Providential History! Read how God recycled a man's pain to save the Pilgrims.

Here’s another awesome resource for Thanksgiving that tells the providential hand of God in the pilgrims -this book is really good.

A unique way to read the Thanksgiving story....

The Pilgrim story can be read devotionally by Christian families, it is that good.  I find it so inspiring like the saint or martyr stories of old.  Through mountains of trials and tribulations the Separatists show incredible faith and steadfastness.  From police arrests, to storms at sea, to poverty, sickness and starvation, the Separatists go through it all with their hearts and minds on the Father above, His Word, and his call to raise up the next generation for His glory. 

For family read-alouds, I have used sections of Bradford's personal journal, Of Plymouth Plantation.  It is phenomenal.  The true story is rarely told in a Colonial unit in the public school.  The prayers, circumstances and prophetic voice of the Christians help you trace God's unmistakeable hand.  I have also used the Light & the Glory for Children ( and read the adult version for myself).  I have repeatedly used their beautiful coloring activity book, as well.

Chad and Holly Kimball teaching "Biblical Parenting: Family Devotions and Discipleship in the Home"

"I wish I would have known this 40 years ago."  One older mom told me after this teaching time.

"I didn't have an example of a father..." another young 18 year old confided after hearing this teaching.

We were so excited to share this teaching in Laporte, Indiana:

Some resources mentioned are:

"Of Plymouth Plantation" by William Bradford.















      The Story of St. Valentine

Family Shows

When you are fasting with the family:

        Out of the Wild: Venezuela

Bible Shows: 

Ben Hur
The Robe
The Nativity

Devotional Movies:

Indescribable  is the story of a ten year old boy struggling to understand God's love.

Preschool Tools

Lately, I have been helping our co-op with preschool for 2-4 year olds, so I pulled out some books I have used in the past...here's just a few I find helpful:

Fun with Teaching Rhymes for finger fun, action rhymes and playtime by Sally Lewis Eaton

My First Bible Verses: Finger Plays for God's Word by Suguitan
These Bible verses get kids moving and doing hand motions.

Playtime Devotions by Focus on the Family
There is a point, verse, action rhyme and prayer on each page.

Read Aloud Bible Stories by Lindvall
Very simple text (few lines)with lots of sound effects highlight the graphic simple yet bold illustrations in this book.  Why bother with little pictures and tons of text at this age????  This book is perfectly fit for this age.

We are using Five in a Row curriculum and modifying it down to this level, so I plan to use www.homeschoolshare.com for my unit on Cranberry Thanksgiving next month.  Lots of free resources there.

I lent my art project book for preschoolers but will add the title when it is returned!

How to find yourself again

I keep hearing this:  "I don't know who I am.  "I'm so confused."

What makes a person lose their sense of grounding, to start swirling?  I know I've felt like that before--going through suffering--broadsided by pain.

In this case, however, these thoughts are coming from women who have one thing in common--they are straying.  Women who don't know each other, but have chosen the same path: escape my pain through the love/attention of another man.

And they lose themselves.

But they think they like it.

And this verse sets me on fire when I hear it: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

First the ingratitude, then the futile hopeless mind, then the darkening of the heart.

The seared conscience speaks, "I don't know who I am.  I am so confused." 

Romans says the conscience is active even in the man who does not follow Christ or have the Holy Spirit: "their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them." 

How much more is he active in the life of a believer who knows they are walking in a sin/lifestyle that God commands them not to?  Will not their minds accuse them and defend them?  And if their minds accuse them, but they like it...will their minds not defend their sin, as well?  And so they are Confused.  Their minds say, "Yes, this is OK, and No, this is not OK."  And then the swirling and tumbling and losing of one's grounding.

I see the forked path here.  Either give in to the sin and God will "give you over to a depraved mind," or step out of denial and stand with Christ admitting the sinfulness of the present path--agree with God about your sin and repent.  Both paths are painful, but one ends in death.  Moving forward in Christ will bring grief, but also refining and ultimately blessing because

He promises us that if we obey his commands--we will be happy.  

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.  Ps 119:35 NLT

Often my brain feels split in different directions...

Some of the topics we've covered in school this last week...

Doctrine, Character and Government of the Early Church
Writing our compassion child a birthday letter
Learning Amharic
Hiawatha, Heidi, Nathaniel Bowditch...
The Letter I
Cranberry Thanksgiving, New England...

Rearranging my house, making special doc's appointments, researching about the next trip to Ethiopia, making video of A...

Thanksgiving prep and Christmas prep and buying gifts

This is a busy time and somehow I need to slow down, live each moment, and experience the presence of God in it. Or else my life will be just tasks and not people.

I do love this life though. I love being my own manager of my own time, the freedom to study with my kids what I think is important (Compassion for the poor is a great school subject; they are getting exposed to language #4 up close and personal)and the adventure of the call of God.

A funny read for Thanksgiving

For those of us who love "Little Women" and Louisa May Alcott's endearing rendering of family life...here's a short story of a country family of seven kids at a remarkable Thanksgiving:

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving
http://www.underthesun.cc/Classics/Alcott/thanksgiving/