~ Acorns ~ Or Nuggets of Gold ~

We Choose Virtues

2012-01-23T04:10:00.000-05:00

We Choose Virtues recently sent the TOS Crew a package in the mail with some handy little tools for encouraging virtuous behavior. The Virtue Clue Cards (currently priced at $5.99). This is a set of business-sized cards, one for each of 12 virtues, intended for use with children ages pre-K through elementary.

Diligent
Helpful
Obedient
Perseverant
Gentle
Content
Attentive
Honest
Self-Controlled
Forgiving
Kind
Patient

Every card has a cute character on the front with a declaration of the what the virtue might look like in real life, as well as the converse. For instance, the "Attentive" card featured above says

I am Attentive

I watch and listen carefully

I am NOT forgetful, distracted

or distracting and I don't

ignore or interrupt

The back of the card carries the instruction: Choose to go the whole day without someone needing to remind you "Listen!" or "Don't forget!" Airplane Betty Jane knows you can do it!

These are quick little lessons in what this set of virtues looks like in real life, with simple clues on how to incorporate each one (or see if it is recognizable) in our lives at home.

I appreciate the direct and to-the-point approach that can reduce the need for a "lecture" for my olders (Really, just directing their attention to a particular card gets the point across), and I can see that the alliterative connection between the characters and their virtues may make it easier for my youngest to learn a catchphrase that will help him work on virtuous behavior (For him, learning that first little bit "I am Attentive ~ I watch and listen carefully" is just the right amount).

I am planning to make it through the stack, with an emphasis on one character trait/virtue per week. Diligent and Kind have been in focus, but I need to decide where to go next. That is where this little handy tool comes in~ The Family Character Assessment is a checklist tool that is offered as a free download. This is a helpful tool to pinpoint virtues that might need a little work for each member of the family. I have my own personal set that I can fill out for each family member to give me a goal for each one(Privately, not for general knowledge), but I also intend to have my eldest (at least) use this as a private growth tool. Learning to honestly assess strengths and weaknesses is a great lesson!

We were also given access to a pdf file of the Teacher's Handbook($4.95 pdf, $15 print copy). The handbook covers "4 Steps for teaching virtues" as well as detailed instructions on incorporating the We Choose Virtues products into the school-year. Personally, I found the handbook to be much more geared to a classroom setting, and less helpful for a homeschool situation, although there were a few ideas that I could glean.

The final "Tool" we were provided with was The Kids of Virtueville Coloring Book ($3 download only). These are nicely illustrated pages of each "Character" and their accompanying Virtue. Pleasant little product to have to work in conjunction with the Clue Cards, particularly if you have children who love their crayons, pencils, etc. I have some children who enjoy coloring during read-aloud time, and I can see these provoking some Character discussions from our literature. ( For instance, reading Charlotte's Web, you could ask "Did any of the characters show diligence?" "How?" "Why do you think this was easy/hard?", etc...)

We Choose Virtues also offers posters, stickers, journals, flashcards and more. You can check out their Homeschool section, and the Clearance section. Visitors to their facebook page will find tips on parenting, leadership, and inspiring virtues.

SPECIALS:

JANUARY/FEBRUARY-The 100 Days of Virtue Poster and Stickers will be included FREE with any Homeschool Kit purchase during these months.

PROMO CODES

You can use only ONE at a time.

VIRTUE15 for 15 % off the shopping cart is still available
SHIPFREE for free worldwide shipping

As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget. For other opinions, please visit the TOS Crew Blog, and check out the Mr. Linky list of reviews.
Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Crew Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

His Silence Was More Powerful Than Words

2012-01-09T13:18:00.000-05:00

TOS Crew Members have reviewed Z-Guides to the movies in the past, and this year I was very pleased to get to see what all the hullabaloo was about! Of course, I really wanted to keep this appropriately educational, so I chose a movie that fit into the history time-frame about which eldest was reading.

We were introduced to the movie "A Man for All Seasons." It tells the story of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England under Henry VIII and his integrity.

Just a cautionary side-note~ just because a movie is listed as streaming on Netflix the month before you plan to watch it, there is no guarantee that their contract won't run out on said movie the day before you have it scheduled in your lesson plans~~~ Chances are good that it will be back, but not in time for a scheduled review! Good thing that some area libraries carry a decent selection of "classic" older movies still!

So, on with the review of the product at hand, the ZGuide by ZeeZok Publishing. I'll give you a run-down loosely based on the table of contents.

How to use this guide~ General recommendations on what should be done prior to watching the movie, and a possible lesson plan that can be completed in 5 days.
Topic Overview~ Sets the stage for the movie, and actually adds some closure with explanations of events that took place after the time-period of the movie ends.
Movie Synopsis~ Suggested that the student read this first~ certainly makes following the sometimes slow action in the film a little easier.

Activity 1~ Movie review questions~ It is recommended that the student answer these while watching the movie, and in this particular instance that was a VERY good idea. We put the DVD in the player and hit the pause button with regularity so that we could discuss the questions, which added greatly to this film. I would expect that an older High Scholar could watch this film and catch a fair amount, and jot down the answers to the questions as it flowed. For us, the questions were very useful in figuring out exactly what was going on. The synopsis was useful there as well, but having read it some days in advance (When we were supposed to start ~ with Netflix), it was no longer fresh in our minds when we were able to obtain the movie from the library days later.In retrospect, I would have read it again. ;)
Activity 2~ Questions to be researched in order to find out more about Henry VIII ~ although it is set up as a potentially gradable research project(As are most activities), we chose to do them as joint discussions~ again, so that Eldest could more fully understand what was going on in the time period.
Activity 3~ More about Thomas More (Set up the same way as Activity 1)
Activity 4~ More about the Tower of London (Again, the same)
Activity 5~ We didn't do this one, which had to do with an exercise in "Defending the Defendant" This would be perfect for someone who is involved in(or would like to be introduced to) debate. :)
Activity 6~ Sir Thomas More's Wise Sayings~ Could become a writing exercise, we chose to discuss them instead.
Activity 7~ A crossword Puzzle~ For fun (But you have to do your research to find the answers!
Activity 8~ Portrait drawing~ Fun to bring in some art~ :)
Activity 9~ Wordview Activity~ This was one of my favorite aspects of the guide~ as we discussed character traits and flaws of some of the main figures in the movie. Again, we did it as a discussion rather than an assigned worksheet. (Catching a theme here? Isn't it nice that it's set up for those who like a little structure, but others can feel free to adapt!)
Activity 10~ The Filmmaker's Art~ Again a discussion-based worksheet for us~
For Family Discussion~ Excellent "Thinking" questions.
Additional Resources for Further Study~ We didn't use these, but they would be excellent if you were interested in learning more (Which I might be at some point).
Answer Key~ Sometimes it's very nice to have all the answers in front of you~ ;)

Using the Z-Guide was a great way to incorporate media into our history study, with discussion questions that *I* didn't have to come up with! It also made the time-period come more alive.

I will say that I probably would not have chosen to watch this movie if I hadn't had to choose a Z-Guide, and had the desire to keep it more educational for my Eldest (14). In reality, I would have probably made HER happier if I'd gone with Kit Kittredge (As many fellow Crew-mates did...), and made my life a little easier because we actually OWN that movie. Another choice would have been My Side of the Mountain. However, I was trying to focus on a more "high-school" selection.

"I think when statesmen forsake their own private conscience

for the sake of their public duties,

they lead their country by a short route to chaos"

Sir Thomas More

~The Nitty Gritty~

Product ~ Z-Guide to the movies can be found at ZeeZok Publishing ~ (you can also visit them on Facebook)
Ages~ Various guides to movies appropriate for Elementary through High School
Variation~Many historical time-periods covered, with more on the way (Check out the "timeline" on the left side of the Z-Guide to the movies page). There are currently titles from Ancient Civilizations all the way up to the Vietnam war. *Note~ each guide is specific to a particular version of the movie, so be aware of that as you look into availability. If you are a movie-collecting buff, many of them are also for sale at ZeeZok
Price~ $12.99
Free Sample Guide ~ The Count of Monte Cristo (High School) ~Great to "Try before you buy" Even if your kids aren't high-school, this will give you an idea of the quality of these guides.

For those of you who are interested in how the elementary guides work, may I suggest that you visit the Crew Blog and check out what other folks had to say! And as always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where to spend your homeschool dollars.

Silence can mean nothing, agreement or denial~ "The maxim of the law is 'silence gives consent.' If you must construe, my silence consented, not that I denied. The world must construe according to its wits. This court must construe according to the law" Sir Thomas More
Blessings~

Forts! Castles! Hideaways! Toydle!

2012-01-07T19:00:00.002-05:00

Hey, friends~

Remember this post from before Christmas? About the Toydle Fort? ~ Well, I can share some more now!

First off, I was sent the BIG Toydle Fort to ~~play~~ build with, and I gave it to the two boys for their 2nd day of Christmas present (only because I knew we wouldn't have time to use it on Christmas Day). See that big box on the right side of the tree?? Wow, it's heavy!

Wonder what's inside? Hey, a red bag! Just what we wanted! But what's inside the bag????

Most excellent building materials for kids of all ages! PVC pipes and wooden blocks (Not to mention some nifty little clamps to hold the "Sides and tops" of the fort on)! Really, what boy (Or girl, for that matter) wouldn't have a blast with these "almost-raw" building materials???

Building commenced in our little "Extra Room" on the 3rd floor, which had fairly open floor space as it was used as a wrapping station for Christmas!

A Fun place to hide (Notice the sheets and sarongs nicely held to the structure to create a ceiling and semi-walls~ Have to rustle up some more if we want to make a more impenetrable fort). Doesn't the sun shining through the skylight look fabulous??? I love it!

Makes for a cozy spot to read to a little brother, or make up a fantastic game.

The Fort has become something of the daily "School spot" for eldest~ gives her a cozy, quiet place away from youngest to do her math and science("No photos, PLEASE, Mom!").

However, this weekend it was transformed again! The "walls" were rolled up (but the ceiling stayed), and the grids became separate areas for various playmobil vignettes. Youngest is hoping to actually PLAY now that everything has been set up! Here are a few photos so you can get an idea of how each square can accommodate a different world.

You have your basic forest home, Fire rescue trucks

A Ranch, a concert,
and Middlest's dream home with a skate park right outside the front door! (Not quite sure what the boat is doing... must be in drydock for repairs...???)

I love the firefighters putting on a rescue operation (with a helicopter, even!) to get a stuck Santa out of the chimney.... ;)

The possibilities are fairly endless here. Once I convince them that it is OK to take this structure down, I'd love to create three little "Single-square" homes, complete with sides, so that they can have a quiet cozy spot to read. We're also toying with the idea of tunnel/maze, but I'm not sure that will happen until we can take this outdoors for an afternoon.

I can't think of anything we don't like about our Toydle Fort other than the desire to have MORE to build with! (Isn't that the way with almost ALL "Building" toys???) Of course, then we'd need to get more HOUSE to build IN! :D

As a reminder, here is all the information that you need to get in touch with the fine folks at Toydle, just in case there is some Christmas gift money floating around, just waiting to be spent. ;)

Toydle Forts~

Made in the USA
Open-ended, Creative fun

All Toydle Forts are constructed with

Hand made wooden blocks 3” sq. made with high quality, laminated poplar.
High Quality PVC tubes 29” long & 1/2in wide.

All Toydle Forts include an industrial strength storage bag.
All Toydle Forts include clips to help secure your sheets and blankets.

Two sizes~
The Toydle Fort~ $149 Build to 45 square feet! (pictured above)
The BIG Toydle Fort~ $229 Build to 90 square feet!
You can visit TOYDLE on Facebook, and Twitter, as well as exploring their website.

As always, I hope that you enjoyed this review (We sure did!). To see how other people/children utilized these plastic pipes and wooden blocks, please visit the TOS Crew Blog.

Blessings~

Relax, Enjoy, Aspire, Learn (R.E.A.L. Spanish)

2012-01-05T13:37:00.000-05:00

I recently received the downloadable version of Homeschool Spanish for review as a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received a downloaded Textbook, Activity Book, Answer Book, and Audio Files recorded by native Spanish Speakers.

