You ever just have one of those months that just gets away from you? I started this newsletter in late July and am just now getting around to finishing it up in mid September. A lot of life has happened since July but I am just going to try to keep this to a simple summer newsletter. When I first started writing, I was in the throws of prepping for the new school year and we were staying inside due to 105 degree temps outside. Now, we are a month into school and spending our days loving 75/80 degree temps and watching the season begin to change.
Maybe this little newsletter will remind you to reflect back a little bit on the season you are coming out of. It is so easy to want to jump into warm cozy clothes and all of the fun, fall festivities. But something about looking back and remembering what God was teaching me 1-2 months ago has helped me pause and thank him for all He is doing in and through me. I’m not so eager to sprint into the next season but am instead hoping to use this day, this moment to enjoy Him and this current season He has me in. In this season between the seasons, I encourage you to take a look back and reflect on what God is doing in you. Let it change the way you glorify him in this next season. Write down the prayers He answered, the hardships you went through, some of your favorite memories, what you learned through studying His word. I hope it encouraged you in whatever season you are in and are heading into.
Highlights
Monthly Reads
We truly loved this book. We were enamored by his story. We have always heard of Jim Elliot and the story of the men getting speared when they landed in an unreached people group. What I didn’t realize was all that had happened before that point! Nate Saint had an incredible mind- he was so innovative. I loved seeing the way that he grew up building models of airplanes. It opened up a whole world to me of ways that we can glorify God through trades. We had multiple moments where my math/engineer loving boy realized that he could use those skills to glorify God. Without Nate Saint, many people would not have been able to hear the gospel. He provided access to supplies, healthcare, and community for so many missionaries. We ended this story and watched End of the Spear. This will be a story that will always be etched in our memories.
This series just gets better and better. I am so glad that I am reading it while my kids are young because I would love to read it with them again when they are older and slow down and really pull out some of the allegories and symbolism that is written throughout the book. One of my biggest takeaways from this book was that Aslan gave the children four rules for their journey. He told them to memorize them and do not stray from them. They were supposed to recite them day and night. And when they stopped remembering his words, it always led them to trouble. Was such a reminder that even if I think I know the Word and the Gospel, I am called to “meditate on it day and night” (Psalm 1:2, Joshua 1:8). I need constant reminders of what is true because I am prone to wander.
I listened to this book on audiobook. I had felt like I had fallen into some bad habits in my parenting and this book is so great at getting to my heart and the ways that I can help address my children’s hearts in the midst of hard parenting moments. She gives many practical examples and sometimes they sting a little bit as I hear her mentioning examples of things I often say as “what not to do”. Ultimately, I appreciated her humble and gentle tone throughout the book where she is clearly showing that no one is a perfect parent, but here are some practical ways we can be more faithful as parents. Definitely will plan to reread/listen probably once a year.
I love using the Canon + app by Canon Press to listen to helpful audiobooks when I am cleaning the house. They are always very encouraging and sharpening for me. This book about virtues was a very easy listen and challenged me to build convictions about virtues that I maybe have been ignoring or putting to the side. It also opened up a world of conversations with my kids about virtues and how we should/should not act in certain situations and the root of that behavior.
Motherhood/Homeschooling
I wanted to give you guys a little glance at what I have prepped for this coming year. Before I started to homeschool, this is the part that scared me the most. I was nervous to lesson plan and not do it excellently enough. I’ve learned to keep it simple and let my curriculum serve me. I find it easier to focus on Math and Language in these early years and expand onto Science/History/Art/etc as time and energy allows. Plus, our weekly Classical Conversations class really serves to meet needs for those other subjects.
Adi is in 3rd grade per the school schedule. This is what she will be working on this year:
Language: Level 4 The Good an Beautiful (TGAB), CC English Facts
Math: She started Level 3 TGAB curriculum in January so she will be finishing the last half of it this semester. She also does Xtra Math once or twice a week and will be memorizing Math facts and conversions during Classical Conversation.
History: She has a weekly History sentence through CC that we will expand on each week in a variety of ways. We will check out books from the library. Read “Who was” books. And for some of the weeks, I printed out lessons/worksheets from TGAB history curriculum. Next year I’m hoping to save up for this Story of the World series to read aloud once a week.
Science: Each week, we will do a 30 min science lesson at CC, as well as learn different parts of the body and periodic table. We will spend most of the week reviewing the science memory work and exploring outside together. If I’m feeling extra fun, I may throw in an experiment at home or let them play with baking soda and vinegar :)
Handwriting/Scripture Memory: I found this amazing Light the Way Interactive Scripture Memory Set that I am using for Adi’s handwriting this year. She will write a verse in print, cursive, and unscramble it every week. Using the curriculum, I am able to do Scripture Memory and Handwriting at the same time!
