What To Do About College

We have many friends who have not taken the traditional path for going away to college that is expected after high school. In fact, I feel they have taken an even wiser method---using the CLEP tests to gain college credit and degrees in half the time and at a third of the cost. They can do this on their own or use CollegePlus! a program that works with students to achieve this goal. Since many of you have asked about our thoughts on college and since I have a daughter about to graduate I thought it was fitting to share some resources:

College Without Compromise:
An Encouraging Guide to Starting Early, Finishing Economically and Protecting Your Homeschool Vision
This nifty book is a complete overview of the how, why and keeping the vision. A wonderful resource! I got all of these a few years ago and felt I learned so much.

Making Wise Decisions About College and Life After Homeschool
Excellent and addresses many concerns those have about sending their children to college and what they will do with their lives. Really gets you thinking...

Accelerated Distance Learning
The New Way to Earn Your College Degree in the Twenty-First Century
a manual  to get started in and the how-to's of CLEPing


. You can even begin CLEP'ing  while your children are in high school so they get some college credit under their belts early on--and this method is not just for homeschoolers! Many people have used this method achieving successful results around their flexible schedules.


Happy browsing!



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How to Plan for a Homeschool Year

I was recently listening to Family Strategies "How to Plan for a Homeschool Year" and began to think about how I personally like to plan for a year of school and thought I would share a bit with you! Every year at tax time we like to take a portion of our return and by some or most of our curriculum (like I am sure so many of you like to do.) So I like to spend time looking over catalogs and picking out what we will use for the following year.

Now because I have a large family I have had to develop a system of how to do this efficiently and wanted to share my little binder method of how I keep records of everything in tact especially with eight children!

I have a binder labeled Fuentes Christian Academy Curriculum and within that binder I have a section for every year like 2009, 2010, 2011 and each section contained there is an entire page devoted to one child. I put their name at the top and under that I list all their mandatory and desirable subjects to be covered that year. I also like to put in ideas, prices (to compare), and mark what I already have available since we have alot of books that can be handed down. This has helped me so much in the past years to keep things orderly and efficient. I can look back and see what we used 5 years ago and if I own the teachers edition to it without having to search for it when buying curriculum online.I also have one bookcase devoted to curriculum which is not active and just for storing and another that is actively being used for the current year.

Here are some great books that I like to review and read to encourage me to get focused before a new school year:

Managers of Their Homes
this book helps to get mama's, homes and families organized. I like to refer to this because the Maxwell's are great encouragers when it comes to being good stewards of time and this helps me to refresh my focus for a new school year (also used by the Duggar family)

Managers of Their Schools

-now that you have organized your home it's time to do the same with your school!
This book defends the text book approach and has great ideas that I had never thought of for cutting your time in half  homeschooling especially with a large family. Valuable information!

Charlotte Mason Companion-teaching the gentle art of learning. I like this because I want to remember to lighter and fun side of homeschooling making it natural and great ideas here too.

Here is a favorite tried and true method of teaching little ones to read---I have used it with 5 of my children. Right now my  little Joshua is going through it and is already reading 5 word sentences at lesson 18! Love it!

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

it works I tell you, it really does!

Last year I purchased this nifty book and found it worth every penny:

Story Starters

--my daughters and sons were highly motivated to jump into creative writing using this book. The book contains half written adventurous stories and the children get to finish them any way they like! My boys loved it--and trust me, they are not the kind that like to write! They would much rather be in the yard somewhere hunting helpless squirrels...(can anyone relate?)

And by the way...can you guess what  the mystery product for the day at Vision Forum is?

That's right! It's Building a Winning Curriculum---and it's 90% off----

today only just ONE DOLLAR!!!!

What a wonderful resource to help us with our planning and so timely!

And in case you haven't been read any of my other posts this week, here is a quick reminder to let you know that this is the FINAL DAY of Vision Forum's amazing Spring Sale ending at MIDNIGHT.

You are not still here, are you?!?

Click here to see all deals less than $5.

Here for less than $10 or here for all of them!


I'm off to shop for our little school----see you there!

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Using Praise to Build Up Your Home

Today I would like to share with you some wisdom gleaned from here.

At the tea, Mrs. Duggar was asked if she had any advice to give to parents, the advice she gave was:

"Be sure to praise your children and praise them alot because whoever praises them will win their hearts."

And when asked;

"What do you do with the lazy child?"

Her answer again was to praise them, of course she meant in honesty when they were doing good things (not to be confused with flattery which might puff up pride in a child).

This is valuable wisdom since the flesh is prone to do the opposite. I see a remarkable change in my children when I praise them for the things that they have done right. It is so easy to overlook the ten good things they did in the day and see only the multitude of mistakes and criticize. Children are children and are still learning and we as parents need to be patient and practice long suffering with them.. Grace and mercy needs to be factored in abundantly--we cannot run our home like a drill sergeant spewing forth commands and be merciless to the weak. Our children are still learning when and how to obey and we cannot expect perfection. 

Think about ourselves----how many times in a day do you sin against God? Even in small ways sin is sin and therefore: disobedience. God is graceful and patient towards us--we must apply this to our children as well. 

The Bible reminds us that:

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise bring healing. Proverbs 12:18

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11

So today, mothers, I challenge you to put into place-
The Praise Project!
I have heard it  said that for every negative thing you say to a person it takes ten positive things to make up the difference. Vow from this day on to purposefully praise your children and to hold your tongue when you are tempted to lash out, yell or complain.  Give it a whirl and see how it transforms your home. Praise empowers souls to holy heights. It arms them with confidence and can point them towards honorable nobleness, while the opposite--tearing them down, utterly incapacitates.

If you are prone to criticizing and grumbling towards your children make a promise to change today
--it is not too late. 






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A Father's Regret: Billy Ray Cyrus

I recently came across an article about the celebrity Miley Cyrus and her father's regrets of how he had raised her over at Focus on the Family. You can read the story here:

Billy Ray Cyrus's Regret

He shares this quote:

"How many interviews did I give and say, 'You know what's important between me and Miley is I try to be a friend to my kids'? I said it a lot. And sometimes I would even read other parents might say, 'You don't need to be a friend, you need to be a parent.' Well, I'm the first guy to say to them right now: You were right. I should have been a better parent. I should have said, 'Enough is enough--it's getting dangerous and somebody's going to get hurt.' I should have, but I didn't. Honestly, I didn't know the ball was out of bounds until it was way up in the stands somewhere."

My heart is truly saddened for this father whose daughter has been launched into stardom realizing what he could have done best the first time around--I believe that it is so important to protect our children--especially our daughters. Daughters can be very naive and vulnerable to the world and truly need to rely upon parental guidance even when they don't think that they need it. I also believe that a father can continue to protect a daughter even after she has turned eighteen. Whether daughters live in the home or not, fathers can still play an active role in their daughter's lives through their active love relationship with  them and giving them much-needed, valuable, wise advice.

This should be a wake up call to parents who believe that it is good to be 'friends' with their children and not a parent. Children really do need a parent to be a parent and not a friend--as the article wisely states they will have many friends in a lifetime but only one set of parents. Many times parents can grow weary, feeling like they are alone in their parenting, that they are the only ones setting rules and limitations. A man will reap what he sows,  that is why it is important to remember that we do these things to bring God glory and not to please man---even  if the rest of the world is not doing it.

The image above reminds me how a young daughter adores her father and needs protection. While Billy Ray and Miley made mistakes, just as we all have, we need to really pray for this family and other families that are going through the same circumstances. It is not out of his hands as a father--he can still love her, protect her, guide her and reclaim their relationship. His broken family can be made whole again--with Christ there is always grace, forgiveness and hope.

If you have a wayward child, it is NEVER too late. Chase after them with all your might and do what you can to gain their hearts--our time here on earth is too short. Do it to win him/her for the King.

We also want to avoid any regrets since the window of raising children is also short.
Though we are imperfect as parents

May we learn from another man's mistakes
as we pray for him

and persevere in our convictions
and do our best
without growing weary

in raising our children
for His glory.



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Building Healthy Family Culture

I am so excited to see this brand new resource to help us build up strong homes:

To Survive and Prosper: It’s Time to Think Strategically
About Your Children, Your Household, and Your Family Culture!

strat-e-gies: The art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal.

If you are a Christian parent living in the twenty-first century, you need to think strategically about your family. Settling for the priorities and practices of the world is a proven formula for disaster. As parents, we must do more than settle. We must self-consciously choose. This requires strategic biblical thinking. It means self-consciously building your family culture. And whether the subject is entertainment choices, home décor, travel, music in the home, or dealing with antagonistic relatives, it means that wise, Scripturally-informed parents must think creatively as they aggressively engage impediments and obstacles to success.

