These are a few of my favorite things.. I mean... books

Homemaking

I just finished watching the Sound of music with my grandchildren so I guess that tune is just on my mind.  Also on my mind is the need to focus and clarify in a few urgent areas  in the next while. All of these books I highly recommend. 

Here goes! 

Nourishing Traditions:  The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats focuses on probiotics, soaked grains, raw dairy and grass fed beef. This is an excellent Kitchen Handbook.

To compliment and enhance the soaked grains portion of Nourishing Traditions, Sue Gregg cookbooks are awesome  She teaches and give recipes for  how to make overnight blender pancakes, muffins and other breakfast the cereal grain products. Click here for her website and info on all her other great cookbooks listed below.

Wholefoods cooking

Main Dishes

Meals in Minutes

Soups and Muffins

Lunches and Snacks

and more

Homeschooling Titles

Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child

One of the best books on Homeschool principles and philosophy  

Kevin Swanson believes that a successful education is achieved when a child is prepared to make maximal use of his God-given talents and abilities in the accomplishment of the child's calling. With great passion, he writes a series of 10 principles for achieving the best education for our children in his new book Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child Swanson's list of "10 Time-Tested Secrets for a
Successful Education" are:

1. The preeminence of character
2. Quality one-on-one instruction
3. The principle of protection
4. The principle of individuality
5. The routing in relationships
6. The principle of doing the basics well
7. The principle of life integration
8. Maintaining the honor and mystique of learning
9. Build on the right foundation
10. The principle of wise, sequential progression
This may be added to my all time favorite list for great Homeschool visionary books.

Current events or financial preparation

Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse (Lynn Sonberg Books)

If you feel insecure at all of the current economic climate this book may just get you out of the "panic of the inevitable" and motivate you into action. The first several chapters are how we got ourselves in this mess and the last 1/3 of the book  tells you how to equip yourselves and how to even profit from the crash.  What I found most interesting was that Larry Burkett predicted this very crash and the exact reasons for it 25 years ago in The Coming Economic Earthquake Too bad he is no longer with us on earth as I think he deserves an "I told you so."  Read Crashproof and pass it on!

PS Watch some of his you tube videos. Start here on Dr. Mercolas site and then follow more Peter Schiff videos on Youtube. 

Great Myths of the Great depression

Wasn't the great depression just an accident, non preventable, inevitable? You have been taught that all your life in the media and through modern day politically correct textbooks. The great depression was a necessary correction in the market but exasperated and deeply prolonged by President Roosevelt due to various stimulus packages that stymied the economy. Doesn't that sound remarkably like today's political philosophies? This is a short but gripping revelation as to very real possibility of history repeating itself.  Available through our book selling division of our business on Amazon.com (go to the used listings  and see our book name "GrandmaToAbby") but you will have to pay $4.00 shipping in addition to the book price.  If you email me and purchase through Paypal I will not charge you shipping at all! I want you and your whole family- especially your teenagers-to read this book!

What is your favorite books on your passionate topics?  I am always looking for a good read and recommended books!

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily!

20 Great Reasons to Homeschool

This may be a little small to read so if you actually cannot read it go to this link, scroll down to the color version and it will be large enough to read. (for some reason I could not get the image larger)  In fact, once you are at the source, go ahead and  pass the image on in your blog or emails. You will be participating in something called "viral advertising!" 

Go for it Jim! 

Enjoy!

PS Notice I changed the title to- 20 Great Reasons TO Homeschool. For those of us who already do educate at home these are familiar reasons. For those that do not (yet) these are just extra tidbit reasons in addition to the real intent of home discipleship because we all know none of us started homeschooling so our kids so they could wear their pajamas to school or so they could sleep in on rainy days! Some days are hard but I would NEVER have it any other way!

Living a lifestyle of learning daily!

The Process of Letting Go....

