Homeschool News - Stop The Ride!

My little girl's picture very acurately describes what the past week was like. Oy vay! Some days I just want to yell, "Stop the ride, I want to get off!"

So this week I am going to really take some time to enjoy the children and the weather. Put other things aside, no matter how important they may seem, to take stock in what matters. This is always the struggle of a single parent. The ugly balancing act and guilt that takes over your life.

My oldest daughter came to my house this weekend after watching a young girl cross the street and get struck by a car. It was a gruesome sight that affected her greatly. She sat sobbing for more than 20 minutes.

Somehow, when reflecting upon this type of tragedy, the little things that we stress over and think of as priorites, become very small and insignificant. What an important reminder that we must be ready when God calls us home.
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$25.00 Gift Certificate Drawing!Don't forget, If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home. you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day.
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Featured Book
This week's featured book is Vinegar Boy by Alberta Hawse

Your children will encounter Christ through the dramatic story of Vinegar Boy. A gripping fictional story of a disfigured boy's dramatic encounter with Christ on the Cross. As he brings Christ vinegar to drink, he witnesses the crucifixion and is forever changed. This newly repackaged classic is sure to inspire children and adults. Purchase Vinegar Boy.
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Homeschool News

From CBN News - Socialization: Homeschooling vs. Schools - April 29, 2007

It was Theodore Roosevelt who said, "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society."

Many homeschoolers share this sentiment when it comes to public schools, believing that the moral relativism, violence, peer pressure, drugs and promiscuity found inside their gates provide an inadequate setting to properly socialize their...read the full article here.

Spring Fever Hits - Homeschool Journey

Can someone please explain to me why today *feels* like a Monday? I also have the worst case of distractionitis that I have ever had. I couldn't focus to save my life!

Maybe it is the blooming flowers, the warm air and the hint of green on the trees that is causing my issues. After all, who wants to be inside staring at a computer screen, when the fresh air is calling. I am suddenly back in a school room staring out the window, daydreaming of what I would do when the bell rang.

On that note, I think we will do our math lessons on the porch today. Maybe it will be a quick cure.
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$25.00 Gift Certificate Drawing!

Don't forget, If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home. you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day.
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New Products!

The History Portfolio Series has just arrived! If you haven't seen these yet, you will want to take a look! These portfolios are a fabulous way to keep track of your children's written projects, reports, colorful drawings, photographs, and clippings. Each book is designed for use by an individual, child or adult, and will become a unique record of the student's "journey through history".

Designed by Barbara Shukin, the History Portfolio Series is an engaging history curriculum that is adaptable to your method of teaching. It supports Classical and Living Books approaches and homeschooling with notebooking. Filling in the pages involves reading, writing, geography, art, literature, science... you decide! History inspires the imagination. The History Portfolio Series can capture the inspiration.

In each of the four volumes of the History Portfolio Series a Table of Contents provides a comprehensive guide to ensure that important subjects are covered. The table of contents organizes history into topics, and even suggests ideas for filling in pages of the Portfolio. Main topics include specific works of literature, important people, works of art and architecture, important names and events in history, plus advances in science and technology. Think of the table of contents as a history spine for you to rely on.

Several resources in the Portfolio - in addition to the table of contents - will help with filling in the boxes, including Topics for Narrations and Reports and Important Dates and Events. You can rely on the Book Recommendations resource to steer you to some very high quality literature. Here you will find titles of books written by authors who are passionate about their subjects, and often speak directly to the reader in a simple, conversational style.

There are five volumes of The History Portfolio Series. Ancient History Portfolio Junior, Ancient History Portfolio, Medieval History Portfolio, Renaissance History Portfolio, Modern History Portfolio and a Teacher's Guide that compliments the Ancient History Portfolio. Other Teacher's Guides will be published soon. Read more about the History Portfolio Series.
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Homeschool News

From World Net Daily - POLICE STATE, GERMANY Homeschooler flees state custody. Melissa Busekros surprises parents at 3 a.m. Melissa Busekros, the schoolgirl taken by police and placed in a psychiatric hospital because she was diagnosed with a "school phobia" and was being homeschooled, has fled state custody to make a midnight trip...read the full article here.
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Feature Book

The featured book for this week is Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

The charming and adventurous memoirs of an exceptional doll named Hitty. Her story begins in Maine in the early 1800s, where she is transformed from a piece of sturdy mountain-ash wood into the valued playmate of a young girl named Phoebe Preble. When the inseparable pair join Phoebe's father on a journey aboard his whaling ship, Hitty's one hundred years of exciting adventures begins! Join this doll of great charm and character as she travels all over the world, from India to Philadelphia to New York. Whether she is traveling with a snake charmer, attending the opera, meeting Charles Dickens, becoming a doll of fashion, posing as an artists' model, or being stolen away on a Mississippi riverboat, one thing is certain... no doll has led a life like Hitty's! The 1930 Newbery Award winner. Ages 9-12. Purchase Hitty Her First Hundred Years.

