August 2023 Newsletter

Mind But Not Miss

Happy August everyone! I hope you had a wonderful July full of summer fun & patriotic celebrations. As summer winds down and things like school & schedules begin anew this month, I know we’re all looking forward to what’s ahead. Maybe you’re looking forward to getting back into your normal routine. Maybe you have a child who is excited about entering a new grade in school. Maybe you’re anticipating a change at work. Maybe you’re simply looking forward to saying goodbye to these dog days of summer with the heat & humidity and eventually welcoming the crisp coolness of Fall. There are certain points throughout the year, like the month of August, when it feels like change is pretty much a given; it’s very easy to focus on that transition & what’s upcoming. And there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s exciting & hopeful & often necessary to have an eye on the future. However, I’m reminded to not wish away time and miss the treasures of the present. So with that in mind, as we anticipate a new month, one potentially full of a variety of changes, let’s take a moment to reflect. What little things from the past month or so live sweetly in your heart & mind?

For me, the list includes watching a beautiful deer that’s recently been visiting our property, enjoying Danny Gokey’s new patriotic songs all throughout July, completing a home project, & receiving a sweet unexpected gift, to name a few. What’s on your list? What little things have you recently enjoyed? What little things are you so thankful to God for? During this time, let’s purpose to mind the future but not miss the present that God is graciously gifting us.

New in the Bookshop

New books for adults & children, gem pens, a couple of new t-shirt designs, Sticky Prayers, books & gifts for teachers, Scripture magnets, inspirational badge reels, journals, garden flags & much more!

Did you know?

Wednesday, August 9, 2023 is National Book Lovers Day!

Book of the Month

For August’s featured book, I’ve chosen “When Calls the Heart” by award winning Canadian author Janette Oke. In this entertaining & touching fictional story, we meet Elizabeth Thatcher, a very privileged & highly educated young woman who bravely ventures west to teach school in the wilds of the Canadian Rockies. Told from her point of view, Elizabeth shares her fish-out-of-water experience of struggling to successfully teach her new pupils as well as find her place in a rough, rural community. She also finds herself navigating a budding romance with a local Mountie. Will Elizabeth be able to settle into this new life or will she head back east to the home & people she’s always known? I hope you’ll join me in reading this sweet story this month.On a related note, this book has inspired a TV show drama of the same name that airs on the Hallmark Channel; the show is in its tenth season which is airing now. Though quite different from the book, many readers also enjoy the stories the TV show shares.

Praying all the students & their families and all the teachers, school administrators & school employees have a great start to the 2023-2024 school year!

May God bless & keep you!