The process of letting go as your children approach adulthood is a bitter sweet process filled with either confidence or fear depending on how you have raised your children over the years.
In the younger years, training is of utmost importance; training to make their bed, training in cheerfulness and continual practice in daily routines that should become a part of everyday life over time. Their education is primarily knowledge based, fact related and fascination driven. Many boys love to read about astronauts and other science subjects and to develop the ability to make accurate observations. Some girls love insects, butterflies, also enjoy much in the line of science. This is a time to build a knowledge base of the English language and how the world works and to observe the wonders of creation.

In late childhood and early teens, the child should be ready for the understanding level, the ability and skill of drawing careful observations. History may come alive to many children at this time as they discover that history does repeat itself and can learn to love the ability to discern the lessons of history. Teaching your children about life and academic subjects becomes primary in a parents focus while training is being established.

Harvey Bluedorn of Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style'>Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style, says it well.

Your job would be to train the Knowledge Level to make accurate observations, teach the Understanding Level to draw careful conclusions, and coach the Wisdom Level to express themselves well and apply things effectively. Remember, all children of all age levels are developing all three of these capacities, Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom all of the time, but certain age levels are focused on certain levels.

As the child is approaching the late teen years, as my children are, I am seeing much of the later development taking place, the struggle to gain wisdom. This is the level where your job as a parent is to coach and mentor (or find mentors).

As I look back over the years I can see the whole process in arrears and can see obvious glaring holes in some of my parenting. Nevertheless, much of their development has been natural and we can rest that in all that we do God will assist us in doing His will in raising them for His Glory and that will include the natural process of growing up and developing into competent, capable young adults.

As I see my second son (third child) approaching adulthood, I long for the young sweet age of his toddlerhood, remember his tender childhood at 9 and 10 and see him developing into his manhood age as he is moving all too rapidly right now. He is taking on the attributes of manhood. He desires to look after me, and to protect me and to provide for me if necessary. All these things I cherish and long for and yet mean a time of change from childhood dependency to adult responsibility.

Ah the process of letting go is so bittersweet. Lord, give me grace.

Wacky Wednesday-Real Life Science

One dark and rainy day in May, my youngest son Graydon and I were at a garden center and happened to see a small food service type of container at the cash register. "Mantis pod" it read. Would that be Praying Mantis? I was intrigued. What a great real life science project. I often regretted my boys not being able to see a real praying mantis in our hot and humid home when we lived in Ontario. (They were not born yet)

Praying mantis's are the most intriguing little insects. They will actually turn their heads to look at your face. It's kinda shocking the first time you see his head follow yours as you twirl him around on your hand. ....Back to the story... of course, we bought the container and followed the instructions to keep it in the fridge until the weather got warm and then hang it on a tree. Out came our field guides and we researched all about praying mantis (Life applicable learning- the most stickable learning there is. In 2 - 6 weeks out of the pod were to emerge hundreds of baby praying mantis. We hung one on either side of the garden and watched carefully. We were warned to not miss the hatching because once the babies come out of their paper wasp like birthing pod there is not much evidence that the pod is empty and the babies will all scatter and you could miss it. Well, one we missed but the other I providentially caught just a the right time. Here is a great shot of the pod dripping with babies. They quickly jumped down and were off. Within 30 min we could hardly find one. They were so cute!

Surprisingly, Graydon found one of the long lost mantis babies now grown to over an inch in only 3 weeks later. It is surprising because they are completely camouflaged with their surroundings. They look like a small twig or other thread like natural debris. He was obviously doing very well.

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

"You have arrived!"

I have been saving, ...and planning ...and researching for what to me is a rather large purchase. Technology does not come easy to me but I found it next to impossible to go without one of these time and almost life saving tools... a GPS.

I contemplated for many months and finally laid down the cash with anticipation, walked away with high hopes and those hopes have not let me down. I love it.

In the three weeks that we have used it on every trip it has already saved me from much stress and last minute reckless lane changes and who knows how many tickets for U turns!

We even named it. It is called Squishy after Finding Nemo fame. It goes with us everywhere and "it will be my squishy and it will be mine."