To Love Honor & Vacuum - Advice For Homeschool Moms

Today Sheila Wray Gregoire is joining me for a chat about her book, To Love, Honor and Vacuum: when you feel more like a maid than a wife and a mother. The book also has an appendix for homeschoolers.

Hi Sheila. Thank you for joining me today. First, I would like to ask you What's the best advice for a busy mom who feels that the only words out of her mouth are "hurry up, we've got to go?"

Take a deep breath, lock yourself in your room, and eat a bit of chocolate. Well, that’s more or less my advice for anytime we feel stressed, but let’s deal with this one first. Families today are way overscheduled. And homeschoolers often homeschool precisely because we don’t want to be overscheduled. But then what do we do? We figure since we have all this extra time we’ll sign the kids up for swimming, and gymnastics, and karate, and homeschooling co-op. And because we’re now such good teachers and organizers, we agree to oversee the Easter pageant, or organize a women’s retreat. And then all of a sudden our lives are out of control!

In To Love, Honor and Vacuum I talk a lot about how society makes us feel that we do a disservice to our kids if we keep them at home, because we’re supposed to be enlarging their lives with all these amazing opportunities out there. But your kids need you; they don’t need a ton of activities. And you’re called to your kids and husband first, not to every activity in the church. Sit down with your kids and your hubby, if you have one, at the beginning of each term and figure out what you will do for outside activities, and let the rest go. Your kids will survive, even if they don’t play soccer this summer.

Why do we get so guilty and upset about the state of our homes?

Women, especially women in the church, have come to see our identities as being caught up in whether or not we’re good housekeepers. When kids walk behind us while we vacuum, carrying a box of crackers and scattering crumbs in their wake, we feel defeated and despondent because we can’t seem to get the house clean while Martha Stewart never has a problem. She even has time to collect pine cones and make them into centerpieces, while we don’t have time to fold laundry! What is wrong with us?
Absolutely nothing. Remember Mary and Martha? Martha wanted to impress her guests. Mary wanted to listen to Jesus. That’s what our homes are about: being places where we can learn about Jesus. Of course, a certain level of cleanliness is vital. You shouldn’t fear catching a communicable disease in the kitchen. But if you have magazines and science projects around the house, think of them as conversation pieces, rather than things that prevent you from having people over. Don’t be perfect. Be real. It’s better for everyone.

Why do you say that many moms serve their kids and their husbands in the wrong way? Isn't serving supposed to be good?

Of course serving is good! But some of us can forget that Jesus taught us not just to serve, but to serve in a certain way. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, Peter flipped out. He wasn’t upset because he was getting his feet washed; lots of people had presumably washed his feet in his lifetime. It was because Jesus was doing it. Jesus was doing something lowly, but He wasn’t lowly Himself. And that made people sit up and take notice.

In the same way, I think, we are going to do lowly things. We’ll wash dirty underwear and clean up after kids puke. But we aren’t lowly. What’s the difference? I show in To Love, Honor and Vacuum that a maid does things for you without you even noticing. A proper servant serves in such a way as to point you to Jesus. If your son walks in the door and drops his coat on the floor and his backpack on the couch and then goes and plays a video game, and you pick up his stuff, you’ve taught him to treat you with disrespect. You’ve taught him to act in an unChristlike manner. And that’s just plain wrong. That’s not Christian serving.

Similarly, if our 15-year-olds don’t know how to prepare a meal, because we are always making gourmet things for everybody, we’re not properly preparing them to leave the nest. Serving doesn’t mean we do everything for people. Serving means we act in such a way as to help them look more and more like Jesus everyday. Ironically, that may mean sometimes that we don’t clean and don’t cook and don’t tidy. That may be someone Else's job. And it’s serving them to let them do it! So put your feet up, get out that chocolate, and supervise as your kids clean the bathroom. You’re doing them a favor!

Are there ways in which the Christian community makes our lives more difficult, even if they don't mean to?

