A HANDFUL OF MY FAVORITE HOMESCHOOL THINGS

For Instructions In Righteousness

I have had this book for a couple years now and have used it on and off. I picked it back up again this year and am once again amazed at the wealth of information in it. I have been trying to do a character lesson with my kids right after lunch once or twice a week, once the two youngest are down for naps. This past week, we talked about how God hates unkind speech. We made a list of what unkind speech looks like, looked up several of the verses given that talk about what God thinks of it, and today we looked up verses of the blessings that come when we resist the urge to use it. We made "apples of gold" badges, to be given out when I see someone using kind speech. I can honestly say, I have already seen a change in my children in this area. One in particular has been fighting the urge to talk back to me, something we have been really starting to struggle with (that was one of the things on our list!) and I can see improvement! Praise God! :)

Abacus

We were given one of these for a gift a few years back, and it has been used ever since. Math manipulatives are the best things ever invented. My only complaint is that sometimes they become dependent on them!







Wildmath.com has been a good website that we have used frequently this year already. Myah and Joel have to spend 10 minutes a day doing drills on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This website enables them to do it on their own and at their own level. It corrects their work and times how long it takes them to do it. Though it really isn't anything fancy, it does the job, and I've not heard any complaints from either of them. They just set their own timer and go!



My Father's World curriculum.
I have used this curriculum for 3 years in a row now, and LOVE it. Joel went through Kindergarten and First grade using it and I'm thrilled with where he's at, especially his reading level. He is now joining Myah in the 5 year cycle program that they have, so except for Math and Language Arts, I am teaching them the same thing. Kiana is starting Kindergarten with this program this year. Myah and Joel are taking a "trip around the world "this year visiting many different countries and cultures. Their first task was to apply for a passport. There is a lot of geography in our stuff this year, and the kids are having fun with it. I love how it ties a study of missionaries from the region in as well. This program has fit our family well, and a proceed of what we pay for it goes to help Bible translators.

CINNAMON ROLLS

For my Harvest Chapel family :)

DOUGH:
1 cup milk, warm
1/4 cup water, warm
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
4 cups bread flour
1/4 cup instant vanilla pudding mix
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp. active dry yeast

I actually mix this in my bread machine, but I'm sure it can be done by hand as well. When finished, roll into rectangular shape on floured surface.

FILLING:

Spread butter over rectangular shaped dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
(optional: raisins, nuts)

FROSTING:

4 oz. cream cheese, soft
1/4 cup butter, soft
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Once you have the filling on the dough, roll up jelly roll style. Use bread knife to make slices, about 1 - 1 1/2 inch thick. Place in greased pan. Cover and let rise in warm place until double. Bake in 350* oven for 18-20 minutes. Cool 5 min. before frosting.

CHICKEN LOAF RECIPE (from my late-Great Grandma)

For Mom VO & Camille :)

4 cups cooked chicken (I usually cook a whole chicken and use it all)
2 cups bread crumbs (I actually just crumble up a few slices of bread)
2 cups cooked rice (I prefer brown)
2-4 celery stalks
salt to taste
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup chicken broth
diced onion
1 1/2 cup more chicken broth (or partial broth/milk)

Mix all together. Bake 350 for 45 minutes. Pour 1-2 cans cream mushroom soup over top and bake 5-10 more minutes.

WHAT'S NEW?

* I've been studying 1 John lately. I'm hoping so share some of what God's been teaching me through that book on here at some point. It's also the book that Evan and the leaders taught the youth this past weekend. Biblical Security. What an awesome thing!

* We started school today.... :) I'll let you know how it went. It never goes how I planned, but so far it has gone well. "Not by strength, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord..."

* Bible study at the shelter starts Thursday. PLEASE pray for this for us!

THE WHOLE GANG

A QUICK RUNDOWN OF OUR WEEK

(pictures still to come!)

For those of you who haven't heard, we had a missions team of 31 individuals camp on our property this past week. Praise God for using this place for His glory! These people are amazing. We had to say goodbye (for now at least) today, but from the minute they drove onto our property, we felt an instant bond. I feel like I've known them forever, and its only been 7 days.

