Apologia Chemistry and Physics Review - Homeschool Science Has Never Been So Fun

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Apologia Educational Ministries is one of the leading homeschool science curriculum's on the market!  They publish K-12 Creation-based science curriculum, worldview curriculum for ages six to fourteen and practical and inspirational books about homeschooling. They also offer refreshing retreats for moms, and online classes through Apologia Academy. Have you ever tried a resource from Apologia?

A moms review: 
Well this is my last review for the year for the TOS Crew, but don't worry I hope to back next year with more great reviews for you. I was thrilled to find out that my last review of the year for the crew would be the NEWEST science curriculum by Apologia, Exploring Creation With Chemistry and Physics. This textbook is part of the Young Explorers Series which also includes Botany, Zoology  Astronomy and Anatomy & Physiology. And once again is written by the fabulous Jeannie Fulbright!

The members of the Apologia family are some of the most amazing people you will ever meet. This Summer during the 7+ homeschool conventions I attended I had the pleasure of meeting some of their newest sales team members. One of the things they kept talking to me and others about was their newest science title which was being released very soon. That title was of course the Exploring Creation With Chemistry and Physics book. I figured since it was about Chemistry and Physics it would not be something I could utilize with my 6 and 7 year old, but they soon cleared that up and informed me it was just like their Zoology books, which we were already utilizing. Yup this book is also designed for children in K-6th!

So for the last 6 weeks we have been having a blast learning all about atoms, molecules and matter. I have been utilizing the textbook and journal 2 times a week with my 6 and 7 year old.

There are 279 pages and 13 lessons in the Creation based Chemistry and Physics book. Everything from atoms to simple machines is covered in this book. The hardback book has a beautiful, brightly colored cover, which will immediately capture your children's interest. The text throughout the book is easy to read and is written in a narrative style. There are also fabulous, full colored illustrations and photographs! The book follows a Charlotte Mason, immersion approach, which I love. In the front of the book is are simple step-by-step recommendations for using the curriculum. And in the back of the book there are answers to the narrative questions...perfect for us moms who don't know it all.

Lessons covered in Chemistry and Physics:

-Chemistry and Physics Matter

-Moving Matter

-Building Blocks of Creation

-Compound Chemistry

-Multitude of Mixtures

-Mechanics in Motion

-Dynamics of Motion

-Work in the World

-Sound of Energy 

-Light of the World

-Thermal Energy

-Electrifying Our World

-Mysterious Magnetism

-Simple Machines

We started at the very beginning of the textbook and having been working our way through, utilizing the lesson plan in the Junior Notebooking Journal.  However because this is a topic that is very new to my children we have been moving much slower than the recommended schedule and it has been taking about 3 weeks to cover one lesson (rather than 2). So far we have only finished a little over 2 lessons.

But that is the great thing about these books, they are so versatile and you can use them however they best suite your family's needs.

Each lesson follows pretty much the same pattern: 

-Several pages of text with "Try This" experiments spaced throughout. The "Try This" areas are indicted in blue and are a great stopping point for short attention spans. Longer lessons may have a fewer "Try This" sections. These can be anything from quick experiments to games to field trips!
-A "What do your remember?" question. This is basically a wrap up where you will ask your children several discussion questions.
-A "Notebooking Activities" reminder section. There is a also a recommended project for older students.
-A final "Project" or "Experiment" section where children will get to have a little more hands on fun exploring Chemistry and Physics.

Our Apologia lessons took about 1 hr to complete and we did them 2 times a week. We followed the recommended schedule in the notebooking journal very closely, but as I mentioned above we had to spread our lessons out over about 3 weeks rather than 2. On the off days we would utilize the other recommended resources which are indicated in the Junior Notebooking Journal as well as the Apologia Book Extras Website (password required, which is in the textbook). Some of the additional recommendations include:  book recommendations, DVD suggestions, websites, games, videos and more!

Both kids loved the hands on science experiments. All of the experiments were super simple and really helped reinforce the lessons. The experiments also help them become familiar with how the scientific method works.

Yesterday we attended a science workshop at our local library and the topic was, "States of Matter." I was thrilled when my children's hands popped up to answer questions. 6 weeks ago they would not have been able to answer any questions on liquids, solids or gases. But they showed yesterday that what we have been learning from the Exploring Creation With Chemistry and Physics book was indeed sinking in!

Journals:
There are two journal options Junior Notebooking Journal (K - 3rd grade) and the Regular Notebooking Journal (3rd - 6th grade). We received 2 Junior Notebooking Journals for this review and Rowyn was tickled to have his very own journal (when we reviewed the Swimming Creatures book they had to share). I cannot stress enough how fabulous the journal is, it really is a must! It's only $24.00 and worth every penny! At the end your child will have a fabulous journal keepsake where they have recorded all of the information that they learned. It is something that they can review and look at over and over again. The journals make lesson planning super easy for you. They also help your child retain the terms and subject matter from the lessons. The Junior Notebooking Journal is perfect for children with limited writing skills. The writing lines are primary writing lines (a dashed line between two solid lines). There are lots of large spaces for drawing which my daughter was very excited about. The journals are a great complement to the already wonderful textbook.

What's in the Junior Journal:
-A detailed schedule for parents to follow. This schedule uses a two day a week plan making it very flexible especially for the busy homeschool family.
-Coloring pages with scripture (I had the kids color while I read from the textbook). 
-Various templates where children can draw and/or record the facts they have learned. If your children are young like mine they can dictate the various facts and you can write them down. However I will say that my daughter who dislikes writing was eager to write in the pretty notebook.
-Key vocab word activities which include puzzle piece cut out, vocabulary matching activity, crosswords, vocabulary stories, animal identification and more.
-Scripture copywork for handwriting practice (choose from print or cursive or both). The scriptures in the Junior Journal are shorter than Regular Journal and the font is larger. This is a great way to not only memorize scripture but also teach spelling, grammar and handwriting.
-Pages to record projects and experiments. My kids really enjoyed giving their hypothesis for the various experiments.
-Paste pages where children can display the beautiful, colorful lapbook mini books that they assemble. These are included in the back of the journal.
-Book and DVD suggestions are provided after each lesson. These resources nicely complement your studies. 
-More experiment and project ideas.

My children loved all of the activities. Both of my anti writing children loved writing down their thoughts and ideas on the journal pages.  There is no need to have additional supplemental worksheets, books, etc.

To determine which journal your child needs ask your self this question, "Does my child feel comfortable writing paragraphs?" If not the Junior Journal is the way to go!

Additional supplies?

Various supplies will be needed to complete the experiments. Many of the items are things you probably already have laying around. The few things we did need I was able to pick up at the Dollar Store or Grocery Store. I love that there is a section in the back of the book which gives a detailed breakdown of what you will need for each lesson. There is also a great lab pdf on the Apologia website which also lists everything you will need.

So what about that lesson plan?
As an un-planner I can say that I truly appreciate the lesson plan. It has everything laid out for you to complete over 26 weeks. But it is still very flexible and you can easily adjust it to fit your needs. Because of the nice 2 day a week format it makes it a perfect curriculum for busy homeschool families.

FREE stuff:
Be sure to visit the Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics journal and textbook pages to view samples of the book, samples of the journal and a table of contents.

Wrap up:
I highly recommend this science textbook and any of the other fabulous Apologia resources. It is a fabulous curriculum for all ages and learning styles. It is very versatile and can be easily adapted to fit every homeschool family. And most importantly it is a blast! Your children will learn, be engaged and ask for more!

Gwyns review (7 yrs old):
I really liked the science experiments. They were lots of fun. I really liked layering all the liquids to learn about density. I can't wait for mommy to read more!

Links to follow:
-Apologia Website
-Apologia Facebook
-Apologia Twitter

Where to buy:
The Chemistry and Physics book is $39.00 and can be ordered on the Apologia website. The Notebooking Journals Regular Notebooking Journal or Junior Notebooking Journal are $24.00.

Click here for more Apologia reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew.

Review Apologia Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day

I am sure you have heard of Apologia Educational Ministries...I think pretty much every homeschooler has considering they have a booth at just about EVERY homeschool convention. But have you ever looked through one of their amazing books? Apologia publishes K-12 Creation-based science curriculum, worldview curriculum for ages six to fourteen and practical and inspirational books about homeschooling. They also offer refreshing retreats for moms, and online classes through Apologia Academy. 

A moms review: 
I have personally met almost all of the Apologia family and they are all some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I have had the pleasure of hearing many of them speak at conventions/retreats. And Jeannie Fulbright the author of Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day, which is the book we had the pleasure of reviewing for the Crew, happens to live only about 20 minutes away from us.

We owned the Land Animals and Flying Creatures Zoology books from Apologia and have used them since we began homeschooling...but this is the first official review I have done about one of the books in the Young Explorer Series. Since we were starting out the new year learning about Marine Mammals I asked to review Zoology 2 Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day.

We absolutely love our other two Zoology books from Apologia and this one was no exception. The hardback book is loaded with fabulous information and contains beautiful images of sea creatures. It is designed for children in K-6th grade.

There are 223 pages and 13 lessons in the Creation based Swimming Creatures book. All creatures large and small who live in the rivers, streams and the vast oceans are covered. Even the dinosaurs are not left out. The book follows a Charlotte Mason, immersion approach. In the front of the book is a step-by-step recommended guide for using the curriculum. And in the back of the book there are even answers to the narrative questions...perfect for us moms who don't know it all.

Genesis 1:21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

Lessons covered in Swimming Creatures:
-Aquatic Animals
-Whales
-Seals and Sea Cows
-Aquatic Herpes
-Primeval Reptiles
-Fish
-Sharks and Rays
-Crustaceans
-Mollusks
-Cephalopods
-Echinoderms
-Cindarians

Because of our eclectic learning style we generally use books like this as a resource and not a curriculum textbook. But for the purpose of this review we used it like it's intended to be used and started at the beginning of the book and worked our way through the lessons using the lesson plan in the Junior Notebooking Journal. We have completed about 2 1/2 lessons which went along wonderfully with our Marine Mammals unit study.

The nice thing about these books though is that they are very versatile and you can use them however they best suite your families needs whether it be a curriculum textbook that you utilize start to finish all year or just as a resource where you skip around utilizing what you need, when you need it. 

Each lesson follows pretty much the same pattern: 
-Several pages of text with "try this" experiments spaced throughout. Longer lessons may have a few experiments.
-A "What do your remember?" wrap up where you will ask your children several discussion questions.
-Notebooking activities reminder. There is a also a recommended project for older students.
-Ideas for adding to your ocean box (photo below of what this is).
-Final experiment where children will fill out their scientific speculation sheet.

Our Apologia lessons took about 1 hr to complete and we did them 2-3 times a week. We followed the recommended schedule in the notebooking journal very closely. In between our text reading we would not only complete items in our journal but also watch various YouTube videos, here is a link to our Marine Mammals YouTube channel. The kids thought it was a lot of fun to actually hear the Whales sing their songs after we read about them. As a reward we would watch a video or documentary about Marine Mammals at the end of the day after we completed our homeschool day (Free Willy, Moby Dick, Big Miracle etc). 

The kids both loved the science experiments. They learned so much from these short, simple experiments. We even added some of our own like this Baleen Experiment to help reinforce what they learned about Baleen Whales. The experiments help reinforce not only what the children have learned but it also helps them become familiar with the scientific method.

Learning about echolocation, sound vibrations, freezing salt water and baleen.

Journals:
There are two journal options Regular Notebooking Journal (K - 3rd grade) and the Junior Notebooking Journal (3rd - 6th grade). I highly recommend getting a journal. These journals make lesson planning super easy for the parent, help your child retain terms and subject matter from the lessons and create a beautiful record of your child's learning. We utilized the Junior Notebooking Journal which is geared towards children with limited writing skills. The writing lines in the Junior Journal are primary writing lines (a dashed line between two solid lines). There are lots of spaces for drawing which my daughter was very excited about. We used one book and the children took turns doing activities. These are a great complement to the already wonderful textbook.

What's in the Junior Journal:
-A detailed schedule for parents to follow. This schedule uses a two day a week plan making it very flexible especially for the busy homeschool family.
-Coloring pages with scripture (I had the kids color while I read from the textbook). Even my anti-coloring son got involved and had fun.
-Various templates where children can draw and/or record the facts they have learned. If your children are young like mine they can dictate the various facts and you can write them down. However I will say that my daughter who dislikes writing was eager to write in the pretty notebook.-Key vocab word activities which include puzzle piece cut out, vocabulary matching activity, crosswords, vocabulary stories, animal identification and more.
-Scripture copywork for handwriting practice (choose from print or cursive or both). The scriptures in the Junior Journal are shorter than Regular Journal and the font is larger. This is a great way to not only memorize scripture but also teach spelling, grammar and handwriting.
-Pages to record projects and experiments. My kids really enjoyed giving their hypothesis for the various experiments.
-Paste pages where children can display the beautiful, colorful lapbook mini books that they assemble.
-Book and DVD suggestions are provided after each lesson. These resources nicely complement your studies. 
-More experiment and project ideas to Dive Deeper into each lesson. 
-Field trip sheets where you can record your fun adventures. We were unable to make it to the GA Aquarium because all their homeschool classes were booked (and it's MUCH cheaper to do the classes and see the aquarium than it is to just buy regular tickets). But we did enjoy looking at all of our photos from our past adventures to the GA and TN Aquarium.

My children loved all of the activities. My daughter can write but dislikes to and my son doesn't write at all really. Imagine my surprise when my daughter was willing to write words and short sentences on the various templates.  All the templates you need to create the notebooking assignments, projects, miniature books etc are found in the Junior Journal. There is no need to have additional supplemental worksheets, books, etc...unless of course you want to.

To determine which journal your child needs ask your self this question, "Does my child feel comfortable writing paragraphs?" If not the Junior Journal is the way to go!

Additional supplies?

Throughout the book there are various experiments which do require additional supplies. So far there has been nothing extra I needed to purchase. Before getting started you can view this great lab pdf which lists all the supplies you will need for this curriculum.

So what about that lesson plan?

The lesson plan is amazing and has everything laid out for you to complete over 26 weeks. Because the lesson plan only requires 2 days a week it makes it a very easy curriculum for busy homeschool families to utilize. One entire lessons takes about 2 weeks (4 days to complete). Because my children are both young (5 1/2 and 7) we did have to split up some of the lessons on days they had short attention spans.

FREE stuff:

-Zoology 2 Journal Sample
-Zoology 2 Junior Journal Sample
-Zoology 2 Sample
-Zoology 2 Table of Contents
Wrap up:
I highly recommend this curriculum. It is great for all learning styles and ages. It is a versatile curriculum that can easily be adapted to suit every homeschooling families needs. And most importantly it is FUN! Children will learn, be engaged and ask for more!!!!

Gwyns review (7 yrs old):
I really liked the science experiments and ocean box. We got to take shoe boxes and make them into oceans. We even added real sea shells.

Links to follow:
-Apologia Website
-Apologia Facebook
-Apologia Twitter

Where to buy:
The Zoology 2 book is $39.00 and can be ordered on the Apologia website. The Notebooking Journals Regular Notebooking Journal or Junior Notebooking Journal are $24.00.

Click here for more Apologia reviews from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew.

*Disclaimer - As part of the TOS Review Crew I received the Swimming Creatures of the 5th textbook and Jr. Notebooking Journal in return for my honest review. Please note that prices indicated in the post are subject to change. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions are our own! Many of the links found on my side bars and in my blog posts are affiliate links. As a result, I might get paid money and I will most likely spend the money on homeschool supplies.

Comfy Cozy Day - International Spirit Week

We definitely have comfy, cozy days at home (most of the time we are wear our pajamas while homeschooling) but we also have plenty of comfy, cozy days when we are outdoors. Today we enjoyed a comfy, cozy, relaxing afternoon at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on the wetlands trail. We read our fabulous science books from Apologia and Master Books and learned all about prehistoric and extinct birds. Gwyn had her pink blanket and it took her no time at all to lay it down and relax!!!!

**If you could please take a moment to vote for our photo which is entered over at Apologia (just search for Kathy Balman if you cannot find it). I appreciate your help.**

Here are some more photos from our comfy cozy day outdoors. 

Don't forget to grab your International Spirit Week FreeBee...an awesome guide to having a comfy cozy day which also has a link to a FREE ebook special thanks to Knowledge Quest for this one.

