Lisa has another giveaway for anyone who cares to enter!  You could win her e-book Homestead Simplicity.  Perfect for anyone who is looking to make their lives less complicated.  Click over and take a look!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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Thanks so much!
Rebecca Shearer

Help spread the word about an Autism Awareness campaign for the month of April.  Horizons Developmental Remediation Center publishes a free weekly email newsletter with helpful articles, ideas, and information for parents and others affected by autism / related disabilities.  

For the month of April, for every new person who signs up for the newsletter at

This isn't a contest here on the Porch but one over at Homestead Originals.  It's for a half pint candle, you get to choose which fragarance you like!  I received one of these cute candles for Christmas and I just love it!  It burns cleaner, smells wonderful, and it is made from soy! 

While you are there take a look at all the other wonderful products.  It's free to browse and free to enter the contest. 

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB 

The FIRST Lego League World Festival at the Georgia Dome and World Congress Center in Atlanta this year in April. Their website is www.usfirst.org.  There will be 100 teams literally from all over the world competing.

The Festival need judges, but what's really neat is that they need translators.  Last year I judged at this event and had high school aged kids serving as interpreters for korean, german and japanese.  This is a wonderful opportunity for homeschoolers.  They have the flexibility to be in Atlanta for those 3-4 days.  If they live near Atlanta or have friends they can stay with, it would be an incredible experience. 

Homeschool parents with coaching or engineering or programming experience would be perfect judges.

Michelle Eichhorn

Still haven't won the Comeback Kids book set?  There is one more contest, one last chance to win!  This time the contest is over at Tiany's blog Live, Love, Learn.

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

Hey Spunky fans!  You can hear Spunky (Karen Braun) on Phyllis Schlafly's Radio Show this Sat., Feb. 2, 11:00 - 12:00 CST!  They will be talking about homeschooling and education related issues.  This is a live show with call ins. 

You can read more and listen  here - http://www.eagleforum.org/radio/2008/feb08/feb2008.html

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

Here's a funny video of some homeschoolers having fun with who and what homeschooers are.

http://www.doublesharpevideo.com/HomeSchool2/Homeschool2.html

Hope you enjoy it! 

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

Voting ends Soon!

The Homeschool Blog Awards are back in full swing and the voting started earlier today.  Get on over and vote for your favorite homeschool blogger in a variety of different categories. 

May I be so bold and ask you to vote for Home Where They Belong in the following categories:

Best Family or Group Blog
Best Current Events, Opinions, or Current Events Blog
Best Curriculum or Business Blog

For Best Teen Group Blog The HSB Backyard has been nominated! (You must be logged in to HSB to be able to read this blog.)

For Best Teen Guy Eric Novak has been nominated.

While you're there pay special attention to the Best Blog Design category.  That's all I'll say about that!  I also have a special interest in the Best Teen Gal Blog.

Go Vote!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

Last week's Minute to Minute is a letter from a mom who is looking for materials to homeschool her son with Down Syndrome. 

Dear Minute to Minute Readers,

I have a 14 year old boy with Down Syndrome. I would like suggestions on what kind of materials to use in homeschooling him. I love the Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome and Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome by Woodbine. It would be great to see someone take these wonderful materials and put them into a curriculum form.

 

A Homeschool Mom

A dear blogger friend of mine and wonderful Porch writer forwarded this to me today and I just had to post it here for all of you.  Thanks eyecorn!

http://www.citizenlink.org/Stoplight/A000005834.cfm

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

2007 is just about to end and it will soon be time to say hello to 2008.  For those of you who like to be organized, have busy schedules, or would plan to have a New Year's Resolution to be more organized then BusyBodyBook is just the daily planner you need!

Right now you can even get a 10% discount on the 2008 edition of BusyBodyBook.  Just use code BBBSP.  Don't forget Christmas is coming up and this planner would make an excellent gift for that busy family member or friend!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

Pie Auction/Barn Dance Fund Raiser for Colleen Moeller Set for December 2

Who -- You are invited -- open invitation to all, but RSVP necessary
What -- A pie/cake/cookie auction and barn dance fund raiser for Colleen Moeller
Where -- Lake Storey Pavilion, 1900 North Lake Storey Road, Galesburg, Illinois
When -- Sunday, December 2, 5-9 PM

Events:

-  Finger Food Supper Bar --- Please bring your favorite finger food supper items and snacks to share throughout the evening. We'll start eating at 5 PM.
-  Pie/Cake/Cookie/Dessert Auction at 6 --- Bring your best desserts -- each dessert labeled with the name of the dessert and the name of the baker. Highest bid takes the dessert.
-  Barn Dance from 7-9 --- Patti Christianson -- caller; John Lane -- fiddler; Hans Bluedorn -- guitar; Mike Kline -- guitar
-  Pie Eating Contest at 8.
-  Best Apple Pie Contest --- We need six apple pies (labeled with the name of the baker) for this contest.
-  Silent Auction --- You are invited to bring gift baskets (or other similar items) which we will put up for silent auction.
-  Kyle Royer of Royer Knife Works is designing a knife to donate to the Pie Auction Raffle. He is calling this knife Purple Heart Fighter in honor of Colleen "who is obviously a fighter deserving of a purple heart."  Purple heart is the wood used and the style of knife is a Fighter knife which has a long blade similar to the Bowie knife.  The blade will be twist pattern Damascus and he will make a sheath for it.  The value would be about $800. You can buy your tickets to win this knife the day of the auction. Email me if you have something to donate for an additional raffle.
-  No, there won't be a pie throwing contest. Too messy.

Checklist for party:

-  RSVP if you will be attending. Please pass this invitation on to others.
-  Bring one or more desserts for the auction, each labeled with the name of the item and name of baker. Let us know how many you will be bringing (email by November 19)
- Tell us if you would like to enter the Best Apple Pie Contest or if you will be bringing gift baskets (email by November 19)
- Bring dancing shoes. :-)
- Bring plenty of your favorite finger food dishes and snacks to share.
- Bring plenty of $$$ to bid on the desserts, for casting your votes in the Best Apple Pie Contest, for the silent auctions, the raffles, and for the other events. Make checks out to the Colleen Moeller/Moeller Family Benefit Fund (if mailed: Colleen Moeller/Moeller Family Benefit Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 121 West First Street, Geneseo, Illinois 61254).
- We'll provide the paper plates, forks, napkins, cups, and drinks.

Please pass this information on to your friends and remember to RSVP.

All money collected will go to the Moeller family.

Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
Trivium Pursuit
Prove All Things

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