Sonlight Core H Week 5B Dec. 19-25, 2016

Sonlight Core H 

Week 5B 

Dec. 19-25, 2016

Hello Friends!

This was a big week, between the Christmas Band Concert, the Christmas choir, going to the movies to see Rogue One, "V" family party, three days of migraines (Tue, Wed, Thurs), and, of course, Christmas itself!  We got a few things done academically too!

We had two extreme's for our weather too--snow, snow, snow---then on Sunday the wind started up and brought in some warm air.  I was glad Dh was able to get off after half a day to pick Dd and me up and drive us to the high school where the bands were to play.  

The week started with me finally getting whatever bug Dd had been fighting, but it only kept me down about 24 hours.  Tuesday was Dd's concert--she played the Tenor sax in the Beginning Band, and the Alto sax in the Intermediate Band.  The program had lots of different bands and quartets and specific instrument groupings---like a 'flute ensemble' and woodwind groups....hours of listening pleasure.  We didn't stay for all the bands; Dh had work early in the morning.  It was a fantastic show.  I recorded it and will post it on YouTube and share a link here for any friends or family wanting to see it.

Can you see what is eating under our feeders?

Thursday, our friends, the "V" family had a pile of us over to their house for a little Christmas party.  It was lovely to sit around and chat with the other mom's while the kids played games.  They were suppose to make paper ornaments, but the older kids preferred to play "Mafia."

Star Wars' newest film, Rogue One, turned out to be a disappointment for us.  We can honestly saw we have loved the other movies, but this one was very bleak...so much death that it was beyond feeling the loss. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but we were united in our disappointment.  Dd was particularly disappointed in the soundtrack, and something about how they didn't do the music right in the beginning...they broke from their usual format, or some-such-thing.

Here is a closer look---

Church on Christmas was particularly lovely!!!  Dd had been practicing our two songs that we did with the choir.  The whole service was 'special' after 'special.'  Of all the churches I've ever gone to, this one has the most musical congregation!  There are four women who play the piano and choir in rotation, a 'stringed instruments group,' and various choirs and solo singers.  In some of the churches we have visited, many of the musicians take on the role of being the entertainment for the audience to watch; but the musicians here, 90% of the time, invite the congregation to sing with them and they just lead.  The difference being that it FEELS like we are all together in our singing praises to the Lord, as a group, as a united voice of worship.  When our church sings, the sound is so surprisingly loud (in a great way) and harmonious.  It really is such a blessing to me to find a church that has this quality so well in hand and done right. It is very hard to describe.

Meet Harry and Sally!  These two opossom's stayed in a big bush that was covered with snow (think mini igloo) for a whole week.  They came out to eat seeds a few times each day!  So cute!

Presents were mostly books this year! Dd and Dh both got quite a lot of them!  I got an upgrade on my vacuum; that Dd has been enjoying so much!  That makes the gift twice as awesome since she may be more willing to help with the vacuuming!!!  She took the new vacuum out on Monday and cleaned out two cars! Without being asked!  She just likes it so well she has been looking for places to vacuum! Yay!!!  I splurged on myself and bought a new purple (eggplant color) blanket!  Dh splurged on himself and got a few socket, socket driver, pneumatic accessories, and upgraded drill bits.  Dh bought me two dvd sets--- the complete set of Miss Marple with Joan Hickson!!!! and Vera, another British show I enjoy. Dd gave me a watercolor painting of a Wood Trush--really nice, and a crocheted sweater/poncho..awesomely soft!

 Dd had been begging for some cowboy boots for two years, and they were on sale in the fall, so I bought them then (with her trying them on first), and then hid them away in my closet for her big gift.  She is loving them!!!  So happy she got something she loves so much!  Plus, they are great for doing chores and taking care of chickens in!  She looks like a real 4-H girl now! She also got new art supplies--drawing pencils and sketch books...

Our Christmas dinner--we splurged on a case of real Rootbeer! Dh cooked a whole turkey, asparagus, GF stuffing from scratch, Sweet Potato mash, gravy from scratch, and root vegetables.  What a lovely meal!

Academics this week:

The BBC Manual: Turning Your Bedroom into a Bible College by Gregg Johnson

pg 52-57

Typing/Language Arts: 4 hours

Dd got her hand-me-down typewritter out and started back, full-force, into typing again!  This week she typed up a long letter to her dearest/oldest friends; the LeFeb family!

