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Showing posts from 2014

Challah Bread Recipe 1

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I made my first attempt with Challah bread this week because I wanted to try it before our first Shabbat. I used the Challah I Recipe from Allrecipes.com . It was pretty good but I was low on honey and think I needed more. It turned out beautifully though. You can find the recipe online. You can also watch a video of it as well. It was helpful to hear and see the instructions. There were things added there that weren't in the text.

Studying OT Biblical Holidays

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I have been wanting to study the Old Testament Biblical holidays for quite some time but I wanted to wait until Gess was old enough to really get something out of it. Now that she is, I am anxious for the new year to begin. See, besides simply studying the holidays, we are going to actually observe them!  From January to December we will do each holiday as it takes place. In fact we are going to observe some of the non-biblical Jewish holidays as well.  We are using the book A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays to help us navigate what to do. They have lots of great information and many fun games, activities, and crafts to go along with them. There aren't really any festivals at the very beginning of our year. They don't really get started to until the spring. It is pretty much Spring and Fall, with just a couple in the winter.  You can see the chart on the back of the book that explains when they are. We also plan on observing the Sabbath, or should I say Shabbat

Last Minute Stocking Stuffers That Mean Something

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I got this in my email from Baptist Global Response and I couldn't help myself. I had to share it with you. BGR is a great ministry that truly meets the needs of those they help, both physically and spiritually. It's the place we give to the most, outside of our local church mission offerings. When I got this in email I immediately shared it on Facebook and as my husband has started the habit, we never share anything about giving without actually giving ourselves. So, I purchased: A Safe Place for Young Girls $5 $5.00 $5.00 10 Fish: $3 $3.00 $3.00 Feed a Hungry Child for a day $.50

The Middle of Middle School Year 1

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When I grew up we called it Junior High, but here they refer to it as Middle School. No matter what you call it, this was Gess' official first year out of elementary school. It has been interesting trying to find curriculum to meet her needs but it has worked out so far. She is at least working more independently. My most exciting and newest change has been our math curriculum. I want to write about it soon but haven't had the chance. It is called Life of Fred and teaches math through stories. While you follow the life of this interesting character named Fred you learn math. You practice math facts, learn geography, time, addition and subtraction concepts as well as early algebra. The greatest part is the child doesn't really know that they are learning. It feels like play. My only concern is that since I started at the beginning its all review for Gess so of course it comes easy. However, it is the first time in her life that Gess has been excited about doing math! Sh

Christmas with the Co-Op

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Today we had great fun with our new homeschool co-op. We went to the nursing home and performed The Little Drummer Boy. Gess was asked to be the angel, but she preferred to be a shepherd, so she was! Next we invaded our local grocery store and split up into 2 teams. Each team had a budget of $20 to spend on getting food for a family in need. This needed to be non-perishable items that would make a good meal. Our team lost because we went over. Ours came to $20.43.  That's not too bad though. They picked out some good items. Macaroni and Cheese, veggies, cans of fruit, pasta and spaghetti sauce, juice, cake mix with icing and a few other things.  After that we stopped at the old fashioned soda shop for a treat. Gess got a Dr. Pepper float and liked it!  That was a great way to celebrate Christmas I think. Our final meeting of the year is a mom's only luncheon. I am looking forward to that!

First Snow

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Having our first snow in November is something that doesn't happen too often around here. It came down on a Sunday while I was at church. As I was in the nursery waiting for children to arrive, I got some beautiful shots. After lunch Gess was anxious to play, but first she helped daddy clean off the cars. Then she tried to make a snowball but it wouldn't pack very good. So, she settled for making a snow angel.

NaNoWriMo Novel Writing in One Month - I Did It!

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For the first time in my life I took the NaNoWriMo challenge to write a novel in a month. It was also the first time I have ever attempted to write a novel at all. I have started a few books that I never finished, but they were all non-fiction about homeschooling, the bible, etc. This was a novel, a book to read just for fun. It was hard, but I did it. Now before you start wondering when this book will be available let me assure you that it never will be. When you are focused on the number of words you don't have time to edit and I absolutely did not do any editing. Not only that, but the story line is all over the place. I was doing a good job of building characters and relationships but it wasn't really going anywhere so I threw in a little crisis which held me for awhile but I didn't feel it was enough. So I added in some other aspects and the story took a major turn leaving the the other crisis completely ignored. There were also characters who I began to develo

Thoughts on my Media Fast

Since my blogging obligations for the Schoolhouse Review Crew ended in November, I thought it would be a good time to take a break from the internet and other media. So, from November 1 until Thanksgiving Day we went on a media fast. Now, let me explain how we defined that for ourselves because we did not refrain from every form of media or even every website. Instead, we targeted areas where we felt most vulnerable. My husband makes his living from computers. He always has and probably always will. He started out in computer repair, then sales, and now he writes software, so expecting that we have no use of computers is kind of difficult. So what we did do during this time was limit ourselves from the majority of it. What we didn't do. We refrained from any type of video games on the computer or X-Box. I also gave up social networking including Facebook . I did remain engaged in two local groups which we use for planning between meetings. I absolutely did not read my fe

10 Reasons for Thanks Week 4

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1. I am thankful that a holy God would love me enough to save me. That while I was still a sinner Christ died for me. He did not wait for me to be worthy, for that I would never be. With the psalmist I ask, what is man that God is mindful of Him? Not knowing or understanding such a love, I simply thank Him for it, each and every day. I am thankful for God's Word. How I have access to know more about Him and to learn how to experience His love, mercy, grace and peace. I am thankful that I have many copies, in many versions, when there are people around the globe risking their lives to get one. I am also thankful there are missionaries working diligently to get those to them. I am thankful for answered prayers. That God hears and has mercy and grace. I am also thankful for unanswered prayers as God truly does know best and can use things that I don't understand for His glory. I am thankful that I can boldly go before the throne of grace and know that He hears me. That is

Fewer Reviews Coming

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Now that our Schoolhouse Review Crew has officially ended I wanted to let my readers know that I am now leaving the crew, at least for awhile. Even though I won't be reviewing products, it is a great resource for finding new things so keep them in mind. If I get opportunities to review individual products I may take those offers, but for the most part my posts will simply be about what is working for us. As Gess enters middle school it is more difficult to find resources that are "age appropriate." I am eager to find what others are doing for the middle school and high school years. We do have some products we have kept from the crew and a few we have added apart for it. I will probably share more about those after the holidays. I want a little more time to see just what is working as we enter the 6th grade! It's been a blessing and quite a ride, but its time for me to step back and focus on some other things. So those looking for specific reviews, my old links w

10 Reasons for Thanks Week 3

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4. I am thankful for my friends. The ones that I don't see as much as I would like to but are ready with a yes when want to play cards, go to a movie, bowling, or some other thing. Those that still gather for game night, karaoke, and cookouts. Those who were here to greet me when I first arrived and still love me even now to those I am just now getting to know. I am also thankful for those I have known over the years but lost touch with only to find you on here again. You are all dear to me! 3. I am thankful for my church family. With my actual family being spread around the country I am extremely grateful for a place where I can feel those bonds face to face, day to day. I have many great mentors and friends. They will laugh with me, cry with me, travel with me, work with me, and pray with me. This has truly been one of the few places in life where I feel like I fit in, so the fact that they even put up with me is reason enough to say thanks!  2. I am thankful for my family

Schoolhouse Review Blue Ribbon Awards

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The Schoolhouse Review has provided us with some amazing products, some of which I might never have found. Now our crew has voted for our favorites. Today I am sharing their post that shows what the entire crew thought. Later I will post of some my favorites. For now, see which vendors won the Schoolhouse Review Blue Ribbon Awards !

10 Reasons for Thanks Week 2

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7. I am grateful for kids. My kids, grandkids, friend's kids, church kids, kids with special needs, kids who know everything, kids who know nothing, kids who are chatty, kids how are quiet, kids who make me laugh, and kids who like to cry. Kids are a gift from God. May we treat each of them with the love, care, respect, and dignity they deserve! Hug a kid today! Tell them you care and are glad they are in your life! 6. I am grateful that I have a roof over my head, clean water, and plenty of food to eat including things that are not so good for me but taste really good. I am thankful we have cars to get us form place to place, air conditioning the summer and heat in the winter. We have clothes in our closets, shoes on our feet, and beds to sleep in. 5. I am grateful for laughter. It really does do the heart good like a medicine. I am glad that even when things get tough I can find a reason to laugh. From a simple joke to a silly thing my daughter might say to my husbands cutti

Schoolhouse Review: Purposeful Design

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For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ( Rom 1:19-20) I had just memorized these verses when I was received my latest review from Purposeful Design . I was extremely eager and have been very blessed to use the Purposeful Design: Understanding the Creation in our homeschool. Jay Schabacker does a wonderful job explaining how God did exactly what Paul said in Romans. Our world was not simply made by an intelligent designer, but with a very specific purpose. It was designed for us . God made each one of us to have a relationship with Him and He made this planet for us to live on. He gave it so much love and care and in it we can see His eternal power and divine nature. It was purposefully designed. The Purposeful Design: Und

10 Reasons for Thanks Week 1

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10. I am grateful for books. I love to read and learn new things. I am thankful for the awesome library we have in our community, for used book stores, and online shopping. I love my ebooks, hard back books, paperbacks and lately large print books! While I get to travel so little in real life I can pick up a book and explore far away places, go back in time, head into the future or even brand new worlds! Books are just cool! 9. I am thankful for Down syndrome. Yes, that is right. I am thankful that Gess is how she is. As with any parent I would rather my child be healthy, but the blessings that have come from this experience are too numerous to over look. Especially the friendships that have been made. I am so glad for the bonds that have been made because of one adorable little girl named Gess! 8. Homeschool mommas. That is another group of ladies I would not know outside of a common bond. Our educational choices have brought us together from across the globe! I am so tha

Schoolhouse Review: If He Had Not Come

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I can't think of a better way to start thinking about the Christmas holidays than with the book I received for my latest review. David Nicholson is a retired teacher and missionary who brought back to life a Christmas story that he often shared with his own children. Originally written by Nan F. Weeks, If He Had Not Come shares the meaning of  Christmas that reveals the true impact that Jesus has made on the world. With beautiful color illustrations this story comes to life and makes one consider what Christmas is truly all about. In the story Bobby and his Father are reading the Bible together on Christmas Eve before Bobby heads off to bed. As they read John 15:22 the words "If I had not come" jump off the page to him. After he falls asleep he hears a voice wake him up abruptly on what he thinks is Christmas morning. Instead he finds himself in a world in which Jesus had never come! There is no Christmas tree with presents underneath, but more importantly there

Taking Time for Me

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Some of you may remember my review of Captivated , a DVD from MediaTalk101 which brings to life the reality of how our society has been saturated by media. It surrounds us on a daily basis and while it appears to be helping people stay connected, it actually does the opposite. In one of Beth Moore's studies she talks about how having instant access to information makes us more anxious not less. While it is great to get news quickly when we don't get that news we are not happy. We used to have to wait days, weeks, or even months to hear from someone, and we dealt with that. Now if we don't get a response to a text in a few hours we are in panic mode! There really can be too much of a good thing and media is one of them. So, now that my review year is almost over I feel it is a great time for me to take a break. Therefore I am taking the month of November off. No don't rush off because I have actually scheduled some posts to finish out the month so there will be activi

Schoolhouse Review: Clued in Kids

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Who wants to hunt for treasure? Maybe a better question would be, who doesn't? Treasure hunts are lots of fun and my recent review had us doing two of them. Clued in Kids was created by a mom who realized that hunting for treasure is a great hands-on way to teach a concept. It is not only fun, but healthy too because it allows the child to get up and move around. For the purpose of my review we received two PDF printable hunts:  Homework Reward Treasure Hunt and Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt . When you get your printable hunt, it is in a PDF booklet form. Both of mine were 8 pages in length. They came with easy to follow directions and the clues were divided into two per page. At the bottom of each clue it tells you exactly where to hide it, so set up is really a breeze!  All you have to worry about is finding something for a prize at the end. While these were beautiful, full color photos, I printed mine in black and white. Each page has an activity that you must do to find th

Schoolhouse Review: New Liberty Videos

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My most recent review was from New Liberty Videos a company dedicated to producing Christian movies. For the purpose of my review I received a copy of the  Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This video actually covers topics other than the Dead Sea Scrolls. In all it covers three topics and is about an hour total in length. Let me tell you a little bit about each segment. Dead Sea Scrolls The first segment is the Dead Sea Scrolls , with Joel Lampe. This features what appears to be a lecture on the Dead Sea Scrolls. While I have heard a lot about them I really was not well versed on their exact significance. Joel did an excellent job of covering a wealth of information in a very short time. I was so fascinated with what all I learned, such as the fact that while they call them scrolls, there was actually only one scroll found completely in tact! He shares how many scroll fragments were found and how they were pieced together to become whole scrolls. I was not aware that man