You can read my latest interview at LAF.
We have our summer booked up with ways for people to learn some practical skills!
With our Domestic Day Camps you will learn:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
At Christmas a friend gave us 3 months of Netfix. This was one of the best gifts we've ever received. We don't watch much TV and I hate going into the video store. Netflix has over 90,000 movies to choose from and we've watched some fantastic documentaries. The choices are great, service is fast and in your mailbox, and NO LATE FEES! :o)
I have one free month to give away to the first person that leaves a comment saying they want it. You have to be a new to Netflix.
Today (Memorial Day) Jeff had to work, then this evening we went to some friend's home. They have a 150 acer farm. It was quiet and relaxing. Again, sweet Christian fellowship.
"Liberty is secured, sir, by the limitation of its [the government's] powers, which are clearly and unequivocally defined." — Francis Corbin in the Virginia Ratification Convention, 1788
When I look back over my life, what I 'knew' I wanted as a teenager and what my goals were for a 'good' life in the early years of our marriage, compared to what I know and want now are night and day! I was never taught a Biblical world view, so everything I wanted revolved around ME! Every area of my life was what "I" thought was right and true.
Right now Vision Forum is running a 50% OFF special on a new video series they have released.How do you teach a shy daughter to go outside of herself? How do you gain a passion for evangelism and effectively witness to the lost? How do you answer critics who pit Jamestown’s providential beginnings against Plymouth’s? How do you cultivate a spirit of honor in your children?
These and other important questions are answered in Vision Forum’s new Reclaiming the Culture DVD Collection. This engaging seven-part video series — which features messages by Ray Comfort, Doug Phillips, Dr. Paul Jehle, and Geoffrey, Anna Sofia, and Elizabeth Botkin — is designed to dispel worldly myths that undermine biblical womanhood, honor, evangelism, and America’s providential history and to recapture these priorities in a way that reflects God’s Word and gives hope to our children. Watch previews online of each of the seven videos in the Reclaiming the Culture Collection.
Now through Friday, May 30, you can purchase the Reclaiming the Culture DVD Collection, comprised of seven newly-released family DVDs, for just $52 (50% off individual retail). This comes to just $7.42 per DVD for this entire collection. Sale ends at Midnight, May 30, 2008 (CST).
It is appropriate to mourn with those who mourn.
I am amazed some times by the amount of dust that can gather in no time!
My Frugal Friday tip is:
Yesterday the girls and I had to take my mother to the airport, she was going to Miami to visit my brother. We don't go onto the city much, maybe once a month, so when we do go we try to make a day of it. :o) We had alot of shopping to do. We just took our time and enjoyed our girl time out and about! It is really delightful when you kids are just about grown and they have good attitudes, it's part of enjoying that fruit!
The girls LOVED the movie!!! Personally, I don't like watching alot of fighting, and there is alot of it in the second half of the movie. But, then I realized that most of the Christian life is about battle, battle against our flesh and sin nature; battle against Satan. The last battle scene in the movie seemed to last forever (for me anyway), but isn't it like that in life? There are times when you are being hit from all sides and you see no end in sight and you feel forsaken by God? THEN... well I don't want to ruin the movie for you. :o) The movie has alot of symbolism, for which C.S. Lewis is known for. I think this one was just as good as The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.I think we all plant seeds only to water, weed, prune, fertilize and hope to harvest good fruit. If not in the soil of the earth in the soil of our children's hearts, perhaps in both.
It was a rainy day, Emma was busy working on her lessons in the kitchen;
Olivia was hard at work documenting all her herb studies into an e-book; it was quiet in the house. I actually had time to read. :o)
After the school lessons were done Olivia wanted to head up to the Quilter's cottage and work on a quilt, I had one too, so off we went. We were the only ones there, and all three of us were busy working on our projects. It was a very pleasant day. Check out Olivia's quilt HERE!Here is the review by Mrs. Wilt, who owns one of my favorite blogs, The Sparrow's Nest!
Review: If you want to know how to decorate lovely cakes for birthdays or special occasions and DON'T have the time or money to invest in taking Wilton classes, this is the product for you. I would have saved myself so much time and money if I had had this video when I first took classes. Here are some reasons I appreciate Kathy's video:
Now, for some additional information: If you are looking for tutelage on how to do everything when it comes to cake decorating, you will be severely disappointed. I've taken 3 classes, can make wedding cakes, and still don't know all there is to know! This video delivers what it promises: basic cake decorating skills. Cake decorating takes lots of practice, so be prepared to take time to learn! I think this is a fantastic video for "getting your feet wet", and it will have you easily creating lovely cakes for your family without the usual expense in getting started. :o)
I had the pleasure of Mrs. Wilt from The Sparrow's Nest (one of my very favorite blogs!) interview me. Not only did she do an interview, she did a product review on my Basic Cake Decorating DVD. I truly value her review because she too bakes and decorates cakes. Her words were very kind and gracious!
I am posting the interview here, but you may want to hop on over to her blog for the comments that followed, which were a little surprising to me. How can anyone equate teaching practical skills or a love for home as a cult?
