Amy L. Sullivan's Blog, page 2

Readers Ask: Questions About Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

You asked. I’m answering! Last week I asked readers to send me their questions about the latest Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman. Here are a few of my favorites.

Photo = Melanie’s Gutsy Girls

Reader Questions

1. Is Dr. Jennifer Wiseman a real person? Yes, indeedy. All the women in the Gutsy Girls series are real women. Gladys, real. Corrie and Betsie, real. Fanny, real. Jennifer, real!

2. Does Jennifer know you wrote a book about her? I contacted Jennifer before I started writing the fourth Gutsy Girls book because I hoped Jennifer would provide me with information about her life that hasn’t been shared in interviews before. Not only did she graciously answer my questions, but she previewed copies of early drafts of the book.

3. In your book on Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, it shows Jennifer holding a black hole experiment at a science fair. What is that experiment and did she really do it? In ninth grade, Jennifer completed an experiment on black holes. However, it wasn’t the same experiment illustrated in the book. I wanted readers to see an experiment they could complete at home. The experiment in the book is from an episode on NASA’S Afterschool Universe.

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5. I looked up Dr. Jennifer Wiseman online, and I saw she works for NASA on the Hubble Space Telescope. Why didn’t you tell readers about her job at NASA in your book? I’m so glad you looked Jennifer up online! You are absolutely correct. She does work at NASA on the Hubble Space Telescope, but to include NASA, statements about NASA, or NASA logos in books, writers need to get approval from NASA. This takes a very long time. I thought Jennifer’s love of science and God and her contributions to the field of astronomy could stand alone without mentioning her current position.

6. What is the Hubble Space Telescope? The Hubble Space Telescope has been in space since 1990. It’s a telescope as big as a school bus, and it takes amazing photos from deep space. Here’s one of my favorite kid-friendly videos to explain it.

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7. In your book, you said Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is an astrophysicist. I have never heard of an astrophysicist before. What do astrophysicists do and do you know of any other astrophysicists? An astrophysicist is a person who studies space, and there are all kinds of other astrophysicists in the world. Majken B. E. Christensen is one of them. Majken is the woman behind Astronomica.com. Majken is an outreach consultant for researchers and teachers. Newsletter subscribers, watch for an upcoming interview with Majken.

8. Who is the next Gutsy Girl? Oh, good question, but I need to hold-off on the answer. I will give you a hint though. The next Gutsy Girl is a person of color AND she is still alive AND unlike the other gutsy women, she showed her gutsiness when she was only six-years-old.

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Your turn: Do you have any questions about the latest Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman?

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Readers Ask Questions About Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

You asked. I’m answering! Last week I asked readers to send me their questions about the latest Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman. Here are a few of my favorites.

Reader Questions

1. Is Dr. Jennifer Wiseman a real person? Yes, indeedy. All the women in the Gutsy Girls series are real women. Gladys, real. Corrie and Betsie, real. Fanny, real. Jennifer, real!

2. Does Jennifer know you wrote a book about her? I contacted Jennifer before I started writing the fourth Gutsy Girls book because I hoped Jennifer would provide me with information about her life that hasn’t been shared in interviews before. Not only did she graciously answer my questions, but she previewed copies of early drafts of the book.

3. In your book on Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, it shows Jennifer holding a black hole experiment at a science fair. What is that experiment and did she really do it? In the ninth grade, Jennifer completed an experiment on black holes. However, it wasn’t the experiment illustrated in the book. I wanted readers to see an experiment they could complete at home. The experiment in the book is from an episode on NASA’S Afterschool Universe.

(click here if video does not display)

5. I looked up Dr. Jennifer Wiseman online, and I saw she works for NASA on the Hubble Space Telescope. Why didn’t you tell readers about her job at NASA in your book? I’m so glad you looked Jennifer up online! You are absolutely correct. She does work at NASA on the Hubble Space Telescope, but to include NASA, statements about NASA, or NASA logos in books, writers need to get approval from NASA. This takes a very long time. I thought Jennifer’s love of science and God and her contributions to the field of astronomy could stand alone without mentioning her current position.

