Recommendations and lots of pictures

We've been listening to Redrock Mysteries as a family for awhile now.  The kids (especially the older two, ages 9 and 11) really like it.  If you click on the link above, you can download each book for a fee.  (By the way, I'm not recommending this because I get money if you order.  This is just something we enjoy.)

Fourth of July parade with my side of the family.  Cousins!

 During our Bible reading one evening, Nate started singing the Psalm, which the kids thought was HILARIOUS.

 

The top two books have been what I've been reading for myself.  I recently finished Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson and it was great.  I can't think of a book of hers that I don't like.

I just started the middle book and so far it has captured my attention.  It's one of those books I don't want to put down.

The last book in the stack is a book I've been slowly reading to the kids.  My first and third born enjoy it.  The others usually listen for a bit and then run downstairs to play.  :)

Parenting

Reading through a book on parenting for the second time.  I am struck again by the awesome privilege that my husband and I have of raising these children for God's glory.

 
"You must raise your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  

You cannot do so without investing yourself in a life of sensitive communication in which you help them understand life and God's world.  There is nothing more important.  

You have only a brief season of life to invest yourself in this task. 

You have only one opportunity to do it.  

You cannot go back and do it over...you must, therefore, prioritize.

To do this job of parenting well, it must be a primary task.  

It is your primary calling.

Baby #6 - BOY! - due mid (or late, knowing me) July

...It will mean that you can't develop every interest that comes along.  

The costs are high."

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
(Emphasis mine)

Favorite Activities

One of Nate's favorite activities is reading to the children.

One of the children's favorite activities is making huge messes (they call it a "fort")

It's fun stuff when you combine the two...at least for the kids.  The making of forts kinda stresses me out, but I try to roll with it and remember that it will get picked up...eventually.  :)

Today...

We're hanging around the house this week trying to get over a flu bug that just won't leave.

Poor Matthew.  He was the first to get it and now has it again three days later.  

The baby has also been throwing up at random times.  

Thankfully both are sleeping right now.

The others are busy making various messes...

while I read to them.

It's been a slow, quiet sort of day for us.

 

Praying Matthew and baby get well soon! 

 

 

 

Trim Healthy Mama - Book Review

Have you seen this book yet?

I am finally getting a chance to read it - all 650 pages!

This book is FULL of common sense principles to guide you as you think about and participate in enjoying food while losing weight.

Yes, I said, ENJOYING FOOD WHILE LOSING WEIGHT. 

Sounds good to me since I like to enjoy what I eat.  :)

Pearl and Serene both enjoy food, which is evident by the way they describe the recipes that they include in their book.  It seriously makes my mouth water.  

I've made their Trim and Healthy Pancakes.  They're great!  EVEN my husband liked them, and that's saying something!

I'm only about 100 pages into this book so far, but I've taken lots of notes and am looking forward to learning more as I go along!

When I first sat down to read this book, I had just made myself a snack of one large, toasted bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jelly smeared all over it.  I was also drinking a cup of creamy, sweet, caramel coffee.

What can I say?  I like me some sugar!  But really, sugar isn't good for me, and I know I need to limit it.  I just don't always know how to go about limiting sugars while still having my meals and snacks taste good.

This is why I'm excited about this book!  They have included MANY recipes that they say will help curb my constant desire for sugar, as well as help me feel satisfied, but not deprived.  
  

I have much to learn about how God made our bodies to process foods, why you should eat certain foods and not others, and how to go about consuming foods in a way that doesn't make you feel like you're missing out, but helps you stay healthy and lose weight in the process.

NOT that I'm trying to lose weight now...no.  I'm gaining weight for a pretty good (adorable, so sweet) reason - due in July.

But I am very interested in learning how to eat in a healthy way.

If you're interested in reading some counter-cultural advice with regards to how we consume foods, you'll want to read this book!  It's written in a very conversational, fun manner.  I've enjoyed what I've read so far.

PLUS, I have a friend, Mandi, who has been losing weight just by following these principles.  She was actually losing weight TOO quickly (!!!) so she decided to add in some more "crossover" meals to make sure she was staying healthy.

Amazing!

You can click on the following links to order the book:

http://tinyurl.com/TrimHealthyMamaUS

http://tinyurl.com/TrimHealthyMamaEbook

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I will receive no other compensation .  All opinions expressed are my own.   

Linked to the HHH 

My Top 11 Favorite Homeschool Books

I enjoy a good homeschooling book to rejuvenate and refresh me in this educational journey that we’ve chosen for our children.

Below is a list of my top 11 favorite homeschool books organized loosely by topic.  The first 10 are the books that I continue to recommend if someone asks.  The last one is a book that I’m currently reading, but am finding it to be essential to a more complete understanding of God’s hand in the modern American homeschool movement.

Hope you can find some new reading material below!

“Homeschooling in Our House” Books

Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson – (I was randomly searching for ideas to teach my two – five year old class at church, when the Lord had me stumble upon a homeschooler’s blog.  I sent Heather an email asking about homeschooling, and she recommended this book to me.  I find it pretty cool that the Lord used her (and a number of other people) to guide me toward homeschooling more than 6 years ago.)

Want to see what homeschooling looked like in the Clarkson family?  This was the very first homeschooling book I ever read and my first glimpse into what life in a homeschool family could look like.  I was so intrigued after reading this book that I immediately began my quest to read as many books on homeschooling as I could.  I stopped counting and writing the books down after I’d read about 30.  I’m still on the lookout for more to read.  If you’d be so kind, leave me a comment and let me know your favorite(s)!

