Bits of my heart and story on paper.

“I devoured it an afternoon. Couldn’t stop.” Max Lucado

{The only numbered journal companion for One Thousand Gifts … in addition to the sixty devotions.}

These sixty devotional reflections, each one like a singular tree, invite you to take wing into a forest of graces. Glimpses of grace that will lead you into your own lifestyle of Christ-focus and communion. Into how your desperate need of Him every moment — is wildly met with His extravagant love for you.

As practical as profound, this devotional offers real life transformation with intentional, numbered space to begin the radical habit of thanking God for your own one thousand gifts. The endless grace of our overflowing God, it’s meant to be experienced directly. The most important thing is simply to begin.

Pick up a pen and this book — and change your life. Take the dare to fully live! God’s just waiting to bless you with the greatest gift of all—more and more of Himself

With full color photos from our farm here…

and the words from the story of our unexpected life change and how we discovered the joy that really matters.

Because if joy is a matter of gratitude, and gratitude is a matter of perspective, then giving thanks changes not only your perspective, but also changes your life. Open these lyrical pages and slow down to discover the joy you’ve always been looking for. Come find God in the moments!

A must-read for every young parent.

Hangs in our home. Perfect for Moms who want to bring Scripture into everything.

Ours is dog-earred and well-used and can’t recommend this highly enough.

Underlined and re-read.
Often my go-to gift for Mom’s.
Highly recommended.

Best Family Read ever.
My go-to gift for newlyweds.
I return to this book over and over again.

An annual re-read.
Highly Recommended.

An absolute must-read.
Five Star.
Dramatically effected our home for great good.

The Farmer and I went to hear Mr. Kimmel speak.
Absolute game-changer.
Highly recommend for every parent.

Best Homeschooling Read ever.
Poured over.
Keep lending out.

Profoundly life-changing.
Must-read.
Highly recommended.

One of my favorite authors ever.
Everything he writes.
Absolutely highest recommendation.

Highly Recommended.

Warm and profound and from a woman with a heart the size of Texas — reaching toward heaven.

Really and truly.

This writer is rare and real — and needful.

Highly recommended.

Read cover to cover — twice.
This woman? Is called for such a time as this.
Unforgettable.
Highly recommended.

Jennie is on fire for Jesus.
And she’ll kindle you too.
Highly Recommend.

5 star.
Definite re-read.
What does the Gospel mean? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Highly Recommended.

This book?

Is one of the very few that remain out in my house.

The complete blueprint to make any house into a home. Highly recommended.

Caleb came to the foot of the cross and made Jesus the Lord of his life because of this book.
HIGHLY recommend.

Read every night at bedtime, over and over again.

These biographies are life-changing.
A family staple here.
Excellent.

A Child’s Geography, published by Knowledge Quest, is an Ambleside Online Recommendation, part of a Simply Charlotte Mason curriculum, and is written with Tonia Peckover.

Recommendation from Apologia’s Jeannie Fulbright: “Reading Ann Voskamp’s books really makes geography come to life…. phenomenal! It’s an overview of geography, written with such rich and lively prose. I highly recommend it.”

The series was voted first place by readers in both 2007 and 2008 in Mary Pride’s Readers’ Choice award for the category of geography.

Consider visiting the ACG website for sample chapters, reviews, and travel blog.

Available through CBD, Timberdoodle, Knowledge Quest, Amazon

100% of all author royalties are donated to Compassion International.

(*we have the Gateway to the Great Books (set)– thrifted — and if you can find used at Amazon or on ebay, highly recommend. “Gateway to the Great Books are great writings including short stories, plays, essays, scientific papers, speeches, and letters. Each selection represents a primary, original, and fundamental contribution to ones understanding of the universe and themselves. There are over 135 Authors, 225 Selections and 95 original illustrations.”)

Teale’s books are exquisite nature writing. Caleb has this one beside my bed and I have begun — 10yo and up

*Caleb quotes Lewis often. I have not read this Lewis and really need to

(*the first winter we lived in this house, Farmer Husband would sit in the rocking chair and hush baby Levi and read this one aloud to children while I’d listen in, washing up dishes. Caleb was seven. A freeze frame my heart can still see.)

(*He’s poured over this one for hours, years.)

(*I was about 12 when I read this book too, late nights babysitting. I smiled to see he had chosen it also.)

A perennial favorite read aloud that deeply moves (I never get through the school scene with the native boys without crying) and one Hope has read at least a handful of times. Caddie’s a bit like Laura Ingalls Wilder — they both find a place in the heart.

One year for her birthday, Hope scratched out her list: “A Compassion child to sponsor… and all of Patricia St. John’s books.” We were happy to oblige. All of Patricia St. John’s books find happy homes in a young girl’s library.

Ours is an old copy from Oma Voskamp and Caleb who read it on loan, was so taken with it that he urged every one of his siblings to read it. Hope thanked him.

Having sold over 500,000 copies in the 1860′s, this book’s Victorian language didn’t deter Hope — but rather the thoughtful writing caused her to pause and consider many theological truths. A book worth the effort of the read.

After I finished reading this book aloud during our afternoon tea time, Hope, not wanting yet to leave the beautiful story, she slipped off to read it again herself. Another Victorian read that still touches a sweet place.

