http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 3 Nov 2009 23:16:00 -0600 Tue, 3 Nov 2009 23:16:00 -0600 We have adopted two soldiers deployed this time to Iraq.  Both are great men: one is married and been in for over a decade, and the other is a young man who this is his first deployment.  It's neat to note that our older soldier has been our friend since his last deployment when we adopted him over a year and a half ago, so our ties are well grounded! When we heard he was heading back, we wanted to write and support once again! Please pray for our military deployed over seas! It's not an easy life, and many many live and work in harm's way~in fact are fighting a war.  They deserve and need our respect and support! As homeschoolers, this kind of patriotic effort has been very beneficial as it has shown our children some real eye opening hands on experiences to freedom, freedom which has through the centuries come at a great sacrifice.  Writing and corresponding with our service people has given them a great insight I believe.  Somebody is up while we sleep tending the borders and protecting the lamplight of freedom for our nationm and we are blessed to know two such people! It's a natural extension of an American history or a freedom study, even a church history study where one can know a soldier who is standing in the gap~the place of protection for our nation~us, the citizens of the United States of America. There's a wind of political discontent over the tenents of freedom concerning our country~a "rewriting" being attempted, but HOMESCHOOLERS, you know we are all capable of studying the truth of not just God's Word, but of how our great nation came to be...Let's stand to support our military heroes and our nation! God BLESS America! Home of the Free BECAUSE of the BRAVE! If you are interested in supporting a deployed soldier with cards, letters, emails, and carepackages, drop me a note with how to contact you and I will pass you to the coordinator! blessings, SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/741917/ Tue, 3 Nov 2009 23:16:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/741917/ Head over to THRIVING WITH NO GREEN$ to get these GREAT DEALS! You can get the TOS Mag for $7.95 PLUS 10 FREE GIFTS you get to chose! YEAH, that's right...you choose which FREE GIFTS that YOU WANT! AND beginning with the Winter Issue 2010! Go right on over~You won't be sorry~these are TOO GOOD to pass up! The Magazine and shoes for your entire family! Hey, the offers are limited: Shoes: ends close of business 10/30 and Magazine SOON~two more days!!!!!!!! Blessings, SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/740463/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/740463/ It was after 3AM last Friday night when I was checking my email to discover than my friend, Carol Magathlin who is the US Army 3rd Infantry Div's Adopt A Soldier Coord had emailed me.  I immediately opened her email to read that there was to be an "honor flight" out of Savannah that morning and that if any of us (soldier sponsors) could be there to welcome home these veterans from WWII giving us the time and place.  To explain a bit, Carol and I have become old friends almost immediately, while only knowing each other just a few short years, and having only been in each other's presence about five times...but it's a connection that is lasting as we both care for the service people serving our nation.  Carol, a writer for the local newspaper is credited with and organizes and administers the Adopt A Soldier program giving deploying 3rd ID soldiers the opportunity to have community support while over seas in the form of letters, care packages and support.  I have been and continue to be a sponsor to one HERO currently on his 4th deployment, and sponsored four others along with this current a year and a half ago.  This is the background so you will know why I got this email.  If I had been THERE, I would have attended the Welcome Home gathering for these WWII Veterans. My grandfather was a soldier in WWII serving under McArthur in the Solomon Islands.  He was US Army and a radioman.  I am proud of his service while I have never met him, the stories I have heard of him and pictures I have seen give great meaning to me in his efforts of patriotism in the face of tyranny! When Carol sent that email, I immediately emailed her back of which she let me know via her Blackberry that she was in route to the airport RIGHT THEN...Oh how I envied her!  To be able to visit the WWII Memorial with Veterans of that particular war would be such an honor for me.  I knew it would be special to Carol and her honor as well.  I can't brag enough on Carol, but then she's so modest... Carol wrote a short piece for a few local newspapers about her trip.  You can read it here! Please pray for our miliatary who are deployed and serving all over the world.  What an honor to serve them as they serve US~each of us in our great nation! God bless America~home of the free...BECAUSE of the BRAVE! blessings, SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/740208/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/740208/ Fireheart Shinobi (Ninja) We have two new babies at our house, baby kittens! Now this is a huge deal to my kids who were quite young when they had their first cat.  Today they are older and are great "parents" to these little furry babes! I have had the biggest laugh as girl thing one has been toting her kitten (Shinobi)  around in her brother's old arm sling when he broke his arm a few years ago! This little kitty doesn't mind at all to ride snuggled up close to his "mommy" as she sits and does her school work. Boy thing one's kitten is a tad older than girl thing one's kitten.  His kitty is bigger and more active, but when he is working on his lessons,  Fireheart (cat's name) is snuggled right in his lap sleeping away. It's a sweet sight.  Of course there are multi-kitten antics like when they play and chase each other... but the other day the were missing.  After a hard search, they were found, of ALL places inside my grandmother's treddle sewing cabinet. They had both crawled in and nestled together for a nap! My plants are worse for the wear right now as my peace lilly is looking like it's been in a war! NOT good! They haven't found my trees yet~they better not! But then Christmas is coming, and I bet they will want to climb that tree for sure with all the lights and decor...Oh my~ This is sure to be an intresting holiday season . . . What's new or up at your house? Blessings, SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/738354/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:36:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/738354/ All children are special.  No doubt.  But for children with the designation of "special needs" there are challenges and issues that parents navigate that "typically developing" children's parents don't have to do. Cocked full of information, insight and inspiration,Someplace Called Special is the newest TOS eBook! I was given the opportunity to review Someplace Called Special in  a preview read so that I can share my insights about it with you. You will enjoy reading about children who are MORE special than the labe! You will learn what these "labels" are and how parents are helping their children grow! You will find power for the journey if you are navigating these roads with the Moms who wrote this book.   Someplace Called Special is  a special look into the world of homeschooling that often isn't talked about~ In eBook download, you can purchase it for immediate delivery from The Schoolhouse Store! Why wait, when you can read it now? I loved reading about the children.  As a parent of special learners, I appreciated the candor and vision of the authors~There's some REAL truth in this book about children~ To purchase Someplace Called Special CLICK HERE! blessings, SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/736580/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/736580/ God ordained the family in the beginning of time when He created Adam and gave to him a wife, Eve.  He told them to be fruitful and multiply, urging them to have a family. He gave them rules and a job to do. Today there are those who do not believe the Bible or hold to the Biblical standards of morality as set forth in the Scripture, but believe that an "anything goes" type of morality is acceptable for building blocks of today's America, but in studying morality, not man devised, but God ordained, morality comes from God. Period~END of debate.  For those who seek to live outside of God's ordinance, there is judgment. Judgment is hard to accept for the faithless, but it's judgment none the less. God's standards allow only for His ideals not mine, and if mine are outside of the realm of His design  then I face His dealings.  Logically, I can love my pet~let's say any kind of animal... I can feel attraction for and desire for ( I KNOW this is not a child-friendly subject), and my point is to illustrate that while I may (which I DO NOT) have affections for, let's say, an animal, what MORAL ground is there to prevent my doing what my "affections may dictate?"  Same logic goes for objects, children and same sexed individuals! Sorry folks, but a part from God, there is little morality. You may have shouted that there are laws in our nation to protect children and animals from abuse, but WHERE are these laws rooted in morality?  The Bible IS the only source of morality that is foundational for laws in any nation!  Ancient history shows that the nations who were without the monotheistic beliefs in Jehovah, God were immoral and gross in their affections.  