I have been blessed again with an award.  This "Gorgeous Blog Award" came from Bronwyn over at Coffeandconversatio.  Thank you Bronwyn.  I hope you stop on over there and check out her blog.  She has a really nice one where she shares her life as a mother and wife.  By accepting this award  I am require to tell you six things about myself that you don't know and then award it to six other gorgeous bloggers.

 Now let's see what I can come up with that will make this most interesting for you to know about me.

1.   I have 2 middle names which are Louqueta Lynn (in this order).  Now imagine me being required to write out my whole name as a signature with my maiden and married name hyphenated .

2.    I met my dh in college.  He wanted to date me for over a year but I wouldn't go out with him because I wasn't interested.  He tutored me and we became good friends.  I fell for him and we dated for 4 months before we got married.  We've been married 13.5 years now.  Who would have known ?  

3.   I only have one child and his birthday is coming up this week (Oct. 22nd).  He will be 10 years old.  My dh always jokes that God may use His sense of humor to bless us with another child after we're 40 and not thinking about raising kids any longer.

4.   I am a black, shy, stay at home, 1st generation, homeschooling moma who just started blogging for the first time last Fall.

5.   My favorite movie to watch EVERY YEAR around the holidays is "The Sound of Music".

6.   My comfort foods are ice cream, peanut M&M's, and potatoes.  I haven't had these in a while because I'm trying to have some discipline.  Oh how I miss them since I'm eating healthier now.  Please pray for me .

I would like to pass on this award to 6 other gorgeous bloggers who are:

1.   Kela @ http://nellumsandco.blogspot.com/

2.   Gidget @ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/gidget/

3.  Erin @ http://www.welltrainedhomeschool.blogspot.com/

4.  Summer @ http://gracefromabove.blogspot.com/

5.  Renee @ http://glowacademy10.blogspot.com/ 

6.  http://devildogfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/educaching.html 

Have you heard of the Teacher Book Bag (TBB)?  Each month they have new book bags filled with lots of great reasources to use.   They offer book bags for different levels like Preschool-Kindergarden, 1st-3rd, as well as 4th and Beyond.  We have been using their August 2009 4th and Beyond book bag.  The title for this month is The Sun, Seasons, and Solar System.   

This book bag costs only $2.49.  You can use the information in it to create a Lapbook, Notebook, Unit Study, and even a Science Center.  Now that we are doing workboxes I have been using different things from this book bag as an activity for my sons "Fun Boxes".  In it you have information about the sun including diagrams and charts of the sunrise and sunset. There is also information about the planets.  As a project we made a solar system mobile and hung it up in our sons bedroom. Here are pics of the finished project:

The kids will learn all about Fahrenheit and Celsius, Miles and Kilometers, Constellations, and even how to build a Pizza Box Solar Oven.  This is just a little of what to expect but there is so much more.  They also have bundle packs for those of you teaching different age groups. The Aug. 2009 Bundle pack  is $4.99.  It has all the bookbags for each grade level (Preschool-K, 1st-3rd, as well as 4th and beyond).

As I mentioned before there are many ways you can use the contents within the book bags.   You are only limited by your own imagination.  They have games and activity e-books too. Be looking out for more things to come from TBB.  Don't forget to check out the freebies.  Just look to the left on their home page for the link to click on.

John 3:16-18 (KJV) 

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Last year when I was part of TOS Crew I had the chance to write a review of their 2008-2009 Schoolhouse Planner.   At that time I was new to blogging.  This was one of the first reviews I ever did.  You can read my review of the 2008-2009 Schoolhouse Planner here.  I must say I really enjoyed using this planner for our home and school needs.  That's why I'm so excited to tell you about this years Schoolhouse Planner.

The 2009-2010 Schoolhouse Planner has been re-created to be bigger and better than ever before with essays from your favorite authors, including Dr. Jay L. Wile and Amanda Bennett.

Here is a breakdown of what you will find in the 2009-2010 Schoolhouse Planner:

-  Copywork pages, ready to print and use.
-  High school transcript forms.
-  Over 40 all-new forms for household and homeschool organization.
-  Monthly articles, including:
       
July—Start at the beginning with the study of our nation as you read “The
Thirteen Colonies” by Michelle Miller (TruthQuest History).

August—Keep topics in order as you learn the how and why of math in “Ten Keys to Success Learning Math in the Decimal System” by Steve Demme of Math•U•See.

September—You’ll read all about the different types of clouds as Dr. Jay L. Wile, Ph.D., brings you “Weather” filled with fascinating facts.
   
October—Just in time for dry fall leaves, Molly Green writes “Home Fires Happen” to improve your knowledge of fire prevention and safety. The Emergency Preparedness information doesn’t stop with fire; it includes earthquake, tornado, and hurricane safety too!

November—Known as the month for voting, November includes “American Government Basics” by Amanda Bennett. Learn the components of our governmental system, find a listing of branches of federal, state, and local governments, links to local levels of government, and encouragement for students to contact their leaders.

December—“Learning to Spot the Planets” by Jay Ryan (Classical Astronomy) will be an adventure with the unaided eye as you learn the planets are easily visible on a clear night.
   
January—Bring in 2010 with “Using Letter Writing to Connect the Generations” as Grandconnect presents ideas for encouraging consistent and creative communication between grandparents and grandchildren. Tremendous Letter Writing Tips & Samples fill two pages of assistance for both personal and business letters.

February—With 44 miracles and 55 parables neatly presented on the charts The Miracles of Jesus and The Parables of Jesus, February flourishes as “Jesus’ First Miracle” by Robert W. Carter, Ph.D., brings an enlightening study to the month.

March—Bound into the month like a lion as you learn “What’s So Great About Dead Languages?” with Karen Mohs (Greek ‘n’ Stuff). Karen assures readers that “the key ingredient for success is a heart ready and willing to learn.”

April—“Lap Books: A Creative Road to Retention” by Tammy Duby will explain the advantages of lapbooking and supply a wonderful resource list for those already in love with this great teaching tool. And the Basic Lap Book™ Supplies list is printable!
   
May—Make some sense of everything after graduation with Terry Wilfong in “The Basics of Getting Into College.” As the president of College Options Foundation, he breaks down the many options for financing a college education and defines the three basic types of scholarships as he directs you toward the understanding that “Education is the Door to all Endeavors.” The Getting Into College timeline is broken down by high school grade and monthly tasks and should not be missed!

June—Close the school year with an informative look at “Homeschooling Around the World” by Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest Maps. What is homeschooling like in New Zealand, China, Canada, South Africa, or Israel? Learn what others deal with across the globe as they strive to homeschool their children, and be reminded of how blessed we are to homeschool in the United States!
   
Each article has a corresponding “Must-Know” list, including:

• Latin and Greek Roots
• Letter Writing Tips
• Getting into College Checklist
• Emergency Preparedness
• Branches of Federal, State, and Local Governments
• And more!

The price for this planner is $39.00 in The Old Schoolhouse store.  It is well worth the price. So why wait? Now is the time to “Plan Your Best Year Ever!”

There is a new way to learn that is becoming very popular today in the world of technology.  Are you wondering what that is?  Well let me tell you all about it.  This new way of learning is possible through the use of E-books.  Some of you may be thinking "what are E-books"?  E-books are electronic books that can be bought, instantly downloaded, and read from your computer, laptop, or an electronic reading device.

As a matter of fact...I just finished reading a really great E-book called "E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-book Revolution".  The Old Schoolhouse is offering this very informative e-book now for FREE.  Throughout the nine chapters our favorite authors shares with us "why buy e-books, how they can be useful in our homeschooling, benefits of having them, how to read e-books, storing and organizing them, as well as ways to publish your own e-books. 

If you have heard about e-books, have you thought about "embracing the E-book Revolution"?  E-books are becoming really popular with homeschoolers these days.  I have many of them that I use personally myself and for homeschooling my son.  I like the fact that once I've paid for my e-book I don't have to wait for it to arrive in the mail or for it to come through a postal delivery service.  I have instant access to start using or reading it right then and there.  There have been times when I was pressing for time because we wanted to do a lapbook or unit study around a certain season of the year or a holiday.  The option to buy an e-book really came in handy.  

I'm starting to notice more companies who sell homeschooling materials are offering their curriculum in digital format (DE).  Many times I have found it to be cheaper than buying the print copy they have.  I also like the digital magazines that have now become available.  With the click of a button I can flip through the pages and get to what I want to read quicker .  I still like having a book I can actually touch and hold in my hand from time to time, but I can make some exceptions. 

Now that I have read "E-Homeschooling: Embracing the E-book Revolution" I have learned several new ways to store my e-books.  I already had a little system going but I now have new plans for my "virtual bookshelf".  I'm a very organized person, but it is always exciting to hear more ideas that others have come up with.  It keeps things interesting for me .   I really recommend reading this e-book to learn more about the what, whys, and how-to's of the new e-book craze.  And who knows...you may even get hooked on using them yourself!  So if you haven't already go ahead and click here now to get your copy today.

I would like to wish all the Fathers, Step-fathers, Fathers with Foster children, Grandfathers, Great Grandfathers, ect., a Happy Father's Day.  I pray for God's love, peace, and comfort be with all the fathers whose precious children are no longer with us.

Quotes:

"The greatest gift I ever had came from God, and I call him Dad!"  ~Anonymous

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father! " ~ Lydia M. Child

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

~ Henry Ward Beecher

I was so surprised when I saw a comment on my blog that said I’d been given an award.  I started thinking “I haven’t entered any contests or anything that I know of.”  I went to check the link and discovered the “One Lovely Blog Award.”  I had not heard of this before so you can see why I was so surprised.  The award came from Elaine at Commotion from the Ocean of Life .  She has a really nice blog about life as a retired Army family. She also talks about their new adventures into homeschooling.  I hope you stop by and give her a visit.     

The “One Lovely Blog” award came with a few rules.  Those rules are as follows:

1.       Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2.      Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I would love to share with my readers some wonderful blogs I’ve come across.  I don't have 15 just yet so I will keep coming back to add more until I’ve come up with a full list.

My nominees for the “One Lovely Blog” award are:

1. http://dynamic2moms.webs.com/

2. http://storytime-storytime.blogspot.com/

3. http://apathwithpromise.blogspot.com/

4. http://www.redheadrambler.com/

5. http://embracingdestiny.blogspot.com/

6. http://notnewtoautism.blogspot.com/

7. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Dell

8. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ShiverAcademy/

Thank you Elaine for the lovely award.  I really appreciate you choosing me.  For those I nominated I hope you can participate, and please let me know when you post yours so that I can stop by to see your newly discovered blogs!!!

The 2009 TOS Summer Reading Splash has begun.  My son had fun meeting Splish and being a part of this last summer. Homeschoolers of all ages are invited to take part in this event.  To kick things off there's a Scavenger Hunt and a coloring contests for the kids.  Well hurry on over so you won't miss out on the fun.  Just click on the picture and it will take you there.