The round-up challenge from the Homeschool Review Crew is this: What do you love about homeschooling?
I got to thinking about that and randomly wrote down the letters of the alphabet as I thought and started filling things in.. before you know it I had a whole list of things I enjoy about homeschooling.
Annette and the lad, learning together
beauty found in unexpected places
Canada, using this land as a basis of study
documentaries on the tube
experiments
field trips
going out when we want
house based business, small business opportunities,
information to be shared with others
joking around
karate works for phys ed class
leaps in knowledge
minecraft becomes a part of schooling
new materials
other people - friends, teachers, family
Pokemon go inspires exercise and learning opportunities
queens, kings overthrown, a love of history
rabbits, robots, religion
stem and steam is fun hands on learning
teatowels, dishes, laundry...all part of schooling
umbrellas...learning how so much is connected
victories in learning!!!!
wondering what we will learn next
xiphoid process - learning where this is
yellow land and green skies...we can do art how we please
zero needs to pack a lunch worrying about the allergies needs of others
What kind of things would you add to this list?
You can learn what others loves of homeschooling the crew has here.
You know something? It's hard to get used to another churches way of doing things. The church we are going to for the rest of January doesn't write down things like scripture passages, sermon titles or music used. Makes it MUCH harder for me to take good notes. I know that I missed a couple of songs this morning, but it is what it is eh? And I made up a title based on the short message presented. Hymns/Songs: Precious Lord take my hand My eyes are dry by Keith Green Set my spirit free by Charlotte Baker Lord I need you by Matt Maher Follow you by Ed Cash Scripture: Psalm 31, Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 6 Text Romans 12 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Sermon Notes:
Our focus this week is on mental health. We are called to learn and grow. How do we care for those with mental illness in the church.
How do we bear one another's burdens? Galatians 6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.5 For each will have to bear his own load.
We need a Holistic approach, moving toward the person instead of stepping away.
Why do we step away? . Fear . Not knowing how to help . Seeing others as able to help better ie counselors
Romans 12:9-16 Cling to what is good, Be devoted to one another Walk with them Be joyful in hope Be hopeful for their recovery and let them know it's not the whole story What does it look like to welcome the mentally into our hi,especially, or even going into their homes Be a blessing to them. Show them how they are a blessing to you.
You might need to ask people with mental illness how you can help them, what support do they need? THE REST OF THE SERVICE was taken up talking with health care professions, and having people with mental illness tell their stories and what has been most beneficial to them in getting better. My notes are included as they may prove helpful.
Today's passage is taken from Ezekiel 31. You can read more in my Ezekiel Studies here and here. Here is a reading of Ezekiel 31.
The Word of The Lord again came to Ezekiel, this time with a word against the Pharaoh of Egypt. He is to ask Pharaoh this question
“Whom are you like in your greatness?
He is to then give The Pharaoh the example of Assyria, how it was like a cedar in Lebanon, a great beautiful tree, towering above others, nourished with abundant waters. It was so beautiful, tall and luxurious that not in the the cedars in the garden of God could rival it. 3 Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of towering height, its top among the clouds. 4 The waters nourished it; the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow around the place of its planting, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the field. 5 So it towered high above all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches long from abundant water in its shoots.
Cream together
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (cooler work better than warmer butter)
1 tsp vanilla
Add one egg and beat well.
Separate bowl mix together
1.5 cup flour
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
Mix dry ingredients into wet thoroughly.
Cover the bowl and let chill for two hours.
Shape dough into small bowls and roll in cinnamon sugar to coat.
Set cookies, one inch apart on a greased cookie sheet.
Cook at 350 for 10 minutes until edges are slightly browned.
Cool slightly on pans and then remove to racks to finish cooling.
Verdict: These cookies are a HUGE favourite in our household.
Welcome to blogging through the alphabet. Amanda and I are having a hoot with this series. Join us won't you? Today we are at letter B.
I have to admit, beavers wasn't my idea, it was completely my son's. He is all into Canada this year and beavers are an animal we just finished learning about. I thought I'd start off with a simple primer on beavers, it certainly doesn't tell you everything, but it's a good intro anyways.
We learned some interesting facts about beavers
The sound of running water makes them build a dam. This is why, if a culvert is running water and a beaver is anywhere nearby, they will keep building a dam as often as you tear it down.
