Friday, January 30, 2015

American Girls- Addy week 1 -time#2

We had a great first class of Addy in American Girls this week! We are in a bigger room this semester, and I only have one class to teach too. It will be different but good! We discussed book one of the Addy series, Meet Addy. After the book discussion, we got into our craft time!

We had two crafts this week. The first one was to make a cowrie shell necklace, as Addy had in the book. I bought cowrie shells at the craft store a few years ago when I did this class, and I had leftover shells, so we used those. I gave each girl about 18" of cording to tie their shell onto, but the cord was kinda short for some girls. I needed to make the cord closer to 30-36", oops! Several of the girls put the necklace on their wrist as a bracelet, and others put it on their dolls.

 Tying our kerchiefs...
Our second craft was a kerchief, like Addy had in the book. I gave each girl a square of fabric, about 19" X 22". I think Addy's was bigger, shown on the cover of the book. We tied the square's opposite side corners into two separate knots. Then they each had a little bag to carry toys, small stuffies, or even food in it!

We had Cornmeal Mush for snack, like Addy had in the book. You can find the recipe here. The mom that made it had them turn out more like corn pancakes, and the girls liked them. We talked about eating the same food for breakfast and dinner, with no lunch like Addy may have done. We like the variety we are able to have in our food now! I had the girls eat them plain, since Addy probably didn't have toppings on it in her time. The girls really liked the snack!

We worked on our geography notebooks too. We did four pages:
The two states Addy lived in: North Carolina, Pennsylvania
Liberty bell page here (About Philadelphia)
USA map here.

I also read a few pages from Welcome to Addy's World about "A Nation Divided", the divisions and differences in the North and South during Addy's time period.

 Working on geography pages...
It was a great class! I am looking forward to reading and learning more about Addy!


Deuteronomy 5:15
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.

Romans 6:17-18
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Kindergarten- O week

We had an Outstanding week during O week in homeschool kindergarten! We discussed oceans, octopi, oil in water, made oatmeal cookies, discussed owls, read books about owls, traced an octagon,  played an ocarina (a simple wind instrument with finger holes, which is oval-shaped), discussed opera, organ, orchestra and O animals, cut an oval, wrote Oo and O words, and much more.

Here are a few photo highlights from our week:
 
 We cut and colored a group of white and black children holding hands on Martin Luther King, Jr day, as he discussed in his "I have a Dream" speech. We also read books about his life.
 This is our oil and water experiment, with food color added to the water. Bethany told several people this week that she learned, "Oil and water do not mix."
 Bethany's octopus made from tracing her hands (with no thumbs to get 8) and a circle. We added eyes, and she said the black is the ink from the octopus.
 Bethany playing the ocarina that we own. (I can't remember where I got it!) It sounds a little different from a flute. All of the younger kids enjoyed trying to play it.
Bethany's owl puppet she made. The directions can be found on my blog here. It's fun to see in that post how different her owl puppet is from Mallory's in kindergarten! (And Mallory looks so little!) Bethany named her owl "Yoda" since it has ears! :- D

It was a fun week, we even made a visit to Office Depot! :- D

The kids are looking forward to P week, since we will have a pajama day! Our 100th day of school is coming up soon too!


I was surprised to find a few Bible verses about owls...
Leviticus 11:13-18
“‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,  the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
(In case you are like me, and didn't know what a hoopoe is, you can read about them here.)

Isaiah 34:15-16
The owl will nest there and lay eggs,
she will hatch them, and care for her young
under the shadow of her wings;
there also the falcons will gather,
each with its mate.

Look in the scroll of the Lord and read:
None of these will be missing,
not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth that has given the order,
and his Spirit will gather them together.

Psalm 148:7-8
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding...

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Snow much fun!

Recently, my family had a very relaxing few days at a friends' cabin. We enjoyed the time away from home to relax, since we had not really travelled for Christmas. We played lots of pool games, made a puzzle, read books, watched movies, ate well, took baths in the big tub, went to the local hot springs pool, and went sledding on a great sledding hill! We took our homeschool work with us, and did homeschool there in the mornings. Here are several photos from our time away...

(Some of them were shared in the kindergarten week post here.)

