Around the Web:

A Different Kind of Romance Novel

At Femina, Lizzie writes about contentment and the dangers of believing what we say about ourselves through social media. While she particularly has a mom/woman’s perspective, I think this article has a very broad application, especially as I think about how to help my children define themselves and the role that the internet should play in that.

Discontent is often not about one specific thing. It is about your identity. It isn’t really just, “Oh I would love to have that,” but a lot more of “Oh, I would love to be that kind of person who has that.”

If you’re like me, you needed that! Read more.

Fear and the Art of Raising Children

Angie Smith has a great guest post over at A Holy Experience. She explains her struggles with fear through the lens of a recent event with one of her daughters.

I don’t want to punish her because I’m scared. Her or anyone else, for that matter. I don’t want to frighten her into obedience or bribe her into rule-following. I don’t want to take what was given to me and repackage it. I want to love having her more than I fear losing her.

Wonderful. Read more.

A Christian Guide to the Zoo

It’s summertime, and you’re probably looking for fun things to do with your kids. David Mathis writes about how to make the most of a trip to the zoo.
The zoo is a wonderful opportunity for the Christian — both for personal worship and worldview formation. 

​Read more.

Engaging Your Child’s Brain This Summer

Kelly Wilson Mize has 5 ways to keep your child intellectually engaged this summer over on Lifeway’s parenting blog.

Summer is a time for relaxation and family fun, but most parents would agree that their children should be actively engaged in educational activities and experiences over the school break. 

Read more.

Around the Warren:

Building for Strength and Beauty

S.D. Smith opened the week with a great post sparked by a pile of blocks.

I get being practical. I get being thrifty. I get avoiding materialism. But we are more than beasts made to survive. We are written into a story where peacocks have feathers like that. We’re born into a world with a night sky full of stars and a moon hung just so for poets.

Read more.

Believing in the Possible Impossible

Guest poster (and fantastic writer) Kris Camealy writes about learning a good lesson about faith, imagination and faith in the God who can do all things.

Sharks were designed by God to breathe underwater. I remind her (because I am certain we’ve discussed this before). Sharks have gills to filter oxygen out of the water. You, on the other hand, were designed to breathe only air. You, sweet thing, have no gills..

Read more. Find Kris here.

Make It Beautiful

James Witmer closed out the week today with a bang, improving the definition of homemaking. It was a great reminder for me that what happens at home is important.

Make the College healthful, for that is essential. Make it beautiful, for that is an education. 

Read more.

Something to Try with Your Kids:

Since try-as-I-might, I couldn’t find any First of July activities, I figured I’d pass along these Fourth of July activities. Jenae has ten activities for you to try with your kids. Read more (via MoneySavingMom).

And Something Fun to Watch:

Check out this great video that shows the life cycle of a seed. Watch it over at Vimeo.

Thanks for reading! We’re on your side.