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Homeschool Graduate"},{"term":"Great Posts"},{"term":"Gwendolyn's 6th Year"},{"term":"Heaven"},{"term":"Preschoolers"},{"term":"Watercolor"},{"term":"Wyatt's 5th Year"},{"term":"30x30"},{"term":"8-Minute Memoir"},{"term":"Clyde's 5th Year"},{"term":"Creative Contentment"},{"term":"Decorating"},{"term":"Gwendolyn's 3rd Year"},{"term":"Little Letters"},{"term":"Mission Work"},{"term":"Radio"},{"term":"Reformation Day"},{"term":"Social Media"},{"term":"Theology"},{"term":"Winter Fashion"},{"term":"Wyatt's 8th Year"},{"term":"100 Days Project"},{"term":"Bits Of Life"},{"term":"Bullet Journaling"},{"term":"Clarice's 3rd Year"},{"term":"Clarice's 4th Year"},{"term":"Clarice's 5th Year"},{"term":"Clyde's 3rd Year"},{"term":"Clyde's 4th Year"},{"term":"Clyde's 6th Year"},{"term":"Digital Minimalism"},{"term":"ENFJ"},{"term":"Evangelism"},{"term":"Georgiana's 2nd Year"},{"term":"Georgiana's 3rd Year"},{"term":"Gwendolyn's 4th Year"},{"term":"Gwendolyn's 5th Year"},{"term":"Hebrews"},{"term":"In My Songbook"},{"term":"Letters To My Children"},{"term":"Literary Society"},{"term":"Shopaholic"},{"term":"Stories"},{"term":"Wyatt's 6th Year"},{"term":"Wyatt's 7th Year"},{"term":"Wyatt's 9th Year"},{"term":"Blog Challenge"},{"term":"Blog Design Freebies"},{"term":"Christian Booktube"},{"term":"Clarice's 6th Year"},{"term":"Clyde's 2nd Year"},{"term":"Clyde's 7th Year"},{"term":"Creating A Home"},{"term":"Daily Snapshot"},{"term":"Five Minute Friday"},{"term":"Georgiana’s 4th Year"},{"term":"Grade School"},{"term":"Gwendolyn's 7th Year"},{"term":"Jesus"},{"term":"Links And Loves"},{"term":"MOPS"},{"term":"Memory-Keeping"},{"term":"Monthly Lessons"},{"term":"Neighbors"},{"term":"Persecution"},{"term":"Personal Study"},{"term":"Rooted Article"},{"term":"Screen Time"},{"term":"Shopping"},{"term":"Siblings"},{"term":"Simplify"},{"term":"Staycations"},{"term":"Worth The Time"},{"term":"Wyatt's 10th Year"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Through Clouded Glass"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"A Lifestyle Blog By A Christian Wife And Mother Of Five"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026max-results=70\u0026orderby=published"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=71\u0026max-results=70\u0026orderby=published"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"2059"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"70"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1281089108509928766"},"published":{"$t":"2020-11-30T05:36:00.025-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-11-30T05:36:00.179-07:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"What's On My Christmas List"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-NoQiKkjb9rY\/X8RCY93ESRI\/AAAAAAAAZ0c\/tDW_CncQuVIXhkSWCdDbF_n8OGu7VFz5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/29-11-2020-17-38-46blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAren't my kids so cute decorating the tree?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the last couple years I have started to make a Christmas list for myself to give to Derek. \u0026nbsp;He always picks me great gifts, with or without a list. But he asked, and it's fun to be able to pick out things that I would like but probably won't buy myself! \u0026nbsp;I thought I'd share my list today, just for fun. \u0026nbsp;Maybe if you aren't sure what to put on your Christmas list, it'll spark some ideas!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWashi Tape\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-z1Pf8ZrsLqE\/X8QxsSCW2HI\/AAAAAAAAZyw\/edmlQM_jJdY42nSR5OBiSecNjEyPIowAQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/product-image-1130802443_1600x.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"640\" data-original-width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-z1Pf8ZrsLqE\/X8QxsSCW2HI\/AAAAAAAAZyw\/edmlQM_jJdY42nSR5OBiSecNjEyPIowAQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/product-image-1130802443_1600x.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/thewashitapeshop.com\/collections\/sets\/products\/8-pieces-set-forest-elements-washi-tape\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EForest\u0026nbsp;Washi tape\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-byqq_zxDaJI\/X8QxxZzboBI\/AAAAAAAAZy0\/Qu19ZDwgbhs1nPB1g_ATRQS0eJ0DZBdTgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1440\/WechatIMG2098_18e29f3f-281e-4da5-906f-c4194a0e5182_1600x.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1440\" data-original-width=\"1440\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-byqq_zxDaJI\/X8QxxZzboBI\/AAAAAAAAZy0\/Qu19ZDwgbhs1nPB1g_ATRQS0eJ0DZBdTgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/WechatIMG2098_18e29f3f-281e-4da5-906f-c4194a0e5182_1600x.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/thewashitapeshop.com\/collections\/gilded-washi-tape\/products\/tenohira-gilded-washi-tape-set \" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E(Gilded Washi Tape)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI found this website that sells gorgeous\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003EWashi\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;tape a while back, and I've been eyeing a few of their sets! \u0026nbsp;I use\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003EWashi\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;tape in my bullet journal or on letters, to dress up the page and add some sparkle. \u0026nbsp;I use it in a really basic way, but some people really decorate their pages or letters, like my penpal Felicia (her envelopes are always so pretty!). \u0026nbsp;It's just fun, and I'd love to get a little collection started.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBooks\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Exile-Restoration-Femininity-Rebekah-Merkle\/dp\/1944503528\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JFIJYWWPJD2\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=eve+in+exile\u0026amp;qid=1601386406\u0026amp;sprefix=Eve+in+exile%2Caps%2C202\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"499\" data-original-width=\"323\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eokGaamgKkQ\/X8Qyvkx0GPI\/AAAAAAAAZzE\/TtAOZe7ZEo8npx6CtRG_IQ1ROLHnwGc4QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/41fInuMYUKL._SX321_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Glory-Ordinary-Matters-Gospel-Coalition\/dp\/1433552671\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1042RLVFZC6LX\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=glory+in+the+ordinary\u0026amp;qid=1601386464\u0026amp;sprefix=Glory+in+the%2Caps%2C195\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"499\" data-original-width=\"328\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XEW3SW4slLA\/X8Qyvg9gjlI\/AAAAAAAAZzI\/bIGi27GCTP0xRja84nso8BIiP0aq3zPMwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/41jCCqo%252BNjL._SX326_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0573702349\/ref=rdr_ext_tmb\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"499\" data-original-width=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-j0JvOe35Drw\/X8QyvoxQ9zI\/AAAAAAAAZzM\/rAmKpzXizakDbG0xugC8qjmk074u6_4ggCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/41V3ObBM-AL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThese three books are on my Christmas list! \u0026nbsp;The first two I have read before and they were excellent - to the point that I would like to own a physical copy and re-read them. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Exile-Restoration-Femininity-Rebekah-Merkle\/dp\/1944503528\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JFIJYWWPJD2\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=eve+in+exile\u0026amp;qid=1601386406\u0026amp;sprefix=Eve+in+exile%2Caps%2C202\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEve In Exile\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E is about feminism, it's negative effects on women, and the purpose for which God really created women. \u0026nbsp;I feel like that makes it sound a little boring, but it was so good. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Glory-Ordinary-Matters-Gospel-Coalition\/dp\/1433552671\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1042RLVFZC6LX\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=glory+in+the+ordinary\u0026amp;qid=1601386464\u0026amp;sprefix=Glory+in+the%2Caps%2C195\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGlory In The Ordinary\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E is about the value of work, and the biblical purpose of our work, and I remember finding it really encouraging especially as it relates to the struggle many women have with feeling...perhaps\u003Ci\u003E less-than \u003C\/i\u003Efor working outside of the home OR for not bringing money in for the family. \u0026nbsp;It was great.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0573702349\/ref=rdr_ext_tmb\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBlack Coffee\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E kind of intrigued me, because...well, coffee, but also because I read in the description that it is a Hercule Poirot play that Agatha Christie wrote which was adapted into a book by a different author. \u0026nbsp;Hercule Poirot is my favorite of her characters, and I'm really curious to see how it is! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPsalms Scripture Journal\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PU7V5fGf_UM\/X8Q1gc6HB-I\/AAAAAAAAZzc\/pVYADjP5p5s6DMtPUqbFCUO4T3GK_LnlACLcBGAsYHQ\/s499\/51uTL2UvbNL._SX357_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"499\" data-original-width=\"359\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PU7V5fGf_UM\/X8Q1gc6HB-I\/AAAAAAAAZzc\/pVYADjP5p5s6DMtPUqbFCUO4T3GK_LnlACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/51uTL2UvbNL._SX357_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003EI have\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ESV-Illuminated-Scripture-Journal-Psalms\/dp\/1433568578\/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=illuminated+scripture+journal\u0026amp;qid=1605577593\u0026amp;sr=8-5 \" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E one of these scripture journals\u003C\/a\u003E for the book of Hebrews, and I love it! \u0026nbsp;It has the biblical text on one page, with a dot grid for notes, decorating, or whatever you want on the opposite page. \u0026nbsp;I write about things that stood out in the passage, or bits of commentary that I've gathered from other places. \u0026nbsp;I usually don't fill up a full page, so I am thinking they will be useful for going through the books of the Bible multiple times until it's full. \u0026nbsp;I'd love to have another one to work in, and Psalms felt like a good place to start!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJohn MacArthur Study Bible\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003EI have the digital version of MacArthur's study notes, and I really appreciate his study Bible notes - it is always helpful and clarifying when I come across a tricky passage. \u0026nbsp;I would really like to have a physical copy of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.christianbook.com\/page\/bibles\/study-bibles\/macarthur-study-bible?search=john%20Macarthur%20study%20bible\u0026amp;search_term=john%20Macarthur%20study%20bible\u0026amp;ps_exit=RETURN\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMacArthur study Bible\u003C\/a\u003E, so I can highlight and read the notes a little easier. I found a damaged copy on this website for \u003Ci\u003Echeap\u003C\/i\u003E, so I'm hoping Derek snagged it for me!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #0000e9; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #0000e9; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERings\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-i9vuykvcmbI\/X8Q2YBVBThI\/AAAAAAAAZzk\/RS7CIkhWzbAXiC7BBrLyjz2KAH-do00DQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1376\/White_Fire_Champagne_Opal_Ring_-_Front_View_Facing_Up_-_18K_Yellow_Gold_Vermeil_1400x.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1141\" data-original-width=\"1376\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-i9vuykvcmbI\/X8Q2YBVBThI\/AAAAAAAAZzk\/RS7CIkhWzbAXiC7BBrLyjz2KAH-do00DQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h531\/White_Fire_Champagne_Opal_Ring_-_Front_View_Facing_Up_-_18K_Yellow_Gold_Vermeil_1400x.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"  https:\/\/www.blushandbar.com\/collections\/customer-favorites\/products\/white-fire-champagne-opal-ring\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOpal Ring\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-STQ1xbR7XKg\/X8Q2h0BtmcI\/AAAAAAAAZzo\/R3x1t-A05WISYiChB39u5_-bHegvbcP1wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1174\/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-11-29%2Bat%2B4.59.24%2BPM.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1174\" data-original-width=\"1171\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-STQ1xbR7XKg\/X8Q2h0BtmcI\/AAAAAAAAZzo\/R3x1t-A05WISYiChB39u5_-bHegvbcP1wCLcBGAsYHQ\/w638-h640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-11-29%2Bat%2B4.59.24%2BPM.png\" width=\"638\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cu style=\"color: #0000e9;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.localeclectic.com\/products\/statement-turquoise-oyster-ring\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETurquoise Oyster Ring\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #0000e9; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #0000e9; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI used to love\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Ewearing \"costume jewelry\" rings in my twenties, but I haven't for several years now. \u0026nbsp;I think my fingers got a little fat for my collection while I was pregnant. \u0026nbsp;I'd like to get back to wearing pretty rings, but I'd also like some that won't turn my finger green (hopefully). \u0026nbsp;Even though these are the priciest thing on my list, they are relatively inexpensive and I think they're pretty for a little extra shine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArt Prints I’d Love To Have Framed\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOkay, I am a little hesitant to show you actual pictures here because I don't want to reproduce the artist's work without her permission, but if you click through on anything in this post you \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003Ehave\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E to check out these prints. \u0026nbsp;I'm linking my three favorite prints below, but Lore Pemberton's art just speaks to me. \u0026nbsp;All of her paintings are wonderful, but these three are my current favorites and I'd love to get a print of one of these.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lorepemberton.com\/prints\/under-the-same-moon\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThis one\u003C\/a\u003E brings back the feeling of rocking my babies against my chest in the middle of the night. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWe go on a fall hike every autumn, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lorepemberton.com\/prints\/forestchildren\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis one \u003C\/a\u003Ejust reminds me of traipsing through the woods with my children. \u0026nbsp;I can almost smell the leaves.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lorepemberton.com\/prints\/lights-on-the-hill \" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThis one\u003C\/a\u003E brings to mind the stargazing nights we've done with the kids, and the wonder we are hoping to inspire in them by introducing them to the night sky.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #0000e9; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMakeup\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GG9DpOh7Kn4\/X8Q5hXiBPFI\/AAAAAAAAZz0\/4DbuhQNBu8YNkvkFR5RxMbSkejnknQ-ngCLcBGAsYHQ\/s800\/CW_pdp-SCF-white_800x1200.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"800\" data-original-width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GG9DpOh7Kn4\/X8Q5hXiBPFI\/AAAAAAAAZz0\/4DbuhQNBu8YNkvkFR5RxMbSkejnknQ-ngCLcBGAsYHQ\/w400-h400\/CW_pdp-SCF-white_800x1200.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kvEobDtESnU\/X8Q5hVFXzgI\/AAAAAAAAZz8\/lm6n5md79gQsqyVmh1o9LJ8sGxjgdA3TQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s800\/frog_1_800x1200.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"800\" data-original-width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kvEobDtESnU\/X8Q5hVFXzgI\/AAAAAAAAZz8\/lm6n5md79gQsqyVmh1o9LJ8sGxjgdA3TQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w400-h400\/frog_1_800x1200.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-by77xY7gMcU\/X8Q5hQsHdjI\/AAAAAAAAZz4\/f0xrFOt1MakBNzdqb05KSkfXy5ca-Rm0ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s800\/Panache-Cap-Off-Plate-2_2966ae1a-dcd7-4eab-b7dc-e0815f6cffa5_800x1200.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"800\" data-original-width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-by77xY7gMcU\/X8Q5hQsHdjI\/AAAAAAAAZz4\/f0xrFOt1MakBNzdqb05KSkfXy5ca-Rm0ACLcBGAsYHQ\/w400-h400\/Panache-Cap-Off-Plate-2_2966ae1a-dcd7-4eab-b7dc-e0815f6cffa5_800x1200.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhat can I say, I like my makeup! \u0026nbsp;I've particularly enjoyed Colourpop's eye products for a while, and this \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/colourpop.com\/products\/stone-cold-fox-cool-tone-eyeshadow-palette\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecool-toned palette\u003C\/a\u003E caught my eye (which is currently sold out, so I might not be getting it after all!). \u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Esingle\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;shadow is one of their \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/colourpop.com\/products\/frog\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esuper-shock shadows\u003C\/a\u003E, which I've heard good things about\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Eand\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;would like to play around with. \u0026nbsp;And I've been wanting to try one of their lip glosses - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/colourpop.com\/products\/panache-pink-lux-lip-gloss\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis color looks pretty\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPerfume\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eMY9Yf8qkys\/X8Q7FR9rZ_I\/AAAAAAAAZ0M\/pvkKvkxVfk0AyZJvLQ77RDeFC6NO_7soQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s803\/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-11-29%2Bat%2B5.20.56%2BPM.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"803\" data-original-width=\"583\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eMY9Yf8qkys\/X8Q7FR9rZ_I\/AAAAAAAAZ0M\/pvkKvkxVfk0AyZJvLQ77RDeFC6NO_7soQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w465-h640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-11-29%2Bat%2B5.20.56%2BPM.png\" width=\"465\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI realized early this year that I've used up most of my perfumes, and\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Ea lot\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;of the ones I've liked over the years are no longer produced. \u0026nbsp;Don't you hate when that happens? \u0026nbsp;You find a scent you like, and then they just stop making it. \u0026nbsp;Tough luck. \u0026nbsp;I smelled a sample of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ulta.com\/acqua-di-gioia-eau-de-parfum?productId=xlsImpprod2570029\"\u003Ethis one\u003C\/a\u003E a while back though and I remember liking it, so I put it on my Christmas list just in case Derek needed\u003Ci\u003E one more \u003C\/i\u003Eidea. \u0026nbsp;Time to find a new perfume I guess!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E---\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThat's it! \u0026nbsp;I was trying to put a wide variety of things on my list so Derek would have\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Ea lot\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Eto\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;choose from. \u0026nbsp;I obviously will not be getting everything here (budget, you know), but I wanted to give Derek lots ideas so if he ends up \u003Ci\u003Eonly\u003C\/i\u003E buying from my list, I'll still be somewhat\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Esurprised\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhat sort of things have you put on your\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003EChristmas\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;list? Do you and your spouse make lists for each other?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1281089108509928766\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1281089108509928766\u0026isPopup=true","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1281089108509928766"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1281089108509928766"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/11\/whats-on-my-christmas-list.html","title":"What's On My Christmas List"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eokGaamgKkQ\/X8Qyvkx0GPI\/AAAAAAAAZzE\/TtAOZe7ZEo8npx6CtRG_IQ1ROLHnwGc4QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/41fInuMYUKL._SX321_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2088459407124951670"},"published":{"$t":"2020-11-17T05:39:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-11-17T05:39:00.497-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tea On A Tuesday"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Out Of Sorts (And Real Tea)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--8IuOndaMNM\/X7Myew7DRKI\/AAAAAAAAZxs\/NV_LL011Lr8Gu6mqaUCaVzJZFqIMBs8yACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-875%2B2blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDo you want to come over for tea this morning?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo my in-person friends, that's an open invitation, just so you know. \u0026nbsp;But otherwise, let's have virtual tea on a Tuesday. \u0026nbsp;And not the kind all the youngsters talk about, the gossip-y, drama kind. \u0026nbsp;No spilling of metaphorical \"tea\". \u0026nbsp;Let's have, like, real tea. \u0026nbsp;In a real cup. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI feel old.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've been watching too much TV.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking of tea, try a cup of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.celestialseasonings.com\/products\/black\/nutcracker-sweet\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENutcracker Sweet tea\u003C\/a\u003E with a chocolate bar. \u0026nbsp;You can thank me later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHunting And Not Blogging\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhere were we when I suddenly lost all motivation to blog a couple weeks ago? \u0026nbsp;You may remember that I was in the middle of a 31 Day blogging challenge, and I totally fell off the wagon. \u0026nbsp;I underestimated the amount of energy hunting would take out of me, and then the election-that-never-ended happened, and well, here we are. \u0026nbsp;I have lots of election thoughts, but I don't want to get into it on this blog (that's what Instagram is for, right?), so let's just talk about my hunting season.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Saturday morning we woke up bright and early, and headed out into the woods in the dark. \u0026nbsp;As it got light, we started sneaking through an open area, and suddenly saw a group of deer ahead of it. \u0026nbsp;They were all female deer, and I had a buck tag, but it looked like they were looking behind them, down the hill where we couldn't see yet. So we decided to sneak up to a ridge to see if there was anything down there, and what do you know, there was! \u0026nbsp;We just so happened to drop down behind a log, so I don't think they could tell what we were yet, and I got a perfect shot. \u0026nbsp;The freezer is full now, and I feel really satisfied. \u0026nbsp;First morning of hunting season and we got one! \u0026nbsp;That's the best.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI come from a long line of hunters, I grew up hunting, but I hadn't been for over eight years. \u0026nbsp;I was quite worried about my ability to even hit a target anymore. \u0026nbsp;But Derek scouted out a great spot for me, and got me to the deer, and I was pleased to see that I am not completely useless out there, as I was afraid I would be.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q1pUWcPQVg0\/X7MypsnYcEI\/AAAAAAAAZx0\/5F1wKwc1R7caDqo9PXy0KyYDjCzcgq8TwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_4004blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RR2MfpN7OEk\/X7MynV1ufGI\/AAAAAAAAZxw\/eHcsAOpXguke1xoTIneHbHOqepdWdSB9QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_4046blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt took us all day to drag the deer out a mile and a half (at least). \u0026nbsp;I felt like I had gotten hit by a truck the next morning. \u0026nbsp;It took me a bit to recover.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESorting And Shopping And...More Sorting\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince then, aside from obsessively checking the news, I have also been working hard on finishing my Christmas shopping and sorting through this year's pictures. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year I decided to print off the best photos of each kid from 2019 and put a little photo album in each of their stockings. \u0026nbsp;It was a lot of work, but they loved those little photo books. \u0026nbsp;And I liked knowing that my photos weren't just existing in some digital netherworld, but I had some hard copies now. I decided to make it a tradition so I would have motivation every year to get our photos printed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIdeally I would sort and print photos throughout the year so it wouldn't be such a huge project in December. \u0026nbsp;But alas, it took me two eight-hour days to get 2020 photos printed up. \u0026nbsp;The prints are ordered and on their way and I'll probably be spending the next couple weeks getting them sorted (again) into albums. \u0026nbsp;Then another Christmas item will be checked off the list.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI actually finished the kids' Christmas shopping in mid-October, and a few days ago I ordered the last of the Christmas presents for Derek. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm always torn about doing Christmas shopping so early. \u0026nbsp;I used to really enjoy Christmas shopping \u003Ci\u003Ein December\u003C\/i\u003E, because it added to the Christmas excitement for me. \u0026nbsp;But as we've added more kids to our family, I've realized that Christmas is much more pleasant for everyone if I finish the shopping early. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShopping for five kids is hard. \u0026nbsp;You want them to each have the same number of presents to open, even though the older ones start asking for more expensive gifts. \u0026nbsp;You want each gift to be of relatively the same size or value or excitement level. \u0026nbsp;And inevitably you'll buy them what they individually asked for, because you want to treat them like the unique individuals they are, but then the kids realize on Christmas morning that they like what their siblings got, and they wish they would have asked for the same thing. \u0026nbsp;It's just complicated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnyway, its done, so now I need to sort everything and start wrapping.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe the theme of this post of sorting. \u0026nbsp;Appropriate, right? \u0026nbsp;Isn't that what we are all doing right now? \u0026nbsp;Sorting v0tes, sorting photos, sorting through news, sorting the Christmas budget out, sorting presents to be wrapped. \u0026nbsp;All while feeling out of sorts. \u0026nbsp;Just lots of sorting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of the photos I sorted today are from our visit to my friends' ranch in October. \u0026nbsp;We try to visit them once a year, and it's always such a refreshment to see them all again. \u0026nbsp;This time was no exception. \u0026nbsp;I am so blessed to have friendships that have lasted for a majority of my life, with women who inspire me and encourage me in the Lord. \u0026nbsp;Friendship, especially with sisters in Christ, is such a gift.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-M0IyStBfExs\/X7Mzfv3Xm8I\/AAAAAAAAZyI\/00q2adS6HRYaxmwdBQiglZHYeBcgic2JQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-875%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rKge-mmiDPI\/X7MzeRv_uuI\/AAAAAAAAZyA\/WbWwpsqlMEwBrNdvp8ZcolXgfg7kxh41gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-650blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QjOPuxfcZIg\/X7Mzfc65P0I\/AAAAAAAAZyE\/MtMOXhQywU8eao2FGQiWNgvgQLeN4k_7QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-953blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Library Embarrassment\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking of sorting, I went to the library yesterday and I had \u003Ci\u003Efifty-seven\u003C\/i\u003E books ready to be picked up. \u0026nbsp;Fifty-seven! \u0026nbsp;And because they are quarantining returned items for up to a week, a lot of the items I had previously returned hadn't registered yet, so I had to ask the librarian for an override to check out my fifty-seven books, which put me over the library book limit. \u0026nbsp;I was so embarrassed by my huge stack of books that I rushed out of there as soon as I could, so I'm not sure I even got them all. \u0026nbsp;I have to count. \u0026nbsp;I may have to go back for whatever I forgot and ask for an override all over again, though hopefully my returned items will have been checked in by then. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's what I get for trying to get ahead of the Christmas picture book rush. \u0026nbsp;I requested a bunch, but apparently I was the only one in line this early, and they all came in at once. \u0026nbsp;But hey, our library system got rid of fines last year, so technically I could keep them until Christmas and not even get charged. \u0026nbsp;Maybe that's worth a little embarrassment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(Note: I won't really keep all those library books clear until Christmas. \u0026nbsp;I'll put them back into circulation in December so someone else doesn't have to suffer the fate I did last year, which was to wait and wait only to finally receive my Christmas holds...in January.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIn Search Of A Holly Jolly Read\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking of books, what is a good Christmas-y novel that you've read? \u0026nbsp;I need some recommendations. \u0026nbsp;I read \u003Ci\u003EThe Christmas Carol\u003C\/i\u003E last year, and also \u003Ci\u003EHercule Poirot's Christmas\u003C\/i\u003E, and those were both perfect. \u0026nbsp;My friend Felicia also sent me \u003Ci\u003EChristmas At The Vinyl Cafe\u003C\/i\u003E in the mail, and I inhaled it in a couple days right around Christmas Day (highly recommend that one). \u0026nbsp;I'd like to have something Christmas-y to read in December. It's taking me so long to get through any book this year that I should probably start now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStress-Paralysis And Christmas Trees\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn case you didn't notice, the entire country appears to be setting up their trees early this year. \u0026nbsp;Either everyone desperately needs a little Christmas merriment, or they're trying to hurry this crazy year out the door, not sure which. We usually set ours up a week before Thanksgiving, and yet I oddly feel behind already. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometime this week I'm going to dig into our Christmas boxes and start switching out a few things. \u0026nbsp;Our schedule is a little off this year, and we don't have a full day free to set up the tree in the near future, so I'm trying to break the decorating into smaller chunks. \u0026nbsp;I'm feeling pretty stress-paralyzed, so you may have to hold me accountable if I don't share a Christmas decor photo on Instagram within a few days! \u0026nbsp;Who am I kidding, my kids will hold me accountable. \u0026nbsp;They are chomping at the bit to deck these halls.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Few Finds\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore I go, I wanted to share a few helpful things I have found in the last week or so! \u0026nbsp;First, I got a couple advent studies to use with the kids, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopgentleclassical.com\/products\/a-gentle-classical-christmas\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis advent unit study which was inexpensive\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/thehomemakingmomma.com\/2020\/11\/06\/a-weary-world-rejoices\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis Advent study which is free\u003C\/a\u003E! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI also splurged and bought \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/raisingupwildthings.com\/product\/winter-journal\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis winter nature journal \u003C\/a\u003E- Gwen has been asking me for \"constellation cards\" because she wants to study constellations, and this journal came with cards and a bunch of nature study sheets (I also got her\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/listing\/753181990\/exploring-the-night-sky-with-kids?ref=yr_purchases\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E these constellation fact cards,\u003C\/a\u003E and I don't believe there was any duplicates between the two sets).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd finally, if you are like me and have a terrible time shopping for the men in your life, I found \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gcx\/Gifts-for-Men\/gfhz\/?categoryId=adult-male\u0026amp;scrollState=eyJpdGVtSW5kZXgiOjEwLCJzY3JvbGxPZmZzZXQiOi0xMDN9\u0026amp;sectionManagerState=eyJzZWN0aW9uVHlwZUVuZEluZGV4Ijp7ImFtYWJvdCI6MH19\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis Christmas list for men on Amazon\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Both Derek and my dad give me ideas like \"new socks\" for Christmas, and I obviously am not going to buy them something so boring as socks (or at least not \u003Ci\u003Eonly\u003C\/i\u003E socks). \u0026nbsp;This list had a bunch of things that I knew my guys would actually like. \u0026nbsp;I may have gotten a majority of Derek's presents because of ideas I found here. \u0026nbsp;(Surely I'm not the only one who can't figure out what to buy for her husband? \u0026nbsp;It's not just me, right?)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-cviOQuvxG0k\/X7M0DesNNlI\/AAAAAAAAZyY\/lSkJRaoGw-8UdZH-GUKkYY6p807eZygYwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/Fall-Family-Photos-2020-763blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(From our fall photos this year - me and Derek.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHave you decorated for Christmas yet? \u0026nbsp;Are you done with your shopping? \u0026nbsp;What's your favorite tea flavor (are you even a tea drinker)? \u0026nbsp;And don't forget to tell me your Christmas book recommendations too!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'll be back later this week to share a few things that I put on \u003Ci\u003Emy \u003C\/i\u003EChristmas list! \u0026nbsp;Just for fun. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2088459407124951670\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2088459407124951670\u0026isPopup=true","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2088459407124951670"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2088459407124951670"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/11\/out-of-sorts-and-real-tea.html","title":"Out Of Sorts (And Real Tea)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q1pUWcPQVg0\/X7MypsnYcEI\/AAAAAAAAZx0\/5F1wKwc1R7caDqo9PXy0KyYDjCzcgq8TwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_4004blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5527774061058791874"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-30T15:05:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-30T15:08:15.325-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Georgiana"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Georgiana's 3rd Year"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Georgiana’s 4th Year"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Georgie Bea At Three"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ui0xTq3XqaM\/X5x-N7YRniI\/AAAAAAAAZwU\/KcmUJiPAtpsfrHzVTBy_bqKlrDWLatQpQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/76E48658-C325-4E09-900E-C909855D8036.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ui0xTq3XqaM\/X5x-N7YRniI\/AAAAAAAAZwU\/KcmUJiPAtpsfrHzVTBy_bqKlrDWLatQpQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/76E48658-C325-4E09-900E-C909855D8036.jpeg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: inherit; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMy Sweet Georgie Bea\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou are sleeping on my lap as I type this, the letter for your 3rd birthday. You are breathing softly, your eyelashes brushing your cheek, and it reminds me of the days when you were a tiny baby. How are you three already? And a delightful little three-year-old you are.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou love Minnie Mouse, and Blaze And The Monster Machines. You often stop in your tracks when you spot my nails painted and declare\u003Ci\u003E “I wike your nails, Mama. They’re so pwetty!\u003C\/i\u003E” You love snuggling with me before naptime still. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes you will remind me if I forget. “\u003Ci\u003EMama, I wanna snugga you,\u003C\/i\u003E” you’ll say, staring at me with your big brown eyes.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7fVhkSQ-Loc\/X5x-TnGgpyI\/AAAAAAAAZwY\/wG0wc3RFjoMDB6W1Bsv1UpmFR_pUQ7Q7gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/D6525FD3-13CB-42C2-A0AD-B2B26096EBB5.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7fVhkSQ-Loc\/X5x-TnGgpyI\/AAAAAAAAZwY\/wG0wc3RFjoMDB6W1Bsv1UpmFR_pUQ7Q7gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/D6525FD3-13CB-42C2-A0AD-B2B26096EBB5.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou have perfected the sad eyes, but you only pull them out when you want more time with us or maybe for a special treat. If we have to tell you no, we will explain why to you, and you always respond with a compliant, “\u003Ci\u003EOkay, Mama.\u003C\/i\u003E” You are very concerned about being left out or having to wait too long, but you don’t demand your own way once we explain. You are the easiest-going three year old I know.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou love pink and princess things, but sometimes your interests also surprise me. You point out trains wherever you see them, and you also like big trucks. Horses are always exciting.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGTnCKT2gYM\/X5x-lSG9U9I\/AAAAAAAAZwg\/ea1ozzzaLiEp2AGW5v4Dsl9bLe3eAc69wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/BC8F76AD-B88A-43AF-859C-0A58C051E548.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XGTnCKT2gYM\/X5x-lSG9U9I\/AAAAAAAAZwg\/ea1ozzzaLiEp2AGW5v4Dsl9bLe3eAc69wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/BC8F76AD-B88A-43AF-859C-0A58C051E548.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou greet the moon whenever you spot it, and in that five minutes right before it’s pitch-black outside, you will gasp and exclaim “\u003Ci\u003EMama, wook, it’s so pwetty out dere!”\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;When I was getting ready for hunting season, you confidently declared \u003Ci\u003E“I’m going to be a hunter too!”\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0H4APxvaCkk\/X5x-p3vL8MI\/AAAAAAAAZwk\/7cjqjcvawHQEcY5gKR9QdUJcJWMYBob5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/E2A8260A-D17C-41B7-893E-93B274DD33D0.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0H4APxvaCkk\/X5x-p3vL8MI\/AAAAAAAAZwk\/7cjqjcvawHQEcY5gKR9QdUJcJWMYBob5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/E2A8260A-D17C-41B7-893E-93B274DD33D0.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou have a sweet tooth, but generally you are pretty easygoing about food. You’ll eat anything that isn’t “hot” (spicy). You’re always doing silly little things to make us laugh, like chewing your food on double-speed. Once I asked you if you liked your bowl of soup, and you didn’t respond as you kept your eyes on mine, raised your spoon, and made a noisy slurp then laughed. We all chuckled with you! You are such a fun little girl.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EMy favorite moments are when I have left the house for some reason - maybe a grocery shopping trip or just to get the mail- and as soon as I walk in the door you rocket around the corner and shout excitedly “\u003Ci\u003EMama, You’re home! I missed you, Mama! I wuv you so much!”\u003C\/i\u003E It makes me smile and hope you never stop. From the time you were an newborn you’ve added so much fun and joy to our days, my sweet girl. I wish I could freeze you right here. But every month you grow and say more cute things, and develop cute new habits, and reveal more of your adorable and funny personality. And then I’m excited to see what’s to come.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;I love you more than all the leaves in all the mountains in all the world, my sweet girl. Happy 3rd Birthday!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003ELove Always, Mama\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YLfVyLcmhUc\/X5x--BT-alI\/AAAAAAAAZww\/Or5vFvWeancrewMxSsb0PEu2eio1bNPIgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/0F1F98DC-EB40-4A1E-B731-9B795D4AFCB0.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YLfVyLcmhUc\/X5x--BT-alI\/AAAAAAAAZww\/Or5vFvWeancrewMxSsb0PEu2eio1bNPIgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/0F1F98DC-EB40-4A1E-B731-9B795D4AFCB0.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5527774061058791874\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5527774061058791874\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5527774061058791874"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5527774061058791874"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/georgie-bea-at-three.html","title":"Georgie Bea At Three"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7fVhkSQ-Loc\/X5x-TnGgpyI\/AAAAAAAAZwY\/wG0wc3RFjoMDB6W1Bsv1UpmFR_pUQ7Q7gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/D6525FD3-13CB-42C2-A0AD-B2B26096EBB5.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7268637038071212410"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-26T08:49:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-26T08:49:31.632-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Our Saviour"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"For When You Feel Insignificant"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-omfuZp_RxzM\/X5bgDi-dtEI\/AAAAAAAAZwE\/FTmYMvRFzbEk_dewnZmUIxdFcGh_is24gCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-227blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI typed out these words on my phone this morning, intending to post them to Instagram - but they ended up being more blog-length, so I wanted to share here. \u0026nbsp;I hope you'll forgive this slight bit of blogging cheating this morning - I am still recovering from a successful hunting trip over the weekend! \u0026nbsp;more on that later in the week. \u0026nbsp;Happy Monday, friends!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E---\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003E“Whence, as I said before, the Word, since it was not possible for Him to die, as He was immortal, took to Himself a body such as could die, that He might offer it as His own in the stead of all, and as suffering, through His union with it, on behalf of all, bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and might deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E-Athanasius, On The Incarnation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E“There is a pattern and a lesson here. As we read the lives of men and women who have been strategically used by Christ in building His kingdom, we note that the names of those through whom they were brought to faith in Jesus Christ are often forgotten or lost. But their significance is in calculable. God delights to use the hidden and the forgotten.”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E-Sinclair Ferguson, In The Year Of Our Lord\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #262626;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38);\"\u003EThis morning I read these beautiful words from Athanasius about Jesus’s sacrifice to save us from our sin and give us life - followed by these poignant thoughts from Sinclair Ferguson. Do you know the names of the people who brought some of the church fathers to faith in Jesus? I don’t.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\"\u003ESometimes it’s hard to see the impact of our work, whether we are doing any good. Most of us will never be well-known outside our circle of friends and family. We make meals, we give our best effort at work, we keep our houses clean and comfortable. We smile at the grocery store clerk, we encourage a friend, we serve at church. We pray for the salvation of our children, we try to point them to Christ, we try to witness to others of His goodness when we can. But it can still at times all feel a little insignificant.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\"\u003EMy grandma and grandpa were brought to faith by a door-to-door salesman who saw my grandma was searching and started a conversation. I don’t know his name. I’m pretty sure he isn’t in any history books. But a whole family came to faith in Christ because he was faithful. \u0026nbsp;Generations will be affected for Christ because of someone whose name is now lost to us.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\"\u003EIt may be that no one ever knows your name. We’ll live in this little blip of history, and then fade away and be forgotten. But that doesn’t mean our work for the Lord is insignificant. He is using us greatly, though we may not always see it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q9wC_5YzmZ0\/X5bgXFdxX5I\/AAAAAAAAZwM\/HbV8Sk7XwfMo52-xMS4MALNom0c2OD2DgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-227blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7268637038071212410\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7268637038071212410\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7268637038071212410"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7268637038071212410"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/for-when-you-feel-insignificant.html","title":"For When You Feel Insignificant"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q9wC_5YzmZ0\/X5bgXFdxX5I\/AAAAAAAAZwM\/HbV8Sk7XwfMo52-xMS4MALNom0c2OD2DgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/October-2020-227blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1087631267340405308"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-23T15:51:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-23T18:33:22.371-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reformation Day"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Celebrating Reformation Day: More Resources"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ll6WHqruk9s\/X5NNukerbLI\/AAAAAAAAZvg\/UtGos068BAoL_6TfmVsdZHHTYfDto57lQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/ACS_0125blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Pretty frost on the trees this morning - it's cold out there!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA couple years ago, we started celebrating Reformation Day. \u0026nbsp;I wanted my kids to have a greater sense of their heritage as Christians, a greater idea of their place in the history of the church and how God is working through His church down through the ages. \u0026nbsp;And since \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2018\/10\/the-main-reason-we-dont-celebrate-halloween.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewe don't celebrate Halloween\u003C\/a\u003E, Reformation Day also seemed like a fun and worthwhile thing to celebrate instead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI wrote a few posts about \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2018\/11\/how-we-celebrated-reformation-day-and.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehow we celebrated Reformation Day\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2019\/10\/for-celebrating-reformation-day.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esome of the resources I like for teaching kids about Reformation Day\u003C\/a\u003E, etc. \u0026nbsp;Well, I'm always looking for more books and resources to add to our collection, and I found a few that I wanted to share as we get ready for Reformation Day next week! \u0026nbsp;If you are looking for some resources for teaching your kids about church history, or just want to learn more about the Protestant Reformation yourself, here are a few more to add to your list.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OBQVI5uEoDI\/X5NN104WvmI\/AAAAAAAAZvk\/pekMO4zW-j09AB7f-Uib4Ebga7UiFNgnACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/ACS_0125blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELittle Pilgrims Theology Free Lesson \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I just came across this\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/littlepilgrimstheology.com\/welcome\/trial_reformation\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E free lesson plan for a Reformation Day study \u003C\/a\u003Ewith your kids! \u0026nbsp;If you would like Reformation Day to be a family event, and you have kids in upper elementary, this would be something to check out. We are planning on working through this lesson together next week! I also listed a bunch of other family resources in this post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELigionier's Reformation Day Playlist\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - The 500th anniversary of the Reformation was in 2017, and even though I somehow missed the fanfare that year, a lot of great resources were created to mark the occasion - including\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MuH4_nm-a90\u0026amp;list=PL30acyfm60fVkcD9WSk_H1V6USEIAkINZ\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E this playlist from Ligionier Ministries by speakers at a Reformation Anniversary conference\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;(Ligionier actually has a bunch of Reformation Day playlists, but I liked this one because it had longer messages.) \u0026nbsp;I've listened to a few of these messages the last few weeks, and they are so inspiring. \u0026nbsp;Highly recommend checking these out in the week leading up to Reformation Day - I'll be listening to more of these messages too!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELuther: In Real Time Podcast \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- Ligionier Ministries is also putting out \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/luther-in-real-time\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea real-time podcast following the events of the Reformation\u003C\/a\u003E on the dates they happened historically! \u0026nbsp;The first couple episodes are already out, and I can't wait for the October 31st episode that I'm sure is coming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIn The Year Of Our Lord\u003C\/i\u003E by Sinclair Ferguson\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This is \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Year-Our-Lord-Reflections-Centuries\/dp\/1567699707\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=in+the+year+of+our+lord\u0026amp;qid=1603488358\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea book I picked up to read in honor of Reformation month\u003C\/a\u003E - each chapter covers a century of church history, giving some info and stories about church heroes of that time. \u0026nbsp;I also love that it includes a hymn from each century at the end of the chapter. \u0026nbsp;I think this would be a great \"highlight\" study of church history from the very beginnings of Christianity until now, and it's great as a lead-up to Reformation Day!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Buhn0R_0GVQ\/X5NN8uTMTBI\/AAAAAAAAZvo\/LOmPpXNr1OMfwJWoFjKliIhA7RNFvxibgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/ACS_0127blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou want to know something? \u0026nbsp;Our foray into celebrating the Reformation was almost a one-year occasion. \u0026nbsp;The first year I came up with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2018\/11\/how-we-celebrated-reformation-day-and.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea few ideas for celebrating\u003C\/a\u003E, and in my book, it didn't seem like anything too special. \u0026nbsp;The next year we were particularly busy that week, and I thought we'd probably just skip any special marking of the day that year. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut my kids didn't forget. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy oldest reminded me that Reformation Day was coming, and they all told me how excited they were to celebrate and learn about Martin Luther again. \u0026nbsp;So I threw together a haphazard celebration that they thought was amazing, and I'm so glad I did. \u0026nbsp;Because they were right. \u0026nbsp;Even if it's not the 500th anniversary, Reformation Day is worth marking. \u0026nbsp;Protestants tend to be a little historically untethered, as if there wasn't any church history between the disciples and the last hundred years. \u0026nbsp;And it's so unnecessary, because we have rich history to root us, firm historical ground to stand on. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Xcgs7CHTJ14\/X5NOGN95TcI\/AAAAAAAAZvw\/8qMhGs8UfRwdIzPWNyliVQyK5AECnfm7wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/ACS_0126blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReformation Day is a day to remember the heroes that came before us, men who believed in God's Word and stood up for what it said, even when it might have cost them their lives. \u0026nbsp;It's a day to take courage from their bravery, and to thank God once again that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, apart from any merit or works of our own. \u0026nbsp;When that truth sinks in, when we trust in Christ alone for the salvation of our souls, and realize that He exchanged our filthy rags of sin for His pure-white righteousness in the eyes of God - well, that truth can set you free. \u0026nbsp;It's a beautiful thing, worth all our gratitude and thanksgiving and praise, to the glory of God. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's what the Reformation is all about. \u0026nbsp;It's not just about the historical roots of what Martin Luther did that day - it's ultimately about the most glorious gift of what Christ has done to save us. \u0026nbsp;That's worth celebrating every day, but Reformation Day is a good opportunity each year to turn our eyes to Jesus anew.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1087631267340405308\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1087631267340405308\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1087631267340405308"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1087631267340405308"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/celebrating-reformation-day-more.html","title":"Celebrating Reformation Day: More Resources"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OBQVI5uEoDI\/X5NN104WvmI\/AAAAAAAAZvk\/pekMO4zW-j09AB7f-Uib4Ebga7UiFNgnACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/ACS_0125blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-6676746208657178989"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-22T17:22:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-22T17:22:09.199-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bullet Journaling"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Three Years Of Bullet Journaling: How I Do It"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kevobh0f4Nc\/X5ISbrIi7_I\/AAAAAAAAZus\/a_5fRkzat5QoHomtWu7MeGNwIL886hqUACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_3917blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year I started my second bullet journal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI was almost due with Georgie, my last baby, when I first heard of bullet journaling. \u0026nbsp;I have always loved the idea of planning, but I've never been very good at the execution. \u0026nbsp;For years I would buy a new planner in January, with grand plans of all the ways I would use it - and by February I would get stuck. \u0026nbsp;I don't know if it was stress paralysis at the thought of messing up the pretty pages with my scribbles and eraser marks, or the lack of things to put into it, or just a problem of disorganization that was so great, even a nice planner couldn't fix it. \u0026nbsp;But I would always hate that half the planner ended up empty, the unused pages like an accusation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo when I heard of bullet journaling, and how it didn't matter if you fell off the planning wagon because you could turn the page and start over at any time - well, I was sold. \u0026nbsp;I loved the idea of no more unused pages!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBullet journaling in general is a system that allows you to keep track of the tasks you need to accomplish, and it combines it with a calendar and a diary. \u0026nbsp;Everyone agrees the system of bullet journaling this way started with Ryder Carroll (and you can find out more about it\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletjournal.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E). \u0026nbsp;However, a lot of people have used bullet journaling in many other creative ways - that's where you start to see all these super-artistic bullet journaling spreads (that might be inspiring, but also intimidating). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you are interested in looking into bullet journaling, I really like the book \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/w\/dot-journalinga-practical-guide-how-to-start-and-keep-the-planner-to-do-list-and-diary-thatll-actually-help-you-get-your-life-together_rachel-wilkerson-miller\/13891800\/item\/42126614\/?mkwid=5F8Qd4T0%7cdc\u0026amp;pcrid=70112885352\u0026amp;product=42126614\u0026amp;plc=\u0026amp;pgrid=21326561472\u0026amp;ptaid=aud-305373123344%3apla-294813786956\u0026amp;utm_source=google_shopping\u0026amp;utm_content=5F8Qd4T0%7cdc%7cpcrid%7c70112885352%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7c%7cproduct%7c42126614%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c21326561472%7cptaid%7caud-305373123344%3apla-294813786956%7c\u0026amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw28T8BRDbARIsAEOMBczsnLu40p-w66qmDmKE7LkDmQCk3pJreZlWoG8ldcbVjO9Y6-CHe4gaAuFtEALw_wcB#idiq=42126614\u0026amp;edition=14449731\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDot Journaling \u003C\/i\u003Eby Rachel Wilkerson Miller (look, there's a cheap used copy here!\u003C\/a\u003E). \u0026nbsp;She makes bullet journaling feel really doable for not-very-artistic people (like me). \u0026nbsp;This is the book I originally stumbled across at the library that made me interested in bullet journaling. I also \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2018\/01\/how-i-use-bullet-journaling.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewrote originally about bullet journaling here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince I am approaching my third year of bullet journaling, I thought I'd write a little bit about it here. \u0026nbsp;I don't use my bullet journal like anyone else probably, and that's the beauty of bullet journaling - you make it what you want it to be! \u0026nbsp;I thought I'd share some of the different types of pages I've done over these last three years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fjZt-xtizgI\/X5ISsK1uztI\/AAAAAAAAZu0\/pJCc2plG8-MxhC64zW9wF07brhnoio9HwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3919blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECalendar Pages\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - The most obvious use for a bullet journal is to lay out a calendar grid and use it just like a planner. \u0026nbsp;While I've done calendar pages periodically in my journal, I mostly just insert those pages when I am looking ahead to a particularly busy month or season. \u0026nbsp;It helps seeing everything laid out so I know what I am hoping to accomplish, and it keeps me on track. \u0026nbsp;But then in slower seasons, I just skip the calendar pages - no use doing a calendar for a slow month when I'll hardly need it,\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBudget Pages\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - For a while I was keeping track of my monthly budgeting in my journal, but I couldn't quite find a layout I liked that looked clean. \u0026nbsp;Most of my budgeting pages end up messy. \u0026nbsp;I might try these again as we are on a tighter budget the next few months with furlough days with Derek's work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDiary Pages\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - I go through stages with diary pages - sometimes I'm really good at documenting each day, and then I'll fall off and not write anything for six months. \u0026nbsp;I notice in particularly stressful stages of my life I tend to fall off these. \u0026nbsp;But, when I do remember to write a couple lines each night, it's nice to be able to look back and see what things we were doing over the last year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DVWJjeR3yAs\/X5IS9pupVwI\/AAAAAAAAZu8\/35NOP975OmIVHA2sKaWJpq7-im8XsCFUQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3920blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CZvk2Oz72MY\/X5IS96TOY9I\/AAAAAAAAZvA\/65Dnu9bbsJY9Z9aU7pYrLdC2P3slygAfACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3921blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-R9_B1cc5pJ4\/X5IS-fwqhJI\/AAAAAAAAZvE\/GL44UT8ExbYiWggPuis9F-7z5oSLeED5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3922blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading\/Watching Pages\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - In my new bullet journal I created a couple pages to keep track of what I have read so far this year, as well as a page to document the World War One resources I discover. \u0026nbsp;I've also done \u0026nbsp;book progress pages, and pages to keep all the quotes I liked from certain books. \u0026nbsp;I love looking back on these! \u0026nbsp;It's also motivating to see all the things I've read and learned over the course of the year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMemory Pages\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - These are the pages I'm most proud of. \u0026nbsp;When I think of some memory I want to record, sometimes I'll muster the creativity to create a bullet journal spread, and they always bring a smile to my face when I flip through them later! \u0026nbsp;When I first started journaling, I created a page after Georgie was born, and I love looking back at what I wrote. \u0026nbsp;Earlier this year I had a little inspiration, and I created a page with the bottles of my favorite perfumes over the years, and what those scents remind me of. \u0026nbsp;And then there are little pages for the seasons, like a \"first signs of spring\" page. \u0026nbsp;These are the pages where I sometimes get a little creative and add some color to my journal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sOClTVjOfr4\/X5ITUokcKgI\/AAAAAAAAZvU\/ePE6rJrgWpYpoWRWzFNPTk6Zc6iASecNQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3923blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UwpbfEKzj5A\/X5ITUDoa-1I\/AAAAAAAAZvQ\/DuiZ0TbugggWpsZYXcrMxEIaW2R6qjBSwCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/IMG_3924blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESurprisingly, the original way of bullet journaling - as a to-do list, with a system for organizing your tasks each day - is not something that has stuck for me, at least not right now. \u0026nbsp;Somewhere along the way I dropped using a bullet journal as a way to organize my to-do's, and started using it to just record things I wanted to keep track of, things I wanted to remember. \u0026nbsp;I might go back to the traditional bullet journaling system eventually, but for now I am enjoying working with the types of pages I listed above.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EDo any of you use a bullet journal? \u0026nbsp;How do you use it?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/6676746208657178989\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=6676746208657178989\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6676746208657178989"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6676746208657178989"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/three-years-of-bullet-journaling-how-i.html","title":"Three Years Of Bullet Journaling: How I Do It"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fjZt-xtizgI\/X5ISsK1uztI\/AAAAAAAAZu0\/pJCc2plG8-MxhC64zW9wF07brhnoio9HwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_3919blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4671347996037943102"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-21T16:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-21T16:31:51.549-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"An Unscheduled Non-Break"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Bqs_ieydjUY\/X5CyWxiwoBI\/AAAAAAAAZuM\/U5GZEJmdo18o6RUs8DkFZXG1A1XwW9JBwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-039blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHomeschooling this year started out so very well. \u0026nbsp;I was surprised how well it was going actually. \u0026nbsp;The kids were excited to learn, we were flying through our work each day, and we even got ahead in a few subjects. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI might have gotten a little over-confident, because the last few weeks have been a bit of a disaster when it comes to our school. \u0026nbsp;Between a few family items (purchasing a new car because our old one broke down, flying out of state and coming home more exhausted than I thought, dealing with a cold), we have been running to catch up to normal all month. \u0026nbsp;We are still managing to get our essential work done, but it's taking all day, peppered a generous amount of exhaustion, with a sprinkling of bad attitudes (from me and the kids). \u0026nbsp;It just hasn't been great.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MBJQqGCxdks\/X5Cytoc0jZI\/AAAAAAAAZuU\/fRvHIdydBzUI002s55i9tzb1KLmW2wdewCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-075blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Derek and the kids in the corn maze we visited a couple weeks ago!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis got me thinking a bit about my homeschool scheduling. \u0026nbsp;There are a couple scheduling systems that I am aware of for homeschooling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYear-round homeschooling\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This is where you do school all year round, with pre-planned breaks sprinkled in. \u0026nbsp;The breaks can be anytime you want really, but one method I've heard of is the \"sabbath\" or term model (every seventh week you take off). \u0026nbsp;I think some people also do two months on, one month off, or they just take random breaks throughout the year for vacations or trips.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETraditional school schedule \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- This is where you follow the traditional schedule of school in the fall, winter, and spring, with the summer off. \u0026nbsp;There may be short breaks sprinkled in, but the more breaks you take during the year, the longer your school calendar goes into the summer, so days off are usually kept to a minimum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe have always done a traditional school schedule in our homeschool, with one big break taken every summer. \u0026nbsp;I prefer it this way, because where we live the weather is the nicest in the summer, and I want us to be able to enjoy it. \u0026nbsp;I also enjoy having a long break in the summer to really get my plans settled for the next year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_37GVyXxP6o\/X5CzFY2k8NI\/AAAAAAAAZuc\/bTea4d3lE20HS9ZKJis21YPw2xOJ1EthgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-108blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe problem with following a traditional schedule is that over the summer, you can sometimes get out of \"school mode\", and you may need a little time to gear back up to a full load once the fall starts. \u0026nbsp;Then once you are into full-on school mode, it can become a little monotonous and feel like the breaks are so far away. \u0026nbsp;It's easy to start getting discouraged, or to get in a rut.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's about where we are right now. \u0026nbsp;The novelty of a new school year has worn off, some of our good habits are slipping a little, and we're all just...\u003Ci\u003Etired of school\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause our state requires a certain amount of days completed each year, and because I don't want to \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E take a break in the summer, our option to take a week off is limited. \u0026nbsp;But, I have found an alternative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWe are taking a term break without \u003Ci\u003Ereally \u003C\/i\u003Etaking a term break.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd what I mean by that is that every 8-10 weeks this year, I think I will plan to have a light week of school. \u0026nbsp;Instead of taking an entire week off school and losing those days, we are going to take a week off of just certain subjects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring our semi-break week we are taking off math and reading instruction while I reevaluate our daily schedule a little bit. \u0026nbsp;We are continuing history and science (our \"fun\" subjects) - so we are still doing school each day, just not \u003Ci\u003Eall \u003C\/i\u003Eour usual subjects. \u0026nbsp;I am hoping this slight break from our usual school routine will give me some space to figure out what I need to change to keep our school days fresh. It will also give us a rest from parts of our work so we can refresh our attitudes when we get back to our full days in November.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis plan will also be a benefit to our school schedule because it allows us to catch back up in some of the subjects where we fell behind (science and history are the subjects that get dropped when we have a rough day). \u0026nbsp;We had a little wiggle room in our yearly schedule with math and reading, so we should still be able to finish those subjects \"on time\" as well. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2nxwOKDv-EU\/X5Czc6CGDeI\/AAAAAAAAZuk\/8asTYp90sc8RDo_s4gLkNCbZXq72xeKlwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-039blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA great thing about homeschooling is the flexibility to play with our schedule like this. \u0026nbsp;I love that when we are all getting in a school rut, I can schedule a small, desperately needed break (non-break?) to give us some breathing room. \u0026nbsp;I love that I don't have to stress about falling behind in certain subjects, because I can switch some things around and it will all even out in the end. \u0026nbsp;Homeschooling equals so much freedom for our family when we are going through a rough patch, freedom we wouldn't have if we were attached to an external school schedule. \u0026nbsp;It's truly a blessing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIf you homeschool, do you follow a traditional schedule? \u0026nbsp;Or do you change it up?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4671347996037943102\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4671347996037943102\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4671347996037943102"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4671347996037943102"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/an-unscheduled-non-break.html","title":"An Unscheduled Non-Break"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MBJQqGCxdks\/X5Cytoc0jZI\/AAAAAAAAZuU\/fRvHIdydBzUI002s55i9tzb1KLmW2wdewCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/October-2020-075blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-6589622636521548628"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-19T17:57:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-20T07:11:18.450-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"House"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New House"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Our Cleaning Routines And Habits"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uoCGHrF9AMI\/X44ktdCMxaI\/AAAAAAAAZtY\/QdHw6cB4IGgkGXdO7iwhpUURApIIgdwgwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/IMG_1618blogcrop.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uoCGHrF9AMI\/X44ktdCMxaI\/AAAAAAAAZtY\/QdHw6cB4IGgkGXdO7iwhpUURApIIgdwgwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_1618blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESomeone once asked me how I \"do it all\". \u0026nbsp;Five young kids seems like a lot, and I think they were wondering how I keep the house running, homeschool the kids, and still find time to blog and read and all that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy answer to the \"how do you do it all\" question is the same now as it was then -\u003Ci\u003E I don't\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt that time especially, I let certain things around the house slide in order to fit everything all in. \u0026nbsp;But the other day someone made a comment about how I manage to keep my house so clean, and I realized that somewhere along the way I got back on top of the housekeeping. For the most part. \u0026nbsp;I still feel like I don't keep the house as clean as I would like it to be, but for having five kids it's not too shabby.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-VyHU9UGrfms\/X44lKPuSBtI\/AAAAAAAAZtg\/Zs55pzKOteg-cRVH1M7nlt_aTloaa78GwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1689blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(I would show you better pictures, but the thing that has to slide now is this blog - taking pictures takes time! \u0026nbsp;Maybe I'll do a quick house tour on Instagram later this week.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnyway, I thought I would share a few of my (very basic) cleaning routines and habits that have helped our house not be the disaster you might expect it to be with five little kids! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESweep the floor and do the dishes every day.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor me, I feel pretty good about the state of my house if there isn't visible dirt on my wood floors, and if the kitchen sink and counters are reasonably clear. \u0026nbsp;After every meal I wash the pots and pans immediately \u0026nbsp;and clean out the sink, and I think that helps me never have too much of a disaster in the kitchen. \u0026nbsp;I usually end up sweeping once a day, usually sometime in the morning while the kids are doing bookwork. \u0026nbsp;There is a lot of dirt in the mountains! \u0026nbsp;These two things are the bare necessities of cleaning for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHave the kids pick up their toys at set times during the day.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery morning before breakfast I ask the kids if their rooms are cleaned up and if their beds are made. \u0026nbsp;I also ask them to clean up toys before lunch and\/or nap time (I only have one kid who still naps, but nap time is still clean up time).And then I'll have the kids pick up before dinner so everything is reasonably clean before bed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStraighten up clutter before bed.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore Derek and I head up to bed each night, we usually start the dishwasher, pick up any toys that were missed, and straighten up the living room. \u0026nbsp;I'll straighten up the books in the school room, put any stray dishes I find in the kitchen, and just generally do a quick declutter. \u0026nbsp;Since we do this every day it usually doesn't get too bad, so this takes us maybe 5-10 minutes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zLWImEaQ5bU\/X44lU35c-rI\/AAAAAAAAZtk\/y3UX_MuyE28HvXvlYVllbxwQp9L_g-f5QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1629blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EVacuum and clean bathrooms around once a week (or as necessary).\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of a whole week, I'll usually do a quick vacuum job and rotate through cleaning all three bathrooms. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes these things need to be done more often, but I get to these chores at least once a week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDust and wash windows every 2-3 weeks as part of a whole-house cleaning day. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese chores are usually part of a whole-house cleaning day every 2-3 weeks. \u0026nbsp;Some people rotate through different types of chores each week on a looping basis, but I like to have the whole house clean at once in a while. \u0026nbsp;So every few weeks I'll do a good declutter and try to clean as much of the house in one day as I can. \u0026nbsp;I try to do this before we have guests over for dinners too (though that doesn't always happen).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LDAqrJp-25s\/X44l8s4orhI\/AAAAAAAAZt8\/4sA39nWA5vQVg4UU4wBs7qiOKabGq9ZCACPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/IMG_1618blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDo a little bit of laundry every day.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaundry is the one chore that never ends. \u0026nbsp;I usually throw a load in at least once a day, and then the clean\/dry clothes sit in baskets until I get a chance to fold them. \u0026nbsp;I hate folding laundry, so I'll usually save it up and do it all once a week, when I have a mountain to deal with and it's very overwhelming (but at least I can do it while listening to an audiobook, right?). \u0026nbsp;Thankfully Derek helps me so much with the laundry though - when he has time he will fold a bit of laundry each night, so sometimes I don't have to tackle my weekly mountain of laundry!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd one final thought that helped me a lot...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERealize that real people live here.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen I was first married, I used to get very uptight about keeping the house looking good all the time, until I realized that I do not live in a show home. \u0026nbsp;A real family lives in this house, real people. \u0026nbsp;Real children eat at that table and spill their food sometimes, those real books stacked in the corner are really being read, a real dog leaves his hair all over everything, a real toddler is potty-training. \u0026nbsp;Though I still breathe easier in a tidy house, and I try my best to make sure our home environment is generally clean and comfortable, I've loosened up my standards somewhat. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBetter a happy family in a messy house than a stressed-out family in a show home. \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;There is a little made-up proverb for ya.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YRW0wK11tDc\/X44lkv8OySI\/AAAAAAAAZtw\/a0ZvZxipGQ8FFTp0qc58p-ILlFbE9rTeACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1505blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHow do you handle housekeeping routines?