My name is Stacy and I am married to a wonderful man, Brian. We have two wonderful children and we are a blended family. This is our first year to homeschool. I am excited about meeting other moms and learning/sharing new ideas. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 4 Jul 2007 23:12:00 -0500 Wed, 4 Jul 2007 23:12:00 -0500 www.heartofwisdom.com/teachinghisways   I have been busy blogging over there and have combined my homeschool and homestead blogging on that site.  I am going to try this for awhile and see if it continues to work for me.  It has been so much easier to do everything at one place.  I still love HSB and will continue reading and may use this blog but change the purpose of it.  I'll just have to see.  I will be helping my son create a blog on HSB for school this year.  Please come visit me and leave a comment if you stopped by! Blessings, Stacy http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/351965/ Wed, 4 Jul 2007 23:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/351965/ If you haven't signed up for the Busy Body Book that is being given away, you need to click here and get your name in the pot!  It looks like a great planner and just in time since most of us are planning away right now! Also, Tia has posted a link to Naturebackpacks.com for a contest they are having for a FREE "Fun With Nature" book.  You can sign up at the link included her article on the Front Porch. Hope everyone is enjoying there summer! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/338296/ Tue, 5 Jun 2007 02:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/338296/ Check out the Microscope article(The Experimental Zone)on HSB's Front Porch.  Michelle has not only found another great website and resource for homeschool families, she has also been able to obtain a great give away for her contest this week!  It is a MicroBible.  The entire Bible is printed in a 1X1 area on a slide.  That's right, the ENTIRE Bible.  Now wouldn't that be too cool to view under your microscope?  There is also a link to the Great Scopes website where you can obtain a free ebook entitled, "How to Buy the Right Microscope", and a link to see the MicroBible for yourself.  So, visit HSB's Front Porch soon so you can enter too! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/335904/ Wed, 30 May 2007 21:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/335904/ While browsing libraries at librarything.com I found another site called swap simple.  You can list books there, at no charge.  You receive credits as value for your books.  Until someone wants to swap for your book, you only receive 1 credit.  It is a "loaned credit".  After someone completes a swap with you, then you earn the full amount of credit for the book and you can use it to swap for books with other people.  You can also use the loaned credits to swap.  You pay the shipping for any items you order and if the book costs more than 10 credits I think there is a $1 fee to swapsimple.com. To list books, you simply set up free account.  Then you enter the ISBN#, title or author and rate the book's condition and you will be shown how much credit your book is worth.  If you feel you are receiving enough credit, then you just accept and enter the next item.  It is very easy.  I have made my first swap.  I found the book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by Phillip Keller.  It was only 1 credit and I had 3 loaned credits so I decided to try this out.  I clicked the trade now button and was taken to a checkout that showed me what the shipping cost would be.  It was only $2.53 so I "swapped" for the book and paid the fee.  I have received acknowledgement that the book was shipped so I should be receiving it soon.  Now, if I never have anyone swap for my books, and I decide to close my account, I pay swapsimple.com $1 for each "loaned" credit that I have used.  So worst case, I will only be out $3.53 for a great book in good used condition.  Since so many books are difficult to sell on ebay I am going to try this with swapsimple.com for awhile.  I will keep you informed.  Go check them out!  And while you're there see if you could use one of the books I listed.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/332910/ Thu, 24 May 2007 03:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/332910/ This craft is so easy.  I made this pair for my niece for her birthday.  Her jammies are pink with green accents and she thought they were too cool!  Besides a great and easy gift to make, this would be a fun craft for a slumber party!  I have to give credit to Hobby Lobby for their idea sheet.  I saw this in the store a couple of weeks ago when was there buying my daughter her summer flip flop wardrobe.  They were on the 50% off special that week.  You just can't beat 75 cent shoes.  Here is what you need: 1 pair of flip flops fleece - your choice of color - 1/4 yd should be enough for 1 pair Ribbon for the sides of the shoes and for the tops Hot glue gun 1. Trace around the shoe on the fleece. 2. Lay the fleece on the shoe.  Make a slit at the top to be able to fit the material around the part that goes between your toes. 3. Make a slit on each side and tuck the material. 4. Lift up the material a little at a time and run some hot glue on the shoe.  Press the material down firmly. 5. Take the ribbon and hot glue to the sides around bottom of shoe.  6. Then hot glue ribbon to the strap. There are so many different things you can do.  Use buttons instead of ribbon.  Use eyelash yarn on the straps and ribbon on the sides.  Put a flower in the center of each strap.  Use ribbon that has pearls or sequins on it.  Wool felt would probably work as well as fleece and may actually be more aborbent in case your loved one has sweaty feet.  Have fun with this project.  Let your imagination run wild.  And email me a picture if you make a pair! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/321363/ Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:37:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/321363/ The weekend of April 21st we went to Ft. Gibson with our homeschool group.  Ft. Gibson is located in Oklahoma and was established in 1824.  This post is where the handled the relocation of the Five Civilized Tribes.  It was Old Fort Days and they had special presentations for school children.  We were able to make arrangments to see the presentations after the public schools had left, so it was much less crowded.  The people dressed in period clothing and showed the kids how they cooked and what the cooked, talked them about firing the cannons and how they could only fire them every 3 minutes.  They could pack the cannon in 30 seconds but the military discovered that they were packing and firing so fast that they were not taking time to find their target and aim.  They were wasting ammunition and they were having more injuries to the men firing the cannons because of their haste.  There was a blacksmith that demonstrated how they made tools to use to start a fire.  The soldiers couldn't carry matches.  They would get wet when they crossed rivers and during rain storms.  So they made strikers out of iron and used a flint rock to strike against them to make the sparks to start a fire.  It was a really interesting trip and anyone living in NW Arkansas or NE Oklahoma should take time to visit.  Oh, they also have several original buildings and homes besides the fort.  We were able to visit the baking house where they had fired up the old brick oven and baked bread for the visitors to try.  They didn't use a thermometer to determine the oven temperature.....they used their arm.  They would open the door and stick their arm inside.  If they could keep their arm in until the count of 13 then the temp was right for baking.  They had one long deep trough that they used to mix, knead and keep the dough in for the first rise.  Then, they shaped the dough into round loaves and they put nine loaves in one pan.  They used a tool similar to what they use to put pizza into the ovens now to put the bread pans in the oven.  They also have a museum with displays and historical information.  Below are some pictures from our visit.  See this link for additional information.      http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/321352/ Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:23:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/321352/ This is a positive article about socialiaztion and homeschooling.  I read it this morning on WorthyNews.com.  Click here to read the article. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/320329/ Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/320329/ Here is a quick, easy and delicious breakfast smoothie you can make in a snap.  This would even be good for a breakfast on the go. Blend these ingredients together: 1/2 of a banana, chopped 3/4 cup pineapple chunks 1/2 cup coconut milk You can add protein by simply adding in a spoonful of protein powder.  This recipe came from the 2005 ssue of Better Homes and Gardens My issue.  Enjoy! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/319076/ Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/319076/ As we studied Passover, we learned about the Israelites redemption from slavery in Egypt.  My son found a really neat craft from a link in the Biblical Holidays, Spring Holidays e-book.  It is called Moses and the Red Sea.  The instructions are simple and you can print the people, clothing, and fish needed to make the project, and the kids can color them in.  Here is a pictue of what my 9 year old son made.  He did everything except cut out the people.  I cut while he colored.  It made for good one on one time together.  Plus, I enjoy making crafts as much as he does. The Israelites crossing the Red Sea Then, we discussed how Jesus is the Passover Lamb and how He was the perfect, unblemished sacrifice.  We discussed how He redeemed all mankind from the slavery of sin.  Then, I pulled out a box with something I had purchased on clearance after Christmas.  It is called The Amazing Sheep.  You put this paper sheep together and then sit it in some special liquid that comes with it and it grows "wool".  (I never could find the ingredients for the liquid so I could explain what makes the wool grow.)  Anyway, the sheep was going to be used as a centerpiece for our Passover Seder.  It didn't complete it's growth, possibly due to our 80 degree weather and the humidity.  See the pictures below of the progress.  It was fun and the kids enjoyed it.  We didn't use it for our centerpiece but we had a back up plan and the picture is also below. About an hour after being in the liquid. 4-5 hours later the wool was growing. This is the lamb we used instead.  The above wasn't really a lamb so this was a better reprsentation anyway. However you celebrate this season, be it Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread/& First Fruit or Easter/Resurrection Sunday, remember to focus on Jesus and bless Him with your worship. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.  He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:7-10 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/309523/ Wed, 4 Apr 2007 18:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/309523/ Great story!!!! Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."       Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it! The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You." I think it would do all of us some good to say: "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will." God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. Yes, I do  love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Saviour. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/304876/ Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TeachingHisWays/304876/