Because I am a rooster, I'm awake far earlier than I want to be today. Yesterday was a full day of filming for my next children's book. I snapped that picture above this morning, for a little BTS peek of the organized chaos of filming. We're going after it again today, but this time with the kiddos. Which means I very much wish I slept in and got a little more beauty-rest, but apparently my body requires that I see the 5 a.m. sunrise every summer day. (It is beautiful, so, fine.) Goodness friends, I can't wait to finally tell you the details about this next book. (I get to in August!) The topic is so near and dear to my heart and I cried no less than three times yesterday while filming because I believe in this book's message so much. My videographer told me I was putting him on an emotional rollercoaster that he wasn't expecting and THAT IS THE TRUTH FOR BOTH OF US.
Honestly, this entire summer has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I can't believe we're on the second half of summer with the countdown to school starting. June was gone in a flash and I'm finding myself missing my kids even though I've been with them most of the summer. My kids are pretty free range in our neighborhood, spending most days outside running wherever they want and playing with the neighbor kidsâand I absolutely LOVE IT. It's the stuff neighborhood dreams are made of (and I wrote about it here). But there's a difference between being home with them and actually spending time with them, you know? Now that they're in public school (In the fall all three will be gone for 5 full days each week!) summers seem so much more important. Sometimes I wish I could stick them in my pockets and carry them with me wherever I go. In short: I LOVE BEING A MOM. (Am I now making this newsletter an emotional rollercoaster for you, dear reader? Perhaps. But if I'm on the ride, you can come too.)
This is one of the main reasons I'm currently on a social media break until August 1âI don't want to miss them growing up because my nose was stuck in a phone. If you want to take one too, here's my recs, which are ironically, on social media. Spending time with my kids is also the reason I simplified this newsletterâadding in all the graphics takes an infernal amount of time, and in order to get this out, I figured I'd skip that. I tell you what, it was so much easier to put this together! While I love the beautiful graphics, idk friends, this might be the new norm. Lemme know if you miss it terribly and I can reconsider.
With that, I'm out. And if you're a parent, go hug your kids and play a game with them.
Laura
Words I can't stop thinking about
Alice: How Long Is Forever?
White Rabbit: Sometimes, just one second.
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
currently reading, watching, and listening
Quick reminder that inclusion in this list does not equate endorsement. I read, listen, and watch widely. Being on this list does not mean I agree with them, just that I enjoyed them.
I'm also reading Mama Bear Apologetics: A Guide to Sexuality. I heard good things so I texted a group of friends that have kids with mine at school to read it with me. I'm hosting a discussion (husbands included) next week!
My 9-year-old is still reading through the Redwall series and says things like âIt's my honor to serve you,â in regular conversation. It's the best. He also loved book one and two of The Dreamkeeper Saga from Crossway. Book two comes out August 2, so you can pre-order now! (We received an early copy.) Highly recommend.
People often ask me what I'm watching and honestly I cannot think of a single thing that I've liked. (I also try out very few new shows, so there's that.) I watched the new Dr. Strange and it was terrible. I know I'm outing myself, but I love the Marvel Universe (I also love Harry Potter, so this should come as no surprise to youâfantasy forever!) but I feel like once the whole Thanos narrative arc finished, everything went horribly wrong. Anyone else? I always loved how everything wove together and now it just seems like every director is like, how can I make things as complex and wacky as possible and totally ruin everyone's idea of what a hero is? PLEASE STOP.
In other news, I created a summer running playlist on Spotify to share with YOU! Look at me being all influencey. If you don't run, it's also just a good playlist for cleaning the house or just when you generally want to feel like a champion. When I run, I typically listen to one of three things: 1) Podcasts or long Voxes from friends, 2) upbeat (I don't love this word, but it is fitting here) random tunes for the days I just want to sweat it out (this is said playlist), and 3) a Christian song on repeat, yes repeat. This is my âthinking run," when I need to figure out an essay or poem or problem and just need to think. This can be any song that I'm currently into, like this one from Shane & Shane (AHHH! IT'S SO GOOD). Because this song isn't on Spotify, I actually play this version of the song on YouTube Repeat. That way you don't have to listen to the intro and it just plays forever, and ever and ever and ever. Okay, check out the playlist here, but please let me point out one song: âYou Can't Do Betterâ - This is technically a breakup song, but for all us happily married folks, just pop this song on when you're passed over for an opportunity you wanted, or maybe just when your kids are grumbling about their chores. It'll pick you right back up.