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/6589622636521548628\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=6589622636521548628\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6589622636521548628"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6589622636521548628"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/our-cleaning-routines-and-habits.html","title":"Our Cleaning Routines And Habits"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-VyHU9UGrfms\/X44lKPuSBtI\/AAAAAAAAZtg\/Zs55pzKOteg-cRVH1M7nlt_aTloaa78GwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_1689blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4409699783999279396"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-18T05:30:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-18T05:30:11.042-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sunday Quotes Vol. 3"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5kHAu9xXKqA\/X4tvfHqnZhI\/AAAAAAAAZtI\/h69nQf7wrP0lomI91UEe1PE12Yv4fyjMgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-549blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"No human being should learn from another. Each individual should develop his own powers to the uttermost, not try to imitate those of someone else.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E-Agatha Christie, via Hercule Poirot,\u003Ci\u003E Lord Edgeware Dies\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI read this quote yesterday, and it really amused me. \u0026nbsp;N\u003Ci\u003Eo human being should learn from someone else\u003C\/i\u003E - that's not a view you hear often, is it? \u0026nbsp;I don't think I totally agree with that part, but I think what it's getting at is to not \u003Ci\u003Ecompare\u003C\/i\u003E with someone else. \u0026nbsp;I like the sentiment of playing to your own strengths and talents instead of trying to imitate someone else's.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESpeaking of quotes and books, I'm going to a library sale today! \u0026nbsp;Any authors I should look out for?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E---\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's the maybe-schedule for the week!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMonday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOur Cleaning Habits And Routines\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETuesday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFind Yourself A Hobby: Photography\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWednesday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EInstagram And Bloggers: Some Thoughts\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EThursday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EReading: Pastime Or Hobby?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E(Note: A blog friend raised this question after my hobby post, and I had\u0026nbsp;already written this topic title! It's a question, that.)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFriday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBullet Journaling: How I Do It\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESaturday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThoughts On Family Culture\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fOC5_XeKtZo\/X4tvp8BJHII\/AAAAAAAAZtM\/FaGpH650rREt_bR7L0O0lIfCOskLi6IIQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-549blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4409699783999279396\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4409699783999279396\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4409699783999279396"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4409699783999279396"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/sunday-quotes-vol-3.html","title":"Sunday Quotes Vol. 3"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fOC5_XeKtZo\/X4tvp8BJHII\/AAAAAAAAZtM\/FaGpH650rREt_bR7L0O0lIfCOskLi6IIQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/October-2020-549blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7631586205498196608"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-17T09:54:00.003-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-17T10:12:42.324-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Value Of Creating Tangible Things"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7EV5STnISqI\/X4sTDLBEf6I\/AAAAAAAAZs4\/qfK1Zc-MZZ49qmZNPajgZyp0w_2_tDAOQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_3737blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy grandma on my dad's side died when I was around nine years old. \u0026nbsp;I remember crying at her funeral, but I don't think I fully realized at the time what I lost. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy grandma was a really neat lady by all accounts, and I remember that too. \u0026nbsp;I remember her pulling out the toys for us to play when we went over to visit, and I remember going over with my mom one day to make a fall wreath craft together. \u0026nbsp;I remember her funny magnets on the fridge, and her glasses, and her big welcoming smile. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI wish I would have had a chance to know her as an adult. \u0026nbsp;I won't really get to know her until I meet her in Heaven.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut here in my living room, I have two blankets she crocheted. \u0026nbsp;The stitches are intricate, and the colors are bright. \u0026nbsp;And I feel like even though I lost her before I was old enough to really know her, I have something of her every time I look over and see her blankets in the corner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI was thinking about her blankets the other day when I was mulling over the value of hobbies. \u0026nbsp;One reason that I define hobbies as an activity that produces something is because of those blankets. \u0026nbsp;There is something valuable about a hobby that allows you to create something tangible, something to pass down. \u0026nbsp;Something your descendants can point to and say \"\u003Ci\u003EMy great-grandmother made that.\u003C\/i\u003E\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WflR0kljkDg\/X4sTRNRCKpI\/AAAAAAAAZs8\/TBOmIn9qJyU12tRj8apkr-nuYFWBSMqvQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3744%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI have other things around the house that have been made for me. \u0026nbsp;I have hand towels and table runners and baby blankets that were crocheted for me by dear ladies in the church where I grew up. \u0026nbsp;I have quilts my mom made with me when I was a kid, the baby book she covered in fabric and decorated for me. \u0026nbsp;And I have wooden bowls, a gorgeous cutting board, and the quilt rack that holds my grandmother's quilts, all made by my grandpa.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll these things make me think that I need a hobby that \u003Ci\u003Ecreates something that my kids can hold in their hands. \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;I need to print these writings into some sort of book. \u0026nbsp;I need to print the photos I take. \u0026nbsp;I need to finish that baby blanket I started knitting years ago, I need to stop thinking about learning to embroider and do it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause sitting under my grandma's blanket while I read a book, I realize, there is something special about passing down something tangible. \u0026nbsp;Scripture tells us we can know things about God by the things which He made, and I think there is a sense in which that is true for us humans too. \u0026nbsp;I never got to know my grandma as an adult, but even now I can know some things about her by the gorgeous blankets she made.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaterial things aren't as important as people, but they can remind us of people we love, they can remind us where we come from. \u0026nbsp;Holding something in our hands isn't the same as knowing the person who created it, but we can know something \u003Ci\u003Eabout\u003C\/i\u003E the person by the things they made. \u0026nbsp;Tangible things aren't everything, but they aren't nothing. \u0026nbsp;There is value in creating something you can touch.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd this also reminds me not to get too caught up in this digital world. \u0026nbsp;My grandkids may not ever look up my Instagram account or blog, but they will flip through albums of pictures I took, or read words I wrote on a page, and maybe if I take the time, they can do those things while snuggled under a blanket I made too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5Tqx9Y3Rnks\/X4sTcEef4nI\/AAAAAAAAZtA\/JYRPz2y9-tUGyeWK8a38n5if0MQIi-HmQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3740blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EDo you have anything that was passed down to you? \u0026nbsp;Or have you made anything you can pass down to your kids?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7631586205498196608\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7631586205498196608\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7631586205498196608"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7631586205498196608"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/the-value-of-creating-tangible-things.html","title":"The Value Of Creating Tangible Things"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WflR0kljkDg\/X4sTRNRCKpI\/AAAAAAAAZs8\/TBOmIn9qJyU12tRj8apkr-nuYFWBSMqvQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_3744%2B2blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2739883021125614056"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-16T18:18:00.011-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-16T20:26:19.224-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Musings of a Bookworm"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books That Help Me Find Joy In The Small"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IJkUvUkRC3s\/X4o3bzAT3fI\/AAAAAAAAZsk\/LNAMgK0CI64oAV6OXgafeNYo5zrmxxELgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_3719blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis whole week has been a difficult one for me - nothing big, just a lot of little struggles and failures that have thrown off my whole mood. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I was sitting in my room this afternoon, trying to decide whether to write anything today, or what I could write, or whether to scrap this whole project, I was reminded of a book I read once that encouraged me to see the small things in life that truly matter. \u0026nbsp;And when I started to think about that book, and a few others, I was also convicted again of my rotten attitude that has been adding to my troubles this week. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe attitude of the heart - such a small thing, it seems, but it really is everything. \u0026nbsp;I can do the \"right\" things, the things I am supposed to do as a wife and mom for my family, but if my attitude is terrible that will sour everything. \u0026nbsp;And is my service to my family really of value in\u0026nbsp;God's sight if I do it with a grumbling heart? \u0026nbsp;I can say with confidence that's a hard no.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnyway, as I work on an attitude adjustment, I think the first book I need to go to to refocus is God's Word - verses and principles I've learned from my Bible is what the Holy Spirit was using to convict me this afternoon. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaybe I need to read the story of the Israelites grumbling in the wilderness again, or just remember that in everything I am supposed to give thanks - especially in those moments when I am tempted to grumble instead of recognizing the blessing it is to have a family to take care of, a house to clean, children to teach. And I know I need to remember to turn to Jesus with my struggles and sinful heart attitudes, because He is the one who saved me and can help me overcome those sins now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I am working on an attitude adjustment today though, I thought I'd also share a few of those other books that I remembered, the ones that have made me appreciate the value of small things - especially the small thing of choosing to serve my family with love and joy and gratitude, with my eyes fixed on the glory of God. \u0026nbsp;Have you read any of these?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1814\" data-original-width=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-17GAORN2qvc\/X4o3g-muVBI\/AAAAAAAAZso\/5Zw5CpRkT-4GqC95MwAeeoqf6scQtyIPQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_3719blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting-ebook\/dp\/B078WGTPPZ\/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2CE4T75W8Y2A0\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=936+pennies+discovering+the+joy+of+intentional+parenting\u0026amp;qid=1602893496\u0026amp;sprefix=936+pennies%2Caps%2C191\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E936 Pennies: Discovering The Joy Of Intentional Parenting by Erin Lynum\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E – This book is all about how the author filled a jar with 936 pennies to remind her how quickly the weeks with her children were going by. This book was a good reminder to make the most of every little moment that you have with your kids.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Loving-Little-Years-Motherhood-Trenches\/dp\/1591280818\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3B5T7KSKV1HRU\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=loving+the+little+years\u0026amp;qid=1602893474\u0026amp;sprefix=loving+the+little+%2Caps%2C193\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELoving The Little Years by Rachel Jancovic\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E – I read this book when my kids were babies, and it was very impactful on me at the time. It has been years since I read it, but I know it made me appreciate those small years so much more. I think it’s time for re-read!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Roots-Sky-Journey-Home-Seasons\/dp\/0800726669\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=roots+and+sky\u0026amp;qid=1602893335\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERoots And Sky by Christie Purifoy\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E – This book made me appreciate little things in my life because the writing in it was just so beautiful! That’s the main thing I remember about this book. I don’t remember the points the author made so much, and it’s been a few years since I read it so I don’t know if I would still think the same way about it\u003C\/span\u003E. \u0026nbsp;B\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003Eut I still recall the gratitude I felt when I first read her beautiful words.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/You-Who-Why-Matter-Deal\/dp\/1947644882\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EYK7XI9ZN4I9\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=you+who+rachel+jankovic\u0026amp;qid=1602893307\u0026amp;sprefix=you+who%2Caps%2C193\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EYou Who? by Rachel Jancovic\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This book was a case of reading the right book at the right time for me. At a time when I felt very discouraged, this book made me think about my work in the home in a new way, and the value of serving others, even when it’s not something the world tells you is important.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Beyond-Bath-Time-Embracing-Motherhood\/dp\/0802405622\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=beyond+bathtime\u0026amp;qid=1602893287\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBeyond Bathtime by Erin Davis\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E - I read this book when I had just one very little baby, but I still remember how this book elevates motherhood. \u0026nbsp;I need to re-read this one too, because I'm sure it would still have encouragement on the importance of the work of raising kids.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Teaching-Rest-Homeschoolers-Guide-Unshakable\/dp\/1600512879\/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=teaching+from+rest\u0026amp;qid=1602893253\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETeaching From Rest by Sarah McKenzie\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This is actually a homeschool book, but I am 90% sure this is where I first read the cathedral illustration that I mention in \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2019\/05\/when-wiping-faces-doesnt-feel-satisfying.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis post I wrote about when wiping faces doesn't feel satisfying\u003C\/a\u003E (maybe I need to re-read my own words here). \u0026nbsp;McKenzie has a way of making you realize how the things that seem small can make a big impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Glory-Ordinary-Matters-Gospel-Coalition\/dp\/1433552671\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=glory+in+the+ordinary\u0026amp;qid=1602893217\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGlory In The Ordinary by Courtney Reissig\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - I read this book in the year or two after I quit working as a hygienist, and I love how Reissig emphasizes the ways in which work of all kinds is glorifying to the Lord! \u0026nbsp;This is on my re-read list too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIf you have any good book recommendations along the same vein, send them my way!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2739883021125614056\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2739883021125614056\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2739883021125614056"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2739883021125614056"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/books-that-help-me-find-joy-in-small.html","title":"Books That Help Me Find Joy In The Small"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-17GAORN2qvc\/X4o3g-muVBI\/AAAAAAAAZso\/5Zw5CpRkT-4GqC95MwAeeoqf6scQtyIPQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_3719blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1368930519151771802"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-15T09:35:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-15T09:35:14.975-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blogtober"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Social Media"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Are Social Media Breaks Effective?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tGlsjvitzFk\/X4hr1M4oQTI\/AAAAAAAAZsU\/8qMfNx0g4hsy0siralNEdCbQNv-RZYelgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/DSC_0063blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI am a big advocate of taking a break from social media.\u0026nbsp; As in, deleting the app from your phone for a set period of time.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EEvery December for the last couple years I have taken a break from social media.\u0026nbsp; Both times it has been a great reset, and I return refreshed and ready to set some boundaries.\u0026nbsp; However, if I’m honest, the effectiveness of those boundaries has varied.\u0026nbsp; Sometimes I set a rule or limit for myself that ends up being way too easy for me to cheat on, and I fall right back into old habits.\u0026nbsp; Sometimes my willpower lasts for a a couple months before those old, well-worn patterns start to re-emerge. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt’s easy to dismiss slightly unhealthy social media habits as if they don’t matter - \u003Ci\u003Ebut they do matter.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp; Why else do we even feel a need to take social media breaks?\u0026nbsp; We know that social media can suck away at our time, at our lives.\u0026nbsp; That’s not really a small thing, is it?\u0026nbsp; It’s well worth the time to figure out how to combat the pull toward wasting time on social media.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESocial media breaks can be so useful for clearing your mind.\u0026nbsp; There is a sense in which social media acts on our brains like a drug - we get a little dopamine hit every time we get a new notification on social media, and it keeps us coming back for more.\u0026nbsp; Social media breaks allow your brain to…for lack of a better word…detox from that loop, so that you can make decisions about your social media use with a clear head.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EDid you get that last bit?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EYou detox so you can make decisions.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LXQSkwZgWRA\/X4hsAGBtFyI\/AAAAAAAAZsY\/HqqmukSdJX8stqxkLs7AGtUlJzyM7qZqACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/DSC_0063blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESocial media breaks by themselves are limited in their usefulness, in my opinion.\u0026nbsp; You might gain a little space during a period where you want that time back (new baby, the holiday season).\u0026nbsp; You might feel refreshed while you are off it - you lose that “yucky” feeling, you waste less time, you realize how nice it is to not have that opportunity for comparison constantly within reach.\u0026nbsp; But the second you upload that “\u003Ci\u003EI’m back!\u003C\/i\u003E” post, you’ll be right back where you started.\u0026nbsp; UNLESS, you use your break to come up with a plan. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis is how I handled my social media break last year.\u0026nbsp; I didn’t just take a break to get back a little time and attention for my family during Christmas (though that was a nice perk).\u0026nbsp; I read books about social media and\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2019\/11\/tools-for-social-media-break.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E found resources for creating digital boundaries\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; I sat around and thought a lot about what I liked about social media, particularly Facebook, and what I didn’t like.\u0026nbsp; I made \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/01\/why-and-how-i-deleted-half-my-facebook.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esome really hard decisions\u003C\/a\u003E and developed a plan, and when it was time to get back on, I followed through on those hard choices.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnd I have to say, I’ve never been so satisfied with my Facebook use as I have been this past year.\u0026nbsp; I don’t feel sucked in by it like I used to, and the thought of giving it up for good isn’t even so crazy. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBut…that’s because I made some \u003Ci\u003Eactual changes\u003C\/i\u003E to my Facebook account that allowed me to be successful, and I kept the Facebook app off my phone.\u0026nbsp; If you take a social media break, but don’t use your break to be 100% honest with yourself about your social media use, how it’s negatively affecting your life, and how to change it - your break, in the long term, is probably going to get you exactly nowhere.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI know this because that’s what happened last year with Instagram and me.\u0026nbsp; With Facebook, I emerged from my break with some really clear ideas about what I wanted out of Facebook, and\u0026nbsp;what specific steps I needed to take to make it what I wanted it to be.\u0026nbsp; I did not take the time to be so self-reflective about Instagram, and I have to say that this fall, I find myself right back where I was last year - hating how Instagram is sucking so much of my time, but unsure how to fix it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou know what I’m going to do?\u0026nbsp; I’m going to make some obvious adjustments right now (why wait until December?), and then I may very well take another social media break, this time focusing my attention on Instagram.\u0026nbsp; I need a game plan, and I need time to sort it out.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cb\u003EThat’s the key to having an effective social media break - coming up with a plan while you’re away.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHave you taken breaks from social media?\u0026nbsp; How long were your breaks?\u0026nbsp; Were they useful for your habits longterm?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1368930519151771802\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1368930519151771802\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1368930519151771802"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1368930519151771802"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/are-social-media-breaks-effective.html","title":"Are Social Media Breaks Effective?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LXQSkwZgWRA\/X4hsAGBtFyI\/AAAAAAAAZsY\/HqqmukSdJX8stqxkLs7AGtUlJzyM7qZqACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/DSC_0063blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-3394759496020534133"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-14T17:34:00.003-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-14T17:34:40.506-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Most Days You Have To Choose"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DSDRUUNdsfc\/X4eKxrZhSAI\/AAAAAAAAZsM\/tcF4_anDI340NeqDQJDJ0Ga2lOl-vTZXQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_1688blog.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf there's one thing I've learned in life so far, it's that you rarely can have everything you want all at the same time. Each day is filled with so many choices. \u0026nbsp;And these choices, though they might seem small, really aren't - they lead to habits, they are the sorts of thing that make memories, they create the whole environment of the home. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll these little choices. \u0026nbsp;Will I wake up early to read my Bible before the kids get up, or will I get extra sleep and read later? \u0026nbsp;Will I let everyone sleep longer, or get them up to start school sooner? Will I clean the house or make a fancier dinner? \u0026nbsp;Will I read a book or watch a movie?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy motherhood experience from the beginning has also thrummed with the tension of sanctification. Will I read our science book with the kids over lunch or escape to eat my lunch in quiet for a minute? \u0026nbsp;Will I hurry the kids through their schoolwork so I can check some items off my to do list, or will I exercise patience even if it's taking longer than I wanted? \u0026nbsp;Will I sacrifice that last cookie and split it with the kids? Will I hoard my spare time to myself or put some aside to give my full attention to the story my girl is telling me about the exploits of her stuffed animal? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWill I hide away in my room to type up the pre-planned blog post for today, or will I settle on the couch to watch a show with my nine year old who is skipping Awana tonight because he thinks he might be getting sick?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo many choices. \u0026nbsp;You can't have everything you want all at once. \u0026nbsp;You must choose. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome golden days, or even seasons, when everything goes smoothly, I might briefly experience what it's like to have it all, to do everything I planned to do. \u0026nbsp;I think I've learned that these days are so rare as to be almost mythical, and I'm starting to accept it. \u0026nbsp;Most days I have to choose. \u0026nbsp;Am I going to lay down my life - my wants, my schedule, my plans, my feelings - in order to consider others, my family, as better than myself? \u0026nbsp;Am I going to follow the example of my Savior, or go my own way?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI don't always choose right. \u0026nbsp;Maybe it'll take my whole life to truly learn how to die to myself. \u0026nbsp;But tonight, I'm going to go rub my sick boy's feet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/3394759496020534133\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=3394759496020534133\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3394759496020534133"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3394759496020534133"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/most-days-you-have-to-choose.html","title":"Most Days You Have To Choose"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7136984388794841756"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-12T05:35:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-12T05:35:01.968-06:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"What Happened To Hobbies?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vsLVTuGdMlE\/X4EiWrShOKI\/AAAAAAAAZrs\/ZgN_7zVv4T4mSmU0igZ_62oeYbPW8RIwQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-544blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis week I want to start a conversation here about hobbies. \u0026nbsp;Hobbies, in a lot of ways, seem to be in decline. \u0026nbsp;I want to talk about why that is, and also why it is a worthwhile thing to pursue a hobby. \u0026nbsp;I don't think hobbies are insignificant or meaningless, and I want to see if I can articulate my thoughts on the subject.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, let's talk about what a hobby is. \u0026nbsp;This would be my definition:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA hobby is an activity that is done for enjoyment and produces something, and is not done on a professional level in exchange for money.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm defining a hobby this way because I think once an activity is done in exchange for money, it becomes a business or profession. \u0026nbsp;That's not to say that it's any less worthwhile if you get paid for your hobby - in fact, I think if you can turn a hobby you enjoy into a profession, you are a very blessed person! \u0026nbsp;And I think that even if you make your hobby your business, it can still be a hobby in essence if there are aspects you still do purely for the enjoyment of it (for example, if you have a photography business, but you still take photos that you aren't getting paid for, just because you love it). \u0026nbsp;But if your hobby is turned into a business, and you now only do it on a professional level, that changes the dynamic a bit, I think.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe other part of my definition is that an activity qualifies as a hobby if it is \u003Ci\u003Eproducing\u003C\/i\u003E something. \u0026nbsp;An activity that is done for enjoyment and does \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E produce something would be a pastime. \u0026nbsp;Pastimes can certainly still be a valuable and enriching use of time, such as reading or traveling or playing sports (though I'm sure you can think of a bunch of pastimes that are really wastes of time too!). Pastimes are fun, but hobbies have to involve \u003Ci\u003Ecreating\u003C\/i\u003E something.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's not a perfect definition, and a lot of things are hard to categorize, but let's just work with it for the sake of this post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI don't think there are a lot of people, especially young people, doing hobbies that are just hobbies anymore. \u0026nbsp;Personally I think there are two reasons for this.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1.There is a lot of pressure to \"go professional\" with your hobbies.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think there is this idea in our culture right now that if you are producing something, it's not truly valuable unless you are making money from it. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI find this a lot with blogging for example. \u0026nbsp;I tend to avoid telling people that I have a blog, because there is a sense in which running a blog is looked down upon if your blog is not a certain size and bringing in an income. \u0026nbsp;Personally, I reject that view of blogging. \u0026nbsp;Writing is certainly producing something, and practicing translating your thoughts into the written word is a worthwhile pursuit in my book. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Blogging and writing is not worth less because you decide to keep it in the hobby category instead of going professional with it. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhotography is another personal example. \u0026nbsp;I enjoy photography and creating beautiful portraits of my kids at the different stages of their life. \u0026nbsp;I enjoy paying attention to the light and capturing a candid moment, just for the fun of it. \u0026nbsp;It adds a lot of happiness to my life and is a way of keeping my memories. \u0026nbsp;Is that worth less because I'm not earning money from it? \u0026nbsp;I don't think so. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI also know, because of photo sessions I've done for other people, that turning photography into a business would completely change the game for me. \u0026nbsp;There would always be aspects that I enjoy, but adding the stress of setting up an actual business and pleasing customers changes it from a hobby into something else. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's okay to consider carefully whether \"going professional\" would steal the fun out of your hobby. \u0026nbsp;And if you think it would, it's okay to reject the pressure to go professional. \u0026nbsp;It's okay to have something that you do purely for the joy of it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6fa3klRTeN8\/X4Eir9OJc-I\/AAAAAAAAZr4\/3Q0gqrl9-AYVxCvDTM2i8wEvyMKtdVLEQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-544blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-aIToSmICGdg\/X4EirhMqvcI\/AAAAAAAAZr0\/_oaMH5nJxhgt-UUt22aWx4JH16xQEQXsACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-255blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-phAQmWjLopM\/X4Ej7sv1QgI\/AAAAAAAAZsE\/KPWoAbTgzYIfgVah8_bJ3WfpIS-gXVszQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-484blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2. There are a lot of ways to waste time these days.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think another reason why hobbies, true hobbies according to my imperfect definition, are on the decline is because there are so many distractions and time-wasters in this day and age. \u0026nbsp;And I'm saying that with no judgement, because I spend 2-4 hours per day on my phone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI know that even if I threw my phone away tomorrow, I wouldn't all of a sudden have a 2-4 hour chunk of time on my hands. \u0026nbsp;The time on my phone is spent in snatches. \u0026nbsp;But if I didn't have that distraction constantly pulling at me, would I be able to finish the essential tasks faster? \u0026nbsp;Would being more efficient allow me to be able to schedule more time to produce something of value, instead of scrolling and consuming on my phone?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt probably would. \u0026nbsp;And insert whatever distraction you want here, it all applies. \u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;Watching videos. \u0026nbsp;Listening to podcasts. Checking social media. \u003C\/i\u003EWho has time for hobbies with all the things we could be watching or listening to?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENote:\u003C\/i\u003E Somebody will say that social media or podcasts or Youtube can be a hobby, but I want to make a distinction - \u003Cb\u003Ethose platforms are not hobbies\u003C\/b\u003E, but they can be a way to \u003Ci\u003Eshowcase\u003C\/i\u003E hobbies. \u0026nbsp;Writing and photography is the hobby, and that is \u003Ci\u003Eshowcased\u003C\/i\u003E on Instagram (or a blog). \u0026nbsp;Making videos is the hobby, and that is \u003Ci\u003Eshowcased \u003C\/i\u003Eon Youtube. And think about the podcasts you listen to - a lot of them are based around the speaker's \u003Ci\u003Ehobbies or interests\u003C\/i\u003E, aren't they? \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EYou\u0026nbsp;should take ownership of\u0026nbsp;the \u003Ci\u003Eactual\u003C\/i\u003E hobby - writing, photography, producing videos,\u0026nbsp;speaking about something that interests you - and don't minimize what you do by substituting the platform for the skill.\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;(And if all you do is consume or re-post on those platforms - that's not a hobby according to my imperfect definition, remember?)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust to clarify, I don't think there is anything wrong with spending a reasonable amount of time doing the things I mentioned above. \u0026nbsp;A lot can be learned from podcasts and videos, and I would never fault someone for checking in on social media and using it to interact with family and friends. \u0026nbsp;But there is something important in \u003Ci\u003Eproducing\u003C\/i\u003E something, instead of alway just \u003Ci\u003Econsuming\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Constantly consuming without ever using what we glean to \u003Ci\u003Eproduce\u003C\/i\u003E something...well, I don't think it's good for the soul.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think about the older people I have known in my life, the ones I've known who are free from the pull and distraction of technology because it wasn't something that had become a habit for them. \u0026nbsp;Most of them had hobbies, or pastimes that were worthwhile. \u0026nbsp;Most of them produced something that can be handed down to their children and grandchildren. \u0026nbsp;And so many of them were\/are truly interesting and happy people because of it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think we are missing something with all these distractions, something small perhaps, but nevertheless significant. \u0026nbsp;I think we need to get back to hobbies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDo you have a hobby? Do you agree with my definition? What do you think, is there a decline of hobbies in the younger set?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E(Note: \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=x9lyCMuTRbw\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDennis Prager's video about hobbies\u003C\/a\u003E is what first started getting me thinking about the subject, and he has an interesting theory about why they are in decline!)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7136984388794841756\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7136984388794841756\u0026isPopup=true","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7136984388794841756"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7136984388794841756"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/what-happened-to-hobbies.html","title":"What Happened To Hobbies?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6fa3klRTeN8\/X4Eir9OJc-I\/AAAAAAAAZr4\/3Q0gqrl9-AYVxCvDTM2i8wEvyMKtdVLEQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/October-2020-544blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8397143219884573230"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-11T13:01:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-11T13:01:00.320-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sunday Quotes | Vol. 2"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-a4zJCkEmXn8\/X4DrPqlbL2I\/AAAAAAAAZrY\/rLvB-EJTSR4W7TzR4OZ0C_v-0CcdUorXwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-217blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. \u0026nbsp;Of course, you must make it up \u003Cb\u003Efirmly.\u003C\/b\u003E\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E-Anne Of Green Gables\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EDon't you just love Anne? \u0026nbsp;Lots of good quotes in those books, aside from the obligatory October one!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs you read this, I am flying back from a quick trip to Montana for my cousin's wedding! \u0026nbsp;It's a whirlwind trip and I'm sure I'll be exhausted, so we'll see how my 31 Days Of Small Things project goes this week. \u0026nbsp;Here are some of the topics I'm hoping to get to (if you paid attention to the schedule last week, you know I probably won't follow this - but having it written out helps me to stay at least a little on track).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMonday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat Happened To Hobbies?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETuesday:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Value Of Creating Tangible Things\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWednesday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAre Social Media Breaks Effective?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThursday: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOur Cleaning Habits And\u0026nbsp;Routines\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFriday:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E Find Yourself A Hobby:\u0026nbsp;How To Start Dabbling In Photography\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESaturday:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E To be determined...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UWMrvkGmlNk\/X4DrmyhK9cI\/AAAAAAAAZrg\/R3kBvMMJDc4OvSA8Mhgl6hHjG7r90gnZgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-217blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8397143219884573230\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8397143219884573230\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8397143219884573230"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8397143219884573230"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/sunday-quotes-vol-2.html","title":"Sunday Quotes | Vol. 2"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UWMrvkGmlNk\/X4DrmyhK9cI\/AAAAAAAAZrg\/R3kBvMMJDc4OvSA8Mhgl6hHjG7r90gnZgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/October-2020-217blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2638455062923146895"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-10T05:31:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-10T05:31:00.848-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Trip To The Pumpkin Patch"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-03V63AdEOvI\/X4DevPx2U7I\/AAAAAAAAZpg\/EpMqi8JhDJk8gYkC5MrTQDWClf2XMXrdgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/October-2020-371blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EShe sat in the back of the truck, crunching on animal crackers and drinking apple juice. The wind rustled in the corn across the road, and through the leaves of the trees overhead. Five mini pumpkins were clutched in five small sets of hands, booted feet swinging off the edge of the tailgate while we took a break.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E“\u003Ci\u003EThis is the best day ever,\u003C\/i\u003E” she said to no one in particular, the breeze catching her curls.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sUGj8LiuKnY\/X4DfRDPlwCI\/AAAAAAAAZpo\/yIYaZjKSQU8p5nAnammYlGtKcepeF4s0wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-371blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003EI glanced over at Derek, and and his eyes were smiling too. It had been a pretty great day, chasing our five little kids through a corn maze, trying not to let them get lost. Hitting dead end after dead end, discussing what we should do next and whether that path was really part of the maze or just a cheater path cutting through the rows. Finally spilling out of the corn into a field of pumpkins. Watching the kids run off to find the most perfect one.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lJtqUDiQ49s\/X4DgF7fWxeI\/AAAAAAAAZp4\/JZH8jVlPLY8bL7pQDn0cwrWFQMQPn3qyQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-039blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-A47qEnxWWfY\/X4Df_TDSh5I\/AAAAAAAAZp0\/u4GD6NwrtiYZST1EfRvPWXsKrgIB_FsLgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-068blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-pX_f3vbLjLU\/X4Dg6wChE2I\/AAAAAAAAZqM\/zJhPPk3kep0djsxoe5VilHT3CE86-pt6gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-108blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ekiVo1nVAi8\/X4Dg6umv9gI\/AAAAAAAAZqI\/qmNx6JFEFTMaQ9qV0ii-j83C5dn_t1lJgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-218blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Jg_J6fJXc0Q\/X4Dg3ct0bsI\/AAAAAAAAZqE\/UY-cnwDYSdQEMh7clHM4yYEjLPRwoPZUACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-213blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Kvy1O5aEb7c\/X4DhOZ5ePuI\/AAAAAAAAZqc\/O6efYXU8wzQEXu9qhyAp-ykv50f1GQDaACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-221blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-62Bw4CHxWeQ\/X4DhSYTnG8I\/AAAAAAAAZqk\/zSmMQWK8sFUnnu-EX8-OCf_dr6-NFI-fgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-240blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--HfTX64WOa0\/X4DhP-L5rtI\/AAAAAAAAZqg\/E1iBqDNBAjw_ZEiPTSbbxWv4s46UbAIkgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-252blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mhLobbqDD3M\/X4DhlJu-ZBI\/AAAAAAAAZq0\/upQZrmSe9aUgMhu0I9bF9O1kUto5gtEDgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-297blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jt-QPGWsI4I\/X4DhvCmUTGI\/AAAAAAAAZq8\/mnQkZqkNDZUdMae8j07HWVKKiR94vxaKACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-334blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-I-3zyUzM2EM\/X4Dhuv5YZ_I\/AAAAAAAAZq4\/h7DVXG2oBhYj2s1NId80xTq9gHTmcbqlwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-307blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003EThe reality, though, was that Derek and I were completely exhausted last weekend, after three late nights and three days spent out of the house. Our car had broken down recently, so we have had to take two cars to get anywhere for the last week.\u0026nbsp; We almost didn’t go to the corn maze, but it was our only day this month when we could.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003EBut sitting there with our snacks in the back of the truck, I was glad we had made the effort, even when a myriad of small things might have stopped us. It was a worthy trade for the excitement in their faces, and one small declaration of the best day ever, one sweet memory made.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESmall things that really aren’t small at all.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ESwxemnmp-Y\/X4DkpT0IvjI\/AAAAAAAAZrQ\/6tH5RCcF4g4cZ3UrRhZ4v1kXac2IKx7rgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/October-2020-081blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EI hope you all are having a lovely Saturday!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2638455062923146895\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2638455062923146895\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2638455062923146895"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2638455062923146895"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/a-trip-to-pumpkin-patch.html","title":"A Trip To The Pumpkin Patch"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sUGj8LiuKnY\/X4DfRDPlwCI\/AAAAAAAAZpo\/yIYaZjKSQU8p5nAnammYlGtKcepeF4s0wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/October-2020-371blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7060219920144318452"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-09T05:31:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-09T05:31:00.889-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blogtober"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Morning Routine (As A Homeschool Mom Of Five)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1924\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BUfbSwgtzGQ\/X3_HayLUEEI\/AAAAAAAAZpQ\/V-XZ5jMoYKokzwFxYYDMDmZrhXjtEloVACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h602\/IMG_2346blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor years I dragged myself out of the bed in the mornings, and I internally cringed any time I heard a blogger talk about the importance of \"getting up before your kids\". \u0026nbsp;All I could think was \"\u003Ci\u003Ehow?\u003C\/i\u003E\". \u0026nbsp;How did all these moms manage to get up that early! I couldn't figure it out, and I resented the suggestion a little bit. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday I wanted to talk about my current morning routine, but before I do that, I just want to say that if you have kids under the age of 2, just forget about it. \u0026nbsp; Your sleep is more important right now than figuring out how to have the perfect morning routine. \u0026nbsp;You just focus on staying perky through those baby years any way you need to, okay?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometime after Georgie turned one, and I found myself NOT pregnant with a new baby as I had been when the last several kids turned one, I decided to slowly figure out a morning routine that worked for me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFull disclosure - it's still not a perfect morning routine. \u0026nbsp;I barely manage to get up before my early-bird kids, and there are weeks (like this week) when I don't get up before them at all. \u0026nbsp;It's still a work in progress, but I wanted to share how our mornings usually go. \u0026nbsp;On the days when I do manage to follow our routine, it feels like the whole day goes smoother. Developing a routine is a little thing that has made a big difference for my productivity and state of mind! \u0026nbsp;So here we go.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBetween 6:15-6:45 - \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EThe sun starts to peek over the hills, and my internal alarm clock sounds! \u0026nbsp;I leave the curtains open in the room in the spring and summer so the sun will wake me up, but I'll probably start setting an alarm clock in the winter months. I quickly wash my face and brush my teeth, get dressed, and head downstairs. \u0026nbsp;I can usually squeeze in at least 15 minutes of golden \u003Ci\u003Ecoffee-and-Bible\u003C\/i\u003E time before I start to hear the singsong voices coming from their rooms. \u0026nbsp;I'm still a little too sleep deprived to get up earlier than this, but 15 minutes ahead I can manage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E7:00-7:30 - \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EThe kids are awake, and I have them make their beds and get dressed before they come downstairs. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes I'll let them watch a show while I make breakfast, which is usually some variation of oatmeal (cheapest breakfast I can find, so we have it often). I empty the dishwasher while the water is boiling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E7:30-8:00 - \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EOnce breakfast is ready, they will eat while I read to the kids or do our \"morning time\", which includes Bible memory, catechism, and a hymn. I usually try to read from one of our Bible resources or devotions too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E8:00-8:30 -\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E I clean up the table after breakfast, and I'll get Wyatt (4th grade) and Gwen (2nd grade) started on language arts. \u0026nbsp;The big kids work on independent work and the little kids play while I go finish fixing my hair and makeup for the day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E8:30-9:00 -\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E I come back downstairs and start Clyde's math and reading (1st grade), which usually takes 30-45 minutes. \u0026nbsp;If the big kids finish language arts, I'll have them start handwriting practice or Bible workbooks until I finish with Clyde's lessons.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E9:00-10:30 - \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EOnce I'm finished with Clyde's work, I'll get Wyatt started on his math since his level includes more independent work (after I explain the new concept). \u0026nbsp;Then while he's doing his worksheets, I'll get Gwen started on her math. \u0026nbsp;After that I'll do her phonics lesson while Wyatt moves on to his history curriculum. The little girls usually play in their rooms or outside all morning, but if I get desperate I'll put on a video for them. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E10:30-11:30 -\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E If all goes well, the kids are finished with all their individual work by 10:30 or so, and we can squeeze in reading our science book or a history read-aloud all together. The little girls join us for this too. \u0026nbsp;If it's science, I usually have the kids do some sort of notebooking activity as well.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E11:30 - 12:00 - \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EMake and eat lunch! \u0026nbsp;I usually either read them another book while they eat, or if I need a break from reading aloud I might clean up the house a bit before our afternoon quiet time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd that's our weekday morning routine. The first month of the school year this was working particularly well, but the last two or three weeks our routine has been a little messier than this, and sometimes we'll need to finish up some work in the afternoon. \u0026nbsp;October is a very busy time of year for us, and especially this year it has been a little crazy because of our car breaking down multiple times. But by November things should be quieter and we'll get back to a little more consistency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uzYD35rYALQ\/X3_HbXFRG3I\/AAAAAAAAZpU\/lFBiiP9P9Ik-Egk4VdPmNkgMzsEMZiOUgCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/IMG_2346blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMy Thoughts About Morning Routines:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf you have young kids who don't sleep well, don't worry about it. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;Like I said above, it took me years to even feel like I could manage getting up before my kids, even for 15 minutes. \u0026nbsp;The day will come when things will click and it'll work. \u0026nbsp;If that's not right now, that's okay. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf you have slow mornings and like it that way, keep them!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E I look back in fondness now on our slow, unstructured mornings when all my kids were tiny. \u0026nbsp;It was nice to wake up slowly, and meander a bit in the morning before getting our day started. We need our mornings to be structured now with more kids doing schoolwork, but if you can make your mornings slow and you're enjoying it, don't succumb to the \u003Ci\u003Eget-up-before-your-kids\u003C\/i\u003E pressure. \u0026nbsp;Just enjoy it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoffee is a lifesaver. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;You know what \u003Ci\u003Ereally\u003C\/i\u003E gets me up and out of bed in the morning? \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ECoffee.\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;Derek makes a pot in the morning, and I smell it all the way up the stairs. \u0026nbsp;Just the thought of curling into my chair for a few minutes of quiet with my Bible and coffee...it's what get's me moving, honestly. \u0026nbsp;I think it's perfectly acceptable to let a hot beverage be your morning motivator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf you are feeling like your mornings aren't structured enough for your liking, start small. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;You don't need to be superwoman and get up an hour before daylight. \u0026nbsp;Like I said, I barely make it out of bed 15 minutes before my kids a lot of days. \u0026nbsp;But even that tiny little bit of time has been a game changer for me. \u0026nbsp;It allows me to get my mind right before our morning really starts, and I don't feel like I'm starting the day already behind. \u0026nbsp;And saving just a few minutes to pray for my kids before they come running downstairs helps me a lot in remembering my goal as a mom - to teach my kids about Jesus and lead them to Him. \u0026nbsp;Having those few minutes to put that in the forefront of my mind has been wonderful for shifting my perspective and keeping me calmer when the morning craziness starts!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDo you have a regular morning routine, or are you in a slow-morning stage of life? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7060219920144318452\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7060219920144318452\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7060219920144318452"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7060219920144318452"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/my-morning-routine-as-homeschool-mom-of.html","title":"My Morning Routine (As A Homeschool Mom Of Five)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uzYD35rYALQ\/X3_HbXFRG3I\/AAAAAAAAZpU\/lFBiiP9P9Ik-Egk4VdPmNkgMzsEMZiOUgCPcBGAYYCw\/s72-c\/IMG_2346blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-988963821699708910"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-07T15:07:00.003-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-07T15:07:40.221-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Random"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tea On A Tuesday"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Fresh Start"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2047\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bkXEyB5QlN0\/X34uAII8ghI\/AAAAAAAAZpI\/uYCHyefRauExl-OHSHdx5pERRklKjuTggCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_2179%2Bcopy.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis post is brought to you by my brand new computer!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt has been seven years since we bought my last laptop. \u0026nbsp;It had a good long run, before yesterday when it started taking 10 minutes to do whatever I asked it to do. \u0026nbsp;So we went out yesterday afternoon and picked up a new computer for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI still had to do school with the kids this morning, so I'm just now sitting down and getting it set up. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI had a bit of a decision to make when the Mac guy asked if I wanted to transfer my data from my old laptop to my new one. \u0026nbsp;On the one hand, doing a transfer is the only way to make sure I don't lose anything. \u0026nbsp;On the other hand, there seemed to be something really nice about leaving all that \"old\" on the old laptop, and starting completely new. \u0026nbsp;Kind of like a drastic digital declutter, all at once.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI decided not to transfer anything. \u0026nbsp;I put some files that I thought I'd want to keep on my external hard-drive, and I'll keep them on there. I'm getting a completely fresh start with this new laptop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe keys feel different, and the screen doesn't have any dust on it, and it feels nice just to type and have nothing freeze up on me. \u0026nbsp;I hope you'll allow me a chatty, nothing sort of post today. \u0026nbsp;I feel like I'm still running to catch up with the week, and I don't have anything good to say surrounding my theme for the month. \u0026nbsp;So let's just chat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Crazy Few Days\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe last few days have been crazy. \u0026nbsp;Our car broke down recently, so we have been driving everywhere in two cars, and we checked out a couple new car options to see if we can find another car that we can afford that will also carry us all. \u0026nbsp;So it's been a lot of driving, and a lot of late nights driving all over the place, and picking up our car from the mechanic, and running out yesterday to buy me a new laptop. \u0026nbsp;To make a long story short, we are sleep-deprived and tired of driving. \u0026nbsp;But we're headed out to AWANA tonight anyway, and I think I need an afternoon cup of coffee to keep me awake for it. \u0026nbsp;It's that kind of week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the plus side, we did go to a pumpkin patch in the middle of driving all over creation, so I have some cute pictures to share whenever I get set up to edit photos on here!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Little Library Trip\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast week we finally took a walk to our little local library, which we haven't visited since everything shut down in March. \u0026nbsp;I love that tiny little library. It smells a little musty, like old paper and glue. \u0026nbsp;There is a tree with pretty leaves right outside, and it blankets the ground every October. \u0026nbsp;For some reason when I rent books from that library, I actually end up reading them, unlike the books I get from big library in town. \u0026nbsp;The little library books just feel more worthy of being read for some reason. \u0026nbsp;Anyway, I picked up The Grapes Of Wrath and a story collection from an author I've never heard of, but the first story already made me cry. \u0026nbsp;I'll do a book roundup soon and share more. \u0026nbsp;But I've finally given up on forcing myself to read from a list, and I'm just reading whatever strikes me fancy. \u0026nbsp;I'm a chronic reader of many books at once. \u0026nbsp;It's incurable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Trip To Montana\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis weekend I am flying to Montana with my mom for my cousin's wedding. \u0026nbsp;I've never flown out of state for a wedding before, so it will be an adventure. The wedding is another reason why it feels like I can't catch up this week. \u0026nbsp;I haven't even had a chance to do a test-pack (necessary since I'm trying to pack everything in my \"personal item\" so we don't have to pay for luggage). \u0026nbsp;I haven't even decided what to wear. \u0026nbsp;Our flight was pushed back by a couple hours, so my mom and I have to wear our wedding outfits on the plane, because we'll basically be driving from the airport to the venue. \u0026nbsp;What does one wear to be comfortable on an airplane \u003Ci\u003Eand\u003C\/i\u003E look good at a wedding? It's a conundrum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's going to be a whirlwind trip, and I wish we had a little more margin to check out Montana. \u0026nbsp;But I'll probably get to sit next to my mom on the plane, and that will hopefully be a nice time to visit with her. \u0026nbsp;So it'll still be good I think. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Hairdo Dilemma\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose of you who have been around a while know that I usually have short hair, but I've been letting it grow out some this year. \u0026nbsp;It's now shoulder-length, and I like that I can pull it up when I want to, though the length is still slightly awkward and not quite long enough for a bun. \u0026nbsp;But I kind of hate it down right now. \u0026nbsp;It just feels like \u003Ci\u003Eso much hair\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I think I'll get a trim before I decide whether to chop it or give it another few months to get a little longer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd I think when you start rambling about whether to get a haircut, it's time to bring the post to a close. \u0026nbsp;I'm sorry this doesn't quite fit with my 31 Days theme. \u0026nbsp;Let's just call this is a collection of \"small things\", the kinds of things you might ramble about to a friend over coffee. \u0026nbsp;An afternoon coffee. \u0026nbsp;Because it's been that kind of week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHow's your week going?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/988963821699708910\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=988963821699708910\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/988963821699708910"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/988963821699708910"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/a-fresh-start.html","title":"A Fresh Start"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5385971543010874095"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-06T10:50:00.003-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-06T12:58:30.426-06:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Some Thoughts On Habits"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Vmw9pxY52A4\/X3yf7AD2nlI\/AAAAAAAAZo4\/TRMl_EReLjsyIXK7CTeWyHL8ExjmZk1jwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/6372C678-F7D5-43C0-983C-40DEC428C7A7.jpeg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EI am not an expert on habits, but I do know that habits matter. Habits shape what I do every day - what I eat, where I go, how I speak to my family. I wanted to spend a little time considering \u0026nbsp;habits on my blog this month. If there was ever a “small thing” that can make a big impact - for the good or not - habits are it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EI first became aware of what a hold that habits can have on me when I tried to break a rather addictive habit - getting coffee every time I made the drive down to town. I’d near the turn off for our mountain Starbucks, and the struggle would begin. “No,” I’d tell myself, “you don’t need a coffee.” But then I’d think about how I really wanted a coffee, and how nice it would be to have something hot to drink while I ran my errands, and I found myself turning off anyway.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EHabits are hard to break, even by sheer willpower. This can be good if you’ve developed a beneficial habit, but in my experience the good habits are never as consuming as the bad habits you are trying to break. Just try NOT picking up your phone for an hour, and you’ll see what I mean.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EBut then I picked up a book about habits a few years ago (The Power Of Habit by Charles Duhigg), and I started to figure out why I was still doing things I was trying not to do. Learning the tricks and a little bit of the phsychology and physiology of habits can help a ton when you are trying to break a habit! I don’t remember everything I read in that book, but there is one aspect that stuck in my brain. It’s been a game changer in figuring out how to turn habits to my advantage.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EThat thing is habit triggers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZdgBU8KxKbM\/X3ygKO11aCI\/AAAAAAAAZo8\/76KKXN6JD1AP89Hr3E2iezbgTY3JYJYEQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/82DD7BCE-50EF-4FCF-9D72-539000E0C626.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EIt turns out that most habits that we develop are connected to a trigger. My trigger for buying coffee was errand days (especially if I missed breakfast). My trigger for picking up my phone is boredom. The idea is that once you’ve figured out what your trigger is, you can either break the trigger, or change the habit that you associate with the trigger to something more beneficial.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EJust knowing that tidbit about triggers and how habits are connected to them helped me a ton in breaking the “code” to my own habits. It helped me think through how I could break bad habits and develop better ones.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EI’m reminding myself of this now as I consider some habits this month, good and bad, that I’d like to develop or adjust.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EFor example, if I know that I am going to want coffee when I run errands, I can plan ahead and bring my coffee from home, or I can find a less expensive coffee place to become my new habitual stop. Or I can leave my phone plugged into the wall during the day and carry a book around to pick up when I get that restless, bored feeling. These are just quick examples, to really be successful I probably have to evaluate my habit triggers a little more to figure out the best substitute. But it’s something I’m thinking about and working through right now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003EHave you ever considered whether your habits (especially bad ones) have triggers?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); color: #454545; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E(P.S. I hope you’ll excuse me if there are errors in this post, and forgive me for the fact that I don’t have the book suggestion linked - I’m blogging from my phone today because my computer is conking out on me! Time to get a new one I think.)"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5385971543010874095\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5385971543010874095\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5385971543010874095"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5385971543010874095"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/some-thoughts-on-habits.html","title":"Some Thoughts On Habits"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Vmw9pxY52A4\/X3yf7AD2nlI\/AAAAAAAAZo4\/TRMl_EReLjsyIXK7CTeWyHL8ExjmZk1jwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/6372C678-F7D5-43C0-983C-40DEC428C7A7.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8285799343793977956"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-05T08:12:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-05T08:12:34.783-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Social Media"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Social Media And Me: An Update"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-flYHN8kNkhw\/X3spQG1usUI\/AAAAAAAAZoY\/KaxVH1oXcdkHfAhP7CbahA3poRzv6OUoACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/DSC_0090%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ELast year I unfriended half of my Facebook friends.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt seemed like a drastic move, but it was the culmination of months of evaluation of social media and how I was using it.\u0026nbsp; I hated how my first instinct in the morning had become checking my phone.\u0026nbsp; I hated how I would randomly find myself with my phone in my hand and social media open, without actually remembering reaching for my phone.\u0026nbsp; I hated how social media had affected some of my friendships, and how it was affecting my own attitude toward the world.\u0026nbsp; I hated that it was stealing my time.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAt the time, Facebook was my biggest struggle, so that is where I put all my thought and effort.\u0026nbsp; What were the things I liked about Facebook?\u0026nbsp; What were the things I didn’t like?\u0026nbsp; How could I make adjustments to keep the aspects that were useful to me and discard the rest?\u0026nbsp; What was making me waste so much time on Facebook, and how could I eliminate those factors?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAfter a lot of thought and even prayer about the subject, I decided the only thing that would help would be to drastically cut my friends list, unfollow a bunch of pages, and keep my Facebook use to the function that was most useful to me - which was sharing photos with my close family and friends who appreciated seeing them.\u0026nbsp; I wrote \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/01\/why-and-how-i-deleted-half-my-facebook.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea whole post about my unfriending process here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; I think it even shocked some of you!\u0026nbsp; But I knew in my heart it had to be done.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESince I took the steps I outlined in that post, I have felt so much more free in regards to Facebook.\u0026nbsp; It’s not the time suck for me that it used to be.\u0026nbsp; I might check it once a day, but since I cracked down on my notifications and the people I follow, there is rarely something new.\u0026nbsp; I hop on and I hop off.\u0026nbsp; I’ll occasionally share albums so my grandparents can see my photos, and occasionally I’ll share an article that I find interesting, but that is rare.\u0026nbsp; My Facebook use overall has probably declined by 70%, and it feels great!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EHowever, Instagram is a different story.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-j96ygM3kjD4\/X3spnOPj5lI\/AAAAAAAAZog\/HDtEdImh6Sod3sLTC3d3NeVjyzg46QobACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/DSC_0090%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIs it possible that all my bad social media habits just switched over to Instagram?\u0026nbsp; Did the pandemic throw me off, since social media was the only way to connect with my friends for a while? I don’t know what went wrong, but Instagram has been slowly taking over my life this year, and I’ve realized that it’s time for me to re-evaluate that platform now.\u0026nbsp; I’m hoping I can make a similar transformation to my relationship with Facebook, because once again I find myself with my phone in my hand and Instagram open, without knowing how I got there.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI hate how social media (Instagram) steals all the free moments in my day.\u0026nbsp; Yes, they are small moments, times when I’m waiting for a child to finish a worksheet so we can move on to the next subject, or waiting in the line at the grocery store.\u0026nbsp; The ten minutes after my Bible reading in the morning, when I type out a quick Instagram post.\u0026nbsp; A half hour after my workout when I post a short video. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBut all those “small moments” add up to a lot of time, time that could be better spent on other things.\u0026nbsp; I could read a book while waiting for that worksheet.\u0026nbsp; I could shoot a quick text to a real-life friend in the grocery store line.\u0026nbsp; I could spend ten minutes memorizing Scripture.\u0026nbsp; I could take some time to just be still and think.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThose things are all worth so much more, in the long run, than a few hearts on Instagram.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESo it’s time to evaluate Instagram.\u0026nbsp; Usually I would wait for my annual social media break, but after having a chat with Derek, I think I’m going to try a different approach to making Instagram adjustments.\u0026nbsp; More on that coming up this month.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EDo you have any boundaries in place for yourself in regards to your time on social media? Or\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003Ehave you\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;taken any measures to make it easier?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8285799343793977956\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8285799343793977956\u0026isPopup=true","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8285799343793977956"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8285799343793977956"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/social-media-and-me-update.html","title":"Social Media And Me: An Update"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-j96ygM3kjD4\/X3spnOPj5lI\/AAAAAAAAZog\/HDtEdImh6Sod3sLTC3d3NeVjyzg46QobACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/DSC_0090%2B2blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-3626492489197187467"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-04T14:42:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-04T14:42:22.275-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blogtober"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sunday Quotes | Vol. 1"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PrVLq0nrws4\/X3ozPDRNkYI\/AAAAAAAAZoQ\/M0DcdRY0VN4RDBBwrtVdf_KCEUixMrdCQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_1924blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;\"The voices of children echo throughout life. \u0026nbsp;The first thing learned is generally the last thing forgotten.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E-Charles Spurgeon, Come Ye Children\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's going to be tricky to get a post up on Sundays during my 31 Days of blogging, so I am keeping it simple with Sunday quotes. \u0026nbsp;Every week I'll share a quote that stood out to me from one of the books I'm reading. \u0026nbsp;This one stopped me in my tracks because it's so true, and I want to take care to teach my children to look to Christ always. \u0026nbsp;I hope that's one of the things they learn first in our house, and I need to take care not to neglect this in favor of meaningless distractions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Sundays I'll also try to give a peek at the week ahead! \u0026nbsp;Here's my tentative schedule (keep in mind that this may change, but if one topic sounds particularly interesting to you, let me know and I'll prioritize it).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMonday:\u003C\/i\u003E Social Media And Me: An Update\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETuesday:\u003C\/i\u003E My Morning Routine\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWednesday:\u003C\/i\u003E A Few Thoughts On Habits\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThursday:\u003C\/i\u003E An Argument For Creating Tangible Things\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: \u003C\/i\u003ETo be determined\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday:\u003C\/i\u003E To be determined\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/3626492489197187467\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=3626492489197187467\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3626492489197187467"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3626492489197187467"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/sunday-quotes-vol-1.html","title":"Sunday Quotes | Vol. 1"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5695395724300174821"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-03T11:18:00.004-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-03T11:20:12.501-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Worthy Way To Spend A Life"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PY_6gb49JsQ\/X3ivLk1qxPI\/AAAAAAAAZoA\/KeNQWlssNJUxrYziDTlNoYDVb9MOEfnagCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_1801blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\"Day by day, and with each passing moment,\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EStrength I find, to meet my trials here...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003ETrusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"font-size: 16px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003EI’ve no cause for worry or for fear.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWe sang the words, surrounded by faces that will forever be seared into my memory. \u0026nbsp;As we sat, I looked down at the program for the memorial. \u0026nbsp;The face of a dear lady, one of my many \"church grandmas\" from my childhood, smiled up at me.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EE’er to take, as from a father’s hand,\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOne by one, the days, the moments fleeting,\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETill I reach the promised land.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnother dear face, a pastor I haven't seen since I was 12 years old, stood behind the pulpit etched with the words \"\u003Ci\u003EJesus Is Lord\u003C\/i\u003E\". \u0026nbsp;He spoke about how Jesus could return at any moment, and how we all long for the day when we can see His face, as the woman we had all gathered to remember is looking upon Him now. \u0026nbsp;And my eyes filled with tears, my heart filled with something bittersweet. \u0026nbsp;She led a life well lived for Christ, and unlike some memorials, I knew the kind words about her were not exaggerated in the wake of her death. \u0026nbsp;I knew all the words about her faithful service were true.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI hugged her husband, a white-haired \"church grandpa\", and choked up a little again.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWe gathered downstairs for refreshments, and I looked at the quilted wall hangings she had made, photographs of her in her wedding dress.