OK, I’ll admit it…yes, I was interested in what this book had to say but, I was sure I was going to read it and find out that it was written by another “earth papa guru.”  Well…I couldn’t have been more wrong!

This is possibly the most interesting book I’ve ever read on living a healthy life-style based on Biblical concepts.  Dr. Russell has put his heart into exploring what the Bible really says about diet and health.  There are no out-landish claims, no disgusting concoctions to mix, and no sacrificing of everything we love to eat.

I found his explanation of clean and unclean foods really helpful.  I especially appreciated his treatment of fasting and dealing with our relationship with the Lord and our own heart issues.  Following God’s plan for healthy living isn’t just diet…as always, God deals with our heart as well.

Dr. Russell’s advice begins with following 3 principles that are laid out in God’s Word:  1) Eat the Foods God Created for You, 2) Don’t Alter God’s Design and 3) Don’t Let Any Food or Drink Become Your God.  His explanations are grounded in Scripture and are very thoroughly explained.

The book covers such topics as:  grains and nuts, fat in the diet, meats (clean and unclean), sugars and spices, fruits and vegetables and even beverages.  The appendices include a fun health IQ quiz, frequently asked questions, mail order whole food sources and how to begin a relationship with your Creator.

Dr. Russell has covered it all and has done it in a thoughtful, God-honoring way.  I re-read this book once a year.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Be Fruitful and Multiply

What the Bible Says About Having Children

~By Nancy Campbell, Distributed by Vision Forum

This is an interesting book with study questions at the end of each chapter.  I’m sure it would stir up a little controversy in nearly any women’s group or Bible study.  The topic?  Let the Lord choose your family size.

Admittedly, I’m quite confident in my opinion that most Christian couples do trust the Lord with regard to the size of their families.  Mrs. Campbell’s stand is that even well-meaning, sincere Christians have conformed so much to the world that we have lose our desire to fulfill God’s first command to Be Fruitful and Multiply.  This certainly is a matter for prayer for each and every family of faith.

I must say here that I agreed with some things, such as:  children ARE a gift from God, we must obey God rather than man, etc.  I also agreed with her stance that many women ignorantly choose their birth control without educating themselves as to how it works.  But, I confess that there were some things that I had questions about that I felt were not answered…

I, myself, would have loved to have had 5 children.  Our first beautiful daughter died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – Crib Death) at three months, I then had two miscarriages before our other two daughters were born.  Apparently, that’s where God wanted our family numbers to end.  I figure that, yes, God did give me those 5 children…although I only have two remaining on earth, I will have all 5 for eternity!  But, Mrs. Campbell doesn’t address the difficulties that many of us face.  My concern is that some may feel somewhat condemned by that at the end of the book.

But, fear not!  I do leave you with a quote containing some hope and grace:  “The fact of the matter is this:  It is not a matter of our deciding how many children we should have, or should not have, but having a vision of God’s plan for marriage and family – a vision to bring forth godly seed for God’s glory.”  Amen.  No matter how many children we are blessed with.

~  A Beka – 1-877-223-5226; www.abeka.org.  Free catalogue.  Textbooks, videos/DVDs, CDRoms, complete curriculum packages.  Textbooks can be great BUT they are expensive!  However, you CAN re-sell them when you’re finished or if they don’t work out for your student(s).  Videos/DVDs & CDRoms are great, especially for higher math and sciences, but don’t get stuck on them.  Who wants to be stuck in front of a TV or computer screen all day?  Use sparingly so that you don’t lose your relationship with your children.

          ~~  A word about curriculum companies:  Naturally, being businesses, they will try to sell you the WHOLE kit-and-caboodle.  Think wisely about what you REALLY NEED.  If your textbook has end of chapter questions about what was just read, do you REALLY NEED a quiz book?  If your textbook has end of unit questions at the end of each unit, do you REALLY NEED a test book?  Why not just type out the questions you want your student(s) to answer and print them off?  Do you really need those extra “test” books…teacher AND student books?  Think about it before you make a costly purchase!

~  Alpha Omega – 1-800-622-3070; www.aophomeschooling.com.  Free catalogue.  Workbooks (LifePacs), Switched-On Schoolhouse (CDRoms), Horizons and Weaver Unit Study.  Workbooks can be great, especially for that child who likes to “see” progress as the workbooks get completed, they can also save you a little money, BUT you CANNOT re-sell them.  Same advice as above concerning Videos/DVDs & CDRoms.  Workbooks sold separately or in boxed sets of 10 per subject.  The Weaver, also sold through AO, is an awesome Bible-based unit study – Complete lessons for every subject (except math) for grades K-12, reproduce-ables, there are 5 different volumes, so IF you do the whole thing you will work through the entire Bible in 5 years.  However, it is one of the most expensive unit studies.

~  CBD (Christian Book Distributors) – 1-800-247-4784; www.christianbook.com.  Free catalogue.  Incredible resources!  ALWAYS ON SALE!!  They offer:  Alpha Omega, Apologia, Bob Jones, Bible resources and curriculums, Christian Liberty Press, classic literature, Classical education helps, unit studies, college prep, courtship/marriage/family resources, videos/DVDs/CDRoms, geography, history, creation science, math, homeschool helps, music, phonics, planners, reading skills, Latin/Greek, foreign languages, Saxon, Vision Forum, writing skills, maps, globes, science supplies…if you need it, it’s probably in there.

~  Farm Country General Store – 1-800-551-FARM; www.homeschoolfcgs.com.  Free catalogue.  Many of the same items as in CBD’s catalogue plus items from Cindy Rushton, Dinah Zike, Keepers at Home; Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home and Far Above Rubies multi-year unit studies*; Thematic Copywork Lessons, Pathway Reading Series, Sue Gregg cookbooks, Alpha Omega, Bob Jones Press and TONS of other curriculums and resources.  Minimum $25 order required.

~  Rainbow Resource – 1-888-841-3456; www.rainbowresource.com.  MONSTEROUSLY HUGE FREE CATALOGUE!!  Anything and everything in it.  Orders of $150 or more receive FREE shipping.

~  Vision Forum – 1-800-440-0022; www.visionforum.com.  Free catalogue.  My all-time favorite history and family resource catalogue!  Books, videos, DVDs.  Incredible resources for American and World history, raising strong families, homeschool helps; they are an incredible resource of old books brought back into publication, Lamplighter books, Henty books, Bible doctrine, worldview, family films, historic dolls (similar to American Girl), reproductions of historic toys for boys and girls, Creation science, etc.

~  Sonlight Curriculum – 1-303-730-6292; www.sonlight.com.  Free catalogue.  Complete curriculum of all subjects, electives and other resources.

~  Answers in Genesis – www.answersingenesis.org.  Tons of great Creation Science resources, books, videos/DVDs/CDRoms, on-line resources and articles useful to your homeschool, all ages.

~  Cadron Creek – Margie Grey Unit Studies – www.cadroncreek.com.  One of our favorite unit study writer/providers!  Home of “Prairie Primer” – spend the entire school year with Laura Ingalls Wilder using the 9-volume set of her Little House on the Prairie books as the basis for this awesome unit study.  All of Margie’s unit studies have all you need except math and/or a spelling and grammar program!  PP is most appropriate for boys and girls from K-4^th grades.  I think that up to 7^th grade would enjoy and learn from it, just adjust your assignments to age appropriateness.  She also has many suggested resources to use with PP available through the website.  Bible based.  ~~Margie also offers “Where the Brook and River Meet” – with this unit study, you will spend the year with Anne of Green Gables.  This is geared toward Jr. and Sr. high girls.  She also offers many of the suggested resources to go along with this unit study.  Some are only available through Margie.  Again, this covers all subjects except math.  End the study with 6-1/2 credits toward graduation!  ~~”Further Up and Farther In” takes you through a year covering the Chronicles of Narnia books.  This is best for boys and girls in 4^th through 8^th grades.  You will need a separate math.  Bible based.  THESE UNIT STUDIES ARE GREAT $$ SAVERS!  These studies cover such subjects as:  English, literature, history, social studies, geography, science, Bible, art, building character and some even have cooking.

