Disney Princess Candyland

Disney Princess Candyland was given to my almost 8 year old for Christmas this past December. It's definitely not a board game for an 8 year old but my 3 year old loves it. She loves playing with the princesses.

Included in the box is a game board, instructions, 4 princesses (Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White), and the color cards to tell you where to move. Princess Tia, Jasmine, Rupunzle, and Ariel are pictured on the box and on the game board.

I actually use the game to teach her how to count and to review her colors. When it's her turn, she takes a card. I ask her in Spanish what color is on the card and she tells me. Then I have her count how many spaces she needs to move to land on the color or special box that she just picked.

Disney: The Lego Duplo Ariel Undersea Castle

This set was another Christmas gift that my 3 year old received this past December. Even though the Lego set was intended for my youngest daughter, my 8 year old loved playing with it as well.

The Lego Duplo Ariel Undersea Castle featured Ariel and her friends Flounder and Sebastian. In the box you would find Ariel, Flounder and a block with Sebastian on it. Ariel's arms and head moved and she bends at the waist. She also had the ability to snapped into place in both the standing and sitting position. There was also a swing, slide, treasure chest, and treasures that can be placed around Ariel's castle. The set also included a book on how to create different castle designs.

Disney: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Artist Pad

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Artist Pad was given to my 3 year old for Christmas this past December. The pad came with 3 big crayons, 35 stickers, and coloring pages. 

She loved having her own coloring pad since her older sister received one a few years ago and would rarely allow the youngest to color in it.

Tony Evans: God is Working in the Spiritual Realm.

The Holidays and Missing My Mom

Since November 2008, the holidays have never been the same. I lost my mom and I think about her all of the time.....especially during Christmas. I have a 3 year old that never met her and an almost 8 year old that only has a vague memory. 

My family that lives out of town invited me and my family to their New Year's Eve celebration. My hubby decided to stay home with our children so I made the drive out of town by myself. Once the party started, I found myself becoming really sad. I started thinking of my mom and how much I really miss her. We really do take for granted those we love. Now, she is gone and she will never know how much I loved her. 

On New Years Day, I was driving home and turned on the radio. I was changing the radio stations and came across a man preaching. I decided to listen to what he had to say. I ended up finding out it was Tony Evans. I've heard of him but really had never heard him preach. This is what he said: "When an earthquake shakes things up, it can cause death and destruction. When God shakes things up, it’s often the first step toward deliverance, healing and restoration." He was preaching about thanking God when one is in "the storm." We only see the physical realm but God is working in the spiritual realm. 

Its been a tough few years, but I can not wait to see how the Lord is going to use my tribulations to bring Him GLORY. Jesus knew that I needed to hear this sermon. Click on this link to hear Tony Evans' message. Tony Evans 2014

This is what the Bible says about suffering. 

Romans 5:3-5, 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 34:17-20 ESV / When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV / For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

Revelation 21:4 ESV He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Mandisa: Stronger

Review about Write From Medieval History Level 2

About Write From Medieval History Level 2:


Brookdale House is an on-line company were educational resources are published. Their curriculum is designed for children across all grade levels.

Medieval History Level 2 Cursive was the book I selected to review. The book is designed for grades 3rd - 5th which covers medieval history from 400 AD to 1600 AD. Medieval History Level 2 used the Charlotte Mason method. It taught grammar, spelling, and history -all at once.

Medieval History was divided into 4 sections: short stories, text excerpts from primary source documents, poetry, and cultural tales. "For Chapter 1, short stories that give insight into people, places, and events during medieval times have been selected." Chapter 2 contained historical essays reflecting medieval philosophy and history. The next section contained poetry from and about the medieval times. The final chapter, contained folk tales.

Following every reading section, the student would find an opportunity to summarize the story and 3 hand writing practices. In Medieval History Level 2 Cursive, the child would have written the copywork in cursive. Some of the other volumes would provide the copywork in manuscript.

The appendix provided two models for dictation. The first option provided the same writing sample as the one found in the copywork model which followed each reading selection. The second option, is a section from the reading.

Contact Information

$22.95

Our Homeschool Experience:

Currently, my daughter is learning about influential individuals that lived during the Medieval Times. This is why I selected to review the book "Write From Medieval History Level 2" which covers medieval history from 400 AD through 1600 AD. When she was learning about Christopher Columbus, I was able to incorporate the chapter in this volume about Christopher Columbus. Since the chapter is pretty long and she is only 7, her and I took turns reading a page once a day. While reading, she learned about the 3 ships that were involved in the exploration. She created the 3 ships La Nina, La Pinta, y (and), La Santa Maria out of cardboard. While we were creating the ships, I had music from Spain playing in the background. We also talked about Spain's involvement in providing the financial support. I took out her interactive globe and showed her where Spain and Italy are located (Christopher Columbus was from Italy.). I was also able to show her all of the countries that Christopher Columbus discovered. She also wrote an acrostic poem about Christopher Columbus. And she drew a picture of Spain's flag and colored it.

Spain's Flag

Copywork

Continuing our study of medieval times, I read the cultural tale "A Tale of a Penny." This story is about an emperor whose porter was really intelligent. He asked the emperor if he may govern the city for a single month. The attendant told the emperor that he would tax individuals that entered the city according to their disabilities. The more defects the person would have, the more he would be taxed. One day a hunchbacked man wanted to enter the city. When the attendant notice his defects, he asked the hunchback for payment. The hunchback refused to pay the fee. The ending of the story: "Thus, a fellow unjustly refusing to pay a rightful demand of one penny, was necessitated, much against his inclination, to pay five."

There were a few words used in the story that my daughter did not know what they meant. This gave me the opportunity to help her find the definitions to these words.

With this tale, I was able to talk to my 7 year old about people with disabilities. And how God created everyone equally and loves everyone dearly. He does not look at the outside appearance but our hearts.

We loved "Write From Medieval History Level 2" and we would recommend it. 

I have been given this product free of charge for review purposes. 

Macaroni Kid iPad Giveaway

December 1st - the 15th iPad Subscriber Giveaway, One lucky Macaroni Kid subscriber will win an Air iPad. Corporate will be selecting the winner. Please click here Sebring Macaroni Kid and subscribe so you may enter the giveaway and read the rules.

The Transformation of an Exotic Dancer

A few months ago, I attended a Bible study group and bumped into a lady I had not seen in a while. After the group, she walked up to me and said that she had prayed about who to give this book to. (Apparently, the book that she handed to me had been given to her a while back. She had finished reading it and wanted to pass it down to someone else.) I took the book and looked at the cover. What caught my eyes were the words "exotic dancer."I continued to read the cover and noticed that the book was titled "Scars and Stilettos." My friend told me that the book was about a former stripper who became a Christian. "Hmmm, something I will definitely read" I said to her.

I really love reading non fiction books. Especially the books that speak about God's unconditional love for a wretched world. I started reading it and I could not put it down. At times I was really heart broken for this little girl named Harmony. At the age of 3 she was exposed to pornography. Later on in life, she was raped by men in her life. When she was about 19, she ended up becoming a stripper named Monique. Her life was wrapped up in sexuality. It was what she knew. It was what she had become.

Then she met a young lady that attended church. They began a friendship. At times this friend invited her to church. At first, Harmony refused to go. Her friend never gave up on her. When Harmony would refuse to attend church, her friend would ask if she wanted to go have coffee instead. One day, Harmony accepted her friend's invitation. She attended church and Jesus captured her heart. He looked beyond her current job as an exotic dancer. He looked beyond her past. He just saw His child and He was IN LOVE with what He saw.

I really LOVED reading this book. It was such a great reminder of how merciful my Savior is. He meets us were we are and captures our hearts. He romances us with His unconditional love. He embraces us and tells us we are His treasured possessions.

What an amazing God I serve. He sees beyond my wretched past and just sees His beautiful masterpiece.

Dara Maclean "Wanted"

Psalm 139: 13-15

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken

    and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”

    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Psalm 45:11

Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;

    honor him, for he is your lord.