Oh what fun!  This week's featurd blogger, oldschoolmarm of Forty Acres, A Husband, and Three Kids, had her birthday yesterday.  Happy Birthday Julie! Her birthday post also gives her testimony, the best beginning anyone could have.

Speaking of birthdays, what about the birth of a homeschool?  Our Homeschool Beginnings describes how this homeshcool started and what they did.  It's amazing how quickly a homeschool can grow up!

Another new beginning is Julie's first blog post here at HSB, I Found It!  While she had lost her ring and later found it, she also found peace with Christ for a prideful heart.

As you read Julie's blog you'll see that she truly has a heart for the Lord and that she is excited by His creation. Go say hello and wish her happy birthday!  You'll be so glad you did and that you found a new friend!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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This week's Featured Blogger isn't exactly about one blog.  It's about the 50+ blogs that make up Homeschool Nations. There are blogs for all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian Provinces, the UK, Austrailia, and a few others.  Scroll down the sidebar to find where you live and check out your homeschool nation blog!

Any blogs in the sidebar with an ** beside them means that state is looking for a coordinator.  All states could use more than one coordinator so if you are interested be sure to check with the HSN coordinator.  Just click on the e-mail me link in the sidebar. Even if you don't have time to be a coordinator, help them out by sending along any activity information to post on the blog.  They can't know about everything everywhere all by themselves.

Whether you are thinking about, new to, or a veteran in homeschooling it's always nice to know what activites are going on in your area.  The actual Homeschool Nations blog page will keep any homeschool parent current on activities taking place across the U.S. and about other countries or just fun information.  Like national reading programs.  Hey, they forgot Summer Reading Splash!

Check out your state, say hello to the coordinator, let them know you are glad they are there. 

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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I like a new twist on the same old, same old.  This week as I was purusing the blogs I came across the Sack Family blog and I said to noone in particular, "This woman has no sidebar!"  Which I thought rather odd and interesting all at the same time. 

As I read down the list of posts, which gave me an idea or two, I finally came to the, er, um, bottom bar I guess you'd call it.  There was all of the sidebar information, just down low and inconspicious like.  I'm supposing here that the reason for this is one of two things: She just wanted to be different or who and what she is, is not important in the grand scheme of things.  Just get on with reading the blog.  I could be wrong but I'll go with it. 

Anyway, here are a few of the posts that caught my eye.  First up is a paper mache ant hill.  My youngest would get a BIG kick out of making one of these as he is an ant lover.  Here are some ant book titles in case you'd like to start your own unti study.

Do you like quilts?  Do you enjoy the Iditarod?  The Iditarod quilt is a great project for any family doing an Iditarod unit study for next year!  You can view the quilt in Alaska and you can have your letter go over the trail.  My family has done Iditarod lapbooks so all of this looks interesting for more involvement with the sport.

Be sure to check the archives on this blog, especially if you are unit study and lapbook lovers!  This blog is full of ideas and linked to information.  Don't forget to say hello and thank you for any of the tips you glean from!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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Ever have one of those days?  Of course you have.  You're a homeschool parent!  Sometimes we even have one of those weeks that starts to look like a country western song. 

The car brokedown, The microwave blew
oh yeah , the baby's got the flu

It's one of those days, one of those weeks
Lord please bless the humble and the meek. 

And so on and so forth.

Which may not be a song that ConsiderThe Lilies will really appreciate in conjunction with her being chosen Featured Blogger.  However, after coming across her blog and reading her first two posts I was so sympathetic I had to find a way to encourage her. 

Actually her blog looks like it's a wondeful way to share her daily experiences from morning sickness to funny anecdotes.  Through it all she reminds herself and her readers that in everything, consider the lilies and be thankful.  Her life is like your life and in that neither you or her are alone.  That is very encouraging!

So stop by Consider the Lilies and leave an encouraging comment and gain some encouragement for yourself.

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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Someone bop me on the head and call me blind.  HOW did I ever not think to make such a fabulous blogger the Featured Blogger of the Week?  I'll tell you how.  I kept thinking she's had to of been one before!  Well, I don't see the Blogger of the Week button on her sidebar, her name isn't on my list, so I'm going to finally do it. 

Aligirl of My God Given Missionfield is a sweet and sincere blogger who searches for truth and shares the truth about the trials and victories in her home.  I've even met her in person at an HomeschoolBlogger Picnic!  Yep, she's just like she is on her blog.

Ali's family has been going to Civil War re-enactments and she's working on her first dress.  It will be fun to see the finished product!  You can also view the family gettting a taste for Civil War Life in Hands On History.

Ever get worried about children doing testing?  Sometimes as a parent you're a little more worried about how the testing will affect your child! 

Be sure to look around because Ali does blog designing too and she mentions when she has openings.  You can also see some of her work!

Congratulations Ali!  I'm sorry it took me so long.

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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Is everyone ready for Summer?  I think it has finally arrived here where I live.  At least, I hope it has! 

Some of you continue to homeschool through the summer, others of you take a break but would like for your children to keep busy.  The busier they are the less trouble they can get into! 

Well, here's one blog that can help!  Summer Reading Splash!  While everyone may want to play outside all day sometimes it just gets too hot.  A break inside where it is cool (hopefully) is a good time to read a book.  Your child can also read a book out under a tree or in the tree.

Need some good ideas for books to read?  Then check out the weekly book give aways! 

What about some book report ideas?  You'll find some dandy suggestions here!

You can also take part in some reading discussions like "What was your mom's favorite book?"  I saw a few of my favorites in that list. 

So get your child involved in reading and take part in the Summer Reading Splash!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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Very often when a featured blogger is chosen I don't know them. Yet.  Today's featured blogger though is someone that I have known about for quite awhile but just haven't taken the time to visit her blog very often.  I'm sorry that I haven't!  Belinda is one of those people you meet because you first met her children and were so impressed you just had to know who their mother was! 

bbulard of With a Taste of Chocolate not only shares her experiences as a parent and as a homeschooler but her heritage as well. Just one look at her sidebar and you'll see just how fun and unique Belinda is!  She's written a literature-based history program called This Far By Faith.  It's about African-American Presense and Contribution.  (Now that's a curriculum I'd love to see!  When's it coming out Belinda?)

Her blog categories are thoughtful and scrumptious!  I'll just give you the category names but you can read the description of each in that great blogging tool the sidebar.  The categories are: Cocoa, Mousse, Fondue, Kisses, and the Candy Jar.  I think I've ruined my dinner just by reading that! 

While the blog categories have such yummy names the posts in them are thought provoking, candid, and real.  You will come away not only knowing who Belinda is but who she serves, who she loves, and why she does it. 

So go visit Belinda and leave her comment!  Just try not to get any chocolate on the keyboard.

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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This week we have a very special featured blogger, darthyxpu of PaulsBlogging.  Today is Paulie's 18th birthday which qualifies him in the age bracket for being the featured blogger here on the Porch.  Happy Birthday Paulie!

Be sure to scroll down, down, down, to get to to the posts if you don't see them there towards the top.  Paulie is always experimenting and adding fun elements to his blog but sometimes, for some of us, that means his template is out of whack.

As for his other qualifications to be featured blogger?  Well, he does bring glory to the Lord among his many blog posts.  He inspires others and encourages his readers.  He absolutely LOVES his family, which isn't so unusual among homeschoolers but refreshing just the same for a young man. 

Paulie my birthday dinner for you will be held at Chevy's whether you like it as well as your mother and I or not.  Your gift is a sunny day to ride your skateboard and a Blogger of the Week button.  Your party decorations will not include confetti because your mother would probably make you clean it up.  Besides, that wouldn't be safe for Sani.  See how considerate I am? 

Readers, I know I haven't pointed out any specific blog posts for you to view so please just dig through Paul's blog, there is some fun stuff there as well as pictures, pictures, pictures!  It might be safer to say that he has a photo blog! (The truth of the matter is I can't for the life of me figure out his permalink, it always shows the same URL no matter what page I'm looking at!)

Go wish Paulie Happy Birthday!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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This week I want to introduce you to someone relatively new to HSB.  LivingandLoving doesn't have hundreds of posts (yet) but she's working on it!  I enjoyed getting to know a little bit about her as I read her blog entries.

Of course I was drawn right to her post about adoption.  If any of you have ever adopted a child be sure to leave her a note of encouragement!

Have you ever started out with a good day and then somewhere along the way things quickly turned for the worse all because of poor choices in attitude?  I absolutely loved this post by Deanna about being angry, and the outcome!

Our Home Education will be of special interest to many of you always looking to see how another family homeschools.  It's not about the academic ins and outs but more about character, heart, and loving the Lord.

Go say hello to this week's featured blogger!  She'd love to meet you too!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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