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003EHer name will not be in a headline or a history book. \u0026nbsp;But there is nothing small about quietly serving others, and faithfully encouraging them to know and love Jesus more. \u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;This is a truly worthy way to spend a life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;And the One who matters most, He sees and rewards His faithful servants.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI looked around at all the people she had made an impact on,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Epeople who still are such a dear part of my own story.\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp; And I realized, this lump in my throat wasn't just sadness for a lady a wouldn't see again, and a time that has passed. \u0026nbsp;I realized it was also joy. \u0026nbsp;Because no matter where life takes us, I know someday I'll gather with all these dear people again, around His throne, and there will be joy untainted by sorrow forevermore. And this all because of our precious Savior. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis wasn't a funeral to grieve; this was a memorial to celebrate what Christ has done to save us, and to look forward to the time when we will see her again. \u0026nbsp;What a beautiful thing to be able to say. \u0026nbsp;What a wonderful way to remember one who has entered His glory. \u0026nbsp;And what a Savior, who takes away the sting even from death. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"versenum\" style=\"display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"versenum\" style=\"display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"oblique\"\u003E“O\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"oblique\"\u003EDeath, where\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan class=\"oblique\"\u003Eyour sting?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"oblique\"\u003EO Hades, where\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan class=\"oblique\"\u003Eyour victory?”...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003EBut thanks\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Ebe\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;to God, who gives us\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethe victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.\" \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E1 Corinthians 15:55,57\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1393\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ersbLuvQjN0\/X3iwt82yGlI\/AAAAAAAAZoI\/mA2hBEpL5JcUROSnO_tB5JoDxGRamK42ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1801blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/31%20Days%20Of%20Small%20Things\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003ERead all my 31 Days Of Small Things posts here\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5695395724300174821\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5695395724300174821\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5695395724300174821"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5695395724300174821"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/a-worthy-way-to-spend-life.html","title":"A Worthy Way To Spend A Life"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ersbLuvQjN0\/X3iwt82yGlI\/AAAAAAAAZoI\/mA2hBEpL5JcUROSnO_tB5JoDxGRamK42ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_1801blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4550990170059390030"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-02T05:33:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-02T05:33:00.346-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blogtober"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Creating A Home"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Decorating"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Home Projects"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Art Of Coziness: Analyzing My Favorite Fall Show"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-V_LDL0DpdBk\/X3Z4Vp6vhmI\/AAAAAAAAZno\/Lt6PwKk6e1UWQHXwdX5ffriaikzQ6qwbgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_1929blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I type, I'm sipping on a warm chai. \u0026nbsp;I hear the kids laughing and chanting a rhyme outside the window as warm beams of sunlight angle across the grass. \u0026nbsp;I'm in my cozy pajamas, and the twinkle lights are on.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI figured if I'm going to write about coziness, I might as well get in a cozy mood.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis sudden inspiration for coziness actually came at the end of a pretty rotten day. \u0026nbsp;I checked, and there is a full moon right around the corner, so that might explain it (there is something to that). \u0026nbsp;Everything was a struggle all day, and I quickly found myself retreating into \"hide\" mode - meaning I locked myself in the closet a couple times to calm myself. \u0026nbsp;Let's just say the atmosphere of the home was not what I wanted it to be yesterday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter working out and taking a shower, I put on an episode of Gilmore Girls while I fixed my hair. \u0026nbsp;I'm rewatching the show this fall - the last time I watched it all the way through, Wyatt was a baby, so it's been a while. \u0026nbsp;And I started thinking about how many times I've referred to Gilmore Girls as a \"cozy fall show\". \u0026nbsp;What exactly made it so cozy anyway? \u0026nbsp;And could I replicate that for my kids? \u0026nbsp;A little coziness would be a nice reset for everyone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter\u003Ci\u003E careful analysis\u003C\/i\u003E (ahem), I pinpointed all the elements that make Gilmore Girls so cozy to me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-03P0KTZ88CA\/X3Z4d_ZXYAI\/AAAAAAAAZns\/b74T60YL-GsL88vvzx2Ive7ARpclPQ-cgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1926blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWarm Lighting\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you pay attention, you'll notice there is so much warm light in the show - everywhere you look there are twinkle lights or lamps lit - and I think that's a big part of what makes it cozy. \u0026nbsp;It gives you the feeling of being tucked inside a warm house. \u0026nbsp;Whether it's candles, lamps (of which I want to buy more), or twinkle lights, I think that aspect would be really easy to replicate daily in our home. \u0026nbsp;I already do this somewhat with candles, but I want to get a couple more good lamps to illuminate the dark corners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGood Books\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIs there anything more cozy than curling up with a good book? \u0026nbsp;If you are a reader, you can't help but love all the references to books in Gilmore Girls - I don't know if all the books mentioned are actually good, but you know the characters think they are good, and that's what counts. \u0026nbsp;We've been adding more just-for-fun read-aloud time to our homeschool, and it's something I want to remember as a cozy way to reset.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESeasonal Decorations\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey really go all out on the seasonal decorations in Stars Hollow, don't they? \u0026nbsp;I'd love to know if any real-life town is like that. \u0026nbsp;All I know is that my kids are always excited when I pull out the the fabric pumpkins and faux foliage that I keep in the box under my bed. \u0026nbsp;When things are starting to get stale around the house, some seasonal decorations are a nice touch to make everyone feel like staying home!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWarm Drinks\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChai, cider, hot chocolate, and of course, coffee. Are the characters in that show ever \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E drinking something warm? I am blessed to be able to say that every morning I'm awakened by the smell of coffee, thanks to Derek, and it's glorious! \u0026nbsp;But since I don't let my kids drink the stuff yet, I've been buying extra jugs of apple juice at the store lately, so I can periodically make hot cider in the crockpot. \u0026nbsp;It makes the whole house smell good, and it's perfect for keeping everyone happy while we read aloud.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMusic\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is so much music mentioned in Gilmore Girls, not to mention the town minstrel, and it sets the mood for the whole show. This is something I'm terrible at, but I would really like to get better at remembering to add some music into our day. \u0026nbsp;I could start something in the morning while we do our Bible time, or I could play soft music over nap\/quiet time. \u0026nbsp;I think music would be a really great way to calm the house a bit and boost some moods.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Busy Kitchen\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is one I never thought about before, but as I was watching the show last night, it struck me that in so many of the episodes, there is a busy kitchen scene (usually with Suki). \u0026nbsp;Even if we don't see Suki, Lorelei and Rory are always ordering in good food. \u0026nbsp;There is something about just knowing that there is something good to eat in the kitchen, or something bubbling on the stove, that makes the whole thing that much more comforting - like virtual comfort food.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI would like my house to feel like that for my kids, like anytime they walk in the kitchen there might be something good to eat waiting for them. \u0026nbsp;I've never been good about meal planning, and even baking (something I love to do) has fallen off in recent months. \u0026nbsp;I'd like to put a little more attention back into the kitchen this winter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Close-Knit Community\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's sad that so many Americans have never really experienced a close-knit community, isn't it? \u0026nbsp;Stars Hollow, with it's host of eccentric characters that care about each other despite their oddities, is not exactly the norm anymore. \u0026nbsp;We've lost something. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think 50-100 years ago, more people knew what a small community felt like. \u0026nbsp;But if you are lucky, you've been part of a close-knit community at some point in your life. \u0026nbsp;When I was growing up, we went to a really small, close-knit church that almost felt like family, \u0026nbsp;Even today, my own family has enough roots in the town where I live that occasionally someone I don't recognize will ask how a family member is. \u0026nbsp;There are remnants here and there. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven as it's harder to find a close-knit community for my children to grow up within, I am trying to build our own, with family, friends, and our church family. \u0026nbsp;Even if we didn't have an option for those things, there is a sense in which a family is it's own little community, and if it's a Christian family, it is by nature a small cell of a larger community that stretches around the world - the church, the body of Christ. \u0026nbsp;A family can support and love each other despite oddities, and even host their own \"community events\" in the form of traditions - and we can connect ourselves to the larger context of the church through learning about church history and heroes of the faith. \u0026nbsp;So even as Stars Hollow towns are more rare, I think there are ways to still give our families that sense of belonging to something bigger. \u0026nbsp;We just have to keep your eyes out for opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wQiQF27y1pk\/X3Z4mqJsRSI\/AAAAAAAAZn0\/TCffP6CYuR81rEgiAG_R5bXqIUFk2ex2ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1929blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIs it worth all this effort to add some coziness to our life? \u0026nbsp;Does this really matter?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've been thinking about this a lot lately, about how we as moms can help set a good atmosphere for our home. \u0026nbsp;I sincerely think it's something that is worth pouring into. \u0026nbsp;For me, chaotic days like yesterday happen too often for my liking. But my hope is that, overall, when my children grow up, they'll hear the word \"home\" and think of a cozy, safe place, with parents, family, and friends who love them. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a sense, a person's idea of home can even shape their idea of Heaven, and the God who reigns over all. \u0026nbsp;I don't always reflect Him to my kids as well as I want to, within the atmosphere of our home (or in general, honestly). \u0026nbsp;But in these small ways, I'm trying, and I'm praying the Lord will use my sometimes pitiful efforts and make something beautiful out of it by His grace. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat do you do to make your home cozy for the fall or winter? \u0026nbsp;Do you feel like you are part of a close-knit community? \u0026nbsp;And, most pertinently,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003Ewhat other cozy fall shows should I check out?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4550990170059390030\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4550990170059390030\u0026isPopup=true","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4550990170059390030"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4550990170059390030"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/the-art-of-coziness-analyzing-my.html","title":"The Art Of Coziness: Analyzing My Favorite Fall Show"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-03P0KTZ88CA\/X3Z4d_ZXYAI\/AAAAAAAAZns\/b74T60YL-GsL88vvzx2Ive7ARpclPQ-cgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_1926blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8655509247503053780"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-01T09:41:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-03T11:19:12.635-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Challenge"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blogtober"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Write 31 Day Project: Small Things"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZPVS38qm_bQ\/X3X3U6tHlMI\/AAAAAAAAZnY\/rymx86wOAmI56VKINsyMULtmrJduW0aBwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/Fall-Family-Photos-2020-100%2B2_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ERemember how t\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/31%20Days%20Of%20Writing%20Challenge\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehe last couple years I’ve done a Write 31 Days project\u003C\/a\u003E?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EFor those of you who may have no idea what I’m talking about, Write 31 Days used to be an event that bloggers participated in every October.\u0026nbsp; The challenge was to write around a certain topic every day for the entire month.\u0026nbsp; A pretty big blogger used to host it, there was a linkup so you could find other bloggers who were participating, it was a whole thing. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI, as per usual, was late to the party. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI first participated in Write 31 Days in 2018, right as the project was passed off to a new host and the whole thing was winding down.\u0026nbsp; I participated again last year, even though there was no longer an official event, and there were maybe a few other people participating. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003ENow\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;this year, the official website appears to be down.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EEven though Write 31 Days is no longer a “thing”, I still like the idea of it, and I like what it does for my blogging. Sometimes I forget that it’s okay for blog posts to not be a huge production, and Write 31 Days tends to break me out of that mindset and just get me \u003Ci\u003Ewriting\u003C\/i\u003E again.\u0026nbsp; Personally, I like to read blogs that aren’t so polished, that are honest and personal and not done for any other reason than to just write and possibly connect with other real human beings.\u0026nbsp; Writing every day forces me to get back to that a little bit.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThe last couple weeks I was putting more effort than usual into my blog Instagram account, just to see if I really gave Instagram a good go, if I could make genuine connections there.\u0026nbsp; If it could give me the same feeling that blogging did for so many years in it’s hey-day, where there was reciprocity and you felt like you were making friends, not just gaining followers.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESpoiler Alert: \u003C\/i\u003ENo, Instagram is still not like blogging, even when I give it my best effort.\u0026nbsp; It seems the focus of Instagram will always largely be about obtaining the largest number of followers. Even when you do make Instagram friends, it’s hard not to get sucked into the numbers game.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBlogging, the way I’ve always done it, is smaller.\u0026nbsp; It’s cozy.\u0026nbsp; It’s inviting someone into your living room to chat, instead of shouting at them from the sidewalk. Maybe more people can hear you on the sidewalk.\u0026nbsp; But in the living room you can look into a friend’s eyes and just be still for a minute. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnd what’s so wrong with small things anyway?\u0026nbsp; So many of the small things in life, or the things most of the world would consider small, are the most meaningful. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CCMrJ86qY8U\/X3X3hS72ohI\/AAAAAAAAZnc\/eb5zP0QpaxAqsDXvOx4fJlF5_HRyEqWbACLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/Fall-Family-Photos-2020-100%2B2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESo, my topic for this year’s Write 31 Days project (maybe I should call it something else since that’s no longer a thing?\u0026nbsp; Suggestions welcome):\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E31 Days Of Small Things.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOver the next 31 days, I’m hoping to refocus on the things that are small.\u0026nbsp; Small ways I’m spending my time, good and bad.\u0026nbsp; Small habits, successes, and failures.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cb\u003ESmall things that add up to something bigger, until you realize the small things were really the big things all along.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EHere is my tentative list of sub-topics:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ESocial Media \u003C\/span\u003E- I want to spend some time discussing social media because this is a big huge thing in our world, and my personal choices on it seem so small - but they make more of an impact than I know.\u0026nbsp; Not always in a good way.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHabits \u003C\/span\u003E- Sharing some general thoughts on habits, some good habits that have worked out well for me, and some areas that I want to work on.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003EHobbies\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E - Whatever happened to hobbies anyway?\u0026nbsp; Why does everything have to be so… \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003Eprofessional \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003Eall the time?\u0026nbsp; I think hobbies are still worthwhile, and I want to talk about that a bit this week. (\u003C\/span\u003EWould\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;it be cheating if I included a \"recent reads\" post under this topics?)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ESmall Things That Really Matter\u003C\/span\u003E - You are not going to get worldly accolades for reading your Bible or raising children or making dinner every night - but small doesn’t equal insignificant. So many things that are small in the sight of the world are really the things that really matter.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI hope you’ll stick around the blog this month as I ramble about some of these topics!\u0026nbsp; And if you have any input about something you want to read about related to any of the above, I’m all ears (or eyes…since this is written communication…you know what I mean).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EP.S. My long-time blog friend \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.witheagerhandsblog.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBrittney \u003C\/a\u003Eis also participating in the Write 31 project! \u0026nbsp;Check out her blog for\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Edaily-sh posts this month too! Also, I declare that\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bekahsbits.blogspot.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBekah\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is honorarily participating because she blogs every day anyway. \u0026nbsp;And if you have a blog and want to join in, it's not too late! \u0026nbsp;Please do!\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8655509247503053780\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8655509247503053780\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8655509247503053780"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8655509247503053780"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/10\/a-write-31-day-project-small-things.html","title":"A Write 31 Day Project: Small Things"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CCMrJ86qY8U\/X3X3hS72ohI\/AAAAAAAAZnc\/eb5zP0QpaxAqsDXvOx4fJlF5_HRyEqWbACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/Fall-Family-Photos-2020-100%2B2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7819149026339717327"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-30T08:57:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-30T08:57:40.180-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Birthday Celebrations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clarice"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clarice's 5th Year"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clarice's 6th Year"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Preschoolers"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"To My Golden-Haired Child, On Her Fifth Birthday"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fAHsrcJzS0k\/X3SbiKsxggI\/AAAAAAAAZm8\/hTqbwVs1eKIyfZ_VehvlGoetuHdiHDmWACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/September-2020-066blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMy Sweet Clarice,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday is your fifth birthday, and as the sun was peeking up over the hill, I peeked into your room to see if you were awake. \u0026nbsp;As soon as my eyes met yours, you popped up in bed, and your face broke into a grin when I started singing you happy birthday. \u0026nbsp;This is your day, and you are bouncing and grinning as you take it all in.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year with you has been a good one. \u0026nbsp;You have always been my quiet, introspective girl, but this year you started telling me more and more of what you are thinking behind those pretty blue eyes. \u0026nbsp;You have such an imagination, \u0026nbsp;and you are always coming up with funny stories to tell me and your dad. \u0026nbsp;We love hearing your imaginations! \u0026nbsp;You are also a little artist, always coloring and drawing pictures to mail to your friends and family. \u0026nbsp;Often in the last few months you'll present me with an envelope and a name of who the envelope should be mailed to. \u0026nbsp; I love how you've been thinking about others that we haven't seen often enough for your liking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou have such a sweet, sensitive heart, and when something is bothering you, you get very quiet. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes I just pull you onto my lap for a hug until you are ready to tell me what's wrong. \u0026nbsp;I've especially loved seeing some of our Bible verses and catechism questions stick in your mind. \u0026nbsp;Hearing your sweet little voice reciting Scripture is one of my favorite things.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RcxXH9Mhlxo\/X3SbkdqtkxI\/AAAAAAAAZnE\/1-WWl2Nl0j4e1_15kr8yeYo5yTzdvOY8QCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/September-2020-073blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou're interested in all things princesses, and you color your princess pictures so carefully (you're really quite a good colorer). \u0026nbsp;You relate most to Rapunzel because you both have \"golden hair\" (when someone says your hair is brown, you sweetly correct them). \u0026nbsp;Your curly hair is beautiful, and you always make note when I wear mine curly, declaring that my hair is just like yours. Your big blue eyes are constantly twinkling with excitement or humor, and you have a bubbly and fun little personality. \u0026nbsp;Even when you don't say much, you win everyone over with your big smile. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour favorite color is pink, and when I asked you said your favorite food is \"toast!\". \u0026nbsp;Your favorite dessert is ice cream, which I could have guessed because on one of our days together this year, you thoughtfully announced to me that you wondered what mint chocolate chip ice cream tasted like. \u0026nbsp;We promptly got you some, and you were in heaven as you dug into your dish, occasionally sharing a bite with me. \u0026nbsp;Your favorite book is Cinderella, your favorite movie Strawberry Shortcake, but I suspect those answers would change depending on the day. \u0026nbsp;You asked for an Ariel birthday party this year. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou respond \"I don't know,\" with a grin when I ask you what you want to be when you grow up. \u0026nbsp;In fact, you frequently declare to me that you don't want to grow up at all. \u0026nbsp;When I ask you why not, you think for a little bit, and then it comes out. \u0026nbsp;\"\u003Ci\u003EI don't want to leave you.\u003C\/i\u003E\" \u0026nbsp;And it swells and breaks my heart a little every time, because way down I kind of wish you could stay little and stay here with me forever too. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI love you my sunshine girl. \u0026nbsp;No matter how big you get, or where you go, I will always be here for you. \u0026nbsp;I'll always be your mama. \u0026nbsp;And even when you're grown, I think I'll look at you and still see you as you are now - my happy, blue-eyed girl, hopping around on the morning of her birthday, with the sun shining in her curly, golden hair.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'll love you forever, my darling. \u0026nbsp;Happiest of birthdays to you, today and every year!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ELove,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMama\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-yaET3sJ6H7o\/X3SbjjP5kvI\/AAAAAAAAZnM\/iFQ39qI_n-0Ytj0aDudl5bS-FMZ0XpdoQCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/DSC_0015blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7819149026339717327\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7819149026339717327\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7819149026339717327"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7819149026339717327"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/to-my-golden-haired-child.html","title":"To My Golden-Haired Child, On Her Fifth Birthday"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RcxXH9Mhlxo\/X3SbkdqtkxI\/AAAAAAAAZnE\/1-WWl2Nl0j4e1_15kr8yeYo5yTzdvOY8QCPcBGAYYCw\/s72-c\/September-2020-073blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4032456551949665708"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-23T05:31:00.006-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-23T05:31:00.736-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"America and Patriotism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Wednesday Five | Vol. 14"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-3zOFduZ0Z1s\/X2quk67DXJI\/AAAAAAAAZmc\/Xa6fFr5GrDcUQ27k_iYg7YWG3nIsHyxuwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/September-2020-212blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Quote\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI think this quote section is going to be where I dump my World War 1 thoughts on you for the next few Wednesday Five posts. I’m reading so many interesting books about WW1 right now.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhat has struck me most in learning about WW1 is how much most of the leaders of the countries involved did not want war. There were a couple people in Austria-Hungary who wanted retribution on Serbia, but all the allies involved seemed to try their hardest not to let a war start. It was like a very tragic “comedy of errors“, riddled with miscommunication and mistrust.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis part of the book \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/World-Undone-Story-Great-1914\/dp\/0553382403\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=a+world+undone\u0026amp;qid=1600824187\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA World Undone\u003C\/i\u003E by G. J. Meyer\u003C\/a\u003E, really got to me. A double ultimatum was issued by Germany to Russia and France, and the German ambassador went to meet with Sazonov, Russia’s Foreign Minister. The last ditch effort at avoiding a war fell apart.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E“In his hands he had two messages, both of them declarations of war. One was for use if Russia gave no answer to the ultimatum, the other a reply to a negative answer. In his distress and confusion he pressed both on Sazanov and burst into tears.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;Or so Sazanov wrote years later in his memoirs. Pourtales’s recollection was that Sazonov wept first. \u0026nbsp;Whatever the sequence, apparently both men cried. They embraced, then pulled apart and began to exchange accusations.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;‘This was a criminal act of yours,’ said Sazonov. ‘The curses of the nations will be upon you.’\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E‘We were defending our honor.’\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E‘Your honor was not involved.’\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFinally, they parted forever, Sazonov helping the distraught Pourtales to the door.\u003C\/i\u003E”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhen I was reading this, it struck me how the Fall and sin’s curse didn’t just affect mankind, and our relationship to God, and creation, and interpersonal relationships - it affects relationships between nations too. Peace is so tenuous, and war has been a part of the story of humanity ever since Adam fell.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAs I write this, I’m also thinking about someday, when every knee shall bow before Christ, and He will reign for a thousand years and then create a new Heaven and Earth where sin and death are no more. Then we will have peace forever, and people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, even people who fought and killed each other in wars like WW1, will wipe their tears and sing praise to the Lord together. That will be a glorious thing to see.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Book\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAside from my collection of WW1 nonfiction, I’m reading \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Alone-God-Rediscovering-Passion-MacArthur-ebook\/dp\/B006J9DFKS\/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1600823975\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea book on prayer by John MacArthur called \u003Ci\u003EAlone With God\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(the Kindle version is only $2!).\u0026nbsp;Prayer is always something that I wish I was better at, and I’m getting a lot of good thoughts out of this one. What specifically stuck out to me was how MacArthur says the focus of prayer needs to be God, and too often we act like we’re talking to God when really we’re just focusing on ourselves. That is so true.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBefore it snowed two weeks ago...yes, it snowed! Not a little bit either, it snowed a few inches. But before it snowed I was worried it would kill all the leaves and I wouldn’t be able to get any good fall pictures of the kids. So I took them outside by our long, pretty mountain grass, and we had a little impromptu fall photo shoot. The pictures turned out really cute (I'll put more on Instagram).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI love long grass like this. You know, we learned that those little bunches at the end of a piece of grass are actually technically a flower.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9DeG3E34PUU\/X2quhZkV4jI\/AAAAAAAAZmY\/KS87RMvMD5gZp3aINGjwDWGPebmbF1RlQCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/September-2020-212blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"800\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xxk276pBv78\/X2qydZDFGhI\/AAAAAAAAZms\/adeb0xsSaesVP2-H8gnWOB3AtxBaWijywCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/September-2020-107.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PJfUltLGr-4\/X2quhBLIfgI\/AAAAAAAAZmU\/xqITrZlqRWwDB-0NBqD-B6G0z1Z0YkW2wCPcBGAYYCw\/s16000\/September-2020-076blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI've mentioned these about a million times, but I wanted to recommend (again) the \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Rush-Revere-Brave-Pilgrims-Time-Travel\/dp\/1476755868\/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=rush+revere+books\u0026amp;qid=1600824043\u0026amp;sr=8-4\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERush Revere: Time Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E book series. We like them on audio. \u0026nbsp;My kids were SO EXCITED when I told them I got the next book, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Rush-Revere-Presidency-Limbaugh\/dp\/1501156896\/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=rush+revere+books\u0026amp;qid=1600824043\u0026amp;sr=8-5\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERush Revere And The Presidency\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, at the library. \u0026nbsp;Wyatt asked if he could listen to it today, and he and Gwen have their chairs pulled up to the CD player so they can listen to the story. \u0026nbsp;They think Liberty (the time-traveling horse) is hilarious, and I love the strong American values and history in the stories. \u0026nbsp;This one that we're listening to is also great if you are trying to teach your kids about the election. \u0026nbsp;I'm planning on adding it to my election resources blog post.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt's hard for me to isolate just one moment right now, because I've been feeling generally happy and content for the last several weeks. \u0026nbsp;That's odd for 2020, isn't it? \u0026nbsp;I just have this peace that no matter what happens, the Lord is sovereign and it's all going to be okay. \u0026nbsp;I love my country and am so proud to be an American, and it kills me to see the turmoil. I also believe strongly in caring about the wellbeing of the nation, continuing to fight for our freedoms, and being an active citizen as a Christian. \u0026nbsp;But this world was never meant to be my home. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EMaybe it took a year like 2020 to make that extra clear. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWe're just passing through, and if you believe in Christ's sacrifice to save you from your sin - well, the place we're going is promised to be so much better. \u0026nbsp;I've always wanted to live my life with eternity in mind, there was always a part of me that knew how important that was - that's part of why I named my blog Through Clouded Glass all those years ago (based on 1 Corinthians 13: \u0026nbsp;). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhen you keep your eyes on Jesus and live with eternity in mind, the world can't touch you the same way.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E That's where I'm \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003Etrying\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E to keep focus, and nothing else in the world is as calming as resting in Him. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI wish that for all of you this Wednesday.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4032456551949665708\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4032456551949665708\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4032456551949665708"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4032456551949665708"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/wednesday-five-vol-14.html","title":"Wednesday Five | Vol. 14"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9DeG3E34PUU\/X2quhZkV4jI\/AAAAAAAAZmY\/KS87RMvMD5gZp3aINGjwDWGPebmbF1RlQCPcBGAYYCw\/s72-c\/September-2020-212blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8582785080078573880"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-22T09:23:00.005-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-22T09:23:47.563-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Preschoolers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Stuff I Like"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Favorite \"5 Senses\" Learning Resources"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gn0ipC_LrKw\/X2oUvGBMxZI\/AAAAAAAAZl0\/yHQvAQsxeEcyBgeB0cx8XWvhh0ifg76-gCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_6424blog.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe lady was dressed in a floor-length floral dress and a bonnet. \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;She stood by an ancient-looking hunk of iron in the corner of a dirt-floor cabin. \u0026nbsp;I stood with my siblings in tennis shoes and a sweatshirt, watching her move little metal doors and plates around, exposing the fire inside the iron stove. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"Today we're going to make butter!\"\u003C\/i\u003E she announced. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\"Have you done your arm workouts lately?\"\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;She put some fresh cream and salt in a mason jar, and one by one we took turns shaking it until we heard a thumping inside the jar. \u0026nbsp;The bonnet-clad lady twisted the lid, and there it was - fresh butter.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EShe opened a couple more doors on the oven, and slid out a pan of hot gingerbread, and I still remember how good it smelled, and how satisfying it was with a little of our butter spread on top. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd that was my first memory of learning about the pioneers.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-et0MwPetbIA\/X2oVBPAje8I\/AAAAAAAAZl8\/uGVtlumjPSkEwPY1sb1cor2hfwwJZncEQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_6422blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI think what made me remember that field trip so well was, in fact, the yummy gingerbread. \u0026nbsp;There is nothing that can bring a historical period to life like experiencing a little piece of it through your five senses. \u0026nbsp;I think taste is an especially good sense to include!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI am trying to think of ways I can give my kids the same effect for our school subjects this year, ways that I can help a topic stick in their minds using taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing. \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;I have \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/homeschooling\/6-ways-to-include-your-childs-5-senses-in-learning\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea whole post about including the five senses in learning\u003C\/a\u003E on the Rooted Family blog this week, with really SIMPLE ideas\u003C\/span\u003E, because I am all about \u003Ci\u003Esimple\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;homeschool activities.\u0026nbsp; If a learning activity isn't easy for me to do with my kids, it probably won't happen. \u0026nbsp;I hope the post can get your wheels turning and your creative juices flowing on how you can include all five senses in your homeschool day! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI also wanted to link a few of my favorite resources and products that I referred to in that post over here! \u0026nbsp;So these are a few things that I'm trying to include this year.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Some affiliate links below.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHistorical Figure Toys\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Rainbow Resource sells these little toy sets that can correspond with different historical periods, and I have to admit I got pretty excited when I discovered this! \u0026nbsp;I bought my kids the Revolutionary War soldiers, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rainbowresource.com\/product\/051367\/American-Revolutionary-War---British-Army-Toob.html?\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBritish\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rainbowresource.com\/product\/051368\/American-Revolutionary-War---Continental-Army-Toob.html?\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EContinental troops\u003C\/a\u003E, and I am going to break them out as we read more about our nation's founding this year!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERush Revere Series on Audio\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - As we wind down our school day in the afternoons, I've been trying to remember to put on an audiobook while the kids color or finish up their copywork. \u0026nbsp;Our favorite right now is the Rush Revere series! \u0026nbsp;We are currently listening to \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2ZYLrT0\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERush Revere And The Presidency\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E which is a great one for an election year. \u0026nbsp;We've also been working through the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3hWynDU\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELittle House series on audio\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;There is something about novels that makes history stick in the mind so much better, and it's also a great opportunity to give my kids practice at listening well.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBackground Music \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I love \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/kristihillmusic.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKristi Hill's resources\u003C\/a\u003E on teaching music appreciation for kids. \u0026nbsp;If you aren't signed up for her emails, I'd recommend it - she sends out \"Music Monday\" emails with links and activity suggestions for different pieces of music. \u0026nbsp;She also has \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/kristihillmusic.com\/category\/playlists\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eplaylists on Spotify \u003C\/a\u003Ewhich make great background music for a homeschool day!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPicture Books With Recipes\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E- I'm trying to make note of the picture books we come across that include recipes, so we can make them together! \u0026nbsp;\"Thundercake\" is on our list of recipes to try right now, at the back of\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2En2JBO\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E the book by the same name\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;(If you know of any other picture books that include recipes, please tell me! Still trying to gather a list.)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/32RICoG\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPicnic Blanket \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E- Getting outside is the perfect way to create sensory memories of our homeschool days, and I am finding our waterproof picnic blanket (that my friend actually got me for my wedding!) really useful this year - we are trying to do more of our school reading outside, and spreading a blanket amidst the grass and flowers makes it that much more enjoyable.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFive Senses Learning Ebook\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - If you decide you really want to get serious about including all five senses in your learning, I wanted to also point you to my friend Elizabeth's ebook on the subject! \u0026nbsp;She has put together a \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/gumroad.com\/a\/456979571 \" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFive Senses Letter-A-Week Activity Guide\u003C\/a\u003E\" for the younger homeschool crowd. I haven't read the ebook, but I have read \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/thislittlehomeofmine.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElizabeth's blog\u003C\/a\u003E for a while and she has a ton of interesting activity ideas. \u0026nbsp;If you have preschool kids and want to make their learning more sensory and fun, I think her book would be a great place to start! \u0026nbsp;I also asked Elizabeth if she had any encouragement to offer on this subject, and here's what she wanted to say:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: italic;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhat better way to learn than by captivating the five senses? By incorporating opportunities for your child to HEAR - SEE - TOUCH - SMELL - and TASTE as they learn, they're able to experience the world around them in a way that would not be possible with a textbook alone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: italic;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: italic;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1463\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ys9g5TSBtBk\/X2oVLVFq_II\/AAAAAAAAZmA\/sdOToTj0Bj0K8C-oU5zeEYZ5QsjWj9PtwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_6424blog_edited-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EJust from my own educational experiences as a kid, I can say that she's right - I think including all five senses wherever possible is the most effective way to draw your children into the learning process in a way that will make an lasting impression on them. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIf you have any favorite activities, products, or resources that incorporate learning through the five senses, I'd love it if you'd add them in the comments! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat memories do you have of a time when something you were learning really came alive for you?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003EP.S. Don't forget to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Echeck\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;out \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/homeschooling\/6-ways-to-include-your-childs-5-senses-in-learning\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy post on Rooted Family\u003C\/a\u003E - I'm serious when I say including the five senses can be\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Ereally\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;easy, and I hope that post can encourage you that providing memorable homeschool experiences doesn't have to be overwhelming.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"288\" data-original-width=\"549\" height=\"105\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JkY0l1Xz82U\/WOk4IdVt0JI\/AAAAAAAAWaQ\/SkOMXySb9f0em1qgu_ZinmslUWtrFlxOQCPcBGAYYCw\/w200-h105\/pin-it.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zysJDsw4k1w\/X2oWwBmGaZI\/AAAAAAAAZmI\/FXna9FuF2TMxxiQzrchinYZy5PWJ7jH6QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1564.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8582785080078573880\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8582785080078573880\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8582785080078573880"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8582785080078573880"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/my-favorite-5-senses-learning-resources.html","title":"My Favorite \"5 Senses\" Learning Resources"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-et0MwPetbIA\/X2oVBPAje8I\/AAAAAAAAZl8\/uGVtlumjPSkEwPY1sb1cor2hfwwJZncEQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_6422blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1742751248135667650"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-16T05:34:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-16T05:34:00.916-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"History"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Musings of a Bookworm"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Personal Study"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Case For Choosing A Personal Study Project"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LrfFywjowjQ\/X2F0BTU5mMI\/AAAAAAAAZlU\/5hg5xwRZdmIiY9wH--_SMDEzGa4X7un_gCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h640\/IMG_1296blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn January, my husband and I went on a rare date night. \u0026nbsp;Even though we rarely go out, most of the time we do the cliche thing and go see a movie. \u0026nbsp;We enjoy watching movies together and talking about them afterwards, and many movies we have seen sparked some great conversations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnyway, in January we saw \u003Ci\u003E1917\u003C\/i\u003E, and I came to a shocking realization.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI didn't really know what World War One was about.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI had a basic set of knowledge about it - I remembered when it was, which countries were involved, who won. \u0026nbsp;I remembered an assassination kicked things off, but I didn't remember who was assasinated, or why, or how exactly that led to a World War.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAfter watching a whole movie based off of one soldier's experience in World War One, I felt a sudden conviction that I should know these things. \u0026nbsp;And so my 2020 World War One personal project was born.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI've been casually picking \"themes\" for some of my historical reading the past several years, but this is the first year that I decided to formally pick an area of study and give it a strong effort. \u0026nbsp;It ended up being a really timely topic choice for this year. \u0026nbsp;Those men in WW1 truly \u003Ci\u003Esuffered\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;As much as 2020 has been hard for so many people, with stressful moments for me too - having that perspective of the intensity with which some of our forebears suffered has helped keep things in perspective. \u0026nbsp;People often say \"\u003Ci\u003Ethings have never been this bad\u003C\/i\u003E\" - well, probably somewhere in history, they have. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAnyway, I've been enjoying my WW1 project so much, that I am now going to take it upon myself to convince you that you need a personal study project for 2021! \u0026nbsp;Here are the reasons why.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2qSz6wsC1eI\/X2F0VVKl8VI\/AAAAAAAAZlc\/O82xXxTr_h8u4qaqXF8rQP4wypVE7ToNwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1321blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYou have educational gaps.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOh, the dreaded educational gap. \u0026nbsp;We are embarrassed when we realize we have them. \u0026nbsp;We do everything in our power to help our kids avoid them. \u0026nbsp;We tremble at the mere thought of them...yes, I\"m exaggerating. \u0026nbsp;But guess what, guys. \u0026nbsp;Everyone has gaps in their education. \u0026nbsp;I guarantee you do, and if you don't think you do, you probably just don't realize what you don't know. \u0026nbsp;It doesn’t matter how great your \u0026nbsp;education was. It doesn’t matter if you are the smartest person in the world - there will always be things that you don’t know. \u0026nbsp;I love Sarah McKenzie’s mindset that gaps are really just gifts. \u0026nbsp;For our kids, and ourselves, gaps mean that we will always have to learn something new, to pause and marvel over something that we never realized before. The gap itself isn’t the gift, but the exploration of a new subject is. Don’t leave the gift unopened! (Okay, sorry, that was a little cheesy...)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChoosing a personal study project is modeling lifelong learning for our kids.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EHow many times do we moms opine about wanting our kids to have a “love of learning”, to cultivate “lifelong learners”? I figure if we truly want that, it’s a good idea to model it! Just like it’s a good thing for our kids to see their parents reading if we want them to read, seeing us get interested and excited over something new we learned has a similar effect, I’m convinced. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThere are alot of ways we can do this - and your personal study project doesn't have to look like mine. \u0026nbsp;I've been focusing on history, but you also could pick a science subject, classic literature you never read, a skill you want to learn. \u0026nbsp;There are so many options!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA personal study project makes you a more interesting person.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI think learning more about a variety of subjects, or deep-diving into one subject, will obviously make you a more interesting person to talk to. When the subject of what ACTUALLY caused WW1 comes up at a party, as it inevitably will, you’ll have something to say and can dazzle your listeners with your knowledge!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EI’m kidding, guys.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThe truth is, the causes of WW1, or the name of that one kind of orchid that looks like a bee, or the biochemistry of gut flora, or how to make the perfect lemon meringue - those subjects are not going to come up at any party ever (well, probably not). But learning new skills or diving into new subjects does give you a wider perspective on the world, gives you more topics and experiences on which to draw in a conversation, adds to who you are as a person - and yes, it makes you more interesting.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDiving deep into a subject can help you to understand the world better.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis is a Captain Obvious sort of statement, but I’m speaking from my experience diving into WW1 this year. I didn’t realize, before I started looking into it, just how much World War 1 affected everything that came after it. I’m convinced if you don’t understand WW1, you don’t have the full picture of anything else that happened in the 20th century. This could probably be said of everything. \u0026nbsp;as human beings, we aren’t even capable of understanding it all, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile to learn what we can. Which leads me to my next point...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWe will never know it all - and realizing that can draw us closer to the One who knows everything.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EMaybe this is a continuation of point number one, but isn’t it kind of amazing to think that you can never know everything there is to know? The only Person who knows everything is God, and we are not Him. We weren’t made to know everything, but we were made to bring glory to Him. I think one way we, as believers, can do that is to study His power in His creation, the story He is creating through history, or a creative skill that we know in our heart pales in comparison to the creative power of our awesome God - all while recognizing and thanking Him for all the ways He is greater than us. Learning more about this world, and realizing all the more how little we really truly know - if we are doing it all to the glory of God, we can’t help but be a little more amazed at Him. That’s what truly makes learning a worthwhile pursuit.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HC7yazH7tdQ\/X2F0mOXZzjI\/AAAAAAAAZlk\/8ARyL4mpKjgm9pgl5wl2pSssSXQ7GL0ugCLcBGAsYHQ\/s16000\/IMG_1296blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EDid I convince you?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOver the last year, I've become invested in the idea of periodically choosing a personal area of study as an adult, and diving in deep. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't have to be a forever project - figure out something you want to learn more about, and dig in until you feel you've accomplished what you set out to learn. \u0026nbsp;Then see if a new subject piques your interest! \u0026nbsp;I've been really enjoying my World War One project, and I'm already thinking ahead to what subjects could be possibilities for 2021!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHave you ever started a personal study project as an adult?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1742751248135667650\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1742751248135667650\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1742751248135667650"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1742751248135667650"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/a-case-for-choosing-personal-study.html","title":"A Case For Choosing A Personal Study Project"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2qSz6wsC1eI\/X2F0VVKl8VI\/AAAAAAAAZlc\/O82xXxTr_h8u4qaqXF8rQP4wypVE7ToNwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_1321blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7474569878234832916"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-10T09:00:00.003-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-10T09:00:38.738-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bible Study"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Danger Of Dreaming"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bZIdtvnEbPo\/X1o-1UZwDpI\/AAAAAAAAZlA\/BPwnnz3r5LQCovh4jxFmYFtHVk07uqd4QCLcBGAsYHQ\/w625-h625\/IMG_9044blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"625\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThere is a danger, you know, that comes with dreaming.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI’ve been thinking about this lately after flipping through a few books I read last year. I like to go back sometimes and see what I highlighted. As I flipped through \u003Ci\u003EThe Great Gatsby\u003C\/i\u003E, I found two paragraphs that I think are the most haunting in the whole book:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\"'If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay,' said Gatsby. 'You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.’\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EDaisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. \u003Ci\u003EHis count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.\u003C\/i\u003E”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EGatsby never considered that perhaps the \u003Ci\u003Ehoping\u003C\/i\u003E for Daisy was part of the magic. That once the hoping and dreaming was gone, the real work of building a life with the object of his dreams wouldn’t match up with the fantasy he had built in his head. Later in the book (spoiler and trigger warning), he actually ends it all because he can’t have his dream just the way he wanted it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI don’t think there is anything wrong with dreaming, or with working for things to be better. The danger comes though, when we place all our hope in dreams. We idealize, we fantasize. We build up all the beautiful parts and forget that in this fallen world, there is always difficulty that comes with dreams fulfilled. Or we despair when our dreams go unfulfilled, as our hopes are never realized.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ENick Carraway too, is chasing dreams throughout the book. The line most quoted from Gatsby is:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBut people tend to forget the Nick says this earlier in the book:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E“I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI think in Nick Carraway we have another character who is looking for something, wanting a fresh start with every changing season, chasing something new and exciting that he never quite finds. His disillusionment grows throughout the book. Finally there is nothing left worthy of wonder, no enchantment that isn’t eventually spoiled. In the end he decides he isn’t made for East Coast life and returns home.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou see, the world of Gatsby is in the end a godless thing, and the book ultimately drives home the futility of a godless world. Without God, there is nothing to hope for, just earthly dreams which can never truly be grasped. Without something greater, something “commensurate to [our] capacity for wonder” we are lost, doomed to ever be striving as our dreams drift farther away.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"916\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wgcj1aj_wYw\/X1o_HRCXbsI\/AAAAAAAAZlI\/zHiC9oHT_RMuWmTerOQuCXhOlYgfljuxQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1220-h916\/IMG_9044blog.jpg\" width=\"1220\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAs believers, we have a better hope than that. \u0026nbsp;Better than any earthly, temporal dream. \u0026nbsp;Hebrews explains where our hope lies:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever...”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:17-20‬ ‭\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOur hope is in the strong consolation we have through God’s promises - that this world is not the end, everything it holds is not the only chance at wonder. No matter how godless the world may seem, our awesome God has not withdrawn His hand. Even now He is upholding the world “by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3), and working out everything for the purposes of His will.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWe don’t need to place our hopes in a fresh season, or a dream fulfilled. We shouldn’t in fact, because those things are ultimately empty. No, our only true hope lies with an immutable, unchangeable God. A God who became our Savior when He stepped down to this fickle, fallen world, and offered up Himself as a payment for our sins, as our perfect, unblemished Savior.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ERooting all our dreams in this world will ever be a disillusioning, hopeless endeavor. \u0026nbsp;And sometimes even we as believers can place our hopes in the wrong things - people, movements, elections, a new house, a new state, new friends, vacations, babies, a significant other - but all those things, even the ones that are blessings, can never truly fulfill us. \u003Ci\u003EWhen we hope in only the blessings and forget the One from whose hand they come, we’re left drifting. \u003C\/i\u003EBut it doesn’t have to be that way.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis we have as an anchor for the soul.\u003C\/i\u003E Sure and steadfast. The promises of God that our salvation is assured, that our citizenship is in Heaven, that our Savior is there building a place for those who believe, who repent and call on His name.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"916\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dUHjVTemzYU\/X1o_OtxkFEI\/AAAAAAAAZlM\/dXkoCsRGfQIrfU_LeDo5TuLKgh5waRkJQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1220-h916\/IMG_9046blog.jpg\" width=\"1220\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThere are a lot of dreams that have gone unfulfilled in 2020. A lot of disillusionment, disappointment, pain. But there is a great Hope. This is just a reminder to my sisters in Christ to not put our hopes in the wrong place - to not dream of a better tomorrow without resting in, and pointing others, to the true Hope for the world.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7474569878234832916\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7474569878234832916\u0026isPopup=true","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7474569878234832916"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7474569878234832916"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/the-danger-of-dreaming.html","title":"The Danger Of Dreaming"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-6617061128080499779"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-08T16:05:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-08T16:30:31.211-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Politics"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How To Teach Young Kids About Elections : Resources"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Tr_Sj8OSqUk\/X1f-F7LNwHI\/AAAAAAAAZj8\/zgYOSUFCuYMBmZR-YKibFC9_uoltwcStQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w625-h625\/IMG_0785blog%2Bcopy.jpg\" width=\"625\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is the first election year that my kids are old enough to really understand what's going on. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFour years ago my oldest understood the concept of voting, and was rooting for our candidate. \u0026nbsp;What he was thankfully spared from was all the nastiness that happened both before and after the election. \u0026nbsp;I wish our children were growing up in a more civil time. So often the political vitriol becomes the focus and we forget there is beauty in this election process too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"1145\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6XGZOqUUVfw\/X1f-UuvobPI\/AAAAAAAAZkE\/bwNcpUKh-7g7Z_SygjbQix2hmXvVx4EawCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1525-h1145\/IMG_0791blog.jpg\" width=\"1525\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBeauty, you may ask? \u0026nbsp;In an election year? \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;Yes, I think so. \u0026nbsp;The more I review the electoral process in preparation for teaching it to my kids, the more I'm reminded of how brilliant our system of government is. \u0026nbsp;Those Founding Fathers, despite all the flack they get when people look back on some of their flaws and sins now, really knew what they were doing when it comes to government.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the usual angst that election years bring, I'm actually really enjoying the part where I get to teach my kids how it all works! \u0026nbsp;We've started digging into a few resources, and I want to share the ones that I've found so far for teaching civics to young children. \u0026nbsp;Alot of civics curricula for homeschoolers are aimed at middle and high school, but you can still find some good resources for the younger set too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOur Spine\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore I start, I have to say that a \"spine\" resource that I've been using is actually\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/chec.org\/resources\/chec-products\/us-colorado-civics\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E a civics curriculum for K-12 grade that is put out by my state's homeschool organization\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I was skeptical when I saw that it was supposed to cover such a big age range, but it really is written in an understandable way for young kids, and is also adaptable for different ages. \u0026nbsp;One chapter is specifically geared toward our state, but most of the information is about the federal government and good citizenship, including a very thorough chapter on the electoral process. And the best part to me is that it is written from a Christian perspective, which can sometimes be hard to find in civics resources for younger kids. \u0026nbsp;I haven't read through the whole thing, but the electoral process chapter is great so far! \u0026nbsp;If you are interested, I do think it is worth the money. \u0026nbsp;Just skip the state history chapter if you aren't in my corner of the country!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOne More Thing...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI will say that doing a review of the electoral process yourself is so helpful and important before attempting to teach it to your kids. \u0026nbsp;If you are a little fuzzy on some aspects of our elections (who isn't, really?), I'd say do a little research yourself first. \u0026nbsp;I am reading through the chapter in our civics book before I go over it with my kids, and I also picked up \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Everything-American-Government-Book-Constitution\/dp\/1593370555\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+everything+american+government+book\u0026amp;qid=1599600108\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Everything American Government Book\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E for myself. Not only is it a nice refresher for me on certain election aspects, but I think it will be a great resource to have on hand as my kids grow. The pages I've read so far seem mostly bipartisan. \u0026nbsp;Though let's be honest, it's hard to have a purely bipartisan book about government - every person will always find something to disagree with. \u0026nbsp;But I think it's doing pretty well so far.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn to the kids' resources!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"916\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QmyaE3gtDEU\/X1f-Of6YenI\/AAAAAAAAZkA\/ahDtIs99GZwD3Ux6dvKMjosaNToX0kWvACLcBGAsYHQ\/w1220-h916\/IMG_0785blog.jpg\" width=\"1220\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPicture Books\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Today-Election-Day-Catherine-Stier\/dp\/0807580082\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=today+on+election+day\u0026amp;qid=1599600163\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EToday On Election Day\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;- This book is written from the perspective of an elementary school boy that is excited to see people coming to vote at his school on Election Day. \u0026nbsp;I explained some of the terms further to my kids as we read. \u0026nbsp;This is a good resource for younger elementary kids in my opinion. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't tell about the whole electoral process, but it explains the experience of Election Day itself. \u0026nbsp;I'd say it's bipartisan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thriftbooks.com\/w\/america-votes-how-our-president-is-elected_linda-granfield\/714346\/#isbn=1553379888\u0026amp;idiq=34205469\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmerica Votes: How Our President Is Elected\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E - This book looks like it will be a quick read, but it is actually very dense. \u0026nbsp;There is alot of information packed into these pages. \u0026nbsp;It includes some topics, such as the history of voting, detailed explanations about different aspects of campaigning, etc., that might be more interesting to older kids, but I think you could easily pick and choose which pages to read to keep it simpler for younger kids. \u0026nbsp;So far it seems to be bipartisan.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Woodrow-President-Campaigns-Elections-Patriot\/dp\/1596987863\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=woodrow+for+president\u0026amp;qid=1599600437\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWoodrow For President: A Tail Of Voting, Campaigns, And Elections\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- This is the story of a kind-hearted mouse that runs for office in mouse-world. \u0026nbsp;In the process, this book teaches about how elections, campaigns, political parties, conventions, and debates work. \u0026nbsp;It covers a surprising amount of information for a storybook format!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Duck-President-Click-Clack-Book\/dp\/0689863772\/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=duck+for+president\u0026amp;qid=1599600501\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDuck For President\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- This book is purely for fun. \u0026nbsp;Hardly anything is covered about the political process, but Duck's antics in running for leader of the farm, then mayor, then governor, then President, are amusing. \u0026nbsp;I also used this as a springboard to talk about how complicated it is to be the leader of an entire nation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"1145\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uQlQm5dsbP4\/X1f-d7faAbI\/AAAAAAAAZkM\/QNGMpSxn66U3R_1AF45WFCYob2VUYVwyACLcBGAsYHQ\/w1525-h1145\/IMG_0799%2B2blog.jpg\" width=\"1525\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EVideos\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHistory For Kids: How We Elect The President\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - My kids loved the format of this DVD - it tells about the electoral process, including a summary of the electoral college, with game-show type questions as it goes. My kids loved shouting out their answers to the questions! \u0026nbsp;Mostly bipartisan, but all the real-life video clips that were inserted were of Democrats, so make of that what you will.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHistory For Kids: Running For President\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Some of the same information as the video I listed above, but goes a little more in detail about the electoral college and campaigns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENote: Couldn't find the two videos above online (weird), but I'd recommend checking your library! \u0026nbsp;My library has the whole series.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.prageru.com\/video\/do-you-understand-the-electoral-college\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPrager U \"Do You Understand The Electoral College\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This video explains what the electoral college is, and the advantages in using this method of electing our President. \u0026nbsp;If you think we should eliminate the electoral college, you should watch this video to fully understand why the electoral college is a good thing. \u0026nbsp;Like I said, the Founders knew what they were doing! \u0026nbsp;We watched it all together, even though alot of it was over my kids' heads, and then afterward I explained the main points in more accessible language to them. \u0026nbsp;Dare I say, I think my little 4th-grade-and-under crowd got it?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mike-Huckabee-Learn-History-Election-Day-Choosing-President\/dp\/B007AFC09M\/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=learn+our+history+election+day\u0026amp;qid=1599599892\u0026amp;sr=8-6\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELearn Our History: Election Day, Choosing Our President\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/i\u003E- This is put out by Mike Huccabee, so it's coming from a conservative perspective - which is a good thing for our family but you may want to know that ahead of time. \u0026nbsp;The bully of the school is running for class president so he can take away the grading system that he claims is \"not fair\". \u0026nbsp;The kids travel through history to learn about how elections were established, how debates work, and by the end one of them decides to run against the bully, and the common-sense candidate wins. \u0026nbsp;I was a little worried this would be over my kids' heads, but they seemed to enjoy it - they watched it twice! \u0026nbsp;Older-style animation, but we don't mind that in our house.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" height=\"1525\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7KrnpmXUX_c\/X1f-nKlXQNI\/AAAAAAAAZkY\/h2cemy-V55U87mY0IDNEAelVZS62hAY4wCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1145-h1525\/IMG_0704blog.jpg\" width=\"1145\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EActivities\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Affiliate link below.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/gumroad.com\/a\/961868915 \" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElection Activities For Voters Of All Ages\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This is a case of impeccable timing - my blog buddy Elizabeth just released an Election Activities pack, and I jumped at the chance to check it out! \u0026nbsp;There are three different levels of activities, spanning from preschool\/kindergarten age, to grade school, to middle school. \u0026nbsp;There are copyworb pages, word searches, mazes, and other worksheets, along with printable to hold a \"favorite dessert\" election, and pages to track the results of the electoral college on election night. \u0026nbsp;I am so glad to have found this. \u0026nbsp;Everything I could think of to bring an election year alive for my kids is in this pack, and I love how so many of the activities are applicable for elementary school. \u0026nbsp;This activity pack goes beyond the \"holding a faux election\" idea, and gives a lot of other activities to work with. \u0026nbsp;It's also totally bipartisan. Highly recommend it! \u0026nbsp;I am definitely going to take advantage of the election night trackers and have my biggest kiddos watch on election night with my husband and me. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" height=\"1525\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CUnC8r2OS8A\/X1f-zoQC6EI\/AAAAAAAAZkc\/6eHuJtS0sUc1neh-zCjbxppmyCCbPIuKwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1145-h1525\/IMG_0737blog.jpg\" width=\"1145\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"916\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7JvFmJB_tZQ\/X1f-z47PG7I\/AAAAAAAAZkg\/6y4_LSkiMEwMvMcLzIPm0AeIJK_TAxAygCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1220-h916\/IMG_0807%2B2blog.jpg\" width=\"1220\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'll add more resources to this post as I find more, but these are the things I am using so far this year to teach my kids about the electoral process! \u0026nbsp;I think we all have been enjoying it and making fun memories surrounding the election this year - and that's a big blessing to me. \u0026nbsp;I love that even when elections can get so contentious, we can still have some fun appreciating the process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JkY0l1Xz82U\/WOk4IdVt0JI\/AAAAAAAAWaQ\/SkOMXySb9f0em1qgu_ZinmslUWtrFlxOQCPcBGAYYCw\/s549\/pin-it.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"288\" data-original-width=\"549\" height=\"86\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JkY0l1Xz82U\/WOk4IdVt0JI\/AAAAAAAAWaQ\/SkOMXySb9f0em1qgu_ZinmslUWtrFlxOQCPcBGAYYCw\/w164-h86\/pin-it.png\" width=\"164\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" height=\"1525\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OH6Z5VDhZ70\/X1f_DhqqMbI\/AAAAAAAAZkw\/La4bGQYOgqsnb1lnXK3mWBzuSmZ5fJYEwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1016-h1525\/IMG_1043.PNG\" width=\"1016\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" height=\"1525\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YMAghu-VoNE\/X1f_EdDw2hI\/AAAAAAAAZk0\/lHOXFBiBy80DLJReSE483g975BaZ0iE0gCLcBGAsYHQ\/w1016-h1525\/IMG_1042.PNG\" width=\"1016\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/6617061128080499779\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=6617061128080499779\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6617061128080499779"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6617061128080499779"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/how-to-teach-young-kids-about-elections.html","title":"How To Teach Young Kids About Elections : Resources"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-3936809749594465857"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-04T09:00:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-04T09:01:08.626-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Currently"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Currently | September 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-scWWpsGBYpo\/X1JVSSgBH1I\/AAAAAAAAZjE\/iUeEz2QACwgFAQeQImKYZS7agX9GOVafQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w625-h625\/IMG_0607blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"625\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eppreciating...