Tag: Family
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5 Ways to Read (and Enjoy) More Books

Rains and winds and falling leaves. Darker evenings and cozy teas. Autumn days are the best for reading. Taking the time to read a book is the epitome of slow living. It’s true there is not enough time in one life to read all the books that seem interesting. If I focus on that, I…
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It Takes a Village to Raise a Teacher

After almost nine years away from teaching I went back to teach music at the same school I went to all those years ago. It was a strange sense of Deja vu walking the same halls I went to all 8 years of my formal education. I taught the upper grade classroom for 3 years…
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Peace Like A River

Leif Enger, 2002, literary fiction What do Christians do when a member of their family commits a crime? Reuben’s conclusion, near the end of this story, is that fair is whatever God does. This is a tale of murder and miracles, of family love and community justice, of seeking God’s will and accepting God’s judgement.…
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What’s Saving Your Summer?

Ah summer… It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Long days of sun and water. Sleeping until mid-morning. Reading whole books in one day. Weeding gardens in the hottest part of the day. Playing with kittens in the dappled shade. Hamburger fries and watermelon. Hot dogs and s’mores. Friends and family. But, what if…
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Keep Your Love On

Danny Silk, 2013 Connection, Communication and Boundaries Keep Your Love On explains how you can manage yourself and so build connection with other people. This book was recommended to me from a teacher at Raising Hope Ranch. This book is different from most relationship books I have read. It has a Christian perspective, but doesn’t…
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We Need You, Teachers
We need you, teachers. Who else is going to teach our children the three Rs with such enthusiasm? Certainly not the moms! We tried that during c***d, and no one wants to go back. Plus, you all do such a great work! It’s summertime and you may not feel like being bothered with saying yes…
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The Ideal Life

Remember those pictures of pastoral beauty with farms dotting the countryside in every Ideals? Small (by today’s standards) silos proudly watch over the farmstead. Trees mark yards and creeks. Roads with miniscule tractors and pickups forever driving on them… All the crops are growing… Rivers wind through the countryside…. Farmyards are mowed and trimmed… The…
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50 Books with Mature Protagonists

Children typically like to read books with protagonists a couple years older than they are. This hopefully teaches them something about what life will be like as they grow older. I have been a typical reader most of my life, until one day I noticed that the heroines had gotten stuck somewhere under forty, while…
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A couple book reviews (and what to do on trips)

When Mischief Came to Town Katrina Nannestad, 2015 Children’s fiction The year is 1911. Orphaned 10 year old Inge Marie is sent to live with her grandmother on a remote island in the village of Bornholm, Denmark. Her enthusiasm and sweet outlook ends up changing the climate of the town. She bring joy and laughter…
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Come Go Along to Bible School

Last Sunday evening I attended a Vacation Bible School Rally. About ten people were asked to bring memories, songs or Bible verses from their Bible School days. We sang out of VBS songbooks, including a round song. There was time for volunteers to bring memories or thoughts. Some encouraged the ones who would be attending…
