Happy New Year!!

As another year comes to an end I start to think about this past year and the upcoming year.   2010 was not a bad year for us.  There were a lot of ups and downs.  But the most important thing is our growth as Christians!!  My husband is almost finished with his BA in Christian Studies with a minor in Christian Ministry.   We signed the legal papers along with 5 other people to start our church in our town.  Charity Bible Church....we are beyond excited about the work the Lord is doing with us and through us.  We have met amazing people through this journey!!  All in all I have to say 2010 was a very good year.  Full of blessings from the Lord.  He provided ALL our needs.  Financially we struggled all year....just can never seem to get ahead.  BUT we are blessed and thankful for my husband's employment.  As many are out of work.  We struggled as a family over our 16 year old's diagnosis...BUT with the Lord guiding us we are slowly walking down that path knowing He is in control.

Looking forward to 2011....

this coming year is going to be a good one!!  I just know it!!  I'm excited to read through the Bible at a slower pace this year.  I learned so much doing it in 4 months.  I can only imagine what I'll learn going slower.

January 17 I will begin my studies at Liberty University.  I'm working toward my Bachelor's degree in Religion with a minor in Biblical Counseling.  I'm counting the days!!

My husband will graduate from Grand Canyon University with a BA in Christian Studies in May.  In June he will begin seminary at Liberty University.

Our church (Charity Bible Church) will hold it's first service in mid January.  

I'm participating in The Made to Crave online Bible study starting in January.  I am so excited about this.  If you have not heard of the book "Made to Crave", written by Lysa TerKeurst, you really need to read this book.  Come back soon as I'll be doing a review of it.  It's about craving God and not food!!  Something I desperately need.  

That leads me to another goal I'd like to complete this year.  Loose weight...I think I've had this on my list every year since I was a teenager.  My weight has always been a struggle for me.  But this year I'm not going to stress so much over the number on a scale, but about being healthy.  Eating better, exercising ect.   I have not talked much about my weight here.  But it is something I struggle with every day.  In March I joined a weight loss group...Take Off Pounds Sensibly.  I did very well and lost 40 pounds in 4 months.  But as fall approached I stopped going, life got busy ect ect.  I'm planning on going back and getting back at it.

In December of 2011 we are taking our very first family vacation!!  We are taking a train ride to Orlando FL.  I have a friend who lives there.  I have not seen her in YEARS and am looking forward to seeing her.  We decided to take a train because we want to spend sometime in New York City as well.  We will have a 3-4 hour layover there.  Then on the way back we will probably spend a couple of days there.   Also, the train will be a great experience for us...we are looking forward to it.  Our daughter Hannah is convinced it will be like Polar Express...except we are heading south.  LOL!

SO what plans do you have for 2011??

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Weather in my neck of the woods...

16 degrees and snow

Things that make me happy...

seeing the joy on our children's faces on CHRISTmas morning.

Book I'm reading...

God is Good by Randy Alcorn (review)

What's on my TV...

Nothing!!  We have been keeping the TV off lately.  It's great!!

On the menu...

Turkey and rice with mixed veggies (lunch)

leftovers for supper

On my To Do list...

clean the house and take down the CHRISTmas decorations.  I'm so ready to have the house back.

New recipe I tried or want to try soon...

Cheesy Bacon and Egg Casserole

Our neighbors have been blessing us with a ton of eggs.  So I've been making many dishes with eggs.  YUM!!

  

In the craft basket...

crocheting...nothing better than snuggling on the couch with this.  I'm not really good at it yet.  I need to practice more and more.

I'd like to learn knitting this winter as well.  My grandmother taught me when I was a kid so I just need to pick up the needles and practice.

Looking forward to this week...

New Year's Eve celebration with hubby and kids

Extended CHRISTmas party Saturday

Going nowhere until Saturday!!

Tips and Tricks...

When CHRISTmas comes around don't fill you calendar up too much.  Start saying NO to things.  We did that this year and had an amazing STRESS free CHRISTmas!!

My favorite blog post...

Did not get to many blogs this week.

Blog hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share)...

Addicted to Homes~~she has a ton of great ways to "spruce" up your home for little or no cost.

No words needed (favorite photo, picture, yours or others you want to share)...

Lesson learned the past few days...

When God give you growing pains, just hold on and know that He is with you each step of the way.

On my mind...

family

finances

homeschool

college for hubby and I

Devotionals, Scripture reading, key verses...

 Hebrews 3:7-11

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
      “ Today, if you will hear His voice,
       ⁸ Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
      In the day of trial in the wilderness,
       ⁹ Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
      And saw My works forty years.
       ¹⁰ Therefore I was angry with that generation,
      And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
      And they have not known My ways.’
       ¹¹ So I swore in My wrath,
      ‘ They shall not enter My rest.’”

To see other Happy Homemaker Monday posts visit Diary of a SAHM.

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Another free digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

My daughter is bipolar now what.....

This is another one of those posts that I've wanted to do but have just sat here on many occasions and starred at the blinking cursor.  I never know where to start or how to address it.  Warning this is a very long post!!

Ever since my daughter was born I knew something was special about her.  I had many people telling me one thing after another of what was "wrong" with her.  Now remember I did not come to Christ until 2005.  My daughter was born in 1994.   The hardest part of being a parent is hearing from everyone around you "what is wrong with her?" "You should get her checked out." "Why does she do that?"  I know many of these people meant well and did it in a loving way.  But many people do not know what it is like....I mean really like living with someone who is bipolar.  I am not writing this to get sympathy...but to raise awareness of this disorder that is often suffered in silence.  Especially by the family.

Katrina is a very outgoing child.  She has been from birth...I often laugh and tell people she was born talking with the nurses.  From day one she did not like to sleep.  She wasn't fussy when a baby just wide awake at 1 or 2 in the morning.  Eventually it got a little better OR I just got use to it.

As she got older (3-5 year old) she became aggressive toward others.  She was in preschool and had started using foul language.  She would swear in class.  I heard from people...she is one spoiled child.  You need to discipline her more!!  They were not behind the closed doors of home.   Apple Cider vinegar worked for a little while....a trick I got from my cousin's wife who is from Alabama.   I had talked with her doctor about concerns I had about her.  But as a parent you never want to admit there is something "wrong" with your child.  Especially mental problems.

Fast forward to school.  We did not always homeschool.  Katrina went to public school kindergarten thru 6th grade.  When going through a divorce Katrina had to switch schools.  That made things worse with emotional stress on her.  I won't go into details about home life before the divorce but it was not calm by any means.  Many of the school officials told me Katrina was mentally retarded.  I had an uncle who was mentally retarded and I knew Katrina was not.  The school wanted me to sign papers admitting to this so they could "help" her.  NO way was I going to sign anything.   She began going to another school and they were not any better.  They told me Katrina would never learn unless she had medication.  I was still ignoring the signs of her disorder.  It wasn't until she was in 9th grade I actually pursued the "something is wrong with her" idea.

Life at home was not fun at all.  One minute Katrina would be happy and joking around.  The very next minute she was crying.  Then throwing things, hitting someone or something.  I had taken her to the doctor and mentioned this to her doctor.  She said it was her hormones and to give her some PMS pills.  Well the weeks before her cycle would start were even worse than anything we had experienced.  She would physically attack her siblings.  Throw items in the house.  Break things.   My husband is a God sent!!  He was single with no kids.  He came into this craziness without many complaints.  I'm very blessed that God gave him to us!!

I was up one night crying over a battle that had just occurred here.  She got so mad she started choking her sister.  I knew at this time it was not anything to take lightly.  She was going to end up in jail or a mental institution.  I saw on TV this packet you could request to see if someone had Bi-polar.  I got the packet and it suggested I keep a diary of her behavior.  We as a family had suffered in silence for too long.  I was afraid of my own daughter!  Many people told me she needed more discipline, she needed Christ, she needed this and that.  I agree she needed Christ and  has given her life to Him.  Praise the Lord.  BUT this is also a physical and REAL thing she is going through.  Not just something in her head.

We started going to a new doctor 6 months before I started keeping a journal.  I finally had enough to take to the doctor.  I LOVE her doctor.  She talks to us not above us like we are a number on her schedule.  I told her all about my concerns then she talked with Katrina.  It was on that day a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  I cried a river when that happened.  My daughter still struggles daily as do all of us.  She cries in her room asking God to make her normal.  That hurts me deeply.  As a mom I want to take ALL her hurt away.  People that do not have mental problems just do not understand what it is like.  Not being able to control certain aspects of your behavior. 

I struggle each day...I see so many families with kids who are great at this and that.  I know they don't mean it...but the people are always saying how smart my sibling's kids are.  Katrina is always quizzed on stuff.  As are the rest of my kids.  Maybe it's because we homeschool....I'm not sure what the reason for it is?  Immediately when she doesn't know the answer right away she hears..."What is wrong with you....?"  One thing this has taught me is God does not make mistakes!  Psalm 139:14 "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."  I spend a lot of my day in prayer.  That is the best medicine for me!!

Bipolar is a very real thing.  It's not something that is slapped on someone.  We struggle every day trying to keep order in our home.  I still have my days of tears, but I know now that God has me in His hands and will not let me fall.  Katrina knows He has her in his hands.  But she is also like other teenage girls out there with all the "drama".  She is learning how to control her out bursts and anger.  She does take a medicine now to help.  But she knows the best medicine is God!

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods...

Cold but a bit warmer!  High of 30!

Things that make me happy...

Knowing that God will supply ALL our needs.

Book I'm reading...

God is Good by Randy Alcorn

Taking out your emotional trash by Georgia Shaffer

Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer

What's on my TV...

Christmas shows.  I could watch these all year!

On the menu for dinner...

Pancakes and bacon for lunch

Sandwiches for supper

On my To Do list...

finish shopping~~I really dread shopping anytime of the year.  But especially now!!

New recipe I tried or want to try...

I recently joined Paperback Swap.  I got my first cookbook today...Asian Cooking.  So I want to make the Egg Rolls!!!

In my craft basket...

Nothing right now.  BUT after CHRISTmas I'm going to scrapbook again.  I really miss my scrapbooking day with my friend.  She moved away and I really never got back to scrapbooking.  I need to find another scrapbooker to get together with!!

Looking forward to this week...

CHRISTmas

CHRISTmas to be over.  We do not and have not had extra money this year.  We are lucky that our children are pleased with whatever they get.  We still have to buy for the nieces and nephews. 

Tips and Tricks...

Do not overload your schedules at CHRISTmas.  This is a time for reflection on what Christ came to do for us.  It's a glorious time...if we are stressed with so much to do we will not remember why we have CHRISTmas.

My favorite blog post this week...

Did not get to many blogs this week.

Blog hopping (new blog I discovered this week)...

Did not get to any new ones this week.

Favorite Photo (mine or another's)...

we went on our Yuletide Tour this past Saturday!  It was so much fun.  I'm very disappointed in how the pictures turned out.  We could not use flash photography, so I had to use the candle light setting.

Lesson learned the past few days...

Life is a journey...not a race.  So many times I get tired of waiting for God's timing and start to get impatient.

Devotionals, key verses, Scripture Reading...

Psalm 25:5

"Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
         For You are the God of my salvation;
         On You I wait all the day."

To see other Happy Homemaker Posts visit Diary of a SAHM.

Download N Go~~Creation Camouflage

It's time for the Download N Go review!  This week we did Creation Camouflage.  The first thing our "hunter in training" said....OH boy as he ran to get his camouflage on.  When I explained to him it was a study of how animals camouflage themselves he proceeded to tell me, "I bet you can't find me in the woods." 

 I must admit I did not find him...LOL!  OK onto the study.

Here is a little of what our week looked like:

Day 1: Hiding in Plain Sight
Day 2: Getting to Know the Rain Forest
Day 3: What Is in the Desert?
Day 4: Hiding in the Ocean
Day 5: Cool Things About the Tundra

Each day had an animal of the day.  The kids were thrilled to learn about the walking stick bug.  Since this summer we found one hitching a ride on our car.

These bugs really amaze me.  And to think God created it!  He created animals to be able to hide from predators.  It might be speed to get away, color, or markings on their bodies to keep them from danger.

We watched a polar bear cam from the San Diego Zoo that was very interesting.  We left it on most of the day to be able to see what the bears were doing.  They are a lot like children at times.

We learned about the polar regions...since we are in quite a deep freeze here in NY we could relate to what we learned.  All we had to do is step out our door and experience everything we learned.  AHHH how refreshing.

This was such a fun study.  Just not sure I enjoyed learning about the reptiles {{shiver}}.  That is why I love homeschooling so much and Download N Go....the whole family gets in on doing these unit studies.  They continue long after the schooling day is done.  We talked around the supper table about all we have learned.

To purchase this go HERE.  The study is only $7.95...where else can you get a weeks worth of curriculum at this price?  Everything is done for you...just add a few books from the library if you want.  Here is a sneak peak of some of the pages.

To see what some of the other reviewers have said go on over the the Download N Go review blog.

Are you ready for Jesus?

While reading an Advent devotional I came across something that really struck me.  Whenever I'm out and about shopping, at the bank or where ever I'm always being asked "Are you ready for Christmas?" Or until recently "Are you ready for the holidays?"  Then I got this devotional from Biblegateway.com.  I'm going to share the poem with you.

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high...
Then wearily sat for a moment AND READ
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father!  Forgive me, I see what You mean!
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree. 
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him.

What do you think it means to be "ready for Christmas?"

What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?

It is so easy to get caught up in the glitter and glamor of CHRISTmas that you loose focus on why we have it in the first place.  We give our children 3 gifts for CHRISTmas.  Each represent the gifts Christ got from the wisemen...Gold (usually the most expensive one), Frankincense and Myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)
We are also going to start the hunt for Baby Jesus this year.  We will hid the baby and the kids will search for him.  When they find it we will read the CHRISTmas story....before they open any gifts.  We will see how it goes.  We really want our children to focus on Christ before themselves.

Cooking Thursday~~Cocktail Meatballs

When I first had these meatballs I was anxious to get the recipe.  When i saw the list of ingredients I thought...hmmm interesting!!

1 bag frozen cooked meatballs

1 (12 oz) bottle chili sauce

1 1/4 cups grape jelly

Place all in the crockpot and cook on low about 6 hours.  Stir frequently. 

I'm telling you these are the BEST meatballs I've ever had.  Serve over rice for a complete meal.  You'll never look at grape jelly the same again!!

To read more CHRISTmas cooking Thursday recipes visit Diary of a SAHM.

Hospitality begins with contentment!

If you have been a reader of my blog for sometime now you know I do not share information freely with my readers.  You could say I do not wear my heart on my sleeve.  The Lord has been nudging me to write about these subjects for some time.  I have felt the need to have more hospitality for a long time now.  I desperately need that Christian fellowship.  Sadly we do not get it from people at church.  We have started fellow shipping with a few families with whom we are starting a church with.  That has been a big blessing. 

As for having people over to our house...I shy away from it for many reasons.  Our house is very small!  Almost every room has something that needs to be finished.  But in order to finish the rooms we need money...something we have none of.  We need to finish our roof, finish painting the house, new windows and doors...the list goes on and on.  In order to do all of these we need money!!  We are behind in our bills and have been for sometime now.  I'm not sure we will ever catch up.  I see the stress on my husband's face.  The worry and frustration that comes along with financial problems. I in no way shape or form blame him for our troubles.  It's not a fault of anything except circumstances.   We do not go out to eat, buy things on credit ect.

My parents offered for us to take over their mortgage and "rent" it until the Lord calls us somewhere to ministry.  They would like to downsize into something smaller.   I thought it was a gift from God and answer to prayer!!  Their home is completely remodeled, nothing needs to be done to it!  The kids would have a room of their own.  And as a person who had siblings I know having your own space is huge to a child.  My husband could have a study/office of his own!!  I could confidently and warmly welcome others into the house.  I'm not sure why my husband would not go for it.  Maybe it's the hold this house has on him because he grew up here and the house was left to him by his parents when they passed away.  But it is a material...worldly possession.   Shouldn't we be prepared to go when called?  God will not call us into ministry with all this debt...nor should we even be eligible to go (my belief).  I know the Lord works everything out...but should we be sitting on our hands waiting?

With all that said, I need to learn to be content with what I have right?!  A drafty, old home that needs a lot of work and no money to complete that work.  Don't get me wrong my husband is a wonderful man of God!  I have to live with his wishes because I'm his wife. (Colossians 3:18-19 "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.") I've been struggling with this for many years.  I don't have all the answers...but I know God does.  I need to continue praying that His will be done.  Please pray with me as I work through this issue prayerfully.

