How To Make Natural Body Wash

This is so easy and very inexpensive.  All you need is a bar of soap and your favorite essential oil for fragrance.  We like a natural soap like castile or any other good one like goat's milk, oatmeal etc.  Our soap was only a dollar.  We made a body wash that would have cost about $10 or  more.  We like to save.



How to make natural body wash or shower gel:

1.  Cut up the soap in small pieces, the smaller the better, or shred it if you want (we don't like to shred soap).

2.  Bring about 3 cups of water to boil.

3.  Melt the soap in the water.

4.  Let it cool.

5.  Pour in  your 4 cup container

6.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (about 4-6 drops).  We like lavender.

7.  Add 1 Tblsp of vegetable glycerine or a couple Tblsp of coconut oil

That's it, enjoy!

 

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How To Make Apple Cider Vinegar And It's Many Uses

Here we are with Destiny and Danielle making raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar.  This is so easy and costs you nothing.  Well, nothing you really have to buy.  When we eat apples, we save the cores in a bag in the refrigerator.  When we have enough, we make the vinegar.  Please get organic apples because they are heavily sprayed with harmful chemicals.

All you need is:

A glass jar

Apples (cores, peels, or whole apple)

water

coffee filter or napkin

rubber band

another glass jar for your finished cider

How to do it:

Simply let apple cores or peels brown a little by leaving them out for a short while.  Since we keep ours in the refrigerator, they are a little brown already.  Place them all in the jar and fill the jar with filtered water.  Make sure there is a little room left at the top of the jar.

Cover with napkin and fasten with rubber bank.  Leave it for about a month (longer if the weather is cold about 6 weeks).  After a month, drain the liquid into your other glass jar.  Congratulations, you've just made raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar.

Apple Cider Vinegar is a must in any natural home.  It is anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-septic.  It kills 98% of all germs.

Some health benefits are:

What are the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

 

* Rich in potassium, a mineral that is often times lacking in adult diets. This mineral is key for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity etc. It also helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.

 

* Rich in acetic acid. This acid is said to slow the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.

 

* Rich in ash which gives Apple Cider Vinegar its alkaline property. This aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state. (It is particularly important if you drink a lot of coffee or wine.)

 

* It can help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.

 

* Rich in malic acid which gives ACV its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

 

* May help improve bowel irregularity and helps to remove toxins from the body at a faster rate.

 

* It can help clear up skin conditions and blemishes.

 

* Apple Cider Vinegar helps with weight loss by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.

These are just a few of it's many wonderful uses:

 

1. Reduces body fat, particularly that pesky abdominal fat, and triglycerides (the bad cholesterol).

 

2. Balance your pH levels to bust fatigue and keep your energy levels up.

 

3. Improve circulation.

 

4. Detoxify the liver and kidneys.

 

5. Break down mucus and cleanse the lymph nodes to heal allergy symptoms. Also gets rid of nasty side effects such as headaches, sore throats, and sinus infections.

 

6. Strengthen your stomach acid and prevent acid reflux and heartburn from junk food.

 

Helpful tip: Drink it with a straw to keep it away from the enamel on your teeth.

 

You can also incorporate apple cider vinegar into your beauty routine:

 

7. Increase the body and shine of your hair by running a cup of ACV through it after shampooing a few times a week. It’s great for removing build-up and restoring your hair to its natural state. Don’t worry – if you rinse well, you won’t smell like vinegar.

 

8. Fade age spots and kill acne by using apple cider vinegar as a skin toner. Dilute it a bit with some water, then soak a cotton ball in it and rub it all over your face before bed.

 

9. Treat warts or ringworm by soaking a cotton ball in ACV, placing it on the affected area, and securing it with a band aid. Leave it on overnight and repeat this until the wart dries up and falls off.

 

10. Heal a sunburn fast by adding adding a cup of ACV to warm bath water and soaking in it for 10-20 minutes. When I did this I rubbed coconut oil all over my sunburn after the bath and it worked wonders.

 

11. Whiten your teeth by brushing with ACV before brushing with toothpaste. Don’t do this often to avoid wearing away the enamel. (Admin Note: Use only Non-Fluoride Toothpaste – All Natural is best)

 

12. Relieve itchy mosquito bites by rubbing a cotton ball soaked with ACV over the affected area.

 

Clean your home and pets with apple cider vinegar:

 

13. Clean your toilet with apple cider vinegar by dumping a cup into the bowl, letting it sit overnight, scrubbing it clean in the morning, and flushing.

