A Devotional Thought as the Year Winds Down

This devotional is written from the perspective of God speaking to His children.  As 2013 comes to a close, be in prayer about how much time you spend intentionally with your Heavenly Father.

I love you more than you can ever imagine. You are very special to Me. It blesses Me when we spend time together. I already know you completely, but the more time you spend with Me, the better you know Me. I want you to have a passion for Me. I want you to desire to know Me better today than you did yesterday. I want you to love and seek Me with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You could add up all your achievements and all your credentials and they would amount to absolutely nothing compared to knowing and loving Me. Today My assignment for you is simple: Love Me. As we spend time together today loving each other, you will find the fulfillment and joy for which you have been longing.

Mark 12:30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Philippians 3:7-9

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Dear God,

I now understand that for me to experience a revival I must be in, and remain in, a passionate love relationship with You. I have focused more on “doing” things for You than I have focused on “being” in love with You. I realize that I am nothing without You. I pray that You will be glorified in me as I live in this close love relationship with you.

In Jesus’ name,

A Devotional for Today – 1 Week Before Christmas

Today is a new day, a special gift from Me to you. Embrace this day with excitement and anticipation. Yesterday had some struggles for you, but today is a fresh beginning. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not yet here, but today is yours to enjoy. Listen carefully to Me as I speak to you today. I have a special, personal message for you. As you read My Word today, do not do so out of religious habit, rather read My Word from a heart of love that is eager to hear from Me. I will guide you today, follow Me and you will enjoy success. Today will include some surprises for you, but do not worry, I am still on My throne and I am not surprised by what will happen. I love you and am so thankful you have chosen to walk with Me today.

Psalm 85:8; Psalm 119:81, 89; Matthew 6:34;

Are You Deeply Rooted?

Deep roots allow trees to receive the water and nutrients they need to flourish. Those same roots also provide the necessary security for trees to withstand the strong winds that come their way. I have created you in much the same way, for you too need deep roots. You need to be deeply rooted in My Word so you will receive the spiritual nutrients you require. There is no substitute for My Word when it comes to providing you the sustenance needed for a successful life. And there is no substitute for My Word when the strong winds of strife come to you and your family. When you are deeply rooted in Me and My Word, you are able to withstand the strongest winds the world or the devil could ever bring your way.

Psalm 1:3; Matthew 7:17-20; Psalm 33:4

Embrace the Day! – A Devotional Thought

Today is a new day, a special gift from Me to you. Embrace this day with excitement and anticipation. Yesterday had some struggles for you, but today is a fresh beginning. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not yet here, but today is yours to enjoy. Listen carefully to Me as I speak to you today. I have a special, personal message for you. As you read My Word today, do not do so out of religious habit, rather read My Word from a heart of love that is eager to hear from Me. I will guide you today, follow Me and you will enjoy success. Today will include some surprises for you, but do not worry, I am still on My throne and I am not surprised by what will happen. I love you and am so thankful you have chosen to walk with Me today.

Psalm 85:8; Psalm 119:81, 89; Matthew 6:34;

What is your purpose?

As we go through the next few weeks leading up to Christmas, consider your own purpose in life.

Are you going through life, or are you living? Every person exists, but not all truly live. My purpose for you is that you will live and thrive. You have been made to enjoy a successful life, not a life of defeat. There is a real enemy who exists for the purpose of killing, stealing, and destroying the life of abundance I have planned for you. Do not give in to him and do not miss the real reason you are here. You are not on this planet for the purpose of making more money so you can pay more taxes and buy bigger toys to satisfy your desires. You are here to live in relationship with me, preparing for eternity together in heaven. Live! Start now! Stop playing religion and live. Stop going at it in a half-hearted fashion and dive into My presence with all you are and have. Here I am, come join me.

John 10:10; Proverb 19:21; Revelation 21:3-4

Awesome Cyber Monday Deal!!!

We have recently been introduced to Sisterhood Magazine. This Christian magazine is full of pictures, articles, and lots of goodies that any teen girl (or adult like me) will absolutely love!  My daughter is getting a subscription for one of her Christmas presents.  She absolutely loves the magazine and she really feels grown up having a magazine geared to her needs.  Here are the details you need to get the awesome Cyber Monday subscription deal:

Print subscriptions will be on sale for $20 Cyber Monday only (12/2). (They're regularly $26; Canadian subs are on sale for $22, regularly $28.) This is our best deal of the year! To get the discount, enter the coupon code CYBER when subscribing at SisterhoodMag.com or mention it to a customer service rep when ordering over the phone (888-817-8743). The code is only valid on Cyber Monday.

God’s Provision is All I Need – a Devotional Thought

Listen carefully. Do you hear the birds singing their songs to Me? I love their beautiful music, don’t you? Those little birds you hear making music each day are part of My creation. I love them and care for them. They do not receive salaries for the work they do. They have no retirement plan or portfolio of their net worth. What they do have however is Me. Because I provide for them, they are absent of worry. My desire is that you will learn to trust Me and stop the worrying that causes so many problems. Those little birds have Me taking care of them, and so do you. When you begin to understand how much I love you and how I do indeed care for you, you will be able to stop worrying and begin living in the assurance of Me and My provision.

Matthew 6:25-27

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made – A Devotional Thought

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I have known you since your beginning, since the moment of your conception. You have far more abilities than you realize. You can accomplish much more than you believe you can. You have allowed others to convince you that you do not have it within you to experience success or make a difference. Stop believing that lie. I placed My creative nature inside of you. I have gifted and equipped you to do great things. I do not make mistakes, and I made you. Begin today living in the victory I have designed for you. Think outside the limited box you have either built yourself or allowed others to build around you and use the inspiration, inventiveness, and ingenuity I have placed inside you. You have so much to offer and much more than you can imagine to experience in life. Use the creative nature I placed within you when I made you and begin to accomplish what others believe is impossible. Psalm 139:13-14; 1 Samuel 18:14; Exodus 31:1-11; Romans 12:6-8; Luke 1:37

In Awe of Creation – a Devotional Thought for Today

As you look around at the vast universe I have made I trust you are inspired and in awe of the amazing displays of beauty. From the gigantic mountains to the vast oceans you can see My creative hand at work. The beauty of the fresh fallen snow is a reminder of My perfection. Every rain drop should remind you of the refreshment My Holy Spirit brings to you. As wonderful as these are, you must understand however, that you are the centerpiece of My creation. I made you in My image. I made you for the purpose of knowing Me and living with Me today and forever. Use My creation to help you focus more on Me and My purpose for you, never allow your love of My creation to replace your love of Me. Psalm 95:4, 148:7-12; Genesis 1:26-27; John 17:3

At Home in Dogwood Mudhole, Volume 1: Nothing that Eats–A Review

To call myself a book junkie is a gross understatement.  I love to read, and my children have inherited a love of reading from me.  I was so excited when I found out I was going to receive a paperback copy of At Home in Dogwood Mudhole, Volume 1:  Nothing that Eats to read and review.  Finally, a book for mom, or so I thought.  My kids have enjoyed it as much as I have! Written by Franklin Sanders, author The Moneychanger newsletter, this 279 page book is a delight. 

     I read books from all genre.  At Home in Dogwood Mudhole is a non-fiction account of Sanders and his family a they attempt to outwit the daunting Y2K catastrophe.  This epic tale is written in a familiar style.  Sanders writes letters to his readers as if he is talking to a close friend.  Through his letters, he shares the joys and sorrows, successes and failures, and gains and losses he experiences in his journey to become self-sufficient.  Sanders saga spans seventeen years and is destined to become a classic piece of agrarian literature.

     At Home in Dogwood Mudhole is easy reading because of Sander’s writing style.  Each chapter can stand alone, yet each chapter contributes to the overall picture of the sacrifices Sander’s and his family have made for the sake of their adventure.  Sanders regales readers with anecdotes about a myriad of different topics.  He describes the acquisition of numerous dogs, cows, chickens, sheep, ducks, pigs, and horses, and details the challenges (sometimes quite humorous) in learning to live in harmony with livestock.  Sanders is quite transparent and reveals many struggles faced such as dealing with the IRS and other governmental difficulties. Most of the stories he tells would be completely appropriate for family reading.  This reads almost as a diary or journal, just in letter form.  We have especially enjoyed the photographs included.  There are real photographs of Sanders, his farm, and his family.  These contribute to the realism of the stories being told.  I have been reading excerpts to my kids over the past several weeks and they have really enjoyed it.  My oldest daughter is next in line to read the entire book.  On a fun note, we found out the “Dogwood Mudhole” isn’t too far from us in Middle Tennessee.

     At Home in Dogwood Mudhole, Volume 1: Nothing that Eats is the first in the At Home in Dogwood Mudhole series.  The paperback version retails for $22.95 and is available on the website.  It is also available in a Kindle / EPub / .pdf version for $16.95.  A sample chapter of the book is available here.  The second volume, Best Thing We Ever Did, is also available in paperback as well as electronic formats.  I highly recommend Sanders series.  It is destined to become a classic.  The life lessons communicated through Sander’s letters depict values that never grow old.  I can see myself and my kids re-reading this book many times over.  I have already put the remaining volumes on my wish list for Christmas. 

     Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been reading At Home in Dogwood Mudhole, Volume 1: Nothing that Eats. To read their reviews, click on the banner below.

    

   

French Essentials–A Review

Bonjour! Comment allez-vous? We have become a very continental family this year.  Our latest venture has been to explore the wonderful French language and culture by using French Essentials.  This complete, downloadable French curriculum with online features, includes culture, fun exercises, lesson tests,more. We are using the Full Access option which retails for $149.95.  This option gives users access to all of the lesson modules (including new modules as they become available), a downloadable workbook, cultural vignettes, activities, and lesson tests for an entire year. 

     Whew!  There is so much material in this curriculum!  I have had seven years of French lessons in high school and college.  Now, *** years later, (no, I’m not telling how many), I have forgotten much of what I learned.  Amazingly, in using French Essentials with my kids, a great deal of my former learning has come back to me.  I think I am enjoying this as much as the kids are.  Being extremely user-friendly, this curriculum is a winner in my book.  The program is suitable for anyone who is able to read and write without help, so around third grade and up is perfect.  I am using this with an eighth grader and an eleventh grader.  As of the writing of this review, five modules are available.  Another five modules are in the works and, when completed, the entire program (modules 1-10) will be the equivalent of two years of high school French.  I am completely sold.  Most other language programs are exorbitantly expensive for so many components.  I have examined many language programs and have not seen one comparable to French Essentials.  We worked through the entire first module very quickly.  This module begins with the French alphabet and its sounds and progresses through pronunciation essentials such as accents and silent letters.  While we went through this module rather quickly, we have kept the lesson pages handy for reference.  Once we hit lesson four in this module, the downloadable workbook exercises began to be used.  While the lessons include written material, audio material ( you may have to install a media player for this), some combination audio / visual material, and plenty of pronunciation practice, the workbook exercises reinforce the technical aspects of the lessons.  It is important to be able to read, write, and speak a language.  With French Essentials, students become very skilled in all of these areas.  Each module also exposes students to different parts of the French culture through online culture lessons.  With the first module, parents can visit the ‘parent’s corner’ and download a checklist to keep them on track and help them pace the lessons, exercises, activities, and tests.  This was so helpful that I made myself one for module 2.  I am a checklist person!  The checklist made lesson planning so simple.  For us, in Module 1 we were able to complete 2 or 3 lessons a day.  Now we are completing 1 or 2 lessons a day, depending on the difficulty of the lesson.  As the lessons become more complex, we slow down to be able to fully absorb the material.  Students can access online exercises and activities such as flashcards and games.  Lesson tests are also accessed online and can be configured to either English or French.  The type of questions desired can also be customized.  I love this feature.  I can give one type of test as a review and then test the same material in a different format for the test grade.  Or, if one of my kids does poorly on a test, I reformat the test and have him / her take it again after studying.  Like I said before, this is a very user-friendly program. 

