tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24101035261766469242024-03-06T00:31:48.217-05:00Retired Homeschool MomRetired Homeschool Mom (formerly Learning Together)
~ thoughts on home, family, friendship, creating, homeschooling, marriage, faith and life in general now that my nest is empty but my days are still full! Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.comBlogger576125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-31064908867950098522023-07-08T18:35:00.005-04:002023-07-08T19:15:36.152-04:00Bible Art Journaling <p> This is just a photo dump of some of my more recent Bible Art Journaling. Enjoy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKra4m6BI5gb0Tn9jwBkFGjMtbkvaWD2a35m7V-ERnz5xV85iG-WXYw2NLa57_0BY6H0ZszBF0qHTXrvrAbouC4fpzNWAspgMN109FvkkSPw-zjwXCEfLW1IRvE8KfCnd-o1qhRWntcqhsjTPBBewqqmz9NiuUgIwH1_xsI_oquNE4t4Fww-iM8fzQu0/s4032/IMG_2627.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKra4m6BI5gb0Tn9jwBkFGjMtbkvaWD2a35m7V-ERnz5xV85iG-WXYw2NLa57_0BY6H0ZszBF0qHTXrvrAbouC4fpzNWAspgMN109FvkkSPw-zjwXCEfLW1IRvE8KfCnd-o1qhRWntcqhsjTPBBewqqmz9NiuUgIwH1_xsI_oquNE4t4Fww-iM8fzQu0/s320/IMG_2627.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUu_cbPGiuk_GuGuDdp_O9l1X3eiod9NNay5N-edXxqkVHIM1MwqYwUUn_AnGxlWTnXSNRpawjY1oJwxtdsngyBcSidBJEFEywGxVfe0w6Cy_WUkRxS5UfyDdjNpFTH1GCFWZPMpMr5e_8AcquG2GLeWQqXQ5jmk7rQNkJhYsmagFoewkqw9ux518-P8/s4032/IMG_2168.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyMj1023Vr1N4TWTh2gcOTn8AbTIKr4LMSB1dUX1PL_q2NcGY9CFxh_3C4KV34nXBO_D0rxpWz_HyM96zrpTnxjXTvWpqLnCLH3AH4dbnBsasBQlPA24ErGFihfim47ZQ04R6akgmEi1oLnbxfqOD4qyDZs1Hm85ic9jRqkD5KEz3mab8FWXMNE0XfkQ/s4032/PXL_20221018_005735281.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyMj1023Vr1N4TWTh2gcOTn8AbTIKr4LMSB1dUX1PL_q2NcGY9CFxh_3C4KV34nXBO_D0rxpWz_HyM96zrpTnxjXTvWpqLnCLH3AH4dbnBsasBQlPA24ErGFihfim47ZQ04R6akgmEi1oLnbxfqOD4qyDZs1Hm85ic9jRqkD5KEz3mab8FWXMNE0XfkQ/s320/PXL_20221018_005735281.MP.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-6560549910959976042023-07-08T17:11:00.003-04:002023-07-08T17:11:50.850-04:00It's Me. Hi. I'm the Problem, it's me. <p>Hey there. Nobody reads this anymore because I haven't posted anything in YEARS. But hey, maybe I could give it another go. </p><p>I actually started a new blog on WordPress about 2 years ago, but it has been hard to keep up with it! It takes way more effort to post there, it seems. I need to have good photos and pinnable content. I'm not throwing in the towel yet, but maybe writing here will give me a push to start writing there again. Who knows? You can see it here - <a href="www.retiredhomeschoolmom.com" target="_blank">www.retiredhomeschoolmom.com</a> </p><p>I'm not a pro blogger. I just like someplace to write my thoughts, document occasions, share my experience and wisdom. That kind of thing. I'm a retired homeschool mom who still tries to keep a toe in the homeschool world, to be a mentor and resource. But I also have become very involved in a "senior" women's group at my church; I have spent a year having and recovering from 2 knee replacement surgeries; I am still dabbling in artistic things from time to time; I spend as much time as I can with my grown children and my two little grandsons; I have to spend considerable energy these days on staying healthy; I plan to jump back into volunteer work with refugee preschoolers this fall, after missing the past year because of knees; I am loving my water fitness class at the Y; I daydream about remodeling my house. </p><p>There is a pot of bolognese sauce simmering on the stove and a pot of boiling water waiting for the lasagna noodles. The birds are busy at the feeders, and the squirrels are busy grabbing up the seeds that fall to the ground underneath. Thunder is rolling in the distance. Mark is finishing up with painting our bedroom, and we'll be putting a new rug down and moving the furniture back in tomorrow. </p><p>God is good, all the time. </p><p>I hope you are doing well today.
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-3785110765992436452021-10-01T08:34:00.002-04:002021-10-01T08:34:23.269-04:00Fall is My Favorite Time of Year<p>Ah,Fall. </p><p>Here in the South, it sometimes feels like the summer heat and humidity will never break and we are destined to sweat forever, but then suddenly... the humidity drops. The temperature stays in the 70's for a few days. The air starts to feel..... crisp! And glorious autumn makes an appearance. Sometimes for just a few days at a time, as though testing the waters, skittering back and forth from hot to warm to cool. </p><p>But eventually, the coolness settles as the days shorten, leaves start to turn yellow and bronze, and pumpkins stand sentinel at doorsteps. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KbIrF0gI5hlqcEANWZnxmqTsiJBEKakv9dzvBeqtGkPDywqHoY5B4SPEVz-xNssFh9g_So2nNCphvjgkVaivPp7v6pkAbQm4WV-MFjEjnVZAhP3jM-WJ5HxtTv8qccHZjZk7OgYLpF0/s749/I%2527m+so+glad+to+live+in+a+world+with+Octobers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="621" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KbIrF0gI5hlqcEANWZnxmqTsiJBEKakv9dzvBeqtGkPDywqHoY5B4SPEVz-xNssFh9g_So2nNCphvjgkVaivPp7v6pkAbQm4WV-MFjEjnVZAhP3jM-WJ5HxtTv8qccHZjZk7OgYLpF0/w331-h400/I%2527m+so+glad+to+live+in+a+world+with+Octobers.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-13526924523702741742020-11-23T13:23:00.002-05:002020-11-23T13:23:07.546-05:00Retired Homeschool Mom<p> I have a new blog! </p><p>Actually, I've had it for several months now. It is over on WordPress and is called "Retired Homeschool Mom". It is the "next step", now that my children are grown and I'm no longer homeschooling. I still mentor and love to encourage homeschool moms, so I will continue to post about homeschooling things. But this season also includes things like grown up children, grandbabies, volunteer work, stretching my creative muscles and setting up a studio, finally fixing up the house, new pets and maybe even some chickens, continuing to grow as a Christian, staying healthy, married life as an older couple without kids in the house! </p><p>I'm still learning WordPress and trying to figure out what my blogging life will look like. But if you want to come visit now and again, I'd love to have you.</p><p><a href="http://retiredhomeschoolmom.com/">http://retiredhomeschoolmom.com/</a><br /></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-26117440538345278622020-01-20T11:31:00.000-05:002020-01-20T11:31:01.981-05:00New Season, Time for a New Blog???Why all the blog posts all of a sudden?<br />
Well, I am in a blog mindset because I am seriously considering starting a NEW blog and am doing all kinds of reading, research and brainstorming.<br />
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It would be a blog for this NEW season of life I am in. So a blog for "seasoned" women like me, with posts about empty nesting, grandparenting, books, creative things, faith, marriage in the older years, health, food, friendship, home, family celebrations, travel, and yes, homeschooling because I am still actively involved in the homeschool community as a mentor and teacher and leader and it is still near and dear to my heart. Plus I have a grandson now, so there is still skin in this game!<br />
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When I have things in place and it up and rolling, I'll post the link here!<br />
Still working on a name. 🤔<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-56966699396528437212020-01-20T11:11:00.001-05:002020-01-20T11:11:53.136-05:00Figuring it out - for the millionth time Sometimes you gain perspective when you read things you wrote in the past. I wrote this in 2013, when my youngest was 15.<br />
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<i>"You'd think that I'd have this down to a science by now.</i><br />
<i>You'd think that by the fifth child, I'd have this figured out.</i><br />
<i>You'd think that after 20 years of homeschooling, I could do this with my eyes closed.</i><br />
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<i>You'd think."</i><br />
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Just so you know, he is 21 now, a college junior who is rocking it at NC State, and no, I never in my 23 years of homeschooling felt like I had it "figured out". I always kept moving forward, adjusting things, making changes, trusting my instincts, and staying on my knees. <br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-86244461725758962762020-01-19T14:28:00.005-05:002020-01-19T14:28:54.821-05:00New Season of Grammiehood My friends have been saying it for years. "There's nothing like it!" " Being a grandparent is the best!"<br />
Now I know firsthand that it is all true. Every word of it. <br />
It was very emotional to see my baby holding his baby, and then to have that tiny little human in my arms. I didn't know that the strength of this Grammie love would be as strong as the love I felt for my own children. I am completely smitten!<br />
The aunties and uncles, as well as the furry family members, are also quite excited about the newest addition to the family. Welcome to this crazy clan, Little Bear! <br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-11297549285293012082019-08-08T13:21:00.000-04:002019-09-24T12:38:20.112-04:00Trusting God<div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv27dfRhhjokd0Wl9A-t-dZmMDWbbEc4mk6xNrpGEteDt7HI9aTQdlz4D-Sl8wLIt9oVodcxAlgUwC_SCN9qcHv22E3qcxbbtI60DkBdm4wVULWRLlOhktgM_RRWzdrCLfbRIhM6wZQg/s1600/Proverbs+3+5-6+text+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="640" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv27dfRhhjokd0Wl9A-t-dZmMDWbbEc4mk6xNrpGEteDt7HI9aTQdlz4D-Sl8wLIt9oVodcxAlgUwC_SCN9qcHv22E3qcxbbtI60DkBdm4wVULWRLlOhktgM_RRWzdrCLfbRIhM6wZQg/s400/Proverbs+3+5-6+text+only.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<div>
<b>Proverbs 3:5-6</b> <i>Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will direct your paths. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There
are soooooo many reasons to be anxious, aren't there? I get anxious
about our society and government and crazy dark world every time I see a
headline or read a news article. Going to the beach is out - have you
seen how many Great Whites are lurking out there, along with the
riptides?! Everything I put in my mouth or breathe in or spread on my
body is going to absolutely ruin my health.</div>
<div>
And homeschool
mamas, we also face the fear of ruining our kids' lives because we don't
really know what we are doing. So there's that. </div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #9900ff;">TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART....</span></b></div>
<div>
* Trust = to wholly and entirely rely on; to be completely confident and secure in</div>
<br />
<div>
We
mamas usually have a pretty short list of who we will trust with the
well-being of our kids. And you have to really have a long and solid
relationship with someone to trust them with your deepest feelings and
fears. <br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
Can I trust God? </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>God
is FAITHFUL. I can read Scripture and see how God has been faithful to
lead, protect and provide for His people over and over and over. I can
look at my own life, and see how God has been faithful to lead and
protect and provide. Little things and big things. * Having a son who
wanted to play high school baseball before homeschool teams existed and a
year long inquiry into whether he could play on a school team as a
homeschooler which resulted in an answer of "no, that isn't possible".
Telling him that his dad and I had prayed and still felt that
homeschooling was the right choice for our family, and his acceptance of
that. Followed within a week by a phone call from a friend who was
starting a homeschool baseball team (Wake Co. Warriors). God cares about
our desires. * Or a sweet Christian retired teacher who was teaching
a homeschool writing class (again, before this was a THING and was the
only class in the whole wide area, but the class was full when I heard
about it through a friend and inquired - but a week later she called to
tell me she was adding one more student to her class because she had a
DREAM where God told her to add my child. <img alt="😮" class="CToWUd" data-goomoji="1f62e" data-image-whitelisted="" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1f62e" style="margin: 0 0.2ex; max-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle;" />
okay, you've GOT my attention, Lord. Yes, you provide! Not in every
single instance when I've prayed for something - but in those cases
you've also been teaching me. Sometimes I THINK I need something, but
you want to show me you'll still provide for my family even WITHOUT that
thing that I really thought was necessary!!!
<b>Lamentations 3:22-23</b> – “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are
not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every
morning. Great is thy faithfulness.”
<b>2 Timothy 2:13</b> – “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
<b>1 Thessalonians 5:24</b> – “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” </li>
</ul>
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<br />
<ul>
<li>God is LOVING <b>John 3:15</b> "For God so loved the world that
He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in His should not perish
but have eternal life. " God sent His own Son to pay the penalty and
take the punishment for MY SIN, in MY PLACE, so that I could be reunited
with Him. That's how much He loves me. The whole Bible is God's love
letter to me. </li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfCDHhTA6L-EQSC0FFwHJP2-YAFSdd5w8_bHNUWsHxT-YnZ2yvkANcueNjGobIpXwrX68M3_N3SRKfqVjQgAd0m1UOwUtxD7EusAoqxSkYvCyqilgXXswVSZdg1wWITXSTZjIX4s3Ht4/s1600/Bible+God%2527s+love+letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfCDHhTA6L-EQSC0FFwHJP2-YAFSdd5w8_bHNUWsHxT-YnZ2yvkANcueNjGobIpXwrX68M3_N3SRKfqVjQgAd0m1UOwUtxD7EusAoqxSkYvCyqilgXXswVSZdg1wWITXSTZjIX4s3Ht4/s400/Bible+God%2527s+love+letter.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>God is ALL-KNOWING and WISE I wish I could
see the future. I wish I could know without a doubt that my actions and
choices and decisions today will produce good in the end, and not lead
to disaster! I do not KNOW ENOUGH to believe that my decisions are
fault-less. But God knows everything, sees everything, <b>Psalm 139:1-4</b>
"You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and
when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going
out and my lying down; you are familiar with ALL my ways. Before a word
is on my tongue - LORD, you know it completely!" <b> Psalm 147:4-5</b>
" He determines the number of stars and calls them by name. Great is
our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has NO LIMIT." <b>Romans 11:33</b>
"Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are his ways!"</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>God
is ALL-POWERFUL. He is sovereign and rules with authority over all
things - including my family, my finances, my time, my decisions.
Everything that comes into our lives must pass by Him first. He is the
Creator, Author, Master, Redeemer, Refuge, Ransom, Anchor, King. <b>Revelation 4:11 </b>
"Worthy are you, Our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and
POWER, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and
were created." <b>Matthew 19:26</b> "But Jesus looked at them and
said, ' With man this is impossible, but with God all things are
possible.' What a relief that this all-powerful God is also faithful,
loving & wise!</li>
</ul>
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<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><b>DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING...</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">Not
saying that any of you watch "The Bachelorette", but if you did, you
might have heard the word "clarity" about a gazillion times this past
season. Because aren't we ALL looking for CLARITY??? God, give me a
sign! Put up a billboard, with flashing lights, please! Open a door!
Close a door! Let me put out a fleece and if it is wet in the morning
then I'll know ... or is it supposed to be dry to be a sign from you????</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">agh!!
Because we DON'T KNOW ENOUGH!. We don't TRUST ourselves. We are fickle
and tend to make emotional decisions and later regret them. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;"> Just last week, as I was working on this devotion, I found this story on clarity in a book I am reading. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">"When
John Kavanaugh, the famed ethicist, went to Calcutta, he was seeking
Mother Teresa... and more. He went for 3 months to work at the "house
of the dying" to find out how to best spend the rest of his life. [ no
small decision!] When he met Mother Teresa, he asked her to pray for
him. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">'What do you want me to pray for?' she asked. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">He then uttered the request he had carried for thousands of miles. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">'Clarity. Pray that I have clarity.'</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">'No,' said Mother Teresa, 'I will not pray for that.' [ yikes!!!]</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">When he asked why, she said,<span style="color: #990000;"> 'Clarity is the thing you are clinging to and must let go of. ' </span>
When Kavanaugh said that she always seemed to have clarity, the kind of
clarity he was looking for, Mother Teresa laughed and said, </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="color: black;">'<span style="color: #990000;">I have NEVER had clarity. What I have always had is TRUST. So I will pray that you trust God.'"</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #9900ff;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
How could your homeschool year be transformed if you could learn to trust God like that?!</div>
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<div>
Now
I can tell you that God can be trusted with your most precious
possessions, and you can read that God is trustworthy, but how can you
really know that He can be trusted? In order to trust someone THAT
MUCH, you have to really know him. So that is my advice to you. <b>Make KNOWING GOD your #1 priority this year. </b></div>
<div>
Bible study, prayer, meditation, worship => NOT. OPTIONAL.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #9900ff;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #9900ff;"><span style="background-color: white;">IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM...</span></span></b></div>
<div>
ACKNOWLEDGE
: to KNOW, to OWN; not simply give a nod to, but to recognize the
authority, power, wisdom, goodness, and providence of HIM, because you
have a deep knowledge and connection with Him (as deep as lovers,
people) ; you KNOW him. </div>
<div>
God created you.</div>
<div>
He created your children.</div>
<div>
He knows you better than you know yourself. </div>
<div>
He loves you more than you can fathom. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
So
what are you anxious about? What do you think you area messing up? Is
God not able to work through you despite your weaknesses? According to
the Bible, He sure can. Do you have to pick the perfect curriculum and
have a perfectly scheduled day and all the money and endless patience
and perfectly behaved kids to be a successful homeschool mom? I think
not. Look at Abraham. Not perfect. Look at David. Not perfect. Look
at Rahab. Not perfect. Look at Peter. Not perfect. Only one person has
ever been perfect. The rest of us - every person in the history of the
world? A mess! </div>
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<span style="color: #9900ff;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9900ff;"><b>AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. (MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT)</b></span></div>
<div>
This
doesn't mean Easy! It doesn't mean your kids will do all their
schoolwork cheerfully, neatly, and on time! They might throw fits. They
might argue with you and fight with each other. You might have
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. It means IF we TRUST HIM
and don't try trust in our own abilities instead, and if we KNOW Him,
THEN He will direct our paths to the destination that is GOOD and BEST!
Despite all the mess. The journey might be bumpy, but the destination
is glorious. Would you rather have an easy journey that ends in
destruction? or a difficult journey that ends in GLORY? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you truly KNOW God, then you will LOVE Him. If you truly love Him,
you will TRUST him. If you love and trust Him, you will OBEY Him.( not
my words, don't remember where I read them) </div>
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<b>Matthew 6: 25-34</b></div>
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<span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-25"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-versenum"> </sup>“Therefore I tell you, do
not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothing?</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-26" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23309"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj">Look
at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more
value than they?</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-27" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23310"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-versenum"> </sup>And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?<sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-footnote">[</sup></span></span><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-28" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23311"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-versenum"> </sup>And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-29" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23312"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-versenum"> </sup>yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-30" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23313"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-versenum"> </sup>But
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-31" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23314"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj">Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-32" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23315"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj">For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.</span></span> <span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-33" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23316"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-versenum"> </sup>But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.</span></span><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-34" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23317"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"><sup> </sup>“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.</span></span><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-text m_9088600742457038435gmail-Matt-6-33" id="m_9088600742457038435en-ESV-23316"><span class="m_9088600742457038435gmail-woj"></span></span>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>TRUST GOD AND BE FREE! </b></div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-82582699991448466302019-05-11T09:32:00.000-04:002019-05-11T12:51:58.346-04:00Why You Should Go to a Homeschool Conference<div>
As I sat at the table at Tuesday night's Lighthouse "Teacher
Appreciation Night", asking the other moms when they were finishing
their homeschool "year", I was reminded of the many years when the end
of our school year was marked by "Conference"! </div>
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<div>
<a href="https://www.nche.com/thrive/"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.nche.com/thrive/">https://www.nche.com/thrive/</a></div>
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I went to
my first NCHE homeschool conference in 1994, a few months before we
actually started homeschooling. I was eager to start but my husband was
very hesitant about the whole idea - however attending Conference,
seeing all those families and their kids (and it was a fraction of the
number that now attends), seeing all that was available in the vendor
fair, and hearing encouragement from the speakers gave him the
confidence to give the green light and agree that we should try
homeschooling for at least a year. <img alt="" data-goomoji="1f601" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/mail/emoji/v7/png48/emoji_u1f601.png" style="height: 24px; margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; width: 24px;" /></div>
<div>
For
the next 23 years, the NCHE Conference in Winston-Salem was an annual
"must do" on our calendar. We considered homeschooling my career, and
because we wanted me to be as equipped and informed as possible,
attending these workshops was part of my "professional development". A
couple of times we went as a couple for a weekend getaway. A lot of
years we all went as a family - with strollers, backpacks, snacks,
Odyssey tapes (yes - cassette tapes! ) and coloring books. Other years
it was a girls' weekend for me - sharing a hotel room with my homeschool
peeps and talking late into the night about curriculum, homeschool
philosophies, and parenting challenges after long days at the book fair