6. What is the Hubble Space Telescope? The Hubble Space Telescope has been in space since 1990. It’s a telescope as big as a school bus, and it takes amazing photos from deep space. Here’s one of my favorite kid-friendly video to explain it.

(click here if video does not display)

7. In your book, you said Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is an astrophysicist. I have never heard of an astrophysicist before. What do astrophysicists do and do you know of any other astrophysicists? An astrophysicist is a person who studies space, and there are all kinds of other astrophysicists in the world. Majken B. E. Christensen is one of them. Majken is the woman behind Astronomica.com. Majken is an outreach consultant for researchers and teachers. Newsletter subscribers, watch for an upcoming interview with Majken.

8. Who is the next Gutsy Girl? Oh, good question, but I need to hold-off on the answer. I will give you a hint though. The next Gutsy Girl is a person of color AND she is still alive AND unlike the other gutsy women, she showed her gutsiness when she was only six-years-old.

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Your turn: Do you have any questions about the latest Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman?

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10 Things I Want My Science Loving Daughter to Know About God

When my daughter was five-years-old, instead of rolling Play-Doh into long strips and making snakes like generations of kids before her (hello, how much fun were Play-Doh snakes?), she “made” DNA. She is usually on the hunt for utensils that will cut through wood, which explains our No Playing with Power Tools rule. Last year she told our dentist, she couldn’t possibly floss her teeth because she needs ALL of the floss in our house for ALL of her inventions.

           Photo credit: Yuganov Konstantin

My girl has created an extensive line of bath products. To obtain the ingredients for her products, she scavenges through the forest, flowerbeds, our cupboards, and my purse. She measures, mixes, and mashes ingredients, and then she puts her bath products in tiny tubes, labels them, and hounds me relentlessly until I take her to deliver the products to people she loves.

While I write this, my daughter is attempting to create a new power source out of an old battery, broken fan, glitter, and rubber bands.

She’s eight.

Here’s something else about my little inventor: she loves God. The girl is passionate about Jesus. She reminds me the men who were crucified alongside of Jesus committed crimes, but Jesus, “He didn’t even do a thing, Mom!”

On the way to piano lessons, she ponders aloud where the Wise Men obtained the gifts for baby Jesus and if our family lived then, what kind of gift we would possibly bring the Holy Family. “It would definitely have to be something good. Nothing cheap,” she chirps.

Jesus and science. The girl loves them both, and in her mind, the two blend together seamlessly. However, I worry one day they may not, and therefore, here are ten things I want her to know.

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To my fantastically curious, God-loving girl,

While you are busy innovating, experimenting, and discovering, I want you to remember this:

1. The most important truth doesn’t come from searching skies, reading books, or experimenting in laboratories. Instead, it comes from a relationship with God.

2. You don’t have to choose between science and God. No matter what loud voices in the media try to tell you, science and God aren’t at odds with each other.

3. If you want answers, go to the Bible, but remember not all things are meant to be understood. That’s where your faith comes in.

4. A famous mathematician and astronomer named Johannes Kepler, once said, “Science is simply thinking God’s thoughts after him.” Johannes Kepler was a smarty-pants.

5. If you want a glimpse of God’s creativity, study the human body.

6. If you want to observe God’s magesty, study the cosmos.

7. If you want to see God’s abundance, look at the natural resources He has provided us.

8. There are many Christians who work in science.

“Our worship of the Risen Christ should…acknowledge not only His victory over sin and death but also His Lordship over all time and space. In this way, scientific discovery can lift the mind and hearts of believers to a deeper level of awe and reverence for the King of kings and the Lord of Lords who is also Lord of all creation.” Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, the latest Gutsy Girl

9. Science will never answer all of your questions. However, if you study science long enough, you will realize how intricate, complex, and beautiful life really is.

10. While you search, build, and marvel at the wonder of life, make sure to thank God for being the Creator of every wonder you see.

 For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

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Hey, the latest Gutsy Girls book on astrophysist, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is hanging strong at #1 New Release in Children’s Christian Biographies on Amazon. Thanks for all of your buying, cheering, and sharing.

