Heart Prints

I've Moved

2010-03-13T17:30:00.002-06:00

I've moved, just in case you're wondering....:) Come on over and see my new look at http://www.realheartprints.com. Can't wait to see you there!

MMM- Clearing the Clutter in Your Life

2010-03-08T00:01:00.002-06:00

Last week I wrote about some of my frustrations....don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade my job as a stay at home mommy for all the money in the world. I LOVE being home with my boys....but like any job, there are going to be times when frustrations rise up, and I have to reevaluate the things we are doing to see if I can key it down just a bit. With Jacob being sick this week, we've been home more (I love days when I can just be home and not go anywhere), and I've had a bit of time to think and reevaluate and reset some things.

It's so easy to run the rat race every single day, just scraping through the maze of events, not really "getting it" because of all the clutter taking up our lives.

This week has afforded me some real bonding time with my boys, without the added stressors of having to be somewhere, having to get this, this, and this done for school, and honestly, I don't want it to change. Jacob and I have played many a rousing game of Battleship and Uno, and he's getting to be quite the champion. Jaden has had many a game of monster chase the baby games, giggling and laughing the whole way. So, you ask, how am I going to keep the peace and the tranquility that this week, albeit a hard week for Jacob, has afforded us? I've really taken a hard look at our schedule, and I took the advice of a friend. I asked God how He wanted me to work out our homeschool schedule. How does He want it to be? Then I moved and shifted some things around...for example, by Friday, we are just dead to school, so I decided to make it a fun day with just an hour of core school and the rest fun stuff like art and music and board games for thinking skills. Jacob loves board games, so he was thrilled with this idea.

Not only with my kids' schedules, but with my own, I'm keeping my work hours to early, early mornings and naptime....possibly a little bit in the evenings, after they're in bed; it depends on what Dan is doing. I'm also decluttering my blog. It doesn't look like it now, I know, but I'm rebuilding my blog on Wordpress right now, making it, hopefully, a place of serenity. It'll still have all the same subject matter, but I do want to have more homemaking articles and things, and it's going to have a very shabby chic appearance.

This decluttering in my life has been a necessary thing....it's like when you clean out a closet, and you have a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment afterwards. Once that closet is cleaned out, you can keep it clutter free because there's a place for everything. That's like life....once you clear the clutter, you have a place for the important things in your life, for the things that God deems important. What is stopping you today? What kind of clutter is hindering you from having the joyous walk that is available to you as a wife and mommy? Is it spiritual clutter? Is it physical clutter? Is it clutter that you've been unwilling to clean out up until now? What are you missing out on because of the clutter that is blocking your path? Get rid of it! Rework things, and clean out! A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away- Ecclesiastes 3:6.

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

Friday Funnies- iCarly

2010-03-05T06:40:00.004-06:00

I don't know how I've missed iCarly before now....Jacob just started watching this show this week, with being sick and all. It is hilarious. It's pretty sad that Dan and I love our kids' shows more than any of the adult shows. LOL iCarly is definitely worth watching, though! Anyway, I wanted to find the video of Freddie's mom going ballistic during the fencing competition, but I couldn't find it, so this will have to do. It's still hilarious, especially if you have seen the whole episode.:) Laugh it up!

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

2010-03-04T05:22:00.002-06:00

In our house, we love anything sweet that involves peanut butter, and we especially love peanut butter and chocolate put together. Who doesn't? I found a recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies in Grandma's recipe box, so I made them on Tuesday....they have been devoured. I made the first couple batches just plain, but then I couldn't resist adding chocolate chips to the last couple batches. This was a nice, moist, chewy cookie, and they were still fresh the next day. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup butter (My grandma has a note to cut off 2 tbsp, but I added both sticks whole.)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, well beaten

1 cup peanut butter (I used Peter Pan Honey Peanut Butter.)

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

2 1/2 cups flour

Chocolate Chips (optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla. Sift flour and soda together, and add to mixture. Mix well. Roll into balls, and press with fork (My dough was too sticky to press with a fork; you might try chilling the dough, if you're not in a hurry). Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes. Makes 4 1/2 dozen.

Just a Little Teaser

2010-03-04T05:00:00.001-06:00

Sometimes it's fun to just browse the internet for things; it's kinda like window shopping. Whether you're dreaming of creating the coolest kids' room with cool kids beds, colorful accents, or great organizing space for toys....

or whether you're dreaming of having the beautiful shabby chic kitchen of your dreams....

it's just fun to browse, isn't it? CSN Stores is one of those places that lets you browse and dream because they have just about anything you'd want or need in their 200+ stores.

I'm really impressed by their Cookware store. In fact, this post is just a teaser to whet your appetite, so to say, because next week, because of the gracious generosity of CSN Stores, I'm going to start a new giveaway that is very exciting, especially for those of you who love to cook. Even if you don't like to cook, this giveaway could be pretty awesome, as it's a prize that is going to allow you to throw your meal together and then leave it for however many hours you need to cook it. I'll be giving away a Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6 Quart Slow Cooker in Stainless Steel.

The reviews I've read of this slow cooker have been shining reviews. Here are some of the features:

Clip-tight lid prevents spills
Large full-grip handles
Dishwasher safe stoneware and lid
Convenient lid rest
Party recipes included with matching name tags
Available in White or Stainless Steel

So, stay tuned, as this giveaway will start up next week; I am so excited about this. I would love to win this prize, although I do love my slow cooker that Dan bought me for Christmas a few years ago. You can't go wrong with a good slow cooker, especially if you lead a busy life. Have a wonderful week!

SYLW: Emily's Smile Boxes

2010-03-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

It's amazing the difference that children can make in this world, and I have one special big sister to tell you about today. Her name is Emily, and back in 2008, her parents got the devastating news that their yet-to-be-born baby boy, Jude, had a brain bleed, or a bilateral stroke. They were told to terminate the pregnancy, that his condition could have profound effects on his life....or he could be a very healthy baby boy with no effects at all. The first three months of his life were healthy, happy months, until one night he had a seizure, and the effects of the stroke became very real. As his mother writes on her blog, Jude now has "clefts" on both sides of his brain, but it's worse on one side. Jude also has vision loss, Cerebral Palsy, and epilepsy. You can actually read more of his story on Jude, The Diary of a Baby and a Stroke. They have been able to control the seizures with medication, but they have spent so many days and nights in the hospital. That is how Emily's Smile Boxes came about.

Emily's Smile Boxes was actually started by Jude's big sister, Emily, after seeing many other children in the hospital. She wanted to spread smiles and cheer to other patients who might otherwise have a hard time finding a reason to smile. She puts together boxes filled with games, toys, crayons, inspirations, and smiley faces, and then they distribute them to local children's hospitals. She also ships boxes if the need arises. She has dropped off over 500 boxes.

So, how can you help? Emily frequently asks for young volunteers to put boxes together, in box making parties, and to drop them off at local hospitals. Even if you don't live in Texas, if you're out of state, they can ship you the supplies to put your own boxes together. This is an amazing opportunity to make a difference in so many young patients' lives. Children shouldn't have to go through the major illnesses that many of them go through, and if you can put a smile on just one child's face and make his/her day just a little brighter, the opportunity is so worth it. Of course, you can also donate to Emily's Smile Boxes either financially, through Paypal via emilyssmileboxes@yahoo.com, or by donating small items like crayons, notepads, markers, and card games. You can also sign Emily's Guestbook, leaving a note of encouragement to this very special girl.

I think the most wonderful thing about Emily's story is that she has shown true compassion and love through her work, distributing Smile Boxes. She and her parents are examples of courage and beacons of light to me, in that when they thought all hope was gone, they still did not give up, and they've seen Baby Jude as a precious blessing, through all of the trials. Life is truly a blessing, and Jude and Emily's story is truly an inspiration to many.

Country Bob's Giveaways

2010-03-02T06:46:00.002-06:00

Dan and I are always trying new things and adding new things to our cooking to make it even better. When I had the opportunity to review Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce, I knew Dan was going to love it. We had the opportunity to try it this last weekend, and I have to say, it was really good.

Country Bob's started as Country Bob Edson created a sauce that was perfect for grilling; he started out giving his sauce to friends and family and finally began to sell it in 1977, eventually becoming a full corporation in 1982. He, along with three others, Terry Edson, Al Malekovic, and Reed Malekovic went into business together and have since become very successful. You may have seen the sauce in stores around your area, but you may not know the legacy behind Country Bob's. Here's what they have to say on Country Bob's website: It would be nice if we could claim responsibility for the success of the company, however, credit must be given where credit is due. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." We have placed true ownership of Country Bob, Inc. in the hands of God. "Christ is our CEO" and He is an Awesome Boss! It's so awesome to know that these guys call Christ their CEO; I don't see a lot of companies with these kinds of values nowadays, so it's very refreshing.

We received two bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce, and we first tried it out in a chicken salad that I'd made up quick. It gave a very zesty flavor to the chicken salad and really was delicious. Next we tried the recipe for Country Bob's World's Greatest Hamburger.

This hamburger has both onion soup mix and Country Bob's Sauce, and it was delicious! Dan actually grilled the burgers, so they had not only the zesty, tangy, almost smoky flavor of the sauce, but they also had the charcoal effect. Everything combined to truly make prize-winning burgers, at least to my tastebuds. The sauce itself, in my opinion, is almost like a cross between a really great barbecue sauce and a steak sauce. With the consistency of a steak sauce, it's great for adding extra flavor to your favorite dishes; however, it'd also be great for dipping your steak. You can find even more great recipes on Country Bob's website. If you come up with a new one, you can add it, as well. Country Bob's doesn't just sell all-purpose sauce, though; they also have Spicy All Purpose Sauce, Barbecue Sauce, and Seasoning Salt. Country Bob's also has a new cookbook available, which is filled with recipes that use this sauce, as well as Inspiring scriptures for living an abundant life. You can find Country Bob's on Facebook. You can also sign up to get a bottle for free, and you'll receive a coupon good for one free bottle of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce at a grocery store near you.

Now it's your turn to enter a giveaway; in fact, for this giveaway, 2 winners will be chosen to win 2 bottles each of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce. If you'd like the chance to win this giveaway, you can enter in one or more of the following ways. Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. I'll draw the 2 winners Tuesday, March 16, using Random.org. Here's how you can enter:

1. Visit Country Bob's Recipes, and let me know which one you would like to try.

2. Visit Country Bob's blog, and leave them a comment.

3. Follow my blog, or you can subscribe to my posts.

4. Follow me on Twitter; you can tweet daily about this post and gain extra entries.

5. Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints.

6. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs or Mom Blog Network (just click the buttons in sidebar).

7. Digg or Stumble this post.

8. Place my blog button somewhere on your blog.

Good luck, and have a wonderful day!

(Disclosure: I was provided 2 bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce, free of charge, by Country Bob's for the purposes of this review.)

Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways

2010-03-02T05:56:00.001-06:00

It's Tuesday! Yesterday was the best Monday we've had in such a long time. Even though Jacob is sick, we had some definite mommy-son bonding time, as we played a very intense game of Battleship.:)LOL He won, of course. I'm looking forward to today and just hoping to get him better. For now, it's time to take a break and visit some great posts around the blogosphere. Enjoy, and be sure to link up your giveaways below!

When I first saw this post, I could not believe that this pantry was real. You have to check out A Fresh Start! from Aunt Ruthie's Sugar Pie Farmhouse. Her pantry is real, and it's gorgeous! She's a shining example of making your home a place of bliss, which I'm truly seeking to do myself. You will be inspired.

17 and Baking has a delicious looking recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies.

Morgan at Adventures in Diapering needs your help in her post, Help Us Brainstorm Baby Name Ideas!

A Brooklyn Limestone in Progress has a wonderful Guest Post: Bethany's Jars, which teaches you how to use regular household jars in your decorating. Very neat ideas.

Bakerella has a delectable looking recipe for Red Velvet Cake....the pictures seriously have me drooling, even at 5:30 in the morning.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam makes oatmeal look wonderful with her recipe for Easy Oatmeal with Diced Apples.

Bella Dia shows you how to make cereal boxes into cute little houses in her Cereal Box House Tutorial.

BLULOW (All About Living Green) has a helpful post for this winter season, Help for Notoriously Rough, Dry Hands.

Now it's your turn to link up your giveaways! Have a wonderful day!

Daybook for Monday, March 1, 2010

2010-03-01T06:41:00.000-06:00

FOR TODAY... from Mel's Daybook

Outside my window...it's chilly and dark.

I am thinking...that my boys may have to go to the doctor today. Jaden's cold/cough is coming back, and Jacob has it really bad. He can't even lay down in bed; he has to sit all propped up on the couch to sleep, poor guy.

I am thankful for... my boys.

I am wearing...jammies and robe, of course, and trying to stay warm.:)

I am remembering...the wonderful sunshine we had yesterday, and even though my boys are sick, I made them get out in it.:) I'm hoping the fresh air will have done them some good.

I am going... probably not to Tae Kwon Do tonight; have to let Jacob get over this. But I do have to brave Walmart and maybe go to the library, later on when Daddy's home to watch the munchkins.

I am currently reading...Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half: Why Differences Make a Marriage Great, for a Titletrakk review. It's very good so far.

I am hoping... to work on my blog this week. I'm totally remodeling and moving to Wordpress. We figured out how to move Google Friend Connect, and I believe we figured out how to keep my Google PR up when I move....I hope, anyway.:)

On my mind... friends who need prayer at the moment.

Noticing that...today is the first day of March; how can that be? It was just Christmas....

Pondering these words... I'm pondering over Pastor's message yesterday, how if every person in that church took his assignment to heart, how many seeds might be planted this week.

From the kitchen... tonight is soup and grilled cheese. I'm thinking some chicken noodle soup or maybe even homemade chicken soup for these sick boys.

Around the house... have to clean today and catch up on laundry. Fun times.:)

One of my favorite things~ playing around with images in Photoshop, creating new things.

From my picture journal...(This is going to be my new header; I may tweak it some, but I think I really love it so far. This was my relaxing time yesterday. LOL What are your thoughts? Would love feedback.)

For more Daybook, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Motivate Me Monday- Ok, Miss Negativity, Be Gone

2010-03-01T00:01:00.002-06:00

In Anne of Green Gables, Miss Stacie always had this quote she would say to Anne: Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it. (I have to add one word...."Yet.") It's fresh with no mistakes in it....yet. At least, that's my motto.

