Encouraging Moms Who Homeschool

The Days Are Long, The Years Are Short

2013-06-10T06:44:00.003-07:00

It's not a new saying ~ you've heard it many times. "The days are long, but the years are short." The older I become, the more I realize the truth of those words. It really is as if we blink, and everything has changed.

Each season of life is just that ~ a season. Temporary by definition; and while summer comes again each year, no two summers are exactly alike. In the same way, no two homeschool years are identical. We may feel as if we are doing the same things over and over, day after day, but in reality each year is different from previous years.

We can attempt to avoid the tyranny of the urgent, plan to make the most of each day, and keep our calendars from filling up with activities. Those are all great, and they really do work to some degree. But the only real and lasting way to enjoy the time we're given today is to follow God's counsel in Galatians 5:16 - "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Don't hit the ground running each morning; rather, hit the floor on your knees and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you all throughout the day. This is the only sure-fire method I've found that allows me to look back over my day without regret. It's a sweet thing to say, "Lord, this day I did things Your way." And what more could I really want out of life than to accomplish His will on a continual, daily basis?

So remember that these years are fleeting, and they really are short even when so many days feel drag on so L-O-N-G. Ask the Lord to govern your time and order your steps each day, stay in communion with Him all day long, and expect Him to speak to you because you have a heart that is listening for Him. He'll meet you where you are and bless you with days that are long and yet filled with memories that will make those short years anything but bittersweet.

One day, when your children are grown and your days of homeschooling have come to a close, may you say along with the psalmist, "I will praise God's name in song, and glorify Him with thanksgiving." (Ps. 69:30). Doesn't that sound a whole lot better than looking back with regret as to how quickly the time went by? It sounds pretty good to me!

Lord bless you today as you seek to live this long day being led by His Spirit.

Day 268 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

Could I Ask for Your Help?

2013-05-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

It's a rarity for me to blog about things like this...but in this unique situation, I'm going to go ahead and throw up a post about something I could use some help with!

My husband & I lead our church's youth group, and we have a terrific group of young people! Every other year the youth take a mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico. We have a sister church there, and it is a neat experience to work with them on a continuing basis. This summer from June 20-June 30, 26 people from our church (both students & adults) will make the trip to Mexico.

However, expenses are high (such as gas being about $5/gallon in California!) and we still have a ways to go in order to meet our financial commitment.

Would you mind praying for our youth group, and for the fundraisers we are currently involved in?

The first one is a garage sale this weekend. Please pray that the kids do well & earn money toward this trip.

The second one is a Chik-fil-A goodie bag that we are going to raffle off. Each entry is $5 - and the goodie bag has a t-shirt, cap, coffee mug, etc PLUS over $100 in FREE food gift certificates! Please pray that we do well with that fundraiser as well!

The third one is a youth auction - we give people the opportunity to "bid" on students talents. They can do all sorts of things, from changing the oil in your car to taking photographs. Would you pray this fundraiser is a blessing for the youth and for those who are placing bids?

And the final fundraiser is a new one for us. We are giving the online site GoFundMe a try! I just set up 2 accounts (for 2 of my daughters - I thought I'd use my kids as guinea pigs first, haha!) and I'm kind of curious to see how this works out for them! Check out my daughter Savanna's donation page here. And you can see my daughter Avery's GoFundMe pin on Pinterest here.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I am selling my entire set of Systemath (pre-algebra thru advanced algebra, grade 6-9) to help my 5 kids take this trip to Mexico. I'm asking $200 for the entire set, or $50/year. To see what all you get, visit www.Systemath.com. Feel free to ask me questions about the program :)

Thanks for the prayer support - I really do appreciate it!! I'll post an update in June on how our fundraising turned out :)

Day 267 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

These Are the Day of Elijah ~ by R.T. Kendall

2013-05-28T11:44:00.003-07:00

When I was given the opportunity to review the book These Are the Days of Elijah by R.T. Kendall, I was thinking this book would be primarily about prayer. Based on James 5:17-18 ⁽Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years) I just thought I could grow in my prayer life by reading this book. And I was right, but I was also wrong. These Are the Days of Elijah is a book chock-full of so much wisdom and insight, and gave me pause so often while reading it, that I must say I am very glad it isn't a book simply about prayer.

R.T. Kendall's work is a study of the life of Elijah, and many of his insights, as well as their application to our daily walk with the Lord, are profound. I really would love to throw a bunch of quotes your way, straight out of the book, but more than that I would really, really love for you to read this book! It's one that I know I will read again and again, and I'm expecting to learn new things about myself and my God each time I re-read it.

As a woman whose blog is aimed primarily at homeschooling mothers, I can say that this book is one that should be in the homeschoolers personal library. Facing fears about your ability to teach your children? Elijah's fears, and God's dealing with said fears, will encourage you. Nervous that God may not answer your prayers? Elijah's life provides us with ample proof that God does indeed answer prayer. Feel all alone, as if you're the only one going through whatever it is you're going through? Well, Elijah certainly felt that way and God gently corrected him and set him back on His course. Every battle depression or exhaustion? So did Elijah. It's a book for all Christians, but it's a book I highly recommend for homeschooling mothers.

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5...or maybe even a 6!!

Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from Chosen Books. All opinions shared here are solely my own.

Lord bless you today!

Day 266 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

So, Did You Have a Good Year?

2013-05-22T12:36:00.003-07:00

May is a month filled with graduations, weddings, celebrations of all shapes & sizes that laud our accomplishments and lay wide the path to a prosperous future. All that sounds nice enough, but it is a bit humanistic at it's core. And as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I hope to encourage you in a non-humanistic way through this blog post :)

As homeschooling mothers, we don't usually receive the same kind of accolades that public and private school educators get. There aren't any end-of-the-school-year teacher appreciation gifts brought to us, no notes from thankful parents gushing about the impact we've had on their child's life, no fresh-baked cookies waiting for us in the teacher's lounge. (Now, let me say that I know a few teachers & believe me, it's more "normal" to hear from an angry parent than a thankful one - there are plenty of downsides to their profession that we never have to deal with.) Those of us who opt to educate our children at home know that it's a really good day if our hubby tells us "good job" at the end of a long, hard school day! We do what we do without much thanks or fanfare, for the most part. And honestly, we're just fine with that.

But since May is a time of so much celebrating and congratulating, I'd like to tell all the moms who read this post "Good job this year! You've worked hard, done so much more than you probably even remember, and followed the call the Lord has placed upon your life. Way to go!"

Take a deep breath, think back to last August, and recognize what the Lord has done through you to impact your children's hearts and minds. Be encouraged today, and grab hold of the Lord's joy, because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Keep your chin up, but not in a humanistic way; rather, keep your chin up in order to stay focused on God Almighty, who takes hold of your hand and helps you on this journey called homeschool.

Lord bless you today as you seek to bring Him glory!

Day 265 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

Prayer Warrior Mom ~ Covering Your Kids with God's Blessings and Protection by Marla Alupoaicei

2013-05-03T12:18:00.003-07:00

Are you a mom? Are you a Christian mom? Are you a mom who prays for your kids ~or a mom who worries she doesn't pray for her kids enough? If you can answer "Yup" to any or all of the above, the book Prayer Warrior Mom by Marla Alupoaicei is a book you need on your nightstand.

Divided nicely into 15 easy-to-read, themed chapters, Prayer Warrior Mom is a thoroughly encouraging and heart impacting book. If you read it, you will be moved to pray for your children in specific, powerful ways. And if you're praying for your children, well, then God will begin to do things in their lives that would not happen otherwise. It is both a privilege and a serious responsibility to raise up children in the way they should go. If we're honest, we can all admit that we need help and encouragement to faithfully complete our task as moms. Buying this book will help you fulfill your God-given call to prayer daily, fervently for your kids.

I have long been a praying mom, and I have no plans to lessen my time spent in prayer for my children. This book was a perfect fit for me, and I was very pleased to find such a large list of recommended resources as well as a study guide included in the book! Doing this book with a small group would be a great way to impact your church's moms, encouraging them to become prayer warrior moms. And there is an online community to support you every step of the way. It really is a book that is fit for the times in which we live.

I hope you buy it; I hope you read it; I hope you live it and pray it.

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.

Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from BookSneeze. All opinions shared here are solely my own.

Lord bless you, praying mama!!

Day 264 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

When The Lord Gives You a Special Dose of Encouragement...

2013-04-30T18:43:00.003-07:00

This school year is drawing to a close for our family ~ we have completed 178 academic days and have completely finished almost every single subject, literally "closing the books" on the 2012-13 year. My daughter graduates in TEN DAYS, and in a few short months she will head off to Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. How strange it will be to have two kids in college (my son will be a junior at Wheaton College next year), with only three children still at home!! If you're wondering whether or not the old adage about the days being long but the years being short is true, well, I can tell you that it is indeed true. Very true. Where does the time go?

As I was considering what the last five years of homeschooling will look like for me, the Lord showed me a verse from His Word that is now my "life verse" for these last five years.

~ Isaiah 65:23 says "They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune, for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them." ~

Isn't that a great verse to encourage me as I finish well the race laid out before me, and as I begin to embark upon life with adult children? God is truly good to me!

And since God is no respecter of men, I believe He is just as willing to provide you with the encouragement you need for your homeschool journey, whether you are nearing the end of your time homeschooling or are just starting out. Seek Him, through prayer and by getting into the Word on a regular (ideally daily) basis, and believe that He has a specific verse (or verses) for you. Don't be surprised by the verses He leads you to and lays upon your heart; they don't always seem to be what we were expecting, but they do always prove to be perfect for our unique situations.

Write them down in a place where you will see them often, and read them over and over again. In this way God's Word will take root deep in your heart and mind, renewing your thinking, changing your attitudes, refreshing your soul, and preparing you for the work He is planning to do in your life and your children's lives. You will find yourself able to know the Lord's perfect and pleasing will, and will be spiritually equipped for each day's challenges.

All that just from asking the Lord to give you a specific verse, you ask? My answer is - Yes, all that and so much more. Often times we receive so little of what He has for us simply because we believe Him for so little. Go out on a faith-limb and believe Him for something bigger than you believed Him for yesterday, do the same thing tomorrow, and so on. Re-read the promises H gives you until they are cemented in your mind and cannot be forgotten. And count on Him to do immeasurably more than you can think, ask or imagine. He will do it, because He is faithful and true.

If you have a verse that God has given you that has been a source of strength and encouragement, I'd love to hear about it! Leave me a comment, please! I love to hear how the Lord is working in the hearts of my fellow homeschooling moms.

Believe Him for something big today ~ He's a mighty God who delights in showing His might to his children.

Lord bless you!

