Nov. 10, 2009 - Reaching Homeschoolers
At a homeschool convention last year, another vendor and I struck up a conversation. He had a lot of energy but seemed a bit uptight; however, he readily admitted that he felt totally out of place because he didn't homeschool and this was definitely not his "typical convention." Not really interested in finding out what his "typical convention" was like, I smiled and assured him that we all knew he was out of place the minute he walked in the vendor hall, but we're a polite group and so we didn't point or stare as we talked about him to each other. He grinned and relaxed a bit.
"Obviously, you're a pretty direct person," He said. "So I was wondering, how does a guy who knows nothing about homeschooling sell his product to homeschoolers?"
Ignoring the fact that this out of place "greedy capitalist" was there just to make a profit, I chuckled and asked him, "Why do you think homeschoolers would even want to buy your product if you know absolutely nothing about us?"
He didn't seem to want to answer that, so I continued, "Get to know us a bit and you'll figure out it's not that hard to sell to us. We're pretty frugal but can be gullible in the right circumstance with a promising product, especially at a homeschool convention."
"Fair enough." He replied. "Then I'd like to show you my stuff and see what you think. But first there's one thing I've been wondering about homeschoolers for quite a while now."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"Why do you homeschoolers have so many kids?"
"Umm, gee, maybe it's because we have more exciting things to do than watch Jay Leno after the kiddos go to bed?!?" (Okay, I didn't really say that but I did think it.)
Instead, I politely tried to explain that for some of us homeschooling isn't just an educational choice but a life decision based on a belief that children are as a blessing from God. He wasn't getting it and I was getting hungry so the conversation quickly died of natural causes.
If I ever run into him again, however, I'm sending him over to Ethan Demme (of Math-U-See fame) who gives a much more thoughtful and complete answer to the question, How do I reach the homeschool community? His post is directed at politicians but he starts from the same premise that you have to know something about us, past and present, in order to reach us.
As a homeschool grad and marketing guru, Demme provides an excellent round-up of information and resources to understand this growing but changing movement of homeschool radicals who actually believe they can teach their children at home and live to blog about it. Check it out and keep in handy if you ever run into my vendor friend at your state homeschool convention.
(Note to Demme: Please add a paragraph on fecundity and homeschoolers, thanks in advance.)
-Spunky
Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool
Nov. 10, 2009 - Save 20% on Times Tales!
Times Tales is having a sale! If you use the code BESTBUD you will receive 20% off any Times Tales!
Click on the graphic below to visit their website:
Don't forget to enter the code to get yor discount!
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
Nov. 8, 2009 - Sneaky Chick!
Nov. 9, 2009 - Surviving Tough Times as a Family
Quite a few of our family members (from different states) got together this year, and decided that it would be nice if we could all spend Thanksgiving together. My brother and I had been contemplating meeting up in TX to see my parents and younger siblings anyway, so this sounded like a good idea to us. Since we're all pretty spread out, we had to decide on a central location, which ended up being AZ. Not very central to us over here on the East Coast, but it works for everyone else who lives in CA, AZ, and TX, so alas, we were outnumbered, lol. (Plus my grandparents are in AZ, and they obviously had dibs on who gets to NOT travel, know what I mean?) None of us are exactly raking in the dough during these tough times in our economy, so this has taken some advanced planning to try to make it work. My aunt started sending out the list for what dishes to bring around the first week of Oct., even though the majority of us hadn't even made travel arrangements just yet. We all agreed though, that it is imperative that we at least make this effort to see my grandparents (as we haven't been to visit for quite some time, and our beloved "Papa" is getting along in years...)
For us, it has been touch and go, as to whether we'd actually be able to make it or not. But hubby sat us down and explained that if this trip were gonna happen, it would take the work of us all.. So, we've all been chipping in and doing our part to raise/save $ for this family trip. Since this is a slower time of year for DH's business (construction), he's trying to prep ahead of time by working extra hours, and as much as possible to be prepared (often after Thanksgiving, he goes w/o work almost until the new year) for when we get back. In addition to this, I've reduced our grocery budget down to almost nothing, trying to use our available resources instead (thank God we are still getting a harvest from our garden, and the chickens have not stopped for their fall/winter break from laying, yet.) I've also been selling quite a few things on Ebay and Craigslist, and have been able to get a bit of money saved up.
But, I would have to say that the absolute STAR OF THE SHOW, has been AJ! He took our little family talk to heart, and has taken it upon himself to attempt to single-handedly raise enough $ to go. I'm not sure if the prospect of seeing his former "siblings" (teenage aunts/uncle that lived w/him as siblings for 2 yrs - actually my siblings, lol) and all of our family has been his motivation, or if it was a spin off of our family book study "Created for Work" (AWESOME book for ages 12+ on which I'll do another post on this book w/a review). I'm assuming that it's both. After reading this book together (and we still haven't finished), and hearing of our plight of lack of $ to go on this trip, AJ decided to create a "landscaping" business. He has been maintaining the lawns (cutting, weed-eating, raking, sweeping driveways/in front of curbs, etc) of our neighbors for $20-30/yard. He has taken this job very seriously, purchasing his own gas for the mower, line for the weed-eater, bags for raking, and has checked out several lawn mower repair books from the library in order to provide maintenance to the (3) lawnmowers that we have. The Lord has been truly blessing him in his efforts because it seems like each week, another neighbor will stop him (upon seeing him work on someone's yard) and give him more work. I would daresay the child has earned enough to pay for his own ticket AZ! (Although, he doesn't realize that Daddy's planning on purchasing the tickets and allowing AJ to keep his $ for spending cash and such while on our trip. ) He's worked so hard, and we are so proud of him, and the example that he's setting for homeschoolers to our neighbors.
We know that many family's are caught in a dilemma over whether or not to relay to their children how the economy is affecting them. We sometimes feel like we don't want them to worry their young little hearts over such adult matters. But, we also don't want to sugar coat the world so that our children grow up unaware of tough times that may lie ahead. We have decided that we will allow our son to share in the good times as well as the bad. So that not only will he understand how the world really works, but also be able to find joy in all circumstances. (Being able to fully understand what Paul meant in Phil 4:11-13). We're happy that he's learning that the family is a community, in which we must all do our part to make work. He truly feels valuable as a part of the family unit, and sees that when the time comes, he will be "just like Daddy" in doing what it takes to get out, and try his best to keep his family afloat, even in the toughest of economies.
Nov. 8, 2009 - My favorite easy gift!
So I developed an obsession with sweetened green tea this summer, and as I was indulging in this treat I noticed the bottles were a pretty shape, so I started washing them and saving them, and they have become one of my favorite new mom, new neighbor, have a happy day gifts! Just add in one or a few flowers (either from your garden or Albertsons and other grocery stores sell a small bunch for about $4)
I was so excited at first that I didn't take pictures of the super cute ones before giving them away but I have snapped pictures of a few of them!
Nov. 9, 2009 - Apollo Eight Astronauts Read From Genesis 1968
The other night my daughter came to me with her Awana book and said "It says in here that in the 60's the Astronauts read from the book of Genesis on Christmas Eve from the Moon. Is that true or something Awana just made up?" I happened to be sitting at the computer so I played this for her...
http://www.archive.org/details/Genesis-ApolloEight-24Dec1968
Pretty cool!
I am assuming I don't remember this from the original airing since I was only 3 in 1968! But I do remember hearing it before. It is quite touching to listen to and somewhat sad to think about how much our world has changed in the last 40 years. I can't imagine something like this happening today and obviously neither could my daughter since she thought they had made it up for Awana.
I am praying for a revival for America! How awesome it would be to NOT be surprised to hear prayer in this country! How wonderful it would be for my children and grandchildren to live in an America that honored the one true God! Please join me in praying for our country.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
Psalms 33:12
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
Nov. 7, 2009 - Are you growing?
Go to God in prayer daily.
Read God's word daily.
Obey God moment by moment.
Witness for Christ by your life and words.
Trust God for every detail of your life.