Lately, I've had my days where I feel like the most horrible mama in the world. With both homeschooling and working from home, I feel like some days are a blur, they go so fast. I mean, my kids haven't gotten outside for a few days (granted, one's been sick, and it's been cold, cold, cold); my toddler has been watching way more tv than the "experts" think he should watch; and frankly, I've had my moments where the last thing I want to do is sit down and play a round of the infamous Candy Land or the even more infamous Mouse Trap. (Have you ever tried to put Mouse Trap together? Mouse Trap is so not my friend; in fact, when the name is even said, I cringe inside. LOL) I've even had moments, seconds, where I've done the unthinkable....(gasp)....I've yelled, raised my voice, at them....(Hey, I'm just keepin' it real here; I am soooo not perfect).

Does the fact that I have let my toddler watch Sesame Street and Max and Ruby during quite a bit of our homeschool hours lately make me a bad mom? Does the fact that my kids haven't gotten any sunshine for the past week make me a failure? Does the fact that my kids might not have 3-4 organic fruits and veggies on their plate at every meal make me despicable? Does the fact that I occasionally shut myself in the bathroom just to have a second of peace or sneak a bite of chocolate make me a terrible mother? (I just have to say here that the bathroom is not my sanctuary anymore....it's becoming "the place to be," the proverbial gathering place, the feeding trough for my little natives....need I say more?) Does the fact that I totally lost it trying to teach myself and Jacob origami last week make me horrible?

I've been mulling this over the last few days; I really have. You can ask my dear, sweet husband, as he is my ever faithful, listening ear. I may not feel like a good mom some days, but at the end of the day, when I kiss those 2 precious boys and tuck them into bed and hear the words, "Mommy, I love you," I know I've gotta be doing something right. When my oldest asks me if he can help carry the groceries in, maybe my efforts with him on manners/courtesy lately are finally paying off. When my toddler actually listens to me in the store and looks me in the eye and stops his erratic behavior (granted, it took 3 times, but he finally listened), maybe the efforts to stay consistent are working. Maybe I'm being too unrealistic and harsh with myself.

Maybe this has happened with you. Do you go through each day, feeling as if you can't get anything right? No matter how hard you try, you just feel like you are failing? Maybe it's time to stop judging yourself so harshly, especially when it comes to comparing yourself with other mamas. So what if you need to turn Sesame Street on for a little bit? (I have that puppy set to record on my DVR.) So what if your child doesn't get his organic peas and carrots at every meal? If your kids are loved by you, and they know it....if your kids are learning and growing more and more each day....if you are doing your best, then you are doing a good job, Mama. Don't overthink this motherhood task. Relax, and enjoy the ride (and we all know it's going to be a long, rollercoaster ride). See yourself through your Heavenly Father's eyes, Who loves you more than you'll ever know. Even when we fall, He is right there to pick us up and dust us off, and kick our rears in motion again. I promise you that when you start seeing yourself in His light....being a faithful, Godly, and consistent mama is only going to get better and better because the judgment is gone. You can finally focus on what's important, your children, not yourself.

So, remember, Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it....yet. Give yourself that margin of error; it's ok.:)

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

TOS Crew: Family Mint

2010-03-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

The financial world has been up in arms for some time now; with a recession going on, it's even more important to know where you stand financially and how to cut back on things to save money. Early on in our marriage, Dan and I got into a bit of financial trouble, and it has haunted us ever since. We are truly beginning to climb out of our hole of debt, but it has been a long road, and it's still not over yet. We had to learn the hard way, though. Through everything we've been through, I definitely don't want that for my kids. I want them to know where they stand when it comes to money, credit cards, etc. I want them to be well educated in financial matters, so that they can make good, sound decisions.

That's where Family Mint Comes in. Family Mint is all about helping your kids to "appreciate money." It's a system that can be used to teach your children how to handle their money. Not only do they get to create their own goals, but they get to track their goals, as well, teaching them how to budget wisely. Every time Jacob gets an allowance or birthday money, or what have you, he can make a deposit, although, his allowance will be automatically deposited, just to save the parent hassle; keep in mind that the money tracked on Family Mint is virtual money, so it can't be stolen or anything. It's just a way for him to keep track of how much he has earned and how much he's spent. He can deposit money, withdraw money, and transfer money. As the parent, I'm the banker, so I'm responsible to help him handle his money and pay him when he requires it.

I can also set up interest rates, in order to let him see how a real savings account, with interest, might work. If he has set up a particular goal that is worthy, I can match his goal. If his goal is not meeting his expectations, he can easily go in and edit it. So say that Jacob wants to save up for his favorite Lego set. He can set that as a goal and then work towards it. If he decides to change his mind and decides he needs the next Star Wars action figure instead, he can change his goal to accommodate. If he decides he wants both items, he can change his goals and add or subtract goals.

It's all about appreciation of money and what's most important to him. As he gets older, he may realize he wants to set a goal of saving for college or for that vacation he wants to take when he graduates.

With Family Mint, there is a parent's side and a child's side.

So, I can easily log in and see the progress he's making, but he can log in and also see how he's doing on the child side of it. He'll easily be able to see all of his goals and edit them from his homepage. So far, I'm pretty impressed with Family Mint. I really think this will be a great help to Jacob and even Jaden as he gets older. With Jacob, he's very money conscious anyway; the trick has been teaching him that his money is only there as long as he saves it....he has to make the decision whether or not the particular item he is purchasing is worth it; does he want to spend a great deal of his money on that one item, or is it something that can wait? Does he need that item? Is the purchase truly that important to him? We always tell him that he has to make the decision, but he really needs to think about the consequences. Is he going to regret not having any money left or having very little left? He has started to become very conscious with his money, and I can only see this program as a huge help. Now he'll be able to truly track his money and how he's wanting to spend it.

You can read more about Family Mint on their blog, and you can follow them on both Twitter and Facebook. For now, Family Mint is free, but later on this year, they will have a Pro version available. You can read more reviews on the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this free version of the program by Family Mint, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Winners of Rainbow Brite CDs

2010-02-26T15:35:00.000-06:00

The winners of the Rainbow Brite CDs have been drawn. The winners are....

Lezanac from 4 Kids Review Mom and Dad2, Lady V dZine, Lilyk, Heavenly Savings, and Jessica.

Congratulations to the winners! Stay tuned for more great giveaways here on Real Heart Prints.

Friday Funnies- Bazinga!

2010-02-26T00:00:00.002-06:00

One of Dan's favorite shows is The Big Bang Theory, so much so, that now he's gotten me into it. The last one we watched was hilarious. Sheldon was stuck on a scientific formula, and he couldn't sleep or work or anything until he figured out the answer. This is the scene from the ball pit. His "Bazinga!" just cracks me up! Laugh it up! (I hope you don't mind the tiny commercial in the beginning of the video....this was the only video I could embed.)

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Recipe Box: Miss Esther's Banana Bread

2010-02-25T05:48:00.001-06:00

One of my Grandma Atkins' best friends and neighbors was Miss Esther. Miss Esther lived just down a gravel road, not far from my grandma's house; she lived with her brother on their farm. She sold eggs, and she weaved beautiful rugs. My grandma used to take me with her to buy eggs, and we'd look through her rugs sometimes, oohing and aahing. Miss Esther was a schoolteacher at one time; she taught in a one room schoolhouse, and she also wrote the local "gossip" column for the Bado community, the who was where and what they were doing column. Our names were in that column several times....she would call Grandma to see who had come to visit that week, etc. Times were definitely different back then; I miss them so much. Anyway, this is one of Miss Esther's recipes, and wow, is it ever delicious. The loaf even turned out perfectly in shape, color, and form. It has become my new banana bread recipe. Enjoy!

Miss Esther's Banana Bread

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

3 bananas

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

Nuts (Optional; I left these out)

Mix shortening and sugar together; add eggs. Mash up bananas, and add them. Mix dry ingredients together; then add to mixture. Grease a bread pan; this made one big loaf for us. Scrape batter into bread pan; batter will be slightly thick. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes; it took our loaf an hour or more to get done in the middle.

Have a wonderful day!

Winner of FamilyTime DotMine Planner

2010-02-24T14:45:00.002-06:00

I just drew the winner for the Family Time DotMine Planner, and the winner is....

Georgia Mist from Gathering My Roses.

Congratulations! Thank you to all who entered this giveaway. Be sure to enter my other giveaway going on right now for Rainbow Brite CDs. Five winners will be chosen this Friday. Stay tuned for more great giveaways here on Real Heart Prints.

SYLW: Ozarks Honor Flight

2010-02-24T00:00:00.003-06:00

World War II has always been an era that has been close to my heart....I just feel so passionately about it and want to learn everything I can about that time in history. There are so many heroes, so many men and women who served our country both here at home and overseas, some giving the ultimate sacrifice. Having an uncle who served as a tail-gunner in a bomber plane and another uncle who heroically served as a medic, crossing the Mosell and Saar Rivers under fire, in order to save lives, I long to tell their story and hear other stories, so that those same stories can be passed down from generation to generation.

That's one reason I'm really excited about this next organization, Ozarks Honor Flight. Ozarks Honor Flight is a regional part of the national organization, Honor Flight Network.
Ozarks Honor Flight was started in 2009, as a non-profit organization in Springfield, MO. Their goal is to transport our veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials. Since the World War II memorial was just founded in 2004, many of these veterans have not had a chance to travel, in their lifetime, to see their own memorial. Right now, Ozarks Honor Flight is focusing on veterans from World War II, since it is estimated that 1,000 of our WWII veterans are dying every single day. This trip is a one day trip at no cost to the veterans. Many of them want to go see the memorial for themselves or even for the sake of fallen comrades, to honor their memory and their ultimate gift to our country. Later on, Ozarks Honor Flight will begin to transport veterans from the Korean War and Vietnam.

You can help these veterans to make this trip either by donation or by volunteering. If you volunteer, you might help to send off these veterans in the morning or welcome them back home with much celebration. You might help out in the office taking phone calls or prepping things to mail. You might even help by contacting these veterans and helping them to make the necessary arrangements. If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact the Volunteer Coordinator, debbieh@ozarkshonorflight.com.

Either way, our veterans deserve the utmost respect, admiration, and honor for the ways in which they have served. If you'd like to find out if there's an Honor Flight Network near you, check out the Honor Flight Network website.

Winner of Win & Give Giveaway

2010-02-23T13:55:00.001-06:00

We have a winner for the fruit snacks and $25 donation to One Laptop Per Child giveaway. The winner is....

Karen.

Congratulations, Karen. Thank you to all who entered. Be sure to enter my other giveaways going on right now, and have a wonderful day!

Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways

2010-02-23T06:19:00.000-06:00

It's time for a homeschooling edition of Time Out Tuesdays. I hope this finds you well and having a wonderful day. I am so tired that I think I could sleep for hours, but I'm up and at 'em. Don't forget to link up your giveaways below.:)

Mom, Reinvented has a great post on Learning Through Living.

Are you in need of Foreign Language Lesson Plans and Resources?

If your children are studying about nature or birds, then they might be interested in The Great Backyard Bird Count.

Heart of the Matter is a wonderful homeschool blog with tons of great articles and resources, including a recent article on School Organization for Everyday. They even have a forum that you can chat it up in and connect with other homeschool moms and dads.

Meet Me at the Corner is a site filled with virtual field trips for kids; it helps to bring lessons alive for them.

When I was a little girl, my mom used to get paper dolls for me to play with; they were so much fun. You can find free historic paper dolls for your little ones on Paper Dali. That's not all, though. Check out these sites for more paper dolls: Marilee's Paper Dolls Page, Paper Dolls!, and Be My Paper Doll Valentine (my personal favorite, as you can find paper dolls for Strawberry Shortcake and others).

I also found the motherload of free unit studies over at Homeschool Share; you can even submit yours. How cool is that?

Lastly, if you're researching curriculum, Curriculum Choice might be a good place for you to find reviews written by real homeschoolers. They also have a couple of great articles on Socialization and Homeschooling Without Feeling Overwhelmed.

Ok, now it's your turn to sign Mr. Linky with all of your wonderful giveaways/contests. Have a wonderful week!

Daybook for Monday, February 22, 2010

2010-02-22T06:30:00.000-06:00

FOR TODAY... from Mel's Daybook

Outside my window...it's quite cold after the warmth of this weekend.

I am thinking...that I don't feel very good this morning, but I'm just hoping to get through the day with all of the things that need done and having to go, go, go with Jacob.

I am thankful for... these early morning hours where I can get a few things accomplished before my boys are up.

I am wearing...jammies and robe, of course, and trying to stay warm.:)

I am remembering...the Disney movies we watched this weekend with our boys. We're trying to introduce them to the older movies Disney made. This weekend, we watched The Sword in the Stone and started The Happiest Millionaire; we had no idea that movie was so long.:)LOL We got about an hour and a half into it, and we're at the Intermission right now, since it was bedtime last night. I just love Fred MacMurray.

I am going... hopefully, to take Jacob to Tae Kwon Do later on, as well as hit the library and a couple other places while out, get some errands out of the way.

I am currently reading...Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half: Why Differences Make a Marriage Great, for a Titletrakk review.

I am hoping... to get my assignment done and mailed off this week.

On my mind... so much that I can't just pick one thing at the moment.

Noticing that...Dan played a lot of Monopoly with Jacob this weekend; they had so much fun. Jacob needed that Daddy time, and help us all, Dan's teaching Jacob how to play Monopoly like a prize fighter.

Pondering these words... a powerful quote by C.S. Lewis on love; it's in the book I'm reading....I'll share parts of it here: But, of course, ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense - love as distinct from "being in love" - is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God. They can have this love for each other even at moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. "Being in love" first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.

From the kitchen... tonight will be either leftover spaghetti or grilled cheese and soup.

Around the house... have to clean today and catch up on laundry. Fun times.:)

One of my favorite things~ watching old movies with my boys.

From my picture journal...

For more Daybook, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Motivate Me Monday- Setback or Advantage

2010-02-22T00:01:00.002-06:00

I posted a status on Facebook last week that basically said that sometimes in homeschooling, we have to take a step back and reevaluate, because who cares about a schedule, if learning isn't taking place. There's a story behind that status, as there usually is.:)

In our homeschooling adventure, I've caught myself more times than not, wanting to follow a rigorous schedule, not listening to my gut that tells me we need to slow down. We started a bit late in our history curriculum, so I had it all planned out that we would do so much a week and get "caught up." Not that we're really behind, because with this particular course, it really doesn't matter when you start, which is nice. To me, though, it mattered. Yesterday, though, God really softened my heart and gave me another homeschooling epiphane, and I actually listened this time....I'm so glad I did. Jacob's struggled in history just a bit lately; he did so good last year, when we took our time, and he just enjoyed every bit of it. We've been rushing through, though, for about the last 2 months. He had a sort of breakdown yesterday, after he couldn't remember many things from the last chapter that we had covered.

