Homeschool Campfire

Do you remember the old radio shows? I love these. They are so “clean” as compared to what our children seem to be exposed to today. My kids have loved them! They publish a free one each week. Of course, you can purchase them too if you just can’t wait. They have a Premium service you can purchase that allows you access to learning guides and much more. I have had no trouble uploading the files onto my iPod to make it easier for us to enjoy on the road. I know your kids are going to love them as much as we do.

http://www.homeschoolradioshows.com/

Well, we have now given the English program a good ole college try. The curriculum is working great for my son who is a very independent learner and great reader. However, it no longer meets the needs of my daughter. She has some expressive language learning disorders and having to figure out the lessons all on her own by reading off the computer screen is now driving her CRAZY. I have tried to supplement by reteaching the lesson to her after she has completed the lessons. I see what she has missed and go over it with her. That seemed to work for a bit, but now she is resisting completing the lessons in the first place. She tells me that she just does not understand it till I teach it to her. She is more of a visual learner too. It was worth a try. I have really tried to move both of my children to more independent studies, but it looks like we still have a bit more to do before we can make that happen. I would love input on some other curricula you guys have used, especially for those with language learning disorders. I am going to keep going with my son. We will see where that leads us.

Hi Everyone!
I do not normally send out referrals for anything, but this time I just had too.  My husband found this wonderful site called www.thegrocerygame.com.  You can try it out for only a $1.00 for a month - for as many grocery stores that she has set up in the area.  I have Bi-Lo, Publix, Wal-Mart, CVS and Food Lion checked right now.
Let me tell you that it is well worth it.  Basically, this lady has taken all the advertised as well as the unadvertised grocery store specials and linked them with their corresponding coupon.  She has really put together an awesome program that is easy to use.  If the item is listed as blue, she urges you to stock up on it.  The price would be lower than what you can get it from Costco or Sam’s.  If it is green, it will be free for you except for tax.  If it is black, it is okay to purchase in small amounts.  It is that easy.  I urge you to try it.  If you like it, then you can sign-up for the service which is only $5.00 per grocery store for an 8 week session.  (If you are nice enough to use my email address, monica@scottkillen.com, as a referral when you sign-up then I get 12 weeks free.) I pray you are all doing well and that this blesses you financially in some small way.  With gas prices the way they are, we need all the help we can get.  Even if you don’t use coupons, this program will make it easier to see the store specials.

I just found a wonderful website that offers lots of free resources from forms to curricula.  It is wonderful.  I downloaded a free excel grading system.  It looks like it will be great.  She also has a great drawing class she created on the site too.  This site is truly a blessing from God.  Check it out:  http://donnayoung.org/

A special friend of mine shared an incredible story with me this morning. Her husband is fighting cancer right now.  He is doing great but a recent medication is making him feel very sick and tired.  His back just aches and it is so hard for him to get comfortable.  Last night, he could not sleep.  He arose and went into the spare bedroom to sleep.  As he laid there between alertness and slumber, he began to have a conversation with God.  It was a true heart to heart of how tired he is with his battle of this awful disease.  What God showed him was incredible!  A friend of his from work’s father is also fighting cancer.  His cancer is much more advanced and he is under hospice’s care.  My friend’s husband has never met this man at all, but here he was walking him to heaven’s gate.  He just knew that’s where they were walking and then he immediately woke up.  As he came into the office today, he sought out his friend to tell him of his dream about his dad.  His friend was not there.  He called on the phone later to tell him that his dad went home to be with the Lord this morning around 6am. WHOA!!!  Do you have the chills?  It brought tears to my eyes!

I found this list of uses for vinegar on the internet…it is amazing how many things you can use vinegar for! I hope you find something you can use! For a listing of even MORE uses (1001 to be exact), click on this website: http://www.vinegartips.com

1. Kill grass on walks and driveways.
2. Kill weeds. Spray full strength on growth until plants have starved.
3. Increase soil acidity. In hard water: one gallon of tap water for watering rhododendrons, gardenias, or azaleas.
4. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known.
5. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength.
6. Remove skunk odor from a dog. Rub fur with full strength vinegar; rinse.
7. Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on.
8. Keep dogs from scratching his ears. Use a clean, soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.
9. Keep chickens from pecking each other. Put a little in their drinking water.
10. Tenderize meat. Soak in vinegar over night.
11. Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar.
12. Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons to water before boiling eggs. Keeps them from cracking.
13. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.
14. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply.
15. Condition hair. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo.
16. Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons to bath water.
17. Fight dandruff. After shampooing, rinse with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.
18. Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle and then swallow.
19. Treat sinus infections and chest colds. Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.
20. Feel good. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling.
21. Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.
22. Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing.
23. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Wipe with full strength vinegar.
24. Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar.
25. Cut grease and odor on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water.
26. Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.
27. Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night.
28. Clean the refrigerator. Wash with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.
29. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.
30. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through
31. Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty.
32. Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware.
33. Clean stainless steel. Wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth.
34. Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry.
35. Get stains out of pots. Fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away.
36. Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.
37. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar.
38. Get rid of cooking smells. Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.
39. Unclog steam iron. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron’s water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.
40. Clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains.
41. Get rid of lint in clothes. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
42. Keep colors from running. Immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing.
43. Freshen up the washing machine. Periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle (no clothes added). Will dissolve soap residue.
44. Brighten fabric colors. Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
45. Take grease off suede. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
46. Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual.
47. Get smoke smell out of clothes. Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam.
48. Remove decals. Brush with a couple coats of vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash off.
49. Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
50. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

I just had the strangest thing happen with my daughter tonight.  But at the same time, it was extremely insightful!  She placed two drawings she had made earlier that night onto our pillows.  She chuckled as I walked into my bedroom and found the pictures.

As I read the inscriptions, I was immediately intrigued.  She had written good-bye on both of them.  When I asked her about them, she remarked, “That’s in case you die tonight.  I wanted to make sure I said good-bye.”  After I got over my laugh and saw her tears, I realized she was being serious.  We have told our children often that we are not promised tomorrow.  She really wanted to make sure we knew she loved us.  It really meant a lot to her.  Out of the mouth of babes!!!  Have you told all your loved ones how you feel?  You are not promised tomorrow.  Do not wait!  If you can’t speak the words, take a lesson from my daughter and make a card.  May God Bless you All!

Wow! This site is great! I have permission to share this info with you.
http://www.HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com
It is going to be a terrific place for you to build a library of fun and helpful resources for the upcoming school year.

I just wish I had heard about it sooner. I missed the previous postings. Let me know if you find it helpful!

20 - You may not be ready today…but start today!

Today is the day to ask the Lord to come into your heart to stay!!!!

19 - Wherever you are right now, that is the place to begin!