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ethe long weekend, because Derek should be able to make good progress on the kids' treehouse! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #252525;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #252525;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStressed about...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ethe fact that it's supposed to snow NEXT WEEK. \u0026nbsp;As in September 8th. \u0026nbsp;That is way too early for snow, and I am so nervous that all the leaves will immediately die and fall off, and there will be no Autumn to speak of.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Enticipating...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ethe two weddings we have coming up in the next month. \u0026nbsp;I haven't been to a wedding in five years! \u0026nbsp;These are also the first weddings I've ever traveled out of state to attend - one in a neighboring state for Derek's cousin, and one for my cousin that will require a flight north. \u0026nbsp;It should be an adventure, especially in these, ahem, \u003Ci\u003Etimes\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;If you've flown recently, please let me know what to expect.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EC\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eollecting...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Eresources on civics and the electoral process, since I decided this is the year to introduce these subjects to my kids for real! \u0026nbsp;I've got quite a stack going, and so far our little civics lessons have been pleasant. \u0026nbsp;Right now I'm focusing on elections, and I think I will move on to other civics topics throughout the year. \u0026nbsp;I've avoided having to go in-depth on the three branches of government so far, so maybe that will be next.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Etarting...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EAwana. \u0026nbsp;This is the first year my kids have ever done Awana, and I'm glad we have enough space in our schedule to include it! \u0026nbsp;We have always had too many sports, co-ops, etc, in past years to fit one more thing in. \u0026nbsp;But this year, for finances and other reasons, we cut out alot of our other activities, so it was the perfect year to give Awana a try.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EF\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Einishing...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ethe ten books that I told myself I would finish before October. \u0026nbsp;Or I'm attempting to finish them anyway. \u0026nbsp;It's been too tempting to start a new book, because fall brings with it different reading moods for me! \u0026nbsp;I have six more books to finish (I removed one that I know is just not going to happen). \u0026nbsp;I need to get a move-on. \u0026nbsp;What are you reading lately? \u0026nbsp;What do you consider a fall-ish book? \u0026nbsp;I started a re-read of Anne Of Green Gables. \u0026nbsp;I couldn't help myself.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEnjoying...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Enature journaling with the kids. \u0026nbsp;I never felt like I could get the hang of nature journaling, but this year it is coming easier. \u0026nbsp;I credit this entirely to the kids' botany curriculum. \u0026nbsp;Turns out it's alot easier to nature journal when you have some knowledge about plants! \u0026nbsp;They do, after all, make up the bulk of the living things out there.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-g4A7fT4blSM\/X1JVP3lzuaI\/AAAAAAAAZjM\/9-4GhWJ2QBkNiPpCvzM3N6-kvDFkf034ACPcBGAYYCw\/s2048\/IMG_0121blog.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" height=\"1220\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-g4A7fT4blSM\/X1JVP3lzuaI\/AAAAAAAAZjM\/9-4GhWJ2QBkNiPpCvzM3N6-kvDFkf034ACPcBGAYYCw\/w916-h1220\/IMG_0121blog.jpg\" width=\"916\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sjyRAPMspcc\/X1JVQMi31XI\/AAAAAAAAZjQ\/7CSz-Wiz48cL8_xqUvEuFwC4V02LXfWpQCPcBGAYYCw\/s2048\/IMG_0607blog.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sjyRAPMspcc\/X1JVQMi31XI\/AAAAAAAAZjQ\/7CSz-Wiz48cL8_xqUvEuFwC4V02LXfWpQCPcBGAYYCw\/w976-h733\/IMG_0607blog.jpg\" width=\"976\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vOuDjrqy094\/X1JVJu3T9ZI\/AAAAAAAAZjI\/3T4JpEqp2AkJaw_A0qhRfShVBXphVbM3ACPcBGAYYCw\/s2048\/IMG_0590blog.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" height=\"1220\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vOuDjrqy094\/X1JVJu3T9ZI\/AAAAAAAAZjI\/3T4JpEqp2AkJaw_A0qhRfShVBXphVbM3ACPcBGAYYCw\/w916-h1220\/IMG_0590blog.jpg\" width=\"916\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMaking...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Echocolate chai masala truffles from this cookbook. \u0026nbsp;It's on our \"Friday Fun Day\" schedule for school today. \u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;Is it a stretch to include making rich chocolate treats for school?\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;I'm going with no. \u0026nbsp;Kitchen skills and fractions.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDrinking...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ethe pumpkin cream cold brew at Starbucks. \u0026nbsp;It is just so good! \u0026nbsp;But I'm only drinking it occasionally, because Starbucks prices are getting outrageous (I say this every year, yet I still get pulled in by the pumpkin).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); color: #252525; letter-spacing: 0.4000000059604645px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/3936809749594465857\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=3936809749594465857\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3936809749594465857"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3936809749594465857"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/currently-september-2020.html","title":"Currently | September 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2340391351311168180"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-01T05:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-01T05:31:00.134-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Seasons"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vacations and Trips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"What We Did This Summer"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fDpmpG61Vtc\/Xy3Htx5WKiI\/AAAAAAAAZeI\/0oqac7-5l_kpkF2Y8DEjjXDZxkzdJL-1gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_5076%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERemember that \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/06\/a-summer-fun-to-do-list.html\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Esummer to-do list \u003C\/a\u003EI posted back in June? \u0026nbsp;Well, we ended up crossing quite a few things off my unreasonably long list. \u0026nbsp;We squeezed a lot of fun into summer, and as we are turning toward fall now, I wanted to record how we made the most of this summer, all the unusual circumstances notwithstanding!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETrampoline Games\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Check! \u0026nbsp;I taught the kids \"pop the popcorn\", and they had so much fun when I joined them on the trampoline!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ECatch\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- Derek bought the boys some gloves, and he's been practicing catch with them this summer. \u0026nbsp;We never signed either of them up for baseball, but it's one of my favorite sports, and I'm glad they are getting some practice in!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESpray Bottle Sidewalk Paint \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- Check! We did squirt bottles instead of spray bottles, and it was a hit! But they used it up way too quickly.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uXpsV3czWTg\/Xy3IRDda5RI\/AAAAAAAAZf0\/MI1UF9FsZus0wTm-vE1rSwL3CyuEPSSYQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_6464blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8j1GxzeMEfc\/Xy3IZVObkII\/AAAAAAAAZfw\/kY3D1c_MR2AJ0S0GIpkG--NEvFARsQtOACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_6497blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIce Cream Playdough\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Check! \u0026nbsp;We used \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.beafunmum.com\/2015\/11\/ice-cream-playdough-it-looks-real\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethis recipe\u003C\/a\u003E, and it was interesting - not much different than regular play dough, except it smelled like frosting. \u0026nbsp;I think this is basically the same way you would make fondant. \u0026nbsp;It's a fun recipe to try if the cooked-playdough recipes scare you!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nx3q7HLNjOE\/Xy3ILIQsfYI\/AAAAAAAAZfg\/DVAEhbccjNAqAiMReIOfBlM5qQIdryukwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_6164blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHomemade Bubbles\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We did try this! \u0026nbsp;It looked cute, but it wasn't my favorite because the cornstarch kept separating from the mixture. \u0026nbsp;But it did work!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EGlow Sticks In Kiddie Pool\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- The weekend that we went porch camping, I also let the kids play in the kiddie pool. \u0026nbsp;I threw a few glow sticks in it that night so they could see it from the tent! \u0026nbsp;It wasn't as glow-y as I wanted it to be, but still fun.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kmuh9mDlbGc\/X02pslIw_5I\/AAAAAAAAZiU\/v0v7OlY1rQ0KdIxeP4RnZLPxrNP11-_tACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_8196%2B2%2Bcopyblog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETreasure Hunt \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I put together a scavenger hunt for the kids to find some candy, using some free printables! \u0026nbsp;The prize wasn't anything super special, but they still loved it. \u0026nbsp;Clyde asked to do it again the next day, so I guess it was a success!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading Challenge \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- We did participate in our library's reading challenge! \u0026nbsp;I took the kids a couple weeks ago to get their prizes, which included a book, a journal or bookmark, and coupons for a free entree at Noodles and Co. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENature Hikes\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We took several nature hikes this summer, and it was so nice to get outside so much.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-e3g-p571jTk\/Xy3IaqnLqdI\/AAAAAAAAZf4\/WgreW67lL8g6Blj572flipIxXRwZMai2gCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_6411bog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lS8_7_P52Ic\/Xy3Hx1J_3kI\/AAAAAAAAZes\/WnfdOeCUz9gkk-ACePvD3ZpeoUlV_Td-ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5246%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlay In A Creek \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- Check! \u0026nbsp;We found a creek in June, and the kids splashed around while I read. \u0026nbsp;It was lovely, and the kids begged me to go back. \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately the next time we went the creek was dry! \u0026nbsp;We'll have to remember that it dries up by mid-summer next year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-32YSXpC-MLc\/Xy3HU-oAROI\/AAAAAAAAZeM\/xq3nf9JW1KcsbfjTLXDXCuRAE7ILxr3EQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/304B78BF-B5A0-439B-B5E7-69CEC7C30BCEblog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESwimming \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- We managed to go swimming twice! \u0026nbsp;My kids are finally getting to the age where taking them to the pool is less stressful and more fun. \u0026nbsp;The big kids do pretty well in the deeper parts of the pool, and the little three are great with their floaties on. \u0026nbsp;Wyatt and Gwen were even big enough to go on the slide this year!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-pzac4QY7vcc\/Xy3HVwdCSOI\/AAAAAAAAZd8\/KoKTuxqK0FIgtVCSpvBJHAP1RrYy-LmzQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_1941%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPark Days\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We visited several parks, including one where splash fountains were on, and the normalcy of just going to the park this summer was so good for all of us! \u0026nbsp;My kids desperately missed the park when they were all closed during the spring.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1217\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fU5Hoct8-Sc\/Xy3Hb8uaNeI\/AAAAAAAAZeA\/1b-LATfkMyQ7UfvAeilvJL9XFvbPRZkGgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4158blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHistorical Sites\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We had to delay one of our historical site plans until September, just because of finances and weather. But we did add in a more local historical site, and I am totally counting it as a school field trip! \u0026nbsp;We also visited some local fossil beds one weekend.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--aP0ltlPxKM\/Xy3RSAA6NFI\/AAAAAAAAZgM\/fRHx17_yhQQY8gr8uVyFtwzp_1gn2bltQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/ACS_0072%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFishing\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We went fishing twice, with plans to go more this fall! \u0026nbsp;We went to a lake near our church on my birthday, and we also fished in ponds that are very near our house. \u0026nbsp;The ponds looked really promising, but the fish didn't like our bait, so we are going to try live worms and go again soon!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-awhPnlat2Ug\/Xy3H4ok_4SI\/AAAAAAAAZfs\/Du3WWS4sxQA3IwuhHWYHM8dpAdqk-YFTwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5783blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jT_hbli_ZEk\/Xy3H-cttG5I\/AAAAAAAAZfs\/ojZesz4pN7AemYYMVluJZdtESpUYfcauwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5810blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Iv6HkrSBG8E\/Xy3IFYB80TI\/AAAAAAAAZfU\/eDvjegcKEzkM8-ECpAJZ-ocNN8IKQfA0wCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5811blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lVB6qDNGJuc\/Xy3HfuiHcOI\/AAAAAAAAZeM\/tf5rm17M6FAIVDVhk-wtKa6-owehE_3jgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5072blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tHDuzV4IPPs\/Xy3HPbVcWrI\/AAAAAAAAZd8\/KVPTtkUBRfYm8keRG3PhmlfS0t3lZ2CKwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/ACS_0064%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EStargazing \u003C\/b\u003E- We went stargazing in Arches National Park! \u0026nbsp;It was the perfect place to stargaze as an International Dark Sky site. \u0026nbsp;We found an empty parking lot, and laid on the pavement for about an hour, just staring at the stars with the kids and talking. \u0026nbsp;The boys also saw their \"first meteor\", which they were super excited about! \u0026nbsp;It was a good one too, with a long tail streaking across the sky.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-aIVs7qMVmeM\/X02pZvvaqZI\/AAAAAAAAZiI\/oQHAzEbc-eoH8oZdAZlFGqZlpRNjaJTEQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9051blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPorch Camping \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- We try to do this every summer, and it's a big highlight for our kids! \u0026nbsp;There is just something special about sleeping in a tent. \u0026nbsp;And a bonus is that they spend alot of time playing in the tent the next day as well!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JhpbKVNfuNY\/X02pkakKLQI\/AAAAAAAAZiM\/BMuga6Opzj4W27-vZmtMQFm1nadvGornACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0136blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large; font-weight: bold;\"\u003ECampfire\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;- The burn ban was lifted for a couple glorious weeks, and we snuck in a campfire a few days before the re-instated the ban. \u0026nbsp;It was lovely, and even Georgie got into the marshmallow roasting this year!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-I1dhYB8WkD8\/X02p2h_lzNI\/AAAAAAAAZic\/J8VlzYhUotUa_WUawCpb3Q70luhzP6YnwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/August-2020-065blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERegular Movie Nights\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We tried to have a movie night with the kids every Friday this summer, with pizza and dessert! \u0026nbsp;We are definitely going to continue this tradition. \u0026nbsp;It's fun to introduce the kids to some of our childhood favorites!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFirework Fruit Kabobs \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I did make these for the 4th of July! \u0026nbsp;They were so pretty.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EiKpCaI2ElM\/Xy3IESQuuCI\/AAAAAAAAZf0\/fCqVhW6cUD4opjiFEUuIKQJEiDoL80AWwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5827blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_fvHIcfbUPU\/Xy3IGilG_yI\/AAAAAAAAZfY\/Ef3kjBrsgaIkQeqxictKes6qVk1nqS5FQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5874blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESpecial Kid Drinks \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- At the beginning of the summer, I froze a bunch of kool-aid ice cubes. \u0026nbsp;When we were having a boring day, I'd just pour Sprite over them for the kids - it's sweet how something so simple can make you \"the best mom ever\", ha!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-b_1ze0xMI84\/Xy3HNG0LFGI\/AAAAAAAAZdw\/LVoj0SubRY895hRVwIxe1RIgryeJ6LvlQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/ACS_0066%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPopsicles \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I didn't do great at serving up the popsicles this summer, but I redeemed myself in these last few weeks! \u0026nbsp;Popsicles all around.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESpaghetti Salad and Broccoli Salad\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- These are our favorite summer foods, and I made a batch of each to take on our end-of-summer trip a couple weeks ago. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECircus And County Fair\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We visited our county fair for the first time as a family this year! \u0026nbsp;I was really happy they went ahead with it. \u0026nbsp;There was also a free circus at the fair, and the performers were great!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mYzgKbuyhUE\/Xy3ILrSY7oI\/AAAAAAAAZfs\/3mPiaFs9TMEaLQig9NvYSIkHIyq2l0vkwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_6282blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDates \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- Derek and I were able to go on a date night this summer (rare occurrence)! \u0026nbsp;We went mini-golfing and had a take-out picnic in the park. \u0026nbsp;We also had a whole weekend away at the Gaylord hotel! \u0026nbsp;It was beautiful, and we had a great time.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CbrOkwQY89c\/Xy3IamPQaWI\/AAAAAAAAZf0\/eRntIMABK60vXyiPSlPpK8r7mU2cqELYwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/_13-06-2020-09-51-21blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rH6HFlNlZvM\/Xy3RD2Iln7I\/AAAAAAAAZgA\/C4Zv-rNp6WgmXaZgHkbeP-PFALl0akBZACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_6075blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OWImwPuqp0c\/Xy3REBIG8fI\/AAAAAAAAZgE\/b4xlKOUu9Z0UYD88UaHAFcXJqjJILqbcACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_6063blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-B8LIWWc8k60\/Xy3RBRSe_AI\/AAAAAAAAZf8\/pXZK4A7AA1U_nqUnKA_JLPB_7yZigKGAwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_6070blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bK1TImK-jS8\/Xy3IMMr1iTI\/AAAAAAAAZf0\/cwYHZpMrkjYire2m6tt9Xdit3rT8okK3ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_6047blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBoys' Birthday Party\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We threw a joint birthday party for the boys! \u0026nbsp;We did a party for the girls last fall, and had plans for a boys' party in April. \u0026nbsp;We ended up doing it in June instead!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1YT1kh7HASQ\/Xy3HyfGUzeI\/AAAAAAAAZfs\/n-PcphYS_4QVOQ7PhYLmlMCZA2yuYzdBQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5478%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large; font-weight: bold;\"\u003EEnd Of Summer Trip To Arches\u003C\/span\u003E - We ended up taking a weekend trip out to Arches before we started the school year! \u0026nbsp;It was a really lovely trip, and I'm going to share more in another post soon. \u0026nbsp;I have too many pictures to share here!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-t5MIOBMQfp8\/X02qPjzqMgI\/AAAAAAAAZio\/_otpWsF6Lo0PiDTFyuY6lbUidnTNhavNwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9001blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStuff We Didn't Get To:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERegular Game Nights\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETrampoline Sleepover\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDrive-in Movie\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBible Verse Memory Challenge\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMake Bird Feeders\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOrigami \"Fortune Teller\" with Boredom Busters\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPuffy Paint Ice Cream Cones\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHand-clapping Games\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EH.O.R.S.E.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETic Tac Toe rocks\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHomemade Bouncy Balls\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI am hoping to add some of these into our fall plans, and if not, I'll just tack the rest onto next summer's bucket list! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDid you all do anything out of the ordinary this summer?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2340391351311168180\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2340391351311168180\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2340391351311168180"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2340391351311168180"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/09\/what-we-did-this-summer.html","title":"What We Did This Summer"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fDpmpG61Vtc\/Xy3Htx5WKiI\/AAAAAAAAZeI\/0oqac7-5l_kpkF2Y8DEjjXDZxkzdJL-1gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_5076%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5642031398644209933"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-26T17:23:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-26T17:33:10.450-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 13"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LqIMJ169fPA\/X0bufUOUfkI\/AAAAAAAAZh8\/UEmgEKyuERo0ooiqu5wE_0e6SvCBmW5vACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_0014blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Quote\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E“\u003Ci\u003EBut I”m glad it’s not rainy today because it’s easier to be cheerful and bear up under affliction on a sunshine day…It’s all very well to read about sorrows and imagine yourself living through them heroically, but it’s not so nice when you really come to have them, is it?\u003C\/i\u003E”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E-Anne Of Green Gables\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnne, she says it like it is, right?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Book\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn case you hadn’t surmised, I have added a re-read of \u003Ci\u003EAnne Of Green Gables\u003C\/i\u003E to my morning routine.\u0026nbsp; I haven’t actually read the books for close to 20 years, if I’m not counting listening to them about 10 years ago.\u0026nbsp; Now that I am almost old enough to be child-Anne’s mother, I thought it would be time for a re-read.\u0026nbsp; I do find myself relating to Marilla more and more, but I still find Anne pretty delightful!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjTWjsxPBn0\/X0bue8iF9XI\/AAAAAAAAZh4\/aJO9nsRnYh05OmcFd_Qm0QOj0XaWA0-WQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_0014blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis tree outside our library is always the first to give us a hint of fall.\u0026nbsp; However, overall I am shocked at how many of the leaves up here are already looking yellow-ish!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI highly recommend the\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mrsmeyers.com\/scent\/acorn-spice\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E Acorn Spice cleaner by Mrs. Meyers.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp; You don’t have to tell me how it’s not very effective and not very natural - I use it for the smell.\u0026nbsp; I still haven’t found another cleaner that makes me so delighted to be cleaning.\u0026nbsp; This particular scent is deliciously fall-ish.\u0026nbsp; A few times\u0026nbsp;I have found myself wondering what that wonderful smell is, and then remembering that it’s my all-purpose spray!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWe started homeschooling this week - a soft start, so every subject except reading\/math instruction.\u0026nbsp; I was showing Wyatt his history and language arts books, and explaining his work for the day. \u0026nbsp; When I told him his language arts book would replace his old reading curriculum now that he’s in 4th grade, he perked up.\u0026nbsp; “\u003Ci\u003ENo reading?\u0026nbsp; This book is it?\u003C\/i\u003E”\u0026nbsp; When I told him yes, he said: “\u003Ci\u003EHmm.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EYeah, I’m pretty sure I’m going to like school this year!\u003C\/i\u003E”\u0026nbsp; That’s what I like to hear!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5642031398644209933\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5642031398644209933\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5642031398644209933"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5642031398644209933"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/the-wednesday-five-vol-13.html","title":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 13"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LqIMJ169fPA\/X0bufUOUfkI\/AAAAAAAAZh8\/UEmgEKyuERo0ooiqu5wE_0e6SvCBmW5vACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_0014blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7187027605954850345"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-20T05:30:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-20T05:30:04.050-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vacations and Trips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Goodbye To Galveston - Part Three"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YPJoyN_CBps\/XyyAy_fHL-I\/AAAAAAAAZak\/pqmtD1EvZDUiudasoCsqbzROl9Vd2OoQgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/Galveston-2020-1300blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBefore we left Galveston, you know I had to try to get some family pictures on the beach! \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately, I lost a piece of my tripod, so I ended up just taking individual shots of everyone, but I think the photos still turned out beautiful. \u0026nbsp;The light was so moody and pretty.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe next day we waved goodbye to Galveston, but on the way home we checked out a few places of interest.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFirst, we stopped at Brazos Bend State Park. \u0026nbsp;We had tried to go there when we spent a couple days in Houston, but they wouldn't let us in without a reservation. \u0026nbsp;However, the areas I could see were beautiful, so we scheduled a stop on our way home. \u0026nbsp;It was gorgeous! \u0026nbsp;I really wish we could have spent more time there to birdwatch. \u0026nbsp;There were ponds with all this beautiful vegetation, and big moss-covered oak trees everywhere.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe decided to take the route through Waco because I was just curious to see where the Magnolia setup was. \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately we missed it's re-opening by a mere two days, but it was interesting to at least drive past. \u0026nbsp;I'm not a huge Gaines-fangirl like a lot of people I know, but I can see how it would be a neat place to visit. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe also made stops at all the historical markers on the way home (including a small, very interesting cemetery), and we had some Texas barbecue for dinner!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe next day we took another slight detour and drove through the Oklahoma panhandle. \u0026nbsp;Remember, I was reading \u003Ci\u003EThe Worst Hard Time\u003C\/i\u003E, and I really wanted to see the heart of the dustbowl. \u0026nbsp;It was certainly dusty. \u0026nbsp;We also stopped in a city that was mentioned in the book, one that I pictured being much bigger, and I was surprised at how small it still was. \u0026nbsp;It was really interesting to have a book I was reading come to life like that. \u0026nbsp;Thankfully no dusters blew through.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe also made a stop at John Martin State Park and Reservoir, for more impromptu birdwatching. \u0026nbsp;It was funny, because the rangers told us that one of the birds we saw in Texas (I want to say the neotropic cormorant?) happened to be there, which would be really rare for Colorado...but we had already seen it in Texas, ha!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat is pretty much everything interesting that we saw on our trip! \u0026nbsp;The rest was just alot of driving, and trying to read in the car, and fast food, mixed with gratitude to be heading home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vI_c5KKNiPA\/XyyAy3e3ibI\/AAAAAAAAZbQ\/W0548o8ciwIsjPZ0UAEKWznEXU18J0MZACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1300blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(A peek at our beach photos.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s1IhYtU7JyU\/XyyAoX4jFmI\/AAAAAAAAZao\/RHtQohRTZPsMc0SSxbievGWxHHW_R27ngCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1294blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-l8LzaeKE1zk\/XyyAV_66-qI\/AAAAAAAAZaY\/_GV27spDlrILAasYj1nrSaD97DWccuGcQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1214blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eDMAqMMsY2o\/XyyAZOWROTI\/AAAAAAAAZaU\/r0TtkVLTMQs42XoI4FiPmXLdf5b8150QwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1179blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YumVv4wyo-M\/XyyAitIh63I\/AAAAAAAAZaY\/YbuAPRYKH6Q0lGpbPziHJpdPmmjPbtb7QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1237blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9rAeaNCXdCE\/XyyAlCA7PwI\/AAAAAAAAZbc\/iVZKYjOM4Zo41jjvrgFryBoXMdvwqn3dQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1289blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--3iM80jKQRk\/XyyBZ1B7YiI\/AAAAAAAAZbw\/_rVSFsna-j0p0uHEfk8LkqhWUWd15L9swCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3864blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Isn't the light just beautiful here?)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0ONC-Pf_Lxg\/XyyAyj4pNUI\/AAAAAAAAZbc\/XOfd7xW_LS0rGG06dzfKNkNdwfq_sZjCQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1302blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Then our stop at Brazos Bend State Park!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8n8rayCw-Lg\/XyyA7yJvZoI\/AAAAAAAAZbc\/CMtoZD6aORYfC2LX3SyUacdwXaOi8l3XwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1304blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qzuWOnmymQI\/XyyBFwoqbII\/AAAAAAAAZbY\/Io4g4xBD0XIHsOcTAW8BN9Z6GYZ7psBfACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1324blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xLfRpnZpty0\/XyyBI3SYRMI\/AAAAAAAAZbc\/arTs_IWAmG00-YRUEXdxF1JjASHtGX6AwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1335blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z1ELkxDYqvY\/XyyBLj8PikI\/AAAAAAAAZbs\/qknKnl_r4i0kXCCV8EWceIYoMt8tok19gCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1336blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-O_IVCZEvrUA\/XyyBGNzGrYI\/AAAAAAAAZbc\/gl0ZjtbDfug_BwaZ9Vas5Jh5pKUtnhTBwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1331blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-K_ITO6P8Y\/XyyCXnFYQgI\/AAAAAAAAZdM\/xZEBxx-fd10ClK0YqCSACOdtodp2gDlIQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1391blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2PzrMOrYCW4\/XyyBRWaHjtI\/AAAAAAAAZbs\/JFp19pjWx2Il-CMP_yAcFYGdXL-AfpV8QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-1397blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-X7GFaweIXIM\/XyyBrNpCANI\/AAAAAAAAZcc\/HlKMUG6uxBEp3CTUr_0q5islwMKdBmStACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3920blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eO2LDUx-Mbk\/XyyBqAHOuYI\/AAAAAAAAZcU\/lp6Hs5cTElwXSn6-CUV-PNxbqy9zpqK3QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3928blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(These were from another gorgeous area of Brazos Bend. \u0026nbsp;Seriously, everywhere we looked was so pretty!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5ghA0dtkNYs\/XyyBt0pJ8MI\/AAAAAAAAZck\/csTYL_6VjCE4y1KU9Ppu1tzVjbd1HmjqwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3939blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-yEtmJR1cU8I\/XyyBzcoEfeI\/AAAAAAAAZcs\/yXe3QkbFhA8QaM-iOd8i6GLq7qpw7Zm_gCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3941blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rcq38Kf-mX0\/XyyBwf9YoXI\/AAAAAAAAZdA\/C9b4tJKphxAFT-Wte9J3SDEVKgpKO1t1QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3960blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Driving to the hotel. \u0026nbsp;Eating our barbecue.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-032a5naFpF8\/XyyBz0xthrI\/AAAAAAAAZcs\/bIKBHJ0Sud0Epu5XE3h2mQIGlZvv0XIVQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3963blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-691GjVYVJW4\/XyyB6Ms2A4I\/AAAAAAAAZc8\/Fhf5w1BQw3I6D2e4jXsTJLNPf6xDvS58ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3984%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(The next day in the Oklahoma panhandle! \u0026nbsp;Told you. \u0026nbsp;Dusty.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1ZOqDVhVXkk\/XyyD7JTFThI\/AAAAAAAAZdQ\/_mbLeXHcqr8iN1a5to92Xhr8JwzqNGD1QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/_06-08-2020-15-41-42blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-hk5MuvLx_wE\/XyyCI3c5OWI\/AAAAAAAAZdI\/7nod4LvhBvM4qrRt30D3-SrXx36bbUTFQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4080%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(John Martin State Park. \u0026nbsp;Last interesting stop before we booked it home.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-P-QpwkIFmcU\/XyyCDuTL2VI\/AAAAAAAAZc8\/5xwoihuuq9UdFmnlmzILtmWpKnemZFnZACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4045blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qpyWCTKsBKg\/XyyB7TjtI6I\/AAAAAAAAZdA\/V1oWxWlug7Qx2Nzj73wNNLHxGvBPNMF-wCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4029blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ClutrN8qvt4\/XyyCGzpsqDI\/AAAAAAAAZdA\/dQFwBlUlPDQU-UV8jJVW1hNx70ZLGV9ygCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4054blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uiJitQi9rug\/XyyCDd-cKrI\/AAAAAAAAZc8\/ZrLZzJZkVPs5qrB04Ef0mNsMWmFJTrfiACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4042%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDid anyone else take a road trip this year? \u0026nbsp;Where to? \u0026nbsp;It seems that it's the thing to do in 2020! \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7187027605954850345\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7187027605954850345\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7187027605954850345"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7187027605954850345"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/goodbye-to-galveston-part-three.html","title":"Goodbye To Galveston - Part Three"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YPJoyN_CBps\/XyyAy_fHL-I\/AAAAAAAAZak\/pqmtD1EvZDUiudasoCsqbzROl9Vd2OoQgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/Galveston-2020-1300blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5895907772872917958"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-17T05:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-17T05:31:03.306-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tips And How-To's"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Narrowing It Down - Tips For Picking Curriculum"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5OoUzJ3G5-c\/Xy7pZvTvmMI\/AAAAAAAAZhQ\/lQ0V_p6dqPc7Xbvwig6jCKyHot-g1ieZwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_8279blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESo let’s say you’ve decided to homeschool in the upcoming school year, and you have started looking into curriculum.\u0026nbsp; How do you not get overwhelmed with the endless curriculum options out there?\u0026nbsp; Because seriously guys, there is so much.\u0026nbsp; I’ve heard from so many new homeschool moms that all the different curricula is overwhelming.\u0026nbsp; How do you start to narrow it down, how do you figure out what will work for you family?\u0026nbsp; I have a few thoughts and tips on where to start.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gEJPF0mkrTA\/Xy7pcuTRxQI\/AAAAAAAAZho\/zGJwMxqgAy82zOyXFRkQhB16ThvGZK8xwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_8284blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFigure Out Your Homeschooling Style (As Much As Possible Anyway)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBefore you start to wade through curriculum, I think it’s helpful to think ahead to what you are hoping to get out of homeschooling, for yourself and your kids.\u0026nbsp; What exactly do you want your homeschool to look like?\u0026nbsp; What are your main goals for your kids?\u0026nbsp; How do you want to evaluate their learning? Do you want it to look like textbooks and quizzes? Do you want opportunities for learning through doing?\u0026nbsp; Do you want them to develop any particular skill really well? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOne thing that really helped me was doing a little research into different homeschooling educational philosophies - learning more about the possibilities really helped me figure out the specific things I wanted for my kids out of different subjects, and out of our homeschooling journey as a whole.\u0026nbsp; I wrote\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2016\/09\/homeschool-philosophies-and-which-one.html\"\u003E a summary of some popular homeschooling styles here\u003C\/a\u003E, and I also highly recommend watching \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LKAkKvZIHz4\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethis video to give you an idea of the different homeschooling styles\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EDon’t get too bogged down in research, but once you know the types, I think you should think carefully about which style (or which aspects of different styles) appeal to you.\u0026nbsp; If you really like the idea of learning through interesting books (as opposed to textbooks) that will affect the curricula you pick. If you want your kids to have more input into what they learn (as in unschooling), that will guide your whole year.\u0026nbsp; If you love the idea of the trivium in classical homeschooling, you’ll want to look for a curriculum that incorporates some of that.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnd if you look at all the different styles and you still have no idea where to go with it - don’t worry.\u0026nbsp; I’ve got more tips.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAttend A Curriculum Sale\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIf there are any homeschool conferences or curriculum sales in your area, I highly recommend you attend (though I do realize that this may be hard to accomplish in 2020).\u0026nbsp; If you can’t find a curriculum sale, see if there are any physical bookstores in your area that carry homeschool curriculum (Mardel’s is one), or you can ask friends who are already homeschooling if you can come over to look through their curriculum.\u0026nbsp; It is so much easier to get an idea of what you like and don’t like in a curriculum if you have a chance to look through it.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EEven if it’s a curriculum you aren’t initially considering, take a look at it anyway.\u0026nbsp; Read through the parent notes at the beginning of the book and start thinking through what you agree or don’t agree with.\u0026nbsp; Look at a curriculum that has a lot of moving pieces, and see if you like that or not.\u0026nbsp; I think just looking through different curricula of different styles will help you start to decide which direction you want to go.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChoose A Curriculum That Appeals To YOU\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI think it’s tempting to try to choose a curriculum that’s going to be perfect for your specific kid and their learning style.\u0026nbsp; But…as Pam Barnhill says in \u003Ci\u003EPlan Your Year\u003C\/i\u003E, “\u003Cb\u003Ethe best homeschool curriculum is the one that will get done.\u003C\/b\u003E”\u0026nbsp; And especially if your kids are young, the person who is driving the curriculum is \u003Ci\u003Eyou\u003C\/i\u003E, as the mom.\u0026nbsp; You want to work with a curriculum that you are excited about, that you want to open up and start with your kids.\u0026nbsp; If you open up a book and feel excited to teach the subject to your kids, then your kids are most likely going to become more excited to learn it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EConsider Your Child’s Dislikes\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAs you are looking at curriculum, I think considering what your child hates to do may be more important than considering what they like. \u0026nbsp;One of my goals for homeschooling is that my children learn to \u003Ci\u003Elove\u003C\/i\u003E learning, so I don't want to make it harder on them than necessary, especially in the younger years.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIf you kid really hates writing, you’re going to want to avoid a curriculum that’s mostly writing-based.\u0026nbsp; If they are still getting a handle on their reading, don’t choose a curriculum that expects the child to read huge chunks of text (unless you know you have time to read it \u003Ci\u003Eto\u003C\/i\u003E them).\u0026nbsp; If you know your child loves learning in a certain way, by all means incorporate those things!\u0026nbsp; But pay attention to the things that are difficult for them, or that they dislike, and find a curriculum that you can adapt to work around those things until their skills develop more.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sj8zfejsMFA\/Xy7pT4n6kxI\/AAAAAAAAZhY\/RKot6mkfRa0DuY5mlNMY1b4gwR9jvbN5wCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_8278blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOther Things To Consider:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWorldview\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne of the most important things to me in picking curriculum is making sure that I choose a curriculum with a biblical worldview. \u0026nbsp;A major reason why I homeschool is so I can impart a knowledge and love for the Lord to my kids as an integral part of their education, so I try as much as possible to pick curriculum that fits with that (especially with subjects like science and history). \u0026nbsp;Before you pick curriculum, make sure you are okay with the worldview it has as its foundation, and also make sure you agree with how it presents differing worldviews. \u0026nbsp;Since this is such an important aspect to me, I've eliminated a lot of curricula on this point alone!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAll-In-One Or Piecing It Together\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIs it really important to you to choose an all-in-one curriculum, or are you okay with piecing together different curricula for different subjects?\u0026nbsp; A lot of moms like the ease of an all-in-one curriculum, and the fact that a lot of the subjects can be integrated and connected in an all-in-one, because someone else already thought it out for you.\u0026nbsp; Other moms (like me) have specific ideas about how they want to teach different subjects, and it’s easier to choose curriculum for subjects individually in order to get exactly what they want. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELearning Styles\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhat about learning styles, you may ask?\u0026nbsp; How do you figure out if your kid is an auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learner, and how do you find a curriculum that fits with that?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis is just my opinion about learning styles in my experience so far, so take it with a grain of salt…but I don’t think kids’ learning styles are quite as important as people sometimes think. \u0026nbsp;Learning styles are still being researched, but it's my understanding that there is \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5366351\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Eno hard evidence to support the learning styles theory\u003C\/a\u003E, or the idea that we must teach to specific learning styles.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn my very unprofessional opinion, I suspect that most people probably work within a combination of learning styles - some people may lean more toward one style than another, but most people are served well through a combination of hearing, sight, doing, etc.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAnd if your child really does appear to lean heavily toward one learning style, you can probably adapt most curricula to fit within that.\u0026nbsp; For example, if your child retains more by hearing, consider the audio version of a textbook if it’s available, or just plan to read it aloud to them (or have them read aloud to themselves).\u0026nbsp; But where a curriculum doesn’t quite fit, your child can also get practice in other learning skills too.\u0026nbsp; Maybe your child is a big visual learner, but practicing listening skills through audiobooks would also be a good thing for them, for example.\u0026nbsp; You don’t necessarily have to pick a curriculum that focuses on one learning style just because your child might lean that way. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EHowever, I do think it’s important to consider your child’s skill areas and areas of struggle when choosing a curricula - this is less about an innate \"learning style\", and more about being aware of where they are excelling or still growing. To me, it’s more important to consider my child’s current skill level in order to not overwhelm them in that area too quickly, as I explained under “Consider Your Child’s Dislikes”.\u0026nbsp; If my child is a weak writer, I want to gradually stretch them in that area, but I don’t want to make them drink from a fire hose by choosing a really writing-heavy curriculum either.\u0026nbsp; That would just be a recipe for a miserable year for everyone.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESubjects To Do Together\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIf you have multiple kids it is very easy to combine different age groups for certain subjects.\u0026nbsp; You don’t \u003Ci\u003Ehave\u003C\/i\u003E to do this - you can choose grade-specific curriculum for each child in your house if you would like.\u0026nbsp; But if you have a bunch of kids (like I do) doing some subjects all together will make for an easier and shorter homeschool day, so that may be something to consider when you are looking at curriculum.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EFor example, we do history, science, and Bible all together as much as possible in our house.\u0026nbsp; I read the book to all my kids, and then I might give my older kids a couple extra tasks to reinforce the lesson.\u0026nbsp; We are able to do subjects that way because I chose a history and science curriculum in which we could all participate together.\u0026nbsp; If I had chosen a curriculum that was more grade-specific, or an all-in-one that had different books for different grades, this might be harder to do.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PyJsPWNAsGE\/Xy7pRvJmgfI\/AAAAAAAAZhk\/F74n6maEBb0avmIr3vursvohIghNdbQugCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_8276blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESo to sum up, here are some questions to ask yourself, and these will help inform what kind of curricula you should be looking at:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-What is my preferred homeschooling philosophy and teaching style?\u0026nbsp; Does the philosophy of the curriculum I’m looking at fit with that?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-Does the curriculum I'm looking at support or undermine the worldview I am trying to pass on to my children?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-Do I want an all-in-one curriculum, or do I want to hand-pick each subject?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-Do I want to combine multiple age levels for certain subjects?\u0026nbsp; Is the curriculum I’m looking at conducive to that?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E-Have I looked inside the curriculum and read the teacher’s notes?\u0026nbsp; Does the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003Ephilosophy of the curriculum\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;make sense to me?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-Am I excited about this curriculum?\u0026nbsp; Would I have liked it as a kid?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-Is this curriculum a good fit for my child’s current skills and abilities?\u0026nbsp; Will it stretch them without overwhelming them?\u0026nbsp; Does it include too much of any elements my child struggles with?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EI hope this post has been a little helpful if you are still struggling with choosing amongst the sea of curricula! \u0026nbsp;And if you have any questions or additional tips, please add them in the comments!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5895907772872917958\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5895907772872917958\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5895907772872917958"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5895907772872917958"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/narrowing-it-down-tips-for-picking.html","title":"Narrowing It Down - Tips For Picking Curriculum"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5OoUzJ3G5-c\/Xy7pZvTvmMI\/AAAAAAAAZhQ\/lQ0V_p6dqPc7Xbvwig6jCKyHot-g1ieZwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_8279blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-765591048786233187"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-13T05:30:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-13T05:30:07.061-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vacations and Trips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Galveston Island - Part Two"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-23Z2US4r2wE\/Xyw9Og-ZktI\/AAAAAAAAZVY\/uGBHmahWxNo0znRbrLjW1V6IKMjM9DtCACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/Galveston-2020-380blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnce we were on Galveston, we spent a lot of time at the beach, the hotel pool, and out on trails!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe tried a couple different nature trails, and we saw so many interesting birds that we don't have where we live. \u0026nbsp;When we were driving in the car in Houston, I spotted a bird with pink wings flying overhead, but I couldn't tell what it was. \u0026nbsp;\"\u003Ci\u003EOh,\u003C\/i\u003E\" Wyatt said, \"\u003Ci\u003Emaybe it's a roseate spoonbill.\u003C\/i\u003E\" \u0026nbsp;Well, lo and behold, when we went on a nature walk, what did we see? \u0026nbsp;A bunch of roseate spoonbills in a pond! \u0026nbsp;It was so cool to see those birds, because they really aren't anywhere else in the U.S. except right along the coast in Texas and Florida. \u0026nbsp;We also saw a blackbellied whistling duck, a yellow crowned night heron, neotropic cormorant, and a common gallinule.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe ate picnic lunches along a canal (it looked like a popular fishing spot), and the beach. \u0026nbsp;We also went out to eat a couple times. \u0026nbsp;Our favorite was The Rainforest Cafe! \u0026nbsp;We don't have those where we are, and the kids thought it was so much fun! \u0026nbsp;Well, except for when the \"thunderstorm\" started - then Georgie slapped her hands over her ears and made the cutest little face until it was over.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe went miniature golfing, and really, is there anything cuter than little kids trying to hit a golf ball? \u0026nbsp;I think not. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe went to the beach a couple times and built sand castles and waded in the water. \u0026nbsp;None of us went out very far though, because there were rip tides a few of the days that we were there, which is terrifying to me. \u0026nbsp;I'm a born mountain girl, and the ocean scares me in general, so we are very cautious with the kids by the water. \u0026nbsp;We make them wear their life jacket\/floaties whenever they even put their feet in the water, and they aren't allowed to go our past their ankles without one of us holding their hand. \u0026nbsp;Like I said, the ocean scares me a bit. \u0026nbsp;But I loved getting to relax, and play in the sand with the kids, and read! \u0026nbsp;I got a little paper reading in, but I mostly do audiobooks on the beach so I can watch the kids at the same time. \u0026nbsp;Even with Derek there, it's good to keep two sets of eyes on five kids.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe also loved the hotel pool, and we went swimming almost daily. \u0026nbsp;The kids are getting more and more confident in the water!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis was a quieter vacation for us overall - we generally pack our days with all the local sights, but this trip we just took it easy. \u0026nbsp;It was a nice reset from months on stay-at-home orders, though I told Derek I felt like we needed another week! \u0026nbsp;One week to get back to a stressless baseline, and another week to really refresh. \u0026nbsp;But still, it was a timely and needed vacation.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XAjQXaw9Om0\/Xyw9SM_q18I\/AAAAAAAAZVs\/XsTQ2G7Gvj4qYhFAX5OCFNE2orasbksYQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-380blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-VAx7rmWyGYk\/Xyw9S7BKnvI\/AAAAAAAAZV0\/cTTqF-O1KvMEB_05HEX_ZBwGlYHOg3mDgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-394blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XDDvGCz-0Y0\/Xyw9flQOKaI\/AAAAAAAAZWU\/i7UIotzRmBg3OuG4x1SCDd0MdLqcqS8kgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-409blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(See the spoonbills?)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mw1U3SDqA_g\/Xyw9h9CoXmI\/AAAAAAAAZWE\/aPLNIRufQ5wGjkHamR1VwL236zMofBoxACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-410blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-yQxgRhSNYRI\/Xyw9mBTNc2I\/AAAAAAAAZWM\/gB8MmtWNJrklV6b0gsg_Iqp1Sn9JEDrWACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-412blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0sq_2bJEbRI\/Xyw9tAnx85I\/AAAAAAAAZWU\/VxYy5pnax9Mc0MDL2lsO79Tk5LqPHefPACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-425blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0QR0WoO6MPo\/Xyw9wcXtIUI\/AAAAAAAAZW4\/6uaeXEKO30oSmJO18j7dTTGmSTDXIwEKQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-434blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7uxRJg_n2us\/Xyw9xsL7A3I\/AAAAAAAAZWg\/QObnxfdTxJ89LcZd-wWN2dv2LzG6yEa1ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-437blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OXQToQVYuU8\/Xyw97nDKeiI\/AAAAAAAAZWw\/4jtnSrZ-qQ45g27R-JQMu8tcELBHm0-lQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-438blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-SNAnV2naPAA\/Xyw9923z-uI\/AAAAAAAAZW4\/UhXpNHP1CR4eV7b6eD__W8Ky4HnhfhzngCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-469blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MblbZowkm38\/Xyw998rydHI\/AAAAAAAAZW0\/TZv9OXJJFHIiTW0hOUoFHEHgKJE0c_qHQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-470blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-pEdTJHqZ_KA\/Xyw-JMjgmtI\/AAAAAAAAZXQ\/NTlJcZlW7LETf_ucGn-8xaBGxz6O9hoswCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-508blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kZF6sHzh14M\/Xyw-Yxyu8LI\/AAAAAAAAZXY\/9lerWOtCNvoPW0OEMwLlgsKZR1XXYFiwQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-639blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;(We walked along the seawall to get to a gift shop we wanted to visit called Murdocks - which is funny, because Murdocks at home is a country-western store, not a store filled with seashells!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Hzw8ijpfqfM\/Xyw-KJr4PoI\/AAAAAAAAZXQ\/IVGh6AKpsJcuJQuUxaz811bu1swiNndKwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-599blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GFggB4tlXc0\/Xyw-Zn0oEdI\/AAAAAAAAZXc\/3agl185UtyYE5XuwFUS3zigzbcfVXvf-QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-640blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(The seawall had these tiled benches all along it, and they had information about ocean-related things. \u0026nbsp;We stopped and read each one.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5uAV2aT4FEM\/Xyw_fAvJE1I\/AAAAAAAAZZE\/sK0IWid1zEo7pWAG6qojEwdTb2OSe54WACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3674blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kWkj0G_-eyc\/Xyw_fImaqMI\/AAAAAAAAZZo\/7P5Pg6S0Yj0E0QgRcEjxD2zeOV_VoAQKACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3677blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eFHnyYbCddY\/Xyw-J2vc5rI\/AAAAAAAAZXE\/-r7Ng6E7IB0xka9zjyXoboHWEcYif27UgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-588blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;(All kinds of neat coral and shells. \u0026nbsp;We let the kids each pick out a shell as a souvenir.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZTMm51ZiUDA\/Xyw_AuDdHXI\/AAAAAAAAZYI\/J8C5q94RiOwNqtPi0IIY9EiSA85yEQwewCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3408blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Rainforest Cafe! \u0026nbsp;We also got the kids little stuffed animals here, which they proceeded to play with the rest of the trip.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XJuJPMn9lJ4\/Xyw-_eEj7gI\/AAAAAAAAZYg\/BfQjFoUVk6cJR4-SDJuMRg5z_3gfR1c4QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3396blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Inside the cafe.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1143\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zR6DO9cdoqM\/Xyw_HdJCvcI\/AAAAAAAAZYY\/XozR5VgdJeYcUpWAjO19nsoURPA0AsPngCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3431%2B3blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Mini golf!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_pBMked70Uc\/Xyw_GVatIrI\/AAAAAAAAZYM\/HusGAP3l0qAiE-_ziXWVTcnvw2wRG7SVwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3465blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(This would be a great picture of me, if it wasn't for the mini-golfing\/overalled figure behind me, ha!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dxnRb_leEJQ\/Xyw_Wz-6FSI\/AAAAAAAAZZk\/Dy04sMRJcY0NENUEYsZwE3HH3230V642ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3515%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bJIWRCsA1p8\/Xyw_ZtMchcI\/AAAAAAAAZZk\/dJmGffmaJgEeefmFwoXPC-kUf4jtL-6qQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3517%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-15CLQl5cl7I\/Xyw_got7DdI\/AAAAAAAAZZk\/boLod9K2uFUwOYadcblgViglVjMRzsJygCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3718blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(The ocean, just after a big rainstorm. Of course we proceeded to walk on the beach, because the light was so interesting and pretty.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6rmHGKGqdRU\/Xyw-SiovRrI\/AAAAAAAAZXQ\/lzJ-Wus8PegNdi7yAPS92h-tBmpoefcHwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-705blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rm9wO46lNUg\/Xyw-ovUTVMI\/AAAAAAAAZXs\/l6gxvJjfGUwNL-swbMfh5nnCx-PcD6MRwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-822blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MV3Rg3wdchE\/Xyw-hx1R-qI\/AAAAAAAAZXs\/4Bp3Ru-MsJk_va9_p6VJ9f7sD6_WnVd6ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-804blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0s4FIAmiqTw\/Xyw-r2pZAUI\/AAAAAAAAZXw\/1_c0Kx3mCLY6PjEIEZT1hZl1Pg63RwuLQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-824blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9xuBgEUqYlY\/XyxFH_9T-dI\/AAAAAAAAZZ0\/b7oLZQSLkmUqjsBcAPSnGcgg1eIwfFj1gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-736blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CGWJu8XLjzQ\/Xyw_LAf1QII\/AAAAAAAAZYg\/YRmdrF5WFW06_Ao9a9pjqR20P8pSf6t9QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-900blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(These pelicans just kept flying past in a huge line.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MA0hvZqMC0I\/Xyw_lFyCnJI\/AAAAAAAAZZQ\/46Hnp48Qbvs8xC0PCEIdn_9FBAhpcHWiQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3730%2B3blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Frozen yogurt in the evening.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lzG3wy2U1Wk\/Xyw_1Sx_snI\/AAAAAAAAZZk\/XhPpIMw1ea0ytzVbz25PVw8qguXTmkiIwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3893blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mByNkmlt5Co\/Xyw_2OgDofI\/AAAAAAAAZZo\/YFqOSTgmF7kogz7hUvZNmz1WsTaHwCE0QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3901blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZMas9bnc2fo\/Xyw_7T4IeBI\/AAAAAAAAZZw\/V89kZuKjVaoiIfEEKjO_uAghqzn_AmspwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3912blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Lots of evenings at the pool!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w52W0w33JZQ\/Xyw_nf3pj7I\/AAAAAAAAZZk\/-mlhyXQpZqImzNIvVyYUS20e8tECxUGHQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3734blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(And more sandcastle building and reading on the beach!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-SgCyEBtAQ9o\/Xyw_nhNL1HI\/AAAAAAAAZZo\/cP_DFT2SBjIWF8KLJKu0LkrO8VAdcBaOwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3740blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1202\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-K2gy0RFxKFk\/Xyw_qEY38HI\/AAAAAAAAZZo\/UsYaoU2pYloYvhuKAs6Y87X3C2fdkfg4gCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3756blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1199\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qCgvA450HAw\/Xyw_xLEYf4I\/AAAAAAAAZZw\/To8cEhqjdZQ-I36lf1yquWuZkBMOr06pQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3762blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-e66nletS8tw\/Xyw-xeY3cAI\/AAAAAAAAZYI\/NBPtsNnYzBEP4k1kTHodzWVAp4a_DNVmQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-924blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-afGOoPvGiNg\/Xyw-2Kf72xI\/AAAAAAAAZYI\/VJYRxdlHVsI0FTRkTw14LDpRGy6sIYS4ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-943blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1198\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xLMCn_39WXo\/Xyw_w0ZUu9I\/AAAAAAAAZZw\/4DFCYrGOwDc8zeo44KiqFxznwvnuUCG7wCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3828blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe saw a few pretty sights on the way home, so last part of our vacation photos coming next week!"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/765591048786233187\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=765591048786233187\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/765591048786233187"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/765591048786233187"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/galveston-island-part-two.html","title":"Galveston Island - Part Two"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-23Z2US4r2wE\/Xyw9Og-ZktI\/AAAAAAAAZVY\/uGBHmahWxNo0znRbrLjW1V6IKMjM9DtCACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/Galveston-2020-380blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5497662012554674941"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-10T05:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-10T05:31:00.269-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Goals"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memory-Keeping"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Five Goals For Early Fall"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Zimh8kfC21s\/Xy7PpzlodwI\/AAAAAAAAZgc\/8HKxQfWAtyoZEdCWSAxJ9JvKPGF0m6z5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_8229blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAt the beginning of this year, I was really trying to make monthly (or at least semi-monthly) goals. \u0026nbsp;I did pretty well until about March, and then...well, you know. \u0026nbsp;It's time to try to get back into goal-keeping mode, and I am looking forward to having something to work toward for the last few months this year! \u0026nbsp;These are my goals for August and September (I find I do better if I give myself goals every two months, instead of every month).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFinish Our Summer To-Do List\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI wrote here about all the fun stuff I hoped to do with the kids this summer - we've done about half of the things on the list, and I think we could probably cross off at least ten more items before the end of August! \u0026nbsp;I'll post a final list update of everything we did in a couple weeks, but I'd like to squeeze as much as possible before we start school.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFinish All My Half-Read Books\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThese are the books I am currently halfway through:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lord-Edgware-Dies-Hercule-Mysteries\/dp\/0062073893\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=lord+edgeware+dies\u0026amp;qid=1596833054\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELord Edgeware Dies\u003C\/i\u003E by Agatha Christie\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Underground-History-American-Education-Investigation\/dp\/0998919101\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15HYPZTB1SMVD\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+underground+history+of+american+education\u0026amp;qid=1596832938\u0026amp;sprefix=the+underground+history+of+a%2Caps%2C187\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Underground History Of American Education\u003C\/i\u003E by John Taylor Gatto\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Last-Doughboys-Forgotten-Generation-Their-ebook\/dp\/B008LQ1XII\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+last+of+the+doughboys\u0026amp;qid=1596832883\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Last Of The Doughboys \u003C\/i\u003Eby Richard Rubin\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Kindle only $3!)\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Bright-Side-Going-Dark-ebook\/dp\/B07WNHLD4Q\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+bright+side+of+going+dark\u0026amp;qid=1596832846\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Bright Side Of Going Dark\u003C\/i\u003E by Kelly Harms\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lovely-War-Julie-Berry\/dp\/0147512972\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=lovely+war\u0026amp;qid=1596832554\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELovely War\u003C\/i\u003E by Julie Berry\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/This-Tender-Land-William-Krueger\/dp\/1476749302\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=This+Tender+land\u0026amp;qid=1596832588\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis Tender Land\u003C\/i\u003E by William Kent Krueger\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Maybe-You-Should-Talk-Someone\/dp\/1328662055\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=maybe+you+should+talk+to+someone\u0026amp;qid=1596832702\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMaybe You Should Talk To Someone\u003C\/i\u003E by Lori Gottlieb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Uncle-Cabin-Harriet-Beecher-Stowe-ebook\/dp\/B0084B1OUM\/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2UPBRR31W7R1B\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=uncle+tom%27s+cabin\u0026amp;qid=1596832725\u0026amp;sprefix=uncle+tom%27s%2Caps%2C182\u0026amp;sr=8-7\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUncle Tom's Cabin\u003C\/i\u003E by Harriet Beecher Stowe\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Two-Towers-Being-Second-Rings-ebook\/dp\/B007978PKY\/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+two+towers\u0026amp;qid=1596832766\u0026amp;sr=8-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Two Towers \u003C\/i\u003Eby J.R.R. Tolkien\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E-\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Book-Signs-Undeniable-Prophecies-Apocalypse\/dp\/078522954X\/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2HOH924E48U6V\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+book+of+signs+david+jeremiah\u0026amp;qid=1596832820\u0026amp;sprefix=the+book+of+sign%2Caps%2C190\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Book Of Signs\u003C\/i\u003E by David Jeremiah\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt looks like alot, but since I'm halfway through all of those, it's really equal to about five books. \u0026nbsp;I'm tired of having so many books going at once, and I'd really like to close these books up before diving into some fall-ish mood reading.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWorkout At Least Four Times A Week\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs I mentioned in my post the other day, this is my first year in eight years to draw a deer tag. \u0026nbsp;I know if I don't try to get in better shape I'm going to be wheezing my way up the mountains during hunting season. \u0026nbsp;I want to put my best effort in since I haven't been hunting in so long - I want it to be as pleasant of an experience as possible, and I want to get something! \u0026nbsp;My goal is to workout at least four times a week, and especially my legs, so hopefully I won't slow Derek down too much.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESort And Print This Year's Photos + Print One Year's Worth Of Past Photos\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESomething I've had on my goal list for the past several years is to finally print all the pictures from the kids' baby years, and put them in albums. \u0026nbsp;This is something I've been terrible about ever since Gwen was born. \u0026nbsp;I'd like to go through the next year in my backlog (I think it's 2014), narrow it down to the 200 (or so) best photos, and get them printed up before the end of September. \u0026nbsp;(We'll worry about getting them into albums later.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'd also like to get this current year's photos sorted and printed up until this point. \u0026nbsp;Last year for Christmas I printed up the best pictures of each kid, put them in a little brag book album from Walmart, and put them in their stockings for Christmas. \u0026nbsp;They loved it. \u0026nbsp;They loved having a book full of memories and photos of themselves and our family from the previous year. \u0026nbsp;I want to do it again this year, and I don't want to leave it to the last minute because it is quite alot of work. \u0026nbsp;So I'm going to start on that early.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFinish Christmas Shopping\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDerek brought up a really good point \u0026nbsp;- we may want to accomplish our Christmas shopping early this year. \u0026nbsp;Who knows how things will go in the months leading up to election day, if there will be more shutdowns, or if the mail service will suffer more delays than it already has. \u0026nbsp;I don't want to order things in November (as I usually do), and run the risk of anything interfering with packages arriving on time. \u0026nbsp;So I'm attempting to finish ALL our Christmas shopping by October 1st. \u0026nbsp;This year has been stressful enough that I'm also liking the idea of having a very non-stressful Christmas because I got everything organized early!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qJQ0SU8C1QQ\/Xy7PtQUI_0I\/AAAAAAAAZgo\/kq51t9bZ90QzOLL8xx54GZz10BQuK7aHACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_8242blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDid your goals for the year get de-railed like mine did?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5497662012554674941\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5497662012554674941\u0026isPopup=true","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5497662012554674941"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5497662012554674941"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/five-goals-for-early-fall.html","title":"Five Goals For Early Fall"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Zimh8kfC21s\/Xy7PpzlodwI\/AAAAAAAAZgc\/8HKxQfWAtyoZEdCWSAxJ9JvKPGF0m6z5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_8229blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-348136937361169681"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-07T05:31:00.005-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-07T05:31:00.154-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vacations and Trips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Galveston Island - Part One"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KBjlO6D2544\/XywjpKwBxII\/AAAAAAAAZVI\/VTvoHFdGytcqDJyQlv2shaZ9-0TQFLknACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/Galveston-2020-296blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm finally getting around to writing about the trip to Galveston that we took in May! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENeedless to say, vacation this year was really weird. \u0026nbsp;Because of Derek's work, we can't take vacations in June or July, so we usually end up going on our summer vacation in May or August. \u0026nbsp;August vacations can be a little tough on me - it's really hard to get back into school mode when we just got home from summer vacation. \u0026nbsp;So our preference has been to try to vacation in May.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis year that was obviously a little tricky. \u0026nbsp;Flights were cheap but highly discouraged, and we wanted to be conscientious about going to a state with a similar case-load as our state, and about trying to keep social distance while still having some fun. \u0026nbsp;We settled on a road trip to Galveston!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe drive was fun, and we really enjoyed the terrain in Texas. \u0026nbsp;It's so much greener than I imagined it to be. \u0026nbsp;We also drove through a couple towns that I had been reading about in \u003Ci\u003EThe Worst Hard Time\u003C\/i\u003E, and that was really fascinating to me - we went right through the land that was once a part of the XIT Ranch. \u0026nbsp;We also stopped for candied pecans on the way as a treat. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe reached Galveston late at night, and the first couple days down there were a little rough, with a dirty AirBnB debacle (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/06\/the-kickoff-to-summer.html\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Efull story here\u003C\/a\u003E). \u0026nbsp;We made a quick trip to the beach the day we left the AirBnB, but we had to drive back to the Houston area to stay the night since there wouldn't be a hotel room available until Monday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat ended up being a good thing, because I ended up getting a full-blown ear infection, and I had to go to Urgent Care to get antibiotics! \u0026nbsp;Within 12 hours of taking them, I felt 95% better, which is crazy to me. \u0026nbsp;I haven't had to take antibiotics in years, and I was impressed - those things really work!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll that to say, our vacation didn't feel like it truly started until four days into it. \u0026nbsp;I was bummed that we missed a couple days that we could have been spending at the beach, but hey, it is what it is. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EHas any vacation truly gone perfectly?\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;We haven't ever had a vacation that was without bumps. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe did get to see a movie while we were in Houston, something we still haven't been able to do at home, so it was a treat. \u0026nbsp;We had the theater nearly to ourselves, and we saw \"Playing With Fire\". \u0026nbsp;The kids thought it was completely hilarious and begged me to buy it - aside from a little \"potty humor\", it was cute. \u0026nbsp;I think the excitement of going to see a movie after so long is what made it memorable though!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnce we were back on Galveston we toured an old mansion to kick things off right, a place called Bishop's Palace. \u0026nbsp;It was a beautiful old place. \u0026nbsp;It was a self-guided tour, and we were literally the only people in the whole building except for two clerks in the basement. \u0026nbsp;It was really interesting to be in there all alone! \u0026nbsp;I do wish we had been able to take a guided tour, because the pamphlet they gave us was light on the history. \u0026nbsp;Obviously a Bishop must have once lived there, and I was under the impression that some services must have been held in there too because of all the gorgeous stained glass windows and other paraphernalia. \u0026nbsp;But that is all speculation, because the pamphlet told us things like \"\u003Ci\u003EThis was Mrs. Gresham's room,\u003C\/i\u003E\" which I have to be honest, I found really amusing! \u0026nbsp;I wish I knew who Mrs. Gresham \u003Ci\u003Ewas\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;That's what we get for trying to do a self-guided tour. \u0026nbsp;The exhibit on the hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900 was really interesting though!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter checking into our hotel we drove down the seawall and we were able to walk onto Pleasure Pier, which is basically an amusement park on a pier. \u0026nbsp;All the rides were still closed, but it was fun to walk along it as the sun was going down! \u0026nbsp;Everything was so pretty.