      I think the feature I am enjoying most is that French Essentials can be done very independently by my kids but they can interact with each other about the lessons.  In this way, they don’t drag each other down or fly ahead of one another during lessons.  While there is an almost overwhelming amount of material on the website, this program is simple to implement. 

     Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using French Essentials in their homes.  To read their reviews, click on the banner below.

 

Thankfulness is Never Out of Style

I desire for you to enter My gates with a thankful heart. When you come to Me with thanksgiving it demonstrates that you recognize My blessings and generosity. I have provided you with every good and perfect gift you have ever received. It is My desire to bless you. It pleases Me to know you are grateful. I have blessed you both physically and spiritually; and many of the ways in which I have blessed you have been completely overlooked by you. Take time today to consider all the wonderful blessings I have bestowed upon you. In addition to the easily recognizable blessings like Me, your family, and your friends, consider the blessings I give you that are often taken for granted such as the air you breathe, the sunshine that warms you, and the water that refreshes you. Enter My gates with thanksgiving and enjoy the gifts I have for you.

Psalm 100:4; Psalm 95:2; James 1:17

IXL Math–A Review

We have been IXL fans around here for quite a while.  As a membership-based website which provides access to thousands of practice exercises for math (pre-k through grade 12) and language arts (grades k-4 currently), IXL  provides my kids a fun way to practice their skills, and learn some new skills. There is even a cool app that we use on my IPad for math practice on the go. Since my kids are in upper middle school and high school, we have been using the math exercises.
     My son, who is in the eleventh grade, is using IXL Math to review his Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 skills.  He will be taking his ACT in a couple of months, so this is a great review for him.  He has run into many topics that he had difficulty with before, and now, thanks to IXL, he understands.  My daughter, who is in the eighth grade, is using IXL to brush up on her basic math as well as Algebra 1 skills to help her stay sharp as she is completes her Algebra 1 class.  Thanks to the ability to choose whatever level and / or topic she needs to work on, she is able to practice on fractions, decimals, percents, multiplication, division, and other basic skills.  She also can practice on equations, variables, higher order roots, and other skills such as working with polynomials. They are both enjoying the program, even though they don’t necessarily enjoy the idea of practicing math.  So, how does it work?
     IXL is a comprehensive and focused math review program.  Once a student is set up, parents and students can choose skills that are sorted according to grade level, from Pre-K all the way through Algebra.  Students can start practicing right away, and it is hard to get them off of the computer once they start!  As a student progresses, he/she gets immediate feedback as right or wrong answers are confirmed.  If an answer is incorrect, an explanation, along with the correct answer, is given.  Students complete skills and receive awards – in the form of virtual game pieces – which they place into a virtual game board to reveal prizes.  The virtual game boards are specific to each grade level. Students can collect ribbons and medals and other cool virtual prizes as they progress. 
     What about parents? IXL assesses your students' understanding as they practice, and generates detailed performance reports to give you valuable insight about your students' abilities. With a single click of your mouse, you can view any of IXL's 37 reports, which include data on grade-level proficiency, trouble spots, and even progress toward meeting state standards. There is a wealth of information available for parents and teachers to use to evaluate student progress.  It is almost as difficult for me to get off of the program as it is for the kids!
     What didn’t work for us? Nothing, really. My daughter rolled through the first several skills and then hit some skills that were a bit more difficult.  She began to keep some scratch paper handy so she could work problems with paper and pencil.  That helped her tremendously. My son is doing a great job using IXL for his ACT Math review.  I can see where he needs work on his ACT practice tests and assign skills in IXL that he needs to practice.  He really likes the explanation that is given if he misses a problem.  I love the independent aspect of the program.  With my kids being older, I can assign either a length of time or a number of problems for them to work on and they can work at whatever pace is good for them.  The range of skills covered is incredibly broad.  This is a quality supplemental program which would work beautifully with any math curriculum.  I recommend it for any family with children who need extra practice on math skills. It would be effective both in a homeschool setting and in a public or private school setting. 
    Is it expensive? Membership options are available here.  There is a monthly option – $9.95 / month, as well as a yearly option for $79. This rate is for one child.  Additional children can be added to the subscription for $2 / month or $20 / year.  Parents are allowed to go to the IXL website and allow their kids to complete up to 20 questions per day for free, so there is a bit of a ‘try before you buy’ policy.  There is not a trial membership for families since parents can opt for the month to month subscription instead of the yearly subscription. There are classroom licenses available for classroom teachers.
   I have a lot of Schoolhouse Review Crew friends who have been using IXL and writing reviews about the program.  If you would like to read their reviews, just click on the graphic below.

 

Something to Meditate

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I have known you since your beginning, since the moment of your conception. You have far more abilities than you realize. You can accomplish much more than you believe you can. You have allowed others to convince you that you do not have it within you to experience success or make a difference. Stop believing that lie. I placed My creative nature inside of you. I have gifted and equipped you to do great things. I do not make mistakes, and I made you. Begin today living in the victory I have designed for you. Think outside the limited box you have either built yourself or allowed others to build around you and use the inspiration, inventiveness, and ingenuity I have placed inside you. You have so much to offer and much more than you can imagine to experience in life. Use the creative nature I placed within you when I made you and begin to accomplish what others believe is impossible.

Psalm 139:13-14; 1 Samuel 18:14; Exodus 31:1-11; Romans 12:6-8; Luke 1:37

VocabularySpellingCITY.com–A Review

VocabularySpellingCITY.com has been one of our family’s favorite online educational programs for quite a while now.  A few years ago, before the vocabulary feature was added, we used this for all of our spelling practice.  Now we are using it for both spelling and vocabulary practice.  This is a quality program that is easy to begin using, affordable, and saves me a huge amount of time each week.  Time saver? Definitely.  With multiple kids needing spelling and vocabulary drills, VocabularySpellingCITY takes care of the drill, practice, and even testing beautifully! We received a Premium Membership, which gives use for up to five students.

     How does the program work?  It couldn’t be more user-friendly and easy to set up.  Sign up is quick through the VocabularySpellingCITY.com website and retails for $29.99.  I still have 2 of our 6 children in school, so this was a perfect membership for us. It is able to be used for children in elementary through high school.   I also downloaded the app to my IPad.  The app itself is free, but won’t be useable for premium membership features unless you have an active premium membership account.  Once our account was set up, I went into my teacher tools and added my kids as my students.  Then, I was able to either input my own lists of spelling / vocabulary words or choose from lists already stored in VocabularySpellingCITY.  I like to input my own lists since we use our own spelling/vocabulary curriculum.  Actually, since all of my kids using the program are in middle school / high school, I usually let them put the lists into the program.  It saves me time and gives them extra practice with the words.  There are ready-to-use lists available from which to choose if you would rather use those lists.  I did quite a bit of exploration into those lists.  They are arranged by grade and by topic.  One list I utilized was the science word list. 

        Once my kid’s word lists for the week are entered, the fun begins!  I can either assign specific activities I want the kids to complete or (what I usually do) I can assign an amount of time I want them to spend with the program. As the parent/teacher, I can always see exactly how much time the kids have spent on the program and I can see which activities they have completed.  I can see their scores on any activities that generate scores. The activities available vary from puzzle and game type activities to dictation type activities.  I can assign activities that focus mainly on spelling or mainly on vocabulary (definitions). I check their progress and watch what activities they have been using. This gives me a good idea of where they may need some help.   Then I check their grades on their tests.  If their grades are not where they need to be, they can do more practice and take their tests again.

      The kids love the independence of this program.  They each have their own login and password.  It also eliminates the pen and paper activity for spelling and vocabulary.  They love to be able to choose the activities that are the most fun for them and help them learn the words for the week the best. I  generally require them to spend 15-30 minutes a day on practice / test activities.  For us, this is the perfect amount of time.  This program takes the drudgery out of spelling and vocabulary practice.  Overall, VocabularySpellingCITY is a winner for us!

     If you would like to read some other reviews written by my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew, click on the banner below.

   

Bridgeway English–a Review

Have you ever reached a point with your children when you wished your English curriculum was more user-friendly and straightforward?  My kids have been working through formal English grammar and writing curricula for years.  At this point in time, my eleventh grader is needing more of a user-friendly review that he can use to help him refresh his skills and sharpen him in preparation for his college entrance exams.  Bridgeway Academy has published a comprehensive grammar and writing curriculum, suitable for students in grades seven through twelve, which is appropriate for either remediation or review.  We have been using the Bridgeway English Book 1 Focus on Grammar and Bridgeway English Book 2 Focus on Writing as well as the Bridgeway English Key. Each of these products is sold separately for $23.33.

     One of the features we are thoroughly enjoying with this curriculum is the layout of the books.  Both student worktexts are spiral bound and contain instructional material, practice exercises, review exercises, practice tests, and final Pak (unit) tests.  The English Key contains reduced images of the student worktexts complete with answers.  The system is simple to implement.  Students read the boxes (shaded) containing the instructional material for each lesson.  The amount of instructional material is chunked for ease of understanding.  Then, students complete some ‘fill-in-the-blank’ exercises or short answer exercises based on the instructional material.  Once completed, practice exercises of some sort are completed.  The material is divided into Paks (the Bridgeway curriculum term for units) and each Pak is divided into lessons.  The lessons are short enough to be completed easily in one sitting.  At the end of a lesson or review or practice test, students are encouraged to check their work using the Bridgeway Key, correct their work on their own, and then check it again.  The goal for students is mastery.  Topics covered in the Bridgeway English Book 1 Focus on Grammar include nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, and a huge grammar review.  The Bridgeway English Book 2 Focus on Writing includes topics such as sentence structure, clauses, subject/verb agreement, sentence variety, proofreading, and letter writing, just to name a few of the topics. 

     My son really likes the format of the Bridgeway curriculum.  He knows to complete a lesson each day, check the lesson, correct his work, and recheck the lesson.  He has shown a great deal of improvement in his grammar and writing skills since using this curriculum.  I am excited to see how he improves on his ACT skills in the Spring.  He has been doing a lesson out of both the grammar and the writing books each day of our school week.  Because of this pace, he will complete both books sometime after Christmas.  Normally, a student would complete the grammar text in one semester and the writing text in the next semester.  This is a great product to use as a sole English curriculum or as a review product.  Older students needing remediation will appreciate the straight-forward layout of the curriculum.  There is very little ‘fluff’ with these worktexts.  My son and I have enjoyed the length of the lessons as well as the ease of implementation along with the quality of the instructional material and exercises.  The tests provided in the back of the student worktexts (parents should remove these prior to giving students the worktexts) are thorough, but are based very specifically on the lessons in the paks and the reviews and self tests.  The entire program is set up for student mastery and success. 

     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using these products as well as some of the other products offered by Bridgeway Academy.  To read their reviews, click on the banner below.

 

Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story–a Review

Let’s face it, reading is just plain fun!  At least, reading Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story has been just plain fun.  We received a physical copy of this truly entertaining paperback book for purpose of review.  Author Annie Tipton has hit a homerun with her book.  Published by Barbour Publishing, Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story is a delightful story.  Barbour Publishing began as a small independent publishing company in 1981.  Over the past twenty-two years, the company has carved out its own special niche -- publishing Christian classics at value prices. Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story holds true to their niche.  It is a classic book exhibiting a Christian worldview with a value price.  Containing 192 pages, Tipton’s first book in her Diary of a Real Payne series is priced at only $4.49 right now as opposed to the regular $5.99 pricing.  This fun book is recommended for kids ages 8-12, but it is suitable for anyone ages 8 and up. 

     With my kids all being at the independent reading age, we used this for independent recreational reading. I also read the book.  I am such a quick reader that it was no problem for all three of us to have time to read this over the past few weeks. My son has always loved any “diary of” type books.  he devours this type of book.  I was worried at first because the main character in the book is a young girl, but he has enjoyed it.  My daughter has enjoyed it even more because, I think, she relates to the main character, EJ Payne.  Hailing from the thriving metropolis of Spooner, Wisconsin, EJ keeps records of her rip-roaring antics and her far-reaching thoughts through her diary.  She keeps the diary because her mother thought it would be a good outlet for EJ’s extraordinary imagination.  EJ is not thrilled with life in a quiet town and dreams of accomplishing grand things when she finally makes her escape and is all grown.  At the height of disastrous tasks for EJ, she is ‘forced’ to portray the lead angel in the Christmas pageant that her church is putting on.  Surprisingly, EJ manages to ‘save’ Christmas. Her vivid imagination puts her into many unusual circumstances. She learns many life lessons through her story.  Some of the great lessons learned by EJ, and consequently by readers, are the understanding that we are all made in the image of God and thus all special and the ongoing lesson of being a servant.  With humor and hilarious antics, EJ learns these lessons and portrays them to readers without sounding the least bit preachy.  The story is a Christian based story, but is presented in a completely non-threatening way.  The character lessons that can be learned through EJ’s story are universal. I have enjoyed reading Tipton’s book as much as the kids have!  We are all looking forward to the second installment in the Diary of a Real Payne series.  Tipton has a real talent for communicating with a difficult age group.  The 8-12 year old age group (tweens) are so hard to write for because they are still very childlike yet they want to be treated more like adults.  The fun narrative journal style of this book allows kids to really get involved in the story and take ownership of the lessons learned without feeling like an adult is trying to teach them something.  Kudos to Annie Tipton and Barbour Publishing!  This is a great read!

     Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been reading Diary of a Real Payne Book 1:  True Story. To read their reviews, click on the banner below.

 

Walk in Meekness

The world in which you live teaches you to promote yourself and demand your own rights. I am calling you to live with a meek heart and attitude. Meekness is not weakness, although many misunderstand it to be that. Meekness is living with an understanding of who you are in Me and the power you have in Me. Meekness is living with the strength and power you have received from Me in a controlled manner. When you know who you are and whose you are, you don’t have to promote yourself and demand your rights, because you have Me providing for you and recognizing you for who you are and what you do. I am able to see that your rights are taken care of and that you are lifted up in due time. Your role is to walk close beside Me with a meek heart and I will provide for you now and in the life to come.

Matthew 5:5; 1 Peter 5:6; Psalm 118:14

A Devotional for Today

In the midst of the turmoil and pain you are facing each day, I want you to understand I am your constant refuge. When you are tired, I am here to provide you rest. When you are overwhelmed I am here to help you put everything into perspective. When the pressures of life are more than you can handle, I am here to carry your burdens. When you need security from those who are pursuing you, I am your protector. Just as a cave cut out from the side of a mountain can provide shelter from dangerous storms, I provide the shelter you need. Better stated, I am your shelter. I am all you need. Turn to Me. Lean on Me. Walk close beside Me each moment of each day. Storms will certainly come your way, but do not fear, I am with you through the storms.

Psalm 7:1; Psalm 16:1; Matthew 11:30

Make Me an Instrument

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Also read 1 Peter 2:22-24

Today was the day of the big concert that everyone had been waiting for. The Johnson family arrived at the concert one hour early so they could get good seats. The musician they came to see was one of their favorite performers. The music that came out of the instrument he played was very soothing and comforting. It was amazing to them how someone could play beautiful music from a piece of metal that had holes in it. Cary Johnson had tried many times to play a song from the same type of instrument. It never sounded the same as when their favorite musician played it. In fact, Cary’s music was out of tune for the most part. She knew she had to practice hard in order for her music to sound that good. Have you ever picked up a musical instrument and tried to play something for the first time? It probably was not a sound that soothed others ears. Did you know our lives are like an instrument? We can either be in tune or out of tune. We can comfort others or be a discomfort to others. If we are a new creation in Jesus and are living according to His plan others can be comforted by what we say and do. God can use us as instruments to help others. But, if we are not living our lives for Jesus, then we are probably more of a discomfort to others than a comfort. Our instrument may sound out of tune and drive others crazy. When an instrument is tuned just right and played the right way, beautiful music can be the result. Our lives should be finely tuned instruments that are being played by God. Our actions can show the result of our love for Him. He is the greatest musician that ever played, and when we allow Him to use us, together we can really make beautiful music. What kind of instrument are you? Are you allowing the Lord to use you or are you going your own way and not allowing Him to use you? Lord, make us instruments for you. Play us so others can see Your glory.

• Do you play an instrument? What kind do you play? Do you like the music that comes out of an instrument that is in tune and played properly?

• Are you willing to let the Lord play His song through your life?

Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose–a Review

Teaching children about great heroes of the faith can be both exciting and challenging.  It is exciting to teach about the adventures many missionaries experience in their journey to share the gospel, but it is challenging to teach about the tragedies that befall many missionaries.  YWAM Publishing, the publishing ministry of Youth With a Mission, publishes books devoted to “training and equipping believers for their part in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19, as well as personal evangelism.”  I have been privileged to read and explore YWAM’s publication of Jim Elliot:  One Great Purpose with my children. To my delight, I also received the Unit Study Curriculum Guide for this book. I received the .pdf version of both products.  I have been using them from my Ipad and loaded them onto my kids devices for them to read.

     We have many dear friends in our area of the world who are career missionaries through YWAM.  Because of these relationships, our family is very familiar with the wonderful ministry of YWAM across the globe.  Reading Jim Elliot:  One Great Purpose has given us insight into another far-reaching and meaningful arm of the YWAM ministries.  Jim Elliot:  One Great Purpose is part of YWAM’s “Christian Heroes:  Then & Now” series.  This series includes 41 biographies of great heroes of the Christian faith, both men and women.  Books are available individually as well as in some different sets.  The entire set of books is available as well for a substantial savings.  Jim Elliot:  One Great Purpose is intended for readers ages 10+.  It is 192 pages long and sells for $6.99 on the YWAM website. The rest of the biographies in the series are in the same general age level.  We have found that the book may be a little bit of a stretch for a 10 year old to read independently, but it would work great as a read aloud or read together.  I have read it myself and my 13 year old and 16 year old read this. From a reading level standpoint, the 10+ is spot on.  From the standpoint of subject matter, I do recommend a parent read it either with a younger child or at the same time as a younger child.  The book is tremendous, but the events surrounding the death of Jim Elliot are difficult and lend themselves to open discussion about the meaning of servanthood and completely surrendering ones life to the purpose of sharing the gospel.

     On the YWAM website, one of the neat perks that I found while doing some digging around is  “Heroes Series – Bonus Material.”  This part of the website contains free extras to go with many of the books in the series including a crossword puzzle on Jim Elliot, a coloring page on Jim Elliot, suggestions for how to use the Unit Study in different setting, and other fun extras.  There is even a link for more challenging crosswords (ages 15+).  I love to be able to find extra material to enhance a study!

     Now, down to the nitty gritty!  Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose is the biographical account of Jim Elliot.  It chronicles his experiences sharing the gospel with the Auca Indians of Ecuador.  He and his coworkers knew that this group of people were known to be savage, especially with outsiders.  They worked tirelessly to build trust in hopes of being able to reach the Indians for Christ. The missionaries were fully aware that they could lose their lives in their mission, but they vowed never to spill a drop of blood of those with whom they were sharing God’s love.  In other words, if attacked they would not fight back.  This biography traces the journey that Jim Elliot takes to reach the point of trying to work with the Auca.  We trace his journey as he has to learn the Quichua language in order to share with the Quichua tribe first.  This was a rival tribe to the Auca.  Jim and one of his coworkers were able to experience mentoring and training at the hand of another missionary, Dr. Tidmarsh, who was working with the Quichua. Eventually, Jim and his family, along with the McCully family (another missionary family) settled and took up residence in the jungles of Ecuador.  Part of their work, in trying to establish a relationship with different indigent people groups, was to drop loads of groceries and other trinkets from the safety of an airplane to the people.  That is how Nate Saint (Jim’s coworker and pilot) and Jim Elliot first catch a glimpse of the elusive Auca people and how they develop a burning desire to reach them with the gospel.  Throughout the story, readers are entranced in adventure after adventure, hardship after hardship, all for the sake of Christ.  I’m not going to tell you the end of the story because I hate spoilers.  Let’s suffice it to say, God is always in control.

     We have really been enjoying the Unit Study along with the book. It is 62 pages long and retails for $7.49 on the YWAM website. I love unit studies because they are like a cafeteria of ideas and activities that can be used to enhance a study.  This guide does not disappoint. Activities, study questions, memorization suggestions, projects, and more fill this unit study guide.  The study can be cross-curricular with activities suggested in the areas of history, geography, language arts, current events, math, missions, and life skills.  I have used the discussion questions as a springboard for discussion times over chapters read.  I have also been using the essay questions for writing assignments.  We have used the provided maps and completed the geography related activities and have studied the history of Indians in Ecuador.  Next on the agenda is to try our hands at some Ecuadorian cooking.

     This book and unit study have been inspiring for our family.  My oldest daughter has spent a great deal of time this year on the mission field and is leaning toward taking a full year mission trip in the near future.  As a matter of fact, all of my kids have a heart toward missions.  I greatly appreciate books like this which give a picture of what missionary life can actually be like.  I want my kids to understand that it isn’t an easy life, but God provides all of your needs when you are serving Him.

     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been reviewing both this book / unit study as well as one about George Washington.  To read their reviews, click on the banner below.

   

Ambassador Bob – A Kid’s Devotional

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Also read 1 Corinthians 3:9

Ambassador Bob was a ministering dude! He would carry his Bible everywhere and tell people about Jesus. He was never without a handy gospel tract to give out at all times. It was very common to see Ambassador Bob at the park telling people about the love of Jesus and the salvation offered through Jesus. Ambassador Bob was ready and willing to go anywhere that the Lord would call him to go, even if it were to another country. Ambassador Bob was on a mission to tell people about Jesus. He was truly a Fisher of Men! God used Ambassador Bob as an “ambassador” to bring people to Himself.

Is Ambassador Bob any different from you or me? Do I need to be in a special club to be an ambassador for Christ? Do we have to memorize a special verse or be a Christian for several years first? “No way,” is the appropriate answer for all of the above questions.

When we receive Jesus, we too are called to be an ambassador for God to this world. God tells us to go out and share with the world about His love and salvation He provides through His Son, Jesus. The Bible says that we are all to be ambassadors for Jesus. An ambassador has the job of representing one country to another. The United States has ambassadors living in other countries. Their job is to represent our country to the people in those foreign countries. We are now members of God’s kingdom in Jesus. We are to represent God’s kingdom as ambassadors to the people in this world! The world is in rebellion against God but Jesus wants people to know that they can turn to Him and be forgiven. We represent Jesus and His heart towards the world. We need to do a good job of representing Him. What a great privilege it is to be heaven’s ambassadors to the lost of this world! So you can be Ambassador Billy, Ambassador Jennifer or even Ambassador Bob!

• Why has God sent ambassadors into the world?

• How are you doing as one of Jesus’ ambassadors?

• Let’s all be the best ambassadors we can be!

A New Creation

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Also read Colossians 2:6-7 and Ephesians 2:21

One day, two friends, Nancy and John were looking at a painting of Jesus on the cross.

They were looking at the same picture, but they saw two very different things. “What do you see when you look at that painting?” Nancy asked. “Well, I see a man hanging on a cross who is bleeding and has a crown of thorns on his head,” replied John. “What do you see Nancy?” “Well, I see an eternal picture.” “A what?” replied John. “I see eternal life,” Nancy said. By this time John was very confused and said, “How do you get eternal life out of a picture that has a man hanging on a cross? What do you see that I can’t see?” Nancy went on to explain to John how she saw the picture and what it meant.

Our new relationship with Jesus brings about a new relationship to the world and to the people around us. We see things differently as a Christian than we used to. Before becoming a Christian we could read the Bible or look at something like a painting of Jesus on the cross and not understand very much. We might even ask, “What’s the big deal?” We would probably be like John and just see a man hanging on a cross who is bleeding and has a crown of thorns on his head. Once we are Christians, we can be like Nancy and see a picture of what Jesus has done for us. But, we can only see like Nancy if we have asked Jesus to come into our life. When you become a Christian you are a new creation in Christ and you will see things differently than you did before.

We cannot make that change in our lives on our own. We need God to change our hearts, and how does He do that? He does it by sending His Spirit into our lives when we become a Christian, helping us to see things differently, through His eyes. When I look at a painting of Jesus on the cross I am filled with joy because He has taken my place. I know He suffered for me so I could come directly into the presence of God. Jesus saved my life! I can be with Him forever because I have received Him as my Lord and Savior. What do you see?

• What do you see when you look at your friends or family who don’t know Jesus?

No Cost to You!

Text: Romans 3:24 – “. . . are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Also read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

“I can’t pay this credit card debt!” exclaimed Mark’s father. “We have spent too much

money over the past few months. I can’t believe we owe so much money to our credit card account.” Spending money is an easy thing to do. Most people like to spend money instead of saving it or helping others with it. Like Mark’s father, so many people are unable to pay back the money they owe. Over time, the debt gets larger and harder to pay off. Sometimes it can even take several years to pay off something you owe.

What if God were to say to us, “Every time you sin, you must pay Me back for the sin you committed. I will not speak to you or protect you until your debt is paid in full”? How would that make you feel? We probably would not hear from God very often or feel very

protected. That’s because none of us would ever be able to pay back God for the sins we committed. NEVER, EVER! We sin every day and can never pay the price for our sin. This means we would have to be perfect. Our sins would add up faster than any good things we could do in order to even things out. No one has ever been perfect, except for Jesus. That is why He is the only one who can help us. The good news is that Jesus paid for every one of our sins, past, present and future. At no cost to any one of us, Jesus took care of the debt of sin we owed. When Jesus died on the cross he paid that debt for us. God placed all of our sins upon Jesus as He hung on the cross, which means that we can start out fresh, and forgiven of our sin. We become a brand new creation in Jesus. What is the result? The debt of our sins is erased and God replaces our sin with the goodness (righteousness) of Jesus. We can now go and live our lives for Jesus as a brand new creation, no longer under the control of sin. Let’s remember to always be thankful that Jesus paid the debt of our sin with His very life.

• What does it mean to have your debt of sin taken care of?

VideoText Interactive–Algebra: A Complete Course–a Review

 VideoText Interactive is an interactive math curriculum. Until I received the program to review, I had never heard of VideoText Interactive.  We have been using the Algebra: A Complete Course  (Modules A-F, online version)program.  After using this curriculum for several weeks, I am extremely impressed.  This comprehensive product is the brain child of Tom Clark.  Mr. Clark is a life-long teacher of Mathematics and Science with 46 years experience in education, at all levels, from elementary through adult. We had moved to using several computer based courses this year in our homeschool.  Up till now, I had not implemented a computer based math program as our sole curriculum.  Now, VideoText Interactive is our sole curriculum.  This is the first math program in high school that my kids have actually asked to do each day. The Algebra: A Complete Course  (Modules A-F, online version)program is intended for students who are ready for pre-algebra (this age may vary slightly, but 7th grade up would be typical).  I have been using it with an eighth grader and an eleventh grader.  There is an article, here, about algebra readiness.  It is really helpful in deciding if your child is ready for this program.

     When I received the VideoText Interactive access, there was a little bit of a learning curve for me.  This system is a little different from a traditional video-type mathematics curricula which uses video to supplement textbook material.  With VideoText Interactive, the interactive video is the textbook and print material is the supplement.  We are working our way through the complete algebra program.  When my kids complete the entire program, they will receive a Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2 credit.  It does take a little bit of reading and preparation for the parent / teacher to learn the system for VideoText Interactive.  The system is designed so that the teacher / parent is a part of each lesson, not just a bystander.  This unique approach lends itself not only to more interaction between student and teacher / parent but also to more mastery of concepts.

     I spent some time digging through all of the available parent / teacher materials on the website (available with purchase of the course).  There was a ton of information regarding scope and sequence of the course, scheduling, grading, and how to work through the lessons.  I printed materials I needed for myself and my kids, placed them in binders, and we were ready to go. The process is fairly simple.  The kids login and go to whatever lesson they are supposed to work on each day.  If there is a video to watch, they watch the video; if there is an assignment to work on or check, they do that; if there is a quiz or test to take or correct, they do that.  I work through the videos with them, pausing every now and then to ask questions and let them tell me what they are learning about.  One of the materials available with the program is course notes for each lesson. The kids have a printed copy of these and can use them as a reference as they are doing their assignments or for review for quizzes or tests.  I really appreciate how the instructions allow for kids to correct their own assignments, quizzes, etc… using the answer key.  This gives the kids an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.  The videos for each lesson are short enough to not get boring, yet long enough to teach each concept.  There are 2 different versions for quizzes and tests provided.  This allows for retakes if needed (or using one as a review and the other as a test). 

     I am seeing major progress in the area of independence in math work with VideoText Interactive.  My kids using this are in eighth and eleventh grade.  The eleventh grader needed some major review in algebra skills in order to prepare for his ACT.  My eighth grader is at or ahead of her grade level.  It has been fun to watch them help each other out on assignments.  I have my eleventh grader working at a faster pace than my eighth grader. He completes 2 lessons per day (on average).  If it is time for a test / quiz, he usually studies and takes it and corrects it all on the same day.  He is doing a great job with it.  My eighth grader loves the short assignment length and the fact that she can watch a video over if she doesn’t understand something.  If she is still stuck, she reads over the notes, tries to work a problem or two, or asks me for help.  Sometimes, with math, it just takes a different perspective to make a concept click.  They both began the course by studying basic number skills and math language.  Then they progressed to concepts such as greatest common factor, least common multiple, factoring, etc… They have completed the pre-algebra type skills and have moved into the more meaty algebra 1 skills now.  I must say, I thought they would have trouble as they got to these skills, but they have not.  

     The Algebra: A Complete Course covers pre-algebra, algebra 1, and algebra 2. 

     Materials included in the courses are:  

1.  Video Lessons – 5-10 minutes in length each.  Methods presented are easy to follow and understand.

2.  Course Notes – students can view these on screen or print.  The notes follow the video lessons exactly.

3.  Student WorkText – These contain additional review and practice examples of the concepts presented in each video lesson.  Student assignment exercises are also included.

4.  Solutions Manual – detailed, step-by-step solutions for all of the problems found in the WorkText.

5.  Progress Tests – short quizzes and longer tests which are assigned periodically to assess student mastery of concepts.

Pricing for the program we have been using is:

• ONLINE ALGEBRA Modules A-F: Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2 (Classic Print Version – $529.00) ……. $299

($299 pricing reflects licensing for two students. Add an additional student in your family’s household for $49. A student license will last three years from the date it is activated for each student, and instructor accounts may also be turned on for a short period by request for SAT/CLEP prep after a student license has expired. Online Programs have a full 30-day money back guarantee.)

Other delivery options, such as DVD, are available as well as the option to purchase individual modules and extra materials.  Pricing on these items varies and may be found on the website.

To read the reviews from my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew, click on the graphic below.

   

See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish - Review

It has been quite a while since my daughter has been able to work on her Spanish skills.  She has particularly been jealous of her older brother working on his second year of Spanish.  She wants so badly to be able to converse with him in Spanish. As an eighth grader, she didn’t need something that would burn her out on language learning.  Enter See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish.  We were given the opportunity to try this program by Flip Flop Learning in order to give you our honest review.  This has been a blast!

     The author of See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish is Senora Gose, a former public school teacher and current private Spanish lesson instructor living in Texas.  She loves to pour her knowledge of the Spanish language with students of all ages.  See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish is a very different Spanish curriculum.  It is designated as being for people ages 3 – 93!  I am loving this as much as my daughter and even my son. 

     The entire program is designed as a complete 2-year Spanish curriculum.  Included with the program are 3 sets of flash cards, a whiteboard paddle, and 4 audio CD's.  You also receive a lesson guide that has lessons differentiated for various ages and stages of learners.  For example, suggestions for the ‘bare minimum’ may be given for a preschooler, with more tactile and hands on type learning, while for the same lesson, high school age students will be writing sentences or conversation.  As a teacher, I love the differentiation.  That truly makes this a program that can be used by all ages. 

     Caitlyn is our main student using See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish.  Her older brother works as her lesson helper and facilitator.  This makes the lessons a lot more fun.  They are able to listen to the c.d. lessons together and then go through flashcards, do writing exercises, play games, review, etc… together.  The lesson format varies from day to day, so they don’t get bored.  I love the way that the language is taught in chunks.  Caitlyn was able to use her Spanish, although simply, from day 1.  Unlike other programs where students begin with the alphabet and number words, she started with actual words and basic conversation.  She works on her Spanish 3 or 4 days each week, depending on our schedule.  I seldom have to intervene and help out.  The lesson guide is very easy to follow.  I usually just have to mark which parts she needs to do and make sure that she has the correct flash cards and materials ready to go.

     The flashcards and whiteboard paddle (used for various exercises) are great durable quality.  A small whiteboard dry erase pen was even included to use with the whiteboard paddle.  Caitlyn has been thoroughly enjoying this Spanish curriculum.  She will be continuing this year as well as next year and complete the program.  When she is finished, I am going to test her and see if she has learned enough to qualify for a Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 credit.  She is learning so quickly, I really think she will be able to do that.  Since the curriculum is so easy to use, thorough, and interesting I don’t think she will burn out.

     See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish retails for $129.95, but is currently (as of the date of this review) on sale for $99.95.  For a 2 year Spanish curriculum, complete with audio and more, this is an amazing deal.  I highly recommend this for any family wanting to learn Spanish. It is a great program to use across multiple ages, even with the entire family. 

     Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using and reviewing See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish, too.  If you would like to read their reviews, click on the banner below.