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.

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.

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.

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.