Learning from Pam Tebow {TTD notes}

{affiliate links included. thank you for supporting this blog.}

I was so very blessed to be among the blogging group that got to meet with Pam Tebow after she spoke at the conference!! What a blessing!

I will share all my notes from her session, but first of all I want to share with you my biggest take away from her: scripture memory. 

I bet half of her talk was purely quoted scripture. I loved hearing her share scriptures she had memorized with her children. I absolutely loved hearing how God used some of those specific verses in their lives as adults!! His word does not return void!

For me, this was such encouragement to KEEP on KEEPING on with scripture memory. It will make a difference in the lives of my children!!

Here are some other thoughts from her session:

• Psalm 127 - children are a gift. When someone gives you a gift, do you try to change it or hand it back to the giver? No. So why do we try to change our children?? 
• Love is choosing the best interest of someone else and choosing to act on their behalf.
• If your child has a learning disability, don't talk to them like its a problem or mistake. God doesn't make mistakes! Tell him that is how God made them and God will use it in their lives.
• His banner over me is love. His love for us isn't hidden - he flaunts it! We should flaunt our love for our kids as well! 
• read the scriptures to/with your children daily. 
• Each child will have security verses for life.
• Mr. Tebow implemented a no-complaining rule! Never ever! 
• God created our kids for good works!
• We do what we can do at the time and God does SO MUCH MORE ABUNDANTLY.

I was so blessed to be able to attend the Teach Them Diligently homeschool conference in Nashville last weekend. I shared about how God wanted me there and provided all the necessary items: room, ride, conference fee. And I'm so thankful. The sessions I attended were so fabulous, I wanted to share all my notes with you!!

Here are the speakers, I will go back after this series and link them all together:

• Clay & Sally Clarkson
• Pam Tebow
• Mark Hamby
• Norm Wakefield
• Deb Bell

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Learning from the Clarksons {TTD notes}

{affiliate links used in this post. thank you for supporting this blog.}

I was so blessed to be able to attend the Teach Them Diligently homeschool conference in Nashville last weekend. I shared about how God wanted me there and provided all the necessary items: room, ride, conference fee. And I'm so thankful. The sessions I attended were so fabulous, I wanted to share all my notes with you!!

Here are the speakers, I will go back after this series and link them all together:

• Clay & Sally Clarkson
• Pam Tebow
• Mark Hamby
• Norm Wakefield
• Deb Bell

Clay Clarkson ~ Organic Parenting

What is organic?
What is the source of life in your home?
Organic means LIVING and WHOLE.

• Are we more concerned that we look like the perfect homeschool family than the hearts of our children?
• When you plant a garden you have to WORK to create good health in the life of your plants.
• Parable of the Sower
• Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-25, Luke 8:4-18
• Parables are always about the kingdom of God and bringing it to earth. The message of the kingdom is the gospel. 
• Throwing seeds in this parable: some fell on rock, some among thorns, ONE SEED, 4 landing spots. Only one good soil that produces a yield.

The sower is sowing the Word.
Along the path...
1. Well traveled, rocky path, the seed can't survive. Easy pickings for the devil. They do not believe.
2. On the rock, they receive with joy but have no root. Believe for awhile, but fall away when life gets hard.
3. Among thorns, they hear but are chocked by life's worries, riches and pleasures
4. Good ground, actual soil. What makes it good? It's been prepared, loosened, cleared and tilled. Ready for the seed. A prepared heart ready to receive the gospel. They hear, they retain and cling to the word and produce a crop. Produce = bear fruit.

• We want our children to be that good soil that can receive the gospel and bear fruit. Like the good soil, we have to work to prepare their hearts and cultivate soil that can be worked. 
• What creates good soil in my child's heart? How do we prepare our kids hearts so they are prepared to receive Christ and understand the kingdom of God? With GOODNESS and ORGANICS - adding life, truth, goodness to our homes. 
• Focus more of your attention on being organic rather than organized. We need some of both, but don't spend so much time on the organization/curriculum/book work to the detriment of their hearts. 
• It's easier to depend on the organization stuff - "if you've got a problem, we've got a book." This can be based on fear - I can't do this, I need a formula. There are no formulas!
• Organized focuses on mind. 
• Organic focuses on heart.
• We do need both, though.

3 ways to tend our child's heart:
1. Soil preparation - loosening the ground, avoiding worldliness. REMOVE rocks from your home, anything that distracts or pulls us towards evil.
2. Soil cultivation - the goodness of God's nature - cultivating a heart that values the goodness of God, cultivating a heart that seeks the beauty in creative arts, seeks truth and wisdom of God.
3. Soil formation - teaching, hearing and doing the Word of God.

Sally Clarkson ~ Seasons of a Mother's Heart

• No matter how idealistic you are, you will never live up to your own expectations.
• Culture will always give you permission to not live well, to be lazy, to compromise.
• How big is your desire to please and trust God? How much are you willing to lay down your life? You can build a condo or an estate, the choice is up to you.
• We are either growing and flourishing or we are dying. There is no in between.
• What you cherish in your heart is what you become. Are you cherishing the Word of God?
• None of us is perfectly holy. Yet we should be continually striving and moving towards it. Training in holiness like an athlete goes for gold.
• God has chosen my children and me to live in this generation. I have to guard my heart so that I can shine the light of Jesus and protect my heart from the evil of this world. And if I don't, my kids may never see it anywhere else.
• We are living in times like Babylon. We must be faithful. We must be Daniels.
• We must guide our children...they could be the next Daniel or Esther! 

I have loved Clay and Sally Clarkson's teachings and books for quite some time. I consider Sally one of my mothering mentors, from afar. :)  It was so awesome to hear her in person for the first time. I had planned to go up to her after a session or at their booth, but by the time I had made plans to do it she was gone. Oh well, hopefully there will be a next time!!

Here are some of my favorite Clarkson books:

• Heartfelt Discipline 
• Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe 
• The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children 
• The Mom Walk

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Simplified Pantry {paperless planning review}

I was very, very excited to review this next product from the Simplified Pantry! I received the e-book Paperless  Home Organization written by Mystie Winckler, which will be the main focus of this review. I did also receive the Simplified Dinner e-book and the Simplified Dinner Gluten-Free & Dairy Free version as well!



If you happen to follow me on facebook, you may have seen my pleas for help regarding organization recently. Before receiving this ebook for review, I asked for help with remembering things around my home. I would find myself at the end of the day having forgotten to ask Caleb to practice piano. Now, mind you, he had a checklist to be accomplished each day, but being the 8yr old boy that he is, his list would be lost, forgotten or possibly eaten by the new puppy. :) But there were other things forgotten also, one day it would be piano, the next day it would be a library book, sometimes it was even simple things like take the puppy out every hour while she is potty training!

I honestly was feeling like I was losing my mind. TOO many things to remember. And TOO many things were being forgotten on a regular, daily basis.

I began looking for help and researching my options because in December I was blessed to receive the iphone 5 for my birthday! I knew there were tools and apps available, but I didn't know where to start.

Paperless Home Organization was just the help and boost I needed!

This e-book was very fun for me to read, I enjoy learning new things that I can do on my phone AND to help with keeping our home organized. I loved reading about the tools that the author was using and figuring out how I could implement them in my home.



I eagerly sat down at my computer and opened up all the documents and began reading. Being used to my paper planners for years and years, it was a little overwhelming for me to try and take all the steps outlined in this book for going paperless. But, I kept plugging along.

One thing I found very helpful was reminding myself that this was a TOOL. I needed to take the advice, glean as much as I could through it and ultimately find what would work for me personally. I may not be able to utilize every single instruction given in this book. But that's ok!! I need to find how to organize our home and make it work for ME.

And that is what this book helped me to do. I had to personalize some of her suggestions...tweak them just a bit. But these are things I would not have thought to do or try if I had never read this book. I'm thrilled to say that so far, I feel like I'm making GREAT headway in getting more organized. This e-book sells for $3.99 and I think that is a few dollars well spent towards a more organized home!