They do not use their tails to carry mud. They carry stones and mud in their very capable front paws.
Their tails are used as an early warning device for family members and other animals that live near the pond. They sometimes slap the water for fun, and their tails are a fat resevoir to help them over the winter.
Their latin name is Castor Canadensis
They are North Americas largest rodent, weighing 40-60 lbs, and are clumsy on land, preferring to stay close to water for quick getaways.
They compensate for their poor eyesight with an excellent sense of smell and hearing.
Beavers do not hibernate, in fact they build stash piles of wood under the water to hold them over the winter.
They have a double layered coat, which is part of the reason they were hunted so extensively when Canada was forming as a nation. Beaver skin hats and coats were guaranteed to keep the wearer warm.
Vegetarians, with webbed feet that are strong swimmers. Warm coats, large animals, beavers are an important part of Canada.
Beavers are a symbol of Canada. The fur-trade was an important part of colonial North America bringing in people from all over to exploit this natural resource. It brought in money for the developing colonies, which fed a range of other businesses, all helping with the growth of our nation. They are seen as a hard-working animal and as such are placed on our nickel.
Feel free to link up your family friendly posts using the letter B this week.
Rules:
1. Linking time is Tuesday through Saturday. 2. Family friendly posts on a variety of topics. If you aren't sure, ask one of us. 3. If it isn't family friendly, it will be removed. :) 4. Linking back to us would be great. Grabbing the button above might be the easiest way or you could link to this post. 5. If you need a hashtag, you might want to use #abcblogging 6. Visiting and commenting on others is always a great social thing to do. Let's other people know you are reading them, and encourages them to read and hopefully share your great posts. 7. HAVE FUN. That's the point you know? Have fun and share what's on your mind.
I wasn't aware of some controversy around this song until I started researching it.
The controversy makes sense. There are two men bearing a similar name, living around the same time. Thomas Dorsey the big band musician and Thomas Andrew Dorsey musician.
I depended on Snopes to help wind my way through this quagmire.
AND EVEN SO.. I still don't really get it. ALL I really understand is that Thomas Dorsey (white guy, big band) didn't write this song. Thomas Andrew Dorsey (black guy, jazz player) DID write the song. The fellow who wrote it did have his wife and son die, and through his grief at the loss of both wrote this song Precious Lord.
It's important to get the names straight.
This is a story that comes from a place of extreme grief. Knowing that you were performing, doing the Lord's work, while at home your wife is dying, giving birth to your son, and having your son die the next day.
Pouring out your grief before the Lord in song....and struggling to come back to him in the aftermath. In the midst of despair, a friend visited Dorsey and arranged for him
to be left alone in a music room with a piano. "It was quiet; the late
evening sun crept through the curtained windows," Dorsey recalled. For
the first time in many days, he sat at a piano using his fingers to
browse the keys. Soon, the young artist experienced a personal
revival: "I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and
touch God. I found myself playing a melody, one I'd never heard or
played before, and words [for "Precious Lord"] came into my head—they
just seemed to fall into place." (source)
Dorsey was raised in a Baptist home, but turned away from the Lord to pursue playing jazz and blues music. Severe illness brought him back to the Lord. Over his life time he composed over 1,000 songs, 200 of which were gospel songs. To learn more, read this page. He died in 1993 and is known as the "architect of modern gospel music".
Lyrics:
Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light:
Refrain
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near, When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall:
Refrain
When the darkness appears And the night draws near, And the day is past and gone, At the river I stand, Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Week Four of the Virtual Curriculum Fair which is hosted by Susan. This week is all about exploring the world, history, geography, and science.
This year we are making a focus of using Canada to study
geography, art and history.
We have a spine that we are using for the history portion, and around it we are doing art, watching videos, reading books, and learning geographic terms for the various sites we see along the way. Science in learning about animals, rocks, minerals etc (like the beaver we'll be studying this coming Tuesday).
I still have a goal of traveling across Canada with him, going east one year and then west the next. But until we can do that... we'll visit our fine country through books, video and study.
How about you? What do you want to see with your children?
To that end I have found some excellent resources for broadening our study on Canada.
About Education will walk you through how to do a unit study on Canada.
ABC Teach has a variety of free and pay worksheets for learning about Canada.
The Eric Institute of Education Services is a government site that is searchable for documents related to a wide variety of information. I found a ton of documents on First Nations people.
