History Links

I am in the search of a new curriculum for History next year. Let me rephrase that a new curriculum and it presented differently, so I found these links below. The Mystery of History I love and the state study guides we are currently using. The state we are studying currently is New Jersey. We are taking a lot of time on that state because that is where we live. So here are the links I thought you all might like to see. Tapestry of grace I am looking into currently. I'll let you know which one I stick with for next year after my investigation for it. God Bless!

http://www.gale.cengage.com/DiscoverAmerica/guides/

http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/index.php

http://www.themysteryofhistory.com/

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle

My 2 favorite blogs

My absolutely 2 favorite blogs are Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Foss. Check them out below!

Elizabeth Foss
http://ebeth.typepad.com/

Danielle Bean
http://daniellebean.com

Homeschool Dad's Web Seminar

Maureen Whittmann is having a Dr. Clark talked to Home school Dad's Wednesday night 8:30 pm eastern time on home school connections. Here is the link to register. My husband is going--is yours?

http://www.homeschoolconnectionsonline.com

My favorite link for the week

We are studying the Spanish conquistadors. The first thing that comes to ind also is Our Lady of Guadalupe. Catholic Heritage Curricula has a lot on her. Here is the link:
http://www.chcweb.com/catalog/index.html
They have a lot of unit studies within their lesson plans and we have been using their lesson plans in coordination with other Catholic Curriculum for the past 3 years. I love them a lot. They are very helpful. It is a light, but through curriculum. Take look at it.

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle:)

The Joy of the Lord is Upon Us!

The Joy of the Lord is Upon US! Well, I went for a walk today before homeschooling and I got this whispered into my ears today. I am so sure God will show me what that means. Walking has become a time of prayer and listening for me during this Lenten season, along with spring cleaning my house and spring cleaning my spiritual life and soul.
I have also been reading Maureen Wittmann's book, "The Catholic Homeschooling Companion". What an awesome book! It is a collection of different homeschoolers on techniques and books on how they home school. It gives you great ideas. I personally recommend this for any new homeschooler. I am so enjoying it and making notes. She has it on her website and amazon has it too.

Spending time with Jesus

In watching the Nativity over Advent, something that the actress who played Mary has been stuck in my head. She said"The Almighty has done great things for us." Sometimes we don't realize those things until we are in the midst of it. When God calls us to do things we drag our feet, like the little child complaining of why we need to go to bed early. Well mine has been my writing. One would ask why. Writing is the gift God has always given to me and I chose other things over doing it. Writing takes time, which means I would have to plan and be organized. I am learning that. God is patience and kind with me. He has realized that I need Hope to be organized. My hope reminder is on my mantel right now. The big letters of Hope to constantly remind me through the day to have Hope that God will show me how to do and when to find the time to do it. This morning I walked my morning walk and he gave me a great idea for my first article back. So as long as he keeps inspiring I will freelance again. My Savior guides me through life. Embracing the faith through walking on a tightrope sometimes is hard at times. Through these hard economic times focusing on The Almighty is where we should be focusing. God Bless you all!

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle

Small successes for Lent!

1. I can actually move my back today after pulling it out. Thank you Tiger Patch and 10 hours of sleep!

2. Many prayers have been answered since my husband's layoff. Today I have two. First, he is going to a job fair on March 19 on Saint Joseph's Feast Day. I think that is a good sign. Thank you Saint Joseph! Second, I decided to start writing again. This has a been on going battle with me. I used to freelance and then came the kids. So God has impressed upon me this is the way I need to go. Blogging has helped me to start writing again. Thanks you Jesus!!

3. I also went to Maureen Whittmann's online seminar on living books last night, which I loved. I have been leary to go that way--but after last night I am definitely doing it for art and music. So it is actual Maureen's small success , not mine.

4. I finally found something that is working with my daughter for her dyslexia, small , inexpensive imagine that-- a green transparency. The Almighty is awesome in his small gestures.

Small Sucesses

1. Today, my children made themselves breakfast without any complaints. Morning prayers went on so nicely with everyone paying attention.

2. We started homeschooling on time. No tragedies occurred during all this. I found my daughter green glasses for her dyslexia.

3. I am actually beginning to feel better. I was actually able to get a shower without anyone fooling around while I was in it.

Small miracles in my house are awesome!

Small Successes

Blessings and Growing up Homeschooling

Well it has been 3 years since I started homeschooling. I sat in bed at 4 am because I was awoken by the skunk that nicely sprayed outside my bedroom window. The quiet, stillness and was just really with God. And for once I was in tuned to Him and where my life was going. I realized I needed to change the way I home schooled and possibly offer classes to other homeschoolers. So I am going to pray on it. Finally realized a lot of the gifts I have I can offer to the homeschooling community and through prayer I will one at a time.
Being an introverted person writing has come so much easier to me than dialogue. Writing has always been my forte and decided, with my teaching background to sit down and write a book at my pace with my busy schedule. Developing an academic co-op is going to be a bit more complicated, but I feel called to both so I will pray and do it for the Glory of God, who prompted this.
I feel like college was a million years ago, when I decided to make a difference in this world to kids. I am making a difference to a small audience, but big enough to make a great difference in their lives.

A Great Loss

All our prayers and love are going out to the Gent family, with their recent loss of Stephen Gent, who 2 years old. God Bless their family. May your light shine upon them. Please pour the Holy Spirit upon them through this time of Great Loss. We love you all.

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle