Because Sometimes Interruptions are God’s Way of Redirecting Our Focus!

Back to School Blahs!

School starts in seven days! Seven days! Which means not only will my kids be going to school in 100 plus degree heat, so will I!

Is it just me or is it just plain wrong to send kids to school in August? Technically, it’s still SUMMER. Time for swimming and BBQs and staying up late! Sure, getting out of school at the end of May was great, but I’d gladly extend school into June if we could start school in September!

September is for school (though where I grew up in NY September days were just as HOT as August.) They even start with the same letters. I’ve heard a few arguments for school ending in May and starting in August, but I’m not buying any of them. What’s your take on this school thing?

I really wish we’d go back to an after Labor Day school start, especially this year. I could use the extra month to catch up on house stuff, plan for my Creative Writing class, and finish my 2009 tax return!

But school starts in a week and I’m teaching, guess I can’t play hookie!





Download N Go Contest and Discount Coupons

The Adventure Begins Giveaway!

THE PRIZE:

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and Amanda Bennett Unit Studies have teamed up to celebrate the successful launch of Download N Go™ with a Sweet Treat Prize Package in The Adventure Begins … Giveaway!

They’re offering one lucky winner the SWEET chance to go EXPLORING this FALL!

The entire FALL curriculum lineup of Download N Go™ (Wow! That’s 19 studies!).
A $25 gift certificate to Baskin-Robbins (yummy ice cream).
A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com (for those back-to-school supplies).
A $15 gift certificate to Starbucks Coffee (a special treat just for the teacher).
A full year’s subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (encouragement and resources all year long).
A “sweet” blue and brown Homeschooling With Heart tote bag (THE must-have accessory for FALL!).

ENTER HERE!

For more information just click on the icon above! Contest will run May 24 and through June 12!

ALSO:

DNG has decided to offer a coupon code for 20% off multiple packs of the DNG units! Wow – 20%.

The code is: DNG20PKS – just use that code at check out and receive 20% off any multiple pack purchase!



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Free Stuff! |June 8th, 2010 | No Comments


Download N Go Homeschool Unit Studies

I’ve never really purchased any unit study kits. Usually I hodge podge them together with items around the house. And I’ve never really lapbooked in the traditional sense. Usually we journal and color and cut and paste into a spiral notebook, but when I was given the opportunity to review Download N Go unit lapbook kit, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Upon opening the PDF file on Whales, I was immediately impressed with the colors and graphics. Definitely eye pleasing, but not having experience with download unit studies I started to wonder if I was suppose to print out the entire 80 page unit. That would mean a lot of ink. Probably more than I’d spend if I just bought a paper copy of the unit study.

As I read through the well thought out curriculum, I loved the video links included and the suggested reading to enhance the study. There were even handy links for lapbook beginners. So the definite plus of a downloadable are all the links to enhance the study on the computer.

The unit study is probably for younger aged kids, 3rd grade and lower and it’s put together nicely with daily to dos and suggestions, plus questions for your children to answer on the printable pages. There are also activities that will eventually go in the lap books, but I’m still figuring out what I should print out and what I can save ink on. I guess for me, I might have preferred more coloring pages then full blown color graphics.

One neat feature is that occasionally the unit study will tell you click over to the lapbook for an activity. Maybe that’s when I should print out the page. And then on the activity page it will have a link where you can click back to where you were in your study.

Like I said, I’m knew to online lapbooking, but to me this seems like an individual project the child sits down at the computer to do by himself. At least, that’s the best way to take advantage of all the links. But I’m going to attempt to tackle it with two children at at time!

Here’s more information:

Each day for 5 days, your students will meet and learn about a different whale and enjoy creative lapbooking fun. There are science discoveries, such as learning about whale and human anatomy, and history investigations, learning about Creation and the Bible story of Jonah. Geography lessons will introduce the oceans making the study of whales quite interesting! Plus there are writing prompts, crafts, games, a wonderful choice of books to complement this study, and many coloring/activity pages.

DNG has decided to offer a coupon code for 20% off multiple packs of the DNG units! Wow – 20%.

The code is: DNG20PKS – just use that code at check out and receive 20% off any multiple pack purchase!

The Adventure Begins Giveaway!
Want to see more about Whale Tales? Go to www.downloadngo.com/WhaleTales.
Amanda Bennett is the creator of Download N Go and has been a successful homeschool parent, a well-known author and speaker at homeschool conferences. Amanda loves to share her faith, homeschool experiences and a contagious love of learning.  She says “Learning should be an exciting adventure – SHOULD BE but that’s not always the case, is it?” If you’re overwhelmed with all the work that it takes to be a success at homeschooling check out the Download N Go™ Series. Come on and join the adventure! All you have to do is dive in with your kids and learn!
For more information, go to The Old Schoolhouse.



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Product Review |June 7th, 2010 | 1 Comment


My Little Reader

Grace has finally learned to love to read THIS WEEK. She’s seven years old and though her reading is still not great, that doesn’t stop her from grabbing a book from her bookshelf and reading it for herself. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t understand all the words or read them all correctly, she loves to read by her small night before bed and reads until her eyes get sleepy.

I’m so excited for her because a whole new world has opened up for her and all the books I once read to her, she can now experience new for her self. To make her reading more enjoyable, I put all the books I think she can read on one book shelf.  And the other night she read me a book at bedtime.

Now if I can only get Timmy to enjoy reading I’ll have four out of four kids who love books as much as I do!



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Family Portraits |December 3rd, 2009 | 1 Comment


EE Double E and Learning to Spell

I’ve already posted on how we’re making up stories that go along with Alphabet Island to help us remember spelling words with EE and EA. Well, here’s my seven and nine year old’s story about the TOWN:  My comments are in (parentheses)

Grace’s (7) EE Story: The Town

There once was a QUEEN. People would CHEER for QUEEN Elizabeth the third. (care of Phineas and Ferb. Who ever said cartoons weren’t educational?) And people would help each other a lot and while some CREEP on each other. It was a okay place to be, but QUEEN Elizabeth the third wasn’t happy with her people and her husband died a long time ago.

The End

And Timothy’s (9) EE story: The Town

Once upon a time there was a MEEK QUEEN that everyone would GREET her. One day a TEEN was about to CREEP on the QUEEN and she saw him and told her guards to chase them, but they got away. The bad guys were full of GLEE. The QUEEN was sad so the people CHEERED for her and she was happy.

The End

In the town there are cars. If you SPEED, you will get pulled over by a cop. On the cars there are WHEELS that drive on the STREET.  A JEEP can drive up a STEEP hill. You have to use your FEET and your HEEL to press the pedal. Your KNEE is cramped.

The End

They’re working on EA stories about the BEACH and other EE stories I’ll post another day!



Categories: Education/Homeschool |November 16th, 2009 | 1 Comment


I LOVE Alphabet Island!

Why couldn’t I have discovered it early? No boring rules to memorize like K comes before and E, I, Y! Instead, rules are learned through FUN stories and songs! My kids are really taking to it and after struggling to learn these phonics and spelling rules, it’s really sinking in!

My kids have no problem with the C,K rules and my six year old can even tell you if KELLOG is spelled with a C or K and knows CITY is spelled with a C.

I strayed from the Alpahbet Island to the land of Saxon 1 (for my 2nd grader) and Christ Centered Curriculum (for my 4th) and while it was good at reinforcing things we learned on the Island, when it came to spelling words with EE, EA and IE, I found my kids drowning in a sea without a life raft to hold on to. There was nothing for them to grasp out at Saxon and CC sea, so we swam back to the Island and continued where we left off which was at spelling with EE! God is so cool how he makes my hodge podge homeschool all line up!

So we’re having a great time on the Island learning that EE song and the EE words on the FARM. I even made up my own little song. I bet it sounds familiar. “Old MacDonald had a farm, EE Double E. And on his farm he had a SHEEP, TREE, CHEEP, GREEN grass, BEET, BEE, DEER, WEEDs, SEEDs.” Get it! These double EE words are all on the farm!

But I realized some words that should be on the farm like PEACH and LEAF weren’t DOUBLE EEs. So I made up a story, complete with pictures.  “My DEAR was at the BEACH drinking TEA and eating a PEACH with a LEAF when a bird with a BEACH tried to eat it!” The kids got in the story making act and we added to it, “The MEAN boys came and BEATed on a pail with shovel…”

Then we went over to the TOWN to MEET the QUEEN, who was MEEK, and GLEEful, but there was this CREEPY TEEN there…and over to the GYM where the WEAK people go and people who play on a TEAM.

My kids are writing their own versions of these stories and drawing pictures, but I’m so excited because this is perfect for my visual learners and they’re actually having fun. Next we’re going to talk about the CARS in the town that drive on the STREET… There’s so much fun and learning left to be done!



Categories: Education/Homeschool |November 13th, 2009 | 4 Comments


I Love My New Lunch Box!

When I decided to teach at my kids’ school, I knew I  wasn’t going to order the fast food lunches every time. I needed to get into the habit of packing my lunch. I barely have the time to pack my kids lunches but every since I got the CitizenPip lunch system (thanks to Qlubb.com) I’ve been excited to pack lunch!

lunch-box.jpgThe funky insulated lunch box wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. What really made me “have to have it” was the Eco-friendl, Muck-free (Lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free and phthalate-free) containers and the great water bottles and hot soup container. I’ve already used it twice and it’s not even soup weather. I just heated my soup up in the morning and it was still warm by lunch. I’m hoping this new lunch kit will cut down on the fast food and I feel good using something that is Muck-free!

They have lunch boxes and several kits to choose from or you can pick the pieces you want. I’ve found myself wanting to pack more salads at lunch time just so I can use the cute and easy open containers!

CitizenPip not only has great products for healthy lunch containers, but they care enough to help give back to your school by offering fundraiser opportunities.



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Food/Health , Product Review |September 12th, 2009 | No Comments


Qlubb.com: Where Soccer Moms (and others) Get Organized!

What a small world! Last month when my daughter Grace got chosen for the Raggs television show (post coming soon, I promise!) I started searching Twitter for other Raggs winners. I found Sophie. The mother of an adorable little girl who was one of the first Raggs winners to tape for the show. Needless to say, I read all the posts and we corresponded, then after Grace got back I learned that she was the founder and owner of Qlubb.com!

qlubb.JPG

What is Qlubb? It’s a great way for groups to keep in touch with members. I heard about it a year ago and thought about starting a group, but since I was homeschooling and out of touch with most of the real world I never got anything organized. Then I started teaching creative writing to 2-5th graders and thought it would be a great way to keep in touch with my parents. I’ve already set up the pages for the classes and invited some moms (still trying to find emails of parents since I’m only an elective teacher.) I’m really excited about using Qlubb this way, but I can also see the benefits it could have been for when my kids were in the play. It would have been great to keep in touch with the moms during that time.

So what makes Qlubb different from other online groups like Facebook? Well, first of all you don’t have to join anything. There’s no membership. Someone creates a page like for sports, or school homeroom moms and then invites other moms to join. Everyone has the freedom to post on the page (depending upon the setting) and there’s a place to upload photos and documents which I found very helpful in posting my syllabus. But the best thing about it is it takes the responsibility off of me to try and send emails out to all the parents to keep them updated and puts it on them to come and check out the page when they want to know what’s going on!

It really is a great tool for keeping groups connected!



Categories: Education/Homeschool |September 8th, 2009 | No Comments


Kimberley Woodhouse: One Extreme Mom!

kimberely-woodhouse.JPGKimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 600 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER. Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, released from Tyndale House Publishers this month. In addition to her non-fiction, she also writes romantic suspense and children’s books. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly “extreme” home.

new-image.JPGOverwhelming trials . . . met with overcoming joy.
Kayla Woodhouse is not your typical twelve-year-old. Due to a rare medical disorder, she feels no pain, doesn’t sweat, and needs protective cooling gear just to go outside. With her restrictive lifestyle; countless hospitalizations, including brain surgery; and the resulting mountain of hospital bills, what’s a family to do?

How the Woodhouse family has faced seemingly impossible challenges is a story that has captured the hearts of America. Millions of people have experienced glimpses of their lives on Discovery’s Mystery ER, The Montel Williams Show, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (recently voted one of the show’s all-time best episodes!).

Now Kayla’s mom, Kimberley, takes readers behind the cameras to reveal their family’s journey as never before told. From medical sleuthing to cross-country moves, from freak fires to battles with insurance companies, Welcome Home proves that truth really is stranger than fiction. This candid life story reveals both success and failure and demonstrates how, even during tough circumstances, to shift your life from heartbreak to extreme joy.

Guest Blog from Kimberely:
A Writer Having Time to Actually Write?

My writing friends who know my insanely-crazy-TV-interview-filled-homeschooling/swim-mom-writer life – always ask me the question, “How do you ever get any writing done?”

To this, I laugh and smile. It’s not easy – just ask my kids, or my publicist, or my agent, or one of my volunteer assistants. There are days we are all gasping for breath from the hectic-ness. But yes, even though there are millions of interruptions—I still am able to get some writing in. Some days. (Grin)

My biggest problem was learning how to write with noise around me. I’m an organizer, planner, itinerary-following, need-my-quiet-to-focus type person. But I am a wife and a mom, I homeschool my children six hours a day, have to keep up with laundry/cleaning/meals, handle all the marketing and publicity that comes my way, and then spend six hours every day away from home as I take my wonderful kids to their swim team practices. (Not to mention the fact of all the TV shows we’ve been on – lots of people around the world email in asking questions, offering encouragment, or needing help. And we try to do everything we can to keep up and help.) In the midst of all this the need for quiet was soon overtaken by the need to meet deadlines.

So I’m stepping out of my box a little. One little, red-painted toenail at a time. I bring a comfortable chair, laptop, and research materials with me to the pool. I have two blackberries that keep me attached to all the powers that be that may need me at any given time. And I’m still there for my family. I’ve learned how to write and still keep an eye on the lane of the pool where my son or daughter is swimming. With Kayla’s special needs, I always have to be present—ready for any sign of emergency—but I love how God is growing me, pruning me, teaching me, and loving me through the chaos.

I used to handle interruptions and distractions horribly. Today, I’m trying to get better at it, one minute, one hour, one day at a time.

I pray that you are blessed by our story, Welcome Home, and I hope that you can take with you a little encouragement. God’s joy is always there. Even if you are trying to write and have lots of interruptions, too. It’s amazing how old dogs really can learn new tricks.

I hope you’ll watch my website www.kimberleywoodhouse.com for coming releases – we have some really exciting news to be sharing soon…

In His Abundant JOY!

Kim





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Categories: Education/Homeschool |June 9th, 2009 | No Comments


Hummmmm…

Can you hear it? The flap of their little wings? The humming birds are migrating! I remember the first year I was homeschooling Timmy. He was in kindergarten at the time and we were learning about animals. Of course, we had to learn a bit about humming birds. The fact that they’re the smallest birds (some as small as four inches) and flap their wings 20 -200 times per second is something that sticks with you.

That year we thought we might have even seen a hummingbird. It looked like a giant insect sucking nectar from a flower. It looked too small to be a bird, but we saw it’s wings flapping. The image is burned into my memory and I’d like to think it was a hummingbird. Probably was.

Now that I’ve heard the hummingbirds are migrating, I’d love to have them come to my house. What a cool way to learn about them through observing them. But how does one go about getting one to drop by for a visit? I guess the best place to start is with a hummingbird feeder. Who knew hummingbird feeders come in an array of designs, styles and colors. Many of them are like art deco pieces. These seem to be the best hummingbird feeders.

So now I’m starting to wonder, “if I hang it, will they come?” How would a hummingbird know where a feeder was? Do they smell the nectar? How far can they smell it? Hummm… This is opening up a whole new idea for a unit study this summer.

But from this chart  it looks like I better hurry. There’s not much more time to see these incredible creatures fly by!



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Product Review |May 15th, 2009 | 2 Comments


Homeschool Revelation!

With only 3 weeks left in the school calendar (for my private school kids) I’ve finally figured out how to homeschool my 1st and 3rd grader, which technically will be more 2nd and 4th grader in a couple of months!

When I started homeschooling them this year, I knew with packing up our old home in August and moving into the new one in November, homeschooling would be hit or miss at times. Yet we managed to get through Saxon Math lessons, though I couldn’t start my 3rd grader on his official math curriculum until I found the box I packed it in! We’re about 1/2 way through the curriculum now for both of them.

We also managed to do more than 1/2 of the Alphabet Island Phonics and Spelling I just love it and to be honest, I think if I taught it the way it was planned that 1/2 we’ve accomplished should have taken a whole year. I was fortunate that I could teach much of the Alphabet Island to both my 1st and 3rd grader, reinforcing things my 3rd grader already learned. At times I wondered if my 1st grader understood all the rules, though she did gain some insight, I wondered if she would remember it.

So where did my revelation come in?

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been increasingly frustrated with my 1st grader because she hasn’t been getting the idea of suffixes and the doubling rule (Heck, I just “got”it myself!) I knew my 3rd grader was being stifled, but because of my lack of organization this year (and staying on the computer way past the time they woke up in the mornings) we usually didn’t get around to school until 11 am. Then it was rush, rush, rush…do what we can. I knew it wasn’t a good plan, but I couldn’t get out of the routine. Until yesterday.

Instead of being on the computer in the morning, I decided to homeschool my daughter. She always rises an hour or two before her brother who’s been in Peter Pan and is out way late. Even if he wasn’t staying up late, he loves to sleep in. So I had a lightbulb moment. I could homeschool her even before he got up. I could give her my undivided attention for 30 minutes to an hour without the stress of trying to work in challenging my 3rd grader and then be done with math and phonics for her.

What a revelation! I tried it officially this morning and as we speak she’s working on math sheets and my son just got up. Essentially I’m finished with her formal schooling and now I’ll just direct her to other educational manipulatives, crafts and books.

My son is eating breakfast and now the challenge will be to find the motivation to spend time homeschooling him. I’m in the middle of Alphabet Island and I’m not sure if I should continue with him and not my daughter or continue with him and skip the harder concepts for my duaghter and bring her in on the easier concepts. I know I’ll go back over Alphabet Island with her next year, probably do a review at the beginning of the year, then I plan to jump into Saxon Phonics 1. Both programs use different approaches and I know the holes will be filled in even though I’ll be using Saxon 1 instead of Saxon 2. I’ve been told, essentially it’s the same thing.

So that’s my plan. I also plan on having them do school for the rest of May and then do some school (math and phonics worksheets) for the summer. I don’t want to burn them out and I don’t want to burn out, especially since I ‘ll be teaching at my kids’ school 2 days a week next year.

The only problem I see with this plan is when do I get to write? I need to discipline myself to get off the computer in the morning when my daughter wakes up and then carve out some time each afternoon. I don’t think the afternoon part will be hard. The kids usually have their game time them and I’ll get in several hours!

You’re turn to share! What are your homeschool revelations?



Categories: Daily Grind , Education/Homeschool |May 1st, 2009 | 1 Comment


Homeschooling and Earth Day!

When I told my kids to play the Earth Game DVD, who knew it was actually Earth Day! It seemed like an easy and fun way to do school and learn about the earth and planet all in one. But it is Earth Day! I love it when things work out and I hadn’t even planned it!

If you don’t have an Earth DVD game and want to further your education or celebrate consider these links:

In the article Ways to Go Green- a mother and daughter team go over 7 fun, family-friendly ways to help the planet. Corey and Lynn also collaborated on the book Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the whole family. Link: http://www.guideposts.com/story/7-tips-go-green

In the video Destination Inspiration: Family Eco-Vacations-  Alina Larson talks about conservation trips available for the whole family. Link: http://www.guideposts.com/video/destination-inspiration-earth-day

So check it out and share you own Earth Day links!



Categories: Daily Grind , Education/Homeschool |April 22nd, 2009 | No Comments


Homeschool Ha Ha!

Teaching daughter (6) pronouns. I gave her some examples and said:

“The man went to the store. What would you change the man to?”

“A frog!”



Categories: Education/Homeschool |April 16th, 2009 | 1 Comment


Norton Keeps Your Family Safe Online

I’m so excited about Norton Family Online. It’s what I’ve been wanting for a long time. A way to monitor my kids’ online activities, set a daily computer time limit and see exactly where they are browsing and hanging out online. With four kids, our biggest problem is limiting the time each child spends on the computer. We usually use a timer, but someone is always going over their time. With Norton Family Online, I set the daily time limit and problem solved…I hope. But that’s only one benefit of this service. Now I can feel comfortable with my children surfing the internet because I’ll be able to monitor exactly where they are going and ban certain sites. No more “I was just on facebook for a minute!” because I’ll be able to tell how long they stayed at a particular site.