EdHelper.com has small unit studies on six of the Canadian Provinces.
I am looking forward to showing him the beauty of Canada's National Parks.
Link to Learning helps grade six students understand more about Canada's Trading Partners.
If you come to visit you might see some of the amazing animals that call Canada home.
And if you want to see more of Ontario, Check out the field trips we have gone on. HERE and HERE. It's good to learn about Canada in a variety of ways you know? :)
Let's keep the history, science and geography alive with our children eh?
Please visit my fellow homeschool bloggers who are talking about Exploring Our World this week:
This is the Official Closing Service of Bethel Reformed Church.
Pastor preached an excellent sermon at the closing service, you really should listen to it and not just read my sermon notes. A difficult service, but a great sermon.
Hymns
A mighty fortress Amazing Grace Guide me, o my great redeemer Oh Lord my God.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 text vv8-10
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4 who
comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.6 If
we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you
patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Sermon
My Sermon Notes:
Today we come to close the Bethel Reformed Church in Exeter.
It's easy to struggle with the question of why, why did God let this happen?
Sometimes it's easy to see things that didn't go as they should have, but when push comes to shove, it's all in God's providence, and we can't always know why.
In our reading today, Paul writes to the Corinthian church talking to them about the suffering he has gone through. And not always knowing the why, but being able to see the result.
Paul writes to them ...letting them know that he suffers. Suffering was him. Beaten, accused, misrepresented, imprisoned, sometimes nigh unto to death. It was not easy for him.
Paul suffered....and in that suffering was comforted. And through that comfort is now able to comfort others.
Paul didn't say what his suffering in Asia was, just that it was beyond them, it was so bad they wanted to die. They were so burdened and suffering that death was welcome. It seemed the end was right there waiting.
But God delivered them.
Many now struggle. Some with the church closing. Loss of community hurts and burdens.
See like Paul did. God was working. God was teaching them to rely on him, he the God who raises the dead. Rely on me God says.
God.... He pushed Paul to see who he should really rely on. God... And this is the God who raises the dead. The God who brought Christ back from the dead.
God brought them through that time of difficulty. God can bring any of us through this.
It teaches us to rely on him more.
So that we can set our hopes on him, knowing he will deliver us again.
The God we rely on.....is the God that raises the dead.
This God will not abandon us. In our sufferings he will always be with us.
So ask yourself this. Just who do you rely on?
For those who answer their reliance is on God. Know that God's work in you has not ended. God's work in the church has not ended. He will do things we can't even imagine as of yet.
January 14, 2017 was the official closing of our church. Hubby is currently jobless, so we are working on living on severance as he looks for new work.
Toilets needed to be repaired thus necessitating a change in schooling on two days.
But we still got school and life lived eh?
Monday: The lad again worked like mad to get all his schooling done before heading out to London and Gramma's for the afternoon. He's currently working on building a pikachu for his dad. It's proving to be a bit tougher than the other one that he made so no pictures available yet.
I had a physical and I'm in good shape apparently (other than the obvious weight loss needed)
Tuesday oh.. what did we do then? (usually I write these up as the week passes).... OH! right we made a human skeleton! :) We are using God's design to study the human body and currently are learning about bones. We also did our other schooling.
We had a lot of fun building this skeleton and reading through the bone section of the booklet. Currently the skeleton is buried in with snake... Wednesday: We would normally go to the foodbank but we had a "closing interview" that we needed to be home for so... we stayed home and got some schooling done. We did math differently today. Studied probabilities with the game of Sudoku. Got other schooling done as well. The lad was so good, doing some art on his own while we finished up the interview.
Thursday Had an unexpected trip to London, decided to take along all my young stock and sell them to the pet store. Variable weather can play havoc with rabbits, so figured it was better to get them into a brick and mortar building. Hubby needed to pick up some wax rings in order to fix the toilets. Plans were made to fix the toilets on Friday. Friday Big job today: Fixing the toilets. They needed my help to move them in and out of the house We still need to fix the downstairs toilet but that's not a terribly pressing issue so we'll attack that issue next week. BUT my lad really helped his dad well, enough to say "I don't want to be a plumber mom", but that still leaves a variety of the trades open. One of my goals is that he will pick up a trade as that will help him throughout his adult life. Still in consideration is: carpentry, electrician (which currently he thinks would be neat), construction, painter etc... actually a whole lot of ideas are open to him yet, but plumber...not so much. :)
We also made an automaton which worked! It was rather cool. Had plans to do art but that didn't work out timewise. But the automaton worked!!!
