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We checked the first thing off of my “make-sure-to-do-this-Christmas” list a couple weeks ago…
It’s been on my “want-to-do” list for the past couple years…
but it’s never been crossed off…
‘til this year…Operation Christmas Child boxes filled and dropped off 
It’s here! And all of the All About Reading Level 1 products are 10% off through December 6th. Every AAR Level 1 order that contains a Teacher’s Manual will also receive a free gift 
I am most excited by the fact that this new kit includes my most favorite readers: Cobweb the Cat, The Runt Pig, and Run, Bug, Run. Last year I used these readers in combination with All About Spelling Level 1 to teach my struggling reader to read
No you didn’t read that incorrectly…All About Reading wasn’t out yet, so I used All About Learning’s spelling program to teach my dd to read…I am so glad they published a reading program to go along with these readers and I can’t wait to use it with my ds5!
You can read more about All About Reading Level 1 here.
All About Learning products have worked so well for my family that I became an affiliate with the company. The product links in this post are affiliate links.
In my life this week…not much going on: we shopped for and delivered our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes {yay!}, completed five days of school, spent most of our time at home {doing school and playing outside}.
In our homeschool this week…we finished up another week of our HOD curriculum ~ we read about King Philip’s War {1675-1678} and the courage of Captain Church. I am learning just as much about American history as my my kiddos 
My favorite thing this week was…shopping for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes with the kiddos and delivering them to our local drop off site
Things I’m working on…Thanksgiving fun for next week. I told the kiddos that if we finished all of the schoolwork that I planned for this week {which we did}, we will spend next week doing Thanksgiving fun stuff: crafts, reading our pile of Thanksgiving books, baking, and whatever else I’ve pinned on my Pinterest Thanksgiving board
I’m reading…The Grace Effect {a review} by Larry Alex Taunton…a very thought-provoking book! So glad I was asked to review this one.
I’m cooking…dairy & egg free {or at least trying to} for the sake of ds5…he was diagnosed with a very slight allergy to dairy and eggs last year. Our doctor recommended that we cut back on dairy & egg but we didn’t have to remove it altogether.
This worked for a while, but I have been noticing that he has been having some issues with reflux lately so I decided to have him go dairy and egg free for at least a month to see if it makes a difference.
I’m grateful for…a boring week at home, no new sickness to deal with {just getting rid of old lingering ones}, very few outside activities, lots of things checked off the “to-do” list
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
I found this picture on my camera’s memory card this morning. Dh took the kiddos to a park when I was sick, he took my camera along too
I recently received a copy of The Grace Effect, a thought-provoking new book written by Larry Alex Taunton, the Founder and Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation.
The Grace Effect is a book about adoption…but it is not just about adoption. It’s also about what Taunton learned through his family’s experience of adopting a young girl from the Ukraine. It’s about what he learned about the grace effect, which Taunton defines as: “…an observable phenomenon –that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes” {p.22}
My Thoughts
This book has made me think more than any other book that I have read recently…really think.
It made me think about adoption {something my husband and I have been considering for the past couple of years}, the current plight of orphans around the world and how my family and I can help them.
It made me think about what the world would be like without Christianity…how my life {and my children’s} would be different if we did not live in a nation influenced by Christianity.
It made me think about how people are trying to change our nation from one based on Christian principles to one that does not acknowledge God.
The Grace Effect made me laugh, it made me feel angry and frustrated, it made me wipe tears from my eyes a number of times…it made me think.
More Information
The Grace Effect is available for purchase from Amazon. You can read more about this inspiring book on the Fixed Point website.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In my life this week…Sickness and Sunshine…Sickness ~ I didn’t get a post up for last week’s journal because I was hit with an awful “bug” of some sort on Friday afternoon. It started out with me being just plain wiped out…then progressed to 3 days of off and on fever {Saturday’s fever was 103 degrees!}. I am left with just a cough that I think is on the way out {thank goodness}.
Thankfully the fever finally left for good on Tuesday…just in time for me to enjoy some of the sunshine that our area was blessed with 
In our homeschool this week…We got five days of school in…in spite of the teacher {me} being a bit under the weather.
Dd7 finished up another math book…three more light units ‘til she’s completed CLE Math 1. Then I need to decide if I want to switch to Singapore 2A {the curriculum HOD recommends} or stick with CLE.
I also added God’s World News back into our school day. Last year I had ds9 read two pages each day…such a simple way to add current events to our curriculum. But for some reason I failed to start this up again at the beginning of this school year. Well, it’s in his assignment book now
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…I decided to not share my lovely germs with anyone other than my family…so we stayed put.