This is a curriculum that uses a variety of options in order to teach Spanish to your children. However, this is not a "Set them loose, and off they go" sort of curriculum, it is much more teacher driven. Here is the "Weekly plan" from the text to give you an idea of how the curriculum is set up with additional notes on how we used it in that framework (There is a handy reproducible "planning guide" included in the book which makes it easy to keep track of what you're doing and where you're "going" each week)~

Weekly pattern of use of the material is the following:

Plan which vocabulary you will study and how you will present it using the Tips to the Home Educator section for each unit. Use the Audio if you need it. (Um... yep... needed it here!) Dr. Karyn Williamson-Coria, the author has provided loose guidelines on multiple ages, as far as how quickly or slowly one might choose to move, or how to integrate multiple ages into the learning. I basically used it with my 11 yo Middlest, but Eldest listened on the sidelines, so learned some vocabulary, and Littlest may pick things up, but he is not my focus at 4 years old. :)
Present the new vocabulary and have you and your child become familiar with the new words and sentences in the Vocabulary section. (We accomplished this by listening to the audio while looking at the vocabularly/phrases page. Because we were reading from the computer, it was fairly easy to pause the audio and repeat if necessary.)
Use the IDEA section to come up with fun and interesting activities to continue using the language throughout the day/week. Have your child listen to the Audio to reinforce his/her listening and pronunciation skills. (Did the audio as mentioned above already~ our favorite sort of "Activity" tends to consist of using the vocabulary throughout the day as we remember, and singing songs, generally practicing in appropriate situations)
Practice writing the language with the ACTIVITY BOOK. (These pages were my "homework" for Middlest. At 11 years old, he found certain aspects of the work very challenging, and various activities would definitely be appropriate for an older student)
Set aside some time for CULTURE learning with the FREE CULTURE LINKS section found on our website. (We didn't have a LOT of time to spend on the culture, but there are some great links included~ you can easily check them out. There are definitely some sites that bear revisiting!)
Above all... Relax, Enjoy, Aspire and Learn Spanish!!! (R.E.A.L. Learning!)

I will say that at first I found the multiple files (text/activity/answer/audio) a little disjointed, and would really prefer to have a hard copy in hand (Seems like I always feel this way when presented with a new e-version of a curriculum), but I have gotten into the flow of how to use them, so it's working nicely now. (*note to self ~ don't give up on e-books~I generally get along with them fine after an "adjustment period")

Now for a quick set of pros and cons~
Pros~

written by a highly qualified homeschool mom
many tips and techniques and ideas on how to engage a variety of personalities and ages
(auditory, visual and kinesthetic, all covered)
interesting worksheets for the mid-older students

Cons~

a little more teacher intensive, particularly for the younger ages (Although not my focus at this time)
not much material in the "Activity book" for non-readers or early readers~ again, more teacher intensive for that age, but as I mentioned~ many ideas in the "Text" for engaging the younger student
occasionally background or "room sound" in some of the audios is distracting

Nitty Gritty~
The course could be taken very slowly (3 years or so) for early elementary, or used as a fairly intensive 1st year high school Spanish course. Either way you should end up with a decent conversational Spanish ability.

Age~ adaptable for Elementary-Middle School (With a High School Supplement coming soon)
Price~ $49.95 download, $89.95 hardcopy (Purchase here)
Includes~ Text, Activity Book, Answer Book, and Audio Files
Samples are available

There are also monthly drawings at the site for Spanish Language Related gifts, which is a fun addition!
For more reviews and opinions, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

As always, I hope that this review is helpful to you as you choose where to best spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

Left-over Indian dishes? PIZZA!!!!

2012-01-03T00:07:00.001-05:00

Well...... it's been a LONG time since I've joined in with Menu Planning Monday, but figured the first Monday of the year might be a good time to start! :) Pretty basic "plans"

Monday~ Chicken Tikka Masala and Mutter Paneer Pizzas (They were Delish!)

The basic concept it to make my favorite pizza crust (I'll copy the recipe here) This recipe makes enough to fill two large rectangular bar pans from Pampered chef(I suppose it would work for two round pizza stones, too, but I don't have any of those, so we eat rectangular pizza!)

4 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tsp sugar(I used Florida's Naturals)
2 cups warm water
5 cups whole wheat flour OR 2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups white wheat flour, and 1 cup cornmeal (This is our current favorite crust combo)
2 tsp salt
4 Tbs olive oil

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Set the timer for 10 minutes.
Mix the flour and salt in a medium sized bowl, while the yeast is "activating".
When the timer goes off, the yeast mixture should be "creamy", if it is,
Add the yeast mixture and the oil to the dried ingredients, and beat until smooth.
Split in half (I save one half in an airtight container or ziplock baggie for another night)
Let the dough "relax" for 5 minutes, so that it will be easier to roll out.

For both pizzas I just used the 1/4-1/2 cup or so of left-over tikka masala (on one) and the mutter paneer on the other. Chunked up the chicken and cheese on their respective doughs, added a few spoons of Raita (A yogurt sauce that generally comes with the Biryani that I'll be using tomorrow), and sprinkled with some of the left-over white rice.
I LOVE Left-over Ethnic food pizza!

Tuesday~ might see another pizza~ Chicken Biryani style (Yup~ love using up those New Year's Eve Indian food leftovers! Oooooh... or maybe I'll turn the biryani into a crust for a quiche! That might be interesting!~ If I remember, I'll let you know what I decided to do. :D
Wednesday~ Looking at a creamy spinach casserole
Thursday~ Soup (Possibly Broccoli Apple? It is certainly a favorite around here, and I understand that the weather will be getting a little chilly, so it's not a bad idea!)
Friday~ Feeling like a turkey/pumpkin chili, using leftover (Frozen) turkey from Thanksgiving~ Stylin' 22nd Anniversary dinner, hey? That's what happens when it's AWANA night! I expect we'll do something else on Saturday. :)

So there you have it, my basic plans~ Don't forget to visit Menu Planning Monday for lots of other great ideas!

Blessings~

8th day of Christmas Give-away

2011-12-22T19:19:00.001-05:00

Well, I meant to get this giveaway up earlier (like Black Friday Weekend), but as many things go....
So, since our family celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas, I thought it would be fitting to hold this give-away in the middle of our celebration.

I would like to offer up for one blessed reader 2 items:

a copy of Chris Tomlin's Christmas Worship Music CD, Glory In The Highest*
a children's book~ An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon, beautifully illustrated by Pamela Patrick

Those familiar with Chris Tomlin will recognize his energetic reworking of some Carols. I will admit that I have to be in the right frame of mind to listen to some of them, but it is nice to pull out when we need some high energy, joyful, "picking-up" done. ;) He also treats us to an original song, Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground), and some more gentle tunes.

An Amish Christmas drew me in with the gorgeous illustrations(That would be why I purchased an extra copy of this book to share!). The story pulls the reader in to a Christmas experience that is far removed from the sometimes overwhelming hustle, bustle, and commercialization of the celebration of a humble king.

In order to enter, please wait for Rafflecopter to load up, and then follow the directions! :) Simple!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings~

*Note, the case has a little "wear", but the CD is new and un-played.

Books Under the Christmas Tree part 4(young adult)

2011-12-22T18:53:00.000-05:00

At my Eldest's urging, I am writing this post to include a set of books that she thinks any "reader" would enjoy finding under the Christmas tree~ Viking Quest Series * by Lois Walfrid Johnson has been her favorite set of books since she received the first one Christmas 2007. The rest of the set was acquired slowly, for birthdays and Christmas gifts. They are her "most lent" set of books.

The stories follow an Irish girl, Bree, who is captured by a young Viking Raider. Each well written, descriptive story follows her travels and travails as she deals with Mikkel, her captor, and her maturing faith in God. The set of five books follow her life for 4 years from her capture at 13 years old till she is about 17 years old. The Viking Quest Series would make good read-along/ read-alouds for those studying the era of Leif Erikson. ;)

You can click on the book covers above* to read more about each book. Each paperback retails for $7.99 to $8.99~ They would make a marvelous gift for the history-loving young reader in your life.

Blessings~

*This review was at my daughter's behest, and the only compensation I *might* receive would be a few cents if you purchase any of the books through my Amazon Affiliate links above. Thank you in advance if you choose to do so. :)

Books under the Christmas Tree ~ Part 3 (Middle-schoolish)

2011-12-22T17:09:00.003-05:00

Now that I've mentioned a couple of books for the youngest among us, here's one for the middlest among us~ I reviewed The Secret of Indigo Moon this past spring~ the second in a series of 3 by G.P. Taylor. It was good enough that Eldest decided that she wanted to read the 1st book in the series, The First Escape. She wasn't quite as enthralled with it, but was still interested when we were offered the opportunity to read/review the third book in the series, The Great Mogul Diamond (List price $19.99).

The Great Mogul Diamond Follows the adventures of the Dopple Twins and their friend Erik Ganger as they race through Europe via trains and speedy automobile~ Hoping to save someone they love, and possibly the great Mogul Diamond as well.

Given how frequently sequels don't live up to the original story, I found it very interesting in this instance that the stories kept getting better! Eldest was delighted by the final story in the series. The mystery was filled with action, and the graphic design I mentioned in my first review definitely showcases dark vs. light. This might be a great gift for your mystery-loving pre-teen/ early teenager (Hey, *I* even enjoyed reading this one, so there you go. :) ).
You can get a feel for the story by downloading the first chapter and decide for yourself.

I hope this helps if you are still scrambling to find a book for your mystery-loving tween/teenling. :)
Amazon* currently has it selling for $13.59

Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free from Tyndale House in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
*The Amazon link is an affiliate link. Thank you for supporting my blogging

Books under the Christmas Tree Part 2

2011-12-22T16:02:00.000-05:00

We received another sweet book from Zondervan Publishing to review, just in time for Christmas. Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a lovely hardcover picture book for the 4-7 year-old crowd.

The resounding chorus of "It's Time! It's Time!" beats throughout the book as God's Creation thrills to the birth of their Creator. Fanciful, yes~ Sweet, yes (But no calories! :) ), Delightful folk-art-ish illustrations~ Yes!

I am sure this will become a favorite book in our home over the years~ I love it already! One wonders in the clamor of today's world if we would even notice~ as Sally Lloyd-Jones tells of Heaven and Nature singing~ The skies shouted it to the seas that thundered it to the waves that roared it to the great white whales that sang it to the starfish in the deep. And tiny sandpipers danced it on shining sands... "It's time! It's time!"

Song of the Stars is also available as an e-book ($9.99), but we received the hardcover version, which retails for $15.99. You can browse inside Song of the Stars at this link, as well as locate a store near you where it is carried.

Again, I hope this helps your last-minute shopping for the dear little ones in your life

Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Books under the Tree? Part 1

2011-12-22T14:04:00.001-05:00

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love to gift books, specifically to my children, but others as well. In light of that, I will be presenting a quick series of last-minute book ideas for gift-giving.

First up is a sweet little lift-the-flap book by those favorite authors Jan and Mike Berenstain. I had no idea that they authored faith-based stories starring the Berenstain Bears! What a nice little surprise for your 2-5 year old.
The book is The Berenstain Bears Get Ready for Christmas. The bear family is decorating for Christmas and they have to find all of the pieces of the nativity, which are scattered throughout the house (under flaps). It appears that Mama Bear has set up a fun scavenger hunt for her cubs. :)

If you visit the link above you can search for the store near you that carries this book, which retails for $6.99.

My little bear cub (The youngest, at 4 years old) enjoys snuggling on the couch and reading this book with anyone who will take the few minutes to do so. I liked that there were clues in the text that helped him choose which flaps to open at the appropriate time (Either brother or sister typically found the next item). That made it much more fun to read, vs some of the random flap-opening books that we own.

I hope that this may have been helpful to you in your last-minute gift-giving~ :)

Blessings~

The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

2011-12-20T15:39:00.001-05:00

I received a new Children's book from Crossway.org for review, The Barber Who Wanted to Pray (Retail $17.99)
Based on a true story, it tells of a visit to a barber by a famous outlawed monk (Martin Luther). The book is beautifully, if a little darkly, illustrated.

I'm not sure what age this is intended for, but I refrained from using it with my 4 year old. I was disturbed in the beginning, by the recounting of the story, and the emphasis on the power of life and death, that barbers used to hold in their hands. Pages 12-14 held just a little too much information, a little too graphic, for a children's picture book, in my opinion. I feel the story would have been better served by focusing only on Martin Luther's conversation with the Barber.

There are some good points to be gained from reading this book~ that prayer can be simple, but kept from being "rote." That the Ten commandments, The Lord's Prayer, and the Apostle's Creed can help to create a structure for personal prayer. You can preview the book below, and determine if perhaps this book would be a good fit for your family (I realize that every family's filter is a little different, and what bothers me, may not be an issue for you. ;) ).

Blessings~

What Do You Think of Me?Why Do I Care? by Edward T. Welch

2011-12-14T13:23:00.004-05:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Edward Welch

and the book:

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life

New Growth Press (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B&B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for over twenty-five years and is the best-selling author of many books, including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In his latest release, author Edward T. Welch offers a way

of escape for young adults held captive by the opinions of others
In an increasingly unstable culture, being obsessed with what others think is an escalating struggle among teens and young adults, leading to more serious consequences than ever before. Although everyone—whether they’re sixteen or sixty—works hard to win someone’s approval or ward off someone’s rejection, these issues plague teenagers and young adults with particular intensity. And how teens and young adults answer the big questions of their lives now will affect the direction of their adult lives for better or worse. In his new book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life (New Growth Press, October 2011), Edward T. Welch extends hope to those weary of hiding behind a mask of performance in order to gain love and acceptance.

Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem—these are just some of the words used to identify how young people can be controlled by the perceived opinions of others. Stand out in the right way to the right people, and you’re on top of the world. But experience failure in front of those same people and prepare for a sinking sensation in your stomach and a night of tossing and turning.

