School Sparks: Ignite Your Child's Success in Preschool, Kindergarten and Beyond

Work Cubes

Today I tried something new. 
I created a work cube for each child.

Grieving God's Way The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing

Grieving God's Way The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing
By Margaret Brownley, Published by Thomas Nelson

Rainy Day Impromptu Painting Experience

Well it rained today… no time to go outside and play.   
We usually paint in the garage but the mouse is out there so until a conformation of its  peril….
 the garage is closed… 

 

 To protect my table an old sheet did the trick.

I Survived Week One.

Week one of homeschooling was fun and long.  Because I was sick for two weeks, I felt rushed and not prepared as I would have liked to be.   We are working on scheduling and organization….  Currently they love the schedule, me not so much.   

One Word 2013 Reposition

The year 2013 will be the year I Reposition:

• To put in a new or different position; shift 
• To change the image, marketing strategy, etc., of (a product) so as to appeal to a wider or different audience or market 
• To place in a new position 
• The return of a broken or displaced organ, or part to its normal site 
• To target (a product or brand) at a new market by changing its image

I choose this word for many reasons.  Last year was full of dismantling and displacing events.  With much reflection there is some repositioning needed on many levels and layers.  There are things that need to be placed in new positions and some things need to be placed back or restored to their  normal site. 

2013 is a year of Reposition for me in the following ways:

• I will reposition my life in a way that allows for only positive relationships
•  I will target a new market of people by projecting a positive image.
•  I will work towards repositioning my heart back to love and trust in the lord even as my heart grieves.
• I will remove myself from relationships that have proven to be toxic, even those that I love.

"If you don't like the way your life is going, redesign it. Redeem the years you lost. Restore your vision, revive your passion for living, and reclaim what was dormant inside of you. I cannot give you the dream but I can give you the tools to reach the dreams you have inside. I have seen what successful people do over and over again. I want to show you how to Reposition yourself so you can do it, too. I have learned that minor adjustments make a big difference."

-- T.D. Jakes

Do you have a word?   For more info visit one word 365 :

2013 Curriculum the Journey Begins

As the New Year approaches, I have been working diligently to compile a curriculum for my four Shining Star Students.  I have only spent about $60.00 on curriculum.  Since I’m starting in the middle of the school year, I decided not to purchase complete curriculums. I am utilizing many of the free online resources. In addition I’m  staying close to the  Common Core  Aligned  Standards since my kids are coming out the school  system and plan to reenter  in high school (that is the plan for now).

My homeschool approach will be a mixture of school at home, unit study, notebooking and online studies.

Each month we will do a thematic unit where each child will create a notebook with everything related to the theme.  Our bookshelf will reflect the theme. For the month of January our theme is Animals of the World and our February theme will be African American History. We will vote for March in January and so forth.  My 3^rd and 6^th grader will have a Language Arts Four week every other month on a suggested reading book.  For January the 3^rd Grader will read Because of Winn-Dixie and the 6^th grader will read Touching Spirit Bear.

To view there complete curriculum for the second semester of the 2012/2013 school year, click here

 

 

 

Still LOLO - A story of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Strength

Still LOLO

Still Lolo: A Spinning Propeller, a Horrific Accident, and a Family's Journey of Hope is the title of my latest read!  By the title one could only assume that it will be a woe is me but God is good book.  To my pleasant surprise it is very much the opposite!  The story is a compilation of a family’s journey through a life changing experience of Lauren Scruggs accident.  The book is written where the members of the family are able to give their point of view of the events that bring them to where they are today, stronger and still LOLO. In addition to focusing on the events of the accident that changed the lives of Lauren Scruggs and her family; It also tells a story of a family that was once broken but reunited by the renewing of their faith and a understanding of forgiveness and God’s everlasting grace. 

The Scruggs Family

Even though the books main focus is the accident, what I felt the most meaningful message in this book is a story of reconciliation forgiveness and answered prayers.  It mirrors a real life fairytale that has a happy ending after a series of climatic events.  I would recommend this book to anyone that feels discouraged in the face of tragedy, lost or just life.  I have learned in this life that no matter what you are going through in life there is always a great cloud of witnesses that can demonstrate the goodness of the Lord through their journey.  The Scruggs family is included in that great cloud.  What he does for one he will do for another.

 

Lauren Scruggs

 

You can get a sneak peak by reading an excerpt of Still LOLO here.

**Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review.This in no way contributes to the content of this review nor my opinion of the book.    

 

It's a Giveaway

Genesis Creation is hosting a Giveaway:

 

This week there will be two winners!

 

Since I did not run a give away last week, I have decided to give away two blog makeovers and two "What are you Serving? - 2013 Blogger Planners (available for download 12/17/2012).

Everyone who enters the giveaway will have an option to subscribe by email and receive a code to get the planner for $.99.... 75% off!  So by entering everyone wins!

 

Please look for a post this week that will have a post that includes a table of contents of the planner to get a sneak peak of all the goodies that it contains.

 

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Than a Bucket List

More Than a Bucket List : Making Your Dreams, Passions, and Faith a Reality
by Jennifer Barrow   Published by Thomas Nelson

 

More Than a Bucket List is a short read but very inspirational.  Barrow took the Bucket List to a whole another level.  Everyone has heard of the Bucket List….a listing of things that you want to do before you transition into the afterlife.  However this list is a way to really look at what’s on your list and what you may want to put on your list.

I personally do not have a bucket list because I never really got the whole purpose behind it.  This book was written in a way that showed me how a Bucket List can be a way to organize the things that really mean the most to you and how you can accomplish some of those things while you have time.  After reading More than a Bucket List, I will be compiling my own with great thought and consideration of the things that I really want to do with the rest of my time in my earthly vessel.  I recommend that anyone that does not have a Bucket List and would like a place to start thinking of what to put on that list to read this book first it brings a whole new meaning of the phrase “Bucket List”.  If you have a bucket list you might want to peek inside this book and see if your list really reflects the things that you really want to do. Very Inspiring.

 

 

Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.

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