History:

Sonlight Reader:

The Ghost of Tokaido's Inn by Dorothy Hoober: COMPLETED

Goodreads summary: 

While attempting to solve the mystery of a stolen jewel, Seikei, a merchant's son who longs to be a samurai, joins a group of kabuki actors in eighteenth-century Japan.

BTW: for book reviews or summaries, you can go: http://www.goodreads.com/

and type in any book you'd like to read about.

Story of the World, Vol 3, Early Modern Times:

ch's 9-16

Kingfisher History Encyclopedia:

pg's: 258, 265, 247, 260, 261, 274, 254, 255, 264

Sonlight Timeline & Mapping:

Week 4 & 5

BiblioPlan Commentary, Medieval, Vol II:

Ch. 33: Queen Elizabeth and William Shakespeare

BiblioPlan Advanced Maps:

Week 32: The Changing Church

Week 33: First Colonies in North America

DVD:

AMERICA: The Story of Us

**Dd actually asked me to check this out again, as it is so fun to watch!  Check your library and see if they happen to have this fun history dvd collection---your kids will actually love watching it, and you will too!**

With all the snow we've rec'd these past 3-4 weeks, we've had ALL sorts of visitors to our feeders!!!

Electives:

Drawing/Art: 10 hours this week

Watercolors: Painted me a Wood Trush, and Dh a Christmas Tree! 

Music:

Alto Sax: 1:00 hour

Tenor Sax: 1:00 hour

Violin: 40 min

Piano: 2:00 hours

Sang, choir, at church (two songs), plus the practicing we did at home: 1:00 hour

Chores: 10 hours

Chicken Care, Laundry, Dishes, *vacuuming!*, cat litter, major bedroom clean-up this week, especially in her closet.

Sophie!  I spoiled her this week and added extra stuffing to her dog bed!

Fun Audio:

(Star Wars) Vortex by Troy Denning

Goodreads summary:

In Book Six of the bestselling nine-book Star Wars Fate of the Jedi series, the suspense crescendoes as the Skywalkers and their treacherous Sith allies race against time to discover the origins of the mysterious Force-entity known as Abeloth. When they begin to uncover secrets better kept hidden from mortal minds, no one is surprised to see the uneasy partnership erupt into violence. But they are surprised at where the investigation leads: to the home of the reclusive Fallanassi, who may hold in their hands the future of the Jedi Order itself.

Fun Books:

Eragon (book 2) by Christopher Paoline- In Process

Fever Code (Maze Runner Series #5) by James Dashner- In Process

Busy Hands:

baking and cooking this week...perfecting her No Bake Cookie recipe, plus spent 4+  hours baking with Dh for his co-workers (he gave lots of cookies/fudge..to his co-workers).

We had a lovely, quiet Christmas!  Dd checked out a Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael Buble Christmas music for me to enjoy all week!  I watched Prep & Landing repeatedly!  Not to mention other holiday movies like: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, Elf, The Polar Express....so fun!  We don't have any hook-ups to watch tv, so we check out, or own, what we want to watch.  

............................

SL Core H Week 5A Dec. 12-17, 2016

SL Core H 
Week 5A 
Dec. 12-17, 2016

Dd in our church's Christmas play on Sunday

First some Christmas pictures, then update, then our academic progress for the week.

Our tree is up, and so are all our decorations!  Most of the decorations are one's we have made ourselves, or are gifts, or are song birds.  We make or buy a pair of birds to add to our Christmas tree every year, and write the year (or sew it) on each bird, so we can remember which year it came along.

Some close-ups of our tree-

Hello Friends!

We had a good week, and finished two books!  Last week Dd was sick, and as I am typing this (following last week), Dd has a new fever and is sick...again.  Now you all know why we homeschool year round!  I'd much rather have a flexible schedule and not stress when life throws curve balls!!!  I have been fighting the fever too, but as mom,  you know how it goes.

SNOW and wind chills that are -10 to -20 degrees.  



It is so cold and miserable that a opossum has taken up residence in a bush beside one of my feeders, and it comes out each afternoon to eat black sunflower seeds each afternoon.



  It is very unusual to see opossum's out in the middle of the day as they are usually nocturnal.  

We had a Mourning Dove this week, which is highly unusual for our feeders.  

Zeus, being the tough-guy!

It was snowing so bad on Wednesday night that our church canceled the Olympians program, which was going to be a mini-Christmas party.  I was so thankful to not have to drive in all that snow!  We had already made it in for Dd's music classes, and arrived home ten minutes before the snow started falling again.  

"You lookin' at me??"

With all our time inside, Dd made a lot of nice things this week.  She asked me to get my tub of old sheets and fabrics down from the attic on Monday so she could start on a Greek dress.  She worked on it for hours, and I thought it looked done, but she says she still has more to do on it.  She did some wire pieces, bracelet and forehead head pieces like in the LOTR movies that the elves wore.  This week was a piano week, and she composed two songs and recorded them on her electronic keyboard after using the piano to write them.  Dd had a good week--very creative week.

Mini-Updates:

Sophie--my dog is doing well, so far.  That is the hard thing about cancer--it always is brewing where we can't see it.  She doesn't pop up and follow me from room to room as much; which is a huge deal, as she use to be neurotic about that.  But, being tired more often isn't too bad.

Chickens---I've been sharing a lot of tasty snacks for them.  We had frozen deer organs (after baking them) and I purred them and they loved them!  They are inside their coop, with their heating lamp, staying warm. "Pauline" had a pile-up of poop on her back-end, so I brought her in and washed her bottom until I got the big clump washed off.  Then I towel dried her, and found she was still too wet to go back out with the other birds.  I actually used my blow-dryer to get her back 'pantaloones' all puffy and dry.  She didn't put up any fight to any of the procedure...oddly enough?!  I guess she knew I was trying to help her?  So, that is something I can add to my resume in the future!  They are all doing well stuck inside; which is better than I hoped or expected.  One day this week we only got 4 eggs!  So the amount of eggs they lay varies greatly now-- from 4 to 13 daily.

Giz: Spent most of the week in hospital...procedure done...and potential improvement in her health.  She is so looking forward to her upcoming Christmas party!  

My mom: could still use prayer!  She has had the hardest two weeks.  She moved into a new care facility last week, and had to do so much of the move oversight at her old apartment.  She has really been through the wringer.  As this is a public forum, I won't say much about this situation, but she really needs prayers for the Lord to provide PEACE, CALM, and CARE for her.  I pray for the staff and other residents to be very kind and loving to her, as this transition has been VERY taxing.  I wish I could say more, as my heart is extremely concerned, but I will put her privacy above me.

Christmas Count-Down:

I got all but two cards done!  I spend a lot of time on drawing on each card, so it took me a few weeks to complete my cards.

Academics:

Bible:

A Harmony of the Gospels by Robert L. Thomas

This week we read the chapter on: The Early Years of Jesus Christ"

with our Bible and Believer's Bible Commentary:

Jesus' birth: Matthew 1: 18- 25

Luke 2: 1-39

Matthew 2: 1-23

Holman Bible Atlas

pg 216-218

I really like seeing so many of the pictures of this book, and getting an image of where we are talking about..but much of the info is general knowledge for us.  Nice to have though!

What the Bible Is All About by Dr. Henrietta C. Mears

"UNDERSTANDING LUKE"

pg 466-473

We finished the chapter on Understand Luke that we started last week.  I have to say, as we have spent Dd's whole life doing bible study together, it gets harder to find material that helps us understand this material in new ways, or deeper.  You can imagine how many times we've read some stories (like Jesus' birth), but this book, this chapter was really good; i.e. new information for me.  It really helped me to see Luke differently/better.

Here are a few highlights from this chapter:

"Matthew presents Christ as King, to the Jews.

Mark presents Christ as the servant of Jehovah, to the Romans.

Luke presents Christ as the perfect man, to the Greeks." pg 460

"Luke alone tells the story of the visit from the shepherds (see Luke 2:8-20)" pg 461

"Luke is the Gospel for the outcast on the earth. It is Luke who tells of the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:33), the publican (see Luke 18:13), the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-24), Zacchaeus (see Luke 19:2) and the thief on the cross (see Luke 23:43).  He is the writer who has the most to say for womanhood (see Luke 1-2).  Luke records Jesus' compassion for the woman of Nain and the depths of His mercy for the woman who was a sinner.  His regard for woman and children is shown repeatedly (see Luke 7:46, 8:3; 8:42; 9:38; 10:38-42; 11:27; 23:27).

Luke alone tells us about the bloody sweat in Gethsemane; the walk with two disciples to Emmaus; Jesus' leading His disciples out as far as Bethany and that as He lifted up His hands and blessed them, He was parted from them.......

Luke tells us more of the prayers of our Lord than any other Gospel writer.  Prayer is the expression of human dependence on God.  Why do so many in the Church appear to be working, yet so  few people appear to be reached for God? Why does there appear to be so much activity, but so few are brought to Christ? The answer is simple: There is not enough private prayer.  The cause of Christ does not need less working but more praying." pg 462

Dd's Bible assignments (independent):

The BBC Manual by Gregg Johnson

(Turn Your Bedroom into a Bible College)

pg 52-57

But Don't All Religions Lead to God?

Chapter 8

She attended church, but no Sunday School, and no Olympians on Wednesday

Dd performed in the Christmas Play! She was a very good shepherd and had a joint speaking part with two other shepherds.

Dd and Agnes napping on the floor with Sophie (not pictured).

Psalm of the Week:

Psalm 61:

Hear my cry, O God;

    listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,

    I call as my heart grows faint;

    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 

For you have been my refuge,

    a strong tower against the foe.

I long to dwell in your tent forever

    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[b]

 

For you, God, have heard my vows;

    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Increase the days of the king’s life,

    his years for many generations.

 

May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;

    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name

    and fulfill my vows day after day.

Math:

Math U See: Geometry

4 A, B, C, D, E

Science:

Apologia: General Science:
Module 2: Air

completed everything--test 83%

text pg 41-50

student notebook: 28-34

review: 328-334

History:

Story of the World

Ch. 6: New Colonies in the New World

Ch. 7:  The Spread of Slavery

Ch. 8: The Middle East

BiblioPlan Companion: Medieval History Vol II

Ch. 32: King Edward VI, Queen Mary I

(ANOTHER FANTASTIC CHAPTER!  SUCH A GREAT BOOK!  I really learned a lot about the children of Henry VIII's !!!

pg 664-680

BP Advanced Maps:

Wk: 27: The Reformation Begins

Language Arts:

Dd wrote letter to Addy and Lexi

Word Roots by The Critical Thinking Co.

pg 53-56

SL Language Arts page "Wk 5"

Mom's Binder for Mini-Book Reports:

Wrote summary for: Out of Many Waters : completed

Read Aloud:

OUT OF MANY WATERS by Jacqueline Dembar Greene: Completed

Good Reads summary: Set in 1654, against the backdrop of the Portuguese Inquisition, this historical novel tells the story of 12-year-old Isobel. Escaping from the monastery where she and her sister have been held, she stows away on a ship in hopes of finding her parents again. Braving loneliness, storms and privateers, Isobel is befriended by a group of passengers and becomes one of the first Jewish immigrants to settle in New Amsterdam. 

***I really liked this book a great deal!  Very good and touching!****

One of the earlier pictures of our deck table...which got doubled in snow by the end of the week.

Believe it or not, there is even more snow as I type!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson: Completed

(Warning: This book has some things that I had to edit on the fly....they picked on people because they were over-weight, and there were a few instances of using the Lord's name inappropiately, that I had to edit, and just a few places, here and there, that I just skipped over. We did LAUGH a lot at the funny parts, and touched by the tenderness in other parts...but this is a perfect example of a "READ ALOUD" where the adult reading can edit and skip to get to the gems of the story, and it IS worth the work to get to the good parts!

Good Reads Review:

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale—the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating--has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

As a reviewer commented: "In the end, this is not just a funny book, but a powerful story of redemption. Through most of the book, I can't stop laughing, but by the end I am always reading through tears, even after having read it eleven times." Anita Silvey, in her guidebook Children's Books and Their Creators, agreed: "The book is great fun and continues to be enjoyed by readers each holiday season."

Reader:

The Ghost of Tokaido Inn by Dorothy Hoobler

Good Reads Review:  While attempting to solve the mystery of a stolen jewel, Seikei, a merchant's son who longs to be a samurai, joins a group of kabuki actors in eighteenth-century Japan.

Fun Reader:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

**Dd is really loving this book, and asked for Christmas, one of the set we were missing.  We own three of the four books in the series, and wants to make sure we have the missing one here before she gets to it!

Good Reads Summary: One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Music:

Class: Beginning Band: Tenor Sax: 1:30 hours

Class: Intermediate Band: Alto Sax: 1:30 hours

Class: Piano with Mrs. March: :30 minutes

flute practice: 30 minutes

Alto Sax: 1:30 hours

Piano: 6 hours

Composed & Recorded two songs

Art:

Drawing, various pieces, but a really nice dragon: 2:30

wire sculpting: 4:30

sewing/dress (Greek) sheet: 6:00 hours

She wore this--it went on/above her forehead...pretty.  She also made a braided leather head piece that she used a wire and a hot glue gun to attach to it, to wear as another head piece.

The gag / cheesy wreath that Dd made last week.

Home Economic's:

Baking cookies with Papa (Sat & Sun): 7:00 hours

Busy Hands: A VERY busy week!

Dd turned a leather skirt into this thing to wear on her forearm.  It holds her two throwing knives.  

This is how she tightens it to stay tight on her forearm, it is fitted to her arm... I didn't even ask her to model it for me, just thought I'd show it here.  It took her about 4 hours to complete.

She turned an old sheet into a dress---with long sleeves--I'll post a picture later.

Chicken Care, each day

Dish Duty

Physical Education:

Walk in the snowy woods alone: 1:00 hours

Exercises at night: 30 minutes each night: 3:00 hours

A good week---and now she is back to being sick with a flu.  Let's pray she gets better faster this time!  I pray you all have a great week!

This is a pillow my mom made for my Dd---she keeps it on her bed.  It says: "No one is rich enough to do without a friend."

............

Sonlight Core H Week 4 Dec. 6-11, 2016

Sonlight Core H 

Week 4 

Dec. 6-11, 2016

Agnes, loving the fact Dd spent hours sick on the sofa! She was a queen for the week!

Hello Friends!

Wow, getting ready for Christmas is always SO much to add into our lives!  You'd think I'd not be surprised, as we do this every year, but here I am again...chasing my tail!  I think to myself, many times each week, how I should be doing so much more for my Dd's education, and how I would give myself a poor grade on many days.  I'm still not finding to time to read all those books on "How to Make Your Child's High School Transcript," and I don't see where that extra reading is going to fit in?!!  I *know* my high school student is *suppose* to become an "independent learner," but we sure do have a way to go before that happens.  While I am confessing all our area's of weakness, my new binder for Dd to write up mini-book-reports for each of the books she reads for Core H isn't going very well.  I can never tell if my instructions are lacking, or if being a normal kid, she only hears what she thinks she is hearing...if that makes sense.  Dh says I need to lower my expectations...have you all heard that before?!  I do try to keep my expectations adequate, but I really do expect effort, effort is the most important ingredient in homeschooling. 

 Probably should have mentioned that Dd was sick this week, and had NO energy, so my expectations were misplaced in what she was able to do, and what I had scheduled her to do.  I know some of my SL friends schedule out their work months in advance, but I usually write mine up the weekend before and hope for the best, and I still have a gap, one way or the other, in my scheduling.  So much depends on the motivation and health of my student.  This week Dd spent a LOT of time on the sofa---so we, ahem, *I* had to lower my expectations and allow her to start back on the path to feeling better...long process with these coughing bugs.

Dd has been going to the rehearsal's for the Christmas play on Saturday's.  She is not comfortable, at all, up on the stage, so I am so very pleased that she is willing to get up there at all!  This is a huge step for her!  I'm hoping at some point in her life she will be able to play her music at church--piano, sax, flute, violin...whatever would be great.

On Christmas Day, Dd and I were invited to be apart of the Woman's Choir group to sing two songs.  One song is just the women, and the second song is a round with the Men's group.  I'm so glad Dd agreed to sing in the group, with me.  It helps that our church is small, and we've heard not many family's come in on Christmas day and it should be a very small audience.

On Sunday, Dd went with the church Youth Group, and went Christmas caroling to an assisted living facility and to a few church member's homes.  

Dd has been doing some fun time-lapse drawing video's and she put a few on YouTube--here is the link to see some: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXf5y1zplUw 

that link is part one, if you want to see part two, you can look her up with her fake name, alter-ego, computer name (not her real name): Emma Larkin Jackson and you can see three drawing video's and two of her marching band video's.  Mom--this might be interesting to you?!

Another week of snow, and more power outages.  We are so glad for the generator, and the new snow blower too!

One warmish day gave our chickens one last chance to walk outside.

Our Lessons this Week:

Bible:

We are using a book called The Harmony of the Gospels to help guide us through our study of the New Testament.  

Focus for the Week: The Early Years of John the Baptis

Read with Bible and Believer's Bible Commentary:

Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:26-38, 1:39-45, 1:46-56, 1:57-66, 1:67-79, 1:80

The Believer's Bible Commentary has helped me grow in fully understanding what we read in the bible--it is amazing!  This one is from William MacDonald.

Psalm of the Week, and one of my favorites! 

Psalm 141

O Lord, I call upon you; thasten to me!

Give ear to my voice when I call to you!

2  Let umy prayer be counted as incense before you,

and vthe lifting up of my hands as wthe evening sacrifice!

3  Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

keep watch over the door of my lips!

4  zDo not let my heart incline to any evil,

to busy myself with wicked deeds

in company with men who awork iniquity,

and blet me not eat of their delicacies!

5  cLet a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;

let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;

let my head not refuse it.

Yet dmy prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

6  When their judges are ethrown over the cliff,1

then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.

7  As when one plows and breaks up the earth,

so shall our bones fbe scattered at the mouth of Sheol.2

8  But gmy eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;

hin you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!3

9  Keep me from ithe trap that they have laid for me

and from the snares of evildoers!

10  Let the wicked jfall into their own nets,

while I pass by safely.

What the Bible is All About

we are slowly reading the chapter on Understanding Luke

pg 459-466

Daily Bread: Dec 5 & 6

Sunday Church, Sunday School, Wednesday - Olympians, where she volunteers to co-head the Games section for the kids.

The BBC Manual by Gregg Johnson:

pg 24-38

But, Don't All Religions Lead to God? by Michael Green

Goodreads summary:  We've all heard the rationale: "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere." Or "All religions are pretty much the same." But are they the same? Does it matter which one you follow? In this insightful and compelling book, Michael Green invites readers into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the divine revelation and only pathway to the one true God. 
In a conversational style geared toward nonbelievers, Green compares Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and other religions to help spiritual seekers navigate the multi-faith maze. "But Don't All Religions Lead to God?" is an ideal reference and evangelism tool for churches and individual Christians as well. It offers scriptural references, looks at how divergent religious traditions view salvation and eternity, and answers difficult questions such as "What about people who have never heard of Jesus?" and "How should Christians regard other religions?" 
In the midst of our pluralistic and tolerant culture, here is an important and convincing argument for faith in Jesus-the only great teacher whose death and resurrection provided grace, forgiveness, and an eternity in the presence of God.

Math:

Math U See: Geometry 

3 A,B,C,D,E

Music:

Beginning Band: 1 ½ hours: Tenor Sax

Intermediate Band: 1 ½ hours: Alto Sax

Piano Lesson: 30 minutes

Piano practice: 3 hours

Tenor and Alto Sax practice Sun-Wed, then too sick to play.

Science:

Apologia: Physical Science

Text: pg 25-40

Student Notebook: pg's 22-28

Her Own Study Notebook, Note Taking

Experiment 2.2---and she had a lot of fun with this one!  2 cups of hydrogen peroxide, add yeast, in a soda liter bottle, put balloon on top and watch it fill up with oxygen.  Then add the oxygen to a candle that is under a clear glass, and watch the flame get so much brighter due to the oxygen released into the contained space.
Lab Report pg 228-229 in Student Notebook

Art:

Hours of drawing and filming her drawing to make stop-time video's, as mentioned in beginning statement.  

Study Skills:

"Study Skills" Chapter 3: Five Tips From Students

Busy Hands:

Monday night Dd made a Tilapia dinner for us!  It was awesome!

Dd's Fudge

Dd tried to make fudge, but it didn't turn out well, as she over cooked it.  This was her first time trying to make fudge, and I enjoyed a little of it on my plain yogurt.

Chores this week really took a dive as she got worse and worse, sick wise.  The first few days she managed a bit of help, but then as each day went by she grew worse.

The crochet shawl that Dd started lack October was picked up again...she worked on it a bit on the sofa...here is hoping it might be done by Christmas!

Calligraphy Week!  She had a great time--worked on it for 3-4 days while I was reading.

Language Arts:

Grammar Plus:

pg 13, 17, 21, 23, 25

Word Roots: by the Critical Thinking Co.

pg 50-52

Book Summary Binder (my creative idea....)

wrote very short reviews of:
The Trumpeter of Krakow, A Murder For Her Majesty, The King's Fifth, and Iron Peacock

(I'm not entirely pleased with this work...we are working on this.)

Painless Poetry:

pg's: 60-66

History:

Sonlight History Read Aloud:

Out of Many Waters by Jacqueline Dembar Greene

We are really enjoying this book!  Goodreads summary:Set in 1654, against the backdrop of the Portuguese Inquisition, this historical novel tells the story of 12-year-old Isobel. Escaping from the monastery where she and her sister have been held, she stows away on a ship in hopes of finding her parents again. Braving loneliness, storms and privateers, Isobel is befriended by a group of passengers and becomes one of the first Jewish immigrants to settle in New Amsterdam.  

Add-In Awesome History:

BiblioPlan Companion Medieval Vol II

Ch. 31: King Henry VIII, The English Reformation

(I can't recommend BP's Companion history books, and I am not a text person..at all, but they cover history, church history, and fit it all together so well that it actually creates a complete picture for our studies.  These books are awesome, even if they do add on a few hours to our week.)

BP Advanced Maps: Medieval

Map 30: Discoveries in the North

Map 31: Church of England

Kingfisher History Encyclopedia:

pg's: 266, 250-253, 257, 244-245, 262-263

(Dd HATES Kingfisher, but I've promised we will only do it until Week 5, when she will switch to George Washington's World instead.)

Sonlight History Reader:

Madeleine Takes Command by Ethel C. Brill : Completed

Goodreads summary:  Madeleine Verchere's story is based on a true account of colonial French Canada of the 1690's. Harassed by Iroquois, the Verchere family's fort must keep a continual guard. 14-year-old Madeleine is left alone with two younger brothers and few others when the Indians attack. We follow the brave and determined stratagems of Madeleine and her small circle. Madeleine's youthful leadership, especially of her brothers, will win the reader's admiration.

Fun Reading:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Goodreads summary:  One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure.
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Goodreads summary:  At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem to be in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery as she tries to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you'll ever read.

Gail Carson Levine's examination of traditional female roles in fairy tales takes some satisfying twists and deviations from the original. Ella is bound by obedience against her will, and takes matters in her own hands with ambition and verve. Her relationship with the prince is balanced and based on humor and mutual respect; in fact, it is she who ultimately rescues him. Ella Enchanted has won many well-deserved awards, including a Newbery Honor.

Fun Audio:

The Swap by Megan Shull

GoodReads Summary:

ELLIE spent the summer before seventh grade getting dropped by her best friend since forever. JACK spent it training in "The Cage" with his tough-as-nails brothers and hard-to-please dad. By the time middle school starts, they're both ready for a change. And just as Jack's thinking girls have it so easy, Ellie's wishing she could be anyone but herself.

Then, BAM! They swap lives - and bodies!

Now Jack's fending off mean girls at sleepover parties, while Ellie's reigning as The Prince of Thatcher Middle School.

As their crazy weekend races on - and their feeling for each other grow - Elli and Jack begin to wonder if maybe the best way to learn how to be yourself is to spend a little time being somebody else.

I wish I could have a real tree, but they give me migraines the entire time they are up in my house...this tree isn't as beautiful, but at least I'm not in pain while enjoying it!

Just some of the boxes of ornaments...too many!

This year Dd helped me put up the tree---but, only the first day, I had to keep working on it for over a week to unwrap all the ornaments and get them on the tree.  What.a.process!

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