Wordless Wednesday Bundtlets

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Wordless Wednesday Delaney

Wordless Wednesday My Girls

Me & My Girls

St. Bartholomew's Eve Review #hsreviews #HeirloomAudio #LiveTheAdventure #BringingHentyBack #AudioAdventures

You know when you read a good book and you know there will be a sequel coming soon and you can't wait to read it to see what happens. That is kind of how my girls and I feel about the audio dramas from Heirloom Audio. We can't wait for each new radio theatre to be recorded. We recently received St. Bartholomew's Eve and it is just as good as the other Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty. 
Heirloom Audio produces the stories of G.A. Henty in dramatic audio dramas for ages six and up. G.A. Henty (1832-1902) was an English novelist and war correspondent. He is best known for the historical adventure stories he wrote that takes fictional characters and places them in history. The stories make learning events in history more fun and the audio dramas really bring them to life.

St.Bartholomew's Eve is recorded on two cds and last for 2 1/2 hours. It is a great recording that makes you feel like you really there. The background music, the battles, and the characters make remembering details about the Huguenot's easier than just reading them for yourself. This Heirloom Audio like the others use just the right voice actors to play each part. Of course the voice of G.A. Henty is Brian Blessed from Star Wars, Tarzan, and King Lear and this is just what we imagine his voice should sound like. Elizabeth Counsell from Chronicles of Narnia, David Shaw Parker from The Muppet Christmas Carol, Brian Deacon from Bonhoeffer & The Jesus Story, Andy Harrison from The Secret Garden, and Hugo Docking from Oliver Twist become the characters of St. Bartholomew's Eve and take us back in time.

Huguenots were French Protestants in the 16th -17th centuries that were persecuted by the Catholics. In St. Bartholomew's Eve we meet 16-year old Philip Fletcher who is English with French relatives in his mother's family. He decides to take a stand and fight in the Huguenot wars taking the side of the Huguenots. He stays with his cousin Francois in France as they both fight for the freedom to worship as they please. Philip advances himself and is recognized for his bravery and is sent on secret missions and even uses the carcass of the dead cattle in the battle plans. Philip and Francois are good examples of Godly young men through their devotion to God and their friendship with each other.  These young men keep God in their daily thoughts by referencing the Armor of God and continuing to pray while the battle is upon them.

Each Heirloom Audio story has a quote to represent the theme. The quote for St. Bartholomew's Eve is very appropriate: 

"Whom shall we obey? The King of France or the 

King of Kings?"

The first time we listened to St. Bartholomew's Eve the girls and I were on our way to a church rally a little over 2 1/2 hours away. After we got settled and on the interstate we put in the first cd and the very first track was called Skipping First Service. Well we had just had the conversation about what time we would be getting to the church building and I told them we didn't have a lot of extra time so hopefully we didn't have to stop. Alaina thought it was hilarious when the track title showed up. She said we would probably be late and be "skipping first service." We weren't late so we didn't have to skip any services.

We listened to the audio drama several times together and Alaina listened to it again. We all enjoyed the adventure for the entertainment and for the morals it teaches. Philip and Francois are both young but we get to see their bravery and their willingness to do whatever it takes to help people live for God instead of living by the King's decrees about religion.

We have reviewed all of the Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty from Heirloom Audio and they are well worth the time to listen to them and we look forward to the next one to be recorded. Eighty Crew members received a copy of St. Bartholomew's Eve so make sure you read their reviews as well.



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Underground Rising Audio Drama Review #hsreviews #AudioDrama #MissionaryStories #AudioMissionaryDrama #BrinkmanAdventures

Every time we head out for a road trip my girls want a new audio drama to take on the drive. We all love to be transported to another world or time while we sit in the car. Our newest adventure is Season 6: Underground Rising Digital Edition from the Brinkman Adventures.  The Brinkman Adventures are not new to use. We have several of their past seasons and we all agree they just keep getting better. The stories are about modern day Christian heroes but we get introduced to these heroes through a family of six, the Brinkmans. Of course like any family the Brinkmans have their own excitement wherever they go. 
The Underground Rising is the sixth radio drama adventure album from the Brinkman Adventures. This new season has six tracks instead of twelve tracks that are on the previous albums. This new album takes us on adventures from real people that have given themselves to help others. They are all based on real people and events but they are recorded with a dramatic element and are very entertaining as well as informative. We go back to WWII and meet the VanKesterens, learn of a prison licence plate factory, see kids giving up everything they know in order to help orphans in India, and about Dave Eubank and how being a Green Beret in the Special Forces had prepared him to use his experiences for God in the conflict zones in Burma.

• Dutch Underground Part 1
• Dutch Underground Part 2
• Twice Born Fly
• I Wonder Why?
• Free Burma Rangers Part 1
• Free Burma Rangers Part 2

We listened to each episode a few times. Our last road trip we left early in the morning and my girls slept most of the 3 1/2 hour drive so I didn't listen to it without them. We were house sitting for my oldest daughter and she had just moved so we listened while we were unpacking some of her boxes and also after we got home while we were making caramel apples. We all agree that our favorite adventure on this album is the Dutch Underground Part 1 & 2. This seems to be my girls favorite time period to learn about and hearing the story of Reng & Lynn VanKesteren and their friends is very inspiring. Learning about people that are willing to put their own lives at risk to save others they do not know really helps you see the good in mankind. 
After listening to each episode we really enjoy heading over to Brinkman Adventures page for the Real Stories of these amazing people. Some of their background story is there as well as photos of the actual people and some of the actors as well as some information about the recordings or how they found the actors. There are also short video segments that add to the stories and links to the podcasts interviews of the real people.

I think it is good for our kids, and us, to learn of people that have put everything on the line for God or to help others. I like my kids to have real life role models and heroes to look up to and learn from their examples. Season 6 also shows that it is never to late to give your life to God. Even if you haven't seeked His guidence in the past it is never to late. 
Don't forget to read other Crew reviews about the Underground Rising and make sure you use the coupon code: FALL10 while you are shopping at the Brinkman Adventures. 
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Wordless Wednesday Wedding Cake & Cupcakes

CashCrunch Careers Review #hsreviews #cte #careers #careerpathway #collegeready #careerreadiness #dreamcareer #dreamjob #careerpossibilities #college #recruitment #changeofcareer

I have been primarily a stay at home mom for the past 28 years. I have been a self employed cake decorator from home most of that time and I have held random part time jobs. While talking with my teens about college and jobs I often make the comment that I still wouldn't know what I would want to be if I had to choose a career right now. My girls and I recently took the CashCrunch Careers survey from CashCrunch Games to see what careers are out there that we might excel at. 

CashCrunch Careers is an online assessment of 75 questions that will help determine the career that best fits you. They aren't exactly questions you basically choose one of two words that would describe you. This is important to know because it could save you time and money in the long run if you choose a career that doesn't necessarily fit you. 

Amber graduated high school this past spring and is enrolled in the community college to fulfill her prerequisites to transfer to a radiology school. Delaney is a high school junior and she has always wanted to be a real estate agent. Alaina is a freshman and she doesn't really have any idea of what career she would like to have. Amber, Delaney, Alaina, and I all took the survey. I didn't pay attention to how long it took to complete but it wasn't very long maybe 10-15 minutes each. When we had all finished and printed out our reports we sat together on the couch to compare our results. Delaney was sitting next to me and her comment was; "Mom & I are exactly alike! We are basically the same person!" We did find it interesting that we all had the same results as far as our job matches go. 

The report indicates your Career Work Styles, Motivators & De-motivators, Career Attributes, Career Match with Matching Jobs. After reviewing the report you can click on the career matches to read about the skills needed for that job, colleges where you can earn that degree, and a short video about that career. 

The paragraphs we received about our Career Work Styles is to help you know what you can do, what you like to do, and what you are able to do. Delaney and I ended up with the exact same paragraph here but Amber & Alaina had different descriptions. The Motivators and Demotivators are a list describing what motivates and demotivates you. Delaney and I once again got the exact same results. Amber and Alaina had different ones than we did. The most surprising part was the Career Match. We all had the exact same list in the exact same order and they are all manager or administrative careers. This survey primarily focused on individual personality traits and assumes everyone should attend at least a four year college. It doesn't take into consideration any talents that are God given or self taught. I think that not every person is cut out for management positions and there are plenty of respectable careers that require only a certificate, two year degree or no college at all. 

I think finding out your career attributes and what motivates you and demotivates you are a great help in selecting a career. CashCrunch Careers gives you a lot of options to explore when you are really unsure what you would do because they may suggest something you have never thought about yourself. I would definitely tell someone completing this survey that this is just a suggested list and doesn't take into account their talents, likes, hobbies, or anything that actually interests them. 

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Other members of the Homeschool Review Crew received CashCrunch Careers for multiple people in their households. Make sure you stop by and read some of their reviews as well.

Young Whit Review & Giveaway

My kids and I have listened to Adventures in Odyssey for years. We started listening on our local radio station every Saturday morning. We loved them so much that we have bought several CDs as well as visiting Whits End in Colorado and joining the Adventures in Odyssey Club. When we first heard of the new book, Young Whit & the Traitor's Treasure we all wanted to read it.

Young Whit is a 235-page hardback book that takes us back to the 1930s when John Avery Whitaker is nine-years-old. His family moves to Provenance, North Carolina when his father takes a new job at Duke University. Johnny has to learn to deal with a new school, new friends, and a new bully all during the Great Depression. If that is not enough for a young boy to deal with he also has a mystery with the contents of an old musty trunk. He finds out what everyone thinks about his family after giving a presentation in school and now he must try to bring honor back to his family name by solving the old scandal that tarnished the Whittaker name.

It is great to step back and learn the history of Whit as he grew up in this new book series and we are all looking forward to more books in the series. You can win your own copy of Young Whit & the Traitor's Treasure by entering the giveaway below.

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By subscribing, you agree that you want to enter to win a copy of Young Whit and agree to receive occasional emails from Focus on the Family and FrontGate Media.  Open to US Residents 18 years or older.  Prize has no cash value.  5 Winners will be selected on 11/25/2018 and notified by email.   This page is designed by FrontGate Media.

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of Young Whit from Front Gate Media in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received. 

Teach Sunday School Bible Sheet Review #hsreviews #BooksOfTheBible #BibleSummarySheets #BiblePrintables

When people first start reading and studying the Bible they can feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start especially if they aren't normally a studious person or if they do not enjoy reading. A great way to start is by choosing a book to read straight through but having some background information can really add to the book. I always tell my kids to pay attention to the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where and why. By using the Books Of The Bible At-A-Glance from Teach Sunday School can make studying the Bible easier.  The Books of The Bible At-A-Glance is a set of one-page reference sheets for each book of the Bible. The pdf file contains one sheet for all 39 books from the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament as well as an introduction to the product and suggested ways to use it.

The pages are brightly colored and are all set up the same way to make finding the information you are looking for easy. Some of them may not include everything because that exact information may not be known.

The name of the book is at the top of the page. Then there is a row with the place number of the book and which Testament it is in, the author, the date written. Underneath that is the time period the book takes place. Every book in the Bible has at least one very well known story and famous verses so its Claim to Fame and Most Famous Verses are next as well as the problems or issues the book is addressing. At the bottom of the sheet are important points about the book.

Some of the verses are 2 Kings 2:3, Esther 5:8, Micah 5:2, Acts 1:8, Galatians 3:1, 2 Peter 3:9, and Revelation 3:20 to name a few. Some of the Claim to Fame stories are the Laws to the Hebrews, David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, Jesus turning the water into wine, and the shortest book in the New Testament are just a few of them.

I used these At-A-Glance pages with my girls at home. We skimmed through all of them at first to see some of the things that were included for each book. It was a great review of the key points of each book and some things we don't always think about like when the book was written. During our family devotions, we have been reading straight through the Bible. When we started a new book we read the information on these pages to have some information about the book fresh in our minds before we started reading. These pages are very bright and nice to look at but if you decide to print them out in grey scale they look still look nice. I was planning on printing in color but I forgot to change the setting on my computer to not automatically save colored ink.

These Bible pages would make a great addition to any Bible study at home or for a church class. Make sure you stop over at the Crew Blog and read how other families have been using the At-A-Glance Bible pages. And if you teach Sunday School you should really check out the teaching options on Teach Sunday School webpage. They offer lesson plans, printables, games, crafts, and Christian parenting helps.

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Forensic Faith Review #hsreviews #chrisitanworldview #forensicfaith #childrensbooks

Who doesn't want to be a detective at least some of the time? With Forensic Faith For Kids and the Case Makers Academy from David C Cook, your kids can be one for a little while.

Forensic Faith For Kids is a 144-page softcover book recommended for children ages 8-12. This mystery book was written by a real cold-case homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace, and Susie Wallace. J. Warner has been on several crime-related tv shows as well as Dateline and Fox News. He is a former atheist but eventually turned to Christ after using his detective skills to investigate the Bible to see if it was true and if Jesus Christ is the son of God. He went on to obtain a master's degree in theological studies. Susie has a master's degree in speech therapy and she co-writes and edits all of their books. They have raised 4 children in southern California and have also written Cold-Case Christianity For Kids and God's Crime Scene For Kids.

Kids often have a lot of questions about Christianity before and after they become a Christian. They are also often asked questions about Christianity from their friends and peers and they don't always know how to answer them. Forensic Faith helps kids develop investigative skills to be able to answer those questions. There is also an adult version of the book and everyone can use the Case Makers Academy.

Forensic Faith For Kids finds the Junior Detective Cadets Daniel, Jason and Hannah defending the truth about Jesus while they are trying to solve the mystery of a puppy that shows up out of nowhere. Detective Jeffries helps them use their detective skills to solve these cases.

Throughout the book are grey boxes that give the kids Detective Definitions, CSI Assignments, Dig Deeper and A Tool for Your Detective Bag box. These include Bible verses with questions, definitions that detectives normally use, and thought questions. And there is a Certificate of Qualification in the back of the book for the child when they are finished.

The Case Maker's Academy goes right along with the book. For each chapter there are short video segments, Training Activity Sheets, Academy Notebook Sheet, and an Adult Leader Guide. The videos give an introduction to the new chapter to help the kids think about the key points that are coming up. The Leader Guide gives the parent or teacher an introduction to the concepts and includes questions that would be good to ask the kids to making what they just read practical in their life.

Even though Alaina is older than the recommended age level for the book she still enjoyed reading it. She liked how it made her feel like a detective while she was looking for clues, and she enjoyed the story line. The way J. Warner gets the kids thinking about the clues can be a big help in getting them to not only pay attention to details while they are reading books but also when they are reading their Bible. After reading this book I may have to add the adult Forensic Faith book written by J. Warner Wallace to our reading list for the older girls and myself.

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Reader's Choice Winner

Our local newspaper runs a contest every year for their readers to nominate and vote for their favorite business in our town. Every business including daycares, dance studios, plumbers, bakers, cake decorators, and any business you love. 

This year I was voted #1 Cake Decorator!!

Thank You North Platte for voting for me!!