Unique Family Vision

FREE Family iD Small Group Materials!!!

2012-04-02T13:18:00.000-05:00

This has got to be one of my favorite posts of this entire blog. You guys, I can not wait to share this with you! The whole reason I created Unique Family Vision was to share what God was revealing to us about family. He used a seminar we went to a few years back to open the doors wide for us to embrace our family as a team, to raise up our oldest as a team captain, to be faithful with family building exercises, to cut down on sibling rivalry, and to implement a family mission and vision statement so our kids know what path to follow. Now they fully understand what our family is about, what is expected of them, and how to get there.

We are about to move overseas to work and we will, with the exception of one other family, be alone. I am SO grateful that God has prepared us for this. Our family does function like a team and I am certain it is because we applied what we learned through Famiy iD Ministries. This will truly benefit us as individuals and as a family as we venture out into the unknown and learn to serve those around us (who don't speak our language) while understanding how to meet each others needs.

Family iD has been so gracious! They allowed me to put up their information on my site for free. It is truly their heart for all families to first realize their need for creating a mission/vision statement and second, to understand the value and reward for passing it down. Their goal is to" teach and train more than one million families world wide to "stir it up" and draw out the God-given purpose for their family, to lead them to "write it down", to equip them to "live it out", and inspire them to "pass it on" to future generations." Isn't that an incredible vision?

I have been honored to help them spread this word and teaching through my website and small group as well as sharing it with all my family and friends. BUT I have not included all their information nor have I set it up for a small group series. Owning this course will be of GREAT value to your family!

NOW YOU TOO can have this information in small group material form at your house for you to implement yourself and to share with your friends, family, and church (and get this!...) at NO charge! They even cover shipping.

They are really stepping out in faith by offering this to anyone willing to commit to a small group. You will receive a DVD series and reproducible material.

Ever led a small group? This is the easiest way to do it! Just invite friends, put in the DVD, watch it and follow through with the teaching! It is so simple and for us it was life changing! Who doesn't want their family transformed? Made better than before? Taught how to function as a team? Have kids that get along with each other? Have kids that know what their life is supposed to look like? Have grand-kids that know what their grandparents wanted for their family and know how to ensure that mission gets passed down to the great-grand kids? You see where I am going with this? It's good stuff!

REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE THE FREE SMALL GROUP MATERIAL:

1. Send Family iD an email with the dates of your small group. They will mail you your material or provide you with a download link. Once you have had your first meeting, you can simply email them your roster/emails to Family iD Ministries.

2. Lead the 8 week session. (That's the fun part~ watching families find their purpose!!)

3. Ask everyone in the small group to write a thank you note to Family iD ministries letting them know that you intend to truly walk out what you have learned so that their investment into your family is not wasted. (This can be done at your last session.)

4. Please take up a love offering for them so that the next small group can have theirs for free too! That is how you got yours!! Another group blessed Family iD and made it available for you. Please be sure to pass on that kindness by returning the favor.

See how easy that is? It is SO worth it. I could go on and on telling you that, but I need to go so you will not waste another minute! Go, Go, Go talk to your friends, set a date and email it to Family iD. You can email them through the link below or mail it in to:

Family Vision Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 5843

Edmond, OK 73083-5843

You can email them by clicking HERE.

After you have done that, buy some snacks, have your friends over, and get started changing your family so that YOUR family can change the world!

Want to see more?

Go HERE to hear from Family iD ministries: "Do you have a dream house? What about your dream home? Hear from Greg Gunn as he shares "eleven ways to build a dream home, room by room– a home of peace, love, passion and purpose."

Disclaimer: I did receive a free small group packet...just like you will!

Six Flags Homeschool Day 2012

2012-03-27T10:33:00.000-05:00

May 18th--- Mark your calendars!

Six Flags hosts a yearly homeschool day where we receive discounted rates and a fun day dedicated to building family time.

If you want to go this year, there are some things you should know...

This is for the Georgia park only (as far as I know...correct me if I am wrong please!)

Go to Sixflags.com.
Choose Atlanta, GA Park. (Don't forget this step, it's really important!)
In the promo box in the upper right hand corner put your code in.

For the full package including admission, all you can eat sandwich/chips/drink lunch and a return summer ticket you pay $28.00. Code HOMESMEAL

For admission only, you pay $20.00 and it only includes an admission ticket. Code HOMESCH

Parking is only $5.00 and I believe there is a $12.00 processing fee for entire order.

This is a great deal! For only 8 dollars more, you get all you can eat lunch AND a return ticket!!

I hope you can join us! Thank you SIX FLAGS!

Homeschool Freebie

2012-03-12T12:58:00.000-05:00

Thank you Gluten Free Birmingham for letting me know about a freebie for homeschoolers!

Download the March issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for free!

The Old Testament Bible Challenge for Kids

2012-03-05T15:29:00.000-06:00

Photo Credit

How would you like to provide an easy way for your kids to learn fun, interesting information in each book of the Bible? With this idea, they can extract the big ideas from each book. Doesn't that sound awesome? It does to me. I can't wait to start!

There are several ways you could use this:

Family devotions: Each night, take a topic and read the story together and talk about it. So many wonderful discussions and teaching moments could come from this. Give your oldest children the responsibility of creating the devotion from the information. Leadership training!
It could be used as a Bible Curriculum for your older homeschooler-they could research the topics and write a paper on as many topics as you want them to or for the younger ones, you could give a lesser challenge that fits their age and ability such as having your child find the verses and write about it, talk about it, or act it out... the sky is the limit.
Family Fun! It could be a guessing game: My kids LOVE to play trivia games. Make it a bedtime tradition. It could be a game called "What Book is This Found In?".
Come up with your own idea and please, do share with us in the comment section below :)

You could require different things...make a skit, create an interview between two characters in the story, a speech, a monologue, paper, a devotion, or develop a game. Switch it up. Use the stories for a grammar lesson to find the adjectives or prepositional phrases. There are so many options here.

Not a homeschooler?? Not a problem! I encourage you as a parent to use it to help you train your children in the things of God.We have all been given a mandate to raise our children up in the way they should go and this is a tool to help you do it. A fun one at that!

Take a look at the facts found in each book. It won't take long to see that this will be a fun project for our kids and you might learn a little something too!

Genesis

FIND:

The first skyscraper: Gen 11:1-9

The woman who became a mother at the age of ninety 17:17

The first child ever born 4:1

The prisoner in a dungeon who became a prince overnight 4:1

The first set of clothes in the world 3:7

The oldest man in the Bible 5:25-27

The baby born with an ID bracelet 38:27-30

The best dressed kid in town 37:3

Exodus

FIND:

The rock that turned into a drinking fountain 17:1-6

A river of blood 7:19-24

The people who painted their door frames with blood 12:6-7,13

The golden cow that people had to drink 32:1-20

The stick that turned into a snake 7:10-12

The frogs in the bedroom 8:1-15

A bush on fire that never burned up 3:1-2

A cloud that held fire instead of rain 13:21-22

The man who couldn't put his arms down 17:8-13

The meal that had to be eaten very fast 12:11

Leviticus

FIND:

The goat that was sent into the wilderness 16:10,20-22

The feast without yeast 23:6-8

Fire that fell from the sky 9:24

The law to stay away from witches and sorcerers 20:6

Animals the Israelites were not allowed to eat 11:4-7

The dramatic way God punished two men for disobedience 10:1-2

People who were supposed to shout when they walked down the street 13:45-46

Numbers

FIND:

The birds that made everyone sick 11:18-34

The snake that people ran to see 21:4-9

When Moses counted to 603,550 1:1-2,20-46

The people who could never get a haircut 6:1-5

Spies in the land of giants 13-14

The talking donkey 22:21-36

The people who spent forty years wandering in circles 14:33-35

A pillar of fire 9:15-23

The special blessing 6:22-27

The Shepherd's staff that grew flowers 17:7-8

The people who were swallowed up by the earth 16:31-33

Deuteronomy

FIND:

The shoes that didn't wear out for forty years 29:5

The biggest bed in the Bible 3:11

An animal not raised on any Israelite farm 14:8

The purpose of all the laws God gave his people 6:2

Where Moses kept all the laws in this book 31:24-26

The twelve curses the Levites had to shout 27:11-26

The big decision everyone had to make 11:26-28

What we are supposed to do with God's laws 7:11

What people were supposed to tie on their fingers 6:6-8

Rules for helping neighbors 22:1-4

A whole list of foods you could and couldn't eat 14:1-21

The Ten Commandments 5:6-21

What causes us to forget God 8:11

How much you should love God 6:4-5

What kind of reputation the people would have if they obeyed God 4:6-8

Joshua

FIND:

The army that walked through a river and didn't get wet 3:12-17

Two spies who hid on a rooftop and weren't found 2:6-15

The day the sun stood still 10:13-14

A shout that destroyed a city 6:20

The scarlet rope that saved a woman's life 2:17-21

The commander of God's angel army 5:13-15

Twelve stones the Israelites could not forget about 4:1-11

The bad trick played on Joshua 9:3-27

The man who let down a whole nation 7

Judges

FIND:

The haircut that sent a man to prison 16:4-22

Animals that wore jewelry 8:26

The city gate that was found on a hilltop 16:1-3

The woman who gave Israel forty years of peace 4:4; 5:31

The lion that met its match 14:5-9

The woman who threw a millstone on a king's head 1:4-6

The king with no thumbs or big toes 3:15-30

The left handed judge 3:15-30

The man who lost his daughter over a foolish vow 11:30-35

The angel with the bad news 2:1-5

The angel inside a fire 13:19-21

How 300 soldiers defeated an army of 135,000 7:1-8:21

The miracle of the fleece 6:33-40

Ruth

FIND:

The sandal that helped two people get married 4:1-12

The name of the city Ruth and Naomi returned to 1:19

What Ruth did in the fields 2:2

What gleaning was 2:15-18

The famous king who was a descendant of Ruth and Boaz 4:16-17

The land Ruth was from 1:1-4

1 Samuel

FIND:

Why oil was poured on a boy's head 16:1-13

The man who became king while searching for his donkeys 9:1-20

How a boy killed a giant 17:32-58

Israel's biggest enemy 4:1

How the Ark of the Covenant was captured 4:1-22

The soldier sentenced to die for eating some honey 14:24-45

The weapon that killed the giant Goliath 17:48-49

Best friends 18:1-4

What was hidden in Abinadab's home for twenty years 7:1-2

One of God's weather weapons in defeating the Philistines 7:10

The flying spear that almost killed David 18:9-13

What happened when David and his men were hiding in a cave and Saul walked in 24:1-22

Why David went to live with the enemy Philistines 27:1-3

The death of Israel's first king 31:1-13

The rude man who got himself in big trouble 25:2-42

The sleepy boy who was woken up by God 3:1-19

2 Samuel

FIND:

The man who had a bad hair day 18:9-15

The giant with the twelve fingers and twelve toes 21:20-21

What David brought to Jerusalem with much singing and celebration 6:12-23

The city that was captured by sneaking through a tunnel 5:6-12

The strange sound that helped defeat the Philistine army 5:17-25

The man who touched the Ark of the Covenant when he wasn't supposed to 6:6-8

God's great promise to David 7:16

The son who tried to kill his father to become king 9:1-11

The two friends who hid inside a well to help David 15:1-12

David's song of praise to God 22

Three men who risked their lives to get someone a drink of water 23:13-17

The woman who threw a man's head over the city wall to stop a rebellion 20:21-22

1 Kings

FIND:

The baby that was almost cut in two 3:16-28

The greatest songwriter in the bible 4:29-32

The man who poured water on his wood before starting a fire 18:30-38

Two caves that saved one hundred men from certain death 18:3-4

The couple who received an entire city as a wedding present 9:16

The huge building that was put together without using a hammer 6:7

The prophet who outran a horse 18:46

The man who became king after David 1:28-53

The famous queen who visited Solomon 10:1-13

What Solomon chose when God told him he could have anything he wanted 3:5-10

What all the Temple furniture was made of 7:48

The most wicked king and queen Israel ever had 16:29-31

The name of the Temple room where the Ark of the Covenant was kept 8:6

The mistake that divided Solomon's kingdom in two 12:1-20

What caused Solomon to turn away from God 11:3-4

2 Kings

FIND:

The man who washed in a dirty river to become clean 5:14-17

The boys who were attacked by bears 2:23-24

A ride to heaven in a chariot of fire 2:9-12

The man known as the craziest chariot driver in Israel 9:20

The boy who became king at age eight 22:1-2

The two prophets with similar names 2:9-15

The ax head that floated on water 6:1-7

The jar of oil that never ran out 6:8-23

The blind army 6:8-23

The nation of Israel taken into captivity 17:6-23

A King's prayer that turned back the enemy army 19:14-35

When the sun went backwards 20:9-11

The last king of Judah 25:1-7

The Babylonian king who conquered Judah and carried the people away 25:1

1 Chronicles

FIND:

Soldiers who could shoot an arrow and sling a stone with either hand 12:2

The singing king who also made musical instruments 23:4-5

The first person mentioned in this book 1:1

The man who fought a lion in a pit on a snowy day 11:22

The man who wanted to build a temple- but God wouldn't let him 17:1-15

How many children David had 3:1-9

The giant with six fingers and six toes 20:6-7

2 Chronicles

FIND:

Hilkiah's amazing discovery at the Temple 34:14

The most beautiful building in the world 3:3-17

The king who had twenty eight sons and sixty daughters 11:18-21

The king who became a leper 26:16-21

Why no one wanted a man named Shishak in town 12:1-12

How one man's prayer saved a nation 32:20-22

The bad news prophet 18:16-17

What Solomon chose when God offered him anything he wanted 1:7-10

Who visited Solomon with gifts loaded onto camels 9:1-12

The boy king 24:1-2

The wicked King who killed his own children 33:6

The Temple in flames 36:17-21

Ships carrying apes and peacocks 9:21

Ezra

FIND:

The first building the Jews worked on when they arrived in Jerusalem 3:8-9

People listening to a speech in the rain 10:9

The country where the Jews were held captive 1:1

The king who let the Jews go home 1:2

People who laughed and cried-at the same thing 3:12-13

A letter that stopped the rebuilding of the Temple 4:6-24

The king who gave away 30 bowls of solid gold 1:9-10

Two famous prophets who kept the people working 5:1

Why a man pulled out his hair 9:2-3

How many Jews returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel 2:64-65

Nehemiah

FIND:

What Nehemiah did when people made fun of him 4:4

Why Nehemiah wanted to go to Jerusalem 2:3-4

How many days it took to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem 6:15

The prayer that had to be fast 2:4

The two bullies who picked on Nehemiah 4:1-3

A secret ride at night 2:11-15

Nehemiah's occupation 1:11

Esther

FIND:

The hardest decision Esther had to make 4:4-16

The big beauty pageant 2:1-18

Why a man covered himself with ashes 4:1

A decision made with a ring 3:10

The queen who didn't want to be gawked at 1:11-12

A golden scepter that saved the queen's life 5:2

The man who was hung on his own gallows 7:1-10

A plot to assassinate the king 2:21-23

Job

FIND:

The man who had a hair raising experience 4:15

Satan's bargain with God 1:6-22

How Job ended up 42:10-17

The names of Job's three friends 2:11

How God answered Job 38-41

What was as heavy as the sand on a thousand beaches 6:2-3

Psalms

FIND:

Where being a doorman would be great 84:10

The Psalm that says the Lord is your Shepherd 23

The nation God stepped on 60:9-12

People who are like trees planted by a river 1:2-3

When God is like a rock 62:2

God's voice splitting giant trees and shaking mountains 29:4-6

A curtain that covers the earth 104:2-3

The shortest Psalm 117

The longest Psalm 119

Proverbs

FIND:

What's as bad as yanking on a dog's ear 26:17

The two goals we should pursue 3:21

Something more valuable than rubbies 8:11

What makes a mother sad 10:1

How to become wise 1:7-9

Godlen apples in a silver basket 25:11

Why God punishes us 3:11-12

Four things too wonderful to understand 30:18-19

What you'll forget if you love someone 17:9

Ecclesiastes

FIND:

The right time for everything 3:1-8

What is better than being rich 7:11

What Solomon calls a "wonderful thing" 11:7

The triple-braided cord 4:12

The fastest runner who didn't win the race 9:11

How to be better off than most people 8:12

Impprtant words for those who are young 12:1

The duty of all people 12:13

Dead flies in a bottle of perfume 10:1

Song of Solomon

FIND:

The chariot with a canopy of gold 3:9-10

Teeth like sheep's wool 4:2

Isaiah

FIND:

The person with the longest name in the Bible 8:1

The man who kissed a burning coal from the fire 6:6-7

What God will never think of again 43:25

When children will play with wild animals 11:6

When Isaiah saw the Lord 6:1

The man who walked around naked for three years 20:3

The city where justice lives 33:5

The prophecy about Jesus' death 53:1-12

What stains the inside of you and who can remove it 1:18

The perfect ruler 9:6-7

Giant trees that will bow to the ground 2:13

Wolves that are friendly to lambs 11:6

The army that was destroyed without a battle 37:36

The day time went backwards 38:8

Jeremiah

FIND:

The biggest hammer in the world 50:22-25

The people who had to live in tents all their lives 35:6-7

How old rags saved Jeremiah's life 38:10-13

The man who wore a heavy ox yoke to teach a lesson 27:1-2

The stain that no soap can wash away 2:22

The king who burned a scroll with the words of God on it 36:21-25

Smoke signals 6:1

The most deceitful thing on earth 17:9

The story of the good figs and bad figs 24:1-10

The day Jerusalem was destroyed 39:1-18; 52:1-34

Lamentations

FIND:

The city that shed tears 1:1-2

The people's only hope of being saved 3:21-22

Why God tossed away the city like a dirty rag 1:8

The men who threw dust on their heads 2:10

Ezekiel

FIND:

Why God told Ezekiel to eat a book 3:1-4

A cloud of fire 1:4

The man who had to lie on his left side for 390 days 4:4-5

A mighty dragon 29:3

The man who was called "son of dust" 2:1

God's promise to return the captives to their homes 39:25-29

The strange beings with four faces 1:5-11

A day that will be black as night 32:7-8

The strange haircut5:1-4

THe river that heals anyone who touches it 47:9

The man who dropped burning coals onto a city 10:2

A gret city that sank in the sea 27

A valley of bones that turned into living people 37:1-10

Fire raining down from heaven 39:6

The magnificent temple built for God and his people 40

Daniel

FIND:

The king who ate grass 4:33

The mysterious hand writing a message on a palace wall 5:5

The man who slept with lions 6:16-22

Three men who were thrown into a blazing fire- and lived! 3:23-26

The boys who ate their vegetables 1:16

The king who had a terrible nightmare 2:1

The man who broke the law by praying 6:6-10

The secret Daniel had to keep 12:4

Lightning that came from an angel's face 10:5-6

The four huge beasts 7

Hosea

FIND:

A half-baked cake 7:8

The people who trusted a piece of wood more than God 4:12

What Israel had to do to keep from being captured 14:1-3

The man who had to buy his wife for eight bushels of barley 3:2

What God wanted from his people most of all 6:6

The people who kissed cows 13:2

Joel

FIND:

The plague of locusts 1:4-7

The place God called home 3:21

The prayer that brought food 2:17-19

the ministers who cried all night long 1:13

The day the moon turned to blood 2:31

All the armies of the world gathered in the same valley 3:2

Amos

FIND:

God roaring like a lion 1:2

What ws traded for a pair of shoes 2:6

Why God showed Amos a basket full of fruit 8:2

What Amos did before he was a prophet 1:1; 7:14-15

"Cow" girls 4:1

Obadiah

FIND:

The cliff dwellers 1:3

Why God will punish Edom 1:10-11

Jonah

FIND:

The man who became fish food

A hungry worm

The strangest place anyone has prayed to God from

A one-way ticket

The man overboard

A city saved from destruction

Micah

FIND:

The Lord ruling the whole world from Jerusalem 4:2

The city about to crumble into a heap of rubble 1:6

The search fro an honest person 7:1-2

The people who shaved their heads because they were so sad 1:16

The day when all weapons will be destroyed 4:3

Nahum

FIND:

The city Nahum wrote about 1:1

The only place to go when trouble comes 1:7

What will happen to Ninevah 2:1

Habakkuk

FIND:

Questions for God 1

God's answer 2

Habakkuk's prayer 3

How a person can run like a deer 3:19

Zephaniah

FIND:

The day of judgment 1:8

God singing a joyous song 3:17-18

The small group that will be spared God's wrath 2:7

Haggai

FIND:

The day when the heavens and earth will shake 2:6,21

The church that needed to be built 1:2-8

Zechariah

FIND:

The man who measured a whole city with a yardstick 2:1-2

A basket with something terrible inside 5:6

Why god told the people to get going 8:9

The man on a red horse 1:8

The Lord coming to live on earth with his people 2:10-13

A flying scroll 5:1

The mountain that will split in two 14:4

Malachi

FIND:

The great Judgment Day 4:1

How we rob God 3:8-10

People who think it's too hard to serve God 1:13

I discovered this list through the "Did You Find It" section in the Kids Application Bible/TLB Translation.

The Ultimate Field Trip by Disney

2012-02-15T09:51:00.000-06:00

Homeschool Family Owned and Operated

Making Dreams a Reality since 2005

Announcing The Details of The Ultimate Field Trip!

Now enjoying our 8th year of Fun at Walt Disney World® Resort.

In 2012 we're partnering with The Homeschool Lounge and Magical Mouse Schoolhouse to bring you the best Disney has to offer!

Breaking News!! Steve Barrett (author of the Hidden Mickey Guide and also known as the Hidden Mickey Guy) will be our special guest at the Mega Meet!

Getting To Know The Group

This year The Homeschool Lounge has provided us with an online group where we can chat freely in relative anonymity from the non-homeschool world. You can also interact with us on Facebook, Twitter and of course, by emailing us directly. We welcome your questions and comments and every opportunity to improve and grow to meet the needs of our attendees.

Grabbing Educational Opportunities
We have great (free!) options for all of the families attending provided by Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS School. Not only that, they will help us provide multiple fun and friendly educational options for you to explore at home before your trip.

Our Resort of Choice for 2012

Disney's Pop Century Resort!

No one is required to stay in the same resort to participate in UFT 2012 - but it does increase your chance of participating in spontaneous pool time, bus line and food court fun!

Sample Pricing for your family can be found here.
Get exact pricing for FREE by requesting a no-obligation quote from one of our team.

We apply every discount available to your package at first opportunity - even AFTER you have booked!

