Creekwood Chronicles

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This blog is a place to chronicle our family's adventures in homeschooling, special needs, adoption, child training, and life in general.

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Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach
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A Biblical Home Education
Shepherding A Child's Heart
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Draw and Write Through History series
For Instruction In Righteousness

Teach Your Child to Read In 100 Easy Lessons
The Children's Bible in 365 Stories
Draw Write Now series
Slow and Steady Get Me Ready
Preschool Activities in a Bag - Book 1
Rod & Staff Preschool ABC series
Beginning Mathematical Reasoning
Building Thinking Skills - Beginning
Mind Benders - Beginning
Thinker Doodles: Clues & Choose

Thank goodness I was never sent to school...Beatrix Potter quote at DailyLearners.com

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Nov. 25, 2009

A Blessed Thanksgiving

Posted in Holidays

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Oct. 12, 2009

Happy Canadian Thansgiving.

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Happy Thanksgiving to our family and friends north of the border. Have a blessed day!

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Jul. 3, 2009

Happy Independence Day!

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I am profoundly grateful for the sacrifices made by our founding fathers and our brave military through the years. Because of their courage, vision and sacrifice we have been blessed to enjoy such freedom in this country that many others can only dream of. But there is a greater freedom that has been purchased for us - in blood. Christ paid the ultimate price for our sins so we could be free from sin & death and live eternally with Him. However thankful I am to be a free American, it pales in comparison to my gratitude for Christ's sacrifice in my behalf. Remember those who sacrificed to keep our country free and the One who gave Himself so we could truly be free - forever. May God bless you this Independence Day!

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Jan. 26, 2009

Happy Niu Year!

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No, that's not a typo in the title - it's a play on words. Today is the first day of Chinese Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year). This year is the year of the Ox. This is "your" year if you were born in the following years: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, and of course, 2009. The Chinese word for ox is "niu" and sounds a lot like our English word "new". I've been told that "Happy Niu Year" is currently the most texted message in China right now.

Yesterday, on Chinese New Year's eve, we had a feast with our friends to celebrate. We tried to incorporate many Chinese traditions while still keeping it simple. The Chinese love the colors of red and gold, and for Spring Festival they like to buy flowers (a sign of spring) and serve oranges, so we used those colors and themes in our party decorations.

We made a paper chain with red, yellow, and orange paper, and some big pink "plum blossoms". Add to that a couple of paper lanterns, a red tablecloth, and red & gold plates, cups and napkins, and chopsticks, and you've got the makings of a festive supper party.

The children were going to color pictures of an ox and work on activity booklets I printed from Enchanted Learning, but ds wanted to play and dd and her friend Miss K were more interested in the activity books. So Mrs. K and I colored the girls' ox pictures! My dd had already started coloring her ox purple (her favorite color) so I thought I'd follow her lead and finish it that color. I added pink "plum blossoms" (dd's other favorite color) and oranges to finish the picture. DD loved it! Mrs. K decided on a rainbow theme - I think they turned out pretty nice, and it was a lot of fun to wield the crayons. Who says only children can have fun coloring?

DH and Mr. K finally arrived with our Chinese food (you didn't think we were going to eat pizza or something did you?). With a little Chinese music in the background we sat down to enjoy our feast. Everyone except our ds tried to use chopsticks - ds was more than content with a spoon. All I can say about our feast is "yummy!" We chose a nice variety of dishes and were very pleased with our festive meal.

Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year) & Gong Xi Fa Cai (Congratulations & be Prosperous - Mandarin)

And a special blessing to our friends in Asia:

"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
- Numbers 6: 24-26

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Dec. 31, 2008

Happy New Year!

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Dec. 19, 2008

Christmas Joy

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Dec. 17, 2008

Mary (Beth's) Christmas Letter

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Today I was blessed to read MaryBeth Chapman's Christmas Letter on their blog. This will be their first Christmas since their youngest, Maria, went home to meet Jesus. After giving an overview of this past year, one paragraph really stood out to me. MaryBeth writes,

"The last several days, my mind has not been able to stop thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Pregnant and scared, knowing that the baby she was carrying eventually would pay the ultimate price of His life. How would I have lived differently if I knew that my time with Maria was going to be this short? Regretfully, I would have lived much differently. I would have purposely hugged and kissed more. I would have tried to memorize and lock away in my heart certain smells and smiles. I would have colored more and worked less. I would have laughed more and fussed less. Bedtime wouldn’t have become a chore to check off the list of things to get done. Instead it would have been more of an opportunity to listen about the day and offer whatever words were needed. The swimming pool wouldn’t have been too cold to swim in. The flowers in the garden would have all been picked, and definitely more ice cream would have been consumed!"

Go read the entire post. I hope it encourages you to embrace each moment with your dear ones and to look for simple ways to make special memories everyday. Have a very Happy Christmas!

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Nov. 27, 2008

A Very Happy Thanksgiving to You!

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Sending cheerful Thanksgiving greetings from our home to yours. May you be abundantly blessed and encouraged as you visit with family and friends and reflect on God's wonderful goodness and provision in your lives.

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Jan. 2, 2008

Happy New Year!

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I have been away from my computer for several days over the Christmas holiday week. We have been having a wonderful time celebrating Christ's birth and welcoming the new year with our family. We are just getting back to our regular routine after traveling to visit family. I'm excited to see what God has in store for our family this year. It's going to be an interesting adventure.

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Dec. 26, 2007

A Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year

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I hope you have enjoyed the lyrics I have been posting to some of my favorite Christmas songs. I have so many favorites, it was hard to choose. I LOVE the music this time of year - well I love the old, classic music, not the modern stuff.

I will be spending several days with family to celebrate Christmas and welcome the new year. I pray everyone has wonderful times with family and friends. I hope to return to my blog in the new year rested and refreshed for the new adventures and challenges God has planned for us in 2008. Until then, God be with you and yours.

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