Why do you care? Why do we all care? These are questions that can’t be answered without listening to God, the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves. In What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? Welch takes the big questions of life and shows that freedom from what people think of us comes as we learn who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Only then will we be able to let go of our masks, stop trying to fill our leaky love cups and begin to live for something bigger than ourselves.

An interactive book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? includes questions throughout the text for individual or group study and is especially aimed at teenagers and young adults. A corresponding website rich with controversy and dialogue, My-Big-Life-Question.com, will also offer readers a place to discuss personal needs as well as to find other resources for life’s journey and places to go for help.

“I want to draw people to the path of becoming truly human, where you are controlled by God more than other people and where you love others more than you need them to love you,” says Welch. “The result? Genuine loving relationships and the ability to make a lasting impact on the world around us. It’s a hard process, but it’s wonderful and the results are worth it.”

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: New Growth Press (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935273868
ISBN-13: 978-1935273868

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Somebody is Watching

“Lord, please let me be normal.”

Okay, maybe you never actually prayed that, but you do want it. You want to fit in. Who doesn’t? Imagine you are invited to a formal dinner, but you didn’t read the entire invitation and you go in shorts and flip-flops. (Yes, it wasn’t pretty. I was also wearing a Killer Dana T-shirt—it’s the name of a surf shop, but the other dinner guests thought I was going gangsta.)

We all have these stories. We spend a lot of time concerned about fitting in, which means that we spend a lot of time thinking about our hair, our body, our intelligence, and our clothes so we can be part of the larger group. None of us want to be stared at if it means that the people looking at us don’t like what they see. When they look at us that way we want to run and hide.

Oh, and there is another prayer too. “Lord, please don’t let me be normal.” “If I can’t fit in, then I’ll be a vampire,” and she did just that. She figured that both fitting in and standing out were impossible, so she made a choice. Her parents would have preferred a more traditional route such as starting on the basketball team or high SAT scores. They are hoping it is a phase, which it is—there are not many fifty-year-old vampires. But, unless she discovers something else to run her life, she will always be looking for ways to stand out, and she will be depressed.

We want to stand out from the crowd. We want to be seen, which means that we want people to notice us and be impressed with something. We want them to respect us, to like us, and to love us. Not too many people dream of being average. Take a look at your fantasies, and you will probably find a quest to be noticed.

• Have you ever imagined that you scored the winning basket in the NBA finals?
• Do you enjoy superhero movies because you like to imagine what it would be like to have such powers?
• Do you identify with a celebrity because you would like to live her life, at least for a year or two?
• Have you ever fantasized that you were famous or great?
• Or maybe you have already given up on greatness and will settle for a B+.

It’s complicated, isn’t it? If only we could be less controlled by the opinions of others. Maybe a deserted island could be the answer. That would be a pricey way to avoid the judgments of others, but it might work. Apart from that option, you have a creepy sense that people are watching, judging, evaluating, accepting, or rejecting you. Sometimes the eyes belong to no one in particular. Other times you know exactly who or what group you are trying to please. Either way, you are controlled by other people more than you think, and other people, of course, are controlled by how you see them.

The problem is a common one, but we don’t talk about it too often. As a way to get it out into the open, keep trying to locate this in your own life.

• Do you buy clothes because of what other people will think? Have you ever not gone somewhere because you didn’t have the right clothes or didn’t like the way you looked?
• Do you spend a lot of time in front of the mirror?
• Do you avoid people, either because you are angry with them or because you would be embarrassed if they saw you?
• Do you ever get embarrassed to be seen with your parents?
• Have you ever been embarrassed at the thought of other people knowing that you go to church?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to say you believe in God?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to say you believe in Jesus?
• Do you ever exaggerate to make yourself look better?
• Do you feel like a failure sometimes? Do you hate school because from the moment you walk in you feel like a failure?
• Are you afraid to ask questions in class because you might look stupid?
• Do you wish you were thinner, stronger, taller, shorter, smarter, faster, or better looking?
• Have you ever been jealous of someone thinner, stronger, taller, shorter, smarter, faster, or better looking?
• Have you ever wished you could shrivel up and disappear?

Agreed, these questions are too easy. You might hesitate on one or two of them, but basically the answer is yes across the board, and they are that way for everyone. They all point to how we can be too controlled by the opinions of others. Why do you think everyone struggles with it? Where does it come from?

One of the riskiest things in life is to like someone—really like someone. It all starts innocently. You find yourself attracted to another person. Happens all the time. No big deal. But then the attraction grows, and amid the glow of romantic feelings lurks a monster: what if you like the other person more than the other person likes you? What will he or she think about me? you wonder.

You send some friends out on a reconnaissance mission. Their job is to find out if the other person likes you without that person knowing your intentions. If word comes back yes, you can move toward that person safely. If the answer is no, you lick your wounds, thankful for the heads-up that saved you from total embarrassment. In your every- day life, the potential for rejection is enormous. It’s amazing that so many people actually get out of bed in the morning. Sound familiar?

Success can’t protect you. Steven King, the ridiculously prolific and famous horror writer, was told by Miss Hisler, his school principal, “What I don’t understand, Stevie, is why you write junk like this in the first place.” At the time, he was already writing scary stories that other students were willing to pay to read. “I was ashamed,” he says of the incident. “I have spent a good many years since—too many, I think—being ashamed about what I write.”* You too have probably heard words like Miss Hisler’s, and they are still etched inside your soul. Can you think of some?

Look around a little more and you will see it—it goes by many names: a desire for acceptance, the fear of rejection, painful self- consciousness, or peer pressure. You can see it when you or any of your friends take muscle-enhancing steroids or illegal drugs. You see it in anorexia, bulimia, and depression. You find it in people who are sexually active before or outside of marriage.

• What will they think of me?
• What might they think about me?
• How can I be accepted?
• How can I be loved?

The evidence is everywhere. If you can’t relate to any of this, here is a sure way to find it.

• Do you think you’re especially attractive?
• Are you supercompetitive? Do you hate to lose? (And do you usually win?)
• Would you say you are self-confident?

There it is again: a life that is always judged by others. The only difference is that, at least for the moment, the judges score you highly. Yet it is even more complicated. Deep down those who are super self-confident don’t believe the judges’ high scores. They feel like failures— frauds who are barely fooling other people. Do you think beautiful celebrities struggle with feeling judged and unaccepted by others? Count on it.

Some people seem more self-confident or at least less self-conscious than others. It’s hard to know exactly why, but everyone can easily recall times when they withered under the rejection (or possible rejection) of other people.

I know, I know. You were trying to manage this perfectly common experience by ignoring it, and somebody (me) comes along and makes an issue out of it. But my purpose is not to make you miserable. Stick with it, because this particular problem is actually a window into the mysteries of the universe. It takes you directly to three questions that every human being must answer: Who am I? Who is God? and Who are you? And there is no way I would invite you down this road unless the road was very good.

Thank you, First Wild Card Tours for my copy of this book.
Blessings~

Christmas Gift Idea~ Build it up, build it out

2011-12-01T10:15:00.004-05:00

Hey, friends~

I am receiving a super fun item for review from the TOS Crew. I'm planning to save it for Christmas for the boys~ BUT, I wanted to let you in on it before Christmas! I also have some exciting news, so be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the post!

Toydle Forts~

Made in the USA
Open-ended, Creative fun

All Toydle Forts are constructed with

Hand made wooden blocks 3” sq. made with high quality, laminated poplar.
High Quality PVC tubes 29” long & 1/2in wide.

All Toydle Forts include an industrial strength storage bag.
All Toydle Forts include clips to help secure your sheets and blankets.

Two sizes~
The Toydle Fort~ $149 Build to 45 square feet! (pictured above)
The BIG Toydle Fort~ $229 Build to 90 square feet!

You can visit TOYDLE on Facebook, and Twitter, as well as exploring their website.

Now for the exciting news! The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is giving away THREE of the BIG forts~ Check it out! What a great Christmas Present!
NOTE: This contest is open to residents of the United States ONLY. TOS Staff and TOS Crew Members (and their families) are not eligible to enter this contest.

Be sure to check back here AFTER Christmas for my review!

Blessings~

Truth & Dare ~ A Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls

2011-11-30T12:00:00.002-05:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Ann-Margret Hovsepian

and the book:

Truth and Dare Devotional

David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ann Margret Hovsepian is a published author, freelance writer and editor and amateur artist. She has published more than 210 articles for dozens of Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and has become a sought-after author of pre-teen girls’ devotional books. She has published Blossom: The Complete New Testament for Girls (Thomas Nelson, 2006) and The One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale, 2007). She speaks at conferences and events and is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Hovsepian resides in Montreal, Canada.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Is your pre-teen daughter ready for more—more excitement, more adventure, more joy? Then dare her to discover the secret to a life that sparkles for God. Show her she’s got what it takes to make an impact on the world. Ann Margret Hovsepian’s newest book, Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, is designed for girls 9 to 12 and filled with powerful wisdom on everything from godly friendships to worshipping God.

It can be easy for young girls to neglect their Bible reading. Perhaps they feel Scripture doesn’t directly relate to them. Maybe they may lack encouragement or accountability, or they may just have too many distractions in their everyday lives. This lack of spiritual food can stunt girls’ spiritual growth and make them vulnerable to the temptations and ungodly influences around them. It can also prevent them from developing a love for Scripture early in life, making it even harder to get into God’s Word when they get older.

Truth and Dare encourages tween girls to discover how exciting God’s Word can be. They will see it make a difference in their daily lives and experience the blessings that come from doing it and not just hearing it. Daily challenges (dares) based on Scripture (truth) will provide opportunities for them to make their faith come alive as they learn to serve others, build character and make a difference.

Scripture will be transformed from something learned to something lived. Girls will delight in discovering how God’s Word can become real in whole new ways as they learn to apply it with each day’s dare. It ideally suits anyone looking to inspire a young girl to boldly live out her faith. So encourage the tween girl in your life to take the dare and discover the truth! It’s her time to shine as a girl who knows what it means to live a fierce and fearless life of faith.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434702081
ISBN-13: 978-1434702081

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (To enlarge, click on the images):

Similar to the Triple Dog Dare Devotions I posted about yesterday, this devotional helps young ladies in today's society see the relevance of Scripture in THEIR lives. Although the age range is listed as 9-12, I think that it serves even young teens well. I appreciate a devotional that is girl-centric, but not focused on boy-girl relationships, or pop-culture issues, but just down-to-earth "Who am I and how should I live in Christ?" and "How does the Bible relate to ME?" thoughts.

Another great gift to slip under the tree! :)

Blessings~

Triple Dog Dare~ A Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys

2011-11-29T14:09:00.001-05:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jeremy Jones

and the book:

Triple Dog Dare Devotional

David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and The Keeper: The Tim Hoard Story. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He resides with his wife and two children in Colorado.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Boys want action. They don’t want to sit around and talk—that’s for grown-ups and girls. They engage life and relationships by doing something: skateboarding, playing games or re-creating favorite movie scenes. So why should faith be any different? That’s why Jeremy V. Jones created Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys—to provide the action boys need in order to grow their faith.

The Bible is full of action. Remember how David slew Goliath, Daniel faced those lions, Paul survived a shipwreck and Jesus stood up for a woman about to be killed? God made boys to take His truth and do something with it, to man up and change the world. These action-packed devotions for boys ages 9 to 12 are filled with godly truth and bold spiritual challenges that transform time with God into the adventure of the day.

Triple Dog Dare connects God’s Word to boys’ hearts and hands with real-life scenarios and activities. Each day is filled with short Scriptures, concise biblical truth and a daily dare, all challenging them to put their faith into practice. Scripture readings from every book of the Bible open up the action-packed Word of God. Whether it’s drawing comic strips of biblical battles, dreaming up a life list of goals, making snack packs for the homeless or producing Bible-based movies, boys will go on daily dynamic experiences with God, taking faith off the page and setting it into motion. Themes cover the daily realities of pre-teen males, including bullying, peer pressure, girls, sibling rivalry, honesty and more.

These exciting devotions will inspire boys’ hearts toward godly characteristics such as integrity, generosity and kindness. Parents will appreciate watching Christ-like traits emerge as each dare is undertaken. It is a manual that will deepen boys’ friendships with Jesus as they look forward to spending time with Him every day. So if you know a boy who is up for the challenge, triple dog dare him!

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0781404576
ISBN-13: 978-0781404570

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (Click on images to enlarge):

I'm pretty pleased with this devotional for boys! It makes focusing on a little bite of scripture each day easy and relevant. There are usually only a few verses to read, and then a "devotion" that goes along. The side bars contain "Triple Dog Dares" to help your boy apply the scripture he read to HIS life!

We also like that it is split into weekdays, and just ONE entry for the weekend. Since our weekends tend to be church/scripture focused, this makes a lot of sense.

