Hello Everyone!

I thought I would post an entry on a newsletter/magazine my family publishes.

It is called The Little Encourager. We started it as a home school project almost 6 years ago and little did we know it would grow  into a regular newsletter with submissions from others and a growing list of subscribers!  This has been a joy to do, and we encourage other homeschoolers to join our fun.

So far, I am the Editor and my Sister is the assistant editor. We had a home school friend who helped us edit, but she moved to China, so now she is a Top Contributor, thanks to e-mail!

We are OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WISHIES TO SUBMIT ANYTHING THAT IS GODLY AND/OR ENCOURAGING. Simply e-mail thelittleencourager_newsletter@yahoo.com and request a subscription form. For 6 issues a year, TLE (the little encourager) is only $9.00 a year! That is dirt cheap compared to other magazines, plus you are getting Godly, encouraging, and articles guided towards home schooled kids and teens and Moms and Dads (and Grandmas and Grandpas etc.) Do I sound like a salesman yet? =)

INSIDE: What's inside TLE?

~ Excerpts from God - honoring books

~ Book Reviews

~ Contests

~ Buzzword

~ Bible Stories

~ Scriptures

~ Martyr History

~ How to be an Extra ordinary Teen for Christ

~ Fun stories and articles written by the editors from Home School projects!

~ Uplifting quotes

~ Pictures (anyone can submit photos of themselves or a project they are

  doing as long as the person(s) in the photo are dressed modestly.)

~ Courageous Christians Report

~ Science/Creation Page

~ A Story (usually a Bible story)

~ Art Work Page (we also love receiving art work from our readers!)

~ A regular story by our 2ND Top Contributor, Mr. Ian.

~ Youth's Companion Page (the Youth's Companion was an old "newspaper" in the

  1800s that was directed towards Young People.)

~ And more!

There are usually 13 pages in TLE. We encourage anyone with young ladies or men or young children to subscribe because it's a great opportunity to get your (or your kids') stories, art work, jokes, and pictures published in a safe, fun, Godly magazine environment!

Thank you for taking the time to read,

May God bless,

THE EDITOR,

   ~ Miss aMandalin

About a year ago, I had come to the conclusion that Algebra was useless and I never learned anything from it. I decided I didn't care if I got a B- or C, because, well, because it was average. Then, just a few weeks ago, I changed my mind. I have been doing Algebra 1 for two years now, because I didn't care. I know, I know  -  horrid me. But that scripture, "Do all things to the glory of God" stayed in my mind. It's easy to say that a task we hate doing is too hard, or stupid, or that we'll never use it in life, so why bother trying? It's harder to say that everything in life is a small step towards greater things, greater trials, greater problems to solve. But that's the way it is. Algebra was a test in my perserverence, my endurance to stick with it and learn from those mistakes. And guess what? I learned that if I simply care, I can get strait A's in Algebra. Hmmm . . . does that mean cleaning the bathroom is a test too? Yes, it really does. Cleaning the bathroom reminds me to keep things pure and smellin' good in my life. Don't laugh, I'm serious. So does doing the dishes. Maybe you think I'm being wierd or extreme, but I don't think so. The point is, by working hard and doing my best to the glory of God in daily chores, scchool, and my everyday life with my family, God is helping me to grow spiritually right along with it. Oh, yeah, and motivation works too. My Mom said as soon as I got my Algebra done, I could start up a "sister's for God" blog with my sis. We've been wanting to do that for a looong time! Check it out: www.homeschoolblogger.com/farmgirlsisterchicks   

So remember, dishes are never a chore. They are a learning process. I pray when I do dishes. And I guess I really did learn something in Algebra: how to do all things to the glory of God.

