Welcome to the first WWW of 2016! (Last week was still a holiday weekend and I didn't even sit down at my regular work computer.) I've been saving links for weeks so let's get right to 'em.
Learning
We should probably call this the "book list" category for this week. I love all the book lists that come around at the end of one year / beginning of another.
- Sheila Wray Gregoire shared 10 Books That Changed My Life in 2015. (Some delightful synchronicity here: one of my favorite bloggers, in this case Sheila, names a book written by one of my blog friends, in this case Mystie Winkler. And for more on that, see below.)
- Kevin DeYoung shared his Top 10 Books of 2015 too.
- ProjectTHINK - January Book List from Gallimaufry Grove has some great reading suggestions.
- Browsing this list added several to my "I ought to read that" list: The Federalist's Notable Books of 2015.
- I haven't been keeping up with the latest Austen-esque books but this list from Austenprose is making me want to order some from my library: Best Austen-esque and Jane Austen Era Books of 2015.
- I think I want to read everything on this list (minus the few I've read already): Baker's Dozen: Best Nonfiction I Read in 2015 from Semicolon.
- If you're looking for a reading challenge for January, do consider the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge from Reading To Know.
- Want to read more in 2016? Tim Challies shared his advice in How to Finish Over 100 Books in 2016.
- Confessions of a Read Aloud Slacker by Shawna Wingert at Simple Homeschool. Loved this. Favorite quote: "Like anything else in homeschooling, you might have to figure out how to make reading aloud your own." My pep talk for you: Stop comparing yourself to all the other homeschool moms (including those on the internet) and just start reading, when, how, and where it works for your family. The End.
- Reading Modern Mrs. Darcy is not good for by latent book envy. I want ALL of these: Build Your Kids' Library With These Wonderful, Beautiful Books. Here's the thing: we already own editions of many of these. But these are so PRETTY! Now I'm haunting Amazon for deals on books I ALREADY OWN. (This could be a problem)
Living
- Why Homeschool Moms Need Homeschool Friends by Misty at Finding Joy in the Journey. This is an older post that just came across my radar recently. I lived for many years as a only homeschool mom while most other women I knew "in real life" (as opposed to over the internet) were not. I didn't realize how much that was draining me until I joined a homeschool co-op and started feeling...normal (which, yes, I know, there's no such thing as normal). Anyway, this post resonated with me.
- The Biggest Lie We Believe Every Day by Lea Ann Garfias. Wish I could send this one to all the moms I know. Since I can't, I'll share it here.
- Trade in Your Resolutions for This One Thing by Kat Dee at The Art of Simple. Yes!
- What a Novel Taught Me About Housework by Mystie Winkler at Simply Convivial. (I told you she would show up in this post again.)
- OK, I kind of hate sharing this, but it's come up in some real life discussions lately, so I will: The Active Shooter: Staying Alive from The Survival Mom. I think a point I would stress is just awareness of your surroundings. Have you seen people trying to walk down the sidewalk while texting? Not good. I love my phone too, but it goes in my pocket or bag while I'm walking or driving. [/sermon]
- Yes, amen, so say we all: Stop Waiting for Your Church to Feed You by Tyler Edwards at Relevant.
Loving
- We Lost a Child and Gained Something Greater by Kyle Porter at The Cauldron. Oh my. You know that I am not a cry-er so trust me when I tell you to have a box of tissues ready when you read this. And yes, you should read this.
- My oldest daughter is memorizing the periodic table right now (with this site: Memorize the Periodic Table. Full review coming soon!). So this news caught my eye: Periodic Table's Seventh Row Finally Filled as Four More Elements are Added.
- Made me laugh: Six Reasons Why It's Awesome to Have Six Kids.
- I suspect the US, with the common scare tactics about co-sleeping holding sway with most doctors right now, will never get these amazing Maternity Ward Beds. Which is a shame because these are awesome and I would have loved them when I had my babies.
- Here's another idea I hope catches on: Borrow a Sewing Machine? Sacramento Public Library To Start Loaning More Than Books. How cool would it be to borrow - instead of buy - the cartoon character pan your four year old desperately wants on his cake that you will never use again?
On Living Unabridged this week:
- Homeschooling and Parenting: Top 10 Posts from 2015
- Words on Wednesday: On Grammar.
- 52 Family Game Nights
Last year:
What caught your eye this week?
Is it time to get organized? Get control of your kitchen? Tame your homeschool chaos? Check out these resources:
