What Are We Reading? - October 2020

Hey, y'all!  I know it has been a LONG time since my last post, but it was a nice, much needed break.  So, how are y'all?  How is your school year going so far?  We started our school year a little later than normal, but we are back in the swing of things, thankfully.

Well, here is what we are reading this month.  

April 2020 Scripture Plan : Scriptures for Fear and Worrying

Hey, y'all!  It has been a while since our last chat.  I pray that you are all in good health!  I wanted to send you some encouragement, because with all that is going on in the world with COVID-19, there's a lot of fear and worrying that has been stirred up.  I put together this scripture plan for you to find comfort in the Lord's Word.  Please join me as I read a verse or two in Psalms each day.  Read and pray daily for a peace that only God can give.  I love you all and hope you find comfort in these scriptures.

Five Minute Friday - Sacrifice

Hey, y'all!  I hope all is well with you and your family.  Today I will be sharing whatever comes to my mind when I think of the word sacrifice.
This post is part of the Five Minute Friday link-up hosted by Kate.  


When I think of the word sacrifice I think of the two main excuses we make to not get something done. 

Time:  There is just not enough time in the day.

Money: If only I could afford it.

My School Year Homeschool Record Keeping - Review

Planning and keeping track of your children's work should not be stressful.  Our family received an Annual Membership Plan from My School Year Homeschool Record Keeping in exchange for our honest review.  This has been great so far.  It's good for keeping up with your children's schedule, planning out your school year, creating a way for your children to go in and check to see what they currently need to turn into you, and even creating a high school transcript! I am sure you want to hear ALL about it.  Well, go grab your coffee, your pen, your notebook, and a cup of coffee. 

Free Resource Friday - Free Online Curriculum

Hey, y'all!  Many of you are getting ready to start your new school year and some of you have already started.  I am somewhere in between.  I decided to stain our school room floor so that put us back a week.  We should be starting soon, hopefully.  Anyway, that's not what I am here for, I am actually here because it is Free Resource Friday.  Today's Free Resource is a full curriculum.

Wordless Wednesday - New Family Member

Welcome back to another Wordless Wednesday!  Today we will be introducing you all to the newest member of our family, Bella the Labradoodle.

Apologia Exploring Creation With General Science, 3rd Edition - Curriculum Review

I cannot believe that we are already starting to prepare our oldest son for high school.  He will be starting 8th grade in the Fall.  To help him make a smooth transition he will be required to start working more independently this year.  Since the beginning of our homeschooling journey, he has been a part of what we call group work, which is just the combined learning of Science, History, Bible, Art, and Music as a family.  So, he will now branch out and start doing his Science independently.  Apologia recently released their Exploring Creation with General Science, 3rd Edition.  This is their newest edition and for the last couple of weeks, we have been using it so that we can let you guys know all about it!  So, go ahead and grab your notebook, your pen, and a cup of a beverage of your choice, I have a large mug of coffee, and meet us back here so we can share our experience with it so far. 

Simply Music Review - Free Resource Friday

Today's Free Resource Friday is a review of Simply Music.
Simply Music is an online piano curriculum designed to teach kids how to play piano by ear. We received the Music & Creativity - Foundation Course, which teaches you the basics of how to play, in exchange for our honest review.  All of my kids enjoy music and we have introduced instruments in the past, however, they have never learned how to play by ear.  My oldest daughter was blessed with a Keyboard for Christmas last year and has been wanting to learn how to play.   She and her younger sister has watched several YouTube videos, but nothing has been concrete, therefore, we were pretty excited to give Simply Music a try. 

Life Chat

Hey, y’all!  It has been a little while since I’ve posted a chatty post.  I really thought I would be doing a lot of writing this summer however our entire summer has been so full. We’ve had family come into town, church events, house repairs, and the most time consuming, yet, most exciting is that my older son started his own business. So, I have been busier than I expected this summer, therefore, causing me to neglect my blog.  I appreciate y’all for being so patient with me as I open up this new chapter of life, being the mom of an entrepreneur.   Just when I thought I had a good routine down it changed, again! -Insert my sigh here- LOL

Improve Your Child's Reading and Spelling With Dyslexia Gold

Hey, y'all!  It's time for another review!  I know it is that time of year that we homeschooling families are researching curricula.  Well, I have another one for you to add to your list, Dyslexia Gold Full Bundle from Dyslexia Gold.   This is an online program that goes above just teaching phonics, it helps solve the underlying issue that causes some children difficulty in reading fluently.   Go grab your notes and come on back so we can chat a bit more about this program.

Homeschool Planner Picks

Can you believe it’s July already? I don’t know about you, but I get excited about July for one it’s my husband's birthday and for two I get a pullout, my new homeschooling planners!  Here are the two planners I will be using for the 2019-2020 school year.