 Caleb and Bethany tubing down the hill together...
 Daddy tries a thinner plastic sled...
 Off they go! (Bethany and Daddy)
 Bethany and Daddy made it down the hill to Mallory, while Caleb watched...
 The fog was setting in, and the moon was hiding in it, while rising...
 Making our snowman...

 Daddy adjusting the pine cone for the nose...
 Our family around Olaf-ina, or Frostina? (It's a girl!)
 Our pretty 550 piece puzzle, painting by Thomas Kincade...
Mallory got a "Flat Stanley" in her Happy meal on the way down to the cabin, and she wanted a picture of him outside before we left. Brr, I think he was cold! ;- D

Have you gotten away from home for a time of refreshing? Where do you travel? I'd love to hear about it!

This verse is on a beautiful wall-hanging in the cabin, so fitting...
Psalm 121:1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

Luke 5:15-17

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 6:11-13
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.  When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Preparing for Addy

This semester in American Girl class, we are preparing to study  Addy, one of my very favorite American Girls! I love her story and the way it is written by Connie Porter. I am excited for the crafts and snacks we will do too! I will post every Thursday about what happened in class that week, so you can enjoy it along with us! :- D


Addy Walker-a courageous slave girl who escapes to freedom and a new life during the American Civil War, set in 1864.

Week 1: Meet Addy – Book 1 Date: 1/27/15
Theme: Slavery and The Underground Railroad
Snack – Cornmeal Mush
Craft – shell necklace, kerchief, N. Carolina, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Worksheets

Week 2: Addy Learns a Lesson – Book 2 Date: 2/3/15
Theme: Addy starts school in Philly / Difficulties starting a new life after slavery
Craft: Applique Pillow
Snack: Black Eyed Peas and Buttermilk Biscuits

Week 3: Addy’s Surprise – Book 3 Date: 2/10/15 
Theme: Christmas/ New Life in Philly/ Helping other escape slavery
Craft – Shadow Puppet and a Scarf for Mama
Snack – Sweet Potato Pudding

Week 4: Happy Birthday Addy – Book 4 Date: 2/17/15
Theme: Spring/ Addy’s Birthday/ Emancipation
Craft: Hobby Horse
Snack: Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Week 5: Addy Saves the Day – Book 5 Date: 2/24/15
Theme: The Civil War is Over; Activity: Read book Abe’s Honest Words
Craft: Spool puppets
Snack: Molasses Cookies and Iced Tea
Week 6: Changes for Addy – Book 6 Date: 3/3/15
Theme: Getting the family back together/ Read Emancipation Proclamation, have Emancipation party Craft: Rag Dolls filled with beans
Snack: mock apple pie, goobers/peanuts

**We will also make on-going project. If time allows, we will read other books related to slavery, the Underground Railroad, and the Civil War.


*This outline may change without notice...If I can’t find the craft supplies I need or the snack recipes. My main intention with the crafts (and snacks) are to heighten the girls’ interest in learning about different periods of history. Hopefully the above collection of crafts will do just that!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Kindergarten- Snow week

We had another cool week in homeschool kindergarten last week, as we talked about snow! We also discussed winter, winter animals, snowmen, snow forts, how snow forms, what we wear in the snow, and more! Part of the week, we went to our friends' cabin in the mountains. It was great to be there, since it snowed, and we were able to go sledding in the hills!

On Sunday night, my kindergartener was bored, so she asked to "do school". I gave her some writing to do, and pulled out some books to look at-- here she is in her pajamas! : - D

 The gorgeous view from the cabin's windows!
 At the sledding hill, hiking up to sled a shorter part with Daddy...
 She sledded with Daddy on the tube...
 Making snow angels...
 and a snowman!
 We were cozy and warm in our snow gear, and had lots of fun working together to make Olaf-ina? Frost-ina? :- D
 At home again, matching buttons to the # of buttons on the snowman cards...
 Sequencing cards (found online) to go with the book, The Snowy Day.
 We made a paper plate snowman too!
 Playing with "snow dough" (see recipe below)


We also made "Snow dough", a recipe that I found online several years ago. Here is the recipe:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp oil
1 cup water
2 tsp cream of tartar (Alum works too)
2-3 tsp dry white tempera paint (Optional- I omitted this)
glitter

Mix everything in a pan (except glitter). Cook over low heat stirring constantly until the dough thickens and pulls away from the pan. Remove from pan, allow to cool. Knead until smooth. Store in plastic container.

