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Update on our Colorado life…

Written by Joy
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Update on our Colorado life…

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

It has been a while since I have done an update on our Colorado life. As you know we moved from North Carolina to Colorado back in August of 2012. Yes, we have been in Colorado for 7 months. It definitely has been an interesting 7 months. While we know God moved us out here, it has definitely taking some getting used to for me and the kids.

First off, we are living in an apartment, in a city. Yes, me a country gal, living in a city. I definitely feel like a fish out of water. There have been comments about my accent and where I am from. Some good, but there has been some rude comments as well. I have actually been questioned about having manners and raising my kids that way. Like I said, it has been different.

We have joined a homeschool group and have been on field trips and other outings. However, making friends have been difficult for myself and the kids. They have asked on occasion why we had to move. I just keep telling them and reminding myself that God has a plan for us. He moved us here and we need to do the best we can and just make the best of it.

We are still looking for a home church. I think this has been the hardest thing of all. We miss being in fellowship with other believers. We have visited several churches, but my husband and I have not felt like God has pointed us to the right church. We are still praying about a home church and know that God will lead us to one, in his timing.

It has also been a very long winter for us. We love the cold and we have enjoyed the snow that we have gotten. However, since this is a new climate and area for us, we have also been fighting sickness. We have had the flu, stomach bugs, really bad colds and just recently, I have had some major dental issues surface. It has been tough being at home and not being able to go out and explore, go on field trips and even a mom’s night out.

We are still homeschooling and loving it. I finally feel like we have the curriculum that works for our family. The kids enjoy their science and history. We love reading and doing projects together. We love going on field trips and exploring the new area together. We do enjoy our homeschool group we are in, but I have been looking for another one that is a little more involved and get together a lot more often. I am hoping the kids will be able to make friends soon.

Do we love Colorado? Absolutely! We definitely felt like God lead us out here and the opportunity for my husband to work at this college, just could not be passed up. It has just been an adjustment and with God, we will get through this.

Sun setting on the Rocky Mountain National Park

As you have noticed on the blog, there have been a lot of reviews lately. It has been because of us being sick and I have not been able to write like I have wanted to. As I mentioned, I have had some dental issues and it has required me to be on some pain medication. Yes, it has been that painful. I am hoping this will be the last week with so many reviews. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am also working on a couple of different projects. One, I am working with a wonderful friend. I am hoping we can share more about it soon. It involves a new blog that we will be doing together! A little sneak peak is the title, “Surrendering the Plate.” Any ideas of what it could be about? 😉

I am truly excited about it! God has also been working on my heart in the past year. I am just in the beginning stages, but I am trying to figure out how to get started with it. I would love to have some kind of mentoring program to where older (more experienced) women teach and mentor other women. Like a Titus 2 mentoring program. I know there are a lot like that out in the blogging world already, but God keeps laying it on my heart to someone get involved and do something.

Well, this is how things have been going for us.  We are taking it one day at a time and trusting in God to lead us every day.  I would like to ask one thing of you,  could you please be in prayer that I follow where God leads me?  That is including this blog.  I want to blog to bring glory to God, to help and encourage others in their faith and their homeschooling journey.

Blessings!

2013, family, , , ,

The Ecology Book ~ review

Written by Joy
The Ecology Book ~ review

The Ecology Book is the newest book in the Wonders Creation series and is written by Tom Hennigan and Jean Lightner.

 What is ecology?  Ecology is the study of intricate relationships between living communities and their nonliving enviroments and I love how the authors have explained it in this amazing book.  The books has 3 different types of levels that you can teach from.  Level 1 is for 5th and 6th graders.  It is the basic level that covers the Who, What, When, Where and How questions and the Building Memories part.  The Level 2 part is for the 7th and 8th graders and delves a little deeper into the ecological issues and also has Words to Know and ways you can apply what yu have learned.  The last level is the high school level.  It covers concepts and theories on all subject matters that is inlcuded in the book.  It also covers interesting information in the Dig Deeper sections.

Sarah reading from the Ecology book.

I have three children that are 7, 8 and 15.  While the book suggests that it is for 5th grade and up, my younger children and I still sat down and read some of the sections in the book.  They also loved the colorful pictures that are included in the book.  It made the book so much more interesting to them, getting to see all of the beautiful pictures.  While they didn’t understand everything, they did pick up a lot of the information that we read.  As you can tell from the picture above, my oldest daughter really enjoyed the book.  She loved the Building Memories section, that gave us ideas of things that we could do together as a family.  Sarah also enjoyed the sections they had that told us about the different Ecologists.

2013, homeschooling, review, , , , ,

FamilyMint ~ review

Written by Joy
1 Comment
FamilyMint ~ review

When I first saw that we had a chance to review FamilyMint, I must say, I got a little excited.  In today’s society, it is a “want it now” environment.  Everywhere you turn, commericals, ads and billboards  are enticing you to go and buy.  As much as I am trying to teach my kids that money doesn’t grow on trees, they think all you have to do is whip out your debit card.  When you explain to them that you have to have money in the bank to be able to use the debit card, they will say, well just charge it.  What they don’t understand is that if you do charge it, you will have to pay it back, with interest.  FamilyMint is an excellent program to help you teach your children how to manage your money.