~ Tapestry of Grace -   1-800-705-7487 or 1-301-963-0808; www.tapestryofgrace.com.  Free catalogue.  If you like unit studies and Classical education, this is the best of both worlds!  A Classical Unit Study!!  That’s the best way I can describe TOG.  Written by Marcia Somerville – wife of Scott Somerville, former Ohio HSLDA lawyer – and is the curriculum she has used on all of their children.  Geared for ages K-12 and, if you wish, you may use this for your students’ entire school career!  It’s made to be reused every 4 years – just adjust lessons to the ages of your children.  This unit study is based on human history through the Bible and covers: History, Enrichment, Literature, Fine Arts, Worldview, Geography, Bible Survey & Church History.  VERY complete lessons plans divided into the Classical education approach of Lower Grammar (lower elementary), Upper Grammar (upper elementary), Dialectic (approx. Jr. high) and Rhetoric (Sr. high).  Great reproduce-ables and you can also purchase CDRoms of maps and other learning aids to print out for your students.  Very detailed and beautifully done.

ORGANIZATIONS:

~  HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Assoc.) – 1-540-338-5600; www.hslda.org.  Not everyone joins but I highly recommend you do.  $115 per year covers ANY run-in with the law, truancy officers, school district, advice…all the way up to the Supreme Court, if necessary!  Members receive a bi-monthly publication, The Homeschool Court Report, discounts all across the country at hotels, amusement parks, car rentals, curriculum and resource vendors, etc.  You will also find information about Ohio homeschool law, the truth about charter/cyber schools, articles, support groups, legislative information, etc.  If you are a member of CHEO or McCHEO, you get a discount!!  You can even use them to get your grad’s announcements, cap & gown, and diploma!

~  CHEO (Christian Home Educators of Ohio) -  www.cheohome.org.  Ohio’s homeschool support group.  You will find information about 08 schools, the truth about charter/cyber schools, book fairs, articles, where to find local support groups, legislative information, etc.  They host the HUGE state homeschool convention every June in Columbus.  Convention discount to CHEO members.

~  McCHEO (Miami Co. Christian Home Educators of Ohio) – Contact:  Kim Wolf @  wolfhomeschool@netzero.com.  Your local homeschool support group!  Website:    http://www.geocities.com/mccheo_homeschool_group/homeschool.html   Blog:  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/McCHEO.  Announcements and newsletter access on both.  Blog has McCHEO announcements, current events, legislative information, articles, a HUGE resource list to click on.  You can even leave comments or questions!                    

          ~~ FYI – you can start YOUR OWN homeschool blog at www.homeschoolblogger.com for FREE!

BOOKS:

~  The Old Schoolhouse magazine – www.thehomeschoolmagazine.  Not just because I work for them, but because I read the magazine BEFORE I worked for them and I really DO think it’s the best homeschool magazine around.  Maybe that’s why it’s the biggest and most widely read!  Their website has tons and tons of resources, articles, it has it’s own homeschool store with NO SHIPPING costs – EVER!  You can sign up for free e-newsletters; find information about homeschooling special needs children, high schoolers, legislation, daily devotions, product reviews, etc.  You name it, you can probably find SOMETHING about it there.

~  The Christian Homeschool – Gregg Harris.  Biblical basis for homeschooling; how’s and why’s, getting past excuses, importance of support groups, etc.  One of the most widely read books on homeschooling.

~  Homeschooling Methods (Seasoned Advice on Learning Styles) – Paul & Gena Suarez (publishers of The Old Schoolhouse).  “A homeschool convention in a book.”  Covers different styles and how-to’s:  Classical Education, Principle Approach, Traditional Textbook (workbook), Charlotte Mason, Unit Study, Special Needs, Carschooling, Eclectic, Unschooling and Delight Directed, Whole-heart learning.  Each style/chapter written by a well-known, homeschool figure familiar with the particular style.

~  Home Schooling:  The Right Choice! – Christopher (Chris) Klicka (HSLDA attorney).  LOADED with information, mine is full of underlines and highlights.  I try to re-read this every-other year.  Covers such topics as:  The Incredible Failure of Public Education, The Rising Hope of Home Schooling; The Right Choice:  Teach Them at Home; A Desperate Foe:  The Attack of Social Workers, School Officials, and Child Rights’ Advocates; A Successful Defense:  The Legal Arguments and the Power of God; An Uneasy Peace:  Conserving Our Freedoms; Persuasive Handouts and Home Schooling Resources.

~  Things We Wish We’d Known (50 Veteran Homeschoolers Share…) – Compiled and Edited by Bill & Diana Waring.  As the title suggests, 50 well-known homeschool parent/teachers share what they wish someone would have told them about homeschooling before they started.  A book like this takes away a lot of fear and 2^nd-guessing.  Very encouraging.

~  Educating the WholeHearted Child – Clay & Sally Clarkson.  Another all-time favorite of many.  This is a great book chock-full of wisdom, assurance and know-how.  WholeHearted learning is about using “whole books” or, as Charlotte Mason used to say, “living books” for learning – real books, biographies & nature journaling instead of dull textbooks.  There are chapters that have books suggested and organized by age/grade and subject; there are forms and planner sheets to duplicate.  This book shows you how to fulfill Charlotte Mason’s definition of education:  “Something to do, something to love, something to think about.”  You will love this book.

~  The How & Why of Home Schooling – Ray E. Ballmann.  Great book; along the lines of “The Right Choice,” above.  If you need to convince someone about why you are homeschooling, this is it!  Chapters include:  Home Schooling:  The Return to a Biblical & Historical Model of Education; Is Home Schooling for You?; Public Education:  Retarding America & Imprisoning Potential; Why Home Schooling is the Best Alternative; The “How” of Home Schooling**; How to Begin; Why Grandparents Should Support Home Schooling; How to Win Over Friends & Relatives to a Point of Understanding; Reasons to Home School through High School; Common Questions Asked about Home Schooling.

*Far Above Rubies is a 4 year Bible-based life skills unit study, specifically for high school-aged girls (Blessed is the Man is the boy’s version).  This study covers all academics except general or higher Math; all other academics are covered under the subject areas of:  Bible and Christian Character, Cultural Studies, Reading and Literature, Composition, Math & Personal Finances, Science, Health and Physical Fitness, Practical Arts (skills needed to operate as an independent adult in society), and Decorative & Performing Arts.  Suggestions for higher Math and Science resources are found in the Appendix.  Training Our Daughters to Be Keepers at Home is a 7 year Bible-based life skills unit study, specifically for girls in Jr. and Sr. high grades.  This study is a little more hands-on than F.A.R. but can be easily used TOGETHER!  Academics and projects are covered under the subject areas of:  Godly Womanhood, Fiber Arts, Caring for People, Cooking/Baking & Special Times, Home & Finances, Gardening and Miscellaneous.

** This is HIS OPINION and HIS SCHEDULE.  Always remember that your homeschool is YOUR homeschool!  You do what works best for YOUR family!

I've been a homeschool coordinator in my county for over 10 years and one thing I recommend to new homeschoolers -- an ANY homeschool family -- is a good teacher's planner/record keeping system.  Whether it's on hard copy in a notebook or a CDRom for your computer, it is one of the most important tools a homeschool mom can own.  In states where you have to keep records of every little thing, it fits the bill; in states that permit you to have a choice as to how to assess your children and the assessor needs to see all that you've done -- every book you've read, every field trip you've taken -- it fits the bill.  When you use tons of different books throughout your school year and take several field trips, you can't exactly re-check 100+ books to show your assessor or plop her in your car and take her to every field trip destination you've gone to!