Day 263 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

Revealing Jesus ~ A 365-Day Devotional (by Darlene Zschech)

2013-04-13T10:01:00.001-07:00

Most people recognize the name Darlene Zschech as the worship leader from Australia who penned the song "Shout to the Lord". So I was very interested in reading the devotional book Revealing Jesus ~ after all, someone who has such a tremendous heart for the Lord (as revealed in her worship music) probably has some profound things to share in a daily devotional.

I wasn't disappointed.

Revealing Jesus takes the reader day-by-day on a journey to greater depth and intimacy with the Lord. Each month begins with a quote taken from the lyrics of a worship song, and the devotionals build one upon another. However, you could easily pick this book up in, say, the middle of June and be challenged to grow in your faith just as much as if you began reading it on the first of January.

Starting with a Bible verse and ending with a prayer, each day's reading spurs the reader on toward love and good works, encouraging with truth and forthrightness that leave you thinking more deeply about the things of God. With strong conviction and an understanding heart, Darlene Zschech's writes to make an impact without the sting of judgement. Revealing Jesus is a devotional that can be read year after year.

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.

(Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from Bethany House. All opinions shared here are solely my own.)

Day 262 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

Wow, Is March Really Almost Gone?

2013-03-30T15:42:00.001-07:00

It seems that the more I *hope* to blog, the faster the days of the month fly by! While I'm sure this particular phenomena never happens to anyone but me, I'm going to go ahead and write a post about it...if only so that I can come back and read it later when yet another month blows right by me!

Having a daughter who is a senior this year has kept my focus on our homeschool. She will be the second of our five children to graduate, and I'm working hard to make sure I enjoy the time I have with her before she heads off to college in the fall. Making plans for her graduation reception, gathering things she'll need to take with her in the fall, and generally just doing what needs to get done have kept me busy at home. Busy enough that blogging has taken a bit of a back seat.

There truly are seasons in life for everything, and I am in a season that requires more time spent homeschooling and less time blogging. How about you? What type of season are you in right now?

Whatever season you find yourself in, don't lament that it isn't a different one. It's perfectly fine for some months to slip on by and only after the fact do you realize how little time you spent doing something like blogging. Enjoy the time you're given by enjoying the given times.

Have a very blessed Easter and remember ~ He is risen indeed!

Day 261 done :)

Lord bless!

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.Etsy/shop/SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

Homeschooling Mom's Devotional (# 3)

2013-03-06T12:57:00.005-08:00

Psalm 103:13 ~ As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

What a power-packed verse that teaches us how to parent with the heart and attitude of God! Our perfect Father in heaven is compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. We will never be as loving, as patient, as compassionate as Almighty God, but by trusting Him to work in and through us, we can most assuredly be compassionate parents.

You can find a never-ending supply of parenting books at your local bookstore, library or at Amazon, all of which have pages loaded with good advice. I don't discourage anyone from studying to become a better parent! I simply encourage my fellow homeschool moms to filter everything they read through God's Word. Then, and only then, are we able to know what His good and perfect and pleasing will is for us as parents.

The above verse teaches us that a heart of compassion is God's very nature, His character. We can count on the fact that He is compassionate. And we can ask Him to make us more compassionate as we raise the children He has blessed us with. After all, if we believe our children truly are gifts bestowed upon us by the Lord, and we believe homeschooling to be the call He has placed on our lives as we raise those children (those gifts from Him), then we also ought to believe that He will fill us with compassion if we would but ask for it!

Don't wait for another day to ask God to fill you with compassion; do it now, and prepare to be a more compassionate parent!

Lord bless you as you homeschool for His glory!

Day 260 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.PhotographyByABurt.weebly.com

February Is...

2013-02-26T15:03:00.003-08:00

This is the month we celebrate love, watch for a groundhog's shadow, and place more focus on black history. All great things to occupy the short but dreary winter month of February. But in our homeschool, I don't like to limit the study of black history to one month of the year. It really is simple to incorporate black history (or the study of Native Americans, those of Asian descent, or any other race for that matter) into your normal homeschool routine. As a woman of Irish ethnicity, I find it important to openly and honestly discuss the good, bad, and ugly of my family history ~ even if some of the details aren't all that flattering to the Irish as a whole. And as an Irish woman who has studied the life of her people during the dark days of Queen Victoria's rule, I have found my heart to be very tender toward those who have struggled to find their place in this world, not matter their race.

Whenever we study history, or read literature with a "real life" setting (in other words, not when we read a book about life on Mars!) I try to incorporate some focus on the people groups involved. It's actually pretty easy, and hardly takes much extra work for me. I just plan ahead and request some library books on the topic. And if I didn't plan ahead, well, then I use Google, and encyclopedia, or find a resource somewhere on my overflowing homeschool bookshelves!

For example, if you are reading about the Lewis & Clark expedition, take time to read up on France. Why did Napoleon want to sell all that land? And why did America want to buy it? What were the trade routes commonly used via New Orleans? And what kind of people lived there? This will lead you to an understanding of the Creole people from that area, and will probably open the door to more discussion about topics such as slavery, French-American-British alliances, the lifestyle of riverboat traders in the 1800's, and perhaps even a pre-study of some of the famous men who later died at the Alamo! Then there is the study of Native Americans - which is an enormously broad topic that does not get enough attention, in my opinion.

Studying about the Second World War? Include some facts about the Tuskegee airmen and the Buffalo Soldiers. Reading the Little House books during family read aloud time? Try and find out who settled in the Dakotas, and why (here's a hint: a lot of Irish settled there after fleeing Ireland and perhaps fleeing the gangs and troubles of New York City!). Mom, are you reading Upton Sinclair's classic The Jungle? Why not discuss some of it's subject matter with your children and do some family research on life in the meat packing industry of Chicago, and the Polish people who settled there.

One day when I am with the Lord, I am going to worship before His throne with those from every tongue and tribe and nation. Since it's a part of my forever, I think I ought to spend some of my homeschooling energies on it.

Happy Homeschooling!

Day 259 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Digital Learning Course from Homespun School

2013-02-08T15:51:00.002-08:00

Homespun School is an online learning site that offers a variety of options, including literature, history and web design. My daughter, who is in the 9th grade, took their 6-week Digital Learning course. I could not be more pleased with the end result!

The Digital Learning course teaches via hands-on student work. Over the course of six weeks, students create a digital portfolio (which can be improved upon if the Digi-Designs course is taken at a later time) and covers website building basics, creating bumper stickers, embed codes, Web 2.0, and a fun online shopping spree (using imaginary money, of course!) Digital Learning is described as a "foundational course to help get you the web-savvy you need" ~ and it really does live up to this promise.

Classes are held in an online classroom at Edmodo, which is a safe, members-only site. No one outside the class with have contact with your child. Parents are provided with access to the classroom, with one exception; they are not able to post on the classroom wall (which really is for the best, as it helps facilitate independent learning). The classroom at Edmodo is set up in a style similar to Facebook, making it easy to use with a familiar feel. All assignments are given here, as well as additional information needed to complete assignments and grades. I also received emails from the course instructor, Mr. Chase, each week. I never felt "out of touch" with what my daughter was working on, which is a plus for me as a homeschool mom. (You can find out more about Edmodo at www.Edmodo.com)

The Digital Learning course is best suited for students in 8th grade on up. And the class time is based on Carnegie Units, which is the standard used in public education systems to measure the amount of time students spend on a task (doing seat work, basically); this in turn is the common way public schools measure progress toward high school graduation. A Carnegie Unit is often used as a credit hour in high school. So, if you are wondering if this course can be counted as high school credit on your child's transcript, the answer is a resounding "YES"! You can expect your child to spend between 5 and 12 hours per week on coursework ~ which equates to 72 Carnegie Units. One full high school credit can be given for 122 hours of work, so this course counts as one half a credit upon completion. If you are looking for high school electives for your high school student, consider this course.

The grading scale is based on a point system. Each assignment is worth a given number of points, and each week about 100 points can be earned. In addition, there are opportunities to earn extra credit. My daughter enjoyed seeing her points increase as each assignment was graded, and she ended the course with an average above 100%. Students who work hard and finish well may have their work featured in the "Portfolio Hall of Fame", which can be found on the website's Digital Learning page.

Here is a very brief run-down of the course: the teacher, Mr. Chase, gave assignments to the class each week (usually several times a week). He provided students with the amount of points each assignment was worth, along with instructions, links for web tools and resources to help complete assignments, and a checklist that was filled out for each assignment. But he aimed to enable students to learn web design on their own, without being spoon-fed. Considering that the purpose of this class is for students to be able to design a website from beginning to end, completely on their own, it makes perfect sense that he expects them to learn by doing rather than depend on him to provide each and every answer. Of course, help is available as needed, so students aren't on their own by any means. But they are encouraged to attempt to solve problems and find answers on their own before requesting help from the teacher. If your child could use some real-world experience working on their own, this course would work well.

Be willing to encourage your child along the way. Take the time to look at their assignments, their websites and their portfolios. They can have a lot of fun with Digital Learning, and the hard work they put in can be very rewarding ~ but they need to share their work with you in order to really "complete" this course. I cannot recommend this course strongly enough. It is an excellent resource available to the homeschool community.

To see the website my daughter built during this course, click the link below ~

http://somethingsavvy.weebly.com/

To see some of her other work on the web, visit these sites ~

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.Etsy.com/shop/SavanasClayCreations

www.Facebook.com/SavanasClayCreations?ref=h

www.YouTube.com/user/SavanasClayCreations?feature=mbee

Finally, to sign up for the Digital Learning course (or any other Homespun School course) to to www.Homespun-School.net

Thank you for taking the time to read this review, and may the Lord richly bless you and your family as you homeschool for His glory!

Day 258 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

Do You Homeschool? Then You Need to Read This Article!

2013-01-25T12:35:00.001-08:00

Whether you have been homeschooling for a month, a year, or a decade, you've inevitably faced the "questions". Questions about socialization, college, athletics, driver's ed, high-school biology, etc. etc. etc. and so on.....

It seems as if homeschoolers are ripe for questions from day one; but the flip side seems to be that there really is no flip side. We are expected to patiently answer any and all questions, smiling politely and pretending we've never heard this line of questioning before. But when we try to ask a few questions about, say, public schools as a whole or the issue of private schools being used as a last-ditch landing spot for students expelled from public school, well...ahem...we're pretty much told to keep quiet. No one wants to hear our questions, and often times no one really wants to hear our answers to their questions. They just kind of want us to....go....away.

I'm not planning on going away any time soon. And neither are my five remarkable, fantastic, amazing children. We're here to stay. And I'm here to say that homeschooling isn't going to go away; I believe it's going to continue to grow in the United States and around the world. Nope, we're not going away and it's probably time we started asking a few questions of our own. Here's one to start with ~ "What's so wrong with choosing to homeschool, anyway?" (And don't start asking me questions and then hand me that line of hooey that you're talking about some other homeschool family and you don't really have a problem with it...Pul-Leazz!! Give me some credit - after all, if I can teach high school math I think I know that if you are asking ME a question then you are, in all actuality, talking to ME!)

I'll tell you what's wrong with homeschooling - absolutely nothing! That's a hill I am ready to die on. And if you happen to have met any or all of my five kids, then you should be in total agreement with me that there is absolutely nothing wrong with homeschooling. My kids should convince you that homeschooling yields some pretty awesome results, and has formed five pretty socially functional, responsible young people.

This recent article from Forbes hits the nail on the head - then hits it again - and nails it a few more times just for good measure.

Do you homeschool? Then read this article! Know someone who is considering homeschooling? Have them read it! Have in-laws or friends or "others" who aren't sold on homeschooling? Force-feed it to them!! (Just kidding...sort of.)

Read it. Pin it on Pinterest. Post it on Facebook. Tweet about it. Put the link on your blog. Bookmark it, print it out, read it often, hand out copies. And then do all those things again. It's important that we be represented fairly and accurately, for a change, and this article does it better than most I've seen.

In fact, keep a couple of copies on your person to hand to the next person who questions you about homeschooling. Who knows, it might change their min....or at least shut them up for a few minutes :)

Click HERE to read the article for yourself.

And forgive me for coming across much more forcefully than usual. I'm growing more and more passionate about homeschooling as the years go by, and maybe I'm really finding my voice for the first time. It's a cause near and dear to my heart, and I hope this post, and the excellent Forbes article, open the eyes of some who have misunderstood homeschoolers.

Day 257 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Desiring God (Revised Edition) by John Piper

2013-01-22T18:32:00.000-08:00

Right off the bat, let me just say, this is, after all, a book by John Piper. It isn't exactly light reading, and Piper most certainly is not interested in babying you along in your walk with Christ. Desiring God will touch every raw nerve you have, provided you allow it to penetrate your heart as well as your mind, and will remind you that God is, indeed, sovereign and is very much indeed the only place in which we can find our happiness.

In Desiring God, John Piper covers the topics of worship, love, marriage, money, missions, suffering, prayer and more. And he does so in a manner that is uniquely his. If you have ever read anything by Piper, then you know exactly what I mean by that. And if you have not read any of Piper's works, then Desiring God is a good place to start. He will make you think, even while he makes you sweat a little. But he will encourage you to find out for yourself if it is really true that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." I have found this to be true, and I would love for more and more believers to come to the same conclusion.

Let me also say that I am biased toward Piper's work because he is a Wheatie, as is my son (and possibly my daughter who recently applied to Wheaton College). However, well before my children were even thinking about which college to attend, I found myself challenged by his book "Don't Waste Your Life". So yes, in part I opted to review this book because I am a Wheaton mom...but more so because I want to mature in the Lord and see others mature as well.

I hope you will consider reading this book ~ I am confident you will be blessed if you do.

(Disclaimer ~ I received this book in eBook format free of charge for review purposes. All opinions shared here are solely my own.)

Day 256 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Les Mise'rables Audio Drama from Focus on the Family Radio Theatre

2013-01-22T18:01:00.002-08:00

Everyone seems to be talking about Les Mise'rables right now, with the recent release of the latest movie adaptation. So it was natural for me to review the audio drama from Focus on the Family. This set consists of 3 Cd's, and each is about one hour in length. And as it is an audio drama, there aren't any songs in this version of Victor Hugo's work. That may or may not appeal to you, depending on your preferred way of enjoying Les Mise'rables!

I'm a homeschooling mom, so of course I decided to make Les Mise'rables a part of our curriculum. I had my sophomore and my senior listen to these Cd's. They both enjoyed it immensely, and as each disc is about one hour long it was easy to divide it up over a few days. I think this particular performance would make a nice addition for anyone reading the book, and could make the movie easier to understand if it is the first time seeing it.

The acting is good, the sound effects aren't too cheesy or over-the-top (like some audio dramas I've listened to) and the performance sticks closely to Hugo's original work. I would not hesitate to purchase this audio drama set; our family will listen to it many times over. Of course, certain aspects of this era in France's history are touchy, so parental guidance is recommended for younger listeners.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this product. All opinions shared here are solely my own.

I hope you make room for the classics and the arts in your homeschool!

Day 255 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Everything by Mary DeMuth

2013-01-16T11:50:00.001-08:00

The book Everything by Mary DeMuth became a "keeper" for me almost as soon as I began reading. Mary sugarcoats nothing in her attempt to make Jesus' gospel what it rightly is ~ and as you probably guessed from the title of her book, it rightly is about everything.

Eighteen chapter, three sections, one-hundred and ninety-eight pages...if you take the time to delve into them you will grow exponentially in your walk with the Lord. In Everything Mary calls us out, calls us higher, and admonishes us with honesty and openness. Sharing from her heart and relying heavily on the truth that is God's Word, she sets things straight. There aren't just one or two things about this book that I have taken to heart; and there aren't just a couple of quotes I could share here. The book in it's entirety is a game-changer!

Please buy this book, read this book, apply the truths in this book to your life, and let the Lord become your everything!

HERE is a direct link to Everything on Amazon.

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.

Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from BookSneeze. All opinions shared here are solely my own.
Lord bless you as you seek to allow the Lord to be your everything!

Day 254 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Coping With Illness in Your Homeschool This Winter?

