Back To School Books

It’s that time of year. School is gearing to start up and another year of learning is about to begin. When I used to teach elementary school Adam always knew that come August anything not related to school would be put on hold until Labor Day weekend. The house was a disaster, meals were hardly cooked, laundry was never folded. I was focused 100% on my new group of upcoming students and nothing else.

One of the best parts of the first day was sitting that new group of kids on the rug and reading them a story for the first time. Something about reading to my kids - it just held a since of comfort for me. A chance to connect with the kids through a simple story. I started almost every school year with the story Splat the Cat. It isn’t a book with some profound message to set the class off on the right foot for the school year. It is just a funny, simple book that my students enjoyed. I would finish the day reading Rhyming Dust Bunnies (using some serious voice effects) and that always had the kids laughing. Rhyming Dust Bunnies has absolutely nothing to do with the first day of school - but it was always a hit.

I share all of this because I know school is going to look different for everyone this year. Some might be going to school, others learning online, some doing homeschool. The first day of school might come from a computer screen or equipped with a mask. It breaks my heart how the comfort of going to school has to be so different this year. So I thought I would compile a list of Back to School books for you to read with your child at home when it’s time for school to start back.

A lot about this upcoming school year is hard. It is all new and you don’t need me to tell you that it’s never been done before. But can I let you in on a little secret. Every school year is hard. No matter what the circumstances. The trick is allowing the good to outweigh the parts that don’t make sense. Finding those small moments in each day and allowing them to speak louder than the parts that make you want to hide under your desk until Christmas break.

Here is to a new school year. One like never before. One that I pray brings a new way of teaching, learning, and giving grace.

All The Things

Wrapping up another week and heading into a holiday weekend. Here are a couple of things I am loving from this past week.

Number One - Putting on an outfit other than my normal momiform and walking across the backyard to celebrate our sweet neighbor’s birthday and sing karaoke.

Number Two - Watching Jane Taylor obsess over this Frozen book. I love watching her just study each page and ask all the questions. She recently got to watch Frozen for the first time and is hooked! I mean we all are. I love finding a Little Golden Book for any movie or show that she enjoys. She was the same with the Cinderella book after watching Cinderella for the first time.

Number Three- This recipe from The Defined Dish. I’ve been trying to cook from her website at least once or twice a week. I love the healthy spin on some favorites and getting the opportunity to try new ingredients.

Number Four - Getting my own lunchbox! Jane Taylor has used this lunchbox for the past year and it has been awesome. Most days I go ahead and pack it in the morning just in case we decide to venture off for a picnic or go to the pool. Some days she eats right out of it at the kitchen counter. Tired of packing my own lunch in random containers, I finally broke down and got one for myself too and I love it.

Number Five - This devotional. I’ve been using this book daily since the start of 2020. But this week there were several devotions about how God is in control. Devotions I always need to hear but was really searching for this week. I shared the verse from Psalm 135:7 yesterday on stories “He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lighting for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses.” For some reason whenever I am reminded that God is in control of the weather, I feel more at peace about how He is in control of my life. This week that need to be in control myself felt a little heavier than normal so the reminder that HE is was much needed.

Hope y’all have a safe & socially distanced holiday weekend. Happy 4th!

Are you listening?

Photo by GiventoLove on etsy.com

News flash! I am busy. So are you. So is your boss. Your dog even has a busy schedule. We live in a busy, crazy, non-stop world. A world that encourages us to do more, be more, earn more. I realize this is brand new information for most of you.

So, when I get a day where I have nothing on the schedule and could technically just relax…guess what happens… I fill it up with things to do and people to see. Even on a day of leisure, I still watch the clock, plan out each hour, and try to be home at a “decent” time. 

But, as we are often told, plans don’t always go as expected, and this particular day was no exception. I ran into Whole Foods to grab dinner around 4:00. I remembered thinking, “Ok, I will be home by 4:30 with plenty of time to check off a few items on the to-do list.” While wandering around the hot bar, trying to avoid the oh-so tempting mac & cheese, and searching for something Adam might want for dinner, I bumped into a dear friend that I hadn’t seen in months.

With the way we started to talk and the topics we began to cover, you would have thought we had never missed a beat – all while standing smack dab in the middle of the hot bar.  I mean, we were literally talking about universal health care and how the government is dropping the ball while holding our paleo, organic, overpriced (yet worth every penny) dishes.

I was so excited to see this friend, but I knew that once we started chatting, there was no way I would be home at 4:30 like originally planned.

Instead of letting the hands on the clock get to me like they normally would, I decided to just let it be. Everything that I needed to get done at home could wait until tomorrow.  Being in the moment was where I needed to be. So I sat down with my friend and just listened.

Sometimes all we need is to just be still and listen. We need to fend off the distractions of the world and be present. I think that’s the lesson God was trying to teach me that day. Not just with this particular friend, but with a lot of encounters I had that day. I had the time, so I needed to make that time count. Life doesn’t always have to be about staying on schedule. Life can be sporadic, yet still be intact.

It’s easy to miss the important moments. Some of the moments are with friends. Some of the moments are with family.  Some of the moments are with God.  It’s usually not on purpose, but staying focused on doing things our own way can cause us to miss what He is trying to say.

What would your life be like if you took just 5 minutes each day to listen to God? To have some time with just you and him? I have been asked this question before, and I will admit (although its absolutely horrible) that my first response (in my brain of course) was “I don’t have 5 minutes to spare”. Terrible. I know. But it’s the truth. 

So, now, I am challenging you… and myself… to take 5 minutes each day to listen to what God is trying to teach you or where he might be leading you. I try to complete at least one devotion a day in order to focus on His love for me. I have linked some of my favorite daily devotions below. 

No matter how you listen to Him, know that He is talking to you. He wants to be there to guide your path and answer your questions. He is love. 

Go-to Devotions

First 5 - an app that will wake you up (literally, it has an alarm) with a different devotion each day

Jesus Calling - A classic. I have both the app and the book. 

Savor - I can't say enough good things about this devotion. I love the way she challenges you and comforts you all at the same time. It also comes with recipes!