Parenting Archives - Page 4 of 15

Kids Visual Study Bible

July 17, 2017 By Michelle

Kids NIV visual study Bible

Kids Study Bible

Zonderkidz has a published a new study Bible, for kids!

NIV kids’ visual Study Bible is a hefty book, with full Bible text, 4 color photographs, illustrations, infographics and map throughout. Study notes are found in the side bar of each page.

While preparing to teach at Vacation Bible School, I used this Bible as a resource. The maps are great, and the notes, infographs and photos make this a good tool.

The Kids Visual Study Bible is a great resource for having in the Sunday School classroom, as well as at home for children around 9 or 10 years old.

The Kids’ Visual Study Bible was provided by Handlebar Publishing in exchange for this review.

Starting that Hard Thing

July 6, 2017 By Michelle

McCullough Falls

Starting that hard thing.

Last fall my daughter was starting her senior year and sharing some dreams for the future with me. One of those dreams was to take hiking to the next level… backpacking. With me.

Well I let that idea percolate over the winter and decided to give it a try. My husband generously funded the purchase of our gear as a graduation gift to our daughter.

Gear

Backpacking is hard. Really hard. I’m a slower hiker as it is, but strap on a 25lb pack and my pace slows even more. During the second trip I began to get quick discouraged. That old taunting friend started shouting in my head and I had to do some quick thinking to shut her up.

Here is what I learned.

Yes, I am slow, painfully slow. But this summer I am doing something I never thought I would do, something I never wanted to do. I am not only hiking with my daughters, but strapping on a 25lb pack and going up steep hills and down equally steep hills, then, doing it again.

Wheeler Trail

It is very hard. And it is so good.

So let me encourage you! Go ahead and do that hard thing, even if you are not strong enough. Even if you are not fast enough. You will get stronger. You will get faster. And who knows what you will see, what you will hear, and what you will learn.

I bet it will be good, and that you’ll be so glad that you did.

Columbines

What is that hard thing you’ve been thinking about starting?

God Loves Daddy & Me

June 9, 2017 By Michelle

I am really liking these “God Loves” books. Young children enjoy repetition and familiarity, and these books affirming family relationships are just the thing. God Loves Daddy & Me is another of these books, and I think it is delightful and charming celebration of the role of Daddy in a child’s life.

This is a soft board book by Bonnie Rickner Jensen, perfectly suitable for babies and toddlers.

HarperCollins is giving away 5 copies of this new book, just click here to enter.

Thanks to FrontGate Christian Blogger Network for this complimentary copy of God Loves Daddy & Me

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

June 7, 2017 By Michelle

Earlier this month my family and I traveled across Colorado to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, near Montrose, Colorado. Ever since my “mom retreat” last summer I’ve talked to my husband about going back, and I am so glad he said YES!

We had talked about going to the North Rim, where I had a fabulous time hiking during my retreat, but instead of another hours drive, we pulled into the South Rim campground. On this side of the canyon there are various hikes along the rim, and a drive through tour of specific lookout points.

In this photo my husband and daughter look as though they are “outside” the guard fence, but there was actually a walkway off to that side, just so daredevils can make mom freak out a bit.

While I have this growing love for canyons, I prefer to keep the guard rail firmly between me and the edge!

Painted Rock

Indian Paintbrush was in bloom all over the area.

Also along the South Rim, one can drive down the East Portal Road, down to the river. While we were there, the park was pretty quiet, and we had a delightful picnic by the river. While we were there, we came upon this area full of swallowtail butterflies. Reminded me of our time on the wetlands in British Columbia.

Have you ever been to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison? What other places like this do you recommend we explore in Colorado or neighboring states?

Let’s All Be Brave

April 19, 2017 By Michelle

Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life with Everything You Have

By Annie F. Downs
Published by Zondervan

My younger daughters and I love Annie Downs. She is another “big sister”. It has been a tremendous blessing to read her books together, alongside and/or one after the other. How ever her books are read around here, loads of conversation follows.

lets all be brave

Let’s All Be Brave is a little different from the first two Downs’ books we read (Perfectly Unique and Speak Love). In each of those books I found encouragement and truth to share with my teen daughters. Perfectly Unique also inspired a series of letters that I wrote to our sponsored children!Continue Reading

Estes Park

March 23, 2017 By Michelle

Estes Park is one of the gateways into Rocky Mountain National Park, and is one of my favorite places in Colorado. When our children were younger, my husband and I took them on yearly fall family retreats and Estes Park was one of our frequent destinations. Now that the kids are older, and no longer homeschooling, we don’t have the schedule flexibility to have the fall family retreats any more, but I have found spaces on our calendar to get back there at different times almost yearly, sometimes even more!

Of the places where we’ve stayed I would recommend Murphy’s Resort by the lake. One January I got away on a mother daughter trip with one of the girls, and stayed at this resort. The room was clean and comfortable, with easy access to the trail around the lake. The resort had a painting event the weekend we were there and there appears to always be something fun going on!

We have also stayed at the YMCA of the Rockies, in one of their cabins, and we have camped in Rocky Mountain National Park. It just depends on what we are wanting to do, there is something for everyone!

In the downtown area of Estes Park one can find all kinds of interesting and also touristy shops. We love the Donut Haus (Beware, they run out of donuts, sometimes by noon!) and the MacDonald Bookshop.

Mama Rose’s Italian Restaurant and Claire’s Restaurant are my two favorite places to eat in Estes Park. Such delicious food and wonderful, friendly service. But I can’t forget to tell you about Shakes Alive and A Sweet Slice of Life Pie Shop. Go ahead and have a slice of pie with a shake, the are next door to each other!

Other things to see in the downtown area of Estes Park include the Patterson Glassworks Studio and Gallery.

Glass Blowing Demonstration

I was fascinated by the glass blowing demonstration. So much so that I tried to watch each time we are in Estes Park!

The Original Taffy Shop is another great spot. Here you can watch original machines stretch, cut and wrap the taffy. And of course, sample and buy some as well!