10 Books For Mom to Read This Summer {What We're Reading Wednesday}

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Yesterday was our last official day of school.  It's summer time at our house!  Of course, today is a chilly 63 degrees outside.  Little Man and I decided that it's perfect weather for sweats and curling up with a book under a blanket.  Nothing says "first day of summer vacation" like sweats and blankets, right???  I know that I usually post a list of picture books for What We're Reading Wednesday, but today I want to share a list of books that Mommy can't wait to read this summer!

The Paris Wife

I saw this one at Target and was intrigued.  Love reading about famous authors!

Women Living Well

I love everything about her blog!  I've been a part of Good Morning Girls for quite some time and it's still my favorite way to study the Bible!  I'm looking forward to reading a full book!

Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity

I'm at a point that I want to be wrecked by Jesus.  I'm seeing Him slowly pull me out of my comfort zone and take me into uncharted territory!

Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions

Couldn't we all use a lesson in making wise choices?  We've been dealing with some tough situations lately and I know I haven't handled them as well as I should have.

Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job

Good Morning Girls went through Job several months ago.  It was a hard one for me.  My father recommended this book to me, and I can't wait to take that study even deeper!

A Wife's 40-Day Fasting & Prayer Journal

This book was written by a fellow blogger!  I've never done a fast and I'm so excited to see how God works through this experience!

Mum's the Word

This book has been on my shelf for years.  Not my Goodreads shelf or the library shelf, but my actual bookshelf... next to my bed.  It's a fluffy, cozy mystery, but it's a series I've wanted to read for a long time.  I think it's time to dust it off and try it!

I Am Malala

Yet another one that has been on my shelf... I actually started this one, but I was in a reading rut and never made it very far.  This might actually be one of the first ones I read this summer.

A Stolen Life

I've been in a memoir mood lately.

The Other Boleyn Girl

My friend LJ recommended this one.  I've also been drawn to historical fiction lately and this one was at the top of her list.  I'm thinking we might need a movie night when I finish!

What are you reading this summer?

10 Favorite Picture Books About Weather {What We're Reading Wednesday}

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Hello, hello!  It is a stormy day here in Texas, and it has me thinking about all kinds of weather!  Little Man loves all kinds of EXTREME weather... well, extreme anything, really.  Today we're sharing ten of our favorite picture books about all the beautiful, different types of weather!

1. One Rainy Day (Shimmery, Shiny Books)

Little Hedgehog can't wait to try out his new raincoat and umbrella, but what happens when he and his friends get caught in a storm?

2.It Looked Like Spilt Milk 

 Who doesn't love making pictures with the clouds?

3.Thunder Cake 

 An oldie, but definitely a favorite!  What better way to count down to the arrival of a storm!?

4.Little Cloud board book  

We love anything by Eric Carle!

5.Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 

 The kids always love this one!  Lots of giggles happen when you think about a storm of food raining down on you!

6.The Magic School Bus Inside A Hurricane 

 Read it.  Watch it.  We love some Magic School Bus!  All of them!

7.Otis and the Tornado 

 We're right in the middle of tornado season, so this one is on our list for sure!

8.Come On, Rain! 

 Nothing beats the summer heat like a good summer rain!

9.The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings 

 Mama and Papa Bear have the perfect way to help the cubs overcome their fear of storms!

10.Curious George Flies a Kite 

 It's a special day when you get to fly a kite!

Were any of your favorite books on this list?  What do you read to the littles when the weather starts to change?

Teach Them to Serve {#2 ~ Lemonade Stand for a Cause}

Good morning! I am seriously excited about this post.  Little Man just blew me away with his excitement for this project!  First, I should give you a little back story.  Our church partners with several compassion ministries.  Both the children's program and the women's ministry held collection drives for one of them.  Normally, I would just take the boys and we'd go fill up a shopping bag with whatever is needed.  This time, we did something a little different.  

Little Man wanted to bring in a few other people for this project.  He's had lemonade stands in the past, so he thought he'd try one again... a lemonade stand with a purpose!  Our neighborhood hosts a community garage sale about twice each year.  We planned to have our lemonade stand on the same day.  I posted about it in our neighborhood Facebook group and on my personal page.  I was OVERWHELMED with the generosity of our community!  

We originally thought it would just be a lemonade stand, and then possibly a bake sale.  The garage sale was so early in the day, we decided on a breakfast bar!  We had cinnamon rolls, donuts, fruit, and a few different drinks.  Even Baby Boy couldn't contain his excitement!  

Our neighborhood was seriously beyond generous!  Little Man loved going to pick out all the toiletries to donate to the collection.  He was so careful to make sure he had some for boys, some for girls, matching sets, yummy smells... love it!

On the day we took everything up to the church, Little Man wanted to take a picture to say THANK YOU to our friends and family who came to support him in this project!  Your donations helped supply City House with 75 new shampoos, conditioners, body washes, deodorants, and razors!  You are amazing!

If you are in the Dallas area, please take a moment to stop by their website and consider helping this absolutely amazing organization!

City House is an organization that supports homeless children and teenagers.  It was founded by two local teachers who were stunned to realize some of their own students were living out of lockers.  Through the support of the community, it has grown and has been helping homeless teens for over 27 years!  Wow!

