Taking the Challenge

Jun. 22, 2006 - ~* Early Friday's Focus: Kids of Courage *~

Posted in Fridays Focus

What: Kids of Courage

(web site)

Where: http://www.kidsofcourage.com/

Cost: absolutely FREE

Rating (with 5 stars being the best): *****

I was browsing the VOM site when I came across - VOM Kids of Courage

What a great site!

If you want to help your children achieve a compassion for the world, a heart of prayer and love for brothers and sisters in Christ, but aren't ready to present them with the graphic nature of persecution taking place around the world, this is the site for you!

Right now, VOM Kids of Courage is featuring Vietnam. (I don't know how often they update/change their page). The main page offers geographical and cultural information on the country spotlighted as well as experiences of Christians in that country. These stories are positive and not graphic, but do share with our kids the reality of the Christian life being more difficult in other parts of the world.

After reading the stories and the cultural/geographical information, you can click on several other links at the top for further exploration of the theme. They offer activities, information on the religions of that area compared with Christianity, and they spotlight a young person from that area.

This is a wonderful resource that can be used in your school day in a myriad of ways: geography; current events; world history; Bible; character training, and so on.

If you are a blogging family, you and your kids can become bloggers for the Persecuted Church. Specifically, your kids could write about what they learn at Kids of Courage, link to KOC, or share an activity they did after reading KOC.

However you choose to use it...use it! You won't be disappointed and your life and the lives of your children may very well be changed. Only eternity will tell how your taking the time to share this site with your children, while praying with them for those under persecution, changed the lives of others.

~*Sheryl*~

****For my friends who don't belong to Homeschoolblogger, please be sure and leave your blog address so I can come visit you! (If you don't have a blog and want to comment and receive a reply from me, please leave your e-mail address.) THANKS! :)****

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Jun. 16, 2006 - ~* Friday's Focus - See, I Told Me So *~

Posted in Fridays Focus

What: See, I Told Me So (e-book edited by Tammy Cardwell)

Where: Homeschool EStore.com

How Much: $9.95 (Special Note: "All of the contributors to this book have agreed to allow what would have been the authors' royalties to be donated to the Project Noah")

Star Rating (with five stars being the best): *****

Five reasons why you should add this e-book to your personal library:

1) If you haven't needed encouragement in your homeschool journey, at some point you will and this book is loaded with encouragement.

2) If you are frightened of the two words: high school, this book will remind you that you are not alone and you can do this.

3) This is an enjoyable read, something homeschool mom's need now and again.

4) You won't break your budget to purchase this. And every time you read a snippet and find encouragement, it will have paid for itself again and again.

5) It supports a very worthy cause. Project Noah benefits from each sale.

From homeschooling one to homeschooling quite a few; from homeschooling varied temperaments and personalities to homeschooling those with special needs; from mom's who were convinced at the outset that they could do this, to those who feared they couldn't at all; from those who started later and those who started from the beginning, See, I Told Me So shares the success stories of parents who homeschooled high school. You'll laugh, sigh, and nod your head in agreement as you read through the personal homeschooling stories shared by those who've gone through the high school years. And you'll leave encouraged, inspired, and confident that with God's help you can complete the journey He started you on.

You'll read Marilyn Rockett's story dealing with doubts that assail a mom who's teaching a "late" reader. You'll share in the triumph of a mom who continues homeschooling through her sickness. You'll meet Lisa Guidry who dispels the notion of "perfect homeschoolers" and shares some wise insights as well as a portion of a poem that reminds us of the importance of time spent with our children.

See, I Told Me So is a book that busy mother's can read in snippets as they have time. It's a book to be shared. It's a book to read and re-read and read yet again.

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May. 26, 2006 - ~* Friday's Focus - Author Beverly Lewis *~

Posted in Fridays Focus

What: Author Beverly Lewis

Where: major bookstores, Christian bookstores, and online at CBD

and Barnes & Noble

Price: $12.59 and up

Ahhh, the thrill of summer reading! One of the things I look forward to during the summer is reading books I want to read, rather than focusing on those I need to read.

I don't tend to read a lot of fiction, but when I find an author who writes fiction based in fact/history and their story-telling is masterful, I usually read as many of their books as I can find.

Such is the case with Beverly Lewis. As an "Englischer" I confess to having always had an interest in the Amish world. Beverly Lewis introduces the Amish culture in a loving, respectful, yet truthful manner. Her writings give outsiders a look into a gentle, hard-working, world.

You'll be whisked away to beautiful countrysides, colorful quilts, delicious foods, and simplicity contrasted by hard labor. You will be transported to a world with many beautiful sides and a few not-so-beautiful

These books offer more than insight into another culture, they are the works of a master story-teller. While not being nail-biters, you can't easily put them down either. I find myself in the middle of a series, wanting to rush Mrs. Lewis in finishing the next book so I can read "the rest of the story".