This may sound like I’m about to commit heresy, but just bear with me for a moment. I love my husband. I love my children. I really do. But they are not the sum total of my life. I think sometimes in Christian circles family gets elevated so much that we believe that is women’s primary and only aim. And then, when we have “achieved” it and we have our husband and our kids, we expect that this will make us happy. If it doesn’t, if we find ourselves instead overworked, or tired, or feeling a little lost, we think we’ve somehow rejected God’s will for our lives. I think we should be able to talk more realistically about how hard it can be to be home with kids constantly, and to deal with the laundry and the crumbs and what happens when little boys miss the potty. And we need to remember that our peace comes not from our families, but from our relationship with God. The greatest thing God has ever given me is my family, but there are still times when I get tired. That’s just real life, and by saying otherwise I think a lot of stay at home moms feel really guilty.

Do you have any advice for overworked homeschool moms that receive very little help from their husbands or extended family?

Eat chocolate.

Okay, other than that? Sometimes, when we’re doing it alone, we feel all the more need to jump in with both feet to prove we can do it. But we bite off more than we can chew. Remember that your goal is to raise an independent, responsible adult, not a child who can impress the neighbors. Keep your eye on the future, and let all the other stuff go. Don’t get a curriculum that demands too much of you; get something that teaches the basics and leaves lots of time for family bonding so that you can do the moral character forming activities that are so vital. Don’t get your kids involved in everything under the sun. Get them to help clean up so it doesn’t all fall in your lap. And don’t beat yourself up! We all will have days that don’t work. I had one today! I gave up on school and just read Anne of Green Gables out loud for five hours. My throat is killing me, but we had a great time. The math didn’t get done, but we had amazing conversations about honor and duty and love, and that will matter more in the end than anything else. Focus on small things that will lead to your goal of raising loving adults. That’s what ultimately matters.

To find more encouragement to get your kids to help at home and make your marriage less stressful, you can pick up To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($13.00) at http://www.sheilawraygregoire.com/ Sheila Wray Gregoire blogs at www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheilaG. She also writes a syndicated newspaper parenting column, Reality Check, which she sends out by ezine every week. You can sign up for it here, and you’ll be entered in a draw to win a bunch of Sheila’s books and audio recordings! She’ll make the draw April 30.

Love Offering for Heather

Today Boomama, Heather's best friend is holding a love offering for Heather, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Heather and her husband Mark will be leaving April 25th for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota - the number one neurosurgery hospital in the country. If you feel the desire to make a love offering to help pay for their expenses, please visit Boomama's blog and please continue to pray for Heather and her family during this difficult time. I cannot imagine what they must be going through. Praise God for His faithfulness...I know He is with them.

Please stop by my other blog where I will try to post other important prayer requests once a week.

Homeschool Headlines & Rainy Day Boredom Busters

Nor'easter. Is that a word that should be exiting my lips in mid-April? NO, not in my opinion anyway. Who ordered this depressing weather? We have had enough and we may have to resort to an indoor playground if this lasts much longer. Even worse, there are flood watches and warnings in every county in the state..so I guess I am feeling pretty grateful that we are only missing the sun and not our home.

Here are a few links to rainy day activities to keep your homeschoolers from boredom when the schoolwork is done.

Play Post Office - Instructions on making a play school post office.
Home Jeopardy - These fun instructions are for playing Home Jeopardy.
Other great Rainy Day Ideas - A variety of different activities to amuse the kids.
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Homeschool Headlines-

HSLDA - The U.S. Marine Corps recently announced that homeschool graduates after a long struggle to be treated equally are eligible for all enlistment programs.

The statement was made by Master Sgt. James D. Edwards, Marine Corps recruiting command public affairs chief, in a recent article in which he said: “Home-school graduates are afforded the same opportunity to enlist as graduates from public and private schools. They can sign up for all enlistment programs, as long as they are mentally, morally and physically qualified for enlistment and score appropriately on the required Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery Test. And they can often receive an enlistment bonus.”

This is music to the ears of homeschool graduates who desire to serve their country...read full article here.
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Homeschool Books-

Since I really love this coloring book I decided to use it as our feature book this week. The Renaissance Coloring Book from Bellerophon Books is a super way for kids to learn about art history while coloring their own masterpiece. Another great boredom buster for those rainy days. You can find it here.