Today, we are in much the same scenario as the god-less ancients.  Those who deny the powerful God also deny His authority in their lives to dictate what their affections and practices entail.   I am 100% PRO heterosexual family.  This may make Sister T unpopular, legalistic, hard nosed, bigoted, unkind, wacko, conservative, right-winged, nuts, OR WHATEVER it makes me! I am sticking with God's view of morality and I KNOW that it is HE who has made us, and not we ourselves.  That He created the order that He designed and said was good.  Biologically differences occur, granted.  But just because I have a natural bent towards something does NOT make it something I need to ACT upon. PERIOD. Think again for unnatural affections or behaviors.  I might love what drugs do in my body, but if they are harmful, I need to abstain.  If I love what other excesses do to me, I need to refrain.  If I desire something unlawful, like money that I can get from illegal means, then I should not participate.  There are consequences to behaviors and just because it feels "good" or seems "natural" these are not moral reasons to participate. I have called for prayer before for our leaders of our nation in past posts. President Barak Obama is in need of prayer as he puts into office those who will lead our nation.  I have come across a link through the National Organization for Marriage  HERE!  Protect Marriage/Marriage Defenders concerning one of the President's nominees, Chai Feldblum HERE!  I am sickened by her rationality and strategy to reorganize the moral code of our nation.  I know! I KNOW! Blogs about homeschooling are supposed to be fun, educational, enlightening and entertaining, but folks, if we do not stand up against such, our nation will, as did many of the god-less lost societies of the ancients, fall apart... Our children and our God deserve better! Let's stand in prayer and support of Biblical morality in our nation.  Without the Bible, there is NO morality~so we must embrace God and His Word! SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/735063/ Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/735063/ With winter coming, and fall underway,,,I got to thinking about some kiddo fun...their creative juices can just flow in the right environment~HOME! Here's a few ideas: Box Play~got some boxes around the house? The bigger the box the more fun it can be! When a kid I played in a box with my little brother.  We had tiled floors and we pushed each other up and down the hallway...we each fit into the box with our legs crossed and off we went...It was so much fun! Enough kids and enough space and the RACE IS ON! Box play~building a house or fort.  I've done both of these in MY life! Bigger boxes do this best, but enough smaller ones will make stacked buildings too~add an old blanket or two...sheets work well for this as they are less weight and will stay better~We also used to get Mama's clothes pins (the ones with the springs) and clipped the sheets to the box edges! This made a nice little hideout or 'home' for my dollies! Box play~puppet show...now this is easy too...Are you making puppets in your homeschooling? If you have young children, a brown sack (these can be from recycled sacks~I save mine!) and some colored paper, markers, paper plates, stickers or WHATEVER you might have and let your children create! Then the show can begin with the character your child created! THIS IS SOO much fun!  Box play~Car ramps and garages for the small playing cars...or make a car...boys LOVE boxes too! Hope this is useful as the indoor season is almost upon us! blessings SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/733764/ Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/733764/ The garden has produced in abundance for us this year, and we are so thankful!   Last week we got our first heavy frost so picking the last of the bounty was necessary, which led to an abundance of GREEN tomatoes! Whoohoo! So we just love GREEN tomatoes! Here's my husband's FAVORITE recipe with GREEN tomatoes! Eric’s Green Chili (Basic Recipe) (Meat sauce not Chili Concarne (with beans) Ingredients: 5lbs of boneless/skinless chicken breast can use pork (uncured meat.) If use pork must sear the meat. 32 oz of sliced Napalitos cactus (green long strips; can get from Walmart or Kroger) 3-4 Jalapeno pickled peppers (fresh, use less) 2.5-3 quarts stewed green tomatoes of strewed paste like unskinned tomatoes. (I just washed and hulled them, removing all bad or unsightly areas.) Onion~one whole extra large onion.  