Changed By Love

Learn Spanish So You Can Really Speak It

Nov.19,2013

These videos help you to learn practical everyday Spanish that you can speak without having to go through the trouble of conjugating verbs and all of the grammar elements that help with reading and writing Spanish but may limit your confidence when trying to speak the language. I know that when I was in Mexico, I was afraid to try to speak because I always took so long to figure out the correct tense of the verb I wanted to use. These videos show you how to say phrases that are commonly used with the verbs already conjugated for you.

I think these will be very helpful for the person who really wants to be able to speak Spanish, not just read and write it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/learnspanishvideos?feature=watch

And here’s the website where you can see even more of what he offers. Much of it is free.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Unit Study

Nov.18,2013

In the same vein as living books, here is a “living” video. This is a presentation of Peter Rabbit as you have never seen it before. At least I had never seen such an enchanting version of it before!

In this video we learn some background of Beatrix Potter and the reason she wrote Peter Rabbit. We even see her pet rabbit who was the inspiration of this famous story. Then the stories of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny are told through excellent animation and voice talent and sound effects.

If you would like to extend this lesson you may follow up with a lapbook that you can get free from HomeschoolShare.com. You can get if for free here.

This lapbook includes lessons for Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math. There is enough information included to complete the lapbook, but you can do more research and add more to it yourself.

To extend this lesson even further, you may want to watch this video of the “The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends Complete Tales Volumes 1 and 2”. You would probably prefer to watch one segment a day, as this presentation lasts almost 4 hours! There are nine stories, I think. Some of them I have read before, but several of them are new to me.

And here is a link to the official Peter Rabbit Website where you can find “The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Emma Thompson. But you will have to go to Amazon if you decide to order them, because the prices are marked in pounds on the website! You can find them on Amazon here if interested. Further Tale of Peter Rabbit.

God of Wonders: Scientists Prove Almighty God’s Existence Through Science

Nov.17,2013

If you have an hour and a half, and you want to see proof of a Creator through excellent videography of God’s spectacular Creation, then watch this video. Gather your children and have a great Science lesson on the proof of Creation.

But if you only have about 3 minutes, at least watch the intro to this video. It is fabulous!

The whole video is filled with excellent videography of the majesty of nature. It is worth the watch.

Sit back and enjoy your nature study with some popcorn and a favorite beverage today!

Letter to Your Thirteen Year Old Son

Nov.11,2013

This was shared on Facebook by Jimmy Brown.

I plan to read it to my son, Morgan, on his 13th birthday this New Year’s Eve. We do a sort of Bar Mitzvah type of ceremony on our sons’ 13th birthday and pronounce a blessing on him. We pray over him and proclaim the good things we have seen developing in his life and character. This list will be perfect for instruction and blessing on that day.

Thirteen Things I Want You To Know On Your 13th Birthday

13. Strive to excel, but not at the expense of others. Do your best and give your all; just don’t trample on others along the way.

12. Whatever happens next, whatever you do in life, you will always be my son. I love you! No. Matter. What.

11. You are blessed to be a blessing. Use your God-given abilities and resources to do good to others. Don’t wait for someone to ask for your help, just take the initiative and do it.

10. Respect others. Show honor to others even if you don’t agree with them or even like them. Respect says more about the giver than the receiver. So does a lack of it.

9. Think before you speak and speak after you think. Your words can and will have life-impacting effect upon others. Use them to build others up instead of to tear them down.

8. Not everyone is going to be like you, but that doesn’t mean you should treat them badly. People who are different are still people. Treat them like you want them to treat you.

7. Purity is the best wedding gift you can give your bride. Look for a wife who will exchange that same gift back with you.

6. No one in life owes you anything that you didn’t earn. Don’t think that you have a right to something “just because”. Entitlement is an excuse for not putting in the effort.

5. When adversity slaps you across the face, slap it back. Difficult times will come. When they do, don’t give up. Don’t you ever give up.

4. Show people that you care about them. Never leave a loving word unsaid. Today is the day to let others know you appreciate them.

3. The goal is the “right” thing, not the “popular”, “easy” or “justifiable” thing. Never let anyone pressure you into choosing wrong over right, nor into settling for good over better.

2. There is an opportunity cost in everything. When you invest your time, money, and resources in something then something else gets left out. Choose wisely what you value and invest in.

1. Jesus + Nothing = Everything. The reverse of this equation is also true: Everything – Jesus = Nothing. Everything means more when nothing means more than Him.

A Bully, an Icy Creek, and a Big Giveaway from Elisha Press

Nov.4,2013

A bully, an icy creek, and a big giveaway from Elisha Press

Elisha Press, a publisher of Christian novels particularly suitable for homeschool families, is launching a new title this week. Julie: the Redemption of the Backyard Bully is an all-new spinoff on The Reunion by Rachael McIntire. Both books are recommended as read-aloud material for the whole family. Solo readers of Julie should be twelve or older.

Fans of The Reunion may remember Julie Greene, the Gladstones’ troublesome neighbor who almost drowned in the creek. This new novel – longer and illustrated – tells Julie’s story before and after that incident, through the now-aging eyes of “Grandma” Greene. How can a sullen bully learn to be a selfless friend? How can a jealous young lady learn to be grateful and contented no matter what life brings? What does it mean to follow Jesus in the practical work and play of daily life? All this and more is waiting for you within the pages of Julie.

Author Rachael McIntire says that many elements of Julie are based on incidents from her own life. Growing up in the 1960’s, she experienced firsthand the challenges of that tumultuous time. Though the sixties are now long gone, the principles of God remain the same eternally. It is her hope that some of these principles may penetrate young hearts and minds through the story of the backyard bully and her redemption.

As part of their launch event, Elisha Press is giving away one autographed copy of Julie every day this week. By entering once, you’ll have a chance to win each time. This is a 183-page softcover book with 19 black-and-white illustrations like the example shown here.