Apples and Johnny Appleseed
Studying apples is one of my favorite fall topics. This fall I will be doing an apple unit tying in Johnny Appleseed. Here are some links I’ve found:
Eclectic Homeschool–Apples Unit Study
Currclick has a Johnny Appleseed Lapbook–for purchase–only $1 for a limited time. Thanks, PEACH member, Sonja, for sending this out to the email group.
About.com has several links to Appleseed and apples.
DLTK has a page with lots of links to apple crafts and printables.
Kinderart lists lots of links too!
Homeschoolshare has a free lapbook–Johnny Appleseed and apples.
As you can see, there is no shortage of apple and Johnny Appleseed activities and unit study ideas! If you have good ideas or have found good ideas online, leave a comment and tell us!
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ‘Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’
I want to share this scripture with you today. I am thankful for all the blessings in my life including my brothers and sisters in PEACH.
The Battle is the Lord’s
This coming school year promises to be an interesting one with all that is at stake for home educators. There is the U.S. Presidential election which so far has been a humdinger. First, John McCain was down for the count, then he was the nominee. Hilliary Clinton’s juggernaut crushes everything in her way as she heads to her coronation. Wait a minute. That didn’t happen; Barack Obama is now the guy. As of the writing of this article, Barack and John are in a statistical tie, but Obama is selling more T-shirts and bumper stickers. Stay tuned for more.
In the Congress and Senate, there is talk of a Democrat super majority, with stunning losses foretold for the Republicans. At the state level, Ohio could very well end up as a blue state with democrats running at least the House in tandem with a Democrat Governor. Oh, and did I mention the state Home Education Regulations are up for a formal review after 19 years?
Boring it ain’t.
I would submit that no matter what happens, that the Lord will still be on his throne. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians:
The bottom line is that we are citizens of another government. So, what happens here shouldn’t get us too shaken up, since after all it and they are all coming to nothing. However, we are temporary citizens of this world and I believe that scripture tells us to advocate for things like freedom, justice, and mercy.
6 “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
This election season, I suggest you make it your aim to advocate for freedom, to break any yokes. Certainly, many freedoms in our country and state are at risk. So, while the victory and the battle belong to the Lord, our God has given us power to act. The battle isn’t over. It is just beginning. So, this fall, I suggest getting involved as a family in the political process. Find out which state, local, and federal candidates support freedom. Since we as a group are dedicated to homeschooling, find out who is on our side and do what you can to support them. Work a precinct, help put up signs, make phone calls, get your kids involved. They will benefit much more by seeing and doing instead of studying how our political process works in a textbook.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.
Get your horse in the battle.
Homemade Clay and Playdough Recipes
These recipes are easy and fun to do together. We are going to try this homemade clay recipe today. Then after the kids’ creations air dry, I’m going to have them paint them. Sounds like a good summer activity to me! How about you?
2 c. baking soda
1 c. corn starch
1 1/4 c. water
Mix in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir and continue to stir until the consistency is like mashed potatoes (about 5 minutes).
Check out these other recipes:
Coolest Homemade Playdough Recipes
The Best Playdough Recipes Ever
How to Make your Own Playdough
God’s Wisdom for Little Boys and Girls
A friend showed me these two books–God’s Wisdom for Little Boys by Jim and Elizabeth George and God’s Wisdom for Little Girls by Elizabeth George. She purchased the books from the local homeschool convention and is going to give them to a friend who is adopting two children.
I really like these books as they are based off the wisdom of Proverbs. The illustrations are wonderful.
Thanks Karen for sharing!
Worthship
While I was away on a trip to help my sister recover from surgery, I read chapter two of Satisfy my Thirsty Soul. In this thought provoking chapter, Dillow says that Scripture was key in giving her a deeper understanding of God’s holiness. To me, this sounds like a no-brainer. Of course Scripture is going to give us a deeper understanding of God’s holiness. But how many times do I read the Bible and not process it. I don’t come away with a deeper understanding of His holiness; but maybe a sense of accomplishment that I’ve read my Bible.
A.W. Tozer said, “God has been abridged, reduced, modified, edited, changed and amended until He is no longer the God whom Isaiah saw, high and lifted up.”
My prayer is that I will see Him, high and lifted up. That I will see my sinfulness, repent of it and then be able to worship Him fully. Dillow gives the definition of “worship”–”worthship”; to attribute worth to something or someone; an active response to God that declares His worth.”
He is worthy of so much more that I give Him.
And the winners are…
Thanks to everyone who participated in our PEACH survey. The responses will be looked at carefully and will be used to improve our homeschool support group.
Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for…the winners of the random drawing are (drum roll, please),
The winner of the $15 gift certificate to CBD– Kenny and Angie A.!
And the winner of the $25 gift certificate to CBD– Mark and Dawn M.!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I will be sending out the certificates in the next day or so.
Come let us worship and bow down
A friend recommended this book to me…Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow. The verse in the opening chapter is Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water. (NIV)
Have you ever had a thirst like that? A thirst where you just longed for water to quench your parched throat? That is how we are to long after God. Earnestly seeking Him.
I’m not sure about you, but that is convicting to me. So many times my days move along at such a pace that I don’t earnestly seek Him. This book is a 12 week practical study of satisfying your thirsty soul with God. This summer, it is my desire to work through this book and bring snippets and nuggets of truth to you the PEACH blog readers. Adding in the blog aspect will give me a level of accountability. If you’d like to join me–that would be great. Grab a copy of the book and let’s get started.
Dillow says that “Worship is the path to experiencing the presence of God, the way to face-to-face intimacy.” She goes on to say, “Worship is not just a specific act. It is also a lifestyle. Worship is a specific act of bowing my knees and declaring, ‘Holy, holy, holy.’ Worship is also a lifestyle of bowing my life and living ‘holy, holy, holy.’”
“Come let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Psalm 95:6
Summer time
For homeschoolers summer means many different things. Some continue their studies as usual, some do special unit studies, some take a break from formal learning and some are somewhere in between these options. I’ve talked to some folks who are trying to finish up their year, others who are tackling household projects that they couldn’t get done during the year and yet others who are taking family vacations.
My focus this summer has been finishing up an insect unit study and completing some craft projects. I am also watching a couple extra children–which has made for some interesting times. It’s keeping me on my toes. I’ve made a schedule to help the day flow and have added the extra kids into our unit study.
Through the encouragement of friends, I’ve been meditating on Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Apart from Him, I can do nothing. And I’m being reminded that my plans are not always His plans. So I need to keep my mind focused on Him.
What plans does the Lord have for your summer?
Cup of Blessing
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful;
for beauty is Gods handwriting–a wayside sacrament.
Welcome if in every fair face,
in every fair sky,
in every fair flower
and thank God for it…as a cup of blessing.
Ralph Waldo Emerson