These were huge onions. Olive oil Garlic (powdered or fresh) Cilantro (dried) Cumen (dried spice) Sage (dried spice) Crushed red pepper (dried) 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (dried) 1/2 tsp  Chili powder (dried spice) Pequin pepper (dried spice) VERY potent, use a ½ tsp or if you like hot use more... Salt (table~small amount to taste, there’s a good deal in the cactus and jalepenos.) Process: Before doing the meats: Prepare the spices: Small bowl combine all the dry spices.  When done, should have about ½ cu of dry spice with bulk consisting of chili powder, garlic and cumen.  Adjust spices to personal taste preferences and heat.  If using pork: Cube pork and brown in olive oil~not much oil needed, just sear the pork hunks.  After removing the pork and there is about ¼ inch of rue, Bring oil to just before smoking, pork dripped rue if pork. Olive oil if chicken.  Add spices to hot oil.   Should not form paste, add water to prevent this...be care as it can splatter.  Allow spices to become blended and roasted either in rue or oil, then add back in pork or add raw cubed chicken (boneless/skinless.) Cover and cook until meats are tender, may need to add water until tenderized and moist.  Tender falling apart form.  (The meat will eventually be ground, so the more tender, the better!) In a separate pot take cactus and onion and cook until tender.  Use the whole cactus jar of salsa juice and all, with chopped onion (not needed to be fine as will be chopping this too.) Take cactus and meat and run through chopping either food processor or blender or other chopping method (texture is preference. We like it very smooth with some chunks. Not like mashed potatoes, but close.) Put everything in a huge stock pot and simmer, simmer, simmer.  You can’t do this too long.  It will make the flavors blend AND thickens the chili. Careful not to scorch, and you can add water as needed to prevent scorching. Cook on low with tight lid.  HOW we eat this stuff: In a burrito shell, layer with cheese and top with cheese.  Then put into microwave. After add sour cream, fresh lettuce, onions, black olives, onions, and tomatoes and red salsa. THIS IS DELISH! Sounds and even LOOKS gross, but it is really good! Promise! blessings and GOOD use on your GREEN tomatoes! SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/733698/ Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/733698/ Recently I was asked about family fun activities~my brain went to cranking, and I began to REMEMBER the things we've done that seemed most memorable! When considering some rest and relaxation for our families, it doesn't have to break the piggy bank for our children to enjoy it.  Some of the best things in life are free~you know I love FREE, right?  Free experiences are awesome in this economy and teach some very valuable lessons to our children. It teaches them that simplicity is valuable.  It teaches that God's world is beautiful and to be enjoyed. It teaches that money is to be used wisely. Not saying extravagance isn't wise, but in looking at not so much what we spend on, but HOW we spend can make the difference. It teaches that recycling is fun and possible.  When we use something up or repurpose an item, our kids find creativity like they have never experienced before! It teaches that pleasure is right where we are~we don't have to take a bus, plane, boat or car often to have enjoyment in life! It teaches that family is more important that the "scream" of this world and its call to us! With these lessons, here are some of my ideas for SIMPLE family fun~ 1. Taking a walk in the seasons.  How about just around your neighborhood. It's amazing the things you will learn about your community this way, and some of the neighbors are probably on the porch...say Hi! for me ;-)) 2.  Picking flowers out of the garden together~obviously you have to have a garden, but go out and pick a bouquet for the table for dinner.  Smell all the flowers if you or your child isn't allergic~enjoy the beauty! 3. Take a blanket, quilt or sheet; I prefer a sheet as it's easier to wash later and go out for a picnic or just to sit together in the grass.  Look for a four-leaf clover. . .pick wild violets...compare the blades of grass. . .sky gaze and discuss the fun images you can see in the clouds! Head out at night~star gazing is fun too! 4.  Get out a fun board game or puzzle.  We recently discovered Boggle with my kids! What fun!! But there are so many games. . .Monopoly, Uno, chess, charages, 21 questions, and checkers along with all kinds of cards from fish, war and rummy. Do you remember the games you played? Hey, there's a whole bunch for outside too~hide and seek, duck duck goose, tag, freeze tag, war, "house"(be careful with this one ;-)), we used to pretend to be our favorite characters from books and later TV~today one might need caution on some of the character play~but if you keep it wholesome...I mean, if your child is allowed to watch ick on TV or movies, then you can reast assured the ick will come out in play! My 2 cents: make it all wholesome in the home! AND HAVE FUN! 5.  I don't recommend this often, but watch a movie together.  Be sure as I know you do, that it's age and child content friendly.  The makers slip so much JUNK into them that's not good these days. 6.  Go visit somebody as a family.  Of course you will need to clear it a head of time, but some of my best times as a kid were visiting friends and family with my parents.  Grandparents love to see their grands! What about a shut in or someone who is lonely? Visits can be anyone who would enjoy it~nursing homes are good places too! 7;  Family plays and concerts.  Does anyone play an instrument or can the kids get a play together? Entertainment night on a cold dank night snug in the house can be so much fun as everyone participates in doing some kind of talent, I guess you can say, "____________ (your last name) Family's Got Talent" and have a talent show too, or do it vauldville style! 8.  Have a sing a long~play some favorite music and everyone take turns singing!  Got a mic? Get it out! This can be so much fun!! 9.  Turn OFF the TV and computer and TELL family stories. Get out the annuals and family albums...share your past with your children.  They need to hear and know their past!  It's fun when you say, "which on is me?" and they can't find you...well...OK! Maybe not that much fun, but it's a hoot to see IF they can find us 'after all these years!' 10. Have a dance contest on the living room or den floor! Play some oldies but goodies and let the kids rip~you can dance with them too~my kids got the biggest howl over me dancing once to a PBS special of music from 'my era.' They had never EVER seen mama get so gregarious! It was so much fun!! What are your ideas? I know you do fun things with your family~leave me a comment and let me know; I'd love to hear! Blessings, SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/732213/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 01:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/732213/ Kids learn ALL the time.  I can't stress this enough when homeschooling our children.  As a mom in my ninth year, I confess I didn't always understand this in the lives of my children.  There was loads of worry on my part concerning "doing school right," "finding the right curriculum,' and "creating the right environment" for my children to learn.  Today I am still concerned, but in a different way about these things.  I know that my children learn in every situation, event and encounter they have. . .Do the "unschoolers" have a point? They (if I have adequately understood) don't really plan out the educations of their children, but allow their child to explore and learn by giving their children opportunities. In some ways this is what I have done too, but I still worried much more than I probably should have about the "rightness" of educating my two.  Worry is a huge issue as is guilt when we don't meet our own expectations for a goal or dream.  Clinging to the idea that my children learn with everything, I can rest, you can rest in knowing that they will become well rounded citizens who are capable of good decisions and living a life pleasing to God.  Do I still concern my self with curriculum, environment and doing it right? Of course I want what is best! Of course I work to provide quality materials! Of course I want to practice diligence and perseverance and studiousness so my children's education is done right! But does worry and guilt possess me or  take up my time like it once did over planning and performing? NO WAY! I am working harder than ever to see not just the learning occuring but the fruit of it in my children.  Give your anxieties and cares to the Lord.  Do your best, and He rewards! "Perfect" teachers we will never be~even the professionals are not perfect! So stand and go forth, KNOWING that our children LEARN ALL THE TIME, and while we have a part of it, their education is so much bigger than what we provide. . . God directs more of it than we realize! I have peace knowing that even on my worst day, God can take up my child in His grace and mercy and fulfill in and for him His plans for his life! This understanding takes the stress, worry and anxiety off me! I can give this all over to God and so can you! Today, offer your child and his education over or as I have had to do many times, BACK OVER to God!  Why do I keep taking these burdens back when I know God has it covered? Fear can be crippling! But in faith and strength gained by God I can renew my sense of His presence as I attempt to educate~to guide and instruct my  children given to me by Him! Blessings as we all work at seeing God's presence and purposes in our homeschooling! SisterTipster http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/731204/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/731204/