"I can't hear you reading, Zippy," mommy said.  Zippy was whispering when it was her turn to read the book.  Zippy was a shy little girl, but at home, she usually would talk and play loudly.  In fact, she could be quite silly.  Mommy knew Zippy was a very good reader.  But, when it was time to read together, Zippy would get very serious and very quiet.  

One day, Zippy tagged along at big brother's Adventurer Club meeting.  They earned their reading award by reading books to therapy dogs.  Even Zippy wanted to read aloud to the dogs!  Mommy thanked God for a new idea!​

Zippy has been reading aloud to Sparkles and Britney for many months now.  Sometimes both piggies listen at the same time.  Sometimes Zippy even teaches them her geography lesson or tells them the alphabet.  Sparkles and Britney always sit very still and listen nicely.  

Zippy isn't afraid to read aloud to people anymore.  She reads with Mommy.  She reads with Poppy.  She reads with Grandma.  It's fun to read together!  

In Revelation 1:3, the prophet John writes, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."  Prophecy means message.  The Bible contains God's messages to us.  When we read or listen to God's messages, we receive a special blessing.  It is almost time for Jesus to come back.  Let's practice our reading skills, so we can read the Bible and discover God's messages to us.

Do you like blowing bubbles?  Shiloh and Zippy LOVE bubbles.  We blow bubbles inside over the carpet and outside everywhere.  One day, Shiloh and Zippy explored bubbles in different ways.  

They blew little bubbles and big bubbles.  They made bubbles fly slowly.  They made bubbles fly fast.  They made bubbles swirl all around.  Shiloh mastered the art of blowing just right to get the most bubbles out of one breath. ​

Zippy discovered that you can use long grass blades as bubble wands.  Just pinch the ends close together and swirl the grass in some bubble solution.  ​

They even made bubble mountains!  Bubble mountains are made when you blow lots of bubbles on top of each other.  They had a special bubble blower that helped them do that.  Shiloh made the biggest bubble mountain of all!  ​

Sometimes we get bored because we don't imagine or try all the possibilities.  One of the best ways to have fun is to explore something in a new positive way.  You might discover a new game or a new favorite toy.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:54 about teaching truth in old and new ways, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."  Discover the fun and insights God wants to share with you as you study and play with "old" things in "new" ways.

What a pretty Sabbath spring afternoon! Mommy and Zippy were both dressed in a maroon color. Maroon is a pretty color between red and brown. "Would you like to have some tea?" Mommy asked Zippy. Zippy never refuses food or drink. "Oh, yes!" She replied. Off they went back to church. It was the annual Women's Ministry Tea Time. The theme was "Showers of Blessing."

When they arrived, Zippy stayed close to Mommy. She gets a little nervous being out of the house around lots of people she doesn't know. Mommy peeked in the fellowship hall. There were a lot of women there. The room was decorated with umbrellas, rain boots, and watering cans. Sister Terry led us to a table with 5 other women.

Tea Time was lots of fun. Pastor Heather talked about seeing God's blessings even in bad situations. Zippy ate pineapple, grapes, and strawberries. Yum! Mommy brought two of our tea mugs from home.

Zippy waited nicely while ladies in front of us made their tea at the tea table. Then, Zippy got to choose her tea bag. There were lots of choices, but Zippy LOVES fruit. Her choice was easy. "I want berry zinger!" Mommy chose chamomile, her favorite. Zippy tore open the tea wrappings and put the tea bags in the mugs. Mommy poured the hot water and carried the hot mugs back to the table, so Zippy would stay safe.

Sip, munch, and munch some more! Zippy happily ate and drank while sitting on Mommy's lap. At the end, Mommy and Zippy received gifts. Zippy received a hand-made cloud bag for being a little woman in attendance. Mommy received a set of spring dish towels for guessing almost the correct number of cottonballs in a jar. Tea Time was fun!

At the end of tea time, everyone sang a special hymn - Showers of blessing. Rainy days may not seem like happy days, but they bring the cool water that plants, people, and animals need to live and grow. Look for hidden blessings on rainy days or frustrating days. If you keep looking, you will surely catch a glimpse of a rainbow!

It's always fun hunting for hidden treasure.  The garden is full of hidden treasure.  Many plants that we eat make tubers (which are bulging stem parts underground), or they make storage roots.  You have to dig up these plants to discover the yummy vegetables.

Mommy's little helper, Zippy, volunteered to go on a garden treasure hunt.  Let's see what she found inside the planter with the beautiful vines.  Look! Those are sweet potatoes, a type of storage root vegetable.  She was very proud of her harvest treasure.

On another fall day, Zippy went on another garden treasure hunt.  This time, she found out what was in the planter with the tall green plants - sunchokes!  These were much smaller than the sweet potatoes.  In fact, they are quite knobby and odd shaped.  It is exciting to find garden treasure.

We can also find reminders of Jesus and His words in our daily chores, our own parallel life experiences to His life, and in our observations of nature.  He promises in Jeremiah 29:13, "And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (NKJV). Jesus does not hide from us.  We just need searching eyes and a longing heart. ​I promise, He is the best treasure you can find!

"Look, Mommy!" Shiloh shouted with his hands up in the air. "It's raining leaves!" It was a breezy fall day.  Absorbed in her list of outdoor fall chores to do, Mommy didn't even notice the beautiful brown, yellow, and orange drizzle all around us.  Shiloh was beaming with eyes wide with wonder.  The bright sunlight bounced off the falling leaves, making the air glisten.  

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (NKJV).  Sometimes, mommy-hood seems like endless messes to clean up and a long list of chores that still need to be done.  But, God showed me through (uncomfortable!) mud puddles, raining leaves, simple tools, and little kids that He sees those messes as meals enjoyed, new discoveries made, and evidences of fun and laughter.  Put that rake down and experience the miracle of raining leaves.