This would make a very nice gift for Christmas! :)

Blessings~

One Silent Night~ FFH ~ Review and Giveaway

2011-11-28T20:44:00.000-05:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, and Advent has begun, it is time to prepare for Christmas. One of my very favorite things is to listen to Christmas music for the rest of November, and all of December~ so I was delighted to be offered the chance to review a new Christmas Album just released by the group FFH, One Silent Night.

One of the reasons that I enjoy these music reviews is that it gives me the chance to hear new (Or at any rate new to me) artists. Apparently I've been living under a rock, when it comes to these folks! Here's a little bit "about" FFH if you've been under that same rock with me....

Pop vocal group FFH has released thirteen projects, sold more than two million albums, and garnered 24 radio hits, including seven No. 1 singles and ten Top 5 radio singles. In addition to multiple Dove Award nominations, FFH has been recognized at the Inspirational Life Awards as well as the Billboard Music Video Awards. The group has performed more than 1000 dates since 2000 and continues to be a favorite on the tour circuit. FFH is also known for its work with the “Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Kurt Warner’s “First Things First Foundation,” and for its contributions to national ad campaigns for Coca Cola and IBM.

I can't say anything about their other albums, but I can say that I like this one. I think that they succeeded in their quest to produce "something that’s not trendy but more of a classic style. For us Christmas is about remembering… slowing down to see what is important. And being reminded of the glorious impossible that was the birth of Christ. We hope this album reflects that desire and inspires others to do the same.”

The more I read ABOUT FFH, and their more recent history, the more I like them and am impressed with them. They had a fairly successful career, with 200-ish concerts / year (in spite of my not hearing of FFH~ you may be getting the correct impression that I missed a lot in the decade+ since my children were born~ added to the fact that I live in New England, where CCM is difficult to find on the airwaves), and when Jeromy and Jennifer were led to leave all that behind to minister in relative anonymity in South Africa for 6 months, they didn't hesitate. I am so blessed when I hear stories like theirs~ where they actually have listened to God's direction, instead of their own earthly desires, and are so REAL Again, I am impressed! (Check that link out up there... you'll be blessed, too!)

What? You wanted to know more about the album? Well, OK, since that's really what I started out telling you.... ;)
The music is kind of country-jazzy~ it breathes~ I like that! :)
Here are some more specific thoughts on each song:

Baby It's Cold Outside~ One of my very least favorite songs~ not quite sure why it was included, other than the groove(Which really IS a good groove)~ beyond that, the "message" of the song isn't something that I would expect from a Christian group, but that's just my perspective. Thankfully it isn't indicative of the rest of the songs on the album.
Jingle Bell Rock~ another fun, grooving sort of tune~ you can hear Jennifer smiling as she sings~
One Silent Night~ is full of almost familiar melodies(Actually there are some definitely familiar melodies included...) ~ I really like this song~ definitely a title-worthy track! Very melodic!
I'll be Home For Christmas~ has a very nostalgic feel~ as it should. :) lovely and slow
The Birthday of the King~ ;) My youngest likes this particular "Boy Song" Jeromy appears to have a fan (Sorry, Jennifer, he appears to be off his "Girl Song" kick). There are once again tinges of almost familiar melodies, but it has it's own "Anthemic" identity.
O Come O Come Emmanuel~ could almost be being sung as a lullaby~ very soft and intimate. I love the instrumentation on this song~ very old-world/ Renaissance in places.
Winter Wonderland~ a mix of maybe rockabilly and intimate/edgy with a little surprise ending. I can imagine Jeromy and Jennifer singing this with/to their little little girl as they kick up fresh fallen snow. Not the way *I* grew up singing the song, but kinda fun! :)
Glorious Impossible~ I will be honest and say that this is not my favorite rendition of this song, as a performance~ however, it is a very good "Worship song" version.
O Little Town of Bethlehem~ Soft, reverent version of a favorite carol~ nice "Background Soundtrack" for Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning activities/festivities.
Heaven and Nature Sing~ Love the scripture intertwined throughout the lyrics of this entire song.

Over-all, this is an eminently listenable album with some fresh songs, and some fresh takes on some older songs.

To find out more about FFH, you can connect with them on Facebook, and Twitter, as well as their website. You can purchase their music online at Itunes, in addition to other online and Brick and Mortar stores.

You can also enter to win a download of FFH's One Silent Night Album right here~ details below:

Blessings~

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Reading Game

2011-11-28T08:30:00.001-05:00

We recently received a reading game, named, appropriately enough The Reading Game from Wordly Wise author, Kenneth Hodkinson. :)

The contents of The Reading Game include 6 illustrated story books, six decks of matching playing cards, and a Teacher and Parent's Guide.

The "Game" aspect comes into play with the cards. There are 6 "Sets" of cards that coordinate with each book. Each "set" contains 2 cards each of 5 words, with which a "memory" game is played (180 "words in total).

The basic concept is that as the words are seen over and over in the course of playing the memory game that the words will be "hardwired" into your child's brain.You play with only 5 different words at a time, in order to keep the number of words being memorized to a reasonable number. After all 6 sets of cards have been successfully learned, your child is ready to read the accompanying story.

The concept here is good, in the sense of repetition, but if you are not a "Whole Language" aficionado, then you may be put off by the fact that phonics are not involved until after the 180 words are learned, at which point there is a page in the teacher guide that gives examples of incorporating phonics with the words that have been learned. *Note~ the 180 words include 42 of the 50 most commonly used words in the English Language.

Just to give you an idea of how the words show up, here are the 6 "Sets" of words from the first story

Set 1~ can cat is me not

Set 2~ sad she stay this with

Set 3~ all and day dog fun

Set 4~ it play stripe to will

Set 5~ do kind of out run

Set 6~ skunk stop they want what

Read about How it works ~ There are a couple of videos on that page, including one of the creator's granddaughter reading her first book! :)

My thoughts~
Keep in mind that I am doing this with a 4 year old. He's bright, but I have to admit that this didn't really catch his attention. He already has a number of "memory card" games both "real" and "Virtual", that we have played regularly since he was 2, so the concept of the game didn't catch him with novelty. This would work better, I think, with a child to whom memory games are somewhat new and exciting.

He hasn't yet been able to successfully complete the first level of cards~ there may be some other reasons for that:

Youngest hasn't wanted to play this game every day, which I think reduces the effectiveness. However, since he IS only 4, I am not interested at this point in enforcing this daily. Time enough for that next year when he's officially "k" age. :)
He seems to be "wired" for phonics (As were his siblings), so he is looking at the letters on the cards for clues. However, he hasn't nailed "c" yet, as that seems to be one of the harder letter sounds to get down (He still wants to say that "c" has an "s" sound). Personally, I would have started with more straight-forward letter sound words. (note the first set of words above~)
There are some complicated concepts introduced right away (-ay, th, and silent e jump out at me) which may seem a little out of place from a phonics-based background, but fits well with what I understand of the whole-language idea.

One benefit that I *did* see was that after playing other phonics related games, and coming back to The Reading Game one day, he was immediately able to read 2 or 3 of the words. I am thinking that perhaps he isn't quite ready to grasp the whole concept. We will be picking up this game at a later date, because even though I come from a strong phonics-based perspective, I definitely see the benefit of challenging children with the opportunity to learn some more difficult words the "Whole Language way," in addition to using the game to reinforce phonics lessons. (See, I'm going about it backwards from the way it was designed, but that's the joy of homeschooling! :D)

Nitty Gritty~
Recommended for ages 4+
Retail price $24.95 (With a 15% discount if you can get 8 orders together)
BONUS~ Made in the USA! :)

Website~ The Reading Game
I hope that you will take a minute to read some of the reviews from my fellow crew members, many of whom were using this game with slightly older children. I was definitely on the very beginning edge of the recommended age of 4+, so other perspectives will be helpful.

As always, I hope that this review is helpful to you, and if you're local and want to check it out, you know where to find me. :)

Blessings~

The Grace Effect (Book Review and Giveaway)*

2011-11-22T12:26:00.000-05:00

I just read an inspiring and eye-opening book The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief by Christian Apologist Larry Alex Taunton. This is a story that opens and closes with conversations between Mr. Taunton, and renowned atheist Christopher Hitchins. The body of the story revolves around the adoption of a Ukranian orphan named Sasha by the Taunton family.

About The Grace Effect:

"Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.”

What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it.

Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace.

Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.

And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.” Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day.

Having friends who adopted from the Ukraine 10 years ago, I was very interested in this story. Their experience was very different, but based on the author's descriptions, the process has become much more difficult.

As we are focusing on giving and sharing during this Christmas season, this is a book that brings inspiration and hope. I also found that it gave me ideas on how to pray specifically for some of "The least of these...." as well as for those whose worldview discounts the existence of God.

Mr. Taunton is the Founder and Director of Fixed Point Foundation. Here is a little more about the Foundation's mission:

It is our mission to promote a confident Christianity in the public square by fortifying the minds of Christians and challenging the faith of skeptics. Whether it is our traditional concepts of human dignity and purpose or our understanding of what constitutes right and wrong, Christianity has served as the primary source of inspiration, giving light to law, government, the arts and sciences—indeed, giving light to what Dostoevsky called, “The Eternal Questions.”

That we have gradually lost sight of our Christian heritage is obvious even to the casual observer. In recent decades, however, we have witnessed aggressive efforts to demolish it systematically. Complicating matters is the fact that many Christians have imbibed any number of erroneous assumptions concerning their own faith, such as: Christianity lacks intellectual credibility; the Bible contradicts science; sincerity matters more than truth; Christian ethics cannot cope with the complexities of modern life; Jesus Christ is a way rather than the way; “diversity” is a value and “tolerance” means anything goes; and the list goes on.
You can engage Fixed Point on Facebook and Twitter.Twitter

I am also blessed to be able to offer a giveaway for this book.

Blessings~

Are you a Heely-mom?

2011-11-17T01:07:00.001-05:00

Remember one of those "hot" gifts a few years back(I'm thinking three or so, based on my receipts....:)) that lots of kids with smooth sidewalks were all excited about~ The shoes they could wear to walk or to roll, by tilting back on their heels with wheels.... Heelys!

Yep~ that's right~ my children have been fans of Heelys since they purchased their own in 2008, and they have thought that I should "Give it a try" ever since. So, when a chance rolled around to review a pair of Heelys in MY size, I jumped at the opportunity.
First I had to decide which style being offered would be my favorite~ At first I thought that maybe two wheels would be helpful for me....
<----------

However, upon talking with my 11 yo Heely expert, it was recommended that I go with a one-wheel variety like so----->

The pair that I received are the same style that you see to the right, but in a dusky blue. (You'll see them in the videos below. ;) ) This is "The Edge" style from the Fall/Winter 2011 collection, and retails for $54.99.

I normally am very safety conscious, but I have to admit that I didn't use protective gear, although I did feel like wrist guards would have been "comforting" even if I didn't actually have to use them. I will also say that I didn't fall down, but some of that is due in part to the death grip I had on my daughter's arm... ;)(For those who are interested, Heely's does offer a Safety Playbook).

Here's a video of my first attempt at Heelying, with a final bit showcasing my children~ what I aspire to.

I truly felt like the proverbial "little old lady" on these wheeled shoes~

However, I have shown some progress~ (Pay no attention to the "preview shot" this really is a different video~ I just referenced the first one a little bit) It helps to have a street with a very slight downhill grade.....

Here's a link to see some Great Heely Videos , from basic getting started videos to crazy tricks at a variety of skate parks (With "Slow motion" versions so that it's easier to see what's happening). Rest assured that
while I may catch up with my kids' abilities to "Cruise" down the sidewalk or street, you are not likely to see ME trying any of these tricks (Although my son may be inspired...:D)

Heelys is throwing a Black Friday special!! Between Nov 25-Nov 28, Buy any pair of Heelys, get the second pair for $25. Or buy a Nano, and get a pair of shoes for $25, and get free ground shipping on all orders! So if you've every wanted to give it a go, now would be a great time~ and hey, hubby could stand a pair too, right? That way you can roll arm in arm! ;)

Heely's can be found online at heelys.com , on facebook, twitter, and their own youtube channel~

I hope you enjoyed this review~ I had a lot of fun with it!

Blessings~

Disclaimer~ Heelys sent me a pair to review. All opinions are my own, as well as embarrassing photos and video.

Brittany Hargest's 'Love All the Way' (Review & Giveaway)

2011-11-15T23:36:00.000-05:00

I'm not overly familiar with the hip-hop, music scene(And had never heard of Jump5), so receiving Brittany Hargest's new solo album, Love All The Way, for review was somewhat educational in nature (And I think that "Hip-Hop" is the correct terminology...??). ;)

We don't really listen to much pop radio in our home, so my children tend to be exposed to local radio stations only when they are carpooling with friends. When my Eldest heard Brittany's music she said that it reminded her of a particular station she's heard, but with lyrics that she didn't mind listening to.

