A Miracle of Hope ll Reading Between The Lines Book Club

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Joining Reading Between The Lines Book Club this month as we discuss A Miracle of Hope.  An old favorite genre with a new plot twist...
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In Collaboration with Mommy and Mia Homeschool Chronicles :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmcr...
and The Simple Rugged Path:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HV...

Playlist:
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLId_JNKYCQ7Ll6x6FmxFlmetivkyiMcUX&jct=K_nXNJQhjukDtff_tMXhDJFVhC3l0g

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑17yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
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FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Homeschool Bravely {Review}

Do you ever struggle with mom guilt?  That disabling feeling that you're screwing it all up?  What about homeschooling mom guilt?  Wondering if you're not only screwing up your kids, but also sending them off track academically?  Raising my hand HIGH over here!  Homeschool Mom Guilt is the real deal and can throw a mom into a tailspin if she's not careful.

Enter Jamie Erickson's new book, Homeschool Bravely.  This book was unlike anything I expected.  Picking it up, I expected more of a how to style book as is typical of the market.  What I wasn't expecting was the address of the heart that Erickson delivers.  Speaking directly to the core of the issue, Homeschool Bravely addresses the fears head on, encouraging the reader that the Lord is well aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and has called them to homeschool for such a time as this.  Easily the most encouraging read that I've had the privilege of reviewing, my copy of Homeschool Bravely has a multitude of notes and highlights, and has completely changed my view on my homeschool.

These are just a few of my favorite quotes:

"Sometimes the crossed-arms of resistance are the quiet pleas of a child who just wants to be heard- to feel like a portion of his school day is within his control."

"What you don't know, or perhaps what you need to be reminded of, is that a 'struggle' shows that you are doing something right.  Struggle is a verb.  It implies action; effort; giving it all you've got."

"In his kindness to me, God's shown me that in trying to do everything perfectly, I end up doing a lot of things with mediocrity... Again and again, His kindness has helped me see how and when I've made parenting and teaching harder than it needs to be."  

"If you're being pushed around by fear, you're not listening to the Voice that really matters."

"You can drape yourselves in the tattered cloak of the perceived judgment of others and trudge around in it all the livelong day, wrestling for shreds of approval from everyone else.  Or you can homeschool like you know you are already pre-approved by the One who called you to do it.  The choice is yours."

Erickson's words were the refreshing drink that I didn't even realize that my heart needed. Again and again, she comes back to the idea that our homeschool's success if based on more than our human abilities, and rests in the trust and ability of the Lord.  To be reminded that I'm not standing alone, but rather with the One that knows and loves my children even more than I do.  And that makes our homeschool more than enough.  If you could purchase one homeschooling book, let Homeschool Bravely be that one.  

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

What's In Our April Morning Basket?

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Sharing the books and ideas in our April Morning Baskets. Click "show more" for multiple links and blog post.

The Simple Rugged Path:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HVorQE8LgvYfw8_zPiDAQ

Bytes of Memory:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZYXBRaow7qaPnA5i0kf2bw

The Brave Homeschooling Mama:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNT9jeaMb7ylcKvZm5yq2Zg

March Morning Basket Blog Post:
https://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2019/03/whats-in-our-march-morning-basket_4.html

Winter Favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd1QlXQJ_sY

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑16yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Self-Care Routine Tag

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Today I'm sharing the Self-Care Routine Tag... the good, the bad, the relaxing, and the often neglected.

The Simple Rugged Path:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HVorQE8LgvYfw8_zPiDAQ

The Homeschooling Grammy:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwJvLhRZtwxRwisPrlKTKzw

Mommy and Mia Homeschool Chronicles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SmxA9HvWhk

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

1.Do you do set a side time to do things you enjoy?
2.When was the last time you had a make over?
3. IN the last three days have you taken a nature walk?
4.When was the last time you jouranled?
5.When was the last time you made a list of all the things you are grateful for?
6.Which three words describe you best?
7.Do you have nagging thoughts you need to address? How do you deal with those thoughts?
8.How much personal time do you need each week to function well and feel happy?
9.How do you sabotage yourself?
10.What are my favorite ways to take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually?

Today I'm tagging:
A Common Life
Homeschool on the Hill
The Fall Co Family

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑16yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Spring Reading List ll 2019

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Oh my TBR list is out of control.  Today I'm sharing with you all a wrap up of what I read on my Winter Reading List.  And which books are making the cut for spring.
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The Simple Rugged Path
https://www.youtube.com/thesimpleruggedpath

Mommy & Mia Homeschool Chronicles.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmcrZSa0FOG6FH5BUv8QNDg

Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFdamhRE3YECOKU8gD10s9cn9p1yv-7Ik&jct=6M5RgUI09ajQXXnz6KEGEeRQ7In6KQ&disable_polymer=1&fbclid=IwAR2zw84ExaEQBabOETP21HjJLkt-20jym6ral0zyU6ZffgdqZ4nVpMy7EQY

