10 days blog hop from Heart of the Matter Links.

 Whilst many lamented the demise of shared items in google reader and we began searching for a solution,  Gae offered to host a weekly sharing of posts, feel free to come over and join the party.

A smorgasboard of where my thoughts meander.



 It's started !  I am so excited. These are some of the first posts that are up now on the 10 days of Blog hop from Heart of the Matter.  There are three more I am waiting for and as soon as they start I will add their links here.

Click on the button of your choice below

May you be as blessed as I have been so far

Tuesdays Treasure 16

I recently received this book from The Book Depository. I must confess I am impressed.  Often times books with loads of pictures tend to be full of twaddle but not this one. 

Geography from A to Z
A picture glossary

• Format: Paper back
• Author: Jack Knowlton
• Pictures: Harriett Barton
• Pages: 48
• Cover: Soft
• ISBN: 9 780064 460996
• Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers

This book is available from:

• The Book Depository.com
• The Book Depository.co.uk
• Amazon
• Fishpond

This little book is worth it's weight in gold if you have students in primary school studying geography. 

Blessings

To Register or not To Register ???

It's that time of the year again.  The envelope has arrived from Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority with the requirement to notify the VRQA on continuation of home schooling. This got me thinking about a a few of the home schoolers who have not registered and those that I have spoken to who are fence sitting at the moment.

For me personally the answer is fairly straight forward:  YES we should if its a requirement in your country/state to do so.

The scriptures are a definite plumb line in regards to these sorts of questions.

[Submission to Governing Authorities] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. — Romans 13:1 (NIV)

When I read this verse I see no clause exempting home schoolers from obeying the law in their country.  Do you ?  The thing that really baffles me is that there are christian home school leaders who are encouraging home schoolers not to register and there are christian home schoolers who choose not to. I wonder why? Especially when scripture is quite direct in stating that we need to be subject to the governing authorities....

There are christian home schoolers out there who drive the not registering your children wagon and it's main engine is fear.  Remember that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.  We are not called to live in fear .

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

I feel there are a few advantages to being registered here in Victoria.

• You are able to claim the school start bonus if you are on concession.
• You are able to claim the Education Tax Refund. It is illegal to claim this refund if you are not registered.  Heavy fines and penalties apply to those not registered and claiming.
• You can stay informed
• You are given letters stating the requirements for your students.
• You have a voice that counts when lobbying the government that you should use.

To find out more about the registration requirements take a look at

• Australia take a look at Home Education Association.
• New Zealand take a look at Home Education Foundation.
• America take a look at Home School Legal Defence Association and choose your state.
• South Africa take a look at Association for Home Schooling, and Pestalozzi Trust and  Legal Issues
• Other Countries take a look at the HSLDA International page and click on your country.

Home Schooling in Victoria Australia

• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
• Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority
• Home Schooling Application for Registration for Home Schooling.
• Home Education Network

Legal information

1. Queensland
2. Northern Territories
3. Western Australia
4. South Australia
5. Victoria
6. Australian Capital Territory
7. New South Wales
8. Tasmania

Blessings my friends

10 Days of .... Blog Hop Encouragement comming up

When I first started my blog I shared about 10 days of ...... blog hop over at Confessions of a Home Schooler and was really impressed with the content, encouragement and variety as well as the realness of the ladies who posted.

I was poking around on Heart of the Matter Online and found out that they will once again be having a 10 Days of ..... Blog Hop begining on Monday.

Collage of Contributors.

Introducing the Authors:

Jimmie from Jimmie’s Collage, Jenny from Planner Perfect, Kris from Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers, Sally from I Take Joy, Christine from Fruit in Season

Courtney from Women Living Well, Amy from Raising Arrows, Heather from Blog, She Wrote, Brenda from The Tie That Binds Us

Jenn from Daze of Adventure, Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler, Maggie from Bright Ideas Press, Cindy from Our Journey Westward, Amy from Milk & Cookies

Amy from Cajun Joie de Vivre, Kendra from Preschoolers and Peace, Montserrat from Chocolate on My Cranium, Toni from The Happy Housewife, Rebecca from Mom’s Mustard Seeds

In anticipation of some Home School / Motherhood / Wifehood encouragement.

7 November 2011 As the 10 Days posts go live I will Update the list below:

Be sure to visit these during the 10 days adventure between November 7th-18th!


Blessings

Treasured Moments 9

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read aloud or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?
Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.
We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?
... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1.
Seeing Sir N delight in his new swimming lessons at Paul Saddler Swimland and conquer his fear of standing on the small step to jump into the pool for which he received a BIG effort certificate.

2.
Seeing Sir N enjoy a day out 4 x 4 with us and our camping trip to Mansfield.

3.
Being blessed by Miss J who bought some groceries for me when I was feeling too sick to do anything. 

4.
Having my first born Mr T offer and cook dinner on Thursday night for the family.
5.
My order of Elsie Dinsmore books arriving from Christian Book.com.  My set is now complete. 

6.
Being encouraged by a few blogs.

7.
Discovering Memory Balls on Sue-Ella Signature Designs blog.  I'm in love with this piece of jewellery and would love to bless my Mom with one as well as my Mother in law.


To join in you are welcome to add your post on Seven Little Australians and Counting Treasured Moments 32 using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments.

Blessings

Today I was encouraged

some Encouragement to your mail box

I have been feeling really really ill this week.  Somehow I managed to get the flu as well as a gastro bug.  I was sitting here feeling rather sorry for myself and decided to do a little bit of blog hopping. (OK the little bit turned into a few hours BWG, and my favourite part was listening to Paul read Heidi out loud to Sir N and hear Sir N begging for more.  Ah that sound warms my heart.  A living book proclamation!)

I have also decided to import my posts from GEMS 2 TOTS and delete the GEMS blog.  I have spent some time contemplating what to do with this blog and decided I would rather have it all under one roof.  What are your thoughts ??

 I feel really encouraged now and thought I would share a few things I found on line:

Home School Burnout / Encouragement.

• Home Schooling should be Joyful over at These Temporary Tents by Aadel great thought provoking questions on motive.
• The Burden of Home Schooling over at Homeschooling Downunder by Michelle
• Home School Burnout over at Homeschooling Downunder by Michelle.  Has a lot of practical ideas and thought provoking questions.
• It's Not All Up To Me over at Kerugma by Susan
• Wisdom from a Homeschool Veteran over at Homeschooling Downunder by Michelle.
• Candid Conversation with God over at Confessions of a Homeschooler by Erica
• Are you a Mummy Martyr over at Doves Rest by Renelle
• Unschooling Successes and other Failures over at Creating with Wisdom by Vicky
• Giving yourself permission to STOP over at Serenades and Solace by Alecat
• Cultivate your Soul

Home School Mums Reading List

• Recommended Reading for Home School Mums over at Kerugma by Susan. 
• Self Education over at Educating Mother by  Renelle.
• Who's Teaching Who ? over at Creating with Wisdom by Vicky.
• A Color befitting Mother Culture over at Moments with Mother Culture by Karen Andreola.
• Seeds of a good Attitude over at Moments with Mother Culture by Karen Andreola.

Family Worship

• Training our Children to Worship over at Home Education Foundation by Craig and Barbara.
• Family Worship - Let Kids Lead ? over at The Better Mom
• Our Family Bible Study over at Kerugma by Susan. Susan has provided us with a list of links around her great site.
• Teaching our Children to Study Scripture over at Women Living Well by Courtney
• What does God have to say about Learning and Teaching over at Doves Rest by Renelle.
• To Teach or Not to Teach the Truth over at Creating with Wisdom by Vicky
• Memorising Scripture The Simply Charlotte Mason Way over at Practical Pages by Nadene

Marriage

• Is the grass Greener in other Marriages? over at The Better Mom by Courtney
• Honey the house is on fire over at Women Living Well by Courtney
• How important is date night to your marriage over at Women Living Well Ministries by Courtney.

About Blogging - Motives of the heart.....

• What I learned at Relevant Conference over at Women Living Well Ministries by Courtney. I enjoyed reading Sally Clarksons quotes.
• The Biggest Disappointment of Relevant over at Women Living Well Ministries by Courtney. Courtneys quotes really inspired and encouraged me.
• Awards & Stats over at Kerugma by Susan.
• Watch my own heart ... not be idle ... my weakness over at Kerugma by Susan. I too have struggled with this and still do ....

Children

• What do my children need from me over at Doves Rest by Renelle
• What fruits would you like to see over at Hunter Home Educators by Renelle
• Education is an Atmosphere over at Seven Little Australians by Erin.
• Turning off the screen over at Seven Little Australians by Erin

Source Blogs

• These Temporary Tents
• Homeschooling Downunder
• Kerugma
• Confessions of a Homeschooler
• Doves Rest
• Creating with Wisdom
• Serenades and Solace
• Educating Mother
• Moments with Mother Culture
• The Better Mom
• Women Living Well
• Practical Pages
• Hunter Home Educators
• Seven Little Australians
• Home Education Foundation

Blessings my friends may you be as blessed as I have been by the Titus 2 woman who are out there willing to share their journeys with us.

Bran Rusks

In preparation for the long weekend away my mother made some of the family favourite rusks. Rusks are a traditional South African dry biscuit which is dunked in your tea and eaten or it can be eaten as is.

Ingredients:

This recipe is from one of my mothers recipe books. It was submitted by J. Schmidt from Pretoria and can be found on pages  281 & 282 of The Housewives League Cookery Book published in 1976.

Favourite recipes submitted by the
members of House wives League
1975 / 76 

1.5 kg (3 lb) self raising flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sugar
250 grams (8oz) margarine or butter
1 packet of hi bulk bran
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups cooking oil
500 ml buttermilk





Method:

Combine all dry ingredients and rub in butter.

In a separate bowl combine eggs, buttermilk and oil.
Add to dry ingredients.

Mix till soft dough is formed.

Form balls from about a heaped tablespoon of mix.

Pack rolled balls in baking dish.

Bake for one hour in a 180 'C (350 'F) oven.

tip out onto a tea towel. Put another tea towel on top and tip over.
Using a sharp knife separate balls and lay onto trays.

Lay in single layer and return to oven on coolest setting to dry out. 
My oven was 100 'C and took about 3 hours.

Store in an air tight container and enjoy with a cup of tea.

This post is linked to:


Enjoy

Treasured Memories 8

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read aloud or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?
Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.
We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?
... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1.
Watching Sir N succeed at floating on his back during swimming lessons.

2.
Enjoying the anticipation of going away for the long weekend here in Victoria.  Tuesday is Melbourne Cup Day and we are leaving tomorrow to join extended family for three days up at Mansfield where Paul is intending to spend a day fishing and Sir N and I will join my dad for a 4x4 adventure.

3.
Watching my oldest rose Mr T connect with his younger cousins and brother one afternoon. 

4.
Seeing the pleasure it gave Paul to be involved with the Gorilla translocation from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo yesterday.

5.
Seeing my second rose Miss J hand in her final project for her Cert III in Children's Services.  Can't wait for graduation.

6.
Baking home made rusks (recipe to come) with Sir N and cousin Miss A with Granny in preparation for our trip away.

7.
Today I had fun redesigning my blog look and was blessed by Shabby Blogs tutorials and free images.


To join in you are welcome to add your post on Seven Little Australians and Counting using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments.

Blessings