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Best Devotionals Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones & Jago (same author as the Jesus Storybook Bible)

Indescribable by Louie Giglio (great for kiddos who love science!)

Picture Books The Can Man by Laura E Williams - teaches empathy towards the homeless.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson - teaches empathy, kindness, and addresses bullying. It's illustrated by EB Lewis, who is my favorite picture book illustrator. His watercolors are simply amazing. I have loved any book he's illustrated.

St George and the Dragon retold by Margaret Hodges - good story about keeping your word, courage and chivalry. One of our very favorite picture books!

Just As Good by Chris Crowe - highlights a lesser known civil rights activist/baseball player during desegregation in major league baseball… good conversations on civil rights as well as courage. 

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and David Shannon - just a fun picture book… one of my boys favorites during K-1. 

Dirty Joe the Pirate by Bill Harley and Jack E Davis - just another fun picture book, especially for little boys who may have an older sister. 

Big Bouffant by Kate Hosford and Holly Clifton-Brown - cute picture book with great illustrations. Led to discussions on being your own person and not feeling like you have to be like everyone else.

A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon - good picture book that teaches you that it's better to be yourself than try to fit in with everyone else. 

The Tale of Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt - retells the folktale of the three trees that turn into the manger, the boat that held Jesus and the disciples, and the cross.

Mama Seeton's Whistle by Jerry Spinelli - this one just made my mama heart smile. Tells a story of a mama who whistles to get her kiddos to come home from playing around the neighborhood. Then the children grow but they can still hear their mama's whistle and come home to see her, and they end up whistling for their own children.

Chapter Books The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis - it's a classic but just so so good. Lots of spiritual parallels, courage, bravery, etc.

Kenny and the Dragon by Toni DeTerlizzi - great book about standing up for others, facing your fears and being courageous, even if you have to stand alone. Reads like an EB White book and has great illustrations throughout.

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen L Taylor - written in plain English, sparks great spiritual conversations. The publisher lists ages 8-12, but Connor has loved this one too, so it could work for a more mature 1st grader.

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder - another classic but it's one of my favorites to read aloud to the boys. It can be read outside of the series as a stand alone book IMO.

Wonder by RJ Polacio. She's also written a picture book titled We're All Wonders that is the same premise but more appropriate for preschool/Kinder, or if the child isn't ready for a long read-aloud. We love both!

Any of the EB White books (Charlotte's Webb, Trumpet of the Swan, Stuart Little). All of these are shorter chapter books, with great character development and easy to follow plots for early elementary aged kiddos.

Read Alone The I Can Read Series (level 2) by ZonderKidz - lots of great bible stories written in language that's easy for beginner readers to read on their own. We love the ones illustrated by Dennis G. Jones: David, Daniel, Moses, Jonah, etc.

The Action Bible by Doug Mauss and Sergio Cariello - the Bible in graphic novel form. Great for kids who love graphic novels.

The Mercy Watson collection by Kate DiCamillo - super cute series for early readers wanting to get into chapter books. Has been a favorite series of both of my school aged boys; even my preschooler likes me to read these aloud to him.

*Kenny and the Dragon could easily be a chapter book read alone by upper elementary aged kids.

Summer is here. Are you ready? 

What are your summer plans? 

As you are making plans for your family this summer, I invite you to make a plan to connect one-on-one with your kids. 

A great resource is the book Donut Date Journal by Chap Bettis. It has 70 Questions to help you connect with the heart of your child. 

Take advantage of the summer days. Make plans to connect one-on-one with your kids. Here are a few suggestions: 

grab a snow cone

go on a bike ride

plan to fish

go bowling

eat a meal together

go play putt putt  

Don’t have time to grab the book? Consider asking your child 3 great questions...then be ready to listen! Be intentional with the days you have because they are moving faster than you realize.  

It’s finally summer! You’re either excited or wondering how you’ll get through the long days without losing your patience. I love summer, but I often feel both the excitement and the trepidation. I love having my kids home more, but I also personally love routine and structure. The laziness of summer can make me uneasy and it’s enough for this checklist, to-do list loving mom to want something more.

Several years ago, I decided that I would enjoy the forced slowdown of summer, but would choose intentionality and purpose (while extending myself lots of grace when things didn’t go according to the plan). 

I did NOT want to:

wish our summer away, dreading the long days or longing for days of school year routines.

pack the summer too full, trying to do all. the. things.

nor get wrapped up in what everyone else is doing, trying to keep up. 

