In Times Past.....

I am being featured today at R16:16.

Check out my latest Prairie Primer post.

First Day of Prairie School

First Day of  Prairie School

 

For our first day of school we decided to go check out an old settlement from the 1800’s. Since we are using the Prairie Primer  (http://cadroncreek.com/shop/prairie-primer/) ,  we thought this would be a great opportunity to be immersed in that time period. 

 We visited a church/school,

  

a log cabin,

a creek where we threw rocks, 

and an old mill.

At the mill we looked at different grains that they would grind. We were also able to feel the texture. It is a very different texture from how our grains are ground today.

We also saw a wagon.

And we even had a black bear run out in front of us!!!!

We made some great memories. Memories that I hope the boys will recall as we read all the Little House on the Prairie books this year.

Memories with Legos

                      

   Memories with Legos 

I decided yesterday, instead of doing anything else, I was going to sit in the playroom as my two boys played with their Legos. Their imaginations soar when they are in “Lego world”. I watched them build, imagine, and laugh.

 I began to wonder if these are the times they will remember most when they grow up and have children of their own. When we all gather together at Thanksgiving, are they going to be elbowing each other and laughing about the football mini-figure who tripped on a brick running up the mountain?(Apparently this was very funny.) Or are they going to remember fighting over the tiny brown hair they each needed to complete a character they were making? As their children come into the kitchen to help me make a pumpkin pie, are my boys going be searching the closets of their old rooms to find their Legos to relive this day.

I am so glad I stayed in there and watched a memory in the making. 

I am going to join the The UnWired Mom 14 Day Challenge so I will be sure not to miss great moments like these.

The Old Schoolhouse Expo Special Event!!!

                                     See below post for how to win a ticket from me.

                                                       
                                                                     

Get Ready!  Get Set!  No need to “go”!  The Old Schoolhouse invites you to attend a week long Expo event from the comfort of your home!  That’s right!  No fuel costs, no travel involved, no need for a sitter, no waiting in lines!  This Expo includes live presentations from some of the biggest names in homeschooling!  All homeschoolers will benefit from the wealth of information and inspiration shared each day.  Don’t have time to commit to an entire week?  No problem!  The Expo will be recorded and you will have access to any and all sessions that you miss.  What a great way to jump start the school year!  Mark it on your calendar and tell your family you will be attending your first Parent/Teacher conference of the year!   Join us August 19-23 from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eastern).  For more information and to purchase your ticket, go to www.SchoolhouseExpo.com. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to have access to a bunch of “big-name” homeschoolers all in one place?  Just think how refreshing it would be to gain perspective through the eyes of the ones who have years of homeschooling experience and advice to share!  The Old Schoolhouse is about to make this a reality!  You are invited to join us for a week long Expo Extravaganza event August 19-23 from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM – all from the comfort of your home and through your favorite device.  You’ll hear sessions from special guests including: 

Ray Comfort		Carol Topp
Dean Butler		Adam Andrews
Todd Wilson		Andrew Pudewa
Jessica Hulcy		Ann Dunagan
Diana Waring		Christine Field
Dr. Jay Wile		David C. Gibbs III
Hal & Melanie Young		David Stelzl
Kim Kautzer		Davis Carman
Antony Kolenc		Evonne Mandella
Terri Johnson		Tyler Hogan
Andy Harris		Marie Rippel
Jennifer Courtney		Deborah Wuehler
Joaquin Fernandez		Heather Laurie
Malia Russell		and MORE!

Don’t wait!  Seats are limited!   Go to www.SchoolhouseExpo.com today and get signed up for an event that will leave you equipped, refreshed, encouraged, and ready to tackle a new school year.

How to win: Click to be a follower of my blog and get one entry.  Get additional entries for every friend that you get to like my blog. Just get them to comment that you sent them. Contest ends Aug. 12, 2013.

Bible Time

                                                                                             Bible Time

It is amazing what I have learned from teaching “simple” Bible stories in Bible class.

A lot of times when we read children’s stories from the Bible, I think we almost read them like we are reading “Good Night Moon” for the 100^th time.  I want to encourage you to focus on what you are reading and see what you can glean each time you read a Bible story.

The first story I want to talk about is “The Parable of the Five Talents”.

Mat 25:14  "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

Mat 25:15  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Mat 25:16  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

Mat 25:17  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

Mat 25:18  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

Mat 25:19  Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

Mat 25:20  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

Mat 25:21  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Mat 25:22  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

Mat 25:23  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Mat 25:24  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

Mat 25:25  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

Mat 25:26  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

Mat 25:27  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

Mat 25:28  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Mat 25:29  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

In Matthew 25:25, the servant with one talent admitted he was afraid.  It was at that point I realized there had been times I was afraid to use talents that I had. I was afraid that someone would not like how I was using it or complain and say they could do a better job. So I would talk myself out of using my talent. In essence I would hide it.

I then began to see that my talents are not about me. They are about doing things for God. I should not care if people complain. My job is to use the talents God gave me to the best of my ability and he will take care of the rest.