 

14. Create an all-purpose apple cider vinegar cleaner by adding half cup ACV and 1 cup water to a spray bottle. Use it to clean microwaves, kitchen counters, bath tiles, windows, mirrors, shower scum, and other non-porous surfaces. This is one of my go-to ways for quickly wiping down the bathroom. I also had a grand idea the other day for reusing a Clorox Disinfecting Wipes tube – add this solution to the empty tube, stuff some rags in there, and grab one when it’s time for a quick clean up. Much cheaper than the store-bought wipes.

 

15. Add a tablespoon or two to your dishwasher for extra clean and sparkly dishes. I don’t have a dishwasher, but when I soak my dishes before washing I add a little ACV to the mix to help break down food residue.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

 

Vinegar is a product of fermentation. This is a process in which sugars in a food are broken down by bacteria and yeast. In the first stage of fermentation, the sugars are turned into alcohol. Then, if the alcohol ferments further, you get vinegar. The word comes from the French, meaning “sour wine.” While vinegar can be made from all sorts of things — like many fruits, vegetables, and grains — apple cider vinegar comes from pulverized apples.

 

The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar, is acetic acid. However, vinegars also have other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids.

 

 

 

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Homeschool Help: What Does a “Lifestyle of Learning” Look Like?

 

Again, the Boyer's advise on homeschooling our talented children have been very helpful.   My very adventurous girl will do her homework in the great outdoors and actually do it!  she is one of those who would hate to have to sit and be stuck indoors, rain or shine.

Here is Marilyn again  (here is the last post about A Life style of learning)

We must remember that the school classroom functions as it does NOT because that has been found to be the superior method of education, but because that is the only option for mass-producing students. It contradicts, in fact, the evidence that children learn best in a realistic, life-like setting, with hands-on experience.

As John Taylor Gatto reminds:

“It is absurd and anti-life to move from cell to cell at the sound of a gong for every day of your natural youth in an institution that allows you no privacy and even follows you into the sanctuary of your home demanding that you do its ‘homework.’

‘How will they learn to read?’…When children are given whole lives instead of age-graded ones in cellblocks they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic with ease if those things make sense in the kind of life that unfolds around them.”  From Why Schools Don’t Educate

So, what does a “lifestyle of learning” look like from day to day? Different for every family. But, upon many requests, I thought I’d offer some practical ways to encourage your child to utilize his curiosity about his world. The ideas are really endless. I’d love to hear YOURS!

• Simply expose them. To books, to conversation, to places, to people, to animals, to cooking, to building, to nature. We simply cannot underestimate a child’s ability to take in, process and store information–something inherent at birth. This begins at birth and the fewer distractions like TV or phones, the better for motivating them to learn about their world.

 

• Listen and watch. A child learns things best in the context of what interests him. Find out what that is, give him experiences around his interests and then look to see the learning opportunities. For example, my 8-year-old son loves building things and he loves large machines. And by “love” I mean he’s obsessed. We have let him build a playhouse (with a little help from Sis), supervising his use of the saw and nail gun. It has taken quite a bit of thought about measurements and angles and my husband has been able to really show him the importance of “squaring” the frame, etc. It’s an excellent exercise in problem-solving. That geometry makes sense to him whereas if I handed him a geometry worksheet right now he wouldn’t have a clue.

• Bait the house with books. This is my favorite. I leave books on art, science, animals and other subjects lying around and sometimes an older child will pick it up and become absorbed and even begin to read and explain it to a younger one. Or when someone crawls up beside me, I open it and start reading. I just ordered a set of “Nature Friend” magazines from Ebay and I’m excited to see how they like those too.

• Let them learn from other people. Do you have friends or family who have a particular trade or skill? Would they mind some of your children hanging out to observe? If that isn’t an option, there are great videos that teach different skills for children who show interest.

• Build vocabulary naturally. Being intentional about the words we use with our children is the best way to build their vocabulary. Random words on a worksheet are much harder to memorize than if they learn the word in context of life and language. Conversation is the best way to improve communication skills. Something, in our technologically-filled lives, that takes deliberate attention.

• Focus on the traits that matter. Any time you research for “most important qualities of a successful person” or “qualities employers look for”, or something similar, the results that turn up always focus on character and NEVER include test scores or degrees. Do we take that to heart and intentionally teach and train character? Communication skills, problem-solving, and integrity rank at the top of almost every list.

LIVE. That’s the way to a superior education. Here is part of our check list, academically speaking:

1. Can they write well, speak well and convey their thoughts well? What are some activities that will facilitate these?


2. Are they numerate? Do they know how to handle numbers, do they understand fractions and how to work out number problems? As they get older, do they know how money works, do they understand debt and interest and budgeting? Very important.


3. Can they type?


4. Do they have a good grasp of history and the workings of the government? We especially want them to read biographies from great men and women of the past.


5. Are they exposed to art in a variety of forms, and music? (If they show giftedness/interest, are we doing what we can to help them excel?)


6. Do they have a heavy dose of common sense?

Charge ahead with confidence!

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A Different Way To Homeschool: A LifeStyle Of Learning

I have a daughter who loves to learn just about anything.  Here she is flying an airplane in this plane simulator.  Life is so interesting to her except when she is sitting down on a desk and asked to do some copywork.  Well, when you're 7 or 8 years old, who wants to do that, when you can be out on a beautiful day learning about how a goat births her kids?  I went to Government schools where I was very good at sitting down and doing everything my teachers said.  Now, I have had to unlearn that this is the way you learn things.  Not so, most children are naturally explorers and are given to us with a natural love for learning.  We must be careful to not spoil it by purchasing all these expensive homeschool curriculums and expecting they follow the rigid schedule and not miss a day because they might not learn or be at the same academic level as public school kids.  Take a big breath.  Aaaahhhh, teaching has never been so much fun with my older daughter as I dropped continuous assignments.  Every year I got more and more flexible with the homeschool schedule that I don't even have it scheduled. 

Our homeschool rule is:  If there is nothing more exciting or interesting going on, then we'll sit down and do some school work.  Well, this is hardly the case.  There seems to always be something more educational going on like, attending to our vegetable garden, picking up two little birds that fell from their nest, watching the goat birth twin kids, talking to visitors, walking to a creek, building a little boat, doing art, selling craigslist items, acting out Bible stories, writing letters to Christians in Prison, cooking, excavating for dinasour fossils, singing, playing piano, helping Dad, working on our family business.....When we are not doing this, my kids favorite time indoors with Mom is to read real living books about historical biographies, God's creation, inspirational stories and of course The Scriptures.

Here is an excellent guide by the Boyer family who have gone before us and from whom I have learned a lot:

(Guest post by Marilyn Boyer of Character Concepts)

One thing I have learned?from one of my struggling learners is that unless some children?want?to learn, they just won’t apply themselves to do it. Unless they?have a desire to learn something, it’s extremely hard for some of them to be able to concentrate and focus.

Some kids are motivated and know what they have to do, set their own goals and get it done.?Other children, however, need to understand why learning is important in order to apply themselves.

If you have a child like this, train yourself to study him and see what matters to to him the most. Then, look for a way to apply what you are trying to teach him to something that he cares about.

For instance, if you are trying to teach handwriting skills and your child just doesn’t care if he writes neatly, let him write something that’s important, like a letter to the editor of the newspaper.

Letters to the editor are one of the most highly read sections of the newspaper, and we found editors love to publish letters written by kids, because it’s so unusual to have a child care enough to write.

Have your child read about an issue and write a letter to be read by thousands of people he can potentially influence. Suddenly, he will care about handwriting, grammar, spelling and communication skills.

If he struggles with math, find a use for that skill you are trying to teach. For example, if you are teaching percentages, go to a sale, let him figure out how much off you are getting on deals, or let him bake a pie and cut it up to learn fractions.

For a boy who loves to build, buy him some wood and let him use measurements to build a bookcase or birdhouse. If your child is interested in airplanes, but not in geometry, let them see the plans the Wright Bros. drew up to make their first glider. These examples are examples of projects I have actually done with my kids.

Find creative ways to apply what you teach, by connecting learning with your kids’ passions, and see if that doesn’t make a huge difference in how they learn.

If you are teaching skills for writing a paper, let your child choose the topic, whether it is about the Tuskegee Airmen or hunting white-tailed deer.

Let your children make bread and sell it, raise chickens, sell the eggs and learn about accounting and small business.

This is the beauty of home education- being able to customize your teaching to your unique child!?I admit, it takes some reprogramming on the part of you, the mom, because we do things the way we’ve seen them done, the way they were taught to us in school. But remember, if there is a better way for your child to learn, climb out of the box and train yourself to enjoy learning with your children!

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Learning Aviation History the Fun Way

This weekend was a tremendous learning experience for the whole family at our local area Air Exposition.  We had previously learned of the remarkably story of the Wright Brothers.  In an age where computers didn't exist, nor public libraries, no internet, yet these young men persevered and never stopped furthering the vision of flight.  How did they arrived at the flying model?  Observing God's creation, bird's feathers.



This exploration took us this Saturday to ride a Hot Air balloon.



Danielle took a helicopter and an airplane ride.  Destiny and Danielle went on an airplane cockpit simulator where they got to sit and move the controls.  Noah explored a helicopter, made a little wood airplane craft and enjoyed sitting in an old airplane cockpit.  We have an air museum close to our town and they have an Air Show every year.  The Northern California Beach Boys fly their airplanes in some common difficult formations and the pilots donate their planes and time to inspire the young into aviation.We sure walked away with lots of learning, history and unforgettable fun.

Learn about Aviation history and mechanics:

The Wright Brothers

How airplanes work

How Hot Air Balloons work

How Helicopters work

Fun cardboard airplane for your little ones.Why learn how to fly?  Danielle was so excited that she got to go on a helicopter and an airplane.  Now,  they are motivated to learn how to fly.  I explained to them how valuable it is to know.

1.  You can fly in case of an emergency

2.  You can fly to places where going on foot is difficult to reach people with the Gospel

3.  You can teach your children

4.  You can help your husband

5.  You won't be afraid to get behind that cockpit if it ever comes a time

Whether they ever learn how to fly or not, expanding the horizons of learning and having real reasons why will make learning more meaningful.

You might have somethings like this put together in your area.

What are some other local activities you participate in?

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For Girls: Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Halle *Free Homeschool Day*

 

BEAUTIFUL GIRLHOOD by Mabel Hale (audiobook & online ebook)

The transitioning years between girlhood and womanhood are an exciting time for a girl, as well as tumultuous and confusing. Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Hale is a lovely guide that will help the young girl understand the changes she is going through emotionally and physically and also guide her in the proper behavior befitting a young woman.

Here is the much beloved, original edition of this classic book by Mabel Hale in an easy to read online edition, along with a great audiobook version read by Laura Caldwell.

“Girlhood is the opening flower of womanhood. It has charms all its own. The wonderful change from the child to the woman, the marvelous blossoming of young, healthy girlhood, will ever be God’s great miracle in life’s garden. Like a half-open rose is girlhood.”

Online ebook version: Beautiful Girlhood

Downloadable audiobook version: Listen Here

This is one of those must read for growing girls.

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How To Make Dolls Clothes From Mismatched Socks

From Little Homemakers in Training.  Encouraging our daughters to make their own dolls clothes is excellent for their creativity in design and caring for their dolls, thus practicing their motherly gift.
Danielle's Creativity:

"My aunt gave us a bag with mismatched baby socks. I have a little baby doll that didn't have clothes, only one dress. So I got the idea to make some baby clothes for it from the socks. My sister, Destiny, also gave a whole bunch of her mismatched socks.

You need:
Safety pinsscissors
Cute mismatched socks

How to do it:
Cut the sock from the toes area and make whole for the head.
On the sides of the the toes end area cut two smaller wholes for the arms.
Try it on your doll. Use different sock sizes for bigger dolls.



I found that my Mom's kitchen scissors work best for me. Maybe because I am left handed.



I am so happy my baby has more clothes now because I like changing them. Here is my baby doll with a rag doll my Mom made for me.

 

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Friday Family Fun: Free Play In The Great Outdoors

What child doesn't like to be an explorer in nature?  I remember when I was a child; I loved hiking.  Anything to be surrounded by trees, bubbling streams, bugs, the sound of birds and the gentle breeze were my favorite and still are.  Who said you have to grow up from some things?  This week my children were so happy because we discovered a running river at the end of the property we live in.  It is surrounded by nature, tall trees, birds, sand, all sorts of beautiful and interesting rocks, bugs, flowers, and herbs to learn about.  They can't wait to go  for this exploration walk daily now.  The education they can get by just being in nature is really endless.  By observing the surroundings, we talked about the evidence of a flood that happened.  This led us talk about the geological evidence of Noah's world wide flood.



Then there was the water.  Well, children and water go together.  I tried to refrain them because, I wasn't prepared with clothes, towels, etc.  and I was concern of "germs", ha, ha!  "Just try not to get wet".  As you can guess, we came back home soaked.

 



Children need to have a daily dose of free play outside.  Aside from getting their sun kissed Vitamin D, it allows the to interact with their environment.  They build their physical strength, and encourages to use creativity to solve problems.  I can see their minds turning and coming up with all sorts of adventures.  Danielle started building a raft to cross to the other side.  Noah was fishing with a stick he picked up.  Destiny was fascinated finding interesting rocks that she believed were washed up and deposited here as a result of Noah's flood.  She noticed the layers on the rocks and said they told the story of the Grand Canyon.

Then there is the beach.  Oh, the sand!  Noah and Destiny would run to the sand and roll on it laughing like  saying, "here I am, I missed you".  There is not much to the beach: sand and water.  But my children say that God thought of children when He made it.  They can spend there all day and never get tired.  They get cold, itchy from the salty water and we eat our food with sand all over.  As much as I try to prevent the sand from invading our food, I've not been successful.



 

Then there is the marvelous snow.  How blessed we are here in California, to have all these three, the mountains, the beach and the snow, so close.  It is amazing how they don't get cold.



The best way to kill the creativity in children is to keep them indoors.  No doubt there is a lot we can do indoors to encourage creativity, but there is no comparison.  That is why even in my busy schedule, I make the effort to take the adventure walk in nature with my children.  I get my exercise in, my vitamin D from the sun, homeschooling done by studying what we find, and release stress by enjoying the breeze, birds, and the calmness that comes being surrounded by the giggles of children and nature.  And then, I am so glad I did.



 

I like educating all day long.  And these nature walks are excellent.  We can do scavenger hunts, paleontology excavations, study rocks, recognize wild herbs and their medicinal properties, geology and rock formation, botany, physical laws with water, skipping rocks, collect bugs, interesting specimen we can look under our microscope, build bridges, fish and cook it over a campfire, etc.  The spiritual lessons are always tied because God is the Creator.  This has given my children a love for learning.

Do you take nature walks with your children?  What are some of the ideas you have for this free play?

 

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Weekend Family Fun: Creation's Scavenger Hunt

Something that children always love are scavenger hunts.  I like putting meaningful scavenger hunts that will teach a lesson.  I will share some of them in the future.  Here is a simple one that the whole  family can participate as you go for a "Creation walk".  If fact,  I highly recommend going for a walk everyday with your children no matter the weather.   Kids like to get ready for walks anyways.  Bundle them up if it's cold with all their scarves, gloves and beanies.  Grab that umbrella for rain or sun.  Water boots are excellent since kids can't resist the puddles.  If it's too hot, carry a water spray bottle and drinking water.  So plan well for what time of the day is best to go out.  We like mornings, now that the weather is perfect around here.



Here is an idea of our hunt.  I printed a sheet of paper for each child on a nice nature background:

Creation’s Scavenger Hunt

• 
  

  Something fuzzy

  
  


• 
  

  Two kinds of seeds

  
  


• 
  

  Two pieces of man-made litter

  
  


• 
  

  Something straight

  
  


• 
  

  Something round

  
  


• 
  

  Something smooth

  
  


• 
  

  Something rough

  
  


• 
  

  Two different types of leaves

  
  


• 
  

  Something that makes noise

  
  


• 
  

  A chewed leaf

  
  


• 
  

  A beautiful rock

  
  


• 
  

  Something you think is beautiful

  
  


• 
  

  A pinecone

  
  


• 
  

  A critter – dead or alive

  
  


• 
  

  A feather

  
  


• 
  

  Something you think is a treasure

  
  

Sit down under a shady tree and give a treat to the kids for their great job hunting.  Share what they found and you can draw object lessons from each finding.  For example,  study how God perfectly designed the feather with hollow bones so they can be light and flexible for flight.  You can expand on flight and history of the Wright Brothers.   Collect all the rocks they picked up and talk about David who fought Goliath with 5 smooth stones.  Then practice their sling shooting.  What fun for the boys! And girls too!



The girls found rough and smooth stones.  We had a great conversation as we sat for a snack  and talked about how God uses each one of us in a family to make us smooth like the stone.  We are born rough but like the river rocks that get tossed along the river with other rocks, they end up smooth.   So we want our character to be smoothed out.   Be creative, the lessons are endless.

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A Book List For Girls

You've heard the saying, "Readers Are Leaders"

I love reading!  I like collecting books, I am not sure I will have the time to read them all but I make the excuse that my children will read them.  It makes me feel good to be surrounded by books.  Reading is an excellent way to raise godly children.  Of course, you have to be very selective on what they read.  Reading is like feeding the soul, make sure it is nutritious literature for a healthy mind.  Books have make great impact in my life and in the lives of my children.  Cultivate a love for reading by reading aloud to them everyday.

Having our daughters read is essential to their development as women of godly character.  It is part of their training.  They can learn so much about godliness, homemaking, history, science, government, music,  theology, exceptional people in history, economics and so forth.  They will need to learn a variety of subjects to help their future husbands in whatever His calling is and in teaching their own children.

 

A strategy I began with my first daughter was to read aloud as many books as possible.  Then my next daughter joined in the "children's hour".   My goal was to know what the books were about so I can assign them in the future to my other children and I know exactly what they are reading and we will be able to discuss it.  Now my older daughter is rereading the books I read to her three years ago and making lapbooks as book reports.

Some books that have a different worldview are great for sharpening the discernment in the girls.  I remember reading Little Women.  We critiqued it all the way through noting the feminism message in the story.  But we don't read or have any romance books, or the so called "Christian romance novels."

Here is a list that we have already read and have in line to read.  I will keep adding to this list as more books come our way.

• 
  

  The Bible

  
  


• 
  

  Raising Maidens of Virtue- Stacy McDonald

  
  


• 
  

  Polished Cornerstones-Doorposts

  
  


• 
  

  Mary of Plymouth

  
  


• 
  

  The Seven Stout Hearted Orphaned

  
  


• 
  

  The Fruit of the Spirit Series

  
  


• 
  

  Queen of the Home

  
  


• 
  

  The Three Weavers

  
  


• 
  

  Teddy's Button

  
  


• 
  

  Jessica's First Prayer

  
  


• 
  

  A Peep Behind The Scenes

  
  


• 
  

  Titus A Comrade Of The Faith

  
  


• 
  

  Mary Jones And Her Bible

  
  


• 
  

  A Basket Of Flowers

  
  


• 
  

  Beautiful Girlhood-Mabel Hale

  
  


• 
  

  The Golden Gems of Life-SC Ferguson

  
  


• 
  

  Hinds Feet On High Places

  
  


• 
  

  Life of Faith Series

  
  


• 
  

  Elsie Dinsmore Series

  
  


• 
  

  Above Rubies Magazines by Nancy Campbell

  
  


• 
  

  Bible Doctrine/Theology

  
  


• 
  

  Stepping Heavenward-Elizabeth Prentiss

  
  


• 
  

  For Instruction in Righteousness-Doorposts

  
  


• 
  

  Christian Character-Gary Maldaner

  
  


• 
  

  Books on Christian Missionaries-various authors

  
  


• 
  

  A Little Maid Series by by Alice Turner Curtis

  
  


• 
  

  The Hopechest-Rebekah Wilson

  
  


• 
  

  Joyfully At Home

  
  


• 
  

  Homemaking/The Family and anything by JR Miller

  
  


• 
  

  Keepers at Home – Keepers of Faith

  
  


• 
  

  Foxes Book of Martyrs

  
  


• 
  

  Voice of the Martyrs Magazine

  
  


• 
  

  World Magazine

  
  


• 
  

  Creation Magazine

  
  


• 
  

  The Genesis Flood

  
  


• 
  

  Princess Adelina

  
  


• 
  

  Passionate Housewives Desperate for God-Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald

  
  


• 
  

  The Courtship of Sarah McLean-Castleberry Farms Press

  
  


• 
  

  Jeff McLean: His Courtship-Castleberry Farms Press

  
  


• 
  

  Do Hard Things-Alex and Brett Harris

  
  


• 
  

  Start Here-Alex and Brett Harris

  
  


• 
  

  Before You Meet Prince Charming-Sarah Malley

  
  


• 
  

  I Kissed Dating Good-Bye-Joshua Harris

  
  


• 
  

  The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop

  
  


• 
  

  Noble Womanhood–Pearables 19th century writing

  
  


• 
  

  Little House on the Prairie Series

  
  


• 
  

  Daughters of Destiny-Noelle Goforth

  
  


• 
  

  The Kings Daughter and other Choice Stories

  
  


• 
  

  Mother-Kathleen Norris

  
  


• 
  

  Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends-Sarah Malley

  
  


• 
  

  Ten P’s in a Pod-A. Pent

  
  


• 
  

  What He Must Be-If He Wants to Marry My Daughter-Voddie Baucham

  
  


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  The Excellent Wife-Martha Peace

  
  


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  Training Our Daughters to Be Keepers At Home-Ann Ward

  
  


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  Social Graces- Anne Platz

  
  


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  Rod and Staff Readers–Amish readers

  
  


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  The Moody Series- Sarah Maxwell

  
  


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  Choice Stories for Children-Ernest Lloyd

  
  


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  The Little Boy Down the Road- Doug Phillips

  
  


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  The Kathleen McKenzie Series

  
  


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  G.A. Henty Books–historical books for boys but also good for girls

  
  


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  My Mommy, My Teacher-Johannah Bluedorn

  
  


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  Christian Charm Course-Emily Hunter

  
  


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  Heidi - good for discussion too as it contains magical ideas

  
  


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  Little Women - good for discussion about feminism

  
  


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  Daughters of the Faith Series

  
  


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  It's Not That Complicated

  
  


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  So Much More

  
  

 

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Jonathan Park CDs and other DVDs for sale

Up for sale is this Audio Dramas and Crown Financial Ministries videos. Go to http://www.ebay.com/sch/erazojandf/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562 and happy bidding.   If you don't win this auction go to the Vision Forum icon on the right to purchase the product.

Tune in to listen to the continuing adventures of the Park and Brenan families. Captivating for listeners of all ages while it teaches the truth of biblical, six-day creation. Each adventure is based on real places and scientific discoveries!

No Looking Back, Volume II of the Jonathan Park Audio Adventure, includes twelve thrilling episodes:

1.Bone of Contention: Part I
Dr. Kendall Park and his family are trapped inside the Hidden Cave and must fight for survival! Meanwhile, the credit for Dr. Park’s fossil discovery, which earlier had cost him his job, is being claimed by an old friend.

2.Bone of Contention: Part II

3.Showdown at Twin Bridges: Part I
The Brenan and Park families are spending a fun weekend on the Buchanan’s dude ranch. Unfortunately, Dillon Buchanan has a chip on his shoulder and his mean pranks put Jonathan’s life in danger!

4.Showdown at Twin Bridges: Part II

5.Mysterious Stranger
A dangerous arsonist escapes from the Sheriff near Brenan Ranch. Suddenly, a homeless man shows up at the museum construction site and offers his help. Is this mysterious stranger the escaped arsonist?

6.Long Road Home
Jessie is filled with excitement when Bonnie gives her “Dusty,” the tan Appaloosa. But when Bonnie, Jessie, Martha, and Katie take the one thousand-mile, all-girls’ road trip to get the horse back home, everything seems to go wrong!

7.Cry from Cyberspace
After a diabetic episode, eight-year-old Ashley awakes to find herself locked inside a strange room with only a computer. The Eagle’s Nest Gang receives her stray e-mail, and now it’s up to them to find her before her blood-sugar drops too low again!

8.The Talking Picture
Artist Riley Sievers is helping Benjamin work on an invention when suddenly, he disappears! While police suspect Riley’s kidnapping is connected to his father’s campaign for Governor, the Eagle’s Nest Gang search for Riley and the truth.

9.Mystery at McBane Manor: Part I
When Rusty plays an elaborate prank that backfires, he and the Park and Brenan families are stuck in a big, scary mansion that holds secrets about the strange disappearance of Elizabeth McBane in 1902!

10.Mystery at McBane Manor: Part II

11.The Blazing Star: Part I
Days before the grand opening celebration for the museum, the Parks are being framed for a crime they didn’t commit. Meanwhile, the museum is being threatened by an environmental group that could force them to close the doors before they ever open!

12.The Blazing Star: Part II
Each episode has a playing time of 26 minutes.

Join the Creation Response Team & Download
Free Jonathan Park Study Guides

By joining the Creation Response Team, you will have access to password protected, ‘Members Only’ information! This includes a look behind the scenes and listening to deleted scenes, alternate endings, image galleries of the Jonathan Park creative team and more!

With this free membership, you will also be able to keep track of your favorite radio drama characters while learning to defend God's Word against the lies of evolutionism through the Jonathan Park Newsletter.

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God's Catalogues

How can we bless the heart of God?  By blessing those near and dear to His heart, the fatherless, the orphans, the widows, the poor in  our dying world.  My children love to choose and pick what the want to give to the Lord (we especially do this on Christmas) and wrap it up.  Then we open the presents together.  If they have picked something beyond our monetary means at the time, we pray the Lord will provide...  Another very special news magazine we like to read to our little children is about the persecuted church.   Our three year old likes to pray for the underground church everyday now.

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What our Home Education looks like these days

One of the advantages of home educating is that your children will never lack creativity and will be self learners for life! With no TV or running up and down to the latest or popular activity outside the home, our girls have no end and not enough time in the day to flourish in their creativity. Lizbeth can pick up anything and transform it.

1. Our home is an Opera House.  Lizbeth blesses us all singing her favorite Hymn, "Amazing Grace" throughout the day.

[caption id="attachment_815" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Their Horse carriage"][/caption]

2.  Our home is a Theater.  Everyday we enjoy performances such as, Mary mother of Jesus, Ruth, Queen Esther, Barbara and Regina  Leininger, Heidi, Mary and Laura Ingalls.  Adventure and drama have become part of our lives as Mom and Dad are encouraged to participate in these day to day live performances as we go about our daily routines.



3. Our home is an Orphanage.  Every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner, our doorbell rings and we have a poor orphan girl in rags, looking hungry and sickly with a few belongings in her hand.  She is invited to join us for the meal and of course adopted into the family.

4.  Our home is a Restaurant.  There is "cooking" in the bathroom, playroom and of course in the kitchen.  As we gather for our meals Sarah and Lizbeth have always something deliscious to contribute.  Sometimes the food is hard like "wood", sometimes is gooy like "play dough with water".   And we better eat of if too.



5. Our home is a dance studio. Everyday little Sarah learns new moves and wants us all to see her do them over and over.
Lizbeth now with more controlled moves than the jerky ones feels like a real ballerina.



6. Scrip writing workshop. Over and over and over and over will you hear, "pretend you say, 'Oh look at that girl how she dances... " or "pretend you say, "(whatever name character they're into) Laura, would you like to eat with us..."

7. And of course, every homeschooling family knows why moms are book addicts and we like to collect books even we may never read but I excuse myself thinking the kids will read. We read at least 2 hours a day together in addition to independent reading. Little Sarah, has memorized the stories that she is so excited she can READ!

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Our 2010 Christmas

This year before Christmas, we watched this video by Eric Little and our Christmas would never be the same.  This year was definately different and from now on.  This is how it went:

We prepared a fancy brunch with goblets, even for Sarah.  She felt important.  The only day of the year we let her because she usually spills from anything that doesn't have a cover, but she did splendid.  We had juice! and turkey bacon! Deliscious pancakes and eggs.

I read The Rich Family's story as I struggle with a lump in my throat at the story http://www.mikeysfunnies.com/archive/richFamily/index.html

My mother and older brother surprised us with their visit.  Then my young sister and her boyfriend and my younger brother and his fiance.  During brunch I read The Rich Family In church story and we cried and laughed.

The week before Christmas everyone chose a gift from God's catalogues and wrapped it in a gift box.  On Christmas day the girls went around the house and found the presents.  Lizbeth hid them so she led Sarah to find them.

We read the Christmas story 

Christmas is not Christmas without the story.  We're a family full of actresses, so this is a given, they begin rehersing a month before.

Then we opened and read what everyone picked to bless the Lord with.  We hadn't anticipated the blessing of visitors but after watching Depraved Indifference everyone pulled out their wallets and we had the table full of bills for the gifts we wanted to buy.

We blessed the fatherless and a widow from Israel, we supplied water to someone in the persecuted church of Sudan for their entire life.  We supplied a pair of shoes for a boy in Guatemala.  We gave school supplies to a girl from Romania and a chicken and a goat to a boy in Haiti (not boasting about it at all, at the inmense need I feel like it's nothing and would like to be able to do much more).

For dinner we headed over to my husband's family.  When we came back we had a birthday party with a chocolate cake (that turned out like brownies).  We sang Amazing Grace and had a little talent show.  We like Handle's Messiah.  Lizbeth is an "opera singer" and sang the Hallellujah song.



To relax last we watched  for the older ones (after the little ones are in bed):

The Gospel Demands Radical Giving - David Platt from Together for Adoption on Vimeo.

For the children watch the Donutman Christmas celebration and end the day singing glory, glory, glory to God, glory in the Highest.

Why do we don't give gifts to each other on Christmas?  After watching this one day, we care "the least of these".

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The Story of Jonah

Amazing story teller!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

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