Walt Disney World Tips! Epcot

Dear Ones,
Epcot is our family's favorite of the Disney parks. We usually try to spend two days there. This is written as if you had two days to spend there, and how to make the best of your adventure. If you are staying at a Disney resort, try to do Epcot on a day when you have Extra Magic hours. This will give you more time to explore!
Epcot is broken up into two sections. This first part of the park is called Future World. This includes the following areas:

Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
Soarin'®
Mission: SPACE® Pavilion
Imagination! Pavilion
The Land Pavilion
The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
Universe of Energy

First thing! Remember to get your Fast Passes for Soarin'! If you are interested in driving a race car, Fast Passes for Test Track are also a must! If you are traveling with older children that don't get motion sickness, get a Fast Pass for Mission: Space too!
Then head to The Sea Pavilion for "The Sea with Nemo and Friends" It is a very sweet ride, and kids of all ages seem to enjoy it. There is another attraction worth mentioning, called Turtle Talk With Crush. Crush interacts the audience in this one. The Sea Base and Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium is great!

The Land Pavilion is where you will find Soarin' and also a ride that takes your behind the scenes of Epcot. If you have two days, take time to ride Living with the Land. It is really interesting. There is also a wonderfully educational behind the scenes tour available in the Land Pavilion, called Behind the Seeds at Epcot. This tour offers a one-hour indoor walking tour of the greenhouses seen during the Living with the Land attraction at Epcot. We did it when Bitty was 5, and she loved it!

Make sure to take in the Imagination! Pavilion. There you can ride the Journey Into Imagination With Figment attraction or see the Captain EO 3-D film starring the late Michael Jackson. i haven't seen it, but have heard that it is worth the time.

If you have two days in Epcot, then you can take a lot of time exploring the Innoventions East and West. There is a ton of hands on stuff for the entire family. Before you leave the Future World of Epcot, make sure to stop by the Coca Cola shop. It is at the end of Innoventions West, before you cross over into Showcase Plaza. You can sample different sodas from around the world. This is really neat, and my girls think this is a must do!

Beyond Future World is the World Showcase area, an adventure through a collection of international pavilions around the World Showcase Lagoon. Within each pavilion, you'll find shops, attractions and restaurants that represent the culture and cuisine of these 11 countries: Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, United Kingdom, and the good ol' USA!

Important thing to remember is that there are ferries that can take you back and forth across the lagoon. They run from Showcase Plaza to Morocco, or Showcase Plaza to Germany. IF you do this, it will save your feet. The World Showcase is big!

A fun thing for the smaller children is the Kidcot Fun Stops located in each pavilion. My girls have enjoyed this over the years. We also have them stamp our girls' autograph books. Usually, the cast member will also write something in their native language to go with the stamp! These are amazing souvenirs!

First thing to do: Get dinner reservations! We usually get ours at The Rose and Crown in The United Kingdom. They have wonderful fish and chips, and the service is great! We usually try to get it later in the evening, if there are going to be Fireworks. That way, we can linger over dessert, (the treacle tart is superb!), and watch the display from the patio. Make sure to request an outside seat, if you want to do this. ;)

Since you will probably head to the UK first for those dinner reservations, you will pass through Canada, the home of Anne of Green Gables! The scenery here is majestic! There is a great 360 degree movie called O Canada that is really good. It is hosted by Martin Short.

In the United Kingdom, enjoy the quaint shops, and scenery. Sometimes there are street shows to enjoy. Look out for Mary Poppins, and Tigger and Pooh while you are there.

Cross the International Gateway, and it is onto France. If you like pastries, this is the place to get them! There are shops here and you can be on the lookout for Marie, from the Aristocats,and Princess Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty. There is also a film called Impressions de France that is quite lovely, and relaxing.

Morocco is the next land you will enter. It is fun, rather like walking through a small market in Marrakesh. The air is spicy and the music is terrific! You can see arts and crafts from the middle east, and enjoy a snack of falafel or hummus and pita chips. You may run into Aladdin and Jasmine here... or perhaps the Genie!

Then it is on to Japan. We love the shop there called Mitsukoshi. It is supposedly the oldest store in Japan. There are lots of cute Sanrio things to shop for as well as adorable Japanese anime products. My girls love shopping at the candy store in the back. You can watch pearls being taken from oysters, and may see a demonstration of Japanese Kimono dressing. Make sure to see "Visions of Beauty: World Heritage Sites of Japan",The Taiko drummers may be performing in the garden.

Now we are in the United States! The main attraction here is The American Adventure. This is a must do! :)
Ben Franklin and Mark Twain present an inspirational story of our precious history. The girls love this! i must admit that i get a little misty eyed, when i hear the music! The USA is home of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear. :) You can also get a yummy, warm funnel cake here! If you are lucky, while you are eating your funnel cake, you will get to hear the melodious voices of Voices of Liberty.


In Italy, we usually just enjoy looking around. The food there is great, but, since we usually eat in the UK or China, we tend to pass this by. The chocolates are yummy here! :) The plaza is full of sights and sounds to make your Italian adventure perfect!


Germany, home of my ancestors, and Snow White and the Seven Drawfs too! Make sure you take a few minutes to stroll through the shops here. There is a lot to see. This is a great place to shop for toys, and teddy bears! For those who enjoy beer, this is a good place to sample one, and a bratwurst to go with it.

Between Germany and China, there is an area called the Outpost. This is an area for enjoying African tribal music and stories.

Ah, China!! The land of my heart. You must see the Reflections of China! It is a Circle Vision 360 degree movie. It will show you the wonders of China. There is also another display of the Terra Cotta warriors next to the theater. When you walk into the theater building, which is a copy of the Temple of Heaven, make sure to look up! It is an amazing, beautiful sight to see.
There may be Chinese acrobats performing in the garden. Do take time to stroll through the shops. There is much to delight the eyes! :) Be on the lookout for Mulan outside the theater, she is our personal favorite!


Leaving China, you will enter Norway. The Stave Church is a exhibit styled after the Gol Church in Hallingdal, Norway. It is remarkable, made without nails! The attraction in Norway is the Maelstrom ride. i have not been on it, but, my family likes it. At the Spirit of Norway, you can enjoy products from this country. In Norway, you can dine inside a castle at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, including Princess Storybook Dining, and delight in fresh baked goods and coffee at the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. We usually buy the baked goods to save for the next morning's breakfast.

Mexico is the last "land" in the World Showcase, if you start in Canada. The food here is heavenly at La Hacienda De San Angel! Enjoy riding on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. It is a nice and calm ride. And a good way to relax your feet! This "land" is filled with the sights and sounds of old Mexico.

On your way out Epcot, make sure you stop by Spaceship Earth, it is the big round globe at the entrance of Epcot. If the lines are short, this is a entertaining option. This is narrated from an evolutionary standpoint, but, if you go in knowing that, it will open up great conversations with your children on the way back to the hotel! Don't do this when you first get into the park, as the lines are usually longer.

Another thing my girls enjoyed at Epcot is the Kim Possible missions. These have been changed to Phineas and Ferb's Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. You can find out more information about this at the Odyssey Bridge, Norway Pavilion, Italy Pavilion or near the International Gateway. This is great fun for the whole family! It basically sends you out as a secret agent to thwart the bad guys while exploring The World Showcase!

i hope this helps get you in the mood to explore Epcot! As i said before, this is our family's favorite of all the Disney theme parks. Any questions? Just leave me a comment, and i will answer!
i will post about the Magic Kingdom later this week.

Blessings,
Alycia

i'm back!

Dear ones,

i must apologize for not posting lately! Actually, i cannot believe it has been so long since i last posted!
We have had so much going on in our lives, i simply hadn't the time to post. Thankfully, things are looking up, and i am back!

Want to update you about our life. First of all, Lady spent the summer, six weeks of it, in China! She was volunteering at the foster home where Baby lived for 3 years.
Lady had a wonderful time working with the babies there. If you would like to see these precious wee ones, take a look here: http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster/index.html
Baby lived at New Day from 13 months until she was nearly five. That is when we came to bring her home. She was well loved and healed of her broken heart there. If you are looking for a place to financially support this Christmas, this is a wonderful place to do it. They are currently in need of Poly-Vi-Sol baby vitamins. Interested in sending some, leave me a message, and i will connect you with someone who is sending a box over there.

Back to Lady... She is getting married next summer! She and her beau have been friends since January, and have become very good friends. They are actively seeking the Lord's will for their lives. Although we have yet to meet her Prince Charming, we are excited (and nervous) for them both! Lady is meeting PC's parents today, will you pray for her?

Bitty is doing well, and is in 5th grade. She is very much a dancer. We discovered a wonderful blessing right down the street from us. We have a new friend who danced as a soloist with the American Ballet Theater! She was actually hired by Mikhail Baryshnikov! Best thing about Miss Shawn? She has a 10 year old daughter too! Bitty is in heaven!
This year at dance, Bitty is taking Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern and Lyrical. She is so excited about dancing, and one can find her dancing everywhere!
Another thing that Bitty excels in, is baking. She is a wonderful chef and loves coming up with new delights.

Baby is in the 1st grade this year. To make things easy on her i made her a "Daily Learning" binder. It has a bunch of pages that i gleaned from different blogs. She usually writes the day of the week, the weather and the ordinal number of the day, each day. If you are interested in what this looks like, leave me a message, and i will do a post on this.

As for me, i am still plugging away at life. Some days are easier than others. This past few months have been extremely stressful and difficult. We are relying on the Lord to get us through! Thankfully, we serve a mighty God who is able to do so much more than we can fathom!!!
Recently, the Lord has lead me to go gluten and dairy free. Well, almost dairy free. i cannot tolerate drinking milk, or eating ice cream or yogurt, but, a bit of butter or cream in my coffee doesn't bother me.
Going gluten free has been tough on this bread lover! i am learning to do without and have found that i feel much better when i don't eat any gluten. That being said, i really notice it if i accidentally eat something with gluten in it!

For the next few days, i will be posting about Walt Disney World. Last week, a friend of mine went to WDW for the first time. She asked me for any tips that i may have for their visit. i sent her four emails full of tips! She said that i should post them for all to read, so, that is what i am going to do. We will start with our personal favorite park, Epcot. i hope you enjoy it!

If you read my posts, will you leave me a quick comment to let me know? i would love to know who is reading this!

Blessings!
Alycia

In the Hands of a Child

In the Hands of a Child is having their annual Back to School Sale

on their HUGE selection of Lapbooking and Notebooking Products.

Save 50% on over 400 different titles!

See complete details here: http://www.handsofachild.com/freebies-and-specials/#specials

We have a winner!

Hi all!
We have a winner!
Congratulations to Gloria Cottrell Phillips for winning
the We Choose Virtues poster.
Thank you all for entering!
i hope that you will come back and check my blog again soon.
i love to have you visit!
Blessings!
Alycia

We Choose Virtues Review and Giveaway!

Hi all!


i am SO blessed to be able to review another fantastic product for We Choose Virtues.
You know from my last review, that i love their products! This time, they have graciously allowed me to do a giveaway too! My first one!!!
Exciting, isn't it?!?

What am i reviewing this time? The Kids Virtue Poster

It has all 12 of the virtues {diligent, helpful, perseverant, gentle, content, attentive, honest, kind, self-controlled, patient, obedient, forgiving} listed as well as their catchphrases and antonyms. For example:
I am Obedient. "Okay, whatever you say, I will obey, right away!" "I am NOT....argumentative, unwilling, or slow and I don't refuse to do what I'm told."
i posted ours in our school room and "the Bugs" have been looking at it all week! Bitty has been especially interested in it, and enjoys telling Baby what each one says.

The poster is 11x17 and is printed on heavy duty paper. It is brightly colored, and easy to read. It retails for $14.99 regularly, but We Choose Virtues has a special for this month, right in time for Father's Day.
From the We Choose Virtues website:
"June is for Fathers!
We Choose Virtues is dedicated to helping dads set a standard of excellent character in their homes.
It doesn’t have to be hard! With 12 Virtues and Three Rules, our simple tools take the guesswork out of it! These 2 posters ship free this month. Use code POSTER35 at checkout for 35% off ALL our posters."

Also, here is a chance for you to win a Kids Virtue Poster for your homeschool or classroom! a Rafflecopter giveaway


Attention Teachers... START25 is the promo code you need to get 25% off ANY of We Choose Virtues' great classroom kits!

Don't forget to check out their other products on the website at http://www.wechoosevirtues.com/shop/ While you are there, consider downloading the Student's Character Assessment sheet. It will help you keep track of your student's progress. There is also an assessment sheet for families as well as Kids Memory Verses, Bible Heroes and Truths sheet... for free! These will help you as you work to instill virtues in your kids.

Blessings to you all!

Alycia

P.S i received the Kids Virtue Poster in return for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.

New Review Coming SOON!

i am so blessed to announce that i will be doing another review for "We Choose Virtues"
This time i will be reviewing 2 of their posters. i am really excited about this!
Also, i will be having my first giveaway!
Mark your calendars to come back on June 8th to read the review and enter the giveaway!

Blessings!
Alycia

Homeschool Conferences

i was recently asked to be a Partner Blogger with AHEAD, American Home Education and Discipleship. In exchange for my blog posts, i am now listed as a Partner Blogger on the AHEAD blog, and i received a complimentary admission to the AHEAD conference of my choice. :) There are thirty-nine AHEAD conferences in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Here’s a link to a map of AHEAD conferences http://americanhomeeducation.org/map.cfm
AHEAD is affiliated with The National Alliance of Christian Home Education Leaders. www.achel.org

Last weekend, i attended an AHEAD conference. It was wonderful! i didn't get to go to many of the workshops as i was working a booth. That being said, i had a lot of opportunities to explore and shop. Which i did! i got all the remaining things that i need for the coming year. :)

Don't think you need to attend a convention or conference this year? Here is a great article about many reasons that you should consider it. It was written by Mbuyi and Mong-Tham Khuzadi.

Why Go to Convention

"I think each of us can come up with not just a few reasons to skip this year’s homeschool convention. In fact, some of you may already have your list in your head. Before succumbing to the “why nots,” consider some of the “whys.”

Renew your vision

Maybe you don't want to go to convention because you are burned out. What better way to get recharged than to renew your vision? Just being in the same building with hundreds other people who think the way you do is uplifting.

Hearing once again the encouraging words of a familiar speaker will remind you why you are teaching at home in the first place. The words of a speaker you've not heard before just may be the boost you need.

Make connections with others in your boat

If you are attending a workshop on a specific topic, say special needs, the other parents in that room have similar concerns. These are the very people who are going to understand your situation as well as your heart. This is the place to make those connections.

The workshop speakers aren't the only authority on the subject. The person next to you or in back of you may have just the answer or word of encouragement you need. Your seat neighbor may be shy about approaching the speaker after the session, but you have the same experiences to offer love and support as well.

Take some personal cards with your name and contact information so you can share with others and find someone to mentor you.

Encouraging others

One year I as I was wandering through the exhibit hall, a mom stopped me in the middle of the aisle. She told that me that since I was wearing a badge from the Leadership Conference I could answer her question. We stood there and talked for the entire next workshop session. We both went away encouraged.

You never know whom God is going to send your way. Be available to His work. It's possible that you can answer a curriculum question for a new mom while the exhibitor is busy. That just might be an appointment from God.

Go to a convention ready to give as well as receive.

Weekend get away

Two friends of mine consider the convention their much deserved get-away weekend. They save all year, book a suite, order room service, spend time in the spa, and, if available, get a massage. Oh yes, they do attend some workshop sessions but they don't spend much time in the exhibit all. They find it too hectic for their relaxation.

Whether it is with other moms or with your husband, just the weekend away and pampering yourself, can do more to encourage than a dozen workshop sessions. You don't have to buy your entire curriculum during that one weekend. Maybe sleeping in an extra hour and having one breakfast served to your room is just the luxury you need to be refreshed for the upcoming year.

I'm through home schooling. I don't need the convention.

Maybe you don't think that you need a convention because you are nearing the end of your homeschool season. The convention needs you. Hundreds of volunteers are needed for a smooth running convention. Veterans who may not need to attend every workshop session or spend time in the exhibit hall are needed to fill one of the many volunteer slots. Not only does this serve your state organization and the convention, but also provides a valuable service to younger homeschool parents.

Not Just Any Convention

Don’t just attend just any convention; attend one sponsored by your state organization. State homeschool organizations plan their conventions based on the needs of homeschoolers in their area. These events are “local” rather than regional, you can often attend one day without incurring hotel expenses, and have lower travel expenses.

Your state organization will be around mid-school year when you need help. Your convention attendance helps support the work these groups do on your behalf twelve months out of the year.

With thirty-nine events in thirty-two states, provinces, and nations, you’re sure to find one close by. Don’t miss the chance to be encouraged and be an encourager."

Mbuyi and Mong-Tham founded Exploring HomeschoolingTM to help other Christian parents discover the joy of homeschooling their children in the admonition of the Lord. They want to encourage parents to continue in their journey of raising up wonderful, loving, and God-fearing children. They are currently homeschooling their four children.

So, there you have it! Great reasons to attend a wonderful, and enriching homeschool conference this year. If you haven't given it much thought yet, i hope i helped you to decide to attend!

Blessings!
Alycia

REVIEW!!!! Time4Learning

About Time4Learning:
Time4Learning is an "automated online learning system" It has lessons for children in preschool through 8th grade. For most grade levels, Time4Learning covers Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. The lessons are student paced with a suggested sequence. There is a parent's forum that allows parents to discuss ideas and questions with other parents. Time4Learning has great customer support via telephone or email.



Now, onto our experience with Time4Learning!!! i signed up both of my "littles", Bitty and Baby. Because of our crazy year last year, with Lady's illness, my "littles" are a bit behind in math. Bitty, my 10 year old, did do some math on the Time4Learning website, however, the language arts were her favorite. In fact, she did all the LA lessons within her level! She enjoyed the games and the bright and cheery animation. Baby, my 6 year old, enjoyed everything she did on the site. She told me that "this was fun. i liked it because it was singing and made me laugh." She also enjoyed knowing that when she completed a lesson, a check mark would appear, and an arrow would point her to the next lesson.



Time4Learning is a wonderful resource for home educators, for after school learning, or for summer use. i like the fact that it provides a detailed "progress report" on what the children have been doing with their time on the site. Time4Learning provides scope and sequence, although the children can do their lessons in whatever order they desire.



My main dislike of the program was that i was unable to assign lessons to be completed on a certain day. As their primary educator, that would have been very helpful. Perhaps they do provide that option, i was just not able to find it. That being said, we enjoyed Time4Learning, and highly recommend it.




*i received a free month trial on Time4Learning in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.

New Giveaway at Homeschool Giveaways!

Hi all,
Please take a moment to check out one of my favorite websites: Homeschool Giveaways and Freebies.
They are having an amazing giveaway that i would LOVE to win for our family.
A vacation in the Missouri Ozarks at a ranch owned by another homeschool family!
How cool is that?!?
Here is the link: http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2012/04/giveaway-family-vacation-1500-value/

Blessings!
Alycia

a new discovery

i stumbled upon this video on Youtube. My little baby bug is the second child here, picking grapes. She is also shown later wearing a pink feather wig.
Enjoy!

Upcoming Review!!!

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come bachttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifk and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment ,and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Blessings!
Alycia

Review: Virtue Flash Cards

Hi all,

i have another review for you!
This one comes from We Choose Virtues! You can see their link on the right--------->

They have many wonderful products to help you instill character in your children.
The Virtue Flash Cards are great! There are twelve of them in the pack and they are made of heavy card stock. Each card has a saying on the front: "I am Honest", "I am Content", "I am Obedient" and a picture of a cartoon kid in the background. The pictures are precious! i love the illustrations! On the reverse side of the card, there is a more detailed description and a Bible verse. For example, on the card for honesty, it says "I am a truth teller". "I am NOT...a liar, a thief or a cheater, and I don't change the truth to get my way!" Great ways to think about honesty, right?!

Along with the cards, there are instructions for how to play games with them. There are three games listed, Flip, Charades, and The Race Against Time! The only thing extra needed for any of the games is a stopwatch. That's it!
The games are so fun and very easy to play! Even if you have a mixed age group, all of the kids will enjoy them. We played it with my two youngest daughters. Although Baby isn't at the reading level yet, she was able to play Charades with just a bit of instruction. Flip was easier as she just had to figure out the first letter for the virtue she was looking for. :)

At the We Choose Virtues website, you will find two very valuable freebies that will work wonderfully with your Virtue Flash Cards. One is the "Kid's Memory Verses, Bible Heroes and Truths" sheet. The other is the "Family Character Assessment" sheet. The memory verse sheet has a Bible hero or heroine or a Biblical truth,for each virtue. It also has a Bible verse listed for each. This is great for a morning devotional to start the day. We can read the story about each hero as we are working on that week's memory verse. The character assessment sheet helps each child track where they are in their character. This helps Mom and Dad know what virtues need to be worked on. Baby has a bit of a problem with honesty. She doesn't like it when anyone gets upset with her, and is prone to tell them what they want to hear, rather than what is true. We are working on that with her. Bitty is working on her attitude. She can be a bit unkind and unforgiving at times with Baby. Kindness and forgiveness are the virtues we are working on with her.

Both of my girls have been enjoying the Virtue Flash Cards. Our plan is to work on one virtue a week until we are sure that it is instilled in their character. Both the assessment and the memory verses are helping with that.

Be sure to check out all the wonderful products at We Choose Virtue. They are wonderful for helping you instill character in your child that will last.
You can visit them by clicking on my link on the right, or by clicking here:
http://www.wechoosevirtues.com


Blessings!
Alycia

Review: "Educate the Home Educator Crash Course"

Choosing to home educate your children can be an overwhelming experience. There are so many questions that need to be answered; What do i need to cover? How do i plan all these lessons? What do i do about grading? What about support groups? Can we afford it?
These are just some of the questions that i had when we chose to bring Lady home from the private school she was attending in fourth grade. i wish there had been such a extensive resource as this when i first started. "Educate the Home Educator, Crash Course" is subtitled with "How to Homeschool in 40 Easy Lessons". Angie McFarren, a home educating mother, and Homeschool Consultant, writes in a way that is easy to understand. She gives the reader lots of great information and includes resources too.

The "Crash Course" is just that, a crash course in everything you need to home educate your children from the beginning through high school. Angie starts the book by covering the legalities in home education. She then helps the reader determine their teaching method, and understand their child's learning style. This was a welcome help for me, as i am now educating two, very different types of learners. Angie also gives tips on how to prepare high school courses, preparing a transcript, and helping your child find the right college. i have not seen such a thorough and well written book about how to home educate. It is an invaluable tool.

This e-book has tips on saving money on curriculum, lesson planning, grading options, defining course descriptions, helpful links, field trip ideas, and much, much more.
An added bonus to "Educate the Home Educator Crash Course" is the forms that go along with it. Angie has included forms for planning your year, curriculum planning, school schedules, and more. She has included printable grocery lists, report cards, unit study planning forms and even lapbooking templates!

What is my honest opinion of this eBook? i think it is one of the best resources for home educators that i have ever read. Seriously. It was hard to keep this review short, as this book has 331 pages of very helpful ideas, tips and links! Whether you are a seasoned home educator, or just considering home education, this is the resource you need.
Right now you can order it through Angie's website: http://www.hopehomeschoolconsulting.com
If you decide to buy a copy, i know you will be just as delighted to have it in your library as i am.


Blessings to you all!
Alycia
P.S. Make sure you sign up for Angie's free tips, emailed to your address every other week. You can sign up by visiting: http://www.hopehomeschoolconsulting.com/free_homeschool_tips.htm

OOPS, (an apology)

Dear friends,

i really must apologize to you. i have not been a good blogger. i have 3 reviews to finish and post. i want to tell you what i have been doing in my homeschool, and some changes we've made. i found some wonderful things on Pinterest to share with you too.
However, since my grandmother passed in September, i have been in a bit of a fog. There, i've said it.
So, really what this post is about is to apologize for not posting more. i have some great things to share with you, to include a review on "Educate the Home Educator Crash Course" by Angie McFarren. That review will be posted later tonight.

Please pray for me to be diligent in my blogging. i want so much to be a blessing to all other home educators.
Thank you.

Alycia

E-book Review: "Christ-centered Christmas"

Wow! That is the first word that comes to mind when i think about this book. Wow!
What a treasure trove inside "Christ-centered Christmas"! This book is chock full of wonderful ideas for keeping the true meaning of Christmas; Jesus, in focus. The ideas in this book include tips for celebrating Christmas eve, menus, shopping lists for Christmas baking, words to familiar Christmas carols, and recipes... lots of yummy recipes! There are also ideas about gift giving, caroling parties and even decorating your house for Christmas. It is full of many of the Young Family's favorite traditions. "Christ-centered Christmas" is truly a gift from their family to the readers.

This book was written by Hal and Melanie Young of "Raising Real Men".
This is how they describe themselves, as copied from their website: "Hal and Melanie Young have been involved with parenting, political commentary, writing and homeschooling from coast to coast, including California, Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina. They have eight children from 20 on down and have homeschooled them from the beginning. The Youngs live in North Carolina, learn everywhere, and believe true riches don’t involve money."

i love the last line. They believe that "true riches don't involve money". That kind of motto is hard to find nowadays. It is evident in "Christ-centered Christmas". The Youngs have wonderful family traditions that focus attention on Christ. This book is their way of sharing that with the reader.

"Christ-centered Christmas" has a chapter about the Christmas story, and the prophecies about Jesus' birth. This is much needed for me. Tonight, while watching an old Christmas program from my youth, i realized that although i know the names of all Santa's reindeer, i cannot name all of Jesus' disciples that easily. How much i want things to be different for my girls when they get older! This year, we will be memorizing prophetic scripture about Jesus' birth! (and the names of Jesus' disciples too!)

Hal and Melanie share about how their family celebrates Advent, Christmas and "Old Christmas", or the time between Christmas and Epiphany, or January 6th.
They provide menus and ideas for Christmas eve dinner, as well as Christmas day dinner. It is full of yummy recipes to go along with the menus, like "Granny's Fruit Cakes". These sound amazing, and nothing like the fruit cake we are used to seeing!
There is also a recipe for a delightful sounding Christmas tea that i cannot wait to try!
This book will bless your heart, and give you some wonderful ideas for creating new traditions with your own family. One of my favorite ideas is the ornament of the year idea. This is an ornament you buy that represents what God has done for you in the past year. Every year as you unpack the ornaments to decorate the tree, you can tell your children the story behind the ornament. What a godly heritage we are leaving for our children in reminding them of God's goodness through the years!

If given the chance to buy it, i highly recommend that you do it! i don't think you will be disappointed. Probably, you will say, "Wow!" just as i did when i first opened it.
You can buy it online at their website. Just visit: http://www.raisingrealmen.com/2011/12/announcing-christ-centered-christmas/

A special thank you to Hal and Melanie Young for the honor of receiving this book to review. It was a blessing!

~Alycia

Lapbook review!

If you look over there, on the right side of my blog, you will see a link to a wonderful lapbooking site called "A Journey Through Learning". ------------------->

In September, Baby and i were privileged to review a wonderful lapbook called "Todo Acerca de Mi (All About Me)". It was a lot of fun for both of us. As you probably figured out by the title, this lapbook is written in Spanish! Thankfully, there were English directions and translations throughout, as i am not fluent in Spanish.




The book is made up of three different folders. It covers a lot of basic information for the child to fill in, with help from the parents if needed.



The first folder asks the child about their name, address and name of parents and siblings. The second folder asks about themselves; things that they can do alone, like tie their shoes, snap, and button. It also talks about their favorite color, and gives a place to record their height and weight.
The third folder talks about their favorite things; foods, toys, books and best friend's name. It also has a part about what they can do in the kitchen. Can they chop things, stir, knead, or bake? There is also a maze that they can do and put into the lapbook.

Baby and i enjoyed doing this lapbook. It is perfect for little people. Although Baby is 6, she just learned English about a year ago, so the Spanish was a bit difficult for her to understand. She did learn her address and phone number from working through the lapbook. She will gladly tell you the city that she lives in too.
When her Daddy came home from work, the day we finished it, she was thrilled to show him what she had done. Now she enjoys looking at the book and uses it to "play school"! She is very proud of it, and loves to show it to everyone who comes to visit.

Thank you to "A Journey Through Learning" for this wonderful opportunity!

Definitely check out all that they have to offer, whether it is in English or Spanish.

Blessings,
Alycia

Gift Guide and Giveaways

Here is a link to the 2011 Homeschooler's Gift and Educational Resource Guide.
It is put out by Homeschool Enrichment Magazine. Really a great find!
Make sure to check it out!
http://homeschoolenrichment.com/goodies/GiftGuide/2011/

Don't forget to enter their giveaways while you are there!

Blessings,
Alycia

About Halloween, or why we don't celebrate it.

i am a Facebook fan. Did i tell you that? If not, well, there it is.
Problem is, Facebook, like most other internet entities really goes all out for Halloween. i just recently posted to my friends that i couldn't help them with getting Halloween items for their games, because it is against my religion. While i was making light of it, i was very serious. i do not celebrate Halloween. i used to, when my oldest, Lady was little and i mean little. i think the last time we did anything with Halloween, Lady, was 4.
People, especially my Christian friends who do not feel convicted about Halloween, get irritated at me. They must feel that i am trying to judge them about their participation in this "holiday". i'm not. i guess i am just trying to be clear on where i stand. i firmly believe that Christians have NO BUSINESS celebrating this day.
There is nothing about it that glorifies God in any way. In fact, you could say that it is Satan that is being glorified. Does that make you uncomfortable? i think it should. Jesus said that the light should not have anything to do with the darkness. Halloween celebrates darkness. Really.

Here is an article i found on a website about real witches and their beliefs.

"Samhain(pronounced Sow-in, Sah-vin, or Sahm-hayn), known most popularly as Halloween, marks the end of the third and final harvest, is a day to commune with and remember the dead, and is a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. Samhain (once again Halloween) is the most coveted sabbat by the Wiccan (and many Pagan) religions.

In the European traditions, Samhain is the night when the old god dies, and the Crone Goddess mourns him deeply for the next six weeks. The popular image of her as the old Halloween hag menacingly stirring her cauldron comes from the Celtic belief that all dead souls return to her cauldron of life, death, and rebirth to await reincarnation.

Halloween, plain and simple is our favorite time of year. A true time for witches, Witchcraft itself, and Wiccans alike who feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is it's least guarded and it's veil the thinnest. It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, it is a somber holiday, one of dark clothes and thoughts for the dead, it is said to be the time when those of necromantic talents can speak with the dead and it is certainly a time to remember ones own dead. Witches believe it is a time of endings of relationships and bad situations and it is the time when one can see the glimmer of hope in the future. There are as many concepts attached to this holiday as any other, truly a time of remembrance of our ancestors and all those who have gone before."

Time for those with necromantic talents to speak with the dead? Really? And this is okay how? Jesus said that the dead have no part of the living, or rather nothing to do with the living. Do you really think that necromancers speak with the dead? According to the Bible, they are actually speaking to demons, or fallen angels posing as the dead. Creepy, huh?!

One friend asked me what religion didn't allow pretending and eating candy. i don't think any religion is against eating candy or pretending. BUT, (and this is a big ol' but!) i do think that "trick or treating" and dressing up for Halloween is not a good thing for Christians to be doing. Why?
Here is a good answer gleaned from another website:

"Some trace the origins of present day "trick-or-treat" to Samhain, which was the supreme night of demonic jubilation. Spirits of the dead would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts. They began the tradition of placing plates of the finest food and bits of treats that the household had to offer on their doorsteps, as gifts, to appease the hunger of the ghostly wanderers. If not placated, villagers feared that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property."

The problem was... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else,human or not, nice or not-so-nice. The only thing the superstitious people knew to do to protect themselves on such an occasion was to masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, and hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. Wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot were originally ways of hiding oneself from the spirits of the dead who might be roaming around. This is the origin of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.

Others trace "trick-or-treat" to a European custom called "souling". Beggars would go from village to village begging for "soul cakes" made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers could guarantee a soul's passage to heaven.

In many parts of Britain and Ireland this night used to be known as 'Mischief Night', which meant that people were free to go around the village playing pranks and getting up to any kind of mischief without fear of being punished. Many of the different customs were taken to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the nineteenth century, and they developed into 'trick or treat'".

i never realized that as a kid, never even would have given any thought about it. Actually, it kind of bums me out that i know about it now. Of course the Bible has an answer for that too: " ... Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act ..." ~Proverbs 24:12 (thank you to my friend Tanya, who doesn't know that i spent an entire day looking for that verse before finding it on her blog!) So that means that now that i know the truth, i cannot act as if i don't. i am not a great Christian by any means, but, if i know that something is glorifying the enemy of our souls, i don't want to participate. Someone used to say, "If the devil was throwing a party, would you go?" Nope. i wouldn't.

So, those are just a couple of the reasons that we don't celebrate Halloween. It is dressed up to look like harmless fun. It isn't, and now you know.

Blessings to you for a wonderful November!
Alycia

A New Review!

I was recently blessed with the chance to do a review of one of Diane Flynn Keith's newest resources, "The Homeschool Therapist Audio Course and Resource Guide" In each of the 10 sessions, Diane speaks with licensed marriage and family counselor, Michelle Barone. Michelle is known as the "Homeschool Therapist" and has been working with children and families since 1978.
Here is an overview of the session titles.

Session 1 is called "Understanding the Ages & Stages of Childhood Development and How They Impact Homeschool Success"

Session 2 is called "Getting the Kids to Co-Operate Without Yelling, Nagging, or Tears"

Session 3: "How To Get the Support You Need From Spouse, Family & Friends"

Session 4: "How To Juggle Homeschooling Kids of Multiple Ages"

Session 5: "Homeschooling Teens: Transitions, Socialization, & The Empty Nest"

Session 6 is about "Working and Homeschooling for Couples or Singles"

Session 7: "Homeschool Support Group Dynamics - How To Find A Good Fit"

Session 8, "Homeschooling Through Crisis"

Session 9: "How to Prevent and/or Recover From Homeschool Burn Out"

Session 10: "Homeschooling Non-Traditional Families"


Since i was allowed to choose one, i chose Session 8, "Homeschooling Through Crisis"
This session is about what happens when your normal homeschooling routine becomes anything but normal.

Here is my review:


Michelle Barone, licensed marriage and family therapist, gives insights and helpful hints in this discussion. Some of the problems she discusses include: divorce, financial crisis, natural disasters and health crises.
The main point that I took away from this discussion is that keeping the kids in their regular routine, if possible, is the best thing for them. It helps lend a sense of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal situation. This is especially important if you have always schooled them at home.
Another great tip from Michelle was to make a plan of action for "just in case". We never know what will come our way, but, having a plan can ease some of the stress when crisis happens. What will be the plan in case of an illness? Divorce? Loss of a job? While we pray that none of these things happens, it is good to have a plan for the unexpected.
Whatever does happen, it is important to validate your children's feelings and reaffirm that they are safe, despite circumstances. This is especially important during the event of a natural disaster, or financial downturn.
Michelle also reminds us to turn to our support network when crisis occurs. Friends, family, church, and the local homeschool group are usually willing and able to help out. We need to remember that when we are in crisis as a family, everyone struggles. If we, as parents, are mindful of our words and actions we can help ease our children's anxiety.
We also need to consider that in crisis, keeping the family together provides safety and structure that children need.
Michelle Barone's discussion left me feeling like I had a handle on how to care for my children in crisis. She also gave me tips for making a plan for the unexpected. I think all homeschooling parents will benefit from listening to this audio program.

If you would like more information about how to purchase this set for your homeschool group or yourself, please check them out at:
http://www.homefires.com/courses/therapist.asp

If you would like more information on Michelle Barone, please take a look at her website: http://michellebarone.net/

Blessings,
Alycia

My grandma

Doris Lucille Gay went to be with the Lord on 19, September 2011. That is the main reason that i have not been blogging lately. The little bugs and i just got back from driving to and from California for "Gram's" funeral. i found out that it is 2,000 miles from my front door to my sister's. With the Lord's help, i made it in 3 days.

Gram was a wonderful woman. She had a hard life, but, she was an over-comer. She was so funny and bright; a joy to be around. She snorted when she got to laughing really hard. That is one of the things that i inherited from her. She collected shot glasses, she hated washing dishes, she loved reading and she played the piano by ear. Her favorites were the tunes from the Big Band Era, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and the like. She and Gramps had a song of their own, "Sentimental Journey" by Les Brown and his orchestra. For Christmas every year, she would play "Silver Bells" for me. It is my favorite secular Christmas tune. i think i liked it best because she would play it just for me. :) When she would mess up while playing, she would get so frustrated with herself! She and my grandfather were married just 20 days shy of 60 years. Gramps passed away on December 3, 2005. Their anniversary would have been the 23rd.

When Gram was 18, she married my Grandpa. They had a baby boy the following year. Dennis Allen Gay was his name. He died of cancer the following year, right before my mom was born. Neither of them ever got over it. Gram said that if my mom hadn't been born right after losing Denny, she thinks she would have died. The picture above is the 3 of them when Denny was about 9 months old.

When Gram was 21, she was horribly burned in a gas stove accident. My mom was three at the time, and remembers it to this day. Gram had been cooking over the gas stove, she was wearing one of Gramp's flannel shirts as a jacket. When she reached up to get a spice over the stove, the shirt caught on fire. She had third degree burns up her side, under her arm and down her back. Thankfully a neighbor heard her screams and came to help. Gram was in the hospital for almost a year.

My Grandpa was an alcoholic. He could be mean when he had been drinking. Thankfully, he gave that up when i was still a kid. He was hard to live with when he was young, and wasn't a Christian. He blamed God for Denny's death. Gram was a Christian, albeit a timid one, and she clung to her faith throughout those trying years.

They moved around a lot. Sometimes the places were wonderful, like Lake Tahoe. Sometimes, they were awful, like Blythe, California, where Gramps worked for the Border Inspection station. They met in Redlands, and were married at the Astesticia, an old Spanish mission in town. They ended up have 2 other daughters, each 5 years apart.
There is so much more i could say about my Gram, but, you still wouldn't understand what an amazing woman she was. She went into the hospital in early February, for double pneumonia, and never recovered. i miss her a lot. It blesses me immensely to know that they are ALL in heaven together now. Gram, Gramps, (who became a Christian 3 months before he died) and their baby Denny; together again, forever. i can hardly wait to see them again!

Thanks for reading!
Alycia