Revolutions. Explosions. Stars. Stripes. The American Independence Day is this weekend, and we like to celebrate by blowing things up. We welcome all who care to join us (blowing things up responsibly, that is).
Around the Web
wild faith
Mandy at life.faithful explores the life of John the Baptist.
- John was a wild man. His life didn’t start out that way–he was a miracle baby, born to parents who were way too old to have a baby. His dad was a priest, which meant everyone would expect John to follow the same line of work.
But John was born to be a rabble-rouser. He was born to challenge the status quo and shake things up. He didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps and serve as a priest in the temple. Instead, he grew up in the wilderness. He wore clothing made of camel’s hair. He ate locust and honey. What made him truly wild, though, was what he was saying.
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Hutchmoot Podcast & Video: Stealing Past the Watchful Dragons
When I attended Hutchmoot: Homebound last fall, this session was one of my highlights. If you like it, maybe consider signing up for Hutchmoot: Homebound this year—tickets are on sale now!
- The Hutchmoot Podcast features some of our favorite sessions recorded at our annual conference which celebrates art, music, story, and faith in all their many intersections. Today, it is our pleasure to share a session led by Heidi Johnston, Ross Wilson, and Andrew Roycroft called “Stealing Past the Watchful Dragons” from 2020’s Hutchmoot: Homebound, in both video and audio form.
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Ordinary Homeschooling: Reflections on just serving dinner
Megan at Redeemed Reader makes some recommendations for summer reading.
- Last summer in a post titled Just Serve Dinner, I shared some of the best resources we have enjoyed over the years, the ones that are an ongoing blessing to our family. Here are a few more that have pleasantly surprised me in how much I have enjoyed using them. I trust that my children have benefited as well, but I don’t gauge a book’s success on whether or not they are begging me for another chapter. Sometimes they’re indulging me, other times I humor them, so we press on. (And sometimes the book just doesn’t get finished, which is okay.)
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4 Ways to Help Your Child Grieve the Loss of a Grandparent
Jamie Jo Wright advises parents navigating a familial loss.
- The loss of a grandparent can be a life-changing event for a child. Often, because children appear to be so resilient, they get lost in the shuffle of grief. The immediate loss, the planning for the funeral, the chaos of friends and family, and the settling of estates become adult ways to process through the initial firsts of grief. In the corner, watching, are our children. They digest every tear, even as they play and laugh and seem unaffected.
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Around the Warren
Glorious Defeat
Scott James fights against his prose.
- I am writing. Trying to write. The characters are reeling away from one other as the plot falls apart yet again. At this point, my page has more words scratched out than still standing. Wait, why is this guy climbing a tree? When is the antagonist supposed to appear? And why is he a bad guy? Guess I didn’t think this through very well. Pretty evident that no cohesive story will be emerging out of this mess. Even my old standby technique — incessantly checking the thesaurus for ritzy words — isn’t working.
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Mike Mulligan and Beyond: the Work of Virginia Lee Burton
Kelly Keller introduces one of my favorites.
- Remember the scene in Pixar’s 2009 film Up where we see the sweet little house dwarfed by towering skyscrapers? That shot has always reminded me of a book I’ve loved sharing with my children: Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House. In Up, the house is pulled up by an enormous colorful bouquet of balloons; in The Little House, the house is picked up on wheels and driven away by a family who loves it.
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Something to Do with Your Kids
If you’re here in the States (or—you know, if you read my introductory paragraph), you might know that Independence Day is this weekend. If you’re elsewhere, we’re happy to share our holiday. Come on and blow things up with us.
Something to Watch
Is it possible to be more American than fireworks at Disneyland? I don’t think so.
Thanks for reading. We’re on your side.
–The Story Warren Team
You can find her at carolyncgivens.com or on Facebook or Instagram at @carolyncgivens.
- The Warren & The World Vol 11, Issue 39 - November 25, 2023
- The Warren & The World Vol 11, Issue 38 - November 18, 2023
- The Warren & The World Vol 11, Issue 37 - November 11, 2023
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