Every Friday Heart of the Matter has a different meme topic. This week it’s “What makes you unique?” I wrote a serious post about this on my Counter-cultural Mom blog. Part of the point, though, is to get to know one another better, so I thought I would write another post here, just for […]
Is There an Expert in the House?
November 15, 2008 by ·
God created each of our children with special gifts and talents. One of the joys of homeschooling is our ability to enable our kids to use and develop the unique abilities God has given them even in their youth. Two of our boys are avid birdwatchers. When I say avid, I mean that this is […]
Mom-Help
November 12, 2008 by ·
This week’s Homeschool Memoirs at Homeschool Blog Awards is about what we do when we need to clear our head or take a breather. When I’m feeling stressed I usually grab a cup of coffee and take a few moments to read. Right now I am enjoying a new book, To Have and To Hold. […]
Teaching Kids About Money
November 12, 2008 by ·
Times are tough right now for a lot of people. My first grader recently asked me about the state of our economy. He remembers studying the Great Depression last year, and he was worried! This is a perfect time to talk to our kids about money. Kids and Tithing When a child is old enough […]
Favorite Resources for Thanksgiving
November 6, 2008 by ·
We love Thanksgiving! I take the opportunity every year to help my children gain an appreciation for our nation, which was founded by Christians seeking freedom from religious persecution. Here are some of the resources we are using in our family. Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford Every year we read an excerpt from this […]
The Jesse Tree
October 28, 2008 by ·
The Jesse tree is a neat way to help our children see the continuity between the Old and New Testament. All of the Old Testament points forward to Jesus, the centerpiece of human history. The Jesse tree takes its name from Isaiah 11:1, which says “A shoot will come up from the stump of […]
Using an Advent Wreath
October 28, 2008 by ·
We enjoy using an Advent Wreath during our Christmas season devotions. The advent wreath is somewhat similar to the Advent calendar, in that it marks the passage of time, from the first Sunday in the season until Christmas day. We light the Advent candles before beginning devotions. The children love the flickering candles and it […]
Advent Wreath Devotions
October 27, 2008 by ·
Advent is celebrated on the four Sundays before Christmas, with the fifth candle being lit on Christmas Day. Each week is an opportunity to focus on a different aspect of Christ’s birth, with appropriate scriptures and songs. Here is one suggestion for family devotions with an Advent wreath. First Sunday of Advent On the […]
Making or Purchasing an Advent Wreath
October 27, 2008 by ·
We use an Advent Wreath every year during our Christmas season family devotions. For more articles about Advent, go to my Counter-Cultural mom blog. The Advent wreath can be purchased or made from real or artificial evergreen boughs. Traditionally, it holds 4 candles on the wreath and one in the center. We arrange our Advent […]
Advent Calendars and Nativity Sets
October 27, 2008 by ·
How many days until Christmas? We like to use Advent Calendars to help our young children get a sense of the passage of time. They also help to build anticipation for our nightly devotions. The chocolate advent calendar certainly helps build excitement. The kids come to us pleading to start devotions every night! Advent Calendars […]