But something keeps bothering me about it. One particular phrase that it repeats at the end of each and every trip keeps echoing in my mind. It says simply," You have arrived." At first it evoked a chuckle and a grin. "Ha, I have arrived." Then a just a grin and then a little consternation. Oh to have it so simple.

As I am endeavoring to encourage many a young Mom out here to stay the course in Homeschooling with vision, home business for skills, home cooking for health, and homemaking with love, I want to make sure that we have a complete understanding.

I have NOT arrived.

I have learned much in my years at home, and through many struggles but to be perfectly honest, I still struggle at times. I have not mastered all that I preach. I think in principles but act in the flesh. Nevertheless it is in the struggle that the search for God's way begins for all of us. And I am still on the path, just a little ahead of many of you.

....Just wanted you to know that.

Have a good day.... Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

Back to school-10 homeschool principles

As we all head back to the regular routines of the fall season, back to home education is on the top of my list. Each year I read a new book or two for a fresh look, new ideas or just plain old encouragement. Kevin Swanson believes that a successful education is achieved when a child is prepared to make maximal use of his God-given talents and abilities in the accomplishment of the child's calling. With great passion, he writes a series of 10 principles for achieving the best education for our children in his new book Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child Swanson's list of "10 Time-Tested Secrets for a
Successful Education" are:


1. The preeminence of character


2. Quality one-on-one instruction


3. The principle of protection


4. The principle of individuality


5. The routing in relationships


6. The principle of doing the basics well


7. The principle of life integration


8. Maintaining the honor and mystique of learning


9. Build on the right foundation


10. The principle of wise, sequential progression

Check out this great book for a renewed mind and as a tool to refocus on this years goals. This may be added to my all time favorite list for great Homeschool visionary books.

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

Back to School difficulties.

Each year, after a busy summer, running here and there, picking berries, camping, visiting with friends and perhaps an actual travelling vacation time, we get to start up our regular routines again. Some years we have started out with great difficulty and in examining why- I have come to some conclusions. I used to start "school" with a bang, a full schedule including new chores, and a full load of assignments and workbooks and great expectations (mine).

Thankfully, I do not do that to my poor children anymore. We saw too much flesh and resistance, both theirs and mine and I now have learned to have a more graceful approach to a new start up. After any change in routine, even after a vacation or a big move the first things to be re established are the regular routines of chores and household living.
Getting beds made in the morning, if good habits have slipped, and just generally getting adapted to long lonely days at home again. As the weather cools outside, it leads us to cuddle inside with blankets and a great read aloud. As we are established in spending enjoyable time together again we will start up with some more educational disciplines such as a math program or any other disciplined table time activity. If I have decided to make any particular changes to our educational approach this is when I will transfer my vision to my children and open discussion on how and why I want some changes to be made. Whether they embrace these changes right away is not as important as the ideas that I want them to contemplate. In any case as they get older, I want to capture their hearts in their educational plan so I am not dragging them along all year long. Next I want to draw them into an educational plan that both inspires them and disciplines their minds and character to embrace their own education. Usually in a couple of weeks we are into a full blown routines that is both compatible with everyday living and with good educational plans. Every year is different and each day is often different as well but I consider it a good day if we have pursued learning with a passion and grown in relationship as well.

Have a great start up again this year and remember to consider your children are trying to refocus as you are and give them some room to come down from a busy summer.


Living a lifestyle of Learning Daily.

Consider what God's Word says about Children's Education, by Julie Beth Lamb

Therefore do not worry, saying what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? (or what shall we teach? or how can we afford it?) for after all these things the gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, (and point your children there continually) and all these things (the education and materials your children need) shall be added unto you (and them) Matthew 6:31-33.

And you, fathers (and mothers), do not provoke your children to wrath (by teaching them secular views that are contrary to God’s Word and take them out from under His protection), but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (all day, not just when the government’s hours of training are over) and having good will doing service (learning the important lessons of serving family and community), as to the Lord (through whom all things are possible) and not to men (from whom we should be set apart) Ephesians 6:4,7.

