Kate Motaung

Many kids count down to the end of the school year, but once summer break begins, some parents begin counting the days until it’s over. Kids love having more free time, but often it helps to have some planned activities to add a bit of structure to their days.

Here are some fun suggestions to make this summer staycation the best one yet. When boredom threatens to settle in, be ready with this arsenal of ideas.

• Create your own board game based on a favorite chapter book or movie — or maybe you could base your game on a book or section of the Bible, such as the ten plagues, the life of Joseph, or the book of Esther. Grab a posterboard and brainstorm some of the main action points in the story, then include them in your game.

• Play your own version of The Amazing Race, or create a scavenger hunt around your town. At the end, talk about how your family overcame the challenges and twists in the road.

• Pretend like you are researchers or historians. Research the history of the churches in your town. Try to find out which one is the oldest, and how it started. See if you can interview the pastor or some of the older congregation members. Write what you learn, and think about God’s faithfulness in preserving His church. Design a timeline or poster illustrating key events and interesting facts you discover.

• Make handmade greeting cards with words of encouragement or Bible verses, then deliver them to a nursing home in your area. See what a joy it can be to be a blessing and bring a smile to an elderly person’s face.

• Organize a neighborhood bake sale. Collect donated baked goods, sell them, and give the proceeds to a local charity or mission organization.

• Write letters or send a care package to someone serving in the military or on the mission field. For other ideas on how to encourage missionaries, click here.

• Hold your own Master Chef competition. Using only five or six ingredients, have a contest to see which family member can prepare the most appetizing dish.

• Check out some audio books from your nearest library. Go home, make some lemonade and popcorn, and enjoy the story!

• Make a list of five different countries around the world. Find a recipe for a traditional dish that represents a culture from each country. Block off a week on your calendar as Around the World Week, and plan to eat from a new region each evening.

• Plan a talent show. Invite friends or neighbors, and perform your favorite skits, songs, or poems for each other.

• Gather a few other families and meet at the park for a fun-filled track and field evening. Plan potato sack races, water balloon tosses, three-legged races, long jumps, and softball throws.

• Map out a frisbee golf course, grab some discs, and start a new hobby!

• Set up an obstacle course in your backyard, or in your driveway. Use sticks or sidewalk chalk to construct a course, find a stopwatch, and let the fun begin!

What are some unique activities your family enjoys doing together during summer break?

A group from our church recently had a discussion about how to encourage Christian missionaries.

Here is some of the fruit from that evening:

1. Read their updates. Like, actually read them.

2. Reply to their newsletters, even if it’s just one line, to say, “Thanks for the update.”

3. Pray for them. Set aside a specific time, maybe one evening a week, that is specifically designated for praying for certain missionaries and their work.

4. If you have prayed for them, tell them. It can be encouraging to hear, “I’ll pray for you,” but how much more so to hear, “Our family prayed for you last night,” or “Our Bible study group prayed for you at our last meeting.”

5. Send them a birthday card, care package, magazines from home, books you’ve enjoyed, treats they can’t get on the field.

6. Recommend missionary biographies that might be an encouragement to them.

7. Share snippets of spiritual food you have enjoyed — a verse that encouraged you during your quiet time, or an anecdote from a sermon that made you think of them.

8. Be willing to be a sounding board, a confidential source to whom they can vent and on whom they can rely when things are challenging.

9. Let them know it’s okay to take vacations, both on the field and on furlough. Not only okay, but essential.

10. Give their kids grace when they’re on furlough. The whirlwind of meetings, houses, people, services, food, conversations, adjustments, etc. etc. etc. can take a huge toll on adults and kids.

11. Listen to their stories.

12. Pray some more.

13. And an added bonus, straight from someone on the field: “Of course, the absolute cherry on the cake would be coming to visit us!”

Photo credit: Free Grunge Textures

 

 

 

I read some fantastic books in 2015. Really, really good. So grateful for the brave, faithful writers out there who sit down and put in the work for our benefit.

