Happy Homemaker Monday~ April 27, 2020

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Good Morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We had a fairly relaxing weekend. On Saturday, we weeded the flower beds some more and put down some new mulch. I want a decorative wooden wishing well for the one flower bed. I asked my hubby and he said he could probably make me one. I 'm so excited. Since the daffodils are done blooming for the year, I'm currently working on separating them and spreading them out into other areas. I haven't done that in a few years and they need to be thinned out a little so they'll bloom better.

On Sunday, I worked on next year's lesson plans for the kids. I'm little farther behind than I would like to be. We've been going back and forth about what to do since school, co-ops, and colleges have canceled in-person classes. I'd hate to pay for classes and then not have the kids be able to go, so right now we're planning on them staying home and working through classes here. They may take a few online classes. I guess it just depends on how things go.

It's a new week, at least that is what my calendar is telling me. I can't seem o keep track of the day of the week anymore. It's hard when you have no outside activities to plan your week around. The week days look like the weekends! I can't be the only one having that problem.

Let's get on with Happy Homemaker Monday and start this week off right! I'm thrilled to be joining Sandra in her weekly series, Happy Homemaker Monday.

❀❀~The Weather~❀❀

Last week, we had cooler temps again and more rainy days. We're supposed to get more rain this week and then the weekend clears up. The following week in promising sunshine and warmer temps. I'm praying real hard that happens. I'm so ready for our temps to stay warmer. I want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I can's wait to start the garden and plant some flowers! It's no fun being cooped up in the house all the time.

Monday~ Partly Cloudy 57*
Tuesday~ Showers 59*
Wednesday~ Showers 71*
Thursday~ Rain 63*
Friday~ Showers 59*
Saturday~ Partly Cloudy 68*
Sunday~ Partly Cloudy 73*

❀❀~How I'm feeling this morning and what's on my mind~❀❀

Honestly, I'm feeling a little stir crazy. We're on day 44 of our stay at home orders. The scary thing is we have 49 days to go. Our stay at home order doesn't end until June 10th. I'm torn. I know we need to keep people safe, but at what cost to our economy. I feel horrible for all those who have no job and no income right now. I feel horrible for all the essential workers who still have to work, while the rest of get to stay safe in our homes. I wonder how that's fair. I think we truly need to find some type of balance. I don't know. I'm not a doctor or a politician. I'm just a mom who sees that we can't keep living like this. So for now, I'll put my trust in the Lord!

❀❀~What they kids are up to~❀❀

They are finishing up their school lessons. We have about a month to go and then they are done. They have Ancient History, Religion, and Math to finish. All their other classes are now done officially. Wed're just waiting on the grades from their teachers.


❀❀~What's for breakfast~❀❀

Coffee and more coffee. Once I'm done typing this I'll probably make myself some eggs. I need to get back to watching what I eat. I've gained 8 pounds while under quarantine. Ugh...now I have to lose that 8 plus the 20 I wanted to in the first place.

❀❀~My current reading pile~❀❀

I'm currently reading Just After Midnight by Catherine Ryan Hyde.





❀❀~What the kids are reading pile~❀❀

The kids are currently reading Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi for history class. They both are enjoying this book better than Robin Hood.

Therese finished her two books she received for her birthday already, The Warrior Maiden and The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson. She loves the books in this series!

                      

She finished them in only 6 days! She's running out of books to read since the local library in closed. This is the longest time she has been away from the library since she was 3. Once she discovered the library, she wanted to go every week.

❀❀~TV shows/movies I'm watching~❀❀

Therese and I are finishing up Friends and we have started watching Gilmore Girls. We've been recording them, but had to wait until season 1 so we could understand what was going on. I love curling up on the couch with her and watching TV. It brings back those days of when she was little and we'd watch Barbie movies or Tinkerbell. She was such a huge fan of Tinkerbell. It's hard to believe my baby turned 15 this month. I'm so proud of the beautiful, young lady she has become. She is truly a blessing from God, as all children are.


