A Vessel For The Potter

The Written Word: Review of Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:15:00 +0000

In 2011, I've made a resolution to read more, and specifically to read books that will enrich my walk with the Lord. I recently read about *Multnomah's Blogging For Books program and decided that joining would be a great way to accomplish that.

The first book I signed up to review was Under The Overpass by Mike Yankoski.

I'm not even sure if I could use one word to describe this book if I tried. There were so many emotions it brought about as I read it. I felt convicted, ashamed, regretful, enlightened and hopeful. How many times had I drove past a person holding a sign next to a freeway off ramp pretending not to see them because I was uncomfortable or did not have any cash to hand to them? How many times had I felt that the problem of homelessness was just too big and too complicated to navigate in order to know if my charity truly made a difference or went to supporting an addiction? Not to mention, Had I ever stopped and viewed that homeless person towing a bike trailer full of empty soda cans as reflecting God's image?

While Mike's unique account of leaving his Christian college to voluntarily experience five months of living on the streets is convicting for the majority of the church it is also very hopeful. His account is unabashedly honest, recounting both the times when Christians passed him and his traveling companion, Sam, by and when they extended the love of Christ. He also gives insights into the problems of addiction and mental illness that cripple a large majority of the homeless population and how extending the even the simplest of things such as conversation, a meal or your time volunteering at your local shelter can be a bright spot in their long journey towards becoming functional members of society.

Some very specific things that I took away from reading this book were:

The homeless are made in God's image and are "the least of these". As Christians, ignoring someone who is right in front of you and obviously in need is ignoring 1 John 3:16-18.
You can give of the bounty that God has blessed you with and still be confident you are not supporting an addiction by offering to buy the homeless a meal or distributing gift cards. Basic necessities such as toilet paper, water, shoes, jackets, etc. can really help too.
If given the opportunity to share the gospel message with a homeless person, you should keep in mind that this person is at a critically low point in their lives and they know that they are broken and in need of fixing. Your message should reflect the hope that is in Jesus Christ.
Spending time actually volunteering in a homeless shelter in addition to giving money is critical to the men and women doing the hard work of recovery. The joy that you can bring in interacting with them can be a great encouragement to them as they are constantly surrounded by the very environment they are hoping to leave one day.

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book. It has definitely transformed my thinking on the issue of homelessness.

If you are interested in previewing the book, Multnomah has generously posted the first chapter of the book for free here.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Truth In Advertising: Are You Ready For Some Football?

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:49:00 +0000

In anticipation for the Super Bowl this ad/ coupon insert was placed in last Sunday's LA Times. The headline reads, "Thanks to my lineup, I can enjoy the big game." This ad is simultaneously funny and disheartening.

We're encouraged to prepare for the effects of indigestion. The ad acknowledges that our food choices are so poor, during football season in particular, that they inevitably lead to heartburn, gas, diarrhea and hemorrhoids. We're not encouraged to change our diet or perhaps get off the couch.

In fact we're told to "stock up and save" on the products which will temporarily patch up the problems caused by eating hot wings, chili, soda, beer, chips and 7 layer dip served in football shaped bowls, consumed while sitting on the couch watching a game where people other than ourselves are physically exerting themselves.

And if you follow the neat, color coded chart which leads us through the stages of digestion, or indigestion in this case.... you may be led to believe that the "big game" actually takes place in your bathroom and not amongst enthusiastic football fans. That's my husband's take on this ad anyway. Perhaps they forgot to run it by a focus group?

Truth In Advertising: Sugar Coated

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:55:00 +0000

(Click to enlarge)

With a degree in marketing I often find ads fascinating. Their appeals usually play to one of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem and Self Actualization). I'm a huge believer in knowing these basic appeals that advertisers use in order to be able to analyze messages they present critically. Most people today are either numb to all the advertising messages we receive daily or they are highly suspicious, believing advertising to be deceitful. I rarely find the advertisements to be deceitful. I think that our distrust of advertising stems from the shame we feel once we realize our frail ability to resist their offers of love, belonging, and self actualization.

