Some more books on Ebay

I started putting some books on Ebay this weekend.  Click here for the ones I posted on Saturday.

Here's my newly listed books.

Bad Girls of the Bible---Liz Curtis Higgs

Interpreting the Parables--Craig L. Blomberg

The Dream Giver--Bruce Wilkinson

A Survey of Bible Doctrine--Charles C. Ryrie

15 Minutes Along With God--Emilie Barnes

Bring Back the Joy--Sheila Walsh Women of Faith

Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses by Ron Rhodes

Lord, Only You Can Change Me--Kay Arthur

Opening Up God's Word: The Compact Survey of the Bible--John Balchin

The Creator and the Cosmos AND Creation and Time--Hugh Ross

Living by the Book--Howard Hendricks & William Hendricks

Well, I guess there IS a tooth fairy.

We don't do Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.  We didn't plan on doing the Tooth Fairy, but apparently she was willed into existence.

We've talked about the whole thing before the tooth losing process started.  It was just a fun thing that people do, but there wasn't really a tooth fairy.  But all of a sudden there was a lot of talk about fairies with the tooth fairy being high on the list.  And get this, even though I said she wasn't real, I was assured that she was real.

So a little over a week ago, mija got her first loose tooth.  We called abuelita and posted on FaceBook and everything.  Then began the process which started with delight and wiggling and ended today with despair and whining. 

Then during snack Friday evening, it happened!

Well, we had planned to do some kind of treat or reward for each lost tooth, sooooo we decided to go ahead and play the tooth fairy game.

Of course, the first thing every parent does is Google "tooth fairy amount".  It's been a long time since we've had dealings with the tooth fairy and the cost of living has gone up for humans and fairies alike we supposed.

I came across a cute website Tooth Fairy Letter.  It had tips for parents and printable letters from the Tooth Fairy. 

Sooooooo,

The tooth fairy brought $5 and a letter.  The letter congratulated her for losing her first tooth AND informed her she got "extra" this time because it was her first. 

{sigh} So, the tooth fairy is real.  I just wish it could have waited until the tooth fairy's next pay check!

My Ebay Listings today

I'm going to be posting A LOT of books and things on Ebay during the next few weeks.  I thought I would share them on here in case any of you would be interested.  Some are well loved.  Some are brand new. 

The Great Adventure--Woman of Faith

If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat--John Ortberg

The Ultimate Weight Solution: Dr. Phil McGraw

The Women of Faith Daily Devotional

Thank You for Being a Friend--Jill Briscoe

He Chose the Nails--Max Lucado

A Love So Big--Sheila Walsh

Strategies for a Successful Marriage--Promise Keepers

Christian Liberty Eclectic Reader Book K

Meeting God--J.I. Packer--12 Studies for individuals or groups

The What to Expect When You're Expecting Pregnancy Organizer--Pregnancy Diary

Corrie ten Boom's Prison Letters by Corrie ten Boom

The Heartache No One Sees--Sheila Walsh--Autographed

Wild at Heart--John Eldredge

Well, here are my first 15 listings. 

Friday Funny

I'm not a cat person, but this is great!



The Youtube description reads: For cat lovers - and Gioachino Rossini lovers - everywhere, this is one of the better renditions of Duetto buffo di due gatti (Humorous Duet for Two Cats), which was likely written not by Rossini but by Robert Lucas de Pearsall and based on Rossini's 1816 opera Otello.

See you can have your fun and education, too! 

Heroes for Our Children from Doorposts

Doorposts.com has a great piece about Reformation Day.

I love their idea about why to celebrate and how to celebrate.  I think we will include this next year!

Click Here to read the post.

Sunday Coupon Preview

Don't forget to plan for your coupons!

Welcome Home, Daddy

Celtic knotwork.  I love Celtic knotwork.

So, when I got Welcome Home, Daddy for my Gabby Moms review, I was excited!  There was knotwork on the cover AND the book was written by Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement.  It had to be good. 

Oh, and it was a real book!  Sure, downloadable things are convenient and inexpensive, but having a book in your hands, that's just joy.

This is how I looked most of the weekend!

The book is full of suggestions on how to make the best use the dinner and evening hours.  As usual, Lorrie lays the groundwork for all this by showing the importance of our role as wife and mother.

Now, I'm all aboard promoting the sacred calling of wife and mother.

But...

I have a confession...

