Hello Friends!

Are you doing pretty well this week?  It is well here.  It seems busier than usual, but there hasn't been much change.  We woke up to snow and slick roads yesterday, but by noon it had melted off.  It is very cold.....brrrr!  I am just not much of a cold weather gal. 

I don't know about you, but my "to-do" list is a mile long!  My kids are so busy, and it's hard to keep on my toes with all they need to do and learn.  Oh, I don't teach them everthing though, they are becoming independent learners.  I just see myself as a "facilitator" most of the time.  However, my first born is a natural teacher and has been doing many fun things with her younger siblings.  Most days they do pretty well with that, sometimes it falls apart.  But we just try again another day.

I think I have talked before about my friend Jill, who is a homeschooling Mom with many of the same ideas and methods that we have here.  We are "kindred spirits."  If you have ever had the pleasure of hearing one of Jills conferences you have to agree with me that she has the sweetest voice you have ever heard!  I LOVE listening to Jill. 

Jill coined a term; "Project schooling."  It's a really neat way to describe the hands-on, familiy oriented type of learning she loves to do.  The whole family gets involved in different projects, and they learn so much along the way as they work together.

One of Jills projects is the Girlhood Home Companion.  Have you seen this magazine? 

It is a beauty.  I am not just saying that because I have contributed a few articles and photos to it.  I just love it.  Jill is an artist and an author and has created a feast for the eyes, and for the soul.  Very few magazines out there are truly beautiful.  I always loved Victoria magazine, do you remember that one?  I enjoyed the softness of the photos, the way they were composed; but there were a lot of advertisements I didn't like. And frankly, I can't remember ever reading one of the articles in Victoria!

 The Girlhood Home Companion has one thing in common with Victoria; beautiful feminine photography and artwork.  But that is where the similarity ends.  The Girlhood is different, for a different purpose entirely.  I don't just enjoy it because I love to look upon beautiful things.  My soul desires that which is good and beautiful and true.  These are the things I want to share with my daughters.

What is theGirlhood Home Companion about?  It's about this:

"During the Victorian era, when life moved at a much slower pace, there were distinct periods of development in a girl’s life: babyhood, childhood, girlhood, and womanhood. I have seen a marked difference between the girl my oldest daughter used to be, and the lovely woman she has become in Christ. One thing I firmly believe is that girlhood is a priceless training ground that should not be rushed. Make the Girlhood Home Companion a tradition in your home."
           
               Mrs. Jill Novak

You know, there just isn't a whole lot out there for our lovely young girls today, as far as media goes.  We want to bless them with something Godly to read, to learn from, and to read together with them. 

We desire to minister to our children, in all we do.  It is our desire to keep them safe in the world, but help them to not be of it.  The world we live in today is full of fast paced scenes of our children growing up way before their time.  But this brand of "growing up" is not God's plan for our girls.  We want them to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord.  We need to keep them in the Word, and not "of" the world.

I appreciate resources that help me do that.  Don't you?

Girlhood can be such a fleeting time; let us not squander it on empty words and images.  Fill it with wisdom, beautiful words and images, lessons and inspiration.  I know just the place where you can find those virtues; in the Girlhood Home Companion!

Please leave me a comment and let me know if you have ever had the blessing of seeing a copy of this lovely publication.  Let me know what you like best about it!  If you have never seen a copy, please check it out on the website.  Also, I would like to invite you to comment so I can put your name in a hat to win one free copy! 

Blessings!

Nancy Baetz