Where to go in NC

June 1, 2009 at 7:26 am (Children, Education, Homeschool, Travel)

A great find at this year’s NC homeschool conference was a book about traveling NC called “Kids Love North Carolina” by George & Michele Zavatsky. 

I have lived in NC my whole life but as I flipped through the book I read about places that I had never heard of.  The book lists amusements, animals & farms, museums, outdoors, state history, tours, etc. by region (6 to be exact).  A “City Index” is given to list all cities and towns mentioned in the book as well as an “Activity Index” in the back of the book.  The authors have given all necessary information for each location listed: directions, phone number, website, hours, admission prices, etc.

http://www.kidslovetravel.com/

The authors have also written several travel guides for other states.  We spoke with the author and she said that they originally wrote these books over 10 years ago but recently have had an increase in sales due to current economic situations.  If you are looking for a guide to help you plan field trips, day trips or just expand your knowledge of NC (or any other state), I suggest checking this book out!  Happy Travels!

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Homeschool Deals

May 8, 2009 at 4:01 pm (Homeschool)

I was delightfully surprised when my husband informed me today that homeschoolers get in free to our state’s zoo (NC).  I thought, “He must have read something wrong or didn’t read the fine print.”  It seemed too good to be true.  But I checked it out and it was true.  Now there are some stipulations (I’ve listed them below) but nothing major.  So after calling and making my reservation for my zoo trip I got to thinking how nice it would be if there were a site or someone who could share this type of information.  I have yet to find such a site or group with the info I would like therefore I am going to include what I have found thus far.  It’s not much but it’s a start. 

NC Zoo - Asheboro, NC

http://tickets.nczoo.org/Info.aspx?EventID=+11

Registered homeschoolers get in free!

Ages 5- up and one educator during normal school year

No holidays or weekends

Must call for reservation 2 weeks prior to visit date!

NC Aquariums

http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher/teachersstudents/home-schools

Homeschoolers get in free once per year

Includes children and 2 free adults

Pre-register 24 hours in advance

Must show homeschool registration card

Battleship North Carolina

 http://www.battleshipnc.com/

We weren’t really sure based on the website if we would receive a discount so we showed up with our registration card and asked!

We were admitted based on the school group prices.  The lady who registered us didn’t say anything about calling and making reservations in the future.   She made a copy of our school registration card and my husband’s id.

Barnes & Noble

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/pimages/bn-atschool/Barnes&Noble_EducatorDiscountApplication.pdf

Sign up and receive a Educator Discount Card for 20% off purchases.

 Office Depot

https://www.mystarteacher.com/home.asp?source_page=login&S=01&logout=TRUE

Join “Star Teacher” and receive discounts and rebates on purchases…see the link for further details.

 

 Happy educating and saving!

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Scripture Memorization 2

February 6, 2009 at 11:00 pm (Children, Christian Living, Education)

Several months back I blogged about the need of memorizing scripture, especially for children.  I’m sure there are a lot of parents who want to teach their kids but struggle with where to start or even how to do it.  Maybe you want to memorize but find it impossible to accomplish.  I thought I would share a few items that I have found helpful.

1. Foundation Verses by Children Desiring God:  “Foundation Verses are strategically chosen Bible verses for children preschool through age five. The pack includes 76 verses designed to lay a firm scriptural foundation of basic Biblical truth that will pave the way for faith response.”  The set comes in a business card size pack, attached by a ring, in either NIV or ESV.  The cards have a picture on one side with the verse on the other.  It’s a good place to start, whether you are 3 or 33!!! http://www.childrendesiringgod.org/product_group.php?id=2

2. Sing the Word by the Harrow Family:  Scripture put to music is a great way to memorize.  How often do we hear a song on the radio and after only a time or two hearing it we can sing along?  One thing that I really like about their cd’s is that you also sing the scripture reference.  The songs are catchy and fun to sing.  http://www.singtheword.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PLST

3. Steve Green’s Hide ‘Em In Your Heart cd/dvd combo:  A friend turned my daughter on to these sets and she fell in love with them.  It’s great because the kids can listen to the cd in their rooms during quiet time or we can pop the dvd in when they are itching to watch tv or a movie!  http://www.stevegreenministries.org/music/index.php#kids

These are just a few tools that we have found helpful and hope you will to!

