Trust in the Lord - Homeschool Blogger

A Must Read-ROFL!!!!

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 14:00:00 -0500

Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by and thinking of me! I wish I had more time to blog, but I've been extremely busy. I did however stop by Amanda's blog and read something she posted that was printed in the TOS Winter 2006 issue. For those of you that don't have TOS enjoy reading THIS and fess up, because you know you're guilty-LOL!

God Bless,
Amber

PS~ Be sure to check out the Front Porch for some really great contests and other great info, Tia's been doing a WONDERFUL job as senior editior.

The Winner and Other Stuff

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 08:57:00 -0500

The winner of the Scavenger Hunt Contest is RugbyHS, she got 4 of the 6 questions correct. Here are the correct answers:

23 Black and White postcards
Susan aka mamaduso the owner of Bead~Attitude--she makes GORGEOUS custom jewlery ladies!
Shirley Temple
Cowhide Creations
Chapel Carter he invented nail clippers and I read somewhere that he helped stop nail bitting, but I can't find the link
Joe McVicker, he invented Play-Doh

Sorry I posted the winner late, I took my DC to the doctor Friday for a WELL visit and the next day they were both sick-hmmm....Please keep them in your prayers and I will update you about more info that has been happening as soon as I can, it's been hard for me to get on the computer lately, we gotta a lot of stuff going on and a lot of decisions to make, so I'll be around when I can.

God Bless,
Amber

Internet Scavenger Hunt Contest

Fri, 1 Sep 2006 01:07:00 -0500

Since I'm not going to be able to blog for a short while so I decided to have a contest.

First, search the internet with the clues in mind, then enter your answers in a comment. You are on your honor to not read other people's answers before you go hunting. All of the solutions can be found at family safe web sites. Now, on with the questions...

If you went to the Garden of Eden, how many black and white postcards would you buy?
Which homeschoolblogger will you find in a state of utmost bliss?
What does a non-acoholic beverage and the former Chief of Protocol have in common?
Who helped put an end to nail biting?
If you ever wanted to find a Creation like a "Pine and Calf Skin Cross" for $70, where would you shop?
Who made a lot of dough, so much, that he became a millionaire by his 27th birthday? And what toy did he help invent?

Kris has agree to sponsor a $20 gift certificate to BookCloseOuts.com for the winner of this contest. Please consider joining BookCloseOut's New Arrivals Yahoo Group an the link below.

Stretch your homeschool budget!

Don�t have time to look for books for your home library?

Do you want coupons to save you even more money?

Let another homeschooling mom help YOU!

Join the Book CloseOuts New Arrivals Yahoo Group

- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCOnewbooks -

Receive weekly emails listing the newest arrivals added to BCO�s inventory.

Save 50-90% off retail prices of over five million books -

Just bookmark and visit Book CloseOuts

God Bless,
Amber

Beginning Another Homeschooling Year

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 11:27:00 -0500

For all of you who don't know about Jacque's Back to (Home)School Contest, check it out, here's my entry.

Monday we are finally beginning our 5th year of homeschooling. Each year gets better and better, but this year my DC are actually anxious to start a new year. I have to admit, I'm still a little nervous about how it's gonna go this year and knowing me a lot of my plans are going to change, but here's a general idea of what I'm planning to do this year.

First I'll start with Bible. After alot of praying and asking the Lord to guide me what Bible curriculum to buy, it finally came down to Heart of Wisdom. I really love Robin's approach. She actually uses a combination of approaches, one of them being Charlotte Mason. I have really enjoyed learning more about Charlotte Mason's approach and I have learned a lot through Ambleside Online which I will get to later.

Another approach Heart of Wisdom uses, is Scrapbooking to Learn. Well, I tell you, I LOVE this!!!! I really think this is gonna become a big thing in our homeschool. We love to do crafts and although scrapbooking is new to me I'm eager to jump in. I already got a head start and bought some Creative Memories scrapbooking materials from a cetain HSB someone who sent me a coupon and lured me in.

For History, Bible (Heart of Wisdom) will be a big part of it and also some of the books from Ambleside Online's booklist. A lot of there books you can read or download online for FREE.

I also am using some of Ambleside Online suggestions for Geography, Literature and some of Science. I'll take what I like from there and mix the rest with my own stuff. Now creating my own curriculum is a BIG step for me, but I've really learned to let go and relax....well, maybe just a little.

For instants, I tried to find a US Geography unit study I liked, but couldn't. So, I've created my own by using games puzzles and resouce books of my choice.

One of my favorite resource books I'm using is from BookCloseOuts.com they have a GREAT selection of books, for an even GREATER price, but you gotta hurry, because they sell like hotcakes. One way to find out what's new is Kris started a BookCloseOuts Yahoo group, plus she's always posting their New Arrivals on her blog.

For Language Arts, I finally decided to use English for the Thoughtful Child which I purchased at Soul Rest Educational Supplies. An AO friend told me that she uses it and loves it, she even emailed me some samples, Thank you Tracy.

As far as literature goes, we are going to be doing Narnia, and I purchased a buch of great books at Yesterdays Hopes for this years' read alouds and for the older childern's reading enjoyment....I'm beginning to sound like Martha Stewart-YIKES!

Science is going to be doing my own stuff but I'll also be using a mixture of AO, Apologia's Exploring Creations, and Sam's Science Adventures--I love their unit studies and so do my children!!!

For Math I'm using Math-U-See and thowing in Times Tales in the mix. I ordered that a while back from The Old Schoolhouse Store.

Now I'm mainly homeschooling my four older children, but I got some things for my DS3yo because he wants to join us this year too. I'll have the older ones take turns teaching him and he can join us in their regular studies too, because I do multi-teach. But incase you are intesested I thought I'd share them as well...Martha Stewart is kickin' in again-sheesh.

Anyway, I'm gonna using Learn at Home-gr.K, Preschool Activities In a Bag, Hooked on Phonics: Getting Ready to Read, plus I'm still checking out some of the goodies over at Heart-N-Soul.

I think I covered all of Jacque's quiz questions, so that's all folks...for now.

God Bless,
Amber

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:42:00 -0500

Today is my mother's birthday and I just wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday!!! Wanna see what I got her?!

Isn't it GORGEOUS!!! Guess who did it...NO, not me, you're too kind!
A VERY TALENTED Homeschoolblogger hand-painted it for me, TheChinaPainter.
Not only that, I'll clue you in on a little secret, her Anniversary is tomorrow, so
Thank You Dixie and Happy Anniversary!!!

On another note, here is my entry for SAMIAM's contest.

I don't know what it is, but I'm fasinated by spiders and sharks. Spiders I'm not afraid of, but you wont see me touching these anytime soon. These spiders are almost 3-4 inches big. In the last picture, there are a few babies there too. Enjoy!!!

God Bless,
Amber

A VERY INTENSE MESSAGE!

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:38:00 -0500

When I first started blogging one of the very first bloggers to welcome me and make me feel at home here was CAgirlwithasoutherndrawl she became on of my favorite bloggers. She blogs about homeschooling her life and the of course, THE LORD!!! I have to admit I haven't been there in quite a while, but I went there the other day and of course the Lord lead me there, He always has perfect timing! If you are reading this, there may be a reason so please go see Annemarie and listen to her link: The Sermon Nobody Will Like, you don't have bother coming back here to comment, I'll be checking her blog to see who else has listened. She is right, I didn't like the sermon, I LOVED IT!!!! Please listen!!!

God Bless,
Amber

An Overdue Book Review--Life of the Komodo Dragon

Mon, 7 Aug 2006 17:14:00 -0500

A few weeks ago my children and I were studying reptiles. Well, a while back I had received an E-book from Yesterday's Hopes called Life of the Komodo Dragon by Melissa O. Markham. The title pretty much explains what the book is about, but I love the way she walks you though it.

The book begins from the time a female komodo dragon emerges from her egg. And as soon as she enters into the world, she begins to instictively protect herself from prey. Not only is it fasinating how they protect themselves from birth, but how they hunt, and eat. Everything has a purpose, even why their scales change color as they get older. I must admit, this book had me and my children on our toes. There was some graphic information I could have lived without knowing, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of knowing how a komodo dragon lives, right? To be honest, it didn't bother my children a bit, it kept their interest from start to finish. I believe a lot of that had to do with the incredible real-life photos she provides and the wonderful links. I actually bookmarked all of them.

This is a wonderful non-fiction book and is a great resource, I hope there will be more ebooks written by her soon.

God Bless,
Amber

PS~ Do forget to mozy on over to the 32nd Carnival of Homeschooling: The Wild, Wild West, hosted by our Homeschool Cowgirl, Sprittibee. GREAT JOB HEATHER!!!

We have a WIN-NER!

Wed, 2 Aug 2006 16:45:00 -0500

This is here.

I hold in my hands here a brand spanking new Adam and His Kin by Ruth Beechick that was bought from SoulRest Educational Supplies that goes to
Shaffersathome

She had a WHOPPING score of 19/20

The runner-up was Stephanie10 her score was 17/20! Way to go!

The others scorers were:
JacqueDixonSoulRestES      16/20
nsremom                                15/20
theguitararbiter                    15/20
quietcajun                              14/20
KayinPA                                14/20
KarenW                                 13/20
heartofvirtue                        13/20
Jocelyndixon                        13/20
Bek                                        13/20
drewsfamilytx                     11/20
lonestaracademy                 11/20
MuckFootMom                   11/20
MattDixon                           11/20
Grandma Starr                   11/20
Uncle Chuck                        10/20
MomofMusicMasterplus4  9/20
HeartnSoul                           9/20
Amber                                   9/20
smlltwnmmmy                    8/20
KoolKitty                              7/20
CanadaGirl                           6/20
mrssulli                                6/20

Well here you have it. Amber's and SuperAngel's Bible Quiz.

10 of out of the 30 bloggers who posted they were taking the quiz did not post their score???? Hmmm......You know who you are!!!

You all did a great job. I hope this has inspired you to read through your Bible.

I know they were really, ok, REALLY hard questions! but now you know the answers. I didn't know half the stuff til I read through the entire Bible.

Shaffersathome- I will need your addy so that I can send you your book. CONGRATS! You did SUPER!

Thank you all for taking this Bible Quiz!

Stop by the Daily Planet soon!

Daughter of Jacque Dixon

Sister of &

My New Homeschool Lesson Planner

Thu, 3 Aug 2006 18:42:00 -0500

It's almost time to start another year of homeschool. Of course I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. But right now my excitement outweighs my nervousness. Let me explain. One of my main downfalls is organization, and an EASY way to keep a journal of my children's school work. Well thanks to Ronda (aka RugbyHS) journaling shouldn't be a problem. She has programmed a WONDERFUL Homeschool Lesson Planning System !!! (She is letting me and a dozen other families BETA test it.) Best of all, it is simple and easy to use. There are so many things I LOVE, I mean LOVE about this, here are just some of them:

Set-up is a piece of cake! You fill out what family activities you do together and each child's individual subjects, not a lot of unnecessary information.
You can add Family Activities and you only have to type it in once instead of, in my case, four times.
There are weekly and daily reports, but once again, you are only typing this once, not a weekly report and a daily report.
The other convenient feature on the weekly reports is that you can skip from one week to the next. Example: It is March 15, 2007 and you are wondering what project you did for Christmas 2006. Well, all you have to do is click on weekly reports, go to the pull down bar and scroll until you get to (week 26) Dec 23 - Dec 26 and voila, you are there and so are all your assignments and family projects.
Another thing that is convenient in my case and I know it will be for many of you since you homeschool more than one child is, the fact that each child can be color-coded to his or her favorite color or your color of choice.
There is a book log which another convenient attribute.
Oh, and no matter where I have to go on the Lesson Plan System, all I just have to click on one of the bottom tabs and I'm there.
Moving assignment to the future is a dream!
This program is simple and easy to use, but yet deliverers everything I need!

Ok, this is NOT an infomercial and I'm NOT getting paid to say this. I'm just a homeschool mom who needed some kind of way to keep a record of my schooling with my children and Ronda provided me with that. This Lesson Planner should be ready for market by next summer.

THANK YOU RONDA!!!!!

So if you want to check out her Lesson Planning System, Click over!

And for those of you who have to keep attendance, check out RugbyHS's Tracking Attendance System HERE!

God Bless and Happy Homeschooling,
Amber

Bible Quiz Contest

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 20:14:00 -0500

I'm having another quiz contest, but there are two GREAT things about this contest.
One, it's Bible Quiz, created by

And two, there are no ads or pop-ups at this quiz.
it's actually a wonderful resource for all of us homeschool parents!

The Grand Prize is Adam and His Kin by Ruth Beechick.

Now, on with the quiz!

RULES:

You must leave a comment BEFORE linking over.
NO CHEATING! No Googling, looking in the Bible or any other book. You are are on your own.
Take the Bible Quiz HERE (don't forget to post your score after the quiz, the link is at the end of the quiz)
Have FUN!

God Bless,
Amber

PS~ Don't forget about the contest is hosting, it's over July 31st, but you must leave a comment HERE first...I tell you these sisters really know how to make a quiz, remember aka Jocelyn's history quiz? Well, it makes sense, they do have a GREAT Mother!