Monthly Archives: July 2018

Five Ways to Fit More Reading into Your Kids’ Summer

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Summer Break

I love summer! I love the break from homeschooling, the longer days, spending time in the sun, the kids playing outside all day, cook-outs, ice cream runs, and all the fun that summer brings. Summer is also a great time for our kids to fit in extra reading. The trick is being able to do it without them realizing it.

Not Losing Any Ground

We work really hard during the school year on reading, and I don’t want to lose any ground during summer break. I want them to be stronger readers at the end of the summer than they were at the beginning. We take the months of June and July off from homeschooling and start up again at the beginning of August. I really want my kids to get the most out of their summer break because it goes so fast! I don’t make them do math, worksheets, writing, or anything like that during the summer. The one thing I do want them to continue is reading. Reading can be fun and doesn’t have to be “schoolish,” so they can enjoy it even in the summer.

Below are some of the ways we fit extra reading into our summer break.

Five Ways to Fit More Reading into Your Kids’ Summer

  1. Spend quiet time in the afternoon reading. On the days we are home, our kids take a rest in the afternoon for an hour and a half. It’s a chance for my little girls to sleep if they need it, and it’s an opportunity for my older kids to read. Malachi (8) and Madison (6) have to read for at least part of the time; then they can color or play something quietly in their beds.
  2. Go somewhere fun and incorporate reading, but don’t let your kids know that’s what you are doing. We take trips to the library, Barnes and Noble, and used bookstores as apart of our family days throughout the summer. Whenever we do, I ask my kids to find a book to sit and read. Sometimes it takes some coaxing, but after a little while, they will grab a book and read. It’s a great time to get extra reading time in and discover new books.
  3. Take books in the car to read. If we are going to be in the car for a while, I have my kids bring books along to read. They usually get bored enough that they will pick them up eventually and start to read.
  4. Listen to audiobooks in the car. Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time when traveling. We listened to several audio books on our last trip to Illinois to visit family. Here are a few good ideas for audiobooks to get you started.
    • The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis. Focus on the Family’s Reader Theater Audiobooks of this series are amazing!
    • The Pennderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
    • Poppy by Avi
    • The BFG by Roald Dahl
    • Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osbourne
  5. Save time for reading at bedtime. Have your kids go to bed while it is still light out, but tell them they can read in bed. When my kids do this, they see it as a privilege to stay up later. I see it as extra reading time!

Developing our children into life-long readers takes work, but summer can be an easy and fun time to keep moving towards that goal.

 

Handling Trials

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Always Carrying Everyone Else

Are you the kind of person that’s always carrying everybody else? Do you encourage people when they are down, help others as much as you can, and stay strong for your friends and family?

Often, those of us who help everybody else don’t handle our own trials well. In the book of Job, we read about all that happens to Job in a short amount of time. He loses everything in one day, and his friends come to comfort him. Job’s friend Eliphaz speaks candidly with him in Job 4.

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.          Job 4:3-5

Eliphaz says, “Job, I get it. You’ve always been the strong one. You’ve taught so many people, you’ve encouraged others, you’ve helped the elderly, you have always had a kind word for people who are having a hard time. But now, it’s your turn. You’re the one in the trial. Job, you’re the one who is in trouble now, and you’re not handling the pressure very well. You’re fainting; you’re failing.”

The Tables Have Turned

I read these verses in my morning time and stopped to think about them for a few minutes. I thought about how those words could have been said about me. These words are so harsh, but for how many of us, do they ring true?

We have taught God’s Word to others, we have encouraged those around us, we have stood by friends as they have faced tragedy and heartache, we have been the one to write the notes of encouragement to others. We have always been the strong one leading and encouraging those around us. But now, the tables have turned. Now it’s our turn to face hardships.

It’s so easy to be strong for other people, but when your own set of burdens and hardships push you down and the weight feels like more than you can bear, what do you do?

How Do We Handle Trials?

1. Get serious about your morning time. Spend time praying, reading your Bible, and journaling. The time you spend with God in the morning will be your sustaining grace and strength to get through. Often when we are going through a hard time, we start to pull away from God. Usually, it’s because we’re hurt and upset with Him, but now is when you need Him the most. Tell Him honestly how you feel, how you’re hurt, how you feel betrayed. Cling to Him. Satan wants to use this time of trial and testing to make you doubt God, question His goodness, and pull away from Him. Then he can move in and destroy you. Times of trial and testing are when we need to pull closest to God; it’s when we are the weakest and most open to attack. If you want some inspiration for morning time, you can read my post here for tips for an effective morning time.

2. Don’t go at it alone. You can’t make it on your own. Find a good support system. Your spouse, family, friends, or small group. Tell others what is going on in your life. Find those you trust, who can keep it confidential if you need them to. Let them carry your burdens with you. Keep them updated on how they can pray specifically for you. Let them know how they can tangibly help. Your friends want to help during times of hardship, but sometimes they just don’t know what to do.

3. Read books that encourage and strengthen your faith. Here are a few good ones, if you need some ideas.

  1. Uninvited by Lisa TerKeurst
  2. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
  3. The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippets
  4. Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore
  5. Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Major

Ultimately, remember that God loves you and is working out the details of your life for His purpose. Choose to see His goodness. Choose to trust that everything is working together for His glory and my good.

 

photo credit: Alexandru Tudorache