Another Mom in Need

I received this email a couple of days ago from a customer and I asked for permission to post it here. I thought maybe some of you would feel led to help Joann and her family. They could use prayers and encouragement, or any other help you feel led to give. Personally as a single mom, I cannot imagine the grief this child must feel, as well as her mother, knowing she may leave her child alone. I did not want to post Joann's forwarding address on line, so if you would like to mail her a card or gift, please email me and I will forward her address to you.

Hello Everyone~Please excuse the mass e-mail, but it is the fastest way I know of to reach as many people as possible in as short of time as possible. I trust that you are all well this Easter and are ready to celebrate our Risen Lord Jesus!

I will try to keep this brief and to the point.

My dear friend Lilian, told me this week that her younger sister Joanne has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Joanne went in to have a lump checked a few months back and, she was told it was just a cyst and to watch it, but not worry about it. The "cyst " has grown very rapidly and she was told last week that she has stage 4 breast cancer. Ensuing tests have shown that it has progressed through her lymph nodes and her bones. The word from Lillian tonight (from the Doctor who is treating Joanne) is that they don't know how long she has, but that she will most likely not survive this horrible disease. The cancer is very aggressive and they have to make that determination based on how well she responds to chemotherapy. They have tried to get Joanne into the Cancer Treatment Center of America, but her insurance won't cover it. They are currently looking into the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC.

Joanne is in her 30's and a single Mom to her beautiful 17 year old daughter Ashley. Ashley is a senior in High School and has been accepted at St. John's University. She is of course devastated by her moms illness, and they both need our prayers, as does Lilian.

After learning of the heartbreak these women are going through, I knew that I wanted to do something to help them. I have been praying for them, but am feeling the desire to help their financial situation as well. Joanne is currently a Corrections Officer, and is now on indefinite sick leave. I am not sure how much paid sick leave she is entitled to, but it's a safe bet that it will be exhausted fairly quickly.

I have decided to hold a fundraiser for them on my Mary Kay Cosmetics personal website. 100% of the profits will go directly to Joanne and Ashley and they can use the money however they need to. My website is easy to navigate, and super fun to shop on, and that's where you come in! I know some of you might not use Mary Kay brand, but would you consider purchasing from Mary Kay an item or two that you already use?

How many of you gals use some type of lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, mascara, cleanser, moisturizer, eye make-remover; and here's a great one: Sunscreen! You might not know this but Mary Kay brand is "Recommended as an effective UV sunscreen by the Skin Cancer Foundation." Everyone needs Sunscreen. You, your spouse, your kids, your Mom, your Dad....If you need a gift for: Mother's Day, Father's Day, a Birthday, for your children's teachers, for your gift closet, I highly recommend the Sunscreen Gift Set or Satin Hands Pampering Set; both can be found under "Body Care." If you want a fresh spring/summer look go to the Virtual Makeover tab and choose some fun colors.

The web address is www.marykay.com/amybrown1

Please do not feel obligated to participate in this fundraiser. I am offering it to you, and ask that whether or not you choose to take part, you would send it out to a few of your friends. (We all know that nothing goes around faster than good gossip and forwarded e-mail!)

Can you imagine if we all teamed up, and we each sent it to our friends and family and asked that out of the goodness of their hearts they help as well, and then they sent it on?! Can you imagine the burden that would be lifted off of this family if the rent was covered for a month or more because we all pitched in? Can you imagine Them being able to bring in a nurse if and when it's necessary to help care for Joanne, without breaking the bank? Can you imagine Joanne knowing before she passes, that Ashley is going to school and It's paid for? Can you imagine the feeling of peace that would bring her?

Every one of us has been given unique and special gifts, what could you do with yours to help this woman? Do any of you have any ideas or other ways that we could help? I mailed the first small check off to her yesterday; and Leigha, Teddy and Kristen will be making get well cards to send to her. If you want to send her a card or gift, for now mail it to me and I will get it to Lilian.
Again, do not feel obligated to purchase Mary Kay products, but that is a way that I can give. We are praying for complete healing and hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. Any way that you feel led to help them would be most appreciated. I will be e-mailing updates of her condition, the family's needs and what we have been able to accomplish together. If you do not want to be included in these mailings, drop me a line and let me know that. Lilian, Joanne and Ashley are not aware of this e-mail. But, think of how uplifted they might be if get well cards started arriving from all over, bringing them a message of hope, healing, and love.

May God bless and multiply our efforts! In the name of the One who gave all~ Amy

Homeschool Blog Awards - Voting Day 4 : Me Worried?