1 Timothy 6:6-7

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Product Review~~The Official Butter Bell

I have seen these around bloggy land for so long now.  I've always wanted to try them.  I really wasn't sure they would work very well.  I was sent one for myself to try out!!  CHRISTmas came early for this girl.  There were so many to choose from.  I decided to go with just the Retro Color & Matte Finish Butter Bell Crocks - Ivory Matte Finish

Put in one stick of butter into top part of the crock.

Pour 1/3 of a cup of cold water into the crock.

Put the top on and your done.  This gives you perfect spreadable butter.  There is nothing i hate more than to have a piece of bread break apart because of hard to spread butter.  This has definatly become part of our kitchen now.

There are SO many of these to choose from.  They also have other products not just Butter Bells.  Go on over and check out all they have to offer.  I'm thinking about getting one of the Tea Steepers!

**This product was sent to me by L.Tremain free of charge in exchange for my honest review.**

FIRST book tour~~60 Minute Money Workout

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (December 14, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307446034
ISBN-13: 978-0307446039

Visit the author's website.

***Special thanks to Cindy Brovsky and Staci Carmichael of Doubleday Religion/ Waterbrook Multnomah, Divisions of Random House, Inc., for sending me a review copy.***

I really like this book.  I plan on reading through it slower next time so we are able to go through all the activities.  This book will help us a great deal with our finances.  The activities are not difficult to do....which is what I really like about it.

This was sent to me as a part of FIRST book tours. 

TOS Review~~ALEKS

What is it:

Researched base online math program.

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces

uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course.  You can see a quick introduction video HERE.

How it works:

You sign up and create an account for your children.  You can also create a master account where you can monitor each child and the work they have done.  Your child or children can then sign in and take a tour.  They then have to take an assessment test (usually 20-30 questions). 

Then your child can then go to Learning Mode where they will begin learning new concepts.  Learning Mode offers practice problems and step by step learning of new concepts.  You can see in the picture below the pie chart...it is broken into different sections.  When you move the cursor over a part of the pie new assignments will show up.  Dark parts of the pie are mastered topics.

My Thoughts:

This program was mainly used by our 11 year old son.  He loves math and is very willing to try new things.  Our daughters have learning disabilities and do not do well with new things.  He really enjoyed being able to "learn math on his own."  He really enjoyed the games.

One thing I found difficult was the steps to creating an account.  I probably took the long way around and made more steps for myself.  But I was contacted by ALEKS customer service and they helped me!  That was a huge plus in my book.  Although we liked it we probably would not go with it because of the price.

Cost:

$19.95 per student per month OR

$99.95 every 6 months OR

$179.95 every 12 months

If you are buying for more than one child they do offer a family discount.

There is a one month free trial.

Overall we really liked this.  I just think we are more "old fashioned" type of homeschoolers.  We like books.  So if cost isn't an issue for you I really suggest you check this out.

Go HERE and see what my other crew members are saying.

 I’m an independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. I received a one month subscription to ALEKS for free in exchange for my honest review.

Homemade Peppermint Patties

I LOVE peppermint patties.  Although I do not like chocolate the mint flavor really covers up the chocolate.  When I was looking through some of my Taste of Home books I found this one.  It looked too complicated for me...well not complicated, but too much work.  I don't like to work for my food!!  Especially my treats.  So I changed it a little.  You can see the original HERE.

Peppermint Patties

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons softened butter

3 teaspoons peppermint extract (or less if you don't like a lot of mint)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup evaporated milk

2 cups chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shortening

In a large bowl combine sugar, butter, peppermint extract and vanilla mix well.  Add milk stir until combined.  Spread onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.  Place in the freezer until firm.

Melt half of the chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of shortening in the microwave.  I did 30 seconds and stirred.  I did this until the chips were all melted.  Spread over the mint layer and pop back in the freezer until firm.

Melt remaining chips and shortening the same as above.  Flip the chocolate and mint layers over.  Spread melted chocolate on mint layer.  Pop back in the freezer until firm.  Let set out at room temperature and cut into sizes you like.

