Homeschooling for free!

Thank you for those who taken the time to share your amazing stories and tips on homeschooling with us!

 This book gives me hope for our homeschooling future!

To get your free copy, please visit the web site below or click on the book above.

http://www.freehomeschooldeals.com/free-ebook-homeschooling-for-free-frugal/

It's all about Perspective

It really IS about God and having a Christian / faith driven perspective. I don't want to toot my own horn here, but I thank God every day that I only broke 1 bone in my hand! 

On August 11'th, my birthday, I got my hand smashed in our wood splitter.  At first I was thinking that it is just a little smoosh ;)  But then after taking my glove off realized that it was much more than that!  I blacked out from the pain.  After the ambulance ride w/ my friend Morphine, I found out that I broke a bone and bruised my knuckles, fingers, muscles, etc.  Besides the quarter size hematoma, I am doing pretty good. The break doesn't really hurt.  I haven't even opened the bottle of pain meds!  Of course after typing and blogging it starts to hurt ;)  

The moral of the story is I could be crying, whining and complaining about what a terrible thing has happened.  Instead I choose to praise God for watching over  me that day like every day.  I can't imagine what my life would be w/o his protection. So I will rejoice with my splint! 

For those in pain.....rejoice! Besides, it drives Satan crazy! :)

Our homeschool group

Our local homeschool group gathered together today at the park and it just reminds me how much I love each and every one of these families in our group!  We had a few members who put their children in public school for their own personal reasons this year so I was feeling a little saddened and thinking about how much I will miss seeing their faces.  The brighter side of it is that we have lots of new members this year which I am so excited about!  It is bitter sweet; life moves forward.

If you are not plugged into a local group, you need to be.  Other homeschool moms have been such a HUGE support system for me.  It reminds me that not only are they having the same struggles at times, but they are there to make me laugh and remember why we homeschool.

So I thank God for these wonderful families!  I love you!

Mr. Pipes and the British Hymnmakers - TOS Crew Review

http://www.shopchristianliberty.com/

'Mr. Pipes and the British Hymnmakers' 

by author: Douglas Bond

TOS Crew Review

Retail:  $9.89

pdf Download: $8.79
ISBN: 1930092121
ISBN-13: 9781930092129
Author: Douglas Bond
Downloaded easily as a .pdf or E-book onto a Kindle or iPad.

I had the opportunity to review this book in a pdf format.  I easily transferred it from my PC to my Nook Tablet.  It has 242 pages.  Suggested for grades 7-10'th. About the book- This is the first book of four in the series by Douglas Bond.  He tells the story of two teens that are on vacation in England who meet an elderly English man people call Mr. Pipes. Through this relationship they learn about famous British hymn writers and about the value of traditional praise and worship.  The other three books in the series are: Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation Mr. Pipes comes to America Accidental Voyage: Discovering Hymns of the Early Centuries    You can buy the complete set for $38.99!  What I thought - We have all heard the saying, "You can't judge a book by the cover".  So true for this book.  My son, who is 13, really enjoyed the book despite the cover.  (I myself didn't finish it yet. So this review is my sons opinion.) He said that it was interesting that these American modern teens could interact, learn from and enjoy Mr. Pipes.  He enjoyed the English setting and storytelling.  Every chapter these teens learned something new.  This kept my son very interested. My son gives this an A+!  He is excited to read the rest of the books in the series! Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine. To view other reviews on this product, go to

"I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist" TOS Review

Schoolhouse Review Crew

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http://www.apologia.com/

 I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist

By: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.

Paperback - $16.00

ISBN: 978-1-58134-561-2

Spiral-bound Workbook - $33.00

ISBN: 978-1-935495-84-0

   What is it?-

This curriculum is for the purpose of helping one understand and remember critical points about Christianity. It discusses world views and how to always be ready to give evidence and understand the arguments that one may have against Christianity. Recommended for high school; 9'th-12'th grade.

The paperback has 448 pages and 15 chapters. The back of the book contains several chapter notes. This is of course reusable.

The workbook is a spiral bound book that has 279 pages and goes right along with the paperback. All pages are in black and white in both books.  The workbook is consumable, but you may want to use a notebook or lined paper for easier writing which would make the workbook reusable.

You could use the paperback without the workbook, but not vice versa. 