Brittany's music is definitely in the "Dance" genre, with mostly lively upbeat tunes, although there are a couple of more introspective songs as well. Here's a video (Almost 10 minutes) with an overview of the making of the album. It includes little snippets of the songs, to give you taste:

There are some fun tunes like Bring the Party, which encourages us to be joyous Christians, and encouraging songs like He Can, with the rally cry of "When you can't, He can! When you fall, He stands for the weak, for the poor, for the broken man. When it's way too much, and you can't, He can!" I'm sure I'd rather that my daughter listen to this than what I imagine comes from the lips of most secular pop singers.

I think Brittany's album could serve as a crossover album to some degree, allowing our youth to be musically relevant, with uplifting lyrics which speak to finding contentment in God's love, not the love of mankind.

Brittany's website has a very good overview of each song on the album on the home page. You can visit her on Facebook and Twitter, as well as purchase the entire album or specific songs on itunes.

Now for the good news! I have the opportunity to give away one copy of Love All The Way to one of my readers~(Think "Christmas Present" for the teen in your life! :D )

Blessings~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

College Prep For Your Genius (?)

2011-11-15T21:42:00.000-05:00

Having a student in 9th grade for the first time, PSAT and SAT preparation is now on the scope of my horizon. What to do? How to prepare? Have they changed much since I took them 20+ years ago? I was interested then, to have the opportunity to review the College Prep Genius course set which came complete with text book, work book and DVD.

The textbook is split into 6 major sections:

Introduction to the SAT~ This section includes information on What is the SAT?, What is the PSAT/NMSQT? , How Do I Practice?, and Taking the Real Test. I found a lot of useful information in this section with some generalities (Like don't answer a question you aren't sure about, since unanswered questions don't add or subtract from your score), although it seemed as though there were a lot of things that were mentioned multiple times in various sections. This may have been to emphasize the point, but I know that my daughter gets annoyed with repetition, so the emphasis is more likely to make her tune out. :/ A more streamlined approach would make more sense to me. There were also a few grammatical and/or editing errors that kept popping out at us in this section. That is disappointing in a book that is geared towards creating excellent test-takers.
Parts 2-4 are the real "Meat" of the program, with advice on how to approach all three sections of the SAT test, with tips, and very useful examples. They incorporate many acronyms to help test-takers to focus on each specific type of question. Although we aren't quite ready to head to the local high school to take any SAT test just yet, I think that incorporating these sections into Eldest's school work-week over the course of the next year(s) could be helpful for when she enters the world of standardized testing.
Part 5 is geared towards scholarship searches, with tips on applying as well as website resources for finding a variety of scholarships.
Part 6 relates to "journaling" your SAT test-taking successes and failures, and using that information to prepare yourself to do a better job the next time you take the test. There are reproducible forms in this section.
The book ends with an appendix of Vocabulary Words, one of Math Terminology, and a final appendix that is a bit of a personality quiz.

Jean Burk of College Prep Genius recommends that students take the SAT in the 9th and 10th years in preparation for taking the PSAT/NMSQT their Junior year. Acclimating to the testing environment is an idea that makes sense, although I felt the recommendation goes a little too far in suggesting that using the same watch and the same calculator would make some sort of difference.

Jean is also fairly serious about spending hours preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT tests in order to qualify for significant scholarships. The recommendation is to spend about 150 hours preparing for the tests. This seems like an outrageous amount of time, but it averages out to about 1 hour per week (There will be some weeks that use less time and others more, realistically). The premise is that if the test score is high enough, the financial gain for the hours invested could be as high as $500/hour, if a full ride scholarship is garnered.

Because we clearly haven't taken any official tests as of yet, I cannot speak to the outcome of using this program. However, there are some specific strategy suggestions that should serve to be beneficial, particularly since we have avoided most standardized testing so far.

The DVD portion of the course is, as might be expected, fairly dry (This is a standardized test-prep course after all... can't get much drier than that). I would recommend the DVD mostly for those who are auditory learners, as the text of the majority of the slides were far too small to be read comfortably. I would also recommend watching the DVD when the student is wide awake, as the Jean Burk's voice had a somewhat soporific effect on me.

The Nitty Gritty~

The College Prep Genius Set components retail separately for $129.85, but the set is offered at a 25% savings at $99.00, and a 30 day, 100% money-back guarantee.

To sum up~ I believe that the College Prep Genius Set is a rather dry but also rather thorough preparation for taking the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT tests. If you have a student who is serious about doing well on those tests, isn't motivated by "Bells and Whistles," and is willing to work steadily through the book, then there is a good chance that they will garner high scores.

Other Crew mates reviewed the Vocabcafe Series of books, so please be sure to stop by the Crew Blog to hear more opinions, and check out the vocab books!

As always, I hope that this review was helpful to you as you search for the best products to use in your homeschool and college preparation.

Blessings~

Jeremy Riddle New CD "Furious" ~ Review and Giveaway

2011-11-14T19:55:00.000-05:00

What do you think of the word Furious? I think most of us identify furious with fury, anger, and violence. Indeed, furious is defined as full of anger or energy; violent or intense. I wouldn't equate furious with sweet, amazing love. However, Jeremy Riddle has done just that.

His new album, Furious, is filled with songs that speak to God's furious(intense and energetic) love for us. I am put in mind of C.S. Lewis' Aslan when I consider how furious might relate to Jesus and His Love for us (And I have to chuckle after writing this, now that I have read more about the album on the Vineyard Music website~ these are basically the same words that Jeremy Riddle used to explain his purpose in using the word "furious"~ I guess the idea came across!).

This is a sometimes ethereal album, where the lyrics occasionally get lost in the long drawn-out melodies(Keeping in mind that I received the album minus the benefit of liner notes, which usually help me immensely when trying to immerse myself in new music).

Furious could be considered perhaps a little more "emotional" in nature at times than I am personally, so I appreciated reading that this work was the result of Jeremy stepping back from "Concert events that, to him, felt more about selling tickets and entertaining a crowd than getting people into a deep, sacrificial place of worship." Many of the songs certainly have an intimate feel to them~ perhaps a little "Slower" in pace than I generally prefer.

I particularly appreciate the feel and message of Acquitted and One Thing Remains.

You can "like" Vineyard Music on Facebook , follow Vineyard Music on Twitter .

You can also get a taste of the songs from Furious on Jeremy Riddle's Website, if you would like to check them out further.

If you like what you hear, please sign up for my giveaway~ :)

Blessings~

The Person I Marry will be......

2011-11-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Little girls weave romantic dreams about weddings (Spurred on by all the "Princess stories" that abound, perhaps?), and little boys seem to try to avoid them... ("Yechhhh!!!" or "Not THAT again!!" are refrains heard from the lips of the boys in my home, whenever there is even the hint of a love story).

However, it is especially important in these days, where divorce is rampant and 30/40/50 year wedding anniversaries are becoming more and more rare, that we prepare our children from a young age to recognize, pray for, and prepare to nurture, outstanding qualities in themselves and their future mates.

Seldom have I seen the subject addressed so sweetly and innocently, but with profound impact, than in the picturebook, The Person I Marry by Gary and Jan Bower. Check out this video to get a glimpse of the book and the hearts of the authors:

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

There are a number of ways that I can see this book being shared~

Character building lessons when they are younger~ What sort of person do I want my children to be when they grow up? The character traits included in this book are all admirable!
Conversation points for discussions with your teen who is starting to show an interest~ What sort of person do THEY want to be, and reminders of character traits they should be looking for.
Celebratory Gift for wedding showers, or even significant anniversaries(Where it could serve as confirmation of choice).
I think that any husband or wife would do well to read this book to themselves (As motivation and gentle reminder/conviction) and together (As a chance for encouragement and affirmation, if you will)

All of my children enjoyed the artwork ~ Littlest was intrigued by the illustration of the children fishing (With a hook caught in a hat!). The children dressed up in far-too-large grown-up clothing caught my Middlest's eye, and Eldest (And I) really enjoyed the picture of the boy bursting forth into enthusiastic song at the piano. (And this was all in the first reading of the book!) The illustrations are delightful. :)

Although the Crew received access to a "not-for-sale" e-version of the book for review, it can be purchased in hardcover for $11.99 directly from Bower Books. Personally, I think this is may be one of those "must have" books for any family's home library. The Person I Marry strikes me as a solid, sweet, training book without being "preachy" ~ the tone is just right in my book! The more I read it the more I appreciate it.

Bower books offers 3 more "Bright Future" books~ What Do Heroes Wear? The Jingle in My Pocket, and There's a Party in Heaven, each for $11.99 hardcover, as well as Board books and "Thinking of Others" books.

For further opinions and perspectives, please take a moment and check out a few of the reviews at the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

As always, I hope that this review was useful to you, as you search out meaningful gifts for your family and friends.
Blessings~

Wheels, please! (Spinning and Flipping are even better!)

2011-11-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

Middlest recently had a birthday~ ever since he was little he has liked machines, preferably "with wheels"(which was his reply when asked if he wanted a washing machine for his birthday when he was about 4 or 5). If you see everything he received, you might join me in a refrain of:

"One of these things is not like the other
One of these things just doesn't belong
Can you find which thing
is not like the others
By the time I finish my song... "

Have you spied the one piece that doesn't totally "go" with everything else? (Hint... it isn't Skateboard related...)
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*
*
*
*
*
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OK, so if you didn't pick it out.... it's the lovely green/black/orange box with the Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster. Not really skateboard oriented at all, although it DOES fit the color scheme rather nicely... :)

BzzAgent kindly sent this to me JUST in time for Middlest's Birthday~ What marvelous timing! Although it has taken me a WHILE to get a video up and running (seemed like every time I was thinking of it we needed to charge the batteries, or replace the batteries, but finally!), this little remote vehicle has been played with on a fairly regular basis, and enjoyed by all the children, from 4-14. As you will see in the video, Middlest even figured out how to utilize his tech deck skate ramps.... :) Love the ingenuity!

What you won't see is the fun they have running it around the dog(video I took turned out too dark, but it is a hoot to see in real life). She definitely thinks it is something she should chase, but since it has some crazy spinning action she doesn't get the chance to get a-hold of it. (Good thing, too!)

Some basic thoughts and information:

The Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster is sturdy, just as I expect from the Tonka Brand.
The batteries seem to last fairly well (the Controller: Requires 5 AA batteries and the Vehicle Includes 1 3.6V rechargeable battery~ which recharges when connected to the controller~ kind of a spiffy little setup).
You can be as simple (just driving it around the floor) as you like, or fairly elaborate (Our video is fairly simple, but take a gander at this..... BTW, Middlest didn't see this till AFTER he set his own up. :)
Price is similar to most RC vehicles I've seen~ around $24.99 list price, and unlike some other RC vehicles we've played with, this one looks like it will hold up to all sorts of play.

Blessings~

Thank you to BuzzAgent and Hasbro for supplying us with the Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster for free. I was not required to write a review, but am happy to share this with my friends as they start looking for ideas for Christmas gifting. Music background in the video is Brittany Hargest's "Bring the Party"

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa T. Bergren

2011-11-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Lisa T. Bergren

and the book:

Mercy Come Morning

WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (August 16, 2011)

***Special thanks to Laura Tucker of WaterBrook Press for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

LISA BERGREN is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty books, with more than two million copies sold. A former publishing executive, she now splits her time working as a freelance editor and writer while parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of the family’s next visit to Taos.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

There are no second chances. Or are there?

Krista Mueller is in a good place. She’s got a successful career as a professor of history; she’s respected and well-liked; and she lives hundreds of miles from her hometown and the distant mother she could never please. It’s been more than a decade since Alzheimer’s disease first claimed Charlotte Mueller’s mind, but Krista has dutifully kept her mother in a first-class nursing home.

Now Charlotte is dying of heart failure and, surprised by her own emotions, Krista rushes to Taos, New Mexico, to sit at her estranged mother’s side as she slips away. Battling feelings of loss, abandonment, and relief, Krista is also unsettled by her proximity to Dane McConnell, director of the nursing home—and, once upon a time, her first love. Dane’s kind and gentle spirit—and a surprising discovery about her mother—make Krista wonder if she can at last close the distance between her and her mother … and open the part of her heart she thought was lost forever.

“A timeless tale, to be kept every day in the heart as a reminder
that forgiveness is a gift to self.”
—PATRICIA HICKMAN, author of The Pirate Queen

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (August 16, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307730107
ISBN-13: 978-0307730107

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

“She’s dying, Krista.”

I took a long, slow breath. “She died a long time ago, Dane.”

He paused, and I could picture him formulating his next words, something that would move me. Why was my relationship with my mother so important to him? I mean, other than the fact that she was a patient in his care. “There’s still time, Kristabelle.”

I sighed. Dane knew that his old nickname for me always got to me. “For what? For long, deep conversations?” I winced at the harsh slice of sarcasm in my tone.

“You never know,” he said quietly. “An aide found something you should see.”

“What?”

“Come. I’ll keep it here in my office until you arrive. Consider it a Christmas present.”

“It’s December ninth.”

“Okay, consider it an early present.”

It was typical of him to hold out a mysterious hook like that. “I don’t know, Dane. The school term isn’t over yet. It’s a hard time to get someone to cover for me.” It wasn’t the whole truth. I had an assistant professor who could handle things on her own. And I could get back for finals. Maybe. Unless Dane wasn’t overstating the facts.

