Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 79

Awaking Wonder: The Secret Of Loving Children Well

The Secret to Loving Children Well

Too many times I have had to get up early, serve up one last cheesy egg and homemade bread breakfast with strong Yorkshire Gold Tea, only to rush to get suitcases, passports, last minutes clothes and with high adrenalin, drive one of my beloved children to the airport to take off to far away places. The Denver airport is an hour drive door to door from our home, so we always get one more, “I love you,” and “didn’t we have fun,” and “Be careful when you get there,” messages that have been repeated countless times.

My children are truly my best friends and now, mentors. I love spending time with them, the conversations, the shared memories of sitting on the porch after an evening walk to watch the sun go down and to settle the issues of our days.

Yet, I know that in loving them, I have to put them in God’s capable hands and send them out with a “Fly, fly, precious one. Fulfill your destiny, pursue your ideals, your story will be a great one.”

Freedom to live into the possibilities of all that they were created to do. They are not mine to hold on to—they are loaned to me, but they are now living into His purposes, His life for them, His calling. Today, I will share with you what I wrote in my book, Awaking Wonder

“People asked me what our secrets were for influencing our children. This is the secret: Loving them well, generously, all the time, in every situation.

Being loved specifically and intentionally adds to our physical well- being, our spiritual equilibrium, our emotional health, but also our mental strength and health.

Probably the most important influence of my whole life in learning to interact in a healthy way with all people, including children, came from pondering Jesus and the way He embodied life-giving influence.

The attitude with which we come to our children will affect much of their response to us as teachers.

We can all see that humans are not thriving, in general. Despair, depression, loneliness, isolation, and rising suicide rates are common plights. But we must see that unless we return to a more humane and personal way of investing our lives, people will continue to grow more troubled, more impersonal, more distant.

To create a life where the hours and moments can be filled in satisfying interaction means that we must choose to fill the time our children could be engaged with machines or other entertainment with planned personal time that satisfies to the depths of their hearts, minds, and souls.

All of us need a place where our roots can grow deep and where we are a part of a like-minded community and have a safe refuge from the storms of life. Home can also give wings to dreams, nurturing possibilities of who we might become.

All homes will have a personality of their own, but part of loving well is planning the life and shaping the character that will define the unique attributes of the family who dwells there.

When a parent makes it a habit to be affectionate to a child in a way that accompanies their personality needs, there is an automatic connection. … affection is a sure sign of closeness and preference that often softens the instruction of a parent to a child.

As we evaluate how to love our children and students well, we must ask ourselves, ‘Do they believe and feel I have their best interests in mind, or do they think I have my own agenda for them?’ ‘Do they understand that even though they struggle, I am here to help them succeed?’ ‘Is their heart open to my instruction, or is there a wedge of resistance that I need to figure out and address?’”

—Sally Clarkson, “Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning”

I will be talking about so much more in an online conference I hope you will be able to attend. Be sure to pre-register in case the conference fills to capacity.

Go HERE to register.

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Clarkson, Sally



Buy on Amazon


























The Awaking Wonder Experience: A Guided Companion

By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay



Buy on Amazon

























































Play Episode #467

Special: A wonder-filled Conference! Register Today with Anne Miller

Play Episode on iTunes & Stitcher

My wonderful friends,

First of all, THANK YOU! You are the best friends ever! I was so encouraged by how many of you shared about my new book.

Second—look at the giveaway below—if you share about the conference I podcasted about today, with a friend, on my insta or Facebook, you will be entered to win a Lifegiving Set, including the study guides. See below.

NOW:

So many of you have come along side me the past weeks to help me launch my new book, Awaking Wonder, into the world. As you know, it is my legacy book about our family’s story of discipleship, home and education. In the midst of this, my dear friend for many years, Anne Miller, said, “I would love to have you participate in a conference I am holding. We both so believe in Awaking wonder in children. Can you come?”

I do plan to get back to some of my discipleship, home, life messages soon, but at this time when so many are struggling with the issue of education for their children, I will be participating in a few more conferences to hopefully be an encouragement. I am so very grateful to have been asked to be a part of this conference.

