TOS Book Review – Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms by Mary Jo Tate

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

About the book

Title: Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms
Author: Mary Jo Tate
Publisher: Apologia Educational Ministries
Pages: 288
Where I got the book: I received this book free through The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for an honest review.

My review

In the foreward, this book and system is described as “life management, not time management”. All moms have challenges trying to fit in work, kids, recovery time, friends, spouses, family, and an endless list of household tasks. This particular book addresses those issues faced by homeschooling moms, with particular interest in moms who work from home. Mary Jo Tate is also a single mom, and she hasn’t forgotten this sector of homeschoolers who are frequently ignored, particularly in the Christian homeschooling world. She mentions single moms throughout the book, and there is an entire chapter devoted to encouragement for them (us), as well as things other families can do to help make a single-parent family’s journey easier. Continue reading →

When Is a Joke No Longer Funny?

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

Yesterday I saw a video on Facebook. It had been shared by two people who are wonderful, loving people, and the title of the video was “Good, clean…funny!” It’s a video that seems to have first been posted online in 2011, but was posted on Facebook two days ago, and has gone viral. (I’m not going to link to it. If you have to see it, you can Google it.)

The video, which runs less than two minutes, is two teen boys pranking a third (their “friend”, according to one site I found) in a community shower using the “never-ending shampoo” prank. (Clean fun? Get it?) And when I first started watching it, it was funny. But then you start to hear distress in the victim’s voice. Then he starts saying, “Help me. Help me,” and it sounds to me like he’s crying. He may not be actually crying, but he is asking for help, and you can see him getting more frantic as the video goes on. Continue reading →

July Kindle Giveaway: Win your choice of a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card, or Paypal Cash

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes both values at $229. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

Continue reading →

Kid Quotes (7/13)

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

B: I love you more than any girl in the whole world.
I’ll remind him of that in 10 years.

I just walked into the playroom in time to hear Blake say, “Blake, you’re a genius!”

B to me, after I got sick: I don’t think I want to touch you, because, well, you’re infected.

The next day, this happened. At least the kid understands where germs come from.
I’m always reminding the boys to wash their hands, but I’ve been really pushing it this week. Jack just woke up and tried to give Blake a hug.
“Don’t touch me! You haven’t washed your hands yet!”
Nothing like a little peer pressure. Or paranoia. Either way. Continue reading →

#100HappyDays Day 38

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

They’ve been apart for five days while the big guy attended camp.

TOS Review: Veritas Press Self-Paced History – New Testament Greece and Rome

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

Today’s review is for the Self-Paced History of New Testament Greece and Rome from Veritas Press. This online course is aimed at students in grades 2-6, but older students may enjoy it, too. Jack just finished 6th grade, and has no patience for things that he feels are “too young” for him (such as the preschool shows his little brother wants to watch), yet he really enjoyed the lessons. Continue reading →

Book Blast and Giveaway: Contact by Laurisa White Reyes

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Amanda Beaty

Contact by Laurisa White Reyes

Mira wants to die. She’s attempted suicide twice already and failed. Every time she comes in contact with another person, skin to skin, that person’s psyche uploads into hers. While her psychologist considers this a gift, for Mira it’s a curse from which she cannot escape.

To make matters worse, Mira’s father is being investigated for the deaths of several volunteer test subjects of the miracle drug Gaudium. Shortly after Mira’s mother starts asking questions, she ends up in a coma. Although her father claims it was an accident, thanks to her “condition” Mira knows the truth, but proving it just might get her killed.

Amazon

PRAISE FOR BOOK:

“CONTACT is a page turner that will keep you guessing right along with Mira, right up until the last revelation. And it will make you reconsider the next time you wish you knew someone else’s secrets!” – Margaret Petereson Haddix, author of the Missing and The Shadow Children series

Continue reading →