Winter Reading List:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC_H9eJSkOw&t=5s

What We're Reading in Jan ll 2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPrjs3UkuiU

Winter Book Swap Unboxing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC_H9eJSkOw&t=5s

What We're Reading in Feb ll 2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1fDOGcjz0Y&t=683s

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑16yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Ten Things We DO In Our Homeschool

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Each homeschool is unique just as each family is unique.  Today I'm sharing ten things we DO in our homeschool as the counterbalance to the ten things we don't do.
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Ten Things We Don't Do In Our Homeschool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmpCBvyHtg

2019 Homeschool Resolutions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RZ5nbYLo1c&t=4s

What's In Our March Morning Basket:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tywulm70R0A&t=12s

Camp Game Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPRwbSOkOXc&t=42s

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑16yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Winter Homeschool Favorites

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Sharing some of our homeschool favorites that have gotten us through this long, wet winter.
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January Homeschool Favorites:
http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2019/01/january-homeschool-favorites.html

March Morning Basket:
http://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/2019/03/whats-in-our-march-morning-basket_4.html

Scripture Writing Plan:
https://thecharactercorner.com/product/love-free-30-day-scripture-writing-plan/

The Waldock Way:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqCX1WaxK7QNR2dDdklS-VQ?fbclid=IwAR1PcS8CY_l6one6PrPI2HHSh7f6Ye_BJLjCeU7Ck_LIOm7vRuMLvmNxbfE

Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYhcaPiSWZo-6DJndDMOBgwburcDI8020&jct=OkensKgIAB_6xS6_fJ7MTiahnLhpSg&disable_polymer=1&fbclid=IwAR0MHG9W-tg0XFQWPnBSW21bZRKsQkSkX2Xvs6xQxm5BNlcImkSGT2cHRa0

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑16yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Christ Centered Easter Basket Ideas

As Easter approaches, I've been thinking about what I want to put in the kids' Easter baskets.  It's a fun opportunity for me to treat the kids a little bit and purchase them a few fun surprises.  While I've always leaned toward filling their baskets with practical items, the past couple of years, I've also looked for opportunities to point my kids toward Christ.

But building a Christ Centered Easter Basket requires forethought and intentionality.  It's so easy to get lost in the pastels of bunnies, chicks, and jelly beans.  As I've brainstormed the contents of our baskets this year, I thought I'd share with you a few ideas for building your own Christ Centered Easter Baskets.

Bibles--I like to gift Bibles when my children are transitioning from one life stage to another: entering elementary school, Jr. High, or graduation.  Or when my little ones are transitioning from storybook Bibles to developing quiet times.  These are a few of our favorites:

The First Message Bible
The Adventure Bible
The Action Bible
Teen Life Application Bible

Books--Books are always a favorite in our house.  There is rarely a holiday that goes by that I'm not gifting my children some sort of book.  And again there are so many wonderful characters and stories to pass on good morals to our children.  There are just a few:

Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story
Easter in the Garden
God gave us Easter
Berenstain Bears Easter Sunday
The Story of Jesus (Little Golden Book)
The Parable of the Lily
The First Easter
The Tale of Three Trees
Amon's Adventure
Our Favorite Easter Picture Books
The Mandie Books
The Sugar Creek Gang

Devotionals--I've been trying to lead my kids in a deep quiet time this year and help them develop the habit while they're still young.  In earlier years, we've gone through devotionals together as a family, and now as they're growing we leaning more toward personal quiet times.  These are a few of the tools we've used and continue to use:

3-Minute Devotions
The Names of Christ
Prayer Journal
Gratitude Journal
Bible Study (to complete with mom or dad)

Jewelry

Fancy cross necklace
Nail cross necklace
Cross bracelet


Toys and Crafts

Easter activity book
Stained glass coloring book
Stuffed lamb
Bible Pictionary

What items do you add to your child's Easter basket?

Favorite Easter Picture Books

The First Easter by Carol Heyer

God Gave Us easter by Lisa Tawn Bergen

Easter Mice! by Bethany Roberts

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco

Amon's Adventure by Arnold Ytreeide

The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story

by Jan & Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs

by Stan & Jan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bear's Easter Blessings

by Mike Berenstain

There Berenstain Bears: The Very First Easter

by Jan & Mike Berenstain

The Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs

The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Ewell Hunt

Easter in the Garden by Pamela Kennedy

What are your favorite Easter books to share with your children?

10 Things We Don't Do In Our Homeschool

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Each homeschool is unique just as each family is unique.  Today I'm sharing ten good things that just don't fit into our homeschool.
Click for more!

The Simple Rugged Path:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HVorQE8LgvYfw8_zPiDAQ

The Waldock Way:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqCX1WaxK7QNR2dDdklS-VQ?fbclid=IwAR1PcS8CY_l6one6PrPI2HHSh7f6Ye_BJLjCeU7Ck_LIOm7vRuMLvmNxbfE

Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFdamhRE3YEBZ6oNyXPeTsfx46zV912Ps

Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑16yrs led to 👱13 yrs, 👧11 yrs, and 👱 7 yrs.

Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com

C O N N E C T
subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom
read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com
like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom
follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/

FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Boy Mom {Review}

Popular blogger, Monica Swanson, knew she struck a nerve when her blog post entitled "What a Teenage Boy Needs Most From His Mom" garnered a HUGE response.  Moms everywhere were hungering to know how they could connect with their teenage sons.  At an age where boys are pulling away from us, it can be easy to throw our hands up in frustration and hope they come back eventually. But Swanson encourages her readers that teenage boys need their moms just as much now as they did when they were younger.

Boy Mom is filled with practical advice on a multitude of topics including:

Grounding Our Boys in the Faith
Affirming Their Identity
Teaching Discipline with Technology
Physical Health
Emotional Health
and more!

I appreciated that Swanson wrote this book with a combination of research and personal experience.  She struck a good balance between the two: backing up her statements with both updated statistics as well as the personal experience that can only come from raising four boys.  All with the reminder to parent intentionally and with vision.  This is the type of mom that I would love to sit down with and have a face to face conversation.  And Boy Mom is the next best thing.  The author speaks with such wisdom and honesty that I came away from this book feeling encouraged and empowered to raise my own two sons.  And actually looking forward to those teenage years.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

What's in Our March Morning Basket?

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For our fairy tale theme, we are exploring some of the classics as well as reading a few remixes.  The following is a list of stories that I am trying to include:

The Little Red Hen
Three Little Pigs
Three Little Pugs
Three Little Gators
Three Snow Bears
Jack and the Beanstalk
Gingerbread Man
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Hansel and Gretel
Little Red Riding Hood
The Pig Who Went Home on Sunday

Printables:

Fairy Tale Choice Board
Hansel and Gretel: Reading and Writing Unit
Myths, Legends, and Fable: Definition Signs

For language, vocabulary and story telling, we are including:

Rory's Story Cubes
Happily Ever After Mad Libs
Roll a Story Writing Activity

I'm also putting together a Fairy Tales Playlist on Youtube.  In this case, we can switch back and forth from reading to viewing fairy tales as we need to break things up.  Family Movie Night this month is going to be fun as well with options like Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and The Little Mermaid.

For art, we are including lots of art lessons from Chalk Pastel and Arts Hub for Kids.  We try to do an art lesson once a week, learning new techniques and art forms.

In history, we are nearing the end of Story of the World Vol 2 (Medieval History).  This month, we are reading excerpts from Why Do Castles Have Moats?, as well as various other story books.  We'll also be including A Lion to Guard Us as a short read aloud.

For science, we are including a variety of picture books including The Man Who Named the Clouds and Magic Schoolbus Inside a Hurricane.  We'll also be playing with these Weather and Climate Flashcards as well as Professor Noggin's Earth Science cards.

For Bible, we are working our way through The Ology.  Some of the topics are well known to our kids while others are new concepts.  So it's a nice mix of new and old.

Our family read aloud for the month is Mary Poppins.  We're excited to read a classic as we wait for Marry Poppins Returns to hit the dollar theater.

What are your favorite resources for studying fairy tales?

And what are you including in your March Morning Basket?

When I Pray for You {Review}

An inspiring book about the special bond between child and parent, When I Pray for You celebrates all the wishes and dreams we hold for our little ones.  From birth, through childhood, into the growing years, Matthew Paul Turner perfectly captures the heartfelt sentiment that changes and grows as our children do.  The publisher's description markets this book to ages 3-7 years, but the message transcends time.  As I read this book with my children, it brought tears to my eyes.  The author's words were exactly what I wanted to say to my kids, even the teenager.  Through the good days and the bad, I hope these are words that they'll remember spoke over them... "I've prayed for you... I cherish you... I'm here for you."  I can see myself read turning to this one again and again as my own words fail to share how deeply I feel for my children.  And how much I pray for them day after day.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Our Jr. High Reading List

Jr. High books are all about deeper character development and deeper themes.  Conflicts become more complicated, and students have to wrestle with their own beliefs in untangling these novels.  Jr. High novels should certainly be challenging, but not too overwhelming.  Look for topics that will interest your child/student in making the transition more manageable.

Across Five Aprils
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Anne of Green Gables (series)
Amos Fortune: Free Man
The Black Stallion (series)
The Bronze Bow
Captain's Courageous
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
The Chronicles of Narnia (series)
The Diary of Anne Frank
Elijah of Buxton
Hatchet
Heidi
The Hiding Place
Johnny Tremaine
Last of the Mohicans
Little Men
Little Women
Lord of the Rings (series)
National Velvet
Robinson Crusoe
The Secret Garden
Sounder
Treasure Island
Where the Red Fern Grows
White Fang
Wrinkle in Time
The Yearling

What are your favorite books for this age?

For more suggestions see our
 First & Second Grade Reading List
 Third Grade Reading List
 Fourth Grade Reading List
Fifth Grade Reading List
Sixth Grade Reading List

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