Holy Spirit - allow Him to control and empower your daily life
Nov. 6, 2009 - Blackberry Clafouti
I've wanted to try this recipe for two summers now, after seeing it all over the blogworld, but somehow I just never got to it. Today I came across the last of the blackberries we picked this summer and decided it was now or never! (I've seen it made with all kinds of fruit, but had it in my mind that *I* wanted to try it with blackberries!)
So the children and I mixed it up and not only was it fun to make it was a HUGE hit here!
The picture above was about halfway through baking. YUM!
Clafouti:
12 oz or so of fruit
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup creme fraiche (we used sour cream)
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Butter a 9" baking dish (we used more fruit so I used a 9x13) then sprinkle with granulated sugar. (I used it out of the 1/2 cup we had already measured). Arrange fruit over the bottom.
In a bowl wisk eggs, then add flour. Once well combined mix in remaining ingredients and pour over fruit.
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes until center is set.
Nov. 6, 2009 - Pumpkin Party
On Oct. 1st the kids and I were in the car headed to the pumpkin patch! They were all dressed in fall t-shirts and I was ready to take some great pictures! Then it started raining...I pulled over and made a few quick calls to the homeschool friends we were suppose to meet. We all decided to go another day. Little did we know it was going to rain for 30 days straight! (I am exaggerating a little here, but honestly this is the wettest Oct. I have seen in my life!) Meanwhile we were in the middle of moving. The rain meant we were moving in the mud and the last thing I wanted to do was trek out into a pumpkin patch and collect even more mud. As the month headed to a close I started to realize a trip to the pumpkin patch was not going to happen. So I did the next logical thing...I decided to have a Pumpkin Party! LOL
What is a Pumpkin Party??? Honestly it's something I made up. But, we had our first one on Nov. 2nd with 97 people in attendance! Thankfully the rain finally stopped and we found a park with lots of concrete to keep us out of the mud. The party was a huge success and a LOT of fun! Here are the highlights....
We started out with the kids each decorating a pumpkin cookie.
Then they ate their cookies while waiting for the pumpkin story to start.
Next we listened to the Pumpkin Gospel
You can read all about the story at the link below
http://ginaconroy.
Then we played pumpkin games!
Pumpkin Parachute Game.
I got a package of Fun Foam Pumpkin and made a smiley face on one with a marker. Then they would put all the pumpkins in the parachute, throw them up in the air and the person who found the smiley face got a piece of candy. Repeat until everyone wins!
Pumpkin Bowling was a favorite!
We also had Pumpkin Golf! My husband cut the bottom off the pumpkin and made 3 holes for us to golf into!
The kids loved this! I got the idea here:
http://familycrafts
We also had Pumpkin Hot Potato.
And we had Pumpkin Relay Races!
We finished off the party with lots and lots of pumpkin food! Everyone brought a pumpkin dish to share. We had pies, breads, cakes, cookies, pumpkin dip. The food was amazing!
It was a great day and I am sure we will have many more pumpkin parties in the future.
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
Nov. 6, 2009 - Freebie Friday Birthday Freebies Nov. 6 2009
Welcome to Freebie Friday!
It just so happens that all five of the people in our family have birthdays in a six-month period. So from mid-August to mid-February it feels we are constantly in birthday mode. Tomorrow is my husband's birthday, so that got me thinking about what birthday freebies are out there. I found some great ones, including a list of restaurants that give free food on your birthday! There are also free printable cards, cake ideas, and much more!
I hope you enjoy this week's birthday freebies!
Family Fun has a wonderful selection of birthday cake ideas you can easily make at home. I have made many of these for my family, and they are always a big hit!
Greetings Island has free, printable birthday cards.
Dayspring has a lovely collection of free E-Cards.
Need to be reminded of upcoming birthdays? Here is a free birthday reminder service.
You can print your own free happy birthday banner HERE.
How about some free food? This website has a huge list of restaurants that give freebies on your birthday.
Want to know what happened in history on your birthday? Click HERE to see a short video of what has happened on your special day.
Find out how many days old you are HERE.
This is a neat website. You can see a time capsule of the day you were born. Find out what bread cost, or how much you would have paid for a car. Learn what the minimum wage was and lots of other fun information!
I hope you enjoy this week’s birthday freebies!
Happy homeschooling!
Jamin
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