Why in the World Would I Homeschool?

DISCLAIMER:  I am not writing this to tell you that if you don't homeschool you should.  I am not writing this to tell you that if your kids go to another form of school that there is something wrong with you.  I am simply writing this to encourage those who wonder if homeschooling is for them, to remind those who do why they do, and to answer some questions posed by those who might simply have questions about why we do.

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I attended my first homeschool conference when my oldest (now 15) was three years old.  My husband, John, had said that he wanted us to homeschool.  My exact words to him were "I don't know.  I could sure use that 8-hour break a day."  At that point, I only had two very young children.  Now I have three who are 11, 13, and 15.  Knowing that there was going to be a conference, I told John I'd go but that I'd have to see the handwriting on the wall.  Before the last seminar of the day, I called him to tell him that we would be homeschooling.  He asked how long, and I declared we'd homeschool the whole way through high school.  "That must have been some seminar," he remarked.  It was, and I had seen the handwriting on the wall.  The stories I had heard about the kids and the relationships between child and parent were enough to persuade me.  Little did I know then what a HUGE blessing it would be for our family.

I have had an amazing opportunity over the years to help others along in their homeschooling journey.  Whenever someone has a question, I am willing to find an answer for them and to share some piece of our homeschooling journey, if it fits the situation.  I have had some folks ask me recently about homeschooling.  Since I have moved to a new state, I am a little less comfortable sharing what the law is.  You learn a lot more when you spend nine years homeschooling in a state than just one year.  I can, however, share the blessings and our reasons behind it and try to help them make a decision that is best for their family.

Let me just say, before I start listing reasons to homeschool, that it is a calling.  It is a major undertaking and not for the faint of heart.  God also calls some parents to have their kids in brick-and-mortar schools.  You shouldn't feel bad that you don't homeschool unless you know you're ignoring your calling because you are afraid.  I digress.

Reasons to Homeschool:

1.  MORE TIME WITH THE KIDS

Trust me, it isn't lollipops and ice cream every day.  We don't sit around singing Kum Ba Yah.  We don't get up early, get all our school done by 10 a.m., and then sing praise songs all day.  We get up late, have our school done by 10 p.m., and the kids sing Minecraft songs all day.  In all seriousness, it isn't that bad, but we are together.  Now that my oldest is 15, I realize how fast time goes.  Our conversations about Jacob's schooling now center around the fact that he'll be out of the house in a few years.  It's normal, but it's sad.  I cherish this time I have with him, with all of my kids, right now. I'm glad it is me who gets to spend time with him and not 400 other kids and however many teachers he'd have.  Not many people appreciate my kids the way I do because they just don't know them.  One story I've shared a lot lately is the conversation I had with Jacob while we were out one day.  I asked him why he so often chose to go with me when I'd go to the store or run some errand.  He stated, "Because it is fun."  My 15 year old thinks spending time with his mom is fun!  Success!

2.  CHOICE OF CURRICULUM

Since I am the teacher, I get to choose what they learn.  I can tailor their learning to their learning style.  It isn't a one-size-fits-all curriculum.  There are thousands of choices in the homeschooling market nowadays.  I don't use one curriculum for all subjects, e.g. Abeka, because I don't want to miss something out there that is great and would work really well with my kids.  I had been using Apologia Science since I found it because I absolutely love it, but I knew Nate (who is going into 8th grade) would not do as well with that style of curriculum.  The Physical Science book is a very thick book with a LOT of words.  He is perfectly capable of understanding it, but the format alone would not hold his interest.  So, this next year, for him, we are trying something different, something that is much more hands on - Exploration Education.  I can also tailor their learning to things they are excited about. For instance, Paige loves horses.  I can work horses into every subject if I want.  She can learn about the anatomy of horses.  Math can consist of horses being so many hands high.  There have been famous horses throughout history.  She can write reports about horses.  The list goes on and on, and this can be done with any topic.

3.  FIELD TRIPS

This is one of the things I love the most about homeschooling.  It really goes hand in hand with #1.  The kids and I, and sometimes Dad if he isn't working, go to museums, forts, old town tours, battle sites, etc.  We have thousands of pictures that include our family visiting all sorts of places throughout Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Florida; Virginia; South Carolina; California; Nevada; Arizona; and Kentucky.  We visited the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam.  It was amazing to be able to go there!  We are creating memories.  Not only will they remember the places they've been, but they will remember that they were there with their family.  Their best memories will include their parents.

4.  SOCIALIZATION

Many opponents of homeschooling or people with a limited knowledge of it will ask, "What do you do about socialization?"  I always answer by telling them all of the activities they are involved in, but what I really want to say is "If socialization means my kids act like most kids in schools these days, then I don't want them to be socialized."  Now, I don't think I'd ever have the nerve to say that.  In reality, because my kids don't spend eight hours a day surrounded by kids their own age, they are able to have remarkable conversations with adults.  Yes, I know there are kids who go to brick-and-mortar schools who are just as capable.  I'm not suggesting only homeschooled kids can talk maturely with adults, but I am glad mine can, and I do attribute it to a great deal of their socialization being with adults.

5.  FAITH-BASED LEARNING

A great reason to homeschool is so that you know what your kids are learning.  It is sad to think that there are teachers who stray from the accepted curriculum and interject their own beliefs into the classroom.  It's hard to know what they will come home with next.  I don't think it is bad that a science curriculum would have something like evolution in it, but it is unfortunate that it is taught as the  truth.  Who was there in the beginning who can attest to the big bang theory?  Students should be given all the views and be allowed to choose what they believe.  There should not be indoctrination.  At home, the family's belief system can be taught.  I encourage my kids, now that they are older, to understand differing views and weigh them with what they believe.  I love it when they ask questions so that they can further understand something.  We look for the answers together.

6.  SAFETY

This was one of my reasons when we started (it is a little less so now).  I have seen bullies in action, and I didn't want my kids to have to go through that.  I didn't want them to be pressured with drugs, alcohol, or sex.  I didn't want them learning certain things before we, their parents, thought they were ready.  My kids stayed relatively innocent for a very long time.  They are still very modest.  They have made healthy choices and have vowed to not make the wrong choices.  Hopefully, they will stay true to their word.

7.  IT IS FUN!!!!

I hope you can tell from this post that I think homeschooling is a blast.  We have days when the kids fight or I have to tell them 100 times to get their math done.  My house is cluttered with papers and magazines.  I can't see the top of my dining room table more than one day a week, if that, but all of that doesn't matter.  We are together; we are learning (I love learning alongside the kids).  If you ask my kids if they want to stop homeschooling, they will tell you unreservedly, "NO!"  This I count as success.

There are more reasons (feel free to share yours in the comments), but I have named a few of ours.  I know some folks can't homeschool for various reasons.  There is no condemnation.  You must do what is right for your family.  God will let you know that.  If he wants you to homeschool, he will provide a way.

So many women say, "I'd love to homeschool, but I don't have the patience" or "I'd love to homeschool, but I'm no good at math (insert any subject into this sentence)."  Someone once said something to the effect, "If God calls you to it, he will carry you through it."  If it's God's will, there is a way.  I don't have a lot of patience either, so I say "sorry" when I need to.  Like I said, I learn right along with them.  If you feel you are lacking in some area, there is an endless supply of help.  There are homeschoolers in your area, all over Facebook, blogging, on Pinterest, on the internet, and in homeschooling magazines.  We are here; reach out, and we will help you as much as we can.

Don't let anything stop you if you feel God is calling you to homeschool your kids, even if it means pulling them out of school once the year has started.  You can do that.  God will provide.  Don't let anyone else's opinion deter you either.  You must obey God.  You owe it to your kids especially when it concerns them.  You will be blessed.  Your kids will be blessed.  Trust me, your extended family and your community will be blessed as well.

(Please feel free to add your reasons or examples of your homeschooling journey.  Please do not comment if you are going to bash me.  I hold nothing against people who don't homeschool.)

Who is God?

“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” - Richard Dawkins

“I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms.” - Albert Einstein

***

As I read through some of the things folks in the past and at present have said about God, I was deeply saddened.  Without knowledge of the Creator, they are hopeless.  The chief aim of their lives is to do anything they can to please themselves.  Even though some of them claim there is no God, they seem so full of hatred toward God that they contradict themselves in their belief in his existence.

