Today I am grateful for...

~love...faith...and continually answered prayers

~a beautiful teenage daughter who helps willing around our home

~two sisters who play together and claim to be "best friends"

~a husband who diligently prepares our home for winter, he is the best!

~a Friday tea party with loving Grandparents.

~health!  We are all so healthy! Thank you Lord!

I am blessed!

As part of the TOS Crew, I received the following two books free from Bright Ideas Press, for review.  The opinions presented in the review are solely mine. 

Why take the time to “Crack the Code” of Classical Music?
     • Music is from the Lord. He created it, and He created us with the ability to both make and appreciate music.
     • “Classical” music is uniquely part of our Western civilization.
     • Research suggests that both listening to and playing classical music aids brain development.
     • Even rudimentary exposure increases one’s level of enjoyment and understanding.

This course provides a close-up look at famous composers, their music, and their times, with special attention to character traits and Christian testimony (or lack thereof). Even the musically challenged will enjoy this course! It’s perfect for grades 4–8 but is easily adaptable for younger and older students. Minimal teacher prep will return maximum enjoyment!

Within the book there are a variety of great learning activities to use within your home.  Some of them include

• 32 Weekly Lessons
• 26 Bios of Famous Composers
• 6 Eras of Music Explained
• Easy-to-Use Comparative Timeline
• Easy-to-Use Maps
• Composer Info-Cards & Game Directions

• Note-taking Pages
• Quizzes
• Answer Keys
• Listening Suggestions
• Intricate Coloring Pages
• Resource Books

Authors:  Maggie S. Hogan and Melissa Craig did extensive research and writing to bring this great resource.  They had music expert, Richard B. Pinkerton edit the book as well.

Cost:

CD-Rom Book
Price: $29.95

 To purchase click here.

 In Our Home:

We've been using this great resource for over a month.  At least twice a week I read through the detailed lesson with the girls.  They take notes on their provided note-taking pages.  Then we fill out a composer card.  The composer card is a place to collect all the facts about each composer.  There are also thinking questions to apply the interesting facts gleaned through the lesson.  Then using the supplied map, we map where the composer was born.  Each composer is divided by style of music and a great history of each music style is provided. 

I like the way everything is self-contained for our Classical Music discussions now.  I don't have to search for the perfect book to read, assemble the notebooking pages and make-up a timeline.  The only thing missing for me from this curriculum is actual music to listen to.  I want my daughters to also be able to recognize the composer's main pieces when they hear them.  It is easy to find CD's or the pieces online though to add to the curriculum. 

This is a picture of the folder that Jennifer has been putting together as we study Classical music.

Written from a Christian perspective, Hands-On Geography will get you excited about teaching an oft-forgotten subject. Includes specific instructions for many activities, games, and projects designed to be appealing to kids and easy for parents. An easy, yet thorough, introduction to a very important subject. Grades K – 5.

 Written by Maggie S. Hogan.

This is a large paperback book stuffed with wonderful Geogrpahy resources.  The beginning chapter has information about the National Geography Bee. 

Also present in this book are directions for six homemade geography games for the early elementary years. Fun stuff that uses items you already have in your home to reinforce geography.

 Included in this book is an extensive section of outline maps to copy.  Then Maggie S. Hogan has a large chapter on ways to use these maps called "Maps Galore".  Things like sticker geography, jigsaw maps and booking maps to name a few.  There are sixteen projects in that chapter.

 Jennifer did the chapter on Joseph's Journey, this is a detailed map and geography questionnaire to enhance her learning as we studied Joseph's life.

A chapter on nature geography was filled with tools on how to include nature in your geography study.  A great guide to making your own field guide is on my to-do-list for the spring.  We will be using her helpful pages on studying birds that live in our area this winter. 

This is a valuable resource that is well worth the cost of $14.95

Orderhere.

Maggie S. Hogan has written an extensive amount of great Homeschooling curriculum. 

Please click the logo to read reviews of her other products.

Today I am grateful for~

~full days...filled with grace, love, hope and joy!  Many activities and lots of smiles.

~daughters with tender hearts.  Grace and Elizabeth came home from Awana's wanting to send their favorite stuffed animals in the Operation Christmas Child boxes.  They have a shopping list started for what to send. 

~faithfulness....a faithful God who always their to speak loving words to me.  A spouse that is faithful in so many ways.  Children that are faithful in their learning.  Parents who are faithful and taught me responsibility. 

~a warm home and warm bed...

I am blessed!

As Jennifer begins her high school years, we are all beginning to ask the question, what next?  Jennifer has some ideas, but has struggled to put those ideas into tangible work opportunities.  Even more important to us is that Jennifer has a job that fits her talents and desires. 

As part of the TOS Crew I received a free month's subscription to ACT Discover to review.

DISCOVER can help you choose a career, find training, or learn how to find a job.

This is an inventories based assessment tool. The inventories help you think about yourself, and which occupations would fit you best your interests, abilities, and values. As you grow older, you become more certain of your interests, abilities, and values.

DISCOVER offers inventories to people based on your grade level.

Inventories available:

To view other TOS Crew members review of this and other great products click the logo.

Continuing my 25 days of gratitude, with day number 3.

Today I am grateful and thankful for:

~answered prayer and His continue soft whispers in my life.

~praying with my sisters in Christ this afternoon, what a blessing.

~Jesus...He is the way! No matter what happens, He is watching over me.

~I don't have to worry or fear the date December 21, 2012!  If the Lord chooses or doesn't choose to return on that date, so be it, but I say Marantha! 

~a warm fire, made by my wonderful husband and a hot cup of tea to warm me up!

~Thank you!

Continuing with my 25 days of gratitude, this is day #2.

~for His Word, although sharper than a two-edged sword, is always there to provide guidance, comfort and peace in all circumstances.

~beautiful sunshine, bare trees and wind blowing

~big bear hugs from the man I love

~an afternoon nature walk with two of my sweet daughters

~family togetherness, these are sweet times.

~a full and complete day of school, the Lord blessed us with a lot of good learning! 

~helpful library workers, I get a lot of books each week and they were kind & generous today

~God's protection

Blessed beyond measure,

For the next twenty-five days I want to take time to be purposeful in being thankful.  Our world seems to push Thanksgiving to the side.  Christmas ads abounded in the newspaper today and the stores have been filled with Christmas since September.   But I want to take time each day between now and Thanksgiving, to express my gratitude.  The length and content of my list will vary, I am making no rules for myself on this one.


For today I am grateful.....

^His amazing Grace, Mercy and Love......inspite of myself God choose to rescue me from the depths of my sin.

^verses that has been clinging to my heart...."Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.  For what will a man be profitited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?  Matthew 16:24-26 

 ^For the grace extended to be my friends when I was discouraged by my error.

^For a beautiful, sunny fall day.

^An afternoon walk with my sweet Grace and wonderful husband.

^Family....a healthy family...both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

^A weekend "off" from the paying job, I am thankful for my job though...it is a gift!

^Daylight savings time....I love the fall time change!

^For two families from our church that are willing to give up the comfortable living of the USA, to reach those that have never heard.

^This next week...looking forward in anticipation.

May your days be filled with whispers of His love and grace,

Linda