Starting Thursday, May 24, join us for the Soundbites from My Life Link Up sponsored by the Real Refreshment Retreats and based on the book Soundbites from Heaven by Rachael Carman.

In her inspiring book, Rachael  convicts us to listen to the everyday conversations in our lives, because the words we are using may just be the words God is speaking to us.

Have you ever heard yourself tell your child . . .

"Hold my hand."

"Turn down the music!"

"Stop whining!"

How is God speaking to your heart? In Soundbites from Heaven, Rachael Carman, teaches us to hear God's instructions for our lives. As you learn to listen to the words spoken in your own life, share what you hear and discover by joining us on the Soundbites from My Life blog link up! Maybe it's a conversation you have with your child or spouse, or a conversation between your children–share what spiritual lesson God is placing in your life.

Here's how it works:

1. Whenever a soundbite from your life speaks to your heart, blog about it. This could happen once a week, once a month, or once every few months–we just never know when God will touch our lives in this way.
2. Come back here and find the current week's Soundbites from My Life link up and post your link. (Please grab the link up button to put on your post.)
3. Visit often and read what others are sharing in their Soundbites from My Life posts.

We'll start Thursday, May 24, 2012! Subscribe to this blog (in the top right corner of this page), and you'll receive notification when we go live with the link up! Over the next 52 weeks, as the Soundbites from My Life moments happen, share them with us!

As an added bonus, purchase a copy of Soundbites from Heaven in our online store!

Teach Them Truth by Rachael Carman

So here it is, at the end of the day, the most important thing you can teach your kids about is: God. Learning about God comes from studying and knowing His word. Through study of His word your family will come to know what real Truth is and who Truth is. This knowledge of God will draw them to Him and grow within them a desire to glorify Him in all things.

One of the huge advantages of homeschooling is that we can make being out in God’s creation a priority as we educate our children. We can take the time to make a plan or change our expectations for the day when we intentionally seek an opportunity to admire and explore the wonder of God’s handiwork. In our home school we have had many circumstances which have presented themselves wherein we have been able to see God’s creations up close and personal.

Here are just a few examples:

-When my boys found fresh frog eggs in the creek out back, we paused to make a habitat for these little creatures.

-When the black birds came by the thousands through our back yard with all of their loud talking as they eat the early berries and bugs. They were in our woods for over 30 minutes chatting among themselves, and then they were gone.

-When a hummingbird got trapped in our garage, we took about an hour to get a ladder, find some gloves, mix some sugar water and rescue it. I was praying a bunch too. We were able to get the bird’s wings free then after it drank a little sugar water, he flew off, apparently uninjured.

*image by WonderKris

HEART, Chapter 4 by Rachael Carman

This aspect of having a heart for my kids has been the scariest and the most rewarding. Having been under the impression for so long that I was in control, the idea of letting go was terrifying. I was really convinced that I knew what was best. I was so wrong.

Space does not allow for the whole story, but as you read the book you have come to know Charles and Anderson — my two oldest sons. Well, they have both graduated now. Our journey together has substantially changed; they are young adults. Both of their lives have taken turns that I could not have predicted. Both of them have gone in directions that I would have made me anxious years ago. But I am confident that both of them are seeking God and His direction. That knowledge gives this mom the peace she needs to let them go.

You see, Charles has moved in a direction that has taken him to college in New York City. Yes, he goes to school in the city — actually on the island of Manhattan. And yes, he rides the subway. And yes, he has encountered some hurting, angry, suspicious people. I know, I know, New York City is a dangerous place. I get it — we’ve visited. Mothers whom I do not even know have questioned the wisdom of allowing Charles to go off to NYC. “What are you thinking?” they ask. Well, I’m thinking that Charles is where God wants him and that is all of the safety assurance I need.

I could choose to let the fact that Charles is living in the city keep me up at night, depriving me of sleep and subsequently sanity. But that is not of God. God desires that I would not only let Charles go, but that I would trust Him with Charles. God is really growing Charles through this experience. I have commented several times that he is getting a multi-dimensional educational experience via navigating his studies, the subway, and the culture. He just smiles. God is preparing Charles for something big to bring Himself glory.

As a side note, my second son, Anderson, is studying animation through an online school. God has gifted him with some incredible talent. Talk about a questionable industry in which to send your kid. But his desire is to glorify God through animation. His dream is in Los Angles or San Francisco, California. Yeah, the exact opposite side of the country — I’m just saying.

If you are reading my book and you are a mother to little ones during this season, then take advantage of this time — snuggle long, smile often, and sing loud. If your children are in the pre-teen stage, start dreaming with God. Look for opportunities where you can begin to let them go in little ways. Let them go and watch them shine. If you are the mom of the high school students, then seek God with them, and embrace letting them go wherever God needs them to be. They are safe with Him!

Don’t delay, pray about this today!

Enrich Your Marriage

Over the last several years Davis and I have witnesses several marriages implode. Marriages that we thought were solid, friends we had had for years. But behind doors over time things started declining.

This last summer we had a fabulous celebration of 25 years of marriage. We had a great party with friends and family. It was our desire to set before our kids an example of what marriage looks like, to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness.

In those 25 years we have, by God’s grace, developed some good habits. We pray together regularly. We have found this to be a valuable investment. I love to hear Davis’ heart during these times. We write each other love notes and leave them for each other to find. I love to come across one of these hand-written notes from Davis. I have several boxes of them from over the years. We also still date each other. We put them on the family calendar so that the kids know we are going out together. It has been a priority for us over the years to have these times for just the two of us. We only lived near family for a couple of years when we had young children and not at all since. God blessed us with inexpensive sitters and friends who helped us get these times to recharge together.

As for interactions and habits that we are still working on, that have not to date been worthy of imitation, there are always areas to work on. 

Chapter 3

A-Accept Your Kids

It cannot be anything but providence that in just the last two days I have had conversations (and subsequently prayer) with parents who are having a difficult time accepting their children. Both wrestling with God’s plan and purpose for their kids. Both sure that God must be punishing them. Both questioning God’s ability to show them how to proceed. Both doubting they are going to survive the teenage years.

These conversations reminded me again of my own struggle to accept my own first born. I remember being shocked and ashamed when I realized that even through I loved Charles given that he was my son, I didn’t like him. He was difficult and defiant, disobedient and discouraging. I wanted to enjoy our days together, but I felt like I spent most of them disciplining him and at night I would cry myself to sleep feeling like a complete failure.

Now all these years later, I can still remember the anxiety of those days. I am grateful for those years, those battles, those trials, God’s strength, patience and mercy. I have since seen God’s faithfulness in a myriad of ways. On this side, I am overwhelmed by grace.

God taught me so many things through those trials, things about Charles, about me and about Himself. I learned that Charles is like me and not like me; he is his own person and that person is passionate and strong. I learned that I didn’t have it all together even though I thought I did. But God loved me anyway and He wanted me to want His will in my life and not my own. And I learned that God is God and I am not, that He alone is worthy, He is able and He is my answer. At the end of the day accepting my children meant accepting God as God.

This is our last Planuary post for January. Liz Corson, homeschooling mom to three young children, shares how she uses Debra Bell's

I am an organizational tool nut, note that I didn't say I am an organizational nut.  I love the tool,  but I am not always organized. The Ultimate Homeschool Planner has helped me follow through with my homeschooling. It keeps me focused and helps prevent me from forgetting projects or subjects.  *blush*

This has been perfect timing for me! My oldest started Kindergarten this past fall so I am very fortunate to start my process with this amazing tool. The planner can serve as attendance records in addition to tracking educational progress in each subject.

I also use it to make sure that I'm getting mommy time in with my younger kids. This sounds silly, but if I have an activity written in for my 2 year old, I will sit down and do it with him.

My favorite 2-page spread is the One-Year Planning Grid. These pages help me plan my schooling around normal holidays as well as my travel schedule. I love being able to see my whole year at a glance. As you can see, we  school year round to maintain consistency for the younger kids. As they get older I may change that. I am also hoping to add more vacation style field trips. =)

What is your favorite feature in the Ultimate Homeschool Planner? Are you looking to add some new activities to your homeschool this "semester"?

Read more about The Ultimate Homeschool Planner and view a sample PDF by clicking here.

Enjoy!

Liz

Balloon Box

§       Pegboard

§       Mag letters

§       Foam number set

§       Chicken soup with rice (book)

§       How many veggies? (book)

§       Little last rabbit (book)

§       Five little monkeys jumping on the bed (book)

§       Miss spiders tea party (book)

§       Red bears fun with shapes (book)

§       Mouse count (book)

§       Down in the garden (book)

§       123 (book)

§       The king’s numbers (book)

§       Snappy little numbers (book)

§       What will you wear? (book)

§       Wooden number puzzle

§       Number puzzle

§       Sesame street puzzle

§       Number flash cards

Bug Box

§       Ten items or less (book)

§       A color of His own (book)

§       Animal talk (book)

§       The itsy bitsy spider (book)

§       Discovery toy: nested boxes

§       Frederick’s alligator (book)

§       Jiggle wiggle prance (book)

§       Henny Penny (book)

§       Harry the dirty dog (book)

§       Duck duck (book)

§       The king’s animals (book)

§       A chocolate moose (book)

§       Snappy little bugs (book)

§       Snappy little farmyards (book)

§       I spy mystery (book)

§       Lace and trace pets

§       Blue mini

Smiley Box

§       Zoo magazines

§       Trace and lace

§       Animals jigsaw puzzles

§       Colors (book)

§       Contrast puzzles

§       Juniors colors (book)

§       Flash cards

§       Snappy little colors (book)

