Hello, I’m April Maura
A family growing.
A life of learning.
I’m a mother, educator, photographer, and follower of Christ. I write about raising whole children—and becoming the people we hope they’ll become.
Faith, childhood, education, marriage, and the everyday work of building a home where everyone keeps growing.
The question I keep returning to
Who are our children becoming?
And who are we becoming alongside them?
Education is much bigger than academics. Reading, writing, and math matter. So do faith, character, health, curiosity, creativity, relationships, and the ability to think for ourselves.
Children don’t grow in isolation. They grow inside the culture of a family: our habits, our marriages, our conversations, the way we care for our bodies, and how we respond when life is hard.
I believe Christ belongs at the center of that life. My writing begins there, with Scripture, prayer, and the ongoing practice of listening and learning.
We shouldn’t expect our children to become people we aren’t willing to become ourselves. I need that reminder as much as anyone. There is grace for the learning—and responsibility to keep taking the next step.
It started with noticing
Before the school,
there was a camera.
My interest in photography began as a child. Over time, a camera became a way to slow down, pay attention, and tell stories about people whose lives might otherwise pass unnoticed.
When Denny and I lived in China and taught English, I took on 10,000 Smiles: a year-long project photographing people and the joy in their everyday lives.
Wedding stories, portraits, travel, and years of personal blogging followed. That work is part of my story, and it still shapes the way I see.
The work we’re living
Putting our questions
into practice.
I earned my degree in elementary education at Arizona State University, with an endorsement in English as a Second Language. Teaching, becoming a mother, and asking questions about what children need have continued to shape my work.
Today, Denny and I are building Agape Adventure Academy, our Christian microschool in St. Louis. Agape offers full-time and hybrid education, bringing academics, faith, outdoor learning, creative projects, and meaningful responsibility together.
The school gives us a place to put ideas into practice and learn from what actually happens. Here, I share those lessons alongside what we’re learning in our own home.
What you’ll find here
Thoughts for the life
you’re building.
Childhood & education
Practical ideas for curiosity, capable children, outdoor learning, and choosing an environment that fits your family.
Faith & family culture
Walking with God, strengthening our homes and marriages, and practicing what we hope to pass on.
A life still unfolding
Personal growth, health, creativity, stories from Agape, and honest reflections on what we’re learning.
Come closer
You don’t have to have
it all figured out.
Start with a story, a question, or one small thing you can bring into your family’s day.