Anne Miller has been hosting home education conferences in Virginia for tens of thousands for many years. She has hosted speakers from every background and given her life to mentor and encourage families. I will, of course, be speaking from our family’s philosophy of home education and discipleship, (Whole Hearted Learning Model). But you will be hearing from many inspirers from different philosophies. I have discovered that when I engage with experienced educators, I always learn something and stretch my own capacity and skill levels. I can’t wait to listen!

And so, as you read this and listen to this podcast, I am preparing to jump on a plane, face mask on face and sanitizer in hand , to be a part of giving this message with many other speakers gathering to encourage and inscribe families about how to proceed this year in the journey of home education.

Those who are starting home education for the first time, either because of covid, or because you are engaging with your children at home for the first time, or you have been home educating for years, I know you will enjoy this conference. Here is the information about it:

Give us three days—and leave with the tools and encouragement you need for this homeschooling year. More than 31 states (and Manitoba, Canada) have joined together to present a FREE, three-day, virtual event—broadcast live from the Founders Inn in Virginia Beach on August 25 to 27. Many top Christian homeschool speakers in the nation are flying in to livestream this amazing comprehensive event designed to equip and encourage, as well as simplify your homeschooling journey. Register FREE to attend the LIVE event or upgrade to have access to some exciting extras! 

To sign up, go HERE. or https://www.hwc2020.com

Register as soon as you see this blog or hear this podcast as participation is limited. Tell your friends about it.

Hope you can join me! And pray for us as we seek to be of encouragement to many all over the world.

And for those of you who are still wanting to listen to the Awaking Wonder At Home, conferences, you can find them HERE, free for another week. After that, you can find them on our membership at: https://lifewithsally.com

So much going on. I hope and pray you will be encouraged.

I am giving away 2 complete sets of these books. Just tag a friend on fb or Insta and tell them about this conference and you will be entered to win a set.



Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Clarkson, Sally



Buy on Amazon


























The Awaking Wonder Experience: A Guided Companion

By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay



Buy on Amazon









FOR MORE

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Play Episode #466

Ahhhh, Ideals! On Reaching Higher

Girl in a Hammock, Winslow Homer

This picture makes me long for a mountain breeze, a deep hammock, a cup of tea, an engrossing book and an open-ended afternoon.

I can probably swing one of those, with the open-ended afternoon being perhaps the most elusive of the four. But one can always dream!

In many ways, the beautiful classic art pieces I love are evidence of ideals I hold. Perhaps they're indicative of the way I wish life were, more often than the way it actually is. Perhaps you, too find yourself longing for life to be more settled, more peaceful, more predictable, more tame than you find it.

As I wrote several years ago in my book, The Mom Walk ...

"I am a deeply romantic woman, always yearning for a picture-perfect home--fires on the hearth with feasts and laughter nearby, pleasant and gracious conversations, an ambience of beauty and peace. I write about my ideals. I breathe my ideals in the secret moments of my life. I want a picture-perfect marriage where I am adored and appreciated. I want my children to be healthy, happy, and harmonious. I want strong friendships and a stable community with friends. I want an extended family to be close to us and to provide my children with love and support and lots of godly input. I want there to be money for all the bills, a home that isn't always exploding with messes, and time to sit and read a good book and ponder life.

These longings are not wrong. Ideals and the desire for beauty are simply the echoes of God's design in our hearts. He was the one who designed the world to be a masterpiece of wonder and life. The yearning for peace, health, and comfort is natural to our souls and comes from the depths of our hearts where we can still feel and imagine what God created life to be before the fall."

I think God is the biggest Idealist of all. He created everything in a perfect state, and someday He will "restore all things." (Acts 3:21.) I think He understands my heart's longing for a beautiful life and fulfilling relationships.

I think He feels just the same way I do. When I long for life to line up with His ideals, I reflect His own heart. When I create pleasing settings, soothe ruffled feelings, play beautifully crafted music, offer grace to a tired and cranky child, or prepare a hearty meal that fills stomachs and enriches souls as we share ideas around the table, I remind those who share in the moments with me that we are, indeed, sons and daughters of a King, meant for more than workaday life in this broken world.