One of my greatest delights of parenting is holding a title out to a child with the words, “I remember loving these books when I was about your age.” Hope read the same copy I had saved all these years. She loved it too.

The Whole Story series of the classics are the ones I always check out of the library, as their sidebar definitions, explanations of seldom used words, illustrations and interesting tidbits, not only intrigue, but make a classic story accessible to children who might otherwise become confused by the terminology of a different time era. The Whole Story books always get snatched up right away here.

We are on our third set of these books. Enough said.

(Okay, I’ll say this too ~smile~: We never tire, we never wane; they remain forever evergreen, always new: signposts of the most endearing, memorable writing. Can I still keep reading these when I have no little children in our house? Please?)

While entirely taken with the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Hope has yet to read the other in the series. This is good, as I prefer this series to be read when older. I first read it when I was seven and, strangely, did not like it in the least. It was only when I was older and understood the allegorical meaning that I relished each book. So Hope waiting is quite well and good.

Another traditional classic in the Whole Story series that has been well-loved here by all of our children.

A family read aloud that again got squirreled away for one-on-one engaging in the nook underneath the stairs. There isn’t much nicer for a young girl than a book like Heidi and being tucked in with a pile of pillows in a little hideaway, is there? She always smiles when she says, “Heidi.”

Though this book was on many recommended booklists, I long avoided it. I wasn’t interested in having anyone here read about witches. And now I entirely forget how the book found its way through the front door, but I clearly remember reading it aloud with reluctance. And then I fell in love with Kit. And I couldn’t stop reading. And the children couldn’t stop listening. And the witch is but an accused witch… and the exquisite story (writing second to none) is too about not making hasty judgements about people. Which is exactly what I had wrongly done with this book. Touche. Highly recommended.

Another read aloud that whet appetites for more… set in 1948 in Alaska, this story of a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse inspires curiosity in art and literature and creativity. A story that found a place in our hearts … and lives on.

Hope was giddy happy when we found several of this series at a library sale. I had many moons ago read one of these very sweet books as read aloud and she met these books like a long, lost friend. Reading aloud to the children has been like gathering kindling daily — lighting children to read books on their own, flaming their interest in books they might have otherwise passed over. If all else fizzles in a day… if we’ve prayed together and read together, it’s been a good day.

One reader in a house happily infects the whole house. Caleb read this who recommended it to Joshua, who passed it on to Hope… who has asked for it to be signed out of the library so many times, I really needed to buy her a permanent copy. She’s absolutely smitten with the adventures and faith-observant lifestyle of this1912-1913 Jewish family. The whole series makes for one very happy girl (or boy, for that matter, as her two older brothers have read the whole series also.)

A book we began for our history studies that has become a read aloud we often hungrily revisit — and then read again on our own! Hope and Levi again read this year, both entirely captivated. The Newberry award-winning story of young Robin who has to learn to reuse his legs is a classic for boys and girls alike. A family favorite.

I don’t remember how we found this book, but I do know we’ve never forgotten it. A truly powerful book about a young black girl who wins a Bible-quoting contest… and then discovers how hard it is to live out that Bible’s call to forgive. Exploring faith, racism and what it means to be deeply human and truly loving, this is a beautifully written book we often speak of… (Her father is killed, so not for younger readers) A book that will stay with you. Highly recommended for older readers.

This is my second-time reading aloud Understood Betsy, and I think I like it even more the second time, if that is possible… Hope has read it countless times — who can’t love Betsy and watching the world open up to her as she goes to live with the “dreaded Putneys”? (Levi smiled: “Our family is just like the dreaded Putneys.” And now you’ll have to read the book to understand why he says that ~weak smile~) A book my sister, homeschooling mama to four little girls, says is changing her life and the way she raises her girls. Five Star.

This was my hideaway book — up in the attic, a string of late summer afternoons. I wanted to be Pollyanna. It didn’t quite work out that way. ~blushing smile~ But I did read the whole series… and I smiled when Hope read from my tattered blue hardcover with the yellow musty pages. She loved it too and has re-read often. I hope the dream to be Pollyanna works out better for her ~smile~. A girlhood must.

My Hope-girl has loved these books as much as I did when I was an Ann-girl.

I hadn’t expected how happy that would make me, seeing her get lost in worlds that I did as a young girl…. and oh, the smile on her face when she is done and clutches a book to herself. Who can forget the wonder of childhood? Highly recommended.

Ours is an thrifted copy, well-thumbed and loved

Found in a stack of books at the second hand store, this too is a family favorite.

The treasury puts one book of glowing words on the shelf…

One signed out of the library often

From warblers to owls, 15 poems of birds designed to be read aloud by 2. Beautiful drawings… Poetry and nature study…

One we have from the library so often, over 1/2 of 97 poems read by poets themselves, lively audio that will be played again and again. Delightful!

A reader recommends this fun title for laughter in verse. At the library perhaps?

Newbery Award Winner, book of poetry about insects,for 2 readers to enjoy together. Rave Reviews!

Anthology grouped by theme, a mix of classic poets and new voices, with moving intro by Eric Carle.