This week’s assignment is to share a piece of your past. Our blogs are important pieces for our future generations, but when most of us were growing up, blogging wasn’t around. I hope that this assignment will help you to share your past on your blogs. Each piece of our childhood years played an important part in who we are today.

The assignment is to post a baby picture.

I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to participate this week since my mother has all of my baby pictures. Luckily I found a picture of my dad and I when I was a couple of months old on my genealogy website.

Share a special scripture that reminds you of your past.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is creative blogging assignment but hopefully it will help offer help to some newer bloggers still trying to learn “how” to add pictures to their blogs and also help learn your classmates names to easily identify them… and it’s just FUN!

The Assignment this week it to use your Blog Name (or your own pen/real name) and create signs. There are two ways to do this and you can do one or both ways.

1. Visit Image Chef (www.ImageChef.com) and create some free cute signs. The easiest way to explain this is follow the templates — choose, customize (type in name), and then Preview. Once you see the design, right click and SAVE to your computer.

• Now once you saved it to your computer….. you will need to upload it to an image host like www.PhotoBucket.com OR www.Flickr.com These are both FREE photo hosting sites that you can create an account, upload your pictures, and they will give you links to your pictures that you can use to upload to your blog.

AND/OR you can be really creative and create your own signs, take digital pictures and share them. (Examples….Refrigerator Magnets, Shaving Cream, Frosting, etc.)

2. Share a special verse!

EXTRA CREDIT FUN: Make a commitment to visit 10 classmates this week! If you make this commitment AND leave them a comment put an “*” (asterick) by your name when signing Mr. Linky! Visit 20 classmates put TWO “**” by your name.

I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather this past week and haven’t even used the computer so my assignment is a little late. Better late than never I guess. That being said I loved this assignment. It was so fun to do. I made a few of my own signs and then tried out a generator online. I can’t wait to see everybody’s signs.

Teddy bear by ©Creographix

My verse for the week is:

Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a blessed day!!!

We’ve arrived at the seventh week of our school year and have decided to take a week off. We’re going to try a six week on one week off schedule and then fit in other “vacations” as needed. I had envisioned that this would be a week spent in gathering supplies, planning for the next term, and deep cleaning the house. However, Sunday morning I woke up with a horrible sinus infection. It is to be expected I suppose with the weather changing but it sure put a damper on all my lofty goals. Sunday through Tuesday I accomplished almost nothing but I feel a bit better today so I can begin to tackle my to do list.

Today is the first day of Sukkot and we also celebrate Yeshua’s(Jesus) birth this week. I could post a long blog on this topic but if I plan to get anything accomplished I would be better off referring anyone interested to Robin Sampson’s overview of Sukkot. She also explains the likelihood of Yeshua’s birth occuring during Sukkot HERE. We have many family activities planned for the week including reading the story of Yeshua’s birth, singing songs about His birth, studying and constructing a tabernacle model, and acting out a skit about His birth. I really look forward to celebrating and am praying that this sinus cold goes away quickly.

Yom Kippur went really well and was a wonderful day of reflection, prayer, and rest. During this reflection I realized there are certain areas that I’m not being as faithful in as we should. One area I need to focus on is making sure to take a complete Sabbath rest each week. As of late it seems that during periods of stress or busyness that we tend to push the Sabbath on the back burner. However, now I wonder if we truly were seeking to relax and refresh in Him each week if we would be dealing with all this stress at all. So from now on I am going to make sure all is prepared for the Sabbath and that we give this day over to Him and rest from our worldly burdens. Secondly, we have gotten away from our reading through the Torah Cycle. Last, year we went through a period of financial hardship and I had to cancel our Torah Club subscription. I know that this doesn’t mean that we couldn’t still read through our weekly passage but life got busy and this was one of the things that got put off until later(only later never came). With Torah Club it is so much easier to focus and study so I have decided to renew our subscription. Although, you are supposed to work through each volume chronologically I ordered Volume 5 because it seems so focused and in depth and just what we need at this season in our lives. Here is a synopsis of Torah Club Volume 5 from the FFOZ website:

This momentous and popular fifth volume of Torah Club is described by many as our most practical and in-depth study. It’s an exhilarating dance through the narrative and laws of the Torah, as we examine each command in detail through the eyes of the Messiah, the prophets, the gospels and Paul’s writings..

Standing on the shoulders of Volumes One through Four, Torah Club Volume Five incorporates the themes of Torah, Messiah, Prophets and Gospels laid down in the previous volumes, but does not repeat that material. Instead it rejoins the annual Torah cycle for an exhilarating dance through the narratives, poetry and laws of the books of Moses while pulling in relevant material from the Apostolic writings and the epistles of Paul.