This, too is part of awaking wonder and growing in learning together at home!

 How can you remind those around you, today?

Find my newest book, Awaking Wonder, here!

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Clarkson, Sally
























The Awaking Wonder Experience: A Guided Companion

By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay

Friends, Friends, Friends! A Conversation with Jennifer Pepito

Two years ago, my girls and I wrote a book called, “Girl’s Club” about the need to seek out and cultivate friendships in order to live a sustainable, flourishing life. One of the biggest gifts to me through all the years of speaking, writing, being in ministry is that I have been blessed to meet such wonderful women and often draw from the wells of their own heart.

A favorite memory of mine, was being with my sweet friends from the Wild and Free Community both in the States and in the UK—Stratford on Avon. What a beautiful group of women.

Sweet friends, Jennifer & wonderful Ainsley in Stratford on Avon.

One of the highlights was to meet wonderful Jennifer Pepito. We were kindred spirits immediately. I know you will enjoy our podcast together today.

Jennifer has the most beautiful curriculum that opens windows for young children called Peaceful Press.

Hoping you are enjoying the conference videos today. I am trying to catch up on life.

I was so blessed by all of you in the launch. Thanks sooo much for being so generous with your words and time. Sending love!

Play Episode #465

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Gift of Learning & Podcast

Wonder: (noun) “A feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamil- iar”1; desire to know something thoroughly; (verb) to feel curious and engage in imagination.

We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.

C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Today, I would like to share a part of the story of my first chapter with you so that you can enter into our wonder-filled story of an unforgettable evening as we cuddled together in the Colorado Mountains. (And you can listen to me tell it on the podcast today.)

Memorable and momentous occasions rarely announce themselves ahead of time, but often tiptoe quietly into the corners of our lives and yet leave a profound influence. So this particular evening stands out to all of us as a sort of mysteriously sacred shared event that shaped a deep part of our souls.

In the late evening just after sunset, chill mountain breezes of a summer night swirled around us, and I shivered involuntarily. Thousands of stars shone above like diamonds on a velvet cloak and beckoned to us to stop, to enter into their reality.

Tonight we should sleep out under the stars, I thought. I had not seen such a cloudless, clear view of the night skies in a very long time.

When I announced my plan, excitement burst forth through squeals, jumping up and down, smiles that lit up the room. Making plans and giving orders, I bustled about, dragging sleeping bags and pillows onto our deck. At 7,300 feet in elevation, our little rustic home was tucked away at the foot of towering Colorado Rockies, bordering 25,000 acres of national forest.

We were surrounded by the long, dark shadows of the trees waltzing to a mountain song, and the pine forest whistled as the breeze gently moved branches back and forth. We found ourselves invited to a dramatic perfor- mance by an infinite array of stars twinkling across our night sky.

Here, away from the lights of the city, the whole world of sky sparkled with movement and flashes as though elegantly parading in the heavens, in sync with the pine trees. We considered that we had box seats and were audience to the angels rollicking, swirling in the light, moving to the rhythm of the swaying branches, just for our pleasure. Our magical night world was awash with mystery and whimsy.

Four-year-old Joy plopped into my lap as I eased onto our old wooden bench. Her brothers, Joel, twelve, and Nathan, ten, ran wildly up and down our deck, yelling, punching, giggling, and pointing to a shooting star here and the Milky Way there.

A Wonderful Beginning

Clay, my husband, turned up the soft acoustic music from inside the house so that a symphony of haunting melodies accompanied this tran- scendent evening of delight. The night sky darkened and marked the time for us to cuddle for warmth in a pile under the sleeping bags. We all lay flat on the creaky deck, looking up into the showcase of myriad glimmering lights. In this auditorium of splendor, we all marveled. An almost sacred hush fell over us and gave calm and peace to our previously distracted souls.