It came to me then that, "Melissa, you have got to slow this train down....this boy isn't learning the material; he needs more time, more projects to help him learn, more library books to go along with the course, etc. It's time to take a step back." I looked at Jacob, as he sat there crying in frustration, and I told him, "Jacob, it's ok; it's not your fault. Are we going too fast through the material for you?" That sparked a small conversation, and the light came back into Jacob's eyes at that moment; the tears stopped flowing; and a bit of mother-son bonding took place, as he realized that it was going to be ok, that I wanted to know his thoughts. I can't explain the joy that brought to my heart and the peace.

I tell you my little story because I think sometimes with our kids, we rush around, trying to get this done and that done, especially in homeschooling. All the while, they're standing there, as if they're in a crowded train station, watching the people and the trains go rushing by. They're not really learning, and they're not really getting that quality time that they so badly need. In this case, it's definitely quality and not quantity that matters. It's taking time, as a parent, to realize that much learning may not take place, unless we let go of our own desires and give those desires over to God, letting Him take control of the situation, letting Him control how much we get done that day. Even if our children learn one more tidbit of history or math or science than before....if they learned something of value in that time spent, it was well worth it.

So, my desire today is to encourage you to not worry so much about the little things....concern yourself more with the bigger picture. Is learning taking place? Is bonding with your child taking place? Does your child still have that spark and fuel to keep learning? If not, it might be time to take a step back and reevaluate....

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

TOS Crew: Homeschool Library Builder

2010-02-22T00:00:00.001-06:00

Homeschool Library Builder is an online bookstore run by two homeschool families.

They stock new and used books in many different categories, and their purpose is more than just providing access to educational, enriching books. In addition to books recommended by highly-respected and widely used homeschool curriculums, we offer titles specifically chosen to supplement unit studies, promote sound moral character, and provide knowledge of truths for curious youngsters. We want to help you build your own excellent library and create memorable reading experiences for your family! Here are just a few of the categories they offer for your browsing selection:

"BOOK ADVENTURE" TITLES
Activity Books/Crafts
African American Culture and History
Anthologies/Storybooks
Biographies
Christian Fiction
Classics/Literature
Curriculum/Teacher Helps
Fiction
Hard-to-Find/Collectibles
Native Americans
Picture Books
Poetry/Art/Music
Readers
Reference

....and many more. They offer much more than affordable books, though.

The homeschool moms behind Homeschool Library Builder seek to reach out to their online community by offering free advertising, for HSLB members, in their newsletter or on their website. If you have a handmade, "homegrown" product, then this could be of great value. They also have a page filled with online resources/links for homeschooling. You can check out their Helping Hand program, as well. This category of books raises money for great causes, such as the earthquake in Haiti or Operation Christmas Child, among others; for the month of February, the focus is on Haiti. By purchasing books from this category, all of the proceeds go to a specific cause, and often, HSLB will match the amount raised.

For customers/members (it's free to become a member), and you can earn book points for dollars purchased in books. Your points won't expire either. They also offer you a 30-day guarantee that, if for some reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can simply return the books, and you will be refunded your money. For the month of February, HSLB is offering you 20% off all month long, no coupon necessary. You can find HSLB on Facebook. You can also read more reviews on the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(I received no compensation/product in exchange for this review. This review was done for the purposes of the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Math Mammoth

2010-02-21T21:29:00.000-06:00

We have certainly been blessed in supplementing our math curriculum this year through the Crew, and this next program that we were allowed to try is something I'm excited to write about. Maria Miller sent us part of her Math Mammoth series.

Maria used to teach math, but has since turned her skills to staying home with her children and homeschooling, as well as writing math curriculum and books.With a master's degree in mathematics (with teacher educational studies), as well as minors in physics and statistics, Maria is an expert in the field of mathematics, and she really enjoys being able to help homeschooling families get the most learning out of math, as it's sometimes a subject that these families struggle with. Math Mammoth is aimed at helping the student not just memorize a set of rules but to help him to understand why he is doing what he is doing in math.

We received the Math Mammoth Light Blue Series, Grade 1-A and 1-B, along with a few supplemental materials. This curriculum is a complete curriculum with worktexts, answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews, and a worksheet maker. If you buy this program as the downloadable form, you also get the Soft-Pak, which contains activities for math, language arts, and testing. Here is what the Light Blue Series aims to teach your child:

Addition Within 0-10
Subtraction Within 0-10
Addition and Subtraction Facts
Place Value Within 0-100
Clock
Shapes and Measuring
Adding and Subtracting Within 0-100
Coins

Each chapter starts out with an Introduction for the teacher to look over; it contains explanations for the teacher, to help her/him in teaching the student the particular topics covered in that chapter. I love that there is no separate teacher's book that you have to buy with this program; teacher's books can be such an outrageous amount of money when it comes to homeschooling, but with this program, the teacher helps are included in the worktext by way of the Introductions and also little blue boxes throughout the texts. If your student is more independent, he can read the little blue boxes on his own. With each chapter also come games and internet resources. These internet resources include links to free online games that will help further your child's understanding and mastery of the concepts learned. Maria breaks up each chapter, as well, by pages for the lessons, so that you can easily figure out how much you need to do in a day or week.

The worktexts include colorful pictures for visual illustrations, helping the child to grasp concepts without a ton of manipulatives needed. I also am thrilled about this part because manipulatives can cost the homeschooling parent. The basic manipulatives you might need for this 1st grade program are an abacus, an alarm clock, and a ruler. The text also includes word problems; this text is somewhat like the program we're using right now, in that it focuses on the mental aspect of math, helping the child to understand why he's doing what he's doing. Maria believes that math should be enjoyable and understandable, not so redundant, as it is in a lot of math programs today with pages and pages of review. There is review involved in this curriculum, but there is also freedom to move on, once you feel your child has really learned the material.

Math Mammoth can be used as a sole curriculum or as a supplement, which is how we are using it, since we already had a math program in place. I love the freedom that comes with this curriculum, meaning that if the child grasps a concept, we can go to the next thing; if he needs more time, then we have the resources we need to keep trudging through. The worksheets and even the worktexts provide great review for Jacob's addition and subtraction facts. It's also something that we can turn to, if he isn't "getting" a particular concept, to see if the explanations and visual illustrations in this curriculum will help the light bulb to come on.

You can purchase the full downloadable first grade curriculum from Math Mammoth for $29.70, or you can buy each worktext individually for $15.50, with supportive materials priced at $14. Printed versions are available, as well. This is completely affordable, in my opinion, as it can be used over and over for multiple students. I highly recommend Math Mammoth.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(I was provided the 1A & 1B curriclum, free of charge, by Math Mammoth, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Friday Funnies- Up

2010-02-19T06:32:00.000-06:00

We recently watched the movie, Up, with our kids. If you haven't seen this movie, you are missing out!:) It is soooooo good! I laughed and laughed, and even though it has a bit of sadness too, in the beginning, it was such a great movie.

I was so not expecting Alpha's voice to be like a chipmunk....LOL. Oh, and I love how they make it so true to life with the dogs pausing mid-conversation if they see a squirrel...."Squirrel!" LOL Anyway, here's a scene from the movie. Laugh it up, and enjoy!:)

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteader's Heart.

Recipe Box: Sour Cream Chocolate Layer Cake

2010-02-18T06:20:00.003-06:00

There's a funny story behind this cake; as a somewhat experienced baker, you'd think I'd know better....but I guess not.:) As I was making the cake, I noticed that my grandma had baking powder written in the ingredients and baking soda in the directions....so I wasn't sure which one to choose. Of course, I did the baking powder, and my cake turned out a pancake. Well, that went immediately into the trash, and I started over....goodness. You have no idea how hard it was for me to throw that cake, with all those ingredients, in that trash can....

Anyway, my second cake turned out delicious after I finally got it right.:) It's actually from my great grandma's kitchen; in fact, my grandma has written down, "From Mother, Winnie Melton." I'm so sentimental that I had to share that. Enjoy this recipe; it's truly delicious!

Sour Cream Chocolate Layer Cake

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2 eggs

2 squares unsweetwened chocolate, melted

1/4 cup hot water

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

In bowl stir together flour, sugar, soda, and salt. Add sour cream, butter, and eggs. Beat at low speed just 'til blended. Then beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate, and add water; stir 2 more minutes. Stir in vanilla, and pour into pan. Now, my grandma used one long glass pan for a one-layer cake, but I used 2 round pans for a round, layer cake. Make sure to grease pans well, and bake at 350 degrees. When cool, frost with the following frosting.

This frosting comes from the 1969 Betty Crocker's Cookbook that belonged to my grandma, as well. I doubled this recipe to make a bit more for my layers.

Cocoa Butter Frosting

1/3 cup soft butter or margarine

1/3 cup cocoa

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

About 2 tbsp milk

Mix thoroughly butter and cocoa. Blend in sugar. Stir in vanilla and milk; beat until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency.

Enjoy! It's a decadent dessert that's filled with all kinds of chocolate happiness.

Relevant 2010

2010-02-17T21:19:00.003-06:00

Ok, I know that I put up this big, long post about Blogher and attending that conference....but after serious consideration and prayer, I've decided on a change of plans; God has a way of changing our plans, doesn't He? (I'd just like to say that the Blogher conference would be a tremendous blessing; this decision was just a personal decision for myself.)

My MamaBuzz partner, Melissa J., introduced me to the Relevant Conference, and as the day wore on, I just couldn't stop thinking about it. I just had an incredible peace about going....so I talked it over with my husband, and we both agreed that this conference would be better, for me, at this time, in more than one way....

For one thing, I wouldn't have near as many expenses, which is a huge factor right now with us trying to get out of debt and be able to get out to see his family....which brings me to my next point; it's in Harrisburg! It's an hour away from my husband's family! My main reasons are that it is a conference to not only encourage and help me learn ways to become a more intentional writer and blogger, but to become a more intentional wife and mom too, as a child of God.

So, I will keep you updated and informed on the situation....I'm so excited and psyched about this opportunity! I will need to find a sponsor/s, but if God is for it, who can be against it?:) Exciting times! Melissa J. plans to go, as well, so it will be a refreshing, educational time for both of us, as we seek to grow in our careers as full-time mommies and writers. Love ya'all!:)

Shine Your LIght Wed: The Voice of the Martyrs

2010-02-17T00:01:00.002-06:00

Today's featured organization, The Voice of the Martyrs, has been around since 1967, when it was founded by Dr. Richard Wurmbrand, after being imprisoned in Communist Romania for 14 years, his wife being imprisoned for 3 years. I can remember when I was younger....some of my teachers would read to us out of the Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which for me was hard to listen to, yet I wanted to hear about these great men and women who had died for their faith. I wanted to hear their stories and the things they had to go through, dying to self, living to Christ. I couldn't imagine, in my childish brain then, that things like that were going on still....yet today, all over the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith.

The Voice of the Martyrs, or VOM, seeks to be a voice for these persecuted Christians. They seek to help people in parts of the world where persecution is rampant by providing the necessary resources for these Christians to spread the Gospel, such as Bibles, literature, radio broadcasts, medical assistance, etc. They help families whose loved ones have been martyred. They help Christians in these countries to learn how to witness to the enemy, the one who is seeking to imprison them or persecute them. They work in countries that have been Communist in the past. They spread the word about these persecutions and the Christians who have been martyred, telling the story of that person's great faith in the midst of fiery trials. They are there to encourage. VOM's Mission Statement is simply this: Serving the persecuted church through practical and spiritual assistance while leading Christians in the free world into fellowship with them.

There are many restricted nations, and you can actually see a map of these nations here. When you go to the map, there are dots on every restricted nation, and you can actually click on that dot, and it will show you a detailed description of that nation, with links. Some of the nations include Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria, Burma, Iraq, Malaysia, Algeria, etc. You can view stories from these nations in the VOM Newsroom. Just to make it more personal and real, I'll tell you a little bit about what has been going on in Nigeria, since January 17. There have been over 100 Christians killed because of riots between Christian and Muslim parties. Hundreds of Christians have been injured, as well. There have been shootings, fires, etc. These riots were started when Muslims attacked a Catholic church, and they have since attacked other churches. Right now VOM has people working to provide necessary assistance and help to the victims and their families, including medical attention.

VOM has offices all over the world, including the United States, offices in Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, etc. VOM has many areas in which you can serve, volunteer, inform others, etc. Here are some of those ways:

You can share stories and news of persecuted Christians with your children or children in your church by way of VOM's Kids of Courage. This site has activites, videos, and even a newsletter that you can sign your child up for.
Bibles Unbound is another ministry of VOM. You can send New Testaments to nations where Christians cannot obtain a Bible. It's easy for us to take this simple freedom for granted, but in nations where they can't even go find a Bible in their local store, it's a freedom they crave and desire.
You can be involved in sending Action Packs to needy families served by VOM.
If you're a prayer warrior, you can sign up with VOM to receive specific prayer requests in your email.
Be-A-Voice Network will help to prepare you to share the info you learn through VOM with your fellow Christians here at home and in your community.
If you're interested in short-term or other volunteer opportunities with VOM, then you can check those out here.
PrisonerAlert.com will enable you to write letters to prisoners spotlighted by VOM. You might even write to government officials. A new prisoner is posted each month. There are certain encouraging phrases you can put in that are translated into the language of that prisoner. I am really excited to find out more about this....this is something that would help uplift these prisoners as they are facing some of their darkest days. Right now Asia Bibi from Pakistan is a featured prisoner to whom you can lend encouragement and support to just by writing to her.
You can also give a donation or check out the resources that VOM has on their site. They have books, clothing, etc. for you to browse through, including resources for teens and children.

You can follow VOM on both Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow the Persecution Blog, and you can listen to Persecution Podcasts. I hope this has encouraged you today to Shine Your Light, especially in light of the fact that other Christians, just like you, are being persecuted and tortured for their faith. It's up to you to shine that light even brighter, in honor of their faith....Shine!:)

(Picture and links used by Permission of The Voice of the Martyrs, www.persecution.com.)

Bethany House: Levi's Will

2010-02-17T00:00:00.002-06:00

Levi's Will is a story about a man who seeks redemption throughout his whole life, a redemption and love that can only be found through one Person. As a young man, Will left his life behind to start a new life, a dramatic change from the Amish world to our world.

The story started out in a very exciting way with Will and his brother running away. Will was leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend, and he knew if he ran, that his lie would not longer exist for him in his Amish community; he would be excommunicated from the church. As he ran, both on foot and by train, he knew that he would have to start a completely new life. A new name, a new history lay before him....the old was gone. As Will gained different jobs working on various farms, he soon came to realize that young men were expected to do more, especially right now with World War II blazing overseas. Most young men were joining the Army, something Will struggled with, as he had been raised a Pacifist. Many things in Will's life had changed, though, and this was just one more thing he must do....

Follow Will's story as he not only becomes a soldier, but he meets and falls in love with Helen, a southern girl, later on marrying her. As the story continues, it switches from Will's life now to his life then and goes back and forth, intertwining the two to show his regrets, his hopes, and his heart. Having a son of his own that he struggles with and is trying to forge a right relationship with, Will still seeks the forgiveness and love of his earthly father, but it's only when he finds the love of his Heavenly Father, that he can truly forgive and love himself, in spite of all he has done in his life.

You can purchase Levi's Will from Bethany House for $11.19.

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, by Bethany House, for the purposes of this review.)

My Blog Spark: Win and Give: Fruit Snacks & $25 Donation

2010-02-16T12:00:00.006-06:00

My kids love fruit snacks, and they'd eat a whole package up in a couple days if I let them. Not only that, but I love spreading the word about ways to help those who are less fortunate. So, when I had the opportunity with My BlogSpark, to both spread the word and get free fruit snacks for the kiddos, I jumped at the chance.

With specially marked boxes of kid favorites – including Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Stickerz and Shapes – your child could win one laptop to keep and Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks will donate another to a child in Africa.

Each day from now through May 30, 2010, one laptop prize will be awarded to a U.S. winner. For every laptop won, one laptop will be donated to an African child through One Laptop per Child, an organization that creates educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. For your chance to win, simply enter the unique online code printed on participating Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snack packages on www.WinOneGiveOne.com.

My Blog Spark not only provided us with 2 boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks, but they also made a $25 donation to One Laptop per Child, in my name. That's not all, though. If you'd like to participate in this giveaway, and you win, they'll send you 2 boxes of a variety of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks, and they'll make another $25 donation on your behalf. How exciting!

If you'd like the chance to win this giveaway, you can enter in one or more of the following ways. Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. I'll draw the winner next week, Tuesday, February 23, 2010, using Random.org.

Leave me a comment, letting me know ways you have encouraged your children to help others or what your favorite experience has been in helping others.
Follow my blog, or you can subscribe to my posts.
Follow me on Twitter; you can tweet daily about this post and gain extra entries.
Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints.
Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs or Mom Blog Network (just click the buttons in sidebar).
Digg or Stumble this post.
Place my blog button somewhere on your blog.

Good luck, and have a wonderful day!

(The Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks, information, and giveaway, were all provided, free of charge, by Betty Crocker, through My Blog Spark.)

Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways

2010-02-16T06:23:00.000-06:00

Time to kick back for just a few minutes and enjoy blog hoppin' around to some great blogs. In fact, I've been busy networking and connecting with other bloggers this week, and you might just find something new and interesting to read....so grab a nice hot cup of tea or hot cocoa, and give yourself a short break to get refreshed and renewed and reinvigorated. Sit down with these women, and have a nice read (or chat).:) Don't forget to link up your giveaways below.

Tracey at Girls to Grow has a thought-provoking post, A Song in Her Heart.

Participate in Get Your Craft On! over at Today's Creative Blog.

Life as Mom has The Cure for Dish Pan Hands.

DC Ladies has a great decorating post, The Big Picture: Decorating with Photographs as Art.

Inkwell Inspirations has a very inspiring post, What If You Have No Words to Pray?.

The Diary of a Posh Mommy is having a blog party! Check it out for great prizes!

Up in Alaska has noticed Signs of Spring.

Live to Smile Today with Happily Blended.

Mommyhood Exposed has one way of How to Make a Blog Banner: Tutorial 1.

Finally, I just have to share two new blogs I've found this week. I have more, but I'll share them as time goes on.:) The first one is Mod Podge Rocks, a great place where you can find all sorts of inspiration to go along with your Mod Podge....wonderful stuff. There's no end to the possibilities. Just take a look if you doubt....:)

The second blog I found is The Daring Kitchen, where you can participate in a new recipe challenge every month....how fun is that?!

Ok, link up your giveaways, and have a wonderful Tuesday!

Daybook for Monday, February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

FOR TODAY... from Mel's Daybook

Outside my window...It's spitting snow here and there, and it's cold.

I am thinking...that Mondays seem to come so quickly.

I am thankful for...when sick, a warm home and a family to be with. I don't like to see my husband sick at all, but I have to say this weekend was nice just laying around together, even though we were sick....but we were sick together. Made for fun times with the kiddos, but we made it.

I am wearing...jammies and warm sweater.

I am remembering...that Dan promised to take me to Michaels today for my Valentine's.:)

I am going... to take Jacob to Tae Kwon Do, and we're stopping by the library on the way.

I am currently reading...finishing up Levi's Will and then A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists for review.

I am hoping... to get Dan's pants mended for him this week. I know, big aspirations, but for me, mending this pair of jeans is huge....you should see the hole.

On my mind... life, in general; change.

Noticing that...my desk is somehow a mess again; the "clean" never lasts on my desk, it seems.

Pondering these words... It's not what you do in life; it's how you feel (about what you do)....it's how you feel- from Road to Avonlea.

From the kitchen...tonight will be grilled cheese and either Ramen or soup; gotta be a quickie, since we have TKD tonight.

Around the house... have to clean and catch up on laundry. I'm hoping to clean off my shelves in the office a little, make room for crafty type stuff.

One of my favorite things~ is warm bread right out of the oven (or breadmaker).:) I love the smell wafting through the house.

From my picture journal... (Jaden loves his bubbles....he happened to empty the whole container this night; I left it on the edge of the tub for just a second, while I washed my hands; a brand new container of Koala Pals, and it was gone....at least he had fun.)LOL

For more Daybook, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Motivate Me Monday- A Dose of Inspiration for Moms

2010-02-15T00:01:00.010-06:00

I posted this over on MamaBuzz, and I just felt it was appropriate for this too....hope you enjoy.:)

Today, I just wanted to fill up your cup with verses to help sustain you through this journey we call motherhood....I hope you feel encouraged and inspired to keep trudging on and staying true to the work and the privilege God has set before you as a mother. Don't forget to laugh with your children this week, and maybe even dance.:) (All verses are NKJV.)

He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!- Psalm 113:9.

But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children- 1 Thessalonians 2:7.

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates- Proverbs 31:10-31.

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there- 1 Samuel 1:27-28.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward- Psalm 127:3.

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world- John 16:21.

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds- Proverbs 27:23.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering- Colossians 3:12.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God- 1 Corinthians 10:31.

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

CFBA: Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

2010-02-15T00:00:00.001-06:00

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

Summerside Press (January 1, 2010)by

Miralee Ferrell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In October 2007 Kregel Publications published The Other Daughter with excellent reviews. The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four and a half stars, with a very strong review. Two different major motion picture studios are currently considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being reviewed for a possible contract offer now.

In February of 2009, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California was published by Summerside Press

And Finding Jeena will release in April 2010 from Kregel Publications.

Miralee Ferrell lives in Washington with Allen, her husband of more than 37 years, ans has two grown children. She serves on staff at her local church ans is actively involved in ministry to women.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Against a backdrop of thievery and murder in Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon, a historic logging community, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future.

Sixteen-year-old Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she's giving love a second chance with Andrew, a handsome logger, Nathaniel suddenly returns. He steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill to town with a devastating secret.

While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man.

When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, go HERE.

Rainbow Brite CD Giveaways

2010-02-12T06:35:00.003-06:00

My grandma used to say that everything runs in a cycle....what used to be fashionable and hip would some day be fashionable and hip again. I love seeing old toys from my childhood resurrect and come back, and another one is making a comeback this month. Rainbow Brite is back, albeit in modern form, but she's back!:) Remember her? I do....I never actually had a Rainbow Brite doll, but I did plenty of drooling over them.:)

You can even visit Rainbow Brite online for games, a short video, to see the products, etc. Rainbow Brite dolls are actually back in Target stores right now, and they will be at Toys 'R' Us this month.

Thanks to MomSelect and Hallmark, I am offering a giveaway for 5 Rainbow Brite activity CDs. These CDs contain games, puzzles, a picture maker, coloring pages, the Rainbow Brite theme song, etc. With this giveaway, I will be choosing 5 winners, using Random.org, on Friday, February 26. You can enter in one or more of the following ways, being sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter.

Leave me a comment after visiting Rainbow Brite online, and let me know which doll was your favorite growing up or which doll you think your daughter would love.
Follow me on Twitter; tweet about this giveaway. (In fact, you can tweet once a day and add multiple entries; just be sure to leave a separate comment each day that you tweet.)
Follow my blog, or you can subscribe to my posts.
Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints.
Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs or Mom Blog Network (just click buttons in sidebar).
Digg or Stumble this post.
Place my blog button in your sidebar or somewhere on your blog.

Most of all, have a wonderful weekend!:)

(Disclosure: I was provided a Rainbow Brite CD pack from MomSelect and Hallmark, for the purposes of a review/giveaway.)

Friday Funnies- Olympic Edition

2010-02-12T00:00:00.001-06:00

In honor of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, I wanted to post something funny having to do with figure skating. I searched and searched for Scott Hamilton's Hair skating routine, but I could not find it.....bummer! Anyway, this will have to do. I used to sit and watch skaters like Kristi Yamaguchi, Kurt Browning, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov (whose tragic story broke my heart...), and Scott Hamilton, among others, and dream of someday gliding on the ice like them....yeah, right!:)LOL Even though I couldn't find Hair, this is still funny.:) Enjoy!

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Recipe Box: Mel's Snowy Day Veggie Stew

2010-02-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

My grandma used to make a killer vegetable soup, and I recently found a recipe in one of her cookbooks for a stew. I don't think it was the exact one she made, but I kinda used it as a base to go off of. My dad also makes a killer stew, his "son of a gun stew." Oh, I love it when he makes that. This recipe is completely my own, though, as I added things to mine just from what I can remember both my grandma and my dad adding, with a few of my own touches. I hope you enjoy!

Mel's Snowy Day Veggie Stew

1 lb. of stew meat, browned well

46 oz. bottle of V8 Juice (my dad's idea from his stew)

1 can Italian diced tomatoes

Handful chopped carrots

3 potatoes, chopped

1 bag mixed vegetables

1/2 bag corn

1/2 onion (med. to large)

2 stalks celery, chopped

Dash of marjoram- Not too much as it could be overpowering.

Dash of thyme- Not too much, as it could be overpowering, as well.

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

1 bay leaf

Take all of these ingredients, and add them to crockpot or slow cooker. It will fill your slow cooker up. Stir together, and let simmer all afternoon. It'll fill your house with a wonderful snowy day coziness. (Hint: I made Oatmeal Bread in the breadmaker to go with this, and the meal was complete.)

I hope your family enjoys! This is now a family favorite around here.

This Little Prayer of Mine

2010-02-11T00:00:00.001-06:00

This Little Prayer of Mine, by Anthony DeStefano, is one of the most precious books for kids I've seen in a while. Written from what seems like the perspective of a child, Anthony does a wonderful job of capturing a child-like essence in every word.

The book is written as a prayer that is said by two children, a brother and sister. Starting out with a child-like faith and belief in God, the prayer goes on to ask God for help in certain situations, such as when they're afraid or when they're sad, even when they're trying to be good. Then the prayer progresses on to thank God for everything, including His neverending love. Lastly, the child asks God to help him be more like Him. It even goes into a wondering about what the future might hold, as if the child is just having an everyday conversation with God about hopes and dreams. In the end, all the child really wants is for God to love him forever. This book takes certain scenes and settings we all faced in childhood and turns them into prayer form, easy for a child to understand. It teaches the reader how to pray.

One thing that I really love about this book is the conversational style that the child has with his Heavenly Father. It's more than just asking God for something; it's a child talking and conversing with his Heavenly Father in a comfortable, everyday style. It's a wonderful book that any child could read and understand, learning that God is there to talk to in any situation.

Illustrated by Mark Elliott, it's filled with very real-looking, colorful pictures that fit right in with children today. I think my favorite picture is the one in which the father is sleeping on the couch with his mouth wide open, while his children wreak havoc in the kitchen; all the while, they're praying that when they're bad, God would help them to be good. Love it! You can purchase this book for $8.76 from Amazon. I highly recommend it.

(I was given a copy of this book, free of charge, by Anthony DeStefano, for the purpose of a review.)

Family Time DotMine Planner Giveaway

2010-02-10T14:00:00.005-06:00

Staying organized as a busy mom on the go with kids, husband, business, homeschooling, etc., can be a formidable task. I've tried different things to help me stay on task, even printing out my own planner pages. This year, I decided enough was enough and went out and got my own planner. Now I'm actually using the Family_Time.Mine planner from DotMine. After trying many other methods, I highly recommend this planner.

The Family_Time.Mine planner is, first of all, sturdy and durable for a mom, meaning it has a strong plastic cover. If one of my boys happens to spill something on it or even more likely, draw on it with markers, I can just wipe it right off, which makes it really nice. It also sets my mind at ease if I take it with me places, knowing that it's not going to get all bent out of shape.

This planner runs from August 2009-December 2010. In the very front and the very back of the planner are the Master Schedules for the different seasons, i.e., fall 2009, winter 2009, spring 2010, summer 2010. They actually have a little fold-out flap that you can use to mark your place in the planner, so that you can compare notes with your daily schedule. These front and back schedules, though, are for you to mark down your Master Schedule, your recurring family events.

For example, I have marked down Tae Kwon Do, Choir Rehearsal, soccer, etc. It makes it really nice because I don't have to write these events down every single week; I can just refer to my Master Schedule.

With the beginning of each month is a 2 page calendar layout with small block calendars of last month and next month, as well.

Then the planner is broken up into weekly schedules with blocks for each day. On the sides are places to list To Do lists, grocery lists, notes, etc. There are even places to put sticky notes.

