The Grace Card - Winner ANNOUNCED!!!!!

Last week I shared about the movie, The Grace Card.. you can hop on over and read  review of it here!

I was so happy that I had the opportunity to review this movie, however, what was better, is that they gave me a copy to give away!!!

So today, I would like to announce our winner...

 

Drum roll please........

 

Debbie Phillips, come on down! You are the lucky winner of your very own copy of The Grace Card!!!

Thank you for all that played!  Watch this space for future giveaways!

Have a great week!

 

Unsocialized and Over Protected Homeschoolers!

Do you have those? I DON"T!

This year, we are beginning our 12th year of homeschooling! I have 2 Seniors, 1 Junior, 1 Sophomore and a 7th grader!  (whew!) Over the years we have heard again and again, that we are not giving our children the social opportunities that they need and long for.  That they will not be able to interact appropriately with their peers, thus impacting their future ability to survive in life. More over, we have been told that we are over protecting them, and not allowing them to experience life around them.

 

This post in pictures is to serve as a rebuttal to these statements! I believe that my children have the best of both worlds, we have the ability to homeschool and give them the upbringing that we believe is appropriate and necessary. And, we also have them active in our local church body, both serving and worshiping our Lord!  And we are active in our local homeschool group. These pictures  show you a glimpse into just one night, one night celebrating their birthdays with their friends. All 5 kids are born in the summer.. here is their combined party... with their friends... Here are my unsocialized and over protected homeschoolers (NOT!)

With all the Best Intentions

I must say that I sit here looking at my poor little blog... being ignored! I set out 6 or 8 weeks ago with the highest of hopes to post every single day, Monday - Friday! And did very well for several weeks...

And then some daily life set in... actually not our normal daily life. We have had,what you call a jam packed busy summer! Even my reluctant learner is longing for school, because he is hoping that will be we will not be as busy! HA! I have had that same thought many days!  I always feel like once I get through this week, I can rest next week! I think that is because I simply block out what is on the calendar for the following week!

With all of that said, we are beginning to settle in for the year. Our summer has  been filled with conferences and conventions, and workshops and classes, that took us all over Southern California!

Now, with the school year just around the corner, I find myself surrounded by books and forms to fill out! You see, I have chosen a different educational option for my children this year. We are utilizing a local private school that has a homeschool leg. By doing this, my three athletic high school students will be able to play CIF Sports! So for the first time, I am having to turn paperwork in to someone else, versus, keeping it for my self. The forms are different, but the info is essentially the same. And I am working on their deadlines, instead of mine. All in all, what they require is fair, and what we receive in return is priceless. Competitive sports has been the one thing my children felt they were lacking!

So as I wrap up my paperwork, I do plan on getting back to blogging daily. Over the next few days, you will see a few posts, as I get back into the groove of things!

Thank you for sticking with me through my busy season, I look forward to sitting down and visiting with all you again, very soon!

 

The Grace Card Review and Give Away!

I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to review the movie "The Grace Card".  I sat down and watched this movie with one of  my teenage sons. This story about the grace we should be showing those around us, is packaged within a somewhat gritting police drama. The movie is rated PG-13, for some mild violence and some intense drama.  My kids range in age from 12 -19 and this movie would be suitable for all of them!  Check out the trailer below........

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p8hMGVPEIk&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]

"Everything can change in an instant … and take a lifetime to unravel. When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God … and just about everyone else. Mac’s rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he’s partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force—who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.

Can they somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one? Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace. Offer THE GRACE CARD … and never underestimate the power of God’s love."

This movie is a very powerful!  Even my teenager was affected by this movie! As we watch the grace that is extended throughout this movie, you examine your own heart, and your own life to see where you need to extend grace!

I am so thankful to have receive the gift of God's Grace, and The Grace Card is a wonderful reminder that we need to be giving grace to those around us!

The Grace Card is available today!  Check them out on Facebook!

I have been given an extra copy of the Grace Card to Giveaway to one of my readers!  Want to enter? See the rules below....

Leave a comment = 1 entry

Leave a comment, tell us when you have been extended grace, or when you have extended grace, and how it impacted your life. = 10 entries!!!  (only need to leave the one comment)

Follow my blog = 5 entries ( one comment telling you are following)

Tweet about the give away = 5 entries ( only leave one comment)

Facebook about the give away = 5 entries ( only leave 1 comment)

Post about this on your blog = 5 entries (only leave 1 comment)

Follow my blog on facebook = 5 entries  (only leave 1 comment)

Good luck!  I will announce the winner on August 23rd!

 

 

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:

“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FREE Summer Edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!

 

The fine people of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, are offering up their summer edition, completely FREE with NO STRINGS ATTACHED, in a digital edition.  That's right, you get a complete issue for FREE!

All you need to do is click here and ENJOY!

If you have read my blog for any amount of time, you know that I absolutely love The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! Long before I reviewed products for the TOS Homeschool Crew, I was a faithful subscriber to the magazine!  I have been subscribing since 2005! And I still have every issues that I have ever owned! And even refer back to them often!

Take a moment to check out all that you get in this magazine... and then share the link with your homeschool friends! Let's bless the homeschool community with this awesome gift from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!

Once again, simply click here!  No forms to fill out and no strings attached!

Happy reading.. and as always, Happy Homeschooling!

Family Movie Night: Who is Simon Miller

P & G and Walmart have partnered to bring family friendly entertainment into our homes. And tonight on NBC they are sponsoring, Family Movie Night! Tonight's Family Movie Night is "Who is Simon Miller?". As the title might suggest this is a spy movie... a family spy movie!

What is a family spy movie? Check out what the producers of "Who is Simon Miller?" have to say about this family movie...

"When unassuming geoligist Simon Miller mysteriously disappears one night, the Miller family is thrown into a desperate search to find him. Simon's wife Meredith and their two kids, Sarah, 18 and Kevin, 15 frantically search Simon's office for information. When they find a stash of passports, all with Simon's picture but each with a different alias, they realize that their father has been keeping more than a few secrets. Who is Simon Miller? And what has he gotten himself - and his family - into? Not sure they can even trust the dad they thought they knew, the Millers embark on an international mission to get him back. It's a heart-pounding adventure that tests the limits to which families will fight for each other."

I have to tell you, I really enjoyed this movie!  I can't tell you how many times I have watched those big budget 'spy' type movies, and what do I find? Sure, it might be great story line, but the movie is riddled with bad language, too much violence and gratuitous sex. UNACCEPTABLE!  I don't need to see all that garbage! And these are not movies I could watch with my children.

"Who is Simon Miller?", is an excellent story, it keeps you on the edge of your seat! However, the producers of this movie have gone the extra mile to keep this movie clean, through and through. It is so nice to finally not have quality sacrificed, when producing a family friendly movie. Everyone in your family will enjoy this movie.. mom and dad, all the way to your young kids... boys and girls alike!

Don't miss it! It's TONIGHT!!!  Check your local listings! You can see the Trailer here!  You can follow them on Facebook here!  And here are some additional promos!!

Gather around the family and pop some popcorn, and have a Family Movie Night!!!

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:

“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Graphics Toolbox Tuesdays: Colonial America Project Kit

Check out this video taking you through our Colonial America Project Kit, and why Graphics Toolbox is vital to helping to prepare your students to be competive in our highly visual world!

As homeschool parents, we want to give our children all the tools they need to propel them into their future.  Check out this video to see how you and your children can incorporate Graphics Toolbox into all subjects, all learning styles and all learning levels!

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For more information, contact me at Jennifer@greatsoftwaretools.com and visit our website for more information.