The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward (China) Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Rose (Papau New Guinea) I love the story of Eric Liddell. We have read the Eric Liddell books by Benge and Swift, but they may not be considered quality writing. I am curious about an Eric Liddell biography called Complete Surrender by Julian Wilson. The sample on Amazon looks interesting. I highly recommend you start with Bruchko too.

Piper, if you work on the habit of focused attention using short lessons, you may soon find that you have a child who is very well prepared for independent studies. Stay in the moment and try not to worry about the future. Children grow so much in such a short time. I have a dd16 who didn't read until she was nine, and now she is one of the most well read persons I personally know (her favorite author is Charles Dickens). She also does her school independently and will be enrolling in dual enrollment courses this fall. Who knew? I should not have spent my time worrying about her when she was little, but instead enjoying the homeschool ride one day at a time. Try a week experiment with short, focused lessons and see if you notice something different in your homeschool. I hope you enjoy your audio interviews and feel better soon.

I highly recommend that you get the Teaching from Rest ebook/audio set and listen to Sarah's interview with Andrew Kern. He really speaks well about assessing your child with himself/herself and not with other children; how 15 minutes of focused attention is where it's at (think Charlotte Mason short lessons); and how he doesn't encourage trying to teach a certain & complete lesson in a certain time frame, but to teach the child instead. He also has audios through his website, The Circe Institue. Teaching from Rest: http://amongstlovelythings.com/shop/

Critterfixer, my dd16 wants to be a vet. She milks goats twice a day in her cute ruffled skirts. The propane man said she resembles Taylor Swift...but with all that cuteness from afar...up close my animal loving girl is sooooo dusty and her clothes are torn. Her face is brown from hugging her goats. She'll be a messy vet someday; that's her dream anyway.

Rule number one: Get dressed and ready for the day before the children wake. Trust me...you may not have another chance. ;-) Rule number two: Just Do The Next Thing...Living in the Moment

Hi. It's me, the gal in the Walmart polo shirt and jeans with my hair in its two foot braid. My outfit, what I call my uniform, is especially chosen for my job as a mother of eight children living on a small farm with six goats plus a lamb (not to mention chickens and turkeys). I don't feel frumpy wearing my hiking boots, actually quite the opposite. I feel like I can conquer the day. We each have a uniform of the day that we tailor to our unique needs. For me, I don't spend too much time getting make up and hair perfected because my little ones and goats like to customize my look with their sticky fingers and dusty hooves. Live happily being yourself!

I agree, simple and available would be great.

I like fried eggs with mustard. But my favorite egg dish is a frittata (kind of a crustless quiche) with sweet potatoes, onions, and bell peppers.

Simply Charlotte Mason: http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/scripture-memory/ and SCM printable verse cards http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/scripture-memory-verse-cards/

Here's the link (@ homeschool giveaway blog) to the 2 week sale at Brookdale Press for 40% off. I really like these history/writing ebooks: http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2014/05/write-from-history-complete-set-giveaway-and-2040-sitewide-sale/ or here: http://brookdalehouse.com/write-history-giveaway/

We have been learning to count with the 35 chicks that have hatched this month. The children stuffed eggs under three broody hens and have increased our flock by 100%.

Excellence in Literature http://everyday-education.com/literature/eng3.shtml Dr. James Stobaugh's History and Language Arts https://www.forsuchatimeasthis.com/index.php The Great Books.com http://thegreatbooks.com

I am combining CAP's Writing & Rhetoric with Write from Ancient History by Brookdale House. Write from Ancient History has history reading selections chronologically arranged with space for summaries, copywork, and dictation. I like the creativity and the write-across-the-curriculum feeling I get from combining both of these programs. http://brookdalehouse.com/homeschool-writing-curriculum/ Kimberly from Brookdale House sent out an email last week alerting a 40% off sale of her books in the very near future.

Happy Mother's Day, Sweet Mama.

Rosie, it breaks my heart to think of the reality and the feeling of powerlessness that you endured. You are a good mama.

She looks like Galadriel (a royal Elf know as the Lady of Light in The Lord of the Rings) to me.

I use your Guest Hollow website all.the.time. especially Otter's biology and chemistry plans. Thank you, Jenn. I look forward to your project and think your illustration is darling.

Rosie, you're in my thoughts, my heart, and prayers. I'm so sorry.

Do a three day internet fast: I suggest that you plan three full days of outside activities like visiting a zoo, park, or hiking trail. Fill a backpack with snacks and a camera and bring the kids along for an adventure. They'll love it and you may be surprised by a renewed sense of purpose. Also, you may want to replace your internet habit with more reading: utilize the library by requesting a trunkload of books. Read things like a homeschooling book or one of the classics recommended in your homeschooling booklist. And don't post on social media, forums, or send emails. You'll be tempted to check. Here's a blog post I was blessed to read that is titled "I was a better mom before the internet" http://www.elizabethfoss.com/reallearning/2008/07/i-was-a-better.html and the blogger's follow up post with practical tips http://ebeth.typepad.com/reallearning/2008/08/time-online-rev.html

I enjoyed reading aloud Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors published by Simply Charlotte Mason. http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/ancient-egypt-and-her-neighbors/ One of my favorite picture books about Egypt is Secrets of the Sphinx by James Giblin. http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Sphinx-Outstanding-Nonfiction-Children/dp/0590098470/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399502710&sr=1-1&keywords=Sphinx+james+giblin

For donkey and monkey, I use the second sound of ey. SWR has ey with 3 sounds: A (long a), E (long e), i (short i).

Language Lessons Through Literature (recently changed to English Lessons Through Literature) by Kathy Jo DeVore Here's the Lulu.com link for level 1: http://www.lulu.com/shop/kathy-jo-devore/english-lessons-through-literature-level-1-ebook/ebook/product-21565584.html Lulu coupon buy 3 get 1 free: TRESACE

Little Britches and The Man of the Family by Ralph Moody still remain our favorite family read alouds of all time. Followed by The Hobbit, of course... Chip the glasses and crack the plates! Blunt the knives and bend the forks! That's what Bilbo Baggins hates— Smash the bottles and burn the corks! Cut the cloth and tread on the fat! Pour the milk on the pantry floor! Leave the bones on the bedroom mat! Splash the wine on every door! Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl; Pound them up with a thumping pole; And when you’ve finished if any are whole, Send them down the hall to roll! That's what Bilbo Baggins hates! So, carefully! carefully with the plates! *Especially for girls: All of a Kind Family, Understood Betsy, Caddie Woodlawn, Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess, and ( my favorite) Little Women. We also loved Patricia St John's unabridged version of Treasures of the Snow.

Here is a link to free notebook pages with choice of blank top, left side, or right side and rule sizes: http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/filler-paper.htm

Toolboxes with locks. And my son just asked me today to please find a better storage spot for the preserved, stinky sharks, pigs, frogs, squids, and grasshoppers under his bed. Um...okay...they're now in the garage and will be dissected next week.