“Krista. She’s dying. Her doctor tells me she has a few weeks, tops. Tell your department chair. He’ll let you go. This is the end.” I stared out my cottage window to the old pines that covered my yard in shadows. The end. The end had always seemed so far away. Too far away. In some ways I wanted an end to my relationship with my mother, the mother who had never loved me as I longed to be loved. When she started disappearing, with her went so many
of my hopes for what could have been. The road to this place had been long and lonely. Except for Dane. He had always been there, had always waited. I owed it to him to show. “I’ll be there on Saturday.”

“I’ll be here. Come and find me.”

“Okay. I teach a Saturday morning class. I can get out of here after lunch and down there by five or six.”

“I’ll make you dinner.”

“Dane, I—”

“Dinner. At seven.”

I slowly let my mouth close and paused. I was in no mood to argue with him now. “I’ll meet you at Cimarron,” I said.
“Great. It will be good to see you, Kristabelle.” I closed my eyes, imagining him in his office at Cimarron Care Center. Brushing his too-long hair out of his eyes as he looked through his own window.

“It will be good to see you, too, Dane. Good-bye.”

He hung up then without another word, and it left me feeling slightly bereft. I hung on to the telephone receiver as if I could catch one more word, one more breath, one more connection with the man who had stolen my heart at sixteen.

Dane McConnell remained on my mind as I wrapped up things at the college, prepped my assistant, Alissa, to handle my history classes for the following week, and then drove the scenic route down to Taos from Colorado Springs, about a five-hour trip. My old Honda Prelude hugged the roads along the magnificent San Luis Valley. The valley’s shoulders were still covered in late spring snow, her belly carpeted in a rich, verdant green. It was here that in 1862 Maggie O’Neil single-handedly led a wagon train to settle a town in western Colorado, and nearby Cecilia Gaines went so
crazy one winter they named a waterway in her honor—“Woman Hollering Creek.”

I drove too fast but liked the way the speed made my scalp tingle when I rounded a corner and dipped, sending my stomach flying. Dane had never driven too fast. He was methodical in everything he did, quietly moving ever forward. He had done much in his years since grad school, establishing Cimarron and making it a national think tank for those involved in gerontology. After high school we had essentially ceased communication for years before Cimarron came about. Then when Mother finally got to the point in her descent into Alzheimer’s that she needed fulltime institutionalized care, I gave him a call. I hadn’t been able to find a facility that I was satisfied with for more than a year, when a college friend had shown me the magazine article on the opening of Cimarron and its patron saint, Dane McConnell.

“Good looking and nice to old people,” she had moaned. “Why can’t I meet a guy like that?”

“I know him,” I said, staring at the black-and-white photograph.

“Get out.”

“I do. Or did. We used to be…together.”

“What happened?” she asked, her eyes dripping disbelief.

“I’m not sure.”

I still wasn’t sure. Things between us had simply faded over the years. But when I saw him again, it all seemed to come back. Or at least a part of what we had once had. There always seemed to be a submerged wall between us, something we couldn’t quite bridge or blast through. So we had simply gone swimming toward different shores.

Mother’s care had brought us back together over the last five years. With the congestive heart failure that was taking her body, I supposed the link between us would finally be severed. I would retreat to Colorado, and he would remain in our beloved Taos, the place of our youth, of our beginnings, of our hearts. And any lingering dream of living happily ever after with Dane McConnell could be buried forever with my unhappy memories of Mother.

I loosened my hands on the wheel, realizing that I was gripping

it so hard my knuckles were white. I glanced in the rearview mirror, knowing that my reverie was distracting me from paying attention to the road. It was just that Dane was a hard man to get over. His unique ancestry had gifted him with the looks of a Scottish Highlander and the sultry, earthy ways of the Taos Indians. A curious, inspiring mix that left him with both a leader’s stance and a wise man’s knowing eyes. Grounded but visionary. A driving force, yet empathetic at the same time. His employees loved working for him. Women routinely fell in love with him.

I didn’t know why I could never get my act together so we could finally fall in love and stay in love. He’d certainly done his part. For some reason I’d always sensed that Dane was waiting for me, of all people. Why messed-up, confused me? Yet there he was. I’d found my reluctance easy to blame on my mother. She didn’t love me as a mother should, yada-yada, but I’d had enough time with my counselor to know that there are reasons beyond her. Reasons that circle back to myself.

I’d always felt as if I was chasing after parental love, but the longer I chased it, the further it receded from my reach. It left a hole in my heart that I was hard-pressed to fill. God had come close to doing the job. Close. But there was still something there, another blockade I had yet to blast away. I would probably be working on my “issues” my whole life. But as my friend Michaela says, “Everyone’s got issues.” Supposedly I need to embrace them. I just want them to go away.

“Yeah,” I muttered. Dane McConnell was better off without me. Who needed a woman still foundering in her past?

I had to focus on Mother. If this was indeed the end, I needed to wrap things up with her. Find closure. Some measure of peace. Even if she couldn’t say the words I longed to hear.

I love you, Krista.

Why was it that she had never been able to force those four words from her lips?

Excerpted from Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren Copyright © 2011 by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is an amazing story~ well written and filled with emotion~ Yes, there is "romance", but there is so much more~
Human relationships~ parent/child~ friendships~ living with the realities of Alzheimer's
Lovely
Intimate
Discovery
Forgiveness
Understanding
Healing
Risk
Living
Set to the tunes of Christmas Carols, and the greatest gift ever given...

Read it

Blessings~

OOKA Island Books

2011-11-07T10:03:00.000-05:00

Littlest (4 years old) has increased his circle of interest from numbers (Which have been on his brain for some time) to letters and words. So, when I was asked to review a new online children's literacy program for grades PreK-2(Ages 3-7), I was happy to oblige. Enter Ooka Island.

Ooka Island is an imaginary land inhabited by a friendly robot named "Zobot", "Auntie Kay" (The Narrator) and Ooka Elves, as well as the mischievous Fliggs.

Zobot accompanies your child's character through a 20 minute "Customized learning path" to various locations on the map. This is followed by 8 minutes of "Free Play." Each activity is designed to engage your child's interest and incorporate learning at the same time.

Here is a video which will give you a tour around the island:

My 4 year old has enjoyed Ooka Island. The first couple of days he wanted to play non-stop, and we had to limit his time. We have settled into playing for one session at a time, although sometimes he asks to play again later on.

I appreciate the gentle manner of this game, in regards to achievements and mistakes. Although Littlest gets annoyed with himself if he misses something, which sometimes affects his attitude (He has decided that the Cave of Sound is something to "endure" in order to get to other portions of the island... due to a few mistakes one day. Silly boy~ that is one of MY favorite places! :D), the game itself provides reassurance, and support to try again.

After a couple of days he was able to identify the letters that say /m/, /s/, /sh/, and /oo/, AND he was excited about that ability. He has moved on to other letter sounds by now, and his general letter recognition is getting pretty good, thanks to Alphabet Mountain.

Littlest is also motivated to finish each activity because he earns "Ooka mist" (Ooka Island currency) which can be spent in the Mist Mart on items to add to his wardrobe, or accessories for the Pencil Playground. What fun to be able to "Spend" and make choices! :) Here's another set of motivational tools to utilize ~ Printable "Bookpaths" to chart progress, Reward certificates, and Bonus "Reward" books to download after a level is completed.

A few words about "Support"~ The folks at Ooka Island are very responsive and helpful when the need arises. We actually had to "Reset" my son's level, as he had been "helped" by a well-intentioned family member~ but the games quickly became frustrating because he was beyond his current ability. This was fairly easily accomplished by contacting Ooka Live Chat support(Which must be done through the website, not through the game which you download on your computer).

Now for a few Pros and Cons:
Pros:

Engaging, colorful and pleasant
Progressive Learning (Unless someone is "helping".. :) This is great because it keeps the child from getting frustrated.
Positive Reinforcement with variations on a theme in the various activities
Encouragement when mistakes are made

Cons:

Not totally intuitive (Areas on the map that are "locked" should show that somehow, either by being grayscale until opened, or even with a "Lock" image over them. My son found it somewhat frustrating, and we couldn't understand why. (I would like to see a sequence, so that I could give him some idea of when other activities would open up)
The Ooka Elves aren't really "interactive", they just run around the Pencil Playground. I think we were expecting something a little "more" there~ maybe in the future? Just a little disappointment.
Volume isn't always consistent, so sometimes I am surprised by a fluctutation in sound, but it's not nearly as bad as "Ad" fluctuations on the radio or TV, I'm just being a little nit-picky here, but if you have someone who has audio difficulties, this could be an issue.
Requirement to download software to my computer, in addition to needing to access the program online during play. I prefer not to fill up my hard-drive with too much stuff, so would prefer the program to be either entirely internet based (Which wouldn't help those with slow or limited connections), or DVD based, but again, that is a nit-picky comment. (The download is also very large, and you may have to try a couple of times before the download completes correctly)

So, the final nitty-gritty~ How much does it cost? Check out the chart to the side. If it looks interesting to you, you can try it out with a 14 day free trial (Click here)

For other opinions and perspectives (including some from Crew Members who have children who are further along the path to reading than my littlest), please be sure to visit the Crew Blog.

As Always, I hope that this Review has been helpful to you as you choose where to spend your Homeschooling Dollars.

Blessings~

GIveaways and Reviews Upcoming~ Heads Up! :)

2011-11-02T17:14:00.001-04:00

Hi, Friends~

Just wanted to give you a heads up ~

There will be a few fun review/giveaways upcoming

I have a few music albums

a preschool math curriculum

and a digital scrapbooking software on the slate

So... keep a lookout~

hoping to get these out to you soon! :)

Blessings~

Excellence in Literature

2011-11-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

Perfect timing once again~ This year my eldest is in 9th grade, and we need to be making sure we have good solid courses to enter on her transcripts. Literature is one of those subjects that I wasn't sure exactly what to do, so it was wonderful when we found out we were to receive a literature course from Everyday Education to review. The course we received was English 1 Introduction to Literature with Honors Option. We were given the ebook version for review.

I will preface this review by mentioning that we were only given enough time to fully complete the first unit, which was a short story unit, so I'm not able to be as thorough in my thoughts and assessment as I normally like to be, given that the majority of the units are dealing with novel length literature.

The basics of the program~
Each unit is broken down into 4 weeks of reading, analyzing, and writing. The first 2 weeks in most of the units are spent reading the novel(s) and beginning to analyze them. This is done in a number of ways.

Janice Campbell has pulled together extensive resources to encourage the students to read, listen to and watch material that will enrich their understanding of the historical, artistic and literary events and times that shaped the author's worldviews.

Each unit (With the exception of the 1st Short Story Unit) requires an Author Profile as well as an essay of one variety or another. In Unit 1 the required essay is a "Compare and Contrast" essay. Other Units require essays that answer a specific question or are historical in nature.

Other assignments include taking on the voice of the author and writing in their style. I am interested to see how these future assignments go over with my avid reader/reluctant writer.

Here is a list of the literature covered in this first year program: you can see that this is no lightweight Literature program~ it is indeed college prep-worthy!
Unit 1: Short Stories by-
• Sarah Orne Jewett: A White Heron
• Edgar Allen Poe: The Purloined Letter (Not scary, if you’re concerned about that.)
• Guy de Maupassant: The Diamond Necklace
• O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief
• Eudora Welty: A Worn Path
• James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Honors: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Honors: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Honors: Shirley or Villette by CharlotteBrontë
Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Honors: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Honors: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Honors: 1984 by George Orwell
Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Honors: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Unit 9: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Honors: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Now for some pros and cons~
Pros:

This course is mostly intended to be done independently. This is very appropriate for students heading towards college, and it doesn't hurt those who have other plans either. Taking responsibility for their time and work is always a good ethic to instill. The main job of the homeschool parent is to make sure that the work is being done, and to offer a little support and guidance when necessary.
I really appreciate all of the "Behind the scenes" work that is suggested. It makes the literature more accessible, interesting, and alive when one has more background.
Many resources and links are included for background author information, audio options, visual resources, music and other online information. How handy not to have to scour the internet ourselves!
In this case, I enjoyed the ability to add the ebook to my eldest's itouch library, so that she always had the ability to look things up quickly and on her own.
I am fairly impressed with the selections required for reading~ good classic literature is... Good! :) (Learn more about how Janice chose the literature for the course in her blog post)

Cons:

This one is a little nit-picky, but the links provided don't always seem to be directly clickable for some reason. They appear to require copying and pasting if they comprise more than one line of text, which isn't unreasonable, just not as seamless as I might hope.
Another nit-picky item~ Many times the assignment schedule starts on one page, and ends on the next. I would like to see this organized so that the assignment schedule for each unit is completely on a single page, so that we can see at a glance what needs to be accomplished. It would be nice to be able to print up just one assignment page for each unit to add to her schedule (clearly, I CAN copy and paste and make my own assignment page... see, I told you this was nit-picky.... ;) ).
We were not able to locate a copy of any recommended writing handbook in time to use it to help complete any of the assignments before this review was due, so I am sure that there are things that would have been a little easier if we had had the book in hand. I do not recall ever writing an "Approach Paper", or actually, several of the other styles of essay required for this course, so I am glad that our writer's handbook is enroute to us. I have heard from local friends that Writers, Inc is VERY good, and that they use it on a weekly if not daily basis. However, this is not really a CON for the program, just my particular situation during the review period.