 

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Reflections…

February 6, 2009 at 10:32 pm (Christian Living, Homeschool)

As I begin to look to a new year with new possibilities and new challenges, I am ever reminded of 2008.  Looking back I never would have imagined my life would have changed the way it did in just twelve short months.  For starters, around January 2008 I made one of the biggest life-changing decisions of my life.  I decided to be my kids’ teacher.  I can not begin to explain the myriad of emotions, thoughts and feelings I had.  For one, this was a path I never imagined myself following or even contemplating.  Secondly, I don’t see myself as being gifted in the abilities as a teacher.  But alas, all is well and we have had a blessed school year so far!  God is good and has blessed us continually!

The event that will never leave me is the memory of a dear friend.  It was on August 11, 2008 that I heard the words, very calmly, out of her mouth, “I have cancer”.  It took a while for those words to sink in and the gravity of the situation.  I remember the next day, my friend calling me, happy as usual, and asking me and the kids to come visit.  We sat on the banks of the lake as her husband did his thing with the kids (boating, fishing, swinging…).  She told me all she knew and that she knew her time was short.  I, of course, cried.  We also laughed during our visit as I reminded her that even though she was sick, she would still be the one to hold us all together and remind us all that God was in control.  It was over the next several weeks that I learned what true faith was all about.  As her body started it’s quick decline, that smile was still there.  Her attitude was forever positive and her thoughts were not of self-pity but of taking care of those left behind.  She knew her destination was Heaven and I remember her saying, “I knew I had a ticket to Heaven but I never figured I would be cashing it this soon!” and of course, we laughed. 

I was one of the few ladies that was asked and trusted to take care of this special lady in her last few weeks of life.  Out of all the things I have done in my life, this was by far the easiest and hardest job I have ever had.  I loved my friend and would have done anything for her or her husband.  That was the easy part.  But watching my friend’s earthly shell deteriorate, never her spirit, but watching her body die was the hardest thing I have ever experienced.  I would not trade it for anything this world could give me.  It was during those times that I came to learn more about God’s love, His grace and His mercy.  My friend taught me so much about God during the 5 years I had with her but it was in her last 2 months that I learned the most. 

As the end came near we all still continued to pray for healing but it became apparent that her healing would not happen on this earth but in Heaven.  So on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 at around 2:30 a.m. we got the call.  We had been with her almost continually during those last few days.  We had all said our goodbyes and just prayed for God to call her home.  It is what she wanted and ultimately we wanted for her as well, no matter how much we were going to miss her.  During the weeks that followed, some days were such a struggle.  I juggled between trying to resume our normal schedule but also help fulfill a promise I had made to my friend.  I’m still trying to fulfill her promise.  Life has gone on but never without thinking about my friend and how life has changed.  Which brings me back to thinking about the start of a new year.  Never would I have imagined a year ago that our time together would be so short.  I thank God for 2008, even it’s hard times because I have learned that I am to “Count all things joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV).  I have no idea what God has in store for me and my family this year but I know Romans 8:28-29 holds true. 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)

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What’s In A Name?

November 26, 2008 at 3:56 pm (Homeschool)

 

I am currently driving myself crazy.  The state we live in requires you to name your homeschool and I have to file the paperwork within the next month.  I have been thinking and brainstorming for months!  I don’t think we had this much trouble naming the kids but like them, the name will be permanent.  No pressure…no worries…

I decided to take to the internet and forums to get some ideas.  The ideas ranged from using last name, street name, name based on surrounding landscape, kids initials or word made-up using parts of each child’s name, etc.  As nice as some of those ideas worked for others, it still doesn’t seem to work for us.  Sure, we could use MC2 Academy (read M C squared) but how would that look on a diploma or transcripts?  So here are the other ideas I’ve come up with so far:

Cornerstone Academy

Foundations of Grace Academy (initials are FOG, which I sometimes seem to stay in)

MMC Academy (kids’ first initial and last)

The form is laying on my desk, all filled out with the exception of “Name of School”.  Place your vote or suggestion now.  Time is running out!

