a glimpse of our life

14.7.18

Scripture and a Snapshot

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Hebrews 3:4

My husband has been building a fence. There are so many life lessons in this.

Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a comment with a verse that God has placed on your heart this week, or leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links, too. This Scripture and a Snapshot link will be changing; more details will be shared soon.

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11.7.18

North Shore Baby Changing Items

We received two items for this review including baby wipes and a pack of premium baby changing pads.

Their premium baby changing pads, item # 1791, come in a 5 count pack. These are 17 X 24 pads that are perfect for moms on-the-go. These changing pads are packed for portability, and come in a resealable bag that fits in diaper bags and large purses.

My son quickly compared these to the puppy pads his grandparents were using to house train their puppy. We found them useful when friends with babies visited and needed a changing spot.

The baby wipes from NorthShore are hypoallergenic, unscented, and alcohol free.

For Information on their product lines - http://www.northshorecare.com/baby-diapers.html

Disclosure: US Family Guide provided the above items for this review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions shared are my own and that of my family.

8.7.18

Scripture and a Snapshot

Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

We watched two friends get married this weekend, such a beautiful wedding. Recently I read about similarities between Ruth and the Virtuous Woman In Proverbs 31. We had verses from Ruth in our vows years ago.

Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a comment with a verse that God has placed on your heart this week, or leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links, too. This Scripture and a Snapshot link will be changing; more details will be shared soon.

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30.6.18

Scripture and a Snapshot

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a comment with a verse that God has placed on your heart this week, or leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links, too. This Scripture and a Snapshot link will be changing; more details will be shared soon.

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28.6.18

The Master and His Apprentices

The following is a review of The Master and His Apprentices with the TOS Homeschool Review Crew.

We received a digital edition of the textbook and teacher guide: The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective.

The four downloads arrived in a format I could open on my computer or mobile device (phone because our iPads died.) I have it saved as two books in my Dropbox account: a textbook and a teacher’s guide. We also received a download with printing instructions including permission to print. I found the 36 week syllabus in the teacher’s guide to be very helpful.

The program is designed for private schools or homeschools and can even be done as a self-study course. Following the plan in this book will provide your student with 36 one-hour classes equalling one high school credit of art history. Alternatively, these lessons can be incorporated into other classes including art, Bible, or history. It can be used as a supplement and even used with younger students. A syllabus is included with a plan to follow and even a link to an editable form. If followed as suggested, students read assigned pages (approximately 10-15 pages) and take notes prior to each class. Student worksheets can be printed and later also used as review sheets. An additional "Terms to Describe Art" handout is also provided to help discuss works of art. The textbook, a notebook and pen, and a Bible are the recommended resources for completing these lessons. Four exams are included as well as instructions for completing four art history papers.

Vocabulary and geography are also built into the lessons. The worksheets are in fill-in-the-blank format. Most lessons have about a page and a half of corresponding worksheets.

These lessons are written from a Christian perspective. The first lessons include discussion of the earth's age and creation beginning in Genesis. In the beginning, it is written more like a history book with pictures than an art book.

We have planned to begin high school world history with my son this fall and now plan to continue incorporating these art history lessons with his world history lessons when the information, time period, or location overlaps. This contains so much more than I would have imagined would be covered in a high school art history course. Art and history are covered, but so are much more: vocabulary, Scripture, science, research, and writing are all incorporated. Most of the assignments are readings in preparation for discussion, but there are also writing assignments.

Maps are also included in the lessons. The colorful maps and facts about people and places during each period are enhanced by pictures and descriptions of period specific art.

Years ago we visited a traveling museum exhibit featuring artifacts from King Tut’s Tomb. The related lessons in this book would have been so exciting to study at the same time that we saw some of the things pictured in the book. Related lessons from the Egypt chapter include:

Timeline of Ancient Egyptian art

Mummification and Canopic jars

Palette of Narmer

Statuary of the Old Kingdom

Pyramid Development

Pylon Temples

Queen Hatshepsut

Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Tutankhamen

Ramses II

This would be an interesting historical resource for any family. I’d love to have the bound copy as a large coffee-table book.

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The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective {The Master and His Apprentices Reviews}

26.6.18

CSB Study Bible for Women Review

For the past month, I’ve been using the CSB Study Bible for Women which I received to review. Several features differ from my traditional Bibles. First is the translation. The CSB version is an updated version of the Holman and happens to be the version our preacher has been reading from lately, so it’s nice to be able to follow along with the same version. This Study Bible does have a lot of extra study tips and commentary though, and while I enjoy reading things like the parallels between Ruth and the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman, they can also be distracting. The floral artwork is lovely, but used to just black and red on white pages, it may take a little more time for me to not be distracted by the pretty colors, too. The hardback cover is not flexible like my leather covered and paperback Bibles, but it is an advantage over paper as I’ve torn covers of those.

Product Description:

CSB Study Bible for Women will equip you to reach deep into God’s Word. As the most comprehensive study Bible ever prepared for women and by women, the most powerful aspect of this Bible are the threads of specialized study thoughtfully woven throughout pointing you to God’s larger story and allowing the Holy Spirit to write His revealed truths on your heart. In the CSB Study Bible for Women, you'll join a host of other women, all academically trained in the original languages of the Bible and passionate about God’s Word, for an intimately deep dive into Scripture that will equip you to unlock the riches and majesty of His Word, and ignite a passion to mentor others in your life to do the same.

Features include:

Smyth-sewn binding
Two-column text
8-point type
Extensive commentary notes
Word studies
Answers to hard questions
Doctrinal notes
Biblical womanhood articles
Character profiles
“Written on My Heart” applications
Extensive book introductions
Presentation page
In-text maps, charts & timelines, Concordance, Full-color maps, and more.

The CSB Study Bible for Women features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.

Disclosure: Frontgate Media provided a copy of this book for this review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions shared are my own and that of my family.

24.6.18

Scripture and a Snapshot

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

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21.6.18

Persuasive Writing and Classical Rhetoric

The following is a review of Persuasive Writing and Classical Rhetoric: Practicing The Habits of Great Writers from Silverdale Press LLC with the TOS Homeschool Review Crew.

For this review we were provided with a download of Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers. This is a high school level 36-week curriculum.

"Good writing only comes with practice."

Access to this course included a download of four books: The Rhetoric Reader, Rhetoric Workbook, Rhetoric Lesson Book, and Rhetoric Answer Book.

The 31 one to nine page chapters in the reader are each about famous people. The reading passages are speeches. These would mix well with history lessons, too.

The 202 page workbook has 36 lessons each include a four day schedule. The very first week includes a 500 word prompt-based writing assignment on day 4. Most of the workbook questions are fill-in-the-blank; blank lines are even provided for the writing assignments. The workbook pages can be printed which is ideal but can also be read from a screen and answers written in a notebook.

The 65 page Rhetoric Answer Book includes advice about choosing topics that interest your student and encouraging them.

"As a teacher, your most important job is to encourage your students."

"The 36 week lessons are organized and thorough, complete with learning outcomes and a suggested weekly schedule." It is designed to complete four one-hour and fifteen minute lessons each week. A grading scale is also included. Correct grammar and punctuation is expected throughout the writing assignments. Lessons cover habits of great writers, taking notes, logical appeals and deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning, emotional appeals, ethical appeals, style, ornamentation, and more. Vocabulary and history are built into these lessons. The speeches are analyzed in the review questions.

screenshot of Rhetoric Reader p. 5, highlights my own

I love the speeches included in the Rhetoric Reader that demonstrate so clearly our nation's Christian foundation.

"We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power...we shall not fight our battles alone."

In addition to these powerful words from Patrick Henry, there are speeches by other authors and leaders, both men and women, to inspire our students as they learn. One speech (that most famous one by Martin Luther King, Jr. did not include the speech, instead a link was provided to find it online.

Lesson 25 features William Strunk and an excderpt from his book The Elements of Style. I actually ordered that book when it was recommended to me, but the additional features provided in the accompanying lesson: Introduction to Style as well as the workbook add depth to the words beyond just reading them. Learning outcomes (see screenshot below) are provided for each lesson.

Each lesson also includes a recommended four day schedule with day four devoted to the related writing prompt. The schedule is also included in the workbook followed by each daily lesson.

My first interest in the Persuasive Wriring and Classical Rhetoric Curriculum was for my son who is beginning ninth grade. As I began to read out loud, we also found the lessons to be beneficial to his big sister who is prepping for an English CLEP before her first semester of college.

This curriculum will continue to be used by my son for his 9th grade English credit. I recommend it to any homeschool high school student who wishes to improve their writing skills.

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Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers & White House Holidays Unit Studies {Silverdale Press LLC Reviews}

19.6.18

Souvenirs

We brought home seashells from the seashore. Sand, shells, broken bits, and one perfect sand dollar. Piles of laundry, more sand embedded in the floor mats in the truck, and memories.

16.6.18

Scripture and a Snapshot

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22-23

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11.6.18

I Can Only Imagine DVD Review

When I first saw promotions for the movie I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, I did not especially want to see it. It looked like a way to regain attention for a song by slandering the song writer and singer’s deceased father, and for personal reasons as I tend to think of it as a funeral song. Our family joined our youth group to see it, and I was pleasantly surprised. Because of that, I agreed to sharing a dvd review. My daughter called it “the type of movie that you want to tell other people about.”

This movie is a telling of some of the life circumstances leading up to the creation of the chart topping song also called I Can Only Imagine by Bart Millard of Mercy Me. It is a story of his childhood and his pain, but also a story of forgiveness and redemption. The story steps back in time to the seventies, the time period of both the author’s childhood and my own. There are a few interesting period inclusions such as cassette tapes.

Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins star in this inspiring true story behind MercyMe’s beloved hit song. Running from a troubled home life and a broken relationship, Bart Millard (Finley) found escape in music. Hitting the road in a decrepit tour bus, Bart and his band MercyMeset out on an amazing journey none of them could have ever imagined, in this uplifting, music-filled movie that beautifully illustrates the power of forgiveness and God’s love.

The home entertainment release of I Can Only Imagine features over 3 hours of extras including 7 deleted scenes, 7 in-depth featurettes, an audio commentary, and more!

The #1 Inspirational Movie of the Year Comes Home on Digital on June 5 and Blu-rayTM Combo Pack and DVD on June 12

NASHVILLE, Tenn (April 30, 2018) – Experience the uplifting story that shares the power of forgiveness when I Can Only Imagine arrives on Digital June 5 and on Blu-rayTM Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand June 12 from Lionsgate and Provident Films. Directed by the Erwin Brothers (October Baby, Moms’ Night Out) and written for the screen by Jon Erwin & Brent McCorkle, the film tells the incredible true story behind Christian band MercyMe’s iconic, history-making song “I Can Only Imagine.” Starring in the film are up-and-coming Broadway star J. Michael Finley (“Les Miserables”) and Golden Globe® nominee Dennis Quaid (2011, Best Actor – Limited Series or Television Motion Picture, The Special Relationship; 2003, Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Far From Heaven), as well as Trace Adkins (The Lincoln Lawyer, Traded), Priscilla C. Shirer (War Room), Cloris Leachman (The Last Picture Show, Spanglish), and Madeline Carroll (Flipped).

. Trailer: https://youtu.be/gUbO3oALRYA

. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icanonlyimaginemovie/

. Instagram: @icanonlyimaginemovie 

. Twitter: @onlyimaginefilm

Disclosure: The following is a promotional post for I Can Only Imagine DVD which was provided by FlyBy Promotions. All opinions are my own and that of my family. No other compensation was provided beyond the DVD to review.

9.6.18

Scripture and a Snapshot

Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

This morning I breakfasted on blueberries straight off the bushes. My son was my berry picking sidekick today; he kept his commitment to join me while everyone else at home was still sleeping. I asked him to grab my phone when I saw a well camouflaged grasshopper by a berry that I had almost grabbed. A few minutes later he called me over to watch the ants with him. He had zoomed in with the phone camera and showed me how they were coming out of the hole to build their home above ground.

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7.6.18

Traditional Logic

The following is a review of Traditional Logic from Memoria Press with the TOS Homeschool Review Crew.

For this review, we received both Traditional Logic I Complete Set and Traditional Logic II Complete Set. For each set we received their instructional DVD, student text, teacher key, and consumable student workbook and test book. A day by day teaching schedule and lesson plans are available for purchase on their website.

We started these logic lessons by watching the DVD which is conveniently organized by lesson which corresponds with the student workbook. Latin is built into the lessons, and the dvd clearly covers that including both definitions and proper pronunciation. While the text book does cover the material, the heart of the lessons is the video lecture in which the author explains the material. Each chapter in the book included an introduction of the new material, further explanation of different types or categories that fall under the main heading, and a summary. Chapters in Traditional Logic I cover simple apprehension, judgment, and deductive inference. There is a helpful glossary and page of “helpful people to remember in that book.

The Traditional Logic II book goes into more depth with multiple types of syllogisms, language including enthymemes, and the logic of relations. Many of these words were completely new to me which made me appreciate the video lessons even more. The workbook lessons were easy to understand.

One of the first things that I read in was an explanation of the difference in teaching traditional logic versus modern logic and formal versus informal logic. “Traditional logic trains the mind to respect truth, and indeed assumes a Christian view of truth throughout, which is one of the reasons it appealed to the Medieval schoolmen.” The author further explains that it teaches that there is absolute truth and that it can be comprehended.

The Teacher Keys are both basically answer books. They provide the questions and answers for the workbooks, quizzes, and tests but not instructions for the teacher. . There is a “note to the teacher” in the front of each text book.

The workbook lessons are broken down into weekly sections and then daily lessons. Most questions require a combination of fill in the blank and sentence responses, but essays are required at the end of the Advanced Formal Logic workbook.

The Advanced Formal Logic lessons add another 14 chapters and provide the second half of a complete high school logic credit. If used, it is recommended to complete Traditional Logic I in less than a semester and using the remaining time for Traditional Logic II.

That quote from the Advanced Formal Logic workbook sort of sums up the lessons. The students are taught methods of analyzing statements which help determine the validity of arguments. I hope that upon completion of these lessons my son will be able to do just that.

Being able to not only speak clearly but to share rational thoughts and be able to know when facts presented are not rational is an important life skill. This series of books cover logic in a more complex yet in depth way that helps students interpret facts presented to them. I absolutely see the value in these two courses and plan to continue using them with my son.

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New American Cursive & Traditional Logic {Memoria Press Reviews}

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