A 20-Week Energy Boost of Strategic Thinking and Encouragement from Doug and Beall Phillips

Family Strategies: An Invitation from Doug and Beall from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

These are the weekly messages from Doug and Beall that are included:

1. How to Organize Your Home to Promote Family Unity
2. How to Cultivate a Love of Reading with Your Children
3. How to Make Mealtime Meaningful
4. How to Prepare for a Year of Home Education
5. How to Take Children Safely Through an Airport
6. How to Involve the Whole Family in Family Worship
7. How to Address the Plague of “Jive Talk” in Your Home
8. How to Encourage Masculinity in Sons
9. How to Encourage Femininity in Daughters
10. How to Handle a Social Worker Visit
11. How to Wage War on Sibling Rivalry
12. How to Use Household Decorations to Teach Character
13. How to Talk to Your Children about Miscarriage
14. How to Involve the Whole Family in Hospitality
15. How to Build an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Your Children
16. How to Watch a Movie As a Family
17. How to Cultivate a Love of Meaningful Poetry with Your Children, and Why Doing So Is Important
18. How to Prepare Your Children to Listen to a Symphony
19. How to Take a Road Trip with Your Family
20. How to Select the Best Locations for Family Vacations

As the parents of eight children and the founders of Vision Forum Ministries, Doug and Beall Phillips have spent the last decade collecting and implementing helpful strategies for building a strong, safe, and visionary family culture.

Now, beginning Tuesday, February 28, they will be sharing some of the most practical and proven strategies for building a vibrant family culture through their new 20-week, 30-minute episodes audio series called Family Strategies. 

Listen to the new Audio Samples here.

If you order by February 28 you will save $10, plus receive two bonus messages as a free gift.
This is a 20-message series sent directly to your inbox each week for less than $5 per message. But make sure you order by February 28, as that price will go up! With your order confirmation email, they will also send you coupons to download two important, family-affirming bonus messages for FREE:

Victories: Moments Small and Large Which Define Christian Parenting,
and How to Evaluate a Suitor.


For about the price of a fancy cup of coffee, you can get real, weekly encouragement  from Doug and Beall in which they share their favorite and best strategies for building family unity.

Click here to order Family Strategies.


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Dear Readers, it is an honor to share valuable resources on this blog to help you build stronger homes to the glory of God!  I thought I would also mention that Vision Forum also has godly resources for children:

V is for Von Trapp: A Musical Family Alphabet

and
Teach Them to Your Children: An Alphabet of Biblical Poems, Verses and Stories

Priced at $17.00 but is now on sale at only $8.50
and you can click here to browse more.

Fathers, Daughters, Butterflies and High Tea

Daughters

need time

with their fathers...

I've heard it's wonderful. 

If you are able to attend, definitely do!

You can sign up here.

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If you are looking for a set of beautiful heirloom teacups to buy for your daughter or her hope chest
look no further! Click here for the perfect set.


 

A Mother's Hand

 In the above portrait, there are three generations--a grandmother, mother and child.


I wanted to share some lovely quotes on the influence we have as mother's to remind ourselves as we begin our week: 

A Mother's Hand

There is more power in a mother's hand than in a king's scepter.

--Billy Sunday

A Mother's Song

What a mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down to the coffin.

-Henry Ward Beecher

A Mother's Knee

Education commences at the mother's knee, 

and every word spoken within hearsay of little children

tends toward the formation of character. 

-Hosea Ballou

The job at hand is enormous, and we must seek God as our guide through every mountain top
and every valley as we raise our children.

"Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up."

Galations 6:9


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Won't you join us on this wonderful journey of motherhood?

And if you would like a simple and easy 
Valentine's Day craft for the children
click here.

You may find beautiful art for your home as pictured above at Art.com


This post is linked at Raising Homemakers and Far Above Rubies.

Charming Surprise Birthday Tea Party!

My sweet friend, Juliet Rodriguez, recently had a beautiful surprise birthday tea party for her daughter.
You must look at her adorable pictures:

The charming table all set and ready to go...
don't you love the paper tissue flowers in the cups?

What a great idea!

A gorgeous glowing cascading fountain...

Sweet sisters in matching dresses....

Homemade strawberry cake on a pretty platter!

Aww, so lovely---nothing like the fun of dressing up a bit for the occasion!

Happy smiles...

And precious memories made for a lifetime...

 Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pictures, Juliet!

(If you are reading this please leave a comment
and share with us where you got the beautiful fountain!)

And for my readers--if you are looking for tea party accessories for you daughters
here are some I highly recommend:

 The Beautiful Girlhood Heirloom Tea Set

(with cloth carry case)

Now on sale for 20% off

 The Classic Tea Trolley Set

This elegant wood cart arrives complete with its own silver tea set and dainty floral print china!

Now 21% off and only $99

and we can't forget the dainty gloves!

White Crocheted Gloves---$7.20

and a bit of reading material to go with the occasion:

How to Be a Lady-$12.00

now 20% off

“What you are while you are a girl, you will be when you become a woman.” Somewhere within the recesses of every girl’s heart is the desire to act, and be treated, as a lady. But a true lady is more than just graceful and feminine; she has a Christ-centered character that regulates her inner thoughts and motives, as well as her outward graces. In this book, originally published in 1850, extraordinarily practical wisdom is offered to young girls in the practice of developing womanly character. The girl’s equivalent to Thoughts for Young Men, this book is excellent for mothers and daughters and a must-read for every young lady-in-training!

Have a blessed day!

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Vision Forum is having a special New Years Clearance with 20-50% off everything in their store and every order of $95 gets a FREE $25 coupon toward your next offer.

Purposing To Teach Our Daughters New Skills For a New Year

Over the years I have taught my daughters how to do many things so that if there is illness or someone is in the hospital they know how to run a household of ten-- as they have proven in the past with a rocky past year behind us! I think it is so important to not underestimate what  a child can do and to continually encourage them to reach for higher goals. Culture misleads us into thinking that we need to constantly do things for our children. I once knew of a father that was making lunch for his children (probably 13 and 15 at the time) to take to school! When he realized he was actually hindering them, he stopped. At this age, children can make dinner for a large family and do it well. They can do many things, and we as parents need to think about ways to constantly challenge them and teach them how to gain skills and be prepared for life.

This year I have many plans under my belt but my heart is to continue to teach my daughters skills that will one day benefit them. I will be purposefully teaching my daughters to cook more healthful recipes from scratch (not from a box) and new skills that could help them to be industrious one day. I am so pleased to say that we will be using the new Homestead Blessing videos (pictured above) to complement what we are doing this year---here is a sample of one of their newest videos on quilting that I have just recently purchased:

They also have videos on:

• canning
• cooking
• candle and soap making
• dairy delights
• gardening, and sewing and much more. 

These excellent videos not only teach our daughters but are wonderful for us moms as well!

Learning domestic skills is an art and are vital to every day living. Without skills we can waste money. Mothers, pay attention to what natural gifts the Lord has given your daughter(s) and run with it. Teach them all you can, bring in outside help, grow them and nurture those gifts the best that you can.

I know for my daughters I also have goals for them to be entrepreneurial. I want them to learn skills that will get them through hard times or help their husbands to bring in money--they must  learn to be business savvy in a fast paced, competitive world and shaky economy with the gifts that God has given them. I want to help them do that early on so I am teaching them how to bring in multiple streams of income into a household from their home.

We must never entertain the thought that we are depriving or robbing our children of their childhood if we teach them how to work. Children will play and find time have fun on their own--trust me! :) Instead we are equipping them for life! Children must learn good character--diligence, perseverance and so forth. How will they ever get to do it if never given a chance to stretch themselves?

Lay out your plans, mothers, and purposeful!
What will you teach your daughters? What new skills will they acquire?

May we be found faithful as we intentionally teach them new and valuable skills for the new year!


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Dear readers,  I am affiliate for Vision Forum--if you decide to make a purchase from them please consider making them through this site through any of the links above or the catalog in the sidebar. I love Vision Forum and am happy and honored to be able to continue to introduce you to their fabulous resources for building up your home! FYI, the set above is on sale for a limited time. 

Additionally, every order placed online during January will include a FREE copy of their new homeschool curriculum guide, Building a Winning Curriculum. Plus, use coupon code ONLY5 to ship your orders via regular ground for just $5, or use coupon code SAVE10 to take an extra $10 off your orders of $75 or more. Limit one coupon per order.

(This post is also being featured over at Raising Homemakers! )