GiveAway: $50 Gift Card for Handmade Jewelery! Whoohoo!

Menopausal Mom is offering this giveAway! (ENDS 7/16)

FREE: Reading Lesson Plans

If you're not familiar with Yahoo Group, HS Treasure Trove, go check them out for loads of FREE ideas.  They have posted Read Kiddo Read which gives a great reading list to encourage reluctant readers as well as those who love books along with FREE LESSON PLANS! How cool is this?!  Whoohoo!

FREE: PreAlgebra ONLINE Course

I am loving this~ FREE IS GREAT! We are going to USE this one~HERE!

GiveAway: Alpha Omega Publishers (LOTS of PRIZES)

Enter HERE to win curriculum, books and more! (ENDS 7/25)

Blog Walk Week 5 (FREEbie for FREE LAPBOOK!) FREE Dolch Sight Words

I'm having a blast getting to know these fellow TOS CREW blogs~Go check them out yourself...tell 'em SisterT sent ya! ;-))

Alrightly, here's my roundup~

I think that prayer is so important, and I love the prayer that I read on Buckeroo Days which was so inspiring to me!

Our Homeschool Reviews has a meme she does called Thrifty Thursday which I like a lot. In this economy all savings is a GREAT thing!

I have enjoyed looking at all the family pictures in her header!  Go check out Reed Party of 6!!

Training Hearts at Home has sucked me right in with her quilt she's making of the squares representing books they're read~I think this is soo neat! Also she has a cool freebie HERE on 17th Century History~oh yeah!! I LOOOOOOVE history! Go check this out!!

OK, I admit to being "simple" but I just LOVE the colors and design of  Along the Way along with the graphic of a mother owl and two owlets(ha, this might be WRONG!) LOL! But it's soo cute! Also I am going to go check out some other features such as PRINTABLES~Preschool-1 or 2nd gr COOL STUFF on her site! whoohoo!

I Love Science  has me intrigued just by the title! WHO would love science(I am not a techno sci person, but my hubby is LOL), but apparently these folks do..and I love her summary of herself and homeschool.  It's always an inspiration to meet other homeschoolers who share this calling and vision!

Telling a story about their camping trip with gorgeous pics Through the Calm and Through the Storm kept me reading!

Created for Home has a neat header and blog.  I love her anniversary post to her husband. It's not everyday you read about lasting love!

Rural GA is home to Tractors and Tire Swings! When I saw the pics of the boys with snow calling down...well, in GA this would be a rarity! I know, I'm a Georgian! I like this quote on her blog,
I homeschool because I've seen the village and I don't want it raising my children.~unknown Yep, this is ANOTHER reason why I homeschool! She shares Dolch Sight Words reading cards and how they used them!


When I saw the title to this blog  Guiding Light Homeschool  I immediately remembered the soap opera by that same name, but I am sure that she means the Lord's guiding light~Ohhhh I have such wicked humor! (FORGIVE ME!) I love her humor and thrift she shares.

GiveAway: Artist Print~Gorgeous!!

Go here to win!  (ENDS 7/14)

GiveAway: Almond Milk from Silk Pure Almond Milk

Marine Corps Nomads is offering this giveAway.  (ENDS 7/16)
There will be two winners~whoohoo!

GiveAway: Children's Books on Nature ages 4-7

Living Sola Gratia is offering this giveAway for four children's book on nature.  (ENDS 7/14)

GiveAway: Buddy The Dog (dog toy)

Living Sola Gratia is offering this giveAway. (ENDS 7/16)

GiveAway: God's Word A-Z CD for Children (Young Child: Preschool-1st)

Hearthside Homeschool Reviews and More is offering this giveAway. (ENDS 7/16)

Fox News POLL

I am amazed at the things ppl want to know from me...But if they are wondering IF I believe our flag should be taken down for someone who's here illegally~uh..... IF you want to ring in on this head over HERE!

FREE: Math Newsletters and More

Head over to meet MathMammoth~She sends out a FREE newsletter with helpful tips :AND More!

Photo Sharing Website~FAMILY FRIENDLY

Head over to join up~this is FREE and fun! Go check it out HERE!!
Pixosphere is the web's newest family friendly Christian photo hosting site~It's about being safe and having a great place to share photos! Check it OUT!! 

Marriage IS Under Attack

Everyday it seems the moral fiber of our nation is eroding faster and faster!  Traditional marriage, the marriage ordained by God of one man and one woman isn't popular anymore in case you didn't know~ack! AND it's NOT politically correct either, as the battle ground is within the states between the people who are voting and the judicial system.  A judge in MA has ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional leaving the state within legal bounds for legalizing gay marriages .  As a Christian this disheartens me.  Oh, it's not because I am one of the so called, "haters" as gay rights proponents calls people with my viewpoint, but because I know that homosexuality is wrong according to the Bible~the document that ordained the first marriage, the law that actually CREATED marriage.  In the history of the world, marriage began when God created Eve for Adam, to be his helpmate.  God performed that first marriage ceremony in the Garden, and the two became ONE...

Marriage is upheld by a moral code found in the Bible, and to erode marriage in our society is to shake society at its foundation~MORALITY!  Without morals, our society is destined for all sorts of destruction.  It's a shame that today marriage isn't viewed by many favorably~as the institution God created.  "You can't tell me (or others) WHO or HOW to love..." I can't? You are sooo right! I cannot, but God can! He's the ultimate authority in this world, and faithlessness will not leave a person innocent.  What's that about "ignorance of the law is no excuse!" If we are ignorant or unbelieving and we fail to recognize God as Who He is, does not mean that we will avoid His righteous judgment for failing to live by His standards...we are accountable despite our ignorance! 