Instead, I wanted our summers to:

be memorable and meaningful, filled with things we decided WE wanted to do.

have clear expectations, for my sake and for my kids’ sake.

be a balance of fun and adventure with simplicity and rest. 

So what does that practically look like when we’re staring at SEVENTY-SIX DAYS of no school?

WE find the fun!

Like so many other families, we create a bucket list: small things like chasing fireflies, silly things like watermelon seed spitting contests, and big adventures like a family road trip. 

What I love about a bucket list is that while it fills my little check-the-box loving heart, it is the best way to capture all of summer. You get excited about all the fun that is to come ( the future), it helps you focus on the details and not miss the simple pleasures (the here and now), and when school days are just a few sleeps away, it allows you to look back and see all the great memories you had as a family (the past). A bucket list is the perfect snapshot of summer.

Make summer fun your own. Choose things your family wants to do and let go of all the Pinterest expectations.

WE set the structure!

In this house, we’re all better people with a little bit of routine, so we structure both our days and weeks. We narrow down our expectations, give meaning to what we do, and make sure we’re not wasting our days away.

Days: We have daily reading times, chores, outside play, screen time checklists, normal bedtimes (sort of), and even some “fun” schoolwork…That makes it sound pretty horrible around here, but my kids love knowing that if we’re home, then there’s a sense of rhythm and predictability.

Weeks: This may be my favorite part of summer! For the past couple of years, we’ve had daily themes that anchor our fun.

Ice Cream Sunday – because who doesn’t love an excuse to eat ice cream?

Make It Monday – a craft, a new recipe, art, a Lego creation

Take a Trip Tuesday – to a new park, the zoo, a fun hiking trail

Water Wednesday – a water balloon fight in our backyard, pool time with friends, run through the sprinklers, the splash pad

Thinking Thursday – a fun science experience, some brainteaser puzzles, trip to a museum

Family Friday – anything as long as we’re together: board games, movie night, bowling

Service Saturday – bake cookies for a neighbor, babysit for friends, donate food/supplies

When we get up, we have a plan for the day, but still have plenty of room for flexibility and fun.

WE scrap the schedule!

As great as a plan is, sometimes letting go is even better.

There are times when we toss the day’s plan for an impromptu playdate or a rainy stay inside and do nothing day! 

I keep a bag in the back of my car with a change of clothes, towels, and some spare change. That way, if we’re running errands and see a creek or a splash pad or a fun new food truck, I can say YES to the spontaneous adventure.

It may just be that the changes in plans or the crazy “yes” moments are what make your summer the very best of days.

Before the typical sights and sounds of boredom and bickering start to emerge, make a plan. Plan to take back summer and make it memorable, meaningful, and especially fun!

See if you can solve this riddle without looking at the answer.

WHAT IS...

... more powerful than a VBS?

... more memorable than an object lesson?

... more nourishing than a book?

... more life-changing than a week at camp?

... more meaningful than a Sunday sermon?

... way more influential than a pastor?

And the correct answer is...

[HINT: It's a piece of furniture]

THE FAMILY DINNER TABLE

Read on at...We Are Kidman Blog

“A recent conversation with a friend about business recruiting actually highlighted a couple of parenting insights.

I was meeting with a CEO who was evaluating his internship program. In determining whom to hire out of this program, he looks for only three capabilities:

Work ethic

Problem solving ability

Relational skills

GPA is not on the list. A list of athletic awards is not on the list. Generations of family success are not on the list. A certain personality is not on the list.

The more I thought about it, the more universal I thought those three capabilities really were. As I often do, I discussed this theory with my family and with some other empty nesters. The more we looked at these factors as measures of success for parents, the more we liked them.

Let’s look at each in turn and possibly give you an insight or two on recruiting or parenting.” - Steve Graves

Read on at: Steve Graves Blog

“Being a parent means you’re no stranger to your kids’ fluctuating moods. Whether they’re a toddler who has just discovered the magical word, “no,” or a teenager who spends more time in angst and sullenness than not, moodiness and kids of all ages seems to go hand in hand.

But parents should be mindful of what’s normal for their kid versus if they’re experiencing a behavior that is out of the ordinary —while your child might appear as if they’re functioning on the outside, their world may be crumbling on the inside.” PC Blog

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY KID IS IN A CRISIS?

