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Hello, Reader.

Mother's Day is only four days away -- which may still be enough time to get a card in the mail if you are blessed to have a mom who is still alive and well.

I'll be seeing mine this weekend and can give it to her in person, as I'm pretty sure she's coming into town to attend the graduation of her youngest grandson and her oldest great-grandson, both of whom are graduating with our homeschool group this Saturday.

Which means this week has been pretty busy for our family -- for lots of reasons -- and I suspect it is for yours, as well. There is always so much to do in springtime! So let's get straight to this week's link list, shall we?

Free resources for you this week:

• ​ Mother's Day Printables - let your kids and grandkids fill out these fun vintage worksheets
• ​ A Prayer for Mothers - scriptures to pray over your mom (& ask your kids to pray over you)
• ​ Mother's Day Cards - print at home and drop one in the mail today!
• ​ Mother's Day Coupons - an easy last-minute-gift idea for kids to give Mom
• ​ Animal Mothers & Babies - can you match up all these mother animals to their offspring?
• ​ Taught from Childhood Coloring Page - this pretty printable features a verse from 2 Timothy

What I'm reading this week:

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My daughter and I are only a chapter away from finishing The First Four Years, which is the last of nine books in Laura Ingall's Wilder's Little House Series. Beginning with Laura and Almanzo's wedding, this volume follows their life in early marriage, describing the many joys and set backs they experienced and the birth of their little daughter, Rose. I love reading how harmoniously they worked together to establish a homestead out on the South Dakota prairie. It's the kind of teamwork that would benefit many modern-day marriages as well. ​

This week's reader request:

I recently recorded a podcast with Terri Bonnin discussing a poem I wrote several years ago, and when a mutual friend heard it, she asked if she could share the poem with guests at an upcoming wedding shower.

Of course, I was happy for her to do that. And so I spruced up some promotional bookmarks I'd designed a decade ago to look a little prettier and more appropriate for a bridal shower, then added the file to my original post as a free printable PDF, in case others are interested in using it, too.

What we're eating this week:

I made another big batch of tortilla soup per my children's request this week. It's delicious with or without chicken, especially when topped with fresh avocado slices and a squeeze of lime juice.

On the podcast this week:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 83 ​In Honor of Mothers Everywhere​ Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, honoring mom is the topic for this week's podcast. Even if giving birth to you is all your mother ever did, she would still be worthy of your gratitude and respect. But for most of our moms, the end of labor and delivery was when the real work began. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

Last week's to-do list is done and dusted! I ✅ cleaned out my file cabinet, ✅ boxed up our used curriculum for book sale, ✅ celebrated my son's nursing school graduation, ✅ tidied our bathroom cabinets, ✅ took two boxes of donations to Hangers of Hope, and ✅ emailed this month's Bible memory verses to my kids & grandkids.

Personal goals for this week:

• set to music/memorize Proverbs 3:1-18
• go in for fasting bloodwork
• ​make diplomas for my next two homeschool graduates
• attend their graduation
• host reception afterwards
• empty & move folding table out of garage
• complete 4 more pages in my devotional journal for moms​

If you enjoy this newsletter and would like to support my work, there are four ways for you to do that (pick one):

1. Forward a copy to a friend with an invitation to subscribe, OR
2. Follow me on Instagram and comment on a post, OR
3. ​Buy one of my books and leave a positive review, OR
4. ​Listen to my podcast, then leave a review on your favorite platform

Thanks so much for all your help! I'll be back next week with more links, reviews, and resources. If you have any special requests, just hit reply and let me know. 😊