Hello, Reader.

As summer melds into fall, the temperatures in Texas are slowly starting to sink a bit. Mornings feel cool(ish) and the days are getting shorter. It's a welcome break from the heat. And even our return to books and lessons and a more predictable schedule provides a comforting rhythm to our days.

Are you feeling it too? Hit reply and tell me what you love most about this time of year. Or share a prayer request or podcast question or idea or suggestion. I love hearing from you!

In the meantime, here are a few fun ways to celebrate the month of September -- which will be here in the blink of an eye!

Free resources for you this week:

• Sept. 1: Labor Day - a perfect time for our "Do Your Work Heartily" Coloring Page​
• Sept. 8 - Pledge of Allegiance Day – our homeschool co-op pledges flag & Bible each week
• Sept. 11 - National Make Your Bed Day - use our room check printable until it's a habit
• Sept. 14 - National Coloring Day – download some of our coloring pages to celebrate
• Sept. 15 - National Thank You Day – use our free thank you cards to send notes of gratitude
• Sept. 16 - National Guacamole Day - serve a big bowl of savor-it-slowly guacamole with chips
• Sept. 21 - World Peace Day - hang our Peace on Earth banner as a reminder to pray
• Sept. 23 - Great American Pot Pie Day – here’s an easy recipe for chicken pot pie we like

What I'm reading this week:

​You Bet Your Stretch Marks by Abbie Halberstadt Every chapter of You Bet Your Stretch Marks is jam-packed with life-giving, soul-nourishing, biblically sound wisdom and encouragement for bone-weary mamas who find themselves wondering whether they’ll ever see any fruit from their parenting efforts. Is the all the hard work and personal sacrifice really worth it? The title of this book is Abbie Halberstadt’s resounding answer, backed by tons of scripture and underscored by testimonies from more than a dozen faithful, older moms whose own experience likewise bears out the truth of that claim. I think this is her best book yet!

On the podcast this week:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 95 ​OUR FAMILY SHARK TANK CHALLENGE​ We have an uber-competitive family who loves any kind of contest, physical or mental, especially when prizes are involved. We recently gathered to compete in a Family Shark Tank Challenge. And in Episode 95 of Loving Life at Home, I’m dishing up all the details as to how it went down. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I did reasonably well completing my goals last week: I ✅ memorized Proverbs 31:10-31and quoted it to my friend, ✅ painted rusty vent covers, ✅ glued broken plate, ✅ finished, framed, and mailed baby gift, and ✅ finished my petit point purse

However, I still haven't ❌ emptied any more boxes in my garage or ❌ painted any metal tins for my handcraft class.

Personal goals for this week:

• make 10 quick & easy freezer meals 🥣
• drop off kids' entries for ETSF art contest 🖼️
• attend Symphony in the Park 🎵
• crochet a wedding gift 🧶
• empty one box 📦
• tole paint one tin 🎨
• attend church potluck 🥗

If you enjoy this newsletter and would like to support my work, there are five ways for you to do that:

1. Pray for me & my family
2. Invite a friend to subscribe to this newsletter​
3. Follow me on Instagram​
4. ​Buy one of my books​
5. Hit reply and say hello 👋

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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, please let me know. 😊