§       Shapes and colors puzzles

§       Glad monster, sad monster (book)

ABC Box

§       Go fish for letters

§       Alphabet flashcards

§       Whatley’s quest (book)

§       Ten little ladybugs (book)

§       Precious moments flash cards

§       Archibald’s opposites (book)

§       Animals jigsaw puzzles

§       Anno’s alphabet (book)

§       A is for angry (book)

§       A busy year (book)

§       ABC (book)

§       Clock puzzle

§       Bird puzzles

§       Macy’s ABC’s (book)

§       Chicka chicka boom boom (book)

§       Color flashcards

§       Mini puzzles

§       ABC (book)

§       Alphabet (book)

§       Alligators all around (book)

§       More alphabet flashcards

§       Sesame street puzzles

§       Wooden puzzles

§       Into the A,B,Sea (book)

§       D is dinosaur (book)

§       Bob and Larry’s ABC’s 

Part of the celebration will be a blogger link-up. If you blog, come add your blog to the link-up so other homeschooling parents can visit and enjoy the ideas, encouragment, and inspiration you share via your blog.

If you don't blog, you can still enjoy visitng the folks who have listed their blogs. We'll  leave the link active so you can visit the blogs over the next few weeks. Each blogger has their unique content–sharing everything from art projects to recipes, and more!

One participating blogger will win a free blog header from Art Designs by Christi.Check out her portfolio here! You'll get just the header you want to adorn your blog–so link up, and you be automatically entered to win! Must be 18 years or older to enter.

Apologia is moving . . .  into our new company blog.

You have visited with us right here on the Apologia Live blog—the home of the Apologia Live Retreats for Homeschool Moms. But now, we have built a new blog for other company information and news—the Apologia Blog.

We’ll unveil it Thursday.

To celebreate we’re having a party—a Blogwarming Facebook Party!

Join us Thursday, January 26, from 2:00 p.m. eastern until 10:00 p.m. eastern on the Apologia Facebook Wall. We will have discussions and visits from Apologia authors and speakers, such as Davis and Rachael Carman, Jeannie Fulbright, and Larry Blythe. Apologia Academy teachers will also join us to talk middle school and high school science.

We’ll discuss everything from helping a struggling reader to teaching worldview to teenagers—and everything in between! Our schedule is below—join us for an hour, join us for two hours, or join us for the entire event—whatever fits into your schedule.

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. eastern – Discussions and giveaways

4:00-8:00 p.m. eastern – Break

8:00-10:00 p.m. eastern – Discussion and giveaways

The discussions will take place on our Facebook Wall and the contests will be held on the NEW Apologia blog. (We'll give out that link during the party.)

Blogwarming Events and Giveaways!

We also have some exciting events and giveaways in addition to the lively discussion on our Facebook wall. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up this Thursday:

What’s Your Blogwarming Gift? Contest

We’re moving into the new Apologia company blog and things are a little empty in our new home. So, we were hoping for a few Blogwarming gifts. Won’t you help us?

Look around your house for the perfect blogwarming gift you can share with us via email. Get your cameras ready to send us a photo of that perfect gift you think would look great in our new home. If you don’t have a camera—a phone camera will work or you can describe your gift in an email.

Perhaps a fresh-made treat from your kitchen, a stuffed animal, a coffee mug with a funny saying, a beautiful painting, an old lawn mower, a favorite afghan, a worn carpet remnant—the gift ideas are endless and can be funny!

We’ll have five entry categories (There's an Apologia goodie for each of the five winners!):

1. The funniest blogwarming gift
2. The most inspirational blogwarming gift
3. The mostly to be regifted by Apologia (possibly to the Apologia Live blog!)
4. The cutest blogwarming gift (the gift that made us say, "Awww, that's cute.")
5. The best pet for the Apologia Live blog – snap a photo of your pet–we just might select it to be the pet we''d most likely would have in our new blog home! (We'll accept the wiinning photo only–your pet will stay in his current home!)

Feel free to regift the gift you have stored up on the closet shelf! Find something in your house, garage, attic, basement, carport, storage shed, cupboard, closet, etc., that you would LOVE to gift us for our new home on the Apologia blog. Get ready, and we’ll give you all the instructions on Thursday at the Blogwarming Party!

Blogwarming Link Up Calling all bloggers!

If you have a blog, we’re linking up the day of the Blogwarming Party! We’ll have a Mr. Linky posted on the Apologia blog—simply link up with us that day. Then, after the party, visit the other blogs in the Link-up and meet new homeschooling friends. If you aren’t a blogger, that’s fine too. Visit the blogs and enjoy fellowship, gather homeschooling ideas, collect recipes or money-saving tips, and more. The Link Up begins at 2:00 p.m. eastern on Thursday, January 26, 2012, during our Blogwarming Facebook Party.

Follow us on Facebook and be there 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. this Thursday!