November 29, 2009 - He’s A Posterboy! Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite school projects was when we had a International gathering, where different families from our homeschool group chose a country and did special things from the country at a booth and then we went from "country to country" to learn about them.
Our family did the country of Cambodia because at that time we were close friends with an older missionary couple whose life passion was to bring the Scriptures and knowledge of the Savior to the Cambodians. It was such a learning experience for us because we got to sit down with the missionaries and hear them tell us all about the country and people and such. We took notes, studied the country, learned what Cambodians did and didn't do, what was different about them than us, etc. We all picked something specific about Cambodia and wrote a paper on it. I think I did food... big surprise, huh? :P We also made a Cambodian flag and 3D type map of the country on poster boards. It was really cool!

I absolutely LOVE Carolina Pad products and when I heard that their Ghostline company was needing reviewers for their poster boards, I jumped at the chance and promptly signed up. :) I don't know why now, cause my creative juices are all but lacking in my body. I kid you not. So try hard not to laugh at this project I came up. :P

I figured that was the MOST important thing in my life right now and the biggest thing that happened in November, so it was fitting to use the products for it. :D btw... if you notice the visitor log is lacking... ;)

Ghostline sent me:

22x28 Foam Display Board 14x33 Project Board 14x22 Poster Board Make A Poster Kit

Overall thoughts on the products: WONDERFUL! They are really nice, quality paper and poster boards. Great for homeschoolers.

All of the products from Ghostline have grid lines so it makes it easy to draw, write, cut, etc. That was definitely nice when I was lining up the letters on the board. But the gridlines are so faint that unless you are up close to the board you can't seem them which is great!

Project paper is sturdy, yet pliable, so you are able to cut it and bend it easy for those hard to reach areas, like the middle of this A:
It is also very absorbent paper. I used a marker to get the blue "IT'S A BOY!" letters and it didn't smear which I was surprised since its a little glossy.

One thing I didn't really like was the way the letter stencil separates the letters, but I guess that's how all stencils are. Still it made it difficult to get the letters to look "normal" instead of garage sale-ish.

The poster foamboard itself... very sturdy! Very easy to stand up and keep up. It really supports itself. It is also thin, yet thick enough to use pins in. I actually pinned the hats, booties, and blanket on the poster board and it held wonderfully and stood up too!

These products are quality products that are so easy to work with. I would recommend them to anyone who has a poster board project to do. Another awesome thing about Ghostline is that you can get their products at Wal-Mart, so you don't have to order them online if you need them asap! I was pretty excited when I was at Wal-Mart a couple weeks ago and I saw their products! :)

November is Ghostline's 13th birthday and in honor of it, they are giving YOU a chance to win $500 worth of Carolina Pad Products! :D Awesome, isn't it?
Only problem is that is ends tomorrow, November 30th, so GO NOW and enter simply by telling them why you would love to win and how it would make life easier for you and your students. You can enter here:

November 28, 2009 - Light and Fluffy

November 27, 2009 - I'm Dixie-fied Now!

November 24, 2009 - Wordless Wednesday: Cheeky Sistas

November 23, 2009 - I ♥ Faces: Sun Flare

When I saw the theme for this week's I <3 Faces challenge,: “Sun Flare”, this picture just popped into my head! :) I love the Sun Flare coming down on her. Isn't Hannah such a pretty girly? I sure love that Dahling!

©AmandaDixon2009

November 21, 2009 - I Miss Him!

This past week has been extremely hard for me. I lost my Great Grandpa, who I was very very close to. I can honestly say that he was THE best grandpa I've ever had. I am so thankful for the last 5 years of being able to grow closer to him, of course, it wasn't as long as I wanted, but I am very glad I had them. It was wonderful! It was wonderful to grow as close to him as I did.

Over the past 5 years, he really opened up to me about his WWII experiences which he hadn't shared them at all before. When I presented him the Armed Service album I made for him at his 65th anniversary, he was moved to tears. I knew that all the efforts and the sleepless night I spent on it was so worth it! Getting to know him was truly a blessing to me. I pray it was to him also. Since I did that for him and grew closer to him through it, I have a very important place in my heart for the armed service men. When we took him to the cemetery, they gave him a beautiful military salute with Taps and a 21 Gun Salute. I bawled through the whole thing. Knowing that his service was important to him, and that was so very important to me because of him. It was very hard to sit through for me.
Sitting in his funeral service remembering all the times we had together, the tears just flowed. We would color when I was younger and as I grew up, we would sit on his front porch and play cards. He taught me to play rummy, war, slap jack, and more. One of the last times he played cards he was 87 and got down on the floor with the Littles to play go fish with them. It wasn't easy for him to crawl on the floor but he showed his love to his family by doing it. He truly was a family man. That was all he was worried about: his family. He made it known that his family was all that was important to him.

