Watch the video below. Can you find Jesus hidden among the giant inflatables, mall Santas, and Christmas trees? Hmmm... is that what we do? Do we HIDE the reason for the season? Have we Forgotten Christmas?
Did you know after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday today has been dubbed Giving Tuesday? You can visit the Forgotten Christmas website and get involved. You can purchase a gift that will truly change a life... a pair of chickens, Bibles, goats, sewing machines, water buffaloes, water filters, etc. In partnering with Gospel for Asia, 100% of the donations go towards the poorest, Forgotten People of South Asia - the Dalits.
Of course, don't limit yourself to Giving Tuesday. Consider getting your whole church, small group, youth group, etc. involved. A FREE Church Kit can be ordered. It includes a poster, the video, and Christmas catalogs to distribute. There are also additional videos on the website that can be show in your church.
Missions is something important to our family. Both my husband and I have had the opportunity to serve on mission teams and have traveled to Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, and Ethiopia. It is our desire for the whole family to be able to serve together in missions at some point, so we strive hard to provide our children with a global perspective, understanding of the Great Commission, and a desire to serve both the physical and spiritual needs of others.
The Growing Up WildDVD series helps us to discuss missions with our children. The videos introduce us to the Wild family who serve as missionaries in Papua, Indonesia. It is the hope of the Wild family that each episode will not only educate children about present day missionary life but will raise up the next generation of workers for the field.
While the suggested age range for viewers is 5-12, our whole family enjoyed the videos. The DVD series could serve as a compliment to a homeschool and/or Sunday School curricula. However, the uses really are endless. You may consider showing the DVD's at your church during VBS, youth groups, summer programs, or special events. Private and Christian schools could incorporate the videos into their school day. Actually any setting where the audience could benefit from seeing the ins-and-outs of modern day missionaries would be perfect.
We recently reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 4 in the Growing Up Wild Series. They were a hit with my kiddos. They enjoyed learning about "a day in the life" of a missionary kid.
In Volume 1, viewers learn how a home is constructed, see some of the creatures of the night, find out how supplies are obtained, and discover how natural resources serve the Wild brothers in daily life. Volume 4introduces native wildlife, war and hunting, cultural life, and a tribal calling. The videos were informational, educational, entertaining, and inspiring.
Each volume contains three 15 minute episodes - perfect for my littles attention span. The short length allowed plenty of time for us to have discussions and complete follow-up activities. Accompanying each volume, there is a CD activity guide included. This guide offers families extension ideas designed to assist them in connecting with the Wild family, learning more about the world they live in, and challenging them to think globally. Click here to view a sample of the activity guide.
One of the activities we spent a considerable amount of time on was exploring different housing designs. We noticed different types of houses as we drove around town, but we also explored the houses constructed in other cultures and areas of the world. We pulled up pictures from our time in Ethiopia. While we were unable to travel to Jeremiah and Rachel's village, we did venture out of the capital city and head south. We were able to photograph homes that would have been similar to those they would have lived in. Jeremiah still has memories of his first home and was able to talk about the sleeping arrangements, cook house, and some of the construction materials.
The kids also made encouragement and thank you cards to send to missionaries we support. Rachel was in charge of the outside cover design. The boys (with some spelling help from Mom) wrote the letters to be glued inside. Below are Caleb's sweet words.
The Growing Up Wild collection would be a great addition to any homeschool. Each of the volumes retails for $18.99 + Shipping & Handling. The entire 5 DVD Series can be purchased at a 15% discount for $80.99 + Shipping & Handling.
I know our family enjoyed getting to know the Wild Brothers and getting a glimpse into their lives in Papua, Indonesia. We pray for their continued ministry. I would encourage you to get to know them as well! Other crew members are blogging about their experiences with Growing Up Wild. Read by clicking the button below.
Disclaimer: I was provided Growing Up Wild Volumes 1 & 4 in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you are in a homeschooling circle for any length of time at all, you will most assuredly here parents of older children raving about the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Founder, Andrew Pudewa, is an excellent, well-respected speaker and an expert when it comes to teaching students to write. Well, did you know that IEWdoesn't just cater to middle and high school students? In fact, there is a program designed specifically for K-2nd grade students - Primary Arts of Language.