In the case of the above ad however, I do find the message to be deceitful. Paid for by the Corn Refiners Association, the ad tries to combat recent studies which show High Fructose Corn Syrup to be bad for your health and possibly linked to obesity. The ad promises that HFCS is nutritionally equal to sugar and containing the same number of calories. The misleading aspect to this ad is that HFCS may be enjoyed in moderation without much effort. The humorous appeal of a dry cleaner being as knowledgeable about nutritional values as a registered dietitian is about as poignant as the terms, "High Fructose Corn Syrup" and "moderation" being used in the same sentence- they're a non-sequitor.

A quick survey of even a moderately health conscience, consumer's cupboard will reveal many items containing HFCS. Here's a quick list of everyday items that contain HFCS which may surprise you:

grape jelly
wheat crackers
ketchup
some brands of whole wheat bread
some brands of granola cereal

Don't let this ad fool you. It would be much harder to follow a diet moderate in HFCS intake, than to see the bias in this ad.

Faith Friendly Films: Young At Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:30:00 +0000

Summary: This heart warming documentary follows seniors who travel around the US performing songs, most of which are not from their generation. It highlights the difficulties of their daily lives, their fascinating pasts and how audiences respond to their performances. The film also discusses the evolution of the group and the director's take on his tough love approach with the seniors.

Rating: PG

Best part of the movie: In one of the final scenes the group performs Coldplay's "Fix You" in honor of a recently passed member.

Worst part of the movie: Aside from 2 profanities, there was hardly anything I wouldn't recommend. One senior even shares his faith as the documentarians ask him about his health condition and his prognosis.

This Is How We Do It: Used Baby & Kid Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:05:00 +0000

One way, among many, that allow us continue to live on one income so that I can stay at home, is by purchasing used baby and kid stuff. Some may turn their noses up at this but when you consider how quickly kids outgrow clothing or need certain types of gear you are sure to realize that paying full price for most things is just foolish.

Freebies 4 Mom has just posted this great offer from Freepeats.org. They are currently offering free membership in the month of September. Freepeats.org allows you to post and browse posts of people in your local area who are giving away gently used baby and kid items. No money is exchanged and it it not swapping. It's just good, old fashioned FREE stuff.

I must admit that I've never used this site before but now that the membership is free, I will definitely be registering and trying it out.

Pretty Nifty: Play Wallet From A Juice Carton

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:52:00 +0000

I think this would be the cutest project to make with a child learning about money. This little wallet could hold play money and coins and can also assist with fine motor skill development. You can be sure your children will love opening and closing the wallet due to it's familiar looking cap "button".

via How About Orange?

This Is How We Do It: I've Become A Krazy Coupon Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:22:00 +0000

I have to admit that I pride myself on stretching our family budget pretty far. When I first became a stay-at-home-mom it was primarily out of necessity but over the last few years it's become somewhat of a sick pleasure. I get giddy when I score toddler clothes for under $3 a piece at Target on clearance, enjoy making a spreadsheet for the hubby showing him the best cell phone packages we can buy and routinely purchase generic products so I don't have to worry about sale prices and clipping coupons.

Imagine my astonishment when recently a friend showed me a sweet stockpile of groceries and household goods that she bought for pennies or got for free. Free? I was skeptical for about all of 2 minutes until she finished explaining how she does it. It has revolutionized the way I shop. It has given me a way to squeeze even more out of our budget and couldn't have come at a better time as we prepare for the arrival of baby #2 and my husband nears finishing a master's program- both of which will mean new expenses.

Since she so generously shared her secret with me I'd like to also pass along the info. Are you curious yet?

Start reading about it all here:
10 Days To Becoming A Krazy Coupon Lady

And then check out these websites:
Money Saving Mom
Stretching A Buck
Freebies For Mom
Cha-Ching On A Shoe String
Utah Deal Diva
Common Sense With Money
Organic Deals

Pinching Your Pennies

The first time you come home with free stuff you'll be hooked.
I promise!

UPDATE: My friend has just published her own website with all the best of these great websites and has incorporated frugal living among the many ways she discusses becoming more like the Proverbs 31 woman. If you have some time, please go check it out!

Pretty Nifty: Modesty Check

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:33:00 +0000

This is a great resource for those with young ladies or anyone who ministers to young ladies. This practical checklist gives ladies concrete examples of things to check for as they dress to leave the house. So simple, yet so needed.

via Girl Talk

Imaginary Travels: The Museum of Counterfeiting in Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:30:00 +0000

After reading an article in the LA Times recently, I decided if I ever travel to Paris that I'd love to visit the Museum of Counterfeiting. It sounds like such a fascinating place with displays which pair the real and the counterfeit side by side. Read more about it here.

Pretty Nifty: Picnik

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:47:00 +0000

I've often wondered how some ladies have the most beautiful, artsy photography on their blogs. Do they own super expensive cameras? Are they Photoshop prodigies?

One day a fellow blogger let me in on her secret. It was a free site called Picnik.

A few minutes of browsing the site and I was hooked. Highly stylized photos in minutes- for free? I'm in.

Here's a before and after from my own photo library just to convince you that you need to try this out:

BEFORE

AFTER

Faith Friendly Films: Bella

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:36:00 +0000

Summary: A waitress and a cook, who have both fallen on hard times, spend the day together and forever become connected through the life of a child.

Rating: PG-13

Best and worst part of the movie: When actress Tammy Blanchard dismisses the idea of adoption, by saying that she could never give up a child after carrying it to full term, which simultaneously shows her humanity in recognizing that she'd give birth to an innocent child and exposes the selfish reasoning of those who prefer abortion over adoption.

Faith Friendly Films: Henry Poole Is Here

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Summary: A dark comedy about how a man, who is foolishly wasting his last days on earth, wrestles with the existence of miracles and faith.

Rating: PG

Worst part of the movie: Radha Mitchell's "thin" wardrobe left me feeling that she should cover up more.

Best part of the movie: Luke Wilson's conversations with his devout Roman Catholic neighbor about faith and miracles.

So You Think You Can't Homeschool?: Mead Writing Fundamentals

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:19:00 +0000

While at Wal-Mart the other day I came across these workbooks from Mead. There are 4 different levels beginning with Pre K appropriate activities which develop fine motor control related to writing. They were extremely affordable and some were in published in such a format that you could photocopy practice pages and the workbook could be shared among multiple children. If you can't find them at your local Wal-Mart, the company also sells them through their site here.

So You Think You Can't Homeschool ?: Music Education

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Music is one of the earliest subjects that a family may introduce to their children because it doesn't require the ability to read. Here are some resources that I've come across, as I look for ways to introduce music to my 2 year old.

This book is something I'm really excited about. It comes with a CD which allows you to play tracks demonstrating the different sounds the instruments make as well as portions of the orchestra performing as a whole. The photographs of the instruments are large and clear and there are different informational boxes scattered throughout the book.

Also, this week as I was reading Joy's blog she linked to this site, called Classics For Kids. Wow! What a great site. They feature different composers, give lesson plans, and also produce a podcast weekly.

If you're in need of visuals or you're on a tight budget, there are these posters from Trend Enterprises. They're only $1.99!

And maybe you need something completely free? You Tube is a great place to find videos of symphony and orchestra performances from around the globe. You can even watch youth perform :)

*Consequently, if you're wondering what the difference between a symphony and an orchestra are, click here. I just learned this for myself today :)

Pretty Nifty: Spell With Flickr

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:29:00 +0000

There's a clever program online, that allows you to spell a name using Flickr photos.

Check it out here.

Critical Analysis: Something To Swoon Over?

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:09:00 +0000

I'll admit I've had conflicting feelings over the popular book series by Stephanie Myer which include Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. On one hand it's been applauded by conservatives for it's message of restraint and the lack of sexual activity between the lead characters, Edward and Bella. In today's teen lit market this is rare and exceptional. (Although one is not surprised that this would be the case when considering that Myer is a Mormon.)

On the other hand, although I have not personally read the books myself, after reading excerpts and summaries of the series and speaking with young women who have read them, I have become increasingly concerned about the message that it sends to these young women about love. (I say women, because the vast majority of the readership is women.)

In my opinion the book has very problematic recurring themes which undermine an understanding of biblical love -which, for the Christian woman, should be upheld as something to watch, pray and wait for. These themes can be found in the Romeo & Juliet archetype which Myer so blatantly styles Edward and Bella after.

1. A match which is based on lust rather than a deep friendship, shared values and common life goals. In the first installment we find that Bella, a human, is attracted to Edward, a vampire, because of his brooding good looks and he is attracted to her based on the scent of her blood. Their match puts their families in jeopardy and causes conflict among their friends but neither care. Their match is also very unlikely to be successful as Edward will live forever and Bella will not. After many cyclical shows of selfless restraint, indulgent declarations of love then follow. The two decide ultimately to continue seeing each other. The parallels to Romeo and Juliet are not hard to identify here.

2. Promotion of unhealthy obsessions which is exemplified by a focus on extreme, irrational emotions and risk taking behaviors. There are many examples one can choose from but some of the more disturbing examples are :

Edward's sneaking into Bella's room at night to watch her sleep.
Bella's bout of minor depression for a few month's after Edward's departure.
Bella being so infatuated with Edward that even after his disclosing that he "has killed people" she replies with a concerning "I don't care."
In Edward's absence Bella discovers that risk taking behaviors such as jumping off of a cliff or racing motorcycles will cause her to hear Edward's voice warning her against such behaviors. This only further fuels her desire to continue these activities.

The Spark Notes on Romeo & Juliet sums up nicely the ink well from which Myer's pen draws, "Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare has held up the possibility of suicide as an inherent aspect of intense love. Passion cannot be stifled, and when combined with the vigor of youth, it expresses itself through the most convenient outlet. Romeo and Juliet long to live for love or die for it. Shakespeare considers this suicidal impulse not as something separate from love, but rather as an element as much a part of it as the romantic euphoria of Act II."

Honestly, if I had a daughter or sister involved in a relationship which exhibited these behaviors I would plead with her to seek counseling.

3. A false dilemma is presented to Bella in her choice between Edward and Jacob. In Romeo & Juliet, Juliet is forced to choose between marrying someone whom her parents approve of but does not love and someone whom she loves but comes from a family with whom hers is feuding. Bella also has two choices; Edward, a vampire with whom she has chemistry with or Jacob, a werewolf with whom she enjoys friendship with. No alternatives of nice, good looking, non-violent, human guys are presented. In real life women have the choice to marry a nice guy if they are wise enough to look for them. (And yes, they do exist. I know some. I swear! Anyone interested in an introduction?)

I do understand that this is a work of fiction and that some literary devices must be used to create tension and drive a plot forward, especially in a series. Obviously, the sales of the book and opening of the movie would not be as successful as they were without this. The success of the books however, show just how many young women are hungry to be fed the "love conquers all," "bad boys are more fun", and "being 'emo' is cool" messages that may ultimately form their attitudes towards dating and marriage. To me this seems like a recipe for a rise in divorce. And if you don't believe me, check out a recent study which pointed to watching chick flicks as shaping women's expectations about relationships.

And for the unmarried, Christian woman who does have biblical examples of love to look to, I fear that this may distract her from that. Unfortunately, because we are sinful creatures even married women are not immune to this. I have seen a blinky recently on a professing Christian's blog which read, "I love my husband but Edward can bite my neck anytime." Sad.

For anyone looking to read a series about a friendship which turns into a successful and life long marriage, I would recommend the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.

Sources: World Magazine, Stephanie Myer Official Site, Spark Notes

Encouragement For The SAHM

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:56:00 +0000

I've recently come across some very encouraging posts for stay-at-home moms. I'm personally bookmarking these for the days when my calling in life might seem insignificant, too hard for a mere mortal (aka "a sinner"), or just plain unpopular.

Making Home: Combating the "You Should Get Out of The House More" Mentality

Conversion Diary: Motherhood- God Doesn't Call The Equipped, He Equips The Called

Pursuing Titus 2: Why Modern Motherhood Is So Much Harder Than It Ought To Be*

Amy's Humble Musings: Life With 3 Under 3 Series*

Conversion Diary: Tips for surviving (and thriving!) in the baby/toddler phase

Vision Forum: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Motherhood in America

Stay-at-Home Missionary: Mothering and Ministry

*Thanks Tami!

Mrs. Green Cents: Jars, A Hidden Treasure

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:26:00 +0000

I'm of Italian descent and I really love trying out new pasta sauces. I hardly ever have time to make my grandma's labor intensive spaghetti and meatball recipe so I often rely on store bought versions which taste almost as good. Due to my impatience for grandma's sauce, I have collected a small army of glass jars in which the "cheat" sauces come. Some brands of spaghetti sauce use actual Mason or Ball jars. They can vary in the amount of ounces they hold but almost always have a 2 3/8" in diameter mouth to a 3" diameter mouth (which are considered "regular" and "wide" sizes respectively, in the canning community).

Photos from Martha Stewart.com

There are so many ways these jars
can be re-purposed around the home.

Food & Beverage

I recently purchased some re-usable plastic lids to fit the tops of these jars for food storage. At about $8 for a set of 8, you get long lasting food storage at disposable container prices. You can store all kinds of food in jars- nuts, popcorn kernels, home made salsa, leftover servings of smoothies, drink mix packets, sweetener packets, and bulk dried fruits.
You can also use them for very generous glasses. Root beer floats serve very well in mason jars. Their height accommodates a spoon or a straw.
Want to monitor your child's snack intake during family movie night? Serve popcorn or candies in a jar. Let them know it's all they'll get for the night. You'll be amazed at how conservative their snacking will become.

Supplies

If you keep the lids which the jars came with or even purchase new metal lids, you can then screw the lids to the underside of shelving to create an organized and easily viewable storage system for nuts, bolts, screws and general hardware. I'd also love to see this concept put to use for office supplies like paperclips, push pins, staples, rubber bands and business cards mounted under a wall mounted shelf. Ikea hack anyone?
Craft supplies such as buttons, ribbon, spools of thread, stickers, stamp sets and beads make ideal candidates for jar storage. They can create colorful displays on shelves or be organized within drawers.
Jars without lids can also serve as great storage for tall implements such as pencils, pens, rulers, scissors and paint brushes.
Toiletry items such as q-tips, cotton balls, makeup sponges as well as brushes can be stored in glass jars on your bathroom counter or within your medicine cabinet.
One site I surveyed suggested using jars as waterproof storage for camping items such as matches or candles.

Kids Crafts

There is a wealth of ideas online for kids crafts which use jars: coin sorting banks, jar-o-lanterns and vacation memory jars are just the beginning.

Gifts

This sewing kit made from a jar would be a sweet gift for co-workers, or bridesmaids.
A layette set and booties rolled up and then placed in a jar with a coordinating receiving blanket covering the mouth would be a sweet way to welcome a new baby.
A simple arrangement of flowers placed in a jar with coordinating ribbons tied around the mouth would be sure to brighten any lady's day.

Decor

I can't wait to try this lighting idea for the patio umbrella. What a clever use of jars!
This citronella substitute will surely save money next time you're throwing a BBQ or camping out.
Collect shells, buttons, or coins to display in a jar on your mantle or bookshelf.
Place a jar of floating votives on the table at your next romantic dinner to set the mood.

I'd love to hear any other uses you might have for jars.

For fun, you can click here to read a short history of the Mason jar.

Monitoring Our Influences As Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:27:00 +0000

Lately, I've been trying to prayerfully and diligently remove any unbiblical influences in regards to my parenting philosophy from my life. This exercise has made such a difference in my attitude toward my son and the ongoing task of discipline (he's two). I had come to a point where my current ways of disciplining were obviously ineffective and I felt like such a failure as a parent. My son's strong new will and my lack of energy and consistency to mold it, was making me question if I was ever going to be up for the job of parenting more than one child.

Shortly after mentioning my struggles I was encouraged by two dear friends to begin reading "Shepherding A Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp. This book, as Jess from Making Home recently pointed out, is not a book full of co-opted, worldly psycho babble with cutesy anecdotes and strategies on how to compromise your standards which seem to pervade the advice given to parents these days.

I'm only a few chapters in but I can honestly say that what I've read so far, has transformed my disciplining efforts. I highly recommend this book to any Christian parent whether your child is an infant or a teen. One of the best chapters for me has been the one dealing with various styles of discipline and their motivations. It has made me more aware of the influences I have fallen prey to and whether or not they are biblically based.

In that vein, Can I just say how disappointed I am in the last issue of Parenting magazine? The November 2008 issue is chocked full of very unbiblical advice and attitudes towards the traditional roles of men and women and God's design for the family.

Pg. 29- Criticizes Donal Trump for not allowing babies in the boardroom. He stands accused of not being much of a mutli-tasker although he expresses a love for babies.

Pg. 30- Baby Crazies is defined as "The overwhelming urge, just as soon as you've celebrated changing your last diaper, to get pregnant all over again." Their advice: "Seek Help!"

Pg. 75- Mom's Not So Secret Hideouts as solicited from the Parenting Magazine readership: "I go to the bedroom and lock the door behind me. It's not my son I need a break from- it's my husband!"

Pg. 75- Really Good Vibrations, a plug for cleverly disguised vibrators which resemble a lipstick tube or a nail polish bottle. The writer, Stephanie Galluzzo promises that "They work just as hard as the big guys." My question- Why does a woman in a loving , committed relationship need a vibrator?

Pg. 82- 12 Rules of Parenting outlines why you can break 12 common parenting rules and why it's actually good to do so. The most disturbing: Stick To Your Guns. The author gives and example of how a reader, who allowed her son to play with Nerf footballs indoors during bad weather, was not breaking her "no ball in the house" rule. She explains that "Compromising is also cooperating- a very nice thing to be teaching."

Pg. 131- Listen Up Washington gives a list of demands to the future American president on behalf of the editors of Parenting. Just one of the politically biased points of contention- investment in early childhood education. The editors state definitively that comprehensive early education benefits last into adulthood, a myth that has been debunked time and again. (See the 1969 Westing House Learning Corporation study, 1995 Does Head Start Make A Difference?, American Economic Review, Issue 85, page 341-364 in particular for evidence that benefits do not seem to last past the lower grades.) My question- Why do the editors assume that spending more money on early education will fix the problems created by uninvolved parents?

Lord, help us to filter these influences through the light of your word and factual analysis in order to guard ourselves from adopting these unbiblical attitudes and ideas.

Regular Post Topics

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:00:00 +0000

You'll notice a new icon in the sidebar to the left. I figure I'm more likely to blog on things I'm most passionate about, so why not organize my thoughts on these things all in one place. You can click on each hyperlink to see a post archive of these topics.

So You Think You Can't Homeschool?- A running list of resources and ideas to encourage those who are interested in homeschooling.

Mrs. Green Cents- When going green equals saving your green too.

This Is How We Do It- The ways we live off of one income.

Faith Friendly Films- Movie reviews

Pretty Nifty- Fun things from around the web.

Encouragement for SAHM's- Great posts to read on tough days.

The Written Word- Reviews of books relevant to the Christian walk.

So You Think You Can't Homeschool ? : Nature Friend Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Nature Friend magazine helps children to appreciate God's handiwork in nature. A wonderful supplement to any homeschooling science curriculum for only $34.00 per year. The price is very affordable for families with multiple kids when you consider that it may be adapted for all ages as a science supplement.

It features (from the website):

Pictures and Poems - Drawings and writings submitted from the readership.
You Can Draw - Each issue has a drawing lesson using some aspect of nature as well as children's drawings from a previous lesson.
Invisibles - A drawing with numerous objects hidden within the drawing
Stories - Character-building, Creator-honoring. Any artwork illustrations are realistic rather than comic drawings.
Puzzles - May be submitted by readers
Scavenger Hunt - We hide two related objects hidden anywhere within the magazine. Inside the front cover you will see what the objects are, however they can be any size or color where they are hidden.
Learning by Doing - An article with an activity to reinforce or observe what is being discussed in the article.
Creation Close-ups - Photos taken by readers of things in nature that they have found.
"Month" Nature Trails - We encourage you to share with us, things you enjoy doing and the month they occur. Together we can learn what may be happening in our communities that we can likewise enjoy, or perhaps learn what others are enjoying in another part of the world at that particular season of the year.
Caption This - Approximately every-other-month we feature a photograph we expect to use on the back cover of an upcoming issue. We invite you to submit your caption of words that you think fits the photograph. We will use one or several of the captions when we feature the photo on the back cover.

Don't Judge A Mag By It's Cover (But Do Note The Response)

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:33:00 +0000

Two very different women made news this week by being photographed "a la' naturale". One, Sarah Palin, was on the cover of Newsweek un-retouched and the other, Angelina Jolie, on the cover of W magazine shown breastfeeding. I can't imagine two women more seemingly different yet also having so much in common at the same time. The response to both magazine covers was equally conflicting. My first thoughts were that the strong reactions were telling of what our society deemed to be the feminine ideal. But upon further reflection I realized it might reveal something deeper. A classic isssue. An issue as old as time. It had nothing to do with politics or celebrity. It had specifically to do with a heart issue -the need for a Redeemer.

Let me share my thought process a little. I tried to imagine the basic politically correct/ socially acceptable rules that these covers were violating. If they could be summarized they'd be:

1. (In the case of the Newsweek cover where Mrs. Palin's photo appeared untouched) Imperfection and aging are not allowed and if it exists... by all means hide it! If this were allowed it would highlight the fact that we are living in a fallen world. A fallen world is due to sin and sin requires a judgment.

2. (In the case of the W cover where Ms. Jolie appeared breastfeeding) Gender defined roles are not allowed. Gender is a social construct. Allowing this to be shown would highlight the fact that men and women were created differently and for a purpose. Which would in turn point to the fact that there is a Creator who created them that way.

Personally, I think both women looked beautiful, confident in their own skin and enjoying their God given femininity (Ms. Jolie's interview comments of late even indicate this). Even though the media response was completely uncalled for on a superficial level, it does deserve our attention in the sense that it shows a current and pressing need for the gospel message.

So You Think You Can't Homeschool ?: Computer Cool School by Fisher Price

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:20:00 +0000

This product would be a wonderful supplement to any homeschooling curriculum Pre-K to K. Just another example of the many products available which could support parents in their efforts to educate their children at home.

Learn more about it here.

****Updated to add: Target is offering $10 off Computer Cool School with coupon code TGHDYC39 for a retail price of $44.99. Coupon code good until 11/26/08. ****

A Very Good Question

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:26:00 +0000

Get your shirt here.