Why we leap for Apologia....

We participated  in the Apologia Leaping photo contest. And here is Gwyn leaping for Apologia because Land Animals of the 6th Day has the best animal pictures ever!

Alright adding one more picture because Gwyn insisted on taking one of me. Why do I love Apologia well its simple because my kids do and because it teaches amazing facts from a creationist world view.

Wanna join the fun then take a picture of you and/or your kids LEAPING in the air holding an Apologia product (we need to be able visually identify the product) and include an answer to the question, "Why do you leap for Apologia?" (i.e., why do you like what we make?). Instructions and rules can be found here.

Chapter 4 - Release Them To God

 

I am joining a wonderful group of ladies and reading through How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids by Rachael Carmen. I am a little behind but this past week (well this week for me) we read Chapter 4, Release Them To God.

I loved this chapter even though it took me awhile to get through. One of the reasons we choose to homeschool was so that we could give our children the best opportunity to follow their dreams. Right now Gwyns dream is to be a cowgirl. She hopes to one day have a horse or two, a farm, an animal rescue and  a cowboy husband. Rowyn hasn't really started voicing what he wants to be yet when he grows up, but he does enjoy building, maybe he will be an architect. But no matter what they decide they want out of life we will always support them 100%. We will be there beside them to guide them and struggle with them. We know that one day they will be released into the BIG world and we want to prepare them for their journey's as best we can. God has a plan for them.

I learned a few things from this chapter that I never really gave much thought to. Like "Your children are not yours. They are His, and He has assigned each child specifically to you and your family for the purpose of living and acting according to His perfect plan."  It is up to us prepare our kids for their futures. One thing we have been focusing on a lot lately in our home is their interests and characters. Rachel says, "We must take the time necessary to deal with character training and teaching Truth with a capital T." And I couldn't agree more with that statement. It is important to play up their strengths and provide them with encouragement.

Rachel also talks about praying for your kids and praying that God would give them and us a vision for who they are and are meant to be for His kingdom. We must also pray that God would equip us to equip them. And we need to pray that our kids remain pure mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This is one thing that I must work on.  There are times I sneak into their room at night, while they are sound asleep I whisper to them that I love them and pray over them asking God to help guide them and me in the right directions. But after reading Rachels words I now realize I need to also be telling them when they are awake how much they are loved by God and how he has HUGE plans for them.

But my most favorite part of this chapter has to be when Rachel talks about sunflowers. Because sunflowers are my favorite flower and have always been. Even the kids can tell you its my favorite. When I was a teen my entire room was decorated with sunflowers and now my kitchen is (hubby wouldn't let me do the bedroom, lol). While reading Rachels words about her experience with a sunflower field I remembered a poem I had displayed on my bedroom wall as a teen that spoke about sunflowers.

Follow the Son

The flower moves it's petals

AS it yearns for what is bright,

And eagerly it searches

As it turns to face the light.

Each soul, just like each sunflower.

Will turn toward the one

Whose light will make it blossom

As it follows the Son.

By: R.K Cecil

I also came across this one online recently:

The Parable of the Sunflower

When Sunflowers bloom, they follow the sun all day. The flower looks towards the sun as it goes across the sky.

We can be like the sunflower and look for our light in the Son of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ.

It will help if we put our plant in good soil. The good soil of our lives can be obeying our parents, going to church, saying our prayers, etc. These things help nourish our testimonies of Jesus Christ.

When the sunflower blooms, its seeds help nourish people, animals and birds.  Our testimony will help nourish others around us as they see how the light of Jesus Christ shines in our lives.

We should follow Jesus Christ the same way the sunflower follows the sun. If we pray in the morning and at night and watch for his help all day long, He will be able to guide us.

Aren't they beautiful. And very fitting for this discussion on releasing our kids to God.

Rachael, ended the chapter with some questions called, "Heart Check-up"--Page 149. I have actually answered a few of the questions throughout.

Favorite quote(s): 

-Pg 123 - "We must let go of our own selfish dreams for them."

-Pg 123-125 - "It's not a question of whether or not you trust your kids. The question is this: Do you trust God?"

-Pg 134 - "...No, in verse 13 we are told that Peter and John were "unschooled" and "ordinary" men (or, as we like to say  at our house, homeschooled and ordinary ment)."

-Pg 138 - "I pray that Jesus would be "real" to my kids. By this I mean they will recognize and accept that truth-i.e., all that is real-is in Jesus."

-Pg 148 - "Release them to God. They are His, and He will take great care of them."

So this week release your kids to God it feels great! I cannot wait to read everyone's posts. Thanks for stopping by.

Chapter 3 - Accept Your Children

 

I am joining a wonderful group of ladies and reading through How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids by Rachael Carmen. This past week we read Chapter 3, Accept Your Children.

Accept your children sounds easy right? Well it's not for me, at least not all the time.  Accepting my kids is something I definitely struggle with. And sadly it shouldn't be, because as a child I often felt unaccepted at school and at home. So I know how it feels, how it hurts and how it can ruin your self esteem. Rachel says that, "Genuine acceptance of our kids means a radical change of perspective - a paradigm shift. What is a paradigm shift? Well since I looked it up to get the exact definition I will share it with you. A paradigm shift is a change from one way of thinking to another. It's a revolution, a transformation, a sort of metamorphosis. It does not happen, but rather is driven by agents of change. In the case of our children, "It means seeing our children as gifts from the hand of the living God."

