7 Can Soup Recipe - Pioneer Woman

Just wanted to share another amazing recipe from Pioneer Woman. We are yet to try one of her recipes that we don't enjoy. They are all so yummy! 

7 Can Soup serves 6 and has a bit of a taco flavor. It is easy to make and even our boys (ages 11 & 9) love having it for supper. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 can chili (she calls for meat only chili but we make it with beans) 
• 1 can (15 ounce) Kidney Beans
• 1 can (15 ounce) Pinto Beans 
• 1 can (15 ounce) Black Beans
• 1 can (15 ounce) Diced Tomatoes
• 1 can (15 ounce) Corn 
• 1 can (10 ounce) Rotel
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Velveeta Cheese - Her recipe says 8 ounce.. we like to use a little more.  

To Make:

Without draining any of the cans, empty into a large pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer 10 to 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper as needed. 

Dice the cheese and stir into the soup until melted. It's that easy!!!! Serve immediately! 

Kingdom Family Devotional - Book Review

Book Description: 

This new devotional from Dr. Tony Evans and his son Jonathan Evans will provide both single and married parents with a resource tool to maximize those family devotional times, such as the dinner hour or bedtime. The family virtues–based devotional provides 52 separate topics, one for each week of the year, and five devotionals within each topic that will guide devotional times Monday through Friday. This is a wonderful way to build a spiritually strong family week by week, day after day―a perfect way to head into the weekend. Topics range from the basics of the faith―such as salvation, spiritual warfare, prayer, forgiveness, and discipleship―to essentials of living as followers of Christ: money, prayer, family, friends, and priorities. The subject matter is simplified so even young children can grasp important concepts. This is a perfect resource for busy families.


My Review:

Where has this book been all my life... I am a homeschool Mother of two young boys and I'm always looking for new curriculum, books, etc.. to help our family learn about the love of the Lord together. Then came along this book. The answer to my prayers. This a great read for any family to enjoy (regardless of the age of your child). The book is laid out in different weeks, such as the first weeks lessons are about love, the next week moves onto respect and so on. There are 52 weeks covered in this book.. all with different topics. These are short, easy reads for your family to enjoy. Our family usually reads them during or after supper each night. There are 5 days composed in each week. Kingdom Family Devotional offers scriptures to read and memorize, lessons to discuss as a family and even hands on projects to work and learn together. 

This is a wonderful book. Be sure to buy one soon... you and your family will love it! 

The Kindness Challenge - Book Review

One month to a great relationship…with anyone!

Think of your toughest relationship. Think of a relationship that is good but could be great. Think of a group of people that drives you nuts. You want to show more kindness and generosity, but sometimes you’re just tired, stretched, and frustrated. Besides, would small actions make that big a difference? Yes!

After years of extensive research, Shaunti Feldhahn has concluded that kindness is a superpower. It can change any relationship, make your life easier and better, and transform our culture. But how does it work? And how can you show kindness when you don’t feel like it?

In The Kindness Challenge, Shaunti explores….
* Three simple acts that make all the difference in any relationship (with a spouse, child, co-worker, brother-in-law…)
* Whether kindness is ever the wrong approach 
* The seven ways you may be unkind and never realize it 
* Eight types of kindness—and which might be the best fit for you
* Ten sneaky obstacles that get in the way of giving praise
* Practical ways to persevere when kindness is tough
* How kindness in marriage leads to benefits in the bedroom (yes, really!)
* Why your acts of kindness today can help transform the world

With self-assessments, day-to-day tips, a 30-day challenge, and specific kindness ideas, The Kindness Challenge can make your toughest relationships better and your good relationships great—starting today.

Try the 30 Day Kindness Challenge and be a part of a kindness revolution in your home, your world, and yourself.

Have We Ever Needed Kindness More?
 
In The Kindness Challenge, innovative researcher Shaunti Feldhahn reveals three simple steps proven to make any interaction better and any relationship thrive—whether with a romantic partner, coworkers, a child, siblings, your hard-to-please stepmother, or rude people at the grocery store. You’ll learn which ways of acting, speaking, and thinking will make the greatest difference for your life. 

Doing these simple acts for thirty days not only has power to change the other person—it has the power to change you! 

In these pages, Shaunti introduces you to a host of people from all walks of life who have tested the 30-Day Kindness Challenge in real-life situations and have seen the difference it makes. She shows you the inspiring results of her before-and-after surveys. And she challenges you not only to try the 30-Day Kindness Challenge for yourself but to be a part of the movement to transform our culture.


My Review:: 

Everyone should read this book. The Kindness Challenge helps to improve any relationship (giving examples, solutions and great ways to change your attitude). This is a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is just looking for a better way to improve the relationships around you. Shaunti Feldhahn helps to remind you what the Bible says about kindness... this book will truly help you walk on a better path. 

of stillness and storm - Book Review

“I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing.”

It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream—reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family’s undoing. 

At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren’s past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It’s thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry.

My Review:

This was a great read. The author, Michele Phoenix truly draws you into the storyline and makes you feel like you are part of the story. This was a powerful and touching story. I had a hard time putting the book down. I have never read any books by the author before, however, now I will be seeking them out to read. 

End Of Year - Curriculum Review

It's that time of year again where we are finishing our curriculum and coming to end of this school year. For the most part I am happy with what we chose this year. I think we had a good balance of teacher led and independent student work. So here is a glance of the curriculum we used... our likes and dislikes and if we will stick with it for the next school year! 

Independent Reading: HERE is a list of the books Noah read this year.  His favorite was The Cricket In Time Square and Tucker's Countryside. 

Grammar: Language Lessons For The Elementary Child, Volume 1 - This was an adequate grammar curriculum however, I feel the boys didn't retain it as well as they should. We will be moving away from Queens Homeschool and continue with something different next year. 

Writing & Vocabulary: Writing & Rhetoric Book 1: Fable Program and Book 2:Narrative I - Noah did enjoy using writing & rhetoric books 1 and 2. However, we will be moving onto something different next year. I feel he needed a review on writing this school year but now he's ready to really dig in. 

Penmanship: Pictures In Cursive, Book C - We enjoyed using this cursive program. It was a great start for Noah to learn how to write in cursive. 

Spelling: All About Spelling Level 4 and Level 5- We didn't make it to Level 5 this year, so it will be moved to next years curriculum. All About Spelling is an amazing curriculum we have used every year and will continue to use. 

Math: BJU Press Math 4 - This Math curriculum just wasn't for us. It is written more for a classroom than for homeschool children. We have pushed our way through it.. skipping a few lessons that were just repeats. I feel the boys have been taught a lot this year in Math but it was a struggle using BJU. 

Speech Therapy: He will continue speech therapy (working on his "r" sounds) at our local public school.  - Noah has loved speech therapy again this year and we can see a big improvement. 

Independent Reading: Aidan's reading list..  He enjoyed all of the books he read. His favorite book was, Hatchet. 

I originally had planned that Aidan would be responsible for completing Book Report Forms and keeping a Reading Log. He did keep the reading log but we didn't complete any book report forms this year. All of his book reports were done orally. 

Grammar: Language Lessons For The Secondary Child, Volume 1 - This was an adequate grammar curriculum however, I feel the boys didn't retain it as well as they should. We will be moving away from Queens Homeschool and continue with something different next year. 

Writing & Vocabulary: IEW, All Things Fun & Fascinating - We LOVE IEW and will be using it again next year! 

Penmanship: He will continue with cursive practice. - Cursive practice has went well. 

Spelling: All About Spelling Level 6 and Level 7 - We didn't make it to Level 7 this year, so it will be moved to next years curriculum. All About Spelling is an amazing curriculum we have used every year and will continue to use. 

Math: BJU Press Math 6 - As stated before:  This Math curriculum just wasn't for us. It is written more for a classroom than for homeschool children. We have pushed our way through it.. skipping a few lessons that were just repeats. I feel the boys have been taught a lot this year in Math but it was a struggle using BJU. 

Bible: Each of the boys have a, My Bible Journal: A Journey Through The Word. They will work on them independently each morning. As a family we continue working on Family Scripture Study. (The History we are using this year also incorporates Bible study). - Bible has been wonderful! The boys are still working their way through the Bible journals and learning so much!   

History & Geography: Modern Times, Epistles & Revelation (We have been learning history in order since we began homeschooling. We have now made it to Modern Times. We are excited to finish our 4 year history study this year!) - We have now completed our 4th chronological year of history! We loved using this program.. it seemed more like it was "telling a story" than in text book form (which we love). Next year we will move away from general history and see what else we can learn before starting back at the beginning with Ancient Times. 

Science: God's Design For Science - Machines & Motion and also Inventions & Technology  - A solid curriculum but it truly lacked projects.. which my boys love! We will be moving in a different direction next school year. 

Music Lessons: The boys have been learning to play the guitar. They take lessons from their Daddy and will continue to learn during the school year.  - lessons have been continuing.. 

Morning Time Binder: This is different for us and we are excited to try it out in our homeschool. To sum it up quickly we will be rotating what we learn each morning, such as: Nature Study, Art, Health, Shakespeare, Music Study, Poetry, Virtues, Church History, Critical Thinking and much more! This is a great way to get all those "extra" subjects taught without being overwhelmed. You can see more about it HERE!  - Morning Time Binder has been a great addition to our homeschool. It's a wonderful way to add all those little extras into our schooling. We will be continuing with our morning time routine and new books next year. 

Typing & Computer Skills: The boys will continue working on their typing skills by playing Typing Instructor For Kids and also typing reports during the school year. I have also created a Computer Skills Unit Study for them to work through. The unit study includes Internet Safety, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint Introduction. - The boys have been playing typing instructor and improving their typing skills, however, we never made it to the unit study... we might try and pick it up next year.   

Foreign Language: This year we will begin learning Latin. However, I am still undecided on which curriculum I would like to use. If you have any suggestions please let us know. Thanks! - Foreign Language didn't fit into our plans this year. We have also gave it a great deal of thought and have decided to begin Spanish (instead of Latin) next school year.  

We have added a few new additions to our curriculum this year... we are enjoying fun-schooling books from Thinking Tree. 

Noah is using Math Mysteries (this book has helped him to be more confident in multiplication and division) and Do-It-Yourself Curriculum Fun-Schooling with Minecraft.

Aidan is also using Do-It-Yourself Curriculum Fun-Schooling with Minecraft.  

The boys have only been using the Thinking Tree books for a short while but we are loving them so far!!! (and learning tons..)