New tools I'm using to help me get organized:

• lists on my phone - not on paper that I can't find and/or forget at home!
• using my reminder app - something BEEPS at me so I remember to make Caleb practice piano
• calendar on my phone, our computer & our iPad - David and I are both using this now and it is GREAT. I can see what he adds and he can see what I've added! 
• Evernote - this is one of the BIGGIES from Mystie's book. I haven't totally gotten it yet, mostly I forget to look at it, it doesn't beep at me. ha! But, I am using it for checklists and a grocery list. I also have started keeping documents in it - like our new co-op schedule that was emailed to us, etc. 

Overall, I'm happy with the progress I'm making! I think I have a long way to go...but I'm getting there and this e-book definitely helped get me motivated to make some very needed changes.

Discount Available: for our readers, Mystie is offering 30% off of her e-books if you use the code TOS2013 from May 20th-June 3rd. 

If you'd like to read what more homeschool moms are saying about these tools, please click over to the TOS Crew blog!

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Sharing my notes from Teach Them Diligently...

Starting tomorrow I will be sharing a series of posts with you from my experience at Teach Them Diligently!! My plan is to have a post for each of the main speakers I heard, because I have a lot of notes from each session!! I was blessed to really attend sessions that were perfect for where our family is right now, and I'm excited to share with you my notes!!

If you are anywhere near Omaha, you should try and go in a few weeks!!



My posts will cover the following speakers:

• Clay & Sally Clarkson
• Pam Tebow
• Mark Hamby
• Norm Wakefield
• Debra Bell

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Real Life Homeschooling #7

Today we are blessed to have a guest post for our 7th week of Real Life Homeschooling! Please welcome Karyn! Karyn is a homeschooling mom to three young kids in UT. She loves being a mom!  She also enjoys baking, sewing, gardening, reading, running and singing. She blogs at Teach Beside Me and Things That Make You Say: "Mmmmm!" She'd love to have you stop by for a visit! 

As a homeschooler you have probably heard people tell you that you must be so patient to homeschool. Wow!  I could never do that!" they say to you. Like what you do is beyond anyone's capacity. They think you have it all together as a mom and can do more than the average person.  I am here to tell you that this just is nowhere near the truth. I am just a regular person who made a choice that is different than the norm. That does not make me better than the average mom. I struggle with it and I definitely have faults.

Patience is something I have to work on each and every day in our homeschool.  There are days that school turns into a battle of wills (with my 5-year-old daughter especially). Sometimes I sit back and wonder what in the world I got myself into. Why can't I just be like the rest of the world and send my kids off to school for the whole day?  I am not always the most patient person, but I am certainly learning & growing. Homeschooling is definitely helping with that. HOMESCHOOLING IS HARD WORK!

Another thing that is REALLY hard for me is organization. There is so much stuff that comes with homeschooling. And now for peek into the reality of our homeschool... I am a disorganized mess!  

I barely know what to do with all of our papers, folders, books, note cards, pencils, crayons, scissors, craft supplies, and more.  I try. Things just never seem to be put back where they belong. My kids each have their own desks, but they are overflowing with papers, too.  Every year I start off clean and organized. I think- "this year will be better!" But here we are almost at the end of the school year and I am buried in papers and books again.  Maybe someday I will get it! I am sure some of you are laughing at this lesson that I have never seemed to learn.

A few more things you may need to know about how imperfect our homeschool is:

• Sometimes my school calendar doesn't get changed until a week or two into the month.
• Occasionally we'll skip most of our regular assignments and sit on the couch and read together.
• When my sister calls & invites us to the park, we can get school done in 20 minutes.
• I often want to do school even less than my kids (but I try not to let them know)
• Art projects sometimes take up half the day.
• Lots of days I would rather blog than teach my kids.
• I usually over plan at the beginning of the year, but never follow my plans.

But then... here are those perfect days that come along, reminding me of exactly why I chose this path. I love those special moments with my kids.  The times when they just love what they are learning and are thrilled with what you are reading to them. Everything runs smoothly and even the toddler is happy.  Those days are not as frequent as I would like them to be, but I am grateful for them.  

