Honduras Blitz - Day 10

Well, it's day 10 of our blitz and we have a long way to go to make our goal. We have 40.5 commitments... can we get 59 commitments today? It seems impossible... but we know that God can do great things.

We've seen Him do it this week!

We've seen it in people giving their best gifts.

We've seen it in the stories we've received of families eating tortillas in honor of our kids in Honduras. (by the way, we'd love to hear more! Tell us about your Tortilla Tuesday experience HERE)

We know that God is at work, and pray that He will continue to move today!

Yesterday we talked about the difference Lifesong Honduras is making. Today we get to hear a personal testimony of this difference made in one Escalon graduate, Victor Rodas:

The reality is that without your support stories like Victor's... stories like Edgar's and Tania's and Edmund's would cease to exist.

We have till the end of today. Can we reach our goal?

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitmentn AND tell them we sent you from our blog!
Your donation will be doubled thanks to a gracious giver!

Honduras Blitz - Day 9

It's Tortilla Tuesday!!! Don't forget to send in your photos and stories to info@lifesongfororphans.org!


What difference does Lifesong Honduras really make in the lives of the 550 students we work with?

Nutritionally: Every day students at Lifesong Honduras receive 3 balanced meals. (Join us today for Tortilla Tuesday! Confused? Click HERE)

Educationally: The national average of students in public schools who go on to college in Honduras is around 1%. At Lifesong Honduras, about 40% of students go on to college!

Economically: In a country with a national unemployment rate of 70%, over 70% of Plan Escalon graduates have full-time jobs!

Spiritually: 2011 Vision Team member, Brian Kerz, speaks from what he saw first hand:

Isn't teaching the gospel message really what it's all about? And after leaving Lifesong Honduras to live on their own, 90% of Escalon graduates still consider themselves Christians and 85% continue to attend church on a regular basis!

Lives are being changed. Lives can continue to change because of the difference being made by people like you!

Our goal is:

We have two days left.
We need 63 commitments!

Will you help us continue to serve children in Honduras?

Can't commit to $30 p/mo? Give your best gift today... we can all make one sacrifice and come together as the body of Christ to make a big difference!

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that we sent you from our blog! Your donation will be doubled thanks to a gracious giver!

Your support makes these stories possible!
All administrative costs are covered, so 100% of your donation will go directly to helping orphans.

Honduras Blitz - Day 8

Happy Monday, everyone! Well, we are on day 7 of our blitz, with only 3 more days to go!
Today we're going to let Guy Henry, director of Lifesong Honduras, tell a little about Plan Escalon in his own words.

Plan Escalon from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

God is working in Honduras! He is bringing up young men and women through hardship to a place of purpose and hope... and He is using the staff at Lifesong Honduras to do it!

But they can't do it alone. Will you join us?
Our goal is:

So far we have 31 commitments.

We need 69 more.

That's about 23 commitments a day!

Please join us! If you can't commit $30 a month, give what you can. Let's come together to serve these kids in Honduras. Let's change their lives. Let's change their nation.

Don't forget to participate in tomorrow's Tortilla Tuesday! (Don't know what this is? Click HERE)

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that you came from our blog! Your donation will be DOUBLED thanks to a gracious giver!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog!
Your support makes these stories possible!
All administrative costs are covered, so 100% of your donation will go directly to helping orphans.

Lazarus Awakening

When I read Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World - I really felt God working on me. So when I saw that Joanna Weaver had a new book, Lazarus Awakening, I was THRILLED to hear her words again. And it is powerful - I mean POWERFUL!!

Here is what the publisher says:

Getting God’s Love from Our Heads to Our Hearts

You believe that God loves the world…but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you.

For many of us, moving the truth of God’s love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. As we consider our inadequacies or grieve our shattered dreams, we find it difficult to believe that God cares for us personally.

In this life-giving book, Joanna Weaver shows you how to embrace the truth that Jesus loves you apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unbound from the graveclothes of fear, regret, and self-condemnation.

Love is calling your name.

Combining unforgettable real-life illustrations with unexpected biblical insights, Joanna Weaver invites you to experience a spiritual resurrection that will forever change your understanding of what it means to be the one Jesus loves. Bible study and Leader’s Guide available here. http://www.joannaweaverbooks.com/books/lazarus-awakening/

I have to say that I whole-heartedly agree. The book was riveting for me - a challenge to my heart about God's love for us. I KNOW He loves us, but this book challenged me to move beyond saying it to BELIEVING it. He is calling us forth to new life - IN HIM - and this means leaving behind the baggage of fear and regret. I whole-heartedly recommend this book!