Entrepreneurship and Money Management for Kids - Review

Entrepreneurship and money management is something we have talked a lot about with our children.  All around us we see people just spend, spend, spend, and go into debt.  This is not the way of living we want our children to adapt to, so we started discussing these things with them at a young age.  Our oldest son started showing more interest in spending money about a year or so ago.  He knows how hard my husband works to provide for us, so he is very careful with how he approaches his dad when asking for things.  He began working with my husband at the age of 12 and saved his money to buy an iPad.  During the time he was working and saving he made sure he paid tithes.  This was something he started doing on his own without being asked because he had watched my husband do it for so many years he knew it was something he needed to do.  We were so proud of him!  Soon his job came to an end because there was no more work.  He asked his dad if he could start his own business.  My husband and I were both shocked but knew this was something he wanted to do.  He wanted to make money just like his father.  The opportunity for us to review The Complete Starter Kit from The Kingdom Code could not have come at a better time!  This curriculum is designed to help teach children how to make and manage money in a Biblical way.  It is helping us help our son learn that there's more to entrepreneurship than making money.   Go grab your cup of coffee or tea, a notebook, and something to write with so we can tell you all about our experience with The Kingdom Code.

Happy Memorial Day

We appreciate the many sacrifices they made! 

EdAlive - Math and Typing Fun - Review

Can y'all believe we are already near the summer?  I'm still trying to figure out where did the time go.  Although we school year round here at Cooks Christian Academy, our summers are lighter.  I like to make sure they are still learning something but without a lot of book work.  The kids recently spent some time brushing up on their typing and math skills with EdAlive.  We received a one-year subscription to their Typing Tournament Online and Maths Invaders Online in exchange for our honest review.  Using the Typing Tournament has been like having a Typing Tutor in our home and Math Invaders has been a great way for them to get some extra math practice in.  Go grab your coffee or tea and come sit with us for a while so that we can tell you all about them.

Elizabeth Prentiss - Book Review

Hey, y'all!  The kids and I have just finished reading another great read aloud, Elizabeth Prentiss More Love by Claire Williams.  Our family truly enjoyed this heartwarming story and it led to great discussions.  Elizabeth Prentiss is published by Christian Focus and is a part of the Trail Blazers series.  We received this book in exchange for our honest review.  Go grab you a cup of coffee or tea and join us as we tell you all about this inspiring story.

Side of the House Makeover - Wordless Wednesday

My oldest son recently decided he wanted to start a lawn business, so what better place to start than home.  The side of of house was a huge mess so we decided to give it a small makeover.  

Welcome back to another Wordless Wednesday

I am so proud of how it turned out.  We all pitched in and helped of course.

Are you working on any projects around your house?  I would love to hear about it.  

Thanks for stopping by today have a wonderful day!

Funny Facts About My Mom

Do you remember being young talking with your siblings about your parents?  Not gossiping about them, but laughing about their funny habits.  Well, I recently asked my children what are some of my habits that they find hilarious.  Y'all, they are pretty accurate on most of these and they are pretty funny!  I laughed a while as I read them.

CLEP and DSST Test Prep Review

Did you know college credits may be earned through CLEP and DSST testing?  I did not learn that until I started preparing my oldest daughter for high school.  Like you can actually test out of college classes and receive the credit.  That blew my mind!  You mean to tell me that I spent, and still spending money on student loans to pay for classes that I could have tested out of?  Well, like the saying goes if you know better you will do better.  I will help my children do better if college is the route they decide to take.  We received a 3-month subscription to the CLEP and DSST prep materials from Study.com in exchange for our honest review.  So, let me tell you all about our experience. 

The Hamelin Stoop Series Book Review - Kaela's Corner

Have you ever read a book that was not a genre you would normally be interested in, but then found yourself flipping page after page with excitement, anxiously waiting to see what would happen next? Well, that has been me with our latest read aloud!  I am normally not a fan of young adult fiction or fantasy books, however, when the opportunity arose for us to review The Hamelin Stoop Series, I decided to give it a try.  First, let me just say that I am so glad I did!  We received Hamelin Stoop: The Eagle, The Cave, and the Footbridge (Book 1) and Hamelin Stoop: The Lost Princess and the Jewel of Periluna (Book 2) in exchange for our honest review.  Both books are published by 12 Gates Publishing.  Normally I would be giving you guys the review, but my oldest daughter enjoyed the first book so much (she is just about to start book 2) that she asked if she could tell y'all about it.  I will check in later to add my two cents.  

What We Read in April

I missed posting what we read in March because we were so busy with the move, and now I don't even remember what all we read. Anyway, I do have what we read in April ready for you. I still can't believe we are already in April I mean where did the time go? Go grab your coffee or tea, pen, ad notebook and join me as I share with you what our family read in April.