More Than A Young Wife & Mom

"Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room—a place all young people must phase through when they die. The young are never ready to leave; they need a moment to remember and a Keeper to help their wispy souls along.

When a random door opens and a Keeper named Melodee arrives, their souls become entangled. Gospel's seriousness melts and Melodee’s fear of connection fades, but still—are Keepers allowed to fall in love? Now they must find a way out of the Leaving Room and be unafraid of their love. In a novel that takes place over four minutes, National Book Award finalist Amber McBride explores connection, memory, and hope in ways that are unforgettable and poignant."

Disclosure: Thank you Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own. Links to purchase this book include my affiliate information where I may receive small monetary payment for purchases made via these links. All profits go to support my page.

"Channelle Desamours lives and writes just outside of Atlanta, Georgia where she currently teaches high school science at a STEM academy. Her students motivate, challenge, and inspire her daily (and they’re always good for a laugh). She spent many years coaching lacrosse and even enjoyed a brief stint at Zoo Atlanta where she taught children about wildlife conservation and handled all sorts of critters from opossums to juvenile American alligators. Channelle has a BA in biology from Agnes Scott College and an MS in biological sciences from Clemson University. Beyond nerding out about life science in front of large groups of teenagers, Channelle enjoys listening to audiobooks, caring for her house plants, and plotting twisty novels with a touch of magic."

• Identify betrayers in your life and name the pain you feel
• Rediscover God as the healer of your wounds
• Avoid bitterness and express your anger in healthy ways
• And more"

• Re-wear or upcycle past costumes. If your kids aren't in school or going to any social events, don't feel compelled to splurge on a new outfit. Luckily Prince C is really into superheroes at the moment, and all costumes are purchased a little bigger and go into his dress-up box. When Princess A was little, all her princess costumes also went into her dress-up box as well. 
• Paint pumpkins. Simple and fun. I'm a BIG fan of double-duty decorating, so here's a tip:  if you only paint one side, you can spin it around and keep on the porch for fall themes.
• Crafting. I consider crafting separate from pumpkins as it takes more effort and planning on your part. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest and other blogs. Some of the dollar stores have a great selection of ready-to-make projects.
• Purchase your own candy or treats and hide around the house. Ideally, bundle in baggies or even reuse your Easter eggs. Pop a glowstick in them and turn off the lights.  Be sure to sprinkle in a few tricks along the way. 
• Have a family Halloween night in. Stay in, watch Halloween movies, play spooky music, bake yummy treats, paint on some canvases.
• Breakout the firepit or have a bonfire outside. We have a new firepit and Halloween seems like the perfect time to try it. The weather is just cool enough, especially late in the evening. Roast some marshmallows, have some hot chocolate, and maybe tell a spooky story or two.
• Set up a Halloween goodies "store" where the kids can trade candy for Halloween themed items. Or give out coupons to reward good behavior that they can redeem.
• Adopt a Switch Witch. Have your kids switch all their treats after trick or treating to get something they really want. While I've heard that some parents are planning to disinfect the candy their kids bring home, I'm still a little iffy on eating things from other people's houses with the virus hanging around. This looks like the best idea and hopefully a new tradition in our family.