Happy August!
This weekend is the tax-free weekend in our area, so I know the stores are going to be slammed with people buying school supplies. I love school supplies. Sometimes, if I start to feel restless or a little out of sorts, I’ll load the kids up in the car and we’ll go wander the aisles at Staples. I find it very calming to look at all the different pens, sticky notes, notebooks, folders, tablets…just all those lovely tool for organization! (Yes, I realize that’s odd.)
Since we homeschool, we’ve already started back up. We were finished the first week of May (our public schools don’t get out until mid-June), so we had a good, long break. Our first week of the 2017-2018 school year (with one in K and in one in 4th grade) is officially in the books. The Kindergartner is well on his way to reading fun words like mat, sat, sap, tab, pan, tan, Sam, and am. The 4th grader has spent the week, among other things, reviewing grammar from last year and deciphering sequences in math (I’m waiting for him to start to love them like I do. So far they create great sadness and commentary like, “Mooommm, I did these yesterday.”)
Now that the first week is out of the way, I suspect it’ll get easier to overcome the lazy-morning inertia that permeates our summer routine. At least, that’s the hope.
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at
prizes at inspyromance dot com
Julie Arduini’s winner is Jessica B!
Melanie Snitker’s winner is Lejune Allen!
Alexa Verde’s winner is Paula Dye!
Our two gift card winners for July are Katji and gobers2013Evangeline!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Specials This Week!
Heather Gray’s An Informal Introduction is 99 cents from 8/11/17-8/15/17. Get it here.
Last Week
On Monday, Lindi Peterson asked What Do We Bring?
On Tuesday, Lee Tobin McClain asked How Racy is Too Racy?
On Wednesday, Krista Phillips reminded us that Time is Romantic.
On Thursday, Alexa Verde talked about My type of Hero with a giveaway.
On Friday, Heather Gray showed us how, for her, The Times They are A-Changin.
On Saturday, Annalisa Daughety talked about Seasons of Life.
Next Week
Monday: Sally Bradley
Tuesday: Deb Kastner
Wednesday: Janet Ferguson
Thursday: Roxanne Rustand
Friday: Ginger Solomon Kicks off the Fall Giveaway
Saturday: Guest Post
NEW RELEASESAugust 2017
Flight 259 (Hope Series 1) by Staci Stallings
The Soldier’s Secret Child (Rescue River 5) by Lee Tobin McClain
July 2017
On Board for Romance (Homegrown Love 1) (Arcadia Valley Romance 7) by Annalisa Daughety
Memories of Mist (An Urban Farm Fresh Romance 3) by Valerie Comer
Cherish by Autumn Macarthur, Heather Gray, Elizabeth Maddrey, and four others
Learning from Experience (re-release) by Ginger Solomon
Season of Hope (Rios Azules Christmas 3) by Alexa Verde
Picnics & Promises by Autumn Macarthur, Marion Ueckermann, and four others
A Courtship for Clover (Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters 5) by Marion Ueckermann
His Father’s Son (Sweetapple Falls 1) by Autumn Macarthur
Love’s Healing Touch (First Street Church Romances) by Autumn Macarthur
A Christmas Surprise (Love in the Cascades 1) by Kimberly Rose Johnson
Heart of a Prince (Crowns & Courtships 1) by Carol Moncado
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks and our permanently free e-books, as well as new releases, on our NEWS tab.
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
I remember those days of homeschooling. I did it starting in the 80’s! My youngest is now 26. We ALL survived! In the last years I did it while working full time and hubby was getting his PHD. Schooled all four kids.
Hi Elizabeth. I’ve never heard of a tax free weekend- will have to look that one up! Buying stationary is fun- my youngest son loves cars/trucks etc and we found him the coolest set of erasers shaped like diggers/trucks with wheels that turned and everything. He thinks they are great and does not want to use them:)
Blessings:)
Hi Elizabeth! In Michigan school starts after Labor Day! As a retired teacher, I miss buying school supplies and meeting new students. Fortunately I often buy supplies for the grandkids. Was looking at a cute Back to School craft to make for teachers with my 4 year old granddaughter! Congrats to all the winners. Thanks for hosting this month!
Oh wow! That’s an encouraging story! Congrats on completing such a huge undertaking!
Those erasers sound adorable. I imagine any boy would enjoy those!
Tax free weekend removes sales tax on school supplies and some clothing (school uniforms as well as certain non uniform items) so back to school shopping is a little less expensive. It’s the primary time for people to stock up.
Public schools here don’t start until either right before or just after Labor Day either. The flexibility in my schedule (well, all our schedules, is one of the things I love about homeschooling.)
I’m glad you can do crafts with your grandkids to give you an excuse to buy a few school supplies :)
It is tax free here too so maybe we live in the same state. This is my first year not buying school supplies. It feels strange.
I’m in VA. I have a long while before my kids are done with school, but I know it’ll be here before I can blink.
Blessings on you and your kids in the new school year!
I absolutely love office supply stores! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one. I am entering into my 18th year of homeschooling. Yes I am tired. My oldest is 25 and my youngest is seven. But, it is always inspiring to spend the late summer shopping or books, pens, pencils, notebooks, and all of those student related things that make me happy. I consider that being a student for life is a good thing and I try to teach them to be lifelong learners . Of course every little boy who has to sit down and do phonics will not agree with that until he’s older. ?
Thanks, Jackie!
Hahaha! I feel the pain of little boys and phonics! It’s also my goal to raise lifelong readers and learners. (I feel like they go hand in hand.) And 18 years! I’m so impressed by the folks who make it all the way through with their kids. That’s my plan, God willing!
I just tell other moms that you pray it through and decide and then stick to that for the long haul no matter what- a commitment like marriage, because waffling back and forth takes up energy you could use for better things ?
That’s great advice!
Happy SONday Inspy Romance!
Ah yes, school supplies! I’m so glad we don’t have to do that anymore. My son will be starting his second year of community college (where did the years go?) and he covers his own supplies. But we still have a goodly supply at home as I used to stock up when things were discounted :-)
Since I live in Oregon, we have no tax day everyday…lol! About the only time you will pay it is when you stay at a motel & that’s called lodging tax. I think we are up to almost 10% here. I’ve seen it higher in other places. I love it when I go visit my sister-in-law in Washington because I can claim an exemption and not pay their State tax! LOVE THAT :-)
Thanks, Trixi! I suspect I’ll end up with a surplus down the road myself, I do enjoy stocking up and we don’t always use everything.
No sales tax is nice, certainly.
Congratulations to the winners! And best wishes to you and your children in the new school year!
We are not Tax free in South Dakota !!