My favorite thing this week was…feeling better
I’m cooking…Last night we had pot roast from the crockpot and homemade bread for dinner, our house smelled so good!
I’m grateful for… my husband, he did a wonderful job holding down the fort and keeping the kiddos fed and entertained while I spent the entire weekend on the couch.
The Three Trees:A Traditional Folktale is a delightful book written by Elena Pasquali and Illustrated by Sophie Windham.
This folktale is about three trees and their dreams for their future: one wanted to be a beautiful treasure chest, the second wanted to be a king’s ship, and the third wanted to remain a tree “…here on the hillside, pointing to heaven.” While the trees’ hopes for their futures do not come true exactly as planned…their dreams do come true even better than they planned.
My Thoughts
The inside front cover of this beautifully illustrated hardcover book describes The Three Trees as “[a] tale of hope and faith for Christmas, Easter, and always.” I found that to be a very apt description for this lovely book.
I loved the vibrant folksy illustrations and the wonderful message behind this folktale.
More Information
The Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale is available for purchase on the Kregel Publications website for $14.99.
Disclosure: I received this product for free for review purposes. I did not receive any further compensation for my review and I do not have to return the product.
This unique 40 minute CD features devotional readings from Oswald Chambers’ Prayer: A Holy Occupation that are interspersed with instrumental hymns. Some of the hymns included on this CD are: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “Take My Life and Let It Be”.
My Thoughts
I found Sweet Hour of Prayer to be very uplifting and quite soothing.
Before receiving this CD I thought of it as a music CD with readings interspersed…but after listening to it I found it to be more of an audio CD of devotional readings with instrumental hymns interspersed. I absolutely loved this unique mix of devotional readings and instrumental hymns.
More Information
Sweet Hour of Prayer: Classical Ensemble with Devotional Readings from Oswald Chambers is currently available for purchase from the Discovery House Publishers website for $9.89.
I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
One of our favorite fall traditions is visiting a nearby pumpkin patch.
Between vacation and uncooperative weather, I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to make it to the patch before it closed for the season this year.
But we found a way to squeeze a trip in. Dh couldn’t make it {we went during the day}, but some of our favorite friends did 
The weather in our area this summer and fall made for slim pickings at the patch…
However, we were able to find three pumpkins worthy of carving to bring home with us.
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In my life this week…Vacation was over, the kiddos were on the mend…it was time to get back into our regularly scheduled routine. We are not back to a regular routine yet, but we are much closer than we were on Monday 
But I have to admit…it was hard to go from warm, sunny and {mostly} relaxing days at the beach to chilly, rainy and {mostly} busy days back at home. 
In our homeschool this week…reading, writing, math, William Penn, viruses, t-cells, b-cells, k-cells and antibodies…
I am inspired by… the crisp air and brilliant blue skies of fall…this kind of weather inspires me to bake and clean and prepare for winter
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…lots of errands: consignment drop off, apple orchard for more cooking apples, bank, post office, the final baseball games of the season and hopefully a trip to the pumpkin patch before it closes up
My favorite thing this week was…being home…we had a lovely vacation, but there’s truly no place like home
I’m cooking…more applesauce and apple crisp, chicken in the crockpot {which was yummy and made the house smell wonderful!}, homemade rolls in the bread machine to go with the chicken, and chicken broth using the chicken carcass...yep, it’s fall.
I’m grateful for…cozy slippers and our space heater, they’re calling for SNOW in our area tomorrow!
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
This pic is in the running for our Christmas card
It was our last full day of vacation before the long drive back home. The weather wasn’t quite as warm as it was at the beginning of the week…but it was warm enough for just a little more beach time…
And now that everyone was feeling better and our vacation was about to end I wanted to at least attempt to get some family pictures 
I do believe at least one of these will be appearing on our annual Christmas card
Thankfully, ds5 woke up on day six feeling much better so we made plans to have some fun.
A cool front had come in overnight, the wind made for a brisk day…but the sun was shining. Not so much a beach/pool day, but a great day to head out to explore some local sights with the kiddos.
Ever wonder how much fun three kiddos and a dad can have with three quarters?
A ton of fun if you spend your three quarters on fish food…
Ds9 was drawn to this store by the humungous boxes of Nerds in the window display.
Inside we found the biggest candy we have ever seen…Reese’s Cup anyone?
How about a giant Tootsie Pop?
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