I am not a Biblical scholar, but I know God.  I can see him at work.  Things happen that have no scientific or worldly explanation.  Lives are transformed, lives that, according to society, have no redeeming qualities?  Did they make the change with themselves?  Read the story of Johnny Lee Clary, former Imperial Wizard of the KKK.  https://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/Johnny-Lee-Clary-010411.aspx

He says, "God is love."  The only reason any of us have the capacity to love in any form is because we are created in the image of God.  God is love.  If it weren't for God, well, we wouldn't be here.  If, though, there were a way for us to be here without God, we would certainly not love each other.  We would all do whatever pleased us at the time, whatever felt good.  When we try to live without God, this is what we do.  We please ourselves, rather than our Creator.  How many stories have you heard of people who have all the success they ever wanted, ever could have dreamed about having, but still feel empty?  Why do you suppose that is?  They are missing that relationship with God.  They are not missing religion; they are missing relationship.

Religion is a set of rules; religion is tradition.  A relationship with Christ is neither of those things.  It is full of love and understanding.  We screw up, but God loves us still.  Think about your love for your kids.  When they do something bad, you still love them, right?  So it is with God.  We do not have to prove ourselves to him.  We do not have to live a perfect life.  We can't.  But, because we love Christ, we choose to please Him.  

Oh, you don't believe in Christ?  If the Bible isn't enough proof of his existence, there are historical, nonreligious documents that prove his existence.  Check out http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/historicalev.htm.  This appears to be a good article with examples of historical sources proving Christ's existence.  Atheists and agnostics who have studied the Bible to disprove it become convinced of its veracity and become believers.  Why do you think this is?  It is because it is true; it is life changing truth.

The quote by Albert Einstein above is sadly flawed in its philosophy.  God's purposes are NOT modeled after our own.  God is not a reflection of human frailty.  If you imagine God a certain way in your mind, then I suppose his purposes would be modeled after our own and would be a reflection of human frailty, but the God I know, the One True God, is perfect.  He is constant.  His attributes NEVER change.  The person who truly knows God allows his life to be directed by the purposes of God.  He does not put God in a box, for God could never fit inside any box our finite minds could imagine.  

I feel sorry for Richard Dawkins.  He does not know God.  Supposing he actually read the Bible, the only thing he got from it is that God is petty and unjust, a megalomaniac and a malevolent bully.  Certainly, the Old Testament is hard to take at times.  God did allow groups of people to die.  He did allow the Israelites to wander in the desert for 40 years.  There are so many stories to read which could allow us to characterize God like Dawkins has, but I wonder if he has read Psalms or if he has read John 3:16.  "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever should believe in him will not perish but have eternal life."  Does this sound like a petty, unloving bully?  

Don't blindly deny God's existence.  Search the Scripture for yourself - the whole Scripture.  You will find a God of love and second chances.  Oh wait, more like infinite chances to turn back to him.  You run out of chances when you die.  God is full of mercy and grace.  He heals, protects, and trusts.  He keeps no record of our wrongs.  Contrast this with Satan who is always throwing our past sins back in our faces.  God does not envy; he has no need to.  He is kind and patient.  The list could go on and on.  One thing he is not, and that is anything evil.  If a word pops into your mind to describe God and it is not a way in which you would want to be described, it is certainly not a word that can be used to describe God.  If you want to describe God in this way, then you don't really know him.

Here are some quotes from folks who know God:

"“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” - C.S. Lewis

“Stop asking God to bless what you're doing. Find out what God's doing. It's already blessed.” - Bono

“Any faith that must be supported by the evidence of the senses is not real faith.” - A. W. Tozer

Math Mammoth: A Review

With math products for first through eighth grade, Math Mammoth provides a mastery approach to learning.  A long time is spent on each of the topics, and not too many topics are taught per grade.  We had the privilege of using the Light Blue Series complete curriculum for grade 4.  

We received the downloadable version which included two separate worktexts, an answer key for each worktext, tests (and answers), cumulative review worksheets,  and printable fraction cutouts.  Text A covers addition, subtraction, patterns, graphs, place value, multi-digit multiplication, time, and measuring.  Text B has the student focusing on division, geometry, fractions, and decimals.

I had Paige do a few pages from each chapter, more if I noticed she was struggling.  She said one thing she liked was that the pages had some color on them.  Many math programs are simply black and white, but she appreciated the use of color.

We worked through everything but geometry, fractions, and decimals.  Division is a bit more difficult for Paige, but she was getting a handle on it as we worked through the problems.