I have written before about how my daughter personality and character is a lot like mine she is my clone, my mini me. I think that is why we butt heads so much and why I am constantly trying to change her personality and character. I think about how hard it was for me growing up and since she is so much like me I don't want her to have to go through any of the things I did. She is fidgety just like me (my nick name used to be worm). She is artistic just like me. She has some OCD habits just like me. She is high strung just like me. She loves animals just like me. She is a caring and compassionate just like me. She has her own fashion sense just like me. She doesn't care what others think just like me. She hates to be teased just like me. She is a planner just like me. She is an auditory/visual learner just like me.

My son on the other hand is very laid back and a lot like my husband, brother and grandfather. He likes to build with blocks, cardboard boxes, Legos, anything really. He loves to play by himself. He teases everyone he comes in contact with. He puts everything in his mouth. He likes to pick at things like paint on the wall, strings on a blanket, his nails/toenails, you name it. He is a kinesthetic learner. 

Two completely different kids with different learning styles, personalities and characters. Rachel says that "When we attempt to rewire our children, we are actually rejecting them, even if we do not verbalize it." WOW, that hit me like a ton of bricks after I read it. One thing I hated growing up and promised myself I would never do to my kids was compare them to others or try to make them into something they are not. And here I am trying to change my daughter. Well NOT any more!!!

The last 12 days have been very interesting, exciting and stressful. As many of you may already know I was watching my friends two kids for 9 days while she was in the hospital recuperating from surgery. Things were quite CRAZY around here. I spent several days driving to and from speech/occupational therapy appointments, the hospital and the store. Also during those 9 days there was one night that I had seven kids sleeping over because of Gwyns birthday party. And there was another day that I watched a  friends two girls (plus the four I already had in my care) while she went to have lunch with a friend. So when Saturday came I was tired and a little stressed. I don't think I have ever had so many kids in and out of my home before.

BUT......something AMAZING happened during those 9 days. My HEART grew by leaps and bounds towards my husband and my children. God spoke to us all through helping out a friend. I realized how very blessed I was to have such wonderful children. Children who knew their mother needed assistance. Children who knew their mother needed them to be on their best behavior. Children who care deeply about others. Children who are very self sufficient. Children who love to learn. Children who don't require special diets or have special needs. And I realized how amazing the man I fell in love with 12 yrs ago really is. He is always there for us and takes such good care of us. He supports me in everything I do and the decisions I make.He encourages the kids to follow their dreams. He never puts me down. Rachel says that "Our journey with our kids is not just about disciplining and training them. It is about our discipline and training." I have come to realize the last 12 days that this is indeed true. Well this momma has been disciplined and trained the last week and a half. And a paradigm shift has taken place!

These last several days I have also witnessed Gwyn not only turn a year older but grow her character. I am amazed at how caring and compassionate she is for a 6 yr old. And her behavior has been impeccable. I haven't YELLED at the kids in 12 days! Rachel says, "Well-disciplined children are not only prepared for God's call and work in their lives, but they are also enjoyable to spend time with," and boy is that the truth. She doesn't need me to change her. I am the one that needs to change. With the help of God I need to accept her and her brother and build them up. I need to pray like Rachel did for Him to reveal His plan and purpose for their lives so I can raise them "in the way [they] should go" (Proverbs 22:6)so they can one day fulfill what He had planned for them.

Rachael, ended the chapter with some questions called, "Heart Check-up"--Page 119. I have actually answered these questions above throughout my post.

1. What are some ways you have experienced rejection in your own life? (Remember, all of these come from the father of lies!)

2. Are there characteristics of your children you find difficult to accept? If so what are they? Pray about these specifically and ask to see God's perspective about these areas of your children's lives.

3. Area there things about your children you're personally embarrassed about? If so, what are they? Pray about these specifically and ask to see God's perspective about these areas of your children's lives.  For me it is mostly the disobedience and talking back that embarrass me.

Favorite quote(s): 
-Pg 109 "Is the character flaw you see in your child an imitation of our own sinfulness?"
-Pg 111 "It means accepting and enjoying each one a as a providential gift and blessing from a Holy God, trusting that He will continue the good work He began by sending them to you and carry it through to completion (Philippians 1:6).
-Pg 113 "When parenting seems hard or downright impossible, and you're certain you've messed things up beyond repair, don't forget that you serve the great Redeemer and all of that stuff in your life that you  regard as junk can and will be used by God for good (Romans 8:28).
-Pg 115 " God is using this opportunity not just to prepare my children for His calling, but also to break me, mold me, and use me as an instrument of righteousness for His name's sake-if I will let Him."
-Pg 116 "I love you. These are the words by which children first begin to build trust. These are the words that best communicate a parents' acceptance of the child. But as important as those three words are, there are three words that are more important: God loves you."

Do you accept your children? I cannot wait to read everyone's posts. Thanks for stopping by.

Guess where I will be in March?

Give up?

I will be going to the Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartanburg, SC on March 15th-17th. I am super EXCITED because this is the first convention I am attending as a blogger. Yup I am moving up in the blogging world. I will be tweeting, blogging and facebooking live from the convention. So if you don't already follow me in all three places make sure you do by March! 

This is the first year for this convention which David and Leslie Nunnery organized. They have done an awesome job and there are going to be some amazing vendors and speakers. Some of the speakers include Dr. Voddie Baucham Jr., Larry Blythe, Zan Tyler, Jeannie Fulbright, Ken Ham and Debbie Strayer. I have heard several of them speak and believe me you won't be disappointed.When you're not listening to the speakers you can explore the vendor hall. You will be able to meet companies like A Journey Through Learning, Founders Academy, Abeka, Apologia, Answers in Genesis, Geography Matters, Knights Book Nook, Math U See, WriteShop and more. We use resources and curriculum from many of the companies that will be participating as vendors. And now is your chance to meet the companies for yourself and check out everything they have to offer. Once thing that makes this convention a little different from others is that vendors who touch on the Beginning or Creation or have a Bible Curriculum must sign a statement in agreement of two theological principles.

