Posted By JoAnn in What Momma is up to

Life has been very busy around our house.  So I thought I'd drop a note.  I'm teaching full time at the Christian School and still leading Master's Club on Weds. nights.  Were getting ready to do some major changes in our children's ministry.  I'm very excited about it.  I did coach our girls volleyball team for a while but I had to give that up.  It became too much.  The kids are doing great.  I can hardly believe I don't have any preschoolers anymore.  In 2 years I'll have one graduating.  It just don't seem possible. 

I think this will be my last year teaching at the school.  I may sub but teaching fulltime is proving to be a little to hard on the old body.  Maybe when the kids are older I'll give it another shot but right now with dh going to school and working fulltime, and with what I'm doing it's getting pretty crazy around here.  Though it has been helpful with my oldest boy getting his license.   I just wish we had a car for him to drive.   Oh well someday.

The 2 oldest boys both got speaking parts in the Christmas play, so we've been busy with that also.  It's hard to believe its almost Christmas again.  I'm so not ready for it.  Usually I'm almost done with everything but this year I've barely begun.  I don't even have the tree up yet. LOL  I wish life would slow down a little so I could catch up.

Wishing you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Posted By Nancy in KY in Blogging Fun and Info

I was just reading Heidi's blog and saw this entry about the Widdly Tinks website. Heidi's photo tink was so cute that I just had to try it.

Here's what I came up with:

Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in Featured Blogger of the Week


It's time to get back to Featured Blogger again! It's been a nice break and it was nice to have Amanda Bennett on the HSB home page for two whole weeks, but there are so many other bloggers to meet! 

This week I want to introduce you to the PearceFamily of Planted Oaks and Little Acorns. This fun family takes time to enjoy life and homeschooling.

We've been talking about preparing for Christmas here on the Porch but how about preparing for a baby? Lori is one blessed mama! Her oldest daughter gives her a pedicure before the new bundle of joy arrives. What a special treat!

Have you joined the workbox craze? Then meet another mom who has fallen in love with this way of doing homeschooling! She has a whole category dedicated to workboxes.

Now here's a fun idea for blessing other families this Christmas! Give them 12 days of gifts that fit with the 12 Days of Christmas song. Lori blogged about it in 2 separate posts, days 1-4,  and days 5-12.

Go wish the PearceFamily a Merry Christmas!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

Posted By Ginny in Websites and Other Resources

I ran across a magazine that I guess came in the mail while I was ill adn just had a chance to read through it. I'm not sure how it ended up in my mail, but I must be on some mailing list. Anyways, It's from Focus on the Family and is called Thriving Family. Not a huge publication but it was filled with interesting tibits. One such tidbit was about how to get 2 free Passages episodes downloads. You'll have to hurry because those downloads are only available unitl the end of December. You can also find a summary and discussion questions to use for exploring the lessons further. You can also listen to various other episodes on line.

For the Free Episodes go HERE.

To listen to other episodes go HERE.

If you have time you may want to explore The Adventures in Odyssey site a little more. Looks like there is a lot of good stuff there.

Posted By Ginny in Life

It’s that time a year again for the bustle and hustle of holiday preparations. We are incorporating some of these activities into our homeschool days. The kids always make contributions to the family newsletter and putting them into the Christmas cards, but this year I am enlisting their help in addressing the envelopes and writing little messages in the cards themselves. In the past I have taken several days to do this, but with their help we should make short work of it. This will be in lieu of some of their English assignments. We are also planning to do some festive cookie baking and will need recipes doubling and even tripling. This will provide some good math fraction practice and excellent home economics skills.

My son has chosen to read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for his literature this month. I am so tickled by his choice not only because Dickens is one of my favorite authors but also because he has finally shown an interest in reading to a certain extent. Last month he read The Time Machine and the month before The Call of the Wild and totally enjoyed them both. I consider this a huge accomplishment considering his disdain for reading. My daughter has discovered the original Nancy Drew books and has finally found a vein of books that she thoroughly enjoys. The kids finally enjoying reading something is just huge in my book.

On a completely different note I wanted to share some exciting news. The day I went into the hospital my oldest and his fiancé announced a date for their wedding. They will be getting married March 20th. I am so excited for them and can’t wait to have a daughter-in-law. There is so much to do and so little time but I am sure it will be the perfect wedding for them.

Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in TOS News

Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in Schoolhouse Store News

The Christmas season is almost here--

are you feeling the stress yet?

Don't!

 This season we bring all ladies and "Ye Merry Gentlemen" tidings of comfort and joy!

 God rest hardworking families

Ideas are on the way

With gifts and food to bake yourself

This Christmas you will say:

"With Molly's help I'll make great gifts

For a perfect Christmas day!"

December's Digest is comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Molly's Money-Saving Digest brings great joy!