Some of the word problems were a little bit confusing, but we were able to figure them out.  The section on multiplication described two methods of computation.  The first was extremely confusing to me until I figured it out.  The second was the "old-school" method that I learned when I was a kid.  Since I had already explained that method to Paige, I told her to just do it the second way.

I really like the way the curriculum teaches a concept and then provides real life word problems.  Some questions ask more than just the math concept, which allows the student to be somewhat creative.  For example, the section on temperature asked Paige to "describe a situation to fit these temperatures."  For -12 degrees F, she wrote, "'Freezing, stay indoors."  She wrote, "Hot, go swimming to keep cool," for 102 degrees F.  Her answers made me laugh.

There are two companies through which purchases can be made.  The full set for fourth grade is $34.00.  Each separate worktext can be purchased alone for $17.50 as well.  They each include the items listed above, as well as a worksheet maker and Soft-Pak (if purchasing from Kagi) which includes a language arts and two testing programs.

The other grades have a slight difference in price depending on grade.  Discounts are available when purchasing multiple grades.  The entire set of the light blue series can be purchased for $136 (downloadable) or $141 (CD).  Grades 1-3 and grades 4-6 are each available in a downloadable version for $68.  When you consider how much some math curricula cost, these are amazing prices, and the product is definitely worth it.

There are many other products available from Math Mammoth such as Books by Topic, Worksheets by Grade, Worksheets by Topic, and Real-Life Math.  Check them out.  

A New Way of Life

As smoke billowed from my oven, I thought back to my post at the beginning of May when I talked about wanting to be one of "those" people.  You know, the folks who are homesteaders, who grow their own vegetables, who sew their own clothes, who make all their own furniture and soap...  Actually, I'd be happy to be able to make my own bread from time to time and have a garden in my backyard.

When I went to the FPEA Homeschooling Convention in Orlando a few weeks ago, I attended a workshop about creating a cancer-free zone in our homes with our nutrition.  It really spoke to me.  After spending a week or so mulling over the information in my head and relating it to John, I decided it was time for a change.  The next time I went to the store I purchased organic fruit and veggies, hormone- and antibiotic-free milk and meat, wheat flour, unbleached white flour, a loaf of whole wheat bread, and some packets of yeast.  Making my own bread with unbleached flour is on the horizon but, for now, I will buy the bread.

Yesterday I went to a Whole Foods grocery store nearby and bought two full chickens for only $12.00.  That seemed like a great price for natural chicken with no antibiotics or hormones.  So, I came home and searched online for a great recipe and found Herb Roasted Whole Chicken on the Pioneer Woman blog.  They were first stuffed with onions and carrots, and then I placed a rub on them that had oil and herbs in it.  While my birds were cooking at 450 degrees F, I could hear popping and sizzling and then the smoke started to come out from behind the door of my oven and then the vents at the top.  I turned my microwave fan on to help, but I ended up having to put the chickens in my portable roaster to finish them.  I'm not sure what I did wrong, but now I need to clean my oven.  They look pretty, though, don't they?

I also purchased a bag of organic golden potatoes.  I waited too long to do anything really creative, so I  peeled and quartered them and then placed them in a pot of water to boil.  Once they were soft, I mashed them and tried to make cheater potato pancakes with them, but I added too much milk.  TIP: Pour just a tiny amount of milk and then mash.  Add more milk as needed.  Don't pour the milk into the potatoes like you might do with your cereal.  :-(

As we sat down to eat, I accounted for the appearance of the potatoes by stating I was experimenting with new foods and my own recipes.  Many blogs I had read recently encouraged trial and error.  I was succeeding in that department last night, although the chicken was very good.

There are five of us in our family, so we did not pick the chickens clean.  After dinner was over, I dug in and pulled all the meat I could find off the bones and placed it in a container for a later use.  It was a strangely satisfying endeavor.  Does that sound weird?

For my meal tonight, I used some of the leftover chicken to make stir fry.  I put some canola oil in a large skillet, threw in some of the shredded chicken, added cut-up broccoli and mushrooms (organic, of course), and some peas (I should have left these out).  Once these ingredients had cooked through, I poured in some Kikkoman Natural Stir Fry Sauce.  This was purchased before I went organic, but I was glad it was at least all natural.  It was delicious!  The only thing it lacked was cashews.

