Matific Galaxy ~ Encouraging Math Mastery Through Games {Product Review}

I have a math-loving child. He cannot get enough math and is always asking for more. I have tried several math websites, and while they were very good, they weren't "gamey" enough to keep his attention for an extended time. I also was looking for something which could review a broad spectrum of skills, and encourage mastery. When we were asked to review a one-year subscription to Matific Galaxy, an online math resource, it initially looked like it could fit the bill of what I was wanting. Join me today to learn what our official opinion is on this math mastery promoting the online resource.

About the Product

Matific Galaxy is an award-winning, fun and engaging online learning program. It has hundreds of curriculum aligned mathematics

Summer Break is Hay Season

Woot! It is hard to believe but we are in 100% summer mode now! Unlike some homeschoolers, summer doesn't necessarily mean freedom--we ARE a farm family. Summer means an increase of farm work! Remember when you learned that the old school years revolved around the agricultural cycle for the area? Yeah, that's basically us! We take a break from school when the hay season starts and then go back to school once the last cutting is in.

Everything we do here on the farm revolves around hay season during the summer. We have over 200 acres of hay to take care of. This means as soon as it is ready and there are several days in a row of rain-free days? We rev the tractors up and head on out!
So how does it work with still doing product reviews? That's easy. If we still have reviews to finish, we do them in the morning directly after breakfast. That's the best time as the men are still working out the plans for the day. By this point into our fifth year of being on the review crew, I know how much to ask for. This summer is working out to be perfect--only a couple things to review for each boy. Way less pressure to get stuff done, and more time to be out and farming!
I'll be sharing what we are reviewing for July and August in a few days...it's not much, but it is VERY good stuff! Until then--stay cool!

Summer Storms and pop up...tornadoes?

We had a surprise tornado on the evening of June 16th. My family was in Cincinnati celebrating my brother's marriage...meanwhile, it was a turbulent sunset on the farm. Fortunately, we didn't experience more than a few tree tops snapped. But all around us, there were power poles down. Telephone wires across the road. The hillside looked like a weedeater had plowed a straight line. We spent some time doing cleanup at my inlaws and my parents' homes where they had much more tree debris than we did.

Puppy helped grabbed branches

I had to crawl in the culvert to clear out a bunch of debris...
the next day this was filled to the brim due to another storm

Youngest was great about dragging branches

Cleaning off her fence

Some tree branches--gone at My father-in-laws 

More branches down and a yard pond

Wenching out the limb from the culvert

Using the SawsAll to chop up the larger treetops

Hauling away one of the branches

Thankfully, our power was out for only 12 hrs. We didn't sustain any damage as the tornado went through town instead of veering off, however, there is a LOT of tree damage. Fortunately, only two homes experienced serious damage. They categorized it as an EF0, simply because it kept bouncing around and not staying steady on the ground. But man, chippers and chainsaws have been the sounds during the day, and the scent of "campfire" during the evening as people burn their debris. 

The Kingdom Code ~ Money Management God's Way {Product Review}

My oldest son is thirteen and VERY conscious of the benefit that having his own money provides. We have provided him with some one-on-one lessons, but sometimes we wished there was something more organized that he could work through to increase his money management skills. When we were given the chance to review The Complete Starter Set from The Kingdom Code, I hoped that it would provide an excellent financial responsibility course. 

About the Product

The Kingdom Code teaches children how to make and manage money through Godly principles. Designed for students in grades 4-6, it works perfectly for homeschool families, Co-ops, Private Schools, and church groups. The Complete Starter Kit includes the Textbook, Student

Exploring 8th Grade Lightning Lit & Comp from Hewitt Homeschooling {Curriculum Review}

As I look ahead to our 8th-grade year for my oldest son, I really wanted a strong literature curriculum for him. I needed it to be fairly independent as we start preparing him for High School work. I also wanted to incorporate some literature analysis but in such a way as to not make it a chore to do. Additionally, I wanted to find something which had composition incorporated in it—but a style where my son (a reluctant writer) wasn’t going to balk at every lesson. I have looked all around and about gotten dizzy exploring the different curriculum available. But one stood out above the others that I wanted to explore more—the Grade 8 Lightning Lit Set from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I was given the chance to review the very course I was looking at. Join me to today as I share our review of this course and find out if we will be continuing it for our 2019-2020 year or not…

