Adorning Grace - Homeschool Blogger

And the winner is....

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:12:00 -0600

Carol, of Three Little Ladies. She has won a free copy of SpellQuizzer. Thank you for participating and congratulations!

©2009 Adorning Grace

It's a GIVE-AWAY!!!!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:07:00 -0600

So, scroll down one post and enter for your chance to win a free copy of the new SpellQuizzer software!

©2009 Adorning Grace

SpellQuizzer Give-Away & Review

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:11:00 -0600

SpellQuizzer is a spelling program that helps kids learn their spelling and vocabulary words. SpellQuizzer is spelling software for children that need help learning their spelling and vocabulary words. The SpellQuizzer web site has pre-made downloadable spelling lists that you can download and use with SpellQuizzer. ~SpellQuizzer.

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Dan over at SpellQuizzer and asked if I would be willing to review this new software. It was an honor to be asked and I was certainly eager to do so. I really didn't know what to expect, but my initial hope was that the program wouldn't take a four year degree to understand!

I am pleased to say that it did not! From download to first use took only moments and SpellQuizzer was very simple to use. However, don't let the simplicity fool you, this is one powerful tool! My children get tired of writing and rewriting their spelling lists. SpellQuizzer allows for a little variety. They are able to type their spelling words using verbal cues that YOU create. All that is needed to use this software is an inexpensive computer microphone.

In a nutshell, you will take your child's spelling list and record them in the SpellQuizzer program. Say it, use it in a sentence and then repeat it if you'd like. Your child will then have the opportunity to type the word into the space provided. Further information can be found on the SpellQuizzer site.

I like this program for several reasons but mostly because it is another tool that I can use to reinforce my children's spelling words without making them write them each and every day.

Now for the contest:

SpellQuizzer is willing to award a FREE copy of the software and user license to the winner of this contest!!! (Thank you Dan!) Add a comment to this entry for your chance to win. Post on your blog about this contest and then come back and leave a second comment with the link to your post for a second chance to win. The contest ends at midnight, on Sunday November 15, 2009 and the winner will be drawn at random using Random.org. The winner will be contacted on Monday!

©2009 Adorning Grace

Add hand-made jewelry to your Christmas gift-giving list!

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:41:00 -0600

Visit my dear friend Melody over at With the Fruit of Her Hands for all of your jewelry needs. I can personally attest to the quality of her work. While you're over there, join the contest she's currently having!

©2009 Adorning Grace

This old mom is learning a few new tricks :-)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:24:00 -0500

Guess it's never too late. My first creation? A home-made apple pie! I guess I always assumed that it was too difficult but it wasn't bad and it actually tasted even better than it looked :-)

and creation #2? Finally trying my hand at turning old jeans into skirts! Seems like since we've moved north, we've been inundated with donations of jeans. Very thoughtful but it doesn't take more than a couple of days around our family to know that we don't wear them. So....I was without excuse to turn this:

into this:

Yes, that is New England Patriots denim material in the middle. Couldn't resist! And neither could I resist posting this:

For instructions on how to do this yourself, please visit:
A Home Away From Home

Fall in New England

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:45:00 -0500

See what we've been up to on my companion blog....Days of Grace

©2009 Adorning Grace

~In Memory~

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:20:00 -0500

Where do you begin in honoring someone who touched the lives of so many people? I am sure that my words are completely inadequate, but it is certainly worth trying.

Carrie was a wonderful person; beautiful inside and out. If I had to remember her for just one attribute, it would be for her smile. With one infectious smile, you immediately felt encouraged. No matter what you were going through, somehow you knew it was going to be ok.

Carrie and I were not close. I went to school with her for many years and haven't seen her in person in the past 18 years. However, the internet can be a wonderful tool. We got to know each other on a more personal basis about a year ago. She was a tremendous encouragement to me when I was in a valley.

Funny how at that time she was going through a trial herself, never knowing that one year later, all her trials would be over. When she set out for that early morning jog on Saturday, she never anticipated that a reckless car would make that jog her last. Carrie was a person that embraced life and lived it to the fullest. I believe that when she saw her Savior face to face, her only regret was the five precious children she left behind.

My heart aches for her family. Please remember them during this time. Pray the God of peace would comfort their hearts and minds. Pray the Lord will give them a glimpse of their future reunion around the throne. May God be glorified through this tragedy. I know Carrie would want it that way.

In Loving Memory

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
James 4:14

Let's talk self-control!

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 10:34:00 -0500

What do you think of when I say the words "self-control"? If you're like me, you conjure up an image of yourself controlling your temper or avoiding a food temptation or doing the right thing in spite of your surroundings. Basically, taking charge of 'self' in any given situation.