If you were to use the sides as a grocery list, it's perforated for you to easily carry with you. I actually use the sides as my daily To Do Lists, when I go to plan out my week. At the top of each weekly page is a place for you to fill in a special family activity for that week; at the bottom of each weekly page is a quote to inspire. Then at the end of each month is a full Notes page, just for extra space.

The back of the planner includes pages for Family Info (Info for Coaches, Babysitters, Library, Doctors, etc.). There are pages to put down important addresses/phone numbers/email, etc. There's even an information page for babysitters, so that you can leave your planner open to that page for her/him to see.

There are also stickers to help you remember important dates. The back cover of the planner even includes a pocket for you to slide papers, bills, or other important documents into.

I love my planner, and I'm not just saying that. It has saved me in so many situations because I can just look down, in two snaps, and see what we have going on. You can purchase these planners for $17.99 at Borders, Borders Express, Waldenbooks, Amazon, Calendars.com, and Timemine.com. Dotmine also has other types of planners available. You can follow Dotmine on Facebook and Twitter, as well as sign up for their email newsletter.

Now for the giveaway. The makers of Dotmine have graciously allowed me to give away a Family_Time.Mine planner here on Real Heart Prints. So, you can enter in one or more of the following ways. Of course, be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. I will choose the winner, using Random.org, on Wednesday, February 24. Good luck to all of you!

Leave me a comment after visiting the Dotmine website, letting me know which feature or planner would help you the most in your busy life.
Subscribe to DotMine's email newsletter.
Follow Dotmine on Twitter.
Follow me on Twitter; tweet about this giveaway; in fact, if you tweet once each day, come back here to leave a separate comment (for each day that you tweet), and that will give you extra entries.
Follow my blog, or you can subscribe to my posts.
Blog about this giveaway, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints.
Digg or Stumble this post.
Place my blog button on your sidebar or somewhere on your blog.
Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs or on Mom Blog Network (buttons in sidebar).

Most of all, have a wonderful week!

Winner of JaneWear Jewelry Giveaway

2010-02-10T13:38:00.000-06:00

We have a winner for the Love Cushion Fine Silver Pendant Necklace from JaneWear Jewelry. The winner is.....

Jodene.

Jodene, I'll be in touch with you. Congratulations! Thank you to all who entered; this giveaway was a true hit! I have another one starting here in just a little bit for a Dotmine planner, so stay tuned!:)

Shine Your Light Wed: Mercy Ships

2010-02-10T00:00:00.003-06:00

Mercy Ships is an organization that I remember dreaming about serving with back when I was still a teenager. I used to pore over literature I'd gotten from them, thinking that someday I might volunteer with them. In fact, one of the ladies in my church had actually returned from serving as a nurse, and her story is what got me interested in the first place. Mercy Ships actually started back in 1978, when a couple, Don and Deyon Stephens, had a dream of serving the poor around the world, via a hospital ship. The Anastasis, transformed from a passenger ship into a hospital ship, became the first hospital ship and would be used for 30 years. When the Anastasis was retired in 2007, the Africa Mercy became the new hospital ship. The volunteer crew is dedicated to bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor. Don serves as the President of Mercy Ships, while his wife, Deyon, a registered nurse, oversees the Ship's Watchmen program and is the Director of Training. You might have heard Don on the radio for a daily broadcast called the Mercy Minute.

Ships that have been used in the service of Mercy Ships but have since been retired or sold include the Anastasis, the Caribbean Mercy, and the Good Samaritan/Island Mercy. The Africa Mercy is the world's largest charity hospital at 499 foot 16, 572 GRT. The ship includes 6 state-of-the-art operating rooms, an intensive care unit, and patient beds enough for 78 patients. It has a berth capacity for 484, and volunteers from over 30 nations currently serve on this ship.

Mercy Ships is involved in helping people with various medical issues. We sometimes take for granted the medical care we receive here in the United States for seemingly non-serious issues, but in developing countries, these smaller problems can lead into huge problems for patients who cannot get the care they need. That's where Mercy Ships comes in. They perform free surgeries and provide care for patients suffering with tumors, cleft lip/palate, deformities, congenital abnormalities, burns and leprosy, corneal growths and crossed eyes, blindness, injuries, etc.

In Africa, they perform surgeries on women who have experience birth injuries, or "fistulas." Often times, these women die in childbirth because of the obstruction to labor, and if they survive, the child may not. After birth, they suffer from incontinence, which can lead to rejection by their husbands and villages, without the necessary surgical intervention they need to fix the problem. Surgical teams with Mercy Ships are able to help these patients recover their lives back, celebrating with them afterwards with a special dress ceremony.

Mercy Ships also helps to provide dental care to patients. Not only does Mercy Ships provide medical care, but they seek to help the communities they minister to by providing training to national doctors/nurses, providing medical supplies where they are needed, help to renovate or construct medical facilities, provide community health education (as in hygiene, first aid, prevention of HIV/AIDS, etc.), work with agencies in different communities to help provide agricultural education, help in training people to provide clean water/sanitation, and leadership training.

Mercy Ships has mobilized a disaster response team to Haiti, and there are opportunities to serve there.

They not only have their own teams on the ground in Haiti through Mercy Teams, but they also are working together with other organizations who are there, as well. You can actually read more about their Haiti relief efforts on the Mercy Ships Blog.

Mercy Ships believes in bringing hope and healing to developing nations all around the world. Its crew takes care of patients, no matter what race, religion, etc. They seek to give hurting people hope and help them in their time of need. There are actually three ways that you can get involved. First of all, you can volunteer. You don't have to be a medical professional to volunteer. They accept both medical and non-medical individuals who want to serve. They need people to help run the ship, to keep the ship clean, to cook, etc. You can volunteer short-term, or you can serve long-term. Short-term volunteers can volunteer for a period of 2 weeks to 2 years and are usually involved in service or in specialized medical/technical fields. Long-term crew usually serve for 2 years to start out and serve in roles that are more ongoing and that require the volunteer to gain more training. It's up to the volunteer to raise his/her own funds to pay for crew fees, insurance, etc. The ability of Mercy Ships to be staffed by volunteers really helps, in that funds that are donated can be used more efficiently for the work at hand. Right now, there are positions open, including Hospital Care Provider, Pediatric Ward Nurse, IT Support Specialists, Ophthalmic Tech, Fourth Engineer, Medical/Lab Technician, Plumber, ICU Nurse, Scheduler/Unit Secretary, Videographer, Finance Officer, Academy Teacher for Grade 2, and many more.

If you can't go and volunteer with Mercy Ships, there are other ways to get involved. For example, your church can become an Anchor Church, meaning that they are partnering with Mercy Ships. With this, your church will have an Anchor Church webpage, where the congregation can keep up with what is going on. They will also have more opportunities to serve, meaning they could adopt a patient, assemble patient admission kits, adopt a crew member or "Ship kid," have opportunity for a missions trip, etc.

There are also Mercy Team opportunities available for people who want to go on a missions trip. Currently, there are opportunities in West Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Of course, you can also make a financial contribution to the work of Mercy Ships. You might even get your place of work involved. Mercy Ships has many corporate partners, including Starbucks. You can give a gift towards the work of Mercy Ships, you can support a crew member, or you can even order from the gift catalog. You can also help the Haiti earthquake victims.

You can follow Mercy Ships via Facebook and Twitter. You can also view more photos on Flickr. You can watch many videos from Mercy Ships on Youtube, videos including a tour of the Africa Mercy.

(Photos & Logo used with permission of Mercy Ships.)

I Found a Treasure

2010-02-09T15:16:00.004-06:00

I found a treasure today....I didn't even know I had it. Well, I knew I had it, but I had no idea what it contained or the immense pleasure it would bring me in actually looking through it. I recently got into one of my Grandma Atkins' old cookbooks, and it had a ton of her recipes in it. Well, I dug out the recipe box I'd kept from her, and I could not believe my eyes when I started looking through the recipes.

I wanted to cry, I miss her so much. As I went through, I noticed she had names on several of the recipes; some of these recipes were from people I'd known growing up, who are now gone. They were my grandma and grandpa's close friends, like Miss Esther, Stella, Ann, etc. I just wanted to cry because I was so excited to have found this treasure.

I mentioned sharing my grandma's recipes on here, as she was a phenomenal cook, and she loved it just from what I can remember and from what I can tell by what she has saved in this box and throughout the cookbook. My grandma loved, loved, loved chocolate (a trait I inherited), and there are tons of recipes for different kinds of chocolate cake (I still haven't found her Mississippi Mud Cake recipe, though). So, inspired by the movie Julie & Julia, I'm going to take it to a deeper, more personal level, and I'm going to try one or two of these recipes every week. I will then share that recipe on here with you, so that you can try it out for yourself and your family. I'm so excited about this. This is a treasure I will never let go of....I just can't describe the memories that come flooding back from this. I could kick myself for not keeping all of her recipes she'd ripped out of magazines or written down. When we lived in our old house, we had a mouse get into them all, and instead of keeping some of them, I felt I had to get rid of them. I know....I am kicking myself today. But to find this, well, it just gives me joy, and it's almost as if I can feel my grandma here with me. Stay tuned, as we made some extra good cookies from the recipe box today and some homemade veggie stew last night; I'll be sharing.:)

Love,

TOS Crew: AAS Beehive Reader 1

2010-02-09T14:04:00.000-06:00

We've been using All About Spelling for Jacob's spelling program this year, and we received the Beehive Reader 1, by Marie Rippel with Renee LaTulippe, to review.

Based on phonics, this reader is a nice addition to the All About Spelling program, especially for beginning readers. Beautifully illustrated with black and white photos and decorative pages, it draws the reader into the stories even more, so it's not just great practice with phonics; it's a fun way to read beginner level stories, as well. It is filled with pages of 1-2 sentence paragraphs, the sentences themselves being shorter. Different sounds the child might be working on in his spelling lessons are incorporated into story form. Phonograms, short vowel sounds, initial and final blends, the C and K sounds, consonant teams, etc., are all put into story form for your child to practice reading and using all together. Each story varies between 10-20 pages in length, but again, the sentences on each page are shorter, so that the child isn't overwhelmed with all of the words on the page but rather can focus on practicing the sounds in everyday language, as he reads. Here are the stories that this reader includes:

At the Pond
The Nap
At Camp
The Pet Duck
The Bat and King Sam
Frank Shrank!
Cobweb the Cat
Ten Wishes
Fast Fun
Off We Go!

For Jacob, this reader was quite below his reading level; when I asked him to read close to 40 pages of it, for example, it only took him maybe 5-10 minutes, if that. So, it was quite easy for him, as he's in Level 2 of the All About Spelling program right now. It is perfect for beginning readers, though, and I plan to use it with Jaden when the time gets closer. I might even suggest using the pictures in the book to look at with your children and do a bit of picture narration with them; or they could make up their own stories based on the pictures. This book could be versatile in that way. You can purchase the Beehive Reader 1 for $19.95 from All About Spelling.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, by All About Spelling, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways

2010-02-09T06:06:00.000-06:00

It's Tuesday and time to take a few moments out of your day to check out some great blog posts. This week I decided to focus on arts and crafts, along with a few Valentine's Day recipes. Be sure to link up your giveaways below, and have a wonderful day!

Bakerella has a mouth watering recipe for a Big Love Butterscotch Cookie on her site.

4 Crazy Kings has 3 great looking crafts to try. You can try making her Candy Flower Pots; she also has a very cute looking Painted Paper Doilies craft; lastly, I love her I Heart Bean Bags.

The Fifth Street Palace has a delicious looking recipe for Valentines Jam Jams (Cookies). Yum!

Clever Priebes shows you how to make a Valentines box (so cute!) on her Box Made with Love.

The Creative Side of Me has another delicious looking recipe for Pomegranate Sorbet and Pomegranate Lemonade Spritzer.

Art Projects for Kids has a Valentine Heart Painting that would be fun to do with the littles.

The Crafty Crow has very cute Valentine Card Ideas for Kids.

Now it's your turn to link up your giveaways!

First: Financial Purity by Jessica V. Psalidas

2010-02-09T05:26:00.000-06:00

Financial Purity by jessica V. Psalidas is a book not only about how to handle finances but how to handle them the way God would have us handle them. It's about more than finances, though; it's honestly about how we live our everyday lives. Do we live under the Holy Spirit's direction, or do we live off our own whims and ideas? When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a bit repetitive and redundant, but it does have many wonderful ideas and thoughts. It doesn't go into really vast detail to where it confuses you; it's more about the everyday, common sense ways in which we can handle our finances. Here's a look at the topics covered in this book, just to give you an idea:

Develop a Vision
Organization and Planning
Tithing Purely
Prayer
Vices that Steal our Money
Debt and Budgeting
Your Credit Report and Score
Saving Money
Teaching Children About Money
Why Have a Will?
Your Financial Purity Porfolio

I like that it's written from a Christian perspective and that it covers things in a spiritual sense, not just in a worldly financial sense. The chapter that covered why you should have a will was something that spoke to me, as I've been really thinking over this very thing for a couple of years now. It's something to secure our children's future, in case that, God forbid, something should happen to us as parents. That's not something I want to think about, but I also don't want to think about my children being broken up and separated because we weren't prepared. It's a very scary thing. Jessica explains how you can get a will and how the process works.

You can purchase this book from Amazon for $15.95. To read more reviews, visit First Wild Card Tours.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jessica V. Psalidas

and the book:

Financial Purity

Infinity Publishing (June 8, 2009)

***Special thanks to Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica V. Psalidas is the authority on purity and spiritual growth. She has impacted the lives of many and continues to do so through her bestselling books like Everlasting Purity (which also won the 2008 Christian Choice Book Award). Jessica is requested by all walks of life for coaching and the teaching on spiritual growth and purity.

Jessica is a cum laude graduate of the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico with a degree in Business. She also has completed studies such as Faith Foundations at the Institute for Christian Living with Charles Stanley and The Way of the Master at The School of Biblical Evangelism. Fueled with a passion to continue to study the Word of God and to serve the Lord, Jessica continues to have a daily commitment to learn as much as she can. Jessica also serves the Lord by helping younger women understand the importance of purity and how to apply it in their everyday life.

Jessica is a successful entrepreneur and President of two companies. A much sought after writer and coach, Jessica has over 17 years of experience working in the sales and business world and lives to reach out to people to impact their lives.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.95
Paperback: 263 pages
Publisher: Infinity Publishing (June 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0741453169
ISBN-13: 978-0741453167

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

This book will provide an in-depth look at what we spend our money on, why we should stay away from certain things that waste our money, and why we need to have a vision about money. I think money – the use and management of it – is very important in our lives. Once you develop a vision, you will have a clear idea of what you want in life and what action you will need to take in order to get there.

