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Filed under Shiloh
Right hand cold, left hand warm!
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Filed under Fingernails, Nail Art
The Music & Creativity – Foundation Course from Simply Music, is a self study program which might be a good way for you to decide if those piano lessons you have been considering for your student would be worth the time and the money. Why? Because it is absolutely, no strings, free. I can’t think of a better way to explore whether or not you, or your student may have an interest before laying out funds for lessons than FREE!
Simply Music is an international music education organization which was founded by an Australian music educator named Neil Moore. This is an online video course, and to get started all your student will need is a keyboard with at least 48 keys, and access to the internet. With those two things, Mr. Moore will take the student through “playing based” music learning. Here is a quick video he did about this:
A printable keyboard is offered, so that a student can practice fingering moves even when away from the piano, simply by listening to lessons on their smart phone. I like that. Also offered is an e-book titled “Music and the Art of Long-term Relationships.” This book explains a lot of Mr. Moore’s musical philosophies. His reason for this course is to help students have a love for music forever. You can also download the soundtracks of the music that your student will play along with.
The idea here is to learn by seeing patterns in music, as opposed to learning to read the notes to play music. Since “The Batman,” “The Artist” and I have had regular piano lessons, this is an uncomfortable method for us, however I think that especially when it comes to those who have no experience this may be just the way to go.
As this is a video course, there are multiple videos, of course! I do like that, because I need to SEE what I am being taught, along with hearing it. My boys, however, hate doing the practice time involved with traditional piano lessons, so this is fun for them. I do think they will enjoy continuing with this, although I will more likely go back to working through my piano lesson books until we can afford to pay a new teacher for me (our teacher moved away).
So again, as I said at the top of this review, if you have not had lessons, this would be a great way to guage interest befor coming up with the money for lessons. I encourage you to read the thoughts of the 44 other reviewers by clicking on the banner below!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
Filed under home education, Online Piano Lessons, Simply Music
Shiloh has been on enforced rest for 2 weeks, and as a reward, he got a new toy! To see how much he likes it, check it out by clicking HERE!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
Filed under Shiloh
The story of Naaman which is told in second Kings chapter five of the Bible is very short, but interesting.
The Heart Changer, written by Jarm (pronounced Yarm) Del Boccio takes this Bible story and fleshes it out as a novel. I was given the digital version of this book to review.
I really have always enjoyed books in which the author takes the minimal facts of an actual historical event, and with some imagination brings it alive in a novel.
In this novel, we see someone growing and learning to hold onto faith, even in the middle of very difficult circumstances. This happens to be something I am currently struggling with, making this the perfect time for me to be reading and reviewing this book.
Jarm Del Boccio
has written this as her debut book, and it’s good enough that I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with next! Del Boccio is also a teacher on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, a favorite homeschooling resource for many parents, including me.
Here is the video trailer for this book:
Miriam is the name given by the author to the “little maid” who in verse 2 of second Kings has been taken captive from Israel to become the servant (slave) of the wife of Naaman. In the Bible, she is not named. Given that the novel focuses on “the little maid’s” point of view, it was important that she be given a name.
In the beginning of The Heart Changer, Miriam’s village is being invaded by Syrians, and many captives are taken to be slaves. Miriam though, does not go to be auctioned off. She is brought to the captain of those who invaded her village, and after questioning her, he chooses her to be the new servant of his wife.
Miriam must now, in her anger at her situation, learn to live with Gentile traditions instead of her own. When her mistress proves to be kind as opposed to harsh, she also begins to soften somewhat.
As the story is written in second Kings chapter five, we learn that Naaman has leprosy. Miriam remembers that there is a prophet back where she came from in Israel named Elisha. She believes that her mistress’ husband can be healed by Elisha. They do go there, and Miriam is hopeful of discovering whether her family is still safe.
Naaman is told what he must do to be healed, but he feels that what he is instructed to do is beneath him. He finally listens to reason and does as Elisha has instructed, which of course, heals the leprosy. This changes is heart, and he acknowledges the One True God.
This story shows also a changed heart in Miriam, who begins the story in the novel as a bitter, angry girl over what has happened to her. Throughout the story, she grows and learns to accept that God has His own plans, and Miriam is where she is for an important, specific purpose.
There is a study guide for The Heart Changer available on The Heart Changer page. Simply scroll down to the white square which says The Heart Changer, and click.
After getting to Know the author on the first few pages, the guide goes into Miriam and her story:
QUESTIONS ABOUT MIRIAM’S STORY TO PONDER:
• Who do you think the “Heart Changer” is? Why do our hearts need changing?
• Our friends and family can see our actions and hear our words. But many times
we are able to hide our true feelings. Can anyone see deep down in your heart?
If so, what would He find there?
• Why did Miriam have a hard heart?
• If you were taken from your home, what would you miss the most?
• Is it okay to question God?
• When could you see Miriam’s heart beginning to change?
• Why was Rana’s heart jealous of Miriam? Have you ever felt jealous? Of whom?
• Have you ever felt like turning your back from God because of difficult
circumstances?
• Do you think it was wrong of Miriam to light the candles to Adara’s god?
• What circumstance in your life seems like a tangled tapestry? How can God
make it beautiful? Can you see it happening right now?
• Which character did you relate to the most? Why?
• What is another way Miriam’s story could have ended?
• Would Miriam have influenced Naaman for good if she would have shown hate
instead of forgiveness?
And there is much more to help learn about, and ponder, the time and place of Miriam’s life.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
It is targeted to middle grade student, but it is suitable for adults as well. I enjoyed it, and I’m an adult!
44 other Crew Members reviewed this book, both digital and physical copies. To read what they all thought about it, please click the banner just below!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
Filed under Jarm Del Boccio, The Heart Changer
Got some really good meals in the freezer today! As you know, I use My Freeze Easy for my menu creating. This time around, “The Artist” and I put together this plan . . .
Some of the prep work being done . . .
And our finished product!
We did all of this, from pre-prep to putting it all in the freezer, in exactly 2 hours, ten minutes. You can do it too!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
Filed under Freezer Meals, Freezer Prepping
Taco Burgers (from My Freeze Easy) being grilled!
Taco Burger, chips & salsa!
Happy Independence Day, everyone, and please, remember why this day exists!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
Filed under Uncategorized
Our Vacation Bible School at Mesa Baptist Church just ended, and this is what my kids did for crazy hair night!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
Matific Galaxy is an online math resource that provides fun activities for learning or practicing math skills such as counting, ordering, addition, and subtraction. We were given this online program for the purpose of this review, and “The Puzzler” has been enthusiastically using it ever since. I can honestly state that he really, really likes it!
“The Puzzler” has learning disabilities, particularly when it comes to math. While he can count his 0ne dollar bills and pennies, he cannot count money beyond that, so after looking at the skills per grade,
I went with K, because as I said, math is where he struggles the most, not matter how hard we’ve worked with him. If the time comes that he’s getting beyond this level, it is a very easy option to change where I have him set.
You really CAN easily see their progress from the parent zone of this site! Here is one of the progress reports I have been able to see . . .
As you can see, *I* need some more practice though, in doing screen shots! But this is just one of the screens in a long page of results.
One of the things we like is that the lessons are very short, which works well with the short attention spans I deal with around here. At the same time, even though I told him to use this at least 15 minutes 3 times per week, “The Puzzler” regularly went longer, AND asked me to log into my laptop so that he could play Matific Galaxy at additional
As he goes along, “The Puzzler” can check his own achievements, without waiting for me.
“The Puzzler,” working in different lessons.
Here he is in an activity he didn’t care for, he said it was hard to draw the numbers with the mouse. The number he drew is at the very left, almost out of view, and he’s about to do one in the upcoming blank square.
One of the reasons I think that this program is one that he is frequently wanting to use is that it has the feel of a video game, wherein he must complete each section befor he can as my boys put it, “Level up!” This means, until he is ready to move on, he cannot level up, so he is learning all the time. We limit the boys to one hour each per day on video games, so I’m thinking this was to him, a legitimate way of getting around the time limit! Because “it’s SCHOOL, Mom!” Well, I’m totally OK with that!
I really am happy that we were chosen to review Matific Galaxy! I think you should go and check it out!
Please, click on the banner below to read what 49 other fair and honest crew members think of Matific Galaxy. I bet you’ll like what they have to say!
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
“The Puzzler” was sleeping off the anesthesia after having all 4 of his wisdom teeth out yesterday . . .
As always, I would just love it if you would join me in all of “My Journeys Through Life.” Just go to the subscription box at the top of the blog and enter your email information. After that, you will always know when there is something new happening. I hope to see you here very soon! -)
My Journeys Through Life . . . Herding Cats In New Mexico! 