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Merry Christmas (very soon)!!  It's time to talk about Christmas!

How do you run your homeschooling around Christmas? The season has plenty to do, but my kids demand structure. This time of year I tend to turn to my Christmas unit study. The art time in the afternoon will get turned into present making time or ornament making time. Though being Christmas time I search for more meaning in our days.

This time of year I also try to fit in outside service projects. In talking with a homeschooling mom recently she shared how they use this season to help train their children in service to others and keep it Jesus focused.

The day after Thanksgiving she and her family settle on a family that is in great need. They each give part of their Christmas gifts to feed and care for this family. Then a week before Christmas they drop this package off at the needy family's home.

You may say well there are groups out there that do that. Yes, there are. I would argue though that it is our duty as Christians to help others and what better way than just a simple exchange in love and covered in prayer. You show very clearly to your children that it IS better to give than to receive.

Thank you my friend for sharing that with me! 

Think of a way you can share the love of Christ with others. What does your family do at Christmas to make Christ an active, real part?

I pray blessings to you and may your Christmas time be productive for the Lord!

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.

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More abusive teachers are in the news, this time two teachers tortured and abused several special needs children in their care--children who couldn't speak out about what was happening to them.

Parents, even your special needs children deserve to be at home where it is safe, and where you can be there to protect them. Homeschooling special needs children can be done!

Check out these resources to start:

• E-Book: Teaching Jeremiah--a complete curriculum for teaching special needs children in preschool and early elementary grades.
• E-Book: Someplace Called Special--A Look at Homeschooling Special Needs Children
• Special Words for Special Needs--Blog posts by a mom homeschooling several special needs children.
  

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I'm having a video countdown to Christmas that started on December 15th.  Each day I'm uploading an inspirational or comedic video that shares the spirit of Christmas with my readers.  Check it out each day on Communication FUNdamentals!

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World Net Daily reports that just may become the case for British parents who wish to homeschool their children. The law stems, in part, to a problem that some parents are using homeschooling as a way to disguise abuse. However, what the law doesn't stipulate is what is required to pass a background check, it invades the rights and privacy of parents, and presumes them guilty until proven innocent.

As I've said before, there are already laws in place--in both Britain and the U.S.--in regards to child abuse. Government agencies are refusing to back those laws up. While there are several homeschool parents in Britain who are in agreement with making tighter restrictions on themselves in order to get rid of the few who give them a bad name, they need to recognize that this bill isn't really about protecting them. It's about a government trying to find ways to slow homeschooling down--period. Find out which parties and agencies are backing this bill and I think you'll find they aren't, and never have been, friendly to homeschooling.

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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This week at HSB's "Company Front Porch," we've been asked to focus on Christmas.  Last week, though, I began a 2-part post about studying the Bible as it relates to Homeschooling Through High School.  In continuing that topic today, I think the Lord will allow me to do both things!  Grab a cup of java or tea, and join me as we take a "mind's eye journey" back to Bethlehem.

But that's NOT where I wish to take us.  I want to go deeper than just that.  I want to go back into the Old Testament, and set the stage for that event which took place out in those fields.  To do this, I'd like to introduce to you a dear friend of mine, Cindy Zeigler, mother of 4 homeschool graduates (all of whom are now married and 3 of whom are missionaries), and author of several of the best Bible studies our family has ever gone through.  In "Understanding the Bible: A Biblical Survey," we read the following (note: Cindy uses the NASB translation in her materials, so that is what is quoted here): 

Shortly after the onset of Judah's captivity, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzer.  Then, after the Medes and Persians overtook Babylon, and after the 70 year period of Judah's captivity, Judah was allowed to go back to their land and rebuild Jerusalem, the wall, and the temple.  There were three post-exilic prophets -- Haggai, Zacharia, and Malachi -- each telling of the plans the Lord has yet for Israel.  After the Word of the Lord came to Malachi, the final prophet, there was a long period of silence from Heaven -- 400 years.

The prophecy of Amos came to bear on the Jews.  Amos, after being told by a priest to leave the Northern kingdom and go prophecy in the Southern kingdom (Amos 7:12), uttered these words:

Amos 8:11  "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD..."

So there was silence.

The voice of Heaven was not heard by the ears of earth.

...for 400 years.

...four hundred long years!

And...

A woman who was called barren,

bore a son, and they called him John.

Suddenly a bright light shown in the darkness...

...a star shining in the east.

A virgin had conceived and had borne a Son, and they called Him Immanuel, "God with us."

Then a voice was heard...

...a voice crying in the wilderness

...calling the people to

"Repent for the Kingdom of the Heavens was at hand."

Now, jumping ahead in the study, we come to the First Advent of Christ in fulfillment of so much prophecy...Cindy writes:

Not far from the city of Bethlehem was a place where shepherds were keeping watch over a flock of sheep.  After "Immanuel" was born, an angel appeared to these shepherds.

Luke 2

8     And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.  9  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  10  And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;  11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  12  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

13  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

I can only imagine the explosion of praise that erupted from the heavenly host after 400 years of silence...after the end of the waiting in the heavens for this plan from the time of the creation to finally be put in motion...I can only imagine the sheer terror of those shepherds out in the quiet of that field!!!  The NASB translation quoted uses the phrase, "terribly frightened." The KJV says "sore afraid." The NIV offers "terrified."  I put myself out there on a quiet night in the fields with a bunch of sleepy sheep and try to imagine the event...I don't know if "terrified" is even descriptive enough! 