To be completely honest, I was first introduced to the Primary Arts of Language program at a state homeschool convention a couple years ago. It was one of those events where you visited all the exhibitors in the vendor hall, had them sign off on your sheet of paper, entered the completed form in a drawing, and hoped to win a great prize. Like most people, I was excited when the person working the booth would quickly give me a signature and I could be on my merry way. Well, not the IEW booth, the lady was determined to give me an overview of the PAL program. I remember snubbing my nose at the whole system and walking away saying, "Yeah right... some homemade, crayon-colored file folder games and farm animals are going to teach my kids to read. Ha!"
Now I stand corrected, and I've completely changed my tune. Having had the opportunity to review and use the entire PAL program with my kiddos over the past month, I can't say anything bad about it. Actually, it will take great restraint not to write a ridiculously long blogpost and gush profusely about the wonderful product. I'm going to hit the highlights and share some of my favorite aspects, but to best understand and get a feel for the program, I suggest you watch a PAL introductory webinarled by the program author, Jill Pike. I've also posted a video below with Andrew Pudewa presenting a 12.5 minute overview of the program.
Primary Arts of Language is a comprehensive reading and writing program based upon Anna Ingham's Blended Sight-Sound Program of Learning. The reading portion of the program uses both phonics and whole words and the writing portion includes printing, copy work, composition, and spelling. Using PAL Reading and PAL Writingconcurrently, you will have everything you need to ensure your K-2nd grade children are reading and writing enthusiastically, confidently, and with excellence.
Units 1 & 2 in the K–2 Classroom MP3 Audio by Shirley George
Unit 3 in the K–2 Classroom MP3 Audio by Shirley George
Preparing the K-2 Writing Environment MP3 Audio by Richelle Palmer
(If each item was purchased separately, the cost would be $113.)
I definitely recommend purchasing both the reading and writing complete packages. When the box of goodies arrives on your doorstep and you open it, prepare to be a bit overwhelmed. There is definitely a lot to take in, but you are not left high and dry to fend for yourself. Most definitely, the very first thing you want to do is get comfy, grab your teacher's manuals, and pop in the DVDs. Jill Pike leads you step by step through both the reading and writing programs and gives very thorough explanations of all the materials and how to use them. Do not skip this very important step. It is the key to starting off with success.
When using the programs in tandem, the schedule for a typical day is as follows:
Poetry - Read the same poem for several lessons highlighting different letters, phonograms, punctuation, etc.
Class Journal - 2-3 sentences written in a notebook. Using a calendar, focus on writing the date.
Printing & Copywork - Letter Stories and printing practice.
Story Summary - Read a short story and identify the elements.
Foundations & Reader Words - file folder games and sight word practice
Phonetic Farm Tour - stickers on a farm scene to reinforce sounds/phonograms learned
Agenda/Work Period - worksheets based on the lesson of the day
Read Words/Sentences/Informal Spelling Test
I have actually been using this program with all three kiddos, but as expected, they are all on different levels. Rachel is still working hard to recognize letters and master basic sounds. She continues to struggle, so for her I'd definitely say that the letter stories have made a huge impact. The stories are cute and memorable, thus, she now has a trick to help her recall not only the sound of the letter but how to correctly write it. Because of the letter stories, both her accuracy and retention have improved.
Whereas Rachel is actually taking multiple days to complete one lesson, Jeremiah and Caleb have been able to blaze through the first portion of the program. While they have both known their letters and sounds for quite some time and been able to write them from dictation, I didn't entirely leap over the early lessons. There were some sight words that they were unfamiliar with, so we did run through those quickly and focused mainly on the file folder games for quick reviews.
I must say... the file folder games took the most prep work in the program. You can make the first ones and get started with the program and continue to create them as you go. However, I found it easier to spend a couple hours coloring, cutting, and assembling them all at once. Even though early on the games were rather easy for the boys, they still enjoyed playing... especially feeding MUGS and the MONSTER. The other great thing about the games is that the boys are willing participants when it is time for Rachel to play. Therefore, she is more motivated because she feels as if she is truly "playing with them" and "holding her own" as opposed to being bossed around and told what to do.
