Faithful Homestead | Sharing our journey of farm life and family.

YWAM: David Livingstone Review

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Jennifer

“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation. But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand” (Romans 15:20–21,KJV).

Several years ago while at a homeschool conference, I was given the Gladys Aylward book by the workers of the YWAM Publishing booth. The kids and I absolutely loved reading CHRISTIAN HEROES: THEN & NOW<BR>David Livingstone: Africa's Trailblazer that first Christian Heroes: Then & Now book, so when I was given the opportunity to review another book from the same series I knew we just had to review it! We chose to review the book David Livingstone: Africa’s Trailblazer and the corresponding Unit Study Curriculum Guide.

If you are not familiar with YWAM Publishing they are a non-profit organization whose focus is to “encourage Christians to make a difference in a needy world.” A portion of the proceeds from book sales go to help those in need around the world.

Their Christian Heroes series exists to share the exciting and inspiring stories of actual people who have answered God’s call to missions. This series provides some wonderful examples of true heroes that our children and families can look up to.

David Livingstone: Africa’s Trailblazer Book

David Livingstone was born in Scotland in 1813. His family was not one of wealth or great stature; however, they worked hard to make sure that each child was able to attend school. David’s father believed though, that you couldn’t study science and be a Christian, he felt the two contradicted each other. That is until Reverend Moir read a long letter to their church entitled, To the Churches of Britain and America on Behalf of China. The letter was an appeal to have more missionaries become doctors before entering the mission field. As a doctor, a missionary could speak to those to whom they ministered not only to heal their body but to also tell them the Good News of Christ.

David felt called to go into the mission field of China as a doctor from that time forward. This would not be an easy task for a family that had little money. However, David was persistent and did complete both courses of study to become a doctor and a missionary.

When the time came for him to travel to China, there was a war raging that delayed his going. During the time he was waiting to go to China, David had the opportunity to visit with the Reverend Moffat. Reverend Moffat was a missionary in southern Africa. After hearing of the great need of missionaries in Africa, David decided this is where he should go.

I will let you read this fantastic story of courage and perseverance yourself.

David Livingstone: Unit Study Curriculum Guide

Each YWAM Unit Study Curriculum Guide is written specifically for the corresponding book. This particular guide features:

Key Bible Verses to study and memorize
Ideas for a Display Corner
Chapter Questions
Student Explorations
Community Links
Social Studies
Related Themes to Explore
the Culminating Event
An Appendix of additional Books and Resources
Answers to Chapter Questions
Social Studies Reproducibles including maps

How Did We Use the Book and Curriculum Guide?

We have used the book as a read-aloud so that even the younger children could enjoy it. The Curriculum Guide has been a wonderful supplement! I have been able to use the Chapter Questions to encourage the kids to think more in depth about the story they are hearing.

We have also been using the maps provided in the Social Studies Reproducibles section to follow the travels of David Livingstone. By following along with his travels, they have gained a better understanding of the geography of Africa.

Would I Recommend this Book and Curriculum Guide?

Absolutely!! It is written in an engaging, delightful way that draws the reader in. We have loved reading David Livingstone: Africa’s Trailblazer and working through the curriculum guide as a family!!

Other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew also reviewed other books from the Christian Heroes Then & Now Series, as well as, from the Heroes of History Series. Make sure and check out their reviews by clicking on the banner below.

Blessings,

Jennifer

*I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to sign up to receive an email for each post so you don’t miss anything. You can find the “Subscribe to Blog via Email” button at the top of the blog and enter your email. Thank you!

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Posted in Faith, Family, Homeschool, Missions, TOS Crew Review | Tagged Children, Faith, Family, Product Review | 2 Comments

Fascinating Chemistry Review

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Jennifer

The past several weeks, Brock has been diving into the world of chemistry thanks to Fascinating Education‘s online chemistry course, Fascinating Chemistry. This course is designed to be a high school science course although according to their website some middle school age students are able to successfully complete it. For this review, I received access to Fascinating Chemistry for one year.