Sarah, at fifteen, was wrapped in a warm quilt. Hidden in a dark corner, she watched the beauty in the safe comfort of her private imaginations.

All of us were wonder-struck at the infinite stars, the sky chandelier shimmering, the vastness of the celestial art above. A calm blanketed us in our delighted participation together as we breathed in the spectacular expanse so generously given us that never-to-be-forgotten night.

As we submitted to the silence and reveled in the glorious moment, the marvel of its vastness seemed to quell any small worries or issues that had troubled us before, and we breathed release and felt peace. Each of us was caught up in our own “mind castles,” where feelings and thoughts danced through our wonderings, elegantly, freely, in celebration of the grace of our moments.

The six of us were invisibly joined together as the threads of our hearts were woven through the unspoken sharing. As we sat in reverie of the gran- deur, we were enveloped with the sense of an artist greater than us, and with an awareness of being small but hidden in our Creator’s magnificence. Merely to be in the vastness of such a display of power and beauty all at once was to witness sublime reality beyond our comprehension.

We were captured in the wonder of it all, together.

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Clarkson, Sally



Buy on Amazon


























The Awaking Wonder Experience: A Guided Companion

By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay



Buy on Amazon

























































Play Episode #464

Take Courage, Dear Heart! Awaking Faith for Eternity & Awaking Wonder

And I don't know a soul who's not been battered, I don't have a friend who feels at ease.
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
or driven to its knees.
But it's all right, it's all right
We've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road
we're traveling on.
I wonder what went wrong.
I can't help it, I wonder what went wrong.Simon and Garfunkel, American Tune

Play Episode on iTunes & Stitcher

Air conditioning blasting, barreling down the road at 75 miles an hour, Joy and I are knit together by the thread of singing at the top of our voices as we travel toward a favorite coffee shop each Saturday morning. We have been doing it for years. She is the dj and I am the driver or vise versa, depending on the day. it is how I taught her to drive. For those 55 hours of required practice driving, I played James Taylor, Jim Croce, Rich Mullins, Ed Sheehan, Regina Specter and so many more. Music is a balm to us.

But yesterday, as we were driving, some lyrics seemed to be totally appropriate to us now, even though they were written in the 70’s. Attending a concert of Simon and Garfunkel amongst tens of thousands of people, standing, swaying and cheering them on was a favorite memory of mine when I just graduated from high school. I remembered their lyrics from American Tune. The words seem to be describing us today: “I don’t know a soul who’s not been battered, don’t know a soul who is at ease.”

This lyric was written when I was a young college student, in another time of real crisis—but is still true today.

Our souls have been battered, our souls are not at ease.

This week, though, I have continually had so many of you on my heart and I have been praying for you as I remembered these words that describe all of us. We have been troubled by the storms, by Covid, loss of jobs, violence and hatred recorded on the news, political chaos, loss of crops, threats of closing down schools, loss of control of most of our circumstances of life. It is indeed a challenging time.

As I face my launch this week, the focus of my heart has not been as much on Awaking Wonder as it is on praying for so many of you who I have come to know through your messages, emails, comments. I know that if you are on my heart, you are indeed on the heart of God. You are not alone or forgotten. Yet, this is a time when we have the choice to try to see with the eyes of our heart to notice Him and His valiant presence in this world. Our God is a redeemer. He is a lover, He will not leave us alone.

I was on a hike with my son, Joel, this week. We were talking of the mountains of discouraging issues. He said,
”You know, I think that when people go through great crisis, they either become more humble, dependent on the Lord and compassionate for others or they become bitter, cynical and victims of their circumstances.”

I think he is right. How we face our difficulties will determine the pathways of our lives. As I age, I see more and more that my compassion for most all people has grown. My sympathy for struggles, seeing people withtout a shepherd gives me compassion to want them to know the mercy and comfort of Christ.

We must choose to remember: In the darkness of the times, our God is still working, fighting behind the scenes, bringing others to Himself, spreading love and redemption. He has trusted us with these times.