I think the boys really benefited from the class journal component of the program. Jeremiah became much more aware of the way a calendar operates and the passing of time. Caleb paid more attention to punctuation and grammar. In our early lessons, I did all of the journal writing. However, a couple weeks in, I was able to turn the pen over to the boys to write the words they knew and punctuate their sentences correctly.
Likewise, reading the stories together and focusing on analyzing the characters and story elements has been a fantastic addition to our homeschooling day. In the beginning, stories are provided in the teacher's manual. Then, you are able to incorporate literature of your own. Even outside of our time working with PAL, the kids are identifying the "clincher" in our read-alouds. I love when there is carry-over and follow-through in the course of any given day. That's how you know a curriculum is effective!
Finally, the writing portion of PAL utilizes All About Spelling. This is the spelling curriculum the boys have been using this year, so they were already familiar with and ahead in this area. They are definite fans of and benefit from the very tactile aspects of this program. The moving of the chips and the letter tiles on the magnetic whiteboard appeal to their learning styles. I was glad to see that PAL sees the value of this program as well.
Overall, I'm truly impressed with the Primary Arts of Language program. I definitely plan to continue using it with all three kiddos. Since it is such a gem, I expect to hold on to it to use with our new little one to come when she is ready. It is an excellent, well-designed, engaging program that produces tangible results as I've seen in just a short amount of time. Other crew members are seeing similar results. Read their reviews by clicking the button below.
Disclaimer: I was provided both PAL Reading and PAL Writingin exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Remember my post earlier this week about the Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List & Giveaway??? I hope you have liked their Facebook page and have been entering to win the daily giveaway item. Keep visiting because a new toy will be given away each day until Nov. 25th.
Now, as I eluded to earlier in the week, I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY right here too :-) The Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty Item that I have the privilege of giving to one of my wonderful reasons would be a terrific Christmas gift for the little one on your list. Check out the Switch & Spin Magnetic Gear Board!
A unique spin on magnetic toys, Switch & Spin Magnetic Gear Boardlets kids build their own toy! Simply choose a picture template from 10 unique designs and place it in the wooden frame. Then add the gears in the color-coded spaces to turn each picture into an amazing kid-powered machine! Or remove the templates to reveal the white magnetic surface - perfect for an open-ended exploration of simple mechanics, or a range of counting, adding, and problem-solving activities (instructions included). This sturdy, durable gears toy includes a magnetic board with wooden frame, eight magnetic pegs, eight colorful gears, and five double-sided, color-coded design templates.
Dimensions: 15" x 11" x 2"
Recommended Ages: 2+ years
3 years ago today, we got the first glimpse of our precious kiddos! On November 10, 2009 - Jeremiah and Rachel became known to us. Just as we experienced tremendous joy that day, they continue to bring great joy to us each and everyday. We are so blessed to be a family!!!!
An excerpt I previously wrote about this picture: We have a 4 ½ year old boy who is so very handsome.He seems so solemn and as someone else said wise beyond his years.His arm is protectively around his darling 3 year old little sister who has the most captivating eyes I’ve ever seen.It was as if she was looking at us inquisitively asking, “Are you going to be my Mommy and Daddy?”We were beyond thrilled to look at their pictures, read their profiles, and medical reports.We knew these were the children God had chosen for us!
In the adoption process, the referral is one of the most exciting things, and it was no different for us. We know God's hand was involved in every aspect of our adoption, and it is definitely evidenced by the circumstances surrounding our referral. When you have a few minutes, go read all the details of our referral story. You may want a tissue close by. I just re-read it myself and have a few tears trickling. Thank God for our marvelous story - as with all adoptions it is HIS story!
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Prayer - Dear God, I pray for all those adoptive families currently waiting for referrals. In many cases, the timelines are lengthening and the waits getting harder. Give the parents-to-be peace and comfort in knowing that Your timing is always perfect! You who know their deepest desires also KNOW and LOVE their beautiful, CHOSEN children. ~Amen.
