Sheri Graham

Simply Cursive Ebook Coming Soon & a Giveaway!

Sheri — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:45:01 +0000

Here is a sneak peak at the cover of my brand new ebook (still in the editing stages)…Simply Cursive – Abeka Edition! I am currently doing some final editing and plan on having this ebook available for sale on Monday! Yes…that’s right! I can’t wait!

To celebrate, I will be giving away TWO copies of Simply Cursive – Abeka Edition. See details below for how you can enter. The giveaway will end Sunday night, with the winners announced on Monday morning when I announce this ebook for sale in our eStore.

This is only the first ebook in the Simply Cursive series. I plan on doing additional ebooks in this series using the Zaner-Bloser, Getty Dubay, D’Nealian fonts and more! Watch for those details as I announce them on my blog once they are available.

Ok…now for the details on the giveaway…

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

There are FOUR ways you can enter the giveaway. The more entries, the better chances you have of winning! Each item below counts for one entry:

1. Simply leave a comment on this blog post stating that you want to be entered in the giveaway.

2. ”Like” or “Share” this post on Facebook (you can use the “Like” or “Share” buttons at the top of this post), then come back and leave another comment stating that you “Liked’ or “Shared” this post on Facebook.

3. Tweet about this giveaway, then come back and leave another comment stating that you Tweeted about this post.

4. Blog about this giveaway, then come back and leave another comment with the link to your blog post about the giveaway.

The giveaway ends at midnight, Sunday night, May 20th, and the winners will be announced on Monday morning. I will email the ebook out to the winners once they are announced.

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Friends, A free gift just for you...to bless you as you serve the Lord and your families. Click here to download your free copy of An excerpt from The Intentional Planner - a Contact List! This is a new form I just added to The Intentional Planner Members Page! Click here for more details on how you can become a member too!

These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

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Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

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Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Old Homestead Tales – Excellent Living Books for Science {free}

Sheri — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:20 +0000

I just got done reading The Bluebirds and Their Neighbors to the kids during our read-aloud time. We loved it! I learned so much about different birds and small animals just by reading it to the kids. There are five books in this series and I bought the first four as hard copies. My bird-loving son is reading them on his own, but wanted me to read one aloud to everyone…so I did…and so GLAD I did! I plan on adding the rest of the series to our reading list for next year!

I remembered today that I had found these online as free downloads and thought I’d share the link with you.

You can find all five volumes here to view online or download the PDF file!

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On a side note, you may want to check out the other areas of this site. Click here to go to the main index page. Be aware that I do not agree with the religious views of the owners of this site, but believe there are some good materials here that you can glean from.

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

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Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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FREE eBook – Where Lions Roar at Night

Sheri — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:43:57 +0000

Last summer I was able to read Where Lions Roar at Night by Rosie Boom to my kids. We LOVED it! It is kind of like a modern day Little House book, full of adventure…and all the stories are true!

Rosie Boom contacted me yesterday to let me know that she is offering the digital version of this book for FREE this week only!

Click here to go to the product page on Smashwords to download this ebook in several different formats (PDF, Kindle, Epub, etc.)!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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How NOT to miss a childhood!

Sheri — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Recently I found a blog that so resonates with my theme for the year…simplify and love. This blog is called Hands Free Mama and was begun by a mom who came to the realization that her electronic gadgets were consuming her life and she wasn’t really “living” at all. Life was just happening while she was busy texting, Facebooking, emailing, calling, etc. She was missing out on life…missing out on her children.

Here are a couple posts that have really spoken to me. Please take the time to stop now and read these, then come back here:

How to Miss a Childhood

The Children Have Spoken

I think one of the reasons that the Lord has me on this journey to simplify is so that I don’t miss out on my children’s lives.

I want to be present with my children…really present…not in another world of technology while in their presence.

I want my children to know how very special they are by my actions not only by my words.

Reading the responses of these children in the above post (The Children Have Spoken) just broke my heart. At the same time, I wonder what my children would answer to these questions. I’m not sure I would like the answers.

Coming across this blog and these posts confirms again the same message the Lord has been putting in front of me…live in the real world…don’t neglect those that the Lord has put in my life (esp. my children and husband)…live in the present, not in the past or future, but in each moment of today…really get to know my children and meet their needs…learn to really love.

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.

The Lord has given these children to me to love, to teach, to disciple, to really know. Am I?

I could relate to a few too many examples listed in the “How to Miss a Childhood” blog post linked to above. But I want my life to be like the second part of that blog post…the “How to Grasp a Childhood”.

I like the word grasp….it gives the impression of having to expend energy and effort to take hold of something. That is what I have to do with my children. It will involve energy, effort, sacrifice, to take hold of their lives in the “today” that God has given me. Not worrying about the future or beating myself up over parenting failures in the past, but counting each day as a “present” given to me by God to cherish and enjoy.

I pray that this challenges you as it has challenged me…again. Life is so short. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Let’s live today fully…counting each moment as the present that it is…and in the process learn to really love our children.

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

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Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

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Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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A great book and some updates!

Sheri — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:28:14 +0000

The Book…

I wanted to share about a book that I’ve been reading the past week or so. It is called The Invitation by Greg Sidders. As I have shared before, my focus for this year is “Simplify” and “Love “. Well, this book fits very nicely under the focus of “Love”. Jesus said that others will know we are His disciples by our love. I have been challenged to look at my own life and evaluate the extent that I love others…my husband, my children, and Jesus Christ Himself. Mr. Sidders looks at Jesus’ commands to love and brings that into our everyday lives. Often times we agree that we will “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him” but fail to apply this in our lives each day…moment by moment.

I have not completed this book yet – probably about 2/3 done – but I can’t recommend it enough!

The Cursive eBook…

Thanks to each of you who took the time to email me or leave comments about which font you would like me to start with in my cursive ebook series. It looks like I will begin with the A-Beka font first! I’ve been working hard to get this ebook completed so that you can have it before the summer is over. I actually am hoping to have it available for sale in a couple weeks, so watch for a post announcing it!

Once I complete the A-Beka version, I will be working on adding other fonts as well (Zaner Bloser, D’Nealian, Bob Jones, and Getty Dubay). I’m not sure on the timetable in completing these yet, but I will definitely post updates here on my blog as I get them done!

The Intentional Planner Updates…

It’s that time of year again for me to begin updating all the Intentional Planner calendars and forms for the 2013 year! For those of you with memberships, I will have all the new calendars and forms added by the end of June. I am excited about adding some new forms, developing the “Budget” section, and more! I will post updates here on my blog (as well as send out notices to the Intentional Planner Updates list) when all these updates are complete. Watch for those details coming next month!

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May each of you have a blessed weekend. Take the time to let your Mother know how very special she is!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

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Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Summertime Fun Chart {freebie}

Sheri — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

{Since many of you are winding down your homeschool year and are looking forward to the summer months, I thought I’d repost this from the archives! Download these editable PDF Summertime Fun Charts to fill in and do with your kids! Enjoy!}

I have a fun freebie for you today! Several years ago I made these Summertime Fun Charts to give my children some motivation for things to do during the summer break. I thought I’d share them with you.

Each chart is editable so that you can fill in your child’s name at the top, fill in the squares with activities for your children to do, and then fill in the “reward” when their chart is completed. Sound like fun?

Click here to download your copy today!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Any interest in a “Learn to write cursive” ebook?

Sheri — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:58:31 +0000

I have been kicking around the idea of creating an ebook on learning to write in cursive. The Create Your Own Penmanship Pages Ebook Series fills the need for helping your child learn to print, but now I am wondering if a cursive ebook would be nice to add to my homeschooling ebooks that I offer on my site.

Unlike the manuscript print fonts that I use in the Create Your Own Penmanship Ebook Series, the cursive fonts that I have require me to apply a special formatting to them in order to join each of the letters in a word. I cannot apply this formatting to the editable fields in the PDF file. Without this formatting, the letters have spaces between them which is not how you want to teach your child to write in cursive!

So…although I cannot create an editable PDF file for cursive writing like I have done with the manuscript print, I CAN create my own ebook that will go through how to write each letter in cursive, how to join letters, etc., but the text will be all mine. You will not be able to edit the ebook with your own text.

If there is an interest in this, I will start working on a cursive ebook that I can have available later this summer. I am also needing to know which cursive font I should use. Here are the fonts I am considering….

Would you do me a favor? If you are interested in a cursive ebook, could you leave me a comment indicating your interest AND which font you would like? More than likely, I can eventually create cursive ebooks for all the fonts shown above, but I need your help to know which one do to first! Thanks for your help!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Create Your Own Penmanship Series – Ebook Giveaway Winners!

Sheri — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:20:51 +0000

Thank you to everyone for entering our giveaway this week! The winners have been randomly selected. Congratulations to the following winners:

MaryAnne W. – maryanne.winters@….

Kim M. - kkmonday@….

Dicka - thenyes@….

I will be sending an email out shortly to the winners to confirm which of the ebooks in the series they would like.

Thanks again for joining the giveaway. If you didn’t win, you can still check out this ebook series here! These are wonderful ebooks to use to create all kinds of penmanship pages for your kids!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

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Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Making Homemade Vanilla Extract {a DIY Project}

Sheri — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

This is my first time making homemade vanilla extract. It wasn’t hard at all and it tastes SO good! Since it does take a bit of time before it is ready to use, you get to learn some patience too. Now I know most of the recipes you will find online use Vodka as the base to soak the vanilla beans in. My husband just couldn’t bring himself to allow me to go the liquor store (and I wasn’t sure I wanted to anyway!), so I did some more searching and found out you can use food-grade glycerine in place of the Vodka! Yeah! Enjoy the recipe!

HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT

4-8 vanilla beans (using more will make the extract stronger faster)
3 cups food-grade vegetable glycerine
1 cup filtered water

Slit the vanilla beans down the middle and then cut into inch-sized lengths. Put them in a clean quart jar.

Add in the glycerine and water to fill the quart jar. Put a lid on tightly and put the date on the lid.

Shake the jar daily for the first few weeks, then every few days after that (or as often as you remember!).

Allow to sit for 4-6 months.

When ready to use, you can strain out the vanilla beans or leave them in. Leaving them in will allow the vanilla extract to get even stronger as the days go by.

Discard the vanilla beans when you have used up the vanilla. OR you can dry the vanilla beans out, then stick them in a container with sugar to make vanilla sugar!

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Where did I get the ingredients?

Food-Grade Glycerine – I got mine from Azure Standard.

Vanilla Beans – Olive Nation has some GREAT vanilla beans. That is what I used.

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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New Ebook: Create Your Own Penmanship Pages-PenTime Manuscript Font

Sheri — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:14:47 +0000

I am currently holding a giveaway here on my blog featuring the Create Your Own Penmanship Pages Ebook Series. Well, one of my readers emailed me asking about whether I had any font that has the top line on the capital “J” and the tail on the lower case “q”. Guess what…I found one I could use! Today I added this brand new ebook to my eStore.

For those of you who are the winners of the giveaway (that ends Friday night), I will double check with you to see if you might want this ebook instead of the one you mentioned in your comment.

Click here to go to the product page where you can download a sample so that you can see what this font looks like!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Create Your Own Penmanship Pages Ebook Series {giveaway time!}

Sheri — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:03 +0000

I haven’t done a giveaway for a while now, so I thought it was time for one again! I know many of you are looking to next year and looking into options for curriculum, etc., so I thought it would be a good time to highlight this series of ebooks that I created last year…and hold a giveaway too! See giveaway details below…

This series of ebooks is very unique in that it allows you to create your own penmanship pages for your children. From simple ABC type pages, to copying sentences, to creating notebook pages for your history or science notebooks…these ebooks do it all!

Each ebook is based on a specific font, with 5 or 6 different styles to choose from.

Here is an example from the Abeka Manuscript Font ebook:

As you can see, each section of the ebook uses a slightly different font style so you can choose what you want to use.

Click here to see some sample pages and try it out (this sample is from the Abeka ebook).

