Reading Now

Reading to Kids

  • Story of the Orchestra
    Story of the Orchestra
    With CD!
  • My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
    My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
    Love this! Check Giveaways
  • The Little Red Hen
    The Little Red Hen
    Hooray for a good work ethic! The little red hen asks but receives no help in her efforts to put bread on the table. Yet all who wouldn't help would like to eat. In a refreshingly old-fashioned triumph of moral consequences, they don't get to!
  • Noisy Nora
    Noisy Nora
    Poor Nora! The loveable mousette experiences all the pangs of the child-in-the- middle, caught between the demands of baby brother and bossiness of big sister. Catchy meter, playful illustrations make for a wonderfully satisfying mouse's tale. Baby-Preschool
  • A Chair for My Mother
    A Chair for My Mother
    A remarkably beautiful story told by a young girl whose mother is a waitress. Since they lost all their furniture in a fire, they've been saving mother’s tips in a jar – so they can buy a big comfortable chair for their whole family to enjoy – daughter, mother and grandmother. Life has its ups and downs, but there’s always lots of love. Ages 4-7
  • Caps for Sale
    Caps for Sale
    Be dramatic! Shake your fists! Stomp your feet! You and your toddler will have so much fun with this wonderful story, in which common sense prevails over temper tantrums! 3-7

    See more great kids' books under Barbara's Picks
  • Character Sketches From the Pages of Scripture, Illustrated in the World of Nature
    Character Sketches From the Pages of Scripture, Illustrated in the World of Nature
    Institue in Basic Youth Conflicts

Family

Jonny - it's the little things that matter

Hattie update

Please pray for Hattie

VSA Cinderella at Franklin Park 3/5-3/14

Maddy Curtis update

Maddy Curtis: "The Nearness of You" American Idol audition song

Snow through a child's eyes

The deer at our door

American Idol - Maddy Curtis cut in Hollywood

Snow Apocalypse 2010 - Day 4 chez Curtis

Boy Scouts of America: building character one boy at a time

1/31 Maddy Curtis Sings for Haiti/American Idol round-up

Loudoun County Public Schools closed 2/8 and 2/9

Snow Apocalypse - DC/Northern Virginia 2010

Maddy Sings for Haiti sells out- 2nd show added

Maddy Curtis benefit for Haiti - January 30 - Franklin Park

Happy Birthday, MommyLife!

Maddy Curtis on American Idol

Pray for Daniel and a quick recovery

9 Curtises + Snow (update)

DC today: snow on snow on snow

Leesburg Christmas Parade - Maddy sings

Leesburg Christmas Parade Tomorrow!

Christmas - focus on family

Curtis kids at DC Monet exhibit 2002

Loudoun Valley: Oliver! tomorrow night - with Maddy!

Our day at the Smithsonian cost more than we planned :(

Smithsonian: American History Museum open until 7:30 tonight!

A very Curtis Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving - our traditions

More Patty Schuchman photos

Tripp and sons take down a tree

Getting Into You by Relient K

Down syndrome - a life-changing adventure

Your Song: How a boy with Down syndrome changed my life

HMS Pinafore at Franklin Arts Performing Center 10/30-11/8

Jonny Curtis sings the National Anthem

Curtis kids in Smoky Joe's Cafe

Curtis Family Vacation - Nags Head 2009

Financial disaster and the great hereafter

Curtis family surprise get together

Down syndrome photo albums - send your photo, too!

Maddy singing w/Jake & the Burtones 9/20

The men in my life

Number 9 on 9/09/09

Smoky Joe's Cafe at Franklin Park 8/28-30

Building better families - tame the TV, turn up the culture

Josh is 26 - Happy Birthday!

Catholic Heritage Festival August 22 Centreville VA

With the pirates off, Mom's full steam ahead

Photo effects - another fun site

The story of mothers: Hello and Goodbye

Do you have your husband's baby book?

Pictures from Boston

Family update

Boyz will be boyz

Busy week - well, a couple weeks

Maddy sings "How Beautiful"

Pirates of Penzance - Franklin Park - free 7/30 and 7/31

A taste of Taiwan

Justin - heavy lunchtime reading

Midsummer Night's Dream - Leesburg 7/25 and 7/26

Sisters!

Curtis Family - what's going on?

Coach Dan Dillon - Special Olympics hero

Maddy in the Valley yearbook

Leaving for a while - be back tonight!

The ultimate baby name databases

Family update: Zach's surgery today

Let your kids be your DJ

Zach on his motorcycle experience - and beyond

Just another Saturday - is it ever?

BenAnna wedding pictures - the real thing!

4-in-a-row boys - how to handle bullying

Memorial Day - thank goodness for Dads!