But...you CAN show them your complete and thorough records from either your computer or printed off from your Homeschool Tracker records!

Homeschool Tracker can be a real life-saver.  It is SO easy to set up -- just up-load it onto your computer and go.  It is SO easy to follow -- just click on a tab and add, subtract or read whatever you need to know.

There are 9 tabs/sections to work with:  Main Menu, Overview, Assignments, Attendance, Reading Log, Field Trips, Daily Journal, Maintenance and Reports.

Main Menu:  This is the "Title Page."  This is where your school's name and public information are shown; plus your school motto (Our is:  "I can do ALL things through CHRIST Who strengthens me!") and a quick look at your children's accumulative school days shown as "sick," "present," "hours" and "Average."  Not every state, including mine, must account for hours or attendance, but it's always nice to have.  One never knows when things might change in regard to your state laws, and it's always nice to have on-hand SHOULD a problem arise.

Students:

Overview:  This is a handy page.  For each student you can look over the accumulation of their work.  For example:

Subject          Activity                    Points          Avg          Hours

History          Class discussion        98/100        99.3         1

                     Field Trip

The Points show actual grade/possible grade.

Assignments:  These are covererd by a chart, per student, showing:  Subject, Activity, Resource used, Page/Lesson/Chapter, Due Date, Grade (numeric).

Attendance:  I have to tell you, myabe it's just me, but this was that hardest part for me to figure out -- and it's JUST a calendar!!    Once I figured out that I had to set up the calendar to show the dates for our school year, it was SO easy.  I had begun to think I had to go get one of my teenaged daughters to show ME how to figure this thing out!  But, the Lord is good and I began to put it all together.    Actually this was one of the most fun sections to do after I had figured it out.  On this calendar you can show whether your child was "present," "sick," that this was a "holiday" or that the day was disignated as "holiday/present."

Reading Log:  Here you can list:  Student/Resource/Type/Started/Finished.  If you are like us and use TONS of books and other resources, this can be one of the most gratifying pages.  It is incredible to look back and see all that was read and used throughout your year.  Assessors LOVE those lists!

Teacher:

Field Trips:  This section includes:  Trip Date/Time Spent/Subject/Description (location).  The only thing I think I would change about this would be a place to record things that were done or learned at each location.

Daily Journal:  This is in the teacher's section, but I give my students access to it.  On those days when one student's activities take your time away from the others -- OR if some of your other students are in their Jr. high or Sr. high school years and are more independent workers -- you can leave notes to them, or yourself, concerning lessons that need more attention.  Or use it as a reminder that you will need to find a map of China for this Friday.  This is a very useful "free" page and  we can make it what we want!

Maintenance:  Just as the title suggests, this is the place where you can add/enter/delete any type of information.  Sections coverd are:  Activities/Resources/Resource Types/School Info/School Years/Students/ Subjects/Terms.

Reports:  Here is the handy-dandy page that allows you to print off any of the reports from the previous section that you may need.

Over all, this has been a very easy record-keeping system.  It would be a great system to use to teach your students, at an early age, how to reocrd their own work.  This could even be included as one of their lessons if you are working with them on computer skills or record keeping; it's easy enough that they could manage their records FOR YOU!

As a mom who has been homeschooling for quite a while, and as a person who also does assessments, this can be a life-saver; a secure, concise place to manage your records.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Want a really innovative way to keep your students - from K through 12 - interested in their Bible studies?  Here's a really easy, really creative way to do it:  Grapevine Studies ~ Stick Figuring Through the Bible by Dianna Wiebe.

