2024 Avid Readers Challenge

INTRODUCING THE 2024 AVID READERS CHALLENGE! Have you ever participated in a reading challenge? I used to avoid them because they seemed too constricting . . . or competitive . . . or weird. However, I finally realized that I could design my own challenge that would be manageable and customizable for a wide variety of … Read more

Where to Start Reading Eudora Welty

Fellow Mississippian Eudora Welty (April 13, 1909 – July 23, 2001) is one of my favorite authors. In fact, I wrote about her in my 2014 book, Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms, in the section on bidding farewell to fear: Twice in my life I have let irrational fears hold me back. These are two … Read more

Bible Reading Plans

Do you want to read through the Bible in a year? Or maybe you want to read the Bible daily, but you want to move through it more slowly. Justin Taylor points out that it takes the average person less than 10 minutes a day to read the entire Bible in one year. He also … Read more

Homeschooling When Life Is Hard

Life is a surprise, a mystery, and an incredible adventure. It can also be straight-up hard! I was excited to join veteran homeschooling mothers and classical teachers Jennifer Dow, Kristen Rudd, Jessica Jensen, and Angela Burke for some real talk about homeschooling when life is hard. Whether you’re brand-new to homeschooling (and maybe you never … Read more

American Literature Online Classes

Join me for a lively and engaging exploration of the some of the greatest American authors! You’ll learn to understand, appreciate, and love literature in ways you may never have experienced before. Class Schedule American Literature – grades 9-12 – Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Central American Literature – adults – Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Central Course Description … Read more

Jan Karon’s Mitford Series Books in Order

Come join the Mitford Book Club on Facebook! www.MitfordBookClub.com Mitford fans often ask for a complete list of the Mitford novels in order. This list includes all available editions that I could find, plus Jan’s other books (including companion volumes to the Mitford series and children’s books), as well as Mitford storybooks inspired by Cynthia … Read more

Jan Karon’s Books Are Bathed in Prayer

Jan Karon’s newest book, Bathed in Prayer: Father Tim’s Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections from the Mitford Series, is dedicated “For my readers, with gratitude.” This delightful volume is certainly a welcome gift to all who mourned when Jan announced that To Be Where You Are would be her final Mitford novel. Bathed in Prayer is an anthology, not … Read more

“To Be Where You Are” by Jan Karon

In To Be Where You Are, Jan Karon welcomes readers back to Mitford and Meadowgate in alternating chapters. We’ve gotten so immersed in Jan’s delightful books that it’s like we’re “livin’ in a whole other place,” as Coot Hendrick thinks about his current read. As always, Father Tim ministers to the people around him, reflecting, … Read more

How to Shop a Library Sale

Hi! I’m Mary Jo, and I’m a book addict. Everyone: “Hi, Mary Jo!” Seven months ago I moved from Mississippi to Tennessee, and I still haven’t unpacked the last 20-30 boxes out of the 160 boxes of books I hauled across the state line. Even so, in addition to randomly buying a few books now … Read more