It was my plan to have written this post sometime last week and have posted it yesterday. Instead, I managed to finally sit down and write it late yesterday afternoon and it was finally posted 24 hours after it was “scheduled” to post.

I think I might need to purchase, read, and APPLY this eBook bundle!!

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. *A]

Time Management for Busy Families eBook Bundle

THIS WEEK ONLY [so don’t delay!!], these five eBooks are available as a bundle for ONLY $7.95!!

Running a household, caring for children, and still finding time to pursue your passions is not an easy order, but this week’s bundle is designed to give you the tools to make the most of the 24 hours you’re given each day.

Discover tips for creating schedules and routines, the importance of rest, strategies to help you be on time, and more!

Get this bundle for almost 60% off this week only.

eBooks included in this week’s bundle:

• Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews
• Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Daniele Evans
• 28 Days to Timeliness by Davonne Parks
• Creating a Schedule That Works by Marlene Griffith
• The Homemaker’s Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy Roberts

What are you waiting for?!?

The Time Management for Families eBook bundle is only available through 8am EST on 6/24 [Monday], so get YOUR copy TODAY!!

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From the Publisher

It’s a summer of change for Jennifer O’Malley.

The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, Texas, and meeting and falling in love with surgeon Tom Peterson is adding a rich layer to her life. She’s sorting out how to introduce Tom to her family–she’s the youngest of seven–and thinking about marriage.

She’s falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested, and in a way she didn’t expect. The results will soon transform her entire family.

My Thoughts

A short book, but well-written, Jennifer introduces readers to the O’Malley family – a prequel of sorts to the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson.

It’d been over six years since I’d first been introduced to Dee Henderson’s characters, the O’Malley family, and reading Jennifer made me want to grab the whole series and read it again.

This book was a “can’t put down” page-turner that I was hooked on from chapter one. The characters were well-developed, the story line was engaging, and the plot was captivating. My only disappointment with Jennifer by Dee Henderson is that it had to end.

Be sure to pick up your own copy of Jennifer today and start your journey with the O’Malley family!

I give Jennifer five stars!

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From the Publisher

Kate knows the truth is out there – but if she’s right, that means a killer is out there too.

Research scientists Kate Adams and Daisy Leacock were on the brink of a breakthrough for treating depression with herbal medicine when Daisy was suddenly found dead. Kate knows that her mentor’s death wasn’t suicide or a careless accident-and she’s determined to do whatever it takes to unearth the truth about what happened to the woman who changed her life.

Former FBI agent Tom Parker is finding it hard to adjust to life back in his hometown of Port Aster. Though an old buddy gave him a job as a detective on the local police force, not everyone approves. Tom’s just trying to keep a low profile, so when Kate Adams demands he reopen the investigation into her friend’s death, he knows his job is at stake. But despite his attraction to her, Tom thinks Kate may have something to hide.

As evidence mounts, a web of intrigue is woven around the sleepy town of Port Aster. Can Kate uncover the truth? Or will Tom stand in her way?

My Thoughts

Pro: Lots of twists and turns – to the point that even I couldn’t fully solve the mystery until the conclusion (which does not often happen).

Con: The book was full of partial storylines. With each new twist, a new storyline was introduced, and to be honest, I’m not sure any of the storylines actually found a conclusion. The main mystery was “solved” – sort of – but I closed the book with no feeling of resolution.

Pro: The characters were interesting and easy to relate to.

Con: The backstories of the characters were often missing or given in such ragged pieces that I struggled to get a solid understanding of who the characters were prior to entering this part of their story.

Pro: The story was a fast read.

Con: The story left me feeling unsettled and unresolved.

I give Deadly Devotion two stars.

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Be sure to check out the bonus book features on Sandra’s website and connect with Sandra on Facebook.

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The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That

As you know, my kids are huge Dr. Seuss fans (especially David), so it should come as no surprise that the PBS Kids’ show, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, is a favorite around here.

Last week, I had the brilliant idea to start recording several episodes on our DVR so the kids could watch it when we had downtime (versus when it actually aired) over the summer.

If you don’t have cable or a local PBS station, you can watch full episodes of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That online at PBSKids.com.

Notebooking Pages

Although watching an episode of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That is fairly educational by itself, I decided I wanted the kids to take their learning a step further – putting into words and a picture what it was they learned from watching the episode – so I created some simple notebooking pages for them to fill out while they watched.

Get the free printable notebooking page by clicking the image below.

Share it!

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After two-and-a-half weeks of bed rest and two weeks of being “in labor” without any results, my doctor decided he would put me out of my misery and offered to induce me five days early. I readily (although nervously) accepted the offer, and the morning of May 31st we headed to the hospital to have a baby.

My doctor first scheduled my induction for June 1st, but he called me at 9pm on May 30th to see if I wanted to be induced a day earlier – the next morning at 7am. I agreed and quickly arranged childcare for Jenny and David!

Before we left for the hospital Friday morning, I took one last pre-baby silhouette photo.

Around 9am, the nurses started the Pitocin IV and the “waiting game” began.

Around 11:30am, the nurses checked me and determined that I was far enough along to call the doctor to come to the hospital, and they started getting the room ready for delivery.

My doctor was 25 minutes away seeing patients in his office, and I have a history of “going fast” once I hit transition. He didn’t make it to David’s delivery, so we were worried he wasn’t going to make it to Christopher’s either!

My doctor arrived around 12:30pm and broke my water. It was less than an hour later when he finally said I could start pushing. Two pushes later, and I was holding Christopher in my arms!

Meet Christopher James

• Born: May 31st at 1:26pm (ET)
• Weight: 9lbs 12oz
• Length: 21.25 inches
• Head Circumference: 14 inches
• Chest Circumference: 14.5 inches

Yes, Christopher was a BIG baby!! I’m so thankful my doctor allowed me to deliver him “early” – I can only imagine how much bigger he would have been had he been allowed to stay in utero until his actual due date.

Christopher has been an amazing baby so far – sleeping at night, eating like a pro, and generally happy and content. We are so blessed!!

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Meet the Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat is a favorite Seuss character around our house – so much so that we not only own multiple copies of the beloved book and own the movie on DVD, but we also have a stuffed Cat in the Hat who sleeps in David’s bed most nights.

So when I decided we were going to do some tactile learning with LEGOs (inspired by Educating Laytons’ Tactile Tuesdays), it was no surprise that the Cat in the Hat inspired our LEGO designs.

LEGO ABCs

As David has been working on his ABCs lately, I recently asked him to sit and make ABCs with me out of LEGOs. He had a great time making some of his favorite letters with the LEGOs, especially once he decided that he wanted to do them in the red and white pattern of the hat of the Cat in the Hat.

We worked together for a bit making the Cat in the Hat inspired LEGO ABCs, but when he got bored with the project, I decided to take it a step further and create a fun printable for you.

Cat in the Hat inspired LEGO ABC Worksheet

This worksheet is a free download that you can print out and share with your tactile learner. Simply click on the image to be taken to the free downloadable PDF file.

Cat in the Hat inspired LEGO ABC Traceables

This eBook is a free download that is available to email subscribers.

Not a subscriber? Sign up today for FREE!

[New subscribers will receive an email with a link to the free download after confirming their subscription. Current subscribers should see a link to the download at the bottom of the daily email.]

More Fun with Dr. Seuss and LEGO

Because we’re such big fans of Dr. Seuss and LEGOs, I’ve started Pinterest boards to collect all the great ideas we come across. Follow these boards…

For more Dr. Seuss activities, click here: pinterest.com/apichea/dr-seuss/

For more LEGO fun, click here: pinterest.com/apichea/lego-learning/

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Finding themselves spending an unplanned summer together in Washington, MO, four individuals learn the power of forgiveness and faith as they let God lead them down paths they’d never expected in That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon.

From the Publisher

Two very different sisters . . . an unexpected homecoming . . . one unforgettable summer…

Karen and Val are family-yet they’re anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had other reasons for moving away-as well as a secret to keep-and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with past mistakes as they care for their ailing mother. When two handsome men enter the picture, the summer takes on a surprising new dimension. As their lives intersect, can each of them learn how to forgive, let go, and move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?

With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, award-winning author Irene Hannon pens an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex relationships, the search for forgiveness, and the life-changing process of finding love.

My Thoughts

While I was hooked on the characters and the plot from the prologue, I honestly did not enjoy reading this book. I’ve come to love Irene Hannon for her suspense fiction series, but I was less than impressed with this contemporary fiction novel.

I really struggled with the way this book was written. The conversations seemed choppy, there was a lack of flow during interactions between characters, and the faith-based portions seemed forced and awkward at times.

To be honest, it reminded me of another author’s books I used to enjoy reading but have actually stopped reading altogether because while the plot and characters are compelling, the writing lacks the quality I’d come to expect.

If you’re looking for a story filled with faith and forgiveness, you may be willing to overlook the level of storytelling quality. I however, give That Certain Summer three stars.

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So today, I’m sharing the Excel file that I created for Jenny that you can download (for free) and edit for use with your own family.

Download file here: Daily Schedule Checklist for Kids

A Brief “How-to”

We “do school” year-round but drop a few subjects and days during the summer months. Jenny has to cross off each box on that day’s row before going outside to play and/or watching TV. I’m hoping this will help keep her self-motivated this summer… so far, she’s excited about it!

I’ve already crossed off several boxes each day as she does not have to do all five “subjects” every day all week long. I’ll also take into account any field trips and/or vacations we take and cross off additional boxes on those days.

The last column on each row is for me to “sign off” on her work for the day – it’s my way of keeping her accountable for quality (not just quantity) work.

How Will YOU Use It?

P.S. If you like this free printable, please SHARE it with your friends!! [Easy sharing buttons available below.]

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—

Motherhood is exhausting. And it can be frustrating. And it tends to come with lots of extra work. From dirty diapers to spit up to middle of the night feelings when you’re so tired you’re not sure which end of the baby is the head, it can be easy to find yourself lost and discouraged in the early days of life with a newborn.

But motherhood is so much more than those dirty diapers and exhaustion from a lack of sleep. Motherhood is one of God’s greatest blessings, and I love that you’ve chosen a name for your daughter that will remind you of that fact each and every day. [Jori = blessing]

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:3-5 ESV)

But it is in the midst of the day-to-day tasks of motherhood that we can lose our vision. We take our eyes off the blessing of our calling as mothers and we begin to look around at the chaos around us.

I want to encourage you to find time each and every day to look for the blessings. Stop and identify out loud to yourself the blessings that God sent your way that day. Whether its the blessing of a smile on your daughter’s face or the blessing of a washing machine that was able to remove the spit up stain from your favorite shirt, name it and write it down. There are days when the blessings will be difficult to see through the struggles you’ve faced. And there are days when you’ll be able to name more blessings than you could ever have imagined.

Whatever the case, take time each day to name those blessings.

Write them down when life is going good and you are enjoying every moment with your kids or when an unexpected blessing falls into your lap or when you just can’t help but be thankful.

Write them down for the days when you can’t see beyond the piles of laundry or you find yourself rocking a screaming baby for hours on end or you find yourself on the verge of tears because you’re pregnant and your 4.5yo son just ran away from you in a large store and you have know idea where to even begin to look for him and no energy left to deal with finding and/or disciplining him. 

Write them down so that you will never forget that motherhood is a blessing – no matter what the circumstances you currently face.

You have been blessed because God made you a mom.

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Welcome Summer!!

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and I’ve discovered a bundle of eBooks [available this week only] that is packed full of inspiration for delicious food, fun activities, and more to help you make this the best summer yet!

In this great bundle of summer eBooks, you’ll find tips for planning a summer of fun without losing your sanity, daily activities for kids of all ages, recipes to help you make the most of the food that’s in-season, tips and recipes for eating well on-the-go and dozens of delicious homemade ice cream recipes that you can make with or without an ice cream maker!

Hurry, though, because this bundle is available at almost 85% off this week only!

eBooks Included in the Summer Bundle

The Summer Survival Guide by Jessica Fisher
Make the most of the summer as a family, with 37 customizable planning pages, calendars, and worksheets for kids, 100+ family-friendly book and movie suggestions, inspiration for home management during the summer months, 16 summertime learning themes with related crafts and activities, and more.

2013 Summer Survival Calendar by Susan Heid
A four-month calendar with over 120 activities to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31, with clickable links so you can easily view project directions or supplies needed. It’s the perfect way to keep kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days!

Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn Beard
Just Making Ice Cream is more than just a recipe book! In this ebook, Marillyn offers practical ice cream-making tips such as choosing an ice cream maker, how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker and the basic principles of delicious homemade ice cream. You’ll also find more than 30 ice cream & gelato recipes, 9 cultured milk recipes, 10 sherbet recipes and 10 sorbet recipes that will keep you busy taste-testing all summer long!

Simply Summer by Kate Tietje
Full of fresh, seasonal summer recipes — exactly what you need when you want to enjoy summer’s bounty — including grilled, marinated meats, fresh salads, fruit and even wonderful desserts! Many of Kate’s selections are allergen-free and GAPS-friendly to help families with allergies and dietary restrictions find recipes to enjoy as well.

Simply Scheduled: On the Go by Tammie Nelson
Simply Scheduled: On the Go is your guidebook to creating easy, affordable menus away from home. With over 80 pages of charts, lists, menus and recipes, including printable recipe cards and pre-planned menus, this ebook will help you plan for camping trips, barbecues, picnics and road trips so that you can enjoy your summer without stressing about food choices or the grocery budget.

The Summer bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 6/3. Get yours today!!

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