1. Kathy, it is a pleasure to be able to ask you some questions about your home business, Teaching Good Things? How did it all begin?
Thank you, Kelli, for giving me this time. My daughters and I are loyal readers of yours!
A few years ago my daughters (then 10 and 13) and I joined our local quilter's guild. We fell in love with quilting. We wanted to pass this skill on to our fellow homeschoolers, so I thought I'd write an easy to understand book for girls. A friend suggested I make a DVD instead. This started us on a course for our website and making DVDs on several different topics. After months of trial and error we produced our first DVD, Basic Cake Decorating.
We want our website to be a place where parents can come to find information and resources to help teach their children learn practical skills.
2. I totally agree that children need to be taught "good things" in order to become hard workers. How did you implement this in your own family?
I think the main thing is that we have never had a lot of money, and we have strong convictions that I need to be at home with the children and homeschool them. So I guess you could say our circumstances have made us be creative, and for that I am thankful!
My husband and I are pretty industrious people, so our children really had no choice. We didn't allow for a lot of idle time. Even now that our two youngest are in their teens their idle time is limited, mainly by their choice. We want them to always have a project to be working on. Sometimes the project may be a way to make gifts or to make money and sometimes it is a way to serve others.
As a family, if we want something done, if at all possible, we do it ourselves, whether it is repairs, improvements or gift giving. There is such satisfaction in being able to do things for yourself. I think if we were to become extremely wealthy we would still do as much as we could ourselves.
3. I really enjoyed viewing your cake decorating video. Tell us about what other products Teaching Good Things has to offer.
We just released our Basic Crochet DVD which walks you through all the basic stitches, how to read a pattern, how to make a Granny Square, a dishcloth and a scarf.
Our next video will be about How to Make and Sell Your Own Bath Products. Our quilting video is in the works along with How to Make Your Own Wedding Cake and Canning the Harvest! There will also be videos for the boys that my husband is working on, such as; Building Birdhouses and Bird Feeders and The Young Man’s Home Maintenance Course.
We also offer summer day camps for girls to learn domestic skills and boys to learn carpentry skills. Summer is a great time to learn the life skills that they will need to be a productive adult.
4. As a mother of boys, I am concerned at times with teaching them work ethic. I look around and see so many teenage boys with a "slacker" mentality today. What can I do as a parent to discourage this prevalent attitude with my boys?
The number one thing parents need to do is PRAY! There is no formula to insure that our children will not grow up to be slackers. I cannot stress that enough!
Second, our job as parents is to teach our children as we walk along side them. Our children learn more from what we ‘DO’ than what we ‘say’. They will learn as they watch us as we carry out our responsibilities; are we through? Do we complain about our duties? Does our attitude stink? Do we look for ways to meet the needs of people around us? I think these are the two most important things to do! Pray and walk our talk!
I honestly believe that while children are very young they want to please their parents. They want to be given tasks and know they are doing a good job. I think parents make big mistakes when they push Jr aside and clean up the mess themselves instead of teaching Jr how to clean it up WITH them. It may not be done perfectly when little hands are doing the job, but when they are young we must first train their attitude. Let them take responsibility and help, and then praise them. When they are not looking, go back and do it 'right'. Encouragement is the way to lead children; criticism is the best way to push them away.
5. Although we haven't been blessed with a daughter yet, I want to be prepared! :o) Can you list 3 ways we can prepare our daughters to be effective helpmeets in the future?
As wives and mothers we need to respect, love and adore their dad, in word, expression and deed. This is the most important aspect of family life. If you make a mess of everything else, but you love and respect their dad, they will be just fine! Encourage them to find ways to do special things for their dad while he is gone to work. As women (young and old) of the house, our day should include thoughts of how we can make it easier for him to be known in the gates. Do his socks match? Does he have clean clothes? Is his food ready when he is? Rub his feet. Meet him at the door and try to smile. The smallest things mean so much.
Be a keeper at home by staying at home as much as possible. Teach them to love homemaking, which really is an issue of the heart more than the décor and menu. Help them understand that making a home for the family and guest to feel comfortable, safe and welcome should be of high priority. Home is where needs are met. We cannot meet needs when we are physically not at home. What is even worse is when we are not home emotionally. Our hearts can be caught up in outside 'ministries' and miss our God given responsibility that brings forth much fruit. Constantly remind them that loving others through our home is pleasing to God. (Titus 2:5)
Equip them with skills to be frugal and efficient. In my opinion this is just as important as any academic subject, and in some ways more important. This takes many years, and a lot of us moms are learning right along side our daughters, and that is OK, we have to start somewhere. Don’t put homemaking on the back burner thinking you’ll teach that later. It needs to be taught everyday.
6. Finally, as a mother of children who are preparing to leave the nest, can you give a word of encouragement to those of us who have little ones we are just beginning to teach?
Raising children for the glory of God is a wonderful way to impact the world! Never take it lightly! Again, as I said earlier, prayer is the most important thing to do. Also, let us not boast in ourselves, but know all we do is by grace alone. We are to be faithful to love and train them, God is responsible for the results.
