The Master's Design - Homeschool Blogger

GIVEAWAY ; SPELLQUIZZER SPELLING SOFTWARE PROGRAM!

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:13:00 -0600

Writing Canvas

is having a giveaway of an educational program called,
SPELLQUIZZER Spelling Software Program

Go to Writing Canvas

for the full review and information on a free 30 day trial to download and also the opportunity to win a full-version copy.

Post on your blog or Twitter or put on FB for extra entries.
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GIVEAWAY - New 1340 Paged BIBLE (NLT) from Tyndale Publishers

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:38:00 -0500

Writing Canvas

Blog is having a giveaway of this newly published
The Holy Bible: Mosaic

(the 1340 pages of the Mosaic Bible is arranged so that every week has variety of content for reading and reflection. Each week follows a theme appropriate to the Church season (such as Advent, Easter, etc). The content included for each week includes full-color art; Scripture readings; a historical reading; a contemporary reading; a prayer, creed, hymn or quote; and space for reflection.)

from Tyndale House Publishers

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BOOK GIVEAWAY! Amish Novel: The Sound of Sleigh Bells

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:43:00 -0500

Writing Canvas

Blog is having a giveaway of this Christian Amish novel,
THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS

Post on your blog or Twitter or put on FB for extra entries.
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BOOK GIVEAWAY: Family Feasts for $75 (written by homeschool mom of 10)

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 19:51:00 -0500

Writing Canvas

Blog is having a giveaway of this book,
Family Feasts for $75 a Week,
written by a homeschooling mom of 10 kids.

Post on your blog or Twitter or put on FB for extra entries.
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Book Giveaway - Idea for baby shower gift or for a mom who needs encouragement

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:00:00 -0500

"Mom Needs Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood" by Deborah Coty is a fun book for moms to relate to and be encouraged. Ideal for MOPS groups or encouragement for a frazzled mom. Ideal gift!

HURRY!

It's being given away here at Writing Canvas Blog and ends on Sunday, July 5, 2009.

Love is Beautiful ~ Love is Terrible

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:37:00 -0600

"Love is beautiful,
but it is also terrible--
terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished
or unworthy to remain in the beloved."

~ Hannah Hurnard ~
author of
Hinds' Feet on High Places

This week's quote comes from a book I just read. The story is of a girl named "Much-Afraid" and her journey through life to reach High Places. She is from the Family of Fearings, brought up by her aunt, Mrs. Dismal Forebodings and has cousins named Gloomy, Spiteful and Craven Fear. Her Shepherd talks to her, and wants her to go to His High Places, but tells her she needs to changed completely and needs a new name, and plants a seed of True Love into her heart, but it needs to grow, and it is this growing journey you take reading through this book. During this journey she meets . . . continued here.

Our Mosiacs Masterpieces in Heaven

Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:07:00 -0600

"In our lives the darkest times,
the days that are bleak and black,
add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture."

~ Amy Grant~
Mosaic: Pieces of My Life so Far

I never thought of my life before like a mosaic, but it got me thinking. Imagine when we get to heaven, God showing us His many rooms He has prepared for u, and in each room there is a mosiac of another person's life. Then we walk into a room, and there's our mosiac. Continued Here

Yes, Christian Homeschooled Kids Die from the Choking Game too.....

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:28:00 -0500

It's not really the way I want my son remembered, yet, I hear over and over about it, from e-mails being forwarded to me, to new readers just first learning that such a "choking game" even exists. On Tuesday my post had a link to Matthew's memorial page, and I received several very kind and compassionate notes, yet they were from parents who never knew it existed. continued here

So Homeschooling Works?!?!?

Fri, 5 Oct 2007 15:47:00 -0500

H

ere is an article you might want to print up and give to your family and/or friends that wonder about your homeschooling really working. And if you are considering homeschooling and think you are not smart enough, you don't have a college degree or maybe not even a highschool degree . . . read this

The Love Story of Our Stillborn Daughter, Angela Hope

Tue, 2 Oct 2007 21:05:00 -0500

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in HIS wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, by the light of His glory and grace."