Saturday: Big day... grading for orange belt in karate! Here he is showing he knows his katas. Sorry for blurriness at the end camera went wonky.
As you can see, success! Not that there was any doubt, as no grading if Sensei doesn't think you can do it. :)
Nancy Mehl has brought up a book filled with law enforcement personnel and an extremely nasty cartell. Three friends are stuck in the middle of a bit mess up.
U.S. Marshal Mercy Brennan is recovering from being shot when her absentee father returns into her life. In the investigation of a case, her father, unknown to Mercy, puts her into danger with St. Louis' most powerful cartel.
Enter, ex-boyfriend Deputy U.S. Marshal Mark St. Laurent and childhood friend Tally (also in law enforcement). Their job: Protect Mercy.
Mercy doesn't become of the desperateness of their situation until they are trapped in a cabin by a severe winter storm. Will Mercy, Mark and Tally survive? Will they stop the cartel?
My thoughts:
You know what I appreciated about this book?
There was no boyfriend/girlfriend interplay. Was there love shown? Yes, three good friends working together to keep each other alive and evidence safe. Working to keep people safe and the cartel shut down. Fighting against their frailties for the good of others. Seeing doors opened in their lives to the truth of who God is.
Was there human drama and possibilities for in the future? Sure...but that wasn't the focus of the book. It made for a good book in my mind.
Fatal Frost
Author: Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 298
Type: Christian fiction, mystery
Series: Defenders of Justice, book 1
Meet Chloe, a girl with a good heart having to make a fresh start in a new home and a new school.
Trying to make the best of it. Her best friend left behind, and wanting desperately to make some new friends.
What is a girl to do?
She's to think positive, that young lady is. "I have the best friends at my new school, I have the best friends at my new school".
Chloe, finds herself in a science with Mr. Dibble, and he assigns her, along with Lucy and Theo a science experiment. They are to come up with an hypothesis, test it out and report back to the class. They have two weeks to complete the project and thus the Kindness Club is born.
Chloe is also invited to join the "It Girls" club, a club only for the cool girls of the school.
Chloe has more new friends than she bargained for and soon finds herself "worried about upsetting all her new friends". As events unfold in the book, she truly learns how importance kindness is.
My thoughts:
I actually thought I wouldn't like this book when I started reading it, but I did. It was neat to see the affect the kindness had on a wide range of people. Such an interesting assignment Mr. Dibble gave to his students. A great way to put thought into action.
Now do I think upper elementary/middle school students will like it? My son was intrigued by the idea and thought it would be interesting to try something like that. He was even coming up with ideas he thought would be neat to try out. When I asked if he wanted to read it, he said "it's a good book for girls". :) He likes the idea, but sees it as a girls book.
I think if the cover was changed, it might appeal to him more.
Fridays are our do it differently days, learning happens we just have fun doing everything differently. One of the things we do is do some sort of STEM activity.
We had SO MUCH FUN putting this fellow together. OH MY OH MY.
To make this fellow you need the 4M kit and one popcan...that's it.
Add to that some laughs.
Lots of questions.
Scissors.
and a wish for a coverup for a can.
On to the joy and wonder of making a tin can robot.
One of the things I like about 4M kits is they are very clear about what the kit does and does not contain. In this case we need to supply two batteries and one popcan.
The box is a nice size to store on a shelf, recyclable, and easy to open. .. HEY>> it's good to know that stuff.. I've gotten kits before that opening them is a pain in the ... well you know... but easy to open bags with all parts conveniently grouped.
The back of the box clearly indicates the parts contained which is a great help to know if it's age appropriate or not.
OH.. I almost forgot... we did need to supply our own screwdriver.
As you can see the instructions are clearly labeled, with colour markers to help with placement and understanding. The lad found it very easy to understand and rarely needed my assistance. It's great to see his confidence building more all the time.
This fellow currently resides in my son's room and makes regular circuits up and down the floor during our night time reading.
You gotta admit, he is rather cute don't you think? :)
As you can see.. he works! We learned he works on smooth floors best, with couches working as well... but the carpet... never got him to like that. We do wonder, what if we put traction on the wheels.. would that work better but we haven't test that theorem out yet.