LISTEN NOW -> Parent Cue Podcast: Your Kid in Crisis

Repetition - it goes against my personality in so many ways. I don’t want to sound like a robot. I’m afraid of be boring. I  always trend toward the newest of everything (new gum flavor “I’ll have that”). But lately I’ve had a change of heart. I noticed recently that I catch myself being a broken record (on repeat) with some of my responses in my job, friendships and with my family.  hmmmmm. Perhaps repetition IS good?! 

One of my favorite ways to worship the Lord is through song. Whether I'm by myself or in a crowd at church, I love getting to sing to Him. I find great joy in worshipping because the God who formed me created me to worship. The word "worship" is most often associated with music at church, but it's so much more than that: Worshipping is fulfilling what we are made to do. As people who were designed to worship our Creator, we are given so many opportunities to do more than sing. God has given each of us talents, gifts, and interests that we can use to worship Him. What are you passionate about?

At the dinner table this week: Take turns saying what you are gifted at. If you need help thinking of something, have someone else point out a quality or skill they see in you. What are some ways you can use your talents to worship God this week? Read Psalm 86:9-10.

Our God is so big and so creative that He gave us countless ways to bring Him honor. Scripture says that ALL will worship God. He is great and His works are wonderful! When it comes to worshipping Jesus, it involves everything we do. It's how we express our thankfulness and love for Him in every day circumstances. We can worship Him wherever we are because He is everywhere. We also have reason to worship Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Not only can we worship at church, but we can bring honor to Him throughout the week by welcoming a new family into our neighborhood, choosing to not argue or complain over a decision, or telling our mom or dad thank you for providing our dinner. The way we live reflects how we choose to worship God.

Think through some ways your family can worship God together this week and put them into practice.

With All Due Respect: Teaching Kids How To Respect Authority

We are just a few weeks from school starting again and the pool is still just as enchanting now, as when it opened nearly two months ago. This is the first summer my boys are both confidently swimming and entertaining themselves, and so I am loving this new season of freedom. This past weekend, we loaded up with the cooler, the pool bag, the inflatable raft, the circular tubes, the goggles, the towels, the books and the sunscreen, and made our way to the neighborhood pool where a new lifeguard was on duty. We unloaded our stuff, my boys...   (Read More from Parent Cue blog)

Have you ever considered taking time to pray for people as being the most significant way you could serve them?  Oftentimes we neglect prayer for actions of service.  Today we talk about making our homes shelters of prayer.

Family Devotional | Holy Week 2018 Subscribe HERE to receive 8 daily installments of Journey with Jesus from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday via email or text #devo to 479-282-2406.

Parent Introduction: For the next 8 days we invite you and your family to take a trip with us and Journey with Jesus. This 8 day experience is for each member of your family: to individually remember the week before the cross and process together the many moments Jesus experienced.We encourage you to be present for one another but to give space for what each member of the family is feeling and understanding. We pray the Holy Spirit will use each day to help all of you to flourish in His great love!

Items needed for the week:

Bible (We recommend The Adventure Bible)

Suitcase/bag

Coat

Wash cloth

Juice box and crackers

Leaves/twig

Rope or handcuffs

Nail (the larger the better)

Black scarf/material or piece of paper

Each day you will be asked to add an item to your suitcase or bag. Give each member of the family a chance to express what they know about the item and how it fits into the Easter Story.

Remember, each year your children are processing deeper thoughts and developing their understanding of who God is and how to respond to Him. Encourage your older children to engage on a deeper level and listen to what they are thinking and feeling.

The suitcase is used to imply that you will be journeying (experiencing) a bit of what Jesus experienced the week leading to the cross.

Before you begin 

Find a suitcase or bag.

Invite each member of your family to join in this experience.

Pray for God to speak to each of you and draw closer to HIM. Ask God to help all of you understand HIM in a deeper way to grow in faith and love with Him.

Place the suitcase/bag in a place where it can be seen all week. Let your kids look in it and talk about it all throughout the week.

Palm Sunday | March 25

Add to suitcase: a coat or jacket Read: Luke 19:28-30 and 19:35-38 Process and discuss together: 

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this Scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

Monday | March 26

Add to the suitcase: a wash cloth Read: John 13:3-7 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this Scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

Tuesday | March 27

Add to the suitcase: a juice box and some crackers Read: Mark 14:22–24 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this Scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Parents, please share with your children when you placed your trust in Jesus. Do your children have a faith story yet? With each child, talk through what it means to follow Jesus Scripture declares: If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Read Romans 10:9.

Pray together.

Wednesday | March 28

Add to the suitcase: twigs and leaves Read: Matthew 26:36–39 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this Scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

Thursday | March 29

Add to the suitcase: a rope or handcuffs Read: Mark 14:43–46 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this Scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

Good Friday | March 30

Add to the suitcase: a nail Read: Luke 23:33–34 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

Saturday | March 31

Add to the suitcase: black material or paper Read: John 19:38–42 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

Easter Sunday | April 1

Before the kids get up, EMPTY THE SUITCASE. •Let the kids discover the EMPTY suitcase.

•Read: Matthew 28:1-6 Process and discuss together:

What does this tell us about Jesus?

What does it tell us about ourselves?

How should we follow Jesus today because of this scripture?

Who could you tell this story to?

Pray together.

In Scripture, you see Christ moved with compassion for others.  In Mark 1, Jesus is moved with compassion, and he reaches out to touch a leper and heal him.  In Mark 6, Jesus is moved with compassion for a group of people because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So he fed them and taught them….thousands of them.  His life was about loving the broken, the hurting, the outcasts, the wealthy, the poor, the worst of sinners, those who were young and those who were old.  Luke 6:36 tells us, "You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."

I don't know about you, but I feel like this broken world we live in needs compassion and kindness.  As a mom of three, I want my daughters to express Christ's love and compassion towards others so that they can also express His truth in a way that others are receptive.  And, if I'm being honest, I need to grow in compassion too.

So how do we cultivate compassion in our hearts and in the hearts of our children?  We ask Jesus to let us see others through His eyes.  We do life with them and we try to put ourselves in their shoes.  We serve with no strings attached.

So let's link arms with our children, no matter what age, and serve others around us.  With spring break upon us it might be the perfect time to get started, but hopefully it will be a life-long pursuit to cultivate compassion and serve others around you. Here are some easy ways you might like to serve in our community:

1. Contact the church and see if there is an elderly couple or a widow that you could visit, do yard work for, spend an hour visiting with or running errands for.

2. Connect with the Samaritan Center.  There are lots of ways to serve.  You can sort through items for their thrift store, pantry, pack snack packs for children who are food insecure, work in their community garden, etc.

3. Check out Laundry Love.  You can serve once a month building friendships with others who are often living in poverty.  Serve a meal to them and help provide money for them to wash their clothes at the laundry mat.

4. Bake cookies and make cards for your local fire department or law enforcement and deliver.

5. Work with your children to collect clothing, toys, toiletries for a shelter and then serve together.

6. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter, or make bags filled with items a homeless person would need and keep them in your car to pass out as you drive by someone on a street corner who is in need.

7. Make a meal and deliver it to a new neighbor or a family who is being effected by cancer or another long-term illness.

8. Draw pictures, write notes, and send to missionaries overseas (you can contact the church and do this on a regular basis) or send to servicemen and women overseas.

9. There are quite a few apartments that have a large number of immigrants living in them.  The church can help direct you to them and offer ways for you to connect with people who might need a friend.

10. Call a local nursing home and set up a time to come visit with people, playing games, painting fingernails, talking, singing, reading to them.

11. Serve in the Village on the Fellowship NWA campus.  Clean an apartment, stock the pantry, etc. for missionaries arriving home on furlough.

12. Contact Arkansas Children's Hospital, Hope Cancer Resources, etc and see what needs you can help with or what items can be donated to people facing serious illnesses.

Compassion always comes a little easier when we've built a relationship with someone who is hurting. The more you can build a connection with others, serve together as a family, and then ask good questions, the easier it seems to be for the Lord to grow His compassion for others in us.  Don't be afraid to ask your children ahead of time what ways they'd most like to serve.  If you have a connection to a certain need, such as a family member who has or is battling cancer, a friend who has served in the military, a grandparent who is getting older or lost a spouse, or even a fascination with firetrucks, let that guide where you first serve.  Once you serve together, ask…"how do you" questions, such as, "How do you think you would feel if you didn't have enough food to eat?," "How would you feel if God called our family to move overseas to a country without any friends or family?" "How would you feel if grandma or grandpa had to move to a nursing home and didn't have anyone visit them?"

May we be compassionate, just like our Father is!

It’s hard not to feel inundated by the amount of information available to us these days. As a result of the constant streams of conversation, we often feel overwhelmed — are we doing right by our kids? Are we doing right by ourselves?

