Saturday, December 31, 2016

When I Grow Up Review

                              When I Grow Up, I Want To Be a Missionary Review
     My youngest son has been a Believer for years but recently this year he has felt the Lord calling him into the Ministry. Trying to help show him the many different areas of ministry is why I was excited to have the opportunity to review “When I Grow Up I Want To Be a Missionary” from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine ( http://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/shop/ ) for the Schoolhouse Review Crew ( www.SchoolhouseReviewCrew.com ) . I thought this study would show him there are different ways people are missionaries throughout the world.
     For this review I received a 93 page PDF that I was able to download and print the pages I needed to do the study with my son ( WannaBe™-When I Grow Up I Want to be a Missionary) . The age range suggested for this is 4-10 but I used it for my 17 year old as well as my 6 year old grandson. Included in this download are experiments, vocabulary, copy work, memory verses, activities, games and party themes. I was able to print what I needed as we did the study.
    I read the stories about different missionaries out loud to both of them. I printed the science activities, vocabulary and math and set up a folder for each child. I also was able to include “Fill in the Blank” and crossword puzzles in my sons folder and handwriting practice and coloring sheets in my grandsons folder. The activities include a list of needed supplies such as Bible, construction paper, pony beads.etc.We’ve made the Witness bracelets before so we used the directions and made Witness pins which were easy and fun for both boys.
    I have been incorporating the study into our lessons at least once a week and then working on memory verses and or activities included in the product. I was excited to see a page on sign language since Jacob is deaf and we’re teaching Hunter sign language. The page has how to fingerspell some words but it would be great to include the full alphabet in sign language.
    I was really impressed with the different types of Missionaries that were featured in this study. Each was given such detail so my son and I both could understand the differences. A plus was “How to prepare” sections because many know they want to go into missions but don’t know the steps to take. The sample budget is a great way to teach “Budgeting” as a missionary.
    I would highly recommend this study for those wanting to learn and educate their children of who, what, where, when and how on becoming and being a Missionary. This is a great study to be used by a home school family, children or youth group at church. There are websites at the end of the study that direct you to related occupations to check out. We will continue to utilize the activities and recipes even after the study is complete.


Thursday, December 22, 2016

Gingerbread House Fun

   We live close enough to Asheville, NC that we go every year to The  Grove Park Inn to see the  National Gingerbread House Competition and this was Hunter's first time going. Jacob had put this on his list of Christmas things to do list so it was a must we go. It was crazy busy but there were some awesome pieces. You look at many and wonder how it was made since everything has to be edible on the pieces so with that being said Hunter's response was, "Can we eat them?"








   The Inn is decorated so beautifully and the lobby has two huge fireplaces with rocking chairs to enjoy. We even found a couple of Elf's on the Trees in the lobby and an old car on display.







    Hunter had his hands on the metal of the windows and thought he'd warm them up on Grandma.

    Watch out Hunter's driving the sleigh. We ended our Asheville adventure eating at Fuddruckers and stopping for Dunkin Donuts.I asked Hunter if he liked the Gingerbread Houses and he said,"No, we couldn't eat them "That was one of many laughs from the day. Jacob is a Florida Gator fan big time and as we got off the elevator two women were sitting in the hall. One was wearing a Gator hat so Jacob told her he really liked her hat. The younger woman asked if we were fans so we told her our house was divided and she told us her brother played for them. OH Jacob got really EXCITED!!!!!Small world.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Countdown to Christmas

   Our December and countdown to Christmas has kept all in our family busy.So many questions from Hunter and Jacob has really stepped up trying to help answer those questions.
   Jacob decorated our tree by himself this year using all our ornaments we've gotten from Hospice every year since my dad passed and a few homemade ones he and his older brothers made over the years.Hunter has since added a few he made this month.
   Jacob and I got an early present to ourselves....new recliners.He can kick back,enjoy looking at his Hydro Bear hanging out in the tree and watch Christmas shows.

   God has given us some beautiful sights to remind us of Him and be awed.


   Battled the cold weather to go see Christmas lights and yes Santa.


   Yes we even have Elves at our house but they definitely DON'T stay on the shelf.They leave things for the boys but they also leave notes for them to "give extra hugs", "do an extra chore",etc.The excitement of watching both boys looking the house over is great.



    Still a few days to go so the fun continues.

Thursday, December 8, 2016



Thanksgiving was a fun time at our house with "Sweet Turkey" and pin the feathers on the turkey.
November was also a worrisome time for our state with the wildfires.Our church set up a shelter with Red Cross for the "Party Rock" fire in Lake Lure,NC.Hunter,Jacob and several other youth from church helped load and set up cots.





Jacob had a special visit from our friend Joey who we met at Hydro Camp in Texas June 2015.His daughter and Jacob both have Hydrocephalus (Water on the Brain) and we spent an awesome weekend in Texas last year with other Hydro Warriors.Joey was taking a little "road trip" before Thanksgiving and came to see us in NC.



All in all it was a good month and both boys learned about giving and helping others.We all learned to take nothing for granted because it can change in a blink of an eye.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

   Half way thru the month.....whew!!!It's hard to believe the end of the year is so close and the cold weather has finally found us.
   We have started a "Thankful Tree "on our front door and Hunter is pretty proud of. We have a lot to be thankful for,God,family,food,shelter and freedom to just list a few. Today I would like to ask everyone to pray for rain here in N.C. to help with our wildfires and for the safety of all the fire personnel that are working the fires. We are thankful for the emergency personnel because we live about 15 miles from the "Party Rock "fire so we have friends working protecting homes, businesses and people. Our church was set up as an emergency Red Cross shelter and I was honored to watch Hunter, Jacob and several of our youth help set it up.
   Jacob and I are teaching Hunter sign language and Jacob is wanting to learn Cherokee. Any ideas/web sites that any one knows would teach Cherokee please let me know.
   P.E. yesterday consisted of Hunter "sledding" down the hill....no snow needed.LOL!!Crazy kids.
Gotta get my coffee and plan out our "fun" for today. Everyone have a blessed day and be "Thankful".


Thursday, November 10, 2016

   So much to learn about and celebrate in November ( Native American Heritage Month, Election Day, my dad's birthday, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and much more).
   Jacob started the Native American Heritage in October getting to know many of our family in S.C. My side of the family  have Cherokee and Santee while Jacob also has Algonquin from his father's side. We are very proud of our heritage and ancestors and are digging to find out all we can.
   For Election Day Hunter and Jacob "secretly" voted for President, raising taxes, importing illegal people and free ice cream (big YES by both).Jacob spent the day following the election on TV and updating me as to what was happening. Hunter and I made a calming jar to help calm the situation. Ha ha!
   Special flowers have been placed on my dads grave for his birthday and we will put his flag out today for  Veterans day. Very proud to remember all Veterans but love how much Jacob is dedicated to supporting the US Air Force since Dad was Air Force.
   And so we travel along the learning trail. Hope y'all have a blessed day!!
  

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Happy Fall Y'all
  We've had a lot of fun things going on in our family.A trip to the farmer's market,Dollywood,Pigeon Forge,campfire and Trick or Table at church.
  The farmer's market was a first for Hunter and he got some Honey Sticks like his Uncle Jacob.He didn't like the green apple flavored one so I got it.YUM!!!
  We head to Dollywood as often as we can but the month of October is our favorite month.It's always cooler weather but the best thing is the Harvest Festival.The whole month of October is Gospel music time at the park and Jacob is an avid Gospel music listener ,Southern,Contemporary and ok pretty much any type.I'm very happy that this is how God has led his life and pray he continues to follow where God leads him.This trip we stayed in a different hotel right beside Krispy Kreme Donuts,not sure that was so healthy.LOL!!We also tried a new restaurant for dinner.Quaker Steak, and it was AWESOME.The atmosphere was entertaining with a motorcycle suspended from the ceiling and rotating to corvettes on a car lift raised above the tables.The food was great and reasonably priced so if you've seen a Quaker Steak and not sure about eating there.....DO.
   Saturday we got back from Dollywood in time to pick Hunter up for the campfire and games  at church.There were numerous games that even the adults were involved in but my favorite was "shaving  the balloon".Hunter was very intent on shaving all the cream off without popping his balloon but Ms. Tammy snuck up and popped it.We ended the night with a devotional around the campfire and SMORES.
   Hunter's birthday was also this weekend so we celebrated with chocolate gravy and biscuits and of course cupcakes.
   Trick or Table was fun with a little scare.Our table was the Ten Commandments and Jacob dressed up like Moses.Our church also had soup and cornbread for all.The fellowship was great and to see everyone's different costume was cool.Hunter was Dracula and scared Grams a couple of times.