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThen the next day we went right on back to the beach!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qr82oqt7m9U\/Xyweeu3WeKI\/AAAAAAAAZUs\/DAUilytMQ1gYlCcWOQTqUPrLghSKWCJ5ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3076blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Ready to go!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fOcSDGeWv2I\/XywekK0KT8I\/AAAAAAAAZUU\/4dge7XmahRE-X6060b922ofq5F98jCQ5QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3095blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(We stopped at a few historical sites along the way. \u0026nbsp;This was the site of a massacre, so we stopped to look at the memorial.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MnNUU5JOC90\/Xyweki2n2wI\/AAAAAAAAZUs\/6Ax2mciWV1QTDbs9DauTOPaUgKCN_eddgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3097blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Driving through New Mexico - looks like there was a brush fire behind that hill.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UcQ6gib1z8A\/Xywen2nJP3I\/AAAAAAAAZU4\/jRbipNMOra8_8cxl_brr1NpMeOssk5SVwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3120blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(The beach!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7viYUPK1SVo\/XywepF-fqhI\/AAAAAAAAZUc\/fZaxvdd-EsIGeV3N-GxIgWAWE72LYbj2QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3131blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-S5rBWiKjIxM\/XywdFe7Yi_I\/AAAAAAAAZR8\/PoXcAgg5W7k6ZRl8CuC1v7w1EIOtZzvjACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-073blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-37nh5nYmjqg\/XywdFqjKdNI\/AAAAAAAAZR8\/EMmwRrHeI58jEAhfy8ZheBF-YB-BFXRHwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-117blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Our first day at the beach before we hung out for a couple days in Houston.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xrgw9YpfV3k\/XywfCDErnfI\/AAAAAAAAZVA\/XA7p7j6yXSUc9OHeEULk85MVAaj1gkzwACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3373blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(The Bishop's Palace.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-E-yoVuOWuH0\/XywfEcxKwYI\/AAAAAAAAZVE\/1EK98mIluxIrAAMQAwJ6oS9Jcwuca0_iACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3393blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2kw2T1O5Npo\/XywewFdGvUI\/AAAAAAAAZUs\/JoAIEfQYAYwTGjVuxHTRCA3cKjzvVA7ewCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3214blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8t0I2e2_HD8\/XywevU2CiZI\/AAAAAAAAZUs\/djoY7kD5rc8r-fvS6QBGsIJnFASOeZP0QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3244blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IfJVA7qaDSM\/Xywe28CzsxI\/AAAAAAAAZU4\/phHUwR9-4Jw6BuWMAc1i8mlklCKQe_xtQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3286blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--Z5V5TXHHAQ\/XywdZXupefI\/AAAAAAAAZSQ\/SmYmkMqiBrYXNcFUvyJbtaXhJP_vjINPgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-144blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CIEB-ArCct4\/XywdXUwRzzI\/AAAAAAAAZSQ\/Sbd2ItkPnsgTHjnwSH9wbZYgbmx33wtuACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-151blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MzhrgSZo3HY\/Xywe5INOXLI\/AAAAAAAAZU8\/86eWr3kugIEVqzXNdujN5abG9oWJ0nrXQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_3315blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0QsROz416GE\/XywdY6VV9tI\/AAAAAAAAZSQ\/lhVMjeO4OUIDBqwXrCnowBb1_7xiHoGbACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-176blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Wyatt was really interested in the exhibit on the 1900 hurricane.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WQGsHpvpzos\/XywdsqZFbEI\/AAAAAAAAZSk\/oCrmeRgDQrAYPvo1dKFF0Yfh3LVavFRhgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-201blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QXJHHLWfTAU\/XywdsVMu8iI\/AAAAAAAAZSg\/WBkt6ZqYkCQLko2q21n-1aUhEZsI60WeQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-202blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BQtPLIxBGMs\/XywdvGZr6-I\/AAAAAAAAZSo\/LAV1jseCndgfpYnpm851UwDimOAR2o9DQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-204blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GNU9HLLfpvU\/XyweHrw6imI\/AAAAAAAAZT0\/2Tag7_A-KtEpCZN4bqehWGFNsKvD9AvPACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-207blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Walking on the pier.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KInoMHGliI0\/XyweDugdzHI\/AAAAAAAAZTM\/_CDKOkCN_lYOLVqz6kZdXbOTt6r8dVFpQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-244blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lQQSpF5nPxU\/XyweCT3OOdI\/AAAAAAAAZTU\/ei613hnpzqYT9Hj9__YkVMiCPsP3PEx-wCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-215blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-y9udTEfnzUU\/Xyw0fXxaOsI\/AAAAAAAAZVQ\/FZiLDDwNFqUSGSlGY7a8bg3xCb7h_HYCwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s2048\/Galveston-2020-302blog2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-y9udTEfnzUU\/Xyw0fXxaOsI\/AAAAAAAAZVQ\/FZiLDDwNFqUSGSlGY7a8bg3xCb7h_HYCwCLcBGAsYHQ\/d\/Galveston-2020-302blog2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAdd caption\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Back to the beach!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DDDnNEXH1b8\/XyweQGvvYwI\/AAAAAAAAZT0\/klWqi7BlEJYW08XMuu6tNIkXuQDgx964QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-315blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-y0dyWxYbCaI\/XyweS8Dd5lI\/AAAAAAAAZTk\/SPVn1FaAlZYwftRGm5tRfIvMI95ewQ-JgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-324blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0RxMTkUUpzo\/XyweXkbgFhI\/AAAAAAAAZT0\/NZoeAm2CoLsGU1IG9JPdtlE-hZzTORyjACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-329blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RTl9wD593EM\/XyweYffIIuI\/AAAAAAAAZT8\/tfYcwzyPNE03pJ7u1F4MGlAv1D0H2qSlwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-361blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--Ya0WgeLbBU\/Xywei1ZAaWI\/AAAAAAAAZUc\/4RFER8cBZxM1WFq7nBwdGXZfNlTWqtTfQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-377blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EPart Two coming next week!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/348136937361169681\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=348136937361169681\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/348136937361169681"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/348136937361169681"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/galveston-2020-part-one.html","title":"Galveston Island - Part One"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KBjlO6D2544\/XywjpKwBxII\/AAAAAAAAZVI\/VTvoHFdGytcqDJyQlv2shaZ9-0TQFLknACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/Galveston-2020-296blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8769777335667491447"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-06T05:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-06T05:31:00.263-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bits Of Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Currently"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Currently | August 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9KoPYhoKkr8\/XytEMyfphhI\/AAAAAAAAZRA\/qe12hJXM4nw_AG2v1Hrpd7M4hUJLp8k1gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/July-2020-016blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Things-Jolie-Needs-Before-Bites\/dp\/1250119545\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThings Jolie Needs To Do Before She Bites It\u003C\/i\u003E by Kerry Winfrey\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I've been reading some heavy stuff lately, and sometimes you just need a little YA nonsense. \u0026nbsp;So far it's pretty cute, we'll see where it goes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWatching...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EAlone by the History Channel. \u0026nbsp;We have been fans for a long time, but the newer seasons finally made it to Hulu, so we are catching up! \u0026nbsp;We are watching the season where the people are stranded in Mongolia, and I am convinced there is no way I would last a week there. \u0026nbsp;They have wolves in Mongolia. \u0026nbsp; I think I learned a little too much in our co-op when we were covering the Middle Ages last year (lots of problems with wolves eating little children, for real). \u0026nbsp;Wolves are worse than mountain lions or bears. \u0026nbsp;At least with the latter, there is only one, and you have a chance of fighting them off. \u0026nbsp;Wolves travel in packs. \u0026nbsp;Basically, you'd be toast.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFeeling...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Efrustrated. \u0026nbsp;So today was the first time since February when I've been able to go work on the ol' blog at Starbucks. \u0026nbsp;I was so excited! \u0026nbsp;Then I got here and our internet filtering system blocked me from joining the wifi. \u0026nbsp;So the first 40 minutes I've had in a coffee shop alone since February were spent on the phone with Covenant Eyes figuring out what went wrong. \u0026nbsp;Thankfully their customer service is pretty great, and I am grateful for what they do generally. \u0026nbsp;Just going to have to find a work-around for this Starbucks issue.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChoosing...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Eto postpone all my homeschool posts that I had plan until we actually start school! \u0026nbsp;I had a bunch of ideas I wanted to write about, but I decided I needed a few more lazy summer weeks where I just read and take my kids to the park or for summer hikes with friends. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8IuiHt65VPU\/XytEddgXGII\/AAAAAAAAZRI\/zqkYUy-i8Bko-ZUFYQYCiuhocuSP5kfJwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/July-2020-018blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zYG2R6Irspo\/XytEmE4OZxI\/AAAAAAAAZRQ\/BLQ4EI0lwPUnppfq8p-7M79ofl2Dnd0IgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/July-2020-016blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EcwqaF6Yy9A\/XytEdmhQlMI\/AAAAAAAAZRM\/rIjrTzUiuiQUHzqYwjvougbub__-QLrngCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/July-2020-005blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe start school the week of August 16th (trying to get an earlier start this year, in the hopes that next spring we can finish early and things will be normal). \u0026nbsp;So a couple more weeks and I'll get more of those posts and Instagram videos up! \u0026nbsp;Hoping I don't burn you guys out on homeschool content, but I really enjoy sharing ideas and hearing what other people are doing!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EConsuming...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Enot a lot of a sugar. \u0026nbsp;I realized my jeans were getting a little tight, so it was time to cut out sugar for a while again. \u0026nbsp;I'm also trying to get in shape, just because, but also because I drew a deer tag this year. This will be the first time I've been hunting in...probably eight years, and I'm woefully out of shape. \u0026nbsp;And unsure if I'd be able to hit the broad side of a barn. \u0026nbsp;And our freezer is also in desperate need of filling, so yeah, the pressure is on. \u0026nbsp;My plan for not wheezing my way up the trail includes going old-school and breaking out my Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD - and yes, I still feel like I'm going to die after every workout.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOrdering...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Efall candles. \u0026nbsp;I am definitely in the mood for fall early, but I'm trying to restrain myself and enjoy what's left of the summer. \u0026nbsp;I think I'm feeling particularly fall-ish this year because, in my mind, the craziness going on in the world will be magically fixed in the fall. \u0026nbsp;This somehow despite it being an election year, and despite the logical part of my brain knowing something dramatic will go down in October, because they always try to pull those old election tricks. \u0026nbsp;But maybe this year will be different! \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EWho says adults can't believe in fairy tales?\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;(Sorry, that was kind of sarcastic and cynical. \u0026nbsp;I'm in a mood this week.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERemembering...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EI've been pining after Florida this week, because around this time last year we were getting ready for a beach vacation. \u0026nbsp;I am treating this nostalgia by looking through our vacation photos from May, to remind myself that we did actually do some fun things this year too. \u0026nbsp;I'm aiming to get a vacation recap post up tomorrow or Monday!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEnjoying...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ethe way the light shines in our windows in the morning. \u0026nbsp;I've been trying to keep my habit of getting up before the kids through the summer, and if I make it downstairs before 7:00, the light glows orange and pink through the windows. \u0026nbsp;It's really pretty, and I know a photograph wouldn't even capture it. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes when the light is just right, and I know there is no way to convey the experience accurately to anyone else, I just tuck those moments up in my heart and thank the Lord that I get to be alive right then, seeing something that feels like it's only for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XiRSByWufVw\/XytE370OYJI\/AAAAAAAAZRc\/UIUR4OzaeUk9XWGVGLzjqJLYwQz_IjSmACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/July-2020-017blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EP.S. \u0026nbsp;Trying...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Eto figure out what these berries are. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EAny ideas?\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp; We spotted them on a hike with friends a couple weeks ago, and I'm terrible with plants. \u0026nbsp;We are studying Botany for science this year, and I am expecting to learn alot.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8769777335667491447\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8769777335667491447\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8769777335667491447"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8769777335667491447"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/08\/currently-august-2020.html","title":"Currently | August 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9KoPYhoKkr8\/XytEMyfphhI\/AAAAAAAAZRA\/qe12hJXM4nw_AG2v1Hrpd7M4hUJLp8k1gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/July-2020-016blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5941290752912839907"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-22T15:21:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-22T15:21:57.511-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 12"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s2IuJHjBKiw\/XxityL-HSQI\/AAAAAAAAZQw\/WaupWq_1csMCSF6LTZCxBqt8iqwtItfgACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_6430blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Quote\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"Isn't there something in living dangerously?\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E-Aldous Huxley, \u003Ci\u003EBrave New World\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Book\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI started reading \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Uncle-Cabin-Harriet-Beecher-Stowe\/dp\/1679604007\/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=uncle+tom%27s+cabin\u0026amp;qid=1595452176\u0026amp;sr=8-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUncle Tom's Cabin\u003C\/i\u003E by Harriet Beecher Stowe\u003C\/a\u003E - I've never read it, and it's referenced so often in American Culture, I figured I should read it to know what everyone is talking about. \u0026nbsp;It's so much more interesting than I originally thought it would be, kind of like \u003Ci\u003EEast Of Eden \u003C\/i\u003Ewas! \u0026nbsp;Don't be afraid of those big books, folks. \u0026nbsp;In my experience thus far, even big books typically have to be somewhat interesting to get published.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1350\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s8DzT14A_AA\/XxitjQ5YqpI\/AAAAAAAAZQs\/XnNhEujjOrko_P3HdFsFmRGU-KY1UhP9gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_6430blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm trying to figure out what this bush is...it looks like a chokecherry bush to me. \u0026nbsp;We used to pick chokecherries growing up and make syrup out of them - I hope that's what it is! \u0026nbsp;I'm breaking out my plant guides later to confirm.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you have never heard of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.serialreader.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethe Serial app\u003C\/a\u003E, you should definitely check it out! \u0026nbsp;It breaks up classic books into 15-minute serials that are delivered to you each morning. \u0026nbsp;I think it makes those doorstops feel more manageable. \u0026nbsp;It's how I'm reading \u003Ci\u003EUncle Tom's Cabin\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;And the books are all free!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe were at the Christian bookstore yesterday, and Wyatt spotted some devotional books that he wanted. \u0026nbsp;After I looked through them to make sure they were good, I offered to buy one of them for him. \u0026nbsp;He insisted on paying me back when we got home, but I honestly wasn't going to remind him. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELater that night, after bedtime, I was sitting in my chair, and Wyatt snuck out of his room and handed me a bill and a handful of coins to pay for his devotional, and then he asked me what time I usually get up to read the Bible. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI wrote about this last week, but I was about his age when I paid for my own first devotional book and started reading it along with my Bible daily. \u0026nbsp;I don't know if he heard me telling that story or not, but either way, I love that it was so important to him to buy the book himself and get on track with reading his Bible daily. \u0026nbsp;I love seeing him take initiative in his own godly habits and spiritual growth.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHe gave me his squinty-eyed grin when I told him he could come read with me in the mornings, and it just warmed my heart so much. \u0026nbsp;I'm so proud of my boy."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5941290752912839907\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5941290752912839907\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5941290752912839907"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5941290752912839907"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/the-wednesday-five-vol-12.html","title":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 12"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s2IuJHjBKiw\/XxityL-HSQI\/AAAAAAAAZQw\/WaupWq_1csMCSF6LTZCxBqt8iqwtItfgACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_6430blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2169536319306564801"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-17T09:01:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-17T09:02:41.688-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Parenting"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Homeschool Bible Recommendations"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eCKLnbFJ8Vs\/XxG9AphQJUI\/AAAAAAAAZQc\/g0lt74O2FzoYvShhXZi0dRvCEb04bOm8ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_6240blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI didn't want to finish my curriculum series without including Bible, but to be honest, it's hard to sum up our Bible \"curriculum\" in one post. \u0026nbsp;We don't use just one resource to teach our kids the Bible, and we don't do it at one time of the day and then check it off our list. \u0026nbsp;My goal in teaching my children the Bible is that we will talk about biblical truths often, throughout our day, in formal and informal settings, and that it will be embedded into every part of our homeschool curriculum. \u0026nbsp;Do I always succeed at this? \u0026nbsp;No, there are alot of days where I drop the ball and our Bible study doesn't look like that, but it's what I want to strive for.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAt the same time, I think it can be really useful for kids to have some sort of resource to guide them in Bible study and help them think about what they are reading, especially as they get older. \u0026nbsp;My oldest son is getting to that age where he has been working on reading through the Bible on his own, and he could handle a more structured study, so I've been mulling that over and thinking through different resources. \u0026nbsp;Here are some of the resources that we've used, or that we plan to use. \u0026nbsp;Some of them are actual \"curricula\", and some are other types of resources I've used. \u0026nbsp;This isn't even a comprehensive list, but these are the things that have stood out so far.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Bible (Like, The Real Bible)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI think sometimes we forget that the most important way we can teach our kids is just to read it with them! \u0026nbsp;Alot. \u0026nbsp;Derek is really good at reading them a chapter each night, and I'd like to do better at bookending that with reading a chapter to the kids at breakfast as well.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI firmly believe in reading the actual Bible even to little kids, but I do think for the younger ones it's nice to add in a Bible storybook too, so the next couple are my favorite Bible storybooks.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEgermeier's Bible Story Book\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've collected quite alot of storybooks in my day, and this is one of my favorites. \u0026nbsp;I like how this storybook is so thorough - no part of a Bible story is skipped, not even the hard parts, but it presents it in a kid-friendly way, with beautiful illustrations to accompany each story.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tommynelson.com\/books\/i-am\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EI Am: 40 Reasons To Trust God\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is another Bible storybook that I really like - each story is connected to a different name and attribute of God, and a short devotion and prayer is included at the end of each chapter to get the kids thinking further. \u0026nbsp;I think the illustrations in this are just gorgeous, and it's a great bedtime storybook. \u0026nbsp;Our copy is actually falling apart, so I'm going to have to purchase another one.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnswers Bible Curriculum\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis was our main Bible curriculum last year! \u0026nbsp;We picked this up at the homeschool conference, and we got about halfway through, so we'll continue it this year. \u0026nbsp;The book comes with pdf files for slides to show on your computer while you teach, memory verse posters, and coloring pages. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe curriculum was written by the folks over at Answers In Genesis, and uses their method of breaking biblical history up into \"the seven C's\" - Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consumation (and my kids can recite those now, so that's a plus!). \u0026nbsp;While a lot of time is spent in the Old Testament, the curriculum is an overview of the whole Bible, and I think it lays a great foundation for understanding why Christ had to come and die on the cross to save us! \u0026nbsp;That is the most important thing for my kids to know, and I love the focus on the gospel through this curriculum so far.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince we are stretching the curriculum out over two years, I've looked ahead to see what is coming, and the second half of the curriculum seems to focus on answering different questions about God and the Bible. \u0026nbsp;It has more of an apologetics focus, and I think it'll fit nicely with another resource we are using.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Answers Book For Kids\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere are eight volumes of these little books, and they are completely full of questions kids may be wondering about the Bible, along with the answers of course! \u0026nbsp;We use these in our morning time right now - I'll read a question and the answer, and then we'll look up the Bible verses that are listed and read them together. \u0026nbsp;I think this is a really convenient little resource to start some good conversations, and it's really easy to add into a morning routine or read over lunch.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBig Thoughts For Little Thinkers\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThese books are really similar to the Answers Books For Kids, but each page has cute illustrations and a different truth about God to talk about with your kids \u0026nbsp;Once again, I usually read the thought on the page, and then we look up the Bible verses and talk about it more if needed. \u0026nbsp;I really like this for all the kids - the thoughts are deep enough to bring up some good topics with the older kids, and simple enough for young kids to learn and remember.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGod Is Really, Really Real\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis resource goes a little more in-depth on some of the main concepts that we learn in Scripture about God, man, sin and death, Jesus, and salvation, etc. \u0026nbsp;I think it could easily be used as the core for a more formal curriculum as well. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs it says on the front, there are 30 Bible doctrines covered in this book. \u0026nbsp;The first part of the book has colorful illustrations and a poem-story that relates to the lessons, and the second half guides parents through teaching different biblical doctrines to their kids, along with \"tuck-in questions\" to remind your kids what they learned during the day. \u0026nbsp;There are also more in-depth explanations and Bible references for parents in the back of the book. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI think the book is geared toward younger children, but with the more in-depth information in the back, it would be easy to use this to teach older kids who already have something of a grounding in these doctrines too! \u0026nbsp;I honestly forgot I had this resource until late in our school year, and we used it in morning time, but going forward I am thinking I might add this one to our bedtime routine instead.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBible Survey For Kids\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is one of the new resources I purchased for the upcoming school year, put out by Mike Fabarez's ministry. \u0026nbsp;This curriculum is super simple and straightforward, a way to give your kids an overall view of each of the books of the Bible. \u0026nbsp;Each lesson covers one book, and the main things that are included in that book, and then Bible book cards are tacked onto the wall in chronological order, or in genre groups. \u0026nbsp;I really like this idea for giving the kids a \"big picture\" of the Bible as we continue reading it and studying it with our other resources. \u0026nbsp;I'm thinking we'll do one of these lessons a week for the upcoming school year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EExplorer's Bible Study\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is the other new resource I bought for Wyatt, because I think he is big enough to find this sort of book helpful. \u0026nbsp;The Explorer's Bible Study books go through different eras of Bible history through a simple fill-in-the-blank format. \u0026nbsp;Just flipping through this book, it is really similar to the Community Bible Study workbooks we did a couple years ago. \u0026nbsp;Since we aren't ready to re-start CBS this year, I think having a similar book will be helpful. \u0026nbsp;Each lesson is broken up into five segments, one for each day of the week. \u0026nbsp;The text of the Bible passage is included in the book, and then the student can answer questions. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDepending on the day, I might sit down and do each lesson with Wyatt, (and possibly write his answers for him), or I might have him work on it independently once he gets the hang of it. \u0026nbsp;However, if he works on it independently, it's important to me to still sit down with him and talk about what he wrote. \u0026nbsp;I think this will be a great guide through different biblical books, and a great chance to get Wyatt used to more in-depth Bible lessons.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDevotional Books\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne more quick little note - I am a fan of devotional books for kids. \u0026nbsp;When I was about Wyatt's age, I found a devotional book I liked at the Christian book store. \u0026nbsp;I ended up buying it, and it helped me get into the habit of reading a chapter of the Bible and a devotional every day. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI really would love if my kids developed that habit as well, and so I bribe them with devotional books! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EActually, I picked up a couple kids devotion books here and there a few years ago, and just put them on the bookshelf and forgot about them. My kids discovered them this summer, and my big kids have been reading through them on their own, along with their Bibles. These are some of the ones I've found:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/My-Big-Book-5-minute-Devotions\/dp\/0824955560\/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=five+minute+bible+devotions\u0026amp;qid=1594762103\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-5\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EMy Big Book Of Five-Minute Devotions\u003C\/a\u003E - This book includes animal facts along with lessons about God, the Bible, good character qualities, etc. \u0026nbsp;Each devotion has a Bible verse and prayer to go with it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Gods-Amazing-Creatures-Devotions-Girls\/dp\/0890512949\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=god%27s+amazing+creatures+and+me\u0026amp;qid=1594762357\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\"\u003EGod's Amazing Creatures And Me\u003C\/a\u003E - This is another book that includes animal facts tied in with a lesson about the God who created these animals. \u0026nbsp;Can you tell that I have a kid who loves animals?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne warning about devotional books - often they can be rather superficial, especially when written for kids, so I think it's important to not use them as your child's only Bible-related \u0026nbsp;resource. \u0026nbsp;Devotion books aren't a substitute for true Bible study and biblical instruction, and they often do an inadequate job of presenting the gospel, so I try to be aware of that and do some extra explanations where necessary. \u0026nbsp;But I do think they can be a fun addition to Bible reading. \u0026nbsp;What I like about devotion books for kids is how they can emphasize the ways that biblical knowledge relates to anything they could encounter in their day or life. \u0026nbsp;So that's the value I think they can add here, when read in addition to the Bible itself and regular Bible instruction in other areas (and not just reading a devotion alone, because they aren't enough by themselves).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-0TbgZ_jma9k\/XxG9LEsEp7I\/AAAAAAAAZQg\/U4TbT5ysGNEJ-QZpnRIkGA9ccoUfgTpDgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_6240blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn case you didn't notice, I am all over the board with Bible instruction. \u0026nbsp;I told you that I wouldn't say we do one Bible \"curriculum\" - the curriculum is all these things put together and done regularly (or for some of them, sporadically) over the course of many years - my kids' whole childhood really. \u0026nbsp;I hope we are always in the middle of this or that Bible resource, and in the middle of some book of the Bible itself, throughout my kids' childhoods, until they no longer live in this house. \u0026nbsp;I want them to be saturated in it, so they can soak it up constantly, and take it all with them when they go. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor a Christian homeschool family, I don't think Bible should be just another homeschool subject. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EBible instruction will never be done.\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;If I want my kids to learn anything in this homeschooling journey, I hope it's that - to never stop seeking after the Lord through His Word, to love Christ, and never be done learning about the One who created them and died to save them. \u0026nbsp;If I succeed in that, I will have succeeded in everything.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd maybe that's also why I have way too many Bible-related resources to choose from, ha!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat do you use for Bible instruction in your home? (Aside from THE BIBLE, of course!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2169536319306564801\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2169536319306564801\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2169536319306564801"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2169536319306564801"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/my-homeschool-bible-recommendations.html","title":"My Homeschool Bible Recommendations"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eCKLnbFJ8Vs\/XxG9AphQJUI\/AAAAAAAAZQc\/g0lt74O2FzoYvShhXZi0dRvCEb04bOm8ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_6240blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-3060780273305822984"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-15T18:46:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-15T23:05:56.445-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"America and Patriotism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Anniversary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 11"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JbsE7YOtEQA\/Xw-isGVWdcI\/AAAAAAAAZP8\/52qJs_mHH1Ikot1nxyJnJezbcCgnT-50gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/ACS_0069%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003EGracious, I've lost my blogging rhythm a bit. \u0026nbsp;When did I last write about something personal on here? \u0026nbsp;It's been a while, so I'm going to use The Wednesday Five format to get back into it this week. \u0026nbsp;You can read\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/The%20Wednesday%20Five\"\u003Eother Wednesday Five posts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;here, and feel free to join in if you want!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Quote\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"We're a violent people, Cal. \u0026nbsp;Does it seem strange to you that I include myself? \u0026nbsp;Maybe it's true that we are all descended from the restless, the nervous, the criminals, the arguers and brawlers, but also the brave and independent and generous. \u0026nbsp;If our ancestors had not been that, they would have stayed in their home plots in that other world, and starved over the squeezed-out soil...that's why I include myself. \u0026nbsp;We all have that heritage, no matter what land our father's left. \u0026nbsp;All colors and blends of Americans have somewhat the same tendencies. \u0026nbsp;It's a breed, selected out by accident. \u0026nbsp;And so we're over-brave and over-fearful - we're kind, and cruel as children. \u0026nbsp;We're over-friendly and at the same time frightened of strangers. \u0026nbsp;We boast and are impressed. \u0026nbsp;We're over-sentimental and realistic. \u0026nbsp;We are mundane and materialistic - and do you know what other nation acts for ideals? \u0026nbsp;We eat too much. \u0026nbsp;We have no taste, no sense of proportion. \u0026nbsp;We throw our energy about like waste. \u0026nbsp;In the old lands they say of us that we go from barbarism to decadence without an intervening culture. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECan it be that our critics have not the key or language of our culture?\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;...That's what we are, Cal, all of us. \u0026nbsp;You are not very different.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E-East Of Eden, pg 568 (emphasis mine)\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor some reason this little monologue in \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/John-Steinbeck-East-Eden\/dp\/B00328BMR2\/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=east+of+eden\u0026amp;qid=1594859092\u0026amp;sr=8-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EEast Of Eden\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/i\u003Estood out to me when I read it a couple months ago, and I've been mulling it over a bit. \u0026nbsp;I don't know if I think Steinbeck got Americans exactly right, but in some senses I think he captured some of the spirit of America here. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe part that stands out to me right this minute is where he asks whether critics of our country fail to understand Americans because they don't have the key and language of our culture, and I think he got that right. \u0026nbsp;Ultimately what has tied us all together as a country, as Americans, for the last 244 years\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eis\u003C\/i\u003E our ideals - our ideals of freedom, and our efforts to reach toward those ideals even when we may have failed to live up to them. \u0026nbsp;We are a people tied together by a love of freedom, and a tenacious will to struggle and fight to achieve it, and to defend it whenever it is threatened. \u0026nbsp;I hope we always keep that. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI saw a random social media comment from a person in a country which shall remain nameless, who criticized Americans for \"always thinking someone wants to take your freedom away\". \u0026nbsp;It irked me to no end, just because of the sheer ignorance. \u0026nbsp;That's an example right there of someone who doesn't understand what America really is, who maybe never will, because she doesn't have \"the key or language of our culture\".\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOkay, sorry for the lengthy aside there - it just happened! \u0026nbsp;On to the next category...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Book\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've been reading books on alot of political topics lately, but I don't really want to talk about those, so I'm going to mention that I started \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Maybe-You-Should-Talk-Someone\/dp\/1328662055\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LU54SXVG0N6S\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=maybe+you+should+talk+to+someone\u0026amp;qid=1594858954\u0026amp;sprefix=maybe+you+should%2Caps%2C184\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMaybe You Should Talk To Someone\u003C\/i\u003E by Lori Gottlieb\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;It's basically a memoir of a therapist who ends up needing therapy after a bad breakup. \u0026nbsp;I find the little tidbits about psychology interesting, and the author really knows how to tell an interesting story, so I kind of got sucked in.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ytIkpRU_7cY\/Xw-i2qKr16I\/AAAAAAAAZQA\/Zn-URMsWgxonIIU8LtXESqpP44kHkdTAQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5417blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is from our trip to a little mountain stream a couple weeks ago - Clyde pointed out that the light playing on the water looked like a snakeskin - it kind of does, doesn't it?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI recommend you get yourself over to Target, because they put out the school supplies in the dollar spot this week! \u0026nbsp;I got a bunch of good stuff that I might show over on Instagram. \u0026nbsp;I always look forward to raiding the dollar spot for homeschool stuff - all their little knick-knacks spark alot of homeschool ideas for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OwpcRoeFzKY\/Xw-jFdaBMFI\/AAAAAAAAZQI\/u9lztF1DAak1JAeWsSt98C00RATnfCl0wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/ACS_0069%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--89WGzCq6lw\/Xw-jFUMXbuI\/AAAAAAAAZQM\/Yqf3ylFxfN8-p_IMBFsandkIs7evbaH4ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_6070blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast week was our 12th wedding anniversary, and Derek and I were able to get away to a resort, thanks to my mom! \u0026nbsp;We had a nice time, and when we came back home the next day, Georgie ran up to me and said in her little baby voice \"Mama, you're here! \u0026nbsp;I wuv you, Mama! \u0026nbsp;I wuv you so much!\" \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOh my goodness, that girl. \u0026nbsp;I wuv her too."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/3060780273305822984\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=3060780273305822984\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3060780273305822984"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3060780273305822984"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/the-wednesday-five-vol-11.html","title":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 11"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JbsE7YOtEQA\/Xw-isGVWdcI\/AAAAAAAAZP8\/52qJs_mHH1Ikot1nxyJnJezbcCgnT-50gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/ACS_0069%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-304501005973938908"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-10T10:02:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-10T10:02:32.026-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Homeschool Chat: Science"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tjj9FBarzm8\/XwiQlxg57II\/AAAAAAAAZPY\/nr758p7CSj4xIRV5lYvO4zer3CFQApvYQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_5421blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EScience has always been my favorite subject, and my love for the subject started back when I was a homeschool student. \u0026nbsp;I love learning about the intricacies of God's creation - His fingerprints are all over everything in the natural world, and studying what He has made is one of the best ways to get a full understanding of the vastness of His power.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is extremely important to me that whatever science curriculum we choose as our core, that it is firmly grounded in a biblical worldview. \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately, I think most children that stray from the faith in their college years first started to doubt in science class. \u0026nbsp;It is a sad fact because this trend is so unnecessary. \u0026nbsp;The study of science is 100% compatible with a faith in God and His Word. \u0026nbsp;I was fortunate enough to be homeschooled through high school, and rather than shaking my faith, my science studies bolstered my faith. \u0026nbsp;I want that for my kids too.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo that said, here are my science curricula picks for the upcoming school year!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gJjdih0Oqfg\/XwiQxvab1PI\/AAAAAAAAZPc\/8fp5Xs3grgoIn_cG1pJuOOyI8HEwQcGxwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5369blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product-category\/science\/elementary-science\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EApologia Young Explorers Series\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was first introduced to Apologia when I used one of their biology textbooks as a homeschool high school student. \u0026nbsp;Oh, how I loved that book! \u0026nbsp;Not only did it let me deep-dive into a subject that always interested me, but it was written from creationist perspective in such an equipping and fascinating way. \u0026nbsp;I learned so much about the scientific method, the specifics of biology, and how it all fit in with the Christian faith, and it truly made me love science best.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen I saw that Apologia had courses for elementary students now, I knew that's what we would use! \u0026nbsp;We've been using Apologia for three years, and I still love it. \u0026nbsp;The textbooks are written in a really engaging way, they include alot of colorful pictures, and the experiments suggested are fairly simple and doable. \u0026nbsp;The programs also come with accompanying Notebook Journals (and Junior Notebooks for younger kids), and I have more thoughts on those below.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHow We've Used It\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKindergarten\/1st Grade\u003C\/b\u003E - We used the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/zoology-1-flying-creatures-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EZoology 1\u003C\/a\u003E textbook as a basis for a couple unit studies. \u0026nbsp;We read the textbook and then found a bunch of colorful books from the library to read alongside.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2nd Grade\u003C\/b\u003E - We went through the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/homeschool-chemistry-and-physics-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EChemistry And Physics book\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/anatomy-physiology-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EHuman Anatomy And Physiology book\u003C\/a\u003E with our co-op. \u0026nbsp;If that sounds like alot for 2nd grade, it is! \u0026nbsp;We mainly just enjoyed the experiments they were running at co-op and read a few sections here and there, and supplemented with books from the library. \u0026nbsp;I wouldn't recommend doing either of these courses until upper elementary (or even middle school), unless your child has an interest in these subjects at a younger age. \u0026nbsp;It wouldn't have been my natural choice for 2nd grade.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E3rd Grade\u003C\/b\u003E - We finally hit our stride with\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/astronomy-2nd-edition-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E the Astronomy book \u003C\/a\u003Ethis last year. \u0026nbsp;We read the chapters together, and all the kids enjoyed it. \u0026nbsp;It was also even more interesting since we had just visited Kennedy Space Center on vacation! \u0026nbsp;The kids did the experiments at co-op, and we read the chapters together each week. \u0026nbsp;The chapters are fairly short, so we were able to read them in one sitting and my kids stayed interested. \u0026nbsp;I usually had my kids draw or write about something they learned from each chapter as well. \u0026nbsp;Of course we threw in a bunch of related library books and documentaries too!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis Year\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe are not doing co-op this year, so it will be the first year that I will be going through Apologia with the kids and doing the experiments on my own. \u0026nbsp;My sister and I both decided to go through the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/botany-2nd-edition-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EBotany \u003C\/a\u003Ebook, and we have a plan to meet weekly or bi-weekly and do the experiments! \u0026nbsp;I think this will be really fun for all of us, and my kids will be so excited to see their cousins regularly. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne thing I love about Apologia is that the experiments they recommend are pretty reasonable in the kinds of materials they use. \u0026nbsp;Most items you would probably have around the house, or they are items that would be easy to find at the grocery store. \u0026nbsp;Occasionally they'll have special items that may require a little more searching, but for the most part it's kept pretty simple.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Notebooks\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have only used the junior notebooks so far, and I truly think they are optional. \u0026nbsp;There are fun little mini books to cut out and put together, and then facts can be written inside them. \u0026nbsp;There are also many coloring pages and copywork sheets included. \u0026nbsp;However, everything in the Apologia notebooks you could also do one your own with a blank ruled notebook, and that is what we have mostly done. \u0026nbsp;I bought the Astronomy Junior Notebook for Wyatt last year, but he quickly lost it somewhere, and I had him take notes and draw pictures in a blank notebook for the rest of the year instead (I wasn't going to buy another notebook!). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI am still undecided about purchasing a notebook for this year - I would like to see what is included with the regular notebooks (as opposed to the junior notebooks), but I also suspect that once again, everything included could be done with a little creativity in a blank notebook. \u0026nbsp;One criticism I have of this curriculum is that I would be more likely to purchase the notebooks if I could purchase a digital version and print the pages for each child in my own family - as it is, there is no digital version, and I'd have to buy a $30 notebook for each kid. \u0026nbsp;That is just too expensive for my larger family.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA Quick Note About The Order\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs I mentioned above, there is a little bit of variation in the complexity of these studies. \u0026nbsp;If I were to recommend an order, I would say that \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/botany-2nd-edition-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EBotany\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/astronomy-2nd-edition-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAstronomy\u003C\/a\u003E are really great ones for younger elementary. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/homeschool-chemistry-and-physics-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EChemistry And Physics\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/anatomy-physiology-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EHuman Anatomy\u003C\/a\u003E I would save for 5th or 6th grade probably. \u0026nbsp;And I think the Zoology studies (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/zoology-1-flying-creatures-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EFlying Creatures,\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/zoology-2-swimming-creatures-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ESwimming Creatures,\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apologia.com\/product\/zoology-3-land-animals-textbook\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ELand Animals\u003C\/a\u003E) could be done at any time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1CmDsNpSV_Y\/XwiQ8L4q6kI\/AAAAAAAAZPk\/ZI5ptaizhek8NKvWgERF5JGDcQQyu47IQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5421blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOther Curricula We've Used\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have used some other curricula for science over the year too, and I wanted to include those here!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/northwestrockandfossil.com\/kits-and-samples\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ENorthwest Treasures\u003C\/a\u003E - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/northwestrockandfossil.com\/product\/geology-for-kids-the-kit\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EGeology For Kids\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is a geology curriculum for grade school, and it is fantastic. \u0026nbsp;It comes from a smaller curricula company, and I've heard the author, Patrick Nurre, speak several times. \u0026nbsp;He is a geologist himself, and he covers geology from a creationist perspective. \u0026nbsp;The curriculum really equips kids to understand how the study of geology is compatible with what we read in the Bible. \u0026nbsp;You can also purchase rock kits that go along with the curriculum, so you can see examples of everything that is learned! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe have two of the books \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/northwestrockandfossil.com\/product\/geology-for-kids-the-kit\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EGeology For Kids\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/northwestrockandfossil.com\/product\/rocks-and-minerals-for-little-eyes-the-book-prek-3rd\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ERocks And Minerals For Little Eyes\u003C\/a\u003E (our co-op purchased the rock kit when we went through it last year). \u0026nbsp;Apologia does not have a geology curriculum in their Young Explorers series, and I think that is too bad, because geology is one area of the scientific world where creationism is really attacked. \u0026nbsp;I'm so glad we found this series to fill in that important gap, and we will probably purchase a rock kit ourselves and go through it again in the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Building-Foundations-Scientific-Understanding-Curriculum\/dp\/1478738693\/ref=asc_df_1478738693\/?tag=hyprod-20\u0026amp;linkCode=df0\u0026amp;hvadid=312064598816\u0026amp;hvpos=\u0026amp;hvnetw=g\u0026amp;hvrand=16229320095438365426\u0026amp;hvpone=\u0026amp;hvptwo=\u0026amp;hvqmt=\u0026amp;hvdev=c\u0026amp;hvdvcmdl=\u0026amp;hvlocint=\u0026amp;hvlocphy=9028784\u0026amp;hvtargid=pla-584354108095\u0026amp;psc=1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EBuilding Foundations Of Scientific Understanding\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is the one secular resource on this list, but I wanted to include it because we've gone through several of the lessons, and I really like how the book suggests teaching more abstract concepts to kids - like the particulate nature of matter, for example. \u0026nbsp;I like having this resource on my shelf to fill in my kids' understanding here and there, because the activities and experiments in the book are simple but really aid in understanding some difficult concepts!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/raisinglittleshoots.com\/buy-exploring-nature-with-children\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EExploring Nature With Children\u003C\/a\u003E \/ \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ourjourneywestward.com\/downloads\/creative-nature-walks\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E100 Creative Nature Walks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThese are two digital resources that I've used for nature study with the kids. \u0026nbsp;I love the idea of nature study, and I want to be better at it but I often don't know where to start. \u0026nbsp;These guides are really helpful!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/raisinglittleshoots.com\/buy-exploring-nature-with-children\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EExploring Nature With Children\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E breaks the year down into different weeks, and gives information and resources for studying a different aspect of nature that will most likely be prominent during that week of the year. \u0026nbsp;My kids still talk about the \"Harvest Moon\" study we did from this guide a couple years ago.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ourjourneywestward.com\/downloads\/creative-nature-walks\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E100 Easy And Fun Creative Nature Walks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;is really a bunch of print-and-go sheets that help aide in observation skills while you are out there in the wild! \u0026nbsp;For example, in one idea called \"Below My Knees\", it gives suggestions for recording everything you see out in nature that is below knee level. \u0026nbsp;It has a bunch of really simple ideas like that to give more guidance to your nature walks. \u0026nbsp;This would be a great resource for nature walks with preschoolers too. \u0026nbsp;I am wanting to use this resource more with my little ones this year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThat is my plan for science right now! \u0026nbsp;Have you found any science resources you really love?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/304501005973938908\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=304501005973938908\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/304501005973938908"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/304501005973938908"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/homeschool-chat-science.html","title":"Homeschool Chat: Science"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tjj9FBarzm8\/XwiQlxg57II\/AAAAAAAAZPY\/nr758p7CSj4xIRV5lYvO4zer3CFQApvYQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_5421blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-9078649069300427855"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-09T09:45:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-09T09:48:49.345-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Homeschool Chat: Rightstart Math"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uFWoeRznr0c\/Xwc5eCRS70I\/AAAAAAAAZPI\/GSUDgUy9lFwDd77tDzHqg81tDtey_lAYgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9878%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMultiply the number of chairs in each row by the number across...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EJust kidding.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EHomeschool math is an easy subject for me to write about. \u0026nbsp;We've used mainly one resource from the start, and plan to continue it for now, so I'll mainly just give you some pros and cons below.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERightstart Math (Second Edition)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn the latter half of Wyatt's kindergarten year, we were floundering a bit when a friend told me about \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/rightstartmath.com\/our-curriculum\/the-rightstart-difference\/rightstart-for-home-school\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ERightstart Mathematics.\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;She said she liked it because alot of the concepts were taught through games. \u0026nbsp;I knew that was a winning idea (what kid doesn't like games?), so I looked into it more and was quickly sold.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERightstart comes with a scripted teacher's manual, a printed appendix and student worksheets, and a very large collection of manipulatives. \u0026nbsp;There is also a separate book of math games that is used through all the levels. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe way a lesson typically goes is that I read through the lesson on the spot while explaining the concepts to my kid, I usually demonstrate with some of the manipulatives, and then we do whatever worksheet is attached to the lesson (if applicable). \u0026nbsp;Sometimes I'll split a lesson in two if we are having a particularly hard time with it, and sometimes I'll run through two or three lessons in one sitting if my child already understands the concept.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPros\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are a few things I really love about Rightstart Math, and surprisingly the math games that initially drew me to this curriculum aren't even very high on the list. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI love that it's a spiral curriculum, as opposed to linear mastery. \u0026nbsp;In a spiral math curriculum, a concept is taught and lingered over for a few days or a week, and then the next subject is introduced. \u0026nbsp;But then later the curriculum \"spirals\" back to previously covered concepts and reinforces them in a different way. \u0026nbsp;The idea is that instead of sticking on one subject or skill until mastery (which could mean months on one concept if your child was having a hard time with it), it rotates through different topics that are reinforced and mastered over time. \u0026nbsp;This has been great for my kids - they never have a chance to get bored in this curriculum before learning something new, but concepts are reviewed very often.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe other big thing I like about Rightstart is that there is a big emphasis on understanding the \"why\" of math, on wrestling with the underlying concepts. \u0026nbsp;This curriculum emphasizes teaching not just the \"tricks\" you learn about math, but \u003Ci\u003Ewhy\u003C\/i\u003E those tricks work. \u0026nbsp;This is something I don't remember being taught at all when I was in public school (1st-3rd grade) - I remember being taught the math tricks, and then later coming to the realization of why they worked. \u0026nbsp;And even in my own homeschool student years, it took me a while to pick up on the why. \u0026nbsp;Rightstart really tries to incorporate the underlying concepts before teaching the tricks to solving problems, and I like that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI could go on and on. \u0026nbsp;Rightstart teaches numbers in a way that makes sense to me, because it's the way I naturally think about math. \u0026nbsp;The lessons are pretty short (especially in the beginning levels), so my kids rarely got overwhelmed. \u0026nbsp;Though the order of concepts is not traditional, overall the program is very thorough and challenging.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ECons\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne \"con\" to Rightstart for me is that it is rather teacher intensive, at least so far. \u0026nbsp;I am the one who has to explain the concepts, and I do have to sit there for the entire lesson (especially in younger grades) while they do the exercises. \u0026nbsp;This is going to be the case with every math curriculum in the younger years, but the time investment does worry me a little as I add more and more kids into the mix.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELast year I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I signed Wyatt up for his level of Teaching Textbooks, which is an online math program. \u0026nbsp;We did those lessons on the side all year long while I tried to decide if I could handle teaching Rightstart to three kids for this upcoming school year. \u0026nbsp;In May, I asked Wyatt what he thought - which program did he enjoy better, and he said Teaching Textbooks (\"because it's faster\"). \u0026nbsp;Then I asked him which math he understood better, and he scrunched up his little face in concentration and said \"Probably the one I do with you.\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo. \u0026nbsp;I decided to stick with it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe good news is that I noticed last year that there was alot more worksheets and independent math work as the kids get older, and I'm hoping the trend continues this year. \u0026nbsp;If Wyatt is spending more time in independent math work, it shouldn't be too difficult to add in lessons with Clyde (the first level is really quick and enjoyable).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnother con is that this is a pretty expensive math program in comparison to some. \u0026nbsp;The manipulatives kit, though it is used through all the levels of the program, is a big one-time cost. \u0026nbsp;I was able to get a partial manipulatives kit used at our homeschool conference one year, and that was a huge help. \u0026nbsp;I just purchase individual pieces that we are missing as we go. \u0026nbsp;I've also started purchasing the digital version of the worksheets, which I can reprint for each of the kids.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ejeavcnhUI4\/Xwc7WnKM16I\/AAAAAAAAZPQ\/x_VkRRBsjkU8ov-6ZGqIy_-tqTVOlR8kgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9878%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI honestly foresee us sticking with Rightstart all the way through middle school (which is all the currently available levels), unless doing lessons with multiple kids becomes way too overwhelming. \u0026nbsp;Time will tell, but I really want to stick with it. \u0026nbsp;After Wyatt said that he understood Rightstart better, I spent some time reading about the different levels, and it reinforced to me why I picked this program in the first place. \u0026nbsp;If we can make it all the way through the levels, I think the kids will be extremely well prepared for high school math (which will hopefully make my job easier then!).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf Rightstart sounds interesting to you, I'd recommend checking out \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/rightstartmath.com\/resources\/pre-recorded-webinars\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethis free webinar page\u003C\/a\u003E, or reading \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/rightstartmath.com\/resources\/sample-lessons\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethe objectives and free sample lessons here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat are your thoughts on homeschool math? \u0026nbsp;Are you a math person? \u0026nbsp;What do you look for in a math curriculum?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/9078649069300427855\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=9078649069300427855\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/9078649069300427855"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/9078649069300427855"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/homeschool-chat-rightstart-math.html","title":"Homeschool Chat: Rightstart Math"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uFWoeRznr0c\/Xwc5eCRS70I\/AAAAAAAAZPI\/GSUDgUy9lFwDd77tDzHqg81tDtey_lAYgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9878%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-889636106157600146"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-08T05:00:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-08T05:00:04.266-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Homeschool Chat: Language Arts"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zL0SqXCbzPQ\/XwT1RoWg7II\/AAAAAAAAZOw\/3eS_4DQh4dAGLrxFIY9S29tWhrC2e9scQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_5934%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003ELanguage Arts has always been a bit of a struggle for me in our homeschool journey. \u0026nbsp;While I have a few thoughts about certain teaching methods I like to avoid (ex: sight words), I have no very strong opinions about how language arts should be taught or what curriculum I like. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPart of the difficulty is that language arts is such a broad term - it covers reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and speech. \u0026nbsp;That's alot! \u0026nbsp;I think it has helped me to realize that I don't have to have a separate curriculum for every one of those areas every year, and I don't have to find one curriculum that covers every one of those areas either. \u0026nbsp;Some areas of language arts are age-specific, and alot of those different aspects of language arts can be touched on in one curriculum. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn our house, our language arts curriculum for 1st and 2nd grade is only reading instruction, with handwriting practice on the side. \u0026nbsp;I don't start spelling until my kids are reading decently well. \u0026nbsp;This is the first year I've really thought about grammar since we are starting to get into more in-depth writing instruction with my oldest. \u0026nbsp;I'm not even going to think about developing speaking skills right now aside from oral narration practice - we'll have time for more formal speech later. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlot of homeschool families might incorporate all those things right in the beginning, but my point is, you don't \u003Ci\u003Ehave\u003C\/i\u003E to. \u0026nbsp;Language Arts is a marathon subject if there ever was one, and the skills build on each other throughout schooling. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAll that to say, Language Arts is very messy in our house, but as my kids get older I'm sure I'll develop a more defined philosophy. \u0026nbsp;It's okay to figure it out as you go.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-76YGCrmhxSk\/XwT1Y-syarI\/AAAAAAAAZO0\/PIuzW-8CONozJKQQlaAZb8BNPkEdl_cXwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5935%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat We've Used Before\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EReading - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons\/dp\/0671631985\/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=teach+your+child+to+read\u0026amp;qid=1594159044\u0026amp;sr=8-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ETeach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlearningpress.com\/all-about-reading\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAll About Reading\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen Wyatt was in Kindergarten we did used \u003Ci\u003ETeach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons\u003C\/i\u003E, which worked well at first but became drudgery for him about halfway through. \u0026nbsp;So we switched to All About Reading, and it's what I've used since. \u0026nbsp;The lessons are scripted, letter tiles are used to build words, there are paper activities, and really great readers that fit with the phonograms taught in each lesson. \u0026nbsp;I love it. \u0026nbsp;I will say though, that I still recommend \u003Ci\u003E100 Easy Lessons\u003C\/i\u003E if your child has trouble learning to blend sounds, because the blending procedure in that book is something I still use.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESpelling - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlearningpress.com\/all-about-reading\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAll About Spelling\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis curriculum goes along with All About Reading, though you don't start the first level of spelling until your child has completed Level 1 of All About Reading. \u0026nbsp;It works fine, but in our experience the spelling may be slightly too easy. \u0026nbsp;Wyatt really started reading complicated things after AAR Level 2, and the spelling was still taking him through words like \"lake\". \u0026nbsp;Reinforcement of the spelling rules is good, but I think he could be stretched a bit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWriting - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/iew.com\/shop\/products\/all-things-fun-fascinating\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EInstitute For Excellence In Writing\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELast year we tried IEW's theme-based writing curriculum, the \"All Things Fun And Fascinating\" book. \u0026nbsp;It was the one I had been eyeing, and our co-op was using it anyway. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIEW's theory about teaching elementary students to write is that writing their own versions of existing content or stories is easier for kids to do than to try to think of interesting things to say, hold those things in their brain, and then mechanically get their thoughts onto paper. \u0026nbsp;That's a set of coordinated skills that alot of younger kids don't have yet. \u0026nbsp;So the workbooks take a paragraph or short story, have the kids outline the information in the piece using keywords, and then on a different day they re-write the information in their own words, trying to make it better than the original. \u0026nbsp;This is basically the method Benjamin Franklin used to teach himself to write well. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI really liked this idea at first - my child would learn outlining, write his own work, learn how to \"dress up\" his sentences. \u0026nbsp;It made sense to me and sounded great. \u0026nbsp;The problem is that Wyatt didn't love it so much. \u0026nbsp;Part of the problem was writing stamina and those fine motor skills that needed more time to develop, and part of it was that the whole thing just bored him. \u0026nbsp;By mid-year I was desperately wanting to try something else, but I felt like I was stuck with IEW because our co-op was using it, and I was actually helping to teach the writing class! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI still like the method, but in practicality, it wasn't great for my particular kid last year. \u0026nbsp;I don't think we were ready for it, and it wasn't engaging him. \u0026nbsp;Now I've got a slightly writing-traumatized student, so we are going to have to really change our approach this year.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI will say, Wyatt did really well with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/iew.com\/shop\/products\/cursive-knowledge-student-book\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EIEW's cursive handwriting book\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;though, so we'll be continuing with that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EGrammar - First Language Lessons, N\/A\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI bought\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/First-Language-Lessons-Well-Trained-Mind\/dp\/1933339446\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1T1VLB2WRJHS\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=first+language+lessons+for+a+well+trained+mind\u0026amp;qid=1594159402\u0026amp;sprefix=first+language+lessons+for%2Caps%2C201\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E First Language Lessons For The Well-Trained Mind\u003C\/a\u003E way back when, which is a very early grammar instruction curriculum, but I'll be honest, it didn't get much use. \u0026nbsp;Aside from very basic noun\/verb\/adjective\/adverb definitions, we haven't done anything formal yet.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DCgv4BEAn3c\/XwT1hDRCvaI\/AAAAAAAAZO4\/AcBLcPMX92YPqiT9m_7bXPKDfUuQDWU8QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5934%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat We Are Using This Year\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EReading\/Spelling - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlearningpress.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAll About Reading\/All About Spelling\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGwen (2nd) and Clyde (1st) are going to continue with AAR\/AAS this year. \u0026nbsp;If it ain't broke, don't fix it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHandwriting - Assorted Copywork\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI did grab a couple of workbooks for the kids to go through, but I usually just write out a Bible verse and have my kids copy it, and that's their handwriting practice.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECursive - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/iew.com\/shop\/products\/cursive-knowledge-student-book\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EIEW Cursive Knowledge\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's important to me that my kids learn to read and write cursive. \u0026nbsp;That's the style in which so many historical documents are written. \u0026nbsp;Wyatt got about 3\/4 of the way through his cursive book last year, and I may order another one for Gwen to start on this year. \u0026nbsp;I like that way IEW teaches cursive, and there are a ton of practice pages.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWriting\/Grammer - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.masterbooks.com\/language-lessons-for-a-living-education-series\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ELanguage Lessons For A Living Education\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter researching a bunch of writing programs, and trying to figure out what would help Wyatt develop writing skills without making him hate the process, I decided to give Language Lessons For A Living Education a try. \u0026nbsp;These workbooks include grammar instruction, writing, and spelling all in one book. \u0026nbsp;The pages are colorful, and the daily assignments seem short and doable. \u0026nbsp;I think it will be a good balance for encouraging Wyatt in writing. \u0026nbsp;He also will be doing more writing in \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/homeschool-chat-history-4th-2nd-1st.html\"\u003Ehis history curriculum this year\u003C\/a\u003E, and that will be plenty of writing for 4th grade I think.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI also ordered Gwen's level, just because the girl loves workbooks and hates to be left out. \u0026nbsp;After flipping through the books, I think it will work well for her too. \u0026nbsp;The only thing I don't love for the 2nd grade book is \"sight word\" lists, because I don't believe in relying on teaching sight words. \u0026nbsp;Most \"sight words\" lists are full of words that can be phonetically sounded out. \u0026nbsp;But we will be continuing with AAR for reading instruction with her, so we'll skip those sections in the Language Lessons book.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E---\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECan you tell that Language Arts overwhelms me? \u0026nbsp;I don't think I'm alone in that either, but I'm hoping that this curriculum combination will work for us this year. \u0026nbsp;One year at a time, right?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat do you use for Language Arts?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/889636106157600146\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=889636106157600146\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/889636106157600146"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/889636106157600146"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/homeschool-chat-language-arts.html","title":"Homeschool Chat: Language Arts"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zL0SqXCbzPQ\/XwT1RoWg7II\/AAAAAAAAZOw\/3eS_4DQh4dAGLrxFIY9S29tWhrC2e9scQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_5934%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4235737928518828836"},"published":{"$t":"2020-07-07T05:30:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-07-07T05:30:00.292-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Homeschool Chat: History - 4th, 2nd, 1st"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-iB3xOCN40hU\/XwO39uM2VsI\/AAAAAAAAZOU\/aosbnw31OGUGsD3T0T8t6taQeorOXRSOgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9936blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile we are fully enjoying our summer break, over the last month I've been giving a little thought to our last homeschool year, and how I would like this year to look different. \u0026nbsp;I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head, and so many homeschool topics I'd like to cover, that I've been having a hard time knowing where to start when it comes to sharing on the blog. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESometimes when I get stuck like this, it's best just to jump into writing out my thoughts and see what comes of it. \u0026nbsp;This week I want to break down what I am thinking we will be using for each subject, and then maybe next week I can get into more of my general strategy and feelings about our upcoming homeschool year. \u0026nbsp;So let's talk about history, shall we?