I’m grateful you spent time reading this. Let’s continue to connect via Instagram, FB, or Twitter.

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It’s Release Day for Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Why do we need a book that focuses on a woman who is a Christian AND works in science?

Let’s introduce readers to women who are creative, smart, and innovative. Let’s encourage curiosity, problem solving, and awe for our Maker.

Buy the latest Gutsy Girl book here.

Learn more about Gutsy Girl, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman here.

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The Fourth Gutsy Girl = Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Recently, I visited a group of readers via Skype. The girls and their moms asked ALL kinds of smarty pants questions about the next Gutsy Girl and with the release of the fourth Gutsy Girl book quickly approaching (it’s this week, people!), I wanted to share part of our conversation with you!

An early sketch of Dr. Jennifer Wiseman from the illustrator, Beverly Wines

Who is the next Gutsy Girl? The fourth Gutsy Girl is Dr. Jennifer Wiseman. Dr. Wiseman is an astronomer and astrophysicist, and like all previous Gutsy Girls, Dr. Wiseman is a Christian. You can read more about here or listen to her speak here.

Why did you pick a scientist for the next Gutsy Girl? Initially, I didn’t! When I decided to write the Gutsy Girls series, I chose five women who I thought were particularly gutsy, but as I traveled to schools, read letters from young readers, and even received advice from my favorite, curly haired, neighborhood girl, I noticed a theme: Girls want to read about women who love science AND Jesus. They are starving for stories about women who are Christians and who work in the field of science. Are women like this out there? What are their names and where are the books written about them?

Is Dr. Jennifer Wiseman alive and what does she do today? Yes, Dr. Wiseman is very much alive! She studies stars and interstellar clouds using all kinds of telescopes. Some of the telescopes she uses are on the ground and some are in space. Early in her career, Dr. Wiseman and a colleague even discovered a comet. She has worked for major observatories over her career including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Dr. Wiseman is also a leader in the discussion on science and faith.

If you wanted a Gutsy Girl who was interested in space, why didn’t you just pick an astronaut? Good question! Readers already know about astronauts, but most kids have never heard of an astrophysicist. When I was young, if someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have listed careers I knew or I had read about: teacher, doctor, nurse, counselor. Specialized careers in science weren’t highlighted in books or talked about, and I had no idea there were so many options, especially related to science. Girls can’t be interested in careers they don’t know about. Now readers will know someone who is an astrophysicist!

Are all of the previous Gutsy Girls real women? Yes! Previous Gutsy Girls, Gladys, Corrie, Betsie, and Fanny were all real women. Although the life stories of these women are exciting, they aren’t made-up. Gladys dodged bullets, worked as a spy, and rescued children. Corrie and Betsie endangered their lives by hiding strangers in their home to protect them from Nazi soldiers. Despite being blind, Fanny wrote thousands of hymns and committed her life to serving others.

What makes someone a Gutsy Girl? Gutsy Girls are brave and courageous, but they don’t find strength within themselves. Instead, they get their gutsiness from God. Gutsy Girls are faced with circumstance so great they need to rely on God for His help and guidance.

Why is Dr. Jennifer Wiseman a Gutsy Girl? Dr. Wiseman is a leader in science, a field not known for being dominated by women or Christians. She has made it her mission to talk with grace and facilitate conversations about science and faith. She is wildly intelligent and works hard to share what she learns with people everywhere.

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That’s it, friends! Hopefully, getting to know the next Gutsy Girl makes you even more excited to read about her. Mark your calendars. This Thursday is the day Gutsy Girls: Book Four releases into the world!

Your turn. What kind of science happens around your house? Do you have any favorite scientists whose stories resonate with you? Who are some of your favorite women in science?

Have you seen my Ultimate List of 2017 Solar Eclipse Resources?

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The Ultimate List of 2017 Solar Eclipse Resources

Because the next Gutsy Girl is an astrophysicist (releasing soon!) over the last year, I have been immersed in all things space, and all things space happen to include the upcoming eclipse on Monday, August 21st.

