My husband has been away this week. Normally, the days that he’s away drag long. But this time, because I was sharing at a homeschool parent support group on Tuesday night and needed someone to watch the kids, we were invited to spend a few glorious days with my parents. They are absolutely wonderful, so even though they only live 20 minutes away, it was like going on a beautiful vacation. My mom even made us platters of food and a big pot of tea for morning tea time!

And then we came home.

And there was laundry and dishes to do, meals to cook, articles to write, a children’s market to prepare for and attend, errands to run, a class to teach, and (later today) a husband to pick up from the airport. It has been a BUSY few days … but I love it and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

If you’ve had a busy week as well, the “Snippets From Around the Web” section has some inspiration for the harder days. This whole “Week in Review” is jam-packed with great stuff.

I hope you enjoy! Have had a wonderful weekend!

~Mary-Ann

This Week on TGFL

It has been a full week on The Grace-Filled Life! In case you’ve missed it, here’s what’s been happening this week:

• 100+ Winter/Holiday Themed Storybooks – This is a huge list of incredible goodies to read aloud together. And if you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas? It’s a great place to start!
• Charlotte Mason and Richard Louv: Nature Study and the “Powers of Observation”: Although a bit more academic in tone, this article contains some thoughts that I jotted down while reading Home Education by Charlotte Mason.
• Using Children’s Books to Help Little Kids Navigate Big Emotions – One of the best tools to help children cope with difficult situations is story-centred discussion. This article lists seven incredible books to help little ones navigate friendship, fear, loss, and other life changes. It includes discussion starters, a special code from the publisher for 25% off, and even a giveaway for a free book!

This Week in Nature

This Week in Books

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Between the five of us, here’s what we’ve been reading:

Picture Books and Readers

• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert – This book is included in our list of 100+ Autumn Themed Storybooks to Read to Your Child.

Chapter Books

• Old Yeller by Fred Gibson – My oldest is reading this as part of her living history studies.
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo – Kate DiCamillo is one of my daughter’s favourite authors. In fact, she’s the reason my seven-year old is reading chapter books. So when I found this book in like-new condition on the shelf at a local thrift store? I had to get it. Although not included in my Candlewick Press review, click on over for a code for 25% off when ordering directly from the publisher.

Adult Reads

• Home Education by Charlotte Mason – I will be working my way through this book for the next few months and (hopefully) blogging my way through it as well.

This Week in Homeschool

The truth? Homeschooling has been a challenge this week. We all have hard days, right? In history, the girls have been learning about the railroad, time zones and the light bulb. In geography, they’ve been learning about the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes Lowlands. In science, we talked about weather. And in French, they’ve been reviewing colours, greetings and other basic phrases.

Perhaps the most exciting homeschool opportunity this week was a children’s maker’s market. My girls worked hard to make jewelry, artwork, and funny little alien rocks. They decided to use the proceeds from their table to purchase items for little care packages for the homeless.  Using their earnings that way was entirely their idea, and I couldn’t be more proud of them for it.

Snippets from Around the Web

• The Ugly Truth of an Overwhelmed Mom and Resentful Wife (If you read nothing else this weekend, read this.)
• Homeschooling with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Don’t forget to check out The Grace-Filled Life Facebook page. It’s your one-stop place for encouragement, inspiration and laughs throughout the week. You can also find TGFL on Pinterest and Instagram. Come visit any time!