I currently have 6 ebooks in this series….

PenTime Manuscript Font

Abeka Manuscript Font

Benson Slant Font

Bob Jones University Manuscript Font

D’Nealian Manuscript Font

Palmer Manuscript Font

Feel free to click on each link above and check out each font style. Sample pages are included on each product page so you can see clearly what the font is like.

Now for the giveaway….

I am going to give away to 3 winners an ebook of their choice from this series!

How YOU can enter to win an ebook:

Simply leave a comment on this blog post, stating that you would like to be entered in the ebook giveaway AND which ebook you would choose if you win! (Note: Facebook and Twitter readers will need to click through to my blog to leave a comment!)

All entries must be made by Friday night, May 4th. I will select the winners on Saturday morning.

I will post the winners here on my site, and email the ebooks out to the winners.

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Finding Joy in Handwritten Notes

Sheri — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:51:22 +0000

Over the past month or so, I have started a new weekly habit…mailing out at least one handwritten note. I have found such joy in ministering and encouraging others in this way. In this world of texting, messaging, emailing, etc., the handwritten note is getting lost. I want to bring it back in my own life…and encourage my children in this area as well. You will be amazed at the opportunities that the Lord will give you to minister through a handwritten note!

Over the weekend, a gal I went to high school with posted on her Facebook page that her 17 year old son is in Basic Training. (On a side note: They are a homeschooling family!) She wrote of his struggles to maintain his Christian witness while in close quarters with others who are not living for the Lord. He is determined to make a difference though. She shared that if anyone wanted to send him a note of encouragement to let her know and she would send his mailing address.

After reading her post, I felt the Lord nudge me that I needed to send a note of encouragement to this young man. So I messaged his mom, got is address, and yesterday we mailed him a card. I asked my younger children if they wanted to send anything in the card too. My 8 year old son and 5 year old daughter were really excited to do something for him. My son drew an Army guy (from a picture I printed off the internet) and my daughter colored a princess picture (I’m sure he is going to LOVE that one!) – both of these are shown in the picture above.

We all had a lot of fun knowing that were encouraging this young man in the Lord…doing something little in most people’s eyes, but knowing it was big in God’s eyes. We will be praying for this young man too…and just might send another card at a later time.

If you think this is something you may be interested in, here are a few steps you can take to get you started…

1. Order some nice cards. I really like the cards that you can buy through CBD. You can get a box of 12 very nice cards for $4-$5! That is even cheaper than buying the cheap cards at the Dollar Store! Make sure you have some cards and stamps on hand…now you are ready for the next step. Click here to go to the CBD website to look at their cards.

2. Make a list of people that you would like to send cards to. This can be family, friends, neighbors..whoever the Lord lays on your heart. This list will give you direction when you choose who to write a note to each week. Now there will be times that the Lord will bring an opportunity your way (like I shared above) and you will know without a doubt that that person is who needs a card that week. Listen to the Lord’s leading in this and allow Him to use you to encourage just the one who needs it. When you send a note, jot down the date you sent it next to their name. This list will be a record of who you have sent cards to and when. (I have made up a form for this that is going to be added to the Intentional Planner membership site soon!)

3. Each week, seek the Lord as to who to send a note of encouragement to, then sit down and do it. Address it, stamp it, and mail it out that day. Don’t put it in a pile to send out later. Do it now!

It really isn’t that hard to send a simple handwritten note. Pray and ask the Lord if this is something you can start doing to bless and encourage others. You will be blessed in return!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

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Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Spring Cleaning Challenge {May 2012}

Sheri — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:11 +0000

Time for our May Cleaning Checklist! Click below to download your copy today….post it on the refrigerator…and get to work. Happy cleaning!

Click here or on the graphic above to download the May Cleaning Checklist!

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Go to all the Spring Cleaning Challenge 2012 posts!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Living Book List for Science

Sheri — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:50 +0000

I’ve mentioned before how I like to incorporate different subjects into our reading time. It has never been hard to find history related books to read, but science has been a little harder.

