Have you ever learned a new trick?  Well, crocheting is mine, and such a wonderful outlet, I have ran with it.  I crocheted my nephew dozens of hats, a pair of shoes, and even a tie.  We have crocheted dish clothes (made by my daughter and I), and a few scarves.  Everyone got a new hat for Christmas.  It's just been nice keeping my hands busy with something that doesn't take up tons of space or time! 

For the rest of the story, please join me at Today's Housewife.

Beth

My Faith is Old

I'm not really sure where to begin. It's been weeks since my last post, and I have no reason.  I am just so unorganized. Disheveled. Scatterbrained.  Maybe it's because all my belongings are packed up and willy-nilly stored in various places.  Possibly it is because my family of 10 is living with my gracious parents in their once spacious three bedroom home.  Or it could be that I get confused by the ever changing work schedule of my husband.  Bottom line?  I've lost my focus and am letting the distractions wear me down.

What do you do to bring it all back in?  I find myself shoving things into corners (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) and trying to ignore the clutter as it piles up.  It's not working for me though.  Honestly, I am feeling a little unraveled. But it is all so overwhelming, I think it is easier to hide.  However, as I stand in the one square foot of clean floor space of my room, I realize a blind eye is for the cowardly. I must face my predicament, own up to my irresponsibility; I just don't know where to start. No platitudes, no easy fixes, just me trying to find way.  Back to the productive, back to the purposeful, back to diligence.  It looks impossible from here, there is just so much to do.  So I suppose I need to figure out where to start. I think I'll start with a song.

Beth

Here is another Bible Curriculum I was able to review this year.  Again, it is a wonderful, in-depth look at the Bible, with lots of personal digging and work to learn the Bible for yourself.

From Bill Burtness, author, Judah Bible Curriculum:

"With the Judah Bible Curriculum, it is helpful to remind ourselves just what we are trying to accomplish in our study of the Scriptures. 

The primary product of our education is the character of our kids - Godly (loving), self-governing under God (responsible), self-educating before God (literate).  We want applying God's word to all of life to be second nature for our children.  As they understand the truth from the Scriptures, they will be able to discern what is false.  They will need this basis in truth as they grow up and finally leave the nest on their own.  So we are building our children's worldview and future. 

As we have seen, freedom in society is dependent on this Godly character, so we are also building future civilization as we train our children.  This is serious and actually does take some labor and some thought.  But it's not beyond us. (Deut. 6:4-12, I John 5:3)

These concepts and ideals were common thinking when America was founded and through much of our history, but in the last several generations they have not been taught and we have really lost it.  So we are floundering."

 

The main concepts for the study are:
The hand of God in History, The hand of God in the life of the individual, the importance of Godly Christian character, and learning the relationship between individual Christian character and national liberty.
The Judah Bible Curriculum also focuses on the intelligence of following God-which really appeals to me since many Christians today are made to feel less educated than their liberal neighbors.
A strong Bible focus and background is one of the main reasons we personally chose to homeschool, and with this curriculum I feel like we are finally going to be able to do just that. I have spent a long time studying this curriculum, as it is teacher-intensive.


There are key sheets to fill out, and you are encouraged to add maps, timelines, and essays as well. There is a PDF of example student work to help you see what a student notebook should look like. There is even a teacher walk-through that holds your hand!
The other great thing about this curriculum is it teaches your child how to extract information, not just answer questions. I really think this Bible curriculum is fabulous, and all ages can use this curriculum' K-adult.

Every year you will teach the main ideas and principles of the Bible, but the student will be studying different details. Judah Bible Curriculum calls these details Bible Keys and they include individuals, events, institutions, and documents. This allows you to design the daily study to fit your family with the doctrinal emphasis left to you. A summary of the Bible Keys you will study can be seen in the Scope and Sequence.
The Judah Bible Curriculum can be purchased as a download ($44.00) or hard copy ($69.00) and includes:

• Judah Bible Curriculum K-12 Manual or e-book
• Elementary Notebook Ideas Booklet, download or view online
• Eight-lecture Teacher Training Seminars on CD, download or listen online

I have been absent lately.  Absent from this blog, and other things in my life.  Other than the occasional menu post or review, I just haven't been writing.  It has just been too hard, and I haven't had the gumption.

You see, we are a little topsy-turvy in our life right now.  Slightly over six months ago, God called us from the church He had led us to 4 years ago.  We packed up our entire life and moved home.  My parents, being the gracious people that they are, opened their home to us, and now 12 people are living under this one roof.

God saw fit to open a job up for Heath almost immediately.  The temporary holiday job has turned into a store manager position of a retail men's clothing store.  It seems far from the calling on our lives, but God is in control.  Heath works hard, and honors God with his diligence. 

Most days are spent juggling schedules, vehicles (we only had one until a few days ago), and routines.  Heath is only home 2 days a week, and usually gone before the kids are up and home after they are in bed. School has been sporadic, but is slowly evening out.  There is a constant need to pick up clutter and messes.  It just gets a little crowded if you let the piles of stuff stay more than a few hours.  There doesn't seem to be any down time, but that just keeps us working diligently unto the Lord, right?

There have been moments of stress, and a few meltdowns (we won't mention the names), but since faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), we carry on.  In fact, it is because of the faith given us by God we can carry on.  I will be honest, it isn't always easy.  In fact, there are times I just don't want to do what is right.  So I put my trust in the God of the Universe, and follow.

Join me over the next few posts as I share specifically how we are carrying on.  In our home, our school, our yard, my kitchen, and my craft room, I'll share how we are surviving, and how we are stepping it up to thriving! 

God's Great Covenant

Since we are a homeschooling family, I am often looking for "Bible" curriculum.  Sounds a little odd, huh?  You have the Bible, what more is needed?  And I usually approach teaching the Bible from a more pure aspect.  I don't need or want a curriculum to tell me or my children everything we are supposed to know. But I do keep my eyes out for something that will be a guide, helping up to dig the truth out for ourselves.

Classical Academic Press recently gave me the chance to review God's Great Covenant, New Testament 1~The Gospels.  I was a little unsure of the course when I first got it.  I received two large workbooks, and I made the assumption it was full of busy work. But I began to dig through it, and found out how wrong my assumption was!  This is truly a well thought out and well written plan to guide you in teaching your children!

The teacher's edition is just a reproduction of the children's book, but the margins are left open to fill with notes.  There are also key point notes from the publishers.  It honestly takes quite a bit of work to prep this course and get it ready to teach.  You cannot just pick up the teachers manual and read a paragraph to your students. You first must read, take notes, study, and learn the material for yourself. In other words, you get to STUDY YOUR BIBLE for the purpose of teaching your children the Words of God!

With most curriculums, you get a planning guideline, and teaching schedule.  And that has been something to which I am very accustom.  This course does not.  Other than being sectioned out into units and chapters in the units, it is up to you the teacher to plan when and what you will teach.  Part of me would really like some direction in planning, but, maybe this will be another way I can learn and grow as a teacher.  Once I get the hang of the schedule, I do believe I will look into buying the other courses in this series!

Happy looking!
Beth

I reiceved this product for the purpose of review. I was not given any instuction as to what to say. All opinions and writing are my own.  For more reviews, please see The Homeschool Crew Blog.