What is your financial purity portfolio? Many people have heard of a financial portfolio, but what is a financial purity portfolio, and why is it different? As we discover the answer to that question we will examine money in a different light, in a simple way that allows us to be clear about the use and management of our money. We will go beyond what we have in savings and investments and look into some of our day to day spending habits and frequent purchases, as well as why we save, why we tithe, why we should have a will, and what can happen when we spend our money on wasteful vices. Most importantly, in this book I will encourage everyone to develop a financial vision for themselves and their family.

Having a vision gives you clarity as to what you want and what you need to do to get there. It gives purpose and focus to your money management and to the outlook you have concerning your money. Many people that I talk to about money have a grim view of it because they do not have enough of it on hand at any given time or they do not earn enough of it. I encourage you to have a positive, realistic outlook and attitude toward money for your own financial welfare. It does you no good to be irritated or upset about your financial status right now, because with a great attitude and determination, you can change your situation.

Developing a vision for your finances is the first step in building your financial purity portfolio. Utilizing and managing your money purely and cleanly, meaning spending your money on necessary and wholesome things, is one of the most important steps in developing your financial purity portfolio.

Some people may think it is hard to focus on developing a vision due to their own difficult financial situation or, as some call it, the “financial crisis” we are experiencing in the U.S. at the time of this writing. If this describes you, please be encouraged! I would like to share with you some steps that I have implemented in my life to remain joyful and hopeful during any trying situation that comes along.

Everyone seems to be in a state of panic over the financial situation in the U.S. economy, and it both saddens and frustrates me at the same time. We are, to a certain extent, part of the reason why our country is the way it is. When our morale goes down, so does everything else. We are gripped by fear over temporary difficulties that will soon pass. This country has experienced many challenging situations before, and we have always gotten through them. We will get through this too. We need to remain positive, encouraged, and stimulated to find new and exciting ways to spur our economic growth. We need to be stronger in prayer, which will keep our morale high. If we all lifted our spirits up higher and kept a positive attitude, we would experience a change for the better. Nothing good will come out of us being depressed, upset, angry, or fearful. These emotions will not get us ahead but rather will only hold us back. Stay in prayer and remain hopeful in God.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Have I not commanded? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

This is not the first time we have ever gone through a financial situation (or “crisis” as some may call it) in this nation. We will survive, and we will get through this. Do not corrupt your mind with negative thoughts such as, “Oh, no … the world is falling apart!” Thinking this way will cause much devastation to your otherwise positive mindset, and it will keep your fears very much alive. On the contrary, you will be amazed at what can happen to your morale and your spirits when you remain positive, jovial, and at peace about the situation. Because this is not the first time our country has experienced something like this, I know the situation will get better soon. We will get better. I believe that by changing our outlook, adjusting our lifestyles, and remaining positive, we will do a great service those around us and to ourselves. Stay in prayer, remain spiritually strong, and most importantly, remain happy.

Daybook for Monday, February 8, 2010

2010-02-08T07:04:00.000-06:00

FOR TODAY... from Mel's Daybook

Outside my window...I think it's snowing; we're supposed to get 2-5 inches now, I guess.

I am thinking...that I don't feel very good this morning and am fighting going back to bed.

I am thankful for...my choir; singing with them just lifts me up every single Sunday.

I am wearing...jammies and robe.

I am remembering...how much fun it was being able to sit down and scrapbook yesterday.

I am going... possibly to take Jacob to Tae Kwon Do this afternoon; it depends on the weather.

I am currently reading...finishing up Financial Purity by Jessica Psalidas.

I am hoping... to finish up Levi's Will this week for Bethany House.

On my mind... Dan, as today is his birthday!:)

Noticing that...I put way too much on my To Do list today.

Pondering these words... "How Great is Our God, and all will see how great, how great, is our God."

From the kitchen...tonight, homemade veggie stew/bread and Jello strawberry cheesecake (requested by Dan for his birthday); I'm trying to get as close to my grandma's version of the stew as I can; I found an old recipe for it in one of her favorite cookbooks. I think I might start blogging about some of her recipes....of course, having tried them myself with pics of each.:) I was inspired by the movie Julie and Julia.:) Only, maybe I'll just try one a week.

Around the house... have to clean today, but we're taking the day off school; we are having a small planned break, which is sorta nice to help break up the long months of January/February. Jacob's thrilled.

One of my favorite things~ is still definitely snow.

From my picture journal... (Happy Birthday, my Dan....)

For more Daybook, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Motivate Me Monday- When It's Hard to Love

2010-02-08T06:00:00.004-06:00

A friend and I had talked about this over the phone a few weeks ago, about loving people and how hard it can be sometimes, so in honor of that friend and some recent experiences I've had, I hope this makes you giggle.:)

This is for all the people in Walmart or Price Cutter who jump out into the middle of the aisle as I'm walking down through, trying desperately to get my shopping done with a toddler who's shouting, "Home! Home!" and a 7 year old who can't leave the toddler alone. This is for all the people in Walmart who find it fun to stand right in front of me or right in the middle of the aisle, never moving, never saying, "Excuse me," as they walk slowly in front of me, while I'm trying to decide which type of crackers are healthier. This is for all the people in Walmart who decided to meet up with friends and have a party while some of us were trying to get our shopping done, all the while having to maneuver around you all while you visited together, smack dab in the middle of what seemed like several aisles; were you following me? This is for all the people who think because they are on a motorized cart, they have the complete right of way no matter what (no, this is not a slam, just an annoyance to me for the simple fact that they seem to sometimes be very pushy).

I'm trying very hard to love you all....I am; I know that loving my neighbors is the greatest commandment, so I am desperately trying to love you, even though sometimes you make it so hard.

This is for all those pushy, road-raging drivers out there on the road these days. This is for the semi-truck last night, who even though I was going over the speed limit, thought it would be fun to come up behind me (in the sleety weather, I might add) and flash his brights at me, indicating that I needed to go faster or move over. (Sorry about shining my brights at you over and over as you went around me; I was having a hard time loving you at the moment; I wasn't feeling very Christian-like at that moment in time.) This is for all the people who talk on their cell phones instead of actually paying attention to what is going on in the road. This is for the person, who literally, the other day held down his horn for probably 5 minutes as he followed another car (had to be road rage). This is for all of the people who think that coming onto the highway via an entry ramp means they should enter at 20mph, slowly wedging in to 70mph traffic. This is for you, Mister (you know who you are), who looked right at me as you slid right into the parking spot I was taking at the grocery store, just slid in right in front of me....

I'm trying very hard to love you too....I am; Jesus wanted me to love my neighbors, and you are my neighbors.

Loving others can be so hard, can't it? I think that sometimes we think love has to be a feeling, but actually, love is a choice. We can choose to curse our fellow shoppers and drivers (which is what we feel like doing), or we can choose to love them (which is the farthest thing from our minds probably). The choice is ours....and I know it's tough. I think I've failed at this more often than not, but I think one thing that can help us to make the right choice is to have a mind set towards eternity. Is it really going to matter that he jumped in front of me in 10 years? Is it really going to matter that someone at the store was rude to us? Yeah, it bothers us, but where is that person headed for eternity? And what matters most, in light of eternity? Should I be getting angry over this small stuff, or should I let it go and focus on the big picture? Oh, and even more, what effect do my reactions have on my children? Ouch! Just some thoughts to ponder....:)

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

Sponsor Me at Blogher '10

2010-02-05T23:19:00.002-06:00

I have read so many bloggers' experiences from attending the Blogher conference last year and how the conference taught them so much concerning networking, blogging, etc. Blogging has opened up a whole new world to me that I have been so blessed in. Having met so many bloggers from all over the world, it's something that I'm truly passionate about now. So, I have decided that if the Lord wills, I'm going to go to Blogher '10, August 6-7. One of my favorite parts is that it's in New York City! I'm really excited about this; it's another adventure to embark upon and a way for me to learn even more and meet many more bloggers.

However, I am asking for company sponsors to get me to Blogher '10. These are the costs that I'll probably have to cover:

Cost of Conference Registration/Tickets: $202.95-$302.95, depending on how early I get registered.
Hotel Cost: Approximately $400 for 2 nights
Possible fuel cost, since we will most likely drive. My husband's family is in PA, so we'll probably make a family trip out of the initial part anyway.
Meal Costs: I'm aiming high, approximately $150-$200.
Cost of Swag bags: $150-200.

If you are a company, and you would like to sponsor me to Blogher '10, here is a list of the sponsorship packages:

If your company chooses to give $500, here is how I will represent you:

The conference will include over 1500 other women, so I will pass out your business cards, flyers, and product samples, which I can also include in Swag bags that I will take to the conference to hand out (Swag bags will only be passed out in my hotel room or if asked specifically).
If you have clothing, accessories, handbags, or other items with your logo on it, I'll be happy to wear these while attending the conference.
Blog, Tweet, and Facebook about your company, thanking you for sponsorship. Up until the conference, I will tweet weekly, and during the conference, I will tweet and Facebook each day, giving links to your company.
Ad space on Real Heart Prints until after Blogher '10.
I will be posting about Blogher during and after the conference, and I will be sure to include a link to your company in each post.

If your company chooses to give $250, here is how I will represent you:

Marketing of your business cards, flyers, and product samples, also via Swag bags (Swag bags will only be passed out in my hotel room or if asked specifically).
Blog, Tweet, and Facebook about your company, thanking you for sponsorship. I'll tweet weekly, up until the conference, and during the conference, I'll tweet and Facebook each day, giving links to your company.
Ad space on Real Heart Prints until after Blogher '10.
When I post about Blogher during and after the conference, I will mention your company, with a link, in each post.

If your company chooses to give $100, here is how I will represent you:

I'll pass out your business cards, flyers, and a product sample, also via my Swag bags (Swag bags will only be passed out in my hotel room or if asked specifically).
Blog, Tweet, and Facebook about your company, thanking you for sponsorship.
When I post about Blogher during and after the conference, I will mention your company, with a link, in each post.

This post is based on two posts: Pretty Pink Chandelier and MomStart; their posts gave me a basis to work from for setting this up, used with their permission! Thank you, ladies!

Friday Funnies- Doggie Play Dead

2010-02-05T07:34:00.000-06:00

I love dogs....they're so smart! And funny! Laugh it up!

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Little Monsters

2010-02-04T12:59:00.000-06:00

It all started out so innocently, just a simple game of what we like to call, "Ride the Heehee" (translation: Horsey).

It soon turned into an all-out monster fest.

Notice Daddy's attempt to smile.:)LOL (I think that's when I was saying, "Oh wait, let me just get one more picture....) LOL

We love you, Daddy!

Shine your Light Wed: Doctors Without Borders

2010-02-03T00:00:00.004-06:00

Doctors Without Borders, or Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides medical care in approximately 60 countries around the world.

They work in countries where there is war, epidemics, malnutrition, natural disaster, etc. Regardless of who a person is or who they might be affiliated with, every person is eligible to receive medical care from this organization. There is no discrimination when it comes to saving someone's life or giving them the care they deserve. MSF is an "international medical humanitarian organization" started in 1971 by doctors and journalists in France. MSF has worked in countries such as Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Darfur, Serbia, Iraq, Pakistan, India, and even now, Haiti. In many cases, they have spoken out for increased awareness and more medical attention to many of these countries, even winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. They speak up for the poor, for the needy, and for the hurting; people such as street children, refugees, prisoners, unemployed, drug users, sex workers, etc., can find treatment and compassion with MSF. MSF is not affiliated with any parties, be they religious, political, etc., and they are completely funded through private donors.

MSF is made up of not just doctors; their workers also include nurses, lab technicians, mental health professionals, epidemiologists, logistics experts, administrators, etc. A lot of their workers come from the communities they are attempting to help; only 10% of teams are international workers. In 2006, MSF medical teams gave more than 9 million outpatient consultations; hospitalized almost half a million patients; delivered 99,000 babies; treated 1.8 million people for malaria; treated 150,000 malnourished children; provided 100,000 people living with HIV/AIDS with antiretroviral therapy; vaccinated 1.8 million people against meningitis; and conducted 64,000 surgeries (Doctors Without Borders website). They not only provide medical care, including vaccination clinics, but they help communities to acquire sanitary drinking water, help to rebuild hospitals, and have field teams who help to supply basic life needs when people are displaced in disasters or situations where they are forced from their homes. Some of the epidemics and diseases they've helped to treat are malaria, cholera, measles, meningitis, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, kala azar, sleeping sickness, and Chagas.

When it comes to malnutrition, this is something that MSF has had extensive experience in helping with. They started the use of RUF, ready-to-use food, which has had a major impact on the hunger epidemic. Consider this: Every day, 20 million children are starving, suffering from malnutrition (MSF website). That is a staggering number.

Right now, MSF is working in Haiti. They have performed many surgeries, but there are still patients waiting to have surgery, as well as patients needing post-operative care.

MSF is not only working in hospitals/makeshift operating rooms, even their inflatable hospital, but they have gone mobile as well, searching out people who need life-saving treatment or whose conditions could quickly go downhill. Many of the Haitian volunteers working in MSF, such as Dr. Philippe Brouard, a surgeon, and Charles Joseph, a social worker, have lost family and friends, but still they continue to work to save lives and give help where it is needed. Click the link to see how Haitian staff are determined to help.

You can help Doctors Without Borders/MSF. You can volunteer, or you can donate in more ways than one. Right now they are urgently needing OR nurses, obstetricians/gynecologists, HIV/AIDS and TB specialists, and anesthesiologists/nurse-anesthetists, as well as nurse-midwives/certified midwives. MSF staff know that they are going into a field that involves many elements of danger, and they know that they are working in a humanitarian organization, receiving a very modest monthly salary. You can find out more of what it takes to volunteer, as well as the benefits you would receive here. MSF has many benefit concerts/fundraising events that you can check out, as well. Publications also exist to help keep you up to date on what they are doing. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

How can you help? How can you shine your light?

Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways

2010-02-02T06:10:00.000-06:00

This week, instead of a homeschooling edition, I thought a homemaking edition would be nice for a change.:) I've come upon some pretty great sites for homemaking/wifeyhood/mommyhood, and I just want to share them.:) Next week I believe will be a crafts edition. This is just too much fun.:) Remember to link up your giveaways at the bottom.