Volume Five is uniquely designed to add dimension and clarity to the practical application of God’s mitzvot (“commandments”). Understand difficult laws of clean and unclean. Compare the covenants. Learn how the sacrificial system worked in the past and understand why the Scriptures say it will be reestablished in the Messianic era. We will visit ancient Jewish sources, discover new Messianic interpretations and feed our souls on the Word of God. Questions of practical application are addressed right along with the difficult Pauline passages. Volume Five brings all the Scriptures together in a culminating celebration of spirit and truth.

I can hardly wait for the package to arrive in the mail and to dig in to this great study. The last area I want to focus on is my marriage. My dear husband and I have just began a Bible study using “Love and Respect”. We’re only on chapter one but this book has already spoken volumes to me about being on a crazy cycle of seeking love and respect. As I was reflecting on this cycle this morning I read a very inspirational post by Mrs. Brigham on 100-100 marriages. I urge everyone to head over to her blog and read her wonderful insightful post. May the LORD bless us all with 100-100 marriages.

Well I really need to get started on my to do list so I should close for now. I’m sorry if this post is a little all over the place I’m still feeling a bit befuddled from this cold. Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a blessed day.

This is another “oldie but goodie” from last year and will be most likely the last one duplicated from last year, but I felt it is an important assignment to bring up new and fresh websites. We can all glean and treasure these nuggets of gold from one another.

The Internet offers a lot of treasures! It may not be in the form of actual gold, although I’m sure some could find some on the Internet – probably on ebay! Being a Blogger Friend is all about sharing our treasures. The assignment this week is to share your Internet treasures. Below is a list featurning things that homeschooling moms might be looking for : information, support, ideas, or actual items that pertain to our lives. Each one of us holds some or all of these treasures that need to be shared. Take this list and add your “golden” treasured sites so that we may all share the wealth.

~A website that you visit everyday: blogrolling.com

~First place you look for a book to buy: It really depends on the book either CBD, Heart of Wisdom, or FFOZ

~Favorite Homeschool Support Area: HOW yahoo group, Heart of Wisdom Message Board, Unofficial Weaver Yahoo Group, Interlock Yahoo Group, Support4Homeschool Yahoo Group

~Homeschool site full of information that you use regularly: Heart of Wisdom ,Unofficial Weaver Pages, TNHomeEd

~Site that you buy your new curriculum from: Heart of Wisdom, Rainbow Resource, and CBD
~Site that you buy your used curriculum from: Ebay

~Site that offers frugal tips to save money: Living On A Dime, Biblical Womanhood, Hillbilly Housewife, Frugal Hacks
~A site that provides good wholesome recipes: I usually just use cookbooks but I refer to All Recipes if I can’t find something in my cookbooks.
~An informational site that shows you “how” to: homeschool? Heart of Wisdom

~A homeschool family website that you purchase from to support them: Heart of Wisdom , Hands of A Child

~A charity website that you support: There are several ministries I support online (FFOZ, TNNOnline, Torah Resource) but no charities that I can think of.
~Favorite Graphic site to get graphics for your blog or other things: I do like to make my own but most of the time I just don’t have time to do so. I recently joined Country Delights and I love her graphics.
~Site that offers an educational calendar listing important historical events and also to keep you informed on upcoming events: history.com

~Site that offers Homeschool Freebies: HomeschoolEStore, Donna Young, and The Homeschool Mom has a great list of freebies.
~Site that offers any kind of Freebies: The Free Site

~A blog to read that is always full of humor: Because I Said So

~A blog to read that is always full of useful information: Keeping The Home, Home Living

~A blog to visit because it is eye appealing and easy to read:
~A blog that you read because it inspires you to be a better homeschooling mom: Less of Him, More of Me , Training Hearts, Kerugma, and there are so many more but this is a short list.
~A site that you would allow your children to visit: starfall.com

~List any other sites that you would like to share that have provided you with a wealth of golden information:

DLTK , Enchanted Learning , Vision Forum , Homemaking Cottage, Bereans Online, Creative Homemaking

Click the graphic above to learn more about the Fall Into Reading Challenge and/or to sign up.

I came across this neat challenge over at Nikki’s blog and thought I would give it a go. Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting a Fall Into Reading. This is to challenge us to set goals in our reading for the upcoming fall season. This challenge actually comes at quite a opportune time since last week I was inspired by articles here and here to organize and focus my reading material . I have decided to organize my reading into seven general categories. These may change in the future as I put this into practice and I may not get through every book but I do hope to read most of them.