I recently found this wonderful list of living books for science! The original list can be found posted on an old forum owned by Donna Young.

Living Book-list for Science

PHYSICS/TECHNOLOGY/INVENTION/ENGINEERING
The Lever and The Pulley by Hal Hellman
Mickey’s Magnet by Franklyn M. Branley and Eleanor K. Vaughan
How Do you Lift a Lion? by Robert E. Wells
Wheels At Work by Bernie Zubrowski
Diary of an Early American Boy by Eric Sloane
Science and the Bible by Donald B. DeYoung
Robots, What They Are, What They Do by Fredericka Berger
The Phone Book by MacLeod
The Way Things Work by David Macauley (His other books, too.) City, Castle, Cathedral, Pyramid, Underground, Ship, Mill
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Amazing Impossible Erie Canal by Harness
Eureka! It’s an Automobile by Bendick
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Bendick
Rocket: How a Toy Launched the Space Age by Maurer
Story of Inventions by McHugh/Bachman
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
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GEOLOGY/EARTH SCIENCE/ORIGIN OF EARTH
Exploring Planet Earth, The Journey of Discovery: from Early Civilization to Future Exploration by John Tiner
Mystery of the Ark
Mountain of Fire by Paul Thomsen
Volcanos by Seymour Simon
Banner in the Sky by Ramsey Ullman
The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne (topics include geology, physics, and chemistry)
Precious Gems: Their History and Mystery
Birth of an Island by Millicent Selsam (also can be used for biological sciences)
Volcano by Patricia Lauber
Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation by Dennis Peterson
Yellow and Pink by William Steig
Dry Bones and Other Fossils by Parker
Darwin’s Black Box by Michael Behe (for high school, also for biology)
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ASTRONOMY/SPACE EXPLORATION
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
To Space and Back by Sally Ride
Destination: Moon by Astronaut James Irwin
For Signs and For Seasons by Robert Messina
The Glow in the Dark Night Sky Book by Clint Hatchett
I’ll See You When the Moon is Full by Susi Fowler
Wait Til the Moon is Full by Margaret Wise Brown
Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey
Our Solar System by Seymour Simon (secular)
Moonwalk (A “Step into Reading” book)
For All Mankind (about Apollo missions)
Astronomy and the Bible by Donald B. DeYoung
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METEOROLOGY
The Weather Book by Michael Oard
Lightning by Seymour Simon
Hurry Spring by Sterling North
Scholastic’s “Wind and Weather” (interactive book)
THe Sun, WInd, and the Rain by Lisa Peters
Weather and the Bible by Donald B. DeYoung
Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll (a “Let’s Read and Find Out” science book, Children’s Reading Institute-Harper & Row)
Exploring Nature in Winter by Alan Cvancara
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BOTANY
Of Skies and Seas
The Rustling Grass
All Nature Sings all by Joanne DeJonge
Dancer’s in the Garden, etc by Joanne Ryder
This Year’s Garden by Cynthia Rylant
A Tree is Nice
Linnea’s Windowsill Garden by Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson
Rosy’s Garden by Laird
Shakespeare’s Flowers by Jessica Kerr
Wild Green Things in the City: a Book of Weeds by Anne Ophelia Dowden
The Blossom on the Bough: A Book of Trees by Anne Ophelia Dowden
Consider the Lilies: Plants of the Bible by John Patterson
The Rose in My Garden by Arnold Lobel
The Oak by Andrienne Sutter-Perrot
Heidi by Joanna Spyri
It’s the Apple Tree by Lynley Dodd
What Tree Is It?
What Wildflower Is It? and similar titles by Anna Pistorius
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MARINE/ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY
The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson
Tim Tadpole and the Great Bullfrog by Marjorie Flack
Steven and the Green Turtle by William Cromie (I Can Read Book)
Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
The Sea Brings Forth
Time of the Turtle, and other titles by Jack Rudloe (marine biologist, for older children, there are some curse words)
Pond Water Zoo
Fish Do the Strangest Things
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl
Pagoo by Holling C Holling
Jacques Costeau’s Ocean World
Picta the Painted Turtle by Virginia Frances Voight
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EARTH ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY
Lucky Ladybugs, etc by Gladys Conklin
Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher by Jim Arnosky
A Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
The View from the Oak by Judith and Herbert Kohl
The Snail’s Spell, and other titles by Joanne Ryder
The Very Busy Spider
The Very Hungry Catepillar and other titles by Eric Carle
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Stella Luna
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children
Wolves by Seymour Simon
Song of the Swallows by Leo Polloti
Big Red, and other titles about dogs by James Kjeldahl
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Wild Animals I have Known by Ernest Seton Thompson
Julie of the Wolves
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Misty of Chincoteague, and other titles about horses by Marguerite Henry
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Insects Do the Strangest Things
Animals Do the Strangest Things (“Step Up” readers 3rd gr level)
Lad: A Dog by Alberts Payson Terhune
Linnea’s Almanac by Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson
If Animals Could Talk by Coleman
Wonderful Worms by Glaser
Freckles
Girl of Limberlost, and other titles by Gene Stratton Porter
Slim Green
Books by Jim Arnosky: Nearer Nature, Watching Foxes, Come out Muskrats, Rabbits and Raindrops, Otters Under Water, All Night Near the Water
Books by Millicent Selsam (some evolutionary content)
“I Can Read” titles, Tony’s Birds, Benny’s Animals, Let’s Get Turtles, Egg to Chick, Seeds and More Seeds, Hidden Animals, Greg’s Microscope, Terry and the Caterpillars
How to Be a Nature Detective, How Animals Talk, How Plants Move, etc.
The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader
The Year at Maple Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
Ants are Fun by Mildren Myrick
Where’s Inky? by Sam Campbell
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (and other titles by same author)
“Step into Reading” books, Dolphins!, Hungry Hungry Sharks, Monster Bugs, S-S-Snakes, Whales the Gentle Giants, Wild Wild Wolves
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Little Rascal by Sterling North
Methuselah’s Gift by Mary Elizabeth Edgren
Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
The Trumpet of the Swan
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Animals and Their Young by Anita Ganeri
Animalia by Graeme Base
Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel
The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible by Paul Taylor
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HUMAN BODY/BIOLOGY
Learning About Sex series for the Christian Family
Rabies by Elaine Landau
Focus on Medicine by Susan Destefano
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks (for teens with discernment, stories of mental illness, neurology, psychology)
My Body Inside and Out by Dr. Anne Townsend
The Disease Fighters by Aaseng
THe Reader’s Digest ABC of the Human Body (read aloud with suitable editing for teens)
Germs Make Me Sick by Melvin Berger
Double Helix by James D. Watson (high school)
Dr. Beaumont and the Man with a Hole in His Stomach
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Philip Yancey
Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Heritage History: Young Readers {My Review}

Sheri — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:04:18 +0000

I was so excited to receive a copy of Heritage History’s Young Readers Curriculum (on CD) to review. We will be continuing the study of American History in our read-aloud time next year and I was looking for some more books to add to our reading list. I was amazed at what is included on this CD! Not only are there 86 complete illustrated books, but timelines, reading recommendations, short biographies, historical images, AND a printable Teacher’s Guide!

The literature included on this CD represents a broad introduction to all of Western Civilization. The subjects covered are: American, European, and Ancient History, Bible and saint stories, legends and literature. The reading material can be read by an older grammar school student, but they are also appropriate for reading aloud to younger children.

The neat thing about this curriculum is that everything is included on one CD. All the books are available as PDF files to print out AND as mobile versions that can be loaded on your Nook, Kindle, or iPad! This is probably the part I like best. I love reading old classic literature to my children, but most of these can only be found online in PDF file format and need to be printed out in order to read. I don’t like reading books that I have to print out. Having them on my Kindle is much easier and doesn’t use ink and paper! Plus, you can load the books on multiple e-readers so that more than one child can be reading at a time. Love it!

Another awesome feature about this curriculum is the printable Teacher’s Guide that includes timelines, famous people from history, recommended reading, and more! You can use the Teacher’s Guide to enhance your study if you wish, or simply use the books included for your reading time.