When you adopt internationally, undoubtedly, you will be asked one of two questions... probably both. There will be some variance of the ever-popular "Why didn't you adopt from the U.S.?" Usually followed by a statement such as: "There are kids here that need families." or "Shouldn't we take care of our "own" first?" The other popular question is "Why Ethiopia?" (Insert any country you adopt from.)
Over the years, I've had time to formulate answers to the questions, but I've also had increased opportunities to speak about adoption at seminars and workshops and serve as an associate for our adoption agency. I'm hearing the question, "Where is the greatest need?" much more often now. Honestly, I like this question a lot better. I know the prospective adoptive parents are looking for me to pinpoint a particular adoption program, country, age range, special need etc. However, that is not the answer I give.
When asked, "Where is the greatest need?" I always reply, "A need is a need! Any child without unconditional love and a forever family is a great need!" Therefore, I firmly support and advocate for all adoption. Foster care, foster to adopt, relative adoption, domestic adoption, international adoption, sibling adoption, HIV+ adoption, special needs adoption, etc. - God sets the lonely in families through them all, and it has been an honor and privilege to journey alongside families that God has grown in all of these ways. What do we all have in common? We aren't super heroes or rescuers. We are nothing special. By God's grace, we are entering into heartbreak, pain, and loss but are moving toward healing and redemption. We have all been touched by the great miracle of adoption and know that it is God who is truly Our Sustainer and Sovereign over all.
It is my belief that God simply leads individual families to pursue a specific type of adoption. It is our job to be obedient to His will and direction. For my family, international adoption is where we felt called. We are so blessed by our Ethiopian cuties - Jeremiah & Rachel. In the future, as we still plan to adopt again, we may be moved in another direction. We know our hearts have been stirred, and we are listening. Therefore, we must live constantly in communication with God. What about you? Will you be brave and courageous and venture to ask God what need He can use you to meet?
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Prayer - Dear God, Help us to be still and listen so that we may know your will. Open our eyes to see all the needs around us, and lead us in how you would have us respond. ~Amen.
Here comes Santa Claus... Here comes Santa Claus...
Ready or not, Christmas is on it's way. If you are anything like me, your "Shopping To-Do-List" has very few items crossed off. Here's a suggestion for you... let Melissa & Doug help! They have published their Terrific Twenty List full of great finds for the children of all ages. Creative, fun, educational, arts & crafts, girls and boys - Melissa & Doug have it covered! For years, we have been enjoying these high quality toys in our home, and I must say we are huge fans.
Schoolwork had become more and more of a struggle for Jeremiah. It just seemed to take him FOREVER to finish a math page. Then, as we were working with flashcards, I noticed he kept inching closer and closer to the card while blinking and squinting. Jon began seeing the same tactics used as he played video games or watched t.v. So... off to the eye dr. we went with the assumption lil' man would be getting glasses. Of course, he was convinced he could see fine and Mom was crazy!
Mom was crazy alright. Oh wow... Mother of the Year Award I will not be getting anytime soon. My baby was blind as a bat. Seriously, the kid couldn't see. He was seeing outlines and shapes but missing fine details. All were in awe at the strength of his prescription and that he had never complained before. I suppose he hasn't known anything different. Just makes me sad :(
Needless to say, he wasn't thrilled at the idea of wearing glasses for fear that others would laugh, but he was very happy that he got to pick out exactly what he wanted - black and neon green glasses. A couple hours after his exam and he had his specs. Thanks to the encouragement of his siblings and lots of positive comments from family and Mommy's Facebook friends he's not as self-conscious about the new accessory for his face.
No shocker but Math went much smoother and quicker today!!! He's also been cracking us up with his comments about his new found vision. He seems to think things are bigger now... including Momma. (Did he forget I've got a baby in my belly?) Anyway, my apologies in advance if he discovers anything "new" about any of you when he really "sees" you. Haha!
Activity Bags was founded by two homeschooling moms, Paula and Sherri. Collectively, they have 11 children and understand the challenges of educating multiple ages at a time. There is always the dilemma of what to do to occupy the youngers while working with the older students. Thus, inspired the development of Activity Bags. The first to be developed were preschool activities, but the product line has expanded now to include science, math, reading, and travel games. When Caleb was preschool age, I actually purchased the Preschool Activities in a Bag e-book. He completed several of the activities at home and even more with his babysitter. They were short learning activities perfect for his attention span. Now, my three kiddos are relatively close in age, so I don't have the need of occupying a younger. However, I was still interested in the value of the learning games and gladly agreed to review the e-books Reading Games In a Bag and Math Games in a Bag.
The e-books provide you will all the necessary information to assembly the games and store them in a Ziploc bag. All of the needed supplies and materials are contained in the bag, so the child can literally grab and go. Most of the items needed to fill the bags are things you'll already have lying around your house. Any others are inexpensive and easy to find. Therefore, this product really is a frugal find and accessible and usable by all.
While the e-books can be used just for an individual family, as I did, they are actually designed to be used in a swap group. What is a swap? Simply, each person would make up 1, 10, 20, etc. (depending on the number of participants) bags of 1 activity. Other moms would do the same for the remaining activities. Then, once they are swapped. You have all the activities in the book. While some of the books include a Coordinators Handbook to help organize the swap, the Reading and Math e-books do not. No worries though because a FREE Coordinator Handbookcan be downloaded from the website.
Reading Games In a Bagincludes instructions for 20 reading games designed for new and beginning readers. The e-book retails for $15.00, and you can view sample pages. Some of the games require more than 1 player... that could be Mom, a sibling, a friend, etc. Topics include: letter/sound recognition, sight reading, beginning, middle, end, blends, etc.
Math Games In a Bagincludes instructions for 33 games developed for elementary students. The e-book retails for $15.00, and you can view sample pages. Most games are designed for 2 or more players. Topics include: number recognition, computation, place value, money, time, etc.
To learn more about Activity Bags, check out their Yahoo group. Also, if you would like to preview the products prior to purchase, you may join the email mailing list simply by visiting the website and taking a short survey. In return, you will receive a free Activity Bag Sampler. This is an excellent way to select which e-book would be of most interest and to ensure that activity bags will benefit your child before ever spending a dime. Finally, click the button below to read what other Schoolhouse Review Crew members are saying in regards to their experiences with Activity Bags.
More than 1/3 of Americans have considered adoption, but no more than 2% have actually adopted.
The question to ask is WHY???
On this Orphan Sunday, if you are not called to adopt (and not all people are!), would you prayerfully consider what you may be able to do to raise the percentage of adopting families? Statistically, we know there are those willing to adopt. Help them do so by removing barriers.
***Host adoption/orphan care events so that the need is made known.
***Add adoption related books, videos, materials, etc. to your church library
***Offer prayer support for adopting families throughout the adoption journey.
***Financially support adopting families.
***Create an adoption-friendly culture within your church and children's ministries.
***Establish a support group for fostering and adopting families
***Offer education regarding transracial families, special needs & HIV+ adoption, R.A.D. and attachment/bonding issues, etc.
***Research and make a list of available resources to help adopting families: grants, loans, attachment therapists, physical/occupational/speech therapists, support groups, etc.
A fantastic resource to familiarize yourself with is the WRAPPING AROUND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES booklet. This short read is a gem and wonderful guide to follow. Read now!
Many would-be adoptive families are often deterred from ever beginning the process for fear of what life may look like after bringing a child into their home. Often if they have unsupportive family or friends, they feel isolated and alone. Instead, the church needs to let both perspective and in the trenches adoptive families know that they are not alone! The church will WRAP around them with prayer and practical help. An easy way to remember the needs of adoptive families:
W - wrestle in prayer
R - respite
A - acts of service
P - promises of God
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Prayer - Dear God, may Your CHURCH rise up, move, and act on behalf of the orphan. Lead us in how you would have us support those considering and journeying through adoption. Help us to better W.R.A.P. around adoptive families. Amen.
Tomorrow, Sunday, November 4th, internationally, churches will be participating in Orphan Sunday. The goal is to unite the church to carry out God's mandate to care for the very least of these. Through foster care, adoption, and global orphan care initiatives, we can all be involved in caring for orphans.
Is your church participating? If not, check out the map to locate an event nearby to attend. Or... consider talking to your church leadership about showing the short video above, holding a special prayer time, or reading Scripture that pertains to the care of and God's heart for orphans. Possibly, spend some time in your Sunday School or Small Group brainstorming on ways you can collectively advocate for and serve the orphans in your community and globally. There are many resources available on the Orphan Sunday website. Whether you are holding an event tomorrow, desire to plan one for the future, or just want to spend some time to personally learn more, take advantage of this wealth of resources. You'll find numerous videos, Bible studies, sermon outlines, songs, facts, materials, etc.
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Prayer - Dear God, I thank you for all of the churches participating in Orphan Sunday, the staff and volunteers planning the events, and those that will be in attendance. Father, I pray that you move mightily among your people. Stir hearts and hands to action! Amen.
Many adoptive families get asked this question, and families considering ask it as well... Why Adopt? The answer varies from person to person. In my case, the answer would have been different depending upon the time in my life you asked me.
I knew in my early teens that I had a God-given desire to adopt children. However, as a teenager, it was kind of my platform or my social justice issue. I despised racism and hated the division between the preps, rednecks, and African Americans at my school. Rebel flags irked me to no end, and I was determined to show people someday through my own family that "Red and Yellow, Black and White, They are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."
Fast forward to my junior year of college. Three weeks before his graduation, Jon and I begin dating. Low and behold on our very first date, we talked about our individual desires to adopt children. Yep... sealed the deal right then, and I married that man a couple years later. Thus, my new answer to "Why Adopt?" was to build our family of course! During the first year of our marriage, I started hinting at when would we start our family. Jon got me a kitten. A year later, the same discussion, and another kitten. Year 3... no cats allowed!!!! We began going to adoption conferences and seminars, but our ages seemed to be the big strike against us. Oh well... God had other grand plans, and we were blessed with the birth of our wonderful baby boy. Caleb Scott has been such a gift and a tremendous blessing in our lives.
It didn't take long after Caleb was born for my subtle hints to become earnest pleas to start the adoption process. Thus, began a difficult time. I couldn't understand why both Jon and I shared God's heart for the orphan and desired to adopt but couldn't agree on the timeline. I was ready to go, and Jon continued to say wait. There were many tears cried!!! Jon was having his own wrestling match with God, and in my impatience and frustration, God was also working in my heart as well. He was helping me to see what my answer should be when asked "Why Adopt?"
I had to come to realize the spiritual aspect of adoption. Adoption in its purest and simplest form is a reflection of what God has done for me. Adoption is REDEMPTION! It is being welcomed into a family and being loved unconditionally. It is being given an inheritance and a name. WOW!!!!
Adoption is where the broken and beautiful collide. It is messy... it is amazing! It is my story, and God is the Author. I'm thankful that my loving Father adds new pages each day. As the pen touches the page, I want the writing always to be able to say that I'm living out James 1:27 with boldness and zeal.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~ James 1:27
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Prayer - Dear God, Be with those who are both privately and publicly asking the question, "Why Adopt?" Turn their hearts to you and open their eyes to your WORD. Amen.
It's no secret that adoption is near and dear to my heart. Therefore, being that November is Adoption Awareness Month, I have decided to use my little space in the blogosphere to purposely share about adoption. Throughout the month, I will share personal stories, but I also hope to point you in the direction of some wonderful resources. Stick around... you may get a question answered, learn some new facts, or be introduced to a helpful book, poignant song, purposeful organization, dedicated ministry, or incredible event. There is SOOOOO very much I desire to share!
I'd also like to encourage you to join me in specific prayer each day. I believe in the power of prayer and have confidence in my God who hears. Take time this month not only to speak to God but to really listen intently to His voice.
