Look Up by Gary Turk

Last year I felt challenged about whether I was Connected or Disconnected especially after reading How to Miss a Childhood.

A few weeks ago I watched Captivated and was made aware of the impact of smart phone technology on my world at home.  As a result I have been trying to put my phone more on silent and be more present when I'm home alone ... This has been far harder than I thought it would be.  I like being connected ...  

This week my mom shared Look Up with me on Facebook.  It's a poem talking about the issues surrounding smart phone use.  Thought provoking.


Here are the words of Look Up for those of you who can't access the YouTube clip.

Look Up

Gary Turk

I have 422 friends

Yet I am lonely

I speak to all of them everyday

Yet none of them really know me

The problem I have sits in the spaces between

looking into their eyes or at a name into a screen

I took a step back and opened my eyes

I looked around and realised

There's media we call social is anything but

When we open up our computers and it's our doors we shut

All this technology we have it's just an illusion

Community companionship a sense of inclusion

yet when you step away from this device of delusion

You awaken to see a world of confusion

A world where we're slaves to technology we mastered

Where information gets sold by some rich greedy b******

A world of self interest  self image self promotion

Where we all share our best bits but leave out the emotion

We're at our most happy when each experience we share

But is it the same if no one is there ?

Be there for your friends and they'll be there too

But no one will be if a group message will do

We edit and exaggerate crave adulation 

We pretend not to notice the social isolation

We put our words into order

Until our lives are glistening

We don't even know if someone is listening

Being alone isn't the problem

Let me just emphasize

We read a book, paint a picture or do some exercise

You're being productive and present

Not reserved and recluse

You'll be awake and attentive and putting your time to good use

So when you're in public and you start to feel alone

Put your hands behind your head step away from the phone

You don't need to stare at your your menu or your contact list

Just talk to one another learn to co exist

I can't stand to hear the silence of a busy commuter train

where no one wants to talk for the fear of looking insane

We're becoming unsocial

it no longer satisfies

to engage with one another and look into someones eyes

We're surrounded by children who since they were born

Have watched us living like robots and think it's the norm.

It's not very likely that you'll make the world's greatest Dad i

f you can't entertain a child without using an iPad.

When I was a child I'd never be home

I'd be out with my friends

on our bikes we would roam

I'd wear holes in my trainers and graze up my knees

We'd build our own club house high up in the trees

Now the park is so quiet that it gives me a chill

See no children outside

And the swings hanging still

There's no skipping, no hop scotch

No church and no steeple

We're a generation of idiots smart phones and dumb people

So look up from your phone

Shut down the display

Take in your surroundings

make the most of today

Just one real connection is all it can take

to show you the difference that being there can make

Be there in the moment

that she gives you the look

that you remember forever

that's when love overtook

the time she first held your hand or first kissed your lips

the time you first disagreed but still loved her to bits

the time you don't have to tell hundreds

of what you've just done

because you want to share this moment with just this one

The time you sell your computer

so you can buy a ring

for the girl of your dreams who is now the real thing

The time you want to start a family

and the moment when

you first hold your little girl

and get to fall in love again

The time she keeps you up at night

and all you want is rest

The time you wipe away the tears

as your baby flees the nest

The time your baby girl returns

with her boy for you to hold

The time he calls you grandad

and makes you feel real old

The time you take in all you've made

just by giving life attention

And how you're glad

you didn't waste it

by looking down in some invention

The time you hold your wife's hand

sit down beside her bed

You tell her that you love her

lay a kiss upon her head.

She then whispers to you quietly

as her heart gives a final beat

That's she's lucky that she got stopped

by that lost boy in the street

But none of these times ever happened

You never had any of this

when you're to busy looking down

You don't see the chances you miss

So look up from your phone

Shut down those displays

We have a finite existence

A set number of days

Don't waste your life getting caught in the net

As when the end comes

Nothings worse than regret 

I'm guilty too of being part of this machine.

This digital world

We are heard but not seen

Where we type as we talk

And we read as we chat

Where we spend hours together

without making eye contact

So don't give into a life where you follow the hype

Give people your love don't give them you like

Disconnect from the need to be heard and defined 

Go out into the world

Leave distractions behind.

Look up from your phone

Shut down that display

Stop watching this video

Live life the real way 

--ooOoo--

Be encouraged this week friends to enjoy each moment and to connect with your family and each other in meaningful ways.

Blessings
Chareen 

A is for Answers ...

A is for answers to questions aplenty

As we ardently argue our aspect, our view

In favour of authentic academic understanding

Aware all have a abundant ability

Awaiting discovery, its auspicious awakening.

All we need is an abundance of avid application

And alternative learning becomes an adventure

Achieving our goals is delightfully augmented

As we adjust to assimilate weakness and strength

Always advocating for adaptive education.

An atlas sparks an astounding adventure

An arachnid or antelope, a biological agenda

An apple, an avo', a lesson in nutrition

Alphabetic awareness to appreciate and apply

An astounding array of everyday application.

Some days call for active attention

An atmosphere of peace and affirmative action

On others attitudinal adjustments abound

Affronts to assuage and advancement delayed

Yet all in the course of our admirable aim.

An awesome adventure awaits you, my friend

As you actively prepare to accomplish your aim

Always learning, opportunities abound round about

Absolutely absorbing your heart and your mind

When all's said and done, remember this truth:

A is for answers, but don't be aghast

You don't need to agonize over lacking the knowledge

Advance to the starting line, take up the slack

For as you ascend in your quest to the heights

The answers will meet you, affirm you at last.

When all is said and done it's good to remember that

A is for answers 

to questions aplenty

I'd like to thank two friends for helping me with this poem: Sarah who started me off with A is for Answers... and Belinda who is far better than Google at finding A words and who helped me formulate my idea into a poem. 

For more blogging through the alphabet on the letter A be sure to read Marcy's post A is for Attentive and see more A is for in the hop linky.

Blessings
Chareen

Join Marcy over at Ben and Me Round 5 of Blogging through the Alphabet. Beginning on Monday, April 28, finishing up the week of Monday, October 20!

Mother Culture - Time Out {Homeschooling Essentials}

Welcome to day five of this weeks 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials posts brought to you by the Homeschool Review Crew.  We have 89 homeschool Mom's like you sharing their top homeschool essential lists with you.  Today I would like to share about the most important ingredient in successfully home educating long term: time out for Mom.  In some homeschooling circles it is called Mother Culture which is a term brought back into our modern vocabulary thanks to Karen Andreola and her book A Charlotte Mason Companion.

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Why ? Because over the years I have experienced burn out, exhaustion, feelings of being overwhelmed and discouraged and each and every time the source was the same.  A lack of Mother Culture.  Karen Andreola paints this picture and I agree with her wholeheartedly.   "Is it a wonder she feels overspent? She wears herself out. In her efforts to be dietitian, laundress, nurse, hostess, teacher, taxi driver, wife, mother, and mistress, she forgets that she needs a little time for herself. And it is then that she stops growing spiritually and mentally, Physically she feels ragged and drags through the day until without being able to mark the hour it befan, she lives with depression. Her mind is in a drifting fog when she wants it to think clearly and efficiently. With the distractions of her multi-faceted duties she is unable to follow a train of thought. She considers herself hopelessly behind in everything. Her feet are in the quagmire. It takes an incredible amount of effort to keep up appearances, to wear a winsome countenance. The last straw is the guilt she feels that she is "lukewarm" in the Lord. If I hadn't experienced these symptoms myself I wouldn't be writing this chapter. Therefore I can validate the need for Mother Culture." - Karen Andreola.

Homeschool Burnout is a very real companion of many mothers and the sad thing is that many keep it a secret because they feel as though they are failing. Home schooling is no small undertaking and in order to keep at it for the long haul you need to take care of yourself. Without you there is no home or home school. You are the most important ingredient on this journey and you are the one that is responsible to keep yourself properly cared for or it won't be long and you will be burned out. I have come to realize that many mothers feel guilty taking a few minutes a day to recharge. For these mothers I point to scriptures and how Jesus often withdrew to lonely places (Luke 5:16) If HE needed time on His own then how much more do we ? 

Self care or Me Time out of balance can be a bad thing too. It can become a self serving, self worship time which is not edifying to you or your family. Today I read a great article that helps to put Me Time in perspective over at Raising Arrows called: Caring for Yourself {The Me Time Myth Revisited.} Please know that I am not advocating a self centered form of self where we actively seek time to be away from our family at all costs.  What I am talking about is finding time to grow and become all that you can be in order to care for your family well.

Think seasonally. One interest per season, coupled with thirty minutes of reading a day, may be all that is needed to keep up the Mother Culture and regain any lost enthusiasm for living - Karen Andreola



Read more
Each of these posts is full of links to other posts on Mother Culture.

• Be true to yourself This is a message to you homeschool Mom who feels inadequate come read and be encouraged how to Be True to Yourself over at Princess Warrior Lessons.
• Are you getting filled up because you are pouring out ....
• Last year I hit that familiar brick wall: exhaustion and shared my thoughts on How Important is Alone Time and Home Schooling ? 
• If you are a mom who likes reading and are looking for some excellent books to encourage and support you take a look at my Books to Support New Homeschool Mom's post. 
• A few years back I faced that familiar feeling of being overwhelmed and shared some of my initial thoughts on Mother Culture.
• Encouraging and Helpful Homeschool Books  over at Ben and Me. 
• A special collection of Encouragement for Homeschool Mothers 
• Homeschool Mom's Bible 
• Are you a Strong Woman or a Woman of Strength ?  
• Cultivate your Soul 
• Today I was encouraged this post contains an list of links to encouraging words for when you are feeling burnt out and need encouragement as well as a couple of lists for Mums to read.

What do you do to indulge in Mother Culture ?

Blessings
Chareen

Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself."
 

Don't forget to check out and see what my fellow Homeschool Review Crew mates are sharing this week. Here are some to get you started. Some of these links will not be live until tomorrow due to time zone differences as these bloggers are from across the globe.  Here are some from the crew to get you started

• Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool Quiet Time with God
• Jennifer @ Royal Little Lambs Let Go
• Sarah @  My Joy-Filled Life A HUGE List of Christian Resources for the Whole Family
• Debbie @ Debbie’s Homeschool Corner
• Lisa Marie @ The Canadian Homeschooler Never stop learning
• Laura @ Four Little Pengins Essentials for Kids
• Dinah @ The Traveling Classroom Teacher Friends
• Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
• Erin @ Water on the Floor  Successful Homeschool Days Require a Housekeeping Plan

Support Network {Homeschooling Essentials}

Welcome to day four of this weeks 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials posts brought to you by the Homeschool Review Crew.  We have 89 homeschool Mom's like you sharing their top homeschool essential lists with you.

Today I would like to share about my second most essential homeschool item: your Support Network.

Home school support groups are not about education they are about mentoring relationships. This sort of group is not a  home school Co-op. This is about you the mom to access a supportive environment and for your children to know that there are other children out there being home educated. Renee Gotcher from Next Generation Homeschool  explains it this way: "When you think about it, homeschool support group is a bit of an oxymoron: We choose to homeschool so that we can independently make decisions about our children’s education, and yet we inherently desire the support of others to inform, encourage and assist us."

Mentoring A mentor facilitates personal and professional growth in an individual by sharing the knowledge and insights that have been learned through the years. - USC Mentor Program


Mentoring is a developmental partnership through which one person shares knowledge, skills, information and perspective to foster the personal and professional growth of someone else. We all have a need for insight that is outside of our normal life and educational experience. The power of mentoring is that it creates a one-of-a-kind opportunity for collaboration, goal achievement and problem-solving. “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” John C. Crosby (Mentor program)

Remember a mentor does not need to be someone older in chronological age just someone older on the journey with more experience and most importantly someone who is still willing to learn and grow and accept you and your family for who you are.

A word of Caution While home school support groups offer a huge amount of encouragement and support on your home education journey they can also become a noose around your neck.  For years and years I was a part of two particular support groups and loved learning and growing with these families. I still miss them. What I did not do however was evaluate some of the choices that slowly seeped into the group.  It was not until years later when I moved away and was confronted with asking myself why I was doing some things (dress code, curriculum choices, etc) that I realized that I had taken on an unwritten 'law' from the group that was not healthy for my family.  Now I am part of several groups but I do so with caution and I constantly re-evaluate what I'm doing with who my family is. So when you are part of a network be sure to take a regular time of de-cluttering your mind and spirit and be sure that you remain true to who you are or you might find that who you are becomes lost in trying to fit in.  If you need to work at fitting in you are definitely a part of the wrong group. 

Benefits

Two Sisters by Renoir

There are many benefits in a joining a support group and I encourage you to find a group of like minded mothers. A good support network will be a place you can take a break, enjoy a relaxing cup of tea to recharge, ask questions and have access to real life help.

• Seasoned Homeschoolers to receive encouragement from.
• Encouragement
• Social opportunity for Mom with like minded people
• Help
• Advice
• Supportive environment
• Care
• Networking (knowing who to go to when you need assistance)
• Contacts
• Assistance
• Solutions
• Access to Information
• Guidance
• A place to connect with like minded Mom's

On Line Support
I appreciate that in today's culture we have limited time to invest in meeting together face to face and for many of us the only support we have access to is on the www. Here is a list of place to seek support on line.

• The Homeschool Lounge
• Twitter
• Blogs My Blog Friends
• Pinterest - here are some boards with links to Blogs in different categories
  Aussie Homeschoolers
  Home Schoolers
  Communal Blogs
  Homeschooling an Only
• Homeschool Forums
  Aussie Homeschool
  Sonlight
  Rockpool Homeschool
  Simply Charlotte Mason
  The Well Trained Mind
• Facebook
  Every Bed of Roses
  Aussie Homeschool
  Schoolhouse Review Crew
• Pinterest 
• Email Yahoo Groups When you visit this page type in homeschool + your country/state.

On the WWW

• Homeschooling in a Crisis 
• Find Support
• Know Your Enemy
• The Role of Home school Support Groups 
• Why Homeschool Support Groups are Important for Veterans and Newbies
• Benefits of a Home school Support Group
• How to find a Homeschool Support Group
• Mentoring a Neccessity by Sally Clarkson over at I Take Joy 

Blessings
Chareen

Don't forget to check out and see what my fellow Homeschool Review Crew mates are sharing this week. Here are some to get you started. Some of these links will not be live until tomorrow due to time zone differences as these bloggers are from across the globe. Here are some from the crew to get you started

• Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
• Jennifer @ Royal Little Lambs  Supplies
• Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life Books Every Family Should Own
• Debbie @ Debbie’s Homeschool Corner  Books!
• Lisa Marie @ The Canadian Homeschooler  Have a Plan
• Laura @ Four Little Penguins  Non-Essential Essentials
• Dinah @ The Traveling Classroom
• Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
• Erin @ Water on the Floor Successful Homeschool Days Require Prepping Schoolwork

Note: This article is part of a reprint from my post in May 2013

Homeschool Statistic Infographic

I found this infographic recently and wanted to share it with you.  I do disagree with the arrogant attitude in the "Homeschool Domination" comment though.

I did find of the homeschool statistics in the Homeschoolers are Less Affected By External Factors very interesting and would love to know your thoughts...

Source

Created by: CollegeAtHome.com

You have not lived

Your Future ... What if Money Were No Object?

Alan Watts - What if Money Were No Object?

Homeschool Mom's Bible {Review}

Years ago for my 21st birthday I was given an NIV Student Study Bible which I absolutely loved.  Sadly it was stolen in 1997. When I saw that Zondervan publishing were offering to bless us with a Homeschool Mothers Devotional Bible {NIV} I honestly couldn't wait for September to roll around. Needless to say once I knew this product was in the mail winging it's way to me I stalked my post box daily till it arrived. I was over whelmed with gratitude when it arrived.

