If you have not seen hints #1 and #2, please go see them :).

Things we need for what we're working on:

-Internet

-WordPerfect

-Typing and editing skills

-Hours and hours of time

Things we do not need:

-Printer/burner

-Shipping packages

-Cloth, yarn, etc.

-Paint

Bonus Hint: When I said "season" in Hint #1, it could have just as easily been "quarter". 

To reiterate quickly, the first person to guess correctly will receive an early Christmas present.

The surprise will hopefully be announced on Sunday or Monday.  That means that this guessing contest is over on Saturday, September 19.  That is just two days away so please start guessing!

The surprise is not...

-Just for kids

-Just for teens

-Just for adults

-Just for boys

-Just for girls

...it is for the whole family!

 (Norman Rockwell's painting "The Greatest Joys Are Shared")

To see Hint #1, go here.

The seasons come and go.   The "surprise" will only last for one season if you do not like it.  If, however, you enjoy it, find it useful, etc. then it may continue for many seasons to come.  Your opinions truly matter! 

Feel free to start guessing!

P.S. If you have no idea what I am talking about, please go here and read the "I am thinking..." section.  Thanks!

Growing in Grace is hosting a Blog with Grace petition.  To find out more, you can go here: http://www.growingingraceonline.com/2009/08/sign-petition-blog-with-grace.html

I'm off to sign the petition!

I took this from Miss Eyebright's blog even though she's not the creator of the tag :).

Calling ALL Homeschoolers! A Homeschooling Tag just for us!

Here are the rules:

• Answer all 10 questions! Then,
• Tag 3 or more other homeschoolers!

1) How long have you been homeschooled?

I consider myself educated by my parents from birth so in my view, almost 16 years :). 

2) What grade are you in?

I am going into 11th grade. 

3) What is your favorite subject(s) in your homeschool?

Fine arts are.  Filmmaking, writing, literature, etc.

4) What is your least favorite subject(s) in your homeschool?

Math. 

5) What is a current/previous homeschooling challenge you've faced?

Stressing myself out on getting everything done everyday :). 

6) What are you looking forward to over the coming year?

I look forward to making short films, writing essays, articles, short stories, novels, screenplays, etc., helping plan and eventually launch a family business, reading good books, learning more of what I need to know to be a capable keeper at home, and so much more! 

7) Name three things you like doing in the summer with your family.

Visiting the forest/wilderness, visiting the beach, and sports (sometimes :)).

8) What other activities do you enjoy, such as sports, hobbies, etc.?

Filmmaking, writing, entrepreneurship, reading, music (listening to music and playing the piano), homemaking, watching movies, and more.

9) Are you taking a foreign language? Are you going to in the future? Which one?

I am learning Thai.  It's tough!  It's a tonal language (five different tones) and there seem to be millions of vowels and consonants to memorize but I know I'm exaggerating :).  It is definitely very different from English!   

10) Where do you homeschool? (Kitchen table, livingroom, etc.)

I normally do my homeschool in my room.  That is where my desk is located and it's quieter than downstairs.

On Friday evening, international students from the local college came to our home for a game night.  It turned out to be a pleasant somewhat old-fashioned evening.  First of all, we gathered in our family room.  A male student and my Dad played two games of chess while the rest of us talked.  Then, we sang Christmas carols around the piano: "Joy to the World", "Silent Night, Holy Night", "Away in a Manger", "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful", "Oh, Little Town of Bethleham", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  After that, we played a variety of games.  Here is where the "somewhat" part comes in; I'm sure they did not have the specific games we played in the old-times :) even though they did have card games.  First, we played Apples to Apples.  Then, card games!  We learned a new game called "Heart attack"!  The faint of heart need not play :).  It was fun, fast-paced, and pretty intense...hence the name "Heart Attack".   (Don't worry; no one had a heart attack.  It could actually be called "hand attack" because our hands were hurt more than anything from slapping on the cards:))  We then separated into two different groups.  One group played "Big Two" (I'd never heard of it before).  The other group took turns playing "Speed"....I was part of that group!  The evening ended with picture taking. 