In case you have missed me yammering on in person in regard to this event or you haven’t seen the contents of two cardboard boxes of eclipse glasses tossed about my house or you have been wondering what all of the hype with this summer’s eclipse is all about, don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Here’s a quick run-down.

The 2017 total solar eclipse is a big deal! It can be viewed by everyone in North America and by people in parts of Europe, Africa, and South America, but only for a short time and depending on location, it is possible viewers may only see a partial eclipse.

In the United States, the eclipse will travel across 14 states along a path of about 70 miles wide, so not everyone will see a total eclipse. Depending on your location, you may only see a partial eclipse. Also, just because an eclipse is happening, doesn’t mean we will spend the day in darkness. For this eclipse, the longest time the moon will cover the sun will only be about two minutes and forty seconds.

2017 Solar Eclipse Resources

Find free animated eclipse videos for your preschoolers at Space Racers website
Enter your zip code on this interactive map to find out exactly what you will see
Board a plane and watch the eclipse from the air
Find tips on taking the best photos and videos of the eclipse
Get your eclipse glasses, but make sure they come from one of five certified manufacturers because eclipse blindness is a real thing, yikes
Download an eclipse activity guide for kids in grades K-12
Discover all of the eclipse swag which includes a $500 bottle of Solar Red Wine (what?)
Drool over these gorgeous solar eclipse posters
Listen to a podcast dedicated to the topic of the 2017 Solar Eclipse
Watch this parody
Get an app because of course there’s an app for the eclipse
Learn details about the eclipse in Braille
Find out about pinhole viewers
Peek at the winning cookie in a Solar Eclipse Cookie Design Contest
Grab the August 2017 Space Issue of National Geographic Magazine. 
View a how-to prepare for the eclipse video
Watch a live stream of the eclipse
Find a local eclipse event to attend
Can’t find a local party to attend? Host an an eclipse party
Complete an art project
Sport a T-Shirt
Read a book by someone who has experienced eight solar eclipses in his lifetime

Your turn: What did I miss? Leave your ideas in the comments and I’ll add them! 

Cell Phone Photo Share Summer 2017

For the photos that take up space on my phone only to later be erased, this one is for you.

Three generations of snorkelers. Darth Varder-ish masks, busy fish, and Captiva sand.

One of my dorkier qualities is visiting libraries when I travel, but hey, hey, lookie here. This library happened to be paired with NASA, which was kind of fantastic because hello, the next Gutsy Girl works for you guessed it, NASA.

Our family missed strawberry season by two weeks, and instead picked these. Lucky us.

Despite having lived in the South for over ten years, and I’ve never been to a plantation. I fixed that by touring one a few weeks ago. It was a haunting experience which left me angry at myself for not featuring a Gutsy Girl who is also a person of color. I will remedy this.

This sky.

These two.

Speaking of photos, it should be noted that one of my forever friends informed me I needed to change my profile photo immediately. I have no idea what the big rush was, and I was kind of afraid to ask about the immediacy, but she knows things, and therefore, I acted. The result was an enormous amount of fantastically awkward photos.

I’ve been sharing my writing online for over seven years. In my last newsletter, I shared about having a job which requires me to be accessible online. Here’s an excerpt:

Often having an online presence feels like that time when you showed up at your friend’s BBQ and everyone wanted to talk about and share photos of their adorable kids and snazzy vacations, but you just wanted to sit under a tree and consume copious amounts of potato salad. You stand awkwardly and chat, but in reality, you’d like to settle in the nearest camping chair and eat that potato salad (not the kind with mustard, of course).

In the newsletter, I talked about how I like to hide behind my work because it feels safe, and I also shared a few harder things that are happening in my world.

I was surprised so many people responded, and that so many people have big things going on. Things they don’t share, but things they would talk about if someone asked.

I’m making it my goal this week to ask.

A Lesson From Young Creators

Take my youngest daughter to the playground, and her agenda becomes clear.