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGeneral Thoughts On Homeschool History\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith everything that has been happening in America over the last several months, I think history is the subject that has been weighing on me most heavily. \u0026nbsp;It is a travesty, what has happened to American history education in this country over the last decade, and if you doubt it, check out this video of college students \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YC4Qg4IUkvY\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Enot being able to answer simple questions about the American founding\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;In all fairness, there were several who \u003Ci\u003Edid \u003C\/i\u003Eknow the answers. \u0026nbsp;But all the people they interviewed here agreed that they didn't learn enough history in history class, and the two teachers in the video admitted that they don't teach much history in social studies classes, they teach current events.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere is a saying I'm sure you've heard - those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. (That's the idea, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.historyaccess.com\/tenmisquotationa.html\"\u003Eaccurate quote is here\u003C\/a\u003E). \u0026nbsp;It's a common saying because it is true. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's more important to me than ever that my kids really \u003Ci\u003Eknow\u003C\/i\u003E the history of America, and the world. \u0026nbsp;I want them to know the mistakes and failings of the past so they can do their part to not repeat those things, but I also want them to know the victories and heroism that is their heritage as Americans. \u0026nbsp;I want my kids to recognize the good and true and beautiful in our history, and aspire to those good qualities themselves. \u0026nbsp;That doesn't mean we ignore the sins and failings of historical figures, but I think kids are smart enough to be able to see both, to honor the admirable traits and accomplishments of our Founders while also recognizing that all - every one in our history - have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in different ways.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll that said, my homeschool history philosophy is that I want my kids to be really firmly grounded in American history first. \u0026nbsp;Of course knowing world history is important as well, but I have a couple reasons American history takes precedence for me. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne is that my kids ARE Americans, and I think it's important for the children of every country to be especially well-versed in their own history. For my kids, they will need to know the purpose of America, why it was founded, what makes our form of government unique, our national symbolism, how the states came to be, what wars we fought and why, what we've accomplished and what things nearly ripped us apart - they're going to need to know all that to just be good citizens, and to have any chance of holding this country together in the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMy other reason for emphasizing American history first is that it just makes sense to me. \u0026nbsp;It seems natural to start with the history of the familiar before branching our into unfamiliar territory. \u0026nbsp;And also, world history is really complex. \u0026nbsp;I believe the context of world history is very important, but it makes most sense to me to learn the most immediately relevant history first (for my American kids that would be American history), and then build the world context up after that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOkay, sorry, that was long, on to my curriculum thoughts!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OwMg8hzpF4w\/XwO3-L6UDBI\/AAAAAAAAZOc\/qPJsufu7B7wQuXtdCreIvynE5T9oH2G-ACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_9936blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(From our last field trip before quarantine and all that. \u0026nbsp;We went to a railroad museum!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat We've Used In The Past\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBeautiful Feet Books\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOver the past couple years we have used \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bfbooks.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EBeautiful Feet Books\u003C\/a\u003E for our history curriculum. \u0026nbsp;I liked Beautiful Feet Books because it teaches history through interesting picture books and chapter books, which is way more fun and memorable than reading a dry textbook. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe did the \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bfbooks.com\/Around-the-World-with-Picture-Books-Pack?sc=18\u0026amp;category=2873\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAround The World In Picture Books\u003C\/a\u003E\" set last year. \u0026nbsp;It was fun to give my kids an introduction to different areas of the world, and especially because I tried to incorporate Christian missionary stories in with it, which had a big impact on them. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, I find the teacher guides for Beautiful Feet Books to be a little burdensome for my homeschool style. \u0026nbsp;I'm more of an open-and-go sort of homeschool mom, and the Beautiful Feet Books guides throw something different at me every day, which ends up making me rather scared to open the book. \u0026nbsp;Pre-planning might fix this, but like I said, I'm an open-and-go type of girl. \u0026nbsp;I don't like to have to pre-plan. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EToward the end of the year I found myself drifting back to unit studies about different parts of American history, rather than finishing out our \"world tour\". \u0026nbsp;We will probably casually finish that Around The World curriculum set this year, but I've realized I need to make some adjustments.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EChristian Liberty Press\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen we got in a history rut last year I picked up \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.shopchristianliberty.com\/american-pioneers-and-patriots-2nd-edition\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAmerican Pioneers And Patriots\u003C\/a\u003E\", and we did a pioneer unit study. \u0026nbsp;I loved that book! \u0026nbsp;Each unit was a story about a pioneer family, with suggested activities at the end, though we mostly made up our own related activities, including playing the old Oregon Trail online. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EStory Of The World\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe also used \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/welltrainedmind.com\/c\/history-geography\/story-of-the-world\/volume-3-early-modern-times\/?v=7516fd43adaa\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EStory Of The World\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;last year because our co-op was using it. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe positives of this curriculum are that it's very thorough. \u0026nbsp;Each year a different era of world history is studied, and most countries are covered.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe negatives to me are that it's alot of focus on world history, which I've already explained is not my preference for elementary school. \u0026nbsp;There are also some really brutal events in world history that are difficult to explain to my kids' age group. \u0026nbsp;Story Of The World includes overviews of some barbaric cultural practices that I would rather not cover with my kindergartener (think Aztecs). \u0026nbsp;And overall, jumping around to different areas of the world for each historical period is pretty complex information for a grade schooler to keep straight (sheesh, it's complex for me to keep straight!). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EStory Of The World wasn't our favorite resource, and we probably won't use it again unless we rejoin co-op. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOh yeah, we quit our co-op. \u0026nbsp;That's a different post.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat We'll Use This Year\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELooking ahead to this year, I knew I wanted to go back to American history after our brief attempt at elementary world history last year. \u0026nbsp;I want to cover America's founding again, learn more about westward expansion and pioneers, and lay the groundwork for getting deeper into the Civil War and the 20th century with Wyatt next year. \u0026nbsp;I decided to change things up, and I'm putting together my own hybrid of a couple different curricula:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qcOobYSY-Qo\/XwO5bUKL6DI\/AAAAAAAAZOk\/2ji8xzJDkXomnUbLMoc5I6mtUNi17d8ogCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5905blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-I8MmQrOV564\/XwO5am2Xo5I\/AAAAAAAAZOg\/VH32U9PKVWA_xKSsqA_1eIVqoFWEIHcAgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5908blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bfbooks.com\/Literature-Packs\/Early-American-Primary\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBeautiful Feet Books Early American Beginner\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis was the curriculum I used with my kids two years ago, and that was a great year for history. \u0026nbsp;We basically read all the picture and chapter books in the order recommended by the teacher's guide, and that was it. \u0026nbsp;No random videos and library resources to plan for, no extra crafts or projects. \u0026nbsp;Just the books, and if I felt ambitious I'd help my kids record what they remembered into their individual history notebooks. \u0026nbsp;It worked well, and we all enjoyed it, so that's what we're going back to for Clyde (1st) and Gwen (2nd), and Wyatt will listen to the read-alouds too I'm sure.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAmerica's Story 1 + \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bfbooks.com\/E-A-History-Intermediate-Jumbo-Pack?sc=25\u0026amp;category=3200\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EBFB Early American Intermediate\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith three elementary school students to do lessons with this year, I knew I wanted something a bit more independent for Wyatt when it comes to history. \u0026nbsp;The curriculum I settled on was\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.masterbooks.com\/americas-story-vol-1-set\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E America's Story 1 by Masterbooks\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;This curriculum comes with a student book and a teacher's guide - the student book has colorful pictures - including famous American art - and engaging text that covers the founding to the Goal Rush. \u0026nbsp;The teacher's guide includes student work pages, and guidance on creating an American timeline project and a \"book of prayers for our country\" project that I'm excited about. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs an extra, I also decided to buy only the chapter books for the next level of Beautiful Feet Books American History to read over the school year. \u0026nbsp;My idea\/hope is that Wyatt should be able to read through the weekly America's Story lesson by himself, and probably also accomplish some of the projects independently (with a little help from me). \u0026nbsp;Then he and I will either read the BFB book recommendations together (aloud), or I'll assign some of the easier books for him to read independently as we go.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E---\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOverall, my plan for history this year is more complex than in previous years, but I feel good about the resources. \u0026nbsp;Despite my current plan requiring more work to accomplish than usual, I feel that I've landed on a curriculum combination that will actually get done. \u0026nbsp;Will we be spending more time on history than we have in the past? \u0026nbsp;Yes, and I feel really good about that. \u0026nbsp;This is the subject I want to focus on most this year, so it's fitting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat is your style for teaching history? \u0026nbsp;Have you used any of the curricula I've tried?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4235737928518828836\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4235737928518828836\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4235737928518828836"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4235737928518828836"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/07\/homeschool-chat-history-4th-2nd-1st.html","title":"Homeschool Chat: History - 4th, 2nd, 1st"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-iB3xOCN40hU\/XwO39uM2VsI\/AAAAAAAAZOU\/aosbnw31OGUGsD3T0T8t6taQeorOXRSOgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9936blogcrop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-6526061657453920627"},"published":{"$t":"2020-06-22T09:46:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-06-29T09:23:33.850-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memorizing Scripture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Summer Fun To-Do List"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lJiTB7PfiYo\/XvDRMsLCwnI\/AAAAAAAAZNw\/KF5G7LtpnbYLnrNsFWf2w4aH7kZMZVgGgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_4081blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've said it already, but I'll say it again, I feel like this year it's more important than ever to make good use of the summer. \u0026nbsp;I don't know about you, but the last three months have really worn me down. \u0026nbsp;it feels like the world is alternately going insane or falling apart. \u0026nbsp;For every disappointment and stress that I've felt, I'm sure my kids have had their own version of it, despite how hard I've tried to shield them from things.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I want summer to be a break from all that. \u0026nbsp;I want to try not to allow the things that we can't do to discourage me from doing the things we can do. \u0026nbsp;I want all the summer memories, and maybe the fact that some of the memories will be different will just make it stand out more for my kids.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo these are a few of the things I'm working into my summer planner. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E---\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETeaching Games\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs homeschool students, maybe it's even more important for me to put some effort into teaching them childhood games that remember - where else are they going to get them? \u0026nbsp;These are a few on my list:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETrampoline Games\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - You know \"crack the egg\", \"pop the popcorn\", \"fly high\". \u0026nbsp;Basically torturing an unsuspecting child in the middle by seeing how high you can launch them. \u0026nbsp;Any others I'm missing?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EH.O.R.S.E.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We have a basketball hoop, and it needs more use. \u0026nbsp;Is there a more fun way to practice spelling? \u0026nbsp;I remember as a kid sometimes playing E.N.C.Y.C.L.O.P.E.D.I.A. instead of H.O.R.S.E. to make the game last longer!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECatch\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Like serious catch, with baseball glove and ball. \u0026nbsp;I want my kids to be comfortable with the basics of sports, even though I'm about the least sporty person you'll ever meet. \u0026nbsp;I'm sure it won't take much for my kids to surpass me, but I want them to learn.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHand Clapping Games \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- If you are a girl, I'm sure you remember doing hand-clapping games as a kid, right? \u0026nbsp;I need to brush off that knowledge and teach my kids some (especially my girls - seems like that was mostly a girl thing in my memory anyway?).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI found this \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theeverydaymomlife.com\/kid-experiences\/old-school-games-to-teach-your-kids\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Earticle with a bunch more old-school game ideas\u003C\/a\u003E, so I might add a few more as we go!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003ECrafts And Activities\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI am not the most crafty mom either (ie. not crafty at all), but these activities looked doable, and like they would keep my kids busy for quite a while.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESpray Bottle Sidewalk Paint\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - I found \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.growingajeweledrose.com\/2014\/06\/spray-chalk-recipe.html\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethis recipe here\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;There is also a similar squirt-chalk recipe, and I already got cheap squirt bottles to use at Dollar General!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETic Tac Toe Rocks\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - On Pinterest I saw smooth rocks painted colorfully with tic-tac-toe symbols on it, along with a little wooden tic-tac-toe board. \u0026nbsp;Sure you could play tic-tac-toe on paper, but I thought it might be fun to break out the paint and make a board like that with the kids.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHomemade Bouncy Balls\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This recipe looked really interesting - they are not like true bouncy balls, but this would be an interesting science experiment to try this summer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIce Cream Playdough\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.beafunmum.com\/2015\/11\/ice-cream-playdough-it-looks-real\/\"\u003E ice cream\/frosting play dough recipe looks exciting\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;It looks like really ice cream! \u0026nbsp;And it's edible, so if Georgie tries to eat it I won't have to worry.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.craftymorning.com\/puffy-paint-ice-cream-cones-craft-kids\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPuffy Paint Ice Cream Cones\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - My kids would have so much fun with this puffy paint picture project.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHomemade Bubbles\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;- I saw this fun idea for \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/353814114478249873\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ehomemade bubbles in a drink dispenser\u003C\/a\u003E - this would honestly keep my kids busy all day!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGlow Sticks In The Kiddie Pool\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Every summer I get a kiddie pool, which is always a winner for any hot days we have at home - but I really like the idea of putting some glow stick in the water once it starts to get dark! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMake Bird Feeders \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I'm thinking the toilet-paper-roll variety. \u0026nbsp;You know, you roll them in peanut butter and bird seed and tie a string through it. \u0026nbsp;Keeping it simple.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETreasure Hunt \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I found these cute treasure hunt printables, and I think it would be fun to buy some candy and make the kids search for it one day. \u0026nbsp;It would be super simple and cheap, but I know my kids, they'll probably talk about it for the rest of the summer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOrigami \"Fortune Teller\" With Boredom Busters\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - There are \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/vintagetoysblog.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/25\/paper-fortune-teller-free-printable-template\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Edirections to make one here\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.asprinkleofjoy.com\/2017\/06\/outdoor-ideas.html\/\"\u003Ethis boredom buster list gave me some ideas\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;This would be our go-to for the inevitable \"I'm bored\". \u0026nbsp;The rule might be that my kids have to do whatever they get, even if it's a chore!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading Challenge\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We are doing our library's reading challenge, but I also challenged my big kids that they would get a little prize for each set of five books that they read. \u0026nbsp;They've been working hard to get their prizes!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBible Memory Verse Challenge\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This one is still in the works, but I'm thinking of coming up with a chart, and for each set of five verses that they memorize, they'll earn some special treat or prize. \u0026nbsp;I have memory verse cards they can work off of, and some fun Bible memory verse apps I found.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1143\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UAgPrJlIIw4\/XvDRIIIT3-I\/AAAAAAAAZN0\/Kxu-0l4N7NY0lWc8u7Ex7UgDoitquWkcQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4080blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EOut Of The House\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI still am trying to plan a few days to get out of the house, even though we are kind of limited on where we can go. \u0026nbsp;These were a few ideas.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENature Hikes\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We are lucky enough to live down the road from a state park, so we are going to work in regular nature hikes. \u0026nbsp;my kids love hiking in the summer especially and looking at all the mountain plants and flowers! \u0026nbsp;Gwen requested we bring notebooks next time for recording our observations, so that's what we will do.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlay In A Creek\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - I know a little picnic spot with a creek, but we haven't been there in ages. \u0026nbsp;I'm putting a day for wading in the creek on our calendar.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDrive In Movie\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This is a \"maybe\", but even though our theaters are all still closed, I heard that some drive-in theaters are open. \u0026nbsp;Maybe this is the year to give it a try?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESwimming \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I really want to try to go swimming at least once this summer (aside from the fact that pools are requiring masks only while walking to the pool, but not at any other time...honestly, what is even the point? These mask rules are so often nonsensical.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPark Days\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - I had grand plans for a million park days this summer, but I think we're going to trim down and only go every couple weeks. \u0026nbsp;Maybe I'm just turning into a home body with all the weirdness out there? \u0026nbsp;But the kids are park-deprived, so we will definitely make an effort to visit a few of our favorites!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHistorical Sites\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - There are a couple historical sites in our state that I really wanted to visit in the spring, then everything shut down. \u0026nbsp;We are going to try to make a day trip or weekend trip out of them this summer instead! \u0026nbsp;Possibly in August, so we can count them as days for next school year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFishing\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - I should also mention that we plan to squeeze a few more fishing days in this summer! \u0026nbsp;We just don't know where yet. \u0026nbsp;Maybe someday we'll actually catch a fish.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStargazing\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We finally got our big telescope set up, and we are ready to schedule a summer star-gazing night! \u0026nbsp;We go somewhere away from all houses, usually with candy or Sonic slushes in tow, and see what we can see.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HFM8ElmghLA\/XvDRJuUaD5I\/AAAAAAAAZNs\/LtenzUKQe6M6Q8taMOyatnp_15pH375JgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4042blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EAt Home\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPorch Camping \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- We do this every year, and it's always a highlight. \u0026nbsp;Derek will set up our tent on the porch, complete with air mattresses and sleeping bags, and we all sleep out there at least one night. \u0026nbsp;We usually leave it up a couple extra days too, and the kids play or read out there.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETrampoline Sleepover\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Derek suggested that he might string some battery-operated lights on the net around our trampoline, and I was thinking we could let the kids have a sleepover out there (one of us will sleep out there with them). \u0026nbsp;Will we sleep well? \u0026nbsp;Probably not, but it will be a fun memory!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECampfire \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- If our fire ban ever gets lifted, a campfire is the first thing on our to-do-list! \u0026nbsp;With marshmallows and smores and Rolos, of course.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERegular Game Nights \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I want to schedule a weekly or bi-weekly game night, where we play a board game together as a family (with possible the little ones being on our \"teams\", since they get distracted).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERegular Movie Nights\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - We want to start introducing the kids to some of our childhood favorites! \u0026nbsp;We watched Pollyanna the other night, and a John Wayne movie is next one the list. \u0026nbsp;For movie night we pile in the living room with pillows and blankets, and have cheap pizza and candy while we watch together.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xeQqLwaetiM\/XvDRJWq9OpI\/AAAAAAAAZN4\/NgfWkOLHB44LFEUEwygH19nZ46YrqzisQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4081blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EFood Treats\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFirework Fruit Kabobs \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- I was going to make some variety of a red\/white\/blue fruit Kabob for the 4th of July.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESpecial Kid Drinks\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - My first variation is koolaid ice cubes in Sprite, and it made the kids' day! \u0026nbsp;But I think even lemonade or infused water in the drink dispenser would be a refreshing summer touch.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPopsicles \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E- We might possibly make some homemade popsicles, or I might make my life easy and just give them an otter-pop on every hot afternoon.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESpaghetti Salad and Broccoli Salad\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - Every summer I try to make one or both of these salads a few times - they are our traditional summer foods in my family.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMocktails\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E - This is more for me and Derek, but in the summer I like to try new fruity non-alcoholic drink recipes after the kids go to bed! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E---\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat is my full summer list! \u0026nbsp;I rarely get to every single thing I have planned for the summer, but just having it written out on our calendar motivates me to at least try to make some of these ideas happen. (You can read more about \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/activities\/how-to-plan-for-an-epic-summer\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethe mechanics of my summer planning here\u003C\/a\u003E.) It's taken me some time to get organized since we've been back from vacation, so this morning I'm working on mapping out when I want to do all this. \u0026nbsp;We still have two months of summer fun ahead of us!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDo you plan any activities to make summer feel special?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/6526061657453920627\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=6526061657453920627\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6526061657453920627"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6526061657453920627"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/06\/a-summer-fun-to-do-list.html","title":"A Summer Fun To-Do List"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lJiTB7PfiYo\/XvDRMsLCwnI\/AAAAAAAAZNw\/KF5G7LtpnbYLnrNsFWf2w4aH7kZMZVgGgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_4081blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4647703727386251361"},"published":{"$t":"2020-06-19T12:40:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-06-20T11:05:47.325-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Birthday Celebrations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Random"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Seasons"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vacations and Trips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Kickoff To Summer"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-msCiLVoKE4c\/Xuz24nTfWII\/AAAAAAAAZMk\/Vh-AvHEw1ws2jhZ85UkZcY5lYmRNYJQEgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_5062blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EDespite today feeling decidedly fall-like outside, Summer has actually begun! \u0026nbsp;The start to summer has looked different this year for all of us. \u0026nbsp;Usually the kickoff to Summer is the library used book sale, which didn't happen this year, and another major annual event, our local homeschool conference which I've enjoyed for the past three years, was also cancelled. \u0026nbsp;But we've still managed to have some fun and get in the summer spirit anyway! \u0026nbsp;Here's what we've been up to.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rQv4-NzIRKo\/Xuz2cVyu1SI\/AAAAAAAAZMQ\/M-5R1wqHTFwRnnVFGxuDIwU7XJ_67hIegCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5022blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Bad AirBnB Experience\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlright, you have to allow me to tell this story before I get to the fun stuff. \u0026nbsp;The last week of May we took off for a road trip to the Gulf Coast! \u0026nbsp;Coronavirus tensions were higher then, even though it was just a few weeks ago, so we packed up all our food and activities in the van, and planned to drive with as few stops at possible. \u0026nbsp;I figured when we got there we'd check into our AirBnB and just keep to ourselves and enjoy the beach.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI decided to book an AirBnB since when we were planning our trip it was still questionable whether hotels were open or not. \u0026nbsp;I figured it would be nice to have a whole house to ourselves anyway. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe arrived at the house at maybe !0:00 PM local time, and basically got the kids settled and went right to bed. \u0026nbsp;When we woke up the next day, we started looking around...and realized the house was not really clean. \u0026nbsp;I guess since you pay a cleaning fee on the AirBnB website, I always just assume they \u003Ci\u003Ehire\u003C\/i\u003E a cleaning lady, and I also assumed they'd be extra thorough in cleaning since they had just allowed rentals again after the virus shutdown. \u0026nbsp;And the \"recent reviews\" said it was \"sparkling clean\".\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWell. \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;The host basically admitted to me that all they did was steam mop the floors and clean the bathroom. \u0026nbsp;There was clutter on top of the cabinets and in all the closets, the closet door was hanging by a hinge and a light fixture was broken, there was dead flies and dust on all the windowsills, thick grime in the dishwasher, grease splattered in the microwave. \u0026nbsp;Dust on all the shelves. \u0026nbsp;At first we thought we could maybe do a quick dust job ourselves, but the more we looked around, the more grime we found. \u0026nbsp;So I requested a refund (only got a partial one), and we decided to look for a hotel instead. \u0026nbsp;The host was rude about it. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's the kicker guys. \u0026nbsp;I was going to leave a review to let other people know that the place was not actually clean, but then I realized that \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003Eyour review is not published on AirBnB until or unless the host decides to review you as a guest. \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;So basically I could write a negative review, and the host could just decide not to publish it. \u0026nbsp;Which explains why all the available reviews claimed \"sparkling clean\" when it was clearly not sparkling clean.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELet's just say I don't trust AirBnb anymore.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUpdate:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Did a little more research, and it looks like only the HOST will not be able to see your comments until after they review you? \u0026nbsp;If so, that's much better. \u0026nbsp;The wording in the AirBnB emails is confusing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Lovely Gulf Coast Vacation Anyway\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOnce we left the nasty AirBnB, (and once I got antibiotics for an ear\/throat infection that developed while we were down there - another long story), we actually had a really wonderful trip! \u0026nbsp;We enjoyed a really nice hotel in Houston for a great last-minute deal, saw a movie at one of the theaters that was open in Houston, went back to a hotel in Galveston as soon as one opened up, and spent a ton of time at the beach. \u0026nbsp;I even finally figured out how to handle my curly hair in the humidity on this trip (the trick is to not try to straighten it, and just not care at all). \u0026nbsp;It was so fun and refreshing to go somewhere that felt almost normal, and I was sorry to go home. \u0026nbsp;I'll share more pictures and all the details in another post soon.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-AgoTQ7mPueM\/Xuz2YuAcyKI\/AAAAAAAAZMI\/svkkQIf7O7EjIKPrDdRRQH2CsCnYUXH3QCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/Galveston-2020-603blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Birthday Fishing Trip And Date\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne thing that is not cancelled is birthdays! \u0026nbsp;And mine is in June. \u0026nbsp;We threw around a few ideas for things to do on my birthday, and we finally settled on going fishing. \u0026nbsp;I love going fishing, and feel like I could really get into it if we had more time\/resources. \u0026nbsp;As it is now, we almost never catch anything because 1) the fishing is not that amazing in our state unless you have a boat, and 2) we have a bunch of noisy little kids with us every time. \u0026nbsp;But I think the experience of getting outside and enjoying nature is what makes it fun. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9DeBg7dbuLM\/Xuz2y_B2QJI\/AAAAAAAAZNM\/BA5TnysuY-Exip83kyikdG3p6cdlWxIgwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5062blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-z56JEJDz0hg\/Xuz2vBxRwtI\/AAAAAAAAZNA\/MvIWi7oYAB84680VqCXC7wmyxWUH-0aLgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5048blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fHvip_Zfy7A\/Xuz2onkiEqI\/AAAAAAAAZMg\/fmJsI_JBp0w6-FX6Sse_3avNAgkMhetSQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5041blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w_-cjHlDcZw\/Xuz2gM-h_YI\/AAAAAAAAZMg\/hVui8evqNbIax0h2Tf4F-qM4lf5l62JKACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5026blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-meq8JP1ztTI\/Xuz3EDumDaI\/AAAAAAAAZNQ\/6KKFLH6B_-Ap7GJhE-mVDu5cquoYUajagCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5076blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe still really want to catch a fish sometime though. \u0026nbsp;I think we are going to try another state park soon that has a smaller pond with fish in it. \u0026nbsp;The fish in this lake were out the in the deeper water where our lines wouldn't reach. \u0026nbsp;We saw them jumping a couple times. \u0026nbsp;Or maybe we should just invest in a pair of waders so we can get out there further. \u0026nbsp;We \u003Ci\u003Ewill \u003C\/i\u003Ecatch a fish someday.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDerek also took me on a birthday date! \u0026nbsp;We went mini-golfing, and then got take-out and ate it in a park while the sun was going down. It was lovely!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Aih1HQQESUo\/Xuz2T6Ux75I\/AAAAAAAAZMA\/YAVnVNXV7-AErVSp5fjmjx7l0O30klkKwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_4944blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_636757889\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_636757890\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBack To Church And Playgrounds\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnother great development is that our church was finally allowed to reopen. \u0026nbsp;It's different than normal, but it's just so good to be with other believers and worship together in person again. \u0026nbsp;Online church is fine in a pinch, but I strongly believe it's not a substitute for meeting with other Christians in person. \u0026nbsp;There's a reason the Bible says not to forsake the gathering together with other believers. \u0026nbsp;Anyway, that's been a nice bit of pseudo-normalcy lately.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPlaygrounds also opened this month, so we've been taking advantage!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENature Hikes\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's been interesting and kind of fun to me to see how everything being closed has allowed people to get back out into nature a little more. \u0026nbsp;During the little kids' nap time the other day, I took the big three on a nature hike, and there was so many people on the trail! \u0026nbsp;But I love how even when nature is a bit more crowded than usual, there is still so much space for peace and quiet and exploring. \u0026nbsp;Seriously guys, try to get outside more. \u0026nbsp;Also, state parks are hidden gems.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8JnWVGlrqdI\/Xuz3O-cfAnI\/AAAAAAAAZNY\/iwTYSbFNjfsr-Gcc3COEfUNE4LdxIQSkACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5246blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6wFjT6wia0w\/Xuz3BH8nahI\/AAAAAAAAZNM\/oZ7l8lAej2QCQD6iT1sfzudpdmB3CbWmQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5225blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-27hmmmyTCfc\/Xuz3O1XwG4I\/AAAAAAAAZNU\/XfP6ra1bl2ARvF46nAkTnmtW63QWC-ddACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5250blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESummer Planning\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEvery year I pull out a calendar and a list of things we want to do during the summer, and I start plugging things in. \u0026nbsp;I have a process, because I want to make sure all of the things we most want to do during the warm months actually happen! \u0026nbsp;I wrote \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/activities\/how-to-plan-for-an-epic-summer\/\"\u003Eall about my planning process\u003C\/a\u003E (including some ideas for stuff to do this year) on Rooted Family if you're interested.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnyway, I have my list of ideas gathered (it took a little more research this year than normal), and sitting down to plug my ideas into the calendar is on the to-do list today. \u0026nbsp;I really believe that simple little bits of fun can really make the summer memorable. \u0026nbsp;I started freezing koolaid ice cubes this week so I could make the kids colorful summer drinks (just add Sprite), and it turned out really well.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uDWF7dThKEQ\/Xuz3K_2hfGI\/AAAAAAAAZNY\/o7xWwQ9_rJcKv3aI9bnim6B5P4Ky3a1MACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5277blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe kids were so excited when I ave them the drinks. \u0026nbsp;The girls adorably clinked their glasses together and said \"Cheers!\" \u0026nbsp;And Wyatt actually wrote me a card to thank me for the summer treat. \u0026nbsp;That whole \"the way to a boy's heart is through his stomach\" thing is a cliche for a reason. \u0026nbsp;They made my day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tcRv27-3zBk\/Xu0F_cKNgyI\/AAAAAAAAZNc\/gZp-qpmW1fkfZdw-JgxmvYruU-MfTc6bgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_5281%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's pretty much everything we've been up to lately! \u0026nbsp;Keep an eye out for a vacation post, coming up soon! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd don't forget to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/activities\/how-to-plan-for-an-epic-summer\/\"\u003Eread my post on planning an epic summer on Rooted\u003C\/a\u003E, especially if you are discouraged about the summer not feeling normal. \u0026nbsp;You can still make it memory-filled, even in this weird time.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4647703727386251361\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4647703727386251361\u0026isPopup=true","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4647703727386251361"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4647703727386251361"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/06\/the-kickoff-to-summer.html","title":"The Kickoff To Summer"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-msCiLVoKE4c\/Xuz24nTfWII\/AAAAAAAAZMk\/Vh-AvHEw1ws2jhZ85UkZcY5lYmRNYJQEgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_5062blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1648637467024973681"},"published":{"$t":"2020-06-16T10:33:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-06-16T10:33:56.836-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bible Study"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Teaching Kids About Jesus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Shouts And Whispers"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5wfdOpM_dqg\/XujxntoMjDI\/AAAAAAAAZLY\/l2QTonoRsKcaMEE0yu7fF8ic8sfMx4zBQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_5027instagram_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E9:32 AM. \u0026nbsp;Some spunky spider threaded a silvery strand from the porch railing to the chair last night, and I'm sitting here looking at it as I try to figure out what I exactly want to write today. The wind is picking up, and I keep watching the thread in the sunlight, thinking surely it will break in the gusts. \u0026nbsp;But it hasn't. \u0026nbsp;Spider silk is strong stuff.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI didn't start this trying to draw an analogy here, but its kind of like the country right now isn't it? \u0026nbsp;Some days the events in the news are so crazy, it feels like the entire American civilization is hanging by a thread. \u0026nbsp;Maybe one day the last gust of wind, the last crazy event, will break it. \u0026nbsp;I hope our traditions and values, the things we used to all unite around as nation, will be like that thread, strong enough to string our country together amidst all this chaos, but if not...well, it's a good thing that we believers in Christ don't have to place our hope in men, isn't it?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'd like to insert something I wrote on Instagram a couple weeks ago, for posterity or for any of you who don't follow me over there. \u0026nbsp;This is the bottom line to me:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EI had some things I wanted to share this week, but all that is on hold for now, as Instagram was dominated yesterday by black squares. I don’t like getting involved in these things online, but this morning all my thoughts and feelings and discouragements coalesced and clarified. So against my initial instinct to swear off social media and just pray and cocoon with my kids (which still might be what I end up doing), I have a few things to say.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EFirst, to those putting your hope in social media campaigns, or conversations, or human organizations, or a political party, or violence, to spur on whatever change you think needs to happen, I think you will be disappointed.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EI like how someone else (\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"notranslate\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/stopandconsider\/\" style=\"border: 0px; color: rgba(var(--fe0,0,55,107),1); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003E@stopandconsider\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;on Instagram) put it: “The spiritual oppression that all men are under is sin, and from that all the physical vestiges of oppression find their power. The only way that is changed is by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, who died for sinful men to reconcile them to God.”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EThe solution to ALL our sin, the sins hidden inside us as well as the sins of murder and theft and racism that dominate the news, is CHRIST, crucified to pay the penalty of death that WE deserved. He is risen to conquer death, heal our souls, and give us victory over that sin.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EHE is the One who sets us free, changes hard hearts, and brings peace to our sinful souls and broken world. If you don’t know that peace and reconciliation with God - I pray, I beg you, to seek and find that Truth.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EAnd one more thing - if we as Christians are trying to participate in this conversation on racism, rule of law, etc, and we leave out the Gospel, I’m sorry but we are doing it wrong. I’ve been personally convicted of this. What eternal good are we doing if we aren’t taking care to point others to Christ through this tragic situation? What lasting change can be made if we don’t preach the Gospel of Christ, which has the true power to change hearts and save eternal souls?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \u0026quot;Segoe UI\u0026quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"\u003EIt’s time to turn our eyes back to Him, our only true Hope amidst the chaos.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe events of the last few weeks have kind of been the last gust of wind for me, to turn my eyes back to what really matters. \u0026nbsp;These verses in 2 Timothy have been swirling in my brain through the turmoil our nation is facing - reminding me that this is my duty, this is my call:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EPreach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching...But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.\u003Cbr \/\u003E2 Timothy 4:2,5\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPaul was writing this to Timothy, who was a young pastor. \u0026nbsp;But when I read those verses to apply them personally, I am reminded to keep my mind on the gospel, and my energy focused on my kids. There are so many voices shouting on social media right now, it's hard to hear anyone, and the limitations of trying to speak the truth online become ever more apparent...but I can preach the Word to my kids. \u0026nbsp;I can be faithful in my efforts to convince, exhort, rebuke, and train them. \u0026nbsp;I can show them how to be watchful in all things by showing them what God's Word says about what is happening in the world, I can present examples of how to endure afflictions while giving thanks to God, I can do the work of an evangelist by pointing them to Jesus's atoning work on the cross always. \u0026nbsp;This is I can fulfill my ministry, the most important one, which has always been to shine the light of Christ in my home to my children, to write the Truth on their hearts.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-05s_AaWK3Ts\/Xujxo13JS2I\/AAAAAAAAZLo\/gs9j_-Tomk88ThdEdIOmpyX0q3OOp1QcwCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5036blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fK4FDyu8zH4\/XujxibFT1GI\/AAAAAAAAZLk\/6nIkmMsu3LonKegT9ysv4IddfvTmIWRaQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5027blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fxgF03FeZyY\/Xujxr2MvvfI\/AAAAAAAAZLg\/df8_OcP8oscEMzjWM0zSP6zHxfgA56o6wCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/IMG_5135blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(A couple photos from my birthday fishing trip last weekend.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo maybe that's why I have been quiet on social media and my blog lately, because I have been mulling over how I can do better at this. \u0026nbsp;How I can lead their hearts to Jesus, pray for them better, train them in righteousness, and prepare them to stand firm amidst the persecution they will no doubt face someday. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI feel more urgency for this than I used to. \u0026nbsp;I don't want to waste too much time shouting into the noise on social media, when my greatest impact will be whispering truth into the hearts of my children.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E---\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnyway, I meant for this to be a light, catch-up post, but I guess I needed to get that off my chest first. \u0026nbsp;You all know I like to have fun, and sharing it all on here is part of the fun for me, so those posts are coming too! \u0026nbsp;Thanks for hanging around while I sorted through my thoughts over the last month.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd oh yeah, it's summer. \u0026nbsp;The sun is shining on my legs, and I can practically feel the Vitamin D being manufactured, boosting my mood. \u0026nbsp;The birds chirp from the trees all around, the table umbrella is spinning as the breeze picks up, and I hear some shouting from inside the house that I should probably go attend to. \u0026nbsp;Before I close my laptop, I look up again, and that silvery thread connecting the chair and the railing is still dancing in the wind.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1648637467024973681\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1648637467024973681\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1648637467024973681"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1648637467024973681"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/06\/shouts-and-whispers.html","title":"Shouts And Whispers"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5wfdOpM_dqg\/XujxntoMjDI\/AAAAAAAAZLY\/l2QTonoRsKcaMEE0yu7fF8ic8sfMx4zBQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_5027instagram_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7518472632156770684"},"published":{"$t":"2020-05-21T07:26:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-05-21T07:26:25.654-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Currently"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Currently | May 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nPOkHomxY9U\/XsaAiKsnQ5I\/AAAAAAAAZKo\/LGsG0BArgAIABXMxgHu7LnPXKDy22uyswCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_2900blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECurrently...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMaking...\u003C\/span\u003Echocolate chip cookies. \u0026nbsp;I have a grain mill on my counter, and I usually try to grind fresh flour when I make baked goods - it's healthier because you get more of the nutrients from the grain that way, and I actually like the texture of the freshly ground grain in our muffins or whatever. But I finally realized that I have to give up on using the home-ground flour in our chocolate chip cookies. \u0026nbsp;It was just not working. \u0026nbsp;I reverted back to good old store flour when I baked yesterday, and the cookies were magnificent. \u0026nbsp;Yes, that is a very big word for a cookie, but I stand by it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ELearning...\u003C\/span\u003Emore about America. \u0026nbsp;That sounds like a loaded answer, but what I'm actually referring to is \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/online.hillsdale.edu\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EHillsdale's \u003Ci\u003Efree\u003C\/i\u003E online courses,\u003C\/a\u003E and if you've never checked them out, you should! \u0026nbsp;I'm doing the course called \"The Great American Story: A Land Of Hope\", and it's cool to get such a condensed overview of our history. \u0026nbsp;They have all kinds of courses though, including ones on the Supreme Court, economics (timely right now), the Constitution (also timely), the World Wars, Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, Winston Churchill, and a bunch of different ones on literature. \u0026nbsp;I'm really enjoying the one I'm taking.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EDabbling in...\u003C\/span\u003Egardening. \u0026nbsp;My lavender and basil have still not really sprouted, but Derek got a greenhouse set up on our porch, and he is growing vegetables! \u0026nbsp;I'm very excited to see how they do in the greenhouse. \u0026nbsp;Where we live, a greenhouse is pretty much required for any serious growing. \u0026nbsp;Maybe it will help cure my black thumb.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gZSyg6cG3k8\/XsaAelFCmvI\/AAAAAAAAZKk\/frkJk2v5dUIoJlrS1_3CKXl8MZwH9bCbACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_2900blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(In the greenhouse.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMissing...\u003C\/span\u003Ethe library. \u0026nbsp;Our state has been gradually opening up, and I'm getting more and more irritated that the library is dragging its feet. \u0026nbsp;I understand they don't want to open the building yet, but I see no problem in allowing people to pick up holds curbside. \u0026nbsp;They won't even allow us to return books yet, and I've got about a hundred picture books sitting in bags on the floor, just waiting. \u0026nbsp;How hard can it be to wipe down the returns or let them sit in a room to isolate for a day or two? \u0026nbsp;Other county libraries have been partially open for weeks and they make it work.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EReading...\u003C\/span\u003Eabout ten books at once. \u0026nbsp;With the library still closed, I've been scrounging my shelves and the Kindle books on Amazon for my next read. \u0026nbsp;I have a terrible habit of reading a chapter or two of any book that looks interesting until one sticks, hence why I have so many going at once all the time. I'm currently working through \u003Ci\u003EBrave New World\u003C\/i\u003E by Aldous Huxley (it's really fascinating), \u003Ci\u003EThe Two Towers\u003C\/i\u003E (it's a re-read, I've been reading a chapter each night), \u003Ci\u003EUnknown Valor\u003C\/i\u003E by Martha McCullum (just started this one), and \u003Ci\u003EThe Underground History Of American Education \u003C\/i\u003Eby John Taylor Gatto (also fascinating, and perhaps a little terrifying). \u0026nbsp;I'm going to start \u003Ci\u003EThe Lake House\u003C\/i\u003E this month though! \u0026nbsp;I mean it this time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tzyn-fwhOVE\/XsaAZKvjlCI\/AAAAAAAAZKc\/kRGOKgxErrksqAgkrVXmddsF3q90iRHowCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_2625blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Burning my Mother's Day candles.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ELoving...\u003C\/span\u003Ethe way my kiddos have been handling this whole thing. \u0026nbsp;I know our routine didn't change as much as others', but we still haven't been able to go to a lot of the places we would normally go either. But they've mostly rolled with the punches and they've been finding all kinds of things to do around the house; they play elaborate, imaginative games with their stuffed animals or cars. \u0026nbsp;They cheer when we announce a movie night, dive into reading books they wouldn't normally pick up, and are particularly sweet little lights in my life right now. \u0026nbsp;Have there been alot more household messes to clean up? \u0026nbsp;Yes. \u0026nbsp;Has there been occasionally disappointment when I have to tell them that we are, yet again, staying home? \u0026nbsp;Yes. \u0026nbsp;But overall, they've handled it all very well. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBummed about...\u003C\/span\u003Ethe homeschool conference being cancelled. \u0026nbsp;They held out as long as possible, and maybe I should have seen it coming with all the other things being cancelled, but I thought there might be a chance since it wasn't scheduled until later in June. \u0026nbsp;I think it's unfortunate they had to cancel it with so many people considering homeschooling more seriously as a result of this pandemic. \u0026nbsp;I'm seriously considering hosting a miniature homeschool conference in my house with my friends instead. \u0026nbsp;We are almost to the phase that allows more than ten people to gather, so it would be legal and everything. \u0026nbsp;We could watch a session or two from an online conference together, bring curriculum to allow others to look through it and get ideas, and make it a potluck! \u0026nbsp;I'm mulling it over.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-riDEYojEfnA\/XsaAddG4H5I\/AAAAAAAAZKg\/zdvDYuZLr5sa_j1SxIA5PD5b8WzOnQjFACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/DSC_0311blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Gwen took this picture of me at sunset the other day.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EExcited about...\u003C\/span\u003Eour last day of school! \u0026nbsp;We are officially on summer break this week, and Wyatt in particular is excited about it. \u0026nbsp;The kids have been asking me to buy a kiddie pool, though it's not quite warm enough for one yet. \u0026nbsp;I think this summer in particular it will be important that I plan some fun things for us to do together, since our usual go-to's (zoo, parks, library programs) are in flux. \u0026nbsp;I want them to have fun and feel as little as possible of the lingering effects of this shutdown craziness. \u0026nbsp;Summer is NOT cancelled. \u0026nbsp;I refuse to let it be.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHow is the summer looking for you right now? \u0026nbsp;Any plans to still make it fun?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7518472632156770684\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7518472632156770684\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7518472632156770684"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7518472632156770684"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/05\/currently-may-2020.html","title":"Currently | May 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nPOkHomxY9U\/XsaAiKsnQ5I\/AAAAAAAAZKo\/LGsG0BArgAIABXMxgHu7LnPXKDy22uyswCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_2900blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5238652673556235633"},"published":{"$t":"2020-05-15T09:30:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-05-15T09:40:13.489-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Recent Reads - Spring 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XALWx-GKfDo\/Xr62RdEM7-I\/AAAAAAAAZJ8\/ohKuBpiC6voxKJuCJ9Mw2NRuKYuJrhI0gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/April-2020-091blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA while back, I decided to take a step back from Goodreads. \u0026nbsp;For a long time I enjoyed recording the books I was reading on that platform, but in the last year it's become the source of more stress than it's worth. People get nasty on there if you are critical of a book they like! \u0026nbsp;You would think readers would be a little more understanding that not everyone is going to like the same books, but not so much. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI also don't think Goodreads is a great medium for theological\/political\/sociological discussions, and there is a lot of that happening as well, many times in a not-so-nice way. \u0026nbsp;I've also become unsure if I really want a database of all the books I've ever read on the internet. \u0026nbsp;Do I really want all the tech giants and government having instant access to that information? \u0026nbsp;Based on how things have been going in this country for the last couple months, I think no.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBottom line: it's just been adding too much drama to my life. \u0026nbsp;Instead of recording what I'm reading publicly on Goodreads, I've been keeping a private record of the books I'm reading in my bullet journal. \u0026nbsp;But I know alot of my blog buddies are also readers, so I wanted to share some of what I'm reading with you all too! \u0026nbsp;Here are some of the books I've been reading in the first part of this year, along with brief thoughts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y_-01179Di8\/Xr62ReeSXTI\/AAAAAAAAZJ4\/dKaYiLC9MMkTUVwnqMksj03NiUp3JcyRgCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/April-2020-091blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Some affiliate links below, just to help bolster my book funds!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/11-22-63-Stephen-King\/dp\/1451627297\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BD4KU1OWITPU\u0026amp;dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=112263+by+stephen+king\u0026amp;qid=1589504672\u0026amp;sprefix=112263%2Caps%2C255\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E11-22-63\u003C\/i\u003E by Stephen King\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI picked up this book because everyone says King is such a wonderful writer, but I'm not into horror. \u0026nbsp;This is one of his few non-horror books, so I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. \u0026nbsp;The story is about a man who stumbles across a unique way to travel back in time and tries to stop the Kennedy assassination. \u0026nbsp;I'll say this, King does know how to drive a book forward! \u0026nbsp;Once I was into this book, I could hardly put it down. However, would I recommend it? \u0026nbsp;Probably not. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EWay\u003C\/i\u003E more sexual content than I expected, which I skipped past as much as possible, but still - ugh. \u0026nbsp;Some graphic violence is described, which was disturbing. \u0026nbsp;I was not satisfied with the ending. \u0026nbsp;It could have been great if it wasn't for those things.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2LyfTfn\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELong Before Luther \u003C\/i\u003Eby Nathan Busenitz\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI already did a full review of this book \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/02\/long-before-luther-review.html\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;This book is a historical defense of Reformation doctrines and their existence \u003Ci\u003Ebefore\u003C\/i\u003E the Reformation. \u0026nbsp;If you're a Protestant whose ever wondered where the Gospel was before the Reformation, this is your book! \u0026nbsp;Short and sweet, and interesting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2AxxO3B\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EChristmas At The Vinyl Cafe\u003C\/i\u003E by Stuart McClean\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis was a present from my longtime penpal Felicia! \u0026nbsp;I started this book on Christmas, and got sucked right in! \u0026nbsp;A bunch of funny Christmas short stories, with lovable, relatable characters. \u0026nbsp;I laughed out loud reading this, and might have teared up a couple times too. \u0026nbsp;I bought two more Vinyl Cafe books after reading this one, I loved it so much. \u0026nbsp;Highly recommend!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2WXte6i\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAnd Then There Were None\u003C\/i\u003E by Agatha Christie\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOnly $2.50 on Kindle!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's quite possible I read this as a teenager, but I didn't remember it so I read it again. \u0026nbsp;Agatha Christie is the queen of mystery, and if you've never read one of her books, you should. \u0026nbsp;In this one, a bunch of people are mysteriously summoned to an island, and one by one they start dying off. \u0026nbsp;From the author's foreword, you know they are all going to be murdered, but the question is, how? \u0026nbsp;Definitely one of Christie's more disturbing stories, but I couldn't help but appreciate how she pulled off a murder mystery where every character is murdered. If you don't know Agatha Christie already, I wouldn't start with this one though. \u0026nbsp;I like her Hercule Poirot books best.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/366pF1B\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EInvisible Emmie \u003C\/i\u003Eby Terri Libenson\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is actually a middle-grade graphic novel (ie. comic book), but it looked fun so I thought I'd give it a try. \u0026nbsp;It's the story of two girls - quite, shy Emmie, and popular, outgoing Katie. \u0026nbsp;Everything always works out for Katie, and not so much for Emmie. \u0026nbsp;One day an embarrassing note gets delivered to Emmie's crush, and everything comes to a head. \u0026nbsp;Interesting twist at the end! \u0026nbsp;I thought it was really cute. \u0026nbsp;I feel like there might have been one reference to a sex-ed class (?), so maybe parents just be aware of that, but nothing explicit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/35ZIFir\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERaising Godly Children In An Ungodly World\u003C\/i\u003E by Ken Ham\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm a big Ken Ham fan, and this book was written with his brother. \u0026nbsp;It has advice for parents interspersed with some biographical\/memoir type content about the Ham family and how Ken Ham started his young-earth creation ministry. \u0026nbsp;I really enjoyed it! \u0026nbsp;Alot of the same info as some of his other books, but I liked having more of a biographical look at the Ham family.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Z5q0A9\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEmber Falls\u003C\/i\u003E by S.D. Smith\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOnly $3 on Kindle!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, I powered through this book on audio because I was trying to win a free gift card as part of a promotion on Audible - and I should have got the prize, but Audible decided I didn't qualify. \u0026nbsp;I tried calling customer service, but they refused to help me. \u0026nbsp;I was incensed and quit my Audible membership - they basically tricked me into staying a member for two more months to get a gift card I \"didn't qualify\" for! Even though I did. \u0026nbsp;So I have bad memories associated with this, ha! \u0026nbsp;But that aside, I did enjoy this audiobook. \u0026nbsp;Ember Falls is book two in the Green Ember series, which is a middle-grade fantasy story with noble, warring rabbits. \u0026nbsp;I'm enjoying the story, but find that alot of it is told in conversations, and I am not quite sure I like how that translates to audio. \u0026nbsp;This second book was a little slow-moving to me, but I still want to finish the series, until the \"\u003Ci\u003EGreen Ember rises, or the end of the world!\u003C\/i\u003E\" (I might have got that phrase a little wrong, but it's impressive I remember it at all considering I listened to it three months ago. \u0026nbsp;It stuck.)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2ArdQHv\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEssentialism\u003C\/i\u003E by Greg McKeown\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EReally interesting book about parring down your schedule and learning to say no to things that are not the best use of your time. \u0026nbsp;I read this after reading \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2LwFEMZ\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EDigital Minimalism\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2X1zzNM\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EReclaiming Conversation\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E late last year, and it was a nice way to round out all those ideas about trimming distractions from your life. \u0026nbsp;I'd recommend it if you frequently find yourself overwhelmed with tasks that are not the best use of your time and that you didn't really want to do in the first place. \u0026nbsp;This book will be a good shot in the arm.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Lx27ty\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EA Landscape With Dragons\u003C\/i\u003E by Michael O'Brien\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI picked up this book after Andrew Pudewa mentioned that it had interesting points about how to evaluate children's literature to determine if the underlying messages are ones that you want your kids' reading. \u0026nbsp;This book really made me think, and it did indeed have alot of great tips for choosing books for your kids that are in line with good character values. \u0026nbsp;The discussion on dragons in children's literature was especially interesting. It's written from a Catholic perspective, so I didn't agree with all the theology in it. \u0026nbsp;But I did appreciate how it made me think deeper about the kinds of books I want my kids' reading, and I'll probably return to it for ideas in the future.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Then-She-Was-Gone-Novel\/dp\/1501154656\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=then+she+was+gone\u0026amp;qid=1589550974\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThen She Was Gone\u003C\/i\u003E by Lisa Jewell\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis was a thriller I listened to on audio when I needed a distraction. \u0026nbsp;It's a story about a girl who disappeared, and years later her mother is still trying to figure out what happened to her - things start to come together when she starts dating again. \u0026nbsp;I didn't love this one. \u0026nbsp;I listened to the end just because I wanted to finish it, but there was definitely some sexual content (thank goodness for the button to skip ahead 30 seconds). \u0026nbsp;I also hated the ending. \u0026nbsp;Not that I was expecting a happy ending exactly, but it was bittersweet in a disturbing way, and left me with kind of a yucky feeling. \u0026nbsp;I kind of wish I had quit this one. \u0026nbsp;Maybe I'll just stick with Mary Higgins Clark books when I want a thriller in the future. \u0026nbsp;More modern thrillers rarely work out for me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dPf2TK\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EInstruments In The Redeemer's Hands\u003C\/i\u003E by Paul David Tripp\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI started this book last year, and just finally finished it this spring. \u0026nbsp;Tripp gives advice in this book to all Christians on how to counsel and encourage others in a biblical way, by asking good questions and pointing others to scripture. \u0026nbsp;It's solidly grounded in the Gospel, and the advice later in the book was really thought-provoking and helpful to me in some of my relationships. \u0026nbsp;This is a book I'll probably be reading again, because I need reminders. \u0026nbsp;If you want some help on learning how to encourage others in the Lord, this book is for you!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2WAwhSX\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEast Of Eden \u003C\/i\u003Eby John Steinbeck\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOnly $1.50 on Kindle!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've got probably an eighth of this book left, it's been taking up a large portion of my reading time for the last two months, but I think it will be worth it! The story is a generational story about two sets of brothers with a Cain-and-Abal type relationship. \u0026nbsp;I'm very invested in the characters, and I'm going to be kind of sad when I can't read about their lives anymore. \u0026nbsp;One content note: there are \"houses of ill repute\" involved, so some sexual references in the plot line, but nothing too explicit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PJDMy33U0D4\/Xr62a7XwZGI\/AAAAAAAAZKI\/iMwum4qxLvgVjRJE1Za9xOEj277HRYsRQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/April-2020-094blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's where my reading life stands as of Spring 2020! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've decided to change my strategy for how I'm picking books for the rest of this year. \u0026nbsp;When I was trying to write my post about my favorite books from 2019 (back in January), I found myself really unsatisfied with the group of books I had to choose from. \u0026nbsp;Then I looked over my last couple reading years and realized I haven't loved very many of the books I've been reading for a while now. \u0026nbsp;I decided to try to read more books that I like this year, and less books that end up being duds. \u0026nbsp;I may write about my strategy in another post, but I'm pretty satisfied with the books I've read so far in 2020. \u0026nbsp;There are alot of good ones on this list! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's to hoping 2020 will be a great reading year, where my \"Favorite Books Of 2020\" post will be difficult to write because I have \u003Ci\u003Eso many\u003C\/i\u003E I love, as opposed to so few!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat has been your favorite book of the year so far?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5238652673556235633\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5238652673556235633\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5238652673556235633"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5238652673556235633"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/04\/recent-reads-spring-2020.html","title":"Recent Reads - Spring 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XALWx-GKfDo\/Xr62RdEM7-I\/AAAAAAAAZJ8\/ohKuBpiC6voxKJuCJ9Mw2NRuKYuJrhI0gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/April-2020-091blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-6559861353222660135"},"published":{"$t":"2020-05-11T05:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-05-11T05:31:00.190-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Random"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Cold Coffee And Sunshine"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-AaqGKM-Iogw\/XrcZLQc865I\/AAAAAAAAZJY\/C6dVTcWiBpsLMaRm8-i57Bv3cwedNUATgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_2242blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMy coffee is cold in the cup next to me as I sit down on my couch today, laptop perched on my knees. \u0026nbsp;I haven't sat down just to write in a while! \u0026nbsp;My fingers actually feel stiff and slow in typing. \u0026nbsp;I'm asked often how I make time for my blog with the kids and everything, and the truth is that Derek usually gives me an evening or a whole afternoon at the library, and I knock out a few posts at a time. \u0026nbsp;I obviously haven't been able to do that for a while. \u0026nbsp;Even now, when our state has been slowly reopening for a couple weeks, our libraries are still closed. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut today, Derek and a friend are outside, building a treehouse for the kids. \u0026nbsp;The weather has been just lovely for a few weeks now, which feels like another bit of God's grace to us amidst all this turmoil in the world. \u0026nbsp;We may not be able to go to the park, but the mountains are unseasonably warm, and hot pine needles smell like summer. \u0026nbsp;I can hear the kids shouting as they play on the driveway. \u0026nbsp;And I'm sitting here, with my cold cup of coffee that I'll probably re-heat again in a minute, and a wilted little wildflower on the armrest of the couch, presented proudly to me by my golden-haired four year old a little while ago. \u0026nbsp;The darn woodpecker is attacking the side of the house again, and the hummingbird feeder is swinging outside the window. \u0026nbsp;It's a nice Saturday morning, and I decided today was the day to catch up the ole blog. \u0026nbsp;I should make this happen more often.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XPiNyVW-FEA\/XrcZI5wkiqI\/AAAAAAAAZJM\/MGqq-1_L1xI7Ieauf_uSMJ66PqaTZ7B9gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_2243blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PHBGPUYoOfE\/XrcZLM8AzXI\/AAAAAAAAZJU\/dTl3jj4gy2wvbF8TXcX9T7XiRaxYtrqfgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_2245blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Hi!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpeaking of the treehouse, the kids are so excited for it. \u0026nbsp;It's really more of a playhouse than a treehouse, a little shed on a raised deck, with an even higher balcony-porch that wraps around a tree in our yard. \u0026nbsp;Derek wanted to make something sturdy and enduring, something they can enjoy now and when they are teenagers. \u0026nbsp;I think it's going to turn out great! \u0026nbsp;We are also toying with the idea of making a teepee further down the hill, but we can't quite figure out where to get or how to make a full-size teepee covering. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOther house projects-in-progress involve a lot of plants. \u0026nbsp;Derek decided to try to grow our own flowers for our outdoor pots this summer, and he's been baby-ing little flower sprouts for a few weeks now. \u0026nbsp;The flowers we chose don't seem to be happy, and we aren't quite sure why. \u0026nbsp;The vegetable plants he got from a coworker, on the other hand, are thriving. \u0026nbsp;He ordered a greenhouse, and I consented to have it set up in corner of our back deck. \u0026nbsp;Our deck is a little funny, with a long, semi-narrow strip right off the back of the house, which takes one step down to a wider area where we have our table set up. \u0026nbsp;So the greenhouse will be on the upper section of the deck, next to the house. \u0026nbsp;I was hesitant to let the greenhouse live there, because I want the deck to feel clean, but I think it'll be alright. I'm planning on hanging some flower baskets on either side to make it look...fancier? \u0026nbsp;More lush? \u0026nbsp;I'm also a little concerned about the draining, but Derek says all the plants will be in trays. \u0026nbsp;The greenhouse may move to the side of the house if our plants outgrow it. \u0026nbsp;It's a pretty small greenhouse. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWe are gardening newbies (though Derek has a greener thumb than me), so any tips are appreciated!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've been trying to grow herbs in our kitchen windowsill as well, and the basil and chamomile is thriving, but the lavender and rosemary have yet to sprout. \u0026nbsp;Did I get dead seeds? \u0026nbsp;Do they just need longer to germinate? Or did I drown them? \u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;I don't know.\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;I'm disappointed that the two herbs I wanted the most seem to be rebelling against me, but I'll give them a little more time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDerek is still working from home, from the closet-office, and he probably will be for a while. \u0026nbsp;Our governor is encouraging those who can work from home to do it, and I can't say we completely mind. \u0026nbsp;Working from home cuts out two hours of commuting time for Derek, which means more time for movie nights and house projects.