Notes From Ladies Event

If you would like to view the notes from the teaching I delivered at one of the recent ladies events entitled, “The Art of Womanhood” click here.

 Or paste the following link into your browser: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcw7qb7c_67dzj8xrc9

Botanical Gardens Fun!!

Yesterday we had a blast with some buddies at the Botanical Gardens! Here are a few pictures from getting wet in the Children’s Garden.

Some Wonderful Teaching

My sweet hubby knows that I enjoy listening to women Bible teachers from time to time, and he sent me a link to a pastor’s wife named Carolyn Mahaney. I have LOVED and been refreshed, through her biblical and thorough teaching of truths related to women and the funny stories she shares. She teaches on topics such as Mothers and Daughters, Being Busy at Home, Beauty, and others. Enjoy and be blessed!

http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1175-00-51

Oh, and check out Carolyn and her daughters’ blog! www.girltalk.blogs.com

Why I Love Homeschooling

I have again been reminded of why I love homeschooling. Yesterday,  during our “school time”, I got to remind my children of the simple gospel! I got to be there and be prepared for how to answer the question stirring in one of their hearts about the simplicity of believing in Jesus, of trusting in His work on the cross and His resurrection, though it seems that surely there has to be more required of us….salvation can’t be that simple, can it?  I got to see the precious, pleased and excited expression on her face when she was reminded of the truth. And as if that weren’t enough, I got to see her fervor grow for her brother’s heart to have understanding of that truth. Then, this morning, I passed through the kids’ rooms during morning chores to hear the gospel of John being read on a cd in one room, and praise music blasting from the other–all unprompted from either Dad or myself. It’s just become the “norm” around here. And that is something I count precious and am so very thankful for.

Teaching Children to Read

I have had quite a few neat discussions with moms of young children about the intimidations of teaching their little ones how to read.  One of my favorite homeschooling quotes by a veteran homeschooling mom is, “Learning to read is easy!” That is a good reminder to me to keep it simple!

Our chief way of “easily” (but NOT always) learning how to read has been pretty strictly following the Abeka plan and materials, so I did NOT make this up, but I thought I’d jot down a summary of the plan my oldest two and I have used that have brought very positive results!

 

1.       Learn short vowel sounds 

2.       Learn consonant sounds

3.       Learn consonant/vowel blends (ba, be, bi, bo, bu, then change consonant…Abeka recommends writing these on a ladder and “climbing” up the ladder as you read)

4.       Add letter to end of blends on blend ladders (3 letter words)

5.       Practice short sentences with 3 letter words—read them and make them up.

6.       Learn long vowel sounds

7.       Learn 2-vowel rule:  If there are two vowels in a word, the first vowel says its long sound, and the second vowel is silent.

8.       Practice LOTS with 1 and 2 vowel words

9.       Learn special sounds and sight words (rule-breakers)

*Wherever he/she is on this progression, I would start BELOW this to build her confidence and show her she can do it.

*Once they are reading short sentences, helping them find VERY easy library books to read without any help will also build their confidence, even if they can read more advanced stuff with you beside them.

I hope this helps someone out there who just needs a bit of a plan to help discover if progress is being made for your little one!

 

 

Global Focus

This weekend at Capshaw was our first Global Focus Seminar. My passion has been renewed for reaching the world in such a refreshing and hopeful way!

 

I was reminded of some of my favorite times during college-World Impact Conference at First Baptist Muscle Shoals (Now GraceLife)! Having felt that God had called me to His service in some special way, and believing at that time foreign missions, I was giddy just pouring tea for the great servants of God from all over the place as they were meeting for a lunch teaching session. And what a blessing to develop friendships with missionary kids who came to summer camps with our church! I felt like I was such a part of God’s work by praying for these church planters, teachers, Bible translators, pilots, wives and families of seminary professors in foreign countries…

 

But then I knew God was leading me to marry Zach, who was called to preach the Word of God, yes, but not led move to Africa or Asia or South America to do so.

 

How kind of God it is to now allow me to see groundwork being carefully laid, at the church my husband pastors, for making an impact that might even outreach the dreams I had as a college girl, an impact an entire, passionate, North American church can make as they step out into unknown territory by faith…because WORSHIP is the only thing that will last forever!