Registration is only $40  for the entire family and all proceeds go to missions. And right now you can also take advantage of the Teach Them Diligently and Apologia Live SPECIAL and attend 2 conventions for $125. By the way I will be at Apologia Live in Atlanta too! Make sure you also sign up for the newsletter so you will be alerted with updates about workshop dates/times, etc.

Both of these conferences I will be attending alone. That's right, two weekends in a row NO husband and NO kids. This is going to be a time for me to meet with all the wonderful friends and homeschool companies I have met online during the last 6 months. A time for me to get lots of encouragement. A time to recharge. And a time to start preparing for our 2012-2013 homeschool year.

Go take a look at Teach Them Diligently, register, and let me know if you’ll be there.

Stay tuned for more posts about Teach Them Diligently and a giveaway.........

Disclaimer: I want to thank Teach Them Diligently for providing me with FREE registration to the convention. In return I will be blogging, tweeting and facebooking about the convention. Many of the links found on my side bars and in my blog posts are affiliate links. As a result, I might get paid money and I will most likely spend the money on homeschool supplies or a hotel for the convention.

Chapter 2 - Enrich Your Marriage

 

I am joining a wonderful group of ladies and reading through How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids by Rachael Carmen. The book club this past week and we read Chapter 2, Enrich Your Marriage.

I really enjoyed this chapter. My husband and I have been married 11 1/2 yrs. We have had our ups and downs. We have struggled through numerous moves, illnesses, job issues, financial stresses, broken down cars, a foreclosure, a bankruptcy, an addiction and family issues from the past. But through it all we remained strong and never gave up on our marriage.

 
When I met my husband 12 yrs ago (yup if you do the math you will notice we only dated 6 months) I knew he was the man for me. I never dated in high school and never had plans to get married. I wanted kids but was going to adopt. And then I met Ben. We met in December 1999. His sister and I were good friends and had plans to go to the movies after work one evening. She asked if Ben could go along because he was going through a rough time and needed to get out of the house. So we all met outside of The Sports Authority (which is where his sister and I worked) and headed to the movies. I had met Ben previously because he was engaged to another girl who used to work at The Sports Authority but that rough time I mentioned was because him and his fiance were taking a break, or so I thought. Boy did I forget how good looking he was. I decided to flirt and he did too. He was on a break from his fiance so he was fair game right? I mean he wasn't married yet! Well I found out later that night that they had totally broken off their engagement. YAY he was fair game. So about a week later I went over to Ben and his sisters house for a Christmas party where we flirted some more and then he made his move. His pick up line, "I think you're pretty cool and I would like to get to know you better." My reply, "okay well lets hang out I have your phone number I will call you." And I did the next night and we went out on our first official date. Christmas Eve arrived and we spent it together he gave me a leather coat for Christmas. Yup I only knew the guy a couple of weeks and he gives me a leather coat (he was definitely a keeper). He spent Christmas at my house. And we continued seeing each other every night. Most nights we would just snuggle and watch movies or play video games which is still our favorite thing to do. June arrived and we were going to the beach for my birthday. I didn't know it at the time but he had plans to propose. He had the ring and had it all planned out. But a few weeks before our mini vacation we were talking and somehow we got on the subject of eloping and getting married when we went on our vacation. "Umm there is no way my parents would ever go for that," I said. The next day while I was at work I called my mom and half joking told her we were eloping and getting married at the beach. My moms reply which stunned me was, "well if that is what you really want." WHAT????? So Ben and I decided to get married at the beach and we started planning. We found a pastor online, Pastor Bob and I found a cute white dress (on sale for $80). About a week prior to our wedding he actually popped the question (even though he already knew my answer) and gave me the ring. We drove down to apply for our marriage license the weekend prior, everything was set. WOW I was getting married. On June 16, 2000 also my 19th birthday we got married in Harvey Cedars, NJ on a jetty. Just me, Ben the Pastor Bob and our two witness which were my sister and brother-in-law. It was the most amazing day of my life. I had found my soul mate. Who would have thought that the first guy I dated would be the one? We had a lot of people tell us that our marriage would not last because of how whirlwind it was. But here we are today happy and together. We have also brought two wonderful kids into this world to share in our journey.

When we said our vows we meant them . Every marriage goes through rough times it is just human nature nothing can be 100% perfect all of the time. The hardest struggle for us has been Ben's past family issues. He grew up in an environment with emotional and physical hurt towards him and his siblings This hurt has stayed with him through the years and has caused re-occurring issues in our marriage. But each time we work through it together. We have gone to counseling and we have read together (The 5 Love Languages is an amazing book). We have worked on our communication BIG time. Communication is such an important key to marriage and I think probably one of the biggest reasons marriages fail. It is actually because of a rough patch in our marriage in 2009 that I started my relationship with God again and started praying again .

Rachael, ended the chapter with some questions called, "Heart Check-up"--Page 89. Here are answers to a few of the questions, because I didn't want my post to be overly long.

2. How would you like to see your own marriage improve? What are you personally willing to do to start making those changes?

• I would like to see Ben and I get more alone time together. Since we have had kids it has been hard to get out of the house for alone time. I want to take time this year to rekindle our relationship and bring the spark back. I would like to read more marriage books together. 4 days to a forever marriage is next on our list. I am hoping we can start it next month

3. Describe the kind of marriage you would like your children to one day experience. How are you helping to prepare them now for those relationships? How are you praying for them and their future spouses?

• I want my kids to have a safe and happy relationship with their spouse. I want them to know that marriage is something you work at that its not easy. I especially want my daughter to know that its not like the fairytales she watches, lol. We are very open with our children. We don't hide the ugly or good stuff from them and we have cried, had arguments, kissed, hugged and acted silly in front of them. I love it when my daughter sees us kiss and says, "Awww Mommy and Daddy are in love." Normally my son runs and says EWWWWW! Honestly I never thought about praying for them or their future spouses that is something I will start doing though.

5. What is one thing you could do today for your spouse that could make all the difference in his or her day?

• I need to be better at listening to Ben and communicating with him. I  need to do a better job at filling his love tank by expressing his primary love language which is physical touch. Physical touch is hard for me but since it is what he craves I need to make more of an effort to kiss him everyday when he comes home, rub his head and back, hold his hand and hug him. Opps thats two things.
  

Favorite quote(s): 
-Pg 64 - "There are so many lessons and insights that can be wonderfully demonstrated in the context of marriage - selflessness, sacrifice and service, just to name a few."
-Pg 66 - "It is from watching their parents' marriages that our children learn trust, sacrifice, loyalty, teamwork, forgiveness, cooperation, communication, and responsibility. It is from our marriages that they learn perseverance, joy, diligence, kindness, gentleness and communication. It is from our marriages that they learn grace."
-Pg 79 - "You know when you're young, no one tells you how hard life is going to be, much less marriage."

Live, love and laugh together often! I cannot wait to read everyone's posts. Thanks for stopping by.

Chapter 1 - Have a Heart for the Things of God

 

I am joining a wonderful group of ladies and reading through How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids by Rachael Carmen. The book club this past week and we read Chapter 1, Have a Heart for the Things of God.

As I mentioned on the Facebook group wall I had a hard time writing this post because well this chapter was very eye opening. About 2 yrs ago I started my journey to have a heart for things of God AGAIN. And one of my goals when we began homeschooling was to begin raising the children knowing God. Now here is where the tough part comes in. We do not go to church and don't really plan on finding a "home" church. So the kids learn about God through us, other adults in their lives and their friends. We do occasionally visit our friends church. I am not going to get into the reasoning we don't go to church because well this would be a very long drawn out post if I did that and I don't want to start a huge debate. Anyway I struggled a lot last summer trying to figure out how on earth I was going to start teaching my children about God and I still struggle with this. Especially since I already knew and know even more now that having a heart for God is something I need to definitely work on.

I discovered after reading Chapter 1 that I like Rachel have been trying to shape my children's characters. And now I have realized I am the one that needs the most work. My daughter is a sponge and wants so hard to be like her momma.I have realized over the last 2 weeks that much of what she does that I irritate me she learned from me. I need to work on becoming an "intentional parent." I need to stop reacting (which I do way too much of) and start responding.

Rachel explains how Gods power is revealed in nature. Well anyone who knows us knows that we love nature walks. We love to be outdoors (even though we haven't gotten out much lately). We love to look at the trees, the flowers, the bugs (yes creepy crawlies). We like to watch clouds and smell the air. But honestly I never really had the kids admire it ALL as wondrous works of God. That is one change we will be making next time we go out on a hike. Rachel also speaks about metamorphosis. I know I need a metamorphosis. I need to change my heart for God, my kids and my husband.

I am working on my heart for God mostly through prayers. I already mentioned we don't go to church often and honestly we don't read the Bible much. We read our family Bible while doing our Advent and will be reading it for our Easter unit study too. But I personally  find the Bible confusing. Both church and the Bible are past issues I am still dealing with. Maybe one day this will change.We are exposed though to scripture and biblical beliefs through publications like Masterbooks and Apologia. And DVD's like Whats in the Bible, Veggie Tales and Little Angels. I am grateful these wonderful companies are around to assist people who may struggle like I do.

Rachael, ended the chapter with some questions called, "Heart Check-up"--Page 57. Here are my honest replies.

1. Having a heart for God requires self-disciple. Do you have a regular quiet time? When? Where? Is it a priority for you? Do you have a plan for studying God's Word? 

• I do not have regular quiet time. As stated above I am struggling still with the Bible. Since I don't read the Bible I have been trying to read more books written by Christan authors like "How to Have a HEART For Your Kids." And I have also been reading the kids more as well. I need to work more on having a heart for God and becoming closer to him and I believe lots of prayer and deep prayer may be my answer.

2. How would you characterize your prayer time? Do you spend time praising God and thanking Him (Psalm 71:8; 92:1). Do you confess your sins (1 John 1:9) and make your requests known to Him (James 4:2)?

• I generally stop to pray throughout the day when I need strength or a friend has a prayer request. The majority of the time I pray in bed before I fall asleep and when I wake up. I most often find myself praying for my husband, my kids and my friends. I occasionally sneak one in for myself. Maybe I need to pray for myself more, huh? I thank him for everything he has provided us with and make my requests known to him. I need to work on confessing my sins more for sure. Especially when it comes to my temper and harsh words. I really lack when it comes to myself and my needs. Guess that is one thing that will be changing.

3.What are some things you need to praise God for regarding your children? What should you thank Him for? Ask forgiveness for? Ask His wisdom and guidance on?

