When the Stars Align

WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE STARS,

BY GLENDY VANDERAH

Follow Kirsten Kowalski's writing career and book recommendations on @kirstenkowalski_author and at Kirsten Hunt Kowalski, Author.

There is something truly magical about a starlit sky. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t stared up at the stars and wondered what worlds or even lives might exist beyond our universe. But what do you do when a bruised little girl who claims she lives among those stars shows up on your doorstep and claims she was sent to witness five miracles before she can return home? That is the predicament in which graduate student Joanna Teale finds herself in the mysterious and wonderful fiction novel, Where the Forest Meets the Stars

This book, by author Glendy Vanderah, is fantastic magical realism, infused with the darkest of dark, but also the brightest of light. After Ursa, the girl who claims to be named after the stars where she lives, convinces Joanna (“Jo”) to let her stay, a truly magical but all-to-real story unfolds that leaves the reader wondering if the stars really do align to put the right people in our paths at the right time.

Jo is a graduate student living in a cottage in the forest and studying birds while she grieves her mother’s recent death and deals with the aftermath of her own breast cancer surgery. She befriends a neighbor who is reclusive and a bit odd and who she turns to for help with Ursa. As the three get to know each other and their relationships unfold, the miracles begin to happen, each bringing the threesome closer. As the summer draws to a close, a dangerous darkness is revealed that threatens to destroy them all.

While this book sounds mystical, it is anything but a fantasy novel. Rather, despite its fantastical beginning, it is really a book about very real and raw human nature, trauma, pain, compassion, friendship, self-love, and love for others. It is a reminder that yes, sometimes, the stars do align for us in just the ways we need most and people are introduced into our lives as if sent straight from heaven.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It would make a great book club discussion!

Written by Kirsten Kowalski

Homeschool: Freedom to Fly

A LOVING ATMOSPHERE AND ROUTINE GIVES CHILDREN A PLACE TO GROW AND BELONG

Ever flown a kite? I watched a lady effortlessly unfurl a colorful kite one bright morning at the beach. Up it soared as she expertly guided with the control line. The last time I attempted to fly a kite, it spun out of control and dove into the ground. This reminds me a little too much of what my homeschooling days often look like. How do we order our homeschool days so that there is peace and calm through daily chaos? How do we give our children a place to grow and belong in an environment where they are free to fly?

I love the simplicity of a kite. All kites no matter the color or shape have basic elements that help them ascend. I’ve been contemplating the simple things a successful homeschool day requires, so that no matter the circumstances, children are free to excel. A smooth homeschool day requires atmosphere and routine. The atmosphere of our homes can make or break the day. Ever try to teach subtraction through tears and tantrums? While children’s outbursts are inevitable, we as parents can have a lot to do with them. For example, I get up late, I’m overwhelmed, I yell at the kids to get the dishes in the sink and stop goofing around… “Why haven’t you finished your breakfast yet?!” Suddenly, my kids are bickering, arguing, and once again that loving atmosphere has vanished. Atmosphere begins with us. We are their structure and we set the tone in the house through our attitude and conduct. Children look to us and follow… for better or worse. My motto is: A healthy day starts with me.

When my boys were babies, I was so good at setting a routine… nap times where not an option! Any parent knows the consequences of an overly tired baby. My boys may not need naps now, but they do require routine. My sister is a homeschool mom of 6! I’m amazed at all she gets done in a day. Her children are smart, fun, and full of joy. Her home is wild and free. Her children get up every morning and are responsible for their “morning five.” This includes getting dressed, making their bed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, and praying. Once they complete their five, they start their schoolwork. Each child has a chore for the week, even the littles. Creating routine requires more work at first but the reward is pleasant days. Charlotte Mason puts it best, “The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.”

I want smooth days. I want my children to enjoy learning in an atmosphere that is joyful and fun. As a homeschool mom, it’s up to me to create a pleasant atmosphere and to create a routine, so that no matter what life brings, we all have freedom to fly.