Joanna is an inspiring author - here is more information on her:

Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit. These two books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into several languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese, German, Korean and more. Joanna has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. Past appearances include: The Harvest Show, At Home Live With Chuck & Jenni, Midday Connection, HomeWord, and Janet Parschall’s America. She is also a highly sought after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But Joanna's greatest joy is found in being a wife and mother and her role as a pastor’s wife. For more information about Joanna, please visit her website. www.joannaweaverbooks.com.

To see others that are blogging about this book - go HERE. And DO NOT miss her study guide for the book - this really would be a wonderful study to do with others!

Joanna is celebrating the release of Lazarus Awakening with the Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway!

In Lazarus Awakening Joanna writes about getting God’s love from our heads to our hearts. We all know Jesus loved Mary – look how she worshiped. And we can understand why He loved Martha – after all, look how she served. But what about those of us who don’t know where we fit in the heart of God? Lazarus Awakening explores the tale of the third follower – Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus. We never hear him speak, we never see him serve. The only thing of any significance that Lazarus did was to die. And yet, the Bible is clear. Jesus loved Lazarus. And He loves you and me as well. Lazarus Awakening looks at different aspects of the story we find in John 11. We learn what it means to be a friend of God and begin recognizing the tombs we spend far too much time in. Find out more here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
* Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World
* Having A Mary Spirit
* Lazarus Awakening

Joanna will also select two additional contest entrants to receive copies of her trilogy. Enter soon by clicking the icons below and then tell your friends. Hurry the contest ends April 16th. The winner will be announced on Joanna's blog on April 18th.

**I was provided a copy for review by the publisher.

The Quest of the Warrior Sheep

This is it!! Hilarious, original, and first in a series! The Quest of the Warrior Sheep by Christine and Christopher Russell is sure to be a hit for all those younger readers looking for a new series to enjoy! It is the adventure of 5 sheep - and boy do they ever have adventures! There is not a dull moment with these guys! They are laugh-out-loud funny and another series that has strong boy-appeal, which is a bonus as well. I am excited to see more in this series - they are sure to please!

*I was provided a copy for review by the publisher.

Honduras Blitz - Day Four

Edgar is 15 years old and in the 10th grade at Lifesong Honduras.

On June 5th, 2009 his father was shot and killed because he didn't want to sell his property, leaving his mother alone to raise Edgar and his brothers.

Recently Edgar's family decided to move to another state and wanted him to join them. However, even though it was hard to watch them leave, he was determined to continue his education at Escalon. After being there for 3 years, Edgar understands his need for education as a step towards a better life.

When asked about these major trials he has had to face in his young life, he simply says,

"It's just like "Pastor Guy" (Lifesong Honduras director) always says, "we should never give up."

After graduating Edgar wants to study in the medical field. He desires to use these skills to help people in need and give back as he has been given.

With your support we can continue to serve more kids like Edgar.

Our goal is:

We have 16.5 commitments.

We need 83.5 more.

Please prayerfully consider joining us as we strive to bring joy and purpose to orphans in Honduras! YOUR DONATION WILL BE DOUBLED by a gracious giver!

Contact us at at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them tha we sent you from our blog!

Hear personal stories and check back for progress through the end of the month!
*All administrative costs are covered, so 100% of your donation will go directly toward helping orphans!

Honduras - Day Three

Edmund Gives Back from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Edmund is just one example of many who have been helped by Lifesong Honduras, and are now giving back. I love how he obviously cares for these kids and even gives what little he has away so they can have shoes! What a great example.

Here’s a question for you… How many pairs of shoes do you have?.

10? 20? 30? (eek!)

The kids at Lifesong Honduras have one pair each… sometimes two (a pair of boots to serve in). Wow.

This Saturday join us for Shoe Saturday. Simply count your shoes… and get your kids in on it too. Have them count theirs. And then tell them about the children in Honduras. Tell them about Edmund who sacrifices his own money so children in the village can have something on their feet. Then as a family pray. Thank God for His faithfulness and His blessings on your family. Thank Him for raising up men and women and children in Honduras to care for the poor, the orphaned, the vulnerable. Ask Him to continue to provide and watch over them. Ask Him raise up supporters so Lifesong can continue to serve in Honduras.

We are reaching for a goal:

Please pray that we can reach this goal? Maybe God wants to use you? Will you prayerfully consider joining us?

Maybe you can't give $30 a month... Maybe you can give more. Today we want to encourage you to give your best!

One commitment we've received was a one time gift... Another commitment was matched by the donor's employer... meaning his gift has now quadrupled! We are so excited to see people rise up and give what they can!

Thank you to those who have committed so far.