2013-01-16T10:03:00.002-08:00

I have to say, this winter has been rough on our family in terms of illness. Rather than try and figure out all the many ills that have plagued us, I'll just refer to the whole lot in general as "the crud". From late November until, well, now, we've been relying on Lysol spray, Kleenex, Clorox wipes and a whole lot of prayer as we battle "the crud".

How have things been for your family this winter? Hopefully you have been blessed and avoided all the illness going around. But if you haven't been able to dodge the sickness bullet, be encouraged that the time spent "trapped and sick" at home doesn't have to be wasted time. Given to the Lord, it can actually become a time of refreshing and blessing. After all, nothing is wasted in God's economy.

Spend time resting, talking, playing board games, reading as a family, and accomplishing your daily school work at a more relaxed pace. When everyone is well, we tend to do too much ~ rushing from one activity to the next, eating in the car via a drive-thru, and in general failing to enjoy the time we have together as a family. No, it isn't pleasant being sick; but it can be seen as a blessing if we choose the proper perspective.

Have a tremendously blessed day today, whether ill or well, and ask the Lord to give you times of refreshing in whatever season you find yourself!

Lord bless you today!

Day 253 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic

2013-01-11T08:40:00.003-08:00

The book Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic is a follow-up to his first book, Life Without Limits. Nick was born without limbs, and has lived a life that most of us could not possibly imagine. His daily struggles dwarf the type of things we typically face, and this book is meant to share his heart for living a rich and full life in spite of his situation. And really, all of us have to choose how we are going to face each day, don't we?

I really am impressed with Nick's character and attitude, especially his unwillingness to simply give up and depend on others to help him get through life. He seems very bent on encouraging others during their trials - and I'm all about encouraging people! - and he doesn't take for granted the platform available to him. The book Unstoppable is easy to read, and Nick openly shares his struggles and his heart. He doesn't hide anything, good or bad, and I'm glad he doesn't.

This book is probably a terrific read for most people, and it's well-written with good content. I, however, am a very high-truth person and due to my personal experiences and the dramatic impact Christ made on my life when He saved me, I just don't do well with "self-help" books. To be fair, this isn't solely a self-help book; God's Word is quoted and Nick states his relationship with the Lord is the most important thing in his life. But he does seem to combine "pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps" with Christianity, and I don't subscribe to that mentality. I've been there, done that, and know it just doesn't work. What does work is allowing Jesus to do it all, keeping myself and whatever measly "self help" I have to offer out of the picture.

Now, I don't want to misrepresent Unstoppable. It is encouraging and could really be a blessing to many people. It's very encouraging and I think it's worth reading. I just felt I should honestly share my opinion on self-help, as this is an honest review posted on my personal blog.

If you would like to learn more about Unstoppable, click HERE.

To read a sample chapter, click HERE.

Nick's website is www.lifewithoutlimbs.org.

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

Thanks for taking the time to read my review of Unstoppable, and be sure to see what else WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing has to offer!

Day 252 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Resolved!

2012-12-31T10:48:00.005-08:00

If you know me (that is, know me in real life versus the blogging world) then you probably know that I am none too fond of the self-help mentality. It's not that I have anything at all against people in need of help; I put myself at the top of the list of people I know who need help. But the notion that I can somehow fix myself ~ let alone fix anyone else! ~ is a complete misnomer. It's a continual cycle of "work harder" followed by gut-wrenching disappointment. And there's a reason this is the cycle of self-help...it's because we cannot fix ourselves! That's God's job, and He's exceptionally good at it.

Having said all that, I'd like to share about something that we moms do have the ability to change for the better. Our attitudes. I'll go so far as to say that I feel many homeschool mamas could benefit from an attitude adjustment (me included!). We're often so tired, over-worked, and spread thin that we succumb to a bad attitude without any conscious effort on our part. It doesn't have to be that way! And I don't mean to say something contrary to my stance on self-help...I really think this one idea I'm about to share can have a positive impact on a mom's attitude, and subsequently on the entire family, and it's actually not that hard.

So here's my big idea. What if we went to bed each night having made the conscious decision to wake up thankful and happy the next morning?

The ramifications of a happy mother on the family and the homeschool are incalculable. The happiness will spread and so will the thankful attitude. And a happy, thankful homeschool environment is really one of the greatest blessings a mom can receive.

So why not try it in the new year? Pray and ask the Lord to bless you with a happy demeanor and a heart full of thanks, and prepare to be amazed at how the Lord moves in your family. That's something I can be resolved about!

Happy 2013 and may you be abundantly blessed in every way all the year long!

Day 251 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Real Life Real Miracles ~ by James L. Garlow & Keith Wall

2012-12-08T14:22:00.002-08:00

The book Real Life Real Miracles (by James L. Garlow & Keith Wall) is an easy-to-read, fast-paced and enormously interesting book that kept me reading "just one more chapter" late into the night. Each person's story is shared with enough detail to keep the reader engaged, but not so much that it seems watered down. And the authors' have done a first-rate job of honing in on the main points of each miracle story while maintaining the individuality of those who experienced the miracles.

From finding a lost diamond to the crushing weight of a semi-truck, those raised from the dead to a woman who lived through a plane that came apart in the air, electrocution to deadly cancer, the miracles you will read about in Real Life Real Miracles point toward the love, mercy, compassion and awe-inspiring power of God. The same Jesus who walked the earth over 2000 years ago performing miracles to those in need still works in miraculous ways today. It's good to pause and remember that He really is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

I really did enjoy this book, and I am certain I will re-read it in the future.

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.

Read it and be reminded of the God who does the miraculous!

(Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from Bethany House. All opinions shared here are solely my own.)

Day 250 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.etsy.com/shop.SavanasClayCreations.com

Dreams and Visions ~ by Tom Doyle

2012-12-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

I was very interested in what details this book might contain from the moment I opted to review it...and I was blessed, encouraged and humbled by what I discovered in it's 23 chapters. This book is one that all Christians should read; but in all honesty, I think Christians who live in America ought to put it on their "Annual Required Reading" list. Our attitude toward Muslims needs a little adjusting, and Dreams and Visions is just the book to provide said adjustments!

Easy to read, with only the most well-documented cases included, Dreams and Visions opens your door to the world of Islam and your heart to those living for Christ in a way that most of us can hardly imagine. While many in the western world plod along in our walk with the Lord Jesus, needing others to beg and plead and cajole and entertain us while we grumble-all-the-way, those who follow Christ in Cairo and Mecca often do so after one dream or vision or Jesus saying, "You are to follow Me." They don't hesitate to risk their lives by obeying His call, and they walk in faith a path that is life-threatening. It is amazing and encouraging to me that I will spend eternity with so many former Muslims, and I am blessed to be able to learn about a few of them by reading Tom Doyle's book.

Buy this book and read it - not just once, but as often as you need to be reminded of the great work God is doing in the world of Islam. We truly serve the One True God, and He is able to save those who are perishing.

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.

Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from BookSneeze. All opinions shared here are solely my own.

Day 249 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

www.etsy.com/shop/SavanasClayCreations

What Are You Reading This December?

2012-12-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, maybe I should rephrase that question! What are you reading this December BESIDES homeschool books?

Many of us celebrate Advent with our families during the month of December, and that often includes family reading. Are there any books you just have to read each year? Or does your book list vary? And do you only read as a family, or do you have something special that you read this month?

When my kids were younger, I found it hard to give myself "permission" to read a book in my spare time (whatever spare time is, haha!). I felt guilty if I wasn't reading the Bible or something homeschool related. Now I see the folly in that type of thinking. There are long, tough seasons of motherhood and often it's during those times that we refuse to allow ourselves a break. But there's nothing wrong with having a book on your nightstand...even if you only manage to read a page or two each week.

My kids are all growing up quickly (the youngest is 12) and those long days of toddler-hood are in the past. They are all readers, and they each have a few books they're juggling at any given time. It's much easier for me to have a book or two that I'm reading just because I want to. I only wish I had figured that out when my kids were young, rather than giving into a legalistic homeschool mentality that only allowed me to read the most pious of books. If it sounds silly, that's because it was a very silly way of thinking.

So, I'll ask you again - What are you reading this December other than homeschool books?

Read as a family ~ maybe The Hobbit or A Christmas Carol or even How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And read for yourself too. I'd love to hear about the books you're reading this month, so feel free to leave me a comment!

Lord bless you this season of Advent & may you find His grace to be sufficient for all your daily needs!

Day 247 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.blogspot.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Still Lolo by Lauren Scruggs ~ Tyndale Book Review

2012-11-27T17:49:00.003-08:00

The young woman who suffered terrible injuries when she unintentionally walked into the prop of a small aircraft tells her story, and that of her entire family, in the book Still Lolo (from Tyndale House Publishers). More than just the details about her accident and recovery, the book details the childhood of Lauren Scruggs, her close bond with twin sister Brittany, her relationship with her parents and her walk with the Lord. Short chapters each feature the "voice" of one family member, providing a broad picture of Lauren (known as Lolo).

I found this book to be a fast read, and I don't normally pick up books about events that have occurred so recently (silly habit I have of reading primarily "old" non-fiction and even "older" fiction) but when I saw Still Lolo available for review from Tyndale I decided to read the story behind the propeller accident. I have to say that I do appreciate the honesty and openness of all member of the Scruggs family; they certainly don't sugar-coat things, and in particular her parent's openly share about the difference Jesus has made in their marriage. But I kept wondering when Lauren would share more about Jesus and less about herself...and the more I read, the more I understood that she seems to still be struggling to allow Jesus full access to the throne in an "I-must-decrease-He-must-increase" kind of way. I really don't want to seem harsh; good grief, this young lady and her family have been through the kind of ordeal most of us could never dream of experiencing! But I found myself truly aching for Lauren in the sense that she does not quite seem to be "all in" with Jesus in the way her mom seems to be. She is so like many other American Christians - we want Jesus and we want the American dream, and sometimes we prefer the later.

If you want to read a story that is truly a miracle, then Still Lolo is a book you might want to read. You can read the first chapter HERE.

Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from Tyndale House Publishers. All opinions shared here are solely my own.

Day 246 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Ending November Well

2012-11-26T19:08:00.002-08:00

November is the one month of the year when, perhaps more than any other, we pause to give conscious and audible thanks to God. And now that the actual event of Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, it's easy for many of us to cease in our giving of thanks. At least, until next November rolls around on the 2013 calendar.

I'd like to encourage you to continue to give thanks to the Lord our God on a daily, continual, and ongoing basis. He gives us every heartbeat ~ He gives us every moment we experience ~ He gives us His unending love ~ and He has given us His Son. It's really not much to give Him thanks in return.

Don't let the Christmas rush be the reason you end up thanking the Lord less and less each day. I'm sure that sounds pretty ridiculous when it's phrased like that...ya know, it's not Christmas that makes us irritable or stressed or over-worked. It's not the very season in which we ought to be most intentional about thanking God for the gift of His Son that would find us hurried and worried and un-thankful. Surely I haven't become one of those moms who becomes such an over-achieving, homeschooling maniac during the month of December that my ability to say the words "Thank you Lord" has, well, bit the big one?