It was another cool week, and I love being able to "cabin-school" and "van-school" when we need to! It was so relaxing!


This was our verse of the week...
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Matthew 28:3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

Revelation 1:14
The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Pinterest craft projects!

January is the perfect month for crafting! The weather is cold outside, so I am not gardening, or walking too much... and Hobby Lobby is one of my favorite places, any time of year! I've been there twice this month, and once to Jo-Ann's! :- D I hope you enjoy "seeing" my crafts, as much as I do creating them... or at least somewhat! :- D

I made this knit infinity scarf from this tutorial here. This was inspired by a scarf that my mom made me for Christmas. I like the purple, and Rebekah got one too!
 I found a flannel infinity scarf tutorial here. It is so soft and cozy, I feel like I'm under a flannel blanket all day! And it is versatile, because it has red, blue, yellow and green in it!
I really love snowmen. I have a shelf- full of snowmen decorations. I was looking around on Pinterest for some "winter" crafts, and I found the pin for this snowman wreath here. I found the wired ribbon for sale at Hobby Lobby for $2! I love finds like that! It makes me smile when I see this on my front door!
 I found this pin here. This snowman on burlap was a three-part project. First, I painted the word snow and the snowman (even using sparkly paint on top if the white!), including the face and hat. Then I found a stick in my yard and hot-glued it on. After having it hanging around for a week, I decided to add some red ribbon for a scarf and on the hat. I love it!
Painted...
...with the stick arm...
...with the scarf and hat ribbon... it's not perfect but I love it! Fun to have more snowmen decorations around the house after all of the Christmas stuff is taken down!

Now I am working on a snowman cross-stitch, another project found on Pinterest. But it will take me a few weeks! Nice to have my hands busy, and I haven't cross-stitched for a while!

Have you been crafting? I'd love to see and hear about what you've been making too!


Job 37:6
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

Proverbs 31:21
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

Matthew 28:2-4
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Music Monday: "Your Grace Finds Me"

Last week at church, we sang this song. Just the day before, I had written this post about my word of the year, humility. The Pastor's sermon was also about humility. I love how God works! I was struck by these lyrics, and the truth in them. God's grace is always around us, on our big days and in the small moments too. It's amazing how the seemingly small moments can leave a big impression on your heart. I remember very vividly walking across a street, holding both of my younger daughters' hands, and thinking it was such a sweet moment, and thinking, "I will always remember this." And I have-- it is a treasure that I hide in my heart, a true "mom" moment. God is always there for us-- whether we are going through our darkest nights, in the weeping by the graveside, but He is also there on the wedding days, and the birth of children. God is in our lives, in my life, and I see evidence of it all of the time. I am so humbled that He knows me.


What is grace? I've always heard is explained this way: 
God's 
Riches
At
Christ's 
Expense

I hope you'll enjoy this song too!















Your Grace Finds Me Lyrics - Matt Redman
It's there in the newborn cry
It's there in the light of every sunrise
It's there in the shadows of this light
Your great grace

It's there on the mountaintop
It's there in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace

Oh, such grace

From the creation to the cross
Then from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

It's there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the graveside
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace

Same for the rich and poor
Same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace

Oh, such grace

From the creation to the cross
Then from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

Your great grace
Oh, such grace
Your great grace
Oh, such grace

So I'm breathing in Your grace
And I'm breathing out Your praise
I'm breathing in Your grace
Forever I'll be
Breathing in Your grace
And I'm breathing out Your praise
I'm breathing in Your grace
Forever I'll be
Breathing in Your grace
And I'm breathing out Your praise
Breathing in Your grace
Forever forevermore

Yes, Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/matt-redman/your-grace-finds-me-lyrics/#pwG959UjrkttpLzM.99


You can listen to this song here.


Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

John 1:16-17
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:23-24
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Kindergarten- N week

We had another great week in homeschool this week, during N week. We talked a lot about names, night, noses, newspapers, nuts, new year, notes, numbers and more!
 We made Bethany's name out of play-doh, rolling it into snakes and into letters...
 We made a name puzzle with all of the letters in her first and last names...
 She matched nuts and bolts...

She also circled N's on a newspaper page... it was a fun week! Our last name begins with N, so we talked about those letters a lot!


Genesis 1:5
God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Word of the Year: Humble/Humility

I've thought a lot about my word for this year. I read several devotional passages in the end of 2014 which led me to choose my word: Humility. I also prayed about it, and felt the Lord leading me to ponder what humility is, and how to be more humble in His sight.

Joseph and Mary were humble people (Luke 1:48), did not have much in the world, yet they were chosen as the earthly parents for JESUS! Bethlehem was not a fancy place, nor was the stable where Jesus was born. I felt called to work on my humility in the new year. I want to be humble before God, as I come to Him each day.

His word promises many things involving humility:

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9

The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Psalm 147:6

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Isaiah 66:2

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (spoken by Jesus) Matthew 11:29

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. James 1:9

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10


I also researched the meaning of the word humility. The word means meekness, modesty, not proud or arrogant, mildness, lowliness, freedom from pride. I really liked this from Halley's Bible Handbook: "We need to constantly draw nigh unto God, to cleanse our hands, to purify our hearts and to humble ourselves." (p. 660)

The Strong's Accordance discussed factors involved in the sense of humility: sinfulness, unworthiness (Luke 15), limitations (1 Kings 3: 6-14), God's holiness (Isa. 6) and God's righteousness (Phil. 3: 4-7). 

Factors producing humility are : affliction (Deut. 8:3) Impending doom (2 Chron. 12:5-12), submissiveness (Luke 10:39) and Christ's example (Matt 11:29)

Upon reviewing the Greek and Hebrew words for humility, I found definitions meaning: to bring down low, submit or debase self, submit, put down, subdue, lowly. 

Biblical examples of humility are: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul. 

As Christians, we are exhorted to put on humility (Col. 3:12), be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5), to work with humility (Eph. 4:1-2) and avoid false humility (Col. 3:18-23)


I found all of this study simply fascinating. I enjoy learning more about words and their meaning to better understand a concept. I enjoy reading Bible study books which shed new light on the topic for me. I am no Bible scholar by any means, but I enjoy the resources that God has given me. I intend to study humility more this year. I am already memorizing James 4:10. I hope to memorize more of the humility verses above. I appreciate Jesus' example of humility. I know that I have pride that needs to be dealt with, and repented of before God. I may share more of my study in the coming weeks or months ahead. Asking God to humble me is a little daunting... not that I want to be decimated or anything, but shown areas of my life that need changing. God has all of life under control, areas for each of us to grow. I am interested to see what God will do in & through my life this year.

What about you? What is your "word" for the year? Is there something that you are interested in learning more about this year? I'd love to hear about it!

This is a photo that I found online, and I added a verse to it. Then I printed it to place around my home as a memorization tool, and on my phone's wallpaper.


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Christmas highlights 2014

We had a merry and enjoyable Christmas this past year! We had a lovely time being at home, playing lots of games, enjoying our new flat-screen tv, watching movies, and doing fun activities. Now Christmas break is over! I am ready to get back to the school-time routine, though.

Here are some pictures of our recent Christmas:
 Joshua in his new hat made by my sister's friend...
 Rebekah with her new striped pajamas...
 Mallory is excited for her Frozen pj's...
 ...and Bethany got "My Little Pony" jammies that she loves!
 I love my new comfy Wonder Woman pajamas too.
 Ready to watch "The Polar Express" with my boy on Christmas Eve.
 When we came downstairs on Christmas morning, the kids were watching tv and waiting to open their stockings!
 Bethany was excited to open her Hulk hands and mask...
 Mallory loves her new dog (by American Girl)...
 Caleb got a cool baseball bat and hitting ball-back, and Rebekah got a nice scarf and hair clip by Lilla Rose.
 My hubby in his new puffy vest.
 Bethany likes her new book...
 My hubby got me a great gardening book, we hope to have a great garden this summer!
 My hubby also got me a new "Ticket to Ride" game, Netherlands version. That is where my ancestors are from, and we like the challenge of saying all of the towns' names. : - D

Our family after church on Christmas Eve, we liked this photo!

It was a wonderful holiday and break! What did you all do for your holiday break? Any sweet memories from Christmas to share?

Happy New Year! We pray that you know Christ's love in your hearts and lives this year.


Exodus 33:14
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

1 Chronicles 17:16
[ David’s Prayer ] Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

Psalm 122:8
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...