The Week In Pictures - March 20th

     This week was spring break for us.  I was SO ready for it and had big plans for all of the things that I was going to accomplish.  And almost none of my 'list' got done. Looking back, I now realize that I had completely unrealistic expectations of how the week was going to go.  Ha. Funny how things work that way sometimes.  All in all, it was a good week, though. We stuck close to home and enjoyed time with friends and explored new places. 

     Spring has definitely sprung here in Oklahoma.  We enjoyed beautiful weather the first part of the week.  The cold has come back for a few days, though--seems like it happens this way EVERY year--and scarf weather is not quite past us!

The Week in Pictures

     This past week was a full week of school, exploring, and being challenged to live a life of LOVE! The boys and I started the week off visiting the park that we used to live behind.  Though I do love where we are now, I miss the big park with it's walking trail and open spaces.  The boys had a blast hunting for crayfish after a spring rain, while I walked the trail and tried to capture spring with some pictures! 

Philippians 4:8

     This verse has been on my heart so much this week.  I don't know about you, but I often struggle to keep my thoughts focused on these kinds of thoughts...good thoughts...encouraging thoughts.  I struggle with worry, frustration, impatience, anger. I've also noticed that my boys struggle with the same things as well.  One of the joys, and difficulties if I'm being honest, of homeschooling, is that you get to spend a WHOLE lot more time with your kids.  Sometimes this is awesome.  Sometimes this is NOT.  Walking through character building opportunities, seemingly ALL THE TIME, can wear on a person.  And, when you realize that some of those habits that your kids have MIGHT have come from you in some form or fashion, it makes it all the more fun disheartening.

     This is where the Word of God comes in.  Starting this spring, we renewed our commitment to reading the Bible together.  It only takes a few minutes.  We try to talk about what we have read.  And we ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what we read and apply it to our lives.  Beginning our day with God always helps the day to go better! 

     And in an effort to 'write' more of God's word on our hearts, we have also started memorizing one scripture a week.  Simple, I know. Why we haven't been doing it lately? I guess we just weren't being intentional. Philippians 4:8 is this weeks scripture.  What a beautiful, challenging, centering scripture! I hope it is a blessing to you today! 

~Kendra

The Tuesday Review: A Child's Book of Character Building

     The book I am reviewing today is very special to me.  There are actually two books in the series A Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World - At Home, At School, At Play, Book 1 and Book 2, by Ron and Rebekah Coriell.  This series had been recommended to me by a good friend several years ago when we were just starting our homeschool journey.  When the boys were younger (age 3-7), we went through this series at least twice.  And I feel that I need to add...you DO NOT have to homeschool your children in order to use and enjoy this series!  It only takes 5 minutes a day to read through the scripture and short stories. 

      For each character trait highlighted, the authors share a very simple and easy to understand definition of that trait, a story from the bible that relates to that specific character trait, and then short stories from home, school, and play that help the child to recognize and put into practice each trait.  We would take a week to look at each character trait, reading a different story each day. 

      I have fond memories of reading these stories to the boys and then talking about them throughout the week.  If you are looking for a character building series for your younger children, I highly recommend that you check out THIS BOOK! 

    What character building books and/or series have you used and enjoyed?  I would love to hear your suggestions!  And, if you know of a good series for older boys (9-12), please share!  I'm always on the hunt for good books!

The Tuesday Review: Thing Explainer - Complicated Stuff in Simple Words

What a fun book that I get to share with you tonight!!  The boys received Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff In Simple Words by Randall Munroe as a Christmas gift this past year.  This book is incredibly unique in it's approach.  The author, Randall Munroe, uses only the 1,000 most commonly used words in the English language, along with simple drawings, to explain many potentially difficult things to explain.  I love it!  And the boys love it!  They have giggled so much at the clever, silly, and often hilarious use of wording.  AND, more importantly, they have been interested in learning more about subjects that they haven't necessarily expressed interest in before.  Win-Win!
Check out this book!  You won't regret it!  And you might just really enjoy it!!