~ Helen Limmel ~

Are there songs in your life, that take you back to a time and bring you back to a special, sometimes bittersweet time in your life? This is one of those songs for me. This song was sung without any instruments, just the tearful yet hopeful voices of our family and friends at the funeral of our stillborn daughter at 36 weeks, nearly 10 years ago. To think, the first face she saw was not mine - it was Jesus'. We could not understand why after spending 10 weeks in ICU with another daughter after her two open heart surgeries, that two weeks later our next child would be born still. Our love story continues here . . .

Book Review: His Loving Law ~ Our Lasting Legacy

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:07:00 -0500

This is an excellent book I highly recommend for Christian homes, incorporating into your family devotions or homeschooling. His Loving Law, Our Lasting Legacy: Living the Ten Commandments and Giving Them to Our Children, by Jani Ortlund, is an easy to read book of 163 pages, with each chapter being about one of the ten commandments. Within each chapter Mrs. Ortlund beautifully writes a section on

continued here . . .

What is YOUR Thorn?

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:19:00 -0500

IT'S NOT FAIR! How many times have we heard our children say that as they stomp out of the room. Okay . . . how many times have we mumbled that under our breath or even in prayer? Life certainly does not seem fair at times. I know I have mumbled WHY GOD? We can tend to have our own pity parties, questioning the whys. Why US, when others are living a wretched life, why do we lose a wanted baby to miscarriage when others are aborting, why did MY husband lose his job, why did I get that speeding ticket when the other guy was driving much faster than I?I've had a "thorn" lately - it's been a formula measuring scoop. Two times in the past week the little scoop has totally disappeared. Continued on here, along with other women's interpretations of the above quote. Come join us!

New Contest! What's IS THIS? Win Scrapbooking Journal

Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:08:00 -0500

I have a picture on my blog with "something" next to my baby. As a homeschool mom, I am using it as a learning tool for the kids. They have to do research. But if I tell you too much, it will give it away. Since it's been so busy here with still organizing school and beginning to get into our schedule and trying to get through all the sniffles and coughs of our bronchitis bout, I decided to have you help me out in keeping readers here and have a very impromptu contest. And the winner will receive "Becoming A Woman of Joy Journal". This is a hard cover, ring bound blank journal, with Scripture verses inside. Might be nice for a teen girl in your family too! So come on over to my blog, Finding JOY in the Morning, take a look at the picture and see what you think! I look foward to your guess! :)

Revealing Secrets & a Contest! :)

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:58:00 -0500

I thought about sharing this little story before, but I just know I'd get the e-mails about how I should not make my children pay for food. But when I read Darlene's blog today that she pays her kids 5 cents to flush the toilet, I thought, well . . . I can share this little secret especially since it has a funny ending to it. CONTINUED HERE ALONG WITH A CONTEST

In Other Words: His Banner

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:07:00 -0500

"Under the banner of God, victory is always assured; but apart from it, defeat is a certainty. When the banner of God's rod was not held high, Amelek prevailed. You can't do battle against the flesh under your own power."

~ Kay Arthur ~
author of
LORD, I Want To Know You

Above quote is in reference to Exodus 17:15: "The LORD is my banner"

ow many times have ~~you~~ I said, "I can't do it anymore", "I can't take it another day", "I will never make it through this", "I can't bare to go through another crisis", or "I am at the end"? It's then that I hear that still small voice, "No YOU cannot make it . . . you need ME."

Last summer the ladies Bible study at my church went through Kay Arthur's book, LORD, I Want to Know you. Over a year later, a lot of it has stuck with me, as the different names of God have become more meaningful with different life experiences. One of the names is "Jehovah-nissi" meaning, "The LORD is My Banner". In Exodus 17, there was a war. Amelek and his people were enemies of God, did not fear God, and were a first and constant enemy of Israel. The parallel that is made in her book is how our flesh, our sin nature, is like Amelek. It is a first and constant enemy. When we have our guard down, when we let satan sneek (or run) into our lives, we are losing the war.

If we skip down a few more verses from the reference above, we will read,

CONTINUED HERE, along with links to the other gals who have also written on the above quote. Come join us!

I Am Giving One of these "Mom's Family Calendars" Away!