Have you cast your vote for the Homeschool Blog Awards yet? You only have until midnight on Friday when the voting officially ends! So how about popping on over to give Blue Thistle Books a vote for Best Curriculum and Business Blog!

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As you can see, I'm not the least bit worried. I've been up all night sleeping like a baby. As a matter of fact, after I neglect finish my days work, I will be taking a nice leisurely run walk in the park. Then I will come home and bite file my nails and get take out cook a healthy meal. Absolutely tons no pressure here!

Now to the important stuff. Heather really needs your prayers. If you have not heard, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The great news...God is with her and He is a GREAT BIG GOD! So lets all pray for Heather and believe that God will bring her and her family through this horrible situation.
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The Tennessean - Home-school Notes: So, think you can write a winning manuscript?
Put aside your spellchecker and language resource on the presumptuous computer. It is time to buff the archaic, yet faithful Webster's Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus shield.
Homeschoolers working on a high school level with a flair for storytelling are encouraged to enter the first Picture Book Writing Competition sponsored by Sylvan Dell Publishing.

The competition is a call to arms for all creative students eager to conquer the publishing world.
Sylvan Dell Publishing is a young company committed to publishing picture books that excite children's imaginations and have...read the full article here.
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Don't forget, If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day, assuming I can get the newsletter out on time! I'm a slacker!

Blue Thistle Books publishes a bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home. Bringing you encouragement for your homeschooling journey, educational articles on homeschooling styles, parenting tips and support, teaching suggestions, craft projects and ideas, book reviews, special discounts on curriculum, and most importantly, humor - because every homeschooling parent needs a good laugh! Even if you are just thinking about homeschooling, we would love to have you join us! Stop by Blue Thistle Books today!

Homeschool Blog Awards - Voting Day 3 : No Stress Here!

First off and most importantly, Heather from the Homeschool Blog Awards, (there are two Heather's) was diagnosed with a brain tumor yesterday. From what I understand, it is cancerous. She and her family are very scared and they could really use your support. Please pray for Heather and her family. She is a mom to three lovely children and any help we could offer her, I'm sure would be welcomed.

In other news, a child that shall remain nameless wanted to know how much a .39 stamp costs. I see the homeschooling is finally paying off. I just couldn't pass this one up, this was definitely good blog material!

As you can see, the stress of The Homeschool Blog Awards is barely affecting me. My fingernails are still completely intact.

So has everyone made their way over to the to cast their votes? Well if not, there are some people who could really use a vote, (cough cough, namely me.) I bet you can't tell by my calm cool exterior?

If you would like vote for Blue Thistle Books, I have been nominated for the Best Curriculum and Business Blog.

Some other great blogs that could use your vote are Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings , Jumping on the bed. and A Day in the Life . So pop on over and cast your vote before Friday at midnight!

OK, well I'm off to clean my house. I have a customer popping over at 8:30 am to pick something up and I wouldn't want her to faint in horror when she walks in!
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Don't forget, If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day, assuming I can get the newsletter out on time.

Blue Thistle Books publishes a bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home. Bringing you encouragement for your homeschooling journey, educational articles on homeschooling styles, parenting tips and support, teaching suggestions, craft projects and ideas, book reviews, special discounts on curriculum, and most importantly, humor - because every homeschooling parent needs a good laugh! Even if you are just thinking about homeschooling, we would love to have you join us! Stop by Blue Thistle Books today!

Homeschool Blog Awards - Voting Day 2 : How You Doin'?

Here we are on day two of the voting for the the Homeschool Blog Awards and I am feeling very relaxed! I have decided to take a little photo journey through my mental state throughout the rest of this week, to show you how calm and collected I can be. Stay tuned for updates! I promise it will be interesting!

Thank you to my little photographer who believed me of my duties so I could be on the other end of the camera for once!

If you get a chance, go on over to Delight Yourself In The Lord's Blog for a chance to see Tracy sing! I promise you will not be disappointed! If you are perusing blogs, you should also stop by to see Bioluminescence and Sprittibee. two more of my personal favorite places to visit. Oh there are so many great blogs to choose from. I will post a few more of my favorites tomorrow.

Now don't forget to get on over to the Homeschool Blog Awards to vote for your favorite blogs! Voting will continue through April 15th.

Homeschool Blog Awards Voting Has Begun!

The polls are officially open! I feel as though I should be out shaking hands and kissing babies! Pin anyone? What a hoot!