One of my favorite sites that I've really started following lately is Women Living Well, written by one of our MamaBuzz reviewers. Courtney just has a way of inspiring you to be what God would have you to be in your home, with your husband, and with your children. I just love her. She has not only posts but inspiring vlogs, as well; one of my favorites is I Help Everyone. Who is Going to Help Me?. Courtney was interviewed over on Confessions of an Imperfect Parent, and she shares some of her secrets to keeping her home.

Now another part of Courtney's site is her Women Living Well message boards, on which you can join other like-minded moms in discussions and receive tons of encouragement. You might even check out her Good Morning Girls group; you could even start your own.

Come Have a Peace is another great blog for homemaking and marriage. She even bears it all out on the table in her post Why Look Under the Stovetop?.

Run the Earth...Watch the Sky has some great posts up that you might find helpful. One is Practical Discipline Techniques and Common Mistakes; the other is She Brings Him Good...

I am loving The Pioneer Woman right now. She has posts on a variety of topics, including Cooking, Home & Garden, and even Homeschooling.

Camilla at Home is a beautiful blog filled with inspiring colors and ideas for your home. It's written in Norwegian, but you can easily translate it by clicking on the translator in her sidebar.

Happy to Be at Home is another great blog where you can find encouragement and inspiration in your life at home.

Adventures in Diapering and Beyond is another great blog that gives not only encouragement but tips on homemaking, such as her post on Family Friendly Meal Ideas for Breakfast, Snack, and Lunch.

Lastly, Blissfully Domestic, which I know many of you already know about....but I can't leave them out. They are a wonderful site, and every time I visit, I leave with some sort of inspiration and desire to make my home even more of a haven.

Ok, I know I said this was all homemaking, but I must share this site with you; maybe I can have a missions edition soon, since there are so many blogs out there written by missionaries and those in service. Amazima Ministries International is one organization that I hope to share with you in my Shine Your Light series in the near future. You can even check out Katie's blog and grab a button to put on your own site.

Now, it's time to link up your giveaways! Have a wonderful day!

Motivate Me Monday- Taboo....No More

2010-02-01T06:30:00.007-06:00

Last week I wrote a post called Don't Hide Your Light. After the week we've had and things that have gone on, there's just more to say on the subject of getting outside our Christian circles; the subject I'm going to write about is pretty much a taboo subject in Christian circles today, but we have got to break free of this taboo mindset and get busy in the work that God has for us. We have got to break down the taboo if we want to "raze hell." In the past, I've attended churches where we pretty much stayed in our Christian circles, and when we strayed out of that circle, even for ministry purposes, it was as if we were doing something sinful or wrong. I don't know how else to put it but just to be majorly blunt throughout this post. The things I'm going to say have needed to be said for a long time, so if it offends, I'm truly sorry; I don't mean to offend anyone, but I know this is what God has laid on my heart for this post. Much of this post is from rough experiences that both Dan and I have had together, experiences that threw us for a loop, possibly hardening us somewhat at first, but ultimately bringing us out of bondage into the light. I praise God for that light....truly.

Just to emphasize here that I am speaking out because of my faith; I am a Christian....a growing Christian who is just seeking to follow God's Word and do whatever it is that He has called me to do. That being said, here is the situation: This week we learned of a "Christian" ban that is taking place in our old hometown. I won't go into details, but a certain institution (won't name any names) is being banned because of an openly gay employee. Now, please let me clear something up before I continue. I do not believe that being gay is Biblical, and I, in no way, condone or agree with the actions of the gay movement....BUT I do not treat them any differently than I do my mom or my dad or my friends. I treat them with as much respect as I would anyone, and I look at them as a person with a soul and a heart and someone who God loves very, very much. After all, God created that person just as He created me; He formed them in the womb and knew them before they were ever born. He also gave free will. Jesus died for everyone, not just you and not just me; EVERYONE! Hatred and bigotry such as this ban do nothing but leave all Christians looking like utter snobs and hypocrites; in fact, I believe that bigotry such as this fuels movements, such as the gay rights movement. Hatred and bigotry are not the solution....

I don't agree with this ban at all, and I'm going to tell you why. It all comes back to getting outside of our Christian circles and doing what God has commanded us to do in His Word. Situations like this make me ashamed to associate myself with the same "Christian" name as these who have banned this institution. It hurts my heart to think that this person, who may not know Jesus, is being treated in such a way as to potentially turn him away from Christianity at all. Do these "Christians" not realize that people are dying without a Saviour every single day? Do they not see that associating only within their comfort zones of approval is going against every fiber of what Jesus taught and lived? In order to reach this world, we are going to have to get up and go. We are going to have to get out of our comfort zones and see people, all people, through the eyes of a Saviour Who gave up everything to come to earth for us. It may mean we lose friends, but to die to self is gain....

Is one sin greater than another? For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all- James 2:10 (NKJV). Did Jesus ban the adulterous woman? No, this is what He had to say to those judging her: He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first- John 8:7. Later to the woman, He said, Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more- John 8:11. These verses have gripped my conscience and my heart many times: Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye- Matthew 7:1-5.

I will never agree with bans like these. They are shameful to the Christian faith, and I can't name one point in Jesus' life where He banned any person from coming to Him. Even when He was about to be taken away to die, He had no hatred or anger towards the one who had betrayed Him. He is willing that none should perish, but that all should come to Him. He is faithful and just to forgive those who turn from their sin and follow His ways, cleansing them from all unrighteousness. These words are more than words; they are actions that we need to instill into our very core; we need to go out into the world, and we need to show Christ's love to ALL people, not just the person who never offended us. Do I hold a grudge against those who have formed this ban? No, I don't....but I do feel sorry for them, only because I know the state that their minds are in....I know what it's like to be trapped in that feeling of continual bondage. I still struggle with it myself at times. Since I left home, and especially since I married Dan and we went through some situations together, I have had to almost rewrap my mind and heart around Who God is. I have a hard time seeing Him as my loving Heavenly Father vs. what consumed my mind before, images of an angry God, a Judge waiting to punish me. I still struggle with that mindset.

I must say, though, that I am ashamed to be lumped in with the same name as these banning "Christians." It's not about me, though; it's about this person who needs to know that God loves him. It's about reaching out when it might be uncomfortable for us to do so. It's about going where God tells us to go, no matter what discomfort or pressure we may feel from those who won't go with us....it's about dying to self, and living to God.

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

Daybook for Monday, February 1, 2010

2010-02-01T05:57:00.001-06:00

FOR TODAY... from Mel's Daybook

Outside my window...it's dark and very cold.

I am thinking...that I need to give myself a break and rework my schedule a bit....sometimes my expectations can be far worse than what other people expect of me. I'm not SuperMom and really shouldn't strive to be.

I am thankful for... finally, my doctor's appointment tomorrow.

I am wearing...same ole sameo for early morning, jammies and robe.:)

I am remembering...sledding with my boys on Saturday; it was so much fun!

I am going... hopefully, to Tae Kwon Do tonight, possibly Walmart, if I'm brave enough. I think Jaden's going to have to go to the doctor too....thinking another ear infection.

I am currently reading...Financial Purity by Jessica V. Psolidas.

I am hoping... to really start planning more healthy foods into our menu this week; more fruits and veggies, less junk.

On my mind... still Haiti...Elsie...and everyone down there.

Noticing that...I need to change my calendar over to February. I cannot believe it's here already.

Pondering these words... "If we're gonna win people, we're gonna win them where they are"- Pastor Hosea yesterday.

From the kitchen... tonight, soup and grilled cheese.

Around the house... have to clean today and really try to work on our coat closet this week; it's needing some TLC.

One of my favorite things~ definitely snow, lots of snow.

From my picture journal...(something I'll never grow tired of seeing at night....)

For more Daybook, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

CFBA: Beguiled

2010-02-01T00:00:00.001-06:00

My Thoughts:

Beguiled, by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand, is a suspense type story with a great mystery. As soon as I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. From the first page in the first chapter, I held my breath, as I pictured the scene; in it, Rylee Monroe had just brought one of her tenant's dogs home from a walk, when she heard noises upstairs. As always in any suspense movie, she didn't walk out the door; she walked up the stairs as cautiously as she could. When she surprised the burglar, the plot of the story became real. Throughout the story, I could picture every scene; the authors did a great job of making it all feel very real.

As Rylee continues walking her tenant's dogs and caring for their animals, she begins to realize that something about all the burglaries taking place is not right. She begins to realize that they may have something to do with her, as the burglar seems to follow her. Local detective Nate Campbell begins to get suspicious, as well, which serves to irritate Rylee to no end. Local reporter Logan Woods is out to get his story and catch this burglar before Detective Campbell even has a chance. As he starts to fall for Rylee, though, he begins to see some sort of connection, as well.

With romance, suspense, and a great mystery, this book is a definite must-read, in my opinion. I very much enjoy this type of book, and this story delivered. You can read more below.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Beguiled

(Bethany House March 1, 2007)

by

Deeanne Gist

andJ. Mark Bertrand

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her... Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.

Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

If you'd like to read the first chapter of , go HERE

Check out their video:

(Disclosure: I received this book, free of charge, from Bethany House, in association with the CFBA.)

Friday Funnies- Elmo, You Can Drive My Car

2010-01-29T00:00:00.001-06:00

Oh my gosh, who would'a thunk it? Seriously....we went to the library tonight and picked up some CDs, the kids and I. Well, of course, an Elmo CD had to make it into the mix. Elmo is Jaden's hero right now; well, in Jaden's words, Melmo. Anyway, who would have thought that I'd be driving down the highway, actually rocking out with the kids to Elmo, You Can Drive My Car? LOLOL Seriously, it's such a fun song. It's even cuter when you have a toddler in the back doing all the Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Yeah! LOL Oh, if you don't have a library with tons of kids' music, you are missing out on many good laughs, my friends!:) Enjoy! (Let's see if you can keep from rockin'out.)LOL

For more Friday Funnies, visit Kim at Homesteaders Heart.

Just Can't Get Enough

2010-01-28T14:08:00.001-06:00

I know my blog has been full of reviews this week....I've been desperately working to get completely caught up and ahead with the Crew, so that I can be ahead of the game and have more time for MamaBuzz and personal posts, as well....bear with me.:) This week has seemed like it's in slow motion; I'm not feeling the greatest, haven't really been for the last couple weeks. I don't know what's going on.

Last night in choir, though, Pastor Jeff introduced us to a new song, and I just can't get enough of it. I thought I'd share with you all. It's called Mighty Wind, and it's written by Andrae Crouch. Oh my, it is beautiful, and I can not wait to sing it in church in the future. We're just starting to work on it. Listen to it, and tell me if you can't feel a mighty wind just come rushing into the very room where you sit....it's amazing how the Holy Spirit can lift us up through music, isn't it? Enjoy!:)

TOS Crew: Apologia- The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling

2010-01-28T13:47:00.001-06:00

When I first started homeschooling, I did so much research into everything I could; I searched online intensively, I talked to other homeschoolers, and I went to local bookstores, just trying to find resources to help me figure things out. I still do much research and welcome any and all help that I can get.

When I received Apologia's The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, I was happy to add it to my resource shelf. Out of all the books I got in the beginning, I have a small resource shelf that I keep books on that I use for reference all the time. This book is so multi-faceted that it's going there, as well.

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling starts out with a Foreword by Michael Farris, who is the founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association. There are also tips on how to use the book and an introduction to the book. Throughout the book, there are suggestions for further reading and study on certain subjects, websites that will help you, examples and stories from the author's experience, other opinions from other experienced homeschool families, and information on recommended resources. The end of the book also contains a Resource Guide, in which you will find pages and pages of Homeschooling Organizations and Publications, Recommended Supplier and Products, and Academic/Athletic Contests and Competitions. There is also an accompanying website for the book at Apologia. The book is formatted in an interesting, informative, enjoyable way. The following is a listing of the major sections of the book:

Part 1: Homeschooling: Is It for You?
Part 2: Choosing a Curriculum (a daunting but very pleasant task for any homeschooler)
Part 3: Organization and Planning
Part 4: Preventing Burnout
Part 5: What to Teach-When and How
Part 6: Homeschooling Teens
Part 7: Computers in the Homeschool
Part 8: Creative Solutions
Part 9: Measuring Your Success
Pre-Game Pep Talk
Part 10: Resource Guide

The parts that were most helpful for me are hard to say, for sure, because the whole book is really helpful. The section on burnout is one that I need to read over and over to remind myself of different strategies that could help when either I or Jacob are feeling that "can't take this anymore" feeling. I want school to be an enjoyable time for my boys, so this chapter is quite helpful in offering advice and ideas on how to switch things up. Too often it's easy to get sucked into the schedule and curriculum, when really, there are times when all of that needs to go to the side for more important learning opportunities, aka, life lessons. Another part that I found helpful was the Creative Solutions section, in which there's a section on how to deal with different challenges, such as toddlers while homeschooling and even motivating a reluctant student. With a second grader who demands my attention in school, it can be hard to give my toddler the attention he requires at the same time, and I've tried some of the ideas from this chapter; so a lot of this was stuff I already do, but it still is great information for a beginning homeschool mom. The strategies to help motivate the reluctant student were very informative, creative, and helpful.

All in all, this book is a great resource to have on your shelf. With all of the resources it contains, there is something for every homeschooling family. You can get this book from Apologia for $20. Packed with information from one homeschool mom to another, this book is definitely one I'll be keeping around.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, by Apologia, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Presidential Penmanship (BJ Style)

2010-01-28T00:00:00.001-06:00

Zeezok Publishing is a company that has a variety of different materials, including music studies, literature, character building, and penmanship.

We received Presidential Penmanship (BJ Style) to review in our homeschool endeavors. I just want to be up front and honest in this review; since this style is a different style than what Jacob is used to doing, rather than confuse him, I chose to not use the style with him. He began cursive writing early on, and he has really begun to grasp it, and I didn't want to set a different style in front of him and confuse him by that. We can, however, use the quotes that are included in our own style. The BJ Style has a more modern feel to it than more traditional styles.

Presidential Penmanship is a handwriting program for grades 1-12. The lessons in first and second grades focus on manuscript writing. Lessons are broken down by weeks and days of the week. The lessons are shorter in the younger grades, and the student begins the lesson by reading and tracing the quote or passage. All of the quotes and passages included in the Presidential Penmanship program are taken from past U.S. Presidents and other historical figures. These people include George Washington, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, etc. Not only is your student learning how to have good handwriting and gaining practice, but he's learning these historical quotes, which he is also encouraged to memorize in the younger years, at least. These quotes not only promote the founding principles of our nation but also good character qualities. Scripture is even included at certain points. Cursive writing begins in third grade, and the passages and quotes start to get longer. In the junior high/senior high years, he will copy passages from famous Presidential speeches/addresses.

You can purchase Presidential Penmanship (BJ Style) from Zeezok Publishing for $39.99; with this price, you get the complete program on CD or the ebook. You can also purchase each level separately for $9.99. Later on, after Jacob has fully grasped cursive writing, we may use this as a handwriting program because it will provide the practice he needs in learning how to write neatly, plus it is beneficial to the mind and heart.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this product, free of charge, by Zeezok Publishing, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Shine Your Light Wed: Convoy of Hope

2010-01-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

(Throughout this post will be pictures of Haiti that Convoy of Hope has given me permission to use. Some of these pictures are graphic, so I give warning before you read, in case you have a child in the room.)

Convoy of Hope is an organization that I've been learning more about since the earthquake struck in Haiti. They are down there right now, and at last update, they had distributed at least 229,496 meals from 9 different locations and installed 30 water filters.

Started in 1994, their mission is simply this: The mission of Convoy of Hope is simple - we exist to feed millions of people in need in the United States and around the world through children’s nutrition initiatives, citywide outreaches and disaster response.

I think the thing that struck me the most was that their founder, Hal Donaldson, had lost his father in an accident when he was just a little boy, and his mother had such extensive injuries that they were struggling. With the help of local churches and neighbors, though, they were provided with food and shelter, and this instilled, in Hal, a sense of determination and drive to help those in need. As a result, Convoy of Hope came to being. It goes to show that the influence you have on people in your life can have far-reaching effects.

Headquarters located in Springfield, MO place Convoy of Hope in a prime location for their trucks to be able to pick up/deliver supplies. Their distribution center/warehouse is about 300,000 square foot, in which to store food and relief supplies. They also have a fleet of trucks to deliver these supplies (which was exciting to me because half of my family are truck drivers, and I really want to tell them about this).

Convoy of Hope not only responds to disasters and helps prepare communities for disasters through their H.O.P.E. Begins Here program (they responded to Hurricane Katrina and are now in Haiti), but they work in different communities each year, bringing hope and compassion through their many volunteers.

They help to provide food/hot meals, clean water, medical/dental screenings, haircuts, groceries, etc. They also help connect the people they help with local churches and organizations in their own community, as well as help them with job placement. Each person is treated with much respect and compassion.

They also work with communities to become sustainable, not only through drilling wells and installing water filters, but through providing vegetable seeds and agricultural info. They have a global nutrition program that feeds 21,000 children every day. Convoy of Hope has helped more than 30 million people and provided more than 160 million pounds of food.

Convoy of Hope partners together with faith-based institutions, like local churches and schools, in order to do what they do. They also have worked with organizations like FEMA, FedEx, NVOAD, Assemblies of God, Mercy Medical Airlift, North American Mission Board, etc. When local churches, organizations, corporations, and government come together, the impact of an outreach or disaster response is significant.

Convoy of Hope also offers opportunities to those wishing to volunteer and give of their time, compassionate people who truly do want to make a difference.

You can give a donation to Convoy of Hope (which is tax-deductible). You can also volunteer with Convoy of Hope. Here in Springfield, they have the Hands of Hope project every Tuesday night, in which volunteers can help to pack, sort, and work with the relief shipments that are getting ready to go out. Children can even go, but if your child is under the age of 12, you need to accompany them. You can contact Convoy of Hope to find out more about this if you live in the Springfield area. Another thing I'm excited about is their Convoy Go Teams, teams of volunteers who go when disaster strikes.

My husband and I were just talking about doing something like this the other night, especially since I'm a nurse, and he has experience in construction/technical aspects. You can find the application for the Go Teams here. Convoy of Hope also puts together international teams to go for 8-10 days.

In fact, they are in Haiti right now, as mentioned above. They are providing food to people and trying to keep it organized, so that things don't get out of hand.

Each person who comes through the gate receives two packs of Feed My Starving Children fortified rice and soy protein meal package, which contains six meals per packet.

They've also installed clean water filters, since the lack of clean water in Port-au-Prince has become a major problem, so much so that officials are worried that they are going to begin seeing disease spread. You can read more news headlines from Haiti. You can also follow Convoy of Hope on both Facebook and Twitter. That way you can get the latest status updates of their work in Haiti right now.

I hope this has enlightened you as to one organization that is on the ground in Haiti right now and how this organization blesses so many people through its continual efforts. Remember to shine your light!

Valentine's Giveaway from JaneWear Jewelry

2010-01-27T05:00:00.002-06:00

Valentine's Day is coming soon! In the spirit of the holiday, Laura Jane from JaneWear has graciously offered to give away a piece of her handcrafted jewelry, made out of fine silver, to one of my wonderful readers. Laura Jane is now a happily married newlywed after 8 years of being a single mommy.

She resides here in the Midwest, taking inspiration from the simple things, such as the calmness of morning walks and Sunday morning hymns. She says that she feels so blessed by all that God has given her. In her Etsy shop, Laura Jane says, "Thank you for taking the time to browse my work... I cannot wait to share my pieces with you... to me it's sharing a part of my heart."

All of Laura Jane's pieces are handcrafted and made out of fine silver. You can see how much Laura loves creating jewelry by the fine detail and beauty in each and every piece. Her pieces are truly one of a kind. This business has given her the ability to be able to stay home with her family, which she enjoys very much.

Some of Laura Jane's most popular pieces right now are her Love Cushion Fine Silver Pendant Necklace and her Fingerprints Left on My Heart- Fine Silver Necklace. The unique thing about the Fingerprints Necklace is that she will use your own fingerprint, or even those of your child/significant other to make it truly special.

You can become a fan of JaneWear on Facebook, and you can even browse around both her Etsy shop and her JaneWear website. She also has a blog which she has recently started.

Now for the giveaway information you've been waiting for. Laura Jane is donating her Love Cushion Fine Silver Pendant Necklace for this Valentine's Day giveaway.

Hung on an 18" sterling silver rolo chain, this pendant is hand dipped for antique patina, which helps to bring out the details in the design. Laura even makes slight changes to each of these pieces that she creates; that way, it's customized to fit you, personally. With a beating swirl heart added to the pendant, it's truly a remarkable and beautiful piece of jewelry that you can wear for years to come....or even give as a wonderful gift. It is valued at $62.

To enter this giveaway, you can enter in one or more of the following ways, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. I'll draw the winner on Wednesday, February 10, using Random.org.

Head over to JaneWear or the JaneWear Etsy shop, and leave me a comment letting me know one other piece of Laura's jewelry that you fell in love with.
Subscribe to JaneWear.
Comment on the Janewear blog.
Follow my blog, or you can subscribe to my posts.
Follow me on Twitter; tweet about this giveaway.
Blog about this giveaway on your own blog, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints.
Digg or Stumble this post.
Place my blog button in your sidebar or on your blog somewhere.
Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (just click the button in my sidebar).

Good luck, and Happy early Valentine's Day!:)

TOS Crew: Math Tutor

2010-01-27T00:00:00.003-06:00

Math has sometimes been a tough subject to teach while homeschooling Jacob. Anyone who reads my blog knows I've talked about this before....but God knows all our weaknesses, and He has certainly provided the supplements and helps that we have needed this year, through the Crew. I am so thankful for that. This review is a little different, as instead of reviewing a website or a textbook, we got to review a couple of DVDs from Math Tutor.

The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor, an 8 hour video course, comes with 2 DVDs and covers basic word problems in several areas, including the following:

Adding Whole Numbers
Subtracting Whole Numbers
Multiplying Whole Numbers
Dividing Whole Numbers
Adding Decimals
Subtracting Decimals
Multiplying Decimals
Dividing Decimals
Adding Fractions
Subtracting Fractions
Multiplying Fractions
Dividing Fractions
Percents, Part 1
Percents, Part 2
Ratio and Proportion

Since Jacob is only in 2nd grade, we concentrated on the Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers sections of the video. He has struggled with word problems a little bit, so this was a great review for him. The instructor in the videos is Jason Gibson, a former NASA flight controller. In the videos, Mr. Gibson emphasizes to the student to try to "Understand what the problem is really asking you." He also emphasizes that practice is key, and he only talks to the student for a very short time before actually delving into practice problems. Most of the video is filled with problems to solve, which are written down at the bottom of the screen, so that the student can both hear the problem and read the problem. Then, Mr. Gibson works the problems on the board, providing many illustrations and pictures to help the student in solving. He does every problem step by step, breaking it down into parts. He even emphasizes labeling the problem, which helps the student to associate the numbers with the parts. At the beginning of each section, such as addition or subtraction, he gives certain key words that go along with those types of problems, such as total, how many in all, how much more, how much less, what is left over, etc. Throughout the practice, he also reviews certain math skills that go along with each specific problem, such as carrying, lining up place value, counting forward or backward to add or subtract, borrowing, etc. He also includes money problems, which I thought was good, seeing as dollar and cent signs seem to trip Jacob up at times. The thing I would recommend is having your child sit and watch the DVD with notebook and pencil in hand, so he can work right along with the instructor.

This video has no frills to it, as it is a math DVD, helping students to understand word problems, but it's definitely a huge help. I did notice that the addition section seemed to be very basic problems, but the subtraction section dove into more complex problems. You can hear testimonials and see sample videos of this DVD here. You can purchase this 8 hour DVD for $26.99 from Math Tutor DVD. Right now, they have a special going, in which Each new Math Tutor DVD customer receives 60 minutes of FREE live online tutoring available 24/7 through Tutor.com! A $35.00 Value! I definitely recommend this DVD if your child struggles with word problems.

The next DVD we received is one that I loved, loved, loved. It was the Young Minds- Numbers and Counting DVD. This DVD kept Jaden mesmerized for more than half of it, and Jacob loved the games and pictures on it. With classical music by some of the greatest composers who ever lived, such as Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Pachelbel, Chopin, etc., and bright, vivid, colorful images to go along with the music, I recommend this DVD for any parent with young toddlers/children. As the movie progresses, it shows beautiful images of animals/wildlife, fruits, flowers, modes of transportation, inanimate objects, nature, etc., and it includes numbers with these. There is a set number of objects in each picture, and it starts at 1, eventually showing pictures with up to 10 objects for the child to count. The numbers are shown as the child's voice on the video counts. Your child can count right along with the movie. With each picture, certain facts or sounds or colors are given that the child can associate with that picture. For example, Jaden especially enjoyed and giggled with the "moo" cow. He also enjoyed the sounds of the backhoes. With each new number that is introduced, there is a new musical piece to go along with it. I could honestly feel the learning taking place and the brain cells growing while watching this video....:)

There are also bonus features to go along with the video, and these include puzzles, counting the dots, and a game called Guess the Animal. My boys especially loved guessing which animal was in the picture, as the screen started with a close-up of the animal and gave certain riddles for the child to guess at; as the riddle went on, the screen panned out to show which animal it was talking about. You can watch a sample video to give you an idea of how this DVD works.

I highly recommend this DVD. I plan to use it with Jaden to help him learn his numbers. I am so excited to have gotten the opportunity to review this DVD, and I can't say enough good things about it. You can purchase the Young Minds DVD from Math Tutor for $19.99. This DVD has received several awards, including the Creative Child Magazine 2009 Top Choice Award.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I received these DVDs, free of charge, from Math Tutor, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

Time Out Tuesdays: Link Up Your Giveaways

2010-01-26T07:01:00.001-06:00

Time to prop up your feet for a few seconds before you are needed again.:) You never know when you might have to jump in your closet and don your "Supermom" outfit.:) Enjoy, and link up your giveaways below!

My friend, Jenn, over at Classless and Lovin' It has some great Audio Finds; you can listen to old records you might have had when you were a child.

4 Crazy Kings has a great Valentine's Day craft for you and your kids, Sailor Valentines.

Stop and Smell the Chocolates has a great post on How To Make Your Own Lattes. Yum! (If you like Lattes....some of us prefer hot cocoa, but I know several people who can't deny a good Latte.)

At the Well...In Pursuit of Titus 2 has an inspiring post, Less of Me...More of You.

Finally, Raising Arrows will encourage you, as a mother, with her post, Motherhood Isn't for Dummies.

A new website I've found and am using for layout ideas: Creative Memories Project Page. I've started learning how to scrapbook, and I look for ideas and layouts online that I can kinda follow. This page has tons of layout designs you can browse through and even search by topic.

Ok, link up your giveaways! Have a wonderful week!

Organizing Your Homeschool

2010-01-25T07:03:00.001-06:00

With the new year upon us, it's usually the time of year that we take a step back, reevaluate how things are going, and then tweak what we're doing, making changes if needed. If you homeschool, then you know how important it is to do this, especially in your kids' schedules and study times. We ended up doing a slight overhaul to our schedule when January hit....it wasn't that our old schedule was bad, but it just wasn't quite working, and we were a bit overwhelmed. So, it was time for a change.

To read more, visit my post over at MamaBuzz....

Daybook for Monday, January 25, 2010

2010-01-25T06:54:00.001-06:00

FOR TODAY... from Mel's Daybook....

Outside my window... it's really windy and dark, and it just sounds cold. Perfect morning for staying in a warm home.

I am thinking... that this week is going to be so busy with all of Jacob's extra Tae Kwon Do classes, but he gets to learn how to use his nunchakkes (yikes), and he has Fight Night this week, so he's really excited.

I am thankful for... my church family.

I am wearing... what else? Jammies and robe; it's too early for clothes yet.:)

I am remembering... how much fun I had scrapbooking this weekend.

I am going... to the library and Tae Kwon Do later on.

I am currently reading... Beguiled for a review.

I am hoping... to maybe use a coupon at Michaels this week; we'll see. I'm really eyeing a couple little things.

On my mind... is all the lesson plans I have to start on this morning, for the next four weeks of school. Planning out four weeks at a time just saves so much time.

Noticing that... the weather's calling for possible snow/ice later on this week; please no ice....but let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Pondering these words... "Intercessory prayer must precede hell razing. Take your place between the dead and the living"- Pastor Hosea yesterday.

From the kitchen... tonight will be vegetable soup and grilled cheese.

Around the house... definitely have to clean today; I think it's time to check out the surprises that await in the couches and underneath; it's amazing what you find when you vacuum out the furniture.

One of my favorite things~ relaxing with my family on a rainy day.

From my picture journal...(My Dan)

To read more Daybook, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman.