Fluffiest Pancakes

by Sisterlisa

These pancakes were made by accident, or divine revelation, however you'd like to look at it, it is a scrumptious recipe! Heat oven to 300 degrees and place a cookie sheet in the oven til hot. Then shut off the oven. You will place the pancakes in there to keep them warm.

In a large bowl mix together:
-1 3/4 C. Flour
-1 Tbsp baking powder
-1/4 tsp salt
Mix well
Set aside

In a small bowl mix together:
-2 egg yolks (Set aside whites for next step)
-1 3/4 C. whole milk
-1/2 C. oil
-2 Tbsp. Sugar Free Torani Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee syrup
Mix well with hand mixer and add to the dry ingedients in the large bowl. Mix well.

Rinse off beaters and dry

In another small bowl, mix the
-2 egg whites til stiff peaks form. Gradually add
-2 tsp. sugar and keep mixing til stiff peaks are fluffy.

Gently fold whites into the batter mixture. Do not beat in the whites, you want your batter to remain fluffy.

In a heated skillet, add spoonful of batter, but do not flatten or spread the batter out. The amount depends on the size you want your pancakes to be.

Cook til you see bubbles forming then flip til golden brown. Place them in pan in a heated oven to keep warm.

Be sure to use real Maple syrup (heated) for your pancakes and I recommend Challenge European Style Butter, slightly warmed so you can spread it well.


Tips:
Do not leave real butter at room temperature for long or it will turn sour.
Do not refrigerate your syrup. Over time the temperature causes your syrup to crystallize.
When measuring flour, spoon it into the measuring cup to avoid over packing flour.

Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.

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ReConnecting

Hello Ladies!

We just wanted to take some time this week to reconnect with all of you. So here's a fun way to get to know each other better, tell us about you!

How did you find GGM?

What are your top 3 favorite hobbies?

What are you reading lately?

Favorite subject to study?

What's your favorite candy?

Fruit smoothie or cappuccino?

If you could have anything for breakfast what would it be?

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Rainy day, sunny afternoon, or snow?

Favorite board game?

Topic you most enjoy reading about on a blog?

Just reply in the comment box below.


Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.

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Here I am to Worship

This song is called 'Here I am to Worship' by Michael W. Smith. This song really is just a very sweet song to sing to God. Thank you Lord for that. I really like it.

Oh, Lord. Here I am to Worship!!! Please add your praise and worship link to the McKlinky below the video.

"Lord Jesus, may my worship bring joy to your heart. I look forward to seeing you with my own eyes one day. I worship you and feed upon your spirit with mine. I embrace you and praise you for your life that was given for me. Father I adore you!"

Lady Jess is a teen lady who is homeschooled along with her siblings. She assists her mother in teaching her younger siblings, is an interpreter for deaf ministry, sings in a local choir, and is in training to be a homeschooling parent herself one day.

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What Happened to the Friendship?

I don't know about you, but when dear friends live far away it's hard to keep up sometimes. Have you ever had a friend move away and you could feel the emptiness before they even start packing? Has distance caused time to pass quickly and the next thing you know it's been MONTHS since you've spoken? I wonder if they think I don't care about them anymore? Maybe they don't care about me anymore.

Perhaps we're just busy and life gets away from our grip sometimes. Not everyone can be the kind of friend that talks to you every single day. Some friends you may not be in contact with for several weeks and as soon as she calls it's as if time has never passed. Could it be that the last time you spoke, the words were misunderstood? How can we keep living a life full of unanswered questions? How can a friendship reblossom again after so much time has passed?

You'll never know until you try to contact them again.

I met a girl when I was in the second grade. I grew up in public school with her all my life. We've had our fair share of ups and downs, but after all these years we are still friends! We live nine hours away from each other, but we connected through a social network site and still make late night phone calls to one another every now and then. Life gets busy and the next thing you know, her baby is six years old and can have a pretty good conversation over the phone. Wow I missed a few birthdays didn't I? (I'm really bad about that.)

I made another friend in the sixth grade and she moved away, never to be seen or heard from again. I have other friends that I haven't seen or heard from in several months. Were we ever really friends to begin with? Why doesn't she return my phone calls anymore? She didn't call me or even email me on my birthday. (Probably because I forgot hers first.)

There is something I have realized over the years and that is that we can't live life second guessing ourselves. Friendships come and go. Sometimes friendships can be so sweet and tight knit, and other times they seem to slip away from us. Instead of focusing on what you don't have right now, let's try to look on the positive.

Did you enjoy your times together? Did you have some really good laughs with one another? Did she encourage you when no one else would? Do you have any past notes or emails that really touched your heart? Think on these things.

Sometimes friendships are for a season in our life and for a divine purpose. Sometimes that purpose is fulfilled and it's time for someone else to have that friend. Maybe it's time for you to focus on being another person's friend for now. We all have different gifts and if we let Him, God will use our gifts to encourage one another for a season. It's a rare treasure to keep one friend for a lifetime. So for those friendships we enjoyed for a season, don't fret and grieve over the friendship moving on. She may have been an gift in your life for a time and now it's time for her to be an gift in someone else's life.

Maybe the parting wasn't good. Misunderstandings can really hurt. Words can kill. Were your last words unkind? Cover that friends heart with prayer and let our Lord help with that.

I've had many friends come and go, but thank you Lord for the sweet times you gave to those friendships. May the Lord use them all to help touch another person's heart as much as they touched mine. Even if you don't hear back from a friend, it's still a kind gesture to drop a line every now and then. Here are some tips to help rekindle a friendship that has been preoccupied.

1. Send an E-card. These are so simple to do.

2. Send a postcard.

3. Send a text message.

4. Find her on Twitter or Facebook and reconnect.

5. Take her some homemade cookies. Be prepared to leave a note if she's not home.

6. Pray for her.

7. Call your local inspirational radio station and dedicate a song to her.

8. Throw a blog party for her.

9. If you can afford it, send flowers.

10. Get her a coffee shop gift card.

What other ways have you reconnected with an old friend?



Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.

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September 2009

You may have noticed a new layout design and yet it's just the beginning of what we have in store for you here at GGM. This month we have some back to homeschool articles and a celebration of apples! We have more recipes in this issue than we've ever had in any previous issue. Last month I introduced you to two new authors here and now you'll get to see what they have to share with you and we also have a guest contributor this month.

Many homeschool girls have already gotten started in their studies this month and you can look forward to more educational articles in the upcoming months. If you have some thing specific in your lesson plans for this semester that you'd like to see incorporated into an upcoming issue, let us know! You can contact me at ggmeditor {at} gmail dot com to contribute to an educational article.

We hope you enjoy this month's issue!
Editor-in-Chief
Growing in Grace Magazine

View the entire magazine in one post here.

Special Announcements:

Contributors: Have you ever thought about contributing to Growing in Grace Magazine? Do you have a gift for writing and a desire to please the Saviour in what you write? Come read this very special announcement about how YOU might be a part of our team.

Donations: If you're a business who'd link to partner with GGM and donate something for a giveaway, please contact our ad department at ggmads@gmail.com.

Reviews: If you are a vendor and would like to have you product review, please read here.

Homeschool Conferences: Do you have a homeschool conference you'd like to promote?





Featured Articles:
How do you judge? by Sisterlisa
Homeschooling Down Under by Miss Jessica
Miss Jenna: A Feminine Farm Girl Interview by Lady Jess
How the Cameras Works: Aperture by Miss Jessica C.
SpellQuizzer review by Sisterlisa

Sisterlisa wrote an Ebook for parents who are looking to get a blog started for them. If you have a young lady who wants get started writing on a blog, there is valuable information you'll need to know before you get started. In 'Prelude to a Blog' you'll find out about choosing a blog platform, choosing a name and URL, to cyber bullies and parental authority online. Come by and get your copy today. If you're(moms) interested in reviewing 'Prelude to a Blog' and hosting a giveaway, contact Sisterlisa at contact {at} thehomespunlife.com

Educational Articles:
Apple by Lady Jess
National Rice Month by Miss Alyssa
Treaty of Paris by Miss Shannon
Deep Texas Roots by Miss Melody

Homemaking:

Organizing Your Homeschool Area by Lady Jess
Apple Varieties by Miss Jessica C.

Recipes:
Autumn Apple Salad by Jessica C.

Festive Tossed Salad by Miss Jessica C.

Apple Crisp by Miss Alyssa

Blue Ribbon Apple Pie by Miss Jessica C.

Apple Cake by Miss Jessica C.

Caramel Apple Dip by Miss Jessica C.

More Apples Recipes by Miss Jessica C.

Creative Lunch Ideas by Miss Shannon

Graphics coordinated by designer G's
Some photos from iStockphoto and sxc.hu Stock Exchange

Special Thanks to:
SpellQuizzer.com

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Deep Texas Roots in Wide Open Spaces!

by Miss Melody

Texas is my native state, and I love it: rolling hills, flat plains, open prairies and tropical coasts are home to me!

Howdy, y’all! I’m Melody G., and I was barn and raised rat cheer in Texas.

Now I’m sure you’re thinking that every day when I get up, I tie chaps over my blue jeans, put on my fringe vest and pull on my cowboy boots, and head out to the stalls for a mornin’ ride… but the truth is, though I do know some cowboys like this, they’re in Oklahoma, and that’s a different article. J I do love to ride the horse next door whenever I get the chance, but I ain’t never owned one—not yet, anyhow!

Let me paint you a picture of the real Texas that I know and love…

In my lifetime I have seen tumble weeds, cactus, roadrunners, coyotes, poisonous snakes, bobcats, foxes, horses, ranches, and a bunch of cowboys. Our family lives on a small farm, even if it isn’t exactly a real ranch. Our town population is about 1,000; our neighbors are about 500 yards away from us, if that tells you anything. Even though Texas is known as a place of wide open spaces, my father moved our family further out into the country when our old neighborhood was getting a little too crowded.

The weather here is described in one word—unpredictable. You never know what to expect from day to day! One day I’d be wearing a bathing suit and the next, a coat. For example, last year about August, it was in the 90°. I went out to the barn to tend to our goats when a cold front blew in. A 60° wind came blowing in around the barn doors in a matter of minutes! Personally, I am fond of unpredictable weather. The spontaneity and element of surprise is so thrilling when watching a big storm cloud roll in on a blazin’ hot day when you’d do anything to go swimming. God’s wonderful provision has literally ‘showered’ on us when out of no where the rain comes to water our thirsty vegetable garden!

Our family has been in Texas for quite a while. My great-grandfather, Walter Jay G., was born in San Antonio in 1894; he married Mary Bessie Stowe, who was also born in Texas in 1899. She is a distant cousin of the famous author Harriet Beecher Stowe.

John J. G., my grandfather, was born in San Antonio, where he and my Nana (who was from Iowa) met and married in 1952. There she gave birth to my father, John J. Jr., the following year. When Daddy was 6 months old, the family moved to Dallas, TX where my uncle and aunt were born in the next few years.

My mama was born in California, but her family moved here when she was very young. She too was raised in the suburbs, but when she and Daddy married in ’86, they both had a yearning for the country. Living in a “country” suburb eight children later, they thought about having more land. So, nearly five years ago, we really moved to the country—the part of Texas that is truly beautiful! We love the life we live now—a few goats, some chickens, a couple of rabbits, two dogs and plenty of cats! And all the adventures that go along with a chicken snake in the eggs, a cottonmouth underneath the pumpkin patch or the chicken-eatin’ bobcat that my brother shot with his new .22 Rifle! J

We Texans are proud of our state—which is practically still a nation in itself—a republic! We are down-to-earth, friendly and believe in parents’ God-given right to teach their children at home (that’s why Texas is the freest homeschoolin’ state in the UnionJ).

I hope y’all will come for a visit to our Lone Star State sometime! When you do, come look us up. You could feed some goats, go fishin’ in the crik, or hunt some bobcat with a .22 (if John will let you!).

Melody G. (19) lives in wide-open Texas with her family of nine and enjoys reading, writing, being with family, helping build the home addition, and playing in the family bluegrass band. She wishes to glorify the Lord through her writing. Feel free to contact her with constructive critique at melody@thefullquiver.com. She writes at Literary Maidens Publishing (girls’ novels): www.literarymaidens.webs.com

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SpellQuizzer Giveaway

We were contacted about a month ago by Mr. Dan Hite, owner of SpellQuizzer.com, a great new educational way for kids to learn through a spelling program that helps children master their spelling and vocabulary. SpellQuizzer is spelling software for students that need help learning their spelling and vocabulary words. There are pre-made spelling lists you can download and use from the SpellQuizzer website. Even the most misspelled words!

Miss Virginia and I enjoy SpellQuizzer and what it has to offer homeschool kids. It has a voice that speaks to them so they hear the words being recited to them and they get the opportunity to type in the spelling of the spoken word. You can also create sentences for them to read that gives clues to what the word is. I feel this is a great program that also helps them learn some typing skills too. They even have a page just for homeschoolers.

It does take a little bit of time to program in your chosen spelling words, but it's worth it. Once you take the time to train your child how to use the program, which is quite easy, then they can get on the computer for some fun learning.

SpellQuizzer is not like any other online educational program. SpellQuizzer is downloaded to your computer for you to keep!

Mr. Hite has graciously offered to give away a copy of this software to one blessed reader and here's what you can do to win this program:

-Blog about this giveaway on your blog.
-Send out a message on Twitter and include the link to this review. Hashtag #GGMgiveaway
(limit once a day, but feel free to tweet every day for more chances to win)
-Post about it on Facebook, in a NOTE and tag all your homeschool connections.
-Leave a comment below with your links for verification.

As you can see there's a lot of chances to win, just keep telling others about it and you'll have a higher chance of winning.


Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.

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How the Camera Works: Aperture

by Miss Jessica C.

How the Camera Works: Aperture

Cameras are all about light, in fact, images are created by recording the amount of light that is allowed to hit the digital sensor of a camera. Understanding how light and your camera settings work are essential parts of learning proper photography skills. Essentially, the lens on your camera gathers the light reflected off your subject, merges it at the focus point, sends it through your aperture, inverts the image and then travels to your sensor on your camera, creating an exposed image.




Aperture is one of the three main controls that you use to control how much light hits the sensor. If you allow too much light in, your image will be overexposed (too bright) while if you don’t allow enough light, your image will be underexposed (too dark). The other two controls that are used to regulate your light are your shutter speed and the ISO (International Standards Organization). All three of these (Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO) work together to create an exposed image. The aperture works much like the iris of our eyes – a bigger aperture lets more light in, a smaller aperture lets less light in.




Aperture values (or the diameter of an aperture) are measured in f-stops starting at f/64 (the smallest opening, see illustration above) and ranging up to f/1.4. There are more f-stops out there in the world but f/1.4 to f/64 are the most common. We should also note here that there are other ways to write f-stop than just f/2.8, though that is the most common. Other ways include 1/2.8, f-2.8, and 1:2.8.

Each time you stop up, or open your aperture by an f-stop, you double the amount of light hitting your sensor. To compensate for this, your shutter speed will have to change – either faster if you opened your aperture, or slower to allow more light in if you closed your aperture. Here’s a list of the more common f-stops and the shutter speed needed to get an equivalent exposure of f/2.8 with shutter speed of 1/500.



One way I have heard the relationship between the shutter and aperture described is by likening it to filling a glass with water. “The exposure process is like filling a glass with water. The glass is the film (or digital chip) and the water is the light. To fill the glass (expose the film), the faucet is turned on partially or fully (the aperture)–the amount affects how long the tap needs to run before the glass is full (the shutter speed).” - John Hedgecoe in The New Manual of Photography In other words, the faster the shutter speed, the larger the opening of the lens needs to be and vice versa.

But that’s not all aperture does. The aperture is also related to what is called depth of field (or DOF). Simply put, depth of field is the area in which things will look focused in your image. Large apertures have a narrow depth of field and small apertures have a wider depth of field. Generally speaking, a large aperture is used when taking portraits and creative shots while smaller apertures are useful for landscapes.

You cans see this illustrated in the two images below.

In this picture I used an aperture of f/3.2 and you can see that her left eye is in focus while her right eye and both hands are not in focus. This photo has a very shallow depth of field.




This picture however, was taken with an aperture at f/7.1 and though not taken with a small aperture it was considerably smaller then the above picture thus resulting in nearly the entire picture in focus.




All digital cameras have modes that automatically control the aperture and shutter speed, but many allow you to manually change the aperture through a setting called AP or Aperture Priority mode. In AP mode you adjust the aperture and then both the shutter speed and ISO are automatically set to maintain proper exposure.

Learning how to use these features can drastically improve your skills and help you develop your own personal photography style.

I hope this little article has helped you understand not only how your camera works but also increased your awareness on how light affects everything we see! In the same way we need to become aware that we are reflecting His light in our lives. How much light can others see reflecting off you? Are they seeing His light or the cares of this world? We should be daily studying Christ’s word and desiring to be more like our Savior!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Have questions? We love hearing from you and encourage you to comment with questions for discussion!

Miss Jessica C. enjoys many activities, but the main things include sewing, harp, photography, reading and blogging. However, with all those personal “diversions” the Lord has been teaching her, she feels that they are insignificant when compared with his work and calling as a daughter and sister. You can read more about her at Seasons of a Heart.

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Miss Jenna- Feminine Farm Girl

My sister, Miss Monica June, has been following a blog for a while that is so much fun. She told us about this Feminine Farm Girl and I just had to get to know her. We are so blessed to be able to have Miss Jenna join us this month in an interview and be our Girl of Grace for September 2009.

Lady Jess: Hello Jenna, what inspired you to begin On Bent Knees?
Miss Jenna: Prayer is very important, and I wanted to encourage people to pray for each other... On Bent Knees can bring us together to lift each other up in prayer, and be able to see how God answers the petitions that we have laid before him!

Lady Jess: I understand that you live on a farm, what do you like about living there?
Miss Jenna: I love the space, large animals, gardening and learning self-sufficiency in a hands on setting:) I am so blessed to have the opportunity to live on a farm! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Lady Jess: Have you home schooled your whole life? How did your mom get started with that?
Miss Jenna: Yes, my parents started homeschooling my twin and I (we're the oldest) ever since we were born. Their vision grew from knowing other families that home-educated to understanding the call in Scriptures to train up their children. Home-educating isn't really about textbooks and desks, it is a way of life for our whole family as mom and dad teach us foundational beliefs, encourage the building of good relationships between all of the siblings and nurture Godly character.

Lady Jess: What do you think you enjoy most about home schooling?
Miss Jenna: The flexibility of going at a quicker pace if I understand something really well, and slowing down a little if I'm confused. You're building a foundation and it is important to understand every small step. I also enjoy getting my school work done so that I can practice some home economics...my favorite!!!

Lady Jess: What kind of animals do you have on your farm?
Miss Jenna: We have a horse, dairy cow, dairy goats, pigs, chickens, cats and one dog.

Lady Jess: I saw that you are involved in 4H, do you enjoy that?
Miss Jenna: I do enjoy 4H...there is so much opportunity to learn! My siblings and I do most of the research on our own for the areas of interest that we have. This is my 2nd year showing goats and hogs, and I have really had a lot of fun:) I would like to do a steer next year as well...


Lady Jess: Why would you recommend 4H to someone?
Miss Jenna: Joining a 4H group provides multiple opportunities to learn and grow! I have experienced so many different things, met so many people, and been forced to talk to/present business plans to complete strangers!


Lady Jess: What curriculum do you use in your home schooling?
Miss Jenna: We use a Charlotte Mason approach, so that includes a variety of choices...literature, some text (ie math), and lots of hands on.


Lady Jess: What is your favorite past time in your home schooling?
Miss Jenna: Being able to spend time in home economics!!! I love baking, cooking, sewing, gardening, and working with my goats and other animals. In the near future, I would like to learn more about herbs and natural health!
Lady Jess: I know that, for some people who attend a 'school', it is sometimes difficult to plan quality time with your family. Especially the father. Because you home school, how is that different with your dad?
Miss Jenna: Honestly, it's not that different. He's in an industry that requires long and difficult hours which is only made worse in this economy. Unfortunately, I don't get to see my daddy as much as he or I would like.

Lady Jess: Tell us something you enjoy doing with your mom.
Miss Jenna: Having conversations in the kitchen are probably my favorite...Mom is my best friend:)

Lady Jess: Do you play any instruments?If you play instruments, what kind?
Miss Jenna: Yes, I do Piano and Violin.

Lady Jess: Do you enjoy playing that/those specific instruments?
Miss Jenna: I do enjoy playing the piano and violin, though the violin has been put on hold while I focus on piano.

Lady Jess: How long have you been playing that/those?
Miss Jenna: I've been taking piano lessons and playing for 7 years, though I've had breaks here and there...for violin, close to two years.

Lady Jess: Is there a specific instrument that you like the most?
Miss Jenna: Piano, Violin and Cello

Lady Jess: Is there a specific instrument that you would like to learn how to play?
Miss Jenna: After Piano and Violin are well learned, I would enjoy learning the Cello~

Lady Jess: Do you enjoy music?
Miss Jenna: I do! Music is a wonderful way that we can praise the Lord!

Lady Jess: If you can write it in one sentence, how would you describe your relationship with Jesus Christ?
Miss Jenna: Getting stronger and growing everyday, as I seek to know and serve HIM.

Lady Jess: What is something that God has taught you recently?
Miss Jenna: To Trust in HIM, whatever befalls! Something that I struggle with, but the Lord has helped me.

Lady Jess: How did you hear of Growing in Grace Magazine?
Miss Jenna: I've seen your link on several blogs:)


Thank you for allowing me to interview you, it has been a pleasure. I am so glad that we have gotten to know you a little. You can get to know Miss Jenna a whole lot better over at her blog Feminine Farmgirl.

Lady Jess is a teen lady who is homeschooled along with her siblings. She assists her mother in teaching her younger siblings, is an interpreter for deaf ministry, sings in a local choir, and is in training to be a homeschooling parent herself one day.

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Homeschooling Down Under

by Miss Jessica

I’m a little different than most of the GGM writers – I’m Australian. I was born and raised in the north of Western Australia, where it is hot, remote and with unique scenery. Yet there is one thing in common I have with most of the writers at GGM – I homeschool! Always have, and, Lord-willing, always will.

I’ve collated a couple of questions I thought I might get asked if I were to mention homeschooling Down Under. What questions would you ask me?

Is homeschooling legal in Australia? Yes, it is. Although registration requirements differ in different states, the government supports parental choice, including the choice to provide registered home schooling to children. (Homeschooling Association of Australia).

For example, in all eight states and territories except Victoria, the parents need to submit a written application to the Board of Education, who will give, upon approval, a homeschooling licence for varying amounts of time. Occasionally we have a member from the Education Department come to our town and ‘check in on us’, to make sure that we are doing OK and receiving a full education. There is no such requirement on families in Victoria.
Is homeschooling in Australia any different than in America? Over the years, through media, books and online, I’ve noticed a few differences, but the principle – which is teaching your children at home – doesn’t change.

• In Australia, we don’t have a three month break, but rather, two weeks every ten weeks, and six weeks over Christmas and January. This school practice is often held by homeschoolers as well.
• The concept of homeschooling was accepted a lot earlier in America than in Australia. Only thirty years ago Australians would freak out at the thought of homeschooling their kids, while homeschooling was ‘happening’ at the same time in the USA. Now many people homeschool in Australia and it is easily accepted.

How many people homeschool exactly? Although a strict record is not really kept, roughly 15,000 kids homeschool in Australia.

What resources are available in Australia? Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot of homeschool resources produced by Australians in Australia, so we use either our own ideas or American curriculum and books, which can be brought in Australia or overseas. This is changing as mums start to publish what they have taught their children.

How do you ‘do’ homeschool in Australia? As in America, there are different styles for homeschooling – Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, Discipleship or traditional. One way of education outside of regular school system that is unique to Australia is a long distance-education program, called School of the Air, which is performed via radio and textbooks and usually an option for families on remote Cattle Stations. Nowadays, parents take on homeschooling themselves, regardless of whether they live in the outback or not.
Did you choose to homeschool because the school system is bad in Australia? Our family doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with the school system in Australia itself. Nearly eleven years back, Mum and Dad decided that they wanted to be the main influence in our kids’ lives, not school teachers. Although we have loved every minute of it, for us, it doesn’t mean that we frown upon anyone who chooses to send their child to school. Though this was our reason for homeschooling, there would be many reasons why families choose to homeschool in Australia.
Do you have to take exams and tests? No, you move on at your pace and level, without the pressure of preparing for a test.

Can homeschool students get into University (College)? There are many options for entry into University in Australia. One way that our family is looking into is a Uni course via external education rather than to actually go to Uni. Open University offers entrance to university without exams and tests that ‘standardize’ you, as my brother calls it.

So there you have it! We can homeschool in Australia!

Miss Jessica is a 14year old homeschool girl who lives in Australia. She loves the Lord and enjoys music, reading, history, computers and sewing. Jessica has a warped sense of humour and is always ready for a giggle. She helps her mum around the home and participates in the local church music team. You can find out more about Jess at her blog Little Miss Giggle.

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The Treaty of Paris

by Miss Shannon

The date was September 3, 1783. Nine years of the brutal fighting and conflict of the Revolutionary War had gone by, and every side of this dispute, America, Great Britain, France, and Spain, wanted change, restoration, and resolution. In response to these desires, dignitaries from America and Great Britain were meeting together in France to sign a treaty that would officially give America the very thing that they had been sacrificing everything to have: the recognition of being a free, independent nation. This monumental treaty was called The Treaty of Paris.

Opening with “In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity…” this document spelled out the guidelines that would restore peace between the nations. The very first paragraph says one of the most important things for Americans when it says: “It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent Prince George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, arch-treasurer and prince elector of the Holy Roman Empire ect., and of the United States of America, to forget all misunderstandings and differences…and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse…” In short, that the countries involved in the war would put the conflict behind them, and work to establish a good relationship between them.

The document goes on to talk about ten different articles that were to be followed, sort of like an order of conduct between the nations. The first article talks about how “His Brittanic Majesty,” the king of the British Empire, acknowledges that the thirteen colonies were “free sovereign and independent states…” The second and third article talks about boarder issues and fishing rights; furthermore, the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh articles go on to address the payment of goods gained during the war, the restoration of confiscated possessions, and the prosecution of those who confiscated possessions during the war.

The next article, article eight, is particularly interesting. While it is the shortest article, it has so much to do with how our nation became such a large and powerful one in the world. It states: “The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States.” Because of this river being made an open place for both nations, America was able to explore beyond what was once know as the “Old West:” the Appalachian mountain range to the Mississippi River. This exploration led to things like the Louisiana Purchase, settlement in the west, the transcontinental railroad, and the gold rush.

The second to last article, article nine, addresses what America or Great Britain should do if they were to conquer any land that belonged to either of them before this document reached America. It states that “it is agreed that the same”…the land conquered…”shall be restored without difficulty and without requiring any compensation.” Finally, the last article, article ten, says that the treaty shall be exchanged between the two countries within the next six months. Also, it says that the men who were present, D. Hartley, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, were in agreement on these points when it says: “In witness whereof we the undersigned…signed with our hands the present definitive treaty and caused the seals of our arms to be affixed thereto."
Since the signing of this document, the United Sates of America has become a country that not many thought it would become. That is, not many besides these men, and the men like them who fought for our freedom, succeeded, and then spent the rest of their lives working for their new country. They did all of this because of a firm belief that America needed to be an independent nation, under the authority of God. Like them, people should have the courage to stand up for what we know to be truth, the Word of God, even in the face of those who disagree and who say that what we pray for will not happen. If we do, the Lord will accomplish things that no one dreamed could happen. Just like how thirteen little colonies stood up against an Empire for what they believed the Lord was telling them, and won.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and cast into the sea, it shall be done.”
~Matthew 21:21

Miss Shannon is a home school junior who loves the Lord Jesus Christ, and is striving to follow Him more and more. She blogs at Below the Plateau.

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Organizing Your Homeschool Area

by Lady Jess

"A place for everything and everything in it's place."

I love organizing and getting things into their places, sometimes it's hard when you live in small space, but there are a lot of ways you can be organized when you're limited to a small area. Here are some tips I have used in my little room.

Utensils:

You can use a pencil box or a pencil can. But, be sure that whatever you are using will prevent your utensils from rolling away. You can color coordinate and pre-sharpen all of your pencils and color pencils for an added ease. You can also purchase pens in multiple different color inks and fun designs.

Notepads and sticky notes:

You can purchase different notepads for different subjects and color coordinate your utensils to match each pad. Keep them in bins or folder organizers. Sticky notes are also a good way to jot down reminders, just make sure you don't lose them.

Paperclips:

Paperclips are a great tool to use to save your place in a book. Or to keep your sticky notes together. :)

Ribbons:

Ribbons are another great way to store your pens if the pens have that little clip attached to it. Find a cute ribbon. Cut to the needed length and tack each end to a cork board, then hang your pens across it.

Necessities for Your Schoolwork:

It might be staplers, a hole puncher, tape dispenser or a pencil sharpener. If there is no room on your desktop for these things, you can place them in a drawer until you need them or you can purchase a small shelf specifically for that purpose.

Folders:

If your desk is on the small side, like mine, and there is no room for big bulky folders, you can place the folders on a separate shelf or in a drawer.

Other organizational tips:

If you are the kind of person who likes lots of space in your work area, you can put everything in bins, drawers, or another separate shelf.

You can also decorate your desk to suit your personality. You can tack up inspirational quotes, pictures of your friends, or some random doodles.

Simple














or


Funky















Lady Jess is a teen lady who is homeschooled along with her siblings. She assists her mother in teaching her younger siblings, is an interpreter for deaf ministry, sings in a local choir, and is in training to be a homeschooling parent herself one day.

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National Rice Month

by Miss Alyssa

Rice has always been a staple in our house. Growing up, I have always eaten rice. It was not until I was older that I found out this fact: Not all families in America eat rice! Mom explained that some families eat potatoes or pasta or bread instead. We also eat those, just not regularly like rice.

There are many different types of rice. In fact, there are about 40,000 varieties of rice in the world. Rice is either short grained, medium grained, or long grained. There is rough rice, brown rice, white rice, parboiled rice, and precooked (or instant) rice. Some unique types of rice made in the U.S. include: sweet rice, black japonica rice, arborio rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, aromatic red rice, and della, delrose, and delmont rice. We normally eat white Jasmine rice and occasionally eat brown rice.

Rice is nutritious. It is a major source of carbohydrates which give us energy. It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, thiamine, niacin, iron, riboflavin, calcium, and fiber. You can do a lot of different things with rice. It can be made into fried rice, sushi, rice pudding, flour, noodles, rice cakes, etc. Serve warm rice with a protein dish (meat, fish, beans, eggs, or tofu) plus vegetables and you are set for a healthy, inexpensive meal. It is great served with stir-fries or curries as well. The possibilities are unlimited.

Here are some interesting facts:

-Rice is the primary dietary staple for more than 50% of the people in the world.

-More than 90 percent of the world's rice is grown and eaten in Asia, where rice is often eaten two to three times every day.

-Asia is home to 250 million rice farms; most of them are quite small.

-In several Asian cultures, the word for cooked rice is the same as the word for meal.

-Rather than saying "How are you?" or "Have you had dinner?", a Chinese person or a Thai person often greets each other, "Have you had rice yet?"

-Almost eighty-five percent of the rice eaten in the U.S. is grown here.

-Americans eat around 24 pounds of rice per year.

-Rice has a low amount of sugar, sodium, and fat. It also contains no gluten, cholesterol, or additives and preservatives.

-Millions and millions of poor people spend half to three fourths of their incomes on rice.

Free rice is a free educational website where you can actually help feed people! For every answer you get right, they donate ten grains of rice to help end world hunger. They have different subjects you can choose from such as art, chemistry, English, geography, languages, and math. Here is the link: http://www.freerice.com/

Miss Alyssa, a 15 year old homeschooler, is interested in writing and film-making for the glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdom. She is passionate about reaching the unreached with the Gospel. She blogs at One Nation Under GOD.

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