You would never know it, but I am not the competitive type! Really. I never cared about winning anything more than an argument! But, this is fun, so I wander from my standard indifference! So please, run as fast as you can, over to The Homeschool Blog Awards and cast your vote! You only have until April 15th, when the voting will end, so hurry!
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In other (more important)news... we now have TruthQuest History! Voted one of Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Homeschool Curriculums!

TruthQuest History is a deep and rich literature-based history study…but with a difference. You will not learn the story of mankind; you will learn the lovestory of mankind. You will not focus on the rise and fall of human civilizations; you will focus on the arrow-straight line of God's unchanging existence, power, love, truth, and plan for civilization. You will not simply 'meet the culture' or 'get the facts;' you will probe the truths of history so deeply that your students will be equipped to change their world!

Why? Because mankind is not the prime force in the universe ...God is. He initiates; we respond. History, therefore, is not first about what people do. It is first about what God does and says, and secondly about what people believe and do in response.
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Drawing for $25.00 Gift Certificate! If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day.

Blue Thistle Books publishes a bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home. Bringing you encouragement for your homeschooling journey, educational articles on homeschooling styles, parenting tips and support, teaching suggestions, craft projects and ideas, book reviews, special discounts on curriculum, and most importantly, humor - because every homeschooling parent needs a good laugh! Even if you are just thinking about homeschooling, we would love to have you join us! Stop by Blue Thistle Books today!

Homeschool Blog Awards - Me?

A Homeschool Blog Awards nomination? I can't believe it! Thank you, thank you very much. My Elvis voice just doesn't have the same effect when I'm typing it! Truly I am so grateful to the little bird that nominated me. I also want to mention that no one deserves the award for Best Artistic Content more than Bioluminescence. I know you will enjoy her outstandingly beautiful blog, so pop on over to The Homeschool Blog Awards and give her a vote! Voting will begin on Monday morning April 9th and run through the 15th. I tell you this so you will not attempt to vote early like I did. I was so excited I hit the nominations button, thinking I was voting! I know... PUT YOUR GLASSES ON!

So it seems I have a new breakfast companion. My early morning Bible/prayer/quiet/work time is being interrupted by a little mouse that has decided to wake up and entire hour earlier. I now get up at 5:00, but I think it may be time to come up with a new strategy and start rising at 4:00.

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I really enjoyed this article below. I wish more people carried this opinion, however, I have been seeing a tremendous swing toward homeschooling even in the ever liberal northeast. It is becoming much more widely accepted and I don't get nearly the number of questions that were once common place... or maybe I just don't get out much!

The Boston Pilot -Should I homeschool? Over 2 million children are now homeschooled in the United States. On standardized tests, homeschooled children outperform matched peers in the public schools by a wide margin, and they are comparatively more successful in getting admitted to competitive colleges. Strikingly, homeschooled children do not show the “black/white” test-score gap that is the bane of public and private schools. Likewise, homeschooled children perform equally well regardless of gender. In light of these ever more widely appreciated facts, perhaps you have considered homeschooling your own children. If you have... read the full article here.

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I thought I would pass on this fabulous link for toddler curriculum. The site is Letter of the Week and they offer curriculum and resource suggestions for children from birth to age 8. This is a great site! I have really enjoyed the helpful suggestions on activities and books for my toddler. There are four lessons per month, for each month of your child's life. Katrina Lybbert, the creator of the curriculum, even lists Bible verses and classical music selections to compliment each lesson.

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We are having a drawing for a $25.00 Gift Certificate!

If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day and in our May newsletter.

Enter for a Chance to Win a $25.00 Homeschool Gift Certificate!

We are having a drawing for a $25.00 Gift Certificate!

If you are currently subscribed to our bi-monthly newsletter Comforts of Home you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate. If you are not subscribed and would like to be entered for the drawing, you can subscribe here. The drawing will take place on May 14th. The winner will be announced the next day and in our May newsletter.

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I just found this little ditty on Utube. An oldie but a definite goodie! What a talented family!

Our feature book for this week is And So They Build by by Bert Kitchen

This children's picture book describes in text and beautiful illustrations, twelve animal architects and the purpose behind their unusual structures. Some of the animals included are Australia's mallee fowl, satin bowerbirds and swallows, cubiterme termites and harvest mice.

This look at fascinating animal behaviors is a wonderful edition to any home library. You can purchase it here. Softcover · Ages 4 and up.

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