Get Your Family Talking

I love conversation starters or story prompts, especially when friends or family are joining us for dinner.  I have several story starter prompts, including one just for Spring. 

Here are a couple of prompts for spring gatherings ...

*What do you most anticipate about Spring?

*Do you have favorite Springtime decorations?

*Do you take special trips during the Spring?

*Spring smells like ...

*A perfect Spring day would be ...

*My favorite Spring flower is ...

*A taste of Spring is ...

*What is your favorite Spring celebration?  How do you celebrate?

*The color of Spring is ...  because ...

*How does your mood change during Spring?

These prompts came from a book I got from Cherish Bound.  I also have Chat Rings that are great for getting your family talking from SimplyFun.

I'd love to hear what you love about Spring!  Leave a comment and share.  I love Easter, and my daughter was born in the spring.

10 Favorite Winter Picture Books



1.  Five Dog Night


2.  Owl Moon


3.  Mama, Do You Love me?


4.  Katy and the Big Snow


5.  Stopping by the Woods


6.  The Missing Mitten Mystery


7.  Snowmen at Night


8.  The Hat


9.  Gingerbread Days


10.  Snowsong Whistling

Linked with Top Ten Tuesday, Read Aloud Thursdays, Works for Me Wednesday, Raising Homemakers, Miscellany Monday, The Better Mom, Beauty in His Grip, Gratituesday, Mindful Mothering, Mop it Up Monday, Mama Moments Mondays, Mommy Link-up!, Women Living Well, Hip Homeschool Hop, Thankful Thursday, Winsome Wednesday, Courtship Connection, and Gratituesday, Only a Breath, Titus 2sdays, Teach Me Tuesdays.

Orphan Sunday

November 4th (the first Sunday in November) is Orphan Sunday.  November is National Adoption month and November 17th is National Adoption Day.

I thought I would share 10 Ways Every Christian Can Care for the Orphan and Waiting Child by Hope for Orphans.

1.  Pray for them.  Tape an child's picture up to be praying for each time you see it.  Visit adoptuskids.org

2.  Speak up for them.  Become a court appointed special advocate for a child in foster care.

3.  Provide for their needs.  Organize a shoe drive or foster care children or orphans.

4.  Support those who support them.  Mow, babysit, bring a meal for foster parents.

5.  Protect them from harm.  Become a foster parent.  Raise money for an orphanage.

6.  Visit them where they are.  Go on a mission trip.

7.  Give sacrificially to them.  Give to an orphan organization or Show Hope Adoption Aid.

8.  Encourage them to press on.  Become a mentor or tutor. Sponsor a child through Compassion or Vision Trust.

9.  Adopt them into your family.  Give a child a home.

10.  Mobilize your church for them.  Start an orphan ministry in your church.


Our family is also sharing the Orphan's Table.  I am hoping to do this with our adoption support group, Hope 4 Kids.  We hope to share a meal eaten by orphans around the world and go through the discussion and prayer guide.

Linked with Top Ten Tuesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, Winsome Wednesday, Miscellany Monday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Monday Madness, Friday Favorite Things, and Better Mom.

Ten Favorite Summer Picture Books

1.  Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco (One of my favorite authors)


2.  Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse


3.  The Summer Night by Charlotte Zolotow - this is one of my favorite since I was a little girl, and I read it to my kids every summer.  It's hard to find now.










4.  God's Quiet Things by Nancy Sweetland


5.  Night Driving by John Coy


6.  Oregon's Journey by Rascal


7.  Blueberries for Sal (and Make Way for Ducklings) by Robert McCloskey


8.  Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane


9.  Hide and Seek Fog by Alvin Tresselt


10.  Wind Says Goodnight by Katy Rydell


Linked with Top Ten Tuesday, Family Time Tuesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, Winsome Wednesday, Miscellany Monday, Read Aloud Thursdays, Hip Homeschool Hop, Monday Madness, Friday Favorite Things, and Better Mom.