*Hatch caterpillars
*Fly a kite and notice where the wind takes it
*Catch tadpoles and watch them grow
*Learn more about organizations like BudBurst
*Learn to identify the different wildflowers in your area
*Search for your state flower and learn more about it
*Start seedlings in seed trays and transfer to your garden
*Watch earthworms and take about how they aerate the soil

What are your favorite ways to include Spring in your homeschool?

Monday, March 16, 2026

Easter Resurrection Eggs

 *This post was originally published on 3/11/13.  Enjoy!

photo IMG_9749_zpsbc8e22b8.jpg

I've been thinking a lot about how to make Easter meaningful to my children this year.  They're getting older and I want to make sure the deeper Easter meaning doesn't get lost in the rush for chocolate.  But  making things meaningful times and forethought.  So here I am planning.

We've been making lots of cross and flower crafts.  And I'm planning the menu to include Resurrection Rolls as part of our Easter breakfast.  While we're at it, it's time to pull out the Easter eggs and make our Resurrection Eggs.  Resurrection Eggs are a twelve day countdown to Easter using symbols and verses that recap the significance of the holiday.  It's a great activity for hands-on learning as the kids can touch, taste, and smell each symbol hiding in the Easter eggs.

With that in mind, these are the symbols and verses included in our Resurrection Eggs:

Day One:
Symbol: Leaves
Verse: So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out "Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" (John 12:12-13)

Day Two:
Symbol: Sample of perfume
Verse: For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. (Matt. 26:12)

Day Three
Symbol: Cracker
Verse: As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it.  Then he broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying "Take it, for this is my body."  (Mark 14:22)

Day Four
Symbol: Small flowers
Verse: Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (Matt 26:36)

Day Five
Symbol: 3 dimes
Verse: Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. (Matt 27:3)

Day Six
Symbol: Gold pipe cleaner crown
Verse: So Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  Jesus replied, "You have said it." (Luke 23:3)

Day Seven
Symbol: 3 nails
Verse: Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. (Mark 15:24)

Day Eight
Symbol: Dice
Verse: They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing. (Psalm 22:18)

Day Nine
Symbol: Sponge soaked in vinegar
Verse: Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, "I am thirsty."  A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.  When Jesus had tasted it, He said, "It is finished.  Then he bowed His head and released His spirit.  (John 19:28-30)

Day Ten
Symbol: Linen cloth
Verse: When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.  He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.  And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud (cloth) and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.  And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.  (Matthew 27:57-60)

Day Eleven
Symbol: Rock
Verse: (And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men (Matthew 28:2-4)

Day Twelve
Symbol: Empty
Verse: (But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.  come, see the place where He lay." (Matthew 28:5-6)


What family traditions do you have at Easter?
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