Spring is coming. Although it’s still cold and damp, it has been raining rather than snowing. Patches of bare ground, barely visible a week ago, have now almost completely taken over.

Mud and hope scent the air. It’s the promise that new life will come.

It has been a few weeks since I’ve written a “week in review” post. I do hope you enjoy today’s newsletter from The Grace-Filled Life.

~Mary-Ann

This Week on TGFL

(Or more accurately, the last few weeks on TGFL. Click on the image to read the corresponding article.)

This Week in the Outdoors

The red-winged blackbirds are back. The muskrats are out and about. The skunk cabbages are pushing their way through the remaining snow. And we even saw a great blue heron with breeding plumage on our walk yesterday. Oh, and a white-throated sparrow.

I love spring.

It has been so refreshing, after a challenging few weeks, to get outside and breathe fresh air. I say this a lot, but there is something about creation that draws me to the Creator. To Jesus. Sometimes, I need the reminder that He’s big and that He’s good.

Happy spring!

This Week in Books

This post contains affiliate links. Please view our full disclosure policy here.

Children’s Books

When the rain outside freezes on impact, coating everything with a treacherous layer of crystal, there is nothing cozier than grabbing a pile of thick blankets and settling in for a read-aloud. This week, we read:

• Mary Poppins by Dr. P. L. Travers – I’ve never actually read this delightful classic, so what a wonderful experience it was to read it aloud to my children. We quite enjoyed this one!
• The Green Ember by S.D. Smith – My oldest daughter and I both read this amazing book independently quite some time ago, but I’ve not read it aloud to all three of the girls. This is one of my favourite books. Ever.

Adult Books

• Vertical Marriage by Dave and Ann Wilson – I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review and it did not disappoint. This is definitely one of the best marriage books I’ve read.
• A Year of Living Prayerfully: How a Curious Traveler Met the Pope, Walked on Coals, Danced with Rabbis and Revived His Prayer Life by Jared Brock – I’m currently reading this fascinating book about a man who “embarked on a yearlong journey to rediscover the power of prayer”. I originally picked this book up from a Free Little Library down the street and was delighted to discover that the author is from my hometown.

Homeschool Highlights

This week’s homeschool highlight? March Break. We originally were planning to school through the break, but I think we all needed a little bit of time off. I know that I certainly did. The break was lovely, but I’m ready to get back into routine next week.

Snippets from Around the Web

Looking for some extra inspiration? Here are some wonderful articles from around the web:

• Homeschool Testing: Are We “Behind”? (Homeschool Hideout) – Homeschool Hideout reviews an affordable testing resource to help identify whether your child is “behind”.
• How to Use Story of the World with Multiple Ages (Learning Mama) – I love these ideas for including older and younger children in the Story of the World history lessons.
• 3 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Homeschool as You Celebrate Spring (Sonlight Blog) – Some great ways to enjoy spring even though school is still in session.

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