For you mamas out there, do you remember when your baby had the hiccups while in the womb? My first pregnancy, no one told me what those jerky sensations were, but when i realized it with baby #2, it was so precious... and pitiful. I'm not a big fan of hiccups, but i'm a bit of a controlling person, so having something going amok in my body is not my idea of a good time. Not to mention, hiccups occasionally hurt quite a bit, don't they? And we all know there are methods to their extinction that are more Old Wives Tales than actual help, eh? Hold your breath, stand on your head and drink a glass of water upside down, etc.
Well, i've noticed recently that many of life's turns are often like that - which explains why they have been referred to as hiccups. They are little interruptions, outside of our control, that cause a bit of discomfort, if not downright pain (depends on the depth of the spasm, doesn't it?).
I realize God is wanting to keep our focus on Him. I know He is with me, no matter what He is asking me to walk through. And i understand that He desires to stretch me into someone more like Christ with every hiccup He allows.
So, i can stand on my head, trying to make the hiccups stop on my own.
I can hold my breath, willing them to cease more quickly.
Or i can put my faith in my Creator that the hiccups with subside in due time, and it is only my part to ride them out with grace, dignity, and a will to focus on my blessings rather than my hardships.
May God's blessing be with you today, most especially if you find yourself with a bad case of the hiccups.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Mission: Monday
Lately, i get the feeling that Mondays have shifted for me. I no longer feel "oh, no, it's Monday... another week. Ugh!" I suppose that is because for the past few years, i have had the privelege of being home with my children and enjoying our learning lifestyle together. Now, Mondays represent the new-again beginning of some structure, scheduled chores, and opportunities to stretch their little brains... and it happens every week!
So, today's Mission: Monday (as i have come to think of it each week) is to work with flash cards every day and to get the upstairs tidy. Mission: Monday is the beginning of a project that will last the week, not the day for a one-day task. One thing i have learned is that one-day tasks need to be bite-sized. Those things go on my "to do tomorrow" list. Then, i have to have a larger goal to focus on so the bigger stuff gets done in bite-sized doses over a period of time. Less stress on me that way. :)
Anyone else finding their groove lately?
So, today's Mission: Monday (as i have come to think of it each week) is to work with flash cards every day and to get the upstairs tidy. Mission: Monday is the beginning of a project that will last the week, not the day for a one-day task. One thing i have learned is that one-day tasks need to be bite-sized. Those things go on my "to do tomorrow" list. Then, i have to have a larger goal to focus on so the bigger stuff gets done in bite-sized doses over a period of time. Less stress on me that way. :)
Anyone else finding their groove lately?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Hypocrisy
What is hypocrisy?
The hypocrites were originally the theatrical performers who played various parts in a play. They were actors. Pretenders.
So, hypocrisy, then, is pretending, even lying.
I was thinking the other day about that case in another state (North Carolina, i believe) where a teacher forced a child to buy school lunch because the parent had packed a lunch for the child that was not nutritionally sound, meaning "covering all the government's basic food groups for a sound lunch."
Now, i used to work for the government, even had to know those regulations so i could decide if a child's meal 'measured up.' And i always had a problem with it because my children are unable to have dairy, but the government says they need milk at every meal. Before you jump in with "there are alternative milks," let me assure you, that is how we played the game. But where in the food pyramid is soy milk? Rice milk? Almond milk? So at what point are we just following a rule because it is a rule rather than because it is nutritionally sound?
Then, i heard about a case in which a teenager was given 3 years in juvenile detention for murdering a teacher. Huh?
Does this not strike you as hypocrisy? According to the government regulations, this child's parent didn't pack a nutritious-enough lunch for her child and was forced to purchase school lunch (not to mention the message that sends to the child, who had a turkey sandwich, by the way, and was forced to buy chicken nuggets...hypocrisy) but a teenager who takes another human's life is fit for society after 3 years in juvie?
Who's making these rules? And where is their focus? When did milk with lunch become more important than public safety from violent offenders?
Dang, i hate hypocrisy.....
The hypocrites were originally the theatrical performers who played various parts in a play. They were actors. Pretenders.
So, hypocrisy, then, is pretending, even lying.
I was thinking the other day about that case in another state (North Carolina, i believe) where a teacher forced a child to buy school lunch because the parent had packed a lunch for the child that was not nutritionally sound, meaning "covering all the government's basic food groups for a sound lunch."
Now, i used to work for the government, even had to know those regulations so i could decide if a child's meal 'measured up.' And i always had a problem with it because my children are unable to have dairy, but the government says they need milk at every meal. Before you jump in with "there are alternative milks," let me assure you, that is how we played the game. But where in the food pyramid is soy milk? Rice milk? Almond milk? So at what point are we just following a rule because it is a rule rather than because it is nutritionally sound?
Then, i heard about a case in which a teenager was given 3 years in juvenile detention for murdering a teacher. Huh?
Does this not strike you as hypocrisy? According to the government regulations, this child's parent didn't pack a nutritious-enough lunch for her child and was forced to purchase school lunch (not to mention the message that sends to the child, who had a turkey sandwich, by the way, and was forced to buy chicken nuggets...hypocrisy) but a teenager who takes another human's life is fit for society after 3 years in juvie?
Who's making these rules? And where is their focus? When did milk with lunch become more important than public safety from violent offenders?
Dang, i hate hypocrisy.....
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I AM...
I was thinking about my life the other day. About who i am. Here's what i was thinking.
I am...
...a past victim of child molestation.
...a survivor of abuse.
...the adult child of alcoholic parents.
...the mother of a child with learning disabilities.
...the wife of an unfaithful husband.
...strong.
...weak.
...helpless.
...capable.
...sad.
...happy.
...angry.
...joyful.
If you flip your "i am" around, with the help of Jesus Christ, you can find:
M y
A uthentic
I dentity
I AM (My Authentic Identity)...
...an adopted daughter of The King.
...a cherished child of The Savior.
...the exact parent my children need.
...the perfect match for my husband.
...the only ME i can be.
I read something this month that has really stuck with me. In the book, Not a Fan (by Kyle Idleman), the author points out when Jesus is telling the people not to be like the religious leaders because "they don't practice what they preach," [Matthew 23:3] this amazing tidbit: "Jesus doesn't expect followers to be perfect... he just expects them to be authentic." (phrasing likely not exact, emphasis mine)
My pastor also taught something this month that i have learned at the feet of Christ these past few years: every experience, every hurt, every relationship, every trauma, everything... has prepared me for the work God has for me. I AM to be authentic.
I may not be the perfect parent who never feeds her child fast food, the perfect wife who never says a not-very-nice-thing to her spouse, or the perfect adult child who never has a negative/hurtful attitude toward my parents, but i am this one thing: authentically me.
I am...
...a past victim of child molestation.
...a survivor of abuse.
...the adult child of alcoholic parents.
...the mother of a child with learning disabilities.
...the wife of an unfaithful husband.
...strong.
...weak.
...helpless.
...capable.
...sad.
...happy.
...angry.
...joyful.
If you flip your "i am" around, with the help of Jesus Christ, you can find:
M y
A uthentic
I dentity
I AM (My Authentic Identity)...
...an adopted daughter of The King.
...a cherished child of The Savior.
...the exact parent my children need.
...the perfect match for my husband.
...the only ME i can be.
I read something this month that has really stuck with me. In the book, Not a Fan (by Kyle Idleman), the author points out when Jesus is telling the people not to be like the religious leaders because "they don't practice what they preach," [Matthew 23:3] this amazing tidbit: "Jesus doesn't expect followers to be perfect... he just expects them to be authentic." (phrasing likely not exact, emphasis mine)
My pastor also taught something this month that i have learned at the feet of Christ these past few years: every experience, every hurt, every relationship, every trauma, everything... has prepared me for the work God has for me. I AM to be authentic.
I may not be the perfect parent who never feeds her child fast food, the perfect wife who never says a not-very-nice-thing to her spouse, or the perfect adult child who never has a negative/hurtful attitude toward my parents, but i am this one thing: authentically me.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
A-Men's
We began teaching a concept to our children a few months ago called "Making Amends." Basically, this is the essence of honest repentance and a healthy foundation for true forgiveness. We have taught the kids that when they hurt someone else, it is their responsibility to take the apology to The Next Level: Making Amends.
Making Amends means that the perpetrator of the crime/offense has to do something for the victim of the crime/offense that is directly in line with the seriousness/nature of said crime/offense. For example, if disrespect of Mom is the offense, the child might open Mom's car door for a week to show respect. You tracking??
Now, in the end, it is up to the victim of the crime/offense to determine if the perpetrator of said crime/offense has made appropriate Amends. In other words, if Suzie pulls Katie's hair and later makes Katie's bed to Make Amends, Katie can decide if she feels the Amends-Making was sufficient to cover the offense. The responsibility of the perpetrator to really develop empathy during this process is huge. No quick fix, no If-Then statements, just true repentance and honest effort to restore relationship.
Of course, for many of you, there is a light-bulb moment that just happened. I know. Me, too, when i first heard about this from our family's counselor. Go ahead, take a moment to digest....
[insert soft elevator music]
Okay, ready for the funny part? (This is my blog; surely you expected a funny part...?)
The first time we told The Littlest Princess that she needed to Make Amends, she said, in all seriousness, "Mom, don't you mean A-Woman's? I'm not a men!"
{giggle}
Making Amends means that the perpetrator of the crime/offense has to do something for the victim of the crime/offense that is directly in line with the seriousness/nature of said crime/offense. For example, if disrespect of Mom is the offense, the child might open Mom's car door for a week to show respect. You tracking??
Now, in the end, it is up to the victim of the crime/offense to determine if the perpetrator of said crime/offense has made appropriate Amends. In other words, if Suzie pulls Katie's hair and later makes Katie's bed to Make Amends, Katie can decide if she feels the Amends-Making was sufficient to cover the offense. The responsibility of the perpetrator to really develop empathy during this process is huge. No quick fix, no If-Then statements, just true repentance and honest effort to restore relationship.
Of course, for many of you, there is a light-bulb moment that just happened. I know. Me, too, when i first heard about this from our family's counselor. Go ahead, take a moment to digest....
[insert soft elevator music]
Okay, ready for the funny part? (This is my blog; surely you expected a funny part...?)
The first time we told The Littlest Princess that she needed to Make Amends, she said, in all seriousness, "Mom, don't you mean A-Woman's? I'm not a men!"
{giggle}
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Attitude is Everything
Lately, i have been riding an emotional roller coaster. Situations in my life, coupled with a handful of health issues, have really wrung me out. As a parent, i remind my children at least weekly how important attitude is. In schoolwork, a positive attitude can make the work seem easier. In chores, attitude can make the job get done faster. In playtime, attitude can bring friends together - or push them away.
Time to take my own advice.
I need to spend the day with a positive attitude, thankful of all God has entrusted in me.
I need to do my chores with a positive attitude, thankful of all God has blessed me with.
I need to teach my kids with a positive attitude, thankful that God blessed me and trusted me with these special little people.
I remember being a 17-year-old senior in high school, scrubbing dozens of toilets in the largest homeless shelter the Washington, DC Area has, and i was happy to be there, thankful to have some small way to help, and grateful those men had somewhere to take a shower, shave, use the bathroom, brush their teeth....
Attitude really is everything.
Time to take my own advice.
I need to spend the day with a positive attitude, thankful of all God has entrusted in me.
I need to do my chores with a positive attitude, thankful of all God has blessed me with.
I need to teach my kids with a positive attitude, thankful that God blessed me and trusted me with these special little people.
I remember being a 17-year-old senior in high school, scrubbing dozens of toilets in the largest homeless shelter the Washington, DC Area has, and i was happy to be there, thankful to have some small way to help, and grateful those men had somewhere to take a shower, shave, use the bathroom, brush their teeth....
Attitude really is everything.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Unseen
We are constantly being bombarded with the Unseen in our lives: the unseen carcinogens in our air, the unseen pedophiles in our neighborhood, the unseen bugs in our mattresses, the unseen stalker on the internet, the unseen germs in the schools.
There are other Unseen things you may not be aware of: the unseen abuse taking place in a home you pass every day, the unseen brokenness in the heart of someone you work with, the unseen pain of someone sitting beside you at church, the unseen financial harships experienced by a close friend or family member.... and the Unseen victims of our own thoughtlessness.
This time of year, many of us take extra precautions to prevent picking up the latest 'bug' from the grocery store cart or the play equipment at the mall. I even carry hand sanitizer on my purse for ease of use in all circumstances.
But i am always amazed at the level of ignorance (and i mean just that - ignorance, not knowing better) of my fellow moms when dealing with germs. We panic about using a gas station potty with a toddler (aak! the germs!), but we bring a sick child to the grocery store to pick up their meds for strep throat. We freak out about handwashing after school, but we let our kids push the 'little basket' without wiping it down when we're done (right - not before we use it, but before we pass it on to the next person's child).
What i know now that i didn't realize 5 years ago is what i hope to share with all of you. There is a little girl with a heart condition who has to keep her immune system suppressed for the rest of her life. This little girl is one face among many Unseen. She is, for me, a reason i carry hand sanitizer on my purse, wipe buggies down at the store, avoid bringing my children to 'germy' places during flu season, and pay attention to every sniffle, cough, and tummyache in our home. This little girl cannot get some of the vaccines the rest of us argue about. This little girl has to be hospitalized if she contracts the chicken pox. This little girl spends 3 weeks with a slight cold instead of a few days.
She is one of the Unseen. You never know that one of the people at the doctor's office, or the next person to use your shopping cart, or the next child on the slide is on immunosuppressants. You may never meet one of these people face-to-face. But they are out there. And our thoughtlessness over something like medicating a sick child to send him to school or church is a lot more to them than it would seem to us.
Just because you can't see something, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
air...
God...
stress...
pain...
love...
...and the Unseen.
There are other Unseen things you may not be aware of: the unseen abuse taking place in a home you pass every day, the unseen brokenness in the heart of someone you work with, the unseen pain of someone sitting beside you at church, the unseen financial harships experienced by a close friend or family member.... and the Unseen victims of our own thoughtlessness.
This time of year, many of us take extra precautions to prevent picking up the latest 'bug' from the grocery store cart or the play equipment at the mall. I even carry hand sanitizer on my purse for ease of use in all circumstances.
But i am always amazed at the level of ignorance (and i mean just that - ignorance, not knowing better) of my fellow moms when dealing with germs. We panic about using a gas station potty with a toddler (aak! the germs!), but we bring a sick child to the grocery store to pick up their meds for strep throat. We freak out about handwashing after school, but we let our kids push the 'little basket' without wiping it down when we're done (right - not before we use it, but before we pass it on to the next person's child).
What i know now that i didn't realize 5 years ago is what i hope to share with all of you. There is a little girl with a heart condition who has to keep her immune system suppressed for the rest of her life. This little girl is one face among many Unseen. She is, for me, a reason i carry hand sanitizer on my purse, wipe buggies down at the store, avoid bringing my children to 'germy' places during flu season, and pay attention to every sniffle, cough, and tummyache in our home. This little girl cannot get some of the vaccines the rest of us argue about. This little girl has to be hospitalized if she contracts the chicken pox. This little girl spends 3 weeks with a slight cold instead of a few days.
She is one of the Unseen. You never know that one of the people at the doctor's office, or the next person to use your shopping cart, or the next child on the slide is on immunosuppressants. You may never meet one of these people face-to-face. But they are out there. And our thoughtlessness over something like medicating a sick child to send him to school or church is a lot more to them than it would seem to us.
Just because you can't see something, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
air...
God...
stress...
pain...
love...
...and the Unseen.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Back... and With a Vengeance!
So, here i am, finally getting around to putting some words down on this blog after a several-month absence. And now, i find myself in a stage of change. Again. {smile}
Not all changes are bad, and of course, some changes aren't good, but most changes represent challenges and a bit of uncertainty. The challenges vary substantially and the uncertainty can be daunting. However, we usually see enough benefit after working through the change to make said change worthwhile.
That brings me to my point: we are adopting a mostly vegetarian/vegan way of life as a family. It is something that has lingered on the horizon of my life for a few years now, but i have not had the drive to fully embrace it. Until now.
The last bit of research i read about dairy, and animal protein in general, shook my doubts off like water from a just-bathed dog. I can no longer deny that this is the way to keep health in my family's future. Our generation is increasingly sick, and we are looking down the line at an even sicker generation after us. That would be my children. Yeah... um... no, thanks.
So for the overall well-being of my family, we are restricting animal foods in our daily diets. And thus far, it hasn't been as difficult as i would have thought! But if any time is the time to go vegan, it is now! We are blessed to be embarking on this journey at a time when it is a very well-accepted lifestyle choice.
Recommendations for you if you are interested:
Documentaries like (to name a few)...
Forks Over Knives
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
The Gerson Miracle
Food, Inc.
And the book that started my awareness of this subject so many years ago (4 now?): Skinny Bitch.
Hard to believe i was ever that naive, but the truth is, i thought the world worked the way it looked like it did. It never occured to me that people in the medical field, governmental office, and the education system could all be misleading me. Now, i'm not saying they all are... but i am an informed consumer now. And i strongly advocate being one - make your own decisions based upon your own research and knowledge.
Not all changes are bad, and of course, some changes aren't good, but most changes represent challenges and a bit of uncertainty. The challenges vary substantially and the uncertainty can be daunting. However, we usually see enough benefit after working through the change to make said change worthwhile.
That brings me to my point: we are adopting a mostly vegetarian/vegan way of life as a family. It is something that has lingered on the horizon of my life for a few years now, but i have not had the drive to fully embrace it. Until now.
The last bit of research i read about dairy, and animal protein in general, shook my doubts off like water from a just-bathed dog. I can no longer deny that this is the way to keep health in my family's future. Our generation is increasingly sick, and we are looking down the line at an even sicker generation after us. That would be my children. Yeah... um... no, thanks.
So for the overall well-being of my family, we are restricting animal foods in our daily diets. And thus far, it hasn't been as difficult as i would have thought! But if any time is the time to go vegan, it is now! We are blessed to be embarking on this journey at a time when it is a very well-accepted lifestyle choice.
Recommendations for you if you are interested:
Documentaries like (to name a few)...
Forks Over Knives
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
The Gerson Miracle
Food, Inc.
And the book that started my awareness of this subject so many years ago (4 now?): Skinny Bitch.
Hard to believe i was ever that naive, but the truth is, i thought the world worked the way it looked like it did. It never occured to me that people in the medical field, governmental office, and the education system could all be misleading me. Now, i'm not saying they all are... but i am an informed consumer now. And i strongly advocate being one - make your own decisions based upon your own research and knowledge.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
High/Low Life
Living the High Life, whatever that is. An expression that implies good fortune, plenty, success. That begs the question: is less than plenty, success, and good fortune, living the Low Life? A "Low Life" is another expression, this one meaning someone who is less-than-desirable, and to some, less than human somehow.
So if i'm not living the High Life, am i a Low Lifer? A Low Life?
Loving God the way i do, i meander a lot on a journey that seems paved with good intentions but poor judgment, best of plans but disastrous execution, and great expectations but depressing results. And the more i compare my life to others, the more dissatisfied i get.
Okay, that makes sense. So, stop comparing, right? Simple enough! Yet... not easy.
Through the 'high' times in life, we can back-burner prayer, even God. But in the 'low' times, we cling to Him like plastic wrap clings to its roll. We just cannot get through the hard things without Him. So why do we try to get through the good times that way?
We. Are. Fickle.
Plain and simple.
I need to compare my life to Christ's. And no one else's.
In the midst of what is likely the hardest thing i have ever had to deal with, i wonder: "will i remember God's presence and my passionate vigil with Him when things level out?" Oh, Father, i hope so! Help me remember that if You can love me enough to carry me through the Tough Stuff of Life, i can love You enough to cling to You when i'm on Easy Street, too!
May God remind you today that He is there, waiting patiently for a smidge of your time, whether you are dealing with Tough Stuff or Living the High Life. His love is unchanging, which is more than we can say for our circumstances.
So if i'm not living the High Life, am i a Low Lifer? A Low Life?
Loving God the way i do, i meander a lot on a journey that seems paved with good intentions but poor judgment, best of plans but disastrous execution, and great expectations but depressing results. And the more i compare my life to others, the more dissatisfied i get.
Okay, that makes sense. So, stop comparing, right? Simple enough! Yet... not easy.
Through the 'high' times in life, we can back-burner prayer, even God. But in the 'low' times, we cling to Him like plastic wrap clings to its roll. We just cannot get through the hard things without Him. So why do we try to get through the good times that way?
We. Are. Fickle.
Plain and simple.
I need to compare my life to Christ's. And no one else's.
In the midst of what is likely the hardest thing i have ever had to deal with, i wonder: "will i remember God's presence and my passionate vigil with Him when things level out?" Oh, Father, i hope so! Help me remember that if You can love me enough to carry me through the Tough Stuff of Life, i can love You enough to cling to You when i'm on Easy Street, too!
May God remind you today that He is there, waiting patiently for a smidge of your time, whether you are dealing with Tough Stuff or Living the High Life. His love is unchanging, which is more than we can say for our circumstances.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Cupcake Mania
Today, the kids and i tackled our out-of-character, chilly, drizzly September day with a bit of nonsense. We decided, after i spent 20 minutes on YouTube, that cupcakes were in order! After all, we should practice before the birthdays come, right?
We took photos of the whole process, too, because the kids think it would be neat to make videos for YouTube that pay money! Hahaha. Ah, well, it was fun at least!
Here's a taste of what we did.
(After i get the slide show uploaded to YouTube, maybe i'll post the link here....)
Chrysanthemum Cupcakes! They were tasty, too!!
We took photos of the whole process, too, because the kids think it would be neat to make videos for YouTube that pay money! Hahaha. Ah, well, it was fun at least!
Here's a taste of what we did.
(After i get the slide show uploaded to YouTube, maybe i'll post the link here....)
From "Ho-hum"...
...to "Oh, Yum!"
Chrysanthemum Cupcakes! They were tasty, too!!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Jackpot!
Today, on a random run-through at my local Target store, i found some fantastic fixes for some trouble areas in our home. I could not believe the teacher supplies they had in the Dollar Spot! I bought an organizer for schedules, some little crayon scheduling cards, some flashcards about various subjects, and some cute reward stickers for when the kiddos apply themselves and deserve a little pat on the back.
Then i wandered past the planners and such, and i found some fabulous organizational tools called "Organize Her." I got a magnetic mail sorter, a magnetic calendar/schedule for a week, a magnetic file sorter, a magnetic flip chart that holds 3 different papers in a flip-up style, and an important numbers magnetic sheet. All of these magnetic items match, by the way, so i look organized just at a glance! Of course, a clear-off of the front of the frig was in order, but after getting all that set up, i feel like i could actually use this system and NOT clutter up my kitchen!
So, this year is about getting a handle on my home and my day. My children will all be schooling for the first time this year, and i need to feel more capable of handling all their individual educational needs better. God has been so gentle with me up to this point, but i think i am ready to step out in obedience and discipline. Armed with the knowledge of what we're dealing with and where we're headed, i feel confident this year is going to be a wonderful year!
Here's our schedule (the kids will turn their crayon around as they complete a task):
Then i wandered past the planners and such, and i found some fabulous organizational tools called "Organize Her." I got a magnetic mail sorter, a magnetic calendar/schedule for a week, a magnetic file sorter, a magnetic flip chart that holds 3 different papers in a flip-up style, and an important numbers magnetic sheet. All of these magnetic items match, by the way, so i look organized just at a glance! Of course, a clear-off of the front of the frig was in order, but after getting all that set up, i feel like i could actually use this system and NOT clutter up my kitchen!
Here's my organized Paper Sorting/Mailing/Bill Organizing Station:
So, this year is about getting a handle on my home and my day. My children will all be schooling for the first time this year, and i need to feel more capable of handling all their individual educational needs better. God has been so gentle with me up to this point, but i think i am ready to step out in obedience and discipline. Armed with the knowledge of what we're dealing with and where we're headed, i feel confident this year is going to be a wonderful year!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Life of Joseph - A Review!
"Walk with Joseph as he goes from a prince in Canaan to slavery in Egypt and then to the courts of Pharaoh. Your students will enjoy this engaging Bible study!
Follow Joseph as he travels from the tents of Jacob to the house of Potiphar and eventually becomes second in command to Pharaoh. Watch to see how Joseph reacts to slavery and false accusations. See how God uses difficult circumstances in Joseph’s life to prepare him to save thousands of people, including those who mistreated him. Joseph’s story is one of betrayal, forgiveness, and restoration. Take a look at this fascinating Bible story today!
Multi-Level Book: Designed for ages 7 and up"
~ Grapevine Studies
I recently received a copy of the Joseph Multi-Level Bible Study by Grapevine Studies to use and review in anticipation of its launch on August 1st. As always, I just love using their units! With the recent knowledge of my oldest two children's learning barriers, the units from Grapevine Studies mean even more - because it is something they can do.
The first thing I noticed about the Joseph study was that it is set up like a time line. That is a fabulous discovery for me because I recently became aware that my children do not understand what a time line is (even though we have done them in the past in our schooling).
The next thing I discovered while working through the study with my children was that it was quite thorough! This was no fluff story of Joseph; this was a Biblical account of how his life happened. And beautifully woven into the study about Joseph were review questions intended to help children process what they had learned, both about Joseph and about God's character. That sort of lesson is priceless to me. We have so much to learn about God if we are going to learn to trust Him in times of trouble - as Joseph undoubtedly knew.
As always, the Grapevine Studies units require very little in the way of supplies: a Bible, a dry erase board and dry erase markers of varying colors (they suggest 8), a copy each of the teacher book and the student book (multiple student books if you are working with multiple children like I am), and some colored pencils. The Multi-Level lessons are easy for children of many ages to complete (my 4-year-old gave it a shot, though she was less able to reproduce recognizable drawings than she was to retell the story), and there is usually something mixed in that even I didn't know. (Bonus!)
As this lesson will take us several weeks to complete, I will say that we are not finished with the unit as I write this review. However, it pleases me that we have a few more weeks to learn about Joseph as a family because my children seem to enjoy this study immensely. As I was perusing the ending sections this evening, my son was standing behind me, captivated by the simple stick-figure drawings, asking questions like "who is that?" and "what are they doing?" He is fairly anti-school, so that is a really good sign!
*Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the Joseph Bible Study at no cost to me by Grapevine Studies for the purposes of this review. A positive review was not necessary, just deserving.
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