Fascinating Chemistry teaches the four ways that atoms bond to each other in order create molecules, and the properties of those resulting molecules. The lessons are presented in terms that allow even the non-science learners to understand how these special molecular properties explain everyday events such as water freezing, nuclear energy, metals, and weather.

Dr. Margulies uses the “right hemisphere” of the brain to teach science. In order to accomplish this, he uses simple, colorful illustrations and audio instead of written text as the primary teaching tool. The student is shown a slide while the audio clip teaches the lesson. The student can also print off the text and follow along as he/she listens to the lesson.

Chemistry_outline

Fascinating Chemistry is divided into 19 Lessons; eighteen of the lessons also have an online test that the student takes to make sure they are retaining the lesson. All nineteen lessons feature the audio/visual clip and the option to view the written script that goes along with the audio.

How Did We Use Fascinating Chemistry?

At first, Brock would listen to an entire lesson at a time. However, we found that the amount of information he was given during the 45 minute lesson was such that it was hard for him to retain it all. So we started breaking it down into smaller bite-size chunks so that he could remember it all. This seems to work well for him. He has a better grasp on the concepts and is doing a much better job on the tests at the end of each lesson.

Although the program is laid out in lessons, it does not keep track of how far you have gone. This is good in that it allows the student to go back and redo those parts that he/she may need more work on; however he/she does need to keep track of their progress through the course.

What Did We Think About Fascinating Chemistry?

Brock has really enjoyed the course. He likes the style in which the material is presented and has done well with the lessons. Our plan is for him to complete the course and receive a high school credit for chemistry.

I plan to start adding in the Chemistry Labs to give him that experience as well (he is really looking forward to the labs!)

What Other Courses Are Offered By Fascinating Education?

In addition to the chemistry course, Fascinating Education also provides a biology and a physics class. Other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew reviewed those courses as well.

To find out what other members of The Schoolhouse Review Crew have to say about Fascinating Chemistry, Biology and Physics click on the banner below.

Blessings,

Jennifer

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Posted in Homeschool, STEM education, TOS Crew Review | Tagged Homeschool, Product Review, STEM education | 1 Comment

The Day Life Looked Very Different (Part 1)

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Jennifer

That Wednesday in May 2012 started out not particularly different from any other day. Scott and I spent the day working on various projects around the farm. However, at one point I did pause to admire 15 month old Quinton trying to keep up with his older siblings. “He is so cute, what a wonderful blessing from God,” I thought to myself.

Earlier in the week Rebekah had a short round of stomach flu, but it seemed that no one else was going to share in that adventure. After we had eaten lunch Scott and I played with Quinton on the couch. He was so ornery; he kept trying to push Scott off. We decided to head out to do a little work on Scott’s truck. While we worked, Eli asked if he could drive Quinton around in the stroller. I told him that was fine just to stay in the shade. In a short time, Quinton had fallen asleep. Being the creative boy that he is, Eli “blocked” the wheels of the stroller by putting small scrap pieces of board by each tire. We were right there working on the seat of Scott’s truck not more than 8 foot from Quinton asleep in his stroller.

Suddenly I heard a sound I had never before heard but instantly knew that something was terribly wrong! At the time I didn’t know what it was, I just knew that Quinton was in some sort of distress. I grabbed him from the stroller while telling Scott to dial 9-1-1. We ran with him toward the house.

The other kids instantly knew something was very wrong even without fully understanding it. It amazes me to this day the way they handled it. The four of them went into the living room and began to pray for their little brother.

Quinton was having a seizure and he was making an awful raspy noise when he would breathe. His breathing got so shallow, at one point, Scott and I both thought he had quit breathing, but soon the horrible, loud, raspy breathing started again. It took 30 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and all the while Quinton was seizing.

We met the ambulance at the driveway. They immediately got Quinton and I in; where they began to assess him. His temperature was 101.7. They put an oxygen mask on him and administered valium to try to stop the seizure. Finally the terrible convulsions stopped, but only for a while.

Upon arriving at the hospital they began a battery of tests including a chest x-ray. The doctor initially informed me that he had pneumonia and that he must have had it and that caused the seizure. I will tell you there was nothing wrong with that child two hours before. While at the county hospital, he had another seizure and required more valium.

I called a few close friends, prayer warrior friends, I needed to know there were people praying for our family and for the medical staff. In the meantime, Scott was at home quickly getting the other kids rounded up and headed for the hospital.

The doctor was soon telling us that he had called for a helicopter and that we needed to decide whether to send Quinton to Wichita or Kansas City. We both said Wichita. We had friends just 30 miles from Wichita and we felt certain they could meet us at the hospital.

They prepared Quinton for the flight and we watched him being loaded into the helicopter all the while praying for our precious little boy. That was one of the hardest days of my life! After the helicopter took off we ushered the others through the bathrooms quickly and decided we better feed them. By this point, it was 8 pm and no one had eaten supper. We drove through and got food for the kids but neither of us could eat.

The helicopter crew had taken down our cell phone numbers before leaving and assured us they would call when they landed. We were told it would take them about an hour to make the trip to Wichita. An hour came and went and no phone call. We shared many looks between the two of us that we each understood, “maybe if he didn’t make it they won’t call.” Rule one, I know you are busy taking care of my child but please call me if you say you will. Despite all this I prayed that not my will but God’s will be done. I felt a peace that I cannot explain. I knew that God would carry us through whatever lay ahead of us.

Continued in The Day Life Looked Very Different (Part 2)

Blessings,

Jennifer

Posted in Faith, Family | Tagged Children, Faith, Family | 1 Comment

Cheesy Ham and Potato Recipe

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Jennifer

Often times our schedule is such that we don’t eat supper until it gets dark, until then we are typically working outside on farm projects. By that time, I am tired and want to fix a fairly simple, quick meal. One thing that helps is when I take the time to prepare a crock pot meal earlier in the day. This is one of our favorite crock pot recipes.

Ingredients

8 potatoes sliced thin
3 cups chopped ham (I typically use left over ham roast.)
1 cup broth or water
1 cup milk
2 cups sour cream
1/4 tsp granulated onion
4 T butter
8 oz. colby jack cheese

Method of Preparation:

Slice potatoes and place them evenly in the bottom of the crock pot.

Spread the ham chunks over the potatoes.

In saucepan, combine broth (or water,) milk, sour cream, onion and butter. Heat until butter is melted. Pour over the potatoes and ham.Slice cheese and lay over the top of the ham and potato mixture.

Cook on high for approximately 4 hours or on low for 8 hours

This makes a cheesy, tasty meal at the end of a busy day or anytime.

Blessings,

Jennifer

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Fun at the Missouri State Fair

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Jennifer

Recently we took some time as a family and went to the Missouri State Fair. Of course, we had to take some pigs along with us.

Brock and Eli each took a Berkshire gilt and a Hereford gilt, Adisyn took a Chester White gilt and Rebekah took a Berkshire gilt. I think it’s safe to say they had a blast showing their gilts and spending time with friends in the Swine Barn!

Brock, Adisyn and Eli all got to show their gilts in both the 4-H show and the Open Show. However, since Rebekah is not yet a full-fledged 4-H member she was only able to show her gilt in the Open Show.

Don’t they look comfy?

While we were there, some of us “camped out” in the Swine Barn next to the pigs (Adisyn, Eli, Rebekah and me.) Scott, Brock, Quinton and Hannah opted for the comfort of Grandma and Grandpa’s camper instead. I have camped out in the livestock trailer many times over the years while showing cattle but this was my first experience camping in the Swine Barn. It really wasn’t too bad; although, it was really nice to get home to my own bed after spending two nights on a cot.

It’s always fun to make the trip to the State Fair, but I am always very ready to be home and back in our routine following our time there.

Do you visit your local or State Fair? Have you ever exhibited anything there?

Blessings,

Jennifer

Posted in Animals, Family, Pigs | Tagged Children, Family, Pigs | Leave a comment