She is not interested in swinging or sliding or mastering the corkscrew-looking apparatus kids twirl upon. Not my girl. Instead, my daughter collects forgotten treasures littering the ground aka random junk that borders on garbage.

Recently, she found a broken Lokai bracelet. It was magical. Later, an oversized juice lid proved to be the exact item needed to harness an Angus’ Datana. Don’t get me started on what the girl can do with Styrofoam or that I found a half-full dish detergent bottle nestled up to a small bear in her room or that she told the dentist she would floss her teeth but she can’t because she needs all of the floss in the house to complete her projects.

My girl’s collecting makes for a full, spare parts bin (an actual, plastic mini-suitcase), but does it make for anything worthwhile? Anything that functions, anything that doesn’t make me itch, anything that doesn’t consist of glitter and smashed-up flowers from the neighbor’s yard and Febreze?

I contend it might. See, my girl’s creating might be just that, creating, but often I wonder if my girl’s tinkering is a sign of what’s ahead.

In addition to my youngest daughter, the spare parts collector, I also have a fourteen-year-old. I can’t think of my eldest daughter’s early years without thinking of the words construction paper and hot glue gun. Our house was littered with signs, banners, and 3-D paper creations declaring her love and appreciation for us. Paper was everywhere. It looked as if someone shredded a ream of paper and used it as confetti in every room of our home.

But one day instead of seeing confetti, I turned around and saw this.

All of my girl’s folding, cutting, and desire to share words of encouragement turned into origami greeting cards. Cards she sells, the kind of cards people (and I’m not just talking family members) call and ask to buy.

Then there’s my neighbor girl, the one who always toted a camera. The one who even at the young age of eleven, popped by our house to take family photos, and the photos were actually good. She’s up to this.

I can’t forget about another teen I know, Emma. The girl taught herself to embroider, and now Emma runs a shop called .

These girls took a risk and toiled through the stage of what-if-this-doesn’t- turn-out-to-be-anything, and they won. They didn’t win because they created  beautiful products. They won because they used the interests and talents God planted in their hearts. They paid attention. They grew their gifts.

Kids get it. The end result of what they create doesn’t have to be grand (although, hello, the above products are pretty grand).

Most of the time, when I start a writing project, I frantically pound out words and quickly declare what I’ve written total garbage, the worst combination of words paper has ever seen, a document that should die an unnoticed death in my computer’s trash bin.

I don’t like to wade through the part of creating where I can’t see the end result, and I worry that if I could, I wouldn’t like it.

As I plunge into Day 2 of summer vacation, I’m trying to learn a thing or two from my favorite young creators: Stop worrying. Grow your gifts. Enjoy yourself.

It’s the same message Neil Gaiman gave in one of my all-time favorite speeches. Let’s see if you can relate.

First of all, when you start out on a career in the arts you have no idea what you are doing. This is great. People who know what they are doing know the rules, and they know what is possible and what is impossible. You do not. And you should not. The rules on what is possible and impossible in the arts were made by people who had not tested the bounds of the possible by going beyond them. And you can. ~Neil Gaiman, “Make Good Art” speech

Your turn. Tell me about the young creators you know. Leave links. I’d like to show them love. Tell me how you create. Tell me about the results you get and what gets in the way of you creating. 

Why Hymns Still Matter

I grew up singing hymns from wooden pews.

Boys sporting light blue, polo shirts in one row and girls in plaid skirts and knee socks in the row behind them. Music played, we whispered and passed notes, and despite endless teenage distractions, something happened; the words of the hymns sank deep within.

See, underneath the words of hymns are stories of people being trapped in extraordinary circumstances (on boats, in storms, or through life-altering situations), and they are also stories of people being caught up in the day-to-day activity of ordinary lives. Hymns tell the stories of long ago, and hymns tell the stories of today.

Hymns are the reason when it came time to decide on the third Gutsy Girl, I wanted the girls of today to hear Fanny Crosby’s story. Fanny Crosby wasn’t popular, but Fanny was brave, and she constantly sought-after God’s voice. Pus, Fanny left behind thousands of hymns.

Hymns are what connected me to April Brover. This is April and her adorable brood.

