Help Lord I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to review Help, Lord, I’m Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler! Even though I’ve already been in the high school trenches for almost two years, this was an incredibly encouraging e-book. I think everyone who has middle school to high school aged homeschool kids should read it. I imagine that I will read it more than once. I don’t know about you, but I am in definite need of ongoing confidence, motivation, and encouragement in my own high school homeschool journey and there’s plenty to be found here.

One of the best things about this e-book is that there are stories from over a dozen families about their various high school adventures. With that many different stories, you’re sure to find someone you can relate to; whether it’s because they have a lot of kids or because they don’t, perhaps they started homeschooling later in life (like I did), or maybe you’ll find someone whose child has a very similar temperament to one of your own. No matter the make-up of your own family and homeschool, you’re sure to find stories here that will encourage you. Each of these families has graduated one or more children from high school and, believe it or not, these young adults have gone to college, begun careers, gotten married, and started families. They all survived and succeeded in spite of parental fears and concerns. It’s very much like a modern-day Hebrews 12; these families are that great cloud of witnesses having gone before us, sharing their stories, and letting us know that things will work out.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:1-4

Following the stories from the varied families, Deborah Wuehler (Senior Editor for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine) provides a lovely epilogue, complete with the speech her oldest son gave at his own homeschool high school graduation. There is also an exceptional resource list including books, websites, magazines, CDs, and other valuable information in the back. I firmly believe this should be required reading for every homeschool parent with children in middle or high school. I've already reread a couple of the stories just since beginning it. This e-book is truly a blessed encouragement from the Lord.



I was provided a copy of this e-book by the TOS Homeschool Crew. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday - Early Morning Shadow

For more wordlessness, go here or here.

Fried Modem on Friday, Other Thoughts, and a Photo

Our modem fried Friday night. Hmmm...that has an interesting alliteration to it. Anyway, other than bumming hubby's laptop and blackberry tether program and some limited cell phone updates, we were mostly internetless this weekend. And you know, it really wasn't so terrible. Mostly. It did bring to light the fact that I need to have a slightly better back-up plan for bills and bank balances and such. Going green and paperless is groovy and all, but what happens when you have no internet? You can't just pop online and check balances and such things.

The other thing? It's really nice NOT being online so much. Of course, now that I have to play catch-up, I'm actually on more. My friend, Emily, is limiting herself (and her family) to 30 minutes two times a day online. I'm not sure what my limits will be...yet...but I definitely need some.

In the meantime, I'm nearly caught up (again) with my 365 Project. I have a couple more days' of photos go post and I'll be back on track. Actually, I was, and then we had our Modem Fry. And no, I do not want fries with that.

This has nothing to do with anything. But I really don't like posting without a photo. It's sort of like chicken enchiladas without sour cream. They're okay...just a little lacking. This is from one of our apple trees. Maybe this year we can find a way to keep the squirrels out of our apples. Yeah, right. They trashed ALL of them last year. We didn't get a single good apple. They were all on the ground with a bite or two out of them before they could ripen. And we have four apple trees. BTW, I just LOVE our blue skies here. This shot is SOOC (straight out of camera) - no editing whatsoever.

It's too windy in Colorado lately. I've had quite enough, thankyouverymuch. Buh-bye, wind. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

We went to see How to Train Your Dragon this afternoon with some friends. It was loads of fun. Not in 3-D, though. Thank you to the theaters for further raising their crazy prices. No wonder we wait for movies to come out on DVD.

I think that's about it. Must be, cause it's time to go to bed. G'night.

I Heart Red

Edited to add: Now I am sad. Not because I wasn't chosen, but because I didn't get a chance. Our modem crashed so I had to scramble to get my pix onto a flash drive, put it all on hubby's laptop, upload, and post from there, only to find out that the comments were CLOSED! It just said to enter by 4/2/10. Well, it still IS 4/2/10. They didn't put a time or time zone cutoff. I can't believe I missed it. How sad. 

It is SO much fun to find new photog sites like Beyond Snapshots, run by Rachel & Peta. The cool thing is that each brings unique experience to the site to help and inspire others. I'm definitely enjoying their Tips & Tricks section.

Not only is Beyond Snapshots a very fun site, but they're giving away a red Lola epiphanie camera bag. This bag is beautiful and I really, really want one. Really.

So here's the dealio: I have to post something RED to enter the contest. To win the bag that I so desperately want. What better red to share than Cherry Kisses?

If I won this bag, I'd have to carry some of those kisses around with me to share.

Which would make people smile.

Which would cause me to whip out my camera and take their picture.

Which would make me smile because I had won the bag.

Did I mention that I really, truly want this bag?

Cause I do.


Pretty please, with a cherry kiss on top?

Cool Site & Camera Bag

Have you seen all the beautiful new products & contest for pro photographers on Design Aglow? This is an awesome resource for photographers and I'm excited to have found them. They are having an incredible camera bag giveaway that I would SO love to win. We're not talking your standard, run-of-the-mill-looks-like-a-camera-bag camera bag. This is a gorgeous bag from Epiphanie!

Did I mention that I really want one of these?



Really, really, really want one.



A lot.