A Homeschool Badge Of Honor: I Reached My 100 Book Limit At The Library

I've been officially homeschooling for 5 years now and have been visiting the library with my children since my oldest was a baby. He is now 10, soon to be 11. In all this time of book checkouts and library visits, I never knew there was a limit placed on how many books you can check out. At one point I even asked and was told there was not a limit unless it was a special holiday book display. Then, today happened!

We trekked to the library today with all 3 children in tow and me really just wanting to do nothing more than return some books that were due and could not be renewed. But, being the book-loving homeschool family that we have become, of course my children wanted to check out some books. Some books turned into two bags filled with books. But, this is not unusual for us. What was unusual is that we were attempting to check out two bags filled with books but had not returned the equal amount as per usual. When we got to the checkout, after several books were successfully checked out, the librarian stopped and gasped, "Oh! You've reached your limit!" "Limit?" I asked. To which she explained that there is a 100 item limit. Who knew this? Did you know this? I did not until I was left standing in front of a librarian with several books yet to be checked out which now could not because of this limit I had reached.

Frantically, I began thumbing through the books for the one book my 4 year old had to have and then began handing her back books that I was quickly deciding we really did not need. As I stood there wondering how we could possibly have 100 books checked out. Before I had left that morning, I weeded through the books that were due, pulling out others that we would keep. The total left at my house only amounted to about 20 books. How could I have 100 books out? Something must have been wrong. She must have been mistaken.

But, no! When we returned home, my children ran into their rooms and began pulling out library books. So far, the count is only about 13 short of the 100 total. How did this happen? We really have 100 books in our house that belong to the library?

I left the library frustrated, in disbelief and almost angry. I arrived home to discover we truly do have 100 items checked out. Now, I somehow feel as though I have attained a badge of homeschooling honor. With all these books, we should be learning a bunch. "should be!" I hope we really are. And, now I will wear my newly awarded homeschool badge of honor proudly because I have attained a much deeper accomplishment today. See, as a child myself I hated to read. I really never completed a "real" book until my 10th grade year when I read Huckleberry Finn. So, when I had children, I was determined that they would not have this dislike for books as I had, so I began when they were babies and introduced them to books and to the library. Today, I feel like something I have chosen to do as a homeschooling parent was successful!

Frustrated As I Try To Step Inside Hans Christian Andersen Thumbelina

When I was a child, I had a book about Thumbelina. Perhaps this story was charming to other children, but I couldn't get past the cover this particular publisher chose to display the story. On the cover it had a rectangle placed in the center of a flower stem. The rectangle was made up of a picture of Thumbelina with a clear plastic overlay. The overlay had ridges making the Thumelina picture appear to be 3D. As a child, this made me crazy as it looked as though you could truly step inside the rectangle to share with Thumbelina. I attempted in my childlike, wreckless manner, to get inside that picture. I kept tryiing until the entire plastic ridged square was scratched beyond recognition and almost detached entirely from the front cover.

Perhaps, as a child, I knew something that gets lost in growing up. I wanted to literally climb inside that story.

The other day, I was on email or conducting a search or some sort of online activity, and came across the term, "international Children's Book Day!" I wondered, what is this? I was not aware there was an International day for this. Though, I was aware there was a National Children's Book Week. So, I began my search.

I discovered, that it is in honor of the fairy tale writer, Hans Christian Andersen. The author wrote many stories that I just have taken for granted as being childhood stories that I imagine I must have thought just poofed out of the air because I never really stopped to consider who wrote them - Or, at least who wrote the original story.

Here's some great links to find out more about Hans Christian Anderson:

10 Facts Your Child Should Know About Hans Christian Anderson

A Free Download of The Ugly Duckling

Day 14 Advent Jesse Tree

Today is Day 14 of the Advent Calendar Jesse Tree devotions. The symbol, or ornament, for Day 14 is that of a lion and a lamb. These symbols are also represented in the movie Twilight. But, the propecy of the lion and the lamb lying down together carry deeper significance in connection with Biblical prophecies.

The scriptures are Isaiah 11:6-10; and

Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 21:1-7; and Philippians 2:9-11

The Old Testament readings tie together with the New Testament readings to show what it will be like when this prophecy is completely fulfilled with the new heaven and the new earth - A place where Jesus sits on a throne next to his Father, God and welcomes in those who love him and did his Will. The Isaiah passage talks about the prophesy of the time when all will be at peace. A child will play next to a viper's hole and not be harmed.

Activity: There is a saying, "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb." You can study similar sayings as well as this one and learn how a lion is ferocious & a lamb is gentle. Enjoy lion and lamb coloring sheets. Crayola has a fun Lion/lamb craft using your child's handprint. And, here's a handprint craft for the lamb.

Today's ornament for the Jesse Tree is the symbol of a lion and a lamb. An ornament carved out of olive wood can be purchased. Or, you can make your own using variations of the handprint crafts above, use clay, felt or be creative.

Day 14 Advent Jesse Tree

Day 5 Advent Jesse Tree

Today is Day 5 of the Advent Calendar Jesse Tree devotions. The symbol, or ornament, for Day 5 is that of a lamb.

The scriptures are Genesis 22:1-19 which is the account of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac; and

Isaiah 53:7 - "He was abused and punished, but he didn't open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. He was like a sheep that is silent when its wool is cut off. He didn't open his mouth."

John 1:29 - "John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, "Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."; and

1 Peter 1:19 - "Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections."

The Old and New Testament readings tie each other together by explaining that God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice the son he had been promised. When God saw that Abraham would obey God even unto death, He stopped the sacrifice of his son and substituted a ram that God had supplied on the mountain. This was a foreshadowing of what would take place with the sacrifice of the promised Messiah, who died to take away the guilt of our sins.

The Advent Jesse Tree book points out:

It is interesting to note that the place Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac (Mt. Moriah) was the exact mountain in Jerusalem where Solomon's temple was built. When Christ died on Calvary, the veil of the Temple was torn, symbolizing the final end of the sacrificial system. Today the Moslem mosque, the Dome of the Rock, is located on this site.

Activity: The lesson and idea of a father being asked to kill a son is a hard one to share with children. It's a difficult concept that sin causes death including the death of an animal for a sacrifice for those sins. But, then add to it that God promises a son to Abraham and then asks him to sacrifice that son. Of course, God knew all along death would not come to Isaac through the hand of his father. It was an ultimate test for Abraham: Would he obey God or did he love the gift of his son, Isaac, more than he loved God who gave the gift. This Bible Lesson by Suite 101 is really a cute way to get this hard lesson across. It has a Red Light, Green Light game and even a recipe for an edible altar.

Today's ornament for the Jesse Tree is the symbol of a lamb. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind in making an ornament of a lamb is cotton balls. So, be creative. There are other options as well. Here's a nice fluffy lamb ornament from Kaboose.com. And, Joshclay.com describes how to make one out of polymer clay.

Day 3 Advent Jesse Tree - Rainbow Over Noah's Ark

Today is Day 3 of the Advent Calendar Jesse Tree devotions. The symbol, or ornament, