SisterT's BRAGGn' !

My daughter is an  artist and I am so proud of her work. Here's her latest~

You can watch her draw@Sketchfu.com!

REVIEW: Zeezok Film Guide: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

And it might be a SURPRISE who actually sits down with us!

It's been 40PLUS years since Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? came out and its subject matter is LOVE, humanity, connection~all riding in the vehicles of interracial relationships/marriage showing WHAT'S REALLY important in life in a masterful way~ I was given a choice over a good list of film choices for a Zeezok Film Guide review through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's TOS CREW review group, and I chose Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? with my children in mind.  IS today really different from the day this film came out?  I believe my teenagers could benefit from this film experience.  We had many choices in some wonderful films You can see them here! There are over 25 to choose from and more being added!
Film is an excellent way of learning, discussing, and experiencing different subject matter for homeschooling~everything from social studies to history and literature!

If you have young children, this film will certainly be lost on them entirely...but for the parent with an older, more mature child who you are guiding to understand the important things in life, the things that transcend time, culture, race and relationship~I recommend a careful and thoughtful view/study of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?  In fact, I won't spend much time here discussing this FILM Reviews!!~if you've not seen it~be prepared to find yourself ringing in on the side of love, human-ness and ultimate beauty!

Preview the film yourself and also get the Zeezok Film Guide~Included are wonderful features to help you navigate the themes of the film in a well organized and meaningful way~There are activities and questions~it's a real guide to knowing and understanding~TRUE appreciation for this what some may feel is a controversial topic~Do people still think this? I know 'back in the day' it was considered~OUT THERE in some circles! I find absolute pleasure in the idea that people of every race, color, tradition and creed can find happiness TOGETHER~I see it as something THIS SIDE of heaven! Zeezok Publishing treats the subject matter with respect and thoughtfulness~the only "uncomfortable" area I have is in the intro where Dr. Prentice is described as a 'Negro' which is an older outdated term, and  I'm not sure others will feel that this is acceptable or not offensive...


Here's the trailer:  (You can purchase the dvd HERE $22.95) 
READ Film REVIEWS HERE!


Here's the link to the Zeebok Film Guide HERE!
I recommend both as a good addition to your high school modern studies of the 1960s and United States culture.

The TOS CREW was given opportunity to pick their own film to use a Zeezok Film Guide~Head HERE to see what we picked and are saying~

Leave me a comment. What do you think? Has the world changed? Are we still facing such racial and cultural divisions and challenges as are shown in this film? Thanks for coming by!

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 13: Progress NOT Perfection!

I'm participating in the Fit Mommy meme each week where we share what's going on with our attempts to get healthful with our food and exercise.  You can join up too~click that big button! ;-))

Soo it was a good week!  I have been way way more active, but I haven't been swimming OR biking, but I've pushed that vacuum a lot and cleaned and cleaned ~running errands several days~AND YARD WORK!!  DOES this count when it's all new for me?  I was on my feet yesterday over an hour and it felt fine~My life is definitely improving.

Last Friday I did measure my body.  I did:
neck
upper arms
forearms
bust
waist
fat hang over waist..LOL
hips
thighs
knees
calves
ankles...

GOT the picure?? LOL..I haven't weighed in about 8 weeks but I am shrinking~ so now I'm going to track it a little more officially.    Food continues to be WHITE free and I'm working portions of course! I am also moving more~in time...but I did do some really HARD physical stuff in raking my front yard this week and cleaning up the sidewalks and porch from winter and yard trimming! whooho!

We got snow this week! LOL...

Thanks for coming by~
God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and a sound mind~amen!
You can join the other Mommys HERE or just read about us~all levels and abilities! whoot!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal Wk10~Eureka! PAY DIRT!

I'm participating each week and if you want to read more~click the button~whoot!

So my week has turned out really well.  It didn't start out all that great as hub and my girl were both sick, but then Sunday came and our church was really sweet and threw a surprise birthday dinner for my hub~Soo sweet! Everyone brought covered dishes of yummy stuff and they had a cake, icecream and cool ballons~EVEN some neat gifts! Well, hub WAS surprised! Everyone was amazed he didn't know...well~I was amazed he didn't find out...but God was good and it was really fun!

In My Life and In Our Homeschool This Week:
Today we went to a virtual academy homeschooling field trip and met some other kids!  This was just amazing! Not only was a new friend made, but we even got to see an old one from the former hsing co-op we attended a few years ago~WOOT! IT really is a small world!
 
Places We're Going and Ppl We're Seeing:
Next week is Polishing Week in the Drama Club as performances are April 14-16th@the Holland Theater in Bellefontaine, OH!   Check out this HS group!
Daughter is a gosling and baby spider~awwww...LOL!  
 
My Favorite Thing This Week was...
A couple of things~I signed the intent for BOTH to take college credit "dual enrollment" classes next year!! YAY!!   Daughter is OFFICIALLY on spring break and she came and reported that her math grade is NOW a B!!!WHOOOHOOO!!! I am littlerally DANCING!! HER GPA is 96 and HIS is 85!! YAY!!

AND I am doing pretty good on my eating plan.  My body continues to shrink~having sustained almost 25 weeks w/o ANY white flour/sugar in my system~I am feeling GREAT! I am doing more and my health is improving! I also got to chat with a dear friend tonight who has had illness in her family~I love and miss her..and am soo sorry things are not so good~please pray for her and family...
I got to go out and CLEAN UP my yard this week~bushes trimmed/yard rakes/brush removed...cleaned sidewalk/porch~LOOKS sooo much better!!
 
What's Working/Not Working For Us...
THE DIRTY neighbors whose trash is blowing in my yard~I NO LIKE!
 
Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
Will it ever let up~just a little bit? Oh yeah...this week IS spring break! I am going to BREAK and rest! woot!

Here's a pic~Okay~A FEW...lol! (BUT HOW COULD I RESIST?? LOL)

 Thanks for coming by~please leave me a comment~WHEN IS your spring break??

Blog Cruise: SisterT's Talking About TEACHING THE HARD STUFF~

QUESTION:  Do you teach the challenging and advanced subjects if you struggle with them yourself?

This question comes from The Old Schoolhouse Crew Blog Cruise topic of the week~Did you know they're taking on aps for nxt year? READ ON for that link~

Hey, I am fallible~did you know that? I just don't know it all! I have found through the 10 years of homeschooling that I've been a lot like a little toddler who has faltered, fallen and just stumbled a little bit~while making progress in our subjects...it's definitely been a journey~Soo HOW have I handled MY OWN learning curve?

Well, first off, I allow myself this fault.  I mean, WHO can be perfect? Certainly not SisterT, but that little gem of knowledge never helped my kids really, EXCEPT that in this, they have been allowed to see Mom's weaknesses and to SEE HER OVERCOME them~or compensate for them..or even accept them.  I mean, I have had to PUNT sometimes to get stuff covered that I didn't know. Like math for instance. I've spent more money and energy in this subject than any other~ANY OTHER...but when it was 'beyond my pay grade' I had to search and find those who could help us~I've researched and done the best I could. I guess with mo money and resources it would have gone better, but the lesson is to DO head ON with what you've got and can!

This year~I enrolled my kids in the virtual academy which might be taboo for some homeschoolers, but you'd have to admit that it took some guts AND that in a way it's an admission OR seeking help~I just could NOT for the LIFE OF ME issue a certified homeschooling diploma to two young adults at graduation that I was certain would be acceptable to employers and colleges/universities. AND HEAR ME OUT~I read/have read all the hype/info out there on it~I know~I KNOW that hsing diplomas are much more widely accepted~I hear that, but WHAT PATH might my child desire to take that I didn't plan on or cover? I know the military isn't accepting hsing diplomas~only ONE area that I know of..but that is a limit. I don't want any...as best I can provide. WHY make my children at a disadvantage in the final analysis when I have literally spent YEARS and thousands to provide an improved option? MAKES NO SENSE to me, so we are in the best option we've got~certified accredited virtual academy. They're still home. I'm still homeschooling...just that now~my weaknesses are not the limits of their education, nor my resources the limits of their accomplishments!

Okay, so I get it~either way you go. But remember that life is a journey. At what point will I have the opportunity to guide and help them navigate the public arena? First year of college? Will they be more accepting of my guidance THEN than NOW?  I don't think so~REMEMBER being 18 and feeling like parents knew little?  Oh boy! So in anticipation of this little phase of growth into maturation, I felt like these years were the best to journey these challenges.  We're still TOGETHER now and Mom still has a 'few brain cells'~better now while they are still under my love and care...so here we are!

If you find yourself like I have: WITH LIMITS~Lord knows we all are limited in some way~seek God's will for yourself and your children and be prepared to find help as best you can. Search out those options and allow yourself your God given frailty.  He cares and will be there in your lives as long as humility is at the forefront.  He can provide in the most unique ways! It's amazing!

Here's some of what I've done through the years to teach what I didn't already KNOW...ha!

1. LEARNED IT myself..
2. Researched and used some self guided/self instructing curriculum.
3. Networked with others~co-ops, other hsing moms, grandparents~professionals...it's a limitless resource~
4. Stayed positive and continued despite challenges~
5. Asked Hub to teach it~Science and Music are two I can readily think of~along with piano teachers!
6. Try other curriculum OR multiple sources of information/methods for learning it~With this I say being a curriculum review has helped me here. I have gotten to try on different products along the way to see just what fit us the best for essentially FREE~all but my time...and honestly, my time is becoming more at a premium, but if my kids were small~I'd stay up with doing this! CK out that link at the bottom~

Okay, this is it in a nutshell~Just please don't give up~What we teach our children in our character is almost entirely more important than that difficult subject because since life IS hard, they having seen us persevere is such as asset! You can guide them in a positive way~for their futures in your weaknesses~I know...and what a miracle I am seeing in our first semester 9th week of virtual academy! We are so blessed!

Thanks for coming by~WHAT subjects are 'killing' you? Can somebody cure my 'math terrors'?? LOL  Let me know you were here~
Read more from the CREW       !
WANNA review hsing curriculum/products?  GO HERE!

Gabby Moms: Super~Wha???

S

H 

O 

T

Yeah, Encouraging Mom: SUPER SHOT JOIN UP! HERE~you got that right...a shot.

It's a quick does to cure ya~the thing that ails ya!

AND it's a NO PAIN all GAIN deal~

You gotta hear this~Eternal Encouragement Mag HERE is putting together some cool instant boosters for womanly blues/botherishness~You ever had that? I have...oh, my! Have I ever! It's those feelings of worthlessness, isolation, failure and all that gunk that would rob moms and wives of the joy of the Savior in living a fulfilled life~And Mrs. Lorrie Flem and her ppl are on the ball thinking up just how to put our minds and hearts at ease in this world of woe~well, it's not all woe, but many of us do feels some nasty negatives once in a while...so why not ck this out for a dose UP~a boost...an UP LIFT~

Do yourself a favor and get yourself an Encouraging Mom: Super Shot from Eternal Encouragment Mag so you too will be revived...I got the chance to preview and sneak in on a cool little SUPER SHOT...Ohhh boy~you gotta ck this one out!


Super Shots are a monthly publication of Eternal Encouragement Magazine, Lorrie Flem Publisher that will deliver four e-products to your mailbox monthly~woohoo! Each is designed to help us Moms~and sometimes we need help!

I got Kids That Clean Super Shot with four neat products~Three E-books and a download video.  What practical ideas and it's laid out in such a way~so logical....I'm trying it on my TEENAGERS~LOL..shhh! Don't tell them!

These little jewels of encouragement won't be available right away but will be coming in the next few months~ 

Gabby Moms are ringing on in with  what they say~ Go ck it out!

I received a Super Shot as part of the Gabby Moms blog review program in exchange for my honest opinions without additional compensation. My opinions are my own.

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 12: DANCING to the GROOVE...

I'm participating in Chai Mommy's Fit Mommy Friday and linking up for encouragement and support~ACCOUNTability~ Hey, you can too~click on that button! LOL

My week was good food wise. My smallest jeans continue to get bigger on me, and tonight I am measuring my body, since I don't have a doctor's appointment any time soon to weigh~but I'm really not worried about the scale all that much. The scale is NOT the measure of my success~EVERY BITE IS....I am tracking my food and activity and when I eat the way I am supposed to ~which I pray is a God honoring way~this weight is coming down...and I continue to heal. (I have measured and written it all down~;-)) Talk of diets is only as effective as far as gaining some sort of plan.  But in and of themselves, they have failed me.  I think of them as DIEt...and I really don't wanna GO there~death is not the purpose..up and down,,,down and up with my wt..not soo NOT healthy! AND DIEts do that...in my life..so I call my plan a LIFE PLAN or LIFEit...LOL...don't think I'm weird, okay? I AM MOSTLY fat in my head...soo it's my head I have to deal with.  My testimony is that I have in the past lost 135 lbs to regain portions~LARGE portions of it TWICE...and believe me when you have loads more to lose, it's like loosing ground~seriously!  I NEED help losing my weight. Hence why I write to you all here AND I also am involved with 12 step recovery groups and also I am developing my relationship with God who is helping me.  I can praise God for His grace and mercy!  Soo you see, weighing isn't all that in my book, but more important is WHAT IS EATING ME...soo hence where I am.  I do enjoy and study nutrition. It's important to know HOW to eat healthy and an eating plan should BE healthy for me...I have STILL given up the sugar and white flour which includes all products that contain them in any form other than fruit and veggies.  I try to eat as raw as possible much of my food~to maximize insoluble fiber so that first, it satisfies my hunger and second it processes in my body at a slow rate~not bombarding my cells with the sugars/nutrients in a fast was but over time.  I try to eat less process and don't each very much out of boxes or cans.  MOST of my food is fresh prepared either from the fresh isle, frozen food isle OR from my own home grown-food preservation processing which as home canning or freezing.  I want to maximize my nutrition as best possible and believe good solid wholesome food is key.

Recently I won Denise Austin's book Get Energy from Laura O's blog                                and I have been enjoying her information on gaining health in my life.  She's looking at life in the multidisciplinary way~mind/body and spirit. I need this~  So far, I am excited as this week i discovered online radio where I can pick songs and artist I want to hear~WOOT...and I have begun dancing like dancercizing~ WHICH IS SO FUN...I did this an entire 3 minutes to a favorite song...trust me, it was not so easy to rock it to that song..but I kept going...whew!!

It's little progress, but at my size and health, I can't afford to OVERDO and hurt my body further.  It will take patience and giving God the time to heal me as we move along.

I'm heading out on my bike again~whoohoo!

HOW was your week? Read the other fit mom's journals HERE!
Not a pretty bike, but it does the job~

The Homeschool Mother's Journal Wk:9~Mid TERMS...THIS WEEK And...

I'm participating in the journal~Head over to ck it out~KINDA NEAT that in one place so many mom's chronicle our week~You can too~HIT the button...:-))