We eat in the living room in front of the TV! 

There.  I said it.

Mea Culpa! 

I could explain that there are times with my health and energy, I'm just thankful to get some food made for my family.  OR  I could mention that both my husband and I grew up eating that way.

There is, however, a better way, and Lorrie writes in a way that encourages me to step up instead of condemning me.  That's the way Lorrie is.

So, if you would like some encouragement in this area as well, just get the details to purchase the book CLICK HERE.

Oh, and one more thing!

Would you like to be a Gabby Mom with me? Just go HERE to put in an application for 2012.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

The Miserable Druken Homemaker

Laurette Lynn
The Unplugged Mom

The Unplugged Mom has done it again. 

She has a great post about an disparaging example of how the noble calling of homemaker is viewed.

Let's take a simple symbol of homemaking like an apron and pervert it!

Check it out HERE.

Do you Trick or Treat?

Now is the time of year to ask yourself that important question.

Do you trick or do you treat?

Do you TRICK with your family by participating in Halloween?

OR

Do you TREAT your family by remembering a hero of our Christian faith?

Every year we remember Martin Luther and the start of the Protestant Reformation.  We chose this time of year because OCTOBER 31, 1517, Luther hung his 95 Thesis on the door of the church at Wittenburg.  That little act had HUGE consequences that we live with to this day.

This year, Catherine Jaime made it even easier.  I've reviewed other books and products she has done, so it wasn't a surprise that she would have a great product for Martin Luther, as well.

She offers "Martin Luther Lapbook Masters".  Keep in mind, it's exactly what it says.  It's master copies of things related to Luther that you can copy to make your own lapbook.  It doesn't tell you how to put it together nor does it teach you about Luther. 

So, if you don't know about Luther, you might want to read a book about him first.  You could use a classic like Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Hendrickson Classic Biographies)  for older ages or Martin Luther (Men of Faith) which I have used as a read aloud for mija.

Today we reviewed the time line included in the unit.  We had a little fun by cutting out the pictures and acting out the time line.  Then she made her lapbook.  Again, this doesn't tell you how to put it together, so I allowed mija to determine what to include and where to put it.

Here's the final product:

Here's her cover.

She wanted to do a page with the whole Luther family.  On the map, she traced the travels Luther made.

Here's the total inside.  She used the pictures of other key individuals and marked them on the timeline and used some of the other elements included in the unit to finish her book.

This was such a great review, and she always enjoys the creativity involved with compiling a lapbook!

And you still have plenty of time to do one for yourselves!  This unit is available on Currclick.com for immediate download, and right now, it's only $0.75!!!  That's right.  No TRICK involved.

So, TREAT your family to this lapbook to remember and rejoice in our Christian heritage!

Chosen not abandoned

There's been a lot shared about Steve Jobs since his death a few weeks ago.  I have nothing new to share.  No breaking news or surprise skeleton from his closet. 

I just want to point out that he was adopted.

Yes, at the time of his birth, abortion was illegal but still available.  Instead, his birthparents decided to give him up for adoption.

Just think what the world would have missed if he had been aborted and not adopted.  As Business Week put it, he was born "into an era of rotary phones and room-size computers. He died... having put a computer inside a phone..."

Think of all the people we have lost because they were murdered.  And all the wonderful ways we could have been blessed by them are also lost.

Thankfully, mija's birth parents chose adoption as well.  I'm overwhelmed that God chose us to be her parents and part of His plan in such a special way.

Chosen.

That was also something mentioned by Steve Jobs in this week's episode of "60 Minutes".  "From then on, I realized that I was not just abandoned. I was chosen. I was special."

That's why adoption here on earth is so special.  It's just a small example of the adoption God gives to those who believe.

John Piper had a great lesson on adoption.  He can share about it much more clearly than I ever could.

So, if you'd like to read or listen to it, just CLICK HERE.

Or here it is if you'd like to watch it!  (It's about 36 minutes.)

Friday Funnies--The computer generation

I found out about both of these two funnies on Training Children With Grace and Truth page on Facebook.  The topic was similar, so I thought I'd share both!

Sunday Coupon Preview

The Bishop of Liverpool from John Piper

Before we go any further, I want to make sure you read that correctly. 

I wrote the BISHOP of Liverpool not the BEATLES of Liverpool.  If you are reading expecting insects or a boys band, you're in the wrong place.

Every year for his Conference of Pastors, John Piper covers the biography of a hero of the faith.  If you'd like to see some of the past heroes just CLICK HERE.



One of the resources I wanted to point you to was THE DUTIES OF PARENTS by J.C. Ryle.  It's not a quick read, but well worth it.

Here's an example of what you have waiting for you:

Remember children are born with a decided bias towards evil, and therefore if you let them choose for themselves, they are certain to choose wrong.  The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be, — tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish he may be any of these things or not, — it is all uncertain.  But one thing the mother can say with certainty: he will have a corrupt and sinful heart.  It is natural to us to do wrong.  "Foolishness," says Solomon, "is bound in the heart of a child" (Prov. 22:15).  "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Prov. 29:15).  Our hearts are like the earth on which we tread; let it alone, and it is sure to bear weeds. 

OUCH!!  Someone who doesn't tell it like he sees it, but sees it like the Bible tells it!  

So go check out his piece on parenting and Piper's other resources as well!

Betsy's Price is Right: Bzzing about Scrubbing Bubbles

Betsy's Price is Right: Bzzing about Scrubbing Bubbles: I'm as special agent. A BzzzAgent in fact. I get to try things and bzz about them! Today the bzz is...

How much is that DOG-gy in the window?

We've done away with our Dish Network.  We're back to good old-fashioned rabbit ears.

We've gotten used to it.  In fact, we've come to find things we quite like about it (especially the price!).

The past week I've had some of my "feeling poorly" days.  It's those days that having something educational on TV can be beneficial.  I don't have to instruct and educational hours can still be counted.

PBS has had some great episodes about dogs.  They've been really interesting.  Besides, who doesn't like to watch dogs?

You can watch the whole episodes on PBS, in fact.
Nature has two different episodes: "Dogs That Changed the World" and "Dogs By Design".
AND
"Dogs Decoded" by NOVA.

Here are just a few facts that I thought was interesting.

The DNA of all dogs track their ancestry back to grey wolves.  Mija is having major challenges wrapping her mind around the fact that our chihuahua ancestors were wolves.

But there was one fact both programs were sure would be surprising to Darwin.  The "evolution" of the wolf to dog happened (gasp!) within a human generation.

Hmmm.  Gives one pause, yes?

Also interesting that they are using the word "evolution."  After all, a wolf didn't evolve into another species.  Certain wolves merely "adapted" themselves into another character.

Anyway, such things make for good conversations and clarifications for the family!

Don’t Occupy Education? - By Charles C. W. Cooke - The Corner - National Review Online

Just had to share this link. Found out about it from David Barton of Wallbuilders.  The picture is just an added benefit!

Don’t Occupy Education? - By Charles C. W. Cooke - The Corner - National Review Online

They don’t need socialization! They need FRIENDSHIP!

Laurette Lynn
"The Unplugged Mom"

Have you heard of The Unplugged Mom?  I first became familiar with her at the HECOA teleconference back in September.  Her meeting was entitled "De-Schooling Dynamics".

She believes strongly that home educated children do not socialize nor do they need to be socialized.

In fact, one of her recent pieces is "They don't need socialization! They need FRIENDSHIP!" 

Check it out.

Science on the "fly"

OK, it wasn't a fly, but it was an insect.

Mija was outside playing when all of sudden she comes running through the door, "Mommy, have you ever seen a bug that looks like a plant?" 

Well, of course I have says I.  Thinking back to all the photos of walking sticks and such I've seen. 

"There's one out here right now!!  Come see!"

You're a parent.  You know what I'm thinking.  "This sofa feels very comfortable and the last time you told me to come see some nondescript item."  BUT ALAS!  I didn't say it.  Instead, I actually got up to go see.

And this is what she saw:

And then she said, "I have a hypothesis...."

That's right.  She had a hypothesis. (Thanks, Dinosaur Train.)

She thought that God had made this insect look like a leaf, so it wouldn't be eaten by predators (her word) because it looks like a leaf.

After doing some research with me on the Internet, you know what we found out about this katydid (for that is what it was)?

God made it look like a leaf, so it wouldn't be eaten by predators. 

Her hypothesis was correct!

Needless to say, the next day after our research, there was some photo printing and journaling involved.  (I didn't do it the same day because I didn't want to interupt her play time AND touching on the same subject for two days, made it more memorable.)

So, that was our science on the fly.  The joy of home education!

Homeschool Blog Awards

Want to do something fun?  How about participating in the Homeschool Blog Awards?  Nominations started Oct. 10 and will go until the this Friday, Oct. 21. 

Here's the gyst of how it works.  During this week you can nominate homeschool blogs in up to 20 different catagories like Best Design, Best Family or Group, Best Teen, Best Vlogger, Funniest, and more.  Then Nov. 7-8 vote for the best! 

Doesn't that sound like fun?  To participate, just hit the button above or below to take you to the site.

Michael's Sale--costumes? art class?

Michael's is having a special sales promotion this month for decorations and costumes.  We don't do Halloween, BUT I have a birthday party coming up in November for mija (I can't believe she'll be 7!) in which she wants a Tangled birthday.  She even wants to dress up like Repunzel from the movie.  This is a perfect time to look into that.

Also, Michael's offers great classes for kids which are usually free or very inexpensive.  They are great opportunities to get out and get some art credit done for school!  AND you didn't have to do any plannning or clean-up!

Just click the picture and it will take you to the sale!

Top 10 Things NOT to Say

The HomeScholar posted this funny on their FB status.  I just had to share it!

Top 10 Things NOT to say when asked "What?! No school today?"


10. Well normally yes, but this time of year I need help with the planting and plowing.

9. Goodness, no!!! I graduated 18 years ago, but thanks for the compliment!

8. No, we homeschool. We're just out to pick up a bag of pork rinds and some Mountain Dew, then we gotta hurry home to catch our soaps.
7. What?! Where did you guys come from?! Oh my gosh! I thought I told you kids to stay at school! I'm sorry. This happens all the time. (sigh)

6. There isn't? Why, you'd think we would have seen more kids out then, don't you?

5. We're on a field trip studying human nature's intrusive and assumptive tactics of displaying ignorance and implied superiority. Thanks for the peek!

4. On our planet we have different methods of education. (Shhh! No, I didn't give it away... keep your antennae down!)

3. Oh my goodness! I thought that today was Saturday...come on kids, hurry!

2. Noooooope. e 'n Bubba jes' learns 'em at home. Werks reel good!

And the number one answer we should NEVER give to the question: "What? No school today?"

1. "What? No Bingo today?"

Free Aerospace and Denfense Calendar

Betsy's Price is Right: Free Aerospace and Denfense Calendar: A cool looking 2012 calendar for free!

Click HERE.

7 Homeschool Heresies

Terri of Knowledge Quest has a great piece entitled "7 Homeschool Heresies."

So, is it true?!?

Can you take days off?

Can you finish before noon?

Find out the answers to these questions and more HERE!

Sunday Coupon Preview

Columbus Day in Review

Monday was Columbus Day.  We had school but did a significant part of our lessons around Columbus. 

Before I brag on my daughter and her Columbus Day accomplishments, I just had to comment on the whole Columbus controversy.

There were obviously positive and negative consequences from Columbus coming to the western hemisphere.  Those can and will be debated, pondered, and felt for years to come.

But to say he didn't discover something just because there were people already here?  Really? Just because you may not agree or appreciate what Columbus did, you're going to deny his acheivement?

You know, I discovered a great new coffee house last week  AND there were people there already!

DISCOVER (Merriam-Webster.com)
1a : to make known or visible : expose

2a : to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time
 
Columbus did obtain knowledge for the first time about the western hemisphere AND it did make it known to Europe at that time.  That sounds like he discovered it by the definition.  (Yes, Erickson did it earlier, but that wasn't known to the Europeans of 1492.)
 
OK, I'll get off my soapbox and brag on mija now.
 
After our lessons, I had a worksheet I wanted her to do which would have her write about Columbus.  He had a word bank which I thought was helpful and a small picture to color. 
 
It's not the first time nor will it be the last in which I have her do an activity like this.  This time, however, she asked to do it differently.  She said, "Wouldn't it be cool if I wrote it like I was Columbus?"  Hmmm.  First person narrative.  Her own creative idea.  You betcha!
 
So this was the outcome.

In case you can't read it, she wrote, "Hi my name is Columbus.  You are going to hear about me.  I sailed across the ocean and found America."
 
I know he didn't actually discover the American continent, but it was one of the choices in the word bank.  The picture was cut out of the other worksheet and glued to her notebook and colored.
 
I think Columbus' line, "You are going to hear about me." is a hoot! 

Ahh!! My child is behind!

Last week, we attending a school carnival for our church's Christian school.

We don't usually attend because, well, we don't attend the school, but I'm so glad we did this time.

Why?

Because I realized mija is lacking two skills that attending school requires.

First, standing in line. 

Yup, mija doesn't understand standing in line.  She didn't understand getting in the back of the line, making sure no one cuts in front of you, losing your place if you step out of line, etc. 

Thankfully, standing-in-line skills that she can learn in places other than a school.  I can point out the manners involved in standing in line in our day-to-day life which is actually a benefit of home education. Not a major issue.

Second, age segregation.

Each grade had its own colored shirt.  You could see students from each grade hanging out together.  You didn't see little blue shirts with big yellow shirts or medium green shirts with smaller orange shirts.

I could see mija running around to visit with her blue friends and her orange friends and some green friends.  She did start hanging more with a specific friend, but it didn't hamper her from visiting with whomever she chose to visit.

Do I want to remedy this?  NO WAY!!!  That is one of the benefits of home education.  My child can form relationships with people based on mutual admiration and commonalities instead of socializing based on a forced age segregation. 

So, two school skills.  One , not a big deal which can be learned in life.  The second, a big deal that not learning will benefit her in life.

Do you need a reason to celebrate?

Celebrate good times!  Celebrate!

You gotta' cut loose.  Footloose. 

You gotta' fight for your right to party!

Ok, I admit it.  I'm a chid of the 80s. 

All I'm trying to say is there are so many reasons to celebrate!  I like finding new "holidays" to incorporate into our educational day. 

It helps to plan a few days in advance if you want to include some books.  Besides just reading, how about trying out different types of oatmeal and graphing which one is preferred during National Oatmeal month?  Definitely need to play with play-dough on National Play-Dough Day.  I think research skills should be practiced on National Bouillabaisse Day because what exactly is bouillabaisse?

To find out about all kinds of American holidays that you never even knew existed visit American Holidays. 

Enchanted Learning Monthly Activity Calendar has both national and international things to celebrate along with links to activities for many of them.

Looking for holidays of specific countries?  Try Wikipeida's list of holidays by country.

Don't neglect using celebrations for fun educational ways of integrating as many subjects as you like!

Growing in her own faith

Hawaiian night at AWANA

 It's hard to believe that my little baby is going to be seven next month!

What has really been cool the past few weeks is seeing evidence of her growing in her understanding of spiritual things, "trying things on" as hers, and asking questions to verify her beliefs.

Mija has learned that if my Bible is open in front of me and/or I have my glasses off and my hand covering my face,  I'm "spending time with God."  Not as original as Susannah Wesley putting an apron over her head, but she gets the point.

Recently, I started a new Bible study that includes online accountability.  So now, she sometimes finds me with my computer open.  The other morning she tip-toed around and eventually asked if I was just on my computer or "still with God."  How precious that was to me.  Not only was she being sensitive to my needs, but more importantly, she knew that my quiet time was serious and involved God. 

Of course, with October the big Halloween issue comes to a head.  We don't do Halloween preferring instead to focus on Martin Luther and the Reformation.  He posted the 95 Thesis which started the Reformation on Oct. 31, 1517.  Depending on where we live, we do hand out candy with Gospel tracts because when else does the world come to your door?

Anyway, we've explained to mija both from Biblical and historical views why we don't recognize Halloween.  This has caused some concern on her part why other Christians do participate.  A couple of weeks ago while playing with some friends from church Halloween came up as a topic apparently because when they left, mija informed my husband that she had talked to about it.  "I told them we don't do Halloween because that's when Satan's priests have party."  Well, not tactful, but she gets points for honesty!

She must have had a similar conversation when her cousin came over because the day after she asked me a question.  She was playing with her blocks on the floor, looked up at me, and asked, "God does hate things doesn't He?  Primo says He doesn't."  I assured her that, yes, there are things like sin and evil that He does hate.  To make it easy, I just took her to Proverbs 6 to show her a small list. 

I really appreciated the fact that first, she obviously was mulling over spiritual things on her own and second, she knew to come to us instead of just taking someone else's word for it.

I know that growth is a process.  I'm thankful when God let's me see some outward evidence.  Still praying that outward behaviors are an evidence of what the Spirit is or will be working on the inside beliefs!