Cooking Thursday~~Peppermint Bark

This recipe is one I've seen many times, but I often shy away from recipes that "sound" too complicated.  I mean come on it's candy...It HAS to be difficult to make.  This could not be any easier!!

Peppermint Bark

1 bag of white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon shortening (you don't have to use this but I find the chocolate melts better)

10 or more candy canes

Place white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds...stir.  Microwave for another 30 seconds...stir again.  Repeat until white chocolate is melted.

Crush candy canes (I think most of you know to unwrap them first right?!).  Leave some big pieces.  I then place the candy cane pieces in a metal strainer and shake the candy cane dust into melted white chocolate.

Line a cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) with wax paper.  Pour the white chocolate onto cookie sheet...I tap the sheet on the counter a few times to make it smooth on top.  Sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces on top of the white chocolate.

Place in the refrigerator until firm.  Break into chunks. 

To see more recipes go on over to Diary of a SAHM.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

We really do not decorate a lot around our house.  I believe it takes away from what CHRISTmas is really about.  Also, it's just more I have to put away. 

Decorating the tree.

This is Hannah's favorite time of the year.

Here is how Katrina helped us! LOL! She did help more than this, but would not let me take her picture.   I am such a proud mama with my teenager!  Last weekend she hit the streets sharing information about the church we are starting with a few other families.  She was not afraid or shy about telling people in our town.  Even after the very first person she talked to said NO.  She kept going.  I do not know of many teens who are willing to do this.

The only one tall enough to put the angel on the tree!

This is a crocheted CHRISTmas tree my Mom made me.  I love it.  I wish I could crochet like her.  I just need to do it more and I would be able to.

We had a cookie baking day at church yesterday.  7 of us got together and made cookies.  We use to do it at a woman's home but outgrew that quickly.  This is a little like a cookie exchange, but it's fun to get together and bake.

This is only half of what we ended up with.  We had 4 huge tables full of cookies.

My greatest accomplishment recently is my quest to read through the Bible!!  As you will remember a while ago I posted about the challenge that was given to me.  Read through the Bible in 4 months.  I'm so blessed I took this challenge.  You can read my post HERE. 

How are your CHRISTmas plans coming?

 

Book Review~~Baby Bible Christmas Story

***Special thanks to Karen Davis, Assistant Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***
When I saw this book come up for review I was very excited!!  Our children are beyond this stage, but we have many nieces and nephews that would enjoy this.

It was very well written, held right to scripture, but also put it in a form easy for children.  I often have problems with baby bible type of books.  They water down the facts.  Not that I think a baby book has to be full of theology, but I think you get my point.

This book would make a great gift for the favorite little one on your Christmas list.

To see what other bloggers are saying about this book go HERE.

TOS Review~~Master Rulers

I had many pictures to post but somehow they got deleted!  So all the pictures here are from the website.

What is it?

Master Innovations began with the simple goal to have each child in a classroom own a Master Ruler. The Master Ruler has been a great success, and very probably you have heard of it. After many years of Research & Development they now also bring us The Master Clock, The Master Fractions, The Master Angle and the Marvels of Measurement Poster.

As a TOS Homeschool Crew we received...The Master Ruler (one of each, metric and standard), Master Ruler Workbook and The Marvels of Measures chart.

What we thought:

When I first saw these rulers from Master Innovations,  I though....how confusing.  It looked like there was so much going on.  The more I looked through the materials the more I started to like them.  With rulers in hand our children went to work.  Since this is the season we have SO many lady bugs around they found one and made sure the chart we were sent was accurate!  Yes it was!

We have 2 daughters that have learning disabilities.  It takes them some time to learn new concepts.  These rulers worked very well for them!!  The rulers are like many rulers in one.  With each of the different layers they were able to see all of the connections.  They were even very aware that they had learned fractions at the same time!  It all connected for them....it was like a light bulb going off.  I LOVE when I see that.

Purchasing information:

Master Ruler Starter Set: $41.25

Includes: 1 Standard Master Ruler

1 Metric Master Ruler

1 Teacher's Master Ruler

1 Master Ruler Workbook (reproducible)

We really like using these and plan to continue with them.  To see what other homeschoolers had to say about them go HERE.