Celebrate the Whit Award with Adventures in Odyssey

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Most people can think of one or two figures whose love and life example had a great impact on the formation of their spiritual foundation. It might be a coach, a Sunday school teacher or a parent or grandparent. Whatever the role, it’s hard to put a value on the investment these people make on a daily basis. In an effort to bring honor to these countless, quiet heroes, Adventures in Odyssey announces the John Avery Whitaker Award. Named after Odyssey’s resident leader and the namesake of Odyssey’s most famous attraction, Whit’s End, the award will be bestowed annually on one deserving mentor.

Like the Adventures in Odyssey character John Avery Whitaker, or “Whit” as he’s known by fans of the show, the person should be someone who is passionate about innovatively teaching children the truths expressed in the Bible. Those who create Adventures in Odyssey know that while Whit might be a fictitious character, there are thousands of real people just like him. “Our hope is that by bringing those people into the light, others will be inspired to follow their example,” says Dave Arnold, the executive producer of Adventures in Odyssey. “If we can spur mature believers in Christ to mentor and influence a generation being barraged with messages of compromise, we can turn the tide and encourage revival in our youth.”

Nominations are being accepted now through October 31 for the “Whits” out there in the world. Beginning on November 1, one nominee will be selected daily and awarded with a prize package including Adventures in Odyssey’s latest album, Taking the Plunge, and a DVD of the movie Beyond the Mask. One grand prize winner will be chosen and announced on November 20. This worthy recipient will receive more than $500 worth of Focus on the Family resources, including an Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) membership. The OAC offers 24/7, on-the-go access to more than 800 episodes of Adventures in Odyssey, as well as a new, members-only episode every month. It is a safe, fun environment where the whole family can explore, create and imagine, all while learning biblical truth.

Nominations can be submitted via this form, or the information can be emailed to contest@whitsend.org. (See the Official Rules for all the details.)

To learn more about the John Avery Whitaker Award, visit www.whitsend.org. Discover the Odyssey Adventure Club at www.oaclub.org or on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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Receive FREE Stuff from Amazon’s New Review Program!

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If you’ve been a reader here for any length of time, you know that I enjoy reviewing products.  It’s a great way to check out something new without shelling out a lot of money for something that (might) not be a great fit for you. 

Register for Reviewsio @ A Nest in the Rocks

That’s why I’m excited about Amazon’s new review program.  Registered users have the chance to try out new products in exchange for an honest review – for FREE!

Reviewsio isn’t launching until October 1st, but it’s open for registration now.    Check it out and get your application in!

Who couldn’t use free stuff from Amazon?

“Gather Around the Amish Table” by Lucy Leid

Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks.

Bake the pecan rolls that taste best after an ice-skating party, or try the hoagies that a community sold to help an Amish family with hospital bills. Discover the cocoa cupcakes with instructions to “stir by hand” that one young cook took literally, or whip up the whoopie pies that one Amish woman took to market in her horse and buggy.

These cherished recipes speak of comforting traditions, lively communities, and strong Christian faith. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about Amish cooking, Gather Around the Amish Table is your go-to source.  This collection of recipes is as varied as it is drool-worthy. 

That’s one of the best things about this book:  the variety of the recipes.  Leid, the woman who pulled this book together, didn’t write them all – instead, she polled family and friends to find the best of the best.  These recipes not only cover a wide range of food and styles, but they also vary in the amount that each makes.  A recipe that makes a few hundred doughnuts can be found right beside a recipe that serves four.  Anyone could find recipes to suit the size of their gathering from this book.

You’ll find versions of the most popular Amish and Mennonite recipes here, too.  Sure, there are whoopee pies and doughnuts, but you’ll find yummasetti and casseroles and salads, too.  There are simple ones and more difficult ones, but if there’s a recipe you’ve heard about Plain people eating, you’ll probably find a version of it in this book.

When it comes right down to it, the recipes sound delicious.  My Big Helper and I have picked out a bunch of them to make, and we can’t decide where to start.  It all looks good!

If you’re in need of a new cookbook, definitely check out Gather Around the Amish Table.

Click here to read other reviews on this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.

Lucy Leid is an Old Order Mennonite wife, mother, and cook in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

I received a free copy of Gather Around the Amish Table from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Our Third-Grade Curriculum for 2015-16

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We’re super excited about this new school year, but I must admit, my kids make it easy.  While My Little Man is not a fan of writing, he loves to read and to build things, and so I need only to bring books home.  He’ll find them, devour them, and remember much of the text word for word. 

Our Third-Grade Curriculum for 2015-16 @ A Nest in the Rocks

My Little Man and My Big Helper are so close in age and ability, most of our schoolwork happens together.  They do most of the same assignments, study the same topics, and do most of the same projects.  When their work differs, it’s usually only in scope or the difficulty I expect from them – and math.  They do separate math assignments.

With that in mind, this is what we’re planning for this coming school year.  We’ll be starting next week – although the kids have already started reading their books and making up their own assignments.  (I don’t think they understand the meaning of ‘vacation.’)  For this to make sense, though, you need to know how we do school.  We incorporate as many subjects as we can into one thing – an interdisciplinary or project approach, also called unit studies – but we’re pretty eclectic about the way that we do things, too.  I choose history and/or science topics for us to focus on and then we read biographies, historical fiction, non-fiction, videos, documentaries, build things, take field trips, and write, so …

 

History:  Mostly we’ll be reading the types of books listed above.  We fill in gaps between major time periods with Drive Through History: Columbus, the Pilgrims, and Early Boston‘>this video series for a big world overview of what’s happening in a given time period.

Science:  We’re going to be matching up scientists and discoveries with the time periods that we’re studying.  We’ll learn about the science of navigation during our exploration unit, about the changes in weapons and warfare throughout our war studies, and other important ones in between.  The kids’ book clubs will be reading a fun trade paperback that makes use of physics and circuits, too – more on that to come.  When we want more information, in addition to biographies, the ‘Net, and documentaries, we’ll be reading

Our First Day of School

Today was our first day of school – homeschool, that is. Our First Day of School @ A Nest in the Rocks I have been super excited about this one. I’ve been very intentional about our planning for this one.  I know how quickly our time can get away from us, and the years are passing much too quickly.  I want our school time together to be fun and exciting and to make our kids want to learn – big goals, right?

I’ve never really done anything special beyond a few photographs for the first day, but this year we went bigger, and we did a few things that we’re going to make traditions. We started out with banana splits for breakfast.  (I stole the idea from Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers.) I sliced a banana into each kid’s parfait glass, then added a small amount of ice cream and topped the whole thing with homemade Cinnamon Almond Granola.  The kids considered it a huge treat, and it was, but at least there was still some nutritional value, right?

After that we headed out to our school table and get started with a few of our new things.  We tried out our math mats and then recorded fun interviews for their scrapbooks.  They each decorated a white board with their name and grade level before we went outside for pictures.  The kids were patient as I staged them all over the yard before coming in to an art project and some history work.  After finishing their baseball cards, My Big Helper did a math assignment and some reading while My Little Man had his book club meeting for the month. After chores and playtime, they finished up a movie, ate dinner, and ran like mad at soccer practice.

I love having everyone home.  I love being able to make school days special.

Homeschooling’s awesome – and I’m looking forward to the hundreds of more awesome days we have coming up, because they’re going to fly by much too quickly.

Do you do anything to make your first days of school special?  

10 Great Dishes for Kiddie Cooks

Kids in the Kitchen @ A Nest in the Rocks

My kids love to help out in the kitchen.  I started baking with them when they were very small, but it took a long time for me to feel comfortable having them “cook.”  I finally decided that it came down to the skills that they knew and the safety factor of the dish they were attempting. 

Cooking is great for kids for lots of reasons, but for beginner kiddie cooks, these dishes are perfect.  Your kids can make these dishes with only basic instruction, and since everything is cold, they can’t get burned.  If you handle the stove/oven parts, they’ll be able to (nearly) fully prepare a dish.

Here are a few dishes to get your kid started:

  • Lasagna:  This is a PERFECT dish for a young cook. I cook the meat the day before, so it is cold and easily crumbled.  I won’t promise a mess-free kitchen when your child is finished, but you WILL have a tasty dinner and a proud kid.
  • Green Bean Casserole:  Since you basically open cans and stir, this is great for kids.  Be careful of sharp edges on the cans – but other than that, this one is fool-proof.
  • Garlic Bread: If you soften the butter to near-liquid form and sprinkle in some garlic powder, then your child can stir and spread.  If you don’t have a pastry brush, a new, washed paintbrush works great!
  • Salad:  My Little Man loves to assemble our salads – and I do mean  assemble.  While he does use a veggie peeler on the occasional carrot or cuke, for the most part, I chop the veggies and leave them in piles on a big cutting board.  He stands on a chair nearby, and when I’m finished, he then arranges each salad on each person’s plate.  He gets a kick out of ‘making’ such an important part of our meal!
  • Goofy Cake:  This cake is completely scratch made and delicious – and it’s perfect for a young child to help mix up because it contains no eggs!  If your child is tempted by the chocolatey goodness and sticks in a finger, you don’t have to worry about salmonella.  There’s another kiddie plus to this cake, though – the acids and bases react to make a volcano in every cake!  Your kid will love to help you mix this one up.
  • Peanut Butter Apple Nachos:  The most dangerous part of this recipe is slicing the apples.  If you have a combo apple chopper/corer, your child may be able to do this alone.  If not, wash and slice the apples.  Your child can arrange them on a plate and add the toppings.  That’s really the best part, right?
  • Cinnamon Almond Granola:  Most kids love to stir and mix things up.  That’s what makes granola the perfect food for a kid to make.  Granola doesn’t have to be measured precisely, and the more you stir, the better!  This is our favorite kind.
  • Whole Wheat Pinch-Me Cake:  I remember making this with my mom when I was little, and now my kids love to make it, too!  The best part of the dish is pinching the dough off the rest, rolling it into a small ball, and then coating it with cinnamon and sugar.  It feels like the most important job in the world – and if you’ve ever eaten a good Pinch-Me Cake, you’ll know it is.
  • Circus-Inspired Snack Mix:  This recipe is fabulous for toddlers.  Nothing’s dangerous, needs to be cut, or needs to be precisely measured.  Just choose your ingredients, toss them together in a bowl, and pour into containers for snacking.
  • Whole Wheat Pumpkin Snickerdoodles:  Like the Pinch-Me Cake, these cookies need to be rolled into balls and dipped.  The dough does contain egg, so be sure to monitor those little hands.

There you have it.  My top ten Great Dishes for Kiddie Cooks.  What would you add?

“Counting on a Cowboy” by Debra Clopton

After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk.

Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she’s brave enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn’t interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become—or the women who might be looking at him like he’s their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn’t looking for serious romantic commitments. But when the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can’t help but be drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

Debra Clopton’s newest book might just teach you to forgive and heal – and to trust your feelings to a cowboy.  I love the Four of Hearts Ranch series, but this book is much more serious than the first.  The topics are heavier, the spiritual journey is harsher, and Abby has very tough choices to make.  The very weight of her decisions is what makes the joy of her new romance stand out so brightly, however, and that contrast makes it all worthwhile.
 
 That’s why I enjoyed this story so much.  It contains the same zany residents of Wishing Springs as the first story, but this time there’s more on the line than a job or some solitude.  Instead, it’s all about healing and forgiveness, and those are things that we can all relate to.  Whether we have the type of tragedy in our pasts that Abby does or not, we all have something – and I appreciate Abby’s struggle to heal from it.
 
The Monahans continue to be an honorable family who would be fun to befriend.  Bo’s antics with his new son add lighthearted touches to the story, and the gossipy hairdressers infuse fun, too. 
 
Romances aren’t exactly unpredictable, but while you might be able to see the end of Abby’s story, nobody could predict the twists and turns she and Bo meet along the way.  It’s those unexpected events that make this such a memorable story and that prove Clopton’s skill as a writer.  I love the way that she wrapped up each thread.  The realistic way that she described Abby’s emotions as she healed from the loss of her husband made the story incredibly vivid.  While I cannot relate personally, Clopton made me ache alongside Abby and rejoice at her healing.  Counting on a Cowboy is an extremely well-written story and even better than the previous one; I can only expect greatness from the final book in the series.
 
 
 
Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra’s goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.
 
Find Debra online: website, Facebook, Twitter
 
I received a free copy of Counting on a Cowboy from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Spanish Curriculum on Sale Now!

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I’ve just been introduced to a new Spanish curriculum, and we’re excited to be using it this year!  I’ll have lots more to share about it in the months to come, but it’s on sale right now.  You can get 20% all store products today!!

 

Initially speaking, this curriculum makes use of short, entertaining videos with Spanish-speaking kids as the actors.  Vocabulary words are written throughout the video, adding to the visual impact of the video.  Quizzes, workbooks, and flashcards are also available.

If you’re in the market for Spanish lessons for your kids, check out Spanish for Kids by Kids now!

 

 

Hearts for Home Blog Hop – August 27, 2015

A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for the weekly Hearts for Home Blog link-up, which means that every Thursday you’ll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post. If you’re a blogger, we’d love to have you link up your posts and join us. You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.

The most clicked posts from last week were Disney’s Descendants Movie Review.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

– Writing Activities for Middle Grades

Washington, D.C. for Families on a Budget

Vibrant Homeschooling Ultimate List of Kids Audio

If your post is listed above, please grab one of our ‘Featured Blogger’ buttons! Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

Hearts for Home Blog Hop

Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link back to this one. Happy hopping!

Hearts for Home Blog Hop


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