Living Unabridged

Sorry for the lack of links last week. (I love alliteration, don't you?) Life sometimes interferes with my best laid blogging plans. (And, um, any plans, in some cases.)

Anyway, sorry about that. To make up for it I have a mega-huge list of links for you this week, so settle in with a snack and read on:

Learning

• Print, Ebook, or Audio? Tips for Finishing More Books by Tim Challies. 100 books in one year? It's not an impossible task, even if you've never done it before.
• Reading Under Stress from Living Books Library. "Reading is a survival technique." YES. THIS. So much, this.
• So You Think You Want to Homeschool by Dawn at ladydusk. Dawn is wise. Listen to Dawn. Be like Dawn. (Sorry, slipped into advertisement mode there for a minute.)
• Apple Stole My Music from Vellum. Cautionary tale: don't get rid of your CDs or records. And keep hard copies of your favorite books, too. Because you never really own digital things the way you own something physical.
• Does My Child Need Emotional Therapy? by Tricia Goyer at The Better Mom.  Helpful advice here.
• Ask a Librarian: 30 Great "New" Books from Redeemed Reader. Because not all new books are bad, but not all of them are great either. (I highly recommend this site, by the way. If you don't have time to pre-read every new book in the library yourself - and honestly, what homeschool mom does?!)

Living

• My Thoughts on the Atlantic Middle Class Article by Kristen at The Frugal Girl. I appreciate this reasonable take on a controversial subject.
• Why Francis Chan is Radically Wrong by ThatMom. I have to take issue with anyone who says family should be sacrificed "for the gospel". Anyone who says you have to choose between the gospel and your family is creating a false dichotomy. (But don't get me started, because I could write an entire series of blog posts about this, and maybe I will. Someday.) Anyway, I wasn't aware of these statements by Chan, but appreciate this response.
• The Things We Dare Not Say by Lindsey Carlson at TGC. Wise words.
• Raising Ramona in 21st-Century Portland by D.L. Mayfield at CT. I have thoroughly enjoyed the spate of Cleary-inspired articles published recently.
• How to Get the Most Out of Social Media - And Help Your Favourite Bloggers, Too! by Sheila Wray Gregoire at To Love, Honor, and Vacuum. Hint, hint.
• The Truth About Hospitality by Nicole at The Art of Simple. This post is lovely.
• Your Kids Don't Need a Megachurch by Amy Julia Becker for CT. (You may need a subscription to read this one. It's also in the May print issue of CT.) I loved this, not least because we don't attend a megachurch and I've seen the same benefits for my own children.
• Stop Saying 'I Feel Like' by Molly Worthen in The New York Times. Amen, so say we all. (At the very least I know every INTJ is nodding vigorously in agreement.)
• The Unspoken Connection Between Clutter and Finances by Crystal Ellefsen at The Art of Simple. I LOVED this. One question I am learning to ask during decluttering is "Am I holding on to this out of fear?" And fear can take various forms: fear of needing something and not being able to replace it, fear of forgetting something I don't want to forget, or fear of being unprepared.

Loving

• Point: How the Internet is Killing the Book Review by Ellen Painter Dollar at Patheos. Counterpoint: Why I Leave Good Reviews Whenever I Can by Tsh Oxenreider. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, but I'm not sure I've come to any conclusions.
• Was C.S. Lewis an Evolutionist? by Samuel D. James. This is a thoughtful response to a common concern among some Christians.
• Seriously, Stop Sharing Bogus News Stories by Sarah Sciarini at Relevant. I sure wish I could share this one with all my Facebook friends. (I'm not a fan of the fact checking site that she mentions, but the points are still good.)
• Politics posts: Sometimes There is No Lesser of Two Evils by David Harsanyi for The Federalist; We Need a Third Party Right Awayy by Robert Tracinski also at The Federalist; and 4 Ways to Oppose Trump Besides Voting Hillary by Liz Mair, again for The Federalist. (If you couldn't tell, I am #NeverTrump and #NeverHillary. What an absolute mess this election cycle has turned out to be.)
• Made me laugh: News 2017: Nation Fractures Into Fourths by Brian Willett. It's written as satire (I think) but it really did remind me of this book: American Nations.
• Family Phases: The History of Family Strength in America May Reveal Good News by Allan Carlson. Just another example of how studying History can be encouraging.
• I love stories about Old Hollywood and Olivia de Havilland is one of the few remaining stars from that time: Olivia de Havilland and the Most Notorious Sibling Rivalry in Hollywood by William Stadiem in Vanity Fair.
• If you watch cooking shows you already know this but I still think it's interesting: Macarons vs. Macaroons. (I'd happily eat either.)

From Living Unabridged:

• You Don’t Need That: Homeschool Curriculum
• Better Together: Real Friendships, Real Community
• 52 Family Game Nights: Uno

Last year:

• Relaxed and Classical: A Lifestyle of Learning
• Home by Choice: 37 Silly and Serious Reasons We Homeschool

What caught your eye this week?