As soon as you're serious about considering The Ultimate Field Trip, your first step is to Get a quote for YOUR family with multiple resort options onsite and links sent to your inbox to look at pictures of each resort. We want you to have what is the best option for YOUR family!

About Our Events

All of our events are 100% optional. We do have a completely free, online sign up, which allows us to plan well and make sure there are an adequate number of giveaways for our attendees, but we recognize that for many families this is a trip packed full of amazing options and it may not be possible to do everything!

Dinner at Pepper Market
September 3, 2012

Prior to our Mega Meet, many families will be enjoying dinner at Pepper Market. We'll have multiple hosts set up to greet families as they enter Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and head over to enjoy a meal that's one of the best values on property, with excellent food prepared to suit every palate, allergy and preference.

UFT Mega-Meet

September 3, 2012

Our opening event in 2012 will be held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center in a private room. Our annual Mega Meet is where every family is able to pick up their itinerary hot-off-the-press, commemorative giveaways and specialty items created just for their children. This years Special Guest is Steve Barrett - The Hidden Mickey Guy!

Magic Kingdom® Park Scavenger Hunt

Meet up with other families for the Magic Kingdom® Park Scavenger Hunt! We'll be gathering together in one location and heading out in teams. Families will be given the option of staying together as a unit or sending off their teens for the teen-team.

Magic Kingdom® Park Dole Whip Drop In

Super casual yummy fun can be had at the Dole Whip Drop In, created by popular demand! We'll meet in Adventureland and share the treat as a group.

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot

We'll be saving space as a group and getting goodies.

Illuminations is a breathtaking fireworks, laserlight effect, music and spectacular nighttime event! The only thing that could make it better is enjoying it with your family and UFT friends!

- As we grow and chat with our attendees, secure sponsors and keep an eye on Disney happenings, we will add events. Final dates and times for all events besides September 3rd events (which will remain as planned) will be announced when Park Hours are released and you will be able to sign up for events at that time.

Update! Park hours were just released! UFT Events will be updated on our website this week! Your assigned agent will let you know as soon as we have our online sign up available for you and your family.

Carol Beth Scott - Founder of the Ultimate Field Trip & Owner of 3D Travel Company

www.3DTravelCompany.com

CarolBeth@3DTravelCompany.com

469-396-8952

Emailed by The Homeschool Lounge

Call to Action: Email Your Swedish Embassy

2012-02-14T20:42:00.002-06:00

How You Can Help

Instructions for finding and emailing your Swedish Embassy are below.

Select your country from the online list.
A website for the Embassy of Sweden in your country will open.
Locate the “Contact us” section on the website
Email or write a letter to the appropriate email or postal address listed.
It is appropriate to address your email or letter to the Swedish Ambassador. The proper salutation is “Dear Mr./Madam Ambassador.”
* If you mail a letter, please address it to:
His/Her Excellency [Name of Ambassador]
Address Line 1
Address Line 2, etc

Swedish homeschoolers have explicitly asked their fellow homeschoolers around the world to contact Swedish officials. Sweden continues down a dark path of totalitarianism in education. Although it is likely there are fewer than 100 homeschoolers in the country of 9 million, Swedish officials appear to be vigorously seeking to stamp out the small community. Over the past three years authorities have used a variety of measures including harassment, hefty fines, referral to the courts, and threatening to or actually removing children from the home.
Jonas Himmelstrand, president of the beleaguered Swedish Association for Home Education, says there is a need for as many emails and calls as possible from all over.
“We ask our fellow home educators to email the Swedish authorities on a mass scale about the situation in Sweden,” said Himmelstrand. “We want to let Swedish officials know that their actions have drawn international attention. Please write to the Swedish embassy in your country on our behalf and state that it is a mistake to equate the compulsory education requirement with mandatory school attendance. Banning homeschooling is against all international conventions on human rights.”
Himmelstrand and his wife had homeschooled their three children for multiple years before authorities in the municipality where they live denied them permission in 2008. The Himmelstrands currently face fines in excess of $26,000 in U.S. currency for their choice to homeschool. HSLDA and the Alliance Defense Fund have filed a brief in a Swedish appellate court on behalf of the family. However, their local municipality is now seeking to force them to pay the exorbitant fine, even though their case is being tried at the Kammarrätten (appeals) court.
The Angerstigs are another family who have endured persecution for their decision to homeschool. Lisa Angerstig, an American with a master’s degree in business who is married to a Swede, has homeschooled her children several times with permission in recent years. She ran into trouble when the Uppsala government suddenly decided to prohibit her from homeschooling her older son in 2009. A court verdict stated that their son had to go to school and that the parents would be fined as long as he stays home.
The alarming case of Domenic Johansson warns of the serious threat from Swedish authorities. In June 2009, Swedish police forcibly removed then 7-year-old Domenic from his parents, Christer and Annie, without a warrant, placed him in state custody, and have not yet charged the Johanssons with a crime.
Other families who have faced persecution have already made the difficult decision to flee their homeland and move to nearby Denmark, Finland, or Norway, where homeschool freedom is much greater.
The Hammarnejd family, who fled Sweden, told HSLDA: “We assessed our options. We could stay and fight. Or send our kids to school. Or … move from our homeland. Other families we knew had already left Sweden and moved to different countries. They had no problem home educating, as long as it was outside Sweden.”
Michael Donnelly, director of international relations at HSLDA, explains the gravity of the Swedish situation and the pivotal opportunity for homeschoolers around the world to support these families.
“Homeschooling is legal in the United States and in many other countries only after decades of tumultuous legislative and legal conflicts,” he said. “Swedish families are now fighting for their basic rights. Please support Swedish homeschoolers and send the Swedish embassy in your country a respectful yet persuasive email as soon as possible, explaining how homeschooling has worked for your family and calling upon Sweden to allow parents to choose home education. The right of parents to choose the kind of education their children receive is a fundamental human right recognized by Article 26, part 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Full post emailed from the HSLDA

My eBook has Launched!

2012-01-30T16:38:00.004-06:00

I'm SO excited to introduce my new eBook,
Keeping His Way Pure.

It's available as a PC Download RIGHT NOW as well as on Amazon for your Kindle!

Visit the site now to read reviews, testimonials and information on how this eBook can help you in guiding your son (or daughter) into purity.

If you would rather, you can buy right from here for only $4.99.

Don't have a PayPal account? Add to Cart and then click the PayPal button and you will have an option for paying with a credit card/debit card at the sign in area for PayPal.

Thank you!

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

mLm

Let's face it - Mondays can be hard. The kids just don't seem to want to start school for the week and our stress levels can reach a high before noon.

MadLib Mondays is here to help!

What is it?

A weekly Link-Up for you AND your kids.

What to do:

1. Anytime during the week, hop over here and copy the MadLib that my daughter has written to your blog. Take the whole week for your kids to work on it, but have it ready to post by the following Monday.

2.Show up on Mondays (beginning at 6:00 a.m. CST) and post the link to your MadLib post using our link up tool.

3. Allow your kids to visit the other linked up blogs and see what their kids came up with. Same story-totally different experience. Let your kids leave comments on others posts.

4. If you and your kids enjoy it, spread the word about MadLib Mondays via Twitter, Facebook, or any of your favorite networking sites.

5. The next day, Tuesday, a NEW MadLib will be posted to work on for the upcoming Monday. Come back and repeat steps 1-4. :)

Let's put some laughter back into Mondays!

Has anyone ever told you about the time a country produced the largest burrito?

It was a very adjective day. Same country created a burrito that was number with unit of measurement tall! They put everything possible on it! From noun(s) to noun(s). Then from animal(s) to bug(s). Exclamation!

People came from all over the world to see it. Male Celebrity also came, but nobody even paid attention to him because the burrito was so adjective.

One day, the makers of the burrito said that if somebody could ever eat fraction of the burrito, they would be given a noun as a prize. Person after person tried.

The challenge was so big, that even celebrities started pouring in to try. Celebrity, Celebrity, and even Celebrity tried. Nobody could even come close until...male cartoon character showed up. He verb(ed) and verb(ed) until his noun grew number times the size it was originally!

In the end, he finished the challenge and was given the noun(prize from above). He was so emotion that he had won! It was a adjective day that we will always remember.

mLm

It’s LOL fun!

CRC Ratification SET FOR NOVEMBER 20, 2012 (THIS IS BAD!)

2012-01-26T13:39:00.001-06:00

If you haven't gotten involved by now, please consider getting involved by spreading the word, signing the petitions available and donating to the cause. If you are a parent, this concerns YOU! You can click on the picture and watch the short film.

Target Date Set for CRC Ratification Proponents of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have set a target date by which they would like to see it ratified in the United States: November 20,2012. That date is the anniversary of its adoption by the UN General Assembly back in 1989.

Last month the Child Rights Campaign began pushing online petitions calling on the President to move for CRC ratification. Tuesday, Time ran an online opinion piece by Lawrence Cohen and Anthony Debenedet calling for the United States to ratify by November 20. In the piece, they name our organization and then provide some misinformation to convince readers we are wrong.

Clearly, our opponents have no intention of letting up. They are pressing to make ratification happen before Obama – and their best opportunity – are gone.

That is why we must continue to stand against them. And we need your help.

The CRC purports to protect children, but would replace fit parents with government bureaucrats and judges as the first line of defense for our kids. In addition, it would take family law authority away from our states and make it an international treaty obligation at the federal level.

This is because under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, any ratified treaty becomes the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every state are bound by it, regardless of conflicts with federal law or state laws or constitutions.

Cohen and Debenedet cite Reid v. Covert to contend that our concern is false because “no international treaty has the power to override the U.S. Constitution.” But this ignores the fact that parental rights do not appear in the Constitution; they are implied rights found in the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court in Reid v. Covert addressed rights not expressly in the Constitution, such as parental rights, thus: “To the extent that the United States can validly make treaties, the people and the States have delegated their authority to the National Government, and the Tenth Amendment is no barrier” 354 U.S. 1 (1957).

Sadly, the CRC is supported by international organizations with billions of dollars in assets (and with access to outlets like Time magazine), while we must depend entirely on the support of individual donors – people just like you who understand the dangers of letting the government decide whether fit parents are making the best decisions for their children.

We must continue to fight for free families and free U.S. courts, no matter how deep the pockets of those who oppose us. As they are turning up the heat, we need your help to meet strength with strength.

First, please make as generous a donation as you can right now. We must make certain this treaty is not passed. To give, simply visit parentalrights.org/donate or call us at 540-751-1200 (8:30 - 5:00 EST).

Then, pass this on to everyone you know. The freedom of parents to raise children according to their own convictions, and the authority of U.S. states to pass family law without dictates from the federal government or an overseas committee, hang in the balance. Preserve America’s future by supporting the Parental Rights Amendment today.

Sincerely,

Michael Farris

NEW MEME! MadLib Monday!

2012-01-22T20:06:00.001-06:00

Let's face it - Mondays can be hard. The kids just don't seem to want to start school for the week and our stress levels can reach a high before noon.

MadLib Mondays is here to help!

What is it? A weekly Link-Up for you AND your kids.

What to do:

1. Show up on Mondays (beginning at 6:00 a.m. CST) and copy and paste the MadLib that my daughter has written to your blog.

2. Before posting on your website, have your kids fill in the blanks, all the while, practicing their grammar without even realizing it!

3. Come back and link up on this website.

4. Take your kids on over to all the other linked up blogs and see what their kids came up with. Same story-totally different experience.

5. Spread the word about MadLib Mondays.

Let's put some laughter back into Mondays!

Messy Mondays: Seven Lies About Homeschoolers

2012-01-17T15:32:00.000-06:00

I know this has been posted a bunch today - all over, but it's cute...just in case you hadn't seen it - Enjoy :)

Are you a Left Brainiac or a Right Brainiac?

2012-01-08T21:55:00.001-06:00

Via: Online College Advice

Free Typing Class

2012-01-02T16:59:00.000-06:00

I have looked at several free typing classes online, but we have never stayed with anything. Today, I decided to get serious about my 8th grader learning the proper typing method. She types very fast, but it's her created method and I'm afraid that will limit her in the real world. With the world's focus being on computers and not on hand writing, I need to give it priority.

Here is what I found and so far, I really like it. The site offers a teacher's portal. You sign up, add your students, and then they log in with the username and password you created for them. You can check in on their progress and view reports.

It's totally free. You can upgrade if you want for a small fee, but I don't think that will be necessary. If you use it, let me know what you think!

Typing Web

The Secret to Fulfilling the Dream

2011-12-29T11:01:00.000-06:00

Do you have a dream? I do. In fact, mine started out as an actual dream (while I was sleeping) when I was in 7th grade. I didn't realize it at the time, but that simple dream became something I would strive to achieve for years to come. In fact, before I said "yes" to my husband's marriage proposal, I made certain that the dream I had was something he felt called to do as well. It was~ so I said "YES!"

One day I think I will write a book (or just complete the one I have started) on our dream together as a family. We have certainly seen many difficulties. Sometimes, we have felt completely isolated and it seemed that while everyone around us was enjoying success, we were the only ones experiencing disappointment after disappointment; so much so, that the people around us began to tell us to just give up on our hopes. That was a very low time for me.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis beginning in chapter 37. When I learned that his time spent in prison wasn't just a quick stint, but actually 10 years, it really resonated inside of me. I felt my time in the "wilderness of despair" was lasting too long. I began to wonder if I was being punished for something, something I didn't do...kind of like Joseph.

Joseph didn't have the hindsight we have looking at his story. In fact, no one in the OT did. Yet, Joseph remained like a rock, firm in his trust in God. He had been stripped of his beloved father, his not so loving brothers, and his chance at being a leader (remember his dream??). Now, Joseph was a mere slave in Egypt. He didn't have the lens we have when viewing his story. He didn't know that God was always at work and had never forgotten him. He didn't know that this was the process by which God would bring his dream to reality. He didn't know that God's favor never left him for one moment.

One thing that struck me was Jacob's quote when the brothers came back to collect their brother Benjamin and take him to Egypt to comply with Joseph's command. No one knew that this was Joseph who was calling for this, so it put Jacob in complete turmoil and he said, "Why does this always happen to me?"

I have said those words! Yet, from our perspective, we can see that God wasn't just making Joseph's dream come true, but Jacob's as well. He was about to be reunited with his favorite son, a son he thought was dead for years. Yet, he complained and refused to budge. I can truly relate.

I love the Bible. It reveals my lack of faith and distrust and sets me back where I need to be. It reminds me that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are better than mine. I need that reminder ALL the time.

What's more, what I believe inside about God affects my children's belief in God. That means I need to be VERY careful what words I let come out of my mouth even if it is not completely directed at God. Kids are smart! They can connect the dots. They will be the first to see when we are not trusting in Whom we tell them to trust.

Oh, I have made some mistakes in this area, let me tell ya! I am so grateful God lovingly brings back His Word to comfort me. I am SO thankful that while Joseph was going through such a dark time in his life, that he remained faithful and through his faithfulness, his story encourages us all thousands of years later.

I feel so loved by God when I realize that all those years ago, God wasn't just accomplishing something in Joseph, but He was thinking of me and setting the stage to accomplish great things through me as well.

I will never give up hope in my God. Now others can say about me one day:

And they can say that about YOU too. Why do we believe we can? Because we know Whom we have believed in and we are persuaded that He is able to keep that which we've committed unto Him against that day!

Do you realize that in ONE day, Joseph went from a slave to the most important man in Potipher's house? In ONE day, he went from a prisoner to a prince? In ONE day, his dream was fulfilled and in ONE moment, he was the instrument that saved ALL of the world from famine. This illustrates one of my favorite quotes, " God takes forever to act suddenly".

In the midst of the wait, follow the example of Joseph. He never complained, he just trusted. He took on whatever situation God put him in with strong conviction and did it all with excellence, even while he was in the dungeon. He never gave up and always hoped. Dream big, believe God can and will, be patient and no matter what, never give up hope. That is the secret to fulfilling the dream. If God put the dream within you, it will happen in ONE moment.

Linking up with Meghan and using the word "Fulfill" for my plans this year. It might be my year :)

Another Chance

2011-12-26T11:47:00.002-06:00

photo credit

I love the new year. The end of the year is a chance to let go of things past, re-prioritize, set new goals, and look to new opportunities.Many of us do this personally, but how many of us do this as a family?

*Let go of things past*

It seems that everywhere I look, people are making jokes about family stress during the holidays. I'm not talking about stress caused by grief and trying to figure out how the holidays are supposed to look without the ones we love. I mean the petty disagreements and old hurts caused by one another in times past. Families get together and struggle through their celebration of Jesus' birth. The focus is on ourselves and what makes us comfortable or uncomfortable instead of on Jesus and the fact that He came into the world to give us a second chance. Christmas should be about extending the grace God to one another and forgiving each other in those areas where we have hurt each other the most. It's a new year coming up...a new and second chance to offer that grace to the ones we love the most.

*Re-prioritize*

This one affects me. I seem to always lose sight of my priorities during the year. The busyness of life just catches up to me and though I am constantly trying to find that "home base" throughout the year, I find that I get most fired up January 1st. This is where I am able to make the most of my commitments and where I can pump myself up to try again. I stop beating myself up in areas where I have messed up and it's truly a new beginning for me. I always reset my priorities in my time with God, my time with my family, and my focus on what is eternal instead of the temporal. As far as our family goes, we re-prioritize all year round. My husband and I talk about it all the time, so that helps. How about you? What do your family's priorities say about you all as a whole? Do you see issues in your children? Your spouse? If your family members need to work on re-prioritizing, consider sitting down together and discussing it as part of a new tradition on New Year's Day. That way they can learn to do that in their personal lives too.

*Set new goals*

I love the idea of setting new goals, but to be honest, I am terrible at it. This is different than re-prioritizing. I think of re-prioritizing as setting things straight in our minds and hearts, but goal setting is taking it a step further, making new commitments and writing them down so that they are in front of us all year round. They are what hold us accountable and the fact that I lose site of my priorities is a clue that I am not good at setting goals. One of my goals this year, is to set goals. :) I especially want to do this for our family. I want to be more intentional with sitting down with them and discussing the goals we all have as a family. I have written about it, but my follow through has lacked luster. But that is OKAY, I am letting go of it and starting fresh! Lord willing, I plan on sitting down with my family and setting family goals this year. I hope that in July (Christmas in July), we will sit and take a look at them and see if we are hitting the mark or if we need to make some changes. Do you do this as a family or just as a personal discipline? If not, consider extending that to your entire family so they can learn how to set goals and follow through being held accountable by each other. To know more about that, you can visit a past post: Goal Setting.

*Look to new opportunities*

We are a family of opportunity! We have little success with it, but we always have big ideas, big hopes and big dreams. One of my favorite things about the New Year is the hope to see those dreams finally come true. I have to constantly remind myself to look to God and not to the dream. It's something I know, but still something I need to remind myself of all the time. God is my hope. God is my dream. God is my Giver of dreams. If it's not His dream for me, I don't want it. This year, we have new opportunities. They are BIG individually and as a family. I am setting a goal to trust God as we walk them out. If they are not God's, I don't even want to go there. What kind of opportunities do you have this year? Are you trusting in God or your opportunity? I have learned that how we respond to disappointments within those opportunities reveals where our trust lies.

*But there's good news!*

No matter where we are in our year, God is able to accomplish new things within us and He doesn't need to wait until January. So if you find yourself "falling off the wagon" this year in your New Year's Resolution, get back up and rest in the fact that His mercies are new every morning!

Homeschool For FREE

2011-12-25T21:59:00.000-06:00

~~$$$$$$$$~~

Ready to cut out the middle man? You know...the cash?

A couple things to try:

Ask around. If your friends are like me, they are always changing it up and have extras laying around the house.
Ask your homeschooling group if they have a lending library. Ours lets you check things out a year at a time.

Check out this book: Homeschool Your Child for Free

Google is always a great go to to find out more.

Make a date with your library.

Visit FREE printable sites for extras.(Will add more shortly)

Here are some sites that can help you as well: (List will be added to shortly)

Homeschool Share

Homeschool 4 Free

Bible Time With Kids

2011-12-22T08:53:00.000-06:00

Remember listening to stories on the radio where the story came alive and there was no need for visuals because the sound effects and the characters were so believable? There is a great place online that you can go and find 22 stories that walk you and your children from Genesis to Jesus.

Find Genesis to Jesus Here

"Walk through the Bible with your children in this action-packed, radio theatre-style dramatizations from the 1599 Geneva Bible."

Photo Credit

I love finding new ways to highlight the stories of the Bible to my children and present creative ways to hearing the Bible because "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17.

It's at my favorite online Bible site called Bible Gateway. I go there to find Scripture references based on topics and many times, I go there to just read the Bible when I can't seem to find mine. (My Bible seems to get up and walk around the house and hide from me :)) Now it's a great place for me to go with my kids. I hope you will think so too.

Update on the Johansson Family

2011-12-20T23:16:00.000-06:00

Family of State-napped Swedish Child Savors Small Victory

Christer and Annie Johansson have won a small but hopeful victory in their quest to regain custody of their nine-year-old son Domenic who was taken from them over 2 years ago in a dramatic raid while the family was seated on an airliner departing the Nordic country. Ruby Harrold-Claesson, the couple’s attorney, reported to HSLDA that the Gotland District Court ruled in favor of the Johanssons, allowing them to retain their parental rights of Domenic.
“Gotland district court has ruled against the social workers and the social council and the Municipality of Gotland in their quest to terminate Annie’s and Christer’s parental rights for Domenic … I hope that this court decision is the beginning of the end of the gross violations of Human rights that Annie, Christer and Domenic have been subjected to at the hands of the social workers and the social council in Gotland,” said Christer Johansson’s attorney and President of the Nordic Human Rights Council Ruby Harrold-Claesson.
Michael Donnelly, director of international relations at HSLDA, says this decision offers a glimmer of hope.
“I am hopeful that this is the beginning of the end to the horrific treatment these people have suffered at the hands of Swedish authorities over the past two and a half years,” states Donnelly. “The Johansson family has endured unspeakable tyranny over their decision to homeschool their child and then to attempt to leave Sweden. Sweden’s behavior in this case has been shocking.”
The Swedish Social Services Committee first sought to terminate the parental rights of Annie and Christer Johansson in October 2011. The latest decision by the Gotland court against social services marks a significant departure from previous decisions in the Johansson’s case. Swedish courts had also previously removed Harrold-Claesson from the Johansson case.
“The social services are afraid of me because I stand up to them,” said Harrold-Claesson. “There are few lawyers in Sweden who dare to. But in Jamaica where I grew up this kind of treatment of families is unheard of. Too many magistrates simply do the bidding of the all-powerful Swedish social services, and this case is no different from the scores I have litigated over the years.”
Magistrate Magnus Schultzberg dismissed Harrold-Claesson from the case in June after Gotland local authorities requested she be removed. The magistrate then appointed a public defender, Torsten Bäckstrand. However, under European human rights laws, defendants have a right to choose counsel.
“I applaud Torsten Bäckstrand’s decision to resign after he was told by Christer that he wanted me to represent him,” said Harrold-Claesson. “The latest magistrate has recognized the family’s right to have me, and I applaud her decision to keep this family together, at least on paper, for now. We will continue this fight for justice until Domenic goes home.”
The tragedy concerning the Johansson family began in June 2009, when then seven-year old Domenic was forcibly removed from his parents, Christer and Annie, while the family was on board an airplane bound for Annie’s homeland of India. Swedish police snatched Domenic without a warrant, placed him in state custody, and have not charged the Johanssons with a crime. Authorities have subsequently pointed to some minor dental problems and a spotty vaccination history as justification for continuing to hold Dominic in state custody.
HSLDA continues to work with the Alliance Defense Fund and Harrold-Claesson at the European Court of Human Rights representing the family in their lawsuit against Sweden. The case has not been provided any kind of schedule. The ECHR has the authority to order Sweden to pay monetary damages, as has happened in the past in similar cases, but could not enforce an order to have the child returned to his parents. The local court’s decision indicates a possible shift in the way the case is being handled and offers a breath of hope. One of the major reasons for the state-napping and continued seizure of the child was because the family homeschooled him.
“Sweden’s government continues to go down a frightening path of educational tyranny as it implements harsh policies causing more and more homeschooling Swedes to flee the country. In the past several months, three families have relocated from Sweden to neighboring countries under pressure because educational officials have reported them to social authorities. The social authorities have virtually unlimited power to take children from families and cause great pain and suffering if they choose to,” Donnelly said.
HSLDA has petitioned Swedish officials to reunite the Johansson family, condemning the continued separation of Domenic from his parents. As of October 2010, the Johansson’s case had been heard at the every level of the Swedish court system and the actions of social services upheld.
If you would like to send the family a note of encouragement, you may contact them at: Christer and Annie Johansson, c/o Rune Johansson, Alva Gudings 363, 623 46 Hemse, Sweden.
Please remember this family during this Christmas and Holiday season, and consider donating to our work in support of the Johansson’s and other families like them. Give to the Home School Foundation’s International Fund.

***Credits***Full post credited to HSLDA.

More Information

First Newsletter

2011-12-14T09:44:00.000-06:00

Our First Newsletter: Sign up so you can receive the next one. ( I don't send them out too often :))

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Have you ever felt like you needed a cultural clean out? You know...you feel like the world is creeping into your home and it's just not welcome anymore? I have. I think at the end of the year, I start reflecting on my year and can see where I have let my guard down. I encourage you this month to begin asking God to show you where you have become lax and ask Him to begin the cultural clean out in your home. Is it with the TV? The Internet? Our phones? Our friends?

"Examine my heart oh God, show me if there is any wayward way in me and lead me to life everlasting."

SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS

I am back to blogging. It has been a wonderful break! During this time, I have been working on two new eBooks and the first should be released in January just in time to use it as a spring board into your New Year's Resolution. It's called "Keeping His Way Pure". If you have boys (or girls) then you won't want to miss this! It will challenge you to make certain you are doing what is in your power as a mom and dad to guide your son to purity. The eBook will also give you a year of memorization for all different ages to truly hide God's Word in their heart "so they might not sin against God".

The second eBook is for moms and dads with girls. It's called, "Journey to Womanhood-A Guide to Her Rite of Passage." It will give you the ins and outs of a Rite of Passage and explain why it is so important to give this gift to your daughter. I will update you all when it is ready for release.

Thank you for being a part of the Unique Family Vision Team! We are all parents who want to change the world, one person at a time, beginning at home.

Merry Christmas!

Tammy

2011-12-12T12:24:00.003-06:00

****BIG NEWS****

Thanks so much for coming to see my big announcement. For me, this is SO exciting and REALLY scary :) I have written two Ebooks on my break.The first one is set to launch in January. It's called:

"Keeping His Way Pure"

This Ebook is for moms and dads of boys. It focuses on Psalm 119:9 when David says, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" I am so excited to share with you what God has shown me. I have two boys, so this is very close to my heart. It gives practical ideas on how to set your son on the path to purity. Whether your son is a child, a tween, or teen, it is never too early to lay a strong foundation and it is certainly never too late! January is a great time to set up New Year's Resolutions, so this book will give you some great goals to achieve while putting the tools in your hands to do it. So jump on board and commit to making a difference in your son's life!

The second book will come out a bit later. It's called:

"Journey to Womanhood- A Guide to Her Rite of Passage"

If you have never thought of holding a Rite of Passage, my book will show you why this is a life changing ceremony and what it can do for your child .

If you have a daughter and are thinking of holding a Rite of Passage, this details the whys and hows of it all. I hope this will be a useful tool in the upcoming years to give you the wisdom behind the ceremony and walk you through it. The more you know, the less intimidating it is. And of course, the rewards are amazing!

Please sign up for our newsletter if you want to receive a notification when these launch.

I am so glad to be back. I will get back to the Wednesday Word shortly. Thanks for sticking around while I went on a break. You guys are the best!

Dive Into Math Review Snippet

2011-08-30T20:50:00.000-05:00

I was ecstatic to receive the Dive Into Math CD-ROM in the mail. After all, I have dreamed of someone else teaching math to my kids for a long time.

You may feel the same way for several reasons.

1. Math may not be your strong suit and even though you are armed to the teeth with a teachers manual, you still feel ill equipped.

2. You have a hard time communicating with your kids during math because you are speaking two different languages- yours is Math and you have no idea what theirs is.

3. Maybe you’re good at math, (especially your adding and subtracting) but with a houseful of kids also needing your hip self, you find it difficult to juggle all of their subjects.

4.Your husband may like to come home to a sane woman every once in awhile.

5. You need more time because time is money and just like money, time is tight! Right now you currently have a science experiment growing in the toilet and you still haven’t updated your facebook status in like, two hours! Need. More. Time.

6. Maybe you are a working parent, so though you value the benefits of being their teacher, you still need to supplement in certain areas and often times, math is a subject you need to supplement.

Whatever your reason, Dive Into Math is definitely something you should consider..

Please follow to the full review on Hip Homeschool Moms.

Free Bible Curriculum

2011-08-02T17:01:00.000-05:00

I ran aross a Free online curriculum for Bible today. I printed off what I needed for the week and it gave me the memory work, the bible story to be read, and the activities to go with it. It was so simple. The site is easily navigated with 325 lessons. Check it out for a full curriculum or as a supplement to the one you are already using!

My study on Creation had the Bible study reference to read the story, a great memory verse, a word search, a crossword puzzle, a maze, T/F, multiple choice, short answer and a coloring page. My preschooler listened and did the coloring page and my 3rd and 5th grader will do the whole packet.

Go to Bible Study Planet to see what they have :)

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Submission

2011-07-25T09:24:00.001-05:00

PHOTO CREDIT

Oh no, now I have gone and done it! I said the S word. This is a bad word in many circles and a very confusing word in Christian circles. Well, I hope to maybe give you another idea of this word that is so sadly misunderstood and misused to manipulate and degrade many women.

When I lived in Africa, I attended an American wedding that was led by a Kenyan pastor. My friends and I began to pick up on a tone that the pastor set through the entire wedding. The word submit came up over and over. So much so, that we began counting. If I remember right (and I probably don't), I think it was around 15 times that the pastor reminded the new bride that she was to submit to her husband. We giggled at the obvious attempt to brain wash the bride.