Setting up my account was easy. I added each child and then logged onto their windows profile and hopefully set the thing up right. I just went on and tried to check where my oldest had been online, but there seemed to be no activity. Not sure if he went online or was just downloading music to his new iPod Touch. I’ll have to check it out tomorrow. But read on for more of what Norton Family does!

Check out the free trial here!

Key Norton Online Family features include:

Simple, One-Time Set Up: Create an account online and customize each family member’s profile based on age and maturity level. (Pretty easy set up)

Easy to Use and Access: Check a child’s activity or modify a child’s profile, preferences, or time allotment anytime and anywhere using any Internet-connected device. (Tried to do this, not sure if I set it up correctly, but the directions and help section iseasy enough to follow!)

Clear Reporting:  All activities are reported in chronological order and only show the Web sites a child intended to visit – eliminating all the extra URLs, like ads, from Web sites.

Helpful Search Insight: Easily view what words and phrases a child uses to search and where those searches lead online.

Convenient Web Site Control: Control the Web content that flows into the home by prohibiting more than 40 topic categories. (I was able to ban things like pornography, drugs, etc.)

Secured Personal Information: Track, report and prevent personal information that a child may purposely or accidentally try to send via e-mail, IM or social networking site. (I can restrict who they instant message and I’m emailed when they try to give out personal information.)

Access to Social Network Information: Monitor activity on social networks like Facebook and MySpace with the ability to see how kids represent themselves, when they login and how often. (Not sure how this links up to Facebook, but I’ll be figuring that out soon!)

Real-time Messaging: Built-in messaging allows parents to have real-time discussions with children about activities and better understand their intentions when visiting a Web site.

True Transparency: Children are able to view the “house rules” they established with parents at any time and are notified when Norton Online Family is active, so there is no “stealth” mode. (On my to do list!)

Custom Alerts: Parents can customize e-mail alerts to address urgent events so they know immediately when a child has reached a time limit or visited a blocked site, etc. (Excited about this!)

Useful Time Management: An easy-to-use time management feature that – if parents find it necessary – gives each child a “curfew” that will limit computer usage.

Think you could use a free trial? Well, what are you waiting for?

Now the only thing missing is how to put a monitor on the iPhone! Hopefully, someone will come up with that one soon! ;)





Freedom of Choice Act

I’m all for supporting our President through prayer and not bad mouthing him when I don’t agree with his policies. But I can’t support his stand on the Freedom of Choice Act. If you’re against partial birth abortions, abortions in general and any of the following:

FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.

Then join hundreds of thousands of other in telling him so!



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Faith Walking , Food/Health |February 5th, 2009 | 2 Comments


Flying WiFi High!

I remember life before WiFi. It was called dial up aka the computer stone age! Waiting for a page to load was torturous, though I did get a lot more writing done on my WIP waiting for the service to connect. Then it was high speed Internet and that was like the bronze age. Getting better, but not quite there.

Then enter the world of wireless Internet providers. Was it really possible to get Internet without having to be hooked up to a wire cable? Yep, and it was like I’d entered the Renaissance era. The rebirth of Internet surfing! It was great, until that little wireless card malfunctioned and disconnected from my wireless provider.Then it was back to the ball and chain…er…I mean wire cable hook up.

Then something wonderful happened. My husband bought me a laptop with with wireless inside. I’d always watch in awe as cardless people hooked up to the wireless internet providers in coffee shops. How did they do that? Now I know! And it feels like I’m in the age of the industrial computer revolution. Now wireless providers are popping up everywhere. They’re called WiFi hot spots, I believe.

At home, I have several to choose from, and some times it kicks me over to my neighbors WiFi and I have trouble logging on to my own, more robust service. Who said the industrial revolution came without problems? But wireless is popping up all over the place, even at McDonalds! I’d like your wireless provider with my burger, please.

What next? I can’t even imagine.