â If you've already ordered it, redeem your bonuses here!
â. To see how this board book is simplified for young children from the original book, check out my IG post.
The random round up
I have appreciated my friend Jill's thoughts on why she got off Instagram and called it quits on being an Influencer. Her candidness is so needed on what it's really like to strive for that kind of career. She now writes exclusively on her blog and newsletter, and it's a must-read. Subscribe by scrolling down here. pssst. She's also the one who dressed me for TGCW and convinced me I was not too old to wear chucks.
I am basically living various colors of this tank top this summer.
After a spring of lots of gel and dip manicures for events and traveling, my nails were shot. My SIL recommended OPI's Nail Envy to me and I'm hooked. My nails are way stronger and it definitely prevents peeling. Highly recommend.
When I got my colors done by my cousin-in-law, Kim, last spring, she recommended I switch to brown mascara since I'm an autumn. You'd be surprised by how hard it is to find! Which means I've tried exactly two, and this one is my favorite.
A friend of mine recently tipped me off to these granola bars for kids and they're a great go-to snack for my youngest daughter.
Are you listening to brown noise yet? It's so much more soothing than white noise and I highly recommend. I use this podcast to play brown noise when I nap or while traveling.
Q: How do you approach mealtime prayer? Does your family say âgraceâ before meals, and is it one person or everyone in chorus, similar every time or uniquely impromptu? Take in turns in a roster or ask for a volunteer each time (and what if a child never wants to do it) or always a parent? Just giving thanks for the food or a quick prayer about anything?
A: Mealtime prayer is pretty chill around these parts. We don't always pray before breakfast because often kiddos are eating at different times in the summer and my husband is already gone to work, but we usually hit lunch and dinner. Eight times out of 10 we just ask someone to pray about whatever comes to mind. That might mean dad is picking a kiddo or I'm picking dadâit's whoever thinks of it. Every once in a while we'll recite the Lord's Prayer, usually after someone has prayed at dinner. And then sometimes it gets a little wild and we'll sing a camp-type song instead. Our go-to is âGod is Greatâ but I searched and searched and couldn't find anyone singing it with the right lyrics/tune on YouTube. While I wish you could hear it, it goes like this:
đ¶ God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. We're gonna thank him in the mornin', noon and night, we're gonna thank God cause he's outta sight, Amen, shu shu shu, Amen, shu, shu, shu. Amen, shu, shu, shu. đ¶
You also clap and hit the table with your hands as you sing, and there are some actions for the shu part. Kids LOVE it. If anyone knows it and has a video of it, send it to me and I'll link it in the next newsletter! Our more structured prayer time is usually before bed. We've been teaching our children what it looks like to expand their prayers beyond their daily needs and wants. We usually read a Bible story and then pray, so we often take the theme of the passage and ask kids who or what they might pray for based on that. e.g. âIs there someone who needs help that you can pray for?â Some nights we have them share requests and pray for the person on their right, or we'll do popcorn prayers. If you're not familiar with that, here's how it works: The first person prays, then says âPopcorn (Personâs name)!â Then that person prays and they get to pick the next person. Around you go until everyone has had a chance to pray. Kids seem to love it and it helps keep their attention as they anticipate their name.
If you'd like more tips on how we pray, I wrote a few posts about it last year whenAny Time, Any Place, Any Prayer released. Below I linked a handful that might help round out this conversation. I address things like, âWhat if my child doesn't want to pray? What if my child only prays about silly things?â etc. If you're currently thinking about prayer and your kiddos, I hope these are helpful, particularly in informal teaching. And of course, so are those pre-order bonus interviews that come with the board book! Oh, and don't forget: The prayer book has an activity book for just $5to go with and FREE lesson plans that you can printâso you also spend time formally teaching your child about prayer, which is always helpful as you work towards developing a theology for it.