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:42:00 -0500

his fantastic calendar might be just what you need to start out the new school year more organized! This has been a very poplular calendar - sales in 2006 were up 28% over 2005! The Mom's Family Calendar 2007 by Sandra Boynton covers sixteen months, starting in September 2007. Each month’s oversized grid is laid out vertically, with five columns across the top (with the first column labeled "Mom") and the days of the month reading down the left side. One glance is all it takes to see exactly who is doing what, and when. This calendar comes with hundreds of stickers for appointments, birthdays, etc. Suggested retail for this calendar is $12.95.

I have one of these calendars to give to one of my readers! I won't make it hard - not even a before school essay to write! All you have to do is post about this contest on your blog or on your CafeMom journal with a link back to my blog) with a link to your blog. How ever many enter, I will have one of my children pick a number between one and "# of entries" and that person will receive this. I will ship this free of charge to those within the continental USA - if you are outside the continental USA, you will need to cover the shipping cost. After you have done this, leave a comment on my blog (HERE ONLY!!

Contest ENDS THIS FRIDAY, August 24th at 11:59 p.m. EDT. We will announce the winner on my blog on Monday, August 27th and that person will have 24 hours to e-mail me with their address. If we don't hear from the winner by the end of the 24 hours, we will announce a second winner! So watch my blog for the winner!

In Other Words: Praising Him - Always

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:15:00 -0500

"Hey mom, listen to this song" . . . and I listened and watched my son sing this song with such meaning, "having been there". He knew it would touch me too - and it was definitely a God-given moment as we shared this song together, having been through the wilderness and desert together, and now, though there are still scars, and bittersweet memories, we know and can see how God was there, through it all. This was the first song my son ever sang and played with his guitar in church on the first mother's day after the death of our son - so it is quite special . . . CONTINUED HERE

Teens Dressing Modestly

Thu, 2 Aug 2007 14:01:00 -0500

y twin girls will be turning 16 next Friday. I think they have been counting the days to this special birthday since they turned 15! For the last several months we hear just about every day "___# more days til we turn 16". It's hard to believe!

One of the hardest things with having teen girls is finding clothes that are trendy, yet modest. There are so many clothes out there that should be a fraction of the cost because there is hardly any material to them! They are so low cut - AND high cut ! It's hard finding modest clothes, but my girls do pretty good about it, One of their favorite places to shop is what we call GW Boutique - GoodWill!

CONTINUED HERE . . .

Our Son Needs Surgery

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 15:57:00 -0500

ayson saw the orthopedic surgeon today, and it was disappointing news. The bone broke the rest of the way since the accident - the ball part in the shoulder broke off the bone, and its now healing in the wrong way. So, on Friday, he has to go in for it to be reset - breaking how it's healing now, resetting, and then shooting pins into the bone. The surgery will be about 30 minutes and then an hour and a half recovery and he should be able to come home. These pins will stay in 6-8 weeks and then will have them surgically removed. He is rather bummed - we are bummed to for him. He is such an active kid - always doing something, and it's really slowing him down (but probably not as much as it should). He works at a horse stable and can't work there right now. He misses playing his guitar. So pray for him - that God will just give him a peace about this and that all will go well on Friday. CONTINUED HERE

In Other Words: Intimacy with Jesus

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:38:00 -0500

s moms how often do we forget the joy of being a mom? We just continue along with the daily tasks of life, from making breakfast, cleaning up spilled milk, to reminders to children to complete schoolwork and chores, to watching the clock for curfew times to be met and hurrying children off to bed after a busy, tasked-filled day. It can be wearing, overwhelming and the joy of motherhood is zapped. I can forget to give my kids a hug or the much needed praise, overlook a handdrawn picture, and don't take that time out I was going to, to re-read their favorite book (that I am tired of - but they are not). I keep going with the daily tasks of keeping my house going - but I can get so involved in all the "chores" that I overlook the deepening of my relationships with my children. The dishes can stay a few hours longer for a walk through the woods or smores at the firepit. Snuggles in the rocking chair reading a favorite story will be remembered much longer than clean windows and the laundry being caught up. A simple trip to the playground with a picnic will help towards deepening relationships . . . to keep the communication doors open with the children.

I wonder if Jesus thinks the same thing, when we forget our personal time with Him . . . continued here