Love the Creativity of My Children

Today, the children and I were reading through our Lots and Lots of Fire Trucks and Fire Fighters Book from Marshall Publishing (review coming October 24th. ) We were talking about Joe the fireman and the equipment he wears and uses.  After we finished reading and looking at the pictures, it was time for me to go upstairs and make lunch.  Anthony asked if he could keep looking at the book.  I said he could as long as he remembered to put it back on the shelf when he was finished.  When I called him to lunch, he said, "Mom, come see what I made first!"  I went downstairs and saw that re had re-created fireman Joe out of his Legos, using Buzz Lightyear's head for the fireman's head.  Isn't he creative?

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Book Review: Saving Grace by Annie Jones

Saving Grace by Annie Jones is the story of four very different women and the friendship they share.  Naomi is afraid that her, Rose, Gayle, and Mary Lucille are growing apart.  She wants them to find a project, or common interest that will keep them together.  After New Bethany's Belle Gala Ball and the legend surrounding the town's eccentric recluse who dresses in her tattered ball gown and appears on her front porch every year on the night of the ball, Naomi gets an idea.  She decides that the four friends should work together to help Grace out.  Will her efforts to pull them together end up pushing them apart instead?


When I chose the book Saving Grace to review, I did not know that it was the sequel to another book called The Prayer Tree.  I spent over half of the book trying to figure out who was who and which women was married to which man.  Without reading The Prayer Tree first, I also had no real background into the lives of these four women or what really brought their friendship together in the first place.  The book has a  good story and ends with a wonderful messages about love, friendship, and putting your faith in God.   I would have liked to see more of Grace throughout the story.  The last four chapters of the book were the most enjoyable to me.  My recommendation is if you are interested in reading Saving Grace, you definitely will want to have read The Prayer Tree first.

I received a complimentary e book copy of Saving Grace from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation. 

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A Common Misconception of Being A Stay at Home Mom

I had this come up several times quite recently in conversations with complete strangers, and last night another stay at home homeschooling mom mentioned having the same thing come up in conversation lately.  There is a misconception that because I stay at home, we have a lot of money.  Ummmmm no.  Two strangers recently came up to me at two different times when I was out with the children during the day and asked me, "Where does your husband work that you can afford to have so many kids and stay at home?"  While I am very thankful to have a hard working husband that is a good provider, we are far, far, far, from being wealthy.  In fact, when I first quit my job to stay at home 9 years ago, losing $500 a week when we were in a horrible financial position was not the smartest financial decision in the world, but it was the best decision we could have ever made for our family.

Being able to successfully live on one income is about making choices.  You have to decide what things in life are more important to you.  When I worked full time, we had a lot of shiny new stuff and a lot of debt for more shiny stuff we were trying to pay, but we had no time together at all.  Art came home from work and I went to work.  We never did things together as a family.  We quickly realized that the stuff was not important, family was.  We had to completely change our life style and our way of thinking as far as money was concerned.  We had to learn to live on a budget!  Yes, a budget where you don't spend more than you make.  We had to learn how to live within our means.  We bought a less expensive house, got rid of our new cars, and stopped going out to eat.  We stopped using cards and started using cash.  We started a savings account to save money to purchase larger items.  We learned to buy gently used items instead of brand new.  We saved clothing and toys to hand down to the younger children.  I started cooking from scratch and packing a lunch for my husband every day.

That's not to say we never buy anything new or do anything fun, because we do.  We take a small vacation every year.  We go out to eat on occasion.  We get to take fun and educational field trips.  We have all kinds of clothing, toys, and electronics.  The key is if you can't afford it, don't buy it.

I know many people are looking for ways they can make money while staying at home.  I think one of the best ways to make money being a stay at home mom is to become a better steward of the money you already have.  By this I mean by cutting down on your expenses.  Look for ways to lower your grocery bill every week. Shop sales and use coupons.  Find a less expensive cell phone or TV plan or go without one.  Save on utility bills by adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees.  You would be surprised at home much money you can save by making a few easy changes in your lifestyle.  Other ways I have made money while being a Stay at Home Mom is by selling on Ebay, Amazon, and Half.com, and having a yearly yard sale.  I also have worked a part time job for my church that brought in a little extra money. 

As with most things in life, it is not easy, and sometimes it can be downright hard (like when someone hacks into your bank account and steals your money and you have to buy groceries for 8 people and diapers for a week with $74.)   But, 9 years and 5 children later, I do not regret my decision to stay at home.  God has entrusted these sweet babies into my care and it won't be long until they are grown and gone.  I am so thankful for each and every day that I get to be home with them.

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TOS Review: Visual Latin

Latin you say?  If you think teaching or learning Latin is dull, boring and unnecessary, you have never had the opportunity to use Visual Latin.  I wish that I had been taught Latin this way, but I am so glad I have had the opportunity to use and review Visual Latin with my 9 year old.

 From the website: "Visual Latin is a rather unusual Latin Curriculum that thinks:

• It’s better to make students laugh than yawn.
• Shorter videos teach more effectively than longer ones.
• Small successes lead to big successes.
• Children like reading Latin more than memorizing it

That’s what we want to give your children: pure delight in learning a new language. And along the way, we want to strengthen their understanding of English grammar and powerfully expand their English vocabulary."

Visual Latin uses a series of short videos and worksheets to bring Latin to life for your children (recommended ages 9 and up.)  Each lesson is divided into 3 parts: Grammar,  Sentences, and Reading.  You watch a short video listening to the teacher, Dwane, and seeing his examples on the board.  Then you compete a short worksheet giving the child the opportunity to do what Dwane has done.  Children learn by hearing, seeing, and doing in only minutes a day. 

Visual Latin is available as both a DVD with PDF files for printing worksheets and answer keys, or as a download using iTtunes making it viewable on your PC, iPod or iPad making it convenient for using on the go (not that homeschoolers ever need to do school in the car or Dr. office :).

Pricing for Visual Latin depends on what you are going to purchase, in what format, and for a single family or co-op license.  They also offer live online classes.  To see all of the different products available, click HERE. 

Want to try it out before you buy?  Visual Latin offers 6 downloadable lessons completely free!  You will get to use 4 introductory lessons and first 2 full lessons before you commit to buying!  Click HERE to download your 6 free lessons!

I have to admit that while I think that learning Latin is very important for kids, my 9 year old son gave me that look (you know the one) when I told him we were getting a Latin program to review.  But, he was hooked halfway into the first Introductory Lesson.  Why?  Dwane Thomas teaches to kids at their level without dumbing the lessons down.  He has a wonderful sense of humor and love of what he is doing that comes across the screen.  He laughs and jokes with the children as he is teaching.  He even makes mistakes sometimes and corrects himself on screen (that's what would happen in a "real" classroom.)  The Introductory Lessons give the children (and the parents too) great reasons why studying and learning Latin is important.  He got all of my boys attention when he started talking about words that come from Latin and used Transformers as an example!  The lessons are taught in digestible chunks that the children are able to learn by seeing, hearing, and doing.  The worksheets are not designed to simply be busywork for the child, but to reinforce the lesson that they have watched.

Grammar is not necessarily a fun part of learning a language, but it is taught and broken down in ways that are easy to understand.  Every 3rd part of the lesson is translation.  Dwane reads the story, your child repeats it, and then translates it on a worksheet.  Nick was so proud of himself the first time he was able to translate the Latin words into English all by himself!  He has gained great confidence and knows that he CAN really do it!  I also really  that he doesn't put too much importance on pronounciation (especially since no one really knows what the right way is!)

I only have one thing that I wish was different.  I wish it was this fun and easy to learn all languages!  Visual Latin is a fun and affordable way for your children to learn Latin and improve their English vocabulary.  Download their free lessons now to see what a great product this is!

To see what other crew mates had to say click here.

I received a free DVD of Visual Latin for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.

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Book Review: Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Webb Hart

Book Description

Now that she’s arrived at the ultimate address, can Mary Lynn’s view of the harbor – and success – satisfy the deeper longings of her heart?
After decades of carefully working their way up the social ladder, Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are living their dream: a life of luxury and ease in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina. Jackson made a small fortune selling low country real estate, so now the couple is determined to provide for their three daughters the life they both longed for as kids.
But lately the long-forgotten God of Mary Lynn’s childhood has been trying to get her attention in ways so unusual that she can no longer deny His presence. When she prays for Jackson to open his heart to God, something radical happens. Jackson has a dramatic conversion that leads to street witnessing, giving away money, and inviting less-than-reputable people into their home.
Starring out into the harbor, Mary Lynn ponders whether or not she is willing to give up her life of luxury to join Jackson in his new-found faith. What would it look like to go “all out” for God…to allow Him to lead their family regardless of the cost? Just when Mary Lynn felt she had all the desires of her heart – she finds herself being called into a much bigger story of true faith and love.

