Looking Back | August

Looking Back. I thought it would be fun to show a recap of photos from August blog posts. 
Out with the Old and in with the New.  
Project Life Posts.  Wowza, did I do good this month or what?  *clears throat after patting self on back.  I plan to keep going strong with Project Life and finally get caught up.  This week.  *crosses fingers.
Happy Labor Day weekend! 
We are having a Staycation! 
Jeff has a four day weekend and we plan on getting much work finished around the house. 
Stay tuned for snapshots of me covered in sheetrock dust and paint.  
We are also ready to start school on Tuesday so more homeschool posts coming soon. 
This month has really been a big month for the ole' blog and for me.  
I look forward to meeting more bloggers and joining in some more fun linkups and blog hops.  
I have some fun posts in the works for September.  
Thanks for hanging out with me.
~Melanie

Homeschool | My Top 5 Reads for Mom

Almost always, I am at a loss of words when asked:  What do you recommend?  Those four little words coming from a Mom thinking about diving into homeschooling.  I'm embarking on our sixth year of homeschooling.  It took me some time to figure it all out. And I had and still have amazing mentors.  
First there is SO much to say that it is impossible to say it all.
Secondly there is NO way a new homeschool Mom would understand the ins and outs of homeschooling until they have actually experienced it.
Thirdly it's like riding a bike.  Noone can teach you or do it for you.  You are shown the basics and it's up to you to "Ride".

I will admit (it took me till the middle of my first year to figure this out).... the very very FIRST place a future homeschool Mom needs to start with is:  With You.  As the Mom.

Here are five books that I started with:
note: started with is in bold print.  there are many more.  trust me, your library of mom empowering books will grow like wild fire as your homeschool journey continues.



Sharing my Top 5 Favs of all time for Homeschool Moms.

1. A Mom After God's Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children (George, Elizabeth (Insp)) This book changed my thoughts about being a Mom.  If there was one book I could honestly say influenced my decision to homeschool,  it would be this one.  Hands Down!
Catch God's Heart for your children.  You want to raise children who are happy and successful, and who follow after God.  But how do you do that in this day of hectic schedules packed with friends, schoolwork, sports, video games, cell phones, and the Internet?  The first thing is to begin right now.  Today.  Share your love, your faith, and your values with your children.  With biblical wisdom and plenty of encouragement, Elizabeth George offers time-proven ideas and valuable suggestions to help you nurture children of all ages in the Lord.  You'll discover...
Easy to implement principles that make parenting enjoyable and effective.
Specific ways you can teach your children that God loves and cares for them.
Heart Response sections that help you apply the principles to your life
Little Choices you can put into practice immediately to make a big impact
Special parenting insights and strategies from a Christian Dad.
"God has put you in a unique situation where you have tremendous influence in the lives of others.  Be a mom after God's own heart! Help your children- no matter what their ages- experience God's love, God's blessings, and God's provisions.  -Elizabeth George
Wanna dig deeper, try the companion for a more indepth study. 
A Mom After God's Own Heart: Growth and Study Guide (Growth and Study Guides)

2.When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling  
This book is wrote with the bluntness of RC Sproul Jr.  He shoots his words straight.  In this book straight to a parents heart.  If your a Mom striving to raise your children with the grace that comes from Jesus.  This is a must read.
Who should teach our children?
What should they be taught?
What is the goal of Education?
RC Sproul Jr. provides this unique approach to homeschooling, answering these and other questions.  He maintains that education is discipleship, the goal is seeing your children bear fruit, grow in grace, and become more and more like Christ.

A 90-day guide to living the Proverbs 31 life.  A must read.  Homeschool Mom,  Mom or Woman this is a 90 day journey to take.  I got my hands on this book a little over four years ago.  She makes you ponder things you have never pondered before.  I loved this journey and stuck with the steps she guides you through to this day.  
Wanna know the secret on how to be a modern Proverbs 31 woman?  Donna gives you inspiration and practical direction to move you toward that goal with purpose and passion.  During this 90-day journey, you will walk the path toward better living in specific areas of life, including faith, spirituality, family relationships, health, business, home management, ministry and more.  The practical action steps will help you grow in character today- even as you set attainable goals for the future.  You can become the woman God wants you to be.  Let this powerful guide renew your energy and determination.

Empower your teens to be successful on their own.  Parents, start as early as possible.
In this fast-paced world, time with your kids at home is limited and , before you know it, the day will arrive for your kids to move out of the house.  Will they be ready for what faces them?  Quality time loving and getting to know your kids is paramount, but it is also extremely important to prepare them for living life on their own.  
No matter what your educational background or experience, you can apply these either simple, but profound principles to prepare your kids to be responsible an positive leaders in their communities.  Don't let your kids leave home without them.

A Devotional for Homeshoolers by Homeschoolers
Homeschool parents be inspired and start your morning right with short, uplifting devotionals that will warm your heart.  Originally created as a daily email for homeschoolers just like you,  these captivation stories have now been compiled into a must have, devotional book.  Discover new hope and encouragement for each day as you read real life homeschooling experiences that relate to God's word.  You'll laugh, cry, but mostly you'll be empowered to grow in your walk with the Lord as you enjoy the wonderful blessings of homeschooling.

I hope you are inspired by these choices and may you.....
Keep on, Keeping on!!!
~Melanie

Affiliate links are included. Opinions my own.

Wordless Wednesday


Digital Project Life | Week Thirty-Two

Loved this week.
School shopping. My birthday.  Good Mexican food! yum.  Target.  Dabbling with some blog/writing ideas late at night.  Mind ramblings. Paint.  The Lorax.  Love that show. Hanging out on the front porch watching the sunset.  Bangles for a couple of girls.
So full of real/everyday life.  Calm and Peaceful.  Just plain living.
In L-O-V-E!

supplies: Smitha Katti Journal Card on Left, Persnickity Prints Journal Card on Right, Digital Template my own, Digital background freebie, Digital Page Protectors and Album my own. Sharing over at The Mom CreativeTwo Peas in a Bucket and Big Picture Classes.

Wanna know more about Project Life? Start here. To view all my Project Life posts. Go here.

Digital Project Life | Week Thirty-One

Welcome to Week 31.

Woot! Happy to be getting this thing caught up.  Planning to be on top of my project life game this week and have all 'catch up' posts: posted.

Yes.
I did it again.
I created a new template and a new album background.
I kept Jessica's design that I used to make the background, but this go around I snipped off the dark brown edges some more and really liked the way it 'brightened' it up.
The rings are white, I like them much better than the ones I used before.  You can see those in this post HERE.  In my opinion they make the 'binder' have more of a 3D effect, without having to add drop shadows.  Just for fun you could view this post and see what my digital album background looked like when I started this project.  Go HERE.



supplies: Digital Project Life Clementine, Today Journal Card my own, Digital Template my own, Digital background freebie, Digital Page Protectors and Album my own. Sharing over at The Mom CreativeTwo Peas in a Bucket and Big Picture Classes.

Wanna know more about Project Life? Start here. To view all my Project Life posts. Go here.

Photo a Day

August is passing us by quickly.  How can it be?
I completely dumped my Photo A Day this month. Take it easy on me! This was my first attempt and I let it get the best of me.  
I am loving the way Rhonna Farrer does Instagram.  I downloaded Phonto. An iPhone app where you can add text to your photos. I'm enjoying it.
For now, I leave you the photos I did post to Instagram @melaniebritt ....  a solid eight days in a row.  

Homeschool | Something Sewn

 Something Sewn. 

Out with the Old - In with the New 2012

New Books, Backpacks, Binders, Pens and Pencils Oh My!
I look forward to a new year of homeschool.  
My favorite time of the year!
Such a good feeling to check items off my "planning" list.  
This weekend will be my final school shopping weekend. 

How is it possible August is almost over?

The Real Life Portrait Layout Project

After reading this post, by Cathy Zielske.  I thought it was time.  Time to share a glimpse into my Real Life. Real Crazy Life.  I have to admit at times ... all the time .. I only share the fun, good, happy pieces of our lives.  Just recently while finishing up Project Life, I caught myself sifting through photos, making sure each one was good enough.  When truth is, Real Life is always happening.  While I'm being completely laid out honest here, the only camera I have Right Now is my iPhone.   I'm learning to Let it Be. So here you go, Real Life as it is Right Now.

Journaling reads...

A glimpse into real life, right now. This year has been one of the most stressful yet the most rewarding.  We moved in the upstairs of our new house.  Yeah! Less the wood flooring we are living in a comfy space.  Considering a family of six that was packed in a trailer house for eighteen months.  I have to admit the journey hasn’t been always the smoothest.  Here is the photo for how life is Right. Now.

My office presently, which is a table in my daughters room.  The room Jeff and I are using until the Master Bedroom is complete downstairs. And then, My office in the not to distance future.  As you can see it is being used as my cabinet door paint room.
August 2012

Journaling reads...

Kitchen.  O, Kitchen.  How I lose sleep over you.  House building, Well, I’ll just say.. There are no words to describe it.  No one can truly comprehend the stress and joy that it brings.  All the rooms in a house.. the Kitchen is the most used and absolutely the hardest to design.  The decisions that are involved in a Kitchen. What?  The What’s that and I need a What? Okay, Here we are Around. Here. Decisions made.  The cabinets are custom built by my Daddy, installed and I am painting my arms off.  I won’t even get into appliances.  As for the photo, my present kitchen consists of a coffee pot my faithful Bunn of course, microwave, toaster and Braum’s paper bags for storage. My future kitchen, eight feet of pure primed and sanded goodness. Awaiting final color and glaze.
August 2012

"Here’s to seeing real life in creative and authentic ways. And heck, if it takes the pressure off of shooting for perfection, I say all the better." ~Cathy Zielske

supplies: Free template download by Cathy Zielske.  Photos by Raeleen on my iPhone. (Thank you sweet girl!)

Wanna know more about Cathy Zielske?  Start Here.  To view more of my posts similar to this one. Go Here.