 With so much to do and less than a month to get it all done, the December Molly's Money-Saving Digest E-Book shows you exactly how to get those loose ends all wrapped up!

 The special feature for December is:

Comfort and Joy
for Christmas

PLUS! During December ONLY, receive the latest E-Book from Sheri Graham, Homemade Gift Mixes (200+ pages!) and The Urban Homemaker's E-Book: Holiday Open House--Open Your Heart and Your Home when you purchase Molly's December Digest!

Just in time for Christmas!

A link to the free E-Books will be available upon checkout.

Are you worried about gift-giving? Get excited about giving to others! Make some spectacular gifts yourself quickly and easily. Enjoy phenomenal tips to keep the holiday season stress-free right into January as you put Molly's ideas to good use!

Tucked neatly within the pages of Molly's Digest, you'll find:

• Ideas for teaching your children gratitude and generosity.
• A beautiful, decorative use for last year's calendar as the year comes to a close.
• Great suggestions for family gifts, generic gifts, and even food gifts.
  

Truly unique, money-saving gifts to warm aching muscles or provide emergency light will bring your thoughtfulness to mind long after Christmas. Gifts to reach the heart through taste buds--from dessert to bread and snacks, or cleaning recipes you and your gift recipients will appreciate!

Would you like to be more "PC"? You can be practical and cost-conscious this Christmas season when you use Molly's ideas! Be "pleasantly confident" this year when using these inspirational gifts. Discover . . .

• When socks are a great Christmas gift.
• How to use popcorn as a gift to strengthen families.
• Practical gift options you can give to everyone by simply making small variations.
  

As everyone thinks Christmas, Molly reminds you of many other special dates in December. You can plan your schedule to:

• Begin the countdown to Christmas with Eat a Red Apple Day.
• Include discussing tree decorations with Mitten Tree Day.
• Make your card deadline day December 9.
• Study worldwide celebrations on International Children's Day.
  

Even your dates for party preparation with Bake Cookies Day and caroling are covered, as well as special days for activities following Christmas. They will all be found on the list of special dates to remember in December!

"In this edition, you will also find recipes as well as ideas for special days during the month of December. For example, I had no clue that December 8 was a National Brownie Day. Mmmm! Sounds delicious and good to me . . . My favorite article was definitively the "Eight Frugal Family Crafts." It gave me special ideas not only for extended family members but for my own family as well. I really love the Movie Night and the Super Sundaes ideas. Very creative and fun to put together . . . For me, I would love a Book Lovers' Basket or a Scrapbook Box of Surprises--anything to brighten my holidays. Once again, I think that Molly's Money-Saving Digest for the month of December 2009 is wonderful. Thanks Molly for this full year of your wonderful ideas!"

-Isabelle Lussier, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The December Molly's Money-Saving Digest is the twelfth edition and completes the first year of Digests, bringing practical tips for frugal living to you every single month for all of 2009!

 Take a Peek inside!

 

Let nothing cause you dismay. Enjoy comfort and joy today!

Instantly download the Molly's Money-Saving Digest E-Book.

Monthly Feature--"Comfort and Joy for Christmas" will be exactly what your family feels when you simplify and minimize. Be courageous this Christmas and eliminate obligation and guilt, consider family gift-giving, agreeing to end gift exchanges or to make homemade gifts--Molly tells you how!

• Eight Frugal Family Gifts will ignite creativity in your entire family as you gather to design gift baskets for a Movie Night, Snacks and Desserts, and gaming fun for other families this Christmas.
• Twelve Generic but Sensible Gift Ideas could bring everything from safety to convenience into the life of the recipient and are incredibly fun to choose and personalize!
• Ten Fabulous and Frugal Foodie Gifts provide the thoughtfulness of both time and taste to friends and family with ideas to dress up cheesecake, present incredible bread as a present, and give the gift of baking fresh cookies in a two-part gift experience!
• Let's Get Together! Foodie gifts create incredible opportunity for a get together and can make hosting a holiday brunch much simpler than you ever imagined!
• All the Trimmings includes tips for decorating, wrapping, and all the holiday trimmings with a thrifty perspective. A quickie list will help keep your holiday sanity as you get it all done.
  

"Above all, relax, refocus, and realize that Christmas is about Christ's birth . . . not about staging a magazine-perfect production and trying to meet unrealistic expectations--financially or otherwise. Take the holiday back--for faith, family, and friends. Resolve to keep it simple and sweet."

• Great Expectations for Kids helps you develop a lifelong attitude of gratitude in your children with five guidelines you can easily implement.
  

So much great information--and that's just the monthly feature! There are so many more great sections to discover in every Molly.

Do you love details? Check out each and every part of the December Molly's Money-Saving Digest right here:

• Molly's Minute--Year-end blessings from Molly remind you to focus on family, friends, and faith this Christmas season--regardless of how you choose to celebrate. The first full year of Molly's Money-Saving Digest is complete with this December issue, and more great things are coming in 2010!
• Begin With the Basics--"Candy Making 101" will warm your heart and pleasantly fill the tummies of friends and loved ones. As a frugal art, candy making gets off to a great start, and this article brings recipes, tips, and wrapping ideas. Even some historical reading is thrown in for good measure! You'll love making homemade toffee and mints, and you'll learn what important piece of equipment will help most in your candy making.
• On Sale This Month--With all the Christmas shopping going on, you won't want to miss the list of sale items this month. The list goes far beyond Christmas gifts to items you'll be thankful you found on sale now--you'll use them all year long.
• Keeping it all Together--"Staying Sane During the Holiday Season" isn't just a great title for this article--it is possible for you! This section offers perfect direction for staying on track this season and will prevent you from doing too much. Links galore will also save you time and money!
• Feather Your Nest Frugally--What 6-foot-by-2-foot decorative item could you be working on that will be enjoyed all year long? It isn't your Christmas tree. This great idea will call for you to "pull the tubs from under your bed, dance through the garage, and send your husband up to the attic." Aubrey Lively shares this project she and her mother haven't even officially named because it is too fantastic and beyond words! Pictures and instructions will motivate you to completion as Aubrey walks Molly readers through the entire process with a specially made item just for the Digest.
• Pull Up a Chair--Another great gift idea awaits, along with the usual week's worth of weeknight menus. From tasty Mandarin Almond Salad and old-faithful meat loaf that makes a house a home, to elegant but frugal meals the children will love, Molly's meals have you covered. The Turkey Noodle Leftover Casserole will make the whole house sing--perfect for caroling preparation! Recipes include an ingredient list, easy-to-follow instructions, and even a few more great gift ideas will be found sprinkled within this week of menus.
• Parenting That Pays--Dividends are great when you invest in your children; find wonderful ideas for serving others while instilling consideration and generosity in your children. Get motivated as Jennifer Sikora shares ways her family chooses to serve others, and she encourages your family to do the same.
• Something Old, Something New--"Old Calendars to New Art" will close the 2009 year in style as you learn about a great recycling idea for calendars. Get long-term use from the pictures you loved in your calendar far longer than one year!
• Goal-Getter Spotlight--"Today a Laptop, Tomorrow a Castle" takes you into the life of Aubrey Lively as you hear from an all-around goal-getter. She shares her heart for writing and her story of a small-step process to reaching big success!
• Readers Write In--Molly opens this section this month to fellow readers sharing family traditions. Exactly what did happen to Paula's disappearing gingerbread man's arms and legs? Enjoy her story with a recipe for cinnamon ornaments. Delight in Lisa's very creative final hidden gift that will help your family when it comes time to tear down the Christmas tree. Perfect personalized gifts, tips for gift-giving, even tips for opening gifts can all be found in wonderful advice from fellow Molly's Digest readers.
• Molly's Question of the Month--Are you signed up for Molly's free, weekly E-Newsletter? If not, you are missing out on tips and creative ideas to stay frugal throughout your household. You don't want to miss it!
• Words Worth Saving--Perfect for a monthly memorization activity, Scripture is found throughout Molly's Money-Saving Digest. Enjoy God's Word as you celebrate this Christmas season and all of December.
• Directory of Links--Count on this directory of the links found in the Digest, enabling you to instantly reach websites while viewing your Digest online. Or print the list for a great resource of money-saving sites to refer to again and again.
  

Great gift ideas save you far more than $4.95!

New Molly readers, veteran Molly readers, homemakers, homeschoolers, and moms very much like you have previewed the December Molly--what did they say?

"As always, there are money-saving tips and recipes in the pages of the latest Digest. An entire week's worth of menu-planning meals for suppertime are shared, including a terrific recipe for frozen meat loaf. There are a few recipes for making your own candy, along with links for others and how to turn the goodies into great gifts. In addition, there is fantastic idea after idea for low-cost gift-giving--much appreciated in my household this year! . . . And there are ideas for decorating too, such as yummy-smelling cinnamon ornaments, as well as some non-Christmas decorating ideas for your home. I'm going to be referring to this copy of the Digest often as the Christmas season approaches!"

-Kimberly Charron, Cape Breton, Canada

"Knowing that this issue was December and would be directly linked to the holiday season, I was so pleased to read that the writing for the Digest would be directed towards Christians with diversity in convictions and beliefs and traditions in mind. With that said I was able to grab the Digest and sit to glean cheerfully from its contents without worrying about whether or not to avoid or pass through any of the writings . . . I got my cooking thinking cap back on in the recipe section and am making my lists for cooking up those extra meals for the freezer. Once I'm in the habit of doing it, boy, does it make life easier in the kitchen on co-op and errand days for us. On a personal note, it always makes me wonder why people only decide to help out others during the holiday season. Is Christ not in our lives EVERY DAY of the year, EVERY month as well? Setting our children up for service projects and helping the homeless and families in need should be a part of our everyday living, not just the last month of the year. I enjoyed reading all the gift ideas, and I think I might even do those year 'round, especially to families with multiple siblings--giving is so much fun! I love the idea of giving for the body, soul, and spirit; wow, what a great concept to teach with as well! All in all, another wonderful Digest full of ideas and encouragement for the homeschooling Christian family."