BenAnna wedding report

Zach's Best Man toast to the bride and groom

BenAnna wedding countdown: 5 hours

BenAnna countdown: 26 hours

BenAnna wedding countdown: 34.5 hours

BenAnna's wedding countdown: 44 hours - rehearsal dinner menu

Counting down - 55 hours to BenAnna's wedding

Jonny, Jesse, Daniel, Justin - First Communion yesterday

Zach's getting a motorcycle

Ben and Zach graduate from Liberty!

Curtis Update/Challenger Little League Jamboree 5/10

The Curtis Family in stickers

On my way to the beach!

More Ben Sings!

Daniel does the Lone Ranger

Teaching children to serve with love

Elisabeth Elliot on prayer/ Tripp update

Maddy's Sweet Sixteen!

Tripp update 4/18

A Curtis Family Easter celebration

Ben sings: There Is a Balm in Gilead

Photo fun from photofunia

Jonny's birthday - celebrating 17 years of Down syndrome in our family!

Tripp update 3/26

Obama, Special Olympics and Jonny

Morning chatter

Boys will be boys forever on Green Machines!

Tripp update 3/2

Tripp update

Ben and Anna's wedding shower

Jonny and Maddy

Engaged couples: questions for parents

Tripp is home again!

Tripp Update

Tripp update

Tripp update

Tripp's surgery today at 1:00

Happy 21st Birthday, Zach!

Purcellville Gazette - my 1/16 column

Maturing mom - love never stops growing

Be back soon

Good news from Tripp - new knee in February

Indie music - the Avett Brothers

Papageno/Papagena: Opera celebrates marriage

Matt's Birthday!

Where, oh where is OUR snow???

Tripp's namesake in the Palin family

Your New Year Resolutions?

Curtis family Christmas update

Family Update - especially Tripp

These days at our house - overflowing gratitude

Tripp's corner

Thanksgiving 2008 - our family portrait

Thanksgiving - our traditions

Glow-in-the-dark pajama boys

Curtis family reunion tonight - thanks to all for your kindness!

Tripp is home

Tripp coming home today to finish his recovery

On my mind today

Tripp update

Washington Post: Down syndrome, adoption, and the Curtis Family :)

Tripp Update

Tripp in the hospital again - surgery tomorrow

The Curtis Menfolk

The way we were

Double take kind of morning

Please pray for Tripp - again

My life - ready for normal

Mommy, Daniel and Jesse's marvelous fall adventure

my new granddaughter

Maddy: a winner no matter what

Our visit from Taiwan

Noonan, Palin, tears, homecomings, gratitude

Update on Tripp - and more

Tripp update - Loudoun Hospital not rating five stars with me

Please pray for Tripp - urgent

Maddy news

Tripp hits setback to his recovery

Jonny - Loudoun Valley Viking mascot

Benanna engaged!

My new granddaughter - coming home soon!

Boyz just wanna have fun

Tripp's knee, new grandaughter, visit from Taiwan, other Curtis news

My life - a lot going on behind the scenes

Hattie update - not good news.

praying for Hattie this morning

Hattie and Josh - need your prayers again

Adoption announcements

Finding hope in the everyday

Hearing from daughters

Taking Sophia to college

Channeling Florence Nightingale - who, me?

Win a free subscription to World magazine

Jonny's foot surgery

Maddy and Jonny in Godspell

Still moving - happiness bigtime

As a child heads for college

Beyond family skeletons: redemption and freedom

Summer DVD round up - six new, one old

Elisabeth Elliot on Family Peace

July 4th at our house - Maddy off to Walpole Island

Coming home from Camp Easter Seals

Maddy confirmed as Catholic

Sophia graduated today!

My life - full speed ahead, but some CyberBumps

Sophia in The Mikado

Bless your children every morning

Every Mother's a Working Mother

Sophia and Mom's Incredible Amazing Trip to New York

Update on Hattie

Celebrating birthdays at our house yesterday

Justin's playing soccer!

Happy birthday, Maddy!

Proof that prayer works

Samantha's Guatemala adoption update

Taking Daniel to Dr. Capone today

Jonny & Me: Our Amazing NYC adventure

Barbara and Jonny's amazing adventure

Jonny & Me: Counting down to NYC

My life - full speed ahead!

Happy Birthday, Jonny - Sweet 16!

Maddy: "Put 'em up, pardner!"

Easter at church and at home

Loudoun County: Very Special Arts - "The Old Homeplace"

Vent: to a self-important costume lady

Teens: when things don't work out the way you planned

Hattie and Josh update - and thanks for your prayers

Josh and Hattie - Update

Josh and Hattie need your prayers

Sophia and Maddy in Godspell

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Meet my grandson, the artist

Prayers for Daniel still needed - and for a teacher MIA

Jonny and me

Special ed in Loudoun County - one parent's perspective

Deadlines, news, and what's ahead

Happy Anniversary, Tripp!

Happy Birthday, Sophia!

Life at our house

Special education in Loudoun - one battle won

We don't do Halloween

Green funerals - taking back family responsibility

Quiverfull article at Crosswalk today

Family update

A busy week for me

Big Apple Circus

Waterford Fair - misty maidens

Making her mama proud

We're back!

Family updates

Maddy sings!

Hattie thanks you for your prayers

For Jonny, Down syndrome rocks!

Josh and Hattie update

Hattie and Josh Update

Josh and Hattie update

Hattie's surgery tomorrow at 8 AM

Josh and Hattie update

Josh and Hattie update

Josh and Hattie update

Josh and Hattie update

Josh and Hattie need your prayers

Maddy and I in DC

Anyone going on vacation this summer?

Kids at work

Be back soon

Boy Scout camp, weekend guests, rugby injury, sunflower seeds, and - oh, yes - writing

Zach on the Air Force Academy

What I've been up to

My Waterford Boys

Barbara's adventures in journalism, laundry, and strep

Moving on to gmail - write me at my new address

Up close and personal - an update on me and my family

Curtis Boys at the Challenger Little League Tournament

Mailing my books in Waterford today

Zach is flying high!

Samantha's Guatemala adoption journey

What's going on behind the scenes

News from Virginia Tech

Happy Birthday, dear Maddy!

Sophia at Victorian Ball

Walking a few miles in my shoes

Meet my neighborly cardinal

Easter at our house

How having a child with Down syndrome changed the way I see the world

John Edwards a metaphor? For what?

World Down Syndrome Day 2007

Loudoun County Very Special Arts - Japanese Fairy Tales

Love languages

The joy of downsizing

The continuing story of our next grandchild

Proud mama brag

Why I'm blogging on Sunday morning

An icy paradise outside, keeping cozy with the kids

Busy day - mentally and physically

Encouraging a work ethic in children with Down syndrome - or any children, for that matter

Elisabeth Elliot on broken relationships

Just another adventure in motherhood

Writing from the (broken) heart

A trip to the opera at Liberty

An unexpected Christmas gift from my dad

Why I don't ask my husband to share my housework

Biloxi post-Katrina relief

See Ben work! Hear Ben sing!

When mom makes the most of each moment

Matt's Birthday

Extracurricular activities - finding the balance

What to call step children

What's happening at my house - update on Mohs surgery and redecorating blitz

Big Boyz busy tomorrow - Mohs surgery for me

Mother Teresa bracelet - jewelry with a purpose

Turning off the TV

A picture of Matt

All in the life of a mother

Les Miz

Les Miz premiers in Loudoun!

The continuing laundry crisis

The future of my guys with Down syndrome

The scoop on my books

The busy lives of my guys with Down syndrome

Preparing for a new sibling

Puppy dog blues

On grandmotherhood, motherhood, and spiritual growth

My next grandchild

Down syndrome - the gift that keeps on giving

Ben

Celebrating adoption

Something to cheer about: Athlete-to-Athlete

Bustin' my buttons!

Saturday night - do you know where the mommies are?

The church and inclusion

The sunshine in my life

The silver lining

A cloud on my horizon

Coming to terms with my mother-in-law

Matt in Cats

Les Miz in Loudoun!

Made for each other

Sometimes the right answer isn't what you were praying for after all

Need. Rest.

Responsibility, renewal and joy on the journey of motherhood

How we're spending the tail end of summer

Time to move

Camp Easter Seals

I'm home!

Another reason I love Virginia - or How Sophia got her License

Dallas in October

Caring for Your Introvert

Seen around my kitchen

How my living room became a TV studio

For those waiting for prodigals

Skyline Drive

Camp Easter Seals

Angels in Adoption - nomination time

Big weekend

More on Jonny

Laundry - sharing the load

The purpose of my blog and my writing

Prodigal daughters/ prodigal sons

Another thing about Sophia

About Sophia

Bronzing baby shoes

Maddy's singing competition

This morning's mental ramblings

What do you call your mother-in-law?

Saturday morning / Contest update

Maddy's singing

We're in good company!

Kids and TV

Uncle Jonny

Baby Names

Josh and Hattie's Wedding

A wife gives thanks

My rose tattoo

Anyone from Atascadero, CA?

Parenting Q & A - Accepting Change

Maddy update

The other side of motherhood

Quality Time

Wife Swap Part 4

Wife Swap Part 3

Wife Swap - Part 2

Invitation to be on Wife Swap

Speaking of gifts. .

New York PS

With Maddy in New York

The birds and the bees and NYC

Teaching kids about money

Don't Waste Those Easter Eggs

Easter Greetings - A Card for You!

Media and Kids - Choosing Wisely

Sweet and Sour

Natural Moms Talk Radio

Throwing up all over

Family Worship

Parenting Q & A - Age gap in siblings

Kids, Culture, and Self-Control

Sunday Dinner

To Moms who need a fresh start

Adoption - participating in a miracle

Family Devotions / Teaching Children about Jesus

My favorite doctor!

Diet Report and Contest Update

Free concert tonight

Boys' haircuts - and thinking outside the box

Which Bible do you use?

I'm back - where I've been and where I'm going

Hangin' in there!

Picture Book Preschool

Sunday Update - 2 new sites

Extreme Mom Makeover

Guest Blogger: Maddy herself

Maddy's biopsy - update

Abstinence T shirts

Maddy's biopsy results- still waiting

Snowed in!

Of snow and cardinals

Parenting Q&A Birth control

Delayed gratification

Happy Birthday Zach - and hope for every mommy

Special Date

And now to return to our regular programming

Teaching your preschooler

For moms who need a fresh start

Tonsils

Curtis kids filling in for Dr. Dobson

Jackson Bortz update

Why a big family?

God's role in birth defects - Part 3

God's role in birth defects - Part 2

Building the Christian Family You Never Had

Maddy loves her glasses!

We love Liberty University!

Maddy, moles and melanoma

Mothers in the hands of a merciful God

Step Stool Revolution Part 2

Who owns our kids?

Thy word I have hid in my heart. . .

Happy Birthday to MommyLife!

Children at Work - a beautiful thing

Step stool revolution :)

Montessori at home/ Birthday request

Intentional Parenting

Country Boys - some brief thoughts

Yet another prayer request

SAHM -Your work really matters!

Parenting Q & A : Destructive behavior

Inside Out

What's been going on

Starting the New Year with a happy ending

New Years Resolutions

Maddy's picture surprise

Thirty minute update

Christmas greetings and thoughts on traditions

Churches closed on Christmas

Three hours driving around 15 square miles

Elisabeth Elliot on welcoming grandchildren

Rethinking Veggie Tales - The time Has Come

Blog of Beauty, Flickr, Frappr, Coming Attractions

No Mr. Rogers fans here

Open forum - Husbands and spiritual leadership

Parenting Q&A #10 New Baby Blues

Post-Thanksgiving ponderings

Parenting Q&A #8 Destructive Behavior

Thanks for answered prayers

Welcoming children

Head Start on the Arts

Thanks for a hubby who cares

More on Raising Kids with Hearts to Serve

New test for Down syndrome - good news or bad?

Children at Work

Raising kids with hearts to serve

New mothers: something to look forward to!

God's greatest gift: Children

Open Forum: How many children?

Thanksgiving Hymns

Parenting Q&A #6 Keeping Kids Busy

Sad news

A pro-life picture worth a million words

Ten Great Reasons to Have Another Child

Welcoming children

One for all and all for one

A Camera for Jonny

Kid-friendly home decor

New bathrobes!

Agreeing to disagree

Christmas Gift Ideas

Those were the days

No More Chore Wars

Barbara's Picks!

Back in the Saddle - or soon to be, anyway

Hello from the Outer Banks

Personality types

A blog about Maddy

On Growing Kids the Ezzo Way

The more things change

For Stay-at-Home Moms

My men at Gettysburg

My Guest Blogger

NYC

New York, here we come!

Cheap thrills

Too beautiful for words

What it's all about

Sharing the load

Father figures

An excellent family newspaper

Who likes vanilla?

We believe in miracles -- and CPR

Apologies all around

Brainfreeze

Where the Wild Things Are

Like mother, like daughter

Terri's in God's hands now, as are we all

The anti-child view

Countering a Culture of Plenty

Sleeping through the night

Tangling with tweens

Saturday Morning Round Up

Guerrilla Parenting #3

Guerrilla Parenting #2

Art for the masses

Really cool photo software - free

Snow, tonsils, and the wisdom of mommies

A Day in the life of a megamom

How to fold a shirt

About that extra chromosome. . .Down syndrome rocks!

Montessori at Home #4

Homeschoolers -- a chance to say thanks!

Mommy Misunderstandings

More Mommy Madness

Look! No Whining T-shirts!

Here, have a kleenex -- it'll be alright

The sound of women whining

Josh and Hattie are engaged!

A Valentine for mommies

Fifty years of marriage