   How to use the curriculum-

This curriculum entails reading in the paperback, answering study questions, doing activities and writing assignments in the workbook.  Before each chapter in the workbook, it gives you Key Topics, what the chapter covers, definitions to write and know as well as some questions to answer.

This course (in the workbook) also has several interesting parts of famous people through each chapter. Some examples are C.S. Lewis, Albert Einstein, Adolf Hitler and more.

You can use this course at your own pace, but it is recommended that you take 2-3 weeks to read each chapter and complete the accompanying study portion. If you follow the recommended schedule, you should finish the course in less than 9 months. For our family, it was used over our whole homeschool year, approx. 9 months.

 What I thought -

I was very excited about reviewing this product. I have used many wonderful textbooks from Apologia. This is a very good curriculum for the mature teen and an adult. I am very pleased. My son, who is 13 but going into 10'th grade this fall, liked it and benefited from it as well. The reading is definitely high school level and up.

I, myself, got a lot out of this course as well as my son. I would highly recommend this to anyone who would like to be able to defend and/or understand their Christian faith better. The world is constantly trying to teach anti-biblical views and this course teaches you how to be ready to deal with worldly interactions. 

Apologia offers other curriculum as well. They have online course, science textbooks, etc. 

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.
 To view other views on this product, go to

New homeschool year creeping up...

Summer seems to be coming to a close.  Our local public school starts later next week already!  I think schools are starting up earlier and earlier.

I decided to start my homeschool year AFTER Labor Day this year for the first time.  With summer still lingering, I plan to take my time and get things in order.  Yes, take my time.  I will not stress. :)

I also plan to start each and every school day with Bible first like I did last year.  Personally, when I start my day with prayer, I have a much better day.  Same goes for children and homsechooling.

I am excited for this new year.  New adventures are here......high school homeschooling.  Last year my son accomplished 9'th grade, not a problem.  But this year we start Biology.  Urgh.  I am not a science lover by any means.  But with Apologia's help, I will do my best and give it a shot.  Apologia has wonderful science texts so I chose their biology as well for this year. 

I came across an article about homeshcooling high school and it stated that one doesn't really have to teach high school at all.  You, the educator, guides your child and the child teaches himself.  This is an interesting concept.  I never thought of it that way before.  In REAL LIFE we don't have someone there to 'teach' us how to do everyday responsible things.  But we do need to know how to teach ourselves and train our selves to be responsible to finish the things that need to be done.  I was excited to read the article and it really inspired me and calmed my nerves.  I am just here to guide... sounds like music to my ears.  What I need to teach, I will.  But I know one thing, I will not worry.  Worry itself comes from Satan....and there is no room for him here in my life, home or our homeschool!

Which subject is most important to teach?

Which subject is most important to teach?  Well, Math you will use everyday of your life.  Language / Speech you will need to make a wonderful impression wouldn't you say?  What about Bible / religion?  I would say Bible is the most important.  The Lord has laid out a plan for each of us and gave us a guide map to go through life.  We need to know and use it. 

You can have a 4.0 gpa, top of your class.  But if you don't know God and his word, it means nothing.  God isn't going to look at your report cards, gpa's, thesis' or even count up all your good deeds!  All he will look for is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life. 

Does that mean we shouldn't care about our grades or work ethic? 
No; the Bible say in Colossians 3:23 -

 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.'

So you should always do the best that you can and make it pleasing to him.  He sees all.  Yes, we should do good deeds, do the best in all we do, but that won't get you eternal life.  We must know and have a personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ, study his word and you must know the ABC's.

A= admit that you are a sinner

B= believe that the Lord sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.

C=  confess that you are a sinner and ask the Lord for forgiveness and into your life.

ABC's.  Cannot get anymore simple that that.  :)

Dreaming tomatoes...........

Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes.  Today I blanched and froze about 8 gallons of tomatoes!  I look like I got into a fight w/ them and lost!  But I do know that this winter I will be loving my tomatoes in my homemade soups, salsas, sauces, etc.  People still can and freeze garden foods in our area here in WV, but in the area of Florida where we moved from it was unheard of. 

There is something satisfying about growing / harvesting.  We know where our food came from and it's all organic.  God gave us this wonderful land, plants, sunshine, rain and abilities.  It would be a shame not to use them :)