I truly miss him. I miss his hugs. I miss his smile. I miss his playing cards. I now found myself crying when I pray because he is no longer on my list and it reminds me he is gone. I just miss him! But he lived a full and meaningful life. A life devoted to his family. I praise God that Grandpa knew our Savior and that I have the hope to once again see him on Resurrection Day. It hurts and its hard to have to wait for that day, but I know that the day is drawing close. OH, what a glorious day that will be!

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. Adonai ELOHIM will wipe away the tears from every face, and he will remove from all the earth the disgrace his people suffer. For ADONAI has spoken.

Revelation 21
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away."

Love you, Grandpa!

Please continue to pray for us and also my Great Grandma who is by herself now, and also for my Uncle Keith. It's been hard for them too.

©AmandaDixon2009

November 19, 2009 - Shameless Plug

Yes, this is a shameless plug on behalf of my familia...I'm sure y'all have heard that the Home School Blog Awards are going on... if not... they are. :) Well I would like to present to you where my votes are going...
My familia:
In the Best Homeschool Mom Blog, I'm voting for Walking Therein
In the Best Teen Girl Blog, I'm voting for A Pondering Heart
In the Best Teen Group Blog, I'm voting for Feelin' Feminine
In the Best Teen Guy Blog, I'm voting for On The Road To Manhood
In the Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog, I'm voting for A City on a Hill
In the Best Family or Group Blog, I'm voting for Gleaning the Harvest
In the Best Blog Design, I'm voting for Gleaning the Harvest

And also for these supporters of Gleaning the Harvest:
In the Best “Live-What-You-Believe” Homeschool Blog, I'm voting for A Dusty Frame
In the Best Variety, I'm voting for Penny Raine
In the Best Nitty-Gritty Homeschool Blog, I'm voting for Heart of Wisdom
In the Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog, I'm voting for Seven Sisters
In the Best Eclectic Homeschooling, I'm voting for Delightful Learning
In the Best Thrifty Homeschooler, I'm voting for Money Saving Mom
In the Best NEW Homeschool Blog, I'm voting for Delightful Learning
In the Best Geographical Blog, I'm voting for  For the Time Has Come (Costa Rica)
In the Funniest Homeschool Blog, I'm voting for Always a Work in Progress!

I would sooo appreciate if you would take 5min or so of your time to go vote for these choices. The voting ends at midnight on November 21st which is Saturday, so hurry over!
 And that is my shameless plug. :D Thanks y'all!

©AmandaDixon2009

November 18, 2009 - Wordless Wednesday: Remembering...

November 15, 2009 - Hot and Tasty!

November 13, 2009 - Saying "I Do" Is Forever

Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to be married. I've always wanted to be a wife. I've always known that when I fell in love, it would be forever! I've always known that when I get married, it will be forever.
I found out a couple weeks ago that yet another friend I grew up with that was married last year, is now not married anymore. :( The same thing happened to another friend 2 years ago. When I heard what had happened all I could think was, "why is leaving/divorcing an option?" It is hard for me to comprehend that people think there is another option to leave their marriages. No, I don't know the details of why, but I do know that marriage is a lifelong commitment. Maybe that is just me... but the Scriptures say do that

1 Corinthians 7:10-11
"To those who are married I have a command, and it is not from me but from the Lord: a woman is not to separate herself from her husband but if she does separate herself, she is to remain single or be reconciled with her husband. Also, a husband is not to leave his wife."

Maybe its not me... Right there in the Scritptures it commands us to not separate from our spouse. It doesn't say "don't separate unless...". It just says do not separate. That Scripture goes along with:

Matthew 19:5b-6
"and the two are to become one flesh'? Thus they are no longer two, but one."

When you get married, you are no longer your own person, you are one with your spouse. When you pull something apart, it is not as strong as it was and it is not whole anymore. Marriage is like the example of the two strand cord. Two separate strands come together as one and is strong. It is whole. That is really profound because God created each of us as a strand that there is another strand to which He made to become whole with. I believe that God created a specific spouse for each of us: Someone who is a perfect match for us. God has someone out there for every one of us, and the trick is to rely completely and wholly on Him to bring that Perfect One to us. No, it is not easy... I know!

I think we need to get in the mindset, and train our children to be of the mindset that marriage is a "no out" commitment. I know that marriage is not a walk in the park, but it is something you're gonna have to work at. My parents haven't always had the best marriage or one that is what it should be, but if I learn nothing else about marriage from them, the one thing I've learned is you stick it out! My parents have stayed together through the thick and thin and have prevailed! So I know its not gonna be easy all the time.
In the movie, Fireproof, Caleb and Michael make a very good point when they have this conversation:

Caleb:"Marriages aren't fireproof. Sometimes, you get burned."
Michael: "Fireproof doesn't mean that a fire will never come, but that when it comes you'll be able to withstand it."

I know that it is possible to withstand fires through your marriage. You just have to want to do. It commands you in black and white that you are not leave your marriage even when its tough and you don't think you can go anymore. You can do it tho because marriage is a forever covenant. Remember: Never leave your partner behind!

©AmandaDixon2009