They not only offer these curriculum CDs, but also CD libraries of ebooks on different topics.

If you are looking for a good resource full of good literature for your history study, check out Heritage History!

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Learning all about herbs…and loving it!

Sheri — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:30 +0000

In the past I have done a little reading on growing herbs and making natural remedies (tinctures, salves, etc.), but never really have done anything about it. Well the past couple weeks I have had so much fun purchasing some herbs (and even finding some in my own yard that I thought were weeds…more on that in a bit), and getting some natural remedies brewing! I plan on posting more later after these remedies are done and I try them out. But for now I just want to share what I have been up to…

From left to right: Herbal Hand Sanitizer, Herbal Insect Repellent, Plantain Tincture

I am just going to give a brief description of these now, but will plan on doing more detailed posts later with links to recipes and where to buy the herbs. I want to make sure these work before I post them! I should note also that these mixtures need to be shaken up daily during the time that they are “brewing”. Ok…here we go…

Herbal Hand Sanitizer

This is a mixture of apple cider vinegar, lemon peel, and orange peel. Once it has sat for a few weeks, I will add in some Eucalyptus oil (I didn’t have any Eucalyptus to put in the jar, so I am adding some oil at the end). When it is done I will strain out the herbs and put the liquid in a spray bottle to use as a hand sanitizer.

Herbal Insect Repellent

I am very excited about this one, as I have a son who is a mosquito magnet! I hope this works! I hate spraying him with the store-bought sprays…they smell nasty and when you accidentally breathe some of it in…yuck! I bought an herb mix for this called Vinegar of the Four Thieves. It contains rosemary, sage, lavender, wormwood, and peppermint. Garlic is added in at the end of the infusion time for a few days. These herbs are placed in a quart jar and then fill the quart jar with apple cider vinegar. It has to sit for two weeks and then it is ready to use. I will strain the herbs off and use the liquid to make insect repellent by putting half water, half vinegar mixture in a spray bottle.

Plantain Tincture

Plantain is an herb that is used for drawing out poisons or toxins from bites or stings. This tincture can be applied to bites or stings and can also be used to clear up your complexion. I want to try this out before I post more on how it works. The cool thing about Plaintain is that YOU probably have some growing in your yard! You would not believe my excitement when I found several big patches in our yard (yes, I guess there is some blessings that come from a yard full of weeds!). One of the kids helped me pick a huge bowl of Plantain to use for this tincture. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

All it has in it is apple cider vinegar and Plantain leaves that have been broken and torn up. I filled the jar with the Plantain and then added the vinegar to fill it up. It will need to sit for a couple weeks before it is ready to use. When done, I will strain out the Plantain and put the liquid in a glass jar. I can then use a cotton ball to apply to bites or stings, or to use on my face (if you use it on your face, it is only for a short time-a few weeks-to pull toxins from your skin and clear your complexion.

I plan on using Plantain (since we have so much of it!) to infuse oils for lotions and salves too! Can’t wait to try those soon!

If you don’t know what Plantain looks like, here is a picture of some from our yard:

As you can see, the veins in the leaves run from the stem up to the edges of the leaves. I guess I always thought these were dandelion plants…now I can see the difference when I look at the leaves. If you have some in your yard, just make sure you wash it and then make yourself some Plantain Tincture!

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As you can see, I am having some fun! I will do some more detailed posts later when I have had a chance to try these out. Now I’m just praying for patience as I shake these jars every day…waiting to give them a try!

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the services of licensed, professional health care providers. Readers are encouraged to use this material in conjunction with the advice of their physician.

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These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Super Notebooking Set – Now available – Sale ends Friday!

Sheri — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:09:21 +0000

Cindy and her tech guy worked all day yesterday and finally got the problem fixed!

Click here to go to my post about this wonderful notebooking set…and for details how you can receive my Decorated Journal Pages ebook free!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Cindy Rushton’s Awesome Notebooking Set – SUPER Sale!!! {3 days only}

Sheri — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:00:23 +0000

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Cindy’s website is fixed now! Go check out this awesome sale while it lasts! Because of the problems Cindy is leaving this sale up through Friday! Yeah!

