There is always something that hits you square in the face that gives you a reminder of indeed how much there is to be thankful for, and how precious life really is.
Several days ago, one of my husband's grandmothers (yes, he is blessed to still have both of his grandmothers living), on her 96th birthday, got devastating and surprising news-- that she has advanced lung cancer and that she should make her arrangements. She didn't even have that amount of time. She is in the hospital and only has a day or two at best. Yes, she has lived a long life and has been blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but it doesn't make the realization that life is fragile and precious any less startling. We truly do not know the "day or the time." I am sorry that we didn't see her more over the years, but am so glad that I sent her Valentine's Day candy and a card from the kids a couple of weeks ago. I hope she liked it. I would appreciate your prayers for her family during this difficult time.
I am especially grateful for many things this week including:
A little girl with a big imagination
and a boy with one, too.
Fun projects
and delicious treats to eat
Beautiful books
and a creative young man (Kiddo #1 who is building another airplane, this time from ordinary household materials! These are the torpedoes)
and one who does his work with a smile
I hope you can find much to be thankful for, as well.
Just some random shots of a little girl's imagination with her pigs going on a fishing trip or doing a gymnastics routine, as well as a wonderful Italian lesson with bananagrams, reading together and older guys hard at work at research and Algebra....just an ordinary couple of days at the Home to 4 Kiddos!
Developed by a former college financial aid officer, this program is designed to help students and parents to start navigating the financial aid maze early. Did you know that college scholarships are available to those as young as 6? I didn't. :-)
The videos and workbook ($25 for 12 months of access) or DVDs and a workbook ($50 + $5 shipping) help you and your child prepare for and navigate the system. I definitely learned that it's never to early to start!
The 6 videos, about 20 minutes each, cover the following:
#1- "The Big Picture"
#2- "How Financial Aid Works"
#3- "All About the Free Money"
#4- "The System that Works"
#5- "You in the Process"
#6- "Pull it All Together"
Each video has corresponding workbook pages in pdf format.
Although we haven't begun to go on college tours (our oldest is in 9th grade), we have definitely learned a lot about the process and will revisit it as the kiddos get a bit older. Both of the older kiddos enjoyed watching the videos and thinking about their future. It made for some wonderful family-time conversation about different majors, careers choices, college locations, etc.
Lesson plans are available free from the website as well as a newsletter. I would strongly suggest you sign up for both of these. They are a wonderful supplement to the program. Younger children (elementary and middle schoolers) are asked to think about their career interests/goals and even have drawing exercises. Older students are guided to learn about the FAFSA form and how to apply for a variety of scholarship options. This alone, will be priceless in a few years when my children will be getting ready to 'conquer' the FAFSA.
Kiddos #3 and 4 especially enjoyed the "Declaration" in week one's lesson plan. They had to write the following and either explain it in words or drawings. What a positive, encouraging way to get the children thinking about their life's path! The Declaration read as follows: "I have what it takes to do
whatever I want with my life! I will go after my destiny with excitement and
passion. I am happy and determined to fulfill my life goals!"
Denise's website is a wonderful resource, filled with links and information. This, coupled with the videos and workbook definitely will assist you in navigating the difficult waters of paying for higher education.
Last Wednesday, the kiddos and I made Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. I can't help but boast, it was so incredibly good! Absolutely delicious, actually. :-) It is my own recipe, one that I hope you enjoy!
Lisa's Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 ounces butter, softened
3 medium bananas, mashed
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup chocolate chips
Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add dry ingredients, then chocolate chips.
For one large loaf: Bake covered with foil for 40 minutes, then an additional 30-40 minutes uncovered (or until a toothpick comes out clean)
For muffins: 20-30 minutes
For mini loaves: 20 minutes covered with foil, plus 20-25 minutes uncovered (or until a toothpick comes out clean)
We have finished 2 weeks of Lent. I strive to make it a special time for both the children and I, one where we can focus on our journey toward Easter and what that really means.
We also are watching the Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure videos that are emailed MWF as well as doing their supplemental puzzles, coloring pages, etc.
We are reading some special books that help us understand the meaning of this season and why it is so important to us
Today we read "Benjamin's Box." What a lovely story of a young boy who witnesses first hand the last several days of Jesus' life and collects bits and pieces for his "Treasure Box." Those items come to represent different aspects of the Passion and Resurrection. I think we're going to do our own Resurrection Eggs soon that correspond with Benjamin's treasures.
My husband and I are attending a Lenten Faith Sharing with other couples from our church. We have been participating a couple of years for both Advent and Lent, and it has been a wonderful experience to grow in our faith and be encouraged by others, who are like-minded and valued.
I hope that your Lent has been meaningful so far. There are still many weeks to go, with much opportunity for prayer, sacrifice, fasting and almsgiving.
Some may ask, 'what is almsgiving?' Almsgiving has always been an important part of Lent. For many, it means giving of one's financial means to a charity or other good cause. I believe the concept of almsgiving goes much deeper. It is our response to the teachings of Jesus to reach out to people in need-- not just with our money-- but with our time and talents. Some may call it "stewardship." Lent gives us the opportunity to cultivate a spirit of generosity. It gives us a chance to share what we have and who we are with other people. It puts us in communion with others and helps us understand that we are all members of the Body of Christ.
I try to teach my children, that while "giving something up for Lent" is a good thing, since it is a form of fasting and penance that fosters spiritual growth, that they should also look for something positive to "add" to their lives, as well; something that will bring them closer to God, whether it be at home, in our church community, etc. It is a journey. One that culminates in the beauty of Easter.
To say that I am impressed is an understatement. The program is complete, not a supplemental "add-on." It includes a full curriculum book, multi-sensory, interactive lessons for the children and worksheets and exams for gauging progress. You can even print out progress reports and achievement certificates for your child! :-)
The lessons kept my daughter's attention and the interactive Q and A afterwards reinforced the material and kept her interested and engaged. I am a firm believer that children need to be exposed to material with multiple senses. Children remember only 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, 50% of what they see and hear, and 90% of what they see, hear and do. This program does just that. The children see the problems, hear the narration of them being solved and then answer the questions and "do" the problems themselves. This, especially with a subject like math, is so important.
The toolbar for the parent-teacher is very user-friendly. It has the following options:
1) multimedia lessons
2) lesson plan
3) curriculum book
4) worksheets
5) exams
6) worksheets solutions guide
7) exams solutions guide
8) review
9) help
10) admin panel (comes with the premium edition and student progress is entered/tracked, progress reports and achievement certificates are generated)
The units in the third grade curriculum are as follows:
Basic number sense
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Decimal Numbers
Fractions and Basic Operations
Math Operations using a calculator
Basic Graphs
Time and Money
Measurements
Algebra
Geometry
Basic Probability
Word Problems
Given the time of the year and that my daughter knew her basic operations, we went right to work on the Multiplication unit. She can't wait to go onto the division one! The independent nature of the program makes her feel like a real "big girl." She loves when the message pops up that her achievement certificate is ready for printing! What a great incentive. :-)
The full curriculum CD program costs $99.99 and the Premium edition costs $124.99. A+ Tutorsoft has provided a generous offer of 50% OFF for readers through the end of March. The promotion code is SPOFFER50. (which would bring these complete programs down to $49.99 and $62.49, respectively) Their products range from 1st grade through Algebra.
Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Review Crew, I received this product at no cost to me in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
In my life/homeschool this week: Sunday, hubby, the kiddos and I went to an outdoor show after church. It was a lot of fun. The kids got to do archery, watch a live show with wolves and see a lot of other exhibits. You can see more photos of it here.
Monday was President's Day. Hubby was home, so the kids and I had a day off with him, enjoying getting some things done around the house.
We put up our Kind Words Cross. You can read all about it here.
Tuesday was a good day getting our work done. I posted my weekly recipe linkup and shared Kiddo #4 baking her Whole Wheat Brownies. They were really good! Come by and see her recipe and all of the other recipes that were shared here. There are lots of good ones!
The kiddos also had their Italian lesson. They are learning so much and it is a wonderful experience to witness first hand when the lightbulbs go off, or when they are able to have simple conversations with each other in another language. Too cool! :-)
Wednesday was a great homeschool day-- lots accomplished. You can see more photos of it here.
Our Lenten bean jar is getting more and more beans in it. The Kiddos are making a conscientious effort to do kind deeds.
On Thursday, Kiddos 3 and 4 had their online class. They are really enjoying it and learning quite a lot. Kiddo #4 also published her homemade still-image photo "movie" to YouTube. I am very proud of her. She planned a story, acted it out *one frame at a time* and photographed each and every one. (several hundred photos). It is really quite sweet. If you have six minutes to spare and would like to watch it (you can always just fast-forward to the end), you can see it below. The end with two of the dolls giving the other a present is just too cute to miss! Now Kiddos 1, 2 and 3 are getting all kinds of ideas for publishing their power point presentations in this format! You have to love and encourage that kind of excitement. That is what makes the journey of homeschooling all worth it! :-)
Thursday evening had us with our classes at church (I teach, Kiddos 1 and 2 are teenage helpers and Kiddos 3 and 4 are in classes) and Kiddo #1's Civil Air Patrol. He is really enjoying the experience. They have some wonderful activities planned for the upcoming months, including going aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York and staying on Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. He can't wait! :-)
I have some fun planned for Friday, including a new game on the states. I'll be sure to take photos! lol. :-)
How is my 3 in 30 coming along?
My goals this month are to get our vacation photos from last September all printed out, get more of the afghan crocheted that I am making for a family member and to get more blog posts redone since my photos were all wiped out.
I have officially "fixed" 200 blog posts! I have gotten to May 3rd done. Phew! All of the photos are back in to that point. I am getting there! :-) A few more rows were done on the afghan. I didn't get any more photos printed, as my toner ran out. (lots of homeschool projects to print!) But, the new toners are now in the printer, so hopefully I can make up for it this coming week. Come link up with Aurie and share your progress this week.
A photo or quote to share: "Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life."- Pope Benedict XVI
"Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life: the one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast. The other of satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache."-- Fulton J. Sheen
It has been a couple of weeks since I have written a Thankful Thursday post. It is not for lack of things for which to be thankful, that's for sure, I have just haven't had the time. I am making the time this week.
I am thankful how well our Lenten Activities are going so far. Our Kind Words Cross that I wrote about here, is starting to get more lilies on it.
Our Bean Jar is getting some beans in it! :-) Every time one of the kiddos makes a sacrifice, they add a bean. This can be anything from doing something without being told, holding a door, offering to help mom with the laundry, making a sibling lunch, sharing a toy, etc. You get the idea. On Easter, I replace the beans in the jar with jelly beans. :-)
I am also grateful for lots of delicious baking (we made chocolate chip banana bread yesterday-- yummy!) and whole wheat brownies the other day.
Kiddos 3 and 4 painted African animal statues that Kiddo 3 had gotten for a present. He shared one with each of his siblings. It was very sweet. :-)
