Story Warren Weekend, Vol. 14, Issue 17

Good morning and happy weekend to you.

We’re heading into summer in North Carolina already in an extreme drought, so a day of rain this week was most welcome. Rain always makes me think of the poem “Forecast” from Luci Shaw:

planting

seeds

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

inevitably

changes my

feelings

about

rain

Around the Web

Help Please: The Christian’s Ceaseless Plea. “If you walk into my home anytime my children are awake, one phrase will meet your ears without fail: Help please, Dad. (Unless you hear the parallel plea, Help please, Mom.)…Though made in the image of God, these little dustlings are largely helpless, so it’s no wonder they continually ask for help. What should come as a surprise is that we, the ‘grown-up’ children of God, do not avail ourselves of the same ceaseless cry.”

Not-so-bookish thoughts about book club. Kelly D. Belmonte offers some thoughts on her recent participation in a local book club. “And that’s exactly the best part of a shared book reading experience—the exploration and discovery. It’s less about the actual book than the connections we make with each other almost by accident.”

Around the Warren

This week we introduced a brand new effort to recognize those in our lives who are allies in imagination. “Do you remember who it was who first introduced you or your kids to The Green Ember? Was it a teacher? A librarian? A conference speaker? Is there a bookstore or library where you can go as a family and explore new adventures together? Who is in your community who makes the world more delightful and beautiful for children? Do you know of an author or illustrator who is striving to uplift kids with stories of courage or grace? We want to recognize that person, but we need you to tell us about them!”

On Wednesday we looked forward to Mother’s Day weekend by stopping to appreciate a few things our moms taught us. Hear from the Story Warren team about what we’re thankful to have learned from our mothers.

Something to do with your kids

Summer is approaching, and it’s the perfect time for some classic crafting, like making friendship bracelets. Here’s a little refresher.

Something to watch

Are you buying marshmallows for some summer campfires? Check out how they’re made:

Thanks for reading. We’re on your side.

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Kelly Keller

Kelly Keller is the managing editor of Story Warren. She has her BS in Elementary Education from Messiah University and has taught various ages, but her favorite was worldview and literature with high school students. The “gap” in her resume is actually a window of eighteen years of homeschooling, which she recommends as an effective, though demanding, way of expanding one’s home library.

When she’s not behind her laptop, Kelly enjoys live music, baseball, reading great books, and traveling with her husband, David. Kelly hails from beautiful snowy New England, but after two decades in North Carolina, she feels right at home.

She invites you to subscribe to her newsletter, On the Common, or to follow her on Instagram.

Latest posts by Kelly Keller (see all)

• Story Warren Weekend, Vol. 14, Issue 22 - June 13, 2026
• Review: Stories Woven in Silver - June 10, 2026
• For Our Readers: What Have You Heard? - June 8, 2026