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Hello Reader,

This is birthday week for our family, and we're celebrating with a road trip. Which is why I'm writing to you from Colorado right now.

Another way we're celebrating?

Free gifts for everyone! To get yours, just visit our shop and choose any of our digital resources priced $10 or less -- including sale items! Then use the code BDAY10 at checkout (one use per person; code expires 5/31/24).

That will knock $10 off your total, so you'll get that resource for free. No minimum purchase necessary. No strings attached. No credit card information required (unless you decide to purchase something additional while you're there).

It's just my way to say thank you for giving me a place in your inbox every week. Now, for more free birthday-themed resources, check out today's link list.

Free resources for you this week.

• ​Birthday Calendar - keep track friends' and family members' birthdays with this pretty chart
• ​Birthday Cards - free printable birthday cards (with ten designs to choose from)
• ​Birthday Pennant Banner - a bright, festive banner for setting a proper, party atmosphere
• ​Birthday Cake - Nana's chocolate cake has been pressed into service for many a birthday
• ​Birthday Cobbler - our go-to recipe for kids who prefer cobbler to cake

What we're reading this week:

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We listened to The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright on the road to Denver yesterday. This was our first introduction to the delightful Melendy family whose four young children decide to pool their weekly allowances to send each sibling off in turn for an independent Saturday afternoon adventure. Modern day readers may question the wisdom of letting adolescents roam the streets of New York alone, but I'm old enough to remember -- and be grateful for -- a childhood filled with such solitary explorations. The first chapter was a little slow, but the book quickly picked up thereafter and our entire family -- ages 13 to 86 -- thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

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On the podcast this week:

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Loving Life at Home: Episode 41 ​HOW I MET MY HUSBAND​ I met my husband on April 23, 1986, just one day after he turned 19, and two days after I turned 21. And in today's episode, I’m sharing exactly how it happened. It’s the beginning of a wonderful love story that has only grown fuller and richer with every passing year. ❤️ Listen Now

Reader request this week:

A few days ago, I received a request for permission to translate my Age-Appropriate Children's Chore Chart into German, which I gladly granted.

Once the person asking had sent me the German translation, I formatted it to match the original and uploaded it to our website, where you can find it now, along with Spanish, French, Italian, and (of course) English versions, as well.

Progress on last week's goals:

I only finished half of the items on last week's published to-do list: I ✅ made two more capitol passports and ✅ hosted a special dinner for my daughter's birthday.

But my husband had to work late on Thursday, so we ❌ missed our friend's victory rally. And, although I ✅ collected lots of great leather and wood burning project ideas (thanks for your help), I ❌ haven't yet incorporated them into a syllabus for next fall's co-op class.

Personal goals for next week:

• Memorize Galatians 5:19-25
• Make great memories with my family
• Post a few vacation photos on Instagram​
• Add Reading Rewards Print Pack to shop