April leads the #hymnofthemonth movement.

When April’s babies were little, April and her husband were desperate for sleep. April read an article about the importance of bedtime routines for children, and she decided to combine her love of hymns with her children’s bedtime routine. Each month, April chose one hymn to sing while tucking her daughter in bed, and by the end of the month, April’s family memorized the hymn. The next month, they chose another hymn, and before they knew it, their two-year-old had memorized over ten hymns.

As time went by, some of April’s friends joined in, and in the spring of 2015, April shared about her family’s new tradition on Instagram. She asked people to join her in learning a hymn a month. To April’s surprise, people joined, and the #hymnofthemonth community grew (and continues to grow!) and encourage families.

                             Photo Credit: April Brover

Last month I caught up with April, and chatted about hymns, and if you like resources, it’s a good day for you! In this interview, April shares her thoughts on the relevance of hymns today and loads of links.

1. Many people see hymns as dusty old songs. Why should we care about hymns?

April: As Christians we should care about theology. We should know our Bible and know the character of our God. We should also care about excellence, especially when it comes to theological expression. Hymns are theological poetry in song form. The words are rich and intelligently woven together.

Simply put, much of the worship songs written these days are not very good. While the music may make us feel emotional, much of the time they are void of good theology and terribly repetitive. Compare the God centered words of Watts, Cowper, Havergal, or Wesley to modern songs that are me-centered, repetitious, with tunes that are nice for listening but sometimes awkward and more meant for bands and soloists rather than congregations to sing. I do think we can still write good songs today, and modern hymn writers are doing just that (i.e. The Gettys, Sovereign Grace, Indelible Grace, etc). There’s always room for more theologically-meaty hymns. And while some write new ones, others breathe new life into old hymns by giving them a chorus or a new tune.

I also think the Church should also care about our history and heritage. Many of these songs come soaked in a rich history that tells what our brothers and sisters in Christ have been through. And when we look into the author’s lives we can identify with their struggles and their longings. It is said that God Moves in a Mysterious Way was William Cowper’s last hymn during a struggle with terrible depression. “It is Well With my Soul” was written by a father, mourning the tragic loss of his wife and daughters. Hymns have been written from authors reacting to slavery, struggling with illness and loss, being out in nature, experiencing the glory of saving faith in the gospel and undergoing terrible persecution. These writers, are our kin, our eternal family! We can benefit from their stories and their songs are just as applicable to our lives today as they were hundreds of years ago.

 Photo Credit: April Brover

2. Do you have any favorite behind the scenes stories of famous hymns?

April: YES! Did you know that “I Need Thee Every Hour” was written by a 37-year-old mother with three young children and a household to run (which is totally and exactly ME right now!)? The words of the song came into her mind while doing housework one morning. It’s a simple story but I think it’s my favorite because I relate to the desperation that being a mommy brings. I think I shout this out to the Lord 10 times a day most days. “I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will, and Thy rich promises in me fulfill!”

3. What are your future plans for the #hymnofthemonth community?

April: I’ve been feeling a gentle push lately to go farther with our hymns journey. I’m not exactly sure how or what this means but my sister and I are working on a little something. She has made several gorgeous #hymnofthemonth videos filled with breathtaking photography and the beautiful voices of her children singing those ancient words. There maybe a website or Hymns CD on the horizon and we are praying that God would guide us and use our plans for His glory.

4. Do you have any favorite hymns, which have been remade by current artists? 

April: One of our recent hymns was “He Will Hold Me Fast,” originally written by by Ada R. Ha­ber­shon in 1906, and was originally set to music by Robert Harkness. I had never heard the hymn before but came across it a few months back when Norton Hall Band recorded it in a new musical setting by Matthew Merker. I love that it focuses on the perseverance of the saints – not a subject I see in many hymns! I pretty much love everything I hear coming from Norton Hall Band these days!

Audrey Assad has recorded several hymns like Abide with Me; Holy, Holy, Holy; Be Thou My Vision, It is Well With My Soul along with a few others. Her voice combined with the amazing videos (via YouTube) are absolutely soul melting.

