Some of our favorite music

Love this song...one my children and I's favorite worship songs! Love Kari Jobe's voice!

This one too!

Tamela Mann...SANGS from her heart! And you can feel it. I love this song and the message. Many a times we just need to lay OURSELVES down at the feet of the King.

This is a live performance of this song is South Africa...love this song! The kids love it too!

Does your family have any favorite worship songs? If so please do share them so we can check them out!

Homeschooling For Our Family

Our family of course does not fall into the traditional category of homeschooling as we adhere to Florida State standards and we use the Florida Public school curriculum through their FREE homeschool program (K-12, through Connections Academy). I love homeschooling because when Kaylee succeeds, I'm right there to cheer her on.

So that was my disclaimer, for families who are strictly doing more traditional homeschooling methods and curriculum. I chose this form of homeschooling because it works very well for us as the homeschooling parents (I find it very hard to put together a curriculum and it can be quite expensive purchasing one).

So this curriculum actually works as it includes (for Kindergarten) sight word reading books and Kindergarten level reading books. What I love is that Kaylee has a homeroom teacher who checks in with us monthly for an assessment to see that Kaylee is not only learning but also to point out areas, that I may not have recognized, to work with Kaylee on. That is one of the main things I appreciate about going through the public school homeschooling option is that while I am my daughter's everyday teacher, she has a state certified teacher who checks in and helps out. The other thing that I love is that while Kaylee is homeschooled, she does have the option to interact with her "classmates" through group video chat biweekly (for lessons and show & tell). 

Now as far as bible study goes, I add that in daily as we read from three different children's bibles (we like to mix it up), we also have two prayer books we read from..and my babies love to worship to music. Their favorite worship artist: Kari Jobe...specifically her tracks Steady My Heart and Find You On My Knees. You want to hear my kids start worshiping no matter what they are doing...put on Kari Jobe.

Our routine has changed to us getting up by 6:30 am. We're up brushing teeth, bathtime,  reading, worshiping, praying, and eating breakfast. By 8am, we're buckled down for school work for Kaylee. Caleb likes to color and he loves music, so that's what he does. By 12pm we're eating lunch and cleaning up then its afternoon free-time until Daddy gets home. After Chris is home, we wind down for dinner and bedtime by 7:30pm.

I know of course this schedule would not work for all families but the point is to get on some type of schedule so that your children are aware of what the day will be like, there will be less fuss because they already know. Now I'll be honest there are many days that we get off schedule and that's okay, that's one of the many perks of homeschooling. 

So if you homeschool, what is your schedule like? Are there any curriculum you particularly like for your children? Any that you would recommend?

Devotional Review

 

I have nothing but good...no GREAT things to say about the 365 day devotional Revealing Jesus by Darlene Zschech! I love it because it is COMPLETELY scripture based. Each daily devotional starts off with a specific scripture or passage (completely written out so you don't have to whip out your bible) then the devotion builds upon and discusses that scripture and HOW we can APPLY that scripture to our lives. I love it. 

I'll be honest I've read other devotionals and I've put them down because they didn't have enough scripture or wasn't fully backed with scripture however with this devotional that is NOT the case. It is fully scripture based...every single day of devotion. I love the way the author Darlene Zschech includes the way we can apply the daily scripture to our lives. I think that is a problem area for many people as we read, we go to church, we worship, we fellowship, we follow yet we sometimes have a hard time practicing what we learn/read. And this devotional is a great start in the right direction.

{FYI: I did receive this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my HONEST review.}

Men...Women....and Cheating

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                This is a topic that seems to baffle me. It's baffling because there are so many young women who are becoming tolerant of their men cheating even going so far to say that it doesn't matter as long as the guy comes home to them and takes care of them. But what does that say about you?? What does that mean for you? Have you not seen the film: Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor?? Because if you did then you'd understand just EXACTLY what the repercussions of cheating and/or allowing cheating could do to you!
 
                  When you read the bible, you'd read that marriage is for life unless one spouse commits adultery. There is a reason why divorce is not permitted unless adultery is committed. Because once a person shares their body with a person who isnot their spouse, they create a dangerous soul tie. On top of that there are the chances that the cheater could bring home unnecessary issues such as STDS, a fatal attraction, or even illegitimate children. But of course I'm guessing young people think these things won't happen to them. That they wouldn't, couldn't contract an STD, or that they wouldn't have illegitmate children. But I'm very certain it happens regularly.

                   Then there are the women who defend cheating, believing that the guy loves them because he spends so much of his time or money on them. But who are they trying to convince others or themselves? Because a man who truly loves a woman KNOWS that cheating on her is valid grounds for losing her, so he'd rather be faithful than to step out and lose his lady. The funny thing is that you don't see men defending their girl cheating stating that its okay because she spends her time with him. NOPE. A dude will leave a chick so quick for cheating, they not trying to hear the whole "baby I love you" speech because they figure she shared something that should have been his exclusively. That is the stance people NEED to take. They need to understand that one man, one woman, for one lifetime...is STILL in effect. It won't change.

             The moral of the post is that whatever you ALLOW will happen to you. So if you defend and condone cheating then guess what? You will be cheated on. But if you raise your standards, you will see a difference. Better yet? Try not having sex at all UNLESS you married because then the person you will won't have a choice but to want you for you and not what's underneath your clothes.


If you have not seen Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor....GO SEE IT. It may change how you view relationships and cheating. It may also remind you not to take your spouse for granted.

It's the last week!

Hi folks!

So we're winding down to the last week of our time here in Chicago. So the best surprise came Sunday evening. My husband surprised us by flying in 4 days early!

 

(My children and I on Easter.)

 

So as of now, we are up to our eyeballs in Wedding stuff but the great thing is that my mommy loves all of the decor and flowers. Her dress is BEAUTIFUL...mine is form fitting, mermaid dress in a beautiful sage green with a nice little train.

 

Thankfully my mother and new step father are helping with the children so we can have a few date nights prior to us heading back to Orlando.

 

Now on to the funny stuff! Our youngest has taken to calling his grandma...Annie. LOL.

Then Caleb has a lovely fascination with the Geico commercial and the guy sings Two tickets to paradise:

http://youtu.be/iG0t57PUTaM

 

It's absolutely hilarious to listen to him sing along with the commercial.

 

There will be LOADS of new book reviews coming in May and June. Hubby tells me I got tons of new arrivals waiting back at home. And while I'm here I'm reading "Firefly Island" by Lisa Wingate so that I can review it soon (its a fiction novel).

 

Oh...check me out on Whole Magazine! Where I have a few book reviews under Lifestyle. And a few articles as well...under Lifestyle and Relationships.

 

 

Have an awesome week!!!