Theology

Fellow Heirs: Jews and Gentiles Togther in the Family of God by Tim Hegg

King of the Jews by D. Thomas Lancaster

Torah Club Volume 5: Rejoicing of the Torah by FFOZ(this study takes a year but I’ll read through it every week)

How God Wants us to Worship Him by Dr. Joe Morecraft III

History/Biography

George Washington’s Sacred Fire by Peter A. Lillback

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford

Current Events/Politics

In Defense Of Israel by John Hagee

Outrage by Dick Morris

Family Life

Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs *

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Parenting From The Heart by Marilyn Boyer

Home-Making by J.R. Miller

What God Has Joined Together: Biblical Foundations for Marriage by Tim Hegg

Bible Studies

A Heart Like His by Beth Moore *

Breaking Free by Beth Moore

The Prayer that Changes Everything by Stormie Omartian

Fiction

The Parting by Beverly Lewis *

The Sixth Covenant by Brock and Bodie Thoene

Warsaw Requiem by Brock and Bodie Thoene

Homeschooling

Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell

Safely Home by Tom Eldredge

* notes books I’m currently reading

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you have a blessed day.

To learn more about Monday Meanderings click the graphic above

Continue Bible study using “A Heart Like His” by Beth Moore

Begin Bible study with my DH using “Love and Respect” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs ( We were supposed to start this last week but we didn’t get around to it)

Read from Narrated Bible In Chronological Order

Print tweaked schedules for HMB

Begin plans for Sukkot

Plan field trips to Rock City and to go gem mining

Restock freezer and pantry

This week I’m focusing on the kitchen. I have to clean out the cupboards, pantry, fridge, and freezer. Then I need to make a list of what we have on hand and what I need to purchase.

Read daily from Day by Day Kid’s Bible

Finish up our study on first day of creation and light

Begin our study of the second day of creation and air

Day One- Cajun Chicken Nine Bean Soup

Day Two-Roast Chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli

Day Three-Pizza Potatoes

Day Four-Meatloaf, mac and cheese, and green beans

Day Five-Fried Cabbage with hamburger over butter and herb noodles

Last week we celebrated Rosh Hashana and observed the ten days of awe that culminate tomorrow in Yom Kippur. In Bible times the high priest was responsible for the duties of the Day of Atonement. On this day he would enter the Holy of Holies , that could only be entered once a year and only by the high priest, to make atonement for the people of Israel. He would offer sacrifices and sprinkle the Ark of the Covenant with blood to purify it. Then he began the process of the burnt offerings and sin offerings. These are the steps he followed:

1. Remove the ashes from the outer altar (1:8).
2. Immerse (baptize) himself for the first time. Put on the golden vestments (3:4).
3. Slaughter the daily morning elevation (burnt) offering (3:4).
4. Receive and throw the blood of the elevation (burnt) offering (3:4).
5. Prepare the five lamps of the menorah (3:4).
6. Offer the daily incense (3:5).
7. Prepare the remaining two lamps of the menorah.
8. Burn the limbs of the daily morning elevation (burnt) offering on the outer altar (3:4).
9. Offer the daily meal offering (3:4).
10. Offer the Chavitin offering (3:4).
11. Offer the wine libation (drink offering) (3:4).
12. Offer the Mussafim: The ox and the seven lambs – all elevation (burnt) offerings, along with their meal and drink offerings (7:3).
13. Immerse (baptize) himself for the second time and then don the linen vestments (3:6).
14. Do the first confession on the High Priest ox offering (3:8).
15. Draw the lots to select the he-goats for God and for Azazel (3:9, 4:1) [see the section titled “Two Goats” in the “Messianic Significance of the Day of Atonement” further in this chapter].
16. Do the second confession on the High Priest ox sin offering (4:2).
17. Slaughter his ox sin offering (4:3).
18. Perform the service of the special Yom HaKippurim incense: (a) scoop up some coal; (b) scoop up the incense into the ladle; (c) burn the incense in the Holy of Holies. This was his first entry into the Holy of Holies (4:3, 5:1-2).
19. Sprinkle the blood of his ox in the Holy of Holies. This was his second entry into the Holy of Holies (5:3).
20. Slaughter the he-goat for God (5:4).
21. Sprinkle the he-goat’s blood in the Holy of Holies. This was his third entry into the Holy of Holies (5:4).
22. Sprinkle the blood of his ox on the curtain in the Holy place (5:4).
23. Sprinkle the he-goat’s blood on the curtain in the Holy place (5:4).
24. Mix the blood of his ox and the he-goat (5:4).
25. Sprinkle the mixture on the inner altar (5:5-6).
26. Do the confession on the he-goat to Azazel and present the he-goat, to the designated person, for dispatch to azazel (6:2). This was not a sacrifice.
27. Remove the entrails of his ox and the he-goat and place them in a utensil (6:7).
28. Prepare the limbs of his ox and the he-goat for removal to the burning place (6:7).
29. Read from the Torah (7:1).
30. Immerse (baptize) himself for the third time, then don the golden vestments.
31. Perform the service of the he-goat sin offering of the Mussafim (7:3).
32. Offer his ram (7:3).
33. Offer the people’s ram (7:3).
34. Burn the entrails of the ox and he-goat on the outer altar (6:7).
35. Immerse (baptize) himself for the fourth time, then don the linen vestments (7:5).
36. Remove the incense ladle and the shovel with burnt coals from the Holy of Holies. This was his fourth and final entry into the Holy of Holies (7:4).
37. Immerse (baptize) himself for the fifth time, then don the golden vestments (7:5).
38. Offer the daily afternoon elevation (burnt) offering (7:3).
39. Burn the daily afternoon incense (7:4).
40. Light the Menorah (7:5).

