Book review: How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids

Silly question......

Do you love your kids?  (I TOLD you it was a silly question!)

A little bit tougher question....

Do you have a heart for your children?

You may be thinking, "What?  I just said I love my kids, that means I have a heart for them!"

Well Rachael Carman may disagree with you.

I recently had the opportunity, through The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, to review her book How to Have a Heart For Your Kids.  This book is published through Apologia, a well known and respected source of homeschool curriculum and resources. With a pedigree such a this, I anticipated big things from this book!  Apologia is my personal favorite pick when it comes to homeschool science curriculum and we are currently using their Exploring Creation With Human Anatomy and Physiology for our first and fourth graders.

On the whole I would say that I really enjoyed this book.  Mrs. Carman made some great points and had some very wise words of encouragement to share with homeschooling parents.  If I had to find one thing negative to say about this read, it would ONLY be that perhaps some of the passages became a little redundant- but I feel that was part of Mrs. Carman's desire to drive her points home.

And speaking of points, allow me to share the main points that Mrs Carman wants to leave with you:
H- Have a Heart for the Things of God
E- Enrich Your Marriage
A- Accept Your Kids
R-Release them to God
T- Teach Them the Truth

Each of these points represent a chapter in the book.  Mrs. Carman uses loving detail to substantiate each point by drawing from her own experience as a homeschooling mother of seven, backing up points with scripture, encouraging with biblical models (Hannah and Samuel), and by speaking straight to the reader- as if having a personal conversation with you.

A small book and a light read, I recommend adding it to your bedside bookshelf.  How to Have a Heart For Your Kids can be purchased at the Apologia Press site for $13 plus shipping. There is a sample chapter for you to peruse at the site. Also, here is what hey have to say about the book:
          How well do you really know your kids? What has God shown you about who they are and who they will become? He has sent these children into your home at this specific time for His glorious purposes. Indeed, you have been invited on the adventure of a lifetime, a journey on which you will see walls fall, seas parted, and giants slain. You don't need special skills or training for this journey—you need only to seek God and hold tight to His mighty hand! As with so many things, the first step to having a heart for your children is knowing your heavenly Father. As you seek daily to share His heart for your children, keep this inspirational book close at hand.


Disclaimer: You should know that I received a free copy of  How to Have a Heart For Your Kids in exchange for a fair review.

The Color in Question......

Cream Puff.

And by the way, if my name were a color.....it would be MUD!

I had just a few moments to choose a color for the trim of our house....alone....and I came up with Cream Puff.

I love it!  It makes me warm and happy.  I smile looking at it!

Andy hates it.  I mean, went right out to Home Depot and picked another color hates it.

P.S.  For those of you who voted for the porch ceiling.....

Cainberly, the Cottage, and a Plea

We did it!  Last Monday we started the 2011/2012 school year!  And it has gone really well so far!  I will confess....last week I went to bed every night at 9:00!!!!! This week is a little better.  ;o)  I've even been baking a little, trying to get back to my old self.  I tried these donut muffins and they were yummylicious!

So down at Cainberly things have been hopping as well!  We got a new roof, new A/C, new porch... now we're waiting for plaster and then I will get to painting!

Can I just say that I have nevver seen a more beautiful, undeserved HVAC in my life?!

And look at our beautiful new porch!  Would you paint it or just polyurethane it???

Here's some progress shots...

This is the front room getting ready for plaster....notice openness to attic?!

And I'm sorry this is a little blurry- but this doorway is going to disappear and become a larger closet for the front room which is going to be our bedroom.  This room will become Abby's/the schoolroom.

I am swinging into a crazy busy season with Operaqtion Christmas Child, soccer, Ben's birthday, school, & a homeschool play all around the corner!  So I'm going to throw this out there to blogdom (and please forgive me if you see this on FB as well).......

When the storms came thru LOTS of people offered to help.  I responded to you that we were ok for the moment, but there would come a time when we would definitely NEED help.  Dear Friends, that time has just about come!  The plaster is coming, then we (me) will have to do the painting, then the floors will be screened and restained, then we're moving back home!  Just a matter of a couple of weeks....in the busiest season of our year!  If you have a few moments and you'd LOVE to come help, or play with bored out of their mind kids, please give us a hollar.  We'd love to have you!

Lessons I learned from skaters yesterday.....

1. People are not punks just because they dress differently than you.
2.  You CAN be a Christian and cuss.  For pete's sake, we ARE sinners, aren't we?  I stand by the bible where it says put away all filthy language from your mouth ( Colossions 3:8) but I don't believe you are not saved or can lose your salvation because you said a curse word. (or five or six)
3. 19 year olds make some of the best evangelists I have EVER seen.....and it's very convicting.
4.  Mohawks, done properly, can be pretty cool.
5.  Stereotyping makes you end up looking like a fool.  Seriously.
6.  You can be 16 and have courage that surpasses grown men.
7.  It only takes one act of support to break a barrier built by many acts of conceit.
8.  I am not all that.  I never was- and never should have believed otherwise.
9.  Christ's love unites all who claim His salvation.  Black, white, hispanic, we are not meant to be segregated, we are meant to function together as one body- iron sharpening iron.
10.  I have great hope for my son.  I mean GREAT hope.  Unshakeable-established-on-The-Rock HOPE!

FYI..Cainberly Academy 2011/2012 Curriculum List

Last weekend we hit the Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta to shop for curriculum. Of course I went in with a plan.... but Andy was with me....and he sees greatness in everything! Seriously, I love how he is around homeschooling curriculum! I've had quite a few people ask me what I use- so I thought I would just list them on the blog for everyone to see. I know I kinda sorta already did this- but this is my finalized list:
Abby 4th grade
Teaching Textbooks 4
Learning Language Arts Through Literature (orange)

Ben 1st grade
Phonics Museum
Math-U-See primer (finishing from last year)

Both kids
Apologia's Exploring Creation through Human Anat & Phys
Tapestry of Grace Y2
Sequential Spelling 1
Legends & Leagues
Copywork
Story journals
Nature Walks
Assorted curricula for review