Even phones are connected to the Internet, though I’m really not sure if the technology is wireless related, and I’ve been assured by my teen that the iPod Touch can connect to WiFi. Too bad my kids’ school’s wireless provider doesn’t extend to the parking lot or I’d be getting an iPod touch for Mother’s Day.

Still in the dark ages and need some enlightenment about WiFi, modems and range extenders? I found this informative site that gives you the low down on most things wireless. They’ve got dozens of links to Wireless Internet Providers offering discounts. And for you wanna-be techies who just have to know how WiFi works. They have a simply explanation that will put all your questions to rest! Me, I don’t need to know how it works, just that it does!

So what about you? Where are you at in the computer age? Stone, bronze, industrial revolution? And if applicable, how has wireless changed your life?  For inquiring minds…



Categories: Daily Grind , Education/Homeschool |February 3rd, 2009 | 3 Comments


I “Heart” Heart Library!

Heart disease runs in my family. My paternal grandmother died from a heart attack at 65 when I was 12. Years earlier my grandfather died, most likely of a heart attack. I was six when he died, but I still remember the pain of learning of my grandparents’ death. I have a memory of the place when I found out, like a photographer etched in the album of my mind.

A couple of years ago my dad had a heart attack, he survived. My sister had a heart attack at 36 years old. She survived. One thing they all had in common that I don’t have is they smoked! But it’s not hard to see how I could get excited about a website like heartlibrary.com.

When I first heard about this site that utilizes video, animation and real doctors to explain complicated heart terminology diseases, I thought it was a great way to communicate information. Even a nonreader could find the videos easy to use and understandable. But after I watched some of the videos and browsed the categories, I thought it would be an awesome homeschool tool. Check out this sample on irregular heartbeat.

I can see my 11 yr old being the most excited about this site. Even though I don’t homeschool him anymore, he loves to learn and will probably spend hours browsing the heart videos.

Then when I sat down to write this post I thought about my novel which is currently in front of editors and how I could have used this website when researching my character’s heart problems. I could have saved myself a lot of time pouring through websites for information if I’d come to heartlibrary.com first.

I forwarded the link to my sister and dad. Who do you know who could use this informative site?



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Food/Health |February 2nd, 2009 | No Comments


25 FULL Tuition Scholarships to ORU

If it wasn’t for ORU I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Entering the “space age” campus at 17, I didn’t know how profoundly my life would change, but I knew I felt the presence of God on campus. And that’s where I wanted to be.

Surrounded by amazing teachers and friends, I grew spiritually, academically and emotionally. Even through all the scandals over the years, the heart of the university, students and professors remained true to Jesus and going into every man’s world. And my friendships have lasted a life time!

I wouldn’t trade my experience at ORU for anything in the world, and I’d love for my kids to go there. If you know of someone who wants to go to ORU and is struggling financially they send the to this link. http://www.wholeperson.oru.edu/purpose.php



Categories: Education/Homeschool , Faith Walking |January 10th, 2009 | No Comments


Lightening Strike to Heaven

 

The other morning I instructed my children (6 yr. and 8 yr.) to finish their copy work while I exercised on the elliptical. They asked if they could color when they were through. Sure, anything to help keep them busy while I got in my work out.  Little did I know while I sweated away, they toiled on a “book.”

Grace (6) came to me first and showed me her story that grandma helped her write out. About a girl in a storm getting hit by lightening, dying and going to heaven. “Lightening Strike to Heaven,” she called it. I admit, at first I was disturbed about the content. Especially when I saw the picture of the little skeleton girl floating to heaven. Then I saw the page when she got to heaven. And well, I’ll just let you decide!

Lightening Strike to Heaven
by Grace Conroy

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One stormy day when I was in the storm.

 

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I was struck by lightening. I turned into a skeleton.

 

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I went up to heaven, and I saw people rising to heaven with me.

 

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 At night time I was nervous. I didn’t know where I was,
and I didn’t know who was standing next to me.

 

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Then I realized it was Jesus.

 

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And at morning Jesus showed me around.

 

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At night time, me and Jesus looked at the stars.

 

Then she wrote, ” Did you like the story?”

 Read my devotional that was inspired by this story.









*Copyright 2006-2009, Portrait of a Writer, Gina Conroy*