I also love Sovereign Grace’s version of Cowper’s “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” Such amazing words but in my opinion the original tune fell flat and didn’t capture the emotion of the words. This newer tune and chorus does a great job of that.

Kari Jobe’s “Be Still My Soul” is also a favorite.

5. What are your top three favorite hymns?

April: This is very hard, but if I have to choose:

“There is a Fountain Filled with Blood” by William Cowper
“And Can it Be That I Should Gain” by Charles Wesley
“Man of Sorrows,” What a Name!” By Philip P. Bliss

And because I can’t leave it at three…

“Hark the Herald Angel’s Sing” by Charles Wesley – Seriously a theological mic drop and should be sung year round.

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Thanks, April! If you’d like to learn more about #hymnofthemonth. Feel free to jump in via Instagram.

Your turn! What are your thoughts on hymns? Does your church still use hymnals? Do you have a favorite hymn? What is it? What do the kiddos in your life think of hymns?

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Other news:

Our #GutsyGirlsRead book of the month is Anne of Green Gables. You knew it was only a matter of time before the beloved Anne Shirley made her way to book club! Join 170+ of us as we discuss on May 31st. Click here to join this low-pressure, high-fun book club for moms, teachers, and anyone looking for quality books for girls ages toddler to teen.
The idea behind the Gutsy Girls  picture book series in case you missed it!

How-to Host a Gutsy Girls Book Club

Raise your hand if you want your kids to read more. Me too.

Raise your hand if you want your children to read about real women of faith. Of course, who doesn’t, right?

Raise your hand if you would like someone to plan a fun event that would accomplish both reading and learning about great Christian women. Okay, that’s a lot of hands.

Enter the Gutsy Girls Book Club. Here are six easy steps to make all of the above happen.

Step 1: Choose one of the Gutsy Girls books, and pick a day to invite young readers to your house.

Step 2: Gather a gaggle of kids. Maybe these kids are your own or maybe they are from your children’s school or your neighborhood or church or maybe these kiddos belong to a friend of a friend. Regardless, gather a crew of kiddos. Voilà! Instant book club. Important: Don’t clean! I promise they won’t notice.

Step 3: Print a snazzy book club guide for one of the Gutsy Girls: Gladys, Corrie and Betsie, or Fanny.

Step 4: Let me know when your book club is meeting, and I will send you book swag or offer to visit you virtually. All swag is different. Sometimes book swag looks like this:

Step 5: Read one of the Gutsy Girls books and discuss a woman who found strength in God.

Step 6: Steal ideas from the book club guides to complete with your group! Here are a few of my favorite activities:

Create crafts. Magnetic reminders to live bravely for God.

Make a dessert. Dutch letters, a dessert from the Netherlands to go with the book on Corrie and Betsie ten Boom.

Give me a call. I love popping into your homes!

Hang out in your pj’s. There is a 75% I will also be hanging out in mine.

That’s it, friends.

FAQ

Is a Gutsy Girls book club an ongoing club? It can be, but most clubs only meet once. For moms/readers who want more interaction, there is an ongoing group which meets via a closed Facebook group. This group consists of moms, grandmas, teachers, church volunteers, and anyone looking for quality books for girls, and you are welcome to join!
Does it cost anything for you to visit our book club via Skype? No.
Does every girl who attends book club need to purchase a book? The activities provided in the book club guide only make sense when paired with the book. So, yes, each girl needs a book.
Talk to me about the book club swag. If a book club tells me they are meeting, I send the host book swag for members. This isn’t always the same thing. When the book on Fanny Crosby released, I sent book clubs CD’s with Fanny’s music. Other times, I send smaller items such as bookmarks, bookplates, or journals.
I’d like to host a book club, but I am not very creative, and I can’t come up with activities for the kids. Good news! You don’t have to be. Everything you need is in the book club guide.
How do I get in touch with you to learn more? Fill out the form via the Contact Me tab.

*Thanks to Christina, Melanie, and Becky for allowing me to share photos of your gutsy girls!*