❀❀~What I'm working on~❀❀

Lesson plans for next year along with book lists
Sunflower wreath
Peach rose wreath
scrapbooks- I've finished up Therese's Disney World book (she was 3) and I'm now working on Michael's book. I'm about half way there



❀❀~Looking around the house~❀❀

I have so many things to do!
Finish my deep spring cleaning. I lost my motivation for a little awhile.
I need to mop the floors. This is becoming a daily occurrence with all this rain.
I want to paint the living room and hallway. We're having our old living room furniture reupholstered. I loved that furniture and it was made so well. I can't wait to have it back! After pets and babies, it looks little rough. We had bought a new couch 4 years ago, but it was cheap and is already falling apart. It drives me crazy how everything is to be just thrown away in a few years, What happened to good quality products made to last. I'll need to make new pillows to go with it. I can't wait for Hobby Lobby to reopen.


❀❀~This weeks to do list~❀❀

Laundry
Change the sheets
Clean the kitchen & living room
Clean the bathrooms
Vacuum and mop the floors again...the pets are still shedding and the dog and boys keeps tracking in mud from all the rain.
Write up a few reviews for the Homeschool Review Crew
Clean the chicken coop~ We're hoping one of our hens gets broody soon. We lost 2 hens this month. One to old age and one to a possum. We tried to hatch a few with our incubator but they never hatched. I think it's broken.

❀❀~What's for dinner this week~❀❀

Monday~Sunday dinner leftovers
Tuesday~
Wednesday~
Thursday~
Friday~
Saturday~
Sunday~

I need to sit down and plan the next two weeks.

❀❀~ From the camera~❀❀

❀❀~What I'm praying for~❀❀

Our country, our leaders, friends, and family. My kids miss seeing their friends and miss their sports. I think they are starting to get restless and a little anxious.
I'm praying we can slowly start to get back to normal, even if we don't know what our new normal will be like.


❀❀~Inspirational thought for the week~❀❀

"Sometimes we have to experience things we don't understand just so God can bring us to the place he needs us to be. 

Never doubt the season He has you in."

~Anonymous 

Have a wonderful week! Praying you all stay healthy and happy.

Till Next Time,

Monique

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Sunday Inspiration~ April 26, 2020

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 

Till Next Time,

Monique

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Sunday Inspiration~ April 19, 2020

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.

Till Next Time,

Monique

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Happy Easter!

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.

The Resurrection- Carl Heinrich Bloch

1881

"I am the resurrection and the life:

 he that believeth in me, 

although he be dead, 

shall live,"

       

~John 11:25

Wishing you a joyous Easter!

Christ is Risen!

Alleluia!

Till Next Time,

Monique

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Review~ History on Horseback: The Early Years

Disclosure~I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

History is one of our favorite subjects here up on the mountain to study. There are so many exciting adventures to discover when studying history. The kids were thrilled when we were given the chance to review History on Horseback: The Early Years from Sonrise Stable Books. 

For this review, we received a physical copy of the book History on Horseback: The Early Years 1493 to 1866 from Sonrise Stable Books. The book is 8.5 by 11 in size. The paperback cover is made of a thick, glossy stock-paper. The cover has beautiful colored images. The inside of the book is black and white. There are plenty of black and white pictures to bring the stories to life. The book allows readers of all ages to discover all the amazing, yet different, roles horses have played throughout the history of the United States. This particular book focuses on the years from 1493 to 1866. The book is a non-fiction book that contains information about actual horses, historical characters from history, and events that took place.

The book is geared for students 12 and up, but can easily be adapted to students of younger ages. The book contains 53 chapters and is over 180 pages. Each chapter is 2 to 5 pages long, so making this an easy book to get through. History on Horseback is a wonderful addition to any homeschool history curriculum. It adds some new exciting stories for all students, especially horse lovers. Of course, the book can be read all on its own. There's no need to add it to any curriculum either. 

Just a few of the interesting stories, facts, events, and people that will be presented are....

Arrival in America

The Palomo, the Dream Horse

Lewis & Clark

Coal Mining

Oregon Trail

Stagecoach Travel

Old Bob & Old Douglas

Pony Express

Brave War Horses

Union & Confederate Horses

Buffalo Soldiers

How to Use History on Horseback: The Early Years?

This amazing book can be used as stand alone read, a supplement for a history curriculum, or used as a full curriculum if it's use with the study guide. The study guide is currently being worked on. It should be available later on in 2020.

Two more volumes will follow. The second volume will pick up with the post-Civil War and the third volume of History on Horseback will bring readers up to the present day.

What We Thought of History on Horseback: The Early Years?

I found this book to be very interesting and highly enjoyed reading it. The stories are short and easy to read. I love how they are broken up. The stories can easily be added to any homeschool curriculum, which is what I plan on doing next year when we start learning about United States history again. Both my kids are in high school, so they each read the stories on their own. Since we were focusing on the middle ages for history, I had them pick a few of the stories to read themselves. My goal is to use the entire book in its entirety next fall.

Therese has always loved horses. In fact, as a little girl, she often asked for one. She found History on Horseback to a fun book to read. She said the stories were interesting, definitely not boring. She likes reading books like this rather than old, boring textbooks. This probably because we like living books for our history lessons. 

Michael loves learning about American history. He can't what until next year. He enjoyed this book immensely. The stories were informative, interesting, and exciting. he especially loved the stories about the west and how the horse played such an important role in the expansion. 

Both kids felt the book was a different approach to history. The enjoyed reading about the different horses, people, and events. History was not just being presented with boring facts. 

Discover more about History on Horseback: The Early Years

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Till Next Time,

Monique

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Sunday Inspiration~ Palm Sunday

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 

Blessings on this Palm Sunday!

Till Next Time,

Monique

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Review~ The Easter Storybook

Disclosure~I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

After Ash Wednesday, I have been reading ans sharing wonderful stories of Jesus's life with my adorable first grade religious education students.  

I have been sharing stories from The Easter Storybook from David C. Cook. I love sharing stories about Jesus and hi life with my students. It helps them see why our faith in God is so important.

The Easter Storybook from David C. Cook is a collection of 40 stories that focus on Jesus's life. It's not  just a simple Easter storybook though. This fantastic book starts when Jesus is little and goes through his life. It includes stories when Jesus is in the temple as a child, his apostles, the last supper,  his crucifixion, and his appearances after he has risen from the dead. The 40 stories are fully illustrated in bright colors making them eye catching and appealing to young readers.  The books is geared for children ages 4-8, but the whole family can enjoy this beautiful book. 

The book is broken up into 40 stories with the hope that one story will be read each day during the Lenten season. Each page includes the day, a reference to the Bible passage (you could have older kids search for the actual bible passage), a quote from the Bible, the story, and a few questions for discussion. On the opposite page is the colorful illustration to go along with the story.

The Bible passage and questions help families walk through their Lenten journey. As children read through the book, they will learn about Jesus. They will learn who He is, what He did during His life, and most importantly why His death and resurrection are so important. 

(I apologize for the lack of pictures of the inside of the book. The book is in my classroom and the we have been quarantined at home so I haven't been able to take any pictures)

~ How I Used The Easter Storybook~

For this review, I received a physical hardback copy of The Easter Storybook written by Laura Ritchie and illustrated by Ian Dale . The book is a larger book which is perfect for little hands and for sharing as a read aloud. It's  90+ pages long. The color illustrations are fantastic. 

Since my kiddos are older, I received this review to share with my first grade religious education class. They were the perfect age to share this book with. My plan was to share on story with them each Sunday during the Lenten season. Obviously since the book contains 40 stories, I knew I had to pick a few I wanted to cover. Of course, I wanted to include the important stories about the last supper, Jesus's death, etc. Unfortunately, our classes were canceled this Lenten season due to the virus roaming around. I was able to only share two stories with them. The children enjoyed the stories and they were just the right length to share in class. I usually try to find a short story to read to go along with our lesson. The stories in The Easter Storybook are perfect for that. The language is simple and easy for kids to understand. The stories are short and hold the children's attention.We all know we're lucky if we can keep them focused for 15 minutes at that age.

My plan next year is to work into class the various stories in the book into the lessons we are covering during the year...the Story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus and his disciples, the Parable of the Lost Son, etc.

~ What I Thought of The Easter Storybook~

Overall, I enjoyed the storybook. The stories are the perfect length for kids. The pictures were colorful and appealing to children. They were a simple addition to our Lenten lessons. 

As a Roman Catholic I didn't find anything that went against our teachings, like I have in other children's books. The only flaw in the book for Catholics was that Jesus's mother, Mary was missing. Mary was an important of our Lord's life. I feel that the author missed that. Mary wept at the feet of Jesus when he was crucified. 

If you're looking for a new book to add to your children's Easter books, I definitely recommend The Easter Story!

Discover more about The Easter Storybook from David Cook

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Be sure to check in with the rest of the Homeschool Review Crew to see what they had to say about this wonderful Easter storybook for kids!

Till Next Time,

Monique

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