Scripture Sunday {Proverbs 3:5-6}

Do you have a verse from your childhood that popped up in your adult life with a whole new meaning?  Today I'm sharing one of those.  As a kid, I memorized this verse and I've known it my whole life.  I'm pretty sure it's one of the most commonly memorized verses.  As an adult, it came back into my Scripture memory rotation and it just stopped me in my tracks.  I'm excited to now share it with my boys and watch as it shapes their lives as well.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

We were on ski trip with my brothers, their wives, and our parents over Christmas.  I was riding up the lift with my dad and he asked me what brought about some of the recent changes in my life.  My response made both of us laugh.  I finally started to listen to God's plans instead of my own.  I figured out that when I walked in obedience... things just worked out better.  God really is good like that!  He DOES know what is best for us, and sometimes our hard heads are really stubborn!  

Trust Him.  Stop being so determined to follow our own way.  He is GOOD and He will work for the good of His children!  Now that's a truth I want my kids to know!

Hop over to my Google drive  or click the image above for a printable version!  

Happy Sunday, friends!

Teach Them to Serve {#1 ~ Treats for the Mailman}

Hello, hello!  I'm so excited to bring you a new series today!  We're talking about putting feet to our faith and doing stuff!  

James 1:22 tells us to not just read the Word, but do do what it says.  We're commanded to get out there and DO STUFF!!!  And it starts at home.  How are our little ones going to learn the joy of serving others in His name if they never see us doing it ourselves?  So... let's teach them to serve!

As a kick off to this project, we went with one of Little Man's biggest interests right now.  He is all about the mail system!  He was super excited to serve our mail carrier this week!  

At our weekly Trader Joe's run (seriously love that place), he picked out a few treats to put together.  He chose a specialty water, a chocolate bar and a protein bar.  I told him to write a note to the mail carrier to say thanks for delivering our mail every day.  Little Man took it so much further and my Mommy heart was just bursting!  "Dear Mailman, Thank you for bringing our mail.  Remember that you are special because God made you special."  LOVE it!  

And done!  We put it in the mailbox and Little Man couldn't help but run to the front window every few minutes to see if he was coming yet.  He eventually heard the mail truck, so I told him to run outside and hand him the treats personally.  He suddenly decided he was shy (ha!).  We did open the garage door and Little Man watched the mail carrier pull the treats out of the mailbox.  Our amazing mail carrier waved at him and shouted a "thanks!"  When we went to check the mail later, we found that he had actually written a personal note to thank him for the treats!  So sweet!

Since putting the treats in the mailbox, Little Man LOVES to go catch the mail truck outside.  It's sweet to see that they have their own little bond now.  I wasn't expecting that!  What a great way for Little Man to shine His light!

Stay tuned for more fun, easy ways to DO STUFF and serve those around us!  Subscribe here so you don't miss a single post!

15 Fantastic Verses to Memorize as a Family {Matthew 28:6}

Oh, friends... Happy, happy Easter!!!  He is risen!

How did you spend your Easter today?  All week, Little Man and I have been digging into Holy Week.  I must say, it has brought a new level of emotion and appreciation to this Easter weekend.  As we went through an hour-by-hour timeline on Good Friday, I felt a sense of emotion that I've never felt before.  That will definitely be something we do every year from now on!  

Tonight, as our celebration comes to a close, I have one last treat for my boys... Resurrection Rolls!  We've never made them before, and I'm so excited to see their faces!

Here is a memory verse for you this week!  Click the picture to go to a Google Doc.  Just print and go!  I hope this verse reminds you daily that our Lord and Savior is alive in us!  Let His light shine!

Matthew 28:6

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10 Favorite Stories for St. Patrick's Day {What We're Reading Wednesday}

Spring is here!  Can you believe it?  Here in Texas it was a STRANGE winter!  And Spring just makes me happy (almost as happy as Fall makes me)!  Pastel colors, fun themes for the little ones, Spring Cleaning, an overall feeling of newness and fresh starts.  Love it all...

Today I'm thrilled to share 10 favorite books for St. Patrick's Day!  These are the books we'll be reading next week during our morning storytime.  Stay tuned for some extension activities!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover

I try not to play favorites when it comes to books.  However, this series is definitely a favorite.  We may or may not read the Christmas version all year.  Little Man would read the Halloween version daily if I let him.

S is for Shamrock

This is one of my favorite series for alphabet books.  Little Man has recently gotten into the non-fiction part of it.  Love it!

Green Shamrocks

The Night Before St. Patrick's Day

Curious George Discovers the Rainbow

Leprechaun on the Loose

That's What Leprechauns Do

The Leprechaun Who Lost His Rainbow

Shannon and the World's Tallest Rainbow

The Leprechaun Trap

Have you read any of these?  What are your favorite books for St. Patrick's Day?

And now for a peek into what we're reading individually this week ....

Little Man is currently reading Matilda.  He actually watched the movie first.  We're just starting some of the longer chapter books at night, so it worked out well for him to see the movie before reading.  Every now and then he'll pop up with a "Hey, I remember that part!" or a "That's not how that happened!"  I love seeing him make those connections.  

I've been reading Mere Christianity.  I'm about halfway through and I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book!  I'm actually sad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it.  I would have marked it up and highlighted every other line!  I actually get hand cramps from writing so many quotes in my notebook at night!  Seriously fantastic stuff right here!

What are you reading this week?