The ministry:

They performed THIS drama numerous times throughout Hardin and Crow Fair. (The people in this video are not our group, but it is the same drama.) In this community, it is VERY effective, as these are the things that people most struggle with around here. Amazing testimonies were shared from members of this team to groups of people who are walking in the very same things that they came out of. The gospel was shared, both individually and through preaching. I know that God was glorified because the gospel went forth and there was fruit as a result. I have driven many times by the alcoholics in this community just hanging out downtown wondering how we could ever reach them. We have gotten to know them this week, and pray that we can continue to be a part of their lives and reach them for Jesus. With His help, they can be set free from their addictions! We give God the glory for everything that occurred this week!!

The music:

We were so blessed with the talent this group has to bring us into a place of worship. The campfires were a time of sweet fellowship and worship together. They sang as they walked, worked and played many musical instruments to bring glory to God. They blessed our church by leading us in a couple of worship songs yesterday morning. I'm praying that some of them may be called out here to help us continue to serve this community. No matter who they are, God will bring the laborers. I'm trusting Him for that, but we do desperately need them!

The labors of love:

They spent several days painting and working at our local shelter, which is a fairly new ministry in Hardin. One of the girls, Jamie, is a gifted artist and painted a sign for them. We plan to hold our Bible study there starting in just a couple of weeks. This group transformed our property as well. (a very unexpected blessing!) They dug up concrete blocks, sided our shed (now known as "Buck's Bunkhouse") painted doors, chopped a huge stack of wood, ground up wheat for animal feed, cleaned my house (more than once!), organized closets, stacked the neighbor's hay, helped load our pigs, etc. etc. etc. I know I'm forgetting lots of things, but my point is, they blessed us beyond measure and my prayer is that God blesses them back ten fold! This has also freed us up somewhat to move forward with our barn and other ministry in this community.

The fun:

Yesterday after church we took them all to Red Lodge for a little bit of fun before they headed home. Pastor Tom brought his motorcycle along, so many of the bikers in our church joined us and we all drove the Beartooth Pass. I think they liked it. Some of them haven't ever been outside their local town, so I think it was pretty fun for them and amazing to see the beauty of God's creation. We ended up at the Pizza Co. They also were able to ride horses, 4-wheelers, shoot some clay pigeons, bottle feed our calf and experience some other crazy things!

In summary:

This is probably one of the best weeks of my life. Not only did I meet some amazing people that we WILL see again, but God is revealing His heart to us and His calling on our lives here in Hardin. One day at a time, we will be obedient. I feel the fog is clearing as to what God is calling us to here, but we will walk one step at a time.

We plan to move our weekly Bible study to the local shelter, where the downtown people can walk and be fed the Word of God. We have added at least a dozen names to the list of our regulars, that already have caused us to outgrow our home. We also are hoping to build our barn. Our desire is to build it with enough room to have a meeting place and also house people when needed. One step at a time, we will "walk by faith".

John 10:27-29

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

I WAS REMINDED AGAIN TODAY...

... that Nothing is about Me!

* I don't have children for me, but to increase light in this world.

* I don't have a house and "things" for me, but to be used to further God's kingdom and to bless the body of Christ. They are not mine anyway.

* My time is not my own -- every part of my day should bring glory to God.

* God has called me to serve, not to be served. He has called me to give, not to receive. He has called me to lay my life down, no matter the cost.

* Also, I am not here to please people, but to please my Savior. "..for if I still pleased men I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Gal. 1:10b

...now if I can only remember that! I fall so short. Praise God that its not about me, but His righteousness in me to bring glory to His name!

SCHOOL ROOM PICTURES... FINALLY!

Some of you have been asking, and I finally got around to cleaning up this room enough to take a few pictures! This is where we will do "school" this year. I'm so thankful to finally have a place to help me be better organized! As a former teacher, I have a lot of "stuff" that I just couldn't part with, but didn't have room for until now.

In this corner, we plan to build a built-in bookshelf.

My messy school closet! I think I'm going to make curtains instead of putting doors on.

Kids' school desk -- I love the cubbies!

PLEASE PRAY!

Next week will be a zoo here -- even more so than normal! Twenty-eight people that we've never met (yet!) will be camping on our property. Their goal? Spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to this community. They will be using music, drama, preaching, witnessing and labors of love to share the gospel. Please pray that all goes smoothly, that everyone stays healthy and safe, but most importantly that hearts will be changed and the kingdom of God will grow! We appreciate your prayers!!! I'll be sure to let you know how it all goes.