You can download a sample unit (Unit 3 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain) to get a feel for the course. (Thank you, Janice! Love the try it before you buy it option!)

Now the rest of the Nitty Gritty
Age: The entire curriculum covers Literature and Writing for grades 8-12, and comprises 5 separate levels. You can download a pdf of the complete course booklist here.
The individual levels are:
English I: Introduction to Literature (The one we reviewed)
English II: Literature and Composition
English III: American Literature (Co-published by Andrew Pudewa of IEW)
English IV: British Literature (Co-published by Andrew Pudewa of IEW)
English V: World Literature

Price: Each unit is available with 2 options:
Print version $29 +$4.95 Priority Mail or
Ebook version $27 and no shipping, obviously. :)
There is also an option to purchase The Complete Curriculum
Print Version (In a professionally printed binder with tabs) $139 + Shipping ($10?)
Ebook Version $135 and no shipping (This brings each year's course down to $27!)

To sum up, I feel that this course would be perfect for the student who is motivated and responsible. It would be good for the student who is interested in and curious about the way people think. I believe it would also be beneficial for those students who aren't naturally inclined towards diligence and structure, if used correctly and with a little more parental guidance.

As always, I hope that this review is helpful to you as you choose where best to invest your time and money as you go about the business of training and teaching your children. For more opinions, please be sure to swing by the TOS Crew blog and see what others had to say.

Blessings~

Thankful 2011, Day 1

2011-11-01T23:30:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine, Brenda @ Garden of Learning, is hosting a daily meme again this November~ I didn't fully join in last year, but I shall attempt to keep up this year. The 2011 Gratitude Challenge is to share something for which you are thankful each day during this season of Thanksgiving. It certainly does help to have an attitude of gratitude. :)

Day 1: I am thankful for God's Creation, in all its beauty and splendor~ it IS Good, and it declares His Glory without words.

Blessings~

Did you know? October is Fire Safety Month!

2011-10-31T09:40:00.000-04:00

See my new book and DVD?

Just in time, my fire-fighting lovin' 4 year old received a great package from Marshall Publishing and the TOS Crew. The LOTS and LOTS of FIRE TRUCKS and FIREFIGHTERS Book and LOTS and LOTS of FIRE SAFETY SONGS DVD set. He was so very excited to open this up when it came in the mail, and couldn't wait to watch the DVD.

There are 8 chapters on the DVD:

Opening Theme which shows a lot of fire trucks in action~ flashing lights and more
911~ "Call 911 and Help Will Come" with many safety tips included
Safety Tips~ with Fireman Jim. The only negative I have to offer is that there are few short segments in this section as well as in a couple others that are fuzzy and not in focus. This didn't appear to affect my 4 yo but it was bothersome to my middlest, eldest, and myself. I think it is unfortunate with such a well thought out production that the videography was not of consistently clear and in-focus quality. However, as I mentioned, these are short segments, and they don't bother my youngest at all.
Emergency~ This segment is also filled with lots of flashing lights, flames, and water. I appreciate this one because it shows some emergency situations without sensationalizing them, or being too scary for the littlest.
Heroes Brave and Tall~ this is one of MY favorite segments on the DVD~ includes forest-fire fighting, in addition to some of the more typical scenes, and the Heros theme is appreciated
Build a Fire Truck~ visiting a factory to see a fire truck built high-speed from beginning to end~ Pretty cool!
Fire Trucks in Action~ audio from the dispatchers, and more flashing lights~ what little boy doesn't find that exciting??? Again, the short Fireman Jim segment in this "Chapter" wasn't extremely clear
Great Big Fire Trucks~Another catchy theme song with lots of fire trucks trucking along and some "Working" clips
Closing Theme (Same as the opening theme, but with the credits...)

The book is jam-packed with photos of fire engines, and related fire-fighting equipment. I definitely recommend pre-reading sections to be certain that they are appropriate for your children's maturity level. There are a few sections that discuss fire-fighter deaths, injuries, and events that might be inappropriate for very young or sensitive children. Nothing graphic, I'm not concerned with my pre-reader browsing through the book (As he has done numerous times....). Just be aware that there is information that is appropriate for a wide age range, not just the littlest~

LOTS and LOTS of Firetrucks!

The topics covered range from lots and lots of photographs to Fire Science Basics, Fire Prevention and Safety Tips, and a very detailed Fire History timeline (Starting with the burning of Rome in 64AD, and ending in 2006 with an entry on some of the worst Forest Fires the US has seen).

Other chapters include things I had never seen/heard before~

Chapter 10 Words of the Firefighter includes:

The Fireman's Prayer
The Fireman's Wife's Prayer
Ten Commandments for Firefighters
The Firefighter's Committment
A Firefighter's Pledge

And Chapter 11 is Old Time Firefighter's Alphabet.
I must also add that there is an extensive Directory of close to 300 Fire-fighting museums across the country, listed by state. We are fortunate to have one in our own town, and when I visited them shortly after receiving this package, they were interested to hear about this book and DVD set. I plan to bring them to the museum for the volunteers to preview, as I think the video would be a perfect item for them to use during field trip classes!

My Littlest is very pleased that this isn't a book that has to be returned to the Library! :) If you have a child who is interested in fire engines, firemen and firefighting, this could be a great present! And if your child's thing isn't Fire Engines, but Trains or Planes, well, Marshall Publishing has offerings with those and more! They even have a number of Historical DVDs to check out, including George Washington Carver, His Life and His Work (Grade 4-adult), which other TOS Crew Members received for review.

Nitty Gritty

DVD~ Best for Early Elementary to Middle Elementary Ages(With the book being appropriate for older ages as well)

Regular price: $49.90

WEB SALE PRICE: $29.95 but you can get an additional $10 off that price by entering the code TOSF1 at checkout.

Be sure to visit the TOS Crew Blog and see what other folks had to say about Lots and Lots of Fire Songs and Safety Tips, as well as George Washington Carver, His Life and His Work.

As always, I hope that this review helps you as you determine where best to spend your homeschooling budget.

Blessings~

Say Anything family~ (North Star Games)

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

One of our favorite all-around games last year was a TOS Crew review (Wits and Wagers Family) from the fine folks at North Star Games. This year we were sent the Family version of Say Anything.

Similar to our experiences with Wits and Wagers, game-play is reasonably simple, and the playing field is fairly even, with everyone from the oldest to the youngest having a fair shot at earning points.

The concept is that a different person is the "Judge" in each round. One of 360 questions from the pack of 60 cards included is asked: "in my opinion......" and everyone has to answer what they think the "judge" might be most likely to answer. Once the answers (Written on nifty little color-coded white-boards) are placed, the judge secretly chooses his or her favorite answer (Utilizing the "Select-o-matic 6000," which is the colored wheel in the picture below, to indicate the choice). Everyone else then places their meeple tokens on the card with which they think the judge is most likely to agree.

So, in the round above, I was the judge (Orange card, so no answer), Littlest was yellow, Middlest was Blue, Eldest was pink, and DH was green. The question was, "If I could invent anything, what would it be?"

Youngest chose not to do anything but scribble on his card, but he did place his meeple tokens ~ and because he put one on the color of the answer I chose, he gained a point.

Middlest had the winning card "A house picker-upper that would automatically put things back in their places!" but he wasn't sure which one I'd pick, so he also picked his dad's choice, an "Automatic Back Massager" (I have TMJ which is exasperated by tense muscles, so this is a good idea as well!)

Eldest's idea was really well defined "A thingy to find stuff that's lost in the house." She explained it as something that would make a noise if something you were looking for was lost (kind of like how we can find our ipad/itouch, but for everything). I think the rest of the photo is fairly self-explanatory.

I really appreciate games that we can play all together. Games that are creative, and incorporate conversation and laughter. Games that are light-hearted and encourage "relationship." Games that can be completed in 20 minutes or so are a bonus! That way "Family Game-time" can be easily worked in. If time allows, more than one game can be played, but if not, that's OK. All good! Say Anything is one of those games! :)

Nitty Gritty~
Recommended Ages:8+ (But clearly your mileage may vary, especially if you're willing to "Work with" your little ones)
Players: 3-6 (Better/more fun with 4 or more)
Time to Teach: 2 minutes
Time to Play: 20-30 minutes
Purchase: at Amazon or Target, or your local toy or game retailer (Search here) for around $19.99

Be sure to visit the TOS Crew blog to hear other opinions on Say Anything. You can also pop over to the new reviews up for Wits & Wagers as well, if you're so inclined.

As always, I hope that this review is helpful to you as you choose where to spend your hard-earned dollars.

Blessings~

My First Hands-On Bible (Review)

2011-10-25T11:44:00.099-04:00

I recently received a copy of Tyndale's My First Hands-On Bible from Mama Buzz. I was very pleased when I opened the package to discover a very nice hard-cover Bible Story book just right for my Littlest to claim as his very own. This Bible for kids is intended for preschoolers, aged 3-6, which is just perfect for him!

One feature that sets this young Bible apart from other Preschool-Bibles is that the the stories are actual Biblical Text (Abridged from the New Living Translation to provide the most age-appropriate Scripture for Preschoolers). While the NLT is not my preferred translation for regular reading and memorization for older children/adults, I totally appreciate that this makes Scripture more accessible to the youngest listener.

There are some other great features included in this Bible that I have to mention~ I"ll use our latest Sunday School Story to illustrate~ :)

Handprint activities throughout each story add little "hands-on" activities that littles enjoy. They also help the, to remember the stories more. In this photo my Littlest is pointing to the green handprint that says "cup your hand around your mouth and say "Moses! Moses!" The red handprint on the first page says to "'Baa' like one of Moses' sheep."

I'm including a picture of the second page, just so that you can get a feel for a complete story ~I'll mention here that I really like the soft color pencil/watercolor illustrations in this book. They suit the age-group very well without being too "cutesy."

The last page spread in each story includes some of my favorite features~

A "prayer" that personalizes the passage. In this case it says "Dear God, teach us to listen to Your voice. Please help us to obey and go wherever You say to go. In Jesus' name, Amen."
A "Let's Talk" section includes questions that continue to help apply the story to your child's life. In Moses and the Burning Bush, you are led to ask "What are some things God wants you to do? When is it hard for you to obey? Why does God want you to obey Him?" Clearly some questions are hard for a real little one to answer, but you can also model some of the answers yourself~
Two optional activities allow you to review the story later that day, or week~ sometimes they are "Active" and other times "Crafty". There was one of each in this story~ make a "Burning Bush" of your own, and play Simon Says... which illustrates obedience. Fun AND useful! :)
The final feature is "The Jesus Connection" which helps to show that Jesus is "Connected" to ALL Scripture, whether He is mentioned or not.

All in all, I am very pleased with this Bible Story book, and I'm sure that it will be an important part of the next couple of years for my Littlest.

Oh, I would be very remiss if I didn't mention Littlest's opinion. He has really enjoyed having his OWN Bible, and I have found him looking through it on his own, beyond our Bible time. He has said that he wants to "Keep this Bible FOREVER!" :)

My First Hands-On Bible is listed for $16.99. It includes 85 "key" Bible stories and can be purchased from CBD and Amazon
or other bookstore of your choice.

Blessings~

Disclaimer~ This is a MamaBuzz Media review. The product was provided by Tyndale Publishing for this review. All opinions (Positive and otherwise) are my own.

Educating the WholeHearted Child, from Apologia

2011-10-24T11:00:00.017-04:00

~ Grace ~ ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from Latin gratia, from gratus ‘pleasing, thankful’; related to grateful

This may not be a word that you automatically think of when considering homeschooling and all that it entails. However, it is the word that I feel best sums up Sally and Clay Clarkson's book "Educating the Wholehearted Child", now published by Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. Clay and Sally Clarkson are determined to allow God to be the ruler of their children's home, heart, and education, while it is their job to draw (not push, pull, shove or yank) their children to God. That's Grace-filled parenting and educating in my opinion. :)

This 376 page book is covered with Grace, and a genuine love, respect, and care for those who embark on this journey of learning at home. Side-bar scriptures and quotes from the likes of Charlotte Mason and H. Clay Trumbull (Author of Hints on Child Training, written in 1890), as well as more recent authors and writers are what I consider little "Grace-notes", perfect for a quick "Pick-me-up" for mom or dad. These are one of my favorite aspects of this book, but more about the specifics of the book in a minute.

