GiveAway: READING Sunglasses!

Mrs. White, Legacy of Home is offering the opportunity to enter for a pair of reading sunglasses~this is a coupon for $20 for their purchase! I get to pick my own...wow!  Enter HERE !!

High School Homeschooling

Participating in the carnival seemed a good idea, and I want to wish you all a wonderful summer!

We are taking a few weeks off to get things rolling around here with finishing our basement for some new bedrooms as my mother is now living with us.  We hope to get back in the full swing in a month or so...and until then I am considering our next move in our educational line up~Since both kids are teenagers now, it's important to consider these last few years in their education with care.  I am going to have them tested and look at working to prepare for the ACT or SAT as well as career choices.  It's not too soon, I'm afraid. My daughter got her driving learners permit on Friday and took to the interstate just this afternoon... 

REALITY CHECK: homeschooling won't last forever! 

SAVOR THE TIME! ck!! 

Soo with this said, looking at the coming year with an eye to the future...yeah!

Since we have three years with one child and four left with the other, I want to give my children some choices and hear their hearts about the future.  What do they want to pursue?  Where are they going? What are the interests, strengths and weaknesses?  Are they both or one or none college bound? What do they want to BE when they grow up? What are their desires?

I feel it's very important to hear them on these things as ultimately it will be their lives they are preparing for.  I know that I have some firm ideas of things I want them to know.  Many of these are skills related to homemaking and living on a frugal budget. Oh, I don't want them doomed to poverty, but ABLE to cope with it should tough economic times befall them.  Learning skills such as gardening, canning and food preservation, sewing~dress making and mending, and overall general thrift makes good sense.  I desire to teach them money management and saving/investment skills along with bargain hunting and negotiation. Maybe they shold open bank accounts of some kind this next year!

I also feel strongly about their academic skills.  We are a family that values education and have worked hard these past nine years to ensure that they know how to learn independently and are self starters.  I know we will continue to prepare in upper level math, writing, science, history and Bible. We also want an economics, civics, and philosophy emphasis.  These are not light weight I know! Along with these, we want to continue the social and spiritual aspects along with the drama group in the creative arts.  I am sure both will continue studying their chosen foreign language and music endeavors.  My son is interested in his trumpet while my daughter loves her double bass and the piano.  He is into Spanish, and she is REALLY into Japanese!!  Soo yeah, they are very different kids~different abilities and dreams too!


I guess with the remodeling project going on, their experiences should count for a shop credit.  It's amazing how wonderful the home environment lends itself to learning!

What are you doing about "next year" and the future? Got new plans??

Go see what everyone on the Homeschooling Carnival has to say!

So glad you stopped by~

Blog Walk Week 2

Yo!
~on the WALK again this week checking out the TOS CREW~

Here's  a little truth: ALL these bloggers are homeschoolers with their OWN PERSONAL take on homeschooling and life~You will get a different flavor on each read~


School Around the Table has something in common with my family~TEENAGERS~! 

1628 I'm dying to KNOW why the numbers!! But let me say that she has three adorable children and makes homemade yogurt~I'm in!! 

Morris Family Madness Ha~the TAG LINE:  "AKA Getting the Maniacs to Sit Still" hahahaha! I am loving this blog and her sense of humor! Hey, the father's day honor post is awesome!  Happy Fathers Day

Homeschool Musings Adorable kids and a great blog~love her TOP Ten...and the puppy is soo cute!

"I know in my heart my Lord was giving me a small glimpse of Himself that day. He was giving me a gift, filling me with such indescribable joy it just warmed my soul..."Go check out Homeschooling (and then some!)

Heartfelt Homeschooling  I can relate to this family in their search for a home~and how God has spoken  in their lives. Amazing blog with depth!

following Him home has a simple yet beautiful way with words~love her reading list too! I'm connected!

FREEbie Unit Study~The San of Africa

Sign up for this FREE unit study download:  The San of Africa  which has lap-booking components.