~ The Maiden 

Oh, yeah, by the way, I'm in Geometry now. =)

pure holy innocent lovely trustworthy hoest understanding serving selfless loyal hardworking diligent patient chaste modest God-fearing righteous sanctified moral respectful blameless comely reliable faithful responsible solid gentle unlifting honorable intelligent law-abiding reasonable mindful caring compassionate sensitive agreeable settled commited reserved frugal giving generous strong calm teachable meek quiet humble constant confident fearless organized creative content joyful wise thrifty prudent unstinting inoffensive charitable tireless industrious zealous keen motivated willing ambitious relentless longsuffering uncomplaining resolute persistant lowly discreet consecrated decent satisfied merciful undemanding collected peaceful courageous valiant undaunted resourceful blissful established

How's that for starters? =) Do you have any more you can think of? Let me know and I'll publish it!

May we grow in His grace as we continue along the strait and narrow.

Hi everyone, I know it has been ages since I've been on the computer. When it's summer, I am super busy and always outside. When it is winter, I am stuck inside doing school and play on the computer a lot to occupy myself. So in summer I usually only post about 5 posts on my blog. lol

I hope everyone is doing well! We have traded in our old Ford F150 for a Town and Country Crystler (sp) van. it's very roomy and comfy! plus now we can sell our Explorer for some profit!

We are all set up to do school. We will hopefully start September 1st. We are using the Far Above Rubies course for the rest of High School. (we as in me and my sister, that is.)

I am enjoying reading Prince of Egypt, Elsie Dinsmore book 4, The Dragon and the Raven (a Henty book!) and . . . as always, my beloved Bible. Last night I was super tired because I had just packed for camping and wrote a huge list of about 30 last minute things to do before we left this morning, and I was attempting not to be dejected and praise God for all He has done and suddenly was inspired for an awesome poem I wrote in about 20 seconds. Some time I'll post it. Well I thank God for helping me to sleep well, taking away my headaches, finding a spider I lost, lol (i despise spiders) and that our whole Church gets to go camping this weekend.

I have to go, my Dad is waiting for us to load up in his new Dodge F350 pickup and take off campin'! I'll report on how it went later.

=) Miss Mandy =)

Hello everyone!

I know it's been a long time since I have written - but summers in Idaho are precious and we spend every spare moment out of doors.

This past week has been solid company - as will the next three weeks! My Momma says if you live in Idaho you get 9 months of winter and 3 months of company. It's true, though!

I did enjoy my company though - and I already miss little Ruby. We had so much fun! Hiking, Horseback Riding, Swimming, Riding four wheelers and dirt bikes, and shopping. In town (about an hour away from our house) it was 103 degrees! But we live up in the mountains so it was only 86 at our house. That is still extremely hot for Idaho!

Our company just left this morning - we had lots of fun with them and are expecting them back this coming up February.

I've been baking non stop with all this company - and I love it. There's something about a kitchen full of friends and family that makes me happy to pitch in and help. So far I've made about 16 dozen cookies!

Well, life is still hectic. Bro. and Sis. Green, our pastors, are moving up from West Virginia! I am very excited to have them.

I have been living in our camper with my mom and dad for the past week and I enjoy it! It makes me feel like I'm camping.

Well, I am enjoying the new apron I just got at a vintage yard sale! It is black and white checkers with a yoke like a cowgirl skirt.

If Alexandria and Alicia are reading this, comment and let me know what your blogs are!

I hope all is going well and I am looking very forward to seeing you, Jeana, Myra, Dawn, and David! Drive Safe!

God Bless,

Miss aMandalin

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

~ 2 Peter 3:9

Hi everyone,

I know it's been a looong time since I've written anything. I thought I'd tell you how I died last night since I'm stuck at the library with my lil' bro and sis as we are waiting for Mother Dear to hurry back from her grocery shopping.

Lately, my family has been going to get wood for the winter so we don't have to do it all at the last minute.

Anyways, on the way up the mountain to where we were going to cut the trees down, Dad decided to let my little sister drive! She begged him enough with those big brown puppy dog eyes. (My sister's blog is godslilcountrygirl) Dad let her and . . . on the way up the hill Emily forget a brake was existant. . . meaning she jammed the gas around a sharp corner and about killed us all. I was yelling, "Whoa! Whoa!" as if I wer riding my horse and Dad was snapping "Brake! Brake!" Thus, I died last night.

Yup. That's an adventure from the life of aMandalin. Is that frightening, or what?