The Tuesday Review: Salt in His Shoes

I grew up watching Michael Jordan play basketball.  With a an older brother who played basketball,  and who was a huge fan of one of the best basketball players EVER, how could I not?? So when I saw this book at the library last week, I just HAD to check it out and read it.  And I was not disappointed!

Having boys myself, I am constantly struggling through how to teach the lessons and life skills that they need to learn...  PATIENCE.  DETERMINATION.  HARD WORK.  These are just a few of the many important things that they are going to need in order to make it in this world.  It is not easy to teach these kinds of things. Sometimes you just need a good story! Salt in His Shoes is that and so much more! I encourage you to go check it out today!  

Reflecting on November

I'm sitting in front of a half decorated Christmas tree, on the first day of December, wondering where November went.  Seriously, the month flew by.  It was full of many things that I expected, days full of school work and soccer practice and wrestling matches.  But it was also filled with many things that I did not expect, like new friendships, launching a new business, family worship at church, special moments with family, and beautiful days.

I am thankful for all of it...for my family, my amazing husband, a cozy home,  new and renewed connections,  laid back days with my boys, chickens who are finally laying eggs...the list could go on and on with "big" things and also with seemingly unimportant moments.  Because they ALL matter!

As we are starting the Advent season and preparing to celebrate the coming of Jesus, I hope that each of us will take a deep breath, slow down, and choose to carry with us into this new month a Spirit of Thankfulness! Let's be content with what we have, look for ways to give to or help someone else, and focus on what is truly important in life!

October Favorite Things: The Random Things of Life!

I (sometimes) love the fact that I never quite know what my boys are going to do.  They are very creative and are always pushing the limits of what they can do.  Often this manifests itself physically, like with sports or competition between the two of them.  But sometimes it comes up in other ways...like keeping wooly bear caterpillars in a "caterpillar castle" and putting the caterpillars on pencils during school, just to see what they might do. 

Yes, this a real caterpillar on top of a pencil. ;)

October Favorite Things: Our Local Library and Make-Up FREE Mondays!!

A month of my favorite things wouldn't be complete without mentioning our local library!!  It is definitely one of my favorite places and I look forward to our visit EVERY.SINGLE.WEEK! There is something magical about hunting for a good book...and then finding just the right one! It is rare that I get to go with just one of my sons. and today was one of those days! So fun!  I LOVE this boy and getting to spend time with JUST him!! 

And in honor of starting my own business, I am starting Make-Up FREE Mondays! Now, I do like my mascara and eye shadow, but it's good to go without sometimes!  I haven't always felt the confidence to go without make-up, but I do now and I wish for same for you! I hope that you will join me in celebrating the freedom to love the skin we are in! Message me or comment below if I can help YOU love your skin!  

October Favorite Things: Favorite Story Books

I love literature in general, specifically books that tell a fascinating story!  One of my favorite parts about homeschooling is that I am able to take the time to read engaging stories with my boys. Yes, I still read out loud to them. :) I think it is extremely important to continue reading out loud to them for as long as I am able to!  (Of course, I don't read everything to them!)

I want to highlight three of my most favorite story books that I have read to the boys in the last couple of months!


Noah Webster and His Words
If you've ever wanted to know the story behind how Webster's dictionary came to be, this is the book to read.  It is a fascinating story about diligence, focus, and determination!

October Favorite Things: Homeschooling!

Our schooling journey has been just that...a journey.  We chose homeschooling in the beginning for the flexibility and freedom it would bring in our schooling and family life.  We took last year off, for various reason, not knowing if we would ever come back to it.  The boys were in our local public school last year and it was a good year.  But we missed the freedom to have a flexible schedule, to take advantage of opportunities, and to do some different things!  So, here we are again.  

I honestly didn't plan to write about homeschooling during this month of favorites.  I wasn't sure if it was one of my favorite things or not.  It has been tough to adjust back to being 'teacher' and it has been challenging to once again balance home life with school life.  But after a month and a half or so of school, I can say that it is a favorite of mine!  I enjoy teaching and facilitating the boys learning time.  I wouldn't miss our weekly field trips and days of exploration for anything! I don't know what the future holds, or how long we will walk this road again, but I will be thankful and relish each day!

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverb 16:9

Going on a short hike at a local nature center.

October Favorite Things: Tulsa Favorites

There are so many places that the boys and I enjoy going here in the Tulsa area. I'm just going to highlight two today.  The first is an obvious choice for many others as well...The Tulsa Zoo.  It doesn't seem to matter how old the boys get, they always enjoy a visit to the zoo.  We went just a couple of weeks ago with some friends and left looking forward to our next visit!

The boys on the statue in front of the zoo entrance.

October Favorite Things: Exploring and The Great Outdoors

This afternoon, the boys and I were able to enjoy two of my most favorite things...exploring new places and being outside!!  We visited Spavinaw State Park for the first time.  The boys enjoyed exploring and catching crayfish and other critters, while I took pictures and skipped rocks.  It was a much needed getaway!

Catching Crayfish!

October Favorite Things: Favorite Family Read-Alouds and Story Warren

I love a good story.  And I appreciate good quality literature.  I am always on the hunt for books for my boys to read (or us to read to them); books that will challenge them, inform them, and inspire them to live well. We can learn so much about ourselves and the world through a well-told story.

There are several book series that we have thoroughly enjoyed as a family.  Below are just a few of our favorite books that we have read together over the past few years.  Many of them I have talked about at some point or another here on my blog.


The Wingfeather Saga - Book 1

October Challenge: Some of My Favorite Things!

If you have tried to follow my blog for any amount of time, then you know I've had a hard time posting with any sort of consistency over the past 2-3 years.  Why? Lots of reasons, but none of them really good ones.  So, today I'm starting a challenge to myself...to blog every day for the next 31 days!  It takes approximately 21 days to form a habit.  I'm hoping that this challenge will help me break through and get back into the habit of blogging, something that I enjoyed and have missed doing!

To make it easier for myself, I'm just going to talk about my favorite things: my family, books, food and cooking, websites and resources, school, exploring, or just being outside!  Today my 'favorite' is a someone, or actually two someones!  I love my boys and really enjoy being outside, exploring and having adventures with them!  These pictures were actually taken at the end of May at one of our favorite parks here in town, Hunter Park!  The boys enjoy fishing here, especially Big J.  We have lots of success when we fish this pond with worms. I'm so thankful for days like this!  What are some of your favorite things?

The Tuesday Review: The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

I am so excited to do today's review.  The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson has been one of our favorite series to read.  It ranks right up there with The Chronicles of Narnia series by  C.S. Lewis.  Each book is wonderfully written and leaves much room for the imagination, which I appreciate!  There are four books in the series:

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness


North! or Be Eaten


The Monster in the Hollows


The Warden and the Wolf King


We started this series over a year ago and took our time, with my husband reading a chapter on most nights.  Sometimes we had to read two chapters because it was so intense and we couldn't wait to find out what happened next.  And at one point we had to take a break while we waited for the fourth book to be released.

 The themes in this series are not light and easy going.  There are many humorous moments and times when you want to jump up and cheer the Wingfeather family on.  But there are also heartbreaking moments that just might make you cry.  The Wingfeather family shows what it looks like to have great courage and noble character in the face of much trial and tribulation. In the end, Good overcomes evil.  I enjoyed every minute of it!

I would highly recommend this series, not just for older kids and and as a family read-aloud, but for any adult that needs to read a fantastic story of hope.

If you want to find out more about The Wingfeather Saga or Andrew Peterson, check out his website at http://wingfeathersaga.com/welcome/.