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHomeschooling exclusively at home, on the other hand, is getting wearisome. \u0026nbsp;We are itching to go on a field trip, or a library trip, or a park trip, or\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Esomething\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Over the weeks when we were required to stay home, and there was nowhere to go anyway, I did lessons with the kids on the weekends to knock out a few extra days of our school year. \u0026nbsp;So we are on track to finish our required number of days by the end of this week! \u0026nbsp;I would love to do a field trip to celebrate the last day of school, but I'm pretty sure most of those type of places will still be closed. \u0026nbsp;Maybe a \"field trip\" to Barnes and Noble for some books to read over the summer, perhaps? \u0026nbsp;I just saw that our local Barnes And Noble is open, and I'm extra excited about it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpeaking of books for the kids to read, Gwen is reading pretty solidly now, so I went ahead and ordered some of the original American Girl books on Ebay. \u0026nbsp;I was aiming to gather the Felicity and Addy series, and just happened to also get the Josefina series in the process. \u0026nbsp;Probably my three favorites of the original American Girls, so that worked out! \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDid any of you read American Girl books as a kid? \u0026nbsp;Which were your favorites?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;I never did get one of the dolls.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs our state and county has started opening, we've enjoyed visits with my sister and parents last week. \u0026nbsp;It is so good to see family, and especially to be around people who feel similarly about this whole crazy mess the world has gotten itself into. \u0026nbsp;As I've been following the virus news and shutdowns the last few weeks, I've been reminded of the fact that an economic depression is going to have horrible ripple effects in so many less fortunate countries too. \u0026nbsp;I read in an article that the number of people in the world who face starvation is expected to \u003Ci\u003Edouble\u003C\/i\u003E this year as a result of the economic shutdowns around the world. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EDouble.\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;That just breaks my heart. What have we done to ourselves? Opinions run the gamut about this whole situation, and I am trying not to get into mine here, but it can't be denied that some of our actions in response to the virus have been much more devastating than many expected.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E(On a related note, my friend Bethany - another childhood penpal! - is trying to sell bows to help with relief in the middle East during this coronavirus crisis. \u0026nbsp;She's sold out for now, but it's a cool thing she's doing, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/junieroseco\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Eyou might consider following\u003C\/a\u003E if you are interested.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnyway, to try to get back to a happier topic before I close this out, I'm still working through \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/East-Eden-John-Steinbeck-ebook\/dp\/B001BC5HXG\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=east+of+eden\u0026amp;qid=1589057706\u0026amp;s=digital-text\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEast Of Eden\u003C\/i\u003E by John Steinbeck\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;It's a long book, okay? \u0026nbsp;I'm most of the way through it though, and I still have no idea where it's going. How's all this going to end? \u0026nbsp;I'll probably go curl up with it on the porch as soon as I'm done typing this. \u0026nbsp;When I finish that book, I'm going full-steam ahead on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lake-House-Novel-Kate-Morton-ebook\/dp\/B00LD1S3PY\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=the+lake+house\u0026amp;qid=1589057733\u0026amp;s=digital-text\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Lake House\u003C\/i\u003E by Kate Morton\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I also started \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Valor-Family-Courage-Sacrifice-Harbor-ebook\/dp\/B07S9S3DB1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUnknown Valor\u003C\/i\u003E by Martha MacCallum\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;The cover caught my eye, and I kept seeing it everywhere, so I grabbed it at Sam's Club last week. \u0026nbsp;I'm already getting sucked into it, so that's my current nonfiction read! \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat have you all been reading?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;I have a full post on what I've read so far this year in the works for later this week!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm typing this on Saturday, you'll probably be reading this on Monday, which means Mother's Day was yesterday. \u0026nbsp;Our plan is to drop by Derek's mom's house in the morning, and then I think Derek has a picnic lunch planned for me and the kids. \u0026nbsp;They went Mother's Day shopping for me this week, and the kids are so cute, telling me not to look in their closets so I don't see the presents they got me. \u0026nbsp;Then I'm hoping to see my mom for dinner. \u0026nbsp;It should be a lovely day, and the first Mother's Day in a while when we'll get to see both our moms on the same day. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm feeling especially blessed by my mom this year, as I've seen her here and there during the shutdown, and she's dropped off little notes for the kids, and I've made more of an effort to talk to her on the phone regularly. \u0026nbsp;I've never been good at making those phone calls, I've never been much of a phone-talker. \u0026nbsp;But I'm starting to change my tune. \u0026nbsp;It's undeniably better to hear someone's voice and have a real conversation than to poke out characters for a text bubble. \u0026nbsp;And I've especially missed getting to see Derek's mom - we've sent letters to her, and Derek continues to talk to her regularly, but I hate that we had to miss seeing her on Easter. \u0026nbsp;I have a really wonderful mother-in-law, and it's not lost on me what a blessing that really is. \u0026nbsp;It'll be good to see her face.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe sunshine on the porch is calling my name, so I think I'll go grab that book now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHow have you all been? \u0026nbsp;What have you been up to? \u0026nbsp;Any restrictions lifting in your states yet? \u0026nbsp;Or for international friends, how are things going in your country right now?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/6559861353222660135\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=6559861353222660135\u0026isPopup=true","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6559861353222660135"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/6559861353222660135"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/05\/cold-coffee-and-sunshine.html","title":"Cold Coffee And Sunshine"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-AaqGKM-Iogw\/XrcZLQc865I\/AAAAAAAAZJY\/C6dVTcWiBpsLMaRm8-i57Bv3cwedNUATgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_2242blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5431502723253944815"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-30T15:21:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-30T15:21:35.345-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Birthday Celebrations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clyde"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clyde's 6th Year"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clyde's 7th Year"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Letter To My Six Year Old"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JZ0F9jFbJjM\/Xqs5ZOEEPCI\/AAAAAAAAZI4\/JkKHEXJ4nvIAzzcGcafHRN-vFcBO1L8awCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9773blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMy Dear Clyde,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere we are, your sixth birthday! \u0026nbsp;I thought today a lot about \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2014\/04\/clydes-birth-story-part-two.html\"\u003Ethe day you were born\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Your dad was halfway across the state, and I had spent half the night throwing up and woke up queasy, before the contractions set in. \u0026nbsp;I wasn't expecting your birth that day - I spent the morning crunching tiny bits of ice to help with nausea, but before dinner time, you were in my arms. \u0026nbsp;I cried when I first saw you, said you were so handsome. \u0026nbsp;And you still are, but now when I look at you, instead of a handsome, scrunchy baby face, I see a handsome little boy. \u0026nbsp;Where did that baby boy go?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ECyz4jxOTEw\/Xqs5SOjDROI\/AAAAAAAAZIk\/wf8yv-7HMkUriupIJ6t5TFnI0uUkXtQJACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/April-2020-104blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis year has been so much fun with you. \u0026nbsp;This year you learned to ride a bike. \u0026nbsp;You got really interested in legos, and built an entire spaceship by yourself, not to mention \"cloud pushers\" and other inventive planes. \u0026nbsp;You have continued to be interested in trains and planes, but after our Kennedy Space Center trip, spaceships have been added to your list of favorite vehicles. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEvery time I ask, you give me the biggest hug, trying to squeeze all the air out of me. \u0026nbsp;You come up to me with your little quirked grin and tell me I'm the best mom ever, or ask with faux casualness if you can have a snack. \u0026nbsp;On family movie nights you try to squeeze yourself right next to me and your dad before your siblings notice. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou find particular joy in \"tricking\" us or getting us to laugh. \u0026nbsp;My favorite quote from you this year came when I casually asked where Gwen was. \"I ate her,\" you replied, seriously and not missing a beat, and when I looked up your eyes were twinkling and you laughed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-d5CZ1kItF4U\/Xqs5YZJnqQI\/AAAAAAAAZI0\/Y5prq7-yw3wJjU-ZHGuruTHMpTw70oo5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9774blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou often tell me you love our \"school\" Bible time, and I can tell so much of what we are learning from God's word is soaking in. \u0026nbsp;Your little heart is open to the Lord, and it is a joy to me to see that. \u0026nbsp;There is nothing I hope more for you, my boy, than to know Jesus and to love and serve Him with your whole heart.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESometimes you come into our room in the middle of the night. \u0026nbsp;\"I had a bad dream,\" you'll whisper, and when I ask what it was about, you always say \"a dinosaur\". \u0026nbsp;I often wonder if you really have that many dinosaur dreams, or if you've just figured out that claiming a dinosaur dream lets you sleep on the floor next to our bed. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI rub your hair and give in every time, not because I'm so tired, but because I really don't mind having you camped out on the floor next to me. \u0026nbsp;Someday you won't come in the room in the middle of the night anymore. \u0026nbsp;Someday dinosaur dreams will be gone forever, and I won't get to see your angelic little boy face dreaming by my feet when I get out of bed in the morning. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENo, I don't mind. \u0026nbsp;I like having you close to me, my sweet boy. \u0026nbsp;You are growing up so fast. \u0026nbsp;You are so mischievous and fun, and you also have such a soft, sweet heart. \u0026nbsp;Even as you grow up, year after year, I hope you keep that always.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GZw6FGeZqiE\/Xqs5Szz2TzI\/AAAAAAAAZIo\/wym-fucR7p4SAVfq_44OYMrupTcWFbXtACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/April-2020-184blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4pe2Am3nFG4\/Xqs5TKG1O4I\/AAAAAAAAZIs\/JkCKBFpiCSwYl11DcWpUaiZxhNT9kpNtgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/April-2020-252blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHappiest of birthdays, my adorable SIX year old boy! \u0026nbsp;No matter how big you get, you'll always be my baby. \u0026nbsp;I love you more than words can say, Clyde Boy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ELove,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMama\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5431502723253944815\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5431502723253944815\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5431502723253944815"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5431502723253944815"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/04\/a-letter-to-my-six-year-old.html","title":"A Letter To My Six Year Old"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JZ0F9jFbJjM\/Xqs5ZOEEPCI\/AAAAAAAAZI4\/JkKHEXJ4nvIAzzcGcafHRN-vFcBO1L8awCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9773blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5652348031262025588"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-21T10:15:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-21T10:15:48.506-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Random"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Tunnels And Light, Etc."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-86wCTBUvXpM\/Xp8bQcmHztI\/AAAAAAAAZIA\/f_pO8BdMnd8Z0mmPJO6EwZ8IZHg2QCy8wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_1315blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI haven't written on this little blog in a week in a half. \u0026nbsp;It could perhaps be because I was obsessively checking the news last week for updates. \u0026nbsp;I also couldn't seem to get up any motivation to write because boredom reached an all-time high last Wednesday. \u0026nbsp;I couldn't think of anything interesting to say. \u0026nbsp;But all that's changed this week, and I'll tell you why!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIs That, Perchance, Light At The End Of This Tunnel?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EWell, guys, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting very big, very bright, and very beautiful (as a certain president might say)! \u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EJust to sum up for posterity, our state went under a stay at home order (due to the coronavirus) at the beginning of April, and that was after two weeks of most people voluntarily staying home anyway. So we've basically been isolating for five or six weeks, along with most of the country. \u0026nbsp;The economy has absolutely tanked during that time, and at least 22 million people are now unemployed. \u0026nbsp;Even though our family's income is stable for the moment, and we were already largely at home anyway with homeschooling, it's been really painful to watch people being affected badly by the virus itself, and also the millions of livelihoods that are getting ruined by this shutdown. \u0026nbsp;Food bank lines are miles long. \u0026nbsp;Something obviously has to give.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oj9p6TtQ8Ic\/Xp8bDb65-UI\/AAAAAAAAZHo\/2qtUU_lHmS83eobOw5bZrURQqVLeEUdTwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0709blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Georgie, coloring during quaren-church.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOur state has put forth it's plan to start opening back up! \u0026nbsp;As of next Monday our stay-at-home order ends! \u0026nbsp;Woohoo! \u0026nbsp;We are still encouraged to stay home as much as possible, but there is just something about not being\u003Ci\u003E forced\u003C\/i\u003E to stay home. \u0026nbsp;It's a freeing thing. \u0026nbsp;Retail opens back up on the 1st, and once they see how the coronavirus cases are affected by a partial reopening, they'll make a decision on restaurants in mid-May. \u0026nbsp;Things are looking up!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhat does all this mean for our little family? \u0026nbsp;Well...we can get together with friends and family in small groups again without going against a government order. \u0026nbsp;I am looking forward to taking my kids to a park and (crossing my fingers) the library soon. \u0026nbsp;I'm also hoping some field trip destinations reopen soonish, because I had originally planned May to be \"the month of field trips\" to close out our school year. \u0026nbsp;We'll have to do all these things carefully, while being cognizant of giving people space and not spreading germs, but that's not a big deal at all after what the whole country has been going through. \u0026nbsp;We'll see what happens.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHas your state announced any steps or plans for re-opening yet?\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;I know alot of states have not come up with a clear plan yet, and if that's you, I'm sorry. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHomeschooling Update\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI shook up our homeschool a bit at the beginning of quarantine, but when it became clear it was going to go on much longer than I thought, we got back into a regular routine after a couple weeks. \u0026nbsp; In some areas I'm still motivated (got to finish that math book!), but in others, I admit, I'm feeling like things are a little stale. \u0026nbsp;We've finished up several of our curricula for the year, and are still working through others. \u0026nbsp;We have about 23 days left of the school year, and I'm trying to think of ways to still keep things interesting as we try to wrap things up. \u0026nbsp;For one thing, I bought this book:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-R6rnFYCufcE\/Xp8bFjXZPbI\/AAAAAAAAZHw\/Ws4QYCyd2aEZ7HQWQukxAsKZiI-R8IVSwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/ACS_0028blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI wanted to do a little unit of westward expansion of the United States, and I thought this book would bring it to life for the kids. \u0026nbsp;We did the seventh chapter last week (starting in the middle), and loved it! \u0026nbsp;My good friends who own a ranch also sent us this:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-C2kFYgXLk-A\/Xp8bFH7jm7I\/AAAAAAAAZHs\/lDmSdD9FDxAJe324Iz-WiX-3wVA3f3xGACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0483blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's a bunch of resources they put together about oxen and their role in westward expansion, and it's been a great addition to our study!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis week I decided that if we can't go on real field trips as originally planned, we will go on virtual ones. \u0026nbsp;I have been looking through this website with\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wearethemighty.com\/MIGHTY-SURVIVAL\/free-virtual-field-trips-quarantine?rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E a bunch of virtual field trip ideas\u003C\/a\u003E, and I think we're going to do the aquarium today. \u0026nbsp;A friend also shared this \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/webinar.superchargedscience.com\/marine-biology-online-class-eg-aw2-fb45\/?fbclid=IwAR3gt6k2SCR_hmHFGCW_dlau5JFAB3uRTXp6m_KIq0wHUo6xyCTQ6GrYQnE\"\u003Emarine biology class online,\u003C\/a\u003E which we might check out. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/northwestrockandfossil.com\/product\/geology-for-kids-the-book\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EOur geology curriculum\u003C\/a\u003E just went over marine fossils, so this would all probably fit in nicely.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm also strongly considering putting together a little in-the-car photo scavenger hunt that I can do with the kids one day this week or next week. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cassidylrobinson\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ECassidy\u003C\/a\u003E shared a scavenger hunt on Instagram the other day, and it looked so fun! \u0026nbsp;It would give us all a chance to get out and still enjoy spring, since alot of our springtime plans have been canceled. \u0026nbsp;I'm mulling it over.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOther Random Stuff\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELast week was a complete bust as far as accomplishing anything, but this week I started feeling motivated again, and I finally cleaned up my house and took some \"after\" pictures. We've been in this house 18 months now, and we've accomplished a lot of updates. \u0026nbsp;If you'll remember our house used to have pink carpet, so yeah, it looks better now! \u0026nbsp;Keep an eye out, I'll probably get some new house tour posts up soon.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe had been enjoying beautiful warm weather before Easter. \u0026nbsp;Then it snowed. \u0026nbsp;Now it's back to beautiful sunshine again.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6L2xBN32ucI\/Xp8bOPdhq9I\/AAAAAAAAZH4\/PsgsNisKPgATHzej3U6wh1JlDGLipi68gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_1315blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been doing a 30 Day Song Challenge on Instagram, and I have to say, it's been so much fun! \u0026nbsp;If you follow me on Instagram, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/stories\/highlights\/17878164730593010\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Eyou can see it on my highlights\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I might put it together into a playlist eventually.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe also celebrated Clyde's birthday right before Easter! \u0026nbsp;My baby boy turned six years old. \u0026nbsp;We took him out to Dunkin' Donuts (drive through) for breakfast, colored Easter eggs on his birthday, and had a movie night. \u0026nbsp;He got legos and slime and a mini version of that alligator dentist game you probably remember from when you were a kid. \u0026nbsp;He was happy as a clam! \u0026nbsp;I'll get his birthday post up soon too.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TrKh24YKuIQ\/Xp8bM-WJzBI\/AAAAAAAAZH0\/lg7WGjZ0VOcs1XkKuOAGg02-vAflU1SBACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_1093blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Kids opening their Easter baskets - we got them flip-flops, sunglasses, and an Adventures In Odyssey each! \u0026nbsp;And candy, of course.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI also started reading \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Brave-New-World-Aldous-Huxley\/dp\/0060850523\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBrave New World\u003C\/i\u003E by Aldous Huxley\u003C\/a\u003E with my book group friends, and wow, it is interesting so far. \u0026nbsp;Disturbing and interesting. I'm curious to see where the story will go. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EHave any of you read it?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-3jQZbD9XCcM\/Xp8bQOmtNoI\/AAAAAAAAZH8\/9DCYMfA2btwxQdxnPN1TRyUwg-i6FZAwACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_1360blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow goes the quarantine where you are? \u0026nbsp;Anyone losing your mind yet?\u003C\/b\u003E (I was last week, I admit.) \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EWhat are you all reading? Any projects you've been working on?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHang in there, this can't go on forever! \u0026nbsp;Hoping you are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel too.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5652348031262025588\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5652348031262025588\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5652348031262025588"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5652348031262025588"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/04\/tunnels-and-light-etc.html","title":"Tunnels And Light, Etc."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-86wCTBUvXpM\/Xp8bQcmHztI\/AAAAAAAAZIA\/f_pO8BdMnd8Z0mmPJO6EwZ8IZHg2QCy8wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_1315blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1237160003843503455"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-10T07:24:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-10T07:25:34.289-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bible Study"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Resurrection Day"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Certainty"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-um5RuSCu8s0\/XpBwsYUceII\/AAAAAAAAZDA\/1b_xFUOumEEk_KVnqUY_T3e8ItygOLV3wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/ACS_1764blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(This week last year, we were visiting New Orleans. Is it cheating to recycle those photos for this post?)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWalking to the mailbox has become something of a lifeline over the last weeks. \u0026nbsp; Though I am so blessed to be able to say that our day-to-day life has not changed much through this virus situation, it is still difficult on all of us to be stuck at home. \u0026nbsp;So we are making a tradition of fresh air and mud on our shoes, as we trudge on the dirt roads of our neighborhood for the post.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe other day, as we were walking, my oldest stopped in his tracks. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\"Did you hear that, Mom? \u0026nbsp;I think it was a robin.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd we all stopped and looked around, and from the eave of our neighbor's house we saw a swooping movement, a flash of orange-ish red. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"It is, it's a robin! \u0026nbsp;That means it's spring!\"\u003C\/i\u003E my boy cried, and somehow seeing that little bird did my heart good. \u0026nbsp;The world may have ground to a halt, but spring is still coming.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1203\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GyT3cY5Ml00\/XpBws48BazI\/AAAAAAAAZDU\/9oGhSyMPbK8fpbWdY8XUJo09J3Ywdy9lACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoA7VP-KeV7hSZQuMxFUcsAqfzjiyNJmygjK90w4T__WsPv9CMwOsGHVe7z2lkkr6muprlV5HsVugO1cXT2aOCyYkl7XVqIHB6AmjHkjspsGLbMBcJqbZTzvrMkUJWMr_8qrb4sfrKZQINJevItyMgGw3CEF9mkD1IJz77KftQHFr0HYI54SwCQOlV9wn3amwFrRfmad_EcxgTDyvtBSlAhlHLX1fO0fG0X3l7u5Zti7lidhb8lVhytRO7nRCNi6X7g3F9k7QGJKjvHTdKsxLYtvE7elhvWu10rj-C8vsNqi6XPIBkF9waP9upd2U57bm_NFdGAGcOQdSp027J6Ax50m146Gd8fXwZdllnBYrpJ4BrmiQPBrn9wYnSZ6AP3vmmOjGg1hGsXbA6cA0VJgTVNC0zd9xdEJOUWr_oNg-RLGACRorN1nE1Iw0jVWK6PQ5Nl53ZqjhOgKHWlOk3Zp6Yf5hLcKlQbUMmMD0womJSzVFfhwT6prReadyBA0oN0mAE493Pn6gJmRulpLr-ep6pRhAHfL5lKb2G_0QsEUpaqXP5A8I7OE8cjcxvvbQG3Q_EUKbCt4hwi8FXWySQe7RsjT_-LagjlFX6Uw7ObB9AU\/s1600\/ACS_1765blog_edited-1blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1124\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CldP0W2EPP4\/XpBwoQ4-OuI\/AAAAAAAAZDY\/VGswXB35jXsZ3av-50NEHTosd2NPAZx9QCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoA7VP-KeV7hSZQuMxFUcsAqfzjiyNJmygjK90w4T__WsPv9CMwOsGHVe7z2lkkr6muprlV5HsVugO1cXT2aOCyYkl7XVqIHB6AmjHkjspsGLbMBcJqbZTzvrMkUJWMr_8qrb4sfrKZQINJevItyMgGw3CEF9mkD1IJz77KftQHFr0HYI54SwCQOlV9wn3amwFrRfmad_EcxgTDyvtBSlAhlHLX1fO0fG0X3l7u5Zti7lidhb8lVhytRO7nRCNi6X7g3F9k7QGJKjvHTdKsxLYtvE7elhvWu10rj-C8vsNqi6XPIBkF9waP9upd2U57bm_NFdGAGcOQdSp027J6Ax50m146Gd8fXwZdllnBYrpJ4BrmiQPBrn9wYnSZ6AP3vmmOjGg1hGsXbA6cA0VJgTVNC0zd9xdEJOUWr_oNg-RLGACRorN1nE1Iw0jVWK6PQ5Nl53ZqjhOgKHWlOk3Zp6Yf5hLcKlQbUMmMD0womJSzVFfhwT6prReadyBA0oN0mAE493Pn6gJmRulpLr-ep6pRhAHfL5lKb2G_0QsEUpaqXP5A8I7OE8cjcxvvbQG3Q_EUKbCt4hwi8FXWySQe7RsjT_-LagjlFX6Uw7ObB9AU\/s1600\/ACS_1764blogcrop_edited-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-N-V8BCHFNfI\/XpBw0vfeW7I\/AAAAAAAAZDM\/zOV8SYSiTlcEU8xzr1JIUzUUo7U4dZk7gCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoA7VP-KeV7hSZQuMxFUcsAqfzjiyNJmygjK90w4T__WsPv9CMwOsGHVe7z2lkkr6muprlV5HsVugO1cXT2aOCyYkl7XVqIHB6AmjHkjspsGLbMBcJqbZTzvrMkUJWMr_8qrb4sfrKZQINJevItyMgGw3CEF9mkD1IJz77KftQHFr0HYI54SwCQOlV9wn3amwFrRfmad_EcxgTDyvtBSlAhlHLX1fO0fG0X3l7u5Zti7lidhb8lVhytRO7nRCNi6X7g3F9k7QGJKjvHTdKsxLYtvE7elhvWu10rj-C8vsNqi6XPIBkF9waP9upd2U57bm_NFdGAGcOQdSp027J6Ax50m146Gd8fXwZdllnBYrpJ4BrmiQPBrn9wYnSZ6AP3vmmOjGg1hGsXbA6cA0VJgTVNC0zd9xdEJOUWr_oNg-RLGACRorN1nE1Iw0jVWK6PQ5Nl53ZqjhOgKHWlOk3Zp6Yf5hLcKlQbUMmMD0womJSzVFfhwT6prReadyBA0oN0mAE493Pn6gJmRulpLr-ep6pRhAHfL5lKb2G_0QsEUpaqXP5A8I7OE8cjcxvvbQG3Q_EUKbCt4hwi8FXWySQe7RsjT_-LagjlFX6Uw7ObB9AU\/s1600\/ACS_1767blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s5yjjRqfrJg\/XpBwz6OjvpI\/AAAAAAAAZDY\/o-9POwLTWS07mUu9NazPDoXFQHqv4lqFwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoA7VP-KeV7hSZQuMxFUcsAqfzjiyNJmygjK90w4T__WsPv9CMwOsGHVe7z2lkkr6muprlV5HsVugO1cXT2aOCyYkl7XVqIHB6AmjHkjspsGLbMBcJqbZTzvrMkUJWMr_8qrb4sfrKZQINJevItyMgGw3CEF9mkD1IJz77KftQHFr0HYI54SwCQOlV9wn3amwFrRfmad_EcxgTDyvtBSlAhlHLX1fO0fG0X3l7u5Zti7lidhb8lVhytRO7nRCNi6X7g3F9k7QGJKjvHTdKsxLYtvE7elhvWu10rj-C8vsNqi6XPIBkF9waP9upd2U57bm_NFdGAGcOQdSp027J6Ax50m146Gd8fXwZdllnBYrpJ4BrmiQPBrn9wYnSZ6AP3vmmOjGg1hGsXbA6cA0VJgTVNC0zd9xdEJOUWr_oNg-RLGACRorN1nE1Iw0jVWK6PQ5Nl53ZqjhOgKHWlOk3Zp6Yf5hLcKlQbUMmMD0womJSzVFfhwT6prReadyBA0oN0mAE493Pn6gJmRulpLr-ep6pRhAHfL5lKb2G_0QsEUpaqXP5A8I7OE8cjcxvvbQG3Q_EUKbCt4hwi8FXWySQe7RsjT_-LagjlFX6Uw7ObB9AU\/s1600\/ACS_1858editblog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been thinking alot in the last few weeks, about the juxtaposition of some things going on unchanged, as other things cease entirely. \u0026nbsp;I may not be afraid of physically suffering, but the frustration and disappointment and uncertainty of these days is still stressful. \u0026nbsp;I'm remembering that these feelings qualify as the cares I need to cast upon Him. \u0026nbsp;He cares for those things too. \u0026nbsp;And in the midst uncertainty, I look at spring flowers pushing their way through the dirt, and I remember all the things of which I \u003Ci\u003Ecan\u003C\/i\u003E be certain. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EI am certain that even if this world burns to the ground, this is not my real home.\u003C\/span\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.\" Philippians 3:20\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EI am certain that we are all sinners, but Jesus took the punishment we deserve for our sin by dying in our place on the cross. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"For all have sinned and\u0026nbsp;fallen short of the glory of God.\" Romans 3:23\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.\" Romans 6:23\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EI am certain that Jesus has risen and conquered over death, and that if we turn to Him in repentance and faith, He will save us - and He will hold us in the palm of His hand, and no one and nothing can snatch us out of it. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"For if you confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.\" Romans 10:9\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.\" John 10:28\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EI am certain that we are going to have trouble in this world, and we can see some of that trouble clearly now. \u0026nbsp;But I know that He has overcome the world.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"In this world you will have trouble. \u0026nbsp;But take heart! \u0026nbsp;I have overcome the world.\" John 16:33\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.\" 2\u0026nbsp;Timothy 1:7\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EI am certain that one day He's coming back, and He'll wipe away all our tears. \u0026nbsp;He will give believers the crown of righteousness that we cannot earn, but that Jesus bought for us on the cross. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. \u0026nbsp;There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the old order of things has passed away.\" Revelation 21:4\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing.\" 2 Timothy 4:8\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAnd in the meantime, I know that God is our ever-present refuge, upon whom we can cast all our cares.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. \u0026nbsp;Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.\" Psalm 46:1-2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"Cast all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you.\" 1 Peter 5:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.\" Matthew 10:29-31\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat last verse feels poignant at this moment. \u0026nbsp;I'm sitting here, typing this now, listening to the birds making nests in the eaves outside my window. \u0026nbsp;Tiny peeps, flashes of shadow against the screen. \u0026nbsp;And I remember that not even one of them falls to the ground without God seeing. \u0026nbsp;And He cares for us more than the sparrows.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is our comfort, our help in trouble, our peace with God - bought by the precious blood of Jesus. Today is Good Friday, and we remember His death to pay the price for our sins, the penalty we owed. \u0026nbsp;On Sunday we will celebrate, because no matter what is going on in the outside world, \u003Ci\u003EHe is risen.\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;His is the victory. \u0026nbsp;And He has us in His hands forever when we trust in Him. \u0026nbsp;What peace and joy there is in that, even if we have to celebrate stuck at home this year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you don't know that peace, I pray that through all this you will find it. \u0026nbsp;And if you do know Christ, I pray that you'll also remember with me that we can turn our eyes to Jesus, rest in His peace, celebrate His resurrection well, and take this chance to share the truth of the gospel of Christ with a world that is full of fear. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHappy Resurrection Day in advance, friends!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003EHe is not here; for He is risen,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"crossreference\" data-cr=\"#cen-NKJV-24202A\" data-link=\"(\u0026lt;a href=\u0026quot;#cen-NKJV-24202A\u0026quot; title=\u0026quot;See cross-reference A\u0026quot;\u0026gt;A\u0026lt;\/a\u0026gt;)\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003Eas He said.\"\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EMatthew 28:6\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1237160003843503455\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1237160003843503455\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1237160003843503455"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1237160003843503455"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/04\/certainty.html","title":"Certainty"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-um5RuSCu8s0\/XpBwsYUceII\/AAAAAAAAZDA\/1b_xFUOumEEk_KVnqUY_T3e8ItygOLV3wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/ACS_1764blogcrop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-3704176279396937712"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-08T16:04:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-08T16:19:06.325-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 10"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-X3GWa63oQlY\/Xo5Jmox-k7I\/AAAAAAAAZCs\/nOjj1mMtjGAZ72QUjxifXHTWlon5HM8JwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_0799blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Quote\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"He had an idea that even when beaten he could steal a little victory by laughing at defeat.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E-John Steinbeck, East Of Eden\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Book\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESometimes I don't know what to put here - should I share the book I'm reading, or something else? \u0026nbsp;I'm still reading \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/East-Penguin-Twentieth-Century-Classics\/dp\/0140186395\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1586382943\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EEast Of Eden\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, and making good progress. \u0026nbsp;I'm strongly considering starting \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Brave-New-World\/dp\/B0012QED5Y\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=brave+new+world\u0026amp;qid=1586382784\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBrave New World\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E by Aldous Huxley next. \u0026nbsp;Seems like it might be appropriate for these crazy political times, along with \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/1984-George-Orwell-ebook\/dp\/B003JTHWKU\/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=1984\u0026amp;qid=1586382876\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E1984\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Animal-Farm-George-Orwell\/dp\/0451526341\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=Animal+Farm\u0026amp;qid=1586382905\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAnimal Farm\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;In our state, a man was \u003Ci\u003Earrested\u003C\/i\u003E after an officer stopped him \u003Ci\u003Efor playing t-ball with his daughter in a completely empty park\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I kid you not. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EWhat in the world.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp; Are we still in America? \u0026nbsp;Every day this is starting to feel more like the Twilight Zone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-g47cS9Sgg4o\/Xo5Jk--2MhI\/AAAAAAAAZCo\/zyoUR5_4b3k-erJuIvEP3EPax4X9AMv9ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0799blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI caught this tiny little bud sprouting on our bushes today! \u0026nbsp;I'd be 100% okay if Spring came early this year (though I'm still rooting for a lot of moisture in April and May to avoid fires).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI found a new site with a lot of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/homeschoolcompass.com\/category\/free-printables\/\" rel=\"\"\u003Ecute nature study printables\u003C\/a\u003E, and I recommend you check it out to break up the monotony of school days when you're stuck at home. \u0026nbsp;I printed some up for my kids, and I'm planning on sending some of the cards to my nieces and nephews! \u0026nbsp;Also, if you missed it, these \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/cottagechroniclesblog.com\/little-house-on-the-prairie-paper-dolls-collection\/\"\u003Eadorable Little House On The Prairie paper dolls\u003C\/a\u003E. Get them while they're still free!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EThe kids and I walked to the mailbox again today, or more accurately, I walked and they rode their various muscle-powered vehicles. \u0026nbsp;My \"little middles\" (Clyde and Clarice), pushed past me on their scooters, their little heads bouncing up and down with the effort, and Wyatt peddled past on his bike. \u0026nbsp;But I just chuckled to myself as Gwen flew past me with her hair shining in the sun, and her baby doll strapped to her back in her child-sized Ergo. \u0026nbsp;If you ask her, she'll still tell you she wants to be fill-in-the-blank \u003Ci\u003E\"AND a mama\"\u003C\/i\u003E, and I love it so much."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/3704176279396937712\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=3704176279396937712\u0026isPopup=true","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3704176279396937712"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3704176279396937712"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/04\/the-wednesday-five-vol-10.html","title":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 10"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-X3GWa63oQlY\/Xo5Jmox-k7I\/AAAAAAAAZCs\/nOjj1mMtjGAZ72QUjxifXHTWlon5HM8JwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_0799blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-4216659405028366159"},"published":{"$t":"2020-04-07T15:47:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-04-07T16:17:14.697-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Currently"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Currently | April 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fS5yAR_jGbw\/Xoz0VoGRu2I\/AAAAAAAAZCg\/hn3U9T3-0V8hLkyyGCW-OF2VcP2rjN6SQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/DSC_0142%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESharing\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ephotos of our weekend hike. \u0026nbsp;Our state has shelter-in-place orders, but you can't tell me that getting outside is non-essential! (And thankfully the state agrees, so no conflict there.) It was so good for our family's mental health to get outside together and enjoy the crisp mountain air. \u0026nbsp;I have to say, I'm more grateful than ever to be living in the mountains right now. \u0026nbsp;It's a blessing to be a couple minutes from trails and woods with all this going on in the world.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5mKA79NC_ks\/XozqUkpIO_I\/AAAAAAAAZCY\/0ynDyU9qqQYcdyT7n4Rs33G9_Kz-Uv3rwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0012%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FpKawmxdJLs\/Xozqd8BBl9I\/AAAAAAAAZCc\/2AZfuRUi928XTXmM5edxT2CexCvZmvR_QCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0142%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ui8-oJtXHfM\/XozqPwH5Z4I\/AAAAAAAAZCQ\/UEpHoAm148YFczHTW144BFzW0-Yf1OhmACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0020%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Fw8xN6qztUw\/XozqO-0NAMI\/AAAAAAAAZCU\/nDBIyDJqu9Im753NozWDM2LbQz3h2S2MwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0059blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nTuwAmHKsLw\/XozqazoIcuI\/AAAAAAAAZCc\/cDfxdWkXS1oBzAqb8hxEUNibcjRChP5yQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0062%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2OaXoGB44Go\/XozqbkP9ceI\/AAAAAAAAZCY\/gjhFn-uZmlQ_p0ETSIrftlhCARhf8b5nACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0094blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uTKFVU8nVX0\/XozqadekAiI\/AAAAAAAAZCU\/wZrcR6P7EfIbzPekWmyAmgh6DHzkoKWlACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC5baH2y8e3TtvseAlajsLgOYl1xTgpMaGpmPCRU1-Nr6ERD41jSpfVQSUH3fewR4pwzdeEGzDMHhXr7KIyJBD7JIyEAFV2k55okEeYpFBpLIFYfzpPTL_GmwXlXsnNubGbN5ursQyDLOAq9cYFqE5e4zCY_nDnO8hbykcrEMziapza0OfTStwGJDPvEsANC6hvqk8L5rTc1fpgEKnNSbfWLRVfu6aIBUD3vQ-XFmafLYdc1umNkfEsRdJwH60XGP8DwbhsDca-YgRRLqhETEUUYv7LNbZw0DTU143C8imjVaw-sx2jnNsfWxFdKS4C6H88IPjNzSP3xp1izGRLXzlBpOr2h3cmVlZq7ukSMdjlMVFLgXVQt_BycMAHQTN4QValF8fX5VSfgr3vsEPyxf4W-7F1Ajp1r3knjF-V0otDwt4I7-Lqq1sDZ-FtzzxysqNKO6mgOFzxT5EOnTf3Sf6sQR8RPUK0evg6QrWE_rZG8p9ygdZTxbpgcz6vH8W5XMlnW5rnwBwA684abOWo17ndwLDUBA30sgvktJD6-gmA4SnTEbH-0aZXZ9jHZ1rOD4UDoF8EM6W9OiNVDBf6A2s4IgCPbZ2VD0AwiOyz9AU\/s1600\/DSC_0132%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWriting...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Eletters to family and friends. \u0026nbsp;More accurately, the kids are writing letters - I have been letting myself become too distracted to sit down and write a letter. \u0026nbsp;I decided to change that late last week. \u0026nbsp;I had been keeping up on the presidential press briefings, and avoiding all other\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Ecoronavirus\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;news, which was working for me at first. \u0026nbsp;But now... if I'm completely honest, I'm a little sick of hearing from experts who don't actually seem to know anything except what we all already know, and are constantly changing their projections (ie. \u003Ci\u003Eguesses\u003C\/i\u003E). \u0026nbsp;I know that's not a popular thing to say right now, but it's how I feel. \u0026nbsp;I'm sure if there is some huge update, an actual update, the news will find me. \u0026nbsp;I know my state's requirements, and that's all I really need to know, so I'm quitting on the briefings too and just living my life for a while. \u0026nbsp;First thing on the agenda - actually sit down and write that letter I've been meaning to write for two weeks! \u0026nbsp;Ugh.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETeaching...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Emyself to embroider. \u0026nbsp;I have been wanting to learn how to do hand embroidery for a while, and I think now is the time! \u0026nbsp;Especially since I've officially quitted on the news, I\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Eshould\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Ehave\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;time. \u0026nbsp;I'm hopefully going to watch my first instructional video today.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;\"\u003EWishing...\u003C\/b\u003Eand praying this shutdown will come to an end sooner rather than later. \u0026nbsp;Summer is right around the corner. \u0026nbsp;If this virus really is seasonal, like they say, things will hopefully be looking up in the upcoming weeks.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EInvestigating...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ehomeschool curriculum for next school year. \u0026nbsp;I got another homeschool catalog in the mail, and I've been flipping through the pages. \u0026nbsp;It's reminding me of how I used to love getting the JCPenney catalog, and Christian Book Distributor catalog, and American Girl catalog when I was a kid. \u0026nbsp;There is something fun about just flipping through a catalog. \u0026nbsp;I'm especially sad that the JcPenney catalog is no longer a thing (I don't think). \u0026nbsp;Do you remember how thick those books were? \u0026nbsp;I'd circle all the toys and clothes that I liked so my mom would know what I wanted for Christmas or my birthday. \u0026nbsp;Fun times.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EB\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003Euying...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003ESummer clothes for the kids. \u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Epulled\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Eout\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;our tubs of summer clothes and sorted everything last week, and filled\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003Ein a\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;few gaps when Old Navy was having a 50% off sale. \u0026nbsp;I also ordered a couple fit 'n' flare dresses for myself, because they are perhaps the most perfect summer dress I've ever found. \u0026nbsp;More than other years, I'm looking forward to warm summer days, when hopefully the parks and libraries will be open again and Coronavirus Round One will, God willing, be behind us. \u0026nbsp;Remember at the beginning of March, when I complained that it was a boring month, and nothing fun ever happens? \u0026nbsp;I was right, nothing fun happened, but in retrospect, it can't be called a boring month, can it? I will never complain about a normal March again.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EReading...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEast Of Eden\u003C\/i\u003E by John Steinbeck. \u0026nbsp;I was about to quit on it, because I was finding it a bit depressing, but the book hit it's stride. \u0026nbsp;Now I can't pick it up unless I'm willing to sacrifice a couple hours reading it, I'm really invested in the characters and can't put it down!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat are you all up to?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/4216659405028366159\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=4216659405028366159\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4216659405028366159"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/4216659405028366159"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/04\/currently-april-2020.html","title":"Currently | April 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fS5yAR_jGbw\/Xoz0VoGRu2I\/AAAAAAAAZCg\/hn3U9T3-0V8hLkyyGCW-OF2VcP2rjN6SQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/DSC_0142%2B2blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-9000163074045018996"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-25T18:45:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-25T18:46:43.655-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 9"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-O95VCtSF4d0\/Xnv5rtwHO9I\/AAAAAAAAZBY\/isqvRA48Xw4dLl-4jiNWO4Bytrn8Ny_zACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_0221blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EI'm trying to bring back the Wednesday Five on the blog! \u0026nbsp;You can read\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/The%20Wednesday%20Five\"\u003Eother Wednesday Five posts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;here, and feel free to join in if you want.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Quote\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"The direction of a big act will warp history, but probably all acts do the same in their degree, down to a stone stepped over in the path, or a breath caught at the sight of a pretty girl, or a fingernail nicked in the garden soil.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E-John\u0026nbsp;Steinbeck, East Of Eden\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Book\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERibsy \u003C\/i\u003Eby Beverly Cleary. \u0026nbsp;Tonight we all sat down together for dinner, which doesn't happen as often as I'd like, and Derek and I took turns reading it aloud to the kids. \u0026nbsp;It is nostalgic, written about a different era, and I love it so much during this crazy time.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gGAUl2hdpTI\/Xnv5r3-IrDI\/AAAAAAAAZBo\/LLLFxMKdz9cL_1jbjZGcn6M9pIacxiB7ACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBClMH1-aYkmrtia-ASK04prFmUOyzRBGmCXV5bfLPtNS04n9Atcuk5NC-BzjG6xMktSNROhCiCi4mvsjBnbozKHDqNiRHpvQZydwEi7eqV1vnbcLXzMqnCNhIW15-M-qe5rLBSMPccBEbpiqJxHg80s0qrdsUMHc9i8iIXcxey74JKxuxeaDpe8f08IWQUE2aUH2zc_IEO2m1Z-V74EhxMFneack5q7Essc-Rq9arhqSRRUan8vVCVuN7mLmsGC2msK3txOHYxzKzhY8YK4l7eCCyO8BRm-YkjMF5LI9hE2IpYv2OLh6CE-VyhKqEwnCI8RmpQewmm90a0s-MPwGq6NbqIMPslxfSKgzYjlGOeh3VseCWtisF2iIcmDYHDEcAJSPIlqkk-LNxW8rYIQu2VdPW__bwoOw3Z4gLfEVMeLkPib2HRwR2eoUTPy3poHYmHBP-Thd_E88q-VZJvffHd2S-E_Eizafh-zJZdwEhh9eoXTyVApYMdYBWHl2doCGdIzLwUsvNLwlXRA5gwJ7F56u663aQH2yJhYMDwEvhM74vOwoMobIUpYd1pCp9HuPq4Ex2tLRM3Vc2j3VBPCxahcfXWREi3zJAwjvrv8wU\/s1600\/IMG_0147blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EYou have to check out this Youtube channel I just found - this little old lady has a channel called \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCRKls2LLMqU-uK2csT6FOKw\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EGreat Depression Cooking\u003C\/a\u003E, and she cooks a meal that her family ate during the Great Depression, and tells her memories from that time. \u0026nbsp;She's got to be at least pushing 90 then? \u0026nbsp;Man, I hope I'm like her when I'm 90. I thought it was particularly nice to stumble across her channel during uncertain economic times. \u0026nbsp;Hopefully we don't have a full-blown depression in our future, but her stories are interesting.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bb4WCb4MnBg\/Xnv5sGSXEAI\/AAAAAAAAZBs\/jkHNtwdUdBcGf2A5rx50vct0PDdUrYragCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBClMH1-aYkmrtia-ASK04prFmUOyzRBGmCXV5bfLPtNS04n9Atcuk5NC-BzjG6xMktSNROhCiCi4mvsjBnbozKHDqNiRHpvQZydwEi7eqV1vnbcLXzMqnCNhIW15-M-qe5rLBSMPccBEbpiqJxHg80s0qrdsUMHc9i8iIXcxey74JKxuxeaDpe8f08IWQUE2aUH2zc_IEO2m1Z-V74EhxMFneack5q7Essc-Rq9arhqSRRUan8vVCVuN7mLmsGC2msK3txOHYxzKzhY8YK4l7eCCyO8BRm-YkjMF5LI9hE2IpYv2OLh6CE-VyhKqEwnCI8RmpQewmm90a0s-MPwGq6NbqIMPslxfSKgzYjlGOeh3VseCWtisF2iIcmDYHDEcAJSPIlqkk-LNxW8rYIQu2VdPW__bwoOw3Z4gLfEVMeLkPib2HRwR2eoUTPy3poHYmHBP-Thd_E88q-VZJvffHd2S-E_Eizafh-zJZdwEhh9eoXTyVApYMdYBWHl2doCGdIzLwUsvNLwlXRA5gwJ7F56u663aQH2yJhYMDwEvhM74vOwoMobIUpYd1pCp9HuPq4Ex2tLRM3Vc2j3VBPCxahcfXWREi3zJAwjvrv8wU\/s1600\/IMG_0221blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Seconds of potato soup while I type this)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWhen we were eating dinner tonight, the kids were all listening to the story so carefully while Derek was reading, and I was feeding Georgie a few spoonfuls of soup to help her not spill. \u0026nbsp;I put particular effort into a creamy potato soup for dinner tonight, and she really liked the potatoes. She takes a bite from the spoon, and then all of a sudden she looks at me and makes this wide-eyed, stretched-out silly face at me. \u0026nbsp;It was so cute and unexpected, I laughed. \u0026nbsp;Then I made the face back, and she laughed. \u0026nbsp;Then she said something cute and all my adorable little clan laughed. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EIt's moments like that which remind me how even \"hard\" times have fun in them. \u0026nbsp;The world could fall apart, and I like to think we'd still find ways to make each other laugh.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/9000163074045018996\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=9000163074045018996\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/9000163074045018996"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/9000163074045018996"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/the-wednesday-five-vol-9.html","title":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 9"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-O95VCtSF4d0\/Xnv5rtwHO9I\/AAAAAAAAZBY\/isqvRA48Xw4dLl-4jiNWO4Bytrn8Ny_zACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_0221blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2459444700962407502"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-24T09:49:00.005-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-24T09:50:17.195-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old School Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tea On A Tuesday"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Coronavirus Quarantine Coffee Chat"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-cdHkJZaDPUA\/XnorsH1cnUI\/AAAAAAAAZBA\/As4v1jagyjwlW6Wd0NJ_qKZ0TGbl4W4dACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_0156blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELet's just take a moment and admire my title alliteration (I worked hard on that one). \u0026nbsp;And after you're done admiring, let's pretend we are having coffee together, round two! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Coffee To Try\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpeaking of coffee, have you seen that whipped coffee trend? \u0026nbsp;Apparently it's a \u003Ci\u003Ething\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;- started in South Korea during their coronavirus self-isolating measures. \u0026nbsp;You take instant coffee, sugar, and water, and whip it with a hand mixer, and it turns to this foam-like consistency. \u0026nbsp;Then you top a glass of milk with it and let it gradually melt together. \u0026nbsp;This idea was so interesting to me - who would have thought those three ingredients could turn into this creamy coffee foam? \u0026nbsp;I've never had any coffee like that before, and it was fun to try.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WhNUZ-2ZPdw\/XnorrVabX8I\/AAAAAAAAZA8\/zmebVf5BBgICT_vJoZeVhwI92Zi5yxdLACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0191blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Little Encouragement\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHow is everyone feeling during this second week of social distancing? \u0026nbsp;While we have been mostly in good spirits, I did find myself getting overwhelmed late last week over some minor stresses, and I realized that it would take a very little straw to break the camel's back right now. \u0026nbsp;After getting out of the house for some breakfast at Sonic on Saturday, and virtual Sunday school and church services, I am feeling better this week. \u0026nbsp;Our pastor pointed out that we should be careful not to binge on Netflix or news, but to binge on God's word, and I was convicted by that. \u0026nbsp;I haven't spent enough time just praying over this whole crisis, and I want to focus more on that. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fj37qq3nvms\/XnoroVzvt1I\/AAAAAAAAZA4\/CtWRAMgs3fUdRv3BlrO1mlRsmK7Nr7qkgCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_0156blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe sermon was also a great reminder of things we can be certain of in these times of uncertainty. \u0026nbsp;It's certain that we will have trouble in this world. \u0026nbsp;But it's also certain that Christ died to save us from our biggest problem, sin; that He has conquered death and this world; that this world isn't the believer's true home; that one day He will return or call us to Heaven, and this light suffering will be nothing in comparison to His glory. \u0026nbsp;I've been saying from the start that we should keep the coronavirus in perspective, but more than an earthly sense of perspective, for those of us who have trusted in Jesus, an eternal perspective comes with real peace. \u0026nbsp;Peace that passes understanding.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Record For Posterity\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJust for a little record for my grandchildren who may read this someday, last Monday the President asked us to practice \"social distancing\" for 15 days. \u0026nbsp;Social distancing involves staying home as much as possible, washing your hands alot, staying six feet away from each other, not shaking hands, etc, and trying to keep groups under 10 people. \u0026nbsp;That last one is tricky for us, since we have 7 people in our family alone, but we are still trying our best to follow the recommendations. \u0026nbsp; The idea is to slow the spread of the virus long enough to give the government and medical community time to prepare for a potentially bad impact from the virus.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've been watching no news except for the President's press briefings each day, and that is the way I like it. \u0026nbsp;From what I heard, so much of the commentary is politically-driven, and sometimes even bordering on panic-mongering, and I don't need that in my life. \u0026nbsp;Watching the briefings has given me a good idea of what is actually important to know, and I'm impressed with the way it's being handled, though a little skeptical about the plan of checks being sent out from the government. \u0026nbsp;Where is the money for that coming from? \u0026nbsp;I understand why they want to do it, but a couple thousand dollars per household is a ton of money, and it doesn't just come out of thin air! \u0026nbsp;We'll see what happens with that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast week most press questions were implying that we would be locked down for months, which I was finding stressful. \u0026nbsp;Not because it would be personally hard to stay home that long, but because the resulting economic damage could be devastating to the entire country. \u0026nbsp;It's only been a week and I already know people who are losing their jobs. \u0026nbsp;I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of \u003Ci\u003Emonths.\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;Yesterday President Trump assured the nation that we can't let the \"cure\" be worse than the illness, and that they are hopeful that we are looking at a matter of weeks rather than months. \u0026nbsp;Weeks I can handle, so I found that heartening.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EToday they are starting clinical trials of an anti-malaria drug in treating the coronavirus, and if that works it would be a game-changer - as the President said, \"a gift from God\". \u0026nbsp;I spent time this morning praying that this medication would be effective. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn our state, we are looking at restrictions for the next 30 days, but thankfully not a shelter-in-place order as some states are dealing with.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EHow We Are Keeping Busy\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMore personally, the past week has not been that unusual for us. \u0026nbsp;We are a homeschool family, and not much has changed in our day-to-day life because of that. \u0026nbsp;Our co-op has been basically canceled for the rest of the year, and having every day of the week at home has been refreshing. \u0026nbsp;The biggest change has been having Derek work from home every day, but that hasn't been too much of an adjustment. \u0026nbsp;He was working \"from home\" two days a week before, though he often ended up working from our local coffee shop. \u0026nbsp;So our main obstacle was finding him a more isolated corner of the house to make working at home feasible. \u0026nbsp;We ended up setting up an \"office\" in our master closet, and even though it's a cramped space, he says it has been working really well! \u0026nbsp;We are probably keeping the closet office from here on out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GGF_ZE9Szcc\/XnormwNRxpI\/AAAAAAAAZAw\/MSEq_FdEi4sQsqAfNj7GnQmXTo6mAm6dwCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_0088%2B2blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've been\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/how-im-changing-our-homeschool-during.html\"\u003E trying to make homeschooling a little more fun\u003C\/a\u003E over the last week, and we've been trying to send letters to some of our friends and family. \u0026nbsp;We've been slacking on the letters for the past couple days, but we'll get back to it today. \u0026nbsp;I especially want to write a letter in response to my friend Hazel this week. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe kids have been spending alot of time outside, then it snowed and all their pent-up energy was unleashed on the house. \u0026nbsp;Now it's melted and I'm making them go outside again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-B5-07RRZggU\/XnornxyGFNI\/AAAAAAAAZA0\/hkwyayrDi94rxd5f4vO69dYtvadwhhJ4gCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_0106blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've been watching too much TV, and I'm trying to step back from that this week and spend more time reading - reading the Bible, and reading my big stack of library books. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes a mindless distraction is not a bad thing though, so we won't give up TV entirely.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs far as projects - keeping on top of household chores has still taken up the majority of my spare time, as it always does. \u0026nbsp;But I do have one extra project. \u0026nbsp;We have a vacation booked at the end of April. \u0026nbsp;We may have to cancel it, but we are not going to make any decisions until a couple days before we are scheduled to leave, so I am treating everything as if we are still going. \u0026nbsp;The coronavirus news has been changing almost daily, sometimes for the worse and sometimes for the better, so who knows what the status will be by then. \u0026nbsp;I'm going to be cautiously optimistic for now. \u0026nbsp;Today my project is to pull out the kids' summer clothes, and figure out what gaps are in the kids' wardrobes so I can determine what summer things I will need to buy, and which things I need to get before our hopeful vacation, and make a budget for all that. \u0026nbsp;So that's what I'll probably be working on today.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Bookish Conundrum\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd because I can't end an update without talking about what I'm reading, I keep wavering on which book I want to focus on while we are mostly stuck at home. \u0026nbsp;I started \u003Ci\u003EThe Lake House\u003C\/i\u003E by Kate Morton, and I'm enjoying it, but I also got a few chapter into \u003Ci\u003EEast Of Eden \u003C\/i\u003Eby John Steinbeck, and I'm finding that really interesting. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EWhich to read, which to read. \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;Have you read either of those books? \u0026nbsp;Which one should I choose? \u0026nbsp;Maybe I'll just continue alternating for now, and see which one pulls ahead.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHow's this week going for all of you?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2459444700962407502\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2459444700962407502\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2459444700962407502"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2459444700962407502"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/coronavirus-quarantine-coffee-chat.html","title":"Coronavirus Quarantine Coffee Chat"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-cdHkJZaDPUA\/XnorsH1cnUI\/AAAAAAAAZBA\/As4v1jagyjwlW6Wd0NJ_qKZ0TGbl4W4dACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_0156blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7344793499171722113"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-19T12:12:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-19T12:12:53.392-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homeschooling"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How I'm Changing Our Homeschool During The Pandemic"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OP0GZ9eqgOk\/XnOzZE39YYI\/AAAAAAAAZAY\/fZJki34sW_oJzF1Nw37yOSLU_G-qZRwgACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/A503FC84-7C21-4A9F-B471-304E6BBCF54Cblog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs schools and libraries and businesses are shutting down, many assume that nothing has really changed for us homeschool moms during this pandemic. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's partly true, but only partly. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor us, our co-op has been canceled, most likely for the rest of the year, and our weekly library trips are put on hold (ha! I keep stumbling into puns this week). \u0026nbsp;My kids have been asking me every night \"\u003Ci\u003EWhat are we doing tomorrow, Mom?\u003C\/i\u003E\", and the answer continues to be \"\u003Ci\u003Enothing\u003C\/i\u003E\". \u0026nbsp; It doesn't seem right to continue on with our schedule as though nothing has changed, when my kids obviously know something has. \u0026nbsp;They know we aren't going to co-op or church, and they know why.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile I'm grateful for the stability that homeschooling has given us, I decided to make a few changes over the coming weeks. \u0026nbsp;I find myself a little jealous of the extra time so many public\/private school moms are getting with their kids. \u0026nbsp;I am blessed to get that amount of time with my kids every day, and it's easy to forget that! \u0026nbsp;This whole thing has reminded me that \u003Ci\u003EI get to choose the quality of the time that I get with them\u003C\/i\u003E, and I want to up the quality during this unusual series of events. \u0026nbsp;I want to make some special memories with my kids too, even though homeschooling means not as much has changed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo here are the things I'm doing to make the next couple weeks more exciting for all of us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-81vtvRK9gaQ\/XnOzdcR9uqI\/AAAAAAAAZAc\/xg_i9O8EfJ8ReMZgso63zZWZ4wi3xVpBACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0088blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETake a step back from the three R's.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor much of the homeschool year, my main focus is keeping up in the \"three R's\" - reading, writing, and arithmetic. \u0026nbsp;Obviously those things are important, but we aren't going to fall behind if we lighten up on the tedious bits of homeschooling for a couple weeks. I want to pull back on the \"have-to's\" and focus a little more on the homeschool \"want-to's\".\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMore history and science.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI love elementary school, because there is so much flexibility in what we choose to study! \u0026nbsp;We get to follow our whims. \u0026nbsp;Right now we are going to focus on westward expansion in history, and see where that takes us. \u0026nbsp;And science will include alot more nature walks and special activities.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2LZxyZWkhA8\/XnOzdx22bFI\/AAAAAAAAZAg\/i6P1lG96so81VCXHJ9jn1UeC5tqLGB-UgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0055blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAdd in those activities we never get to.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAmidst keeping up with our regular curriculum, sometimes I don't make time for the things I really \u003Ci\u003Ewant \u003C\/i\u003Eto do with the kids. \u0026nbsp;Things like nature study (still trying to figure that one out), art lessons, physical education (our basketball hoop needs more action), cooking instruction, and life skills (such as letter-writing, how to clean a bathroom, etc.). \u0026nbsp;I want to take this as an opportunity to spend time on those things right now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWatch more movies.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBooks are wonderful, but often movies really make things come alive. I see alot of \u003Ci\u003ELittle House On The Prairie \u003C\/i\u003Ein our future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETake advantage of all the free resources! \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn light of so many people finding themselves accidental homeschool moms, alot of websites are offering more free educational resources than ever. \u0026nbsp;I'm taking full advantage! \u0026nbsp;I've already downloaded a couple free studies, and I'm keeping an eye on my inbox for more. \u0026nbsp;If you have any resources to share, please do! \u0026nbsp;I know there are a ton right now that I don't even know about.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E(Just for a couple things, I really am enjoying \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/anintentionallife.me\/category\/homeschool\/\"\u003EChantel's homeschool posts\u003C\/a\u003E this week, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/raisingupwildthings.com\/\"\u003ERaising Up Wild Things\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/cottagechroniclesblog.com\/shop\/\"\u003ECottage Chronicles\u003C\/a\u003E both have the cutest printables that I've seen anywhere!)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1281\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-uPZqR2CwiZw\/XnOzXOB_G8I\/AAAAAAAAZAU\/oUu6RKLJSQcOq2HKcvmxLAzgwyyuO34rACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/A503FC84-7C21-4A9F-B471-304E6BBCF54Cblog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIf you are a homeschool mom, are you changing anything about your school during the pandemic?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/Homeschooling\"\u003EYou can read all my homeschool posts here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7344793499171722113\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7344793499171722113\u0026isPopup=true","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7344793499171722113"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7344793499171722113"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/how-im-changing-our-homeschool-during.html","title":"How I'm Changing Our Homeschool During The Pandemic"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OP0GZ9eqgOk\/XnOzZE39YYI\/AAAAAAAAZAY\/fZJki34sW_oJzF1Nw37yOSLU_G-qZRwgACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/A503FC84-7C21-4A9F-B471-304E6BBCF54Cblog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7592594419424400523"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-18T17:55:00.002-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-18T17:55:50.440-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Quotes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Wednesday Five"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 8"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1wI93JVTEoU\/XnK0H7rGSkI\/AAAAAAAAZAA\/DZetinIEyiUYxw3Ki1mULICwTjQWAoVkwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9842blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EI'm trying to bring back the Wednesday Five on the blog! \u0026nbsp;You can read \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/The%20Wednesday%20Five\"\u003Eother Wednesday Five posts\u003C\/a\u003E here, and feel free to join in if you want. You can borrow the format and slap any old day of the week on there.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Quote\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: medium;\"\u003E\"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EShake not the head, feet, or legs; roll not the eyes, lift not one eyebrow higher than the other, wry not the mouth; and bedew no man's face with your spittle, by approaching too near him when you speak.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: medium;\"\u003E-George Washington, from his rules for civility\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: medium;\"\u003EI thought you all would appreciate that part about not \"bedewing\" any man's face\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003Ewith your spittle in light of the events this week!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Book\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEast Of Eden\u003C\/i\u003E by John Steinbeck. \u0026nbsp;Our little local library, the one that is a ten minute walk from my house, was still open today. \u0026nbsp;I went in (careful not to touch anything), and rented this book. \u0026nbsp;I've never read anything by Steinbeck, have you? \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EGrapes Of Wrath\u003C\/i\u003E I've heard of, but this one sounded interesting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-T_SbKOxm5HA\/XnK0IAq0AMI\/AAAAAAAAZAE\/iyCDwCLh9Y4FzkpVEiR-obK9otUKq1jhwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0077blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Bit Of Nature\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s3hXzf5DhXU\/XnK0G3ruqVI\/AAAAAAAAY_8\/sO8otEJOY70w5gmolpvd7RdmU9b6VlA7gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9842blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIsn't this fence in our neighborhood so neat?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Recommendation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EI recommend you keep an eye on your email this week, because a lot of companies are having online sales to combat the fact that people aren't out shopping in person. \u0026nbsp;I'll probably have alot of packages coming next week (so glad that postal service is still up and running)! \u0026nbsp;I ordered a swimsuit I've had my eye on for a while at 20% off, dresses for the girls at over 50% off, and some new essential oil blends from Plant Therapy at 30% off. \u0026nbsp;Good deals this week, and lots of homeschool websites are sending out freebies too - email\/online is where it's at right now!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EA Moment Of Happiness\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGeorgie was following me round the kitchen this morning, and I bent down with my lips pressed together to give her a kiss. \u0026nbsp;She threw her chubby little arms on either side of my head and pulled my face to hers, crossing her eyes as she aimed at kissing me on the lips. \u0026nbsp;I don't want to ever forget her concentration and precious little face.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7592594419424400523\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7592594419424400523\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7592594419424400523"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7592594419424400523"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/the-wednesday-five-vol-8.html","title":"The Wednesday Five | Vol. 8"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1wI93JVTEoU\/XnK0H7rGSkI\/AAAAAAAAZAA\/DZetinIEyiUYxw3Ki1mULICwTjQWAoVkwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9842blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7490268860569568594"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-17T13:29:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-17T14:05:54.743-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Musings of a Bookworm"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Post-Apocalyptic Books To Read During A Pandemic"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s_Q_v6yFqLU\/XnEkbMTEM5I\/AAAAAAAAY_o\/Hfvx2vnovQEUh-hDBzO8km81SLvaagHSwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_0003blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat should one read in the middle of a pandemic? That is the question.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI won't tell you all what to read, but I will say that over the last week, with hysteria over the coronavirus and social distancing protocols in place, I have really been enjoying books with a post-apocalyptic vibe. \u0026nbsp;That might seem a little morbid, but it's not really. \u0026nbsp;At a time when so many people are scared, it's comforting in a weird way to think of how much worse things \u003Ci\u003Ecould\u003C\/i\u003E be. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EYou could be on an outer space mission and come back to an earth that has no people left on it. \u0026nbsp;You could be in a traveling orchestra that is being chased by vigilantes after 90% of the people on the planet have been wiped out. \u0026nbsp;All the electricity in the world could suddenly fail. \u0026nbsp;You could find yourself unable to provide for your family while a dust cloud fills your lungs and covers your car \u003C\/i\u003E(that one actually happened)\u003Ci\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThere, now don't you feel a little better about this whole coronovirus thing?\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;No? \u0026nbsp;I'm the only weirdo here?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-czaGLtWrTeM\/XnEka-49KEI\/AAAAAAAAY_k\/sLTSZORsHLUkO6IAIMnjpXnWjQRgYyuHQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_0003blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll joking aside, a little escapist reading never hurt anyone, and people need a break from coronavirus news. \u0026nbsp;Turn off the TV and try one of these! (My post-apocalyptic reading is limited, so I welcome your suggestions in the comments! \u0026nbsp;I'll also add to this post as I read more.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBooks I've Read\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Hdfejzm3q7U\/XnEhZLsl8QI\/AAAAAAAAY_A\/aegDB15JZtQ5TGU9XfuE_3Yc0UI-pqdqgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/8540c09896dedda600db77b50317f1b6fa4f9e91.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"400\" data-original-width=\"258\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Hdfejzm3q7U\/XnEhZLsl8QI\/AAAAAAAAY_A\/aegDB15JZtQ5TGU9XfuE_3Yc0UI-pqdqgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s400\/8540c09896dedda600db77b50317f1b6fa4f9e91.jpg\" width=\"257\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Light-Restoration-Novel-Terri-Blackstock\/dp\/031033778X\/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=last+light\u0026amp;qid=1584471777\u0026amp;sr=8-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELast Light\u003C\/i\u003E by Terri Blackstock\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's been...possibly a decade since I read this book, but I do remember being pretty into the story. \u0026nbsp;An electromagnetic catastrophe knocks out the world's electrical systems, cars, etc, basically plunging everyone back into the 1800's when it comes to technology. \u0026nbsp;This book is a murder mystery\/thriller type book that takes place with that backdrop. \u0026nbsp;I remember enjoying it, and maybe it's time to pick up the rest of the series.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContent Notes:\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;This is Christian fiction, it was clean!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FoYhYL8AyZM\/XnEhYDsPRoI\/AAAAAAAAY_Y\/E-kCsDokjPgDKHEcMTjLvhffOjYm0FiOgCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/1706781959.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1556\" data-original-width=\"1010\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FoYhYL8AyZM\/XnEhYDsPRoI\/AAAAAAAAY_Y\/E-kCsDokjPgDKHEcMTjLvhffOjYm0FiOgCEwYBhgL\/s400\/1706781959.jpeg\" width=\"258\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Station-Eleven-Emily-John-Mandel-ebook\/dp\/B00J1IQUYM\/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=station+11\u0026amp;qid=1584471745\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EStation Eleven\u003C\/i\u003E by Emily St. John Mandel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EProbably alot of you have already read this, but this book follows a traveling orchestra after a virus wipes out...somewhere in the ball park of 90% of the population (worst estimates for the coronavirus are around 3%, so keep that in mind lest you get anxious!). \u0026nbsp;It's less about the apocalyptic event, and more about how people might keep art and music alive after something like that happens. \u0026nbsp;I really was taken by the characters in this book and enjoyed it alot. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContent Notes:\u003C\/b\u003E Definitely some cussing and some crude\/inappropriate sexual references, but not too densely if I remember right.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lAKbzlKvshQ\/XnEhZB90a4I\/AAAAAAAAY_M\/nB6rzIbFY_obIW6C0VRlNfUjVU-HzyjRgCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/cover.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1534\" data-original-width=\"994\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-lAKbzlKvshQ\/XnEhZB90a4I\/AAAAAAAAY_M\/nB6rzIbFY_obIW6C0VRlNfUjVU-HzyjRgCEwYBhgL\/s400\/cover.jpg\" width=\"258\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Good-Morning-Midnight-Lily-Brooks-Dalton\/dp\/0812988191\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=good+morning+midnight\u0026amp;qid=1584471657\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EGood Morning Midnight\u003C\/i\u003E by Lily Brooks-Dalton\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI just read this one, and it ended so sadly. \u0026nbsp;I still have a book hangover from it. \u0026nbsp;This book is about a man who is stranded in the arctic, and a crew who is stranded in space, when the radio waves of the world suddenly go silent. \u0026nbsp;No one knows why. \u0026nbsp;This is very much a character-driven book, and the characters aren't necessarily likable, but I thought it was an interesting portrayal of loneliness and finding the things that really matter. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContent Notes:\u003C\/b\u003E Some cussing and crude\/inapropriate sexual references, not too dense, the characters are atheistic and that comes through. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8EOIaYNyGwE\/XnEhYh5r_4I\/AAAAAAAAY_Y\/mxjgn-hiXdA8t4Hd2u8iRqRiQSBAOQ_pwCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/667893315.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"808\" data-original-width=\"525\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8EOIaYNyGwE\/XnEhYh5r_4I\/AAAAAAAAY_Y\/mxjgn-hiXdA8t4Hd2u8iRqRiQSBAOQ_pwCEwYBhgL\/s400\/667893315.jpeg\" width=\"258\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Age-Miracles-Karen-Thompson-Walker\/dp\/0812982940\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+age+of+miracles\u0026amp;qid=1584471584\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Age Of Miracles\u003C\/i\u003E by Karen Thompson Walker\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI read this one a few years back, and it really resonated with me for some reason. \u0026nbsp;The earth is slowing it's rotation, just as the protagonist is coming of age. \u0026nbsp;I'm kind of a sucker for coming of age novels, so I liked it, but I also remember it ending rather sadly. \u0026nbsp;But the scientific speculation of what would happen if the earth slowed it's rotation was also fascinating. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContent Notes: \u003C\/b\u003ESome language and sexual references.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kDhrlCqdFtk\/XnEhY50XxwI\/AAAAAAAAY_Q\/qKHXMwQfkbI7edeE7TiVm2XWlS1t71KRQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/72223._SY475_.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"475\" data-original-width=\"294\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kDhrlCqdFtk\/XnEhY50XxwI\/AAAAAAAAY_Q\/qKHXMwQfkbI7edeE7TiVm2XWlS1t71KRQCEwYBhgL\/s400\/72223._SY475_.jpg\" width=\"247\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Worst-Hard-Time-Survived-American-ebook\/dp\/B004H1UOSG\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+worst+hard+time\u0026amp;qid=1584471539\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Worst Hard Time\u003C\/i\u003E by Timothy Egan\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENote: Free to read if you have Amazon Prime!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI mentioned this book in my post yesterday, and I'm still reading it now. \u0026nbsp;This is the only non-fiction book on this list, about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and what it was like to live through that. People can't afford to feed their families, farmers can't sell their crops, and enormous dust clouds sweep across millions of acres, destroying homes and whatever livelihoods were left. \u0026nbsp;I'm finding it really compelling, and interesting on a personal level since I had some relatives not too far from the Dust Bowl around this time in history. \u0026nbsp;I am finding this book particularly encouraging in times of uncertainty. \u0026nbsp;Those people went through so much, way more hardship than you and I will probably ever face. \u0026nbsp;There is a reason these people gave rise to and\/or are called the Greatest Generation. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContent Notes:\u003C\/b\u003E Some cussing and references related to prostitutes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOther Suggestions Via My Online Buddies\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI put the word out about this post on social media, and a couple of my Instagram buddies offered some additional suggestions! \u0026nbsp;I haven't read these, but they sound interesting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tGHjI8LbNpU\/XnEhYWIrD3I\/AAAAAAAAY_U\/kyzOKfkaHE8YC7wlenFJJ3VmuKD7n3IVgCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/51d2R8I%252BH7L._SL300_.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"300\" data-original-width=\"208\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tGHjI8LbNpU\/XnEhYWIrD3I\/AAAAAAAAY_U\/kyzOKfkaHE8YC7wlenFJJ3VmuKD7n3IVgCEwYBhgL\/s400\/51d2R8I%252BH7L._SL300_.jpg\" width=\"277\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fever-1793-Laurie-Halse-Anderson\/dp\/0689848919\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fever+1793\u0026amp;qid=1584471086\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFever 1793\u003C\/i\u003E by Laurie Halse Anderson\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA middle grade historical fiction that follows a girl through the yellow fever that hit Philadelphia in the 1700's. \u0026nbsp;This one sounds really interesting to me, and I love middle grade! \u0026nbsp;Thanks to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.witheagerhandsblog.com\/\"\u003EBrittney\u003C\/a\u003E for this suggestion.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TEWd3zGW_w8\/XnEhYvLP3eI\/AAAAAAAAY_I\/uH4MkZcYypUorcyZE-WpJGgzEtS3Il-HQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/56119be48bf3e71d42ca53c4e3e7862b8ce7476e.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"400\" data-original-width=\"265\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TEWd3zGW_w8\/XnEhYvLP3eI\/AAAAAAAAY_I\/uH4MkZcYypUorcyZE-WpJGgzEtS3Il-HQCEwYBhgL\/s400\/56119be48bf3e71d42ca53c4e3e7862b8ce7476e.jpg\" width=\"265\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Alas-Babylon-Pat-Frank\/dp\/0060741872\/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=alas+babylon\u0026amp;qid=1584471190\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAlas, Babylon\u003C\/i\u003E by Pat Frank\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe world has mostly been destroyed through nuclear disaster, and survivors in a small town in Florida band together to survive. \u0026nbsp;Also sounds interesting! This on is $3 on Kindle. \u0026nbsp;Also suggested by \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.witheagerhandsblog.com\/\"\u003EBrittney\u003C\/a\u003E, thanks friend!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MYYJIzNl9h4\/XnEhYOnSvYI\/AAAAAAAAY_Y\/L4SE-802WfsNmEGuESjZg3Ef_JPHhrIXQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/1376828._SX318_.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"473\" data-original-width=\"318\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MYYJIzNl9h4\/XnEhYOnSvYI\/AAAAAAAAY_Y\/L4SE-802WfsNmEGuESjZg3Ef_JPHhrIXQCEwYBhgL\/s400\/1376828._SX318_.jpg\" width=\"268\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Long-Winter-Little-House-Book\/dp\/B01N74PU61\/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ALM49W65SK5Z\u0026amp;keywords=the+long+winter+by+laura+ingalls+wilder\u0026amp;qid=1584471319\u0026amp;sprefix=the+long+winter%2Caps%2C183\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Long Winter \u003C\/i\u003Eby Laura Ingalls Wilder\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI haven't read this one in years, but it would be very appropriate with the way we're all stuck at home right now! \u0026nbsp;Might try this one with the kids. \u0026nbsp;Only $1 on Kindle right now! \u0026nbsp;Thanks to Anna for reminding me of this one!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlso on my reading list? \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dog-Stars-Vintage-Contemporaries\/dp\/0307950476\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+dog+stars\u0026amp;qid=1584471407\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Dog Stars\u003C\/i\u003E by Peter Heller\u003C\/a\u003E (didn't like his last book, so we'll see what I think of this one), and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Unbroken-World-Survival-Resilience-Redemption-ebook\/dp\/B003WUYPPG\/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=unbroken\u0026amp;qid=1584471459\u0026amp;sr=8-4\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUnbroken\u003C\/i\u003E by Laura Hilderbrand\u003C\/a\u003E (catastrophe on an individual scale, but I expect to be inspired).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKeep In Mind\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENone of these novels end particularly happily (with the exception of the Dust Bowl book - haven't finished it yet, but humanity obviously survives). \u0026nbsp;Most are bittersweet. \u0026nbsp;Keep that in mind if you don't like that kind of book, or can't handle anything but a happy ending right now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlso keep in mind that as believers in Jesus, we know the world isn't going to end any of these ways! \u0026nbsp;Someday Christ will return and put everything to right. \u0026nbsp;He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). \u0026nbsp;Maybe that's why I don't mind post-apocalyptic stories. \u0026nbsp;I can appreciate the imagination of them without fear, because I already know the end of the story for those of us who have put our trust in Christ to save us - and it's a good one. \u0026nbsp;I hope all my sisters in Christ who are reading this will remember that too in these uncertain days, and not let news stories or silly books bring any anxiety. \u0026nbsp;No matter what, we are safely in His hands.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWays To Read When The Libraries Are Closed\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI highly encourage you to see if your library participates in any digital services, because you can get ebooks and audiobooks that way! \u0026nbsp;My favorite library apps in the past have been Overdrive, Axis 360, and Hoopla. \u0026nbsp;Download the apps and check to see if your library is listed! \u0026nbsp;You can also apply for library card numbers for libraries in surrounding counties and check to see if any of those libraries participate in these app services.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you are a Prime member, you should be aware that you can read some books for free on Kindle through Prime Reading! \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe Worst Hard Time\u003C\/i\u003E is available that way, if that one sounded good to you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat post-apocalyptic-y books would you add to the list?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7490268860569568594\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7490268860569568594\u0026isPopup=true","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7490268860569568594"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7490268860569568594"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/books-to-read-during-pandemic.html","title":"Post-Apocalyptic Books To Read During A Pandemic"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s_Q_v6yFqLU\/XnEkbMTEM5I\/AAAAAAAAY_o\/Hfvx2vnovQEUh-hDBzO8km81SLvaagHSwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_0003blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1283710178544845055"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-16T10:43:00.001-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-16T10:43:54.629-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Pandemics And Whatnot"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eInwl3SVr-Q\/Xm-r_UucWuI\/AAAAAAAAY-E\/V2vnYw0P0q0vQ1s0dhdUUcV4h55ztHTJACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9892blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELet's have a virutal coffee date, since no real-life coffee dates are happening this week!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EI've Got My Coffee, I've Got Toilet Paper (For Now)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWell, this has been a weekend for the books, and never did I think I would say that about a weekend where we literally did nothing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-M1zQtsOEqGc\/Xm-ryupqAoI\/AAAAAAAAY-M\/j8Q6hP8CuXgyjgGx4N9J1GZ6pTFOSKn-gCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9877blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bNfHrYW3pOI\/Xm-rsWoTsuI\/AAAAAAAAY-A\/ybCXQLtt4Nw1-tvla2hf2btyvfPYclF0ACEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9885blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qH0AezieQO0\/Xm-rxCDEBQI\/AAAAAAAAY-I\/VsVTiQM1IuY2no1pFqLF6875hBusSr1HQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9892blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gS9ybHcUXjA\/Xm-sCzIQfpI\/AAAAAAAAY-Q\/TG2UaB-gk_El1d_i41JFIJCMLWJhcLhfQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9926blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UC510kZZUwk\/Xm-sC8shXDI\/AAAAAAAAY-U\/IAuN_4S1_kIh8957VNBlHYm9DQn0q--BACEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9932blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOn Thursday we went to our local railroad museum with my sister and cousins, and I'm so glad we got out one last time when we did, because by Friday things started shutting down. \u0026nbsp;Our co-op was canceled, and we made one last run to the library. \u0026nbsp;By Saturday night, the libraries were all closed. \u0026nbsp;A women's retreat I was supposed to go to was postponed, and our Sunday church service was put online as the doors were closed to the congregation. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI know you know all this already, but I just wanted to write about it on my blog for posterity's sake. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDerek tried to buy me bananas at the grocery store over the weekend, and they were completely out of produce. \u0026nbsp;We checked a different one later, and there was produce, but that store was out of canned goods. \u0026nbsp;I don't understand this stockpiling impulse at all. \u0026nbsp;Theoretically, if you were to get sick and get quarantined, couldn't you just get a non-sick neighbor to pick up the few things that you may not have in your pantry? \u0026nbsp;Or couldn't we just do that for someone else if we were the healthy ones? \u0026nbsp;But no, people have to go buy out all the stores until no one can get a package of spaghetti noodles or a bag of sugar when they need it. \u0026nbsp;Or let's not forget toilet paper (if you are a toilet paper hoarder, for goodness' sakes, \u003Ci\u003Eshare!\u003C\/i\u003E)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOver-buying stuff might make people feel better, but for me, I think it's important not to be over-anxious. \u0026nbsp;I'll be staying home with everyone else, but I'm also not going to waste time worrying about something that I can't control at all. \u0026nbsp;I think the best thing to do is to pray for the nation\/world, for the people who are badly affected by this virus, for the economy and the hit it's taking (another serious concern), and for wisdom for a quick resolution to this whole thing. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis too shall pass, guys. \u0026nbsp;It's going to be okay.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EOn Chickens And Vegetables\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn a related note, I really am considering allowing Derek to do that chicken-raising project with the kids. \u0026nbsp;He mentioned it a few months ago because he would like the kids to join 4-H, but I was hesitant. I grew up with friends who had chickens, and always thought they seemed like a hassle. \u0026nbsp;But it would be nice to have eggs when you can no longer buy them at the store, right? \u0026nbsp;Also, maybe it's time to learn how to garden. \u0026nbsp;A black thumb has plagued me my whole life, but surely a person can learn. \u0026nbsp;Do any of you have chickens\/garden? \u0026nbsp;The buying panic has made me consider that it might not be a bad thing to be a little more self-sufficient. \u0026nbsp;By that, I mean \u003Ci\u003Enot at the mercy of the purchasing whims of the nation in a crisis.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Book And A TV Series For Your Consideration\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn a positive note, I have been reading a ton this weekend! \u0026nbsp;Something about a pandemic that makes me want to hunker down with a book I guess, ha! \u0026nbsp;I was actually thinking about putting together a post about post-apocalyptic\/natural disaster fiction to read during a pandemic, because it seems appropriate, no? \u0026nbsp;I'm serious though, I've been in the mood to read those kind of books. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn particular I've been reading \u003Ci\u003EThe Worst Hard Time\u003C\/i\u003E by Timothy Eghan, and man, that book puts things into perspective. \u0026nbsp;Imagine the air filled with so much dirt that it feels like you are eating it, people dying because their lungs are filled with silt, and not being able to feed your family except every fourth day because the economy crashed at the same time, and you no longer have a way to earn money. \u0026nbsp;That really happened. \u0026nbsp;Those people back then were made of some tough stuff. \u0026nbsp;I've found it particularly interesting because some of my ancestors were in Nebraska at that time, and I wonder if they experienced any of the things I'm reading about. \u0026nbsp;There is a really\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Episode-1-Great-Plow-Up\/dp\/B00A1ZWUDY\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+dust+bowl\u0026amp;qid=1584368112\u0026amp;s=instant-video\u0026amp;sr=1-1\"\u003E interesting series about the Dust Bowl on prime video\u003C\/a\u003E, if you are interested in learning more.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI started that section with \"on a positive note\", but that wasn't overly positive was it? \u0026nbsp;To me it is positive though, in as far as the country (and world) had a lot to deal with in a very short period of time at the start of the last century, and they made it through. \u0026nbsp;They had World War One, the flu epidemic, the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl, all within 20 years. \u0026nbsp;Thousands of people didn't die, \u003Ci\u003Emillions\u003C\/i\u003E of people did. \u0026nbsp;Things can always be worse, and I'm just thinking about this verse this morning:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E“\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003EBe anxious\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003Enothing\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"crossreference\" data-cr=\"#cen-NKJV-29450C\" data-link=\"(\u0026lt;a href=\u0026quot;#cen-NKJV-29450C\u0026quot; title=\u0026quot;See cross-reference C\u0026quot;\u0026gt;C\u0026lt;\/a\u0026gt;)\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 16px;\"\u003Ethe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E”\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E Philippians 4:6\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003EThat's all I've got this morning. \u0026nbsp;Time to re-fill my coffee cup and get started on school with the kids! I'm thinking a hike might be on the schedule. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003EThis\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;is a good week to finally get serious about nature journaling, I'm thinking.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1283710178544845055\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1283710178544845055\u0026isPopup=true","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1283710178544845055"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1283710178544845055"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/pandemics-and-whatnot.html","title":"Pandemics And Whatnot"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eInwl3SVr-Q\/Xm-r_UucWuI\/AAAAAAAAY-E\/V2vnYw0P0q0vQ1s0dhdUUcV4h55ztHTJACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9892blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-2352238445319779138"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-10T16:07:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-10T16:20:07.915-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"31 Days Of Memory-Keeping"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"8-Minute Memoir"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Silence"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OLW-qzl-eXY\/XmgN9AkSdwI\/AAAAAAAAY9Y\/6R9eDmz8_cI29AaZd8oyPDXwAKAhQb__wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/November-2019-122blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt’s an unseasonably warm day. The sun is diffusing softly through the curtains, and the house is almost quiet. My tiniest child is sleeping upstairs, and I hear muffled shouts as I carry my book into the sitting room. I brush the gauzy curtain aside and see my gaggle of children, coats unbuttoned and flapping as they race on their bikes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EA sniffly noise emits from our hound dog, snoozing in the corner, his head resting between his two front paws and eyes closed. I sit and read a while, listening to nothing but the sounds that always fill a “quiet” house. The heater clicking on. A sink dripping somewhere. \u0026nbsp;A slight breeze creaking the screen door. A small cry from my baby upstairs, before she settles and this noisy silence fills the air again. A conversation outside, in young voices I can’t decipher. A page of my book turning.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-cwGakRZj1UY\/XmgN8q1V0EI\/AAAAAAAAY9U\/gAKjD2bnfPQhr1JYMnCer30yDyZh14GMQCEwYBhgLMN2eoPMF\/s1600\/ACS_0010blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QtRimzlfgFI\/XmgOBqyDJ2I\/AAAAAAAAY9c\/TLqzFGNWlPE9RI5IRvKeRGGjNIBtWC49QCEwYBhgLMN2eoPMF\/s1600\/November-2019-122blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JbOLibk_sR4\/XmgOGZ2_aWI\/AAAAAAAAY9g\/TtQKSvCg4a4aQ1-sBPH7SweFvqt2-RsEACEwYBhgLMN2eoPMF\/s1600\/November-2019-136blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI look out the window and I can see the rain blowing up over the mountains, and the wind is picking up. My kid-gang tumbles through the door with bright eyes and red, runny noses. My middle boy asks for a snack with big eyes and a sniff. They tell me it’s getting cold, and they are inside now, and the house is quiet again, but not silent. A cartoon plays softly from the next room, and they occasionally converse with\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Etheir\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Efictional\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;screen-friends or burst out into laughter.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESometimes I want peace and quiet as a mom, and I got a little bit of the peace part this afternoon. The quiet part is ever debatable. A house with five kids is never actually silent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBut then, even when the house is so full of noise that I’m overwhelmed, I know in my heart that silence isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. How very grateful I am to be here, in a house that’s never truly quiet, where shouts of joy, and small sorrows, squabbles and giggles - all this \u003Ci\u003Elife\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;spills out and vibrates the air molecules straight into my ears almost every moment of the day.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/2352238445319779138\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=2352238445319779138\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2352238445319779138"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/2352238445319779138"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/silence.html","title":"Silence"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OLW-qzl-eXY\/XmgN9AkSdwI\/AAAAAAAAY9Y\/6R9eDmz8_cI29AaZd8oyPDXwAKAhQb__wCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/November-2019-122blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-441894622155944546"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-09T06:31:00.000-06:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-09T06:31:41.553-06:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Currently"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Currently | March 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_E6SWbGLdNY\/XmPvhqdZuqI\/AAAAAAAAY9A\/i1PmT8iuN_MIcHy_Lp2PXxQgEIZzTTsBgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9678blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EFixing...\u003C\/b\u003Eour minivan. \u0026nbsp;The van was making a funny noise, so we took it into a mechanic, who recommended we take it to a transmission specialist. \u0026nbsp;We paid a painful amount to get the transmission, which was supposedly falling apart, fixed. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EGoodbye family vacation.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp; Only to get the van back and realize that it is making the same exact noise. \u0026nbsp;No one knows what it is or how to fix it. \u0026nbsp;I'm just mad we got the transmission re-built when that wasn't even the issue, but I guess eventually it would have had to be done anyway.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EWearing...\u003C\/b\u003Ethese $2 shoes from Walmart. \u0026nbsp;They are having some great sales lately!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-iWv9V22MyM0\/XmPviNl9BUI\/AAAAAAAAY9E\/a_U_RoBbuJYEq_Z7DrX7-ia7YkozmHx0ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9678blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-y00lqqJDOUY\/XmPvg8F1uiI\/AAAAAAAAY88\/9D97Qb47V981sn9y9f6y5trI65YiOA3rgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_9652blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFeeling...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Equite upbeat this last week, because spring, \u003Ci\u003Eactual spring\u003C\/i\u003E, is in the air. \u0026nbsp;Last Friday it was nearly 50 degrees in the mountains. \u0026nbsp;The kids played outside all afternoon, and I didn't even have to shout to close the door to keep the cold out, because it wasn't that cold. \u0026nbsp;I didn't realize how sunshine-deprived I was getting. \u0026nbsp;I loved all the snow in February, but a week of sunny days was much needed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Lake House\u003C\/i\u003E by Kate Morton, but also the homeschool catalog. \u0026nbsp;I am considering switching curriculum for a few subjects next year, and trying to decide what would be a good fit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBorrowing...\u003C\/b\u003Ea tablet device from the library that I thought would be good for math review for my kids, but instead ended up calling them an idiot! \u0026nbsp;One of my kids brought the tablet back after practicing math facts and told me with a furrowed brow that the tablet had said (exact quote) \"\u003Ci\u003EYou idiot, what's wrong with you?\u003C\/i\u003E\" when a question was answered wrong. \u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;Is anyone else as shocked by this as I am?\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;We don't call people idiots in our house, and I'm mad that a math program would call a child names just for getting a problem wrong. I guess it was supposed to be funny, but I wasn't laughing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EHearing...\u003C\/b\u003Ethat the grocery stores are selling out of toilet paper because everyone is freaking out about the Corona virus. \u0026nbsp;After my friend told me this, I realized that I was running low on toilet paper at home, and maybe I should see if the grocery store really was sold out. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EAnd it very nearly was!\u003C\/i\u003E \u0026nbsp;I snagged the last few packages of cheap generic because the only other option was a pricey Quilted Northern, and I resent that I had to contribute to the grocery store selling-out just because other people are panicking. \u0026nbsp;Can we all just calm down a little about the Corona virus? \u0026nbsp;I am so sad for the people who have died because of it, and it's a terrible and tragic thing. \u0026nbsp;But for the let's-clean-the-grocery-store-out type, we \u003Ci\u003Eare\u003C\/i\u003E in the United States, which is probably the best place in the world to get a scary virus. \u0026nbsp;We have a very high quality of medical care available to us here. \u0026nbsp;Maybe take a deep breath, say a prayer for people who are in more danger than you are, and try not to freak out. \u0026nbsp;No one wins when people can't buy toilet paper.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ERecommending...\u003C\/b\u003Epicking a personal area of study for the year. \u0026nbsp;I mentioned this before, but in 2020 I am trying to learn more about World War 1, and I've done the same in past years with the Cold War and Winston Churchill. \u0026nbsp;It's amazing how much clearer different aspects of history can become when you learn more about just one area. \u0026nbsp;I've been really enjoying reading, listening to podcasts, and watching movies about World War 1, and I understand it better than I ever did when I learned about it in high school. \u0026nbsp;I think I'm going to make a habit of picking a topic each year to focus on studying, because it's been really enriching. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EHave you ever done this, and what topic did you pick?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.anneinresidence.com\/2020\/03\/currently.html\"\u003ELinking up here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/441894622155944546\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=441894622155944546\u0026isPopup=true","title":"6 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/441894622155944546"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/441894622155944546"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/03\/currently-march-2020.html","title":"Currently | March 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_E6SWbGLdNY\/XmPvhqdZuqI\/AAAAAAAAY9A\/i1PmT8iuN_MIcHy_Lp2PXxQgEIZzTTsBgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9678blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"6"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-850891090297771805"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-03T05:19:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-03T15:53:52.010-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Goals"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Goals For The Dreariest Months | March And April Goals"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-pp1e77Xo5ak\/Xl7B98H4bmI\/AAAAAAAAY8g\/SEO64qItovcgV1lDQnj4Yvysc0M3_yo9QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9570blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMarch is upon us, which means it is time for me to check in with my 2020 goals! \u0026nbsp;Making goals for a couple months at a time (January\/February), as opposed to monthly goals, ended up working out really well over the last couple months. \u0026nbsp;It gave me a little more wiggle room to catch up when life got a little crazy, so I think I'm going to do that again and make goals for March and April together. \u0026nbsp;I'll write a check-in at the end of May.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut anyway, how did my January and February goals go?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrike\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003Cstrike\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Memorize Hebrews chapter 5.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cstrike\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Set up prayer pages in my bullet journal.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E-Start the day hugging each kid, and hug Derek when he gets home.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Did pretty well at this - I didn't succeed at starting every day with a hug, but there were more hugs in general!)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cstrike style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E-Clean out my Facebook friends list\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/01\/why-and-how-i-deleted-half-my-facebook.html\"\u003ERead more about this here.\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-\u003Cstrike\u003ESend snail mail.\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cstrike\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Save $100 in February.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-\u003Cstrike\u003EParticipate in the Read Your Bookshelf challenge.\u003C\/strike\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was pretty happy overall - focusing on a few small goals in specific areas was great because I never got too overwhelmed or behind, and I did succeed at mostly every goal I made. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs I've been looking ahead, I'm glad to have a few specific things to work on during what is arguably the dreariest time of year in the mountains. \u0026nbsp;March and April are usually interspersed random snow days and muddy days in between, and as a consequence, Spring never been my favorite time of year. \u0026nbsp;One of my dear friends moved up into the mountains several years ago, and she said she finally understood why I hated spring, ha! \u0026nbsp;But writing this out, I'm looking forward to trying to accomplish a few things instead of letting the momentum get buried with all the spring snow and mud.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LIZujFRCQRI\/Xl7B_aKbkOI\/AAAAAAAAY8k\/vpBCq8rQhm039U5R2fryjdRm9IWG1FG2ACEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9567blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Spring looks kind of pretty in this photo though, doesn't it?)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm thinking I might have added too many things to my list for this next two-month period, but we'll see how it goes! Here are more specific updates and thoughts for my goal areas, and the things I'd like to focus on for the next period:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESpiritual\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOverall Goal:\u003C\/b\u003E Memorize Hebrews, and spend more time in prayer each day.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EUpdate: \u0026nbsp;I did successfully memorize Hebrews 5, but I want to spend a little time reviewing it over the next couple weeks and then move on to memorize Hebrews 6. \u0026nbsp;I did create some prayer pages in my journal, but I'd like to figure out more specific items to pray for each member of my family.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELittle Steps Goal: \u003C\/b\u003EMemorize Hebrews 6 before May, and be more specific and thoughtful in my prayers for each family member by coming up with a prayer list for each person.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMarriage And Motherhood\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOverall Goal:\u003C\/b\u003E Be a\u0026nbsp;happier and more thankful wife and mother.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EUpdate: Last month I did get much more intentional about doling out the hugs, though I didn't always catch every kid every morning. \u0026nbsp; But I did my best, and I think the kids and Derek appreciated my attempt to start our day on a better note!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENext Little Steps Goal: \u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Over the next two months, I'd like to make a written list of specific ways I am thankful for each kid and Derek (and perhaps write them a note telling them what I come up with). \u0026nbsp;I also want to re-read \u003Ci\u003EHappiness Is A Serious Problem\u003C\/i\u003E by Dennis Prager. \u0026nbsp;I read it several years ago, and remember it being thought-provoking and helpful!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESocial\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOverall Goal: \u003C\/b\u003ESpend less time on social media, and spend more time investing in and encouraging my real-life friends (including family).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EUpdate: \u0026nbsp;I think I've been pretty successful at staying off social media so far this year - so much so that I think I'm going to have to tip the balance the other way again! \u0026nbsp;I haven't been sharing enough of our day-to-day photos on Instagram, and I don't want to drop off too much on that because I still want those photos and memories for our Instagram photo book. \u0026nbsp;I wasn't 100% happy with my snail mail attempt last month, so I'd like to try that goal again.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENext Little Steps Goal:\u003C\/b\u003E Write a letter to a friend, have my sister over for poetry tea time with the kids, and plan a joint birthday party for the boys.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFinancial\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOverall Goal:\u003C\/b\u003E Save $1000.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EUpdate: I saved the $100 I had hoped for, and also got paid for a couple of my freelance articles, so I squirreled that money away too!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENext Little Steps Goal:\u003C\/b\u003E Save $100 in March and $100 in April.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOverall Goal: \u003C\/b\u003ERead more books I own.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003EUpdate: I did finish two books I already owned as part of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/anintentionallife.me\/read-your-bookshelf\/\"\u003EChantel's Read Your Bookshelf Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;The two I finished were \u003Ci\u003EAnd Then There Were None\u003C\/i\u003E by Agatha Christie and \u003Ci\u003EEmber Falls \u003C\/i\u003Eby S. D. Smith (part of the Green Ember series, so I'm sort of counting it for the read-a-book-with-a-color-in-the-title challenge). \u0026nbsp;I enjoyed them both, and enjoyed crossing them off my list! \u0026nbsp;I have also decided that for this goal area, I'd specifically like to focus on reading the physical and audio books I own. \u0026nbsp;I have a bunch of ebooks I haven't read, but I would like to focus on physical books to clear space on my bookshelf, and audiobooks are a no-brainer since I listen to them while I'm doing chores.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENext Little Steps Goal: \u003C\/b\u003ERead at least one book from my physical shelf (I'm thinking \u003Ci\u003EThe Lake House\u003C\/i\u003E by Kate Morton, so I can cross off the March prompt in the Read Your Bookshelf Challenge), and one audiobook (I'm thinking \u003Ci\u003EThe Accidental President\u003C\/i\u003E by A. J. Baime). I also have to read \u003Ci\u003EAdopted For Life: The Priority Of Adoption For Christian Families And Churches\u003C\/i\u003E by Russel Moore, because the challenge prompt for April is \"the book that has been on your unread shelf the longest\".\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OmNEk2B5jRY\/Xl7B_y6VLSI\/AAAAAAAAY8o\/70wvda70Ypc8_sgBCzMzqfvq-9MZT0-wwCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9570blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ESo here is the full list for March and April!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Memorize Hebrews 6\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Make a specific prayer list for each family member\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Read \u003Ci\u003EHappiness Is A Serious Problem\u003C\/i\u003E by Dennis Prager\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Make a\u0026nbsp;gratitude list for each family member\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Write a letter\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Have my sister over for poetry tea time\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Plan the boys' birthday party\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Save $100 in March\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Save $100 in April\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Read one physical book from my unread shelf\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Read one audiobook from my unread shelf\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E-Read \u003Ci\u003EAdopted For Life\u003C\/i\u003E by Russel Moore\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow are your 2020 goals going so far? \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/850891090297771805\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=850891090297771805\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/850891090297771805"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/850891090297771805"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/02\/goals-for-dreariest-months-march-and.html","title":"Goals For The Dreariest Months | March And April Goals"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-pp1e77Xo5ak\/Xl7B98H4bmI\/AAAAAAAAY8g\/SEO64qItovcgV1lDQnj4Yvysc0M3_yo9QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9570blogcrop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-7337945815753307483"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-24T05:36:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-24T05:36:00.870-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Rooted Article"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Seasons"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tips And How-To's"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Stuff To Do In The Winter With Your Kids"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pa-E4H3SZrU\/XlFfaBe3MBI\/AAAAAAAAY7w\/T_gU8F87u00G1Ynx4WxjaACo2loVNWXBwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/February-2020-361blog.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHow is winter treating you? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have always loved snowy winters and every year I wish it would snow more - I am certainly getting my wish this year! \u0026nbsp;We have had snow every few days for a few weeks now. \u0026nbsp;I love that when I look out my window everything is pretty and white, and seeing the snowflakes fluttering to the ground puts me in the mood to bake and snuggle on the couch with a book.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, every year I also seem to forget how hard it is to be stuck in the house with multiple young children for an extended period of time. \u0026nbsp;We are definitely getting some cabin fever over here. \u0026nbsp;I have to remind myself that during this coldest time of year, we are all happier if I put a little effort in to plan specific activities to do with the kids, instead of leaving them to their own devices.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm re-reading this post I wrote for Rooted.com about winter science activities to do with your kids - in the midst of busyness and all these snowy days, I forget all the fun ideas I had! \u0026nbsp;If you are struggling at all with winter doldrums, go check it out and maybe it'll stir up some ideas for you too!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/activities\/winter-science-activities\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ECheck out the post here!\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rootedfamily.com\/lifestyle\/activities\/winter-science-activities\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1236\" data-original-width=\"883\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DSVZPCh1O-Y\/XlFfZ2PDaGI\/AAAAAAAAY7s\/_NrU-uvO0I0X-cuXJH8lJVwSux3T6opJQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/Winter-science-activities_edited-1.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/7337945815753307483\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=7337945815753307483\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7337945815753307483"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/7337945815753307483"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/02\/stuff-to-do-in-winter-with-your-kids.html","title":"Stuff To Do In The Winter With Your Kids"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pa-E4H3SZrU\/XlFfaBe3MBI\/AAAAAAAAY7w\/T_gU8F87u00G1Ynx4WxjaACo2loVNWXBwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/February-2020-361blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8261087425382757500"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-20T10:29:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-20T10:29:27.635-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Musings of a Bookworm"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Favorite Books From Last Year"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-U_gFtg0k8Po\/Xk7BHhzLYEI\/AAAAAAAAY7I\/-e0ZkDDUwask1pvfdg3VUVjOUe32E_b4gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_9458blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIs it too late to write a post about my favorite books in 2019?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have been slacking quite a bit on recording the books that I'm reading, ever since...well, our vacation, which was in August. \u0026nbsp;I met my goal of 52 books for 2019, but I didn't record many of them on Goodreads. \u0026nbsp;But I wanted to at least share a few of the books that stood out to me on here!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KK_tQAwk0PY\/Xk7BGIx3QaI\/AAAAAAAAY7o\/uKkyiz8McPMRBUG_4jbCibFbP6WRrUkBwCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9457blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENon Fiction\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI read a lot of non-fiction books that I really liked, so it was hard to leave some of them out. \u0026nbsp;These were the ones that stood out - I especially read some great Christian non-fiction, so if you are looking for some Christian encouragement-type books, read on!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Family-Driven-Faith-Doing-Daughters\/dp\/1433528126\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PMSC8FVF0UP7\u0026amp;keywords=family+driven+faith\u0026amp;qid=1582216635\u0026amp;sprefix=family+driven+faith%2Caps%2C175\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFamily Driven Faith\u003C\/i\u003E by Voddie Baucham\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI bought this book when Voddie Baucham visited our local homeschool conference a few years ago, and I finally finished it. \u0026nbsp;Wow, if you want to be challenged in your parenting and in training your kids up to know the Lord, this is one you should pick up! \u0026nbsp;I was convicted to re-think a lot about my parenting and refocus on what is really important because of this book. \u0026nbsp;In fact, it's probably time I read it again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Respectable-Sins-Jerry-Bridges\/dp\/1631468332\/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1RA2QJS32N8F3\u0026amp;keywords=respectable+sins+by+jerry+bridges\u0026amp;qid=1582216669\u0026amp;sprefix=respectable+%2Caps%2C186\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ERespectable Sins \u003C\/i\u003Eby Jerry Bridges\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis book is about the smaller sins that aren't mentioned much in Christian circles - we brush over these sins in ourselves and others, we tolerate them. \u0026nbsp;Bridges challenges us in this book to root those sins out of our lives. \u0026nbsp;This book is soundly rooted in the Gospel, and I found it not just convicting but very uplifting as well. \u0026nbsp;I highly recommend it!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/None-Like-Him-Different-Thats\/dp\/1433549832\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FGUK33M03QFE\u0026amp;keywords=none+like+him+jen+wilkin\u0026amp;qid=1582216693\u0026amp;sprefix=none+like+him%2Caps%2C181\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENone Like Him\u003C\/i\u003E by Jen Wilkins\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI feel like I've mentioned this book a million times between my blog and Instagram, but it was really good. \u0026nbsp;Wilkins looks at ten attributes of God, but these are not attributes that we can reflect (such as love, grace, etc), but attributes that belong to Him alone. \u0026nbsp;I found this book insightful and inspiring, and it was biblically sound and very readable. \u0026nbsp;It's a great book to start with if you are just beginning to dip your toes into theology. \u0026nbsp;Even though I was somewhat familiar with alot of the attributes she discusses, there were terms I learned and specific points that made me think more deeply about the ways that God is set apart from us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Devoted-Great-Their-Godly-Moms\/dp\/1941114644\/ref=sr_1_2?crid=37W5OL26761AN\u0026amp;keywords=devoted+great+men+and+their+godly+moms\u0026amp;qid=1582216716\u0026amp;sprefix=devoted%2Caps%2C197\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDevoted: Great Men And Their Godly Moms \u003C\/i\u003Eby Tim Challies\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you've ever wondered if the little things you do for your kids are making a difference, pick up this book! \u0026nbsp;It's short and sweet, and would be perfect for Mother's Day. \u0026nbsp;I found it both convicting as I read about different godly moms through history and how they impacted their sons, and encouraging because of the little things they did that made such a big difference. \u0026nbsp;Highly recommend.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/What-Wondrous-Love-This-Remember\/dp\/1581343663\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=what+wondrous+love+is+this+joni+eareckson+tada\u0026amp;qid=1582216756\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat Wondrous Love Is This \u003C\/i\u003Eby Joni Eareckson Tada\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is a book about hymns, and I used it as an addition to my morning Bible time. \u0026nbsp;Each chapter covers a different hymn, it's history, the theological breakdown, and it's personal impact on the authors. \u0026nbsp;I didn't even know half of the hymns in this book, but I would read a chapter and then look up the hymn on Spotify, and it was such an uplifting addition to my morning routine. \u0026nbsp;I'd recommend it if you also love hymns and are up for learning some new ones!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/You-Who-Why-Matter-Deal\/dp\/1947644882\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=you+who\u0026amp;qid=1582216778\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EYou Who? Why You Matter And How To Deal With It\u003C\/i\u003E by Rachel Jankovic\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI liked Jankovic's \u003Ci\u003ELoving The Little Years\u003C\/i\u003E, which I read years ago, and finally remembered her as an author this year when I saw this book. \u0026nbsp;She discusses the \"self help\" culture, and why it is not the way we should approach life as Christians. \u0026nbsp;I think I need to read this book again, because I flew through it so fast the first time. \u0026nbsp;I read it during a discouraging period, and it was exactly what I needed to break me out of my doldrums, but I can't remember everything about it. \u0026nbsp;I inhaled it the first time, and I'd like to read it more thoughtfully a second time. \u0026nbsp;But anyway, it was good.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Them-Hate-Each-Other-Heal\/dp\/1250193680\/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=them+ben+sasse\u0026amp;qid=1582216797\u0026amp;sr=8-2\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThem: Why We Hate Each Other And How To Heal \u003C\/i\u003Eby Ben Sasse\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis book was timely for the current political climate, and the epidemic of loneliness in our culture. \u0026nbsp;We are more connected than ever, via the internet, but less rooted and less likely to actually know the names of our neighbors. \u0026nbsp;Sasse discusses why this is, what's really dividing us as Americans, and little ways that we can start to fix it. \u0026nbsp;I thought his view of why our culture is changing in our level of connection to one another was interesting, and in the end I was so encouraged by this book. \u0026nbsp;Though Sasse is a Republican senator, the information in this book and the points he makes are bipartisan, so I'd recommend it no matter your political leanings. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Chasing-New-Horizons-Inside-Mission\/dp\/1250098963\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=chasing+new+horizons\u0026amp;qid=1582216822\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EChasing New Horizons\u003C\/i\u003E by Alan Stern and David Grinspoon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI started several space books last year after our visit to NASA, and I'm still working through most of my space books, but I shot through this book on audio! \u0026nbsp;It gives the history of Pluto, and how we finally sent a spacecraft to that distant planet. \u0026nbsp;What I found really interesting about this book was how involved it is to fund and plan an unmanned space mission, and all the logistics of sending a spacecraft to such a distant planet (even going as fast as 52,000 mph at times, and traveling almost a million miles per day, it still took 9.5 years for it to arrive at Pluto!). \u0026nbsp;I listened to it on audio, and I'd recommend reading it that way, I think it could be a little dry if read in print. \u0026nbsp;But it was a fascinating book to me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Digital-Minimalism-Choosing-Focused-Noisy\/dp\/0525536515\/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc1_0?cv_ct_cx=digital+minimalism\u0026amp;keywords=digital+minimalism\u0026amp;pd_rd_i=0525536515\u0026amp;pd_rd_r=1129b978-c991-4b5c-a335-98f477a2c67a\u0026amp;pd_rd_w=tKaWl\u0026amp;pd_rd_wg=B2RJc\u0026amp;pf_rd_p=c8430d96-912c-40d1-9740-e1beca245dd5\u0026amp;pf_rd_r=QTTSHGETG8A6QEEGYXRN\u0026amp;psc=1\u0026amp;qid=1582216866\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDigital Minimalism \u003C\/i\u003Eby Cal Newport\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis book was so timely, since I read it after I decided to go on a Facebook break in December. \u0026nbsp;It challenged me to think more carefully about social media and how I wanted to be using it. \u0026nbsp;Highly recommend this book if you struggle, like I do, to put down your phone!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-SdgN5XNOSAc\/Xk7BMJyU2jI\/AAAAAAAAY7U\/pLXxuvQT_vYHJsvA-c2gPHKdukOpMPIOwCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9465blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFiction\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs I was looking over my list, I did not have as good of luck with fiction books last year. \u0026nbsp;I'm going to list the books I really liked first, and then do some \"honorable mentions\".\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald\/dp\/0743273567\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+great+gatsby\u0026amp;qid=1582216893\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Great Gatsby \u003C\/i\u003Eby F. Scott Fitzgerald\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have to be honest, I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book. \u0026nbsp;I have seen the movie before and the characters weren't exactly likable, and there was alot of debauchery, cheating, etc. \u0026nbsp;But what made this book worthwhile for me was reading while also listening to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.circeinstitute.org\/podcast\/great-gatsby-chapters-1-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethe Close Reads discussion\u003C\/a\u003E of \u003Ci\u003EThe Great Gatsby\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Because of reading the book while listening to that podcast, I noticed so many things that I wouldn't have otherwise, and I realized the message of the book is completely different than what I originally thought it was. \u0026nbsp;I ended up really liking it! \u0026nbsp;You can bet that if I ever have my kids read this for school, it will be assigned WITH the podcast. \u0026nbsp;Here are the links to the episodes if you're interested:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shows.acast.com\/close-reads\/episodes\/the-great-gatsby-chapters-1-3\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EChapters 1-3\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shows.acast.com\/close-reads\/episodes\/the-great-gatsby-chapters-4-5\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EChapters 4-5\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shows.acast.com\/close-reads\/episodes\/the-great-gatbsy-chapters-6-7\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EChapters 6-7\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shows.acast.com\/close-reads\/episodes\/the-great-gatsby-final-chapters\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ELast Chapters\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/1984-George-Orwell\/dp\/0452262933\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=1984\u0026amp;qid=1582216914\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E1984 \u003C\/i\u003Eby George Orwell\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDoes anyone really \u003Ci\u003Elike\u003C\/i\u003E 1984? \u0026nbsp;I'm not sure that's quite the right word, but I did get alot out of this book. \u0026nbsp;Some of it was creepily similar to aspects of our political environment today. \u0026nbsp;It's not like any book I would normally enjoy (more sexual aspects of the plot than I expected, and the ending was NOT uplifting), but I have to include it here because I think every adult should read it. \u0026nbsp;Very interesting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Blue-Castle-L-M-Montgomery\/dp\/1402289367\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+blue+castle\u0026amp;qid=1582216953\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Blue Castle \u003C\/i\u003Eby L. M. Montgomery\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe first book I've read by Montgomery that wasn't an Anne book, and I loved every second of it. \u0026nbsp;It was completely delightful. \u0026nbsp;I especially liked the nature writing and the ending. \u0026nbsp;This book didn't feel anything like \u003Ci\u003EAnne Of Green Gables\u003C\/i\u003E to me, but the writing was the same ol' Montgomery-style that I loved from the Anne series.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Attention-Carter-Jones-Gary-Schmidt\/dp\/0544790855\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N50VU0JFP06F\u0026amp;keywords=pay+attention+carter+jones\u0026amp;qid=1582216975\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sprefix=pay+attention%2Cstripbooks%2C181\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPay Attention, Carter Jones \u003C\/i\u003Eby Gary D. Schmidt\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI love every Schmidt book I've read, and this is no exception. \u0026nbsp;A boy opens the door one day, and finds out his family has \"inherited\" a butler from his grandfather. \u0026nbsp;The butler starts putting the family in order and teaching Carter about cricket. \u0026nbsp;Really fun and delightful while also wrestling with some deeper subjects. \u0026nbsp;If you haven't read Gary D. Schmidt, you just should. \u0026nbsp;I usually recommend \u003Ci\u003EThe Wednesday Wars\u003C\/i\u003E first, but I loved this book because it had the same feel.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CP2Ur-GRo0o\/Xk7BMDfDZLI\/AAAAAAAAY7k\/JmfxUE4OaKkDKSMXvt78DYavsKzjDtd4QCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9471blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHonorable Mentions\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EA couple more books I read and enjoyed alot...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Station-Eleven-Emily-John-Mandel-ebook\/dp\/B00J1IQUYM\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=station+eleven\u0026amp;qid=1582217000\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EStation Eleven \u003C\/i\u003Eby Emily St. John Mandel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll the \"book celebrities\" (ie. Anne Bogel and booktubers) mention this book all the time, and I finally read it. \u0026nbsp;It didn't completely blow me away, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. \u0026nbsp;It's a post-apocalyptic book, but it imagines how art might survive in a post-apocalyptic world through following a traveling orchestra. \u0026nbsp;I think I enjoyed it even more because I've never quite read another book like this, so it was something new.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dream-Daughter-Novel-Diane-Chamberlain\/dp\/1250087317\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1582217021\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Dream Daughter\u003C\/i\u003E by Diane Chamberlain\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI listened to this book, and I'd recommend it in that format, because I think it would get slow in print (and also, the narrator was very good). \u0026nbsp;Whoever recommended this book to me said I should go into it without reading the synopsis, and I'm glad I did. \u0026nbsp;But let's just say if you are into time travel plots, you might like this one. \u0026nbsp;It's more character-driven than plot-driven. \u0026nbsp;Even though it's a slower-paced book, I still really enjoyed it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dracula-Classics-Leatherbound-Classic-Collection\/dp\/1435142810\/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=dracula\u0026amp;qid=1582217047\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-6\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDracula\u003C\/i\u003E by Bram Stoker\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHorror books aren't really my speed, but this one is a classic, and I'm glad I read it. \u0026nbsp;I understand vampire references in pop culture so much better now. \u0026nbsp;That Gilligan's Island episode where Gilligan is bitten by a bat? \u0026nbsp;Makes so much more sense.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-agZs8fKZmxk\/Xk7BFK6lJ8I\/AAAAAAAAY7k\/pKu-sDtHxfkYnLhiKntMUSuUfmjQAYsqQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_9458blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere we go, my favorite books from 2019! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat did you all read last year?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;Any stand-outs?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8261087425382757500\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8261087425382757500\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8261087425382757500"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8261087425382757500"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/02\/my-favorite-books-from-last-year.html","title":"My Favorite Books From Last Year"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-U_gFtg0k8Po\/Xk7BHhzLYEI\/AAAAAAAAY7I\/-e0ZkDDUwask1pvfdg3VUVjOUe32E_b4gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/IMG_9458blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8770936238201037007"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-11T07:51:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-11T07:51:35.704-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Birthday Celebrations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Memories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Wyatt"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Wyatt's 10th Year"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Wyatt's 9th Year"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Halfway Through (Happy Birthday To My Oldest)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8j_stZlAbQo\/XkK-zDIZNnI\/AAAAAAAAY6k\/vZudO65XT_Avrhf_4n9Pjaf9-wZ19o3BgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-296blog_edited-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMy Dear Wyatt,\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBuddy, you are nine years old! \u0026nbsp;I can hardly believe how much you have grown this year. \u0026nbsp;I looked at you the other day and saw with fresh eyes how tall you have gotten. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EYou are all boy, and a smart, thoughtful boy too. I frequently find you tucked away by yourself in your room, reading a book about birds, or nature, or science experiments, or history. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes you'll read something in a book that you want to try, and you'll emerge with tons of ideas spilling out. \u0026nbsp;You'll go track down the supplies you need and start bringing your ideas to life. \u0026nbsp;Right now you are anxious for spring, when you can use your new bike lights (which you got for Christmas) to ride your bike when it's dark. \u0026nbsp;On your birthday list this year is an \"adventure kit\" (containing binoculars, a compass, and a flashlight, for all your birding adventures), a new watch, and Audobon bird stuffed animals with authentic sound effects. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KZg9w4PJnP4\/XkK-gjJdxaI\/AAAAAAAAY6I\/MwT2aCQWTrEEWp6GutZmjc8nCKU5FIm8gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-135blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IVTrnEzyyEU\/XkK-iPX1vyI\/AAAAAAAAY6Q\/sWYF7WnfxkwbDCEqhB-PWn3xVkHQkR7QwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-222blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EI love how adventurous you are when you get a new idea in your head, but I can still tell when you get nervous in new situations by the way you hang back next to me. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes if something is bothering you, you'll come and sit by me a while until I gradually get it out of you. \u0026nbsp;You need me less and less these days, so I have to hang on to the little ways that I can help you.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EYou are a funny kid, and you are constantly making your sibling laugh with your silly stories and jokes. \u0026nbsp;You are an organizer of games, especially imagination games, and I love to see the stories you all come up with together. \u0026nbsp;They all look up to you so much. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nLJNhG6LfYc\/XkK-tjfmmjI\/AAAAAAAAY6c\/2jsgd-V_Zc8S_M2_oK2502FvLvBPFkS-QCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/February-2020-296blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6-QYfzLoJt0\/XkK-s7N2MuI\/AAAAAAAAY6Y\/8-epldo9nEUwOkzuk2FmBmJIzWwFmfx9QCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/February-2020-305blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EI love your interest for so many subjects and how curious you are about the world, but I love even more how I see you growing in your faith. \u0026nbsp;You have made a very specific effort to start reading the Bible every day, and you just made it through the book of Genesis. \u0026nbsp;It gives my heart so much joy that in all your learning, you are making learning about the Lord a priority. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETen years is an exciting year for kids since they hit the double-digits, but nine is a landmark year for me as your mom. \u0026nbsp;This year you are halfway through your childhood. I find myself looking back on the last nine years with tears in my eyes, wondering where it all went. \u0026nbsp;But I'm looking ahead to the next nine years with excitement, because I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. \u0026nbsp;I can't wait to see what the future holds for you, my darling boy. \u0026nbsp;I couldn't ask for a more wonderful boy who made me a mama. \u0026nbsp;I love you more than every feather on every bird in the world.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fT4sXNM5Xg0\/XkK-rjwdJqI\/AAAAAAAAY6o\/NtatVbCTaP0N7Sgt1K_suyGK_fzgZaHmACEwYBhgL\/s1600\/February-2020-290blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QdW6JfphWfw\/XkK-hysgm2I\/AAAAAAAAY6o\/ru0OPyoZQYwgwgSbxQAYL7KRx2NDL0B2gCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/February-2020-270blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ELove,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMama\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8770936238201037007\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8770936238201037007\u0026isPopup=true","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8770936238201037007"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8770936238201037007"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/02\/halfway-through-happy-birthday-to-my.html","title":"Halfway Through (Happy Birthday To My Oldest)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8j_stZlAbQo\/XkK-zDIZNnI\/AAAAAAAAY6k\/vZudO65XT_Avrhf_4n9Pjaf9-wZ19o3BgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/February-2020-296blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1596726065473063184"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-06T07:45:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-07T16:47:56.890-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Currently"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Just Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Update"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Currently | February 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-t8d5kyEV9nk\/Xjwp2M4kFAI\/AAAAAAAAY54\/LFMfyrjO43cEu9Aih75RbHjNXRTDaD4cgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/February-2020-051blog_edited-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECurrently...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGrateful...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EThat we are not sick! \u0026nbsp;I started off January with that awful chest cold, and then a couple weeks later the entire family got a stomach bug. \u0026nbsp;This was a rare occasion when Derek and I were sick at the same time, so there was no one to take care of either of us. \u0026nbsp;Wyatt and I were the only ones who didn't throw up, we just lounged on the couch in misery for two days. \u0026nbsp;Fun times.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELoving...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EQuiet times before the kids get up in the mornings. \u0026nbsp;After Christmas and all that sickness, we have finally got back to a routine. \u0026nbsp;I usually wake up before the kids and drink coffee, and read my Bible, and read a book or blog before the kids get up. \u0026nbsp;Some days I get an hour to myself, some days I get five minutes, but it's nice either way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWearing...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EAlot of sweaters this week, because we got 8 inches of snow! \u0026nbsp;It's been in the single-digits with temperature, and this house does not have great windows, so I've been shivering my way through the days. \u0026nbsp;Last weekend I could have been wearing a t-shirt in the 65 degree weather. \u0026nbsp;We went on a family hike, and it felt like Spring! \u0026nbsp;But that clearly didn't last long.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJYv6QJodd0\/XjwoygwT2pI\/AAAAAAAAY5Y\/KiA74FZk6Uw8UazU6qDOf3_DsJOvOPAqQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-051blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2Z9B052FQf4\/Xjwo0WoYTtI\/AAAAAAAAY5g\/0sYMxDIS49Mk10KIQXZQGkETBUOnYKsmQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-073blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tcrXmBmcMtA\/Xjwo5owMu-I\/AAAAAAAAY5k\/CitrhV_-RMcnorDu7sPad_OrsbEthKckQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-244blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OC6vwrdoYQ8\/Xjwp5mZSTaI\/AAAAAAAAY58\/8Iu6oguZT1okm0JorTa_wBSG2dwOCaxngCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-098blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-e2jkFEy2VkE\/Xjwoy85stLI\/AAAAAAAAY5c\/C1-BM9exFDMP5xxLbIY1Fodeiug028J1QCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/February-2020-167blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETasting...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EHmm. \u0026nbsp;Well, not sugar, I can tell you that. \u0026nbsp;My eating habits have been questionable for the entire month of January, and it's time to lose the who-knows-how-much I gained over Christmas. \u0026nbsp;When I need to reset my eating habits, I go without sugar for a week or two, and it's been going well. My jeans are no longer cutting into my sides, so that's good.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContemplating...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EFinally getting around to sharing my favorite books from 2019, and catching myself up on Goodreads. \u0026nbsp;For some reason I quit recording things on Goodreads after we went on vacation last year. \u0026nbsp;I just completely lost motivation. \u0026nbsp;Then last month I read a book called \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Reclaiming-Conversation-Power-Talk-Digital\/dp\/0143109790\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=reclaiming+conversation\u0026amp;qid=1581000298\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EReclaiming Conversation\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, and one of the points the author made was that the list of books that you check out from the library is confidential, because people (ie. the government) do not have a right to know what you are reading unless you want them to. \u0026nbsp;And that got me thinking, do I really want Facebook and Google spying on my reading list via Goodreads? \u0026nbsp;They already know a disturbing amount of information about me. \u0026nbsp;I'll probably still add my books on Goodreads for now, but it's something to think about.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEmbracing...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EThese wintery homeschool days. \u0026nbsp;Winter is hard with so many kids, we all get cabin fever. \u0026nbsp;But I've been keeping the apple cider brewing and snuggling on the couch while reading books to the kids, and it's been kind of lovely.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWorking...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EOn meeting my goals for the month of February. \u0026nbsp;Particularly the goal of memorizing Hebrews 5, and starting a prayer list page in my bullet journal. \u0026nbsp;Progress will be made today, I am determined.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Last-Doughboys-Forgotten-Generation-Their\/dp\/0544290488\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Last Of The Doughboys\u003C\/i\u003E by Richard Rubin\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that we saw 1917 in the theater a couple weeks ago, and Derek and I decided to read more about World War 1 together. \u0026nbsp;I saw this book at the bookstore and decided to give it a chance, and I'm so glad I did! \u0026nbsp;It's written by a man who interviewed World War 1 veterans in the early 2000's, when they were over a hundred years old. \u0026nbsp;It's been a really fascinating look at different experiences of the war, but also a fascinating look at centenarians. \u0026nbsp;I highly recommend it! \u0026nbsp;Derek is reading \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/World-Undone-Story-Great-1914\/dp\/0553382403\/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0\/142-4556489-3215012?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;pd_rd_i=0553382403\u0026amp;pd_rd_r=a5286d8e-0d3c-450b-a759-5afc7d700c4e\u0026amp;pd_rd_w=ZllGr\u0026amp;pd_rd_wg=mEGaR\u0026amp;pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a\u0026amp;pf_rd_r=KG0NK6XCWDV6HM8PHN6Q\u0026amp;psc=1\u0026amp;refRID=KG0NK6XCWDV6HM8PHN6Q\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Ethis one\u003C\/a\u003E, in case you were curious. \u0026nbsp;Next on my reading list...\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Farewell-Arms-Hemingway-Library\/dp\/1476764522\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+farewell+to+arms\u0026amp;qid=1581000236\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EA Farewell To Arms\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/All-Quiet-Western-Front-Novel\/dp\/0449213943\/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=all+quiet+on+the+western+front\u0026amp;qid=1581000260\u0026amp;s=books\u0026amp;sr=1-1\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EAll Quiet On The Western Front\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Guns-August-Pulitzer-Prize-Winning-Outbreak\/dp\/0345476093\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EThe Guns Of August\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, because about a million people recommended those to me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWatching...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EThe Bachelor. \u0026nbsp;I wasn't sure I even wanted to watch it this year, but I got sucked in again. \u0026nbsp;What is the deal with this group of girls? \u0026nbsp;Maybe we should stick with the over-28 crowd for the next Bachelor go'round. \u0026nbsp;These girls all seem too...young. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe kids are currently watching The Great Mouse Detective, which is bringing back alot of memories for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EPreparing...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003EFor Wyatt's birthday next week, on which day he will turn nine years old, and officially be halfway through his childhood. \u0026nbsp;I don't really want to talk about it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWhat have you all been up to lately?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1596726065473063184\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1596726065473063184\u0026isPopup=true","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1596726065473063184"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1596726065473063184"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2020\/02\/currently-february-2020.html","title":"Currently | February 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s98\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-t8d5kyEV9nk\/Xjwp2M4kFAI\/AAAAAAAAY54\/LFMfyrjO43cEu9Aih75RbHjNXRTDaD4cgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/February-2020-051blog_edited-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}}]}});