Reflecting on 2016

Happy New Year to each one of you!

The start of a new year seemingly implies a clean slate. Yet, how can we move forward without reviewing where we've been? History not only has a habit of repeating itself but also can teach us many valuable lessons. While I'm looking forward to the fresh start 2017 has to offer me, I also know the significance of the events of 2016.

Reflections on Life:

2016 was a year of answers. Finally, the doctors had given a name to all of my symptoms. My main diagnosis is Dermatomyositis: a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and inflammation all throughout my body and organs. I also have been diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency, which means my immune system is very weak and I can become ill very easily. The treatment for both of these diseases is the same. I receive an IV infusion once a month over three days for five hours each day of Immunoglobulin G (antibodies or a blood product). My life will never be normal but I'm okay with that because God continues to work in and through me in amazing ways. I am beautifully broken and He uses that for His glory.

Reflections on Homeschool for 2016:

We completed our first year of traditional homeschooling in 2016. Although I must confess, this was our second attempt at homeschooling. When my son was in second grade, we had attempted to homeschool him that year using the same curriculum he had used in a private Christian school the year before. This was before my son received diagnoses of Aspergers or high functioning Autism, ADHD, Dysgraphia: a writing learning disability, and Dyscalculia: a math learning disability. The curriculum was very rigid and, in retrospect, not a good fit for my child at all. I felt lost that first time we attempted to homeschool and it truly felt overwhelming. It took my child two hours to write three sentences. He could only have one pencil and a piece of paper in front of him or he would be off-task and have the pencils talking to one another. We changed tactics and for six years, we cyberschooled. Then, they wanted my son to take Algebra even though he was struggling to tell time and count money, which are essential life skills. Therefore, we made the decision to try traditional homeschooling again.

I'll admit that I felt much more confident the second time around. I spent time talking with a dear friend who has traditionally homeschooled her three children all of their lives. My son and I became members of three local co-ops and attended field trips and learning experiences whenever the opportunity arose. We have an eclectic style of learning from various resources. Over the years, I've learned what works best for my child and I've educated myself about his diagnoses. We had a successful first year. His California Achievement Test results surprised me as his math grades were much better than I had anticipated. In the time we spent working together, he had become more confident in his own abilities and was working diligently. The most significant outcome was when my son informed me that he had learned more with me in the 2015-2016 school year than he had during his entire school career to date. I'm looking forward to seeing how much he has grown by the end of this year.

Lessons Learned:

* God remains the same no matter what challenges we face or who is leading our nation.

* In our weakness, God is our strength, our hope, and our refuge. We only need to be still as He fights our battles for us.

* We can't be afraid to try new things.

* Educate yourself so you'll be prepared to face the challenges ahead.

* Surround yourself with likeminded people who can encourage you and offer insight and understanding.

* Believe in the abilities God has blessed you with and use them to glorify Him.

May your 2017 be filled with the blessings of His love, His hope, and His peace, dear ones!

Reflecting on 2016 Homeschool Review Crew

Homeschool Coffee Break - Homeschool Highlights - Reflecting on 2016

Review of Waiting for Wonder by Marlo Schalesky for Litfuse Publicity

Waiting for Wonder: Learning to Live on God's Timeline, a new release by Christian author Marlo Schalesky, takes a unique look at waiting on God's timing. Let's be honest. How many of us are good at waiting? Through waiting for wonder, Marlo looks at the long wait Sarai had to endure while waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled. In Genesis 17:19, God promised that Sarai would bear a son to Abraham. This promise wasn't fulfilled until she was 90 years old! How was she able to endure such a long wait? Did she doubt God's promise? Did she wait patiently? Did she try to take matters into her own hands? Did she get discouraged? Did she grow weary?

While we are enduring trials, suffering, and in the midst of what can feel like a spiritual drought, waiting can seem like an impossible task because the situation is completely out of our control. Let's face the truth. None of us truly like letting go of our control over our lives. In unraveling Sarai's story for her readers, Marlo helps us learn the value in waiting. Waiting not only draws us closer to God but the true wonder is that in our waiting His glory is also revealed for all to see. We become a living testament to His works in us and through us. Marlo reminds us of this not only through Sarai's story but also through myriad other Biblical characters whose waiting served a far greater purpose than they could ever imagine: the blind beggar, the Samaritan woman at the well, King David, Noah, Daniel, Joseph, and Lazarus. He is the God of miracle. He is the God of you.

If you find yourself in a place of waiting or have ever wondered why God makes us wait, I recommend you read Waiting for Wonder: Learning to Live on God's Timeline by Marlo Schalesky.

You can pick up your copy of Waiting for Wonder: Learning to Live on God's Timeline at:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com,and Indie Bound.

Marlo Schalesky is an award-winning author of ten books, including “Wrestling with Wonder: A Transformational Journey Through the Life of Mary.” A regular speaker and columnist, she has also published nearly 1,000 articles in various Christian magazines, including “Focus on the Family,” “Today’s Christian Woman,” “In Touch,” and “Marriage Partnership.” Marlo lives with her husband, six young children, nine horses, two dogs, five cats, two parakeets, ten rabbits, two chinchillas, three hamsters, and a bunch of fish in a log home in Salinas, California. To learn more about Marlo, visit her author website. To learn about additional books written by Marlo, please take a moment to browse the books page on her author website. Marlo also provides hope and encouragement through her Reader Page on Facebook.

Don't forget to take a moment to enter the giveaway on the litfuse publicity site for your chance to win a copy of Marlo's new release Waiting for Wonder.


     

  #LitFuseReads #WaitingForWonder #MarloSchalesky

A Delicious Recipe to Help Keep You Warm This Winter

The weather here in Pennsylvania has definitely turned frightful as the skies are now gray, snow flurries occasionally flutter through the sky, and the temperatures hover around freezing. BRRRRR!!! I'm getting cold just thinking about it!

It is unquestionably the perfect time of year to curl up in front of the fireplace with a bowl of warm soup and enjoy the twinkling of the lights on the Christmas tree as carols play softly in the background while you visit with family and friends.

I have a delicious recipe to share with you. It is my family's favorite soup. We often partake of it together each Christmas Eve. I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe for Zuppa Toscana as much as we do. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas season! - Kelly

Zuppa Toscana Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1½ tsp crushed red peppers (or you can use a spice Italian sausage instead of adding the crushed red peppers)
• 1 large diced white onion
• 6 slices of crumbled bacon (I use 1 package of real bacon pieces instead)
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 10 cups water
• 8 cubes of chicken bouillon
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes – best if sliced thin
• ¼ of a bunch of kale 

Directions:
1. Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot.
2. Once sausage is browned add into the same pan the bacon, onions and garlic and sauté over low-medium heat for approximately 15 min. or until the onions are soft.
3. Add chicken bouillon and water to either a soup pot or slow cooker and heat until it starts to boil.
4. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about 45 min.
5. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve. (I usually forego the kale as my family doesn’t like it in their soup)
7. Serve and Enjoy!

   

#hsreviews #wintercooking #cooking

The Gifts of Listening and Compassion

Christmas is a time of joy with carols ringing out their familiar tunes, children bubbling with excitement, brightly wrapped presents stacked under the tree, colorful lights strung along houses and bushes, and people wishing one another a "Merry Christmas." What we might miss amidst all of the hustle and bustle are those individuals too who are not looking forward to Christmas.

Recently, my mother and I had the opportunity to talk with a cashier at a local store. He was pleasant, like always, but when we talked about Christmas a sadness came over him. He told us that since his wife's passing, he no longer bothers with decorating. He proceeded to tell us that Christmas was his wife's holiday as she would set up nine trees in their home each year and one tree would have real candles in honor of her German heritage. By the end of our conversation, he was smiling again. Sometimes, all it takes during this chaotic season is a willingness to listen. Genuine listening is a gift that costs us nothing but means so much to the receiver. 

Checking out of our hotel room recently, I noticed that the concierge was distracted but continued to smile. When she went to grab my receipt, she looked up at me and said, "I'm more exhausted than I realized. This isn't even the printer." I empathized and said, "Lack of sleep certainly can make our brains feel sluggish." She then proceeded to tell me she was working on her day off and couldn't remember when she last had a day off. Before leaving, I told her I sincerely hoped she had a good day and that she'd be able to get the good night's rest that her body needed. For the fist time, she gave me a genuine smile and thanked me. Sometimes, all it takes during this bustling season is a desire to show compassion. Genuine compassion and kindness is a gift that once again costs us nothing but means so much to the receiver and often brings joy and peace back to the giver in return.

We never know what the people who cross our paths may be enduring. They may be having a bad day after a series of unfortunate events, they may have recently lost their job, they may be having marital problems, they may have a loved one who is fighting a serious illness, they might be having financial difficulties, or they may have recently lost a loved one. Neither taking the time to listen nor taking a few moments to show compassion and kindness require more than our time. Yes, our schedules can become overflowing during the Christmas season but there is always time to listen, to show we care, to extend kindness to others, to be compassionate and not just at Christmastime but every day of the year. So don't get tangle up in the lights and tinsel this Christmas and miss out on the blessings that God intends to bestow. He sent His Son into this world as a tiny baby to show His immense love for us. What better gift could we give Him than to show His love to others by listening genuinely and having truly compassionate hearts.

Black Friday Homeschool Deal

 

Schoolhouse Teachers Black Friday Deal

Unique Book for Women's Ministry

 Review:

Jennifer J. Camp takes a unique view in her new release, Breathing Eden: Conversations with God on Light, Fresh Air, and New Things, by sharing the various stories of women and how God has reached down and touched their lives. This book not only helps us to know we aren't alone in our struggles but also that God does care deeply for and love each one of us. Whether you are looking for a book to use for a woman's Bible study or you just want to deepen your own personal walk with God, I highly recommend Breathing Eden. Each chapter starts with one woman's story and is followed by a time that encourages you to listen and think about what you want to talk to God about. Next comes a short series of questions for reflection. Then, you are encouraged to put your faith into practice through a trust activity. For example, one chapter has you writing a letter to your eight-year-old self. Then, each chapter ends with a prayer. 

About the Book:

What must it have been like, walking in the garden, talking with God? What would it be like to share our troubles and joys openly with him, to breathe the fresh garden air, to see the light shining through the trees? What would it be like to hear his voice responding to our questions? How might knowing God's view on our stories heal our wounds and renew our hope?

No matter our circumstances, we all need God's perspective on our lives. We need to know how he sees us. Come on, girl, he says. Let my light shine in.

Breathing Eden is forty raw, honest, heartbreaking and encouraging conversations between women and God. These prayers are like our own: full of pain, celebration, anxiety, and joy. Each one helps the reader hear God whisper love and hope into their lives. And after each story, Jennifer offers readers a guided invitation to listen for what God is saying to them.

In these pages, readers will find hope and fresh perspectives. It's an invitation to come. Breathe Eden. 

About the Author:

Jennifer Camp grew up in the middle of an almond orchard in Northern California. She was a small town girl who thought she wasn't good enough but who wanted everyone else to think that she was. The story she now loves to tell? It's the story of a lost girl and an almond tree and a gentle Savior who loves fierce. It's the story of a Savior who goes before us, wanting each of his daughters to know who she is, in Christ, and whose voice she is made to sing.

The author of Loop Devotional and a former high school English teacher, Jennifer loves to encourage people to seek and live out the truth of their story, their identity in Christ. Jennifer earned a teaching credential from UC Berkeley and a MA degree in English Education from Columbia University, Teacher's College, after graduating with a BA in English at UCLA. Jennifer and her husband, Justin Camp, are the co-founders of Gather Ministries, a non-profit organization committed to bringing the genius of Jesus to the lives of busy women and men--women and men whose lives are filled but not full.

Jennifer spends her days trying to listen close to God's whispers, writing at her blog, to encourage women to remember the truth of their identities, in Christ. She also writes with her husband, Justin, about the holy and hot mess of marriage, at holyentanglement.com. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with Justin and their three awesome kids and would love to connect with you.

Breathing Eden Available at: 

Amazon/Kindle

Christian Book Distributors

Barnes and Noble