We see the struggles through music as I mentioned the Simon and Garfunkel song. But we also see these thoughts communicated through out art of every form. We see this heart issue also in literature, in the Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. Frodo, insignificant hobbit, living a mundane life was the chosen hero for Tolkien’s epic story. When he was journey weary, small, exhausted, just like we feel now, he said, “I wish it , (these battles) need not have happened in my time.”

Gandalf wisely answered him, “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

Isn’t that the same with us, to decide what God wants us to do with the time given to us. We have agency, the power to decide that we will seek to please him, to seek Him, to decide to trust Him.

I have been reading verses that have held me fast through many years of challenges..

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (one of my favorites)

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.

As I have learned to lean into these verses, I have written them on the impulses of my heart. The older I get, the more I know deep in my heart. We are not in heaven yet. There is a place where all. will be peace, light, beauty, love. Yet, even in this world, when I stay close to Him, I can see His light, His presence, His control over all things. I have lived through enough dark places, and seen Him hold my hand at every step.

One of the main reasons that I wrote Awaking Wonder is that as I look back, so many parents I know focussed on the wrong issues, the wrong goals. It is easy to focus on results that we can measure, test results, grades, activities, material possessions.

Yet, there is a focus I see that matters: To give our children a living faith, to believe in the constant love and presence of God and his truth and ways, while living in His unconditional love and beauty as they shape their lives on His reality.

This is actually what my new book, Awaking Wonder, is about. To live in front of our children in such a way that they will see us responding to God by faith so that they will know what it is like to do the same when they encounter troubles. How important that we do not measure our lives by the things we have, the activities we are busy in, the test scores we achieve, but the way we learn to walk with and please God every day—and to pass that kind of living faith on to our children.

Awaking Wonder to faith, to beauty, to love, to light in a dark world, to God who is with us, to God who answers prayer.

As I have kept in my heart many times, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and to lose His soul.”

What to do in the times we have been given? Loving our children with our time, our hearts, our words, our touch, our testimony, so that they can still hope in God’s love in dark times.

Living a life of servant leadership, washing their feet, so to speak, by seeking to listen to their conversations even when we are tired, to get up one more time in the middle of the night to soothe a fretful soul, to be patient with one more mess, to be steadfast and persevering during the tedious, challenging times.

Great hearts and souls are shaped during a day after day of faithfulness, patience, affection, house work done in all the moments of life. Building a legacy of faith and love is not about what school, what curriculum, but about us bringing the kingdom of God to bear in our children’s lives on a daily basis.

This is why I wrote Awaking Wonder, because I wanted to help parents understand that our lives are about serving and pleasing Him and then consequently serving our children because it means so much to Him.

Children, Jesus said, are about the kingdom of God.

In the Chronicles of Narnia, Lucy, the youngest child, was faced with imminent fear, Aslan said, “Courage, Dear Heart.”

Today, as you face these circumstances, may you find purpose and live into your capacity to keep going to keep spreading light, to be patient, to invest your love in young hearts.

He trusted us with these times, that in His strength, we would be able to endure with grace and live in the realty of His light.

Aslan the picture of our precious Jesus, still says to us, “Courage, Dear Heart.”

May God grant you courage today, dear one.

To register for the Awaking Wonder Conference, go HERE

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Clarkson, Sally



Buy on Amazon


























The Awaking Wonder Experience: A Guided Companion

By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay



Buy on Amazon









FOR MORE

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Play Episode #463

Grace in Friendships ... Both Inside Our Family & Outside in the World

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen.When they're finished, I climb out.” Erma Bombeck

“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet service to see who they really are.”  Will Farrell   

When facing life as a mom, as a wife, you have to keep some humor floating through every day. And also, it helps to to know that you are not alone in the midst of your life messes. And now, during cover, it is especially a draining, messy time. We have lost our support systems, our schedule, our time alone. All of these are vitally important to our overall emotional health.

I do rely heavily on a candle, cup of tea, and my Bible get me started off right. I've learned to lay my burdens at Jesus' feet. I've read His words and they have ministered to my heart. I've worshiped Him. I have asked Him to change me, to help me grow, to bless my family and lead them. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful day, and all is well with the world.