We have 15.5 commitments.

Can we make 100?

We have 7 days... 84.5 commitments to go.

With your help we can do it!

Muslim Women Reformers

I was sent a book that, at first glance, was daunting. It is a 500 page book written by Ida Lichter that is called Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression. And I am SO glad that I took the time to dive in. This is quite a powerful read - it is the voices of many Muslim Women and their stories - the stories take place in powerful Muslim countries like Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and many others. There are even some stories of Muslim women in America and it finishes with some stories from Male Muslim Activists as well. The stories are raw - they are often hard to read - the atrocities these women suffer through are hard to fathom, but they are real stories and these women are trying desperately to make a difference. This book is rewarding and it is eye-opening. Take the time to read through even a few of these stories - you will be glad you did.

*I was provided a copy for review by Online Publicist.

Book Club Hub

In honor of Tyndale launching its new book club enewsletter they’re running a 30 day giveaway on their website. The Book Club Hub Newsletter will be an email newsletter geared towards people who are in or are running book clubs. It will feature suggestions, discussion guides and great ideas for your book clubs. You can see a preview by clicking here.

To enter the giveaway you just need to visit the contest page and click on the book you’d like to sign up to win. You can even go back and sign up for both books. Each day is a new giveaway so you can return to the site each day and try to win. Every few days the books change, so check back!

Honduras - Day Two

Did you miss the post about what is going on at Lifesong Honduras? Click here.
Did you read about Tortilla Tuesday on Tuesday, March 29th? Click here.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Maybe some coffee? Yes?

Maybe some rice and beans, with white cheese and tortillas? No?

At Lifesong Honduras this is what a normal breakfast for the 550 kids we serve looks like.

For lunch they will get tortillas with either vegetable soup, pasta, or chicken with rice and vegetables.
For dinner they will eat rice, beans, cream (similar to sour cream) white cheese, eggs (2 times a week) and (you guessed it) tortillas.

Next Tuesday, March 29th join us for Tortilla Tuesday as we eat rice, beans, and tortillas for the day and provide tools for you to use in sharing with your family… in order to further teach out children about the lives of others.

Enjoy a meal at work or with your family or friends of tortillas, rice, and beans. This is a great way to not just talk about life for kids in Honduras, but to actually experience it, if only in one small way.

We want to encourage you to use this opportunity to share the need in Honduras with your kids, friends, and co-workers.

Here are a few facts and conversation starters:
1. Honduras is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere

2. Last year approximately 75% of new students coming into Lifesong Honduras were malnurished, their weight and height way below average, and needed extra vitamins and supplements. Pictured below are three 7th graders from this group:

"The reward comes in many forms... to watch them grow and their appearance change, knowing that you played a part in that. It is hard explain, but when you take one of our graduates and compare them to someone of the same age, from their own villages, even though the differences may range from ever so slight to obvious, it is visible."

-Lifesong Honduras staff member

3. There are innumerous un-reached mountain villages that still do not have electricity or running water, children without clothing or shoes, and families without food to feed their children.

- Homes are barely constructed of mud, sticks, cardboard and whatever material they can use to cover themselves.

-Many villages have no organized church, nor a pastor, nor a church building in which to meet.

-Students at Plan Escalon spend part of their education giving back… visiting mountain villages, where many of them came from, to bring food (rice and beans) and minister to the people.

- Imagine what it would it be like to live in a mountain village in Honduras… What would it be like? Would you feel hopeful of your future? How would you survive?

4. At Lifesong Honduras they have to make 3,500 tortillas made every day… on only 3 stoves!

- Can you imagine making that many tortillas every day? Think about how you would interact with others in the kitchen. How easy would it be trying to accomplish this with only 3 stoves?

*Be sure to have your camera ready for Tortilla Tuesday! Please send Lifesong a photo of you and your family or co-workers (or whoever you invite) participating in Tortilla Tuesday, your location, and a short story about the impact it made and the conversations you had to info@lifesongfororphans.org! If you have a blog or facebook, consider sharing it!

Our goal is:

Will you join us? Every dollar will make a difference! Every dollar will be doubled for the sake of orphans!

So far we have 4 commitments. Thank you! We still need more. Together we can do more for the children and the future of Honduras!

Contact Lifesong at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that we sent you from our blog!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog all this week!

Blue Apple Books

This was a QUITE a box of books! I was thinking it HAD to be Christmas when I opened it up, and if you think I was excited - you should have seen my girls. In fact, they told me, "Fast Mom, blog about these so we can take them and look at them!" I will share with you some of the goodies inside!

Good Morning Toucan and Good Night Owl by Dwell Studio are fun lift-the-flap books. The colors are bold and engaging and the flaps are large - your little ones won't be ripping them off as they turn the page. They are sturdy and will last! I love it that they walk you through the forest and the rainforest teaching you about the habitat, animals, etc. These are GREAT titles!!

Zoe and the Robot Let's Pretend by Ryan Sias and Doggie Dreams by Mike Herrod are both titles in the Balloon Toons Series. This is a great series for beginning readers. There is not a lot of text on the page and yet the illustrations are catchy and fun. Boy and girls, alike, will find these engaging and rewarding as they are reading on their own.

African Animal Alphabet is a National Geographic Little Kids title by Beverly and Dereck Joubert. We are LOVING this one! Each letter of the alphabet has a photograph of an animal found in the African Habitat. The photographs are amazing and the "Did you Know?" facts on each page are fun for our young readers. My girls are devouring this book and I KNOW my boys would have done so even more at this age!

How Things Work In The Yard by Lisa Campbell Ernst is an information book that again, my six year old is asking me to read over and over. It takes things that you may find in your yard - a wagon, a wheel, a garden hose, a butterfly, a squirrel, etc. and then gives you lots of fun facts about each of them. It might explain how they function or tell you how the animal eats, etc. What a great book for explaining science concepts to our young readers.

Bunny's Lessons by Harriet Ziefert is a picture book that will be one that your kids are bound to enjoy! It is the story of Charlie and his bunny and what they learn about life by playing together. It is a simple storyline and yet will resonate with our very young ones learning to sit for a story. Barroux's illustrations are childlike and wonderful for this book!! This will be fun for story hour and to share with our little ones at home as well.

13 Planets The Latest View of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar is a MUCH-NEEDED addition to our science section! With the addition of Haumea and Makemake - the newest planets discovered in our solar system - we have needed a children's book to explain these great findings! This is it - you honestly can't go wrong with National Geographic Kids!

Human Footprint is a National Geographic Kids book by Ellen Kirk - it is such a great format for showing what our human footprint might contain. The subtitle is "Everything you Will Eat, Use, Wear, Buy, and Throw Out in Your Lifetime" and that about sums it up - the real-life photography is a great way to show just how much stuff we consume!! Our favorite page?? The rubber ducks that show how many showers you will take in your lifetime!!

Grandma's Wedding Album is a beautiful picture book by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Karla Gudeon. This is the kind of book that makes you want to have your wedding chronicled the very same way. It is beautiful and such a wonderful story of the family heritage to hand down to our children. And what I love about this book is that at the end - they give you all sorts of wedding traditions from around the world. This one is a beautiful book - from cover to end page!!

Don't Let Auntie Mable Bless the Table by Vanessa Brantley Newton is a picture book that still has me chuckling. This is a wonderful tale of Sunday dinner until Auntie Mabel begins to bless the food, and she blesses the food, and blesses the food - EVERY item on the table and each person that prepared it - UNTIL all the food is cold! I love it - we laughed out loud at this one!!

Here is another of our BIG favorites (ok literally BIG!!). National Geographic Little Kids' Baby Animal Pop! is simply stunning. The book is all about farm animals BUT after you read information on each animal the page becomes a pop-up book that folds out to an enormous photograph of each animal. Our 4 year old is just captured by this book!! It is wonderful!! Guaranteed to enchant your young readers!!

Two other board books that are so much fun are Swing! like a Monkey and Wiggle! Like an Octopus by Harriet Ziefert and Simms Taback. When Ziefert and Taback get together - you are bound to enjoy these books!! These books are guaranteed to get you and your little ones up and moving as you move with the animals! Great fun with whimsical illustrations that just add to the enjoyment!

My last great find in this box is Doodles at Breakfast by Deborah Zemke. This is such a great idea - 36 tear-off placemats that you decorate either before or while you eat!! (Mom and Dad - you decide on this one!) Each placemat leads you through how to draw something and then gives you the space to do it! I'll be honest - I haven't shown my girls this one yet - oh dear - they would be decorating placemats ALL DAY long!! This is a great one!

*I was provided copies of each of these books for review purposes.

Helping Honduras

Honduras Blitz from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

What if every time you gave a dollar to orphans it became one more?

One more dollar towards food, education, shelter?

One more dollar towards sharing the Gospel and providing Biblical mentorship?

One more dollar towards changing the life of a child?

I love to use this platform to advocate for those in need... and thanks to a generous donor every dollar given to Lifesong Honduras will be matched… up to $120,000! We praise the Lord for this amazing gift and invite you to be a part of it.

Over the next 10 days we are teaming with Lifesong and are hoping for 100 1-year commitments of $30 a month. Just think, for about $1 a day a life in Honduras can be forever changed.

Partnering with Tree of Life Missions in Honduras, Lifesong for Orphans is able to work toward providing hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless and healing to the hurting. TOLM reaches kids through a program called Plan Escalon. (Escalon is translated "escalator" and is used to describe the children's escalator out of poverty/brokenness.)
Through this program we strive toward:

• Providing an education to the poorest of youth


• Providing food to the poorest of youth


• Providing vocational training & micro-business opportunities


• Providing free medical and dental clinics to those in need


• Training young people to give back to their communities


• Reaching people in the jungles of the Mosquito Coast

Stay tuned for stories, personal testimonies, and fun ways to spread awareness and instill a heart of giving in your kids!

Our goal is:

Will you help us? 100 commitments in ten days is no small feat, but with God it is possible. We have seen Him move mightily in His people to serve orphans and we pray that this ten weeks will be a testimony of that! Together we can make a difference in the lives of these kids! Together we can do more to bring joy and purpose to orphans!

Contact Lifesong at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that we sent you from our blog!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog all this week!

Check back often to hear personal stories and get updates on the progress. Please join us in prayer as we ask the Lord to raise up 100 commitments!

The Sandalwood Tree

I have found another new-to-me author and I am thinking this is another one to add to my - Keep an Eye On List!! Elle Newmark's latest title is The Sandalwood Tree. It is set in modern day India and keeps track of a family that moved their for a job, but it is tied into the lives of two girls from 90 years before that lived in that same house in India - it all intertwines to create quite a powerful story. The characters are strong, the plot line is not one that you can see coming (THANK YOU Newmark!!!) and the history is vivid. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Here is what the publisher says of the book:

From incredible storyteller and nationally bestselling author Elle Newmark comes a rich, sweeping novel that brings to life two love stories, ninety years apart, set against the backdrop of war-torn India.

In 1947, an American anthropologist named Martin Mitchell wins a Fulbright Fellowship to study in India. He travels there with his wife, Evie, and his son, determined to start a new chapter in their lives. Upon the family’s arrival, though, they are forced to stay in a small village due to violence surrounding Britain’s imminent departure from India. It is there, hidden behind a brick wall in their colonial bungalow, that Evie discovers a packet of old letters that tell a strange and compelling story of love and war involving two young Englishwomen who lived in the very same house in 1857.

Drawn to their story, Evie embarks on a mission to uncover what the letters didn’t explain. Her search leads her through the bazaars and temples of India as well as the dying society of the British Raj. Along the way, a dark secret is exposed, and this new and disturbing knowledge creates a wedge between Evie and her husband. Bursting with lavish detail and vivid imagery of Bombay and beyond, The Sandalwood Tree is a powerful story about betrayal, forgiveness, fate, and love.

This is a great historical fiction read - it kept me moving and wondering how the two stories were going to join. The book is soon-to-be-released - watch for it!

*I was sent a copy for review by the publisher.

Kite Capers

Here is another wonderful Unit Study/Lapbook Study that we have thoroughly enjoyed this past week!! Kite Capers is fun and refreshing after being cooped up all winter! I had a friend ask me how I did these unit studies with all of our normal school - and I was so glad I could answer honestly - these unit studies are ALL done for you - the work is done - the books, videos, projects have all been compiled - all you have to do is choose what you'd like to do out of the study and go at it! My daughter asks me daily, "What's our next study, Mom?" She just loves them, and I have to agree - they add some "fun" back into our daily-ness of school.

Kite Capers Study covers:

Day 1: What Is a Kite?
Day 2: The History of Kites
Day 3: Kite People and Places
Day 4: Science Secrets of Kites
Day 5: Goodies and Gadgets of Kites

and oh so much more!!

The books for suggested reading were wonderful - some titles I had no idea were even out there! In fact, there were so many good titles - we are STILL reading!! And not only did we make our own kite, but we also learned something that my daughter thought was thrilling - kites came from her home country!!

What a great unit - we really enjoyed this one! Now, we just think we need to find ourselves a good kite festival and we are all set!!

Click here to view more details or to purchase Kite Capers!

*I was provided a copy of this unit study for review purposes by Download and Go.

Beautiful Blue Eyes

Marianne Richmond has a gift - a gift of creating picture books that speak to children and adults alike! And her latest, Beautiful Blue Eyes, is no exception! I LOVE this tender story of what the parent sees in their child's blue eyes. It is a rhyming story, but it doesn't feel contrived, it flows smoothly and has such a sweet storyline. Richmond also illustrated her book and the illustrations are tender and endearing as well - the chalk blends to give the book a soft, cozy feel.

This book is just for parents and little ones to share - it is truly a gift!

(And I'm off to find Beautiful Brown Eyes for my two daughters!!)

$5 Friday

Don't miss these SUPER unit studies/lapbooks available on sale for today only!

Gardens $5.00 (four weeks, K - 12)--Encompassing the history of gardens, plant science, planning and planting a garden, and the arts and gardens, the study is perfect for any time of year--autumn gardens, winter daydreams, spring planting, and summer harvesting. Perfect for some hands-on learning after a long winter indoors, this study covers the realm--from pole bean tepees to sunflower houses, what memories they will build!
Click here to view more details

Oceans (four weeks, K - 12)--While the ocean can appear beautiful and peaceful at first glance, it is teeming with life and has a colorful history that we cannot overlook. From the site of a breaching whale, to the playful rolling of dolphin in the waves, along with the sounds of the creaking and groaning of a wooden ship under full sail on its way to Treasure Island, you and your family will enjoy studying the vast oceans of the world.

Click here to view more details

Spring Surprises (one week, K - 4)--How many ways can you combine your child's enthus

iasm for learning and exciting activities with all the delights of springtime? Begin counting with this adventure! Spring is emerging diffe

rently for all of us in our own particular places in the world. There's so much to see and discover! Your child will be fascinated by the delights and discovery of change with signs of new growth all about him.

Click here to view more details

Tremendous Trees (one week, K - 4)--Take in the exciting panorama of Tremendous Trees, from the smallest species to the giant redwood, investigating both common and uncommon trees. Many children dream of having their own treehouse hideaway, and they'll love perusing that fun area of this study. There's even an opportunity to design their own dream treehouse!

Click here to view more details

Tortilla Tuesday!!

Tortilla Tuesday!!
(Sponsored by Lifesong for Orphans)

Next Monday we will be kicking off an exciting 10 day blog-a-thon to spread the word about what's going on at Lifesong Honduras. We will be sharing personal testimonies from changed lives, peeking into everyday Honduran life, and giving some tools to spread awareness in your families.
One of these tools is a little something we like to call (da-daDAAA!):

Tuesday, March 29th we will be dedicating 1 meal to eat what the children in Honduras eat on a daily basis... and we want you to be a part of it! We will also provide some great topical questions and discussion guides for you to share with your kids on what life is like for children in another culture.

Would YOU join us?

We'll share more as we get closer to the 29th, so mark your calendars, get your camera ready and head to the store to get tortillas, rice, and beans for the whole family!

The Pioneer Woman Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

I guess I could just stop with the title above, I mean really. I think the Pioneer Woman is, was, and always will be, FABULOUS!!! Her blog is a source of endless laughs and ideas (but I will readily admit the recipes are just a pipe-dream for me!!). I have read her blog for years - LOVE her photography and yes, I'm a mite bit proud that we BOTH homeschool. (It's only one thing in common, but that's ok.)

So when I finished her book - The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - last night and closed that back cover- I, once again, had to smile. That is just what she does - makes me smile! I just "get" her sense of humor - the book had me laughing out loud MANY times and yet, it also was a book that caused me to reflect on life too - really, how good we have it! It is the story of how Ree met Marlboro Man (her knight in shining cowboy boots) and their first few months after marriage as well. It is a well-crafted story that did not feel plodding or hard to read - it was a pleasure! Thanks Ree, for a book that made me smile and reflect - truly a gem!

The Mountains Bow Down

Sibella Giorello's The Mountains Bow Down is another fabulous title in her Raleigh Harmon Series. Giorello is an amazing author that, once again, has written a page-turner!! And of course she scored major points with me on this one having it set in Alaska (which I didn't know was her growing up place!!). Raleigh Harmon is an FBI special agent and her cases take her all over and she gets herself in quite some challenges!! This book is no exception - so well-written and keeps you on the edge of your seat!

About Sibella: Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website. www.sibellagiorello.com

Here is what the publisher says about the book:

About The Mountains Bow Down: Everything's going to work out. Time away always makes things better . . ..

That's what FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon believes as she boards a cruise to Alaska. A land of mountains and gems and minerals, The Last Frontier is a dream destination for this forensic geologist who's hoping to leave behind a hectic work schedule and an engagement drained of romance.

But when a passenger goes missing and winds up dead, Raleigh's vacation suddenly gets lost at sea. The ship's security chief tries to rule the death a suicide, but Raleigh's forensics background points to a much darker conclusion: Somewhere onboard, a ruthless murderer walks free.

Engulfed by one of her toughest cases yet, Raleigh requests assistance from the FBI and receives her nemesis-perpetual ladies man Special Agent Jack Stephanson. As the cruise ship sails through the Inside Passage, Raleigh has five days to solve a high-profile murder, provide consultation for a movie filming onboard, and figure out her increasingly complicated feelings for Jack-who might not be such a jerk after all.

And that's only her work life. Family offers even more challenges. Joined on the cruise by her mother and aunt, Raleigh watches helplessly as disturbing rifts splinter her family.

Like the scenery that surrounds the cruise ship, Raleigh discovers a situation so steep and so complex that even the mountains might bow down.

Here is some fun news!!! You can pick up book one in this series for your Kindle or Nook for only $2.99. The Stones Roll Away is her first novel in this Raleigh Harmon series!

Sibella’s celebrating the release of The Mountains Bow Down by giving away a Cruise prize pack worth over $500.00!

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• A $500 gift certificate toward the cruise of their choice from Vacations To Go.
• The entire set of the Raleigh Harmon series.
  To enter go here!

Then tell your friends. And enter soon - the giveaway ends on 4/1! The winner will be announced at Sibella’s Raleigh Harmon Book Club Party on FB April 5th, 2011! Don’t miss the fun – prizes, books and gab!

About the Facebook Party: Join Sibella and fans of the Raleigh Harmon series on April 5th at 5:00 pm PST (6 MST, 7 CST & 8 EST) for a Facebook Book Club Party. Sibella will be giving away some fun prizes, testing your trivia skills and hosting a book chat about the Raleigh Harmon books. Please RSVP and if you have questions you'd like to chat about - leave them on the Event page.

Blog Tour Schedule:

3/15
Karla at Quiet Quilter http://www.karla-hanns-karla.blogspot.com

Verlina at What You Reading Now? http://www.WhatYouReadingNow.blogspot.com

Charlene at Quintessentially Quilly http://quilldancer.com

Jolene at The Creative Studio http://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com

Martha at Our Family Adventures http://homeschoolblogger.com/martha/

Sarah at Growing for Christ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ohiosarah

Jami's Reviews http://jamisreviews.blogspot.com

Becky at In The Pages http://inthepages.blogspot.com

3/16
MaryBeth at Four Silly Sisters Review http://foursillysistersreview.blogspot.com

Melissa at Word Heard http://wordheard.wordpress.com

Barbara's Thin Line http://www.barbarasthinline.blogspot.com

Debra at Footprints in the Butter http://debrakb.blogspot.com/

Vanessa at Ohio Girl Talks http://www.ohiogirltalks.blogspot.com

Suzanne at Suzannesaphone http://suzannesaphone.wordpress.com

Beckie at By The Book http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com

Mark at Thoughts of a Sojourner http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/

3/17
Maggie at Tethered Mommy http://www.tetheredmommy.com

Brenda at WV Stitcher http://www.kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com

Sharon at Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews http://sharonsgardenofbookreviews.blogspot.com

Jake at Fiction Addict http://www.FictionAddict.com

Amy at The 160 Acrewoods http://www.the160acrewoods.com

Reviews By Jane http://www.reviewsbyjane.blogspot.com

Rut at This That and the Other Thing http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com

3/18
C.J. Darlington http://www.cjdarlington.blogspot.com

Thou Art Jules http://thouartjules.com

Lena Nelson at A Christian Writer's World http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Jamie at Surviving The Chaos http://www.survivingthechaos.blogspot.com

Molly at Book Reviews By Molly http://reviewsbymolly.blogspot.com

Nicole at Ramblings By Nicole http://ramblingsbynicolerenee.blogspot.com

Diane at That's What I'm Here For http://www.dianeestrella.com

3/19
Carol’s Corner http://www.fleisherfamilyfun.blogspot.com

Kim at Window To My World http://berlysue.blogspot.com

Amber at Snidbits http://www.amberfrench.blogspot.com

Books by Bina http://www.booksbybina.blogspot.com

Danielle at The Happy Wife http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com

Virginia at My Full Cup http://myfullcup.wordpress.com

Tim at Fiction Addict http://fictionaddict.com

Michele at My Blessings From Above http://koreamom.blogspot.com

Theresa at Faith and Family Reviews http://www.faithandfamilyreviews.com

Tammy's Book Parlor http://tgteecher.blogspot.com

3/21
Caroline at Happy Four http://happyfour.blogspot.com

Stacei at Hobbit Door http://hobbitdoor.blogspot.com

Laura at Lighthouse Academy and Christian Bookworm Reviews
http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/
http://christianbookwormreviews.com

Nancy at Bookfoolery and Babble http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/

Janet at Along the Way http://a-long-the-way.blogspot.com

Julie at One Rainy Afternoon http://onerainyafternoon.blogspot.com

Evelyn at The Writing Sprite http://writesprite.wordpress.com

Kaylea at My Scrappy Life http://kaytebug2002.blogspot.com

3/22
Heather at Mom 2 Mom Connection http://www.heatherivester.com

Melissa at Breath of Life http://breathoflifeministries.blogspot.com/

Prism at A Girl of Many Colors http://agirlofmanycolors.blogspot.com

Lisa Jordan Books http://www.lisajordanbooks.com

Carly at Carlybird's Home http://www.carlybirdshome.blogspot.com

Deborah at Books, Movies and Chinese Food http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com

Jenn's RAQ http://jennsraq.blogspot.com

3/23
Timothy at LaVigne's Blog http://tslavigne.wordpress.com

Sherry at My Journey Back http://www.myjourneyback-thejourneyback.blogspot.com

Catherine at Cuzinlogic http://cuzinlogic.wordpress.com

Mel at Real Heart Prints http://www.realheartprints.com

Susan at My Life - A beautiful Disaster http://www.butifldisaster.blogspot.com

Charity at Giveaway Lady http://giveawaygal.blogspot.com

Meg at Meg Massey http://www.megmassey.com

Lydia at The Overweight Bookshelf http://overweight-bookshelf.blogspot.com/

Katie at Legacy of a Writer http://www.katieslegacy.blogspot.com

3/24
Loren at Heart of a bookworm http://www.themagoosnews.blogspot.com

Beth at For the love of books http://mommiebethers.wordpress.com

Brooke at I blog 4 books http://iblog4books.blogspot.com

Stacy at A Novel Source http://www.anovelsource.com

Relz Reviewz http://relzreviewz@gmail.com

Rebekah a Aurelia
http://aurelmedia.wordpress.com

Jodie at Mom's Pace http://www.moms-pace.com

Joan at Book Reviews from an Avid Reader http://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com

3/25
LaVerne at This Daughter's Notebook http://christiancounselinginsight.blogspot.com/

Michelle at Beyond The Silver and The Gold http://www.beyondsilverandgold.blogspot.com/

Jendi's Journal http://jendisjournal.com

Marianne at Hoosier Word Smith http://hoosierwordsmith.typepad.com

Cara at The Law, Books and Life http://blog.caraputman.com

Tammy at TammyIsBlessed http://tammyisblessed.blogspot.com

My Friend Amy http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

3/26
Becky at Christian Chick's Thoughts http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com

Krista at Pitching Pencils http://pitchingpencils.blogspot.com/

Paula at Thrifty Momma’s Brain Food http://www.thriftymommasbrainfood.blogspot.com/

Ponderings by Andrea http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com

Kimberly at Sugar Creek Cottage http://sugarcreekcottage.blogspot.com/

JHS at Colloquium http://www.jhsiess.com

Michelle at A Life Better Than I Deserve http://homeschoolblogger.com/alifebetterthanidese/

3/28
Renee Ann at Doorkeeper http://reneeannsmith.com/

Lisa writes... http://www.lisaspence.com

Nora at Finding Hope Through Fiction http://www.psalm516.blogspot.com

Revka at The Porch Light http://ourfamilyporch.blogspot.com

Cindy at Cindy's Book Club http://cindysbookclub.blogspot.com

Deb at Just Short of Crazy http://www.justshortofcrazy.com

Jennifer at A Spacious Place http://jennifertiszai.blogspot.com

3/29
Robin at Scibbles of the Heart http://www.scribblesoftheheart.com/

Lori at Frog's Lilypad http://lori1971.blogspot.com

Michell at Life in Review http://michellevsblog.blogspot.com/

Marjorie at The Writer's Tool http://marjorievawter.blogspot.com

Linda at Christian Book Reviews http://www.onedesertrose.wordpress.com

Clint AT Friar Tuck's Fleeting Thoughts http://friartucksfleetingthoughts.blogspot

3/30
Ariel at The French Poet http://angelvelvet.blogspot.com/

Ashley's Bookshelf http://ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com

Patty at Broken Teepee http://brokenteepee.com

Brooks at Victorious Cafe http://victoriouscafe.com

Dona at Allergy Kid Mom http://allergykidmom.blogspot.com

Heather at The Sunset Won't http://thesunsetwont.blogspot.com

Stacy at Upon Eagles Wings http://uponeagleswings.blogspot.com/

Linda Mocha with Linda http://mochawithlinda.blogspot.com

*I was provided a copy of the book for review purposes by the publisher.