The Carols of Christmas: A Booklook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer

Christmastime is here…

Okay, so not really, but who is with me in looking forward to the Christmas season? One of my favorite things about the holiday is the music. I have several books which talk about the stories behind the hymns, but I had yet to come across one which focused on the Christmas Carols…until now!

What first struck me was the simplicity of the layout. I love that each of the 21 songs are categorized into themes. Topics range from specific dates, to Scripture, to aspects of the season. I do think I would have preferred the topics be more consistent, like all Scripture references or all aspects of the season. There are one or more songs included, both religious and secular. I was a little surprised to find the secular songs included, but found their stories just as interesting. 
I was pleasantly surprised by the details in this book. Each of the songs is studied in depth to a degree I did not expect. The author delves into the backgrounds and lives of the lyricists and composers in much more detail than I thought. While it is interesting, in some ways it distracts from what I am most interested in, which is a concise understanding of the song’s story. There are also moments of explanation about the musical aspects, which as a musician I did find interesting, but I think it could be a little too much information for those who may not be musically inclined. 

Perhaps it is because of my experience with other stories-behind-the-songs books, but this one did not keep my attention the way I had hoped. I would most likely use this as a reference book rather than just sit and read it through for pleasure. Still, the writing is high quality and well done and I think it would be very helpful tool for musicians and church leadership alike during the Christmas season.

More for Girls Only! Devotions: A Tyndale Blog Network Review

Grace-Filled Writer

One of my favorite things as a pre-teen and teenager was my Brio magazine. Did any of you read that? This sweet devotional reminds me a lot of that magazine and all the reasons I loved it. Within the pages of this 60-day devotional is encouragement which feels relevant for girls of this generation.

Each devotional in More for Girls Only! Devotions by Carolyn Larsen from Tyndale Publishers has a story and Scripture to engage young girls. I am having both my 8-year-old (Beth) and 10-year-old (Rose) use this book. While Beth does like it, I think she may be a little on the young end. There is nothing inappropriate at all but my girls are still very much little girls and not growing up as quickly as some of their peers are. I love that about my girls. Either way the content would be appropriate for all little girls considered preteens.

Carolyn Larsen is a new author for me and I appreciate her easy style of writing. As I read through some of the stories and devotionals I felt as if this was the kind of woman I would love to have in the girl’s life as a mentor. My daughters are so very blessed to have many women in their life who care about their spiritual growth. While I’ll probably never meet the author in person I have a feeling she is the kind who looks for opportunities to mentor young girls with whom she is in contact. Her stories and Scriptural application are both relevant and engaging.

Both of my daughters really like the layout of this devotional. In addition to the opening story and Scripture there is a quiz, extra verses, biblical application, and challenges. All of the topics are age appropriate. Even the topic on purity does not delve into the sexual aspects of purity but rather what it means to have a pure heart.

This is an excellent devotional that a young girl desiring to grow in her faith will enjoy!

Disclaimer: I received a paperback copy of More for Girls Only! Devotions from Tyndale Publishers as part of  the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. 

The Big Pig Stampede: A Tyndale Blog Network Review

Grace-Filled Writer

My kids love when packages show up in the mail, especially when I open it and it is a new book to read! Rose snatched this one up before I even had a chance to crack the cover. I was actually intending Beth to read it first, but since Rose was three chapters in before I realized she had it, I changed my plans!

The Big Pig Stampede by Bob Hartman from Tyndale Publishers is a retelling of the life an miracles of Jesus from the perspective of a young boy, Gideon, known as Goat Boy. This new perspective is a great way for kids to relive the biblical accounts of Christ’s life.

Rose loved the humor. Since she read this as part of her school assignment I gave her one or two chapters to read  a day. While I intended for her to take two weeks to finish it, she was done in only one because she kept reading ahead. I certainly don’t mind when my girls get captivated with a book! I often heard her laughing as she read. She would also read me passages that she really enjoyed.

What I appreciated was even though it was from a different perspective, the author remained true to Scriptural and historical facts. I love when they get a new perspective, but not at the expense of Scriptural accuracy. This author is new to me, but I was very pleased with his storytelling because it was accurate as well as captivating.

Rose has already asked me to get the next book which isn’t even published yet! I’m sure this is a series which will remain a household favorite for years to come.

Disclaimer: I received a paperback copy of The Big Pig Sampede from Tyndale Publishers as part of  the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. 

Week in Review: Ocober 5-9

Grace-Filled Writer
Our weeks are in a nice routine now so that when we do deviate from the “normal” like last week it really isn’t a big deal and feels more like a break. The only frustrating thing for the girls this week was that their year-round school friends from across the street were on break and we kept plugging away. It was nice that their friends didn’t have homework in the afternoon and could play longer! Especially once the rain subsided. We certainly got a “wetting” as Winnie the Pooh would put it! 
Beth – 3rd Grade: Preparing Hearts for His Glory: Unit 4, 2nd half
P1030481
Beth has settled into our routine with Preparing much quicker than I anticipated. She seems to take added workload a little more in stride than her older sisters. Perhaps knowing what is coming helps her in that way. The only thing she does not love doing right now is the cursive copy work. We did however manage to get through it this week with minimal sighs and no complaints. This may have been due to the fact that she lost certain screen-time privileges for pulling out her complaints the week prior. 
When it comes to whining and complaining I take the timeless advice of Barney Fife…
P1030473 
Beth really loves her history projects. I’m doing much, much better this year about making sure they happen but it is easier that she is taking two weeks for each unit. We’ll see if I continue to do this well once we move to full-speed! 
Grace – Kindergarten: Little Hearts for His Glory: Unit 27
P1030474 
Grace loves studying her Bible verses out of her “real” Bible as she loves to call it. She can read them on her own and seems to feel very grown up as she studies in another room and comes back to recite to me. We talk about what the verses mean, but she needs much less help from me. While it is a little bitter sweet sometimes I love that she, and her sisters, are becoming independent learners. I’m facilitating the process, but they are understanding how to discover and discern for themselves which is really what my purpose is. 
History is so much fun with this little sweetheart. She has such a passion and excitement for life! We spent some time learning about George Washington these last couple of weeks and she is very much anticipating our visit to Washington DC very soon which will include a visit to Mt. Vernon. 
P1030479
A couple of years ago we were gifted a set of Handwriting Without Tears. While it isn’t the program I recommend most often (I really like Fundanoodle handwriting!) I can’t complain about free! She does tend to rush a lot when she writes and we are working mostly on taking time to do the best she can. I tell her, and her sisters, quite often that I do not expect perfection, but I do expect their best effort. 
Rose – 5th grade: Creation to Christ: Unit 21
P1030483 
When we started Write With the Best I was a bit nervous. I kept seeing comments that people did not like it so I was a little nervous. My background as an English teacher tends to make me very, very picky about what kind of Language Arts materials we use. I can say now we absolutely love this program! Here are some of my reasons…
1. Using the model of classic literature
2. Editing practice
3. Focusing on one concept in each lesson
4. Small steps for longer lasting projects
P1030485 
Rose has also been excited to get back into the Draw and Write Through History books now. She loves these and her art is improving all the time. She usually uses a pencil to draw, then outlines with an erasable pen and colors with sharpie markers. The results have been really beautiful. 
P1030487
The girls finish up math and language arts after their science class on Wednesdays. This was one of the first days of sunshine in the south after all that rain! They enjoyed a honey lollipop on the back porch while doing their reading. All three girls are here, but Grace is sitting on a little stool in between the older two lower on the ground. 
Great week for us! How about you! 
If you are an HOD blogger make sure you link up below! 

Week-in-Review: September 28 – October 2

Grace-Filled Writer
This week was a little different from our normal…I feel like I’m writing that all the time! Perhaps I need to realize there really isn’t a “normal” when it comes to homeschooling, or life in general really. The beauty of homeschooling is that when regular life throws us some abnormal along the way we can bend and flex to accommodate with ease.

So what threw us off our normal this week? 
Just a little something we like to call Global Focus Week! 
International workers Raymond and Mary Ebbett joined us for 4 days, sharing about what God is doing in Spain. Twice a year we are blessed to hear about what is happening around the world within our denomination as well as in cooperation with other organizations on behalf of the gospel all around the world. Talk about a wonderful learning opportunity! In addition to hearing all about God’s work, they also brushed up on their geography, a bit of European history, and a few words of Spanish! 
Since we were out late every evening and I know from previous experience that my girls will be super tired and have a harder time focusing. So we kept school focused on Bible and history knowing these are the most fun for them to do. They also completed several chapters in Life of Fred and continued in their books assigned for literature. 
Heart of Dakota is so rich that even only using the history and Bible for the week we still had a full school week. Here are a few highlights…
Grace: Little Hearts for His Glory Unit 26
Grace has started reading some of her history on her own and her sisters also love reading with her. I’m sure this is part of being the littlest learner in the house and her observations of all that has gone on around her for as long as she can remember. She enjoyed learning about George Washington in her readings. 
P1030389
This week she also enjoyed using a manipulative called a 100s board with tiles. We have a couple of very good friends who happen to be retired teachers and bless us with some wonderful treasures every now and then. This wonderful gem came with a great book with all sorts of activities for all elementary ages. And it came to us just as Grace began studying the patterns found in the 100s board. 
Beth: Preparing Hearts for His Glory Unit 4 (1st half)
Rose is really enjoying this guide. She especially liked the book Life in the Great Ice Age. Half-pace has been perfect for her just as it was for her older sister. She has really gotten into drawing with Draw and Write Through History. I’ve also been excited that see almost overnight her print has become amazingly neater. She does not prefer cursive, but we are persevering and I hope to see this improving soon as well. 
P1030385
Right now Beth is reading Diary of a Real Payne. This Christian fiction enthralled Rose when she read it a couple of years ago and Beth has been giggling her way through as well! I love when my girls recommend books to each other. It’s so fun to see them sharing their joy of reading together. 
Rose: Creation to Christ Unit 21

Rose really loves her studies. Quite often she will work ahead without telling me because she loves what she is learning. We moved this week into the life of Christ. We use a different Bible from Master Books and I really like it even though some of the chapters are missing. When that happens she just reads from the actual text in Scripture. 

P1030392
She really enjoyed getting back into Life of Fred this week. We used it consistently last year but had not added it back in since we started back full-schedule yet. I’m so grateful for that series as it helped her love math again!
Don’t forget to check out what else was happening in the Heart of Dakota world in other homes this past week! 

Why We Teach: Heart of Dakota and Field Trips

Grace-Filled Writer
 One of the wonderful things about Heart of Dakota is it has given my girls a love of history. Throughout our studies we have opportunity to discuss the hard things of our nation’s past, like slavery. This week we had the opportunity to visit a historical plantation. The tour of the house was interesting, but I found the slave quarters more important. Both Bigger Hearts for His Glory and Preparing Hearts for His Glory address events which are sometimes difficult to approach except to explain that with sin in our world, there are many horrible things that happen. Slavery is one of those things and so we learn.. As I tell my girls each time they ask, we study history to know where we came from and to remember that which we do not wish to repeat. 
P1030292

I think what surprised all of us the most was when our guide told us that these slave quarters were some of the most advanced and upscale of the time. This is hard to believe as we observe the sparse and still quite small rooms for the number of people living in them. It is a time in history we should always remember for several reasons. One is because many once defended slavery by twisting and contorting Scripture to mean something it didn’t. We see this happening in many churches today, defending that which God condemns.

P1030319

Secondly, this was a time in history when those who were vulnerable were criminalized for self-preservation. As slavery ended many more atrocities in our nations history began. Even now we are battling against the evil of racism that led to the founding and promotion of abortion clinics around the country. We observe the fallout of racial tensions around us daily. We can see where history has led…we can see the hand of the evil one upon our nation.

P1030320

And this…this…is why we teach. 

There are many benefits and wonderful things which homeschooling affords us, but you can do this same teaching whether you traditional school or homeschool.  We feel the incredible burden to raise our daughters to see everything in the light of our Creator, that they would begin to realize and discern the battles of spiritual warfare, and that they would know how to fall to their knees to engaged in battle. The battles before us will not be won in an election or through legislation. We must pray as we never have before, always keeping at the forefront of our minds His sovereignty. 
No matter how your children are schooled, make this your big-picture priority.

P1030324

Week in Review: September 14-18

Grace-Filled Writer

Last week was a week off for us as I prepared for the start of my literature and writing class. We also spent a few days with my sister-in-law and enjoyed seeing them over the Labor Day weekend. The rest of my week was filled with faculty meetings, introductory activities, and prep for my class. It was a good and busy week, but I’m really glad we took off from school!

A photo posted by Tim (@tim_williamson2) on

This week was also a little different. We deviated a bit from Heart of Dakota, but still completed school this week. Monday was busy, busy busy! This year I’m teaching 10 really awesome 12-14 year-olds who are homeschooled. This is also where my girls take classes. Grace’s class meets two days a week so she goes with me on Mondays. This year I’m teaching 10 really awesome 12-14 year-olds who are homeschooled.
We began our regular school year back in August, but our tradition is to have our first-day-pictures at the start of our homeschool classes. Rather than a co-op type setting, our learning center is set up more like a private school. We have an administrator and the teachers are hired, not volunteers. We really like the structure and the girls even enjoy wearing uniforms! 
P1030272P1030276 
My funny girls do a great job at pictures for me and I happily acquiesce when they request a silly one!

A photo posted by Melissa (@gracefilledhs) on
So in addition to beginning their science classes we also completed quite a few chapters in Life of Fred, read may chapters in a variety of books, completed a health lesson, and took a field trip! 
P1030313