Book Review -- Homeschoolers' College Admissions Handbook: Preparing 12- to 18-Year-Olds for Success in the College of Their Choice by Cafi Cohen

As I began reading this book, I wasn't impressed at all. That was no surprise to me, because I'd already prepared myself to not like it very much. I don't care for the small pool of interviewees throughout (or the entire series), and I couldn't relate at all to the ways that many of these families school (or unschool, imo). I read a 2000 edition; I found the high school foreign language recommendations lacking, and I would guess other information may also be dated.

But . . . several positives kept popping up. I appreciated the wide variety of topics here. The author covers different high school programs, and ways to accumulate college credit while still in high school. Many different options for credits and transcripts were offered, including detailed examples of each type. Also covered were recommendation letters, portfolio suggestions, recordkeeping, PSATs/SATs, tips on choosing the right college, financing options, and application essays. My favorite was the timeline chapter, which included checklists from 7th grade on. Each chapter concludes with additional reading recommendations, books and websites that might even be considered competition for this book.

So the book overcame my bias, not an easy thing to do. All in all, it was very helpful, so far the best I've read on this topic. Definitely recommended, especially if you can get it at your library.

* * *

As I write this, I am waiting for Barb Shelton's Form-U-La, and I'm expecting that to be even better.
:)

Weekly Menu

breakfast by Robert
Dad's choice
chile rellanos, guac, chips
muffeletta(sp?), ??
scalloped potatoes and ham, salad
chicken jerusalem, rice, ??
???

Lunch (with or for):
smoothies
grilled PB&J
Linda's Marinated Mozzarella
parmesan pesto things
tortilla rollups w/meat, lettuce, tomato, dressing

On the back burner:
pork loin
Renita's Funnel Cakes!!!
chicken fajitas
meatloaf
Rocky Mountain Salad
Laura S.'s chicken pot pie (when I'm feeling particularly brave)
anything with ground beef, I have a LOT of it
Orange Chicken (found on Heather's blog)
hot dog ideas from SHS! (link only available to SHS members)

Discount prices

It's safe to say that I don't qualify, haha.


("Pagan" is the owners' last name.)

Ornament exchange

I am so blessed to be participating in a small online Bible study group with a few dear and close friends. In our ornament exchange this year, I received this pretty initial "K," and this darling angel snowman.


Renita, I treasure your friendship, and I thank you for these lovely gifts!

Christmas captions

Trevor is our official present passer.

No WAY!

It's just what I always wanted!

We napped.

And talked to family.

Robert and I went for a walk.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isa. 9:6



Make your own animation @ SpaceFaith.com

'Twas the (Day and) Night Before Christmas

It was a little later than usual, but Trevor decorated the gingerbread house. This has been a long time tradition in our family, beginning when the kids were 3 and 7. It's much easier than it looks! The kits have premade icing, and we (meaning Robert) finally figured out the key to easy decorating is to that before assembling the house.



Holly and Trevor finished up last minute wrapping.



It's no surprise that my son does not know the purpose of an iron. I don't iron, and I don't sew. However, since I don't sew, I v-e-r-y infrequently have to iron. But I no longer own an ironing board, and I'm pretty proud of that fact.

Kristine's Idiot's guide to hemming.

After all that strenuous activity, Trevor settled in for PS. (Actually, he did do two hours of school work today. We've been off schedule this month.)

I'm not sure what's with the jacket. It's not that cold around here!

This looks disgusting, and it is. Front burner: chorizo for the Breakfast Burritos we had for an early dinner. Do you KNOW what this is made of? BLECH. Back burner: sauce for meatballs that we took for church gathering tonight--a jar of chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly.

I put frozen meatballs into the crockpot and covered them with the sauce.
They were a HUGE hit. :)

Robert arranging the cheese and crackers to take tonight.


We manage to plan a lot of our church activities around food. We had tables on both sides of the room, additional plates of food tucked underneath the tables, and guards (okay, Moms) on duty to make sure the kids didn't eat everything before the grown ups came through.



We stayed until the end. How CUTE is this little girl putting away one of the chairs?!



It was a great night, warm and a little drizzly...



and a lovely Christmas Eve.

Weekly menu

Dad's choice
???
late lunch, and then snacks at church
Christmas breakfast: omelets, bacon, hashed browns;
Christmas dinner: ham, cheesy mashed potatoes OR PW's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, jello pretzel salad, Mandarin Salad, corn?, PW's Delicious Chocolate Pie (with pasteurized eggs)
???
ham, rolls, ???
???

Lunch (with or for):
smoothies
grilled PB&J
Linda's Marinated Mozzarella
parmesan pesto things
tortilla rollups w/meat, lettuce, tomato, dressing

On the back burner:
pork loin
Renita's Funnel Cakes!!!
chicken fajitas
meatloaf
Rocky Mountain Salad
Laura S.'s chicken pot pie (when I'm feeling particularly brave)
anything with ground beef, I have a LOT of it
chicken jerusalem,
Orange Chicken (found on Heather's blog)
hot dog ideas from SHS! (link only available to SHS members)

13 steps to successful Christmas shopping

1. Nourishment for the body = two cups.


2. Nourishment for the brain = LOUD.


3. Drive, drive, drive.


4. 9:20 and the mall's not too crowded. Yet.


5. No lines. Yet.



6. Charge!



7. The happiest place on earth was anything but. (It was the only real line I waited in.)


8. More nourishment for the body. (Free coffee with the purchase of a gift card.)


9. The only long lines at Target were in the bathrooms and outside.


10. Nourishment for the car. (See the Roanoke Star in the background?)


11. Nourishment for my family. (Grocery shopping.)

12. Drive home.


13. Success!

F I N I S H E D ! ! !


My Christmas shopping is done. Whew! This was easy. I've done a little bit of online shopping over the past few weeks, and we've cut waaaaaay back this year. This is going to be a wonderful Christmas!

Friday

Beautiful start

* * *

Beautiful finish

Desperate for that last minute gift?

Burger King has come out with a new men's body spray. "Flame" is "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat." And at $3.99, WHAT a deal!

Oops, looks like it's already sold out. :(

* * *

The biggest surprise is that this didn't make Donna's blog first! But wait! It DID!!!! In that case, I can say that it's scary that the BK fragrance made me think of her...

For your listening pleasure...

I've posted this for the past two years, and it's an annual tradition around here now. Click here for a version of O Holy Night that might just make you cry.

Weather or not

Last week: Snow in Louisiana; snow in New England. Snow in Seattle and the San Juan Islands.

This week: Snow in Chicago, Kansas, and Las Vegas! Ice storms predicted for Missouri, more snow for Seattle, and the power's still out in New Hampshire (praying for Jodi).

Don't fear. Remember? Global warming! It's coming soon to an area near you.

In fact, it's already here where I live. We've had rain. 50s. 60s tomorrow.

I feel a little guilty gloating. Really. But just a very little little.

Out and about

My plan yesterday was to go Christmas shopping. Finally.

But first I took Trevor to town for a dr. appt. On the way, I stopped at a store to shop for myself. (Go figure.)

It was Trev's first appt. here in VA, so he had a new doctor. He was a great guy, and it hit me a little hard that we are getting a little out of the school mode.

Dr.: So what are some of your subjects in school?

Trev: Math. I'm learning fractions, decimals, and symmetry.

(Oh, yippee, *I* am looking SO GOOD here!)

Dr.: What else?

Trev: Well. Science. But we haven't done much of that lately.

And THAT was the end of the conversation.

* * *

I met up with Robert in a grocery store parking lot so he could take Trevor home and I could shop by myself. I made it to one store before I buckled under the pressure.


I was rather a pathetic sight. I pulled into a parking spot at McDonald's to eat my food. In the rain. While my dh and dc called me on the phone to say how much they missed me. (Actually they were complaining about each other.)

I made it to the mall. I didn't buy anything, but I did run into two different people that I knew. This always amazes me, because I don't know a lot of people here. I had grand plans to go to the other mall (yep, we have TWO), but by the time I got back to my car, it was late, so I headed home, practically empty handed.

* * *

Holly had a riding lesson this morning.

I've missed most of her lessons lately; today was a treat for me.

Trev adores the barn cats.

We went shopping downtown for the first time EVER. I'm participating in an ornament exchange with one of my online friends, and I really wanted to find something a little different, special to Roanoke. (Of course, since it's a week before Christmas and she lives out of state, I was also beginning to panic.)

We came home in time to throw some dinner on the table and head back to town for church.

I'm figuring I'll be able to make it back into town and finish my shopping on Saturday, along with everyone else in the whole world. :)

How about you? Are you ready?

Quotes

The Bible Club kids are pretty rowdy by the time they actually make it to Bible Club. After sitting in class all day, they have a fifteen minute break before club begins--just enough time to get them really wild.

One of our boys from church showed up this week for just the second time to help out. I don't think he knows yet what he's getting into. One of the little kids came up behind him, grabbed him by the neck and squeezed.

Trevor excitedly reported back to me: "Now I know what A.J. looks like when he's being choked!"

Yep. Those Mondays.

Inside my camera . . .

. . . ROBERT
making his famous butter cookies.


This is a long standing family tradition (his family, not mine; it's been around a lot longer than I have). His mom used to make the dough, roll out the cookies, bake and frost them. Robert took that job over several years ago.

We (and I use that term loosely) used to frost them too, but we haven't done that in a while.



. . . TREVOR's
latest drawing.

This is not his typical subject matter, but I haven't had a chance to ask about it.


. . . PUMPKIN
in the Nativity. Again.


I used to think she just liked heights.

(2 years ago in the old house)

. . . AND
famous landmarks in Roanoke.


Both the H&C Coffee sign and the Dr. Pepper clock are famous landmarks here. Really. But don't ask me why.

Quick Book Review #2 -- When Christ Comes: The Beginning of the Very Best by Max Lucado

This was typical-feel-good-and-learn-a-little writing by Max. Some of his books are more thought provoking for me; this was nothing new but nicely pleasant. I also found it a timely tie-in to our current Sunday study on Revelation.

It's not really worth blogging a book review; I just want to remember that I read it.

Quick Book Review #1 -- Revolutionary Parenting: Want to Raise a Spiritual Champion? by George Barna

George Barna is well known for his survey research analysis, and I'm always a sucker for a parenting book. As Barna says, a one-size-fits-all parenting manual doesn't exist. He doesn't give his own opinions on parenting but shares information garnered through his various research to find common threads in families that have already raised spiritual champions.

This book was a nice and short read, not written in "survey format" but sometimes clinical. I enjoyed it and was even more motivated to improve on one particular area in which I already thought we were lacking.

There are also both a parenting workbook and a leader's guide available. I would definitely be interesting in studying this as a group. (No, I don't want to take that on, but it might work online too.) Recommended.

Things I've done this week

1. Spent Monday barfing my guts up. I had a stomach bug, along with (at least) half a dozen people from church. Ugh. Nope, we didn't eat the same food, and half of us didn't even talk to each other on Sunday.
   
2. Fell behind in school.
3. Stumbled into work Tuesday night, trying to make up hours.
4. Fell further behind in school.
5. Played catch up with Holly, while Trevor spent the day throwing up and sick in bed. On the bright side, and believe me there was one, he just had sinus YUCK, not the flu.
6. Fell even further behind in school.
7. Convinced Robert that we will not be sending out our Christmas photos this year. Which is good, because we have no Christmas photo.
   
8. Convinced Robert that we will not be sending out our Christmas cards this year either. And no, we don't have cards either.
9. Joined Facebook; see me here.
10. Worked today.
11. Plan on working tomorrow.
12. Pretty much dropped school for the week.
    
13. Realized I've done NO Christmas shopping, and I have no time to Christmas shop until sometime after Christmas.
14. Got on the computer to begin Christmas shopping but caught up on my blog instead.

Seriously, it hasn't been such a bad week. It would be absolutely perfect if it still had four more days left.

:)

Weekly Menu

Robert and kids ate out
Robert's beef noodle soup
noodles, bread, gentle for tummies
pot roast
lasagna
pork chops and beef gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable
giant burritos

Lunch (with or for):
smoothies
grilled PB&J
Linda's Marinated Mozzarella
parmesan pesto things
tortilla rollups w/meat, lettuce, tomato, dressing

On the back burner:
pork loin
Renita's Funnel Cakes!!!
chicken fajitas
meatloaf
Rocky Mountain Salad
Laura S.'s chicken pot pie (when I'm feeling particularly brave)
anything with ground beef, I have a LOT of it
chicken jerusalem,
Orange Chicken (found on Heather's blog)
hot dog ideas from SHS! (link only available to SHS members)
Laura's chocolate pie (with evaporated milk, thank you very much), or PW's with fake eggs which I've made before and was GREAT!

Book Review - BLOG TOUR - When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

Hey! This is my first book tour! I've already read and reviewed the first two books in this series, When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes. This is a great series, and this third book was a good wrap up. I was rather hoping for a different ending, but the author carried the story along so that I was happy with the results. This series is recommended.

Here's the publisher's write-up:

About the book: After receiving a desperate and confusing call from her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community of her Pennsylvania childhood.

Having fled in disgrace two years earlier, she finally has found a satisfying role in the Englischer world, as well as love with Martin Palmer, a man with whom she can safely entrust her heart. But almost immediately after her arrival in Owl’s Perch, the disapproval of those who ostracized her reopens old wounds.

As Hannah is thrown together with former fiancé Paul Waddell to work for her sister Sarah’s mental health, unexpected truths surface about the events during Hannah’s absence, and she faces an agonizing decision. Will she choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she heed the call to return to the Plain Life—and perhaps to her first love?

This intriguing final novel in the Sisters of the Quilt series is richly textured with authentic details drawn from the author’s real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families.

About the author: Cindy Woodsmall is a best-selling author, who has garnered strong praise for the first two novels in the Sisters of the Quilt series. When the Heart Cries was a finalist for the ECPA Novel of the Year in 2007 and received the Reviewer’s Choice Award from the Road to Romance website. When the Morning Comes was named among the Best Books of 2007 for Crossings Book Club. Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty years.


G I V E A W A Y !

Thanks to the publisher, I'm giving away a free copy of this book. As I'm paying postage, it's only open to those in the U.S. It will be a scientific giveaway, having my kids draw names from a hat, or something similar. This giveaway will stay open for a week; make sure you leave a way for me to contact you (your blog profile is fine, as long as it links to your blog).

Aaaand so far, I'm 0 for 2

Last week, Trevor and I finished reading Owls in the Family. Since he'd only dissected one of his owl pellets a few years back, we thought it'd be a good time to dissect the second one.

If I could only find it. It's entirely possible that I ditched it prior to moving; but of course, I can't seem to remember that either.

* * *

On Saturday, I set Trevor to work on a potato printing project. After learning about Johann Gutenberg and the printing press, Trev was going to cut a few letters out of potatoes and print with them on paper. The potato cutting went great.


However, we don't have paint. How we've lived in this house for 16 months and managed to survive without buying any kind of craft paint is beyond me.

* * *

Owl pellet dissection: Possibly to be continued at a later date.

Potato printing: On the schedule this week. Again.

Overheard this week

My conversation Friday night at the library with a 30-ish man:

Man: Hey! That looks like one of those kids on that t.v. show, um, America's Got Talent!

Me: The Wright Kids live here in town, and they're playing here tonight!

Man: Well, praise the Lord!

* * *

The teens in church usually sit together in the first few front rows. One "regular" chose instead to sit by his dad today. A friend came up and asked the boy:

"Why are you sitting over here? Did you get in trouble?"

* * *

Decorating the tree last night, I pulled out an ornament that Rob and the kids gave me several years ago.

Trevor, surprised: Mom!! Did you used to be a teacher before?

* * *

Welcoming Christmas

Friday was a big night in town. It was the annual "Welcoming Christmas" celebration, and all the downtown stores stay open late. The streets are all lit up; there are free carriage rides up and down the street; small bands and carolers; food vendors and more. Since the library is on the same street, it's the only Friday night of the year that we are also open late.

With perfect timing, Friday was also the day that our children's area was decorated for Christmas. We have a wonderful woman who puts up monthly displays, donating not only her time but her various collections. She put up her 47 nutcrackers, 35 drums, a collection of fabric Christmas trees and more. Her generosity has just really touched my heart. The challenge will be to keep the kids from touching the "toys," but this isn't the first year they've been out.

Aren't these beautiful?!

While other activities were going on in the street outside, we had The Wright Kids come in and perform. They started off with a half hour meet and greet. They later played and sang in an hour long program, and their dad read about the birth of Jesus from Luke. Even 4 year old Selah joined in for a bit.

It was a standing-room only crowd, and I was able to get a few shots from the side door.

Before the show started, the kids were busy--in their suits and fancy dresses--gathering up library books. The are regulars around here, remarkably sweet and down to earth.

Although I never made it outside, it was definitely a festive night!

What my kids and husband have been up to while I work

Partnering up with an international evangelical organization, our church recently started a weekly Bible club for students in the neighborhood public school. Rob and the kids have been involved in this ministry, along with a dozen other adults and many of the teens from our church.



With about 50 school kids in the club --more than 20% of the school's enrollment-- it's the most successful afterschool program the school has ever seen. This is quite something, considering that there is also a (also free) afterschool YMCA program on the grounds at the same time.

They are (all) having a great time, even though a lot of their efforts are devoted to crowd control, lol. Holly works with the third graders, and Trevor with the kindergartners. Holly and Trev were a little apprehensive about this at first but now look forward to helping out at the club each week. It's so exciting to see them involved, and I'm so proud of them!