and workshops. Later, it was me and my teens who enjoyed a weekend
together - well, we slept in the same room at night and ate meals
together - as they attended the Teen track workshops as part of their
school requirement for the year while I went through my checklist of
workshops and book fair time. <img alt="❤" data-goomoji="2764" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/mail/emoji/v7/png48/emoji_u2764.png" style="height: 24px; margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; width: 24px;" /></div>
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Some
years was like drinking from a fire hose, and some years it was dainty
sips of refreshment. But I always came home with nuggets of wisdom,
encouragement and insight that made me a better teacher and homeschool
mama. It was motivation to stay the course. It was conviction to make a
change. It was affirmation of my desires and encouragement for my
doubts. </div>
<div>
Even today, now that all five of my children are
graduated and in their 20's and 30's, I get a thrill of excitement as I
read through the list of workshop titles, and I'm tempted to attend
Conference for at least one day - or maybe three- to sit in on some
workshops and soak in all those good homeschool vibes. I might browse
the vendor hall, and with great restraint choose one or two books to
take home for me. And maybe one or two to tuck away for that first
grandbaby and future homeschooler on the way.</div>
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<div>
Do
it. Go to Thrive! or go to another homeschool conference. Invest in
yourself and your decision to educate your children. Strive for
excellence. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and direct you. Don't
think you aren't ___ enough and that's why you have to send them out or
sign them up for other people to teach. Sending them out or signing
them up could be part of what you do this year, but make that an
informed and intentional part of your homeschool, not a desperate move. </div>
<div>
Remember
that Jesus used one little boy's lunch of a few fish and some bread to
feed thousands. Bring Jesus your lunch and watch him multiply it and do a
miracle. </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_198201232"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.nche.com/thrive/">https://www.nche.com/thrive/</a></div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-30936230493938514052019-02-15T11:25:00.003-05:002019-02-15T11:26:06.574-05:00 Putting Together a Prayer BinderFor a long time now, I have been wanting, needing, searching for a way to make my prayer time {sporadic, unorganized, unproductive,pathetic} more effective, more engaging, more meaningful.<br />
**apparently I'm into lists this morning...<br />
I am highly visual and easily distracted, two things which don't bode well for a concentrated period of prayer to a God I cannot see. My prayers for a long time have been of the fleeting, shoot up an arrow, immediate while I'm reading it, in my brain and out again type. I know that God hears ALL our prayers, and doesn't require us to pray in a certain way, at a certain time, with certain words, etc. But now that my season of active parenting is behind me and I have the time, and the burden to pray has grown heavier on my heart, I have felt the NEED to be better at this, more deliberate, more consistent.<br />
The movie "The War Room" made a big impact on me and fueled my desire to be a dedicated prayer warrior. James 5:16 says "...the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (NIV). Or the NKJV version, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." I WANT to be that kind of person - a prayer warrior for God's kingdom.<br />
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Well, I just found <a href="http://www.stonesoupforfive.com/p/tutorials.html">Stone Soup for Five'</a>s blog and tutorials on creating a Prayer Binder - and Eureka! I have found it! I have seen lots of pictures and descriptions of prayer notebooks, prayer journals, etc, etc, but none felt do-able to me. This one does! I think it appeals to the visual side of me. It appeals to the creative, can't stick to one method, don't want it to be rote or formulaic part of me. It offers a solution to the forgetful, easily distracted part of me. It is adaptable. It can be highly personalized. Pages can be added, taken out, redone, decorated, archived. I can start small and add to it. I can use it for a few minutes or for an hour or longer.<br />
I am soooo excited to start using this tool for daily prayer.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-20500795209974898042019-01-15T10:58:00.000-05:002019-01-15T10:58:53.421-05:00Arizona TripA family wedding provided the opportunity for my whole family to travel west a few days after New Years, to a part of the country we had never visited and another part that we had last been to almost 17 years ago. <br />
The wedding was in Florence, AZ, just south of Phoenix, at a lovely winery plopped in the middle of barren, rocky landscape. We enjoyed time together as a family and also time reconnecting and catching up with extended family that we hadn't seen in a long time. <br />
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We took a day trip up to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, which we had visited on our Big Trip in 2002. The first visit was in late June, and January in the snow was a very different experience! The vistas were breathtaking and magnificent, which is how I remember it from before, but the freshly fallen snow from the night before added a new dimension and contrast. The 3 hour drive up from Phoenix was amazing as well, as we traveled through the Sonoran Desert dotted with Saguaro cactus, the red rock cliffs of Sedona, switchbacks through forests up the Colorado Plateau, wide flat grassland, dark basalt hills and extinct volcanoes, and then of course, the massive vistas across the Grand Canyon.<br />
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Our family, with the exception of the oldest who had to return to NC for work, spent a couple of days in Sedona after the wedding, enjoying a mini-family vacation. I don't take lightly the fact that we still are able to do this, with children now in their 20's and 30's. The bond between siblings in our family, and the fact that they enjoy spending time with each other and even indulge us parents, is something I treasure. <br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-32350317255403079922019-01-01T20:00:00.001-05:002019-01-01T20:00:25.432-05:00New Year, New PostsIt has been more than a year since I've posted anything here - although I have started but never finished several posts in that time. Now here it is, the 1st day of 2019, and while I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions, there is something about the
start of a fresh calendar year that draws me to new beginnings.<br />
So I am back. I am in a new season, now that my youngest has graduated from our homeschool and is in college, but I still mentor homeschool moms and have a heart for encouraging women on this journey and also in life - marriage, faith, health, personal growth, friendship, etc! I can share from the "other side", as a mom whose homeschooled kids are grown and thriving, and as an empty nester finding new paths, new places to use my gifts, new vision for my marriage and friendships, new challenges adapting to and ministering in a crazily tilting world. If you care to read along, I hope you'll find something that blesses you or helps you or makes you think.<br />
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Peace.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-28066124995118741422017-10-05T17:10:00.001-04:002017-10-05T17:14:43.208-04:00Homeschool Moms' RetreatLast Saturday was our 1st annual Lighthouse Moms' Retreat at the beach! Two dear ladies, Michele and Ingrid, planned and hosted the one day event for 11 of us at a beach house on Topsail Island, about 2 ½ hours from Raleigh. A few of us decided to go down the night before and stay at a motel on the beach, to make it a bit more of a getaway, and allow us to arrive by the start time of 8:30am without having to wake before the sun! It was a wonderful day of fellowship with both old and new friends, glorious worship on the beach, encouragement from scripture, creative activities, good food, and emotional refreshment.<br />
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Ingrid reminded us that we are not just moms, wives, teachers, home managers, etc, but we are daughters of the King, and beloved by him! Our WORTH comes not from how well we teach spelling or clean the house or manage our budget, but our worth comes from the fact that we are God's creation and his precious children. Michele taught that our BEAUTY isn't measure by our weight or our haircolor, our wardrobe or our words, but from our relationship with Jesus Christ. This was a very good reminder for all of us women. <br />
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Late September is a PERFECT time for a beach retreat! The weather was gorgeous.</div>
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Ready and waiting for us to arrive!</div>
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almost there!</div>
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Singing along to praise songs and worshiping with scarves and flags on the beach!</div>
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We made all-natural skin care products from coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt or brown sugar, cinnamon, probiotic powder...</div>
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We were a wonderful mix of brand new homeschool moms, seasoned homeschool moms, and even a couple of retired homeschool moms. </div>
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One of our activities involved choosing 5 stones or shells and writing 5 words that the Lord was impressing on you to release or embrace. Later, we had some time to do something creative involving those words, or even to just rest and meditate. I chose to spend that time with watercolor. </div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-35381701788329118122017-08-11T12:44:00.000-04:002017-08-11T12:44:16.480-04:00Ready to Start a New Homeschool Year.... Oh, Wait.Here it is, the middle of August. This week, my husband and I finished our stint as Tuesday morning breakfast cooks at New Life Camp, an overnight Christian summer camp here in Raleigh where my kids have been campers and counselors for the last 20 years. The temps are back in the 80's instead of high 90's. My Facebook newsfeed is full of posts from my homeschool mama friends already starting school, or for those wringing out the last few weeks of summer for all their worth, planning to start school in the next few weeks. WalMart and Target are full of back-to-school banners and bins of Crayola markers, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, binders, and backpacks. My favorite homeschool bloggers are posting all kinds of advice about Getting Started and Easing into the School Year and Surviving High School and Planning Great Field Trips. And for the first time in 23 years, I am not making lesson plans for a child of mine.<br />
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This is my first "new school year" as a retired homeschool mom, and it feels... weird. Bittersweet. Surreal. Suddenly the relentless rush of days of feeding, clothing, planning, teaching, chauffering, tending, counseling, and otherwise raising children has skidded to a halt, and I find myself wistfully thinking back over the years as though flipping through the pages of a scrapbook, catching glimpses of co-op classes and piano lessons and waiting at band practice and reading aloud on the couch and full calendars and a messy house. The messy house remains. But I've rolled over into a new season.<br />
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I am still teaching other people's children this year, so I am making middle school geography lesson plans. My youngest will still be home working this fall before moving away to start college in January. I feel incredibly grateful and have no regrets - except for all those things I wish I had done better.<br />
I am adjusting, but am not quite there yet.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-49394048186853354532017-06-04T12:42:00.000-04:002017-06-04T12:42:32.333-04:00New Homeschool Moms Celebration BrunchEven though I have closed my homeschool after graduating my youngest child, I still plan to remain involved in my support group and in the homeschool community. One of my roles in Lighthouse the past couple of years has been Mentor Coordinator, and yesterday a group of us hosted a New Homeschool Moms Brunch to celebrate the end of the school year with some fellowship and encouragement. It was a small group, 6 mentors ("seasoned" homeschoolers) and 5 ladies in their first year of homeschooling. My friend and fellow mentor, Becky, opened her beautiful home and served as hostess, and the mentors all provided items for the buffet table.<br />
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Everyone ate and chatted for a while, and then we gathered in the living room for introductions, since our support group is quite large and everyone doesn't know one another. Irene shared a devotion and we gave out 2 little gifts.<br />
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I gave everyone a Homeschool Survival Kit, based on one someone had made for a homeschool meeting years ago. As I told the ladies, this is a visual reminder to sit on your windowsill, bookshelf, kitchen counter, etc, so that when you see it, you are reminded of the messages and Scriptures that go along with it. <br />
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Becky then gave out little scented candles that were labeled "Romance"! She encouraged everyone to pay attention to their marriage relationships and make time for romance. Homeschooling can become overwhelming it we let it, and start to take up all our time and energy. We must not lose sight of the importance of nurturing the relationship that is the foundation of our family - our relationship with our spouse. </div>