For the record, sin is sin.....mine or anybody's...and all of us fall under His judgment. But God offers GRACE to us all~praise Him!  I can be free of this awful penalty for my inability to be "perfect" and holy as HE IS holy...

The question of homosexual rights is being lauded as a civil rights issue.  What? I suspect Dr. King might be a little upset, but I certainly can't speak for him.  But if you look at his writings and life, did he even dream in his dreams that some 40 yrs later that his movement would serve such a purpose? I don't think...no..surely not!  And what about homosexual rights to be civilly recognized in a ceremony that affirms the relationship and values it?  If people want marriage then don't they need to meet the standards set by God since God set marriage UP?   OK, so people WANT something for a special ceremony~pick on the religions that might be OK without a moral stand, that do not absolutely condemn homosexuality~any one will do,,,just leave God's business, the marriage vow and institution ALONE! But, noooooo...marriage is under attack!

I believe that marriage is God ordained for the institution of raising a family and is a covenant relationship between a man and a woman.

This summer, the National Organization for Marriage NOM is touring the nation hosting marriage rallies in support of maintaining traditional marriage and stopping gay marriage in the states.

About a year ago I had the opportunity to facebook get to know the Protect Marriage Site: One Man and One Woman's Louis Marinelli, who is the director and have helped write some for the site. 

Here is the marriage rally schedule of stops around the nation so we can support this effort to support traditional marriage.  You can join the facebook fanpage  HERE!

GiveAway: Ipod App~imath Kids' Math Games

Our Busy Homeschool is hosting. (ENDS 7/16)

GiveAway: Christian Devotional Book

McQuill Land  is offering a neat book! (ENDS 7/14)

FREE: Ebooks from Amazon.com

Saving Money Plan  has several free eBooks from Amazon.com as well as the links to download the software to read them!

This Is So Funny~AND TRUE!

Thanks FirstMate Jen for this encouragement!

FREE Stuff: Check THIS Out~

Thrifty Thursday has some cool freebies, which includes FREE food~Go check it out!  HERE! 

Would you like to learn how to live on less while maintaining your home and lifestyle?  Are you potentially facing a job loss or downsizing?  My husband and I have weathered these tough economic times way before all the turn down, and you can read my thrift blog HERE!

I offer all kinds of tips for truly living on ONE income and making it~You won't find a lot of fluff and stuff
HERE, but you will find solid old time advise for making that money shortfall work.  Some of my suggestions are pretty extreme, I admit, but they will get you by and preserve your home and well being helping you to trim unnecessary dollars or dollars you just may not have...Check out, Thriving With No Green$!
It's not a coupon or deals type blog, but rather offers solid methods for stretching your money to cover basic needs until things get better and wealth is established...all the while  Thriving With No Green$

Thursday Talkin' About Teens: Looking Ahead

This past week our daughter began her first job.  It's a reminder that adulthood isn't all that far away for them.  She is so excited and had such a positive experience. I am thrilled for her!

She has goals and dreams.  As her teacher, I am concerned with MY ability to prepare her for this big ole bad world.  Let's face it, I have limitations as well any human will~but I worry.  I believe I am doing right. I believe that I am giving all that I can. I believe that homeschooling is the best possible education for her~and him!

But... ... ...

Do you ever have a nagging fear that your personal abilities will fail in the final analysis of how prepared your children will be in adulthood?

I think it goes beyond worry when we have to recognize that our children are gifts from God to BE who HE designed them to be.  I mean, not only do I have limitations, but so do they.  ALL children are not destined for a space ship or an operating room with scalpel in hand!!  But all children can contribute something to this world, and well each should...

So I am looking a head, but I'm not the only one...no...

My children are looking ahead to their futures~it amazes me when they tell me about their dreams and goals...

"Yeah, Mom~how good will it look to be a published author on my resume'?" she asked me.  THEN came the discussion of self publishing and that publishing didn't necessarily mean..blah. blah, blah...you get the idea..but HERE'S a dream~a goal...a desire!

Oh it doesn't stop with writing.  "I want to live in Japan."  "You can come see me.  I will pay for your ticket," she proudly announces as she tells me further that, "I'm gonna get you a first class seat with..." and she dreams on with all sorts of (truthfully, unrealistic) amenities that would make this mama a queen!

My son has a different take on his future.  "I just might make music for my job," he says as I hear and see him faithfully go up into his room to serenade us with his trumpet.  My son just learned to play not quite two years ago, and it's amazing his level of proficiency that he has gained.  But it's been desire that has lead the way! He had piano lessons which I am sure have helped him learn the trumpet, but he NEVER loved our piano the same~oh no! It was war and fight~argue, cajole... ... ... The trumpet was HIS IDEA...his passion...just like he has developed a love for his fish pond outside.  Don't imagine a lake type pond filled with freshwater fish, but rather a black kidney shaped plastic in the ground kind with about $3 of feeder goldfish that he is training to hand feed and who are thriving!  It's so cool to see those fish growing~they have already doubled in size, but like their more expensive variety, are now near size...The fish pond has bred a love of gardening too.  He has rocks nicely landscaped around it with a few houseplants thrown in with a garden angel hovering on a small stick over the pond.

We are looking a head in perhaps one of the most nondeliberate ways.  We are purposeful though. We are pursuing and planning...but it's happening in our everyday...each and every second and action of our day with the natural life we have...

Will my children achieve their goals? HONESTLY, I don't know...but I do know this: IF they don't have a goal they most certainly will never achieve one!  So it's goals and aims... fueled by their passion, desire and abilities...Oh, let me not forget to say that God gives them and us all His power to be ABLE to do as He desire!

Today I am talkn' about teens who are looking ahead! What are your kids doing and thinking about their future(s)??