Be careful what you ask God for because you just might get it.  That's the big message that I got out of this book.  How often do we pray and ask God for something, and then question him when he delivers?  Mary Lynn prays that her husband Jackson will open his heart to God.  Jackson doesn't do anything half way, and when God answers her prayer in a mighty way, Mary Lynn ends up unhappier then when she was before he was saved.  She wanted God to answer her prayer in her way not His.  Thankfully she founds out that God is in control and that His plan was much better than hers and that things like social status and false friends will end up not mattering in eternity.

I really liked that this book was told by three different perspectives.  You have an opportunity to get the story from both Mary Lynn and Jackson's side, you also get to see inside their oldest teenage daughter, Catherine.  It was very insightful to see things from Catherine's side of the story.  There were two things that I wish had been added to the story.  Even though we know that she has resolved the problem on her own, I had hoped that Catherine would come clean about her drug problem to her parents.  Also, after Mary Lynn's accident and the girls baptism, we get to read Mary Lynn and Jackson's perspectives but we don't get Catherine's.  I wish it would have ended with a chapter from her side too.

I received a complimentary e book copy of Sunrise on the Battery from Thomas Nelson for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation. 

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

We had company over for supper last night, so I decided to make my favorite brownies for dessert.  Someone made these brownies for me when I had Anthony and my church brought over some meals.  They were so good I had to get the recipe, and the "recipe" is so easy anyone can make it for a quick but delicious dessert.  All you need is a box, a bag, and a can.

"Recipe" for Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

1 box of your favorite brownie mix 13x9 size
1 bag of peanut butter chips
1 can of chocolate frosting


Prepare brownies as instructed on the box.  Add one bag of peanut butter chips.  Pour in a greased 13x9 cake pan and bake as directed on brownie box.  Remove from oven.  Frost with chocolate frosting while brownies are still hot.  Cool, cut, and serve!

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TOS Review: Professor In A Box Principles of Marketing

What is Professor In A Box?  Professor In A Box offers college level courses for all levels of learners High School or above taught in a non traditional format.  Everything you need to take the course is on the DVD disc (runs on both Mac and PC.)  Students learn in just 4 simple steps: watch the lectures, complete homework problems, check the answers, and take the exams.  Each chapter's lecture includes discussion of relevant concepts to the course and step by step demonstration in solving real life problems.  Courses can be completed in a semester, over and entire academic year, or for summer school.  Products available from Professor In A Box are:  Financial Accounting,  Universal Financial Accounting Guide, Accounting & Money Skills, and Principles of Marketing.I had the opportunity to use and review Principles of Marketing with my 14 year old 10th grade daughter.


Principles of Marketing taught by Julie Pirsch Ph.D. is a Marketing course for anyone that is interested in learning about marketing including : small business owners, college business students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and homeschool high school students preparing for the CLEP Marketing Exam.  Any high school level (or above) with basic reading skills cam handle this course.  This course is similar in content to the first marketing course taken by students in colleges across the country.  This course provides students with " a description and evaluation of the ways in which goods and services are developed to meet customer and consumer needs, and how they are distributed for domestic and international consumption. It examines the economic, government, social, and other environmental forces in relation to the marketing function, placing emphasis on relevant social problems and responsibilities."



So how exactly does the course work?  All you have to do is put the DVD into your computer.  Each lesson starts off with a slide show lecture (about 20-30 minutes.)  Next, you review the Chapter using online resources and by going over chapter Key Concepts (20-30 min.) Then you take the quiz for that section and go over the answers (15-20 min.)  The course contains 19 chapters that are completed in 28 lessons.  Three exams are taken during the course.  Not only do you have the option of viewing the lectures and completing quizzes and exams on the computer, you also have the ability to print out all of the files as a PDF (answers to the quizzes are included.)


 To see a sample chapter click here.

To view the online resources used click here.

Principles of Marketing sells for $119.99 and includes free shipping.  To order click here.  Professor In A Box offers a Full Money Back Guarantee.  Work through the first three chapters of the course and if you are not completely satisfied, send it back for a full refund including shipping.


What I loved most about this course was that it was so easy to use and that I didn't have to teach it.  The DVD taught it all for me.    Everything the student needs is contained on the disc.  The lectures are very clear and concise and the student can watch the lecture as many times as necessary to understand the concept. They also have the ability to print out the slides (sometimes having a paper copy in front of you makes it more concrete.)  Concepts are taught using real life examples.  Answers are given on the quizzes so the student can go back and see what they did wrong.   

I did think the course was challenging.  My daughter at 14 was not incredibly interested in it even though she did understand the concepts and could complete the work, but I think in a year or two she will be.  This course is perfect for anyone desiring to start their own business or someone who is planning on majoring in Business in college.

 To see what other crew mates had to say click here.

 I received a complimentary copy of Principles In Marketing for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.

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