So, I am in a fun place and a better place right now.  I don't want to be one of "those" people.  I want to be me.  I feel like I am doing the right thing for me and my family even though it might come with a very dirty oven and a bit of smoke from time to time.  The fun is in the journey, right?

This Day in History

It was exactly a year ago today that we arrived in Florida with all of our belongings.  So much has happened in that year.  Allow me to recap and then I will share some new happenings.

1.  We signed a contract on a house, waited five months for it to be built, and then moved in on Halloween Day, October 31, 2012.

9 days before we moved in

Unloading in the garage with friends

2.  I had a part-time job, but I quit.

3.  John had a contract-to-hire position, which he quit to take a permanent position.

4.  We've reconnected with old friends and made many new ones.

5. We've been to Disney at least four times, historical places in Old St. Augustine, the Daytona 500, and Navarre Beach to go camping with friends and see a sandsculpting competition.

There is a waterspout in the center of the picture.

6.  We met an amazing family, the Olsons, who had just moved here four weeks before we did. Her two boys, and our two boys hit it off right away and have been great friends since.  We went to the Jacksonville Zoo together, and Jake was a member of the "Brickologists" Lego Robotics team. Karyn Olson coached, and her boys were members as well.

  

7.  I started woodcarving again.  I had done this more than 15 years ago and picked it up again.  I like these new items more than the old.

8.  In December, we picked up Cocoa, our half chocolate lab, half chicken puppy.  Actually, there is a good chance that she is half beagle as well.  She was 14.5 pounds three days after we brought her home.  She is at least 45 pounds six months later.  She is also going to doggy training to become a better dog.

 9.  My family came to visit for Christmas.  Our neighbors own a gaming company, and they blew up their human hamster ball so that we could play with it in our backyard on Christmas Day.  It definitely wasn't the kind of Christmas I was used to - no snow and not cold.  It was the best winter season I've ever experienced!

10.  God has given me the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to mentor some women.  I am humbled and excited!

11.  Jacob has gotten his permit and has been driving only a few times.  It's a lot more nerve wracking than I thought it would be.

12.  Paige has been learning how to play the violin and has continued dancing.

13.  Nate has decided that he wants to be a popular YouTuber.  He is learning how to make Minecraft videos and put them on YouTube.  Minecraft is also something new they have discovered since being in Florida.

14.  We found a new homeschool co-op where the kids and I have found some great friends.  I will be teaching a class about natural disasters there next year.

15.  We are members of an amazing church and help out with the youth.

There have been so many new experiences this year.  It has also been a very hard year.  This was the most difficult homeschooling year we've had.  I had considered having the kids do the Florida Virtual Charter School next year, but God let me know that that was not His plan for us.  I attended a convention last week and was refreshed and energized, eager to begin a new school year with a new perspective and plan.

One of the most exciting things for me, besides mentoring, happened last week.  An advertisement looking for a writer ("star contributor") for a homeschooling website was published by a company I "liked" on Facebook.  I have wanted to be a published author for 20 years and thought I'd give it a shot.  I emailed to let them know I was interested and sent them my blog address and the first chapter of a novel I started a couple of years ago.  They were excited to welcome me to their crew.  So, as of tomorrow, I will be a published author.  I am writing portions of daily homeschool lessons for www.SchoolhouseTeachers.com and will, hopefully, eventually be creating full curricula for the site.  I am excited to see what God has in store for my future since I am living a dream I've had for so long.

I do miss my friends and family who are back in PA, but I am so thankful for God directing us to St. Augustine.  His hand was definitely guiding the whole process, and we have been blessed abundantly.

Paper Jungle: A Review of "See the Light"

Created by Dave and Pat Holt, See the Light brings Scripture and biblical principles to kids of all ages along with master art instruction using a variety of media and techniques.  One of the products that is available is a 9-DVD collection of Art Projects.  Each project teaches the history and style of a different artist.  The set sells for $99.99.  The DVDs are also available separately for $14.99.  Each is geared towards children 10 and older.  The project we were able to review was Paper Jungle.  

Paper Jungle teaches the history and style of Henri Rousseau.  After each art lesson, master artist Pat Knepley picks up her Bible and reads a portion of Scripture and gives a well-thought out lesson.  It is evident that she has a heart for teaching the kids both about art and the Lord.