-Katrina Flaws, Murphy, NC

"December's Molly's Money-Saving Digest is perfect for this year. I had already been stressing over how to still celebrate a meaningful Christmas with less money and less time. Molly's Digest has so many great ideas to de-stress my Christmas time. I had to grab pen and paper to write down recipes and ideas. The candy-making section inspired me to try something new. The family gift ideas are a great way to make someone know they are special without having to spend too much. I also thoroughly enjoyed the ideas from readers on new Christmas traditions--at least new to me. Now I can hardly wait for the holidays to begin."

-Tisha Cypert, Ada, OK

These reviewers enjoyed over 45 pages of Christmas comfort and joy in Jesus with
great gift-giving ideas, recipes, holiday help,
and more--will you?

The first twelve issues of Molly's Digest have
paved the way for another tremendous year--
you don't want to miss it!

Spend $4.95 and save much more in time and money with superb gift ideas, scrumptious recipes, planning help, and encouragement for making the most of the Christmas season--without losing your sanity and while keeping your focus on the reason for the season, Jesus Christ!

Are you still trying to decide if this E-Book
is perfect for you?

View a Sample of This Item Right Here

Enjoy some comfort and joy this Christmas--
spread a little around too!

 Be amazed at how far just a little money goes when you buy Molly's Money-Saving Digest today. Great tips, perfect gifts, family memories,
and more await you!

 Simplify, minimize, and get cozy today!
Enjoy Comfort and Joy in December!



Join Molly daily and follow her
adventures in fiscally-responsible homemaking at

www.Econobusters.com.

And then keep watching for next month's Molly's Money-Saving Digest.

Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in specialneeds

I love the holidays! Around here it takes some effort though. I have to think through all my decor...can it be swallowed, chewed on, obsessed over or otherwise some danger that will require me to call the poison control guy? Are the meals at my house or somewhere else? Then what about our diet restrictions? If we are going to somewhere else is it safe enough that my little one who runs away will not get out? And so the list continues.

This is not say that I get uptight and overwrought for the holidays. I have done that before and as much as I would like to say it's not going to happen again... I just don't know. I have found a calm that helps me deal with the season.

Part of the calm comes from an acceptance of what can and cannot be. My husband and I have collected small Hallmark ornaments for years. The past 5+ years they cannot come out. We tried they were broken. So now we stow them away knowing that a time will come later in our life when we can put them out. I read an article in a country decor magazine that sung to me. The lady being interviewed had two children on the spectrum. She had made all her ornaments out of rolled stripes of cloth, very country looking, and nice when one of her sons flung one across the room!

Another one that hurts but is necessary, is that we cannot schedule everything and meals with everyone. In the holiday season it seems that there is a place to be every weekend and many week days. We could get a babysitter but is that truly what the season is about? For us no. We choose what we can do reasonably and then in the end if we have to we are ready to cancel. I don't like be so soft about meal commitments and events. It can be hard for others to understand but I know that my responsibility as a parent to a wonderfully special child comes before my social calendar.

As for diet restrictions I make a meal for us ahead of time. We bring a portion of the meal. We quietly load up the kids plates with the good stuff. I also go understanding that we will most likely have some contamination of glutens or caseins. It happens. I am not happy and I do not take that as a reason to break our diet in a big way. We get right back to work doing the best you can and eating the best you can.

All of this happens the easiest if I have a grand plan for the month. I mark out on a calendar, we hang on the wall, the whole month. The kids and I go over it repeatedly. As my son says,"If you don't tell me. I don't know and I get icky feeling inside when you jump up and say it's time to go."  That was such a perfect insight into how he sees a change in schedule. It isn't an inconvience for him, it is a physically unpleasant response. Be clear about your plans!

Your holiday season can be wonderful! Carefully and thoughtfully think about your expectations. Plan the season accordingly. Get the whole family involved in keeping a calendar for events. In the end talk about and live out what is the most important part of the season. I believe if you do that you will feel fufilled and at peace! May the Lord bless your holiday season!

Heather lives in West Virginia. She and her husband have been homeschooling their 5 children for 8 years.  Due to a genetic disorder their children have multiple special needs. Heather is also dealing with personal health difficulties. Living life to the fullest for the glory of God is their goal!  Visit Heather's page at  www.homeschoolblogger.com/gfcfmomofmany/ or at Special Needs Homeschooling.