Include you children in everything you do from shopping to mopping the floors. Start out slowly, not expecting perfection. Be VERY selective in what outside activities, even ministries to take part in. Time with our children is so short, although it may not feel like it on a bad day. Love them, play with them, and teach them to be givers, not takers. Just take one day at a time, and enjoy them because before you know it they will be teaching the next generation! I honestly believe we make life too complicated thinking we have to do it all, and have it all. More than anything, know our total dependence is on Christ alone!
NOTE: I had the pleasure to review Kathy's outstanding Cake Decorating DVD and will be posting a review on Monday. You won't want to miss it!
Thank you, Kathy, for being so gracious to chat with us! If you would like to know more about the Brodock family and their passion for this work, click HERE to go to Teaching Good Things!
Olivia and Emma hosted a Garden Tea to promote Olivia's bath products that she is making.
She dressed for the occasion to present her products.
She and Emma worked all week in the yard, and then they labored all day on the food.
I made some cloth napkins, and then just stayed out of their way.
Although at a Tea you should serve hot tea, it was a bit warm and humid today so
Sandwiches cut with a heart cookie cutter and garnished with roses from our neighbor's yard.
Crackers and dip served in small clay pots.
Mini cupcakes, with Cream Cheese Icing,
Cucumber wedges with cream cheese and dill.
Strawberries and whipped cream, garnished with a small mint leaf.
Small cake with raspberry filling and Cream Cheese Icing,
Here are some carrot and celery sticks in the small flower pots, along with the dip.
I would like to give an Encouragement Award to one of my blog buddies. She and her husband always leave an encouraging word on my blog and on Olivia's blog. In a day when people are so quick to judge hearts and criticize, it is uplifting and encouraging to hear (or read) a kind word. :o) Words can make a difference in our day and our life. We can encourage people to press on towards the high mark or we can tear them down and hurt them.From our family reading last night:
Anyone that knows Olivia KNOWS that southern history is one of her deepest passions.
She believes that it is her personal responsibility to educate everyone she comes in contact with true history!!!
If you dare to watch the evening news with Olivia in the room be prepared for lots of HEAVY sighs of frustration, outburst of aggravation with arms waving as she stomps out of the room...ranting!
We try to keep her away from the TV during the politically correct news hour!
She loves to talk history and politics, even to the point that at all cost, her friends try to stay off the topic of current events.
She believes women have a powerful roll in building God's Kingdom as they help their husbands be known in the gates and as they nurture and educate future statesmen. :o) She agrees with the saying, 'Behind every good man is a good woman.'
She believes and lives out the truth that God made man and woman very different,
It is amazing how God has given her a heart of wisdom. Her of love for the south and truth, even though ALL of her family are Northerners is downright hilarious sometimes! lol Well, except for her little sis, Emma. They were both born in the south and Olivia claims hold of that with all her being! lol... Can you say "Tara!!!" (from Gone with the Wind)"Have I missed it all?" or "Guess it is
too late now to get in on the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, huh?"
NO! This is one great perk about the UHSE! It goes on and on and
on! Yes, today is our last "official" day of recording live-well,
but in the next few weeks we will be recording make-up sessions for
a few speakers and sessions for some of our new vendors. It is NOT
over!
Oh! Even when the last session is recorded, THIS convention is
very, very different than those in your neighborhoods:
- You can access every session by downloadable audio for years to
come (at YOUR convenience).
- You can access a full library of ebooks, articles, studies, and
printable pages.
It is NOT too late! So, grab your ticket today! Price will be the
same $40 until July 1st--then, it will be $99.95 for the entire UHSE
2008 Package.
Save NOW! You will LOVE IT! Plus...you can join us LIVE
today! Here is your link to order:
EXPO!
Because I do some catering, decorate cakes and practice a good bit of hospitality I am always looking for neutral platters such as white, silver or glass. Most of the time the actual platter will be covered with lettuce leaves or something like that.We started homeschooling over 15 years ago. We had taken our oldest (my step-daughter), out of the government school system half way through her 4th grade year. That first semester was a miserable time, not because of her, but because of ME! I remember making her sit at a desk and drilling her on EVERYTHING, EVERY question had to be answered on EVERY page. It was awful! We both cried so much. That summer I was a nervous wreck because I was going to have to teach our next child how to read, I was so overwhelmed and scared. Jeff’s confidence in me and constant encouragement got me trough many nights of worrying. God, by His mercy, slowly led me to the right materials to teach Joshua how to read. I was so blown away that *I* could actually teach him something so important.
This is the e-book she was inspired by:
Home educating our children has been one of the most important decisions we have made as parents and learning how to relax and embrace learning has been just as important. I wish I could get those first years back when I was so uptight and making all of us miserable, but I can’t. If I could give any advice to new home educators it would be to quit looking at the flawed government school system and start enjoying the learning process. There are countless opportunities every day right before us, we just need to be free enough to seize them.