I must warn you, though, if you are on a diet, be sure you've eaten your salad and filled up on water before reading these books. The descriptions of meals and baked goods will make you want to raid the kichen otherwise.

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May. 12, 2006 - ~* Friday's Focus - Carolina Rags *~

Posted in Fridays Focus

What: Carolina Rags (Purses, Diaper Bags, Baby Goods and More)

Where: CarolinaRags.com

Cost: $8 and up

Rating with 5 stars being best:

Product: * * * * *

Service: * * * * *

For someone like myself who buys most of my purses at WallyWorld, purchasing a purse online through Carolina Rags was such a refreshing, and honestly fun experience.

Before I show you pictures and tell you about my bag, let me introduce you to the owner of the business: Angie Bennett is the owner of Carolina Rags, and she is one delightful lady! She wanted to be able to stay home with her kids and through her love of sewing, word-of-mouth advertising, and with God's grace and strength, she has established a business that has allowed her to do just that!

Let me just plug in a little Mother's Day idea here. Yes, it's too late to have this delivered for Mother's Day, but it's not too late to give your mom a homemade gift certificate, good for one of these handmade beauties. It's also not too late to drop a hint to the loves in your life who want to know what you want for Mother's Day. Let them know you'd love a "shopping spree" at Carolina Rags.

(Marital tip freebie: most men really want to know exactly what you want, not have to guess or mind read. And, honestly, I love my honey to tell me exactly what he wants, too. So, don't be shy when they ask...they really want to know! Help them out !)

Now, let me show you what I received in the mail yesterday:

I know I'm not the best photgrapher and I don't really do these bags justice. For a better look at her bags, go to CarolinaRags.com

What I really hope you can see in the picture is the personalization: takingthechallenge! Isn't that fun?! (You can bet I'll be taking this to our homeschool convention!)

I showed it to my family last night and they were all so impressed with the style, craftsmanship, and personalization. In fact, my sweet dil could hardly believe it was hand-made! The workmanship is truly beautiful!

And for your traveling women, or for those of you who take a purse and a rolling tote to homeschool conventions, check this out:

Yep, the handles easily fit over my tote handle!

These bags are the perfect size for me ...I don't like huge handbags, but I do need room for cell phone, wallet, small calendar and address book, keys, personal products, lotion, plus a few other misc. items (the misc. grows and grows as most of you know all too well!) This purse is the perfect size. Not too big so that I load myself and shoulders down, but big enough for what I need to carry. The purses have inner side pockets and a magnetic closure and are treated with Scotch Guard for additionaly protection.

I don't have babies around anymore (someday grandkids, I hope!), but Angie has a whole line of baby goodies from diaper bags to bibs. Check out the baby line HERE

Additionally, Angie has a line of golf towels for the man in your life, HERE (Don't forget Father's Day!)

Angie works hard to please the customer and she truly is a delight to work with! She is just a real sweet-heart! She is fabulous with personalization. Additionally, her turn-around time is great. She allows 7-10 days for the purse to be completed and then there is the delivery time, which in my case (from SC to CA) was about four days. To read more about Angie and her journey to this stage of business, visit HERE.

You can also visit her blog HERE

Now, you can buy that purse you've been needing and support a fellow stay-at-home mom operating a faith-based business; be treated like a queen, not a number; and get a unique, designer bag all in one shot!

Thanks, Angie!

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May. 5, 2006 - ~* Friday's Focus - Casabella MicroFiber Duster *~

Posted in Fridays Focus

What: Casabella Micro Fiber Long Reach Duster

Where: Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Refills: Casabella

Price: $14.99

Star Rating with 5 being the best: *****

This is one of my favorite cleaning tools. I love this thing!

Here's why: it's light, it's long enough for shorties like me to get to a lot of places w/o the step stool, it's easy to use, it works! Oh, and did I mention, it's washable!

Our new home came with lot's of shutters and wood-work, and this thing has made cleaning them a breeze.

It works from a flat angle

or tilted on its side

(which then cleans the bottom of one blind and the top of the next).

I tried Fly Lady's dusters and I have to tell you, for me - this thing has those dusters beat hands down.

I was skeptical about washing it, but I threw it in with a load and it came out like new. (I laid it out on the counter to dry as I was afraid it might shrink in the dryer and then wouldn't fit back on it's handle-form). I was thrilled to find I can order refills (two in one pack for $12.99) although, as well as it washes, I don't expect to need refills any time soon.

This tool is a keeper. In fact I went back and bought a second one so I have one upstairs and downstairs. Now, when I'm on the phone, I grab it and start dusting.

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