I am a big believer in the word submit. (Let me pause for a moment while my mom and dad have a moment of laughter to themselves.) Don't get me wrong, I loathe the idea of a husband dangling the word over his wife in an effort to manipulate her or require something of her that is unthinkable. I am not a big fan of authoritarian marriages either, so if your husband has come here to get his permission to dangle, it's not going to happen. I want to define this more clearly as I believe God intended this command to be lived out.

In the past, when I have been in discussions with women on this word and what it means, I find myself skirting by on the idea that it is for when a big decision arises. Let's say you both are on opposite sides of the court and you do your faithful duty as a wife and say, "I concede. You want to go to France, I want to go to Italy...France it is." Get the picture? Big decisions. Well, not so the case. My heart has been changed on this as of lately. Yes, the big decisions are still a part of submission, but there is more, so much more and I really don't want you to miss it.

Here is what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean agreeing. It doesn't mean liking your husband's decision. It doesn't mean being a stepford wife. It doesn't mean women are weak. It doesn't mean men are bad.

Not too long ago, I contemplated how scripture can be so familiar to us that we miss the true meaning behind it. We have heard the verse a million times, assumed what we thought it meant and never given it another thought or another chance to penetrate our hearts and change us. We may even skip over it thinking we are already obeying that verse. Now, imagine standing before the Lord and He points out an area that you completely dropped the ball in and you reply, "But I didn't know," and He says, "It's in the Bible...in plain English" (unless you read the KJV and then He might say 'in very difficult English') :) Anyway, wouldn't that be a sad moment for us, to realize we assumed instead of asking God to reveal our blind spots? I, for one, would not be okay with that.

The Lord showed me the other day where I had done just that. I assumed the verse, "Wives, submit to your husbands," meant one thing after being so familiar with it...15 times in one day at the wedding in fact and then of course all the times I had read the verse, discussed the verse etc. I knew it like the back of my hand. I even thought I was obeying it.

Over the last year, my husband has sheepishly repeated a desire to me. He's a children's pastor at one of our campuses. Many times he has said, "I wish you could work with me." "I sure would love to have you come along side me in this." Wouldn't it be cool if we could work together?" My response - "Oh, no thanks...I am doing such and such and I am happy with that," He always accepted my answer and we went along our merry way.

A couple weeks ago, the Lord brought that verse up to me when I was thinking how we misunderstand and misappropriate God's Word due to familiarity. He instantly checked my spirit. When I went through my line of thinking with what it meant, He so gently said to me..."Yes, but there is more. Submitting means submitting to the desire of your husband's heart." Instantly I was reminded of his wishes for my help in his ministry. Oh.my.goodness. How had I missed that?

Think about that Ladies. We love our husbands. The Bible says we are one with them.Why are we not one with their hearts? Why do we not see that submission is not waiting for them to command us to go here or there, but submission happens when we choose to respond lovingly to the desire of our husband's heart even when it is unspoken.

My husband would enjoy my partnership in his ministry. Well then, that is where I need to be. God will honor that and my desire for that ministry will soon grab a hold of my heart.

Take time to know and understand your husband's heart. He may not have loudly articulated his desires to you, so it might take some thought on your part to decipher what he needs from you. Maybe he has and you are refusing to go there. If so, I submit to you that you are being insubordinate to the will of God.

Ouch! I know. I felt the same way. Actually, I felt ashamed that it took me 16 years to see such a simple notion.

Take time today to let the Holy Spirit walk you through your husband's heart. Let Him pinpoint some things where you can ....brace yourselves....submit to the quietly spoken desire of your husband. I guarantee you that if you live a pattern of this life, your husband's heart will be changed towards you in areas that maybe you feel a change is in order.

Here is what submission IS. It IS obeying God's Word. It IS hard to do sometimes. It IS a loving action. It IS a selfless act. It IS being a good example to your children. It IS peaceful. It IS going to reap blessings. It IS healthy. It IS going to win his heart. It IS going to please your Father in heaven. It IS going to strengthen your womanhood.

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A Word about the Wednesday Word

2011-07-18T22:59:00.011-05:00

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8~

As a blogger, do you find there are times when a verse, a devotional or just a precious time with God speaks volumes to you and you are certain it could bless others? I get that ALL the time, but never find a way to share it and when done too much on facebook it can look...preachy.

I am sure you have heard about the Wordless Wednesday blog hop using pictures. Well, on Unique Family Vision, we will be hosting The Wednesday Word blog hop. It will be a place to link your post that references either a verse or something God is teaching you. This is your chance to be a pastor of sorts. Many bloggers have that gift, but others haven't yet found your spiritual wisdom. UFV wants you to have a chance to link up your blog and find others who have something meaningful to share that day as well from the Bible.

Starting this Wednesday (that is tomorrow), the links open at 6 am. I hope to see you ~~there!~~ here! :)

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Birthday Gifts from God

2011-07-14T09:53:00.001-05:00

In June, something dawned on me while praying for my daughter the morning of her 10th birthday. My prayer started by asking God to bless her, to do a work in her and to keep her safe. I prayed for her to grow in the beauty of the Lord etc...you know, what all Christian moms pray for their children. As I prayed, I began to ask God to give me a special verse for her that would be from Him as her birthday present from God. How cool to have your very own 'birthday word from the Lord'. He quickly laid something on my heart. I scribbled the verse down on a 3x5 card and woke her up with it saying, "Happy Birthday, here is your present from God." She was really excited about it. I explained how I came by knowing that and now she keeps the card in her Bible. The verse revealed to me something she is supposed to be doing as a believer and now we have focused our attention on that verse in our conversations and will continue to do so throughout the year and over her life.

I am so excited about the idea to follow this for all of my kids, through all of their birthdays. I am going to have them memorize the verses that God gives me and my plan is to write a prayer/blessing surrounding this verse over each child for the year. We will keep each one in our Bible's to pray over our kids. One day, our kids will have a scrap book of all of their prayers/blessings that were spoken over them for an entire year.

Today was my son's birthday. I was excited to ask God what He had for him. The verse was not something I would have picked out, assuring me that this is not just a 'me' thing, but really of God. It actually was a stern warning. Wow, God loves us so very much, that even at the tender age of 8, the Lord desires for us to be Holy, set apart, saved to do the work of God and not the work of the flesh because He is jealous for our affection, even our son's and daughter's!

We will focus our prayer and discussion on this verse. Right before the verse, there was another one that spoke to me and my hubby. We saw our responsibility in bringing him up to be able to follow this command the Lord gave him. This has totally inspired me to an even deeper level of prayer for my kids.

If there is anything I can emphasize from this post, it is to urge you to talk to God about your kids with an abundant expectation of hearing from the Lord. It was never meant to be a one sided conversation. He speaks today, to us, about us, about our children. Getting away from the computer, the TV, the phone, our stresses and sitting before the Lord is the lifeline to bringing our kids into the Kingdom of Heaven with us.

If you haven't done this, sit with the Lord and ask Him. He really is waiting there, just waiting for us to ask for His guidance in our lives and our child's life. You know what? We need to do this for ourselves as well! Even for our friends. I am sure your friends and loved ones would be touched to know you took the time to ask God to give you something special for them on their special day. How much more should we take the time for our very own precious children?

I would love to hear from you. Is this something you would want to start doing or are you already doing it? If so, have you seen it making a difference in your child's heart? After all, that is what we are after...their heart. Don't be apathetic with their heart though, the enemy is after it as well and we must be diligent. Intentional parenting is not sitting around and hoping our kids turn out. It is putting a stake in the ground and saying..."As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

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