Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ June 15th

FOR TODAY~ Tuesday, June 15th

Outside my window… The wind is blowing gently and the sun is glistening hot

I am thinking… that I must get my house cleaned for Keno 2nite!

I am thankful for…My dh having a safe and successful business trip this past week

From the learning rooms…We are only doing Science, English, Spelling and Literature this week.

From the kitchen… I am fermenting Kombucha and Kefir.  View my weekly menu here.

I am wearing… gray capris with a green T-shirt (not dressed yet for the day)

I am creating… Just learned how to use my ruffle maker for my sewing machine.  This is a must if you have girls and like to sew!

I am going… work on my blog this week and get back into the swings of things

I am reading… The Art of Homemaking.  We will finish our read a loud today.  The boys are sad.

I am hoping… to win big at Keno.  All the gifts are red, white, and blue theme

I am hearing… my dh type and tons of noisy kiddos

Around the house…Must tidy the house for friends

One of my favorite things...is to read before I fall asleep

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Keno,

Fellowship Meal at our pastors home,

church,

work on Father’s Day gift

Visit Simplewomansdaybook to see what’s happening!




For the Family’s Sake Book Review

This book was a tremendous encouragement to me as a homemaker who wants to make our home a haven.  Home is where I want to be and I want my dh and children to feel the same way.  Being a full time homemaker is my chosen career and where God has put me.  I’m so thankful that I saw the light before it was too late.  My oldest 2 children were 4 and 3 before I started being a full time homemaker and mommy.  When I had my first child, I never even imagined staying home.  After all, what did I go to college for? It was not even a topic of discussion between my dh and I.  Oh how the Lord changed our hearts significantly.

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay does a wonderful job in pinpointing the important elements in making a home run smoothly in a Godly way.  She stresses that making a home that is a joy, comfort, and encouragement is one of the most important things anyone can do.  She also mentions that the home is the basic building block of society. Homemaking in it’s self is a lost career.  No longer being a stay at home or a full time homemaker is a prestigious career.   However, I believe this one of Satan’s manipulative ways he uses to disrupt a Christian family home.  Homemaking may or may not be a full time, but I believe it needs to take priority over other things in our lives.  For me this means limiting our outside activities involved in homeschooling and extra-curricular activities for the children.  Yes, they are all fun, but attending every activity of interest would be detrimental to our family home life, as well as going against our family goals.  We must find balance in our lives which is such an imperative concept in training our children.  Bottom line….. You must be home in order to make a home a haven. Some of the topics discussed in this marvel of a book are..

*Home is the best place for growing ground for children

*Importance of bed time routine, meals as a family, and reading good books    together

* Daily Rhythms

*Keeping things in perspective

*Early and Vital Day

And there is so much more.  This book inspired me to read her mother’s book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking.  Admittedly, I skimmed through that book awhile back and really couldn’t get into it, but I am more than half way through and love it!

Also, the author is a Charlotte Mason advocate which I can totally appreciate.  Not so much in the way of education in this particular book, but as the means of treating children as people.

In a nutshell, this book will definitely be one I will be putting on my dd books to read list.  It would make a great graduation or wedding shower gift imop.

Let me know if you have any other good reads that have encouraged you in the lost art of homemaking in the comment section below.

Joyful Homemaking!

Review ~ Help, Lord, I’m Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler

I have to admit that the title alone, Help, Lord, I’m Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler, totally sold me.  Next year we will have a HIGH SCHOOLER!  Of course, my dh and I have been pondering and discussing what we truly want our childrens High School years to consist of and how we are going to approach it.  We truly want to guide and assist our children in their God-given gifts and prepare them for adulthood in a Godly manner.  What we don’t want is to provide them with a traditional education with lots of textbooks and classes just for the sake of making their High School School transcript look equipped.  On the other hand,  we want to prepare them for college if that’s where God is leading them.

This ebook, is exactly want many others and I need to feel secure with our homeschool methods.  It includes over a dozen testimonies from families who have already walked the High School journey. It includes several unusual homeschool scenarios, as well as many diverse approaches.  But one thing all these families have in common…..They all seek God for direction.  GOD IS FAITHFUL AND HE IS A REWARDED OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM. A quote from this ebook, “No matter what you choose to teach for the High School years, what curriculum you choose to use, or what path your child chooses to follow, your reward will be great as you seek the One Who created your child for His glory and to fulfill His purpose.”  A light bulb went off in my head.

Nuts and Bolts:

~ can be purchased at TOS Magazine Schoolhouse Store.   For more products from this publisher click here

~ The cost is 12.45

~ comes solely in ebook form

What sold me:

~ Instantly download – comes in ebook form

~ All testimonies are written from  Godly seasoned homeschool families that have successfully graduated their children from  High School

~ Loads of scripture references

~Do’s and don’t s  for each family

~ An enormous amount of suggestions from a non-traditional approach of schooling

~  a little biography at the end of each story about the homeschool  mom

~  Authors’ Recommended Resources List ~ This includes books, magazines, CD’s, web sites, bible scriptures, as well as many other general helps to assist you in the High School years

One improvement that I would like to see about this product is that it would be made available in print or CD format for those challenged by the file size.   122 pages to be exact

Please note: This ebook does not include a list of curriculum per se.  So if you are looking for a planned scheduled curricula for the high schooler, you will not find this in this particular ebook.

This ebook is an immense blessing for me as I continue to approach the High School years.  It encourages me to follow God’s will and to concentrate on the gifts God gives my children.  Is it worth the $12.45 ? Absolutely!  It is worth every penny and then some for the encouragement these families provide me as  I continue our homeschool journey throughout the High School years.  I CAN DO THIS with God’s help!

Not sure if this ebook is for you.  Then take a peek. (Scroll down a bit on the page)

School Year 2010-2011

We have begun our new school year.  We have decided to home school all year and take breaks whenever our heart desires.  If we need a break, we will just Do IT!  I absolutely go insane when we stop our routine.  It is great for a few days, but as always things get crazy.  Fights and bickering hammers our days, mommy gets irritable, and no one is happy.  So that is our current plan.  During the summer, school will be short, but sweet. Our curriculum choices for the school year 2010-2011 is the following….

My Father’s World ~ Creation to Greek My Father’s World ~

Kindergarten.  He will be finished in a few months because he is breezing through it, and we will start First Grade soon.

Singapore Math

RightStart Math Games

Saxon 8/7 with Dive CD

Phonetic Zoo

Intermediate Language Lessons

All – in – One English

Pathway Reader and Workbook – Grade 4 ~ using very loosely.  He will be completing only 1 or 2 lessons on comprehension a week.  The rest of the time he will be reading “real Living”books.

Christian Light  Literature – Grade 7 & 8 ~ using very loosely.  I have to admit that I am not thrilled with this choice.  I was looking for more of reading comprehension type thing. They will be completing 2 lessons per week.  The stories are good, but there is too much other stuff than comprehension that I wasn’t looking for.

And lots of Nature Reading books to browse during Book Basket Time daily.

Book Review ~ Keeping Our Child’s heart

My dh and I have always anticipated on keeping our child’s hearts pure as a vital priority in our child raising years.  This book was a great reminder and really got me thinking twice on what we expose our children to on a daily basis.

The book Keeping Our Children’s Hearts by Steven and Terri Maxwell has an enormous amount of godly wisdom that you can partake and implement in your own household.  However, some of their family principles are a little far fetched for me.  I consider myself a conservative christian, but I feel like a few of their principles were too extreme.  But for the most part, I would highly recommend this book to all parents who are seeking knowledge in maintaining you childrens heart.

I love the fact that the authors highly recommend writing out your family principles on paper and revisiting them every year.  What a blessing this is to hold on to when making family decisions.  For example, eating together as a family each night is a high priority for my dh and I.  We look at each outside activity and determine if it would interfere with our family meal time.  What is more important and best for our family.  We always must ask if this goes against our family principles.

Also, I can relate to the fact that several people, including some family members, believe that we over shelter our children.  We are the ones that have to answer to the Lord for our children not them.  It was just a reminder I needed  to hear before allowing Satan in.

In a nutshell, there is tons of great biblical family principles stated in this little book.  Take what hits your heart and start implementing those godly principles in your home today.  I give it a thumbs up.

Book Review~Mrs. Dunwoody’s Excellent Instruction for Homekeeping

I can not say enough about this priceless book that I just finished reading while spending precious time nursing my little princess.  I never enjoyed nursing so much.  LOL!  This book has an enormous amount of timeless wisdom and practical advice.  It saddens me that the art of homemaking and being a lady at home has lost it’s honor.  I strongly believe this is the one of the main contribution to the way the world is today.  Yes, call me old-fashioned if you must.  Being a domestic engineer is my chosen career.

This book of gems has everything in it from the care of beds to administering a remedy after being struck by lightening.  Some of my favorite topics were….

Esential Guide to Absolutely Delightful Parties

Very Impolite Things

When Someone Passes Over

List of Requirements for an Exceptional Spouse

The Lasting Happiness in Matrimony

And oh there is so much more.  This book will remain in my house until my dd gets married.  Then it will be hers to share and implement with her own household. It is a must for all females whether you are a single or married.  Would also make a great shower or wedding gift.  I plan on discussing this in great depth when my dd turns the teen years.  So for now, I have 18 years to put these timeless bits of advice into practice.

Also, I adore the fill-in-pages for pertinent information that you wish to pass down to generation to generation.

I give this book a big thumbs up.  No, you can’t borrow it!  Go get your own here.

I’m Booking It 2010

I LOVE to read….It’s my escape, but I haven’t read much in the last year because I have been too tired due to the pregnancy.  Since Princess is here, I hope to get some reading time in while nursing her.  I can always HOPE, right!

Here is my list.  It’s just a list of books that I would like to read or just browse through this new year.  Some of these books are not books that you read from cover to cover.

Homemaking

Miss Dunwood’s Excellent Instruction for Homemaking ~ Read review here.

Better Basics for the Home

Home Comforts

The Complete Tightwad Gazette

Family/Parenting

Real Family Values

Miss Manner’ Guide to Rearing Children

Full Quiver

The Mother at Home ~ reread

Homeschooling

Home Style Teaching

Wisdom Way of Learning

The Read A -Loud Handbook

Minding Your Own Business

Self-Help/Spiritual

Amish Peace

He Loves Me

Love & Respect

Health

Home Made Health

Toxic Relief

First Place

Our new devotion

We are trying to get back in the swing of things.  It is really hard this time around getting back to a some-what schedule after giving birth.  So, I thought….  Gotta start with the most important….God himself.  I am trying to develop quiet time each morning while nursing the princess before the boys wake up.  A challenge for me.  I so don’t do well without sleep.  However, I have some early risers.

I was intrigued by this classic at the book store awhile back.  Now seems like the perfect time to start this book/devotion.  I love how it has scriptures at the end of each lesson to enhance Thomas a ‘Kemps words.

I am encouraging my dh to read along with me and we can discuss every night while trying to make little princess want to sleep in her cradle instead of in my arms.  Another battle we will overcome.  LOL!

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 peter 3:8-9

Book Review ~ Season of Grace Series

I can’t wait to run to the book store and buy the 3rd book to this endearing, heart-warming trilogy series.  I have never read Beverly Lewis but always admired the covers on her books.  In all honestly, I don’t really read fiction often.  However, when my back was broken in extreme pain, I was on pain meds, so I wanted something I could read easily.  I read the first one, The Secret , in a few days.  Then my dh bought me the second book to the trilogy, The Missing.

These books are wonderful, easy to read, and have a whole lot meat to absorb.  Lots of wisdom and spiritual examples to ponder from the authors creative writing.  Lots of character in these Amish fictional reads.

Excerpt

Twenty-one-year-old Grace Byler longs to find her missing mother and to uncover the secret that drove her to leave them three weeks before. Grace suspects the reason has to do with her father and his reserved, uncommunicative ways. This conviction led Grace to break off her betrothal to her quiet, staid beau, and she is now resigned to remain single. But when the young Amishman she thought was courting her best friend takes a sudden interest in her, Grace is befuddled and wonders if he can be trusted.

“Englisher” Heather Lang has come to Amish country to relive fond memories of her mother and to contemplate a grave medical prognosis of her own. While in Bird-in-Hand, Heather meets Grace Byler and the two young women strike up a fast friendship, amazed by how well they click.

Excerpt

When Amish wife and mother Lettie Byler disappears, her daughter Grace is left confused and ferhoodled—while her father acts like nothing’s wrong. Terminally ill, Englischer Heather Nelson seeks healing from a naturopath in Lancaster County. When paths cross, missing pieces of life’s puzzle are woven together to reveal the merciful and loving hand of God. 352 pages, softcover from Bethany.

The third book in this series, The Telling,  will come out in April.  Can’t wait to see how this adventurous, loving, and encouraging series ends.  Hurry April!

A thumbs up for me!!!

Our journey to China…..

This week for school we traveled to China.  The boys really enjoyed this week.  We hit several different topics this week pertaining to the interesting China ethnics.  Very different from our culture the boys discovered.

First, we found  China on the big wall map of the world.  We each had our own map of China.  We labeled the capital,  the Yangtze River, and The Great Wall of China.  They also colored the China flag.

We read The Story of Ping and looked at several videos on YouTube describing the Yangtze River.  We also wrote down in our illustrated dictionary the term for river.

We also studied Pandas. We read about pandas in Magnificent Mammals and The Zoo Guide. In addition, we looked at several videos of Pandas on Youtube.  The boys all did a notebook page.  Doobie completed the page on Pandas in DWN #7 .  It was really fun to watch the little ones dance to Kung Fu Fighting.   The younger boys want a panda now instead of goats.  LOL!

We read about Hudson Taylor in Heaven Heroes.  Each child completed a notebook page and placed under their history pipeline.

We read on the net about the history of the Great Wall of China. We enjoyed watching videos on this magnificent structure here.  My ds4 was intrigued and built the Great Wall of China with his cardboard blocks.

The older boys chose to make an origami from the book, Geography Through Art.  While the younger ones made a dragon mask.

We are currently reading, Homesick for read a loud with the older ones.  We really enjoyed the book, The Empty Pot.  A great story that I want to have on our bookshelf.

We ended the week of by watching Mulan.

This coming week we will learning about South Korea.  Hopefully they will be as entertained as their journey to China entailed.