Hello, Reader.

My crew has less than a week of summer break left... then it's back to the books! We're packing lots of fun into the final days of vacation. But I think we are ready to get back into the routine of co-op classes, volleyball practices, family read-alouds, and a steadier, more predictable flow to our days (and nights), as well!

Maybe you feel the same way? Whether your kids ride a school bus to class or gather around the kitchen table to do lessons with a parent -- or are now parents themselves, watching over the education of their own children -- we hope the coming year will be marked by consistent growth "in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man." (see Luke 2:52)

And, to help you get off to a great start, I'm sharing a few relevant resources in this week's link list....

Free resources for you this week:

• ​A Prayer for Students - scripture-based requests for learners of all ages
• ​A Prayer for Teachers - because they need prayer, too!
• ​Back-to-School Discussion Prompts - an open-ended alternative to "How was your day?"
• ​First Day of School Signs - track your child's growth from one school year to the next
• ​Back-to-School Word Scramble - how quickly can you decipher these mixed-up words?
• ​O How I Love Instruction! - this coloring page features the words of Psalm 119:97

What I'm reading this week:

​The Overnight Student by Dr. Michael Jones This short book details the method the author used to go from making straight Fs to straight As -- literally. His suggestions are simple, effective, and can be summed up in six words, which he provides at the end of the book as a re-cap: "Stand up and teach out loud." For the specifics on to how to put his method into practice, refer to The Overnight Student's first nine chapters. You'll discover a great way to study which, when used consistently, will broaden and enhance your understanding of any topic in any class.

What we're watching this week:

We're getting back into the swing of school, and that includes firing up World Watch News again. We use this daily, 10-minute news program to keep abreast of current events.

I love the fact that each segment is written from a Christian worldview and every episode ends with a reminder that "whatever the news, the purpose of the LORD will stand."

Would World Watch be a good fit for your family, too? Sign up for a new trial subscription using my referral link, and we will both get one month FREE!

On the podcast this week:

One more episode from the archives for you this week, as my latest installment's still in production...

Loving Life at Home: Episode 86 ​TWO WAYS TO HELP YOUR KIDS FLOURISH​ Our oldest son recently shared with me and my husband what he considers the two most important and impactful things we did for him growing up, so I’m unpacking both those key ways to help your kids flourish in this week’s episode. I hope you’ll listen in. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I wasn't able to mark everything off last week's to-do list, but I made decent progress on most of the tasks: I ✅ explored Rocky Mountain National Park, ✅ finished crocheting the lace trim on my dress, ✅ edited eight (but ❌ not all 25) chapters of my audiobook, ✅ flew home from Colorado (travel tip: to avoid being flagged during TSA security checks, leave your ziplock bag of epsom salt at home), ✅ attended my daughter's first volleyball tournament of the season, ✅ drove to San Antonio to visit my son, ✅ spent a day with the family at Sea World Aquatica, ✅ cleaned out three school drawers (but ❌ none of our book bins), and ✅ stitched three schoolhouse ornaments. However, I ❌ have not released a new podcast episode...yet.

Personal goals for this week:

• go in for another follow-up mammogram
• celebrate my 39th wedding anniversary
• attend final book club meeting of the summer
• go to a baby shower for someone at church
• start our homeschool co-op's fall semester
• keep the books for my daughter's volleyball game
• host a monthly potluck for extended family
• edit 5 more audiobook chapters
• clear off my closet desk (again)
• empty work table in the garage

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

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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, hit reply and let me know. 😊