The presentation on the video is 1-1/2 hours, but it is divided into 4 different lessons:

1.  Background: Cutting Trees

2.  Foreground: Grass and Leaf Shapes

3.  Focal Points: Flora and Fauna

4.  The Final Step: Overlapping and Gluing

We completed the DVD in about a week and a half, allowing as much time as needed to finish each portion of the project.  Students are encouraged to do a lot of cutting and add a lot of color to their pictures.  Paige is a minimalist (to put it politely).  She was happy with having fewer elements in her picture, but it still turned out well.  She is very critical of her artistic ability, but she was able to draw and cut out a tiger that was her best ever, much better than I could draw.  She took the initiative to cut the stripes herself and add them to her tiger.

I think Paige enjoyed working on this project.  She was able to pause the DVD whenever she wanted to see exactly what she was supposed to draw or cut.  I greatly appreciated the Scripture lessons that were shared.  The video quality and sound were very good, and the set (where the video was filmed) was simple and distraction free.

There are such interesting looking projects in the other DVDs in the Art Projects line.  (Click here to view them.)  They are:

Tiffany Window in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany

Repeated Sweets in the style of Wayne Thiebaud

Pointillism Fruit in the style of Georges Seurat

Poppy Collage in the style of Georgia O'Keeffe

Dreams of Joseph in the style of Marc Chagall

Horsing Around in the style of Edgar Degas

Peaceful Seas in the style of Winslow Homer

Sunflowers in the style of Vincent Van Gogh

There is another option for those who are interested in obtaining all of the DVDs but don't have $99.99 all at one time - the Art Projects DVD-of-the-Month club.  For $12.50 a month, one DVD will be sent to you.  Each month, one of the nine DVDs will be mailed out until you have received all nine.

See the Light also has Art Class DVDs, online classes, a cartooning DVD, and Bible story art lessons on DVD.  Some of these other programs are suitable for children as young as 5 years old.

Simplified Pantry Review: Here's One for the Moms!

I am not very good at planning dinner.  I often find myself asking the question, "What am I going to do for dinner tonight?" 30 minutes before we are supposed to eat.  Simplified Pantry has provided a solution.  Mystie Winckler has made available to the public her years of trial and error produced out of a necessity to provide for her oldest child who was allergic to corn through Simplified Dinners.  Once she found out he was no longer allergic, she continued to prepare meals in this simplified way.  Natural ingredients used to create from-scratch meals are better for you, cost less, and taste much better than the preservative-filled foods that are "quicker."  Simplified Dinners Gluten Free/Dairy Free is set up the same way that Simplified Dinners is, but special attention is given to a menu that has gluten-free and dairy-free choices.

When I opened the file and started reading, I was immediately encouraged.  I thought, "I want to do this.  I want my life to be simple like this."  Mystie says that simplifying your menu planning and having less to keep track of frees up mental resources.  Who couldn't use some mental resources freed up?  I know I could.  She also says that limitation brings freedom.  It is such a simple concept.  I know that I would love to walk through the grocery store and not feel bombarded by all of the choices, most of which are not even good for me or my kids.  I wouldn't have to clip coupons for every product I might ever use or that would maybe at some point in life be on sale before the coupon expires.  There would be freedom (and an uncluttered table).

How do I know what to buy for my simplified menu planning and cooking?  Well, Mystie has created a Mastery Pantry List for each of the books.  These are the fewest things to have on hand to make anything in the book.  She lists produce, seasonings, dry goods like cornstarch and wheat, bottled goods like vanilla and oil, canned goods, dairy, meat, frozen ingredients, and beer or wine depending on the recipe you choose.  I would suggest going through the recipes before you fill your pantry.  There are probably some things you won't use.  On the other hand, there may be things you like that she doesn't list.  One of the great things about this list and these recipes is that they are easily customizable.

Simple, basic instructions are listed at the top of each page of recipes along with specifics for the flavor you are going for.  For instance, the page for slow-cooker roasts has four basic instructions.  Number two says to whisk together seasoning ingredients.  The ingredients you'll use in this step are listed for the specific recipe.

There are beef, pork, fish, and chicken recipes.  There are pasta recipes and bean recipes.  The Mexican food lover will be pleased as there are fajita, taquito, and quesadilla recipes, as well as instructions for a taco bar and burritos.  There are egg recipes and homemade pizza recipes with a large variety of sauce recipes for your pizza.  Mystie has included potatoes-as-a-meal recipes, stews, quick soups, main dish salads, veggie side dishes, and starch side dishes.  I personally don't eat any pork, so I would skip every recipe with pork or substitute another meat.