Podcast: Music & Parenting, Featuring Sara Groves

Singer/songwriter Sara Groves has grown familiar with the weightiness of words. That’s why recording her latest album, “Abide With Me,” was just as cathartic to her as it is refreshing to listeners. The album, reminiscent of 1900s Americana, features a stripped-down approach to some of Christian music’s most revered hymns. The songs are simple, speaking directly to the burdened hearts of many, especially parents. She wanted the album to feel like you were sitting in the last pew of church, she shares.

As a mother of three (two of them teenagers), Sara finds a constant need for grace to give to her kids. These songs, she says, represent the life stage she’s in now as a parent to teenagers who are constantly searching for answers.

“God is not like man,” she says. “He extends this amazing friendship to us and invites us to extend it to others. That is the resonating theme of the new album.”

In today’s episode of the Parent Cue Live podcast, you’ll learn:

What inspired the recording of the album, “Abide With Me”

How God’s neverending extension of friendship has helped Sara be a better parent

Sara’s approach to parenting teenagers

The importance of the words we speak over ourselves and our kids

Podcast: Music & Parenting, Featuring Sara Groves

I’m leaving … and I’m taking my wife with me.  We need it but our kids don’t understand it, yet. My wife and I are each packing a bag with 3 days worth of clothes and we are leaving. 

We’ve been fixing dinner, doing laundry, and running back and forth to endless practices. We’ve signed planners from school, cheered from the stands, and tucked kids in bed. We are good at being parents, but we are we good at being husband and wife? 

We’ve been told for years by those older and wiser than us about prioritizing our marriage. Its always seemed like a dream that ‘one day’ we’ll get some time together. What happens if we don’t ever turn that ‘one day’ into today? I don’t want to find out.

My kids don’t really understand why we are leaving without them. They keep asking to come with us. They want to go someplace warm too. Its actually pretty wonderful that they love us enough that they want to come along. 

The best thing we can do for our kids, though, is to leave without them occasionally. I have found that if we are great at being husband and wife, then we’ll be even better parents. Its keeps us from idolizing our kids and reminds them they are not the nexus of our universe.

You can’t exclude your kids for the sake of your own hobbies, ministries, or professions. Parenting should take priority over so much in our lives, but not our marriages. No matter how many times I’ve heard that truth, I still easily dismiss it away. 

So husbands, pursue your wife and make a long weekend away a priority. Laugh with each other. Share your heart. Enjoy being friends and lovers again. The best gift you could ever give to your children is a strong and healthy marriage. 

You are so loved- by God and your family!  

I was just thinking about you today… God has gifted you with great ability. I love watching you use your gifts.

It is an honor to be your parent. You honor me by the way you _______________.

You are a really good friend. I watched the way you treated ______________ and it made me so proud.

It is so cool to watch you work hard at _____________. Your work ethic is such a great quality.

Your commitment to God is inspiring. Seeing you interact with the Bible and hearing you pray is so encouraging!  

Thanks for forgiving me. I know that I have hurt you, but you don’t seem to be bitter. Being forgiving is such a great way to show mercy & grace.

I love it when you stand up for what is right! It is inspiring to see you be a person of conviction.

I hope you know that I am ALWAYS here for you. No matter what you’re going through, I want to go through it with you.

How can I pray for you today?

Ever wanted a plan for praying together as a family?  Here’s a simple way to get started.

A grandparent’s time, wisdom, resources and commitment are needed NOW, more than ever! 

Research overwhelmingly supports this. When children have grandparents who love, support, and are literally nuts about them... those children thrive. The grandparents benefit, too! They experience more satisfaction, happiness, and deeper contentment with their legacy.

Today’s families are spread out, living long distances apart, at risk of disconnection and instability. The experiences may vary greatly, but we are finding that grandparents are vital, valuable, and underutilized. 

We must find ways to unite these generations and unlock the full power of a grandparent's love, passion, and influence. This short and powerful video below shows the incredible value of grandparents in the lives of their grandchildren.

Family Ideas for connecting with Grandparents:  

Talk about your grandparents. Share pictures (especially if they are deceased/or live far away)

Write letters/draw pictures for your grandparents.

If possible use technology to help connect with grandparents (skype, text, games)

Fellowship will be hosting the “Heart of Grandparenting” conference February 17. You can register and learn more at Heart of Grandparenting Conference.