In my early years of homeschooling, I was very blessed and encouraged by materials by Cindy Rushton. Well, I just found out that Cindy is running a crazy 72 hour sale on her Everything You Need to Begin Notebooking Super Set.

PLUS!!! If you purchase this set through my link, you will receive my Decorated Journal Pages for the Whole Family ebook…free! {See instructions below stating how to get this ebook after your purchase!}

With every set that Cindy offers, she builds a private, exclusive Membership Site that includes everything you need to get started in one place–it has audios, ebooks, printable notebooking pages, on and on.

She is offering her set at a crazy price of only $37.00 (the price goes back up in a week to the normal price of $97.00).

Anyway, back to the reason that I am sharing with you…

Cindy just sent me permission to give you a sampler of one of her free gifts that is included on the Membership Site. I am so excited to give it to you! It is a audio and ebook set that she actually sells on her website, but she is giving away on the Membership Site. Here is the link:

A Quick Start for Notebooking Mini-Set!

Need ideas for encouraging your young writers and QUICK? Ready for a FUN way to encourage your most reluctant writer to write AND like it??? This fun-filled, hands-on workshop is one that you simply CANNOT miss!! Cindy Rushton, who has become known through the years as THE BINDER QUEEN, uses Notebooking for EVERYTHING! She will show you how to begin whether your child is a toddler or the most skeptical high schoolers. This workshop is sure to light a fire that will equip YOU to help your children deepen their studies and document learning all along the way!

TOPICS FOR THIS WORKSHOP INCLUDE: Hey! Do I Have A Chance At This??; Why On Earth Notebook???; Down to the Nitty Gritty…WHAT Do I Need and HOW Do I Do It?; Step-by-Step Through Notebooking; Scrapbooking! YES! You CAN Have Fun Homeschooling; Hey? What is Legal? What All Goes Into A Notebook???; Developing FUN Studies That Teach and Inspire!!; Copywork…Answers to ALL of Your Questions; Taking the Writer From Reluctant to Researching; Ideas, Ideas, Ideas, There’s Gotta Be One for You; PLUS Much, Much More! PLUS! Cindy doesn’t stop with the workshop, she also includes the Q/A Session after the workshop AND her handouts/samples of student notebooks. Awesome!

Let’s Try Notebooking Audio Mp3:
(Cindy’s Workshop)
http://www.cindysdesktop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/TALNotebookingPartOne.mp3

(Questions and Answers)
http://www.cindysdesktop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/TALNotebookingPartTwo.mp3

Handouts:
http://www.cindyrushton.com/Ebooks/LetsTryNotebooking!.pdf

Samples of Student Notebooks:
http://www.cindyrushton.com/Ebooks/SamplesofStudentNotebooks.pdf

Take my word for it, you will WANT to grab this set and access to all of the wonderful resources. Remember…this sale only lasts 72 hours! Grab your ticket here:

http://sherigraham.com/notebookingsuperset

To receive the Decorated Journal Pages for the Whole Family free… simply email me a copy of your receipt and I will get your ebook to you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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Book Giveaway: It’s Me or the Coupons!

Sheri — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:57:54 +0000

My friend, Beth Cranford, is giving away 2 copies of her ebook, It’s Me or the Coupons, as well as a couple other books!

Click here to check out the giveaway and to enter! The giveaway ends Friday night…so hop on over now to enter!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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New eBook: Natural Cleaners for the Home!

Sheri — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:48:20 +0000

Many of you asked and I listened! I just completed a brand new ebook:
Natural Cleaners for the Home!

In this ebook you will find all the homemade cleaners that I use in my own home, nicely formatted for you to print and add to your Recipe Notebook!

CLICK HERE to grab your copy today!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

These "gifts" will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Sheri Graham to subscribe. Thank you!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Gifts...Would you consider giving the gift of hope to a child today? Click here to sponsor a child through Compassion today!.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Click here to check out our ebooks on homemaking and homeschooling!

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