DVD Giveaway from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

     A while back, I reviewed "The Historic Expedition of Lewis & Clark" DVD from Marshall Publishing.  Here's your chance to win it, along with lots of other DVDS! 

Thanks, Schoolhouse Review Crew!!

 

 

 

 

Go HERE for a chance to win!!!

The Nativity Dilemma

I hope all my blog peeps had a:

 

My youngest had a great time making this before our Thanksgiving meal.  We put it on the easel at the buffet.

 

We had a great week last week out of our normal homeschooling routine.  This week I've been busy decorating for Christmas and getting back into the swing of home education before more holiday celebrating.

 

  The other day, I had a bit of a dilemma with my nativity.  Last year this is what it looked like:

The Nativity sat on my TV with our new Advent wreath.  I liked that the two were side-by-side.  I liked how my wise men were traveling to see Jesus.  What I didn't like is that I did not use any "hay" around the nativity set, because I was afraid of having it that close to the fireplace and candles.  It just looked plain. 

 

 

So, after a few different tries, I decided on this:

 

I was so pleased with how it turned out.  I love that this is the first thing that you see when you walk through our front door.  Before, I had put a few Santa/elves things here.  (We don't have many.)  But, I think this is so much better.  My whole family agreed.  AND...I have hay!  (or I think it's Spanish Moss.)  My kids really liked the idea of the Wise Men being somewhere else in the house, traveling to see Jesus.  I explained to them that the Wise Men are still traveling, but their nearby presence is just symbolic.  (They bought it.)

 

Now....what to put next to my Advent Wreath???

 

Next post!!

 

..



Thankful Garland

 Yesterday I took a little time in between cleaning the house and raking leaves to make our "Thankful Garland".  I used materials I already had in my craft closet, so this was a "freebie"!  All that's left to do now is to write what we're thankful for on the leaves.

  

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart...



Planning Ahead for Advent

       Advent officially begins Sunday, December 2nd this year.  Last year our family started the tradition of reading an Advent story series written by Arnold Ytreeide.  I only purchased the first book (Jotham's Journey), because I wasn't sure our family would like it.  Well...we LOVED the book. It became one of our favorite parts of Christmastime.  Since we enjoyed the book so much last year, I went ahead and ordered the next two in the series from HERE.  To our delight, they arrived yesterday. 

     I look forward to sitting by candlelight each evening with my boys as my husband reads a chapter from Bartholomew's Passage.  There are  12 days until Advent begins.  How will your family celebrate Advent this year? 

 



Sunday Morning with my 4's and 5's

Bible Story: David Thanked God  (1 Chronicles 15-16)

Bible Phrase: Say thank you to God.  Psalm 136:1

We made Thanksgiving chains. 
Boys and Girls wrote on each strip what they wanted to thank God for.

Group Time
So excited to have a room full!  I think here I'm talking to the children about playing instruments.  I warned them that there may be some naughty instruments in my bag, and that it was up to them to make them be quiet until the music started.  :)

We enjoyed making a joyful noise to the Lord.  One little girl even shouted, "Praise the Lord!"

I shared with them how King David had some people play instruments as they went into the new Tabernacle (church).
They were thanking and praising God for their new tent church!

My New Bread Hook

 

Isn't she beautiful!?  So bright and shiny and industrial looking.  I ordered it just the other week, and was sooo excited when my bread hook came in the mail.  It is replacing my white one, which was beginning to chip. (I can't have that, since we have a tiny bread baking cottage industry.) 

 

 

Here are two white loaves I made today.  They are for our church bake sale tomorrow.  I plan to make more bread this week for Thanksgiving and beyond.  I think I'll have warm bread or rolls for Thanksgiving Day.  I'll make extra for grilled cheese sandwiches while family is here.



Whatever Wednesday #6

Whatever Wednesday

 

 

 

  "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory." 1 Corinthians 10:31

 

 

What's my latest (fun) purchase:

So excited over this lamp to match my still-in-the-making-redo of our bedroom.  I was so glad I was patient and waited for just the right lamp.  I just love the texture and how it "matches" my new curtains.  (But not so much it looks like it matches too much!) My mom told me decorating always looks better if you collect things over time...and not buy everything all at once.  That way it won't looks store-bought-matchy-matchy!  (And this way is better on the budget!)

 

 

What's going on at church this week:

Tonight we had "Parent Share Night" for Bible Drill.  I had the best time watching parents hang out with their kids as they played games and did activities that reinforced Bible Verses, Books of the Bible, etc.  We had a fun time! 

 

Tonight was also our church-wide Thanksgiving meal.  We had a fantastic turn out and a delicious, traditional meal...my family especially loved the smoked turkey...yummo!!  I love having this time with my church family...they are such a big part of our lives!  :)

 

What I'm looking forward to:

Exercising my right as a homeschool mom to schedule Thanksgiving Break as I see fit.  We begin Friday afternoon--and it will last for at LEAST a week!  (Maybe more--because this mama wants to get her house decorated for Christmas before getting back to our studies!)

 

What I've been listening to:

My youngest son singing throughout the day.  He'll be singing with my preacher husband in a few weeks in church.  Nothing sweeter than hearing them practice in the evenings as my husband plays his guitar.  As we were headed to piano practice today, the song they'll be singing, "His Love Never Fails",  came on the radio, We cranked it up and all sang out!