Geography: We will be learning US Geography this year in CC so Adi will be working on that during her daily memory work practice. She also has Geography sprinkled into her Language curriculum occasionally.
Art: The kids will have art once a week at a local homeschool art class. They will also have art weekly at CC.
Music: They will have piano lessons weekly and we will study a Hymn from Daily Grace Hymn Study once a week.
Health & Wellness
One of my favorite things to have on hand during the summer months is called a Black Drawing Salve. I am not lying, I probably recommended it to over 20 people in the month of June. One girl on project showed up with a severe spider bite that was not responding to antibiotics and five days after using a drawing salve, it was almost completely better. Another gal had a small boil show up on her cheek and we used a drawing salve to draw out the infection. I also used it on some Molloscum spots that were trying to go away on my youngest’s back and they resolved in 2 days. A friend saw improvement with her planters wart while she used it. Pretty much any type of infection that you are wanting to draw out, you want to use a drawing salve. Bug bites, stings, rashes, poison ivy, acne, splinters, and so much more.. Personally, I use Earthley’s drawing salve stick and if we are out of town and do not have our Earthley drawing salve, then I run to the nearest pharmacy and grab Prid. Both work great!
Ministry
My process for planning for a fall semester of ministry is pretty simple. I like to use something called the Wheel Diagram to think through my weeks.
I want to make sure I am faithful in all 4 spokes of this wheel. So as I am making commitments for the coming year, I make sure I have balanced my commitments based off of them.
Fellowship: I will be leading a discipleship group this year once a week. I will be in a small group at my church once a week to be under someone else’s leadership. Classical Conversations is a great way to have fellowship with other homeschool mothers. Our mom ministry, Mom2Mom will provide great opportunities for fellowship. We will plan play dates at least twice a month for other fellowship opportunities and host many people in our home for dinner!
Evangelism: I will utilize play dates, extracurricular activities, and mornings at the library to meet new moms that I could share my faith with. I also am usually able to meet some moms at Mom 2 Mom who are interested in learning more about the Lord. Finally, part of the reason why I work twice a week is to be in the community and be able to share my faith with my coworkers and patients!
Word: Every semester, I pick a plan and get some accountability by doing it alongside other women. This semester, I will be going through Hebrews for You with Michael Krueger and memorizing John 1 with my kids.
Prayer: If I don’t plan to pray, I fail to pray. This year, I am purchasing a planner that I will write short prayers in daily. This is an efficient way for me to pray simple prayers that I can look back on it the future. I also plan to incorporate prayer with our daily homeschool rhythms. Finally, I am going to schedule two afternoons this semester where I will hire a sitter or have Joey stay with the kids so that I can get some extended time in prayer.
Travel
We got the opportunity to go to Branson this year with Joey’s parents and brother for family vacation. We has so much fun and made many wonderful memories. I figured I would share some of our favorite parts in case any of you are interested in making a trip to Branson!
Favorite Things
Raney Day Journals- We know the designer of these sweet journals that are the perfect addition to a gift basket. Two of my favorites are “My Book Journal” and “Favorite Quotes” Journals.
Reusable Chicken Nesting Pads- These have been a great addition to our chicken coop. They cut down on bedding/hay and also are very easy to spray down and clean. My chickens didn’t miss a beat and have continued laying on them just like the other pads I used to buy that were eating up my chicken budget!
Favorite Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Recipe- If anyone knows me, you know that one of my weaknesses is cinnamon rolls. Especially homemade cinnamon rolls!! When I first started exploring sourdough over 5 years ago, I was determined to find a recipe for sourdough cinnamon rolls that tasted better than any rolls I’ve had before. And it quite literally took me 5 years to find the right recipe. They were often dense and so much work. But now, I have been making these for over a year and they have turned out delicious every time!
Molly’s Suds Detergent- We recently switched to this detergent and have pleasantly surprised! It is cleaner than most products and not as expensive as a lot of the clean detergents on the market. We personally love the citrus scent and use the Sports Enhancer for the sweating/stinky clothes.
Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes- these are my go to flakes to add into a warm bath to add in some beneficial magnesium!
We’ve been loving this foam USA map for review of the States and Capitals at our weekly CC group.
It’s fall time and that means that I will be getting many texts of friends and family working through illness! My favorite Elderberry Syrup Recipe is one of my favorite suggestions for families who are trying to build up their immune systems during the cold/flu season. This is cheap and easy to make at home! Don’t fall for the expensive $20 kits sold online- you can get most of the ingredients locally and buy elderberries in bulk for half the price!
Some events to look forward to and put on your calendar if you are local:
Women’s Night at Kingdom Health & Wellness- October 6th from 4:30-7:30
Fall Family Festival at Cape Bible Chapel- October 20th- 5-8pm
Momma’s Remedy Seminar- November 18th 2pm Location TBD