Story Warren

Kindling Imagination for Kingdom Anticipation

The Warren & the World Vol 7, Issue 36

by Leave a Comment

The weather turned. I sat down next to my cat this morning as she sniffed at the breezes that came in the open window and found myself doing the same thing. It smelled like fall. My friends further north are posting photos of their first apples of the season. My playlists find themselves wanting to turn to the autumnal songs, like Andrew Peterson’s “Don’t You Want to Thank Someone?” And I’m starting to believe that fall might really come, even here in the South.

Around the Web

How to live large-hearted in a world that can be self-centered?

Ann Voskamp reminds us to turn outward.

  • Nobody has to tell you that, because you can honestly just feel it:
    Abundance is an expansive ocean and you’re an island surrounded by its unendingness.
    There is blue as far as you can see — if you can see.
    All their eyes around the table were ocean blue at Sunday dinner, all the kids and cousins. I felt like I was standing at the edge of something deep and wide and long that went on forever.
    And our smallest, her eyes are an island of brown — and here we are all, surrounding her in a thousand ways, engulfing her in love, endlessly, forever, lapping up on her shores and feeling ourselves abundantly, wildly, lucky. Blessed.
    Read more

Weathering the Books

I love this piece by Rebecca D. Martin, which revels in the re-readability of books.

  • It is a good thing Agatha Christie was so prolific; summer is for detective stories. Every year, at just about the same time, the air gets hot, the trees turn green, the college town I live in grows quiet, and Arthur Conan Doyle comes through. Dorothy Sayers as well. And, thanks to the productive industriousness of one Agatha Christie, Poirot and Miss Marple for many summers to come.
    For me, reading is intensely seasonal.
    Read more

The Seven Worst Realities About Being a Bookworm

Megan at Redeemed Reader introduces us to her son’s list of how hard it is to be a bookworm.

  • The Seven Worst Realities About Being a Bookworm,
    according to a 10-year-old boy, are:
    1. Appetite for reading surpasses appetite for meals
    (“H, what book are you hiding under the table? Put it away!!”)
    Read more

Unicorn Books for Kids That Won’t Give You a Sparkle Headache

Erica at What Do We Do All Day has some options for the unicorn lover in your life.

  • Do all kids go through a unicorn phase? Truthfully, I’m still in my unicorn phase, ha ha ha. Unicorns often come with a heaping serving of rainbows, sparkles and glitter, but it doesn’t always have to be like that. This list of unicorn books for kids focuses on quirky stories, magnificent adventures and humorous tales. Sure, it’s hard not to include a wee bit of sparkle, but even if pink isn’t your children’s favorite color, they are sure to love these books.
    Read more

Around the Warren

The Ingredients We Have on Hand

Théa Rosenburg examines the work of creativity in the midst of the busyness of life.

  • One of my favorite illustrations of the writing process comes from Madeliene L’Engle’s book Walking on Water. In it she compares writing books to cooking dinner: she adds a bit to one pot, a bit to another, until one story starts simmering madly and needs her whole attention. Then she pulls that pot to the front burner and tends to it until it’s ready to serve.
    Read more

Learning from The House of Dunraven

Doug Basler explores the stories we can’t tell our children and recommends Steven Lympus novel.

  • Two years ago our family story time included readings of The House of Dunraven, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and The Green Ember. About three chapters in to The Green Ember, our then-eight-year-old daughter asked me, “Are you and mom hiding something from us?”
    Read more

Something to Do with Your Kids

If it’s really fall (see, there’s that doubt that it’s real), then it is time for fall activities, like making an autumnal wreath.

Something to Watch

I’m SO excited for this.

Thanks for reading. We’re on your side. 

-The Story Warren Team

Carolyn Clare Givens
Latest posts by Carolyn Clare Givens (see all)

Leave a Reply