Circling Through This Life

Apologia Educational Ministries is a popular publisher of home school curriculum. We’ve used several of their science texts and Supergirl and I reviewed Volume 3 of the What We Believe Series, Who Is my Neighbor?   Apologia even has a Junior Notebooking Journal to accompany this new volume and having enjoyed the 3rd book, we were delighted to review volume 4 What on Earth Can I Do?   In addition to the hard cover textbook we received a copy of the What on Earth Can I Do Notebooking Journal , Junior Notebooking Journal and Coloring Book .   What We Believe Series ~ Designed to help children learn to discern the truth, this curriculum uses God’s word as the lens to view the world. Children learn to see the world the way God sees it. There are 4 books in the series. Each book is can be used as a stand alone program, but the FAQ states that they are more effective if completed in order. I found that there is an increase in difficulty from Volume 3 to Volume 4. About V...

Dating is different when you are married.  When you are single, you date to get to know each other, to have fun, or maybe just because it’s something to do on a Friday night. Dating shouldn’t stop when you are married, but it isn’t the same at all as when you are single. Dating when married (and let’s just lay this out here,  I’m not talking about dating *other* people, I’m talking about dating your spouse!) has a different purpose and it might even look different.  I guess I shouldn’t speak for all couples so I’ll just stick to sharing about my experience with my husband. Before we were married we spent a lot of time together. We were in college and we would have lunch together and we spent nearly every Friday and Saturday night together.  Usually dinner and a movie.  Sometimes it was dinner at home with a movie at the cinema.  Other times it would be dinner out and renting a movie to watch at his house. There were a few college hockey games and several ...

When you invest money in a device such as a Kindle Fire HDX or iPad mini, you want to protect that investment, right? Trident Case has covers for many different tablets and smart phones. I received a KRAKEN A.M.S. case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 . So what exactly is this protective cover from Trident? It’s a study 3 piece case with two pieces forming the solid exterior made of hardened polycarbonate and a silicone interior piece.  The interior piece feels soft and rubbery. It is non-slippery. It grips your device so that it doesn’t slide around at all. The case is form fitting. This means that each KRAKEN case is made for a specific device type. The case I have for my Kindle will not work for the other types of Kindles and it will not work for iPads or NOOKs either (though if you have those types of tablets, Trident Case has covers for those as well). The cases are clearly designed for the specific device labeled; the openings for headphones, charger and speakers are right wh...

I have some pretty excited teens right now.  It can be difficult for a teen to get a job and yet most teens would like to have an income. My teens are no exceptions. They want their iTunes and they want this, that, and the other thing. So why are my girls excited? We received a package from Micro Business for Teens .  Carol Topp , author and CPA, sent us Starting a Micro Business , Running a Micro Business and Micro Business for Teens Workbook . I expressed high interest in reviewing this product because Turtlegirl has been especially interested in finding ways to earn some money. She was the primary focus for this review but I was super excited because Boobear has a dream to own and run her own piano studio some day. In essence she has started a micro business.  I encouraged her to thumb through the books. Tailorbear has needed more prompting and encouragement from mom, but even she is starting to think in terms of “what kind of micro business can I have? What talent...

I think I’ve skipped a couple of weeks.  Oops. 1.  Today is May 16th. Thinking of my grandfather, my father’s father today.  Yesterday was the anniversary of the passing of my grandmother (my father’s mother.)  I remember telling my mom that I think Grandma chose to go when she did so that she could celebrate Poppy’s birthday with him.  No my theology doesn’t really support that idea but I find it comforting anyway. 2.  Boobear is finishing up her first year of college.  She has finals next week.  Though she’s still “living at home” she really hasn’t been around much so having her home all day during the summer will be an adjustment. 3.  I’ve said this about a million times (ok maybe not that many times) but May is my favorite month of the year here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  The weather this week has been “hot” as in we’ve hit upper 70’s (the house hit almost 80 degrees yesterday).  The sun shines, it’s not really too ...

Over the past several days I’ve been pondering my own behavior in light of some behavior that I would classify as not being Christian at all.  I have to wonder; I have to ask myself, as I am judging another, how far do I fall from the standard? When I am disgusted, angered, or hurt by mockery (whether directed at me or directed at people I care about), I must ask, am I without sin?  Can I really cast the first stone? I’ve been asking myself how often have I failed to act with Christian Charity or Christian love towards my “neighbor.”  How many times have I laughed at a joke that was really mocking someone? How many times I have been the one to make or share a joke that really could have hurt someone?  Facebook can be a great way to connect with people. I have a love hate relationship with Facebook. I love that I can keep in touch with loved ones, both family and friends, who live so far away. I can stay connected to friends I care about but our lives move in diffe...

If you are familiar at all with my blog, then you might already know that I favor a literature approach to studying history. A literature approach doesn’t mean only reading books. History is easier to understand, and easier to retain when it comes alive for you.  Living books, along with the opportunity for exploration, can bring history to life. Golden Prairie Press has a complete history program for elementary aged students.  Digital Heroes and Heroines of the past: American History is a living book with additional book suggestions, map work, timelines, and crafts to help students explore, understand and learn about American History from the very first discoveries through the present. But Heroes and Heroines isn’t just History ~ Author/editor, Amy Puetz , has included music and art! Some of the lessons even explore the food related to history. When discussing foods from the New World, we read a short history of the Cocoa Bean and Amy had included a recipe for drinking ...