excerpted from Biblical Holidays website

Following this purification of the Holy Place and sacrifices he would then partake in the ceremony of the scapegoat. Two goats were presented to him and one goat was set free while the other goat was chosen to be the scapegoat. The high priest would symbolically place the sins of Israel onto the goat and then send it out in the desert. Thus the sins were removed from Israel. Tradition holds that a cord of red wool was tied to the horn of the scapegoat and outside the door of the Temple. When the red cord turned white it was a sign to the people that they were forgiven. (Isaiah 1:18)

Now I suppose some people are sitting there thinking well thanks for the Bible/history lessons but what does that have to do with us as believers in Jesus. Everything!! Yeshua(Jesus) has provided our atonement. He was our sacrifice and His blood purifies us that we may be seen white as snow before the Father. Like the high priest of old Yeshua has entered into heaven and appealed to His Father on our behalves.

But Yeshua being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say , not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; How much more shall the blood of Yeshua, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to G-d, purge your conscience from dead works and serve the living G-d. (Hebrews 9:11-14)

As for the scapegoat we know that Yeshua was presented before the people along with the prisoner,Barabas, and the people were to choose which one would be set free. The people chose Barabas and Yeshua was sent to Calvary to be our scapegoat. He bore the burdens of those that believe in Him and He was offered up as our perfect sacrifice. As a interesting aside remember that red cord I spoke about above the one that turned from scarlet to white when the people of Israel were forgiven on Yom Kippur? The year Yeshua was resurrected the scarlet thread never again turned white. The Shekhinah (spirit of G-d) left the temple and Yeshua sent the that spirit to each individual believer in Him.

It is often thought that since Yeshua came,died, and was resurrected we have no need for these outdated Jewish Holidays. However, I believe there is much to learn in the observation and study of the Biblical Holidays. Like all of the Biblical Holidays, the sacrifces, the tabernacle, and the temple system Yom Kippur is a picture of what Yeshua has done for us and what is to come. There are many theories as to what prophetic event will be fulfilled on and/or during these fall feasts. Some believe that Rosh Hashana will be the rapture, the days of awe the tribulation, and Yom Kippur will be the day of judgement. Another theory holds that Rosh Hashana will be the second coming and Yom Kippur the day of judement. Nobody knows for certain when Yeshua will return or what the chronology of the end of days will be. However, since we know that Yeshua fulfilled the Spring Holidays I believe that it is very likely His return and the end times event will occur during the Fall Holiday season. For our family during Rosh Hashana and the Days of Awe we take the time to reflect on our lives, repent of unrepented sin, and forgive and asked to be forgiven any wrongdoing. On Yom Kippur my husband and I will fast from food, drink, TV, computer, and other pleasures and focus on our relationship with G-d. We will spend time study the tabernacle, read selected psalms, pray for the nation of Israel, and rededicate ourselves and our devotion to the L-rd. We do not ask the children to fast from food or drink but they will join in the Bible study and other activities. As Yom Kippur comes to a close we will begin plans for Sukkot. Sunday I hope to post my own thoughts and findings after we have observed this time of reflection and rededication. Until then may G-d bless you and yours.

Blessings,

Verses To Reflect On

Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”
Exodus 30:10

On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; and you shall afflict your souls: you shall do no manner of work;
Numbers 29:7

“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you: for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls; it is a statute forever. The Priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be Priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”
Leviticus 16:29 – 34

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “However on the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people. Whoever it is who does any manner of work in that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.”
Leviticus 23:26 – 32

A. Using the first letter of the alphabet describe yourself or things important to you. The hard part use only one word per letter.

B. Share another scripture that is on your heart this week.

Scripture On My Heart This Week:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Have a great day and thank you for stopping by my blog.

Blessings,

Today we decided to make the outdoors our classroom as we did a study on shadows. At the edge of our property we have a lovely grove of trees that provides respite from the heat. We spread out a blanket in the shade and went to work. Here is what we covered today:

Bible- Our passages from the Day by Day Bible were Luke 18:1-8,9-14 ;Matthew 20:1-16 and John 11:1-17

We reviewed our memory verse Genesis 1:3

For Interlock we reread Genesis 1:3-5 and discussed how light made shadows. We took a walk around our property and played “Shadow Stomp”. Every time Cole found a shadow he jumped on it and had to tell me what was making the shadow. We headed back to our blanket and read a story from Interlock called “Thank You God For Shade”. We closed Bible time with a prayer thanking God for making shadows.

Social Studies-We discussed that shadows are very important to us. We walked out into the sun where it was pretty warm and then sought the coolness beneath the grove of trees. I explained that shadows from the trees give us shade and the shade gives us a way to cool off when it is warm outside.

Science- We talked about how shadows change as the sun changes position. To illustrate this we found two long sticks in the woods and placed them at the edge of the shadow. We came back two hours later and found that the shadow had moved. We again discussed the reason why it moved.

Language Arts/Literature- While enjoying the shade we read the book “Squire and the Scroll” . This didn’t have anything to do with what we were studying but I allow Cole to choose a book he wants to read each day. There is a part in the book where the squire has to take a walk through the forest so we took a nature walk and Cole pretended he was the squire. I then drew a circle on a large piece of posterboard and taped it to a tree. I gave Cole a flashlight and he had to point the flashlight in the direction that I gave him. We finished up by reviewing the letter D and its sound.
Arithmetic- Interlock provides a preschool and kindergarten math activity and we have been doing both. So far most of the preschool things have been review but I noticed as we get further along some of the kindergarten activities are to advanced for him. Anyways, today we made a square shape person and recited a rhyme about Sammy Square. We also worked more on the concept of one. We took a few blocks outside and I started with one and added one more at a time so he would understand that one more number is the next highest number. Then we did some simple addition and subtraction by adding and removing blocks. Cole decided to use the blocks to make different shapes. This wasn’t in the lesson plans but I love that he just makes his own lessons sometimes.

Music- We sang “I Have A Shadow”

Physical Education- As I stated earlier we reenacted a scene from “Squire and the Scroll” by taking a nature walk and we also played Shadow Stomp. We finished up our time outside by making his shadow look like different animals, making it dance, jump, etc. I then asked him if he thought he could outrun his shadow to which he replied , “Yes Mommy I’m really fast”. He ran a few laps around the yard but was never able to escape his shadow friend as he is calling him.

Art- He drew a picture of trees and their shadows. Then he drew a family portrait with shadows showing.

We were supposed to make a shadow silhouette for our observation project but he simply wouldn’t sit still long enough for me to sketch his shadow. I guess we will have to wait until my dh gets home so he can help Cole pose. Well that about sums up our school day now I need to tackle my cleaning schedule and prepare dinner. Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a wonderful day.

Blessings,

Click above to learn more about Monday Meanderings.

Continue Bible study using “A Heart Like His” by Beth Moore

Begin reading “Love and Respect” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs together with my dear husband

Continue reading selected passages from The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order

Continue appointed times of prayer

Take film to be developed

Put lesson plans into my HMB

Tweak cleaning schedules in my HMB

Walk a mile each evening. (Thank goodness the weather has finally cooled down enough to make this tolerable)

Prepare for Yom Kippur

Start planning for Sukkot

Organize my and my dear husband’s closets

Organize Pantry

Bake bread for the week

Continue Study on Light

Learn letter “E” and number “3″

Daily Reading from Kid’s Day By Day Bible

Begin studying Yom Kippur

Day One- Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans

Day Two-Roast with mushroom gravy, egg noodles, and broccoli

Day Three- BBQ Chicken with coleslaw and baked beans

Day Four- Pizza Night

Day Five- Homemade Mac and Cheese with peas