Have You Heard?

We're Moving! And this is a post about STACIA'S MOVING BOOK!!

I have been kicking around an idea for a moving book but didn't find quite what I wanted at my normal free lapbook sites. We set out to make our own. I'm quite proud of this because...we found our own clip art, we made our own plan of what we wanted to include and I LET STACIA DO MUCH OF IT HERSELF!!!! For those who know of my aversion to mess and imperfection this signals God has done a great work in my heart. Honest.

I started by having Arielle take photos of the thing that everyone most wanted to be sure was packed for our upcoming move. I printed the photos out and laminated them.

Pretty representative: bookshelf, dolls, play kitchen, laptop, dinosaur collection, action figures, kayak...

Front cover - Stacia's moving on a plane...and there is also a map which shows our projected road trip.

We have a middle extension....this side has 4 monthly calendars that I printed at 50% normal from Organized Home. The hearts in May are Arielle's birthday/Jamin's Graduation. The circled date in June is when we expect to leave TX. The X in July is our report NLT date.

The other side shows a map of Japan and has a pocket for stickers. Stacia will either X each day or place a sticker on each day until we leave San Angelo, get on the plane etc. I think I need to go buy some smaller stickers to fit the calendars.

This is the open spread. The boxes, truck, boat and Misawa sign are all pockets. Note that Stacia cut up and glued the map on the right hand side "all by herself". She also pasted all sorts of red things with black writing all over in the book. She's proud.

We've talked about the move all afternoon. She's enjoyed moving the "things" from the "toy box" (which had to be improvised after she colored the top left hand toy box) through the various stages of the move. Here are our favorite things. First they'll go into a box. (Hmmm, I should probably get some photos of movers.)

Then they'll go into the truck.

Then our things will go on to a boat....

Then they'll arrive in Misawa. (Hmmm, I should add boxes at this end to unpack).

These last four photos are not accurate. That "laptop" used in the photos will never go into a box. It will go into a carry on, into the trailer and then on to the plane. ::snort:: We are not sure WHAT to do about Jared's kayak.

As Stacia and I worked on this this afternoon I realized how often I run to Office Depot for laminating stuff, folders, brads, colored paper....and realize I'm going to have to be much more organized based on comments I received from my question on Misawa Home Educators about office supplies. ::snort::

Liz A (Woot! A reader from Misawa) - click here (link is in sidebar too) for a handout I made of my favorite lapbook links. Homeschool Share - has lots of great, free, lapbooks to "prime the pump". You can find lapbooks that go along with children's books or topics...we used them for our Knight Books and our Viking Books earlier in the year. Stacia came up with her first lapbook all on her own.
You can see more of our lapbooks at Our Lapbooks Page.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

You Know it's a Peculiar Day When.....

...a man with a BIG badge shows up on your doorstep and asks to speak with Josiah or Jamin G. I was trying to remember WHERE I'd put the HSLDA phone number, because this guy sure looked official and I wasn't sure I wanted him in my house....but then I realized Josiah graduated 2 years ago so it couldn't be HSLDA.

It turns out a friend of theirs is applying for a very secret Intel clearance...in fact he's a student at the base. Shew.

We are slogging away on our studies of Colonial America.

We got everything out to work on our Japan book....

We got side-tracked by lunch.

Then Speech. Nolan took a test and they said he is making all the sounds correctly except "ar" in the ending position. I have an ARD meeting tomorrow and expect we'll agree to dismiss him from the program.

By the time I got home the kids really didn't want to do more school.

Arielle was working on a Princess lapbook.

I printed out stuff for Stacia to make an Easter lapbook. I'll try to post resources later.

Stacia and I made a Moving Book.

The inspection on base began today. Prayers are welcome...for the base to shine as it is a GOOD base and they've worked very hard to portray their strengths.

Mike isn't home yet - but he said he'd be home early.....so....I think I'll go ahead and eat. ::snort::

{Intel - Intelligence career field in the military; ARD - Admission, Review and Dismissal review}

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

He's a Man Now

Yep, it's official. Each family is sure to have their own rites of passage...but last night Mike passed the torch to Josiah.

What? You can't tell what it is? It's a Patrick McManus Treasury. Mike has read these books to us around campfires and during winter evenings for the past 20 years. I ordered a set by "accident" on PBS and we immediately decided to give them to Josiah. It seems only RIGHT and he does seem bent on creating his own outdoor memories (judging by this weekend). ::snort:: Mike thinks that Josiah should get his boss a copy of "A Fine and Pleasant Misery".

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Blogging for Books

Would you like the chance to blog for books? If approved, WaterBrook/Multnomah/Random House Books will send you an advance copy to review on your blog. You usually have the opportunity to request 1 - 2 books to giveaway as well. You pay postage, most often, to mail books to your winners.

I've enjoyed my participation in this program. I've read many new books and authors that I would not have read otherwise. You do get to pick which genre you are interested in reviewing...and you are never sent a book to review unless you indicate that you want to review it.

Visit this link to find out more about the program. If you join - mention you heard about the program from this blog/URL .

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Blog Tour & Giveaway

Clutter-FREE Christianity - By Robert Jeffress

My Summary: I have not finished this book. I was hooked in the first pages as the author asks us to imagine we are moving to a foreign country and suggests ways we could prepare. ::snort:: I was TRYING to rush through this book so that I could review it....but this book is too good to rush. I sense that it has a lot to say to me.

Chapter titles include: Keeping Your Faith Clutter-Free, Connecting Your Heart to God's Power, Experiencing Heaven on Earth No, Clearing Away Anger, Bitterness and Emotional Knots, Saying Yes to the Impossible, Allowing Peace to Rule Your Life, Finding More in Less, Discovering the Key to Greatness, Communicating with the One Who Loves Your Most and Creating a Plan to Change Your Life.

Here's a quote that grabbed me.... "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." p 8. THIS is where I decided to stop rushing and settle into a slow, enjoyable read.

I have one copy of this book to giveaway. If you would like a copy simply leave a comment, with contact info (email or blog), in my comment section. International readers, APO/FPO addresses are encouraged to participate. We will pick a winner Friday a.m. You will have one week to respond with your address. If an address is not provided in a week, I pick a new winner. You can read more about the book here.

Publisher's Summary: When did the Christian life become so complicated?

Your greatest desire is to please God, but with each passing week, your spiritual to-do list grows longer. As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, spouse, voter, employee, and more, you feel increasingly disconnected from the God you’re trying to serve.

It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you.

Through solid biblical teaching and practical insights, Dr. Jeffress points you toward a revitalized faith centered on becoming more like Jesus in action, attitude, and affection. You’ll learn how to partner with God in the process of spiritual transformation as you choose to follow Christ in forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentment, service, and prayer.

Through a renewed focus on experiencing the kingdom of God right now, you’ll find your to-do list shrinking and your spiritual life deepening. It all comes with embracing Clutter-Free Christianity.

Includes a Bible study guide for personal growth and group discussion.

Author Bio: Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, one of the most historic churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. The author of sixteen books, he is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, live broadcasts of Dr. Jeffress’ weekly messages reach millions of listeners and viewers each week, while his daily sermon series airs on 1,100 television stations and cable systems nationwide. Dr. Jeffress and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two adult daughters.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.