Sunshine Days
• Nov. 20, 2008 - It Is Official: I've Moved
To all my fellow bloggers and readers, I am pleased to announce a move. I have changed my blogging venue in the hopes of being able to work with my blog a little easier. I am going to keep this blog for book reviews and school information specifically and because my older children have Homeschool Blogger blogs that I want to follow.
But, you can find me here on what will be my regular blog: The Courtney Six. Please come this week for an Open House and great giveaway! |
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• Nov. 20, 2008 - Oh, How Warm And Cozy It IS!!!
PTL we just got our wood stove competed. We bought one last year and DH just finished installing it. Here are some pictures of our very first FIRE! :D
Please work..............please work...............please work!
Thank you, GOD!!!
Even Larry loves it! 
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• Nov. 17, 2008 - Book Review- The Nativity and The Ninth Witness
I have recently read The Nativity by Angela Hunt and The Ninth Witness by Brock and Bodie Thoene. I decided to review them together because they are about the same time period.
I was struck while reading both of these books by the harshness of the time in Israel at the time of the birth of Christ. We often picture the nativity scene at Christmas time as a scene of peace and joy, and indeed, Christ brought peace to the world. But the peace He brought was not immediate. He was born in the midst of an extremely difficult time for His people. They suffered terribly under the rule of a corrupt Roman government. They were persecuted by Herod Antipas and later his son. Christ was born to a young girl who was probably shamed and ostracized because of the events of her pregnancy. Very few people actually believed the claims that Jesus was the promised Messiah because they were looking for a Savior who would ride in and save the day from Rome. They expected a soldier King, not a baby in a poor village, born to a poor, young girl.
The Nativity by Angela Hunt is based upon the movie that came out recently with the same name. I haven't seen the movie, but the book was very moving, I enjoy books that take the stories we know from the Bible and "flesh them out" to help us see what times would have been like then.
The Ninth Witness is the most recent book in the AD Chronicles series by Brock and Bodie Thoene. the whole series has been a look at the birth and life of Christ. This book was a retelling of the events leading up to Jesus's visit to the temple when He was twelve. Again, the reader is struck by the harshness and danger of the times. The "old"Herod is dead, but His son now rules and is intent upon crushing any form of rebellion in the Israelite regions. Corrupt Rome is in control, also intent upon crushing rebellions and crucifying any supposed rebels. The common people are poor and struggling to get by. They live in fear for their lives, still looking for a Messiah to come, not realizing that He is among them.
I highly recommend both of these books. I enjoyed them, and I await the next AD Chronicles book eagerly!
To see all the books I've read this year, you can visit my Book List here. |
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• Nov. 17, 2008 - More Redecorating
Yes, I have changed my blog's template once again. I have discovered that I am utterly hopeless at making these templates look the way I want them to. I have to stick with the "canned" ones. So, I am not entirely happy with this. I love Homeschool Blogger, but if I can't figure out how to "spruce things" up a bit, I may have to change my blogging venue. Any ideas?
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• Nov. 17, 2008 - The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today...
Outside my window...I hear my children laughing and jumping in the leaves I just swept.
I am thinking...how easily I am drawn into causing myself stress by comparing myself to others.
From the learning rooms...finishing up our literature units; Math U See; reading Pilgrim Stories
I am thankful for...for sunny autumn days
From the kitchen...homemade croutons today; tacos for supper
I am wearing...pink plaid flannel pants and a sweatshirt
I am reading...Pilgrim Stories, Redwall, Anne of Green Gables to the children; A Charlotte Mason Education, Shapes of Mercy, and The Passion of Jesus Christ for me
I am hoping... that we can go to the Southern Christmas Show on Wednesday
I am creating...my Christmas lists and have made appointments for pictures
I am hearing...loud children :-)
Around the house...I did lots of laundry today and am catching up on some computering
One of my favorite things...is having Jason home in the evenings. His school is almost out!
A few plans for the rest of the week...A cooking show tomorrow night with no kiddos(Jason's home); Southern Christmas show and AWANA on Wednesday
I didn't share a picture today because I realized that I have not uploaded many pics lately! I'll have to work on that and have some to share later this week.
Join Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook here. |
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• Nov. 13, 2008 - Homeschool Memoirs- Mom Help
THEME:
This week I’d like to invite you to share what YOUR “Mom” help is. Some drink coffee, soda, or chia-tea. Others check email or read their favourite blogs. Some talk a walk…. what do you do when you need to clear your head and take a breather?
Ahhh, what to do when I need a break. If I am lucky, I actually get to go to the bathroom alone without someone following me, yelling at me, or knocking on the door!
Really, I have several "breathers" that I like to take when I can.:
I always enjoy checking e-mail, Facebook, and catching up on blogs. The computer can be a real time sucker, so I monitor my time on it and make sure I don't get caught up, but it is a nice break as well as a way to connect with another adult once in a while.
My children are required to have "quiet time" from 2-4 every day. Only Rachel actually sleeps still. But Ashlyne will play alone (mostly), and then I read to Kathryne and Charles and then they have computer time. During that time, I can nap or play on the computer myself. I also like to watch Emeril Green on the Planet Green. I love cooking shows.
My absolute favorite time is at night when I can have a bath and read. That really helps hold me together.
Bible verses that I come back to again and again:
Lamentations 3- 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
Deuteronomy 6- 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (These are my theme verses for homeschooling and good to remind me why I do what I do.)
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• Nov. 13, 2008 - Christmas Giveaways at 5 Minute for Moms
One of my favorite big blogging sites is hosting some great Christmas giveaways. Here are the details from 5 Minutes for Moms.
Ready or not… Christmas is coming!
Can you believe it? Soon we will be singing Christmas carols, decorating our homes and trimming our trees.
This Christmas, instead of sleeping through it all, Olivia and Sophia will be taking in all the sights, sounds - and presents - of Christmas.
Speaking of presents, how is your Christmas shopping going?
Need some shopping ideas? Want to win some great prizes?
Our Christmas Giveaway 2008 is jam packed. (Please scroll down to see our current list of prizes.)
In fact, we have so many giveaways this year, I don’t know how we will cram them all into the month of November. We have more than 25 planned already — and we are adding more! It is craziness!
We will be stuffing the next three weeks FULL of giveaways!
Not only do we have toys, but we also have some fun stuff for you moms.
AND, we also have a new program here at 5 Minutes for Mom this Christmas called Under the Tree .
Under the Tree is about getting some of that Christmas magic (bloggy style!) right to some families who need it!
In addition to providing the fabulous prizes for our readers to win by commenting on the individual reviews, the wonderful companies participating in the Christmas Giveaway 2008 are providing presents to selected families who are in need this Christmas.
If you know a family who will not be able to provide presents for their children this Christmas, click over and read more about Under the Tree and how you can nominate a family in need.
And don’t forget to click over and comment to show your support and enthusiasm for Under the Tree and for the participating companies!
Now, if you’re looking for some great ideas for your Christmas shopping list – and you would you like to win some fun prizes and maybe check off some people on that list, it is time to get started with our Christmas Giveaway 2008!
Post one of our Christmas 2008 buttons and then keep checking back for new contests and keep commenting to win.
Here is how it will work:
- Add a comment on the giveaway you want to enter. PLEASE note: You need to enter each giveaway individually so we know who wants to be entered in what giveaway. So, make sure you click over to each giveaway and leave your comment there.
- Either link back to this post and include a Christmas Giveaway 2008 button in that post or on your sidebar, or link to the individual giveaways you choose to enter. We have a ton of different buttons and styles for you to choose from. Click here to get the button codes. (If you post and include the button, either in your post or on your sidebar, and link back here, you are good for all the giveaways. No more linking required.)
- You may earn additional entries on each giveaway for the following:
1. Subscribe to our Feed
2. Sign up for our Newsletter
If you are already subscribed and are on our newsletter list, you qualify for these two additional entries. Please remember though to leave comments for these additional entries, as your comments are your entries. Comments such as, “I am subscribed” and “I am on the newsletter list” qualify for those entries.
- Comments that we deem in our opinion to be “spam” will be either deleted or disqualified. So please leave meaningful comments to show that you are indeed a real participant who has read the review.
- As always, non bloggers are welcome to participate! We understand you can’t link - but please spread the word to your friends.
- Some giveaways may be open to Canadian shipping addresses. Please check individual giveaways.
- Due to legal restrictions, these giveaways are not available in Arizona or Quebec.
We will begin posting giveaways Thursday, November 6th, 2008 and continue until Tuesday, November 25th, 2008.
Entries for all giveaways will be closed Friday, November 28th at 12pm EST.
Winners will be drawn randomly and we will announce the winners Monday, December 1st. We will email winners at the address accompanying the winning comments.
Please make sure to check our site and your email address to see if you have won a prize. We want to try to ensure that winners receive their prizes in time for the holiday, so we must receive your reply within 5 business days. (If you want your prize to arrive in time — the sooner we hear from you, the better!)
Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our Contest and Giveaway Rules.
We will add the giveaway links to this post as they are published during the course of the event. Please click on each of the links below and comment on the giveaways you wish to enter:
PLEASE REMEMBER: You need to click over and comment on each giveaway you want to enter. We will be linking to all of the giveaways in this post and we need to know who wants to be entered in WHAT giveaway. Remember you can enter in as many of the giveaways as you want.
We will CLOSE the comments on THIS post so that people do not get confused and comment here to win the prizes. Head over to each giveaway you are interested in and comment at THOSE posts.
Merry Christmas!!!
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• Nov. 12, 2008 - What's In YOUR Closet?
• Nov. 10, 2008 - The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today...
Outside my window...is beautiful sunshine and my kiddos playing
I am thinking...about what I want to get done between now and the holidays
From the learning rooms...we are trying to tie up some loose ends and then we'll do a Thanksgiving study and a Christmas study. :-)
I am thankful for...my husband who makes us a priority and my children who get to stay home with me each day!
I am wearing...sweats and a tshirt- not going out today.
From the kitchen...bean soup in the crockpot and the teapot just whistled
I am reading... Charlotte Mason Home Companion, To the Ends of the Earth
I am hoping...that I can get all the school work finished that I have planned
I am creating... an ABC lapbook with the little girls
Around the house...the washer and dryer are quietly humming; kids are playing outside; soup is in the crockpot; all is well in my world :-)
One of my favorite things...is reading to Ashlyne and Rachel
A few plans for the rest of the week...Wednesday - library and AWANA; Friday a field trip to a farm
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Charles and all his missing teeth |
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• Nov. 6, 2008 - Homeschool Memoirs- Lets Play a Game
THEME
This week I want to invite you to share what different games you use for learning in your homeschool. Outside games, board games, or card games, and what purpose or subject you use them for.
We like to play games. It is much easier to play with the older kids and often difficult when the little ones are under foot. But, we do the best we can.
We like all kinds of card games- Uno, Dutch Blitz, Rummy, Solitaire are some of our favorites. These are all good for math skills and reasoning.
Yahtzee is another good math and reasoning game.
We have the game of Life, but is difficult to play with the little ones around because it is hard to keep up with the action. The big kids are just now figuring out the details. It's very good for math and money handling decisions.
The younger crew enjoy a rousing game of Hi Ho Cherry Oh (math), and a game we got from Discovery Toys which involves rolling a large fluffy die and then drawing a matching color card and doing the action on it.
Another favorite of Charles is Mancala. It is great for reasoning and problem solving- which is why he almost always beats me!
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