And then I get out of the chair.

And sometimes, it feels as if all is downhill from there! I am a human being with needs—that are pretty much going unmet. I am pouring out every day to my others who are deeply in need right now, but it leaves me with a little bit less at every moment.

Wouldn't motherhood, wifehood, even Christianity be much easier ... if there weren't any other people involved? But I suppose then we have the problem alluded to in that scene from It's a Wonderful Life, when the family's help says, "That (the noise happening upstairs) is why all children should be girls!" and then the elder Mrs. Bailey says, "But if they were all girls--oh, never mind!"

God loves relationships. He, Himself, exists as a relationship--Father, Son and Spirit, three in One--a mystery we can't wrap our minds around. We bear His image, and part of that is this need we have for relationships; to know and be known, to love well, to draw strength and learn from one another. Yet relationships are not easy.

Sinful people, living together in a broken world, sometimes hurt one another.

We misunderstand and are misunderstood.

We struggle with pride and envy, greed and deceit. So do those around us--and our children are no exception.

Awaking Wonder, for our family, meant to talk through the reality of our hearts, our limitations, and why we need grace from a humble, compassionate heavenly Father every day, every minute. And why we need to become people of grace giving.

We need God's grace, both within the walls of our homes and when we venture out the door.

And while we’re trying to offer grace to all the people around us, we also ought to consider offering some to ourselves! How will you offer grace to everyone in your circle this week?

Part of our educational foundation in awaking wonder was offering grace to our children! Read more about it, here …

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

By Clarkson, Sally
























The Awaking Wonder Experience: A Guided Companion

By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Clay

Awaking Wonder At Home Together: Register THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

Awaking Wonder Together At Home Registration Opens Today!

WOOHOO! I am so excited to be able to tell you about the conference series that we have planned to bring to you. After having to cancel hotel conferences scheduled all over the United States, we finally decided that we wanted to provide this conference as a gift from us, (our family) to you. Be sure to go to the registration page and sign up and you will receive a code to use on August 20 that will give you access to the 12 conference sessions. I had so much fun planning different rooms in my home where I tell stories, interview my 4 adult children and or Clay. I pray that it will be a personal encouragement and bring some inspiration your way whether you are a teacher, a youth pastor, a parent or someone who has a heart for these areas.

I also hope that those who will be home educating their children because of being home for the first time, moms who work, new homeschoolers or those who just need some new entouragement will find an oasis of rest and restoration in the messages.

This online event is based on my new book, Awaking Wonder. Please be sure to pre-order your copy of Awaking Wonder so you can enjoy the full benefit of the video visits. It would mean so much if you would do this to help support our message as it goes into the world.

. Here is a summary you can share with your friends:

In a series of twelve short video visits in different rooms of her home, I will share how she awakened wonder as a mother. Awaking Wonder at Home Together videos will let you walk with Sally, along with Clay and their grown children—Sarah, Joel, Nathan, and Joy—as she recalls the blessings and beauty of awaking wonder at home in the Clarkson family.

These professionally filmed and edited clips are being offered at no cost, but only for a limited time. They are Sally’s gift to you to celebrate the release of her 22nd book. All she asks is that you register to receive them. And when you register (and, by the way, only if you register) you’ll also be entered into a wonder-full 12 Days of Wonder Giveaway.

As a special celebration, we have decided to do a giveaway every day that we offer the conferences free. If you register, you will be entered into a random.com drawing, one each day for the following gifts from us to you:

Thu, Aug 20 - Awaking Wonder set—signed book and guide, 3x selected books from Sally’s library

Fri, Aug 21 - The Lifegiving Family trilogy—The Lifegiving Home/Table/Parent +study guides

Sat, Aug 22 - Our 24 Family Ways package—O24FW devotional, 3x Kids Color-In Book

Sun, Aug 23 - Mentoring Time with Sally—Thirty minutes with Sally on phone, FaceTime, or Zoom