The last 48 hours have brought a new definition to light in my mind. I've come to the realization that self-control also has the implication that the only person you can truly control is self, and the only person that I will give account for is self.

Think about it. There are plenty of people and situations that we try to control. Each failure to do so results in a sense of frustration and feeling of failure. Maybe it's trying to control a spouse and the habits that you don't think are acceptable. Maybe it's trying to control a situation that you really have no control over. Maybe it's a rift with another that you've tried to make right but the other party is unwilling. All of these things are examples of times when you can't control anything but yourself, yet if you try, you set yourself up for a life of perpetual frustration!

Today, my focus is specifically on the area of children. Years before I ever had my first child, I read and re-read a popular (amongst Christians) child training book. I won't tell you which one as I don't want to pick on it or its authors. I think there is a lot of wisdom in the book and that it's a useful tool. However, this book left me with the impression that if I would train my children as infants in 'cause and effect", that I shouldn't have any more trouble out of them after a certain age.

So, I trained and I trained. I tied strings of fellowship. I was as consistent as I had the strength to be. As my children grew, guess what? They developed wills of their own! I was totally unprepared for that. After all, I'd read and followed 'the book'.

The more my children would fuss with each other or display a bad heart attitude, I would become discouraged. I mean, I prayed for widsom, I disciplined according to God's Word, I trained! And guess what? My children still weren't perfect! {gasp} Can you believe it??? Don't get me wrong. I have good children but this mama wants godly children!

The other day, a dear friend wrote me with regards to an entirely different situation. In her letter, she said, "I tell my kids that... if there is a problem in a temporal relationship, it is directly linked to a problem with an eternal one."

Well, just knock me over with a feather. There was my "uh-huh!" moment! In that moment, the Lord showed me that I can do everything right yet my children still have a choice. They each have a free will.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; ....

The word 'constrain' means to compel or force; to urge. Up until a certain age, our children are constrained to obey us, either out of a desire to please us, a reward to achieve or a punishment to avoid. Something constrains them. At some point (and I believe it's probably different with each child), they cease to be constrained solely by their parents and move into the area of being constrained by God's love.

A child can't be constrained by the love of God until they know the Lord as their Savior. My children all profess to be saved, so what they need is a closer walk with their Savior. They need to have a personal relationship with him that goes beyond salvation. Until they understand and realize how much the God of heaven loves them, His love will never constrain them to do right. It's a tough job and a topic for another post.

The point being is that they seemed to have moved from a place of being constrained by me and into a place where they need to be constrained by the Lord. The balance is shifting. I cannot force them to be what God wants them to be. I can correct outward actions and I can teach them godly character but I cannot change their hearts. This was such an eye-opening realization for me!

Self-control has taken on a new meaning. I can only control *myself*....and in doing so, I can be a good example for my children to follow. We can constrain (compel) our children to live right by providing a godly example or we can constrain them to do wrong by our example. If we model a heart that seeks to please God, the Lord can use that to urge them to do right. If we model (for example) a life of laziness, than our children will be compelled to follow in our footsteps, making the Holy Spirit's job all the harder.

Self-control....such a small word with such big implications.

eta: I was heading out the door when I posted this. I got to thinking about how this post may be perceived. Please understand that in no way do I think my work is done. Far from it. My children are only 11, 7 & 7. I guess the point I was trying to make is that I have finally realized that I can make my girls do the right thing because "I said so" but only God can bring obedience of the heart.

Our biggest struggle is with the "me first" attitude. I make them do right, I have them memorize Scripture, we pray for selfless attitudes but true heart change takes time and to some extent, maturity.

So....we keep pressing on, knowing that God's Word will not return void.

Have blessed day!

©2009 Adorning Grace

Who's hatching your eggs?

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:52:00 -0500

I received this from a friend of mine who got it from Pearls and Diamonds. It is SO good and well worth reading to the end!

Once upon a time there was a very beautiful hen, the pride and joy of the farmyard. Always she had an encouraging word for everyone, a smile, a pat on the back. Watching her from the farmhouse window one spring morning, the farmer thought to himself, "How wonderful it would be to have a whole brood of chicks just like my little hen!" This goal in mind, he set her on a soft feather-lined nest.

The little hen was so excited when the first egg appeared, warm and brown beneath her. It was so smooth and round and perfect. She vowed she would raise it to be a perfect chicken, to scratch and cluck and lay eggs for the farmer.