• I praise God that I am now able to be home with my kids. I praise him that they are healthy. I praise him that we live in a state that does not have super strict homeschooling laws. I need to ask forgiveness for my temper. I need wisdom and guidance on raising my kids to be Godly.

Favorite quote(s):
-Pg 32 - "Intentional parenting, means that we are thoughtful and purposeful in our actions and words."
-Pg 35 - Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "Impress them upon your children, talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
-Pg 38 - John 1:3 - "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was mad that has been made."
-Pg 41 - "Metamorphosis. Total and complete change.
-Pg 42 - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "The old has gone, the new has come!"

 

I know hes up there because amazing things like this would not be possible otherwise.

 

I cannot wait to read everyone's posts. Thanks for stopping by.

Introduction - How To Have A HEART For Your Kids

 

I am joining a wonderful group of ladies and reading through How to Have a H.E.A.R.T For Your Kids by Rachael Carmen. The book club this past week and we read the Introduction. 

So what does H.E.A.R.T stand for anyway well here ya go:

• Have a Heart for the Things of God
• Enrich Your Marriage
• Accept Your Kids
• Release Them to God
• Teach Them Truth

In the intro Rachel talks about her journey and how she became a homeschool mom. How plans for her life changed and how she struggled with those changes. I love how down to earth she is and how honest she is. I literally sometimes forget I am reading a book. A few months ago I had the opportunity to meet Rachel at an Apologia Live luncheon so while reading I will occasionally hear her voice and it's like she is right here with me speaking to me. 

Our journey to homeschooling was a pretty easy one. Originally we were planning to send the kids to school mostly because we didn't think I could ever be a stay at home mom like we wanted (ya know one income thing just not possible). So we bought our first house (which we no longer have) in a decent school district (which is actually no longer a good district). But...plans changed after hearing all of the terrible things taking place in the Georgia schools and seeing how much government interference was taking place in the schools. So in the Fall of 2011 I cut my hours at my job to part time so we could start cutting our income back slowly. And I started researching homeschooling. Since my husband was homeschooled throughout elementary he was 100% supportive. Our only real fear was could we survive on one income? While working part time we enrolled our daughter in the GA Public PreK program to get her out of my moms hair. And well after dealing with bad behavior, changes in eating habits and some other things we decided that we would definitely 100% be homeschooling. So I informed my boss that at the end of July 2011 I would be be quitting my job. It was a very scary time for us. For the 11 yrs my husband and I have been married I have always worked. Well fast forward to today and so far homeschooling is going wonderfully. We have had our bad days but the majority of them have been wonderful. I am so happy to be at home. I have missed so many milestones when they were babies and toddlers but I am making up for it now. I have witnessed my daughter reading her first words, tying her shoes and my son writing his name for the first time. The one income thing is still scary and we have been struggling but we have been blessed numerous times by wonderful friends. We have the important things we NEED. And my husband says he is so much less stressed knowing that I am at home with the kids.

I very much looking forward to reading this book because I know that I need to work on my H.E.A.R.T and give the kids my heart. I also need to build a growing relationship with my kids.

Favorite quote(s):

Pg 13 "No, these were women of God willing to sacrifice themselves to be all He had planned them to be."

I cannot wait to read everyone's posts. Thanks for stopping by.

Will you join me in January?

Starting in January I will be participating in the 31 Days to Build a Better Spouse Challenge and the How to Have a HEART for Your Kids book club. Both start January 1, 2012. I would love to have you join me in the New Year to become more dedicated spouses and mothers.

 

31 Days to Build a Better Spouse Challenge:

Do you have just 5 minutes a day to pray for your spouse? Did you know that doing so each day over the course of 31 days CAN improve your marriage?

I know first hand how pray can improve your marriage and save it. About 2 yrs ago I prayer harder than I ever have for my husband and our marriage. We have been married 11 1/2 yrs and he is my EVERYTHING. He's more than my husband he's is my best friend. I have already devoted my life to him so why not devote 5 minutes a day for 31 days to pray for him? I am looking forward to this challenge and cannot wait to start reading the e-book.

You will be able to check in with a small group for accountability and share prayer requests. There will be private groups forming on Facebook and via email sign up here. You can also join the various discussions on the 31 Days to Pray Facebook page (get a FREE gift when you "like" their page) and/or twitter by using hashtag #31DBBS.

Buy the e-book today here for $4.99 available in Kindle and PDF format. So for $4.99 and 5 minutes a day you can improve your marriage....I say its worth it, don't you? Buy it NOW!

How to Have a HEART for Your Kids Book Club:

We’ll be journeying together through Rachael Carman’s book How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids (currently $13.00 on Amazon) as she reminds us to:

• Have a Heart for the Things of God
• Enrich Your Marriage
• Accept Your Kids
• Release Them to God
• Teach Them Truth

I already started reading the book because well I am a procrastinator and wanted to make sure I would be able to keep up with both of these events. The book is AMAZING. Rachael shares some of the simplest things we can do that will make the world of different in our relationship with our kids and spouses.

Make sure you join the Facebook group and/or use the hashtag #Heart4YourKids on twitter to share your thoughts. Join the HEART Book Club email newsletter list to get a free printable PDF discussion guide / journal to use in your study and prayer time (I have already downloaded mine and it's wonderful).

If your a blogger you can also feel free to blog your thoughts to share. I will be trying to do this as well but cannot make any promises it is difficult for me to find time to blog.

I hope you will join me and the other amazing women in January!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

*Disclaimer -  Many of the links found on my side bars and in my blog posts are affiliate links. As a result, I might get paid money and I will most likely spend the money on homeschool supplies.