The only way to not be that lady is to create a habit of giving continual thanks to God. It is actually a very easy habit to create - you just start thanking Him for things all throughout the day. Before you know it, you're not agitated by the long line at Target or the lack of a parking space that isn't 3/4 mile from the door. Nope, not you. You'll be thanking Him for the chance to spend time chatting with your toddler while waiting in that long line; gratefully praising Him for the ability to pray for a few extra minutes while walking from the rear of the parking lot. Your entire perspective will change, and you will find yourself thanking God all the time for all kinds of things.

So I want to end November well, by growing in my attitude of constant thankfulness. And I want every single person who reads my blog to know how enormously thankful I am for each one of you! From the very bottom of my heart, I want to say thanks for taking the time to read what a homeschool mom from Kansas has to say via the world wide web.

Lord bless you as you finish November well!

Day 245 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

The Radical Question ~ A Radical Idea by David Platt

2012-11-17T07:57:00.002-08:00

This little 110-page book by David Platt packs a big punch. I loved it right from the very first page. The author's heart for the suffering church, and his deep desire for the westernized church to live a radical life for the kingdom of God, shines through on every page. I whole heartedly agree with David's sentiment that the church in America is, well, a little soft.

To follow hard after Jesus, to truly be a disciple in this modern era...what does that look like? And are we missing it by an inch or by a mile?

The Radical Question, A Radical Idea is an easy read that answers the type of questions mentioned above. But while it may be an easy read, it's not at all easy to live out a radical life. Don't bother reading this book if you don't want to be challenged.

However if you have a desire for something more in your Christian walk, and you share David Platt's belief that we were meant for so much more than large church buildings and self-serving church programs, then I think this book is one you should read. Who knows what difference one person can make in this world, and who knows that God might not be calling you to a deeper walk and life of sacrifice for Him? I was challenged by this book and plan to re-read it on a regular basis.

To learn more about this book, click HERE.

To read an excerpt click HERE.

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

Day 244 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com

Schoolhouse Review ~ Vocal Coach Singer

2012-11-15T17:56:00.003-08:00

Vocal Coach Singer is a 12-disc singing system for youth through adults. It was created by Chris and Carole Beatty, two amazing people who have been teaching singing for more than 40 years. They have established credibility and an excellent track record as vocal coaches, and that makes Vocal Coach a solid choice for anyone (particularly homeschoolers) who are looking for singing guidance.

Here is what I got ~

7 Training CDs:

Getting Started
Complete Breathing
Complete Warm-Up
Complete Tone
Complete Expanding Your Range
Complete Diction
Complete Performance

4 Workout CDs:

Daily Workout High Voice 1 & 2
Daily Workout Medium/Low Voice 1 & 2

Plus these great educational tools:

Guidebook – Full-size Instructional Guidebook to Ensure Success
Printable Lead Sheets – each exercise in our course, plus track lists
Personal Singer's Journal (Getting Started Journal &; Workout Journal) to Track Your Progress
Vocal Coach Song Evaluation – Evaluation form to enable you to make more intelligent song selections

Vocal Coach Singer is available on CD's for $119.99 or mp3 for $99.

I'm sure you're thinking, "Wow, that's a lot!" and you're right! It's the equivalent of $2000 worth of personal vocal coaching time. It's pretty tremendous to have such a great resource created for private home use, and I have to say it is an excellent fit for the homeschool community. We aren't always able to drag all our kids to co-op classes, and in some places there just aren't any singing class available. We need an option ~ and Vocal Coach Singer provides that option!

The first thing I noticed was the "Getting Started Journal". It says, "The written record of your vocal experiences will keep you on track. It will make your practices more systematic and productive. It will also help keep you from reinforcing bad habits and instead build the kind of techniques that will serve you well for a lifetime." I decided I would take those words seriously and use them as a standard for evaluating my daughters' progress. The journal pages are a terrific resource and they WILL help your child make great improvements...provided you actually use them!

Vocal Coach allows you to explore music in the comfort of your own home in a way that really will bring results. If you want something that goes beyond the 3 R's to use in your daily lessons, give
Vocal Coach Singer a try. And keep in mind that the word "coach" in the title isn't just for the purpose of creating a catchy name - it really is coaching! (Take it from someone whose high school choir took first place in the state my sophomore year - this program is an excellent vocal coaching tool!)

The "Educational Tools" are all available in pdf format, which means you can print exactly the pages you need and only the pages you need. Most homeschool moms appreciate this option, and I am no exception. I love being able to print what I need and not one page more!

My first thought was that this would be a fun way for my girls to experience some vocal training, and I was exactly right. Slowly and steadily, improvement can be seen, in much the same way that long-term sustained practice with any instrument yields results. And if you think about it, your voice is an instrument you carry with you all the time. Music appreciation is a good fit with homeschooling, and Vocal Coach is a great resource.

Visit their website at www.VocalCoach.com to order or to see what all they have to offer.

And to see what other Schoolhouse Review members have to say, click HERE.

Why not consider adding voice lessons to your family's homeschool? You may find you like it more than you thought you would!

(Disclaimer ~ I received this product free of charge for review purposes. All opinions contained here are solely my own.)

Day 243 done :)

Jan L. Burt

www.AllThingsHomeschool.weebly.com

www.SavanasClayCreations.com