And that brings me back to "Part 2" of last week's post regarding Bible study in the homeschool high school, and the question we began with: "What is God's mind on education?"  Here are God's inspired words: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).  Encourage your high schoolers to dig into the Scriptures, and to dig deep.  Untold riches are often skimmed right over by all of us when we read what to us seems "familiar territory."  I love the way that Cindy and another of my favorite authors, Diana Waring, both keep coming back to the big picture of God's unchanging plan, of His-Story (Diana's word for history), of His promise and His glory.  May we all grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in these remarkable times!  

Lori

PS. Cindy's Bible studies are available free of charge at the link provided above and HERE.  Donations are accepted if you are able, but are not required.  This is a ministry of their church, and the call of God upon their hearts.  Studies are available digitally for download, or you may email and request a hard copy.  In either case, email and ask for a set of any DVD lectures that go with the studies.  The study I've quoted from in this week's post, "Understanding the Bible: A Biblical Survey," is recommended as a "prerequisite" and basis for all of the other studies offered.  For homeschoolers, it makes a wonderful one-semester high school study, providing a 1/2 credit (0.5 CU) in Bible.  It is 17 weeks long, with assignments 5 days a week, and a 45 minute video lecture to be viewed after completion of each week's study (we watched our DVD lectures on Saturdays, and looked very much forward to each one!).  Follow this with "Understanding Hebrews," a 16-week study, and your student will have a full year (1.0CU) of Bible for their transcript.  More important, however, will be their spiritual gain: the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy which is understanding.  Whatever Bible study you choose to share with your young adults, encourage them to drink deeply from the well of God's Word!  

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If you can stand yet another Christmas cookie recipe, here's a very simple, yet tasty one:

Sugar-N-Spice Cookies

 1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup cane juice crystals (or other sugar of your choice)

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 cup organic unbleached flour (plain unbleached flour is fine, too)

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

dash nutmeg

Mix butter and sugar together.  Stir in vanilla and egg until smooth.  Mix flour and spices together and then stir into butter mixture until well blended.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until edges just begin to brown and tops start to crinkle and collapse.  Cool on pan 30 seconds, then move to wire rack to cool.  Enjoy! 

May I encourage you to spend some time this week asking Jesus what He would like for His birthday?  The answer may surprise you! 

Perhaps your family could join ours in baking a batch of these cookies to share with those less fortunate than us who could use a bit of Christmas cheer this season.  Be sure to tell them the reason for the gift ... It's Jesus' Birthday!

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.   Matthew 25:34-40

I pray your family has a blessed Christmas. 

Catherine

Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana.  They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they seek to live a lifestyle of learning together as a family.  You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love.

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Christmas is looming closer!  If you would like to make a few decorations, or you still need to make a couple more gifts for friends or family, then check out the wonderful links below!

• Vintage Style Christmas Ornaments ~ Several of these darling ornaments are sure to add a nostalgic touch to your holiday decor.
• Pocket Advent Calendar ~ It's not too late to count down the days!
• Owl Garland ~ I'm not really sure what this has to do with Christmas, but I decided to add it, since it is so cute!
• Pine Tree Sachets ~ Make these aromatic trees to give or gifts, or even make a couple to place around your own home!
• Christmas Tree Ornaments in Denim ~ Everyone has an old pair of jeans at one time or another, so why not use them to make some cute ornaments?
• Minutia ~ Knitters will love this collection of tiny sweaters ornaments.
• Partridge Ornament ~ This makes me think about Quail more than Partridge, but then, I don't think I've ever actually seen a Partridge...

Homemade Gifts

• Peasant Skirt ~ Every girl will want one of these for Christmas!  They shouldn't take too long to make, either.
• Headband Tutorials ~ Another great gift for girls. 
• Brown Sugar & Spice Body Scrub ~ I definitely want to try this for myself sometime, but of course it would make a wonderful present too!
• Darling Pincushions ~ For the seamstress in your life.
• Ribbon Bookmarks ~ Who doesn't need more bookmarks?
• Adventure Pouch ~ I think this would be perfect for little boys to carry their treasures around in!  Of course, grown-ups might like one too.
• Embroidery ~ Stitch an verse, or inspiring quote, to give to one of your loved ones.

Eyebright enjoys crafts of all kinds, especially knitting and crochet.  You can find her blogging at Defective Compositions.

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December is a hard month to continue on with school.  With all of the preparation and excitement that comes at this time of year, keeping to a regular routine is hard for our family.   Usually, when December hits, we delve far from our regular school path and sprinkle our learning time with more of a Christmas flair.   I found  the Teaching Mom's  Advent website about  three years ago and we have been using it ever since for the month of December.

This site has Bible readings, art history and appreciation, history, geography, music, book suggestions and just plain fun.  All of these offerings are rooted in Christmas and Advent.  The first page gives you a calendar of the Advent season (the site has not been updated since 2008 but it is still usable.)   When you click on a day, it gives you a plethora of ideas and readings for that day.  Most days  revolve around a theme which make us theme-oriented moms happy. 

This is an awesome site and it is used to full capacity by  our family,  year after year.  Our Advent season would not be complete without ideas from this Advent site. 

Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies with her husband,  homeschooling her 3 children (10,8,6) and is attempting to give them a Classical Education.  You can read more at her blog.

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