"Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo

This book was about a family who face tough health experiences and continue to communicate their fears and share their strengths.  Through all the struggles with his sons health over a few short years, this dad relates what his son learned while very ill and near death. 

I wouldn't have picked this book because it seemed so real to loose a kid. I spend 24/7/365 with my kids as a homeschool parent. I'm glad that each of my kids is learning to know, love and serve a risen Savior.  I don't even watch movies based on real life events, so that's why I would not have regularly chosen this book as these parents watched their son slip in and out of a coma.  These parents work hard and do so much to teach/love their children.

But, it did express an idea of hope, which is all I have to glean from it. I received Heaven is for Real via an account at http://booksneeze.com/ and am glad to see others enjoy the book more than I did. 

Some Words Just Don't Work for ME

Some words are very easy to say. Accidentally, luckily, coincidentally...  Those words are just not that helpful. They don't tell the whole story about the fact that things happen as a logical sequence of events that I've started OR that someone other than myself have started. Doesn't mean I'm a fatalist, it just means that the words accident, lucky and coincidental are used way too much.
Some words are more easily acted out. Entitlement, Deserve.. Really, we all deserve and are entitled to a miserable existence on our own (alone) in this tiny planet with no mercy or hope. Really, all have done hideous things to some extent and are entitled to punishment.  I just do the best with what I've got and am trying each day to be incredibly grateful instead of entitled.
Grace is a better word, and love; humble, generous, polite, providence. So much easier to use those words more readily, or for that fact, just act them out on a regular basis to get the muscles working.  Yep, a grace muscle needs exercise.  These muscles work for me and I do the best with what I have thankfully trying to learn something from it all.

History History Everywhere

Just as the Cat of Bubastes captivated their attention a few months ago while studying ancient Egypt, Jim Weiss's voice reading The Young Carthaginian is brilliant for telling us this story.  We get to follow along on the Kindle and the cloud reader on the computer in order to keep up on this story.

We are using the Harmony Arts Mom plans for Ancient art.
The pages assigned for my 3Gs are easily completed while reading this DK Ancient Rome book.


Find all kinds of teaching wisdom at http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com/

BTW, this isn't an advert, it's what we used and it worked for us!

My Original Tween

He's standing, because he can't sit still. How did he get along in the classroom for those months of kindergarten and first grade. He's alone in the room talking to himself as he outlines and drafts sentences which give shape to a book report. His first book report is almost drafted.  I can't read his handwriting, but somehow it makes the most sense.  He is communicating the ideas of ancient transportation that interest him.  And, finally, a conclusion sentence that wraps up the most creative ideas of the book. He's still not standing still. He doesn't miss the chairs in this room at all. I'm so glad he's made it to eleven, and I gave up the chairs / desks a long time ago.