It's been a crazy week! But I do wanna say that I just ck'd my kid's grades~WHAT a great job they are doing! It's amazing! ALL As...no. But loads of work, initiative and progress.  I'm really liking virtual academy! The tech issues with online learning can be a pain as we have had to do some tech support on both kids computers as well as it got so extensive that my son needed a complete hard drive restore~but you know what? Tech support was there with me all the way! Yeah! I am not alone in this journey any longer...maybe you value your freedom so much that you don't want help or "interference."  I can see that.  When my kids were younger, I really felt that way...I mean: WHO loves them more than I do? Parental love and standards can not be equaled.  But I had to acknowledge that I am imperfect~that I am limited as a human being and that my kids WANT a high school diploma.  Don't tell me that a GED is equiv~it's not! GED generally mean there was some sort of 'issue' that prevented graduation in the traditional schooling...NOT FAIR for hard working kids who deserve EVERY advantage. I know! I know! I can issue them a diploma..a homeschool diploma~AND I planned to~even order a pricey one that looks authentic~BUT listen...COULD I adequately prep them for the SAT/ACT and RELIEVE their testing anxiety when I didn't teach the materials in the ORDER or scope as was taught to their peers?  Sadly~no.  This ~this very thing...not teaching or having the order/scope of what is taught or EXPECTED to be known has really hurt my kids right now...my daughter is finding in her math~oh my LORD! If you have read much on here, I talk about her math issues..it's been the BIGGEST thing in teaching her...and well~she's behind and DISADVANTAGED because her peers have had stuff she had yet to see...and compared our hsing curriculum~the very things she's doing now come at the END of that program...So was it a curriculum issue? A teacher~ME issue? Or a non issue? In all honesty is all of this~I mean, how could I know WHAT or HOW ..and wouldn't we eventually hit all the marks? I believe so...but really, how would I have known. I did plan according to state requirements, but I have little control over course content in the stuff I believe to be best~when I purchase curriculum. KWIM?  Okay, so here's my week...think about this...I'm certainly NOT telling you to go to a virtual school...but what are your goals for your kids? Plan and proceed with these in mind~

In My Life and In Our Homeschool This Week:
Well, first off I'm still plugging at my eating plan of no white flour and sugar~no compulsive overeating and seeking God first in all things including my food.  God is good and this Sat will be 24 weeks! I am shrinking and the once tight jeans are losening up~ordered some new ones too! whoohoo! I got the new Denise Austin book, Get Energy and have begun working through it~VERY GOOD! I danced all the way through a longg very very VERY cool song and while I got pretty breathless, it was such fun~oh yeah!  


I'm planning on my canning this summer from our garden. When I go to the grocery I'm getting a dozen qt jars for this season of food preservation to come. I am also going to preserve (ferment) some onions for relishes/salads.  They are awesome!  I did notice that food prices are rising.  While I don't like it, how can I avoid it any better than make what I am using go further and better~NO WASTE...so I'm planning all that!  Maybe you'd like to ck out my thrifty living blog~THRIVING WITH NO GREEN$! Head on over~It's chocked full of all kinds of good ideas that I use~they work too!  My strategies are KEEPING MONEY in my pocket so I can save and have what I need for the future!  Today I also went and picked up some freecyle items. I got some houseplant starts of aloe vera, vines and spider plant. They are expensive in the plant stores, but I got quite a few and it was worth my while!  Also I picked up a bag of fabric that a lady no longer needed. We make doll clothes and other fabric projects~CK'D out those prices lately for fabric?  Whew! So anyway~my life has been kinda busy...HOW about you??

I am thrilled my the progress in our schooling. My kids are showing great independence! I am so proud. I
 
My Favorite Thing This Week was...
Checking their grades and it looks LIKE THIS:
Girl:
Alg I   C+
LAC   A+
BIO    A+
HIST  A+
ENT   A+
RYAP A

Son:
Alg C+
LAC A
HIST B
SCI  B
PE  A
RYAP A
We began our seeds for our garden and they're in the greenhouse~WOOT!
 
What's Working/Not Working For Us...
Hub's been sick all week~AND he's breathing all over me~I am praying I don't get sick! t won't be fun if I do~ 
 
Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
I'm working with a tutor for the kids on math and language~I worry about how to help them!

Also I've registered for next year~Got a call today saying they are sending next year's materials~SAY WHAT? AND IT'S ONLY MARCH???? HUH??? LOL

Here's a pic~

See our greenhouse?

Thanks for coming by~Leave me a comment ;-))

Blog Cruise: SisterT's Talking About Teaching LIFE to Mine~

This week's question:


How do you incorporate life skills into your homeschool routine?

Teaching LIFE skills...Isn't living in the home what LIFE skills are all about?  I am thinking that living in the home with family teaches them as well as relationship skills and more! Remember that ole saying DO as I SAY....Nah, it doesn't work~does it? KIDS are WATCHING...and doing..hopefully right along side of us...

Baking cookies at church~

When my kids were small, they LOVED helping me clean. In fact, I had a special small bucket or small pan that I'd let my daughter and son take a rag and while I wiped walls, they would do the baseboards and floor next to the walls~you know, mops and brooms NEVER get that close to get the filth...and they LOVED washing windows and all kinds of stuff!  We sorted laundry together~even took to jumping in the clothes occasionally! It wasn't all drudgery...my son USED to love to vacuum...ha~NOT NOW.. but he does know HOW!  Also we learned things like setting the table by DAILY setting the table...routines became our lessons~

Construction tools and remodeling~

I've done all kinds of things in our home to naturally TEACH how to mange and live in a home...I sew, so I've shown and given them small projects~never called it 'SCHOOL' but it was! LOL...even taught things like home canning and food preservation/storage and organization.  This was done by things like~assigning a child to write down and list all the food in the pantry and organize it~Also to be the person to SCRIBE the grocery list as we looked to see what was IN the pantry and what was needed  for the following time~I don't always shop weekly...but anyway,

I have also taught money management by GIVING THEM SOME and letting them GO...but also teaching conservation and thrift.  My goodness, my kids are quite the savers! Especially my daughter.  And she is always giving too~not just buying for herself...She LOVES swagbucks! Oh yes!!

Son's landscaping project...

Sooo IT'S JUST plain NATURAL to teach life skills~but I'd say that the MOST important ingredient would be WILLINGNESS to allow your kids to DO...and expecting them to DO...yeah, the job won't be as 'good' as you might on your own, but I've really had an issue with the wording, "Help me." from moms who somehow don't realize that the home BELONGS to everyone and everyone can work and EVERYONE can play~it takes everyone and children LEARN by doing...showing and preaching just are not as effective...and the doing, yes...is a process...but hey, it's soo worth it~

I am thrilled when they do something exceptionally well~like fixing a meal or cleaning up something~If you get sick, mom~you will be blessed by how well your children can continue on...It's amazing!

Thanks for coming by~don't worry about a CURRICULUM, you know how to care for your home and are working through your own life~guide your children AS YOU GO...and they will quite naturally pick up and carry on just as you've modeled..

Head on over to ck out what the CREW is saying~  Let me know your thoughts too~;-))

REMODELING~MO ?s

THIS HOUSE

I like our home; it just needs some TLC!
BTW~we live in both sides..and it's ONE house NOW...lol!

IS a work in progress~

This is the rough, glue stained porch after we removed that carpet~

This past week the weather was so great the kids and I headed outside and cleaned up the front yard a bit~moved some rock and my son cleaned up his fish pond after the winter season, while we all also tore out OLD NASTY carpet from the 70s on our front porch...no paint just yet or even new astro-turf carpets as of yet..but I'm dreaming...

Rock not totally moved, but redoing this bed completely...

Hub got out this morning and trimmed some bushes/cut a tree until the chainsaw broke...Well~thinking about all the future projects, one includes NEW gorgeous lights and I can't wait to get a new fan for my bedroom~woot!  (Maybe porch LIGHTS?)

 

My son's fish pond beside our garage~he can't wait to get fish...

Well, I'm jumping off here~HEADING to swim at the Y and OUTSIDE for the rest of this gorgeous, crispy

MY bike~but it's oh sooo fun!

BUT Oh sooo SUN filled day~HUGS!!

Go ck out  CSN Stores!They have almost EVERYTHING you would want~I know I like it! ;-)) On SECOND THOUGHT, maybe I should get a new bike seat or LIGHT for my porch??? WHAT would you get??

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 11: Different Week

I'm participating in the Fit Mommy Fri for accountability and support.  You can too!  This is a group of moms who are changing our lives one MOVE and food at a time~

Well, my week was definitely different.  I didn't go swim ONCE so far~and not planning to today either...but..but...I did MOVE MORE~got out more~and even got my BIKE OUT and took a few spins~planning to go again TODAY~Received my Denise Austin book yesterday too~sooo I have a feeln' things are GONNA CHANGE...LOL! But my food continues to be good~I am eating a good many calories, still around the 2K mark, and so my wt loss is slow, but I am MOVN' and planning even more~
Thanks for coming by~

To read what the other moms are up to, head               !

The Homeschool Mother's Journal Wk:8~Spring in MY SPRING!

I'm participating weekly and you can too~                  My giddy-up is pretty much heading into full gear now that spring has sprung!  We had temps in the 60s today! wooht! AND the best thing is I got to ride my bike today!  Life is just gettn' sweeter~here's my week:

In My Life and In Our Homeschool This Week:
First, I've not exercised at the pool this week, but I have been more active and even rode my bike today! Soo all is not awash! I'm still sugar/white flour free, but looking at my portions as they tend to creep up on me so easily...I've had some ups and downs, but overall I'm doing okay.  

Virtual Academy has gone pretty light as the whole school has revamped due to the high school taking the graduation tests this week.  My daughter was taking it, and having been 'traditionally' homeschooled, it's been quite a BIG HAIRY DEAL to her about these very important tests. She is being tested in reading, writing, math, social studies and science...and well, she's only had the experience of a few CAT testings that I had done over the years...imagine that worry she's carried these past 6 weeks in that she really isn't SURE she's adequately prepared...This was the total reason we came to this online school...my kids wanted to KNOW how they measured up to 'normal' and where they stood academically...Well, last week and actually pretty much all the previous weeks, I've shared how my son is doing. He is passing~an A but the rest...and I've had to ALLOW him to do...It's NOT been easy for me, but I have to let him SEE his own strengths and weaknesses...he's a very good kid! Would you believe he's been readying his outdoor fish pond for his fish this season?  CK OUT the pics at the end~I'm impressed with his efforts.  We need to fill and put fish in~but otherwise...looking pretty good!
 
My Favorite Thing This Week was...
I really enjoyed my bike ride~but that was today (Thursday!)  Other fave things was taking the youth to Dairy Queen and HOW FUN they are!  

But my absolute fave thing has to do with HOW IMPRESSED I am with my daughter's tenacity over this testing...she's so funny too...when I asked her if she passed, she said she basically bull OOOO kneed her way through the science portions today, but said that the reader would either think she IS ...
crazy
clueless
clever
OR...
blond! LOL

I LOVE IT!  Well, if you ask this mama... ... ... ...
SHE'S ALL that...LOL!! (JK, babydoll!)

What's Working/Not Working For Us...
Still sneezing and hacking! But I'm lovin' this warmer weather!  Soo what's not working IS ALL the work we gotta do now to polish up the outside after winter...

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
Wonder if Girl Thing One PASSED (it's only pass/fail) the graduate testing?????

Here's a pic~

Thanks for coming by~
If you want to join or read more              !

REVIEW: Apologia's What We Believe: Biblical Worldview of God and Truth Vol 1: Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)

Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)
by John Hay and David Webb
Hardcover 252 pages 
Website                       
Ages:  Children 6-14 (possibly expanded ages)

Price: $39

I say: Fantastic beautiful resource!

I received What We Believe Biblical Worldview of God and Truth Vol 1: Who is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?) by John Hay and David Webb as part of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine CREW review program in exchange for my honest opinions without monetary compensation.  My views are my own.

 The Bible is one subject a family can't study enough~and having good resources are essential. I mean, the Bible is like a locked box ~a treasure chest full of wonderful things from and about God, but unless we can understand His Word, the benefits will illude us.  Since my kids were very small, we always undertook serious Bible study and memorization.  As they've grown that study has increased in depth and I love this study from Apologia.  You won't be disappointed with a solid study for your home~all your grade school through middle school children.  This study talks to the child, we like it for that and while are a bit older than the stated age, they were able to benefit from its pages.  I definitely think a family could use this resource for olders and younger children as well~with a few modifications.  Aren't we homeschoolers very versatile?

Here's the details:

Conversational easy to read text
Multiple age range
Learn at your own pace
Sequential and builds on ideas
10 Lessons~approx 2 wks each one!
Independent for older students and group with youngers
Primarily NIV but also NLT and International Children's Bible used
Notebooking segment presented in the lessons (Binder useful.)
Additional teaching resources: FREE on website! (AWESOME resources!!)

The 10 lessons are broken down into segments:

• The Big Idea:  Intro and overview of what was previously covered~
• What You Will Do:  Learning objectives~
• Short Story:  Fictional story that makes the concepts come alive!
• Think About It:  Questions to reinforce key ideas and truths~
• Words You Need to Know:  Vocabulary words concerning the concepts~
• Hide It in Your Heart: Memory verses~
• Integrated Learning: Articles of interdisciplinary topics related to the short stories~
• What Should I Do?  Highlights specific character traits/moral virtues taught~
• Prayer:  A prayer to focus on the particular trait of God's attribute in the lesson~
• Worldveiw Study:  Introduces worldviews as they relate to the study~
• House of Truth:  A figurative construct of the nature of God built one step at a time throughout the studies~ based on an actual model that shows God's nature as a block by block to firmly put the person of God in a child's mind as offered @ www.summit.org. 

Included is a suggested Lesson Plan in order to use the study guide to the fullest along with a list of needed materials for additional activities as they are presented.  The study promises that nearly all of the materials are simple household items! whoot! I had no trouble, but just a flip through can keep you on target as you plan each week!

I could never say enough good things about Apologia products for homeschooling!  We have used quite a few over the years~LOVE the science and NOW the Bible curriculum as well~

Each lessons begins with a question that will center the lesson to be covered with large easy to read print and colorful but not kidsy graphics and pictures.  This study is definitely multi-aged and a good resource for the homeschool, home study purposes!  I also believe it would add to church studies for multiple age classes~I've taught many of these throughout the years.

Getting the extra resources and helps are easy. There is a website with a password listed in the text for additional resources~INVALUABLE!  I like that these helps are not downloaded to my computer. I recently LOST everything on my computer due to a virus, and I like that I can always access these resources from the web.  The graphics are in gray scale which saves me time when I print them from having to convert each one to save ink~GREAT MOVE! Also they are sophisticated looking. I suggest for the youngest in the home that this is really not appropriate for younger than first or second grade in most of the activities~but I will say that with a little bit of thinking, such as have the youngest illustrate the information for their notebook while older children are capable of doing these nice resources.  Young children has such a short attention span that too much will really be just that for them! Short and sweet~the story portions would appeal perhaps as well as the illustrations if this study is used for family study with all ages!

PLUG for Notebooking~If you haven't tried notebooking learning, this is really a great way to have a child compile information and have a tangible resource for review, study and even for concept reinforcement. This method of study teaches organization too~I have done this FOR YEARS with my kids and now that they are teens it's a natural habit...all you need is a three ring binder and either a whole punch or page protectors. I always invested in protectors as it kept their work very neat and orderly.  Page protectors would be one of my greatest expenses in addition to curriculum in homeschooling...but oh so worth it! We liked the 3 ring binders with clear front pocket so we could create our own cover depending upon the subject...Just sayn..Have you tried notebooking? What do you think? If not, what do you use?

Head HERE to read what the CREW says!
Let me know, do you love Apologia? Have you ever used it?? This is awesome!

Lip Smackn' Good~Organe Flav Carmex Moisture Plus TM Lip Balm TRIAL~

Whooohoo! OH Yeah!!
I got to try it as part of Carmex Blog Squad and believe ME THIS ONE smells and feels divine! I'm a SUNSHINE gal and lovn' the orange scent/soft flavor makes it oh soo sweet! Go for it, CARMEX! I love that it's sheer too! Super moisturizing and soft~WOW!  Living in this cold blustery place makes SisterT very grateful for great lip products that make her lips pucker up sweet!

This tube of orange flav Carmex Moisture Plus TM Lip Balm was provided to me as part of the Carmex Blog Sqad in exchange for my opinions without monetary compensation. My opinions are my own.  This product is being test marketed with the bloggers and not available commercially~but I hope it will be soon! ;-))

Wanna get the latest Carmex info? 
Link up here!
Thanks again!!

SisterT ;-))