Also you may want to sign up with Yahoo Groups: HS TreasureTrove.

Blessings and ENJOY!

Digital Home School Enrichment Magazine

Here's a FREEbie homeschooling magazine in digital that you can't beat~Check it out!

Home School Enrichment Magazine from the Lewis Family.

This is a first rate magazine with lots of good sound information on homeschooling!

Be blessed!

JUST IN: From HSE:  CK this out!!

Honoring Dads

Later today it will be daylight and we will celebrate Father's Day 2010.  First I want to wish my husband a Happy Father's Day~love you hub!

So what are you doing to honor your father?  We are heading to church to hear THIS preacher tell it all about the family. We have planned a special meal with him afterward, and a time of rest...Give me a shout out about your plans! ;-))

From the old blog:

It’s Father’s Day 2009, and I want to say that Daddys are a special kind of man.  I know; I’ve got two, ONE whose been married to my Mama for over fifty years and MY husband who is Daddy to our children. 

D~Devoted.  Dads are this to the core.  Oh any "man" can father a child, but devotion is straight from a Daddy’s heart.  A picture tells a tale when you look at one of our wedding photos.  It’s the one of my Father walking me down the aisle. . .just "out the gate" from the back . . . a study of his face tells it all.  He’s NOT a happy man~he is "giving away" his little girl.  Daddys do this sort of thing and FEEL this sort of thing.  They are true and loyal to the core, working day in and day out to provide, protect and preserve their families. Dedication is the first D is Daddy.

A~Active  Daddys involved in their families and homes are touching the pulse of the heart of each family member. Active love, Active faith, Active care and concern are at the core of ALL that he does each moment of every day for his wife and children. Daddyism isn’t passive.  THERE’S TOO MUCH to be done! He’s going, going and gone with each child each step and mile to hear, support, guide, provide, stay alive…yeah, I think this "stay alive" applies to Daddy’s with teenagers~YIKES! But even Daddys with teeny tiny babes in arms are active to nurture and snuggle so that little bundle knows his love and care.  Active is the A is DAddy!

D~Dreaming Yeah, I said DREAMING! Where would our children be without the dreams held for their futures? Daddys thinking and praying long and hard with Mamas are considering the past, present and dreaming of futures for their people (kids), making plans, promises, and persuits.  Where there is no vision the people perish, and where there is no dreaming Daddy, the family is directionsless.  Homeschooling Daddys and Mamas know dreaming well.  It began with the decision to home educate and continues with each passing year as we evaluate and structure to meet goals and needs along the way.  In each area of the life of the family, dreaming is essential for a sound progression into the future.  Children benefit from it, thereby society benefits from it.  Dreaming is the second D in DaDdy!

D~Determined "I don’t want to!" "no" "nope" What Daddy hasn’t faced these words out of the mouth of HIS babes?  AND facing such opposition, his determination to stand in truth against such behavior is essential to the healthy setting of limits for the children in his family.  Oh opposition doesn’t just come from the children either, but this ole world is ringing and clamoring to steal what is rightfully Daddy’s own home and family, so that without solid determination, the wolf at the door might get inside to wreck and ruin the precious occupants entrusted to his care.  Daddys are stalward, strong, steel-like and striking with a stretch here or there to keep the enemy out and the family safe.  Determination is exercised in work and play~all areas. . . What man really LOVES working with the sweat of his brow all THAT much? If we humans could have a life of ease, surely man would take this option rather than labor from dawn til dusk until death comes creeping upon him. . .but determined Daddys stand the test each and every time, tempted and tried~proven and able.  Determined~yes! This is the third D in DadDy!