 (Big thanks to Mrs. Marlow and her son Ryan for making this graphic button for me!!!!)  If you would like the code, please let me know.  Thanks!

Do you know how to have fun without electronics?  Do you think you can survive a week without it?  I know I can!  I'm asking you to join me.  I think it will be fun to hear how everyone's week of entertainment without electronics went.  I think many American kids (and adults for that matter) are electronically dependent (they're bored without electronics).  Let's be different! 

Here are the rules:

You may use electronics (i.e. the computer) for things not relating to entertainment.  For example, you may use the computer for work and school but not just to have fun.

Here are some examples of things you cannot do: You cannot surf the internet, play computer games, play video games, read other people's blogs, chat on the telephone, listen to music on a boombox, radio, or ipod (create your own music!), blog (unless it's for work or school), watch TV, watch DVDs/videos, etc.

Just remember, if it has anything to do with the TV, computer, or any other electronic thing, you can't use it for entertainment (only work or school!).

When the week is over, please post about how it went.  Please tell us what you did instead of electronics.  Here are some questions (you don't have to answer them...these are just some examples of things you can talk about):  Did you get more constructive/meaningful things done with your time?  Were you able to have fun without electronics?  Was it easy or hard?  Now that it's over, do you think you will spend the same amount of time using electronics for fun or less (or hopefully not, more)?  Were you bored or not?  Would you do it again? 

The week of Entertainment without Electronics will start on March 17th (of course, feel free to do this any week).  Whether you start doing it on March 17th or later on, please comment and sign Mr. Linky so we all know you're doing it.  Thank you!

ServingtheKingofkings (my mom :)) has tagged me! 

Here are the rules:

~Link to the person that tagged you
~Post the rules on your blog
~Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
~Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
~Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

Well, here I go.

1. I don't wear makeup.

2. I do not like talking on the phone.  (I would much rather talk in person or email).

3.  I can't swim.

4. I prefer sleeping on the lower bunk of my bunkbed. 

5. I do not like crunchy peanut butter (I like creamy peanut butter!).

6. I am a perfectionist.  I would like to get 100% (or more) on everything if I could; however, I know that's not possible (I am definitely not perfect!).

I tag:

Queenbee

Kate's Writings

A Searching Heart

Tulip's Corner

Booklover

David2

Anybody who wants to do it!

To those of you whom I've tagged: If you don't want to do it, that's fine!

To everyone who chooses to do it: Please let me know so I can read your answers.  Thanks!

I know most of my posting have just been writing assignments :).  Well, I saw this tag at Tulip's Corner and decided to do it so...now...here's something besides writing assignments .

The Totally Random Tag!

Are you related to any famous people? Yes, I'm related to Ulysses S. Grant.

Do you know any famous people? No.

Have you ever published anything? No, not yet.  (I'm working on a book I hope to get published.)

Have you ever owned a reptile? No, I haven't but my parents did when I was little.
 

Who is your favorite LOTR character? I have never seen it or read it.

Would you try out for American Idol if you could? No. 

Do you play any intruments? Yes, I play the piano.   

Can you speak any languages besides English?  I know how to speak some Thai and I am learning more.  (It's my second language for highschool.) 

For those under 18 only: If you were 18, who would you vote for as U.S. president? Mike Huckabee!!!!

Have you ever been in a major car accident? No.

Have you ever taken part in an extreme sport? Well, what do you mean by that?  By most standards, no.  However, almost any sport can become extreme under certain conditions ;).  (I leave the details to your imagination :))

If you could meet any famous person, who would it be? Uh, maybe K. P. Yohannan (founder of Gospel for Asia).

If you could meet any famous historical figure, who would it be? Uh, maybe Paul from the  New Testament.

What is your favorite fantasy creature? I don't like fantasy.

If you could buy any one thing (not abstract), what would it be?  A camcorder