Parenting
This beautiful, haunting, heart breakingly honest story about Nella's birth and subsequent Downs diagnosis made me ache and pray and love and rejoice. (Kellie Hampton at Enjoying the Small Things)Writing/Life
"On this path, there is so much planting ahead of us. It feels overwhelming and sometimes the work is exhausting. Sometimes I have to unfurl from my focus on the little patch of earth in front of me, standing to stretch cramped muscles and brushing the dirt from my knees, and I look back over the ground I've already worked. When new green growth pushes forth fruit, my resolve is renewed. To pause to enjoy the moment, then turn back to work that waits for me. Hope. Promise. Faith. Joy." - (Megan at SortaCrunchy)
Rhythm of the Home has just released their second volume (or is it called an issue?) of the magazine. I could love this online mag for the photos alone but the articles are inspiring. If you are seeking a more simple, mindful way to parent, this is a good resource. It's the brainchild of a blogger I quite love/stalk, Heather at Shivaya Naturals and her good friend. Heather's post about How to Love a Child just blessed my socks off.
I am doing a lot of thinking/reading/praying about education these days. I have absolutely no conclusions yet - public vs. private vs. homeschool vs. unschooling - let alone all of the philosophies within each of those! But for those of you that are as overwhelmed as I am about the topic, i found this quick "cheat sheet" on educational philosophies (and part 2 with more, here) rather helpful. (From Simple Homeschool)
The success of others doesn't equal your failure so it's important to celebrate their joys as well as your own, according to Stephanie. A good reminder. (Stephanie at Metropolitan Mama)
Faith and Church
This was an interesting start to a series that Skye Jethani is doing about the "De-churched". I am counting myself more and more among these ranks in some ways. " On one side the de-churched are leaving because they’ve received a false gospel that made promises God has failed to fulfill. On the other side are deeply committed Christians who are finding more meaningful authenticity, mission, and transformation outside the institutional structures of the church. What is the church supposed to do?
Simple Living
10 Beauty Products in Your Kitchen. Since I do have skin sensitivies (part of the reason for my Whole Food Challenge), this was very interesting to me. Plus from a frugalista perspective, you can't go wrong, right? (From Simple Organic)
Just for the Fun of It
If you need a good laugh, oh, just watch this video. (RSS readers, you'll have to click through, I believe.)
I heart parodies about Hollywood. (laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh)