I love homeschooling my kids. They love it, too. I ask them all the time if they are happy with it. They always say they love it and don't want to go to school.  I love the freedom it allows us. I love the time I get with my children. I love learning along side them.  While it's hard & is never as perfect as it looks on the surface, I am glad I made this choice. 

Click over to read all of the Real Life Homeschooling series.

Guest Posters wanted:  the response to this post has been so great. ya'll are great. :) SO, I'm going to open up this series for GUEST POSTERS!! If you are a homeschooler and want to contribute your own "real like homeschooling" post, please email me with your post! I would like to have a picture to go with it. And if you have a blog, I will link back to you! :) If you want to "grab" the picture in the top of this post, I will let you know when your post will go live and you can use this graphic as a teaser and point people here to read! I really think these will be encouraging to all of us as homeschooling mamas! I hope to share one post per week on this series!! 

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Jesus, The One and Only {book review}

{this post contains affiliate links, thank you for supporting this blog!}

I jumped at the chance to review another of Beth Moore's books called Jesus, the One and Only. This book was first created as a Bible Study. I love Beth Moore's Bible studies and admit that I think I get more out of a book/study when I do the workbook pages each week. But, we don't always have time for in depth studies with lots of homework. And if that's the case, reading a book like this is a good alternative. 

This book is an invitation to study the life of Jesus in a more in depth way. This book shows Beth Moore's heart for Jesus, I think. You can just see how much she loves her Savior. And the book draws you in to do the same. The chapters are very short and very readable. 

There is no one else like Jesus. No one like our Savior. No one can compare. This book shows us how and why Jesus truly is the One and Only. 

This book takes you on a chronological walk through the life of Jesus. Starting before His birth, walking through the relationship between Mary & Elizabeth, all the way to His death and resurrection. Beginning with the Word Made Flesh, Beth Moore describes her relationship with Jesus as a romance...and you can see so much of that in her writing. Her invitation, through this book, is for you to do the same. 

His One and Only Son

Our One and Only Savior

Your Closest Friend Today and Forever

{taken from the back of book}

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Follow me in Nashville at TTD!

I know there are many of you who would LOVE to be at the Teach Them Diligently conference in Nashville this weekend! Believe me, I wish you could all come too!!

But, the next best thing?

Follow the hashtag #hsttd on twitter!!
Follow me too @HisMercyIsNew

You will feel like you are there with us! I have gleaned so many little nuggets of truth and wisdom by following along and am excited to share with you as I listen in on my sessions over the weekend!!




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Guest Post: Meet Heather

Today I would like to introduce you to a new friend: Heather Von St. James. I would love for you to read her story and click over to her site if you would like to read further! 

Battling Cancer and Finding Strength

Before my cancer diagnosis, I was like many new mothers. All that mattered to me was the love and protection I provided my daughter. When the doctor told me about my diagnosis with malignant pleural mesothelioma, my entire life was put on hold as I fought to survive and see my daughter grow up.

When my husband Cameron and I decided to have our daughter, I was 35 years old. We had waited seven years after we got married to have our first child. As my pregnancy progressed, I experienced many of the feelings that other mothers talk about. I thought about the type of mother I would be and wondered what the daughter growing inside my belly would be like. The entire pregnancy was a breeze and the first sign of any issue was the birth. My daughter Lily was breech so the doctors performed an emergency C-section. When I finally held her, she was the most beautiful baby in the world. At no point in the past had I ever experienced that overwhelming sense of love and I just wanted to protect my daughter from any harm.

Cameron and I were able to enjoy being parents for three and a half months before disaster struck. My doctor told us that I had malignantpleural mesothelioma. I could not move or think as I tried to grasp what that meant. Cameron took over for me as I sat in fear and decided on a treatment option in Boston. It involved more traveling, but meant I would be operated on by one of the top specialists in mesothelioma in the world.

The treatment process was grueling. At the hospital, they removed my left lung, and parts of the lining from my heart and a diaphragm. Afterward, I had to stay in Boston for 18 days before I could leave the hospital. From there I stayed at an outpatient facility for two weeks before recuperating at my parent’s home for two more months. Because of the treatment, I missed out on a crucial month of my daughter’s life. This is one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but I had to if I did not want to miss out on the rest of her life.

Throughout the stress, I told myself that I had to do it. Mesothelioma kills 95 percent of people who are diagnosed. I could not be one of those people. I had to live to see my daughter grow up and to raise her with my husband. Thanks to my daughter, I found the will to fight cancer. Once the recovery at my parents ended, I had to endure the chemotherapy and radiation that followed. My daughter saved my life and is the reason I am here today. When she tells people that she saved my life, Lily could not be more right.

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End of Year: What Worked, What Didn't

I love these posts every year! Part of it is the planner in me, finding what we will do for the coming year is exciting. But, when I look back at what we've done for the entire school year, I am ENCOURAGED. I see that we really did accomplish a lot! And that boosts me to keep on keeping on.

{one of our egg experiments from our chicken unit study}

What Worked Well 

• I have loved our last 2 years with American History. I have learned SO much myself. And, getting together with other families and adding in hands-on and group activities really helps the kiddos to retain and learn in a more in depth way. The 3 moms in our group took turns doing a history activity/lesson with the kids each week and we all learned so much. 
• We reviewed Math-U-See for the TOS Crew and found an awesome math program that I wish we had found sooner. We have finished the Gamma level with all 3 kids and will be moving to the next level in the next 1-2 weeks. 
• In our little 3-family-co-op we also used Atelier Art and that went well also. We completed Level 4 and the kids enjoyed it. The dvds are a bit dated, as in the teacher outfits and classroom visuals, etc. But, the projects are great and I was thrilled to give my art-loving girls some regular art instruction! 
• Lots of memory work: scriptures, and poems using Linguistic Development from IEW. 
• Our new chicks and learning all about them, with our chicken unit study and egg experiments was a fabulous 2 months of learning! 
• Piano lessons & practice for all 3 kids - a fabulous teacher is what makes this possible!! 

{field trip to the Titanic with friends}

What Didn't Work Well

• Spanish - with our little co-op we tried out Spanish for Children from Classical Academic Press. While the dvds and workbook were fine and well put together, it was simply WAY too much in my opinion. Too much, too fast. There was no way to have hundreds AND HUNDREDS of vocabulary memorized as quickly as they put it in the book.  This program is designed for grades 4 and up, and the majority of our kids in this little co-op were this age. But, even the older kids had trouble with the sheer amount of memorizing words. There was little review built into the curriculum, and we had trouble with that too. I like how the workbooks and dvd lessons are laid out, but it just was too much for us. 
• Reading Aloud - we did this everyday, LOTS of reading. But my kids drive crazy nearly every.single.day. They fight, they are disruptive, I just don't know how to make it work. Tips? Would love to hear from you!! We did still get in a lot of reading!! But, the actual time each morning leaves me super frustrated nearly everyday. 
• While we LOVED our group time and read alouds for American History, I just did not use the Biblioplan Companion guide like I thought I would. I am finding that reading a lot of great books and doing some hands-on things is our favorite way to learn history. I just didn't need that extra text. 
• We did not love the Apologia Swimming Creatures this year like we've loved our science in the past. We had a great time with the Astronomy last year, and we did do some fun things with the Swimming Creatures, but the last few chapters of this book seemed to be lacking. It seemed like they had to get in a certain number of chapters and were just grasping at the end to find info. The experiments were a little lacking as well. I ended up finding better things on pinterest. (I did start off blogging about this but ended up not posting all the chapters because the activities/experiments just weren't always worth sharing! ha!) 
• We also didn't find a writing program or routine for the girls like I had hoped. We did some journaling off and on and then used the picture writing prompts a lot - which the girls did love! But I don't feel like we grew much in our writing skills this school year. 

{field trips with our family}

In the next few weeks I will be sharing what our plans are for the coming year!! Stay tuned! We have some exciting things coming up!



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