I have owned the 2nd printing of this book for oh... about 7 years or so. It was gifted to me by a sweet homeschooling friend, and has been one of my most recommended books ever since. There is so much good material in this book, and with the latest revision(3rd printing), close to 130 more pages of insight and inspiration to invigorate the parent who feels inadequate or incompetent. This is a manual that give genuine, concrete advice to the new homeschooling parent, and is inspirational as a read for the veteran homeschool parent as well. As a matter of fact, I try to read, or at least browse through "Educating the Wholehearted Child" at least once per year, preferably before the new school year starts. ;)

I assume that most people reading this review, and eventually the book, most likely either currently are, or are considering, homeschooling. I also assume that those who would be most interested in this book are hoping to provide a Christian education for their children. These are important and foundational viewpoints. I understand, as do the Clarksons, that homeschooling isn't an option for every family, or even for every child within every family, but that it is a choice that will most likely change your family forever. The first few chapters of "Educating the Wholehearted Child" give parents some great scriptures to consider as well as some excellent "comparison charts" that may be useful if you are in the process of deciding whether homeschooling is the best path for someone in your family.

Now a few more specifics about the book~
"Educating the Wholehearted Child" is organized into 4 main sections ~
Home, Learning, Methods, and Living, with each section split into 4-5 chapters.

Home deals mainly with Heart Issues~

The first 2 chapters are "Learning to BE at HOME with Christ" and
"Learning at HOME to BE with Christ". Subtle differences there!
The following 3 chapters include "Shepherding Your Child's Spirit to Long for God"
"Shaping your Child's Heart to Live for God" and
"Strengthening Your Child's Mind to Learn for God".

I would do well to re-read these chapters on a biannual basis at the least, and monthly wouldn't be a bad idea! I tend towards a more "Just" method of parenting/homeschooling than a "Gracious" method of parenting/homeschooling, but I truly prefer the latter. :) (It's what I Wanna Be!) I must also add that there are some excellent visuals and acronyms to help remember the concepts covered. I like those!

Learning is more of a Concrete section, very useful for those just beginning their homeschool journey, but I enjoy re-reading this section on a semi-regular basis, just as a reminder...

Helps in discovering different methods and philosophies in Chapter 6
How to evaluate, manage and maintain your home and resources in Chapter 7
Assistance in discovering and understanding your child's learning style in Chapter 8
Chapter 9 speaks to teaching the youth (aka teenager).

Methods further breaks down the 5 main areas of study contained in the Clarkson's philosophy of Educating the Wholehearted Child.

Discipleship~ Study of the Bible
Disciplined Studies ~ Study of the Basics~ The Three R's as well as Thinking Skills
Discussion Studies ~ The Study of Ideas~ from reading aloud, unit studies, history, art, etc... this is the "heart of the Wholehearted philosophy~
Discovery Studies~ The Study of Learning~ Creative Arts, Science, Nature Study, Computer Science and more~ Exciting!
Discretionary Studies~ The Study of Living~ Those subjects that are specific to each child based on their interests and abilities.

Living~ The final section is another one that I feel is inspirational and refreshing in nature~ it answers in some concrete as well as philosophical ways the question "How then shall we live?" covering

Family~ Keeping the Vision Alive (covering family roles in a very grace-based manner)
Structure~ Keeping the Homeschooling Together (how to "Structure" your day~ very helpful for the newer homeschooling family)
Order~ Keeping the Home Together (Home management~ yep... I should read this section more often!)
Support~ Keeping the Spirit Strong (Where do you find yours? Local Group, internet group, moms's day out group, playdates, etc....)

The final portion of the book includes a number of resources~ Book lists and a number of forms.

I hope that gave you a quick overview of the book, with some of my personal thoughts. Just to give you a "Taste", here's one of those side-bar notes I mentioned:

Love should be the silver thread
that runs through all your conduct.
Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering,
forbearance, patience, sympathy,
a willingness to enter into childish
troubles, a readiness to take part in
childish joys,~ these are the cords by
which a child may be led most easily, ~
these are the clues you must follow
if you would find the way to his heart.
J.C. Ryle, The Upper Room, 1888

"Educating the Wholehearted Child" is a pleasing book, and I am thankful for the the information and inspiration it contains. Yes.... Grace is what it is about, in my mind.

Educating the Wholehearted Child ($22) can be purchased directly from Apologia Education Ministries as well as other booksellers. Other parent resource books include The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling (My review) and How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids (Link to Crew Blog).

For more opinions and reviews of "Educating the Wholehearted Child", please visit the Crew Blog. You'll find links to the table of contents and a sample chapter. I also recommend checking out Sally Clarkson's blog I Take Joy. It is a pleasant read with a "cuppa" tea when you have a few minutes for mom in the middle of the day.

As always, I hope that this review helps you to determine where best to spend that precious homeschool budget.
Blessings~

The Mighty Macs~ A Mighty Good Movie! (Opens tonight in theaters)

2011-10-21T12:18:00.000-04:00

We don't go to the movies much~ mostly because we usually feel that there is nothing worth watching that won't offend our family (Ages 4-adult) sensibilities. Hollywood frequently has a way of slipping the unnecessary vulgarity, profanity and "Adult themes" into their offerings, not to mention the graphic violence. ICK!

This is one reason that I was happy to preview, and now recommend the new movie (Based on a true story) opening in theaters today, The Mighty Macs.

The Mighty Macs tells the narrative of Cathy Rush, a feisty basketball player with no coaching experience, who walks into tiny Immaculata College and against all odds (no gym, no funds, and very little support to begin with) builds a real TEAM. Her girls grow together as a team to the point that they are able to take on even the biggest universities. Overcoming their challenges becomes even more exciting as this is the first year that women's college basketball will hold national championships.

My Eldest(14) and my Youngest(4) chose to watch this with me instead of rooting for the Rangers in the World Series with my Middlest and DH. Youngest now claims that Women's Basketball is better than Mens.... ;) Funny little boy! I suppose that's a pretty good endorsement, tho, as it kept his attention the entire time. There is a fair amount of action on the court, and a touch of humor, which my Eldest particularly enjoyed.

The Mighty Macs was blessedly free from vulgarities, and there were only a couple of times that I was surprised by indirect themes ( a bar/restaurant scene that includes drinking beer and a slight innuendo that would go over most heads is actually one of the funnier moments in the movie, and at a certain point the concept that the end justifies the means was introduced). However, these weren't overdone or in-your-face. At the worst, they offer an opportunity to discuss with older kids. Generally speaking, the greater themes of Faith, Belief, and Trust win out. In fact, Cathy Rush, the players, and the Nuns from Immaculata previewed the movie, and felt that The Mighty Macs was a good representation of the true story.

So, if you are looking for a good, wholesome movie to take the family to, this could be a great option for you. If you would like to send a message to Hollywood that you would like to see quality family movies more common than rare, then attending this opening weekend would help to make that statement.

You can visit The Mighty Macs on Facebook, Twitter, and The Mighty Macs website where you can find out where The Mighty Macs is playing near you.

I hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful as you decide whether to spend your dollars at the theater or not.

Blessings~

Disclaimer~ I received the ability to preview this movie from my home in order to bring you this review. The opinions stated are my own, and were not influenced in any way.

Visual Latin~ Even boys like this Latin!

2011-10-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

Are you ready? Guess what? We have another Latin program courtesy of the TOS Crew to review. Starting to get the idea that Latin is a major homeschool "must do" curriculum~ even if you don't subscribe to the "Classical" style of homeschooling? But.... why???? (And how do I get my BOY to enjoy it?)

Enter:

Ah..... Laugh through Latin and master English... really???? Really! Visual Latin's Dwane Thomas is very personable and real. He talks to the kids as though they are in the room with him, and he understands and deals with a lot of the arguments that kids might present for NOT learning Latin. One of my favorite quotes from the introductory lessons when answering the "Why" of learning a "Dead Language" like Latin, is that "I prefer to think that Latin isn't dead, it's just frozen!" :) He jokes and includes humor in his classes from the start.

And the reasons for learning Latin? There are a number, but here are a couple that stood out to me (and my kids, even:

Learning Latin will prepare you to learn other languages more easily
Learning Latin will almost certainly help with future test scores and general understanding of the English language.

As a matter of fact, you can get a glimpse of those reasons by checking out the first 6 lessons(4 Introductory Lessons and Lessons 1 & 2) of the Visual Latin Curriculum for free, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Just remember that this link is here for later.... :)

I appreciate some of the methodology of Dwane's teaching as well:
SEEING Latin (the words are on the screen as Dwane speaks)
HEARING Latin (of course~ as the lesson is watched)
SPEAKING Latin (repeating the words after they are spoken)

Now a word about the lessons~ They are broken up into 3 very manageable chunks~

Grammar followed by a grammar worksheet that reinforces the concepts in the video
Sentences (Seeing the grammar in action) again followed by a worksheet
Reading ~ this is one of my kids' favorite parts~ Dwane reads abridged selections from the Latin Vulgate Bible, and this is the section where the students are asked to repeat the phrases. After this, they translate the selection in their worksheet. Right from the start, in Lesson 1, reading and translating sentences~ How excellent!

Side note: see that smile on Dwane's face in the image up there? It is infectious, and makes me smile every time I see it~ it has the same effect on my children~ when someone is genuinely enthusiastic, that enthusiasm tends to spread. I love the fact that Latin isn't causing groans and eye-rolling, dug-in-heel reactions. Everyone tends to be in a good mood during Latin. That's a good thing!

Visual Latin | A Quick Explanation from Compass Cinema on Vimeo. If you'd like a quick overview straight from Dwane Thomas, this is a good introduction.

How has this been working for us? I've been using this mainly with my 11 year-old Middlest, because it seemed like it might be a good fit... it is! He told me he LOVES Visual Latin! (This, from an 11 year old BOY! :D ) My 14 year-old Eldest wants to sit in on the lessons, even though she is doing her own Latin Curriculum. She has pointed out that if/when Middlest completes this program, he will find doing any other Latin program a breeze, and as Dwane points out, any other language in general will be easier to learn with Visual Latin under your belt.
Lest I leave out my Littlest, I must mention that the 4 year-old insists on "Learning Latin" also. He sits in on the lessons, and often asks me to replay the "Reading portion" of the lesson while his siblings are doing their worksheets. He has been telling all of us (and some of our good neighbors) "I amat you!" :D He also says "Angeli cantant" very nicely! :) Here's the lesson from which he obtained that phrase~

Visual Latin | Reading from Compass Cinema on Vimeo.

A couple more things I should mention. We were sent Lessons 1-10 to review on DVD. They are also available as digital downloads which can be watched on computer, itouch, or ipad. Pretty nifty if you are on the go, or need to keep DVD players accessible for other purposes at the same time. Some TOS Crew reviewers reviewed the digital downloads, so you may wish to check out their reviews to see how that worked for them. :)

Finally, the Nitty Gritty~
Visual Latin is intended for ages 9 and up. It can be used for High School Credit with some supplementation. (Here is a great FAQ's Page that explains the answers to many questions...)

It can be purchased in a variety of ways, for both individual families as well as for group/co-op settings. I will give you some of the family prices here, but the purchase page is the best place to check out all of the options.
Complete Year One (Lessons 1-30) 3 DVD set $80
Downloaded Lessons (Lessons 1-10, 11-20, 21-30) $25
Individual DVDs (Lessons 1-10, 11-20, 21-30) $30

Don't forget that you can check out the first 4 introductory lessons as well as the first two lessons for free (Link on the purchase page above).

If you are interested in using a Latin course in your homeschool, and starting early (Or later.....), have boys who might not sit for more "Traditional" Latin classes, etc.... you really have nothing to lose, and much to gain(in my opinion) from test-driving this program.

Oh, and FYI, Visual Latin has, a presence on Facebook, where Dwane serves up a Latin word of the day with the same humor evident in the videos~ There are also occasional codes to use towards your purchase, so check it out! As a matter of fact, we have been allowed to share the current code, OCT$10, good for $10 off any purchase ~ but hurry, it's only good through this Friday, October 21.

As always, I hope that this review was helpful as you choose where to best spend your homeschool budget (I see Visual Latin purchases to complete the rest of this year in my future!). If you do take advantage of the free lessons, due to this review, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section of this blog. :)

Blessings~

Five Minute Friday ~ "Catch"

2011-10-14T16:48:00.000-04:00

On Fridays around these parts we stop, drop, and write.
We write bold and beautiful and free. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
Won’t you join us?
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

"Catch me..............if you can

"Hey Mom, it's your turn! Catch!"

"Want to play catch with me?"

"You're gonna' catch it!"

"Great catch!"

With the exception of one of those phrases, they mostly make me think of fun, baseball, kids, tossing things around, playfulness. What goes up must go down~ gravity at work ~

When it's good clean fun, we play with gravity~
When we try to run away (from work, responsibility, etc..), fly away, the gravity pulls us back to to the ground. Hopefully "You're gonna' catch it" is a phrase that reminds us of gravity~ of a return to the place where we belong~ where things are on a firm foundation... of right and wrong.

A place where we can delight in the joy of catching and falling~ the giggles of the little one, when you announce "I'm going to catch you", and they run away, laughing with relish~

Blessings~