Nov. 10, 2009 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards
Nov. 12, 2008 Will You Vote for Me?
Could I be so bold as to ask you for your vote? My blog has been nominated for the "Best Homeschooling Methods Blog"! The prizes are pretty great and I'd love to win! SO, if you think my blog is worthy and you like what I do here, click on the button below, then on the side bar click on the VOTE button, scroll down and click on #24 "Best Homeschooling Methods Blog", and vote for "In the Sparrows Nest"! THANKS so much!!

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Jul. 28, 2008 Award Ceremony!

Writer2b at Findings has blessed me with the honor of being chosen for the Arte y Pico award. Its creator says this award is “dedicated to many who nourish and enrich the spirit and creativity.” Writer2b choose me for being a "homeschooling artist". What a beautiful thing to be called! I am so honored by these kind words, thank you so much!
Part of receiving the award is passing it on to 5 other bloggers. There are numerous blogs that came to my mind and I wish I could pass it on to all of them, but here are the five I chose:
Julie at Forty Acres, A Husband, and Three Kids is one of my newest blog friends, and she has truly been an inspiration to get to know! She is definitely an "artist of the heart". Her writing style comes straight from her heart and is full of beautiful thoughts and sweet inspiration. Julie and I are "kindred spirits" in our love of God's creation in nature.
Cindy at On Our Journey Westward has been a best friend of mine for years and I have been blessed immeasureably from this! Cindy is a phenomenal "teaching artist", full of creativity and inspiring ideas. Cindy's love of teaching is contagious to say the least, and she is passionate about sharing this love with others. What a blessing you are my friend!
Jamie at Life and Love in Rose Cottage to me has been a "artist of words and photos." She has an absolutely beautiful blog in which she blesses all those who visit with her wise and artistic words and vividly stunning photography. Her words have brought me to tears at times with their wisdom. And her photos have brought beauty to my day.
Jennifer at 317 Zephaniah Way is another best friend of mine for years and she is most definitely an "artist of sharing His heart". Her inspiring love for our Heavenly Father radiates through her writings as she shares her heart openly. She has very wise words and teachings and shares with great passion. Jennifer and I have very similar homeschooling philosophies and the Lord has lead us down a dual path together in our discoveries. Jennifer's motto is "Be brave, you were made for this!" And that you are my friend!
Kim at From His Treasuries is another beautiful person I've gotten to know over blogland. She is an "artist of creative hands-on homeschooling". This Mom really gets her hands into learning with her children! Again, something near and dear to my heart! She has a gift of making it real and alive to her children, and she's been a terrific inspiration to me to continuing doing this with my children. Also, her love of God and His Creation are illuminated so clearly through her blog.
Thank you all for being my friend and such an inspiration to me, and for sharing your amazing artistry. May you all be blessed by His greatness!
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Feb. 2, 2008 Excellent Blog Award!
Natural Paths has awarded me the Excellent Blog Award! Thank you!

I feel everyone on my friend's list deserves this award, so I'm going to just say if you haven't received it yet, please grab it and post it! You ALL deserve it. Thank you for being such a daily inspiration for me.
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Nov. 30, 2007 The Spirit of Christmas Award
I'm definitely not deserving of this one (see post). BUT, it will definitely be a motivator and inspiration to me! Thanks Nancy for deeming me worthy! I'm going to hold off for right now on passing it on, just because I've not been checking out blogs enough lately to figure out who to pass it along to. And the only ones that come to mind have already appropriately got the award!
Have a blessed Christmas season!

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Nov. 27, 2007 Blog Friend Forever Award
Oct. 13, 2007 Egel's Nest Award
Thank you so much naturalpaths for The Egel Nest Award!

