We love stick figures!

One of my new found loves is stick figuring through the Bible with Grapevine Studies!  I use these lessons in our homeschool, my Wednesday night children's class, and now I'm using one for our ladies Bible study because I just love them so much.

We are currently stick figuring our way through the Old Testament.  My children love the simplicity and  I have noticed how well the lessons stick with them.  Here is a sample of some of their work so far.

Our ladies Bible study group is currently going through Beth Moore's Esther and guess where this month's free download lesson is from?  Esther!  I am so excited to share this lesson with our group because I know they will enjoy it as much as I do.

February Sales and deals
As a way to say thank you to their customers, February 1-7, you can chose 50% off on all student books and ebooks for families. 

From Dianna - "With a slow economy I know many families are struggling and this is our way of helping those, who otherwise could not afford Grapevine, a chance to buy our studies for their families."

For February 8-28, you can save 20% off all items by using code - BlogFeb

As I mentioned above, you can also grab the free elesson from Esther on Queen Vashti.

Happy Birthday Stephen - Week 17

In my life this week… 

Stephen turned 12!  When you turn 12, you get to sit in the front seat!

His present was a phone.  Being in the older youth group now, a phone just makes life simpler.

Someone (we won't mention any names - uhamom) put an ice cream cake in the refrigerator instead of the freezer so we had ice cream soup but it didn't stop this permanent smile.  :)

And since we live in the south - this little bit of fluff - well, it's a big deal especially on your birthday!!

In our homeschool this week…
The biggest adventure would have to be dropping Jonathan off at the local high school for Driver's Ed.   He was nervous and excited - so was I!  He passed the signs test now on to the written test.

Our school week was hit or miss but that was a part of our plans. This week and next are going to be busy so we are splitting week 17 up to last for 2 weeks.

Things I’m working on…

Memorizing 100 memory verses is going great.  Here's this week's verses.

Photos of the week…
1) The kids counting Valentine's cards made by girl's club for His Radio Hearts For Kids. 2) Sarah trying on her Jazz recital costume.  3 & 4) Bowling for Stephen's birthday.

I'm linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, It's a Wrap, and Collage Friday. I love looking at other homeschoolers weeks!

Wrapping It Up - Week 16

In my life this week… 

2 weeks back into the new year and I'm ready for a break!  I'm afraid we only get busier from here though.

In our homeschool this week… 

We are almost half way there!  The big news for the week is Jonathan is headed to the local high school on Tuesday to start DRIVER'S ED!!  When did this happen?!  In a blink of an eye, I tell you.  Believe people when they tell you that!!

What’s working for us… 

I can't give enough praises for My Father's World.  Do we use it all?  No, but we use the majority and it fits us well.  Jonathan is so much more independent now with his studies.  He has his checklist and he is ready to go.  He seems more focused now as well.  I'm sure maturity has a big part in that too!

Things I’m working on… 

I'm still knitting dish cloths.  I knitted Sarah a smaller version for a doll house rug.  :)  If you'd like to purchase one, or two, or three - let me know.  $3ea or 2/$5 plus shipping.

I’m grateful for… 

Bible studies - online and in real life!  :)  I'm studying in Esther and Luke right now along with Numbers and 2 Kings with the children.

Photos of the week…

Beginning of the year pantry organization...

Before

During

After

Today - 1 month later (almost)

I'm linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, It's a Wrap, and Collage Friday.  I love looking at other homeschoolers weeks!

Knitted Dish Cloths

I put down my knitting needles for a few years now (I think- it seems that long anyway) and really the only thing I ever made were dish cloths.  I loved using them though and was in need of more.  So, I picked them back up and voila!

For sale - $3 each or 2/$5

First School Week of 2013 - Week 15

In my life this week… 

We jumped back in full swing this week - with schedules, with school, with life!  Since being sick so much over the holidays, we had just stuck close by home and done very little so I was really dreading jumping back in.  We ended up having a really good week though so I think everybody was craving a little more routine.

In our homeschool this week… 

It was tabernacle week in our MFW lessons.  We didn't have all the supplies that it called for but we made do with items from around the house and this ended up being a very fun project!  We used cardboard, folders, tape, and glue!

What’s working for us… 

We've searched high and low for the "right" spelling program for us.  We've tried Sequential Spelling, All About Spelling, Abeka Spelling, Spelling Power.  None of those really seemed to work for us.   

So this year, I purchased Spelling Workout Level B for Sarah and Level D for Stephen.  Well, they both love it.  It is a simple program.  You work on 10-20 words per week and have exercises to do each day with your words.  At the end of the week, I put their list in Spelling City and they take their test on the ipod app.  It's so simple but it's working so well for us.  Finally!!

Things I’m working on… 

I'm going to start back knitting wash cloths.  I need some more for myself and if it works out well, I may start selling them.

(update: see finished one here)

I’m pondering… 

It's that time of year when I start to reflect back on the school year and begin preparing for the upcoming school year.  We have spent a lot of time out and about the past few years and I'm ready to stay home a little more.

I’m cooking… 

More and more - our eating out days have been cut back drastically.  We have several big trips coming up and several unexpected expenses so saving money is a must!  I've found it helps to have some quick and easy meals on hand for preparation during those busy times when we are tempted to just grab something.  Some of those meals for us are...

Breakfast Meals

Pasta dishes

Fish sticks

Salmon Burgers

Sloppy Joes

Tacos

I’m grateful for… 

our health!!!!!!!!!!! We needed the break but I'm sure glad everyone is back to normal and feeling better.

I’m praying for… 

a new homeschool mom's Good Morning Girls group that I just joined.  I'm also leading our Hello Mornings group again which will be starting soon and finishing up our Esther Beth Moore study.  So, I'm praying for me and all the moms/ladies in these groups.

Photos of the week…

I'm linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, and Collage Friday.  I love looking at other homeschoolers weeks!

Happy New Year - 100 Verses in 2013

Happy New Year!  

One of my goals for the New Year is to memorize more scripture verses.  I'm joining Shanna over at Learning at His Feet and many others in memorizing 100 verses together.  You can find the details here.  There is also a facebook group for accountability.

We begin the New Year Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 which are already memorized verses for our family.

To aid myself and encourage family members to join in each week I plan to write the verses to be memorized on our kitchen white board.  I will also write them down on index cards for myself and place them in my "brain".  Something about writing them down over and over helps me to memorize so they will be written all over my calendar pages as well.  I'll start from memory each day and see if I need to make corrections.  We will me memorizing the NLT version this time around.

Since these verses are already in my memory, I will be memorizing James 1:22 this week but I still placed them on the board for my family to see.