I love to use my crockpot, if I can remember that I have it in time to actually finish the cooking process before we need to eat.  My favorite recipe was the Orange Honey Chicken. There were only four ingredients needed, and they were ingredients I always have in my house.  I used no-antibiotic, no-hormone chicken cut up into tenders that were already thawed (instructions are given for frozen and thawed), orange juice, honey (recipe says brown sugar can be used as well), and a little bit of ketchup.  It created a sweet and tangy sauce.  The amount I made for my chicken was close to what would be included in a bottle of sweet and sour sauce for a fraction of the cost, and it had no preservatives besides what was in the ketchup.  There was not one complaint from my family members.

 The e-books are available as PDF files for $12.99.  This is a great price considering the number of recipes included and the flexibility it gives the cook.  The only trick in all of this is to find your meat on sale, but we all probably try to do that anyway.

The gluten- and dairy-free book is extremely helpful for those on these restrictions.  A list of ingredients that may potentially contain gluten, as well as one for dairy, is provided at the beginning of the book.  Even the Master Pantry List places an asterisk beside the ingredients that should be double-checked to ensure they are safe.  A lot of the recipes are the same between the two books.  There are even some in the GFDF book that aren't in the original version.  The pizza section is left out for obvious reason, but there is a section on gluten-free and dairy-free desserts.

One other product I had the chance to review was Paperless Home Organization.  I read through the book but have not implemented any of the ideas.  Mystie mentions two programs that she uses - Remember the Milk and Evernote.  I just recently downloaded Evernote, so I need to go back through and read how to use it.  It is a bit intimidating just looking at it.  I am encouraged, however, by the idea of having a more organized home.  I have so many piles all throughout my house and am growing weary of going through them and moving them and not knowing where important papers are.  Mystie gives tips on organizing more than just papers, though.  She teaches you how to make your email more efficient, how to use the Google calendar, and how to use Gmail.

Tips for using Evernote in your homeschool are also included in this book.  We all know how the papers can pile up, especially if you are schooling more than one child.  Evernote also can help organize your blog so that when you are searching for something you blogged about in the past you can pull it up quickly.  Paperless Home Organization is available as a PDF or Kindle e-book for just $3.99.  Evernote is a free downloadable program.
Samples of each of the books are available on the websites.
SPECIAL PRICING:  When readers enter TOS2013 at checkout, they can receive 30% off! That discount will work on any or all of the eBooks from May 20 through June 3rd.
Here's to freeing up your mental resources!

Unfolding a Super Homeschool Resource

There is a new resource available to homeschoolers - the Schoolhouse Library.  

For a one-time fee of $25, more than 175 E-books and audio books will become available to you.  Find resources if you are just starting out on your homeschooling journey or if you are a veteran homeschooler who is searching for some new ideas.  There is something for everyone.

Over 25 topics are available in this library, including grammar, nature study, organization, geography, economics, reading, special needs, Bible, and more.

This is a great time to sign up for the library as most of us homeschoolers are thinking about curricula for next year.  Why not see what you can get as part of your membership.

Joyce Herzog - Choosing and Using Curriculum: A Review

Joyce Herzog is a Christian educator and author who has written many books to help others educate.  She has worked specifically with the learning disabled for 25 years, but her products help students and parents with any and no special needs.   Choosing & Using Curriculum is one of her products that I had the privilege of reviewing.  I received both the e-book and the physical book.  They are geared, understandably, to the parent so that he/she can make more informed decisions about which products to use.

Every year I face the dilemma of choosing the right curriculum for my kids.  I am an eclectic homeschooler simply because there are so many great resources available.  I feel that if I stay with the same curriculum every single year I'll be missing out on something equally as wonderful.  These books have been a great resource in helping me make some decisions.

The set, both books, sells for $15.  The physical book is 108 pages long and contains 28 chapters.  The Resource E-book is 39 pages and has 10 chapters.  The books complement each other but do not duplicate information.  The chapters in the physical book include:

Curriculum Types and Comments

Education Styles

What Grade Level?

What Can They Do By Themselves?

Infant & Early Childhood Training

Bible, Spiritual, Religious & Character Training

Comparing Seven Popular Learn-to-Read Methods

How to Interest a Child in Reading

Teaching Discernment in Literature

Looking at Language Arts

Geography, Science, and History Resources

Tips for Teaching History

Special Help for Our Very Special Students (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia)

and more

The e-book has chapters on:

Helpful Websites

General Resources

Free Resources

Education Resources for Deaf, Blind, Autistic, Dyslexic

Speech and Language Development Resources

Legal Information, Special Needs Support Groups

and

Magazines

Around the time these books arrived, I knew I was going to have to find a good math curriculum for my daughter for summer break since she is slightly behind.  I knew of some curricula out there, but I wasn't sure what would work best.  Then it dawned on me I had a resource that would provide me with the names of other curricula available.  I pulled out the physical book and turned to the math chapter.  Ms. Herzog doesn't just give a list of products available, she spends a bit of time at the beginning of each chapter sharing insights and tips to make teaching a particular subject more rewarding depending on the child's needs and/or learning style.

As I read through the descriptions of the products, I noticed some that I had heard of before.  There were some that were new to me.  Most curricula listed also had a web address beside them.  This was helpful in my search.  If I had any interest from what Ms. Herzog had written, I was able to make a better decision after going to the website.  I did end up choosing a math program for my daughter because I had seen it listed in Choosing & Using Curriculum.  

During the next two days, I will be at a very large homeschooling convention with many vendors.  I am glad I was able to read this book before going.  The introduction gives a list of questions to ask vendors and suggests you take in all that you learn the first day before you buy anything.  Go back to your hotel room and pray about it.  When you go back to the conference (if it is 2 days), you'll be better equipped to make decisions.  I will be taking this advice.  I will also be taking this book!

If you are new to homeschooling, these books would be very helpful.  Ms. Herzog explains the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of curricula and whether or not they would work for children with special needs.

I am able to see myself as "Mrs. Average Homeschooler" whom she describes in chapter 3 ("Which One Is Me?").  I laughed while I read the description.  It describes me to a tee.  I have a bookshelf in almost every room, and I need more room for school stuff.  I re-read homeschool catalogs.  I often wonder if we did enough each day.  After figuring out who I was, I could learn about practical suggestions for my type.  

There is so much in these books, and this blog would go on for days if I described everything in them.  Suffice it to say, there are years of experience contained within the pages.  There is something for everyone.  If you don't have a lot of money to spend on your curriculum, you will benefit from the free resources that are listed.  If you have a child with special needs, you will want to read that specific chapter and see what Ms. Herzog says about using curriculum in the different subjects for your child.

I am thankful to have this resource.  It will continue to be an important component of our homeschooling.  My youngest is in 5th grade, so I have a lot of years left to use it.

Fear the Lord

I have been given the privilege in the past few weeks to mentor some of my friends who are younger in the faith.  As I've been studying some things to share, I have run across good information I thought I'd share.

Psalm 34:11 says, "Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

What?  We are supposed to fear God?  What does this mean?

I stumbled upon the following website today:
http://www.sermonnotebook.org/old%20testament/Pro%201_7.htm.  It explains this idea well.  It is not meant to be a fear that causes the sense of panic and anxiety.

"When we truly fear the Lord, we will recognize that He is the Creator and we are the creatures. He is the Master and we are the servants. He is the Father and we are the children. This attitude will manifest itself in our having a respect for God, His word and in our having a desire to do what He tells us to in His Bible...To put it simply, the fear of the Lord is a deep seated reverence for God that causes men to want to please Him at all costs."

Oswald Chambers said, "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else."

It seems to me that those who don't fear the Lord have the most to be afraid of.  Those who revere God and stand in awe of him have nothing to be afraid of.

Proverbs 8:13 states it simply - To fear the Lord is to hate evil.

I Samuel 12:24 "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

I'm not sure I've ever read the next verse.  It is an amazing promise.

Psalm 25:14 "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them."

Psalm 33:18 "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love."

The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  Those who fear Him will be blessed.

The psalmist tells us to put our hope in His unfailing love.  He has done great things.  He continues to do great things.  I've seen Him working firsthand.  He cares about the big and the little things in our lives.

Proverbs 1:7 tells us that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..."  Once we acknowledge our need for a Savior and submit our lives to Him, he opens our eyes.  He helps us to understand so much about the world that was not evident to us when we were blind.

"I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."