The Money Management Certification program was developed by two dads, out of their own need of wanting to teach their children better momeny management.  Not just to open their piggy banks to spend money, but to teach them how to invest and give money as well.  FamilyMint gives you all the tools you need to help teach your children how to manage and control the money on their own.  It is a two month program that you really only need to spend a few minutes a day on.  You have a workbook that you can work through, as well as online software that can be used.   The book that you will get has a lot of great forms that you can use with your children; general savings, goals, net worth, checks and deposit slips.  However, all of this info is on their online program and you can keep track of it all electronically.  By the time you finish this program, your kids will be able to keep track of their money, make a budget and create goals.

Sarah making a deposit in her book.

The program is written for kids in grades 5th-8th, however I think kids as young as 6 or 7 can understand the concepts that are being taught, with maybe the exception of interest.  I had originally gotten it for my 15 year old daughter who is in 9th grade.  I figured it would be a great refresher course and I was right!  We have worked through the book and set up her an account online.  While we haven’t used the online account as much (I wanted her to work things out on paper), she is able to make a deposit, see it in her account and then see when money comes out.  I love how she is also able to make goals and a savings plan.  My oldest daughter and I have enjoyed this so much, that my younger two children have asked for me to set them up an account.  This has turned out to be a great program for all of my children.

 

 

 

 

2013, homeschooling, review, , , , , , , ,

Wednesday’s Around the World ~ on hold for a couple of weeks

Written by Joy
4 Comments
Wednesday’s Around the World ~ on hold for a couple of weeks

Hi everyone! As you noticed, I didn’t get up a post for Wednesday’s Around the World last week and I won’t be getting one up this week or next either.  For the last couple of weeks, I have had some major dental issues.  Last week, they began a root canal on one tooth and then 3 days later noticed I had an infection in another tooth.  I went on an antibiotic and then went back to the dentist on Monday for them to begin a root canal on the tooth that had an infection.  That tooth ended up having more than the root canal done on it and I have been in a lot of pain since.  They even changed me to a stronger antibiotic because they think I still might have an infection in it.

We have been doing school, just on a more relaxed basis.  We have still been reading our lessons, I just haven’t been able to do any projects or activities with the kids.  The kids have been great about helping me out.

I am also behind in writing and doing reviews for books and curriculum, so I will be trying to catch up on those as well.

With saying all of that, I am putting Wednesday’s Around the World on hold until April 3rd.  I plan on having a giveaway on that day as well.  So be sure to be working on your history and geography lessons, so you can link-up and enter the giveaway!

Have a blessed week!

 

2013, homeschooling, Wednesdays Around The World, , ,

A+ TutorSoft Online Pre-Algebra ~ review

Written by Joy
5 Comments
A+ TutorSoft Online Pre-Algebra ~ review

For my oldest daughter, math has always been a challenge and having homeschooled 10 years, we have tried several different math curriculum’s to try and figure out the best one.  Recently, we had the chance to try A+ TutorSoft Online Pre-Algebra.  The first day my daughter worked on it, she turned to me and said, “Mom, I think I can do this!”  For a positive comment to come out of my daughter’s mouth so quickly, truly made me happy.

The first thing you do when you buy the online curriculum, is set up an account for your student.  You will give them a log-in and a password. The student is then able to log-in and begin the work.  The student has problems that they can work out.  They also can listen to someone explain how to the work as well.  If the student needs more help, there are worksheets that you can download for them to work on.

One of the things I like most about this, it is uses audio, computer animated visuals and text to help teach the math.  It also has an interactive review to help not only the student, but the parent as well, so the parent can also help the student.  Go watch this video  that explains just what all A+ TutorSoft offers.

Do you know what else I like about A+ TutorSoft?  The owners of this wonderful program and how committed they are to their product.  When I began looking for another math program, I e-mailed Vinod Agrawal and he responded in  a very timely manner.  Not only did he email me, he also called me so that I could ask him questions regarding the online program.

Are you worried about spending money and the program not working for you?  You don’t have to worry about that!  They will give you a free one month online subscription!  Just sign up here!

Sarah doing a math lesson.

Overall, my oldest daughter and I really like A+ Tutor Soft a lot.  I am excited to see that they have an Algebra course for when we finish Pre-Algebra.  It is really nice to see my daughter not put off doing her math now.  While she still doesn’t care much for the subject math, it is no longer a struggle getting her to do her math.  For that, I am grateful.

 

**disclaimer: I was given a trial subscription of the A+ TutorSoft Online Pre-Algebra.  All opinions expressed are my own.  No other compensation was given.

 

 

 

2013, homeschooling, review, , , ,