About the Product

Hewitt Homeschooling is an award-winning homeschool curriculum for language arts. Based in Washougal, WA (my old hometown!), they provide a wide range of literature and composition

Thinking Pink and Baby {Wordless Wednesday}

I'm in the middle of getting ready for adding THREE babies to our extended family--2 nieces and a nephew--due July and September. I've not had the need to make baby girl things, until now! Now I'm on a mission to make baby girl goodness for my nieces to wear those first few months. And my photo for today shows my most favorite thing I've made thus far!

These are both patterns from my most favorite designer Mon Petit Violon on Etsy and Ravelry! Her patterns are the BEST! 

The Wars of the Jews from Memoria Press {Curriculum Review}

I have had the chance to work with Memoria Press materials several times over the last five years of reviewing. Their products are always a highlight to what we use, and we have incorporated several of them into our regular curriculum. One area that I have not had much experience in, however, is their high school level material, due to my children still being in elementary and middle school. I was able to explore one of their high school curricula when I was asked if I could look over and review The Wars of the Jews Set. Being that this is a historical event that I’ve had a growing curiosity about, I eagerly agreed to look it over myself. 

About the Product

Memoria Press is an award-winning classical Christian education publisher. They carry a full line of curriculum and

Sabbath Scriptures and Inspiration

Hello and happy Saturday--and happy Sabbath to those who keep it. ❤ It's been awhile since I've shared some of the graphics that I've made to match scriptures, so I thought I would add a few of my most recent ones--most of them made the last couple weeks.
During a sermon from last week, our pastor mentioned a fantastic phrase which got me thinking. I did some searching on the original source and discovered it came from the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I just HAD to make graphic.

Another scripture which is a surprisingly encouraging passage is Exodus 2:24-25. At first glance it doesn't seem like it is--but when you take it apart and look at the verbs used, you realize that it can describe what we hope God does for us. Just think, this is what is written after 400 years of slavery in Egypt--we see that God hears, remembers, looks, and acknowledges His people. In HIS time. He fulfilled His promise and His plan. We too can count on God to do the same for us.

 On the way home from the store, I was listening to KLove. While listening I heard something interesting. The segment was about how all too often we say Christ is the King of our hearts...yet our lips don't reflect this. That our speech doesn't support this. That our lips don't spend enough time praising God and giving Him glory. And I had to think of my own mouth.

 Finally today we heard a lovely lesser-known scripture that hides in the minor prophet of Zephaniah 3:17. I just LOVED the words that were in it and I had to make a graphic to go with it. 

*****

Life With Dog: A family movie from Mill Creek Entertainment {Movie Review}

I’m always on the lookout for good family movies. And if they have animals as a character, that’s a win in our house. When I had the chance to review Life with Dog from Mill Creek Entertainment, I hoped that it would be one the whole family would enjoy.
The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

About the Movie

Life with Dog follows Joe, a newly widowed man who is rapidly descending into bitterness following the death of his beloved wife of 43 years. Alice died in a tragic accident just a little ways from home

Fresh from the Bookshelf: Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden {Book Review}

Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden is one of those books I don’t think I’d ever intentionally grab off a shelf to read. While it is classified as an inspiration fiction novel, it neither has the typical cover I’m attracted to, nor the setting I prefer (historical fiction). Fortunately, having it sent directly to my house for me to review made it possible for me to discover this fabulous book that I would have otherwise missed. Join me as I introduce you to the Talbot sisters…

The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

About the Book

Becoming the Talbot Sisters is written primarily from two different points of view: Waverly and Charlie Talbot. Waverly and Charlie are twin sisters who couldn’t be more different in personality and life choices. Waverly is a celebrity chef who has built a successful career with her home-entertaining show Simply Perfect. Charlie is