The first thing that I noticed are the beautiful covers that Zondervan have made for these bibles. This bible has been made available in two translations: New International Version and The King James Version.  They are available in hardcover with jackets, Italian duo-tone and ePub.

Product Details

• NIV Homeschool Mom's Bible.
• Pages: 1536 pages.
• Cover: Hardcover, Jacketed
• ISBN 13: 9780310421054 
• Author of the Devotions: Janet Tatman
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Cost: Hardcover US $34.99
           Itailian DuoTone (Hot Pink) US $49.99
           Italian DuoTone (Turquoise) US $47.99
• Size: 8.75″ x 5.75″ x 1.75″ 
• Price: US $34.99 

A portion of the purchase of this bible is donated to Biblica to support and enable them in their mission of  Transforming lives through God's Word.

This bible contains 

• Table of Contents - one lists all contents and one is the alphabetical order of books in the bible.
• Foreword by Vickie Farris encourages us to spend time in the word no matter how busy our day.  "As we reorder our priorities by carving out time to enter into his holy presence, we'll find strength for what matters most. Trust me, the laundry can wait 15 min more ..." 
• About section.  In this section there is a write up on Alpha Omega Publications who have co-published this devotional bible. Janet Tatman the author of the devotional readings. She home educated her four children for over 25 years.  The devotionals contained in the bible were borne out of her experience writing the Daily Focus encouragement devotionals while working for Alpha Omega Publications.
• Preface. I was particularly interested in this part of the introductions. I enjoyed the insight and explanation on how this version of the WORD has been translated and updated over the years. Did you know the first NIV version was published in 1978?
• Entire updated NIV bible text, including footnotes.
• 365 daily devotions interspersed at regular intervals throughout the bible (there is no devotional page for leap year)
• Table of Weights and Measures containing biblical units, approximate American and Metric equivalents.
• Topical Index covering main biblical characters, teachings and devotional topics arranged in alphabetical order.
• 7 blank pages for your own notes
• Dust Jacket This is a standard paper dust jacket.  One of the crew suggested laminating to increase it's life but I am going to cover it with clear plastic film (Duraseal self adhesive covering).

The Devotionals
These are written by a veteran home school Mum Janet Tatum. She has over 25 years of home school experience and has been writing daily devotionals for home school Mom's for more than six years.  Janet writes from the heart, you can see in her devotions she has been there, felt what we as

home school Mom's feel: our frustrations, our fears, our struggles and our desperate hopes. She speaks to the very heart of our day to day struggles. I loved reading the daily devotion at morning tea time.

God's timing never fails to astound me.  I had been stalking my mailbox waiting for the devotional to arrive. I had been struggling with a self focused woe is me attitude.  Why doesn't anyone care for me! I am so tired of all of T*H*I*S ! Midday arrived and so did the Postie with my special delivery.  I excitedly opened my new devotional to the days reading.

September 6th
Homeschooling's Price ... Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me... 

I start reading ... yes that's me that's how I am feeling. Yes today I want to have all the wonderful benefits without any of the responsibilities. Yes I am feeling trapped ...  Yes please I want a break from this constant house work ...   

Janet challenged me: "Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. If you want your children to achieve both academic and spiritual success, you have to give 100 percent and commit to homeschooling... Yes, God knows  when you need to rest and will show you how to catch your breath, but He also asks His disciples to carry their cross. So who will you follow today, yourself or the Lord? Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 " Then she led me in a small prayer. 

It was as though a home school Mum had sat there with me and spoken directly into my personal circumstance and feelings. She didn't lecture or shame me. She shared her struggle with me.  Challenged me to my calling. Encouraged me to look to the one from Whom all life flows. Pointed me to the plum line of His word and then prayed with me. Blessed and Refreshed is how I felt. 

Each and every devotion is this way. I would love to spend hours studying and researching the word.  The reality is that during this season of homeschooling my young one I do not have the time available to do this. Janet has done the work for me. She daily lays out a minimum of two to three scriptures pertaining to an aspect directly associated with my home school journey. Shares her experience and encourages me to look to Him. Model my life on Him and pray. At the end of each devotional page there is a little note telling me where to find the next day's devotional.

Some days the need is different to what is being spoken about and on those days all I need to do is open up the topical index and search through an alphabetical listing of the devotional topics to find something to encourage me or point me in the direction I need to take.

Each day at morning tea time I am learning to turn back to His Word and refocus.  I am so grateful to have this devotional and will continue reading it for years to come.  

Final thoughts
I am really happy with this bible.  If you are looking for a study bible this is not the bible for you.  It is as it's name says a Devotional bible. 

If there was one thing I would add it would be a presentation page. A group of us purchased an Italian Duo-Tone™, Hot Pink leather copy for a friends special birthday and it would have been lovely to have been able to write her name and a note about the occasion along with our names and the special date/occasion before giving it to her. 

If you have a special wish list somewhere I would encourage you to add this one to the top of the list you will not be disappointed.

Blessings
Chareen

One Mothers Love for her boys

Something to put a smile on your face and know that you are loved and abundantly blessed.




Blessings friends may your week ahead be full of His mercy and abundant blessings
Chareen

For those of you receiving this by email you can watch this clip here: My Mom version of "When you say nothing at all"...

Who You Are

May you be as blessed as I was with this video
Blessings
Chareen

It's a Homeschool Extraviganza!

Wow it's certainly been a busy week here on the blog. It's been a week of sharing Curriculum Choices !


It's the time of year where home schoolers are planning their new school year, some have just started and others are six months into their year.  No matter where you are as home school mom's we can all use some professional development.  I would encourage you to join me at The Old Schoolhouse EXPO this year.  It's an online extravaganza to bring you 5 days of ONLINE encouragement. So no matter where you are you can attend.

Details

• Dates: 19-23 August 2013
• Time: USA EST 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm (find out your time zone equivalent at Time Zone Converter)
• Recorded: Expo recordings are included with the price of your Expo ticket. You will receive a link to the recordings after the expo week is complete.
• Cost: US $24 per person
• Purchase from:  Schoolhouse.
• Hosts: There are over 26 guest speakers this year.  Pop on over to The Old Schoolhouse to find out more.
• Schedule: You can print a schedule by speaker name or Day and Time over on the Event Schedule page.
• Hosted on: GoToWebinar 
• Speaker Question time: Yes during question time via a chat window. 
• If you want to know more please visit the Expo FAQ page.

I am so excited that Diana Waring will be one of the speakers this year.  I have attended three conferences where she was the keynote speaker and have always been encouraged and empowered as a home school Mom. At the Expo Diana will be joining Dr. Jay Wile where she will be speaking about Textbook Myths and How to Deal with them.

Diana is the author of two of my favourite home school books: Beyond Survival and Things we wish we'd known. She is also the author of History Revealed.  Connect with Diana on Facebook

 
I am also looking forward to hearing Todd Wilson from The Family man share on Taming the Techno-Beast.  I first heard Todd speak at the very first online expo I attended.  He is funny and down to earth.

He is the author of Help! I’m Married to a Homeschooling Mom. You can also find Todd on Facebook.

I first heard of Andrew Pudewa 13 years ago when I attended a seminar on writing structure and style.  I was hooked.  Recently I watched the DVD Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day by Andrew and I must confess this is one of the most empowering sessions I have ever seen!  If you homeschool you need to watch this.  Andrew will be doing this session at the Expo.  It has equiped me to understand by daughters and sons in more areas than school.
Connect with Andrew on Facebook.



There are many more speakers I'm looking forward to hearing this year. So come along and be encouraged.
Blessings
Chareen

A special collection of Encouragement for Homeschool Mothers - Giveaway {Review}

Meet one of my home school mentor friends: Diana Waring.  I met Diana and her wonderful family when they first toured New Zealand in 2000.  We were blessed and encouraged beyond measure.  Over the years Diana has shared her wisdom and encouragement with me and I've had the privilege of attending three home school conferences with her as the Keynote speaker (twice in New Zealand and once in Australia).  Diana is also a Schoolhouse Teacher.

Diana has put together a collection of titles that will inspire, encourage and equip you as a home school mom on this journey. Being a homeschool mom means you will have those days when you feel inadequate and this is the perfect solution to having a cup of tea with Diana and being encouraged. She has put together a wonderful resource an eBook and four audio's that are timeless. When you load the audio into iTunes Diana has named each section of her talk so finding a specific part is super easy.

The Encouragement for Homeschool Mom's Collection contains

• An eBook with eight articles (over 40 pages)
• (Audio)Beyond Survival Workshop { real solutions to help moms move beyond the most common issues}
• (Audio)Box-Free Living {overcoming perfectionism} 
• (Audio)Roots {Good character thrives in the right environment, and Diana helps moms discover how to create that environment in their homes.} 
• (Audio)Wings {Diana walks you through the struggle with letting go}

Diana's Audio workshops retail at $9-95 each The audios alone are a value of  $39-95! So this set is an excellent saving for you and you will use it time and time again on your homeschool journey.

This pack is available for purchase over at Diana Waring.com for $25 

Here is a taste of Diana's encouragement and teaching


Diana has donated ONE pack for you to win.

Blessings
Chareen
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product Diana Waring in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. 


Enter this draw for your chance to win a FREE pack from Diana it will be an encouragement to you for years to come.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Giveaway Terms and Conditions:

• This giveaway is offered worldwide, to anyone with Internet access.
• The give away will commence at 10 AM Australian EST time on Thursday 18 April and be open until midnight Wednesday 24 April, 2013. Winner will be announced by Monday 29 April, 2013
• There is one prize pack consisting of The Encouragement for Homeschool Moms Collection.
• A download link will be emailed to you upon your acceptance of this gift.
• Prize can not be exchanged for money
• No purchase necessary to win.
• Giveaways are held with Rafflecopter; commenting will not enter you.
• Winners are chosen by Random.org through Rafflecopter
• Must be 18 years of age or older at time of entry.
• If prize winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded at my sole discretion. 
• Void where prohibited by law. 
• Please leave a way for me to contact you in your entry otherwise another winner will be chosen. 
• This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook. 
• Odds of winning based on number of entries.
• By entering this contest, you agree to release Every Bed of Roses and all associated parties/sponsors of any liability.
• Winners will be announced in a Giveaway Post 
• It is your responsibility to check the current price of any items before purchasing. 
• Non of the links in this post are affiliate links. 

Praying for our children

E.M. Bounds writes, “Woe to the generation of sons who find their own censers empty of the rich incense of prayer, whose fathers have been too busy or too unbelieving to pray, and who have inexpressible perils and untold consequences for their heritage! They whose fathers and mothers have left them a wealthy legacy of prayer are very fortunate, indeed.”

I'd like to invite you to join me and Marcy this month in praying for our Children.

Blessings
Chareen

TT - ♥ Valentines Day Resources ♥

Valentines Day is a wonderful time of the year to help us remember those we love. Often times we seem to get in a rut and forget to say I love you.
I love you should never just be mere words, love needs to be a VERB. I've been thinking about this over the last week and just how much my Saviour loved me. As He said: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:3 and He did so for me. As I page through the word I realize more and more just how much the Lord uses the word love in an active and action form. From this I have been inspired to find some resources to show love in a deep and meaningful way.

All Our Days

From the Word

• Valentine Countdown Chain- 1 Love Bible Verse a Day {Free to Print!} over at Catholic Icing
• Printable Bible Verse Valentines
• So Loved Valentine’s Day Cards {Free Printable} over at All our Days
• Love Bible Verses for Children over at The Crafty Classroom.
• 3 Bible Verse Valentine Craft Ideas over at Heart at Home.
• In My Heart ~ Valentine’s Day, 1 John 3:16 over at Totally Tots
• Valentine's Day Countdown & Free Printable! over at Choosing Today. Bible verse memory idea
• A Valentine's Day Countdown - FREE Printable! over at Happy Home Fairy 14 days worth of FREE Printable Bible Verse Cards.

Homeschool Deals

On line Downloads

• Valentines Day Worksheets over at Activity Village
• Valentine's Day printables from abcteach
• Free Valentine’s Day Coloring Worksheets (55-Pages) by Free Homeschool Deals.
• Free Valentine's Day Activity eBook by Free Homeschool Deals
• Valentine {Expanded} over at  2 Teaching Mommies
• Free Valentine's Day Coloring Pages (13) over at Free Homeschool Deals
• History of St Valentines Day Unit Study and FREE Printables PreK – 5th Grades over at Free Homeschool Deals
• Free Valentine's Day Math Worksheet over at Our Homeschool
• Valentine Poetry Writing Freebie over at Teaching Blog Addict.
• Valentine's Day Copywork over at A Journey Through Learning.

Further Reading

• History of Valentine's Day
• Valentine's Day Unit Study Ideas over at LaCelle Family Ministries Homeschool Help on Line.
•  The History of Valentine's Day at Care2 Make a Difference
• Valentine's Day at History.com
•  

On Pinterest

• How to Make Borax Crystal Hearts
• Valentine's Minute to Win It games
• DIY Scratch Off Valentine Cards
• Valentine's Day Crafts...
• Painted Doily Hearts a Valentine Window 
• Folding Craft Stick Valentine Card
• Love Bug Headband Craft
• Free Valentine's Day Resources by J.Stewart has a great board of printables.

Elsewhere on the net

Valentine's Day Fun

• Valenine's Day Fun is a dedicated site that is well organized to help you find ideas and lessons for Valentine's Day.
  
  • Writing Fun
  • Apps
  • Games & Stories
  • Printables
  • Notebook Lessons
• Valentine's Day Mini Notebooks Tutorial over at Everything Etsy
• Se7en Hearts and Then Some More ... over at Se7en. Practical heart shaped things to do with your kids.
• Bible Theme: Loving Generously over at the Preschool Post
• 250+ Valentine Ideas over at Nurture Store. A blog hop with 257 blog linkup of ideas. 

Tell Him you love Him

• 85 Ways to Show You Love Him over at Kids activities Blog
• 101 Things to Do with Your Husband (rather than watch TV) over at Audrey Confidential
• 50 Fun and Cheap Date Ideas! over at Six Sisters Stuff
• Free Printable Prayer Cards over at The Time-Warp Wife
• Simple Ways to Tell Your Spouse I Love You over at Unveiled Wife
• 30 Ideas For a Date Night at Home over at The Mom Crowd
• Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge over at Women Living Well.
• 10 Creative Ways to say "I Love You" to your husband over at Women Living Well.

May you be blessed and inspired to show love deeply to those in your sphere of influence.

Blessings

 Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures.  I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so I invite you to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to Learning All the Time Favourite Resource Link Up. 

Be Encouraged A Word from Sally Clarkson

Be encouraged a note from Sally Clarkson to you


Sally shared In Support and Celebration of Motherhood! And My Dream on her blog on Wednesday and I was so deeply touched I wanted to share it with you here and hope you are as encouraged as I was.


Blessings

Twelve Days of Homeschool

A friend recently shared this with me and I really enjoyed it.  Be encouraged and make sure you watch it all the way to the end.



Blessings

Motherhood is not a battle ...

Overloaded…Overwhelmed… Over It… (used by permission)

I have been inspired and encouraged by this photo doing the rounds on Facebook at the moment. I managed to find the source and read the blog post that goes with it. I just wanted to drop you all a note and say enjoy your children those first 18 years pass by in the twinkling of an eye.

Blessings
Chareen

Cranky Old Man ....

Cranky Old Man.....
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Source:  Facebook  Shared with permission.
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.
One nurse took her copy to Melbourne .. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.  

UPDATED: 25 JULY 2012

Dear Adam

I apologise for using a picture of your grandfather and daughter on this post.  When I originally received it there was a note attached: Permission to share.  As you requested in your comment I have removed it. I would like to thank you for blogging about this beautiful picture it is a really precious family moment, one to definately treasure as well as for taking the time to let me know that the person who "shared  it with permission" had not done so in all honesty.

May your memories continue to be a blessing to you and your family.

Chareen.