More FREE fun! Where do you get yours?

So while hubs and I were on a date the other night, we observed a mom and her 5 kids grabbing a bite. They presented their elementary school i.d.'s at Chipotle and received free drinks for the kids. One of the many things I LOVE about our homeschool, Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA for short) is that they have thought of everything! Each year, they make available a template that you can download in Word whereupon you can create your own student i.d.'s so your kids can enjoy fun benefits like these. Only wish we'd known about this great benefit about 200 trips ago to Chipotle (hubs favorite restaurant). Where do you use your kids student i.d.'s for freebies? Lemme know.

Amazing Peer pressure. Moody Family, we love you!

I love living in this time in history. It feels like there are so many amazing resources available with which to raise our kids. The Moody Family series was loaned to me by a friend of mine, and our family is hooked. This homeschooling family of 6 seeks to live a good christian life and my kids can't get enough of our evening read aloud time. When my friend gave it to me she said, "Just read it, don't preach or try to emphasize what you read, just read it."

These kids are just like mine, they argue and bicker and love to be together. But what they do that was different than our family is they seek to forgive each other quickly, they listen to the Holy Spirits' conviction, they make it right quickly. And it's rubbing off. I've observed my children being kinder to one another, asking forgiveness when wronging one another and seeking to be more of a blessing to all members of our family. It's AWESOME!

So, we finished our 1st book, and have since returned it and have borrowed the next 3 in the series of 6. Thank you friends for the loan, I think these are going to be showing up soon as gifts. In the meantime, it's really fun to read aloud, I just have to keep my mouth closed as editorializing is not required, the books do it by themselves.

http://www.titus2.com/moody-series/index.php

A borrowed idea I absolutely love!

Most of my really wonderful parenting ideas are things I have read about in a parenting magazine, book or blog, or on FB or from a discussion with a friend. This idea is probably at the tippy top of my list.

When Ka was about 2 I read that it would be a good idea to have a birthday letter for her each year that I would keep together for her to leave home with sometime around her 18th bday. I have computer folders for each of our kids, and a Word Document for each year of their bday. As they say or do things I really want to remember, I quick type them in an email (if I'm not at that computer) for me to remember to add to their letters when I can get to it. Just before their next bday, I edit and print these letters (Daddy does this too) and put them in their scrapbooks.

Now that they are 8, 6 and 5, I have read a few of these to them at their birthdays, they think it's pretty cool to hear things they said or did. They are already enjoying them. There are so many details of their childhoods that I want to treasure and remember forever, this is a way I can do that.

courage

"Live courageously" Alex Kendrick from the set of Courageous tells viewers on a quick interview as his out-tro. Same theme was present in the Soul Surfer movie/documentary. http://www.courageousthemovie.com/ As I am struggling with some issues currently, I think I like the idea of having courage. And when I don't have any of my own courage, I know the source of it, so I will call on Him to provide. Or be courageous through me.

The movie Courageous is coming out in Sept., a movie about the power of fatherhood. Can't wait to see this latest installment from the makers of Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel. Think it will be a great opportunity for boys and men to see how important their role is as dads. Love the flicks these guys make, http://www.sherwoodpictures.com/

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:8-10

Seasons Of A Life

Wow, a really good book that sucks me in so much I can't seem to put it down is one of life's joys. I have to say that I am primarily a non-fiction reader, but every great once in awhile a good fiction book will envelope me in reading bliss. My current read warrants a blog posting as it's soooooo good and it's written by a friend of mine. I've not personally known an author before. I've been in their presence before, but this author is someone I actually know and it's so exciting to see her achieve this accomplishment. My prayer is that others enjoy this book as I have and that it takes off and is a blessing to her as others enjoy it, and if the cash rolls in, well, that'd be pretty sweet too. It excites me that she may add to this book in a series type fashion as well, pretty cool to have that mapped out. Anyhow, I'm neary 3/4 of the way through it and can't wait to see how it ends, but then there is sadness as it'll be finished and I won't have it to unveil any more. Which is probably for the best for my family, as they get somewhat neglected when I'm in these book comas. A season for everything, right?

http://www.lakeville.penfruit.com/books.html

http://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Life-D-H-Barbara/dp/1452844569/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312697077&sr=1-7

Soul Surfer

Watched Soul Surfer tonight for a date w/hubs, thx babysitting swappin' buds btw. What an amazing movie about a strong, self confident young lady struggling through the tragedy of loosing her arm. Here are a few reviews if you want to see more,

http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2011/q3/soulsurfer.aspx

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/soul-surfer

Really love the above websites for reviewing films mostly for the kids, but lately more so for us as we are trying to better filter our inputs as well. Especially like the 2nd site as it gives us a good opinion on recommended ages.

Anyway, as we're honed in lately about raising our girls counter-culture, not being obsessed with their outward appearance and attemping to instill good esteem, I'm excited to have this tool in our arsenal when the time is right. It's exciting to have this as a resource. Thank you Hollywood for getting this one right.

here we go

Not sure why, today, I'm thinking of getting this going, been on the fence about it for some time now. Suppose what got a commitment today was a tab to add a link to my blog (which until now didn't exist) for a website I have a good deal of passion for. That's the thing, I have a good deal of passion about many things and perhaps bore those I interact with telling them of such things. Every now and again, however, someone IS curious about something I've mentioned, so I thought a blog would be a good place to place those links.

Tripping the walk, boy, I really wish I could say I were walking it, and sometimes I am, but most of the time I'm struggling, right alongside my fellow believers to glorify God well. It's so hard living in this flesh, on this planet. I'm very heavenly-minded as a result.

So, in this, my 1st attempt at blogging, my prayer would be that you would find laughs, giggles, humility, good resources to equip us along the way, and perhaps a little encouragement to keep pressing on, trips and all.