Home Sweet Home-School by Sue Makestaad – I laughed and shook my head (yes) a lot with this one!  When I finished reading it, I emailed the author to let her know how much I appreciated her humorous account of what homeschooling looked like for their family.  She wrote back a nice “thank you” email with some more encouragement in it just for me.  What a sweet lady!

To read more head on over to Heart of the Matter Online where I continue! 

Linked up to the Hip Homeschool Hop
 

The Everyday

Pretty much a constant state of things at our house.

Bike rides.

Nail cutting time.  Thank you Nate for capturing everyday moments.  :)

Reading The Hobbit to the fam.

This is what Matthew does while Nate reads.  :)

Emilia draws pictures of Hobbits and such while she listens.

I asked if they'd pose for a picture.  So obliging.  Thank you friendly neighbor cows.

Trying to tackle Dad.  Wrong sport, but that's okay...

He does not give up easily.

Precious boy.

Should We Homeschool? and Books I Recommend

Nate and I were not in agreement about the type of education we wanted for our future children.

At all.

I was 100% for public school.  He was 100% for private school.

We prayed.  A lot.  We prayed that we'd eventually agree, preferably before our first child turned 5.

Thankfully the Lord answered our prayers, but not in the way that either of us thought He would.  (Seems to be a fairly common theme in my life.)  He turned our minds and hearts toward this counter cultural thing called, "homeschooling".  While it didn't seem that crazy to Nate (his good friend/cousin was homeschooled), homeschooling seemed absolutely nutty to me.

Growing up, I had only ever known of one family who homeschooled and I thought they were WeIrDoS.  Not that I ever actually engaged them in conversation...ahem...I just KNEW they were weird.  I mean, come on.  They didn't go to school, which obviously means that they were not properly socialized.  And, let me just tell you, one of the boys sat around at church reading a book (for goodness sake) All. The. Time.  They were strange, strange people.

So, I may have been more than a little surprised to find that I actually liked the homeschooling family that lived across from us when we were first married.  They didn't seem odd and their children were super cute and very sociable (who'da thunk??!).

Well, I was in for a big surprise over the next couple of years.  Not only were we going to be persuaded to think (through much reading, thinking, praying, discussing) that homeschooling was a viable option for educating one's children and that homeschoolers were, in fact, not all weirdos (although there are some...probably even us...to some), but we were going to fully, happily embrace the homeschooling lifestyle (except for those jean jumpers...sorry, not happening).     

Here are some of the books that I enjoyed while learning about homeschooling.  However, if you choose to read these, know that I do not agree with everything every author puts on a page.  For example, in the first book, it talks about homeschooling being the "right thing to do" as if it is the only "right thing to do".  While I think that homeschooling is a great way to educate children, I do not think it is the only great way.  

With that said, here is my list:  


Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson - This book shows what homeschooling looked like in the Clarkson family.  It was the very first book I read on homeschooling.  I was randomly (even though I don't believe in randomness) searching for ideas to teach my 2-5 year old class at church when I stumbled upon a homeschooler's blog.  I sent Heather an email asking about homeschooling, and she recommended this book to me.  Pretty cool that the Lord used her (and a number of other people) to guide me toward homeschooling - something that I was pretty much against - more than 5 years ago.  (I own this book if anyone wants to borrow it from me.)

A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola - This book is wonderful.  I've read it two or three times.  I still don't own it, but it would be a great resource to have at my fingertips.  Karen walks you through her days while homeschooling her three children in the style of the late 1800's educator, Charlotte Mason.  I'd love to be able to say that my kids have had an education like the one portrayed in this book.  I'd also love to be able to say that I am as patient, sweet tempered, and organized as Karen seems to be.  ;)

Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Homeschooling - This is a huge book with tons of great ideas for getting started.

So You're Thinking About Homeschooling (15 Families Show How You Can Do It) by Lisa Whelchel - Interesting to read about the different ways each family tackles homeschooling.  This is why I like to read homeschooling blogs!

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell - I remember really liking this book.  However, I can't remember any specifics, but I know I liked it!  :)

For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay  - This is one of those books that everyone says you need to read if you're going to homeschool.  Not sure I agree completely, but I did think it was a thought-provoking read.


Home Learning Year By Year:  How to Design a Home School Curriculum by Rebecca Rupp - I just put this one on hold at the library so I can see if I'm missing something in our curriculum!  I can't remember what I liked about this one.  You see, I have this list of all the (many) books I've read with stars by the ones that I learned from and enjoyed.  This one has a star.  That's all I know.

A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison - Another one of those Charlotte Mason books.  Wishing I could be a little more gentle and organized with this homeschooling thing.  ;) 


Home Sweet Home-School by Sue Makestaad - I think I laughed and shook my head (yes) a lot with this one...I think...I really should have taken better notes.  I know that when I finished reading this, I emailed the author to let her know I appreciated this encouraging book.  She wrote back a nice "thank you" note with some more encouragement in it just for me.  I thought that was very kind.  She must be a nice lady.  :)


The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson - WOW.  You've gotta read it.  I really, really liked it.  It's for all mothers, not just homeschool moms.  This is the same lady who wrote the very first book on my list. 


Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson - Can you tell that I like Sally?  :)  This book/Bible study is geared toward the homeschooling mom.  (This one can be borrowed from me as well.)

I'm currently working (very slowly) through, The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.  I'm having a hard time getting into this one, which is strange since I've liked all of her other books.  I've heard that some like this book even better than The Ministry of Motherhood, so I'll have to keep reading.

So, there you have it:  How we began this homeschooling thing, and a list of all my favorite homeschool-type books.  :)