There are lots of blogs I would love to pass this award on to, but here are some I have recently enjoyed immensely. Thank you all for being my blogging friend.
applesofgold - reading her blog feels like talking to a old friend and having a some refreshing laughs.
peaksandvalleys - I have received amazing enourgagement from reading this veteran homeschooling Mother's blog. She's been inactive for a bit, I sure hope she returns soon.
reviewsbyheidi - Heidi not only has great reviews for books on her site, it's an overall pleasure to read her everyday writings.
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About Me

My name is Melissa and I am a homeschool mom of three beautiful blessings ages 12, 10, and 4; and blessed wife to my husband for 16 years. We use Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies of learning the natural, everyday hands-on life way. We especially enjoy learning and growing together beyond the classroom doors in God's amazing creation in nature.
"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God." ~Psalm 84:3-4
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Recent Posts
• Happy Thanksgiving!
• Finding Color
• Macro in Late Autumn
• 2009 Homeschool Blog Awards
• The Colors of Autumn
General Links
• Home
• View my profile
• Archives
• My Blog's RSS
• Crosswalk Homeschool Site • My Daughter's Blog
Downloadable Files to Share
General Files
• Weekly Chore Checklist-Updated 3/08 (Word)
• Weekly Dinner Menu Planner-Updated 3/08 (Excel)
• Daily Schedule-Updated 4/08 (Word)
• Kid's Chore Cards-Updated 3/08 (Word)
• Food Journal (Excel)
• Education Journal - Blank (Excel)
Nature Study Files
• Taking Note of Birds List (Excel)
• Birds Notebook Page - UPDATED(Word)
• Northern Cardinal Study Guide (Word)
• Plant Journal (Excel)
• Science Journal (Excel)
• Cloud Identification Sheet (Excel)
• Fire! The Renewal of a Forest - Unit Study (Word)
Nature Links
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology ~ Bird Guide
• What Bird? ~ Bird Guide
• ENature
• National Geographic - Creature Features
• Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Migration Map
• Great Backyard Bird Count - Feb. 2009
• Great American Backyard Campout - June 2009
• ebird - Report Bird Sightings Anytime
• Round Robin - Blog From Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Help Identifying Tricky Birds, and Lots More!
Nature Identification Posts
• Nature Identification How-To's
• Wildflower Walks, Identification, and Notebooking
• Take a Wildflower Walk
Kentucky Nature Identification Websites
• Common Mammals of Kentucky
• Wildflowers of Kentucky
• Trees of Kentucky
• Common Butterflies of Kentucky
• Birds of Kentucky
• Insects and Spiders of Kentucky-under KY Critter Files
• Snakes of Kentucky
• Reptiles of Kentucky
• Frogs and Toads of Kentucky
• Amphibians of Kentucky
• Kentucky's Flora and Fauna
Nature Projects We've Done
• Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
• Homemade Suet
• Bagel Bird Feeders
• Nature Walk: 3-D Nature Scenes
• Nature Prints in Clay
• Nesting Materials Bag
• Nature Walk: Poster Collage
• Rock Painting
• Our Nature Table
• Mushroom Spore Prints
• Woodland Fairy House
• Nature Art ~ Blueberry Painting
• Nature Craft ~ Wind Wands
• Nature Art ~ Leaf Bursts
Nature Studies
• Clouds Unit Study
• Dandy Dandelions Study
• Mushroom Study
• From Eggs, to Tadpoles, to Toads
• Forest Fires Unit Study
• Gardening
• Teaching with Nature ~ Math
• Science Experiments
• Outdoor Hour Challenges
• Wind Study
• A Full Moon Walk
• Snow Study
• Bird Study
• Nuts About Nature Class
• Creek Fun
Simple Backyard Nature Ideas
• We Love Mud
• Turn it Over
• Animal Habitats
• Let It Grow
• Can You Hear It?
• Imagination Play
Art and Music
• Picture Study - Creative Writing Activity
• Nature Walk, 5 Elements of Shape, Vivaldi
• Monet Impressionism ~ Vivaldi
• Watercolor Project ~ Vivaldi
• Mary Cassatt ~ Tempera Monoprint
• Nature's Paintbox: Autumn Tempera Paints ~ Poetry and Vivaldi
• Nature's Paintbox: Summer Watercolors ~ O'Keeffe and Vivaldi
• Nature's Painbox: Spring Pastels ~ Stravinsky
• Henri Matisse ~ Cut Paper Art
Our Educational Philosophy
"Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life." ~ Charlotte Mason
• Who Was Charlotte Mason?
• Summaries of "The Original Homeschooling Series"
• Why Homeschoolers are Turning to a Charlotte Mason Education
• Simply Charlotte Mason
Nature Study is Education!
• Precious Moments in God's Creation
• Can Nature Teach?
• Finally, the Elusive Pileated Woodpecker
• Carving Out Time for Nature Study
• Teaching with Nature ~ Math
Charlotte Mason Quotable
"It would be well if we all persons in authority, parents and all who act for parents,
could make up our minds that there is no sort of knowledge
to be got in these early years so valuable to children as that which they get for themselves of the world they live in.
Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life.
We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of
the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things."
--Charlotte Mason, Vol.1, p. 61
Textbook Curriculum We Currently Use
• Teaching Textbooks Math
• Primary Language Lessons"
• Intermediate Language Lessons
• The Write Stuff Adventure
• Mystery of History
Categories
• Amphibian Study
• Art and Music
• Awards
• Bible
• Birding
• Butterflies and Moths
• Charlotte Mason
• Cloud Study
• Dictation
• Events
• Family
• Field Trips
• Gardening
• Hands On Learning
• Healthy Living
• History
• Holidays
• Home
• Household and School Planning
• Just For Fun
• Language Arts
• Math
• My Blog
• Natural Learning
• Nature in Autumn
• Nature in Spring
• Nature in Summer
• Nature in Winter
• Nature Crafts
• Nature Journaling
• Nature Study
• Organization
• Our Homeschool
• Outdoor Hour Challenges
• Poetry
• Recipes
• School Group
• Science
• Seasons
• Simple Backyard Nature
• Snow Study
• Unit Studies
• Wildflowers
• Wind Study
Other Blogs I Visit
• Our Journey Westward
• By Sun and Candlelight
• There's No Place Like Home
• Handbook of Nature Study
• Dawn in the Home
• Higher Up and Further In
• Rose Cottage
• His Mercy is New
• Toodlebugz
• Heritage Schoolhouse
• Once Upon a Muffin
• School for Us
• Living Life Between the Trees
• Homeschooling. Oregon Style.
• Raising Little Shoots
• Science of Relations
• Song of My Heart
• Heritage Schoolhouse
• Crafty Crow
Homeschoolblogger Friends
• LaMereAcademy• • blessed2bamommy• FaithfulGrace• Pattycake• msack• momanna98• seekingHim• MusingMom• OhioSarah• mamasmurf• 5atkins• kaysmarmey• ApplesofGold• ctnjm324• Keri• Sandpiper• • briarwren• jenn4him• jiffy11• ReviewsbyHeidi• Lightbearer• nikkisimcox• Ksudoc93• nancysnook• H0MEFree• pottershand• CherylinMA• gracelikerain• joyfulmomy• mamaof3• rreitsma• happycamper• MamaM• naturalpaths• blessedwith2angels• peaksandvalleys1991• tulipmama• mountainsong• Bigsis10• Dot• SchoolinRhome• boysrus• blessinghill• psalms16vs2• lilywhite• kimalita• kkzemadamson• Jilann• franbles99• flysister• Patiecake• basketflat• homeschoolingmy2• • • TreasureHeart• buzymommy• • homeschoolnomad• homeschoolingKatt• loobylou1971• GailBardsley• prayingmother• OldSchoolMarm• covemom• pinkieballet• 4realBella102• pakbak4evr• garboodles• dawnrising
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