Mon, Aug 24 - Storyformed package—Just David, The Gold Thread, Journeys of Faithfulness

Tue, Aug 25 - Awaking Wonder set—signed book and guide, 3x selected books from Sally’s library

Wed, Aug 26 - The Lifegiving Family trilogy—The Lifegiving Home/Table/Parent +study guides

Thu, Aug 27 - Our 24 Family Ways package—O24FW devotional, 3x Kids Color-In Book

Fri, Aug 28 - Mentoring Time with Sally—Thirty minutes with Sally on phone, FaceTime, or Zoom

Sat, Aug 29 - Home Education set—Educating the WH Child, Read for the Heart, Seasons of a Mother’s Heart

Sun, Aug 30 - Wonder-full music by Joel Clarkson—6x CDs of original piano instrumentals

Mon, Aug 31 - “The Gate”— 8x10 framed painting by Awaking Wonder cover illustrator, Jamin Still

We hope you can come. Sometime in the morning of Thursday, August 13, you can register at this page: Awakingwonderathome.com.

Hope you can come to the celebration of Awaking Wonder with us!

Play Episode #462

Awaking Wonder: Catching Up with My Friend Sarah Mackenzie

A memory of our time together at a Wild and Free Conference

Grace and Peace, Grace and Peace…….a song from Fernando Ortega wafted through my home on many occasions. How we need to be around people who offer us a breath, a kiss on our cheek, an angel friend who brings grace to us in spite of our challenges, imperfections or just thoughts that must be shared with a kindred spirit.

Such is sweet Sarah Mackenzie. We had so much fun talking that we are doing 2 podcasts, one on hers and one on mine—and an instagram live. As a seasoned mama of many, she has had to learn to pace herself. Listen to her wise words:

“It doesn't really matter if we have the most beautiful, carefully thought-out plan if there aren't enough hours in the day to get to it. Look, if God expected you to get 36 hours worth of work done in a day, he would have given you 36 hours to do it. If you have more to do than time to do it in, the simple fact is this: some of what you are doing isn't on His agenda for you.” 

“You are made in the image and likeness of God, and you have exactly what you need to be the mother that He wants you to be. Figure out what drives you and then let your kids shine within the atmosphere you create. Trying to be something you're not, trying hard to provide your kids with the education that the blogger-next-door is giving hers will burn you out make you want to quit the whole project entirely.” 
― Sarah Mackenzie, Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

I hope you enjoy our conversation—and I hope you breathe in peace.

Play Episode #461

Awaking Wonder: Never Ending Discipleship: Shaping Character, Inspiring Faith & Podcast Part 2

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“In a world rampant with secularism, forgetful and resistant to God, it is important that we be focused and intentional in passing on the wisdom, reality, foundation, truth, and purpose of God to our children.”Sally Clarkson, Awaking Wonder

Troubling thoughts, mixed emotions, issues that were heavy on my heart had stayed inside for some days and I didn’t even know they needed to come out. Asking Joel to go out to an acceptable cafe just for talk time was just the break I needed. Now instead of me being the one influencing him, he unearthed my feelings and thoughts and lifted my burden and sent me on a healthy path forward. When we take the time to spiritually engage with our children, they become our wise counselors.

Mentoring, the relationship between two people that seek to encourage, affirm and walk along side another is a rare gift. Mentoring was the pattern I learned from the life of Jesus.

Now, I find that after years of waiting along side my wonderful Joel, he is now mentoring me.

I have been receiving so many messages of encouragement about how you have enjoyed these podcasts about educating/discipling our children. Today, I know you will be encouraged by listening to part 2. I know I was greatly encouraged.

Part two of our discussion on shaping character and inspiring faith, we share about the struggles of having different “out of the box” children and how the life of Christ shows us the path of reaching their hearts. There is no formula, but a path of life formed brick by brick. My friends and I share book resources and practical ways that we incorporated scripture discussion, and built in habits and rhythms of being in the Word as a family.

Enjoy! Be sure to pre-order your book today.

Books Referenced in this Podcast:


























 























































































































































































































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Play Episode #460