Soon her nest was filled with eight beautiful eggs, each one seeming more special than the last. Clucking delightedly to herself, the hen would settle in at night to think about all the things she must do the next day. And always, always she had an encouraging word for everyone around the farm-yard.

Then tragedy struck. Not the little hen, but Old Mrs. Goose woke up one morning to find all of her eggs broken, their jagged edges pricking up out of the hay. As she wept, the little hen was right there to comfort her. She scratched up corn to bring Old Mrs. Goose and sent her sympathetic notes.

Not long later an old duck came down sick and the little hen rushed to her side and stayed by her night and day for three days until she was well.

When she returned to her nest she discovered a terrible thing: one perfect, round brown egg was missing. Where could it have gone? How could it have been taken? She had loved those eggs and cared for them and sought the best for them. And she had left them warm and comfortable and well-provided for, hadn't she? What more could eggs need? Sadly she shook her head and settled back onto her nest of seven.

The little hen visited all the other hens. Some of them had nests, some did not. All of them were delighted to see her. But one old hen, glad as she was to see the little hen, dared not even get off her nest to visit. "Pardon me, Little Hen," she said gently, "but I'm afraid my eggs might grow cold."

"What a pity," clucked the little hen. "She is such a capable hen and she could be doing so much good for others. Her eggs will keep."

When she settled back onto her nest that night, there was a frightening crash. One of the perfect round, brown eggs had gone bad and exploded underneath her! All that remained was an empty, shattered shell and a nauseating, lingering stench.

"This is terrible!" moaned the little hen, holding her nose as tears came to her eyes. "It must have been a bad egg to begin with! I did everything I knew to do!"

"What a tragedy!" said all the barn animals, sadly. "That hen is such a good hen, so kind to everyone, so eager to help and she has such a fine nest of beautiful eggs. And she STILL gets to much done!"
But the farmer said, "I wish that hen would stay on her eggs."

When two sheep decided to take the plunge and get married, there was the hen overseeing the festivities. The cows complimented the lovely hay arrangements. The goats thanked her for the lovely things to eat. The barn fowl cheered her efforts and threw grain on the newlyweds as they rushed out to the pasture. The rejoicing continued late into the night.

During the reception a tiny chirp came from one of the round, brown eggs. The little hen could not hear it over the sound of music and dancing. A tiny crack appeared in the side of one of the eggs as a little chick began to peck its way out of the shell-too early! Soon it had shaken off the pieces of shell and began searching for its mother. No one was there to tell the little chick that a nesting box is too high for a little chick to climb out of. It tumbled from the nesting box and lay still. Tired but happy the little hen walked slowly back to her nest. In the hay below she discovered the tiny, stiff form of her dead baby chick.

Again the barnyard mourned. "How can this happen to such a good hen?"

Not one of the warm, brown eggs ever hatched.

A slithering black snake ate one while the little hen was attending a first-freshening cow at her calving. A raccoon stole another while she was chatting with Mr. Turkey over afternoon tea. During the late frost, one froze and cracked while the little hen was sitting on Mrs. Duck's eggs for her. One cracked and broke late one night as she turned them after returning home from a visit. She was just too tired and was a bit rougher than she'd meant to be.

The last egg was picked up and placed in a basket by the farmer's daughter who was collecting abandoned pullet eggs for a picnic.

When the hen began to lay again, the farmer quietly instructed his daughter to pick up the little hen's eggs. He sighed as he spoke, "No use letting that little hen keep eggs she won't stick around to hatch."

The hen hardly seemed to notice that her nest was always empty. She was so busy ministering to the other barn animals that she even stopped laying eggs at all.

The other animals watched in admiration as she fluttered about here and there, doing this and that, always with an encouraging word and a smile or a pat on the back. "What an amazing hen! She's the best of her kind!"

But the farmer said sadly to his daughter as they watched the little hen scratching in the dirt, "Not much worth in a hen that won't hatch eggs. Pretty little thing, and so cheerful and full of energy, but doesn't do what she's made to do. Guess I won't be getting any fine chickens from her. She means well, but her focus is all wrong. See, those other animals? They've got me. She does so many things that are nice-but don't have to be done. Times are hard sometimes, but really, they can get along without her. In the grand scheme of things there are lots of other animals that could pitch in and do what she does to help. But not a creature in this barn can hatch her eggs."

©2009 Adorning Grace

It's October!!!

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 19:03:00 -0500

If you've followed my blog at all, you know how much I adore autumn in New England. We had snow flurries today and there is now snow atop the mountains behind our house. I feel so incredibly blessed to able to live here and so thankful to the Lord for the beauty He created! My heart is full.

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."