 

My goal was to read a book a month, and I rounded out the year with a grand total of 16 books. Not many compared to some, but I’m satisfied.

 

Here are the books I read in 2015:

 

 

Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves by Trillia Newbell {Review & Video Author Interview}

 

Such a helpful, biblical resource for all who battle with various fears, anxieties, and insecurities.

 

Until We All Come Home by Kim de Blecourt {Review}

 

A page-turning, suspenseful account of one family’s harrowing journey to adopt from Ukraine.

 

Dragons and Dirt: The Truth About Changing the World – and the Courage it Requires by Dalene Rayburn {Review}

 

One of my favorite books I read this year. So much wisdom and food for thought on a wide range of topics and issues. A short read, but full of gems.

 

 

For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards by Jen Hatmaker

 

This is the first Jen Hatmaker book I’ve read. There are a few chapters I wish I could mass produce and distribute all over the country. I didn’t write a review, but my friend Bronwyn wrote a good one here.

 

Every Little Thing: Making a World of Difference Right Where You Are by Deidra Riggs {Review & Video Author Interview}

 

Inspiring and motivating. That’s how I would describe this debut book by Deidra Riggs.

 

Girl Meets Change: Truths to Carry You through Life’s Transitions by Kristen Strong {Review}

 

Encouraging words for all who have experienced change.

 

 

 

Nobody’s Cuter Than You: A Memoir about the Beauty of Friendship by Melanie Shankle {Review}

 

A funny and heartfelt tribute to friendship among women.

 

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

 

I underlined copious amounts of this book. So many challenging words; highly recommended.

 

Dance with Jesus: From Grief to Grace by Susan B. Mead

 

Susan Mead kindly sent me a copy of this book, and I read the whole thing in one evening. It’s a quick read, but a moving testimony of a mother who has found grace in the midst of grieving the loss of her son.

 

Fiction: 

 

 

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner {Review}

 

Beautifully written historical fiction about two sisters during the London Blitz of World War II.

 

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

 

I adored this debut novel by Katherine Reay. A series of letters written by a Jane Austen-loving journalism student to her anonymous benefactor. Captivating and cleverly written.

 

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

 

This latest novel by Susan Meissner releases on January 5th, 2016! I was privileged to read an advance copy of this story set in the Hollywood period when Gone With the Wind was filmed. Review coming soon. Pre-order now by clicking here!

 

On Writing:

 

 

 

On Being a Writer: 12 Simple Habits for a Writing Life that Lasts by Ann Kroeker and Charity Singleton Craig

 

A wonderful resource for writers. I was challenged and guided in my personal writing life, and had such fun leading a six-week online discussion on this book with several other writers. Catch up on the discussion here. I’ll be referring back to this book many times in the years to come.

 

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg

 

This book is pure gold. Natalie cuts right to the chase in this no-nonsense, down-to-earth book that will make you want to pick up your pen and write like crazy. She covers all the bases and then some.

 

Christmas: 

 

 

 

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp

 

Another gorgeous book from Ann Voskamp. This one offers daily Advent readings which carry the reader through biblical history, starting with Adam and Eve. So much spiritual food here; definitely worth reading at any time of the year, not just Christmas.

 

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu

 

My friend Asheritah wrote this wonderful resource focusing on the names of Jesus. I read it aloud to my kids to start each of our homeschool days in December. Again, this book could be read and benefited from at any time of the year, not only during Advent.

 

What books did you read in 2015? 

 

Still busy reading:

 

 

 

Making It Home: Finding My Way to Peace, Identity, and Purpose by Emily Wierenga

 

Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God When Sparkly, Safe Faith is No Longer Enough by Kristen Welch

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer

 

Related Post: My Top 14 Books of 2014

 

What are you reading now? What do you hope to read in 2016?

 

Note: This post contains affiliate links. 

 

It’s your turn! I’d love to see what you read this past year. Come share your list in the comments or by linking up your own blog post by clicking here.