Y~Yielding to God  Only last because of it’s letter, yielding to God is such a crucial part of being a Daddy.  Hearing the Heavenly Father’s voice in his ear as Daddy lives out his faith before his family.  Does God speak to Daddys? Oh yes, and God’s Word is alive and applicable to everyday life for the family of which Daddys are head.  Daddys must hear and obey God to teach his children proper reverence for God~the Heavenly Father and Creator of the Universe.  Our lives speak so loudly that our children cannont hear our words.  This is very true with Daddys.  So goes the spiritual walk of Daddy~goes the walk of the family.  The Bible has many promises for the man who walks upright before God in his family, but the man with unrepented sins in his heart has the curse of the effects of sin following future generations.  The Bible says to the third and fourth. WOW~that’s somewhere around 150 years to be followed by negative effects.  But a man who walks in the ways of God training his children to follow the Lord, the blessings of a Christian family belong to him.  Daddys must yield to God, and in tern teach the ways of God to their children leading and guiding their homes.  Y is really a first priority for every DaddY!
It’s my prayer that each Daddy have a  restful and happy day today! OK Moms, help those kids honor Dad!
Blessings
SisterTipster

TOS Crew Mini-Mates~Team Lighthouse!

I've been assigned to the Team Lighthouse for a mini-crew team.  On deck is our fearless First Mate of Creative Learners, having served three years on the Crew.  Returning to the team are two Maiden Voyagers, ME and Happily Homeschooling.   Brand new Crew0mates, All American Family and Clarkclan Craziness!!  There will be ONE MORE coming soon~whooohoo! Go check out these neat blogs...

See you on the deck~

Thursday Talk'n About Teens~Forgiveness

I look up from my computer screen to see my daughter rushing into the house searching though her desk drawer.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing!"

Nothing, right! WHAT IS SHE DOING??

"What are you looking for?"

"Nothing!"

Still searching... ... ... ... ...

I had sent them on some errands to purchase an item, mail a letter and where were the items??

"Where's the stuff?"

"WHAT stuff?"

Still searching... ... ... ... now has gone upstairs to get her money and is counting on the table... ... ... ...

"WHERE IS MY MONEY or STUFF??"

"Uh...we lost it..." sad, and frantically STILL counting... ... ...

My teens lost $20 bucks today on their bikes in route to the errands. I had to exercise forgiveness because THEY DIDN'T MEAN to do this, and they had to forgive themselves...

"Mom, you don't have to pay me back..."

OH YES I DO...

(They don't know I lost $20 when I was their age and got the hide torn off me..." OH yeah...I can forgive and they can too!

I am so proud of my awesome teens!

Free Homeschooling Kids Magazine

Written by and for our younger children looks likes primary ages through middle school.
Homeschooling Kids Magazine

Blog Walking

Two years ago I served on the TOS Crew, and I was invited back for the third year.  It is so much fun to be with such a neat group~many who I already know.  Michelle @  Beyond Silver and Gold... suggested a "Blog Walk" for everyone to get to know the TOS Crew with loads of new faces~how cool is this?!!    And so we are strolling along, chatting and visiting each other for some get to know ya time! Whoohoo! Go check out my CrewMates and see what's happening in their neck of the woods~ Oh and I just love the names of the blogs~such creativity...all are so different~definitely cream of the crop!! whoohoo!

Second Star to the Right and Straight On Until Morning has a beautiful beach scene with her precious littles in the header~looks like the love great books and reading; I recognize quite a few of her books in the sidebar!

I like  Reaping A Harvest 
for her beautiful colors and the whole look. Something about a dandelion to evoke memories of my own childhood and the innocence of the littles.  She's got three boys~precious boys.  I also enjoyed her organization of her posting.  Neat categories!  As of date, I had trouble following her blog; will send her a message ;-))

Pink & Orange Coffee Very creative color scheme, and  I happen to LOVE these colors!   Love her tag line~go ck it out!! And think that her blog is neat.  She's doing this "walk" too...awesome!

Live, Laugh, Learn! Loving the pictures, and here's a soul mate who LOVES Cheese Cake Factory~YOU GO GIRL!! And such beautiful little girls~The littlest has gorgeous curls! Very sweet and interesting!

Family Style School I totally enjoyed reading about her littlest's first haircut~amazing pics of his Daddy cutting his hair and how GOOD he was through the whole process! Such adorable kids, and love the header with the whole family~yup, family is WHERE it's at!! Go visit this precious family!


Surviving the Testosterone Just this title alone CRACKED ME UP~not sure what I'd find...LOL...but whoola, a blog about boys/sons! I love boys~have a son...don't get me wrong, girls are awesome too,,,but something about a son! Read this mom for some humor...Never Dull literally had me laughing~precious boys!

Mrs. Mandy's Musings This is a beautiful blog with gorgeous colors and butterfly!  But what struck me first is the link addy "empty me Lord" as quite beautiful.  Oh the heart of such a cry! I am heading back to read more...JOIN ME!

Showing a tremendous sense of humor, this mom at The Fantastic Five has an really cute pic of herself~you gotta go see! AND loads of  adorable pics of her children!

Refined Metals Academy KNOWS something cool: SWAGBUCKS! will earn you neat neat neat stuff! Her adorable children take center stage and I'm excited to meet her!

Just a Moment in Time has two littles~really littles and a monkey theme, LOVE it! Sending her a BIG HUG! Go visit!

Providence Farm has my mouth watering! Whoohoo! Go check them out for some homemade goodness~healthy too!!

I'm walking, yes indeed, I'm walking!! NICE to see everybody!

New Reviews Coming

I've been invited to rejoin The Old Schoolhouse Crew to review homeschooling products with my kids for this coming year.  This will be my second year as I was apart of the Maiden Voyage in 08-09 and took last year off.  Be sure to come back often to see what we're doing as there are many things that are lined up. In our first year we reviewed many many homeschooling products and curriculum.  Our family was so blessed because of it! NOW I'm a CrewMate~Bon Voyage! See ya on the ship!

Thursday Talk'n About Teens~Purity

Purity is a topic that every child needs to be aware of in their lives. Purity is defined as
    a) freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter; as, the purity of water, of wine, of drugs, of metals.
   (b) Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt. "The purity of a linen vesture." --Holyday.
   (c) Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; chastity; as, purity of heart or of life.
   (d) Freedom from any sinister or improper motives or views.
   (e) Freedom from foreign idioms, or from barbarous or improper words or phrases; as, purity of style.              [1913 Webster] Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Recently I won a video Pamela's Prayer from  Plans4You who does TTAT (see button) and had hoped to use it with the youth at our church for a lock in, but it didn't arrive until the day after it, but since we have begun a summer program of youth group each week, I plan to use it tonight. I have watched this film and it's good.  But I must warn you that it's slow moving and the setting is definitely 1980, which will be a hoot to today's teens.  Aside from this, the message is clearly a great one.  The goal is a high and lofty one of remaining absolutely chaste including no hand to body or kissing as is the practice of many teens today.  In planning to show this film, I have come to realize that some of the kids may see this film AND ME as archaic and extreme.  But in the light of God who is ALL holiness, what's wrong with the highest of standards? Why do we set the benchmark at a low place, for successful FEEL GOOD feelings that are so popular today in our culture? I mean, today, 2010 is the only time in history it's not cool to win or strive for heights UNREACHABLE hoping to gain on what is the norm for us.  IF we had never set goals AND learned from our failures how would we have ever reached the heights we have? I am so undone with society's view that this world should be a success driven model.  I actually dislike failure, but RECOGNIZE it's value in my life. My goodness, if I had NEVER FAILED I would have never known the sweet sweet savor of success!!! With this said, our God who is high, holy and all purity has a standard while we will NEVER fully achieve it, we should be striving for it with all humility~and in His power.  STRIVING is all He asks.  Pamela's prayer shows the conflict of a high standard and the sweetness of success doing dating and marriage God's way.  Thanks Lisa for offering Pamela's Prayer on your blog and giving teens the spotlight each week.

Now about mine~they are busy working to refinish the basement with their Dad for new bedrooms.  Also my daughter has received her driving permit~whoohoo! WATCH OUT! LOL!  We are so blessed...and they are precious to us~perfect NO, but neither am I!
SisterTipster<3

Growing Pains

Tomorrow my daughter will be going to the DMV to get her learner's permit~ouch! 
SisterT

Inspired to Play With Photos NOW...

Original picture.

Enhanced pic.


So what do you think?
SisterT <3

How MUCH Is Too Much?

"They get enough church stuff..." when I said my kids didn't want to attend something Christian I am doing was said by a friend of mine. REALLY? ENOUGH? I don't think  so...how successful is the world in matters RELATING TO GOD when they don't spend hardly enough time with Him or doing FOR HIM? What would a person do who parents teenagers in our society but EXPECT BAD BEHAVIORS out of their teenagers rather than good ones?

I DON'T THINK SOOO...give me a break!

This world isn't functioned in well and pleasing to God with a segregated "religious" life and a secular one. NOPE~all of life is melded together~INCLUSIVE~religion/spirituality is ALL time and place...everywhere!

NO such thing as too much!
SisterT

Thursay Talk'n About Teens Work Ethics~

I think we've given a FREE PASS to most kids in our country.  If you doubt me, then check out the marketing done to the teens by huge companies to capture THEIR money~did I say that? THEIR money? What money? You mean, MY money, right? It's parents who dole out the big bucks for let me see: hair, nails, cell phones, ipods, cars, car insurance, uh...designer clothing...am I preaching to the choir here? Are you one who doesn't indulge your kid? Well, if you are like we are, you live on a one income living~so it's tough to hand over big buck to the kiddos for... uh... uh... frivolities! And sooo what does work ethic have to do with the  spending of teens? Teenagers who are taught how to manage money from an early age will WORK.  Oh yeah they will...and so do we for WHAT WE WANT~figure it this way: Adult WORKS~adult gets PAID.  Not too many...oops, almost a lie... there are loads of people who STILL work for what they have! Teaching our kiddos HOW to work and the value of it is INVALUABLE.  As parents, we will never worry that our kid is hungry or homeless.

Example:
My kiddos know how to work and I am very proud.  Does this mean they don't get "nice" things? Of course not! It means that they earn what they get and are quite proud of it~AND take extremely good care because of THEIR investment.

Today, both kids went out to our little garden (really a patch) weeding and caring for the plants. Later today, they will go into the basement that will be finished as new bedrooms for them (THEIR DESIRES) to begin construction.  What an investment and value they are contributing along with the vast knowledge of doing such a project!

I bet my girl won't be interested in a fella who doesn't KNOW work...I wasn't.  First thing I did was check out my hub's hands..."working mans hands..." is what I said and oh la la...I knew he had a very good quality.  When we teach our teens work ethics it will breed into future generations a love of the necessary for all areas of life.  I am so proud of their work ethics.  YOU GO girl thing One and boy thing One! Woot!!

Click on the TTAT button to read an inspiring story of a young man beginning a cottage industry~boy do I need him to do MINE! You go!

SisterTipster<3

Photo Editing Contest~My Entry...and WHAT I Did

Brent Riggs of McKlinky Blog is hosting a photo editing contest.  Now I love this sort of thing, but being as frugal as I am, I used a freebie internet resource to edit my pictures called Picnik that my teenage daughter showed me one day.  I love Picnic!! Here's the photo we were given of Brent's daughter, Abby who is so precious.  Abby is fighting cancer.  Please remember her in your prayers!

See any changes? What do you think? Abby's eyes and smile stand out to me and I wanted to highlight them as she is such an inspiration to many and a precious child of God. 

What I did was cropped the picture and rotated it.  It actually took three crops before I found what I hope show her spirit and sweetness the most, her face! I did think that the streamer and children running in the background give the photo context of why she is so happy, so I tried to leave in the school and kids running. I did like the boy who can be seen larger than the other children, but because of the cropping and limited feature in picnic in the free version, I couldn't adequately edit out the adult next to him, so he was cropped away.

To fill out Abby's precious face, I used a feature called Orton.  I used "bloom" and then used the lights.  I also used a feature that will black and white the back ground but bring up the color of a chosen focal area~for this picture, it's Abby's face.

This is the editing my daughter did. She couldn't resist...she's 15 :-)).

SisterTipster<3

Memorial Day~more than hot dogs and the FLAG...

Just WHAT are we teaching our kids about holidays is more important that the mere celebration of them, and we should be mindful to give our children sound information and wisdom concerning them.  Memorial Day is a holiday that for many of us has become a day of cook outs, family gatherings, and outdoor recreation while its original purpose was to honor fallen heroes of our nation in the cause of freedom.  With that said, does Memorial Day have to be sad or solemn, I don't think so as long as we purposefully instruct and attend to the day in a way that memorializes the price that has been paid in a way our children can comprehend.

A few years ago I took my children to a Memorial Day service hosted by the local Veterans group in our town.  It was an awesome sight as gray haired men and women in all pride and dignity led the group in respect of the fallen of our community.  Local clergy participated and prayers were said as well as pledges to our flag. This participation on our part led to many discussions concerning our nation and the price of the freedoms we enjoy today.

While we won't be going to another service this year, we will be talking about the meaning of the day and making sure that our flag is flying and our prayers are for our nation.  We are so thankful for the men and women who have fought for us in our place each and every day.

God BLESS America~Home of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave!
Check out
Lady Graceful on TRUTH.

SisterTipster<3

Tuesday Toolbox~Grocery Sacks...

Here's an idea for those pesky sacks that everybody gets by the truck loads~let the kids use them as paint or art covers for their clothing.  I know it sounds silly, but for littles who are prone to getting the mess of fun art work all over, cutting a hole in the bottom and slipping their head and then two holes one each side for the arms will do the trick.  You can also use them to put down to cover a table by cutting them open so the surface is larger when messy projects are in order.  THEN the great thing is throw them away! I like this the best because it saves me on clean up and cost.  Another idea is to let the kids go into the yard and do a scavenger hunt of sorts with things you put on a list to get from the great outside to put inside the sack.  Let them come and show you their finds...out of their sack...OR does your little have loads of tiny pieces of toys that end up all mixed together in a toy box or in a jumble? OK, let your child sort into these SACKS and if you can't get other containers these will work for a time...just be aware that your child needs to be old enough not to want to cover his/her head with it...

Grocery sacks have multiple uses for learning...and support to learning including lining the trash can or cleaning out a car into it.  I like to haul our swim gear/clothes too along with one for each member of the family so when we are done showering and dressing the wet stuff can be put into a bag til it hits the washer at home~ Makes it all neater!

Head over to Homeschooling Hearts and Minds for some more ideas....

Happy Toolbox Tues!
SisterTipster<3

UnChurched and UnChristlike and UN...

Teenagers are given a bad rap and rightly so in loads of instances.  Kids who are not old enough to be responsible are RESPONSIBLE for all kinds of mayhem...no kidding! But I am soo undone and don't know how to think about a posing problem where a new teen who is worldly and unChristlike for sure is mentioned as "unchurched" in their behavior~well, yeah?? I mean, WHAT ELSE are we expecting, but I know if we don't see them accept Christ and TEACH THEM despite their ilks...these unchurched kids will never be "churched" much less become Christians.

And what is that when parents condone their teens who KNOW NOTHING are allowed to work in things like VBS and the like while well trained teens are in classes LEARNING and these teens who are allowed to be leaders don't learn but "lead"???? OH YEAH, right! Seems like these are the same kids who will be the NEXT DEACONS and SS TEACHERS because they are "churched" GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, I'm incensed! This is nuts! WHERE DO KIDS GET BY without being taught who get to lead? Only in our churches. ONLY...Somebody STOP this madness, OK?
SisterT
No wonder the faith isn't going forward~we've FAILED to train the next generation but let them "lead."