3 Comments

Scripture Memorization

November 26, 2008 at 1:38 pm (Children, Christian Living, Education)

Scripture memorization should be an important part in our christian life but yet so many claim to be too busy.  I hear this excuse from time to time from the children I work with at church.  I have to be honest, I was not an avid memorizer  until I started working with my daughter on memorization when she was around 2 or 3.  But we have made it an important part of our daily routine.  Before I started homeschooling, we worked on verses on the way to school in the morning or before bedtime.  We didn’t spend nor do we now, spend hours working on verses and catechisms.  We are currently learning one baptist catechism per week and two to five verses per week, depending on the verse.  We have been using the Foundation Verse pack from Children Desiring God and will soon move to the Fighter Verses.  The Fighter Verses came with a handbook that outlines the why, who, how and other useful information.  Here are a few why’s from the handbook:

Children have amazing memories.  Children memorize easily.  In fact, they often memorize effortlessly.  Since memorization is so easy for them, they are memorizing constantly.  They will memorize either what the world has to offer them or what we have to offer them.  Why not take advantage of this God-given gift for the benefit of our children’s spiritual growth?  This window of opportunity is open for about twelve years.  After age twelve, memorization is harder – unless a child has been trained in the habit of memorization.

What is learned in childhood is often retained for a lifetime.  It is so much harder for adults to memorize scripture than children.  We often feel handicapped because we do not have more scripture memorized.  For many adults, the verses they know well are verses learned in childhood.

Memorizing scripture provides children with an ever-present counselor and protector.  We cannot always be with our children.  If the word of God dwells richly in them, they have wise counsel with them at all times.  In addition, God’s word is so much more powerful than our words; it will protect them from the attack of the enemy.

Memorizing scripture makes application and response to the word more likely.  Situations arise in all of our lives which either demonstrate a spiritual truth or demand a word of Biblical counsel.  Often in those situations, the Holy Spirit brings to mind a verse you have memorized.  This is less likely to happen when we have memorized only a few verses.  When we recognize a Biblical truth demonstrated in a situation, it is often impressed on our hearts, and a heartfelt godly response in more likely to occur.  That response can come in the form of appropriate behavior, correct attitudes, or in worship of God as we are awed with the truth of His word.

Children learn by example.  They learn to talk by repeating what they hear.  They learn how to treat others by watching how we treat others.  They will learn to value God’s Word and make it a priority in their lives if they see us making it a priority in our own lives.  Prepare yourself and your child by suiting them up in the Armor of God!

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Never Say Never

November 17, 2008 at 9:59 pm (Christian Living, Homeschool)

I must admit, I’ve said “I’ll never…” several times.  The ones that stand out the most are…

“I’ll never drive a mini-van…it’s so not-cool.”   Well after baby #2 came it didn’t take us long to figure out we would be much more comfortable in a vehicle with more seats and being the practical people we are, a gas-guzzling SUV just wouldn’t do.  So what do we buy?  You guessed it, a mini-van!  But in my mind it’s the not a typical mini-van…it’s a Honda and it’s cooler than all the others.  (I don’t know why…I said it was in my mind…no further questions, right?)

“I’ll never be a stay-at-home mom…I would go crazy being with kids all day and no adults to interact with.”   I don’t know what I thought…maybe I thought husbands locked their wives and kids in the house and unhooked the telephone so that you really had to “stay-at-home”!  Well, whatever I thought, I became a stay-at-home mom last year.  After a couple of weeks I couldn’t stand the thought of going back to work.  Not because I’m lazy, just the opposite.  I’m busier now than I ever was when I worked.  It’s like saying you can’t do something when you’ve never tried.  I tell my daughter all the time when she says she can’t do something, “Can’t never could”.  How did I know I couldn’t be a full-time mom if I never tried it?  This mom tried it, loved it and is thankful God allowed it!

“I could never homeschool my children.  I just don’t have the patience…smarts…patience…”  I had some real misconceptions about homeschooling that I won’t even go into.  I made the decision, with a lot of support from my husband, to homeschool around January 2008.  It is a decision that I thank God for every day.  It has been wonderful.  Now don’t get me wrong, there are hard days and stressful times and I am still lacking in the patience department occassionally, but these are the same things I experienced in the workplace.  The only difference is the ones I am working with now love me unconditionally and the pay, well, my pay will come one day when I hear the Lord say, “Well done my good and faithful servant”.  There have been many sacrifices made by the whole family in order for me to stay home but they are sacrifices worth making.  Watching my children grow in the Lord, learn new things and thrive has been some of the biggest blessings in my life.  God is good!  All the time!

So the next time you start to say never, you should ask God, “What would you have me to do or not to do?”.  Sure, God doesn’t care what I drive but he does care about how I live my life.

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