God will feed (and provide everything needed) His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom (and make sure they are prepared for His good plan, with His work and through His people, not with government curriculum) and gently lead those who are with young (in the right way to educate their children for Him) Isaiah 40:11.

For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord (plans from His word for your protection and guidance, your obedience and preparation for His use) plans of peace and not of evil (so you don’t have to be afraid to just trust and follow His ways and not man’s ways)to give you a future and a hope (our hope lies in loving and fearing God) then you will call upon Me and find Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you (and your schooling concerns) and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (God will be found in prayer, His Word and Godly curriculum, He will not be found in government school curriculum and ideas) Jeremiah 29:11-13.

Train up a child in the way he should go (discipling him in God’s ways, by His instruction) and when he is old he will not depart from it (he will love God and obedience to Him and will have been walking with Him through the school years) Proverbs 22:6.

And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea (as parents we have a great privilege and responsibility to protect and train these little ones as God intends, never putting them into a situation or training them with curriculum that could cause them to stumble) Mark 9:42.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies (and every moment of our lives) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (not defiled by ungodly training). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (by a constant focus on God and His Word), that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (we must be set apart from the traditions of the world and pressures from others who say that it would be too hard or costly to follow God rather than the world’s way. We must trust God that if we allow Him to guide our children’s steps, through a Godly school life as well as a Godly home life He will conform them to His righteousness and prepare them for His usefulness) Romans 12:2.

May the God of Grace show you His way to educate the children He has entrusted to you.

Used by permission.

JulieBeth Lamb thanks God for allowing these words to flow through her and prays they are a blessing to others as God has allowed them to bless her. She and her husband Rex are the leaders of a homeschool group in Oakdale, California. They have been homeschooling their five children since 1993 and have three still to graduate. Contact her at Cowgirl4Ever@clearwire.net or 209-838-6062

Reasons for Home Schooling

Even though I prefer to call what we do "home education", homeschooling is the term most commonly understood. Also once not too long ago, homeschooling was completely unknown or a very misunderstood term. It has now become main stream, and everyone that you run across that asks you or comments on how sweet your children are ends up knowing someone who homeschools (educates) their children at home. My friend, Lisa, from my very short days in Arkansas, is a very Happy Homeschool Mom who like many of us fared the fears and pulled her children out of school. She has listed as many reasons as she could think of in 15 min as to why she spends the effort. I think Lisa's reasons are quite insighful.

Here's another really good list from reader Milehimama. I love this!

Anyone else got any really good reasons? Or good reasons why not?

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

Summer Reading for Preschoolers

This post is probably the third
in a series of Summer reading posts that I am preparing right now.
Sorry, they may appear to be out of order right now but in the end
they may make sense.
I have made up a list of some of some really good living books for
preschoolers. They are predominately picture books, or books
that engage the eye for the youngster while Mom reads the story.
This helps to teach the child listening and observation skills and
the ability to sit still for longer periods of time, not to mention
vocabulary and language development.

I always recommend reading to your child while he is still in the womb,
a short way of saying, "start as early as you can." Do not worry about
comprehension, or "reading over their heads." They are getting it and
especially as your child gets older you will hear him using vocabulary
that you know he got from some of your read alouds and it is used correctly!

A few years ago I tested Jonathan (now 18) on some grammar usage and
he scored 100% easily and I have never taught him any grammar at all.
Do not under estimate the example set by correct and repeated usage. I
also have been quite lax (a confession) on teaching writing skills
to my boys, and yet, Graydon(15) has a fantastic blog! What a great
writer he is.
Reading aloud is probably the single greatest thing you can do for
your child's education! Start early and keep going until they are
well into their teenage years! I am still reading aloud subject
matter that I know my sons will probably not tackle on their own
but I do want to introduce them to and whet their appetite. It is
so easy with read alouds.

In the list below I have attached links to the titles to help you
visually find these books any time you are out at book sales or
garage sales but unfortunately, many pages on Amazon do not even
have pictures but I attached the link anyway just so you can get
a feel for the book and perhaps it recall to your memory and you
will be able to find it anyway. I do believe in building you own
personal library so borrow them from the library if you must the
first time but for sure as you can see your child enjoying them, order
or locate a copy for his own to cherish over the years.

And above all, do not do what I saw one young mom do, discard those
precious books when they are below your child's reading level. They
are cherished friends to your child's heart! Keep them for as long
as he/she wants them. Maybe, they might want to pass them on to their
children!

Here are some of my favorites for the preschool age:

Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

Make Way for Ducklings (Viking Kestrel Picture Books)

The Complete Adventures of Curious George

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by
Virginia Lee Burton

The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown

Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall

Corduroy, by Don Freeman

Cowboy Small (Lois Lenski Books) by Lois Lenski

The Biggest Bear, by Lynd Ward

A Is for AnnabelleIs for Annabelle, by Tasha Tudor

Thy Friend, Obadiah (Picture Puffins), by Brenton Turkle

Stone Soup (Stories to Go!), by Marcia Brown

Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales, by Beatrix Potter

BLAZE AND THE GYPSIES, by C.W. Anderson

The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books), by Marjorie Flack

The Little Engine That Could: The Complete, Original Edition (A Platt & Munk Classic), by Watty Piper

Andy and the Lion (Picture Puffins), by James Daugherty

They Were Strong and Good, by Robert Lawson

Madeline, Reissue of 1939 edition, by Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline's Rescue, by Ludwig Bemelmans

Paddle-to-the-Sea (Sandpiper Books), by Holling C. Holling

Abraham Lincoln, by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire

1 Is One, by Tasha Tudor

The baby house, by Norma Simon

A APPLE PIE, by Kate Greenaway

500 Words to Grow On, by Harry McNaught

Wild Horses of the Red Desert, by Glen Rounds

Lentil (Picture Puffins), by Robert McCloskey

Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys (Curious George)by H.A. Rey

The Abc Bunny (Fesler-Lampert Minnesota Heritage Book Series), by Wanda Gag

Wheel on the Chimney, by Margaret Wise Brown

Small Rain: Verses from the Bible, by Elizabeth Orton Jones

Tootle, by Gertrude Crampton

Hansel and Gretel, by Eloise Wilkin

The Steadfast Tin Soldier, by Robert M. Quackenbush

BUSY DAY BUSY PEOPLE by Tibor Gergely (A Random House BEST BOOK CLUB EVER Selected Edition Softcover), by Tibor Gergely

The Boy With a Drum, by Eloise Wilkin

Obadiah the Bold, by Brinton Turkle

White Snow, Bright Snow, by Alvin Tresselt

The Big Snow (Stories to Go!), by Berta and Elmer Hader

Dinosaurs: Those Terrible Lizards, by Duane T. Gish

Noah's Ark (Picture Yearling Book)">Noah's Ark, by Peter Spier

Scuffy the Tugboat (Little Golden Book & CD) , by Gertrude Crampton

The Little Red Caboose (Little Golden Book), by Marian Potter

Honey Bear, by Dixie Willson

Birds a Childs First Book About Our Most Familiar Birds, by Eloise Wilkin

WILD ANIMALS FROM ALLIGATOR TO ZEBRA, by Arthur Singer

Little Bear Boxed Set: Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit, by Else Holmelund Minarik

My Teddy Bear (Little Golden Books), by Eloise Wilkin

Animal Babies, by Harry McNaught

We Help Daddy (Little Golden Books), by Eloise Wilkin

PS, I have just spent 3 hours placing and correcting these links over and over again and so it seems, technology has overcome me again and they still, for the most part do not work. I will continue to see what is wrong and try, try, try to get them fixed, but in the meantime, please copy and paste the links that do not work into the Amazon browser and they should come up just fine. My apologies!

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily