BOOKS
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Marshaling Her Heart (Wyoming Sunrise #3) by Mary Connealy
I love continuing the stories of characters from the mind of novelist Mary Connealy. While, Marshaling Her Heart wasn’t my favorite book overall in the Wyoming Sunrise trilogy, it was a great end to reading the series and needed to continue the characters and overall plot to discover what was to happen next. This book was my escape when the family was going into flu season, and once humidifiers were in place, cough herbal remedies were dosed, and breathing of little ones finally appropriately eased, I put my brand newly pregnant self into escaping to the western frontier to find out what would happen next. Reading books like this makes me laugh,…
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The Laws of Attraction (Wyoming Sunrise #2) by Mary Connealy
Continuing this series from Mary Connealy is a treat and I’m eager to dive into the third novel in the trilogy. As I was winding down the story and already knew that I was loving the elements between these characters in a full twist of standard love story with a strong woman, rather saving the man… I was eager to realize that I really wanted to read the stories of each of the three daughters as they grew to womanhood as their characters were full of so much personality in their few mentions within the pages as side characters as it was. While I’m not much of a feminist, I…
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Forged in Love (Wyoming Sunrise #1) by Mary Connealy
If you can believe it, I’ve been reading Mary Connealy Christian Historical Fiction Romance novels since I started blogging. I read her books when I thought I would never have a child. I read her books when I started blogging about maternity products. I blogged reviews and read her books while researching homeschool methods. I read and reviewed her books after taking breaks from two miscarriages and I even read her books when I was stuck in the NICU after the birth of my fifth living child. Mary Connealy’s novels and novellas full of historical characters of wit and wisdom have been an elemental part of my life for nearly…
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The Blackstone Legacy by Elizabeth Camden {Trilogy Review}
I just downloaded a copy of Hearts of Steel and then I realized it was the third in a series. I set out to look, and sure enough discovered I had bought Carved in Stone as well as Written on the Wind with good intentions to read them. Oops. Quickly, I downloaded the missing books and set to read them. Gwen was a unique character and I thoroughly enjoyed her story. I found myself craving to go back and find out what would happen next with her and her lawyer connection when I had a moment to read. As per usual, I have lots of books on the go, and this one called me back time…
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January 22, the one when I attempt to be accountable…
What happened to the world of blogging ‘eh? I’m doing this for myself now, but I’d love to know what you’re up to. This week, I have a few things on Instagram @stitching.mj to share. I have continued to work on my first Chatelaine, A Fairy Flower Garden Mandala, as well as other things. Starting the Peppermint Purple 2023 SAL was fascinating and it is gorgeous. This time I’m going to do a border and use a variegated thread to start. Another new start includes The Steady Thread 2023 Botanical SAL. I pulled out one of my original Mirabilia Designs and got a few teal stitches in Rapunzel, she is…
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January Diary Post
If I just start writing, then it is as if I never disappeared, right? Let’s recap, shall we… I stopped participating in external review organizations. I added a fifth child to my duckling repertoire. We decided to go with school-in-a-box plus other frosting on top. My Enginerd is working from home, which is blissfully wonderful. We have taken hiking adventures and cabin camping to the mountains of North Carolina, east Tennessee, and camping journeys through northern Arkansas, and more. We are loving off-roading and Overlanding. When I say camping, I mean tent and freezing 2 am bathroom runs in a full moon, no glamping for us. I now have two…
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The Oak Leaves (Oak Leaves #1) By Maureen Lang {Review}
*This review has been reposted from its original February 2008 posting. I read the first chapter of this book, The Oak Leaves, online several weeks ago, and was finally able to get it from an inter-library loan this past week. I started the book last night, and could not put it down. I did sleep, but once I woke up this morning, I did not even get on my computer. I just read, stopped to make a PB&J, and read. It is now almost four in the afternoon and I am finished. Maureen Lang has quite an affinity for storytelling. I was completely entranced by the family heritage story…
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Gathering Shadows (Finding Sanctuary #1) by Nancy Mehl {Review}
It has been a while since I’ve posted a good review for you guys here. Let’s just say, life has reorganized itself and I am finding more inspiration to get back to what I love. For the last several weeks, into the night as my kiddos and Enginerd slept I have been reading some of my backlog of books and most recently I finished a good Mennonite mystery thriller, Gathering Shadows from Nancy Mehl. I really need to catch up on her stories! One of the things that I love about going through my backlog of books to read is when I find one that is timeless and…
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Blake eLearning Inc materials continue to impress! (Reading Eggs and more) {Review}
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. A few years ago, my oldest children were able to have an introduction to Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress. The squeals were real when I told them that all four could have a one-year subscription to Reading Eggs from Blake eLearning Inc. The platform can accommodate families up to four children, which is perfect for us, at this moment and I believe my oldest will have outgrown the programming before my fifth student is…
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A new math option with ThemeVille Math {Review}
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  My oldest student is transitioning to a new math program after years of the same provider. Next, Princess — my middle daughter — is needing to go a different direction as well, what we were using just isn’t right for her. We had success with an intensive program over the summer and I was eager to look for something new for this new school year. It was an interesting adventure to jump in…
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What We’re Reading in Our Homeschool: August 2020
It is incredible to believe that the last time I gave you a full update on what we’re reading in our homeschool was around St. Valentine’s Day. Unless of course, you count the odd post on epidemic reading, what a strange year this has been. However, the school work continues and so does our reading list. There are so many things that I could talk about here. For the most part, I’ll let our Instagram memories tell the story. I am trying hard to take a picture when I finish a book. I have not succeeded across the board but I’m getting a decent start with it that way. In…
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Homeschool curriculum Easy (simple and easy school at home for $100) {Review}
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. Are you looking for something different for your homeschool year? Do you happen to be a brand new homeschooler and need a helping hand to get started with the basics and want homeschool curriculum all in one pretty downloadable package? Homeschool Easy may just be the right start or even finish line for you. We are an eclectic Classical Christian Education family, however, our little jaunt with Homeschool Easy has shown me more…
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Goals for the New School Year 2020-2021
New School Year We run a little one-room schoolhouse. My students are learning how to be life-long learners and we study year-round. Right now, we are transitioning from one year to another in some subjects, other subjects will need a bit longer to complete. Unlike a traditional school, when the school year ends your time ends, we can use as much time as we want and continue or cease the study when we are ready. We have a baby in the house who is focused on teething and learning to walk as he has mastered the craw. An excellent snuggle buddy and distraction for all. Viking Dragon (9 months) This…
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How to Teach Writing at Home (IEW®) {Review}
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. As a student, I do not consider myself to be a very capable writer. As a teacher, the concept of teaching writing to my students is very overwhelming. I want them to be better than I am and I want them to have confidence in the process of writing instead of fear. More times than I can even possibly commit to counting I have had the recommendation of…
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The American Revolution (Time Travelers – Home School in the Woods) {Review}
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. Today was one of those relaxing mornings. Blissful to the point of this is what I imagined for our homeschooling experience. These are the days that I look forward to and that of which I am in effect trying to convert most of our time. We are once again, gratefully and eagerly using the family-friendly Home School in the Woods materials to augment our homeschool plan. Right now we are studying American History,…
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Critical Thinking, Bible study, Reading Literature Curriculum (Progeny Press) {Review}
After a few years of homeschooling in a Classical Christian Education with a flare of Charlotte Mason sorta way one can get pretty comfortable with returning to specific curriculum providers again and again with confidence. One such publisher that my family really consistently enjoys is Progeny Press.