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We spent the rest of the time just talking and answering questions. It was a sweet morning spent building relationships with and pouring encouragement into some new friends. </div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-19241023075582278182017-05-24T16:26:00.000-04:002017-05-24T16:32:04.871-04:00The Final GraduateOn Saturday, May 20, 2017, Cornerstone Academy graduated its 5th and final student.<br />
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This year has been tough, emotionally. I have been grieving the "lasts" - last first day of school, last Eagles basketball season, last Liberty basketball tournament, last semester as a homeschool.... and on and on. I have tried to savor the moments and appreciate the goodness. My head knows that this is the end of one chapter, but the beginning of a brand new one that has fresh potential for growth and new experiences and joys. But my heart still hurts. My years of actively mothering and teaching a child under my roof and under my care are over.<br />
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I have grieved other stages of life as well. I remember feeling sadness when my youngest started kindergarten, and I realized that I would never again be a mother of a preschooler. Sounds silly, but it felt like a physical blow. Similar to the when my oldest turned 20, and suddenly I was old enough to have a child in his twenties. And when the baby turned double digits, and then became a teenager, and ALL my children had left behind those tender years of childhood.<br />
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I shed many tears this past week, even as I look forward to seeing what the future holds for my baby boy. I am proud as punch of him, and of his older brothers and sisters as well. I LIKE my kids. They are good people. I am FULL of gratitude that they all still seem to like being around me and their dad and each other. I don't take that blessing lightly!<br />
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Our support group graduation ceremony featured 43 homeschools presenting diplomas to their seniors. As always, it was a lovely, moving ceremony. As I told him when I presented him his diploma, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity and blessing of being able to homeschool all 5 of my children. It has been challenging, tiring, and frustrating at times, but most of all, it has been my joy and my privilege. <br />
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<a href="http://slide.ly/view/41229792d11107fadab2e3ab67f83edf?utm_source=Fb_ORG_Share">SLIDE SHOW</a><br />
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-62414983512137433172017-04-03T17:21:00.001-04:002017-04-03T17:31:59.989-04:00THRIVING CREATIVELYThe theme of the upcoming annual<a href="http://www.nche.com/conference"> North Carolinians for Home Education Conference and Book Fair</a> is THRIVE : Equipping, Encouraging, Connecting.<br />
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<b>"Thrive"</b> is a good word; it means to PROSPER, FLOURISH, GROW VIGOROUSLY. That is what we want for our children and our homeschools, right? We don't want to just "get by", we want to prosper and flourish! We don't want our children to just be "good enough", we want them to be all they can be!<br />
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So the question is, what will cause my family to thrive? What will allow ME to thrive? What is the "formula"? What steps do I follow, what curriculum do I buy...?<br />
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Psalm 1: 1-3 is a good starting place.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="text Ps-1-1" id="en-TLB-11861"><span class="chapternum"></span>Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. </span> <span class="text Ps-1-2" id="en-TLB-11862"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>But
they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night
are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him
more closely.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="text Ps-1-3" id="en-TLB-11863"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>They
are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season
without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall
<b>prosper.</b></span></span></div>
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(The Living Bible)</div>
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Those words "everything", "day and night", and "always" make me cringe a bit, because I know I don't always do everything God wants me to do. But I know this is God's blueprint for how to THRIVE. So just because I don't do it perfectly doesn't mean I shouldn't try, and do the best I can. This is where I want my children to start as well.<br />
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Proverbs 11:28 says<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="text Prov-11-28" id="en-NIV-16717">Those who trust in their riches will fall,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-11-28">but the righteous will<b> thrive</b> like a green leaf.</span></span></span></div>
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(NIV)</div>
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So here, thriving is equated with righteousness, which means living a moral, virtuous life that is in accord with the character of God. Because God created mankind in His own image, we have the ability to live in line with His character. That means that we <u>reflect</u> God's nature. </div>
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We are creative because God is Creator. </div>
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We are spiritual beings because God is Spirit. </div>
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We communicate because God communicates, and is the Word. </div>
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We are intelligent because God possesses all knowledge and wisdom. </div>
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We are relational because God is tri-une, and personal, creating mankind to be in relationship with Him </div>
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We understand morality because God is a moral being, holy and pure. </div>
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When we embrace and nurture these qualities in our lives and in our families, then we are able to THRIVE, living as God created us to live! </div>
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Let's talk about one of the characteristics of God - <b><span style="color: magenta;">CREATIVITY</span>.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What is creativity? </span> </b>One definition is "the ability to transcend<b> </b>traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, etc. and to create meaningful NEW ideas, forms, methods, and interpretations."</div>
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<b> </b></div>
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When you think OUTSIDE THE BOX, when you find NEW and ORIGINAL ways or methods for dealing with tasks and obstacles, you are being CREATIVE! </div>
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We want our children to be leaders who are <u>innovative</u>, who come up with <u>new ideas </u>and <u>better solutions</u>, whether in the workplace, the church, the community, government, school, or family.</div>
Creativity is an integral component to a thriving economy, a thriving church, a thriving community, and a thriving family.<br />
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Creativity is not about being able to draw or paint, although those are creative activities. It is <b><span style="color: #351c75;">making things, solving problems, cultivating beauty, exploring ideas.</span></b> It is a key part of being "educated", and feeling fulfilled as a human being!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why is creativity important? </b><span style="font-size: small;">Supporting the fact that creativity is part of God's character and developing our innate creativity allows us to THRIVE, numerous studies, such as this one <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/">here</a>, have found that practicing creativity improves both emotional and physical health and well-being. </span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">increases feelings of positivity; improves mood</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">reduces stress and anxiety</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">improves ability to resolve conflict</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">increases self-confidence and sense of purpose</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">increases spontaneity</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">contributes to emotional and physical healing</span></span></li>
</ul>
Developing and practicing our God-given creativity helps us to live healthier, happier lives!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What if I'm not creative? </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your innate spark of creativity might be dormant through lack of use, but it is still present! How do I know? Because Colossians 1:16 says</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"For
by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Genesis 1: 27 </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">God was lavish and bold and expressive in His creation! Pastor and author John Piper writes:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"If you are God, your work is to create out of nothing. If you are not God, but like God - that is, if you are human - your work is to take what God has made and shape it and use it to make Him look great." </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span>( Don't Waste Your Life, 139) </span></span></div>
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Young
children express their creativity very well. Anyone with a toddler has
been amazed at the ingenuity displayed when he pushed a box up to a
chair so he could climb on the counter to open the cabinet to get to the
shelf where you hid the Oreos behind the box of brown rice! Think of
the imagination that is typical of preschoolers - imaginary friends,
dress up costumes, tea parties, blanket forts, made-up songs. But do
you know that measures of creativity and imaginative thinking fall
drastically once a child starts school?</div>
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In a <a href="http://www.creativityatwork.com/2012/03/23/can-creativity-be-taught/">1968 study</a>
on creativity by George Land, 98% of the 1,600 three to five year old
children given a test on divergent thinking scored at the highest, or
genius, level. When that test was given to those same children at 8- 10
years old, only 30% scored at the genius level. The number dropped to
12% when they reached 13-15 years old. The number dove to 2% when the
same test was given to over 200,000 adults over the age of 25. What
happens to children between the ages of 5 and 25? Well, school
happens. The conclusion drawn by Sir Ken Robinson is that modern
education, which emphasizes learning for a test and giving the right answer, stifles divergent thinking. </div>
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EDUCATION is not a mechanical system, where you put in raw material, manipulate it in certain ways, and produce a consistent end-product. Education is a HUMAN system. There are certain conditions under which people THRIVE! Look around you. Where is that happening? Look are your children. Are they thriving? If not, what conditions need to be adjusted? </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are a mother, you are creating something beautiful every day! You are creating art! Every hug, every kiss, every pat on the back, every nose wiped, every lesson taught, every meal prepared, every tear wiped away, every prayer lifted is adding to the color and texture and design of the beautiful life that is entrusted to you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And you are more creative than you think!</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">creative in getting your kids to eat vegetables</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">creative in stretching a pay check</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">creative in getting a reluctant child to do his lessons</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">creative in finding time to be alone with your husband </span></span> </li>
</ul>
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Creativity is like a muscle that needs to be stretched and exercised. The more you use it, the stronger it gets! Just because I cannot run from my driveway to the end of my street without feeling like I'm going to die doesn't mean I don't have the <u>ability </u>to do so. It means I haven't used those muscles in that way in a very long time. If I start slowly and am consistent in practicing, bit by bit I will develop those muscles and regain that ability. I may never run quickly or gracefully, but that doesn't mean I can't do it! <br />
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Stretch your creative muscles! Some possible creative pursuits that you might explore with your children are<br />
<ul>
<li>GARDENING</li>
<li>WRITING - letters, a blog, short stories, poetry, a journal</li>
<li>DRAWING</li>
<li>SCULPTING </li>
<li>HANDCRAFTING - sewing, knitting, rubber stamping, candle making, jewelry making, etc</li>
<li>COOKING </li>
<li>MAKING MUSIC</li>
<li>PLANNING - birthday parties, unit study celebrations, church functions, family reunions, support group events</li>
<li>DECORATING - your home for seasons or holidays, </li>
<li>PHOTOGRAPHY</li>
<li>DANCING / CHOREOGRAPHY</li>
<li>ACTING</li>
<li>STORYTELLING </li>
<li>DESIGN - fashion, landscape, graphic, more efficient ways of doing things, </li>
<li>BUILDING - blocks, LEGOs, woodworking</li>
<li>DEBATING</li>
</ul>
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STORY<br />
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<i>"The Story of Gillian Lynne"</i> ~ paraphrased from the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Element-Finding-Passion-Changes-Everything/dp/0143116738"><u>The Element </u></a>by Sir Ken Robinson.<br />
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<i>Gillian was only eight years old, but her future was already at risk. Her schoolwork was a disaster, at least as far as her teachers were concerned. She turned in assignments late, her handwriting was terrible, and she tested poorly. Not only that, she was a disruption to the entire class - one minute fidgeting noisily, the next staring out the window, forcing the teacher to stop the class to pull Gillian's attention back, and the next doing something to disturb the other children around her. Gillian wasn't particularly concerned about any of this - she was used to being corrected all the time, but she really didn't see herself as a bad child. However, the school was very concerned. Finally the principle wrote to Gillian's parents, saying that Gillian obviously had a learning disorder of some kind and it might be more appropriate for her to be in a school for children with special needs. This was the 1930's, and classroom inclusion and accommodations were not yet the norm. Today, Gillian would probably be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD and put on medication. But the ADD epidemic hadn't been invented at the time and wasn't an available condition.</i><br />
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<i>Gillian's parents sprang into action and took her to a psychologist for assessment, fearing the worst. The doctor, an imposing man in a tweed jacket seated behind a large, oak desk, asked Gillian's mother about the difficulties she was having at school. While he didn't direct any of his questions to Gillian, he watched her carefully the entire time.</i><br />
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<i>Eventually, the adults stopped talking. The man rose from his desk, walked to the sofa, and sat down next to the little girl. "Gillian, you have been very patient, and I thank you for that, " he said. "But I'm afraid I need you to be patient for just a little longer. I need to speak to your mother privately for a minute. We're going to go out of the room, but don't worry. We won't be very long." The mother exited the room and the psychologist followed, but first he leaned across his desk and turned on the radio.</i><br />
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<i>When they were in the corridor outside the room, the doctor said to Gillian's mother, "Let's just stand here for a minute and watch what she does." There was a window in the door, and they stood to the side where they could watch Gillian but she couldn't see them. Nearly immediately, Gillian was up off the couch, moving and skipping about the room to the music, looking at the various things on the shelf , humming to herself. After watching for a few minutes, the psychologist turned to Gillian's mother and said, "You know, Mrs. Lynne. I don't believe Gillian is sick. She's a dancer. You should take her to dance school!" </i><br />
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<i>So her mother did exactly what the psychologist suggested. When Gillian walked into the dance school for the first time, she immediately felt at home. Here were other people like HER. People who had to MOVE to think! She started going to dance class every week and she practiced at home every day. Eventually, she auditioned for the Royal Ballet School in London, and they accepted her. She went on to join the Royal Ballet Company itself, becoming a soloist and performing all over the world. When that part of her career ended, she formed her own musical theater company and produced a series of highly successful shows in London and New York. She met Andrew Lloyd Webber and he hired her to choreograph some of the most famous musical theater productions in history, including "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera". </i><br />
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<i>Little Gillian, the girl with the high-risk future who some considered "special needs", became known to the world as Gillian Lynne, one of the most accomplished choreographers of our time - someone who brought pleasure to millions, and earned millions of dollars doing it! This happened because someone looked deep into her eyes and saw who she really was. Someone else might have put her on medication and told her to calm down. </i><br />
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This story is not meant as a criticism for anyone with a struggling child, but perhaps inspiration to take a second look at what makes them tick, what brings them joy, what conditions let them THRIVE! All children need unstructured play time in which to daydream, come up with their own entertainment, and make their own rules! Some children really do need to MOVE in order to THINK! My middle child was exactly that way, and because we homeschooled, I could let him wiggle, sit in a rolling chair, toss a tennis ball, squeeze silly putty, hop on one foot .... whatever he needed to do in order to concentrate on the task at hand.<br />
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Some of the ways we can help our children nurture their natural curiosity and creativity are:<br />
<ul>
<li>banish perfectionism - allow for experimentation, dabbling, and mistakes</li>
<li>don't be afraid of messes - creativity can be quite messy at times; but messes can be cleaned up</li>
<li>provide space, time, and tools for a variety of artistic expression - markers, paints & brushes, all kinds of paper, scissors, glue, old magazines, yarn, fabric, tools & wood, clay, dirt, costumes or old clothes, musical instruments, cardboard tubes and boxes, puppets, </li>
<li>listen to all kinds of music </li>
<li>read! - stories, fairy tales, poetry, biographies</li>
<li>ask your child to think of new ways to do things around the house - encourage creative thinking and problem-solving</li>
<li>teach your child not to compare themselves to others - comparison is the thief of joy!!! Creative pursuits are very individual, and often two people will approach the same subject in very different ways</li>
</ul>
Creativity is a vital part of the abundant life that God created for us. Another benefit of creative activities is the ability to bless others! The fruit of your creative labors can be enjoyed by others, can touch the lives of others, and build community. <br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-13112847305064883722017-01-11T10:50:00.000-05:002017-01-11T10:50:04.487-05:00Don't Lose Sight of the Forest for the TreesThis is especially for new or new-ish homeschoolers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHmRS7KpGpJc2yjKIWUaslbu4zUDGx9j11n1E8U9IOvz1XDNd6s26FReqMLkaGG6HMD68sBxbX_EoCU_sempvKkbr6vGy-bFtqIre-34dGnX3ku4P5ela-CJ91KNOFTftMrzbozzUs7s/s1600/snowy-evergreen-forest-alan-l-graham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHmRS7KpGpJc2yjKIWUaslbu4zUDGx9j11n1E8U9IOvz1XDNd6s26FReqMLkaGG6HMD68sBxbX_EoCU_sempvKkbr6vGy-bFtqIre-34dGnX3ku4P5ela-CJ91KNOFTftMrzbozzUs7s/s400/snowy-evergreen-forest-alan-l-graham.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One thing I encourage all new homeschoolers to do is to write a
paragraph stating your reasons for homeschooling. You likely have given
this a good amount of thought at some point, and may have a "list" in
your head. It is important to write it down and keep it someplace where
you can refer to it from time to time.... because you will forget!!<br />
~in
the midst of winter when you are snowed in and everyone is sick,<br />
~in the
midst of struggles with learning to read or figuring out<span class="text_exposed_show">
fractions or convincing your son that punctuation is necessary, </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">~in the
midst of trying to manage laundry and sports practices and grocery
shopping and lesson plans,</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">~ in the midst of frustrating days and
sleepless nights, </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">you will hear yourself saying "Why did I think this
was a good idea?" and YOU WILL NEED TO REMIND YOURSELF. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfvfXI0KRPLuYvyDX0sTIFPsma8q2OFSl42-QgjlW-2cHJ18FMC8bC0hm1PENKkOS2cdds6TLkjuaGl9G3_yf7Ny0PCWZ641_ttekvgy30eUP6SbE3B8osv0kbDSURuA3HZiGi1eigMo/s1600/Spruce2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfvfXI0KRPLuYvyDX0sTIFPsma8q2OFSl42-QgjlW-2cHJ18FMC8bC0hm1PENKkOS2cdds6TLkjuaGl9G3_yf7Ny0PCWZ641_ttekvgy30eUP6SbE3B8osv0kbDSURuA3HZiGi1eigMo/s400/Spruce2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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Many years ago a speaker at the NCHE Homeschool Conference told this
story, and it has stuck with me. This woman was head of a support
organization in CA, and they required all their families to submit a
statement of their reasons for homeschooling. One day a homeschool mom
came to her, very discouraged, saying that after getting back her
children's standardized test scores, she and her husband had decided the
children were not doing as well as they'd hoped and that the kids would
probably be better off in school. The leader pulled out the written
statement that this family had submitted when they started
homeschooling, and read it over for a minute.<br />
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"You say you are
disappointed with your children's test scores and think they should be
back in school. But I don't see high test scores anywhere on this list
of reasons you gave for wanting to homeschool in the first place. This
is what you wrote."<br />
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And she handed the paper to the mom to read. The
statement included things like growing up in a safe environment,
building strong family relationships, having freedom to teach from a
Christian worldview and include God in their daily lessons, protecting
their children's innocence and allowing them to learn at their own pace
and to develop their God-given abilities using materials that fit their
individual learning styles.<br />
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"Have these things changed? Are your
children still benefiting from the things you wrote here?"<br />
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The mother
admitted that she had lost sight of those reasons, and perhaps the
standardized tests were not the most important part of this whole
picture. She left much encouraged, with a copy of her written statement
to show her husband.<br />
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There is an old adage, "Don't lose sight of the forest for the trees." <br />
Keep the big picture in mind, and don't let one small detail or struggle derail you.<br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-50364566494862151462016-12-12T09:48:00.000-05:002016-12-12T09:48:49.806-05:00Celebrate Advent with Christmas Picture BooksIf you have young children, you probably do some sort of Advent activity to countdown the days until Christmas. There are lots of creative ideas for doing this and also reinforcing the message and meaning of Christmas with our children. For years I used the advent unit studies on the Symbols of Christmas and the Names of Jesus found in <a href="http://www.joybookcompany.com/contents/joyproducts_celebratewithjoy.html">Celebrate With Joy!</a> by Sondra Burnett/<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWrOU_m56K0lV4SNlCyd-Flv01AcvaXAkqwdsa0wv2sWLBnP54CtXSL_QMDHJHMsBEA0SboZLhxdkWhdOR8HcvW7MSxBRaHhHp4KsKg1R6ky7QBdTAq_HC21bJwyzuxtyj0pDB__EP7pA/s1600/Celebrate+With+Joy+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWrOU_m56K0lV4SNlCyd-Flv01AcvaXAkqwdsa0wv2sWLBnP54CtXSL_QMDHJHMsBEA0SboZLhxdkWhdOR8HcvW7MSxBRaHhHp4KsKg1R6ky7QBdTAq_HC21bJwyzuxtyj0pDB__EP7pA/s1600/Celebrate+With+Joy+book.jpg" /></a></div>
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We have created paper chains with Bible verses on them, tearing off one link per day.<br />
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We have collected change in a jar, counting objects in our house that are blessings, and then donating the money to the Southern Baptist's Lottie Moon Fund or another charity after Christmas. For example, on Dec. 1, put a penny in the jar for every shoe in the house. On Dec. 2, put a quarter in the jar for each car we own. On Dec. 3, put a dollar in the jar for each bathroom. On Dec. 4, put a dime in the jar for each Bible in the house. Etc.<br />
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We love books, and <a href="http://www.jothamsjourney.com/">Arnold Ytreeide</a> has written a wonderful series of <a href="http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/books/christmas-stories-for-family-celebration-1234196.html">Advent adventure stories </a>set in biblical times. The stories, <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/jothams-journey/arnold-ytreeide/9780825441745/pd/441745?product_redirect=1&Ntt=441745&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP"><u>Jotham's Journey</u></a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bartholomews-Passage-Family-Story-Advent/dp/0825441730/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0825441730&pd_rd_r=911TCWNW0Z80AN4S8AW4&pd_rd_w=DiERj&pd_rd_wg=091Ap&psc=1&refRID=911TCWNW0Z80AN4S8AW4"><u>Bartholomew's Passage</u></a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tabithas-Travels-Family-Story-Advent/dp/0825441722/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0825441722&pd_rd_r=EAFB4S381E63HEAD3QN5&pd_rd_w=1Gs5d&pd_rd_wg=zGBuv&psc=1&refRID=EAFB4S381E63HEAD3QN5"><u>Tabitha's Travel</u>s</a> , and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ishtars-Odyssey-Family-Story-Advent/dp/0825443938/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0825443938&pd_rd_r=HWKJN12S40FVYDTWFGM5&pd_rd_w=1K6yu&pd_rd_wg=cWGlQ&psc=1&refRID=HWKJN12S40FVYDTWFGM5">Ishtar's Odyssey</a>, are written as daily readings leading up to Christmas Day, and include questions to talk about together. Read a different one each year.<br />
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Another idea is to collect Christmas picture books and display them in a special basket, reading one story each day until Christmas. Advent traditionally starts on the 4th Sunday before Christmas, but most Advent Calendars start on Dec. 1st. You can do it either way.<br />
Here are some suggestions for books you might like to add to your Christmas collection.<br />
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/the-very-first-christmas-hardcover/paul-maier/9780570050643/pd/50642?event=AAI"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2HgbXXIVvEK8UTE6h0NnH342gOrLHxFGCXmKUAkpjDswpBnMY35iExJ-H4ivRpx9i5939G6hJmfCQgk0T6tXsQDcQqDD3keImDAGxmRANSbGB5gm9f1Evv5W7AEBEIbJtqZfNUJ_LpBP/s200/The+Very+First+Christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The Very First Christmas, by Paul L. Maier</div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/the-christmas-miracle-jonathan-toomey-with/susan-wojciechowski/9780763636296/pd/636290?item_code=WW&netp_id=509874&event=ESRCG&view=details"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9uP2ebIkWcb1rsSVqgHYQSPOgJ3aRHhex7l9C3C4f5wGnuC7NBcqZedlMKqMQqfapeYEiMtAvhj9X-bsHtDv7orXq1N-YE9_HZM_tFlI6bICWAL9SEcbMVwyh4LdhuMiDnHrT064iXMY/s200/The+Christmas+Miracle+of+Jonathan+Toomey.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
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The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey<u>,</u> by Susan Wojciechowski</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jacobs-Gift-Max-Lucado/dp/084995830X"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY1qouqtkvuGkagXSSaijS1qaqe0r5YeZ_RG2Hfaba1tBqntQyQ0S6YM4pcdXLvuj2Sj-xBruOBbNGhlyh-H-wgcHV-dszRq_XhIbS7jGxqS7HNphTOLjGDPwz4oRyeQAkCOEEaZOhv0D/s200/Jacob%2527s+Gift.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jacob's Gift, by Max Lucado</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alabasters-Song-Christmas-through-Angel/dp/0849913071"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVufecY5jnCuuEMQQjpEP8tlTW3fIoB3YmejgH4N_N3qScpAwaEuw_g_sZ0tQci2ZoRVi0Uo5NWxi09oz3HcKXiBtvojnfCtzp0zIAdWJJuh-C7oczYhNvfj75WcqiD8E33z7m41LxQKma/s1600/Alabaster%2527s+Song.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alabaster's Song, by Max Lucado</div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-dr-seuss/1100058409"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SUMFTtzlUs2TiqRovTdBnfOII142ulmIAxQHBNhyWqzjOF2nsHI7U9iciOZ29F2bfHSGMHIN-rD_XqH7FetYSY2zg2YiT_3XUZPRwhLDmqCvaWd0D_C7s_rkPlX3aHCnGAFWGyR3HdIw/s200/How+the+Grinch+Stole+Christmas.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Christmas-Tree-Pat-Matuszak/dp/0310700434"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTSzv8rcYRUJAte9UDk8u9E004hUki4ZuDIfTZXVYnXjjRegBIxa8U1uIVjphCHYsWG5ksDovfsCpqhgUeCJzccZMcS_Z3Iy7BxFR1prASGfepFQtsnlU1KNvlLcOJ27Lt9Eglcq22p_B/s200/Legend+of+the+Christmas+Tree.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Legend of the Christmas Tree, by Rick Osborne</div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/the-legend-of-the-candy-cane/lori-walburg/9780310212478/pd/21247?event=CF"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNTySpTSK09dSg7t2Hos38p_y1PbQ6JoFIeJbg4EL5PnJ5l3gYwUEKAQqnz2ccbiI9Sxce0gqacTTtTHeGkarhFRICVNRTcVyAnTTQ-116m_RrSUz1jSZxlkKGBMJIhCOLZjU7_M6KNP9/s1600/Legend+of+the+Candy+Cane.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Legend of the Candy Cane, by Lori Walburg</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Christmas-Tenth-Anniversary/dp/0399251936"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8OFL3sguOEd6NfKvW6cqDs5E20RLnU2Zrgsac5rUR7g0PMljzzjvfrrfIAPCbTeoE8I2KfA561LcTR5xsSBP07I7Ujt8E5qvA3fFdOJhwU5Buz82SbTfugOrYlTFt1YoqIJCmZNji7kj/s200/The+Night+Before+Christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clark Moore, ill. by Jan Brett</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Magi-Henry/dp/0763635308/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323372474&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-InNshZlMwfKR9RnlKJ7bN5s3GXvmvJTYs3Q5MDXDI516HdMPHIYHkxeQG5EMNixu8ufHm7uv8Gc4SDVzwzT-AeFnLKSYH1VEVvCasYgHMnY_M1gpMC7y0XYDufZ1qbEejJP19ZI28jW/s200/Gift+of+the+Magi.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gift of the Magi, by O Henry, ill. by P.J. Lynch</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Brown-Christmas-Pop-Up-Peanuts/dp/076244004X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323372690&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaxMu87ClirObuFgzAf_N6KmNsvd3YNo_jM-_o7aIbfytgaa_i23gki9K8OMXGFvFQjooLYb_j0Lg6oS0eKAs2uyObvFSyiHSjFW_G7jlxy-Btl89-rsbx2pGut71ZEENwzztAOEAdnfL/s200/A+Charlie+Brown+Christmas+Pop-Up.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Charlie Brown Christmas Pop-Up Edition</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Around-World-Pop-Up-Book/dp/0316117951"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzLBTMxXtw3DpZWRXEHAGOa0AyHMe7_qfjobyi4J2qt4xhhL46lWOqTUny2iRxcJwMGy_rxw3Snto31rB5UbxpPnRRWXFqD1UqLqmiuEmzD0q9KTD4WZSy0Y7StvbNGi86AxisZE-VvGC/s200/Christmas+Around+the+World+-+Pop-Up.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Around the World Pop-Up Book by Chuck Fischer</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Carol-picture-book/dp/0061650994"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEdp1P17SsSPyPeRvjt7ISAPcLez8B1hiODigJSDd7mPR0GX7Y5jy0HoCx4tMRnzklw0IjhLqpsjpCmirJN8jzULBF9Wees0SGn6JJK2tuV-k9a_4P9eEQ2NF4YRo2ObWerQWvBHMQT3V/s1600/A+Christmas+Carol.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, ill. by Brett Helquist</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Poinsettia-Mexican-Folktale/dp/0399216928/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuQHhT_4or3lAdZukl8wa0XCMEcLNrVGcJihpFUezjtuZ7xBOmNTS8GrLCbuH4RfWrj9rmHy7yULDbj_yDWABqFc7qCoy7CW0S_YjzRm39usN1qPOUtglT3yhSIdmstJXY8GalgsOQPHG/s200/Legend+of+the+Poinsettia.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Legend of the Poinsettia, by retold & ill. by Tomie de Paola</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Drummer-Turtleback-Library-Binding/dp/0613300084/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP5c69ZS3K0CIYKQD-ZTu4pv3qLOFR-UVqlHIheTELTOA064OZZykpWEd_N3bZ4Zf6qNWFGHg-5SFtbGRPFomYc_kf3FdmHqm45czILXFWaTA6k0Xm2ynAHHN9eg_pKJtMwdwCZHTxEwm/s200/The+Little+Drummer+Boy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Little Drummer Boy, by Ezra Jack Keats</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saint-Nicholas-Story-Christmas-Legend/dp/0758603762"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkukORyrMOx52DSTrq40XRpsldyuZ3cIEp29Rf81AOv1JsWkwfFk6Z5YIX692w-UfPJSbrsnxnfAHNolqAG1U0LWk0ZV2FDj9VgEXmcQLdy6_yDLVwa_Z-9CRkKBc6NwUHf19wUW3r7rx/s1600/St.+Nicholas+the+Real+Story.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
St. Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend, by Julie Stiegemeyer</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Christmas-Pageant-Ever/dp/0060250437/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvl_uoPCapT5NOxBxyZJV_NBvL0JIQaep2oAvIW6VARbAy7u4U7s_b13c6Vk91dkgamQVZaFWDFZDtcd-6J3aRmi1GrLqlVUmmn3f4s7sMqIgep8-aPpwXfXQwozFDFj2afWzrO_rUMRte/s1600/The+Best+Chrsitmas+Pageant+Ever.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Big-Woods-Little-House/dp/0064434877"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurij-fnyU6scyY8WYkI1lBhbWwi3taM7XZ-2ZLPwBdjzILG_FG7CQ1RYkZSp_yw0OBfak4isrzONEA_UWoCVSVIkrwpw19oDKSO0X_9-lbtU8hZNF7A6FaIR6j62I2Izk4kdZlEBHHPGc/s1600/Christmas+in+the+Big+Woods.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, ill. by Renee Graef</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Littlest-Angel-Charles-Tazewell/dp/0824955757/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323379335&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wM5mupiER_IPPqQ5NNAZJ2XFXPJVoWEQyh-NUCPkW0Dh38gXTa_Cd3mntuWjEfCkOuzKlB0TUu-TVosk7T6yFhT7TISl-KurTD6SRwiFQoHQ0i8qnzLXzgGwYYgKCXd_ypeiVdJyds7p/s200/The+Littlest+Angel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Littlest Angel, by Charles Tazewell</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Christmas-Jan-Brett/dp/0399220372/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XthRu4sRGeabWldXs2THYBOeXowDaLE5u__SoRE2u2Q39Bz4BxcIOVBtLERxrJk8BUO7FxOm4FNop9h6TiNzmob6aymuYRHJA9lbQQ7QraA7tmHSGSrX_rySwTE_bnEjg6CYtCOZTAAR/s1600/Twelve+Days+of+Christmas.gif" /></a></div>
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Twelve Days of Christmas, ill. by Jan Brett</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Packages-Appalachian-Christmas-Story/dp/053130051X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323379398&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctFCmC0r1YpBuIij-dGEZ9DRXisWs9wkngxfd7D9N-84WGNsJEfSuq42r0in22EqtmpVrp1cx9y1HS_stCv_qilEZB7q7aoc-COpdkpwCTzDPnu1PpyLezbrM3HOafgec_yLSZe51zZjE/s200/Silver+Packages.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story, by Cynthia Rylant</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Trenches-John-McCutcheon/dp/1561453749/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323379465&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmHx_ZKa1bF8iYb2XEq6rxvZfRlrUY0amnXuvKJC9F1UcNO9IRNA0IGj4IxJT_rYoPUP5igmWYTs-Pd-E3auuZB24y3bMpQbuTsxXlmMEjJ0SPE2hDm-2VKMUOQWmx3xIrvkQXZ6ssUeo/s200/Christmas+in+the+Trenches.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas in the Trenches, by John McCutcheon</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Candle-Window-Grace-Johnson/dp/0800718151"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXnJlTfYulKhcVLfPQ91ZiKg5Coy4DHLOkcrCitPu8Pc7OocTwENxk0IReIHB5qRXYX83FlvCXSHTy6g1ebtMq3Bv92ayWFxBw-WyKaoBvafGfpU3ZspthTsZ7N9d59AZeMQn5VmLr1rV/s200/The+Candle+in+the+Window.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Candle in the Window, by Grace Johnson</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Annikas-Secret-Wish-Beverly-Lewis/dp/0764221817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323379554&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kKB_6XZjIu7dKWmFuZsyMvb7T2MX1B1rH7N1HYzYKYDVIFe5NAwOgnE8IDT3ckebo22DMn1dJiPUuVD0WNoO-ST6tTRV5x3_nUeosAtMaKmGNEIZc1uYfloAU8PwzEaTraid0kLEAyZj/s200/Annika%2527s+Secret+Wish.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Annika's Secret Wish, by Beverly Lewis</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Christmas-Cookie-Sharing-Meaning/dp/0310713285/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323379581&sr=1-1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfIrsVt6SwzIB7EjoyvTd_FYKGaQNZmjEyBnAX-K6LPrEKuGAsg1oJjxmib3rXxYCMuBSlZ15NEk2kFBL5oH8ywu-QEO_TzHk1qCrtZX11qKQgxgJp1PEyHUjH6Dj5dWD-Og2sxZUZtKc/s1600/Gift+of+the+Christmas+Cookie.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth, by Dandi Daley Mackall</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/217/3DA959DAAEE7D733050E8D42C09CFE99.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-30653484233875401712016-09-21T23:34:00.001-04:002016-10-21T11:36:20.223-04:00Current Events & Preparing Our Children for an Anti-Christian Culture<div data-contents="true">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="ek0f6-0-0"><span data-text="true">The ongoing battle of worldviews being waged in this country is intensifying every day. North Carolina is in the thick of it, with the opponents of HB2 launching heavy artillery aimed at the state economy, in hopes of forcing our government leaders ( who were elected by the people, btw, so this attack is on the democratic process!) to align with the new "progressive movement.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="4fpmb-0-0"><span data-text="true">Similar things are happening all over the country. Yesterday, the Michigan Board of Education passed "guidelines" (tied to funding, so we know what that means) saying that all schools must allow students to self-identify their gender. Last week, Massachusetts (my home state) became the latest state to approve protected class status for transgender persons, and, according to the Gender Identity Guidance report by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, CHURCHES can be considered places of public accommodation and subjected to fines and penalties for not accommodating transgender persons in accordance with their gender identity. Similar wording was issued by a commission in Iowa earlier this summer.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="8hjur-0-0"><span data-text="true">U.S. Civil Rights Commission chairman Martin Castro has lashed out at "religious liberty and religious freedom, calling them “code words" for a host of hateful and discriminatory actions including “Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance.” " <a href="https://world.wng.org/2016/09/churches_in_the_civil_rights_crosshairs">[World Magazine, "Churches in the ‘civil rights’ crosshairs", 9/13/16]</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="1787r-0-0"><span data-text="true">What is your worldview? What and who influences your beliefs about right and wrong, good and evil, truth and lies? What are the assumptions ( truth claims ) that determine your opinions and actions? Do your actions line up with what you claim you believe?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="b9k35-0-0"><span data-text="true">Is God real?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="34i2g-0-0"><span data-text="true">What is my purpose in being?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="1bnqk-0-0"><span data-text="true">Why is there suffering and what is the solution?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="f67qq-0-0"><span data-text="true">What is truth?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="81rnj-0-0"><span data-text="true">Is truth relative, or is there such a thing as absolute truth - something that is true for everyone?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="k1cr-0-0"><span data-text="true">There was a time, not so long ago, when </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="1v0rs-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="5d8fj-0-0"><span data-text="true">Some resources I have used with my teens that you might want to investigate:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="fni29-0-0"><span data-text="true">*<a href="http://www.thetruthproject.org/">The Truth Project</a> (Focus on the Family)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="cqcpl-0-0"><span data-text="true">*<a href="http://www.colsoncenterstore.org/CustomModule.asp?pageid=64">Doing the Right Thing: A Crisis of Ethics </a>(Colson Center)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="d9225-0-0"><span data-text="true">*<a href="http://courses.impact360institute.org/">Impact 360 Institute</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="fmaun-0-0"><span data-text="true">*<a href="http://www.summit.org/">Summit Ministries</a> / <a href="http://www.summit.org/resources/summit-lecture-series/archive/">the Summit Lecture series</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="9a4m9-0-0"><span data-text="true">*<a href="http://www.letterstotheexiles.com/">For the Life of the World </a>(The Acton Institute)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="eipjt-0-0"><span data-text="true">With younger kids, ground them in God's Word, talk about what it means to follow Jesus and how sometimes that's a hard thing to do. Study the book of Daniel. Set a godly example, demonstrating God's love and compassion while also standing up for truth. Teach them to be compassionate. Read biographies of heroes of the faith, who faced hardship, disappointment, calamity, and all manner of challenges with hope, courage, perseverance, fortitude. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-offset-key="4q2si-0-0"><span data-text="true">Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.</span></span></span></div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-23270513765257044452016-08-26T10:14:00.004-04:002016-08-26T10:15:38.462-04:00 My Baby's Not a Baby Anymore : Turning 18Last weekend was my baby's 18th birthday.<br />
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Gulp.<br />
Shake my head.<br />
Breathe.<br />
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My husband, daughter, and I threw him a surprise birthday cook-out at camp, with about 40 of his and our friends. He was surprised! Which is often a challenge! It was hot & humid, but still fun! I was too busy to take pictures. <br />
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He is awesome. Amazing. Handsome. Funny. Affectionate. Competitive. Forgetful. Unorganized. Wonderful.<br />
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I use similar adjectives to describe all five of my kids. I adore them all.<br />
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Happy Birthday, Baby Boy.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-27644256820535463012016-08-19T09:59:00.000-04:002016-08-19T13:00:50.329-04:00Our Last First Day of SchoolReality is setting in, as we embark on my youngest child's senior year of high school. As much as I said I wouldn't do this, I am marking the "lasts". Monday was the last first day of school for our homeschool, Cornerstone Academy. My husband was the one who said it to my face, as I frantically stuck my fingers in my ears, chanting "La la la la la! I can't hear you!"<br />
<br />
"I don't want to make you sad, but do you realize that this is our last "first day of school" ever?"<br />
<br />
Oh honey. Do I realize? I've been doing nothing but realizing... I've been shoving those realizations down and trying to stuff them back into the box of denial for at least a year. I've been gazing at my 6'2" baby and blinking back tears. I've been swallowing around a bowling ball lodged in my throat while sitting in an empty house all summer while he and his sister have worked overnight summer camp, because I know this will be my new normal all too soon. I have helped my second youngest move into her first post-college apartment, smiling as my insides crumble, because her bed and wall decorations and clothes and stuff are gone from her bedroom now. The girls' room isn't the girls' room any more - although it will forever be the girls' room. I have nearly broken down in the grocery store, realizing that a gallon of milk is too much to buy, and reaching for the 1/2 gallon instead. I feel like a crazy person.<br />
Oh honey. I realize.<br />
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I belong to the "school starts after Labor Day" crowd, but the local community college does not. So Jason started his 3 community college classes this week, and I'm still pulling together my plans for his other classes, that will start when they are supposed to start - after Labor Day. He is taking Writing, Statistics and Spanish at the C.C., so this week he was up and out of the house by 8:30am every morning. This is a big adjustment for the boy who likes to sleep until 11:00am! I only had to rouse him one of those mornings, when he apparently slept through his alarm. Not too bad.<br />
I have helped him figure out the online aspect of his classes, which use Moodle and MyStatLab and Composition Connection for submitting homework, class announcements, etc. Such a different world from even when my oldest started college! I've stroooongly suggested that he use an actual, hold-it-in-your-hand, paper weekly planner to mark down all his homework deadlines, quiz and test dates, project deadlines, etc., since he is a person who NEEDS visual reminders. I think I'm going to have to go out and buy that planner today and put it into his hands and sit down with him as he fills it in. He may be turning 18 tomorrow and nearly a grown up and about to fly the coop, but I still have a job to do, and that is to help him gather the tools to be successful when he DOES leave home. Yes, I still have this job... for a few more months.<br />
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It's a whole new world. There is a lot of "letting go" happening around here. I can see that this is a process and am grateful that the Lord has given me friends and a homeschool community to walk through this with. Several moms in our homeschool support group have formed an "Empty Nest Survival" group on Facebook, to give us a place to commiserate and support one another, knowing we are all going through something similar. My husband is being supportive, he really is, but I can tell he is a bit bewildered by the intensity of my emotions. He doesn't quite know what to do when I say, "I am NOT okay right now!" My girlfriends know that I need chocolate and a bottle of wine and a chance to talk it out and possibly even a good cry.<br />
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I know God will be revealing the next thing for me, as this year goes on. But I will still be marking the "lasts" and grieving a season of motherhood that is ending, while looking forward to new good things ahead. <br />
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*** this post as well as others are linked at Weekly Wrap Ups at <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/weekly-wrap-one-well-laid-plans/">Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-23861558475467986942016-08-04T08:44:00.000-04:002017-10-05T18:35:31.078-04:00Jesus Feeds the 5000 for Homeschool Moms<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Have you ever found yourself reading a very familiar
passage, a well-known story in the Bible, and suddenly God<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>illuminates the page? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly the words take on a whole new
meaning, even though you've read them a dozen times before?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In all 4
Gospels</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 14:13-21;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark 6:30-44;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luke 9:10-17; John<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6: 1-15<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> - we find</span> the story of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jesus
feeding the 5000.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a story for you, homeschool
moms!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzLBwizjFDEmu3vdJdIDVODHX6zNBrCiKB-g66V1ttVmdJorqdscItRLxVGAKoKLzytBfeIiwVE3nla1WhDRsozAwtjJxu70izdJe8UlZNe6Khxd0GHv08AvOMCZz0aQ-COjL1V8oi9k/s1600/loaves+and+fishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzLBwizjFDEmu3vdJdIDVODHX6zNBrCiKB-g66V1ttVmdJorqdscItRLxVGAKoKLzytBfeIiwVE3nla1WhDRsozAwtjJxu70izdJe8UlZNe6Khxd0GHv08AvOMCZz0aQ-COjL1V8oi9k/s400/loaves+and+fishes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew 14:13-21</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="selected">Now when Jesus heard this, </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Mt14.13-21%3BMk6.32-44%3BLk9.10-17%3BJn6.1-13%3BMt15.32-38%3BMt16.9%3BMk8.2-9/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">he
withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when
the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014014-1">14 </span><span class="">When he went ashore he </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Mt9.36/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">saw a great crowd, and </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Mt9.36/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">he had compassion on them and healed their sick. </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014015-1">15 </span><span class="">Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/Mt14.22%3BMt15.23/"><span class=""></span></a><span class="">send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014016-1">16 </span><span class="">But Jesus said, </span><span class="woc"><span class="">“They need not go away; </span><a class="cf" href="http://www.esvbible.org/2K4.42-44/"><span class="">i</span></a><span class="">you give them something to eat.”</span></span><span class=""> </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014017-1">17 </span><span class="">They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014018-1">18 </span><span class="">And he said, </span><span class="woc">“Bring them here to me.”</span><span class=""> </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014019-1">19 </span><span class="">Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, </span><span class="">looked up to heaven and </span><span class="">said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014020-1">20 </span><span class="">And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. </span><span class="verse-num" id="v40014021-1">21 </span><span class="">And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.</span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, I
imagine it going something like this:</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Disciples}<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hi... Jesus. Ummmm. I don't know if you've
noticed but { tapping watch )<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it's
getting kind of late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been a long
day;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it's time to tell<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>these people to go back home for dinner. I
know we're getting kind of hungry and could use a little rest....</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, they don't have to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You feed them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Disciple
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You feed them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Disciple
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With what?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have to be at least 5000 men here,
never mind all the women and children with them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don't have anything to feed them
with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would take ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8 months wages to buy enough food for all
these people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we have ... like 1, 2, 3, ... 4, 5,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>loaves of bread and a couple of fish!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Jesus]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring that here to me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Disciple
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring me that little bit of food you
have there. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Jesus gives thanks and
blesses the food.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[
Jesus]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, here, now take it and feed
them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Disciple
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But... but.... how?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is still only 5 loaves of bread and 2
fish.... and all those people look really hungry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't understand. This is just an IMPOSSIBLE
thing you are asking us to</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> do!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust Me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Verse 20<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>: They all ate and were satisfied, and the
disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, we are
going to change the characters a little.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Mom
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You know, </span>this has been great. But she's
school-age now sooooo..... it's time to send her off to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'll miss the little booger, but... well, she'll be
fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Right? </span>I'm sure the teachers are great
and she'll make lots of friends and....</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Don't send her away.
</span>You do it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Mom
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep her home with you and homeschool her.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Mom]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hahaha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don't know how to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not patient enough for that.... or smart enough... or creative enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never mind that we don't have a lot of money and I was thinking of going back to my old
job...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no. really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's no way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not equipped for that.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Jesus
]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring me what you have.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[ Mom]
what?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Jesus]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know all those things about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring me the little that you have.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus gives
thanks and blesses her.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Jesus]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, now you're ready.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[
Mom]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But nothing has changed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm still unorganized, stretched thin, tired,
poor.... how will this work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do I
get curriculum?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I know what to
teach?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I ruin my kids?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will my mother say?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Jesus]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Take a deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Take baby steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I have placed helpers around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You have more resources at your disposal than you even know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This isn't about how much <b>you</b> are bringing
to the table, but about how <b>I can bless and multiply</b> what you have when you
give it to me and <b>TRUST ME</b>.... and then step out in faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We'll do this together .... side by side.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you know
what my favorite part of that story is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The 12 basketfuls of broken pieces gathered up at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSiAqUAFf4jjeYjOqjnEREaImt7_FNGNvnZ9c1YuahTUri8QARvZxUKyjcw39s6RAG5MhL1y1uL3gq60hP04r5TxITawo0pZ7BOMTXXMSeLrDDEMRERjfWTTsWP7vxMwT10luhW1qmJc/s1600/12+basketfuls+leftover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSiAqUAFf4jjeYjOqjnEREaImt7_FNGNvnZ9c1YuahTUri8QARvZxUKyjcw39s6RAG5MhL1y1uL3gq60hP04r5TxITawo0pZ7BOMTXXMSeLrDDEMRERjfWTTsWP7vxMwT10luhW1qmJc/s400/12+basketfuls+leftover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus didn't
just provide enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn't JUST
satisfy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He provided ABUNDANTLY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MORE THAN ENOUGH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MORE THAN THEY COULD EVER ASK OR IMAGINE!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The people
were well-fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your children will be
well-educated, in line with the unique gifts and abilities God has placed in
them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus cared about the hungry people, and he cares about your children. But think about this. He could have said to the disciples, "Sit back and watch what I can do!" and just had the food appear. But instead he said, "You do it", and he handed the food TO the disciples and THEY gave it to the people. Why? Because the real blessing was as much for them as for the hungry people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The people really had no idea that there was so little food to
begin with...but the disciples...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE FAITH OF
THE DISCIPLES HAD TO HAVE BEEN<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>INCREASED
IMMEASURABLY!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They witnessed a miracle. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No, they didn't just WITNESS a miracle,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they
TOOK PART in a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God used them
and the little bit of lunch they had, and made a feast for thousands and thousands
of people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Just as he can use you and the little bit of knowledge, organization skills, patience, desire, time, money, space that you have and multiply it in ways you cannot imagine. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prayer -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Father, thank you for your Word, which shows
us so clearly that you are ready and able to provide ABUNDANTLY for our
children, for our families, if we will just set aside fear, set aside disbelief
and uncertainty, give thanks for what we DO have, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trust you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are thankful for the freedom that we have to homeschool. We are
thankful for the freedom that we have to read your Word and pray
together and encourage one another. We are thankful for the families you have
blessed us with, for the friends you have placed in our lives, for the
abundance of resources all around us, for the many good gifts we enjoy each and
every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray in the name of Jesus
our Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/217/3DA959DAAEE7D733050E8D42C09CFE99.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a></span>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-85848682163942013452016-07-03T23:05:00.002-04:002016-07-05T11:57:38.546-04:00Learning to Be a Trim Healthy Mama<br />
I have long had an interest in health and nutrition, and trying to make heads or tails out of the mountains of information out there, some of which contradicts or just doesn't make sense, is no easy feat. I recently heard a friend talking about Trim Healthy Mama, directing me to the huge Facebook community dedicated to the lifestyle promoted by the book written by sisters Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison. Their philosophy of eating struck a chord with me, as it seems to incorporate much that I've been reading for years. So I bought the book and cookbook and took it on vacation with me, to start the process of learning and incorporating this new lifestyle of healthy food freedom. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIrUIOzoXnushnaFX-icijCNzyVhiw0_YGumZQg_sEy-K9IPaRFqFh7XUWs9j7jA603r4p6Xz9WBfKFNPhDrVlpGNARVeJXSFoNO9LrUVigvda8PWwAoYqf6bUcMfP210Di-NuV7fDa4/s1600/THM+Books.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIrUIOzoXnushnaFX-icijCNzyVhiw0_YGumZQg_sEy-K9IPaRFqFh7XUWs9j7jA603r4p6Xz9WBfKFNPhDrVlpGNARVeJXSFoNO9LrUVigvda8PWwAoYqf6bUcMfP210Di-NuV7fDa4/s400/THM+Books.png" width="400" /> </a><br />
<br />
I am still getting the hang of it, and find myself staying "on plan" about 80% of the time. I feel better - less puffy, less achy. I've lost about 10 lbs, but have stalled there for about 8 weeks; it seems that some people experience stalls like this, either because the body is healing and adjusting, or because certain foods, like dairy or collagen, are causing the body to hold on to weight. I'm hoping to get the metabolism revved and the scale moving downward again soon, though.<br />
<br />
One thing I know about myself is that if I don't take the time to write up a meal plan for the week, I will not be successful. So I'm going to try to post my meal plan each week, along with some of the recipes I most enjoy. Part of this plan is eating every 3- 3 1/2 hours, so snacks are planned in as well. <br />
<br />
<b>MONDAY:</b> 7/4<br />
B. Egg mufflets (S - egg, shredded cheese, sausage, onion, pepper) ; Shrinker (FP -oolong tea, cinnamon, cayenne, unsweetened almond milk, Stevia sweetener)<br />
<br />
L. <a href="http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2013/05/healthy-avocado-chicken-salad.html">Chicken avocado salad</a>, tomato and spinach in a low-carb pita (S) <br />
<br />
<br />
S. banana oat bread (E)<br />
<br />
D.<a href="http://www.ahomewithpurpose.com/easy-mexican-casseroles-or-e/"> Mexican Casserole </a>(S - low carb tortillas, ground turkey, jar salsa, shredded cheddar); Salad w/ oil & vinegar dressing<br />
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S. air-popped popcorn; Bai drink (bring to Fireworks!)<br />
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<b>TUESDAY</b>: 7/5 cook breakfast at camp<br />
B. Oatmeal w/ cinnamon, stevia, chopped fresh peach, unsweetened almond milk, collagen (E)<br />
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L. Chef salad w/ olive oil & vinegar dressing (FP)<a href="http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2013/05/healthy-avocado-chicken-salad.html"> </a><br />
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S. pear, 1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt w/ stevia (E) ; Shrinker<br />
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D. <a href="http://getinmybelly.com/baked-pesto-chicken/">Baked Pesto Chicken</a> (S) , steamed broccoli, salad<br />
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S. Peanut butter yogurt w/ Lilly's chocolate chips<br />
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<b>WEDNESDAY</b>: 7/6<br />
B. Egg mufflets (S) , Shrinker (FP)<br />
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L. <a href="http://www.theironyou.com/2013/07/cauliflower-crust-calzone.html">Cauliflower Crust Calzones (S)</a><br />
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S. Fat -Strippin' Frappa (FP)<br />
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D. Taco Salad ( E - romaine, ground turkey, salsa, red pepper, onion, black beans, corn, blue corn tortilla chips, lime juice, salt & pepper)<br />
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S. pear<br />
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<b>THURSDAY</b>: 7/7<br />
B. Oatmeal w/ peaches (E - oatmeal, chopped peaches, unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, chia seeds, collage powder, stevia)<br />
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L. deli turkey roll ups; Wasa crackers, Laughing Cow cheese; cantaloupe (E)<br />
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S. Choco Secret Big Boy smoothie (secret ingredient - okra!!)<br />
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D. <a href="http://mrscriddleskitchen.com/chicken-lettuce-wraps/">Chicken Lettuce Wraps w/ Spicy Peanut Sauce (S)</a><br />
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S. <a href="https://rohndasue.com/2014/08/13/zucchini-brownies-with-cream-cheese-whip-sugar-free-low-carb-thm-s/">Zucchini Brownie w/ Cream Cheese Whip</a><br />
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<b>FRIDAY: </b>7/8<br />
B. Egg Mufflets (S) <br />
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L. Chef Salad (FP)<br />
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S. Strawberry Cheesecake Shake<br />
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D. Turkey Burgers w/ mushrooms, onions , peppers; broccoli; <a href="http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2015/10/crash-hot-sweet-potatoes/">Crashed Sweet Potato (E)</a><br />
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S. air-popped popcorn <br />
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<b>SATURDAY </b>7/9 homeschool leaders meeting from 8am - 2pm <br />
B. Cantaloupe and cottage cheese; (E)<br />
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L. Pot luck - bring <a href="http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/free-recipes/cheeseburger-pie/">Cheeseburger Pie (S)</a><br />
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S. Fat-Strippin' Frappa<br />
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D. <a href="http://northernnester.com/5-ingredient-chicken-parmesan/">Chicken Parmesan Bake</a> (S) ; <a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2012/01/recipe-for-kalyns-favorite-antipasto.html">antipasto salad, </a><br />
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S. <a href="https://rohndasue.com/2014/08/13/zucchini-brownies-with-cream-cheese-whip-sugar-free-low-carb-thm-s/">Zucchini Brownie w/ Cream Cheese Whip</a><br />
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<b> SUNDAY 7/10</b><br />
B.<b> </b>oat pancakes w/ s-f blueberry syrup; cantaloupe<br />
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L. leftovers<br />
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S. pear<br />
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D. <a href="http://www.fatkidmemoirs.com/crackslaw/">Crackslaw</a> w/ brown rice; steamed broccoli<br />
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S. Triple 0 Yogurt w/ coconut, Lilly's choc., and chopped almonds<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2015/10/crash-hot-sweet-potatoes/"> </a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410103526176646924.post-74568756684610997182016-07-03T13:15:00.000-04:002016-07-03T13:15:01.376-04:00Homeschool Vlog<br />
I found a YouTube channel that I wanted to share. It is called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBwzRfT-AhKvDpaM4R-XIg">The Encouraging Homeschool Mom</a> (the name alone makes you feel welcome and encouraged, doesn't it?) and it is a vlog(video blog) by a mama of 7 who shares homeschool life, meal planning and recipes, household management tips, family travel, and more. I have enjoyed the bits I've watched so far. Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fcm0nGnnS4M?list=PLqJamx0rwybuUb73-q1w_Z7J5agqRZdan" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Have you found a vlog that you really like?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/217/3DA959DAAEE7D733050E8D42C09CFE99.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04224338023317603178noreply@blogger.com0