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Hello, Reader.

The XXV Winter Olympic Games will officially open on Friday, with preliminary competitions beginning today. More than 3500 elite athletes from 93 countries will spend the next 2 1/2 weeks competing in 16 sports.

Will you be watching? Which is your favorite event? For whom will you be rooting? I'm hoping this week's link list will help set the mood for the upcoming spectacle of strength, skill, & sportsmanship!

Free resources for you this week:

• ​Winter Olympic Word Scramble - how quickly can you decipher these mixed-up words?
• ​Frozen Expanses Coloring Page - without ice & snow, the winter games would be impossible
• ​Olympic Games Word Find - can you search and find all 50 of these game-related words?
• ​Sports-Themed Conversation Starters - discussion prompts to get your family & friends talking
• ​A Prayer for Athletes - beseech God's blessing on all areas of life, including sporting events

What I'm reading this week:

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​Elisabeth Elliot: Do the Next Thing, a Trailblazer Biography by Selah Helms, was a quick but powerful read. The book recounts Elisabeth's life, from her youngest years as the daughter of missionary parents, Philip and Katharine Howard, through her marriage to Jim Elliot, the birth of their daughter, his death at the hands of the Huaorani in Ecuador, her subsequent widowhood and writing career, a second marriage to Addison Leitch, his death to cancer, a third marriage, her struggle with Alzheimer's, and eventual death. Yet through all the ups and downs, joys and losses, Elisabeth's indomitable faith shone brightly. Her life was an inspiration to millions (including me). I enjoyed this succinct account of her time on earth, lived to the fullest for the glory of God!

On the podcast this week:

Here's another from the archives. Lord willing, I will eventually get back to posting new episodes!

Loving Life at Home: Episode 4 ​6 PARENTING MISTAKES YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE​ We all flub up from time to time. None of us are perfect parents. But there are a few very big, but very common parenting mistakes we’d like to avoid or counteract if we can. Because -- sometimes -- the things we do in an attempt to “help our kids out” end up “holding them back” instead. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

Well, I think I overestimated my energy level and underestimated the other demands that would be made upon my time upon returning from vacation, so the three goals I've been procrastinating on the longest got put off yet again!

I did ✅ enjoy our time in the Caribbean, ✅ drop my mom off in Dallas, ✅ print out all my income tax receipts/business expenses for my husband, and ✅ finish 4 new pages in my ​Bread of Heaven​ journal.

But I still haven't ❌ sorted the costumes in our garage, ❌ recorded a new podcast, ❌ written a review for the drawing program Abby and I are doing in school. So I'm going to work on those goals for one more week (then give up for the time being if I don't finish in that length of time).

Personal goals for this week:

• finish stitching new Valentine heart banner
• organize costumes
• record podcast
• review art program
• attend baby shower for a friend
• make exploding photo cards with craft class
• clean out and organize console in my car
• box up Christmas books until next year

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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. 😊