"Grapevine Studies teaches the Bible as if it were a puzzle, doing the frame first."  That framework is the timeline and individual pieces; those pieces are:  Bible passages, characters and events which make the whole Word of God easier to understand.  Making Bible study fun without being disrespectful. 

There are 5 different levels of Old Testament and New Testament volumes, these may be done together with multi-aged children just like unit studies. 

BEGINNER:  5-6 year olds

LEVEL 1:  1st & 2nd grades

LEVEL 2:  3rd & 4th grades

LEVEL 3:  5th through 8th grades

LEVEL 4:  9th through 12th grades

Each level has a timeline review/lesson.  The student will read the Bible lesson which allows the child to have an understanding of the context of the character or event and where it fits on the timeline.  After the reading the student draws using stick figures (who can't do that!), symbols, colors, charts and words to illustrate the Bible passage.  The lessons end with review questions.

Beginning with Level 3, the lessons include map assignments to help the student with Biblical grography.  Application is determined by the teacher and each lesson ends with a Bible memory verse. 

By the end of the year-long study the student should be able to complete an entire Bible timeline - solo.

Grapevine Studies correctly understands that most students, of all ages, have a higher retention rate when they are taught using reading, hearing and drawing intead of being lectured at.

Learn more by going to www.gragevinestudies.com

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

By:  Kathleen Norris; distributed by Vision Forum 

     This book is the book that you want to recommend to the teenage daughter who might be tempted away from the home as her ministry.  A daughter who might be tempted into thinking that home-life (being housewife and mother) is a drudgery and not the "noble" choice to make in her life.

     This fine little book was originally printed in 1911, rediscovered by Jennie Chancey and reprinted through Vision Forum.  Like Mrs. Chancey writes in her forward, I too, read this in one night.  Just couldn't put it down.  Why aren't books like this written anymore...no curse words, the Bible as our guide, familiy and home-life seen as the best decision a woman can make?

     As the book opens we find Margaret Paget tired of her young life as a school teacher and wondering what else this big world has to offer.  Certainly, there is more to life than this or the drudgery and slavery her sweet mother chose in raising her chidren and caring for her home.  Margaret accidentally meets a woman whose high societal position allows her to hire Margaret as her assistant.  Through a series of events, over-heard conversations disdaining home-life and as time passes, Mragaret realizes that her mother really did make the noble choice:  knowing the joy of being in God's will, being a keeper of the home and raising her chidlren to be productive Christians.

     If you have a girl's book club, or you or someone your know loves old books, or you want to very gently steer your daughter back to the nobility of home-life, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

By Dr. Rex Russell, M.D.

Home-Making

By:  J. R. Miller; distributed by Vision Forum

I have a new favorite book!  This lovely book was originally written in 1882 and should have become a classic.  It is now made available to us through Vision Forum at www.visionforum.com.

I can think of no better gift for a newly engaged or newly wedded couple.  This book describes the ideal of what a godly family and home-life should be.  The chapters are simply titled with the subjects they discuss:  The Wedded Life, The Husband's Part, The Wife's Part, The Parents' Part, The Children's Part, Brothers and Sisters, The Home-Life, Religion in the Home, Home Memories.

So many things are covered, including many things that we would never think to address as newly-weds or with our children.  From the good to the tragic.  I even loved the tone that it was written in.  Let me give you a couple of examples.  From the chapter The Parents' Part..."...the true idea of a home is that it is a place for growth.  It is a place for the parents themselves to grow - to grow into beauty of character, to grow in refinement, in knowledge, in strength, in wisdom, in patience, gentleness, kindliness and all the Christian graces and virutes."  From the chapter Religion in the Home..."...what more is needed to complete the Ideal Christian Home?  Is not the answer found in one word - God?  If we leave Him out, our most perfect home will be but like a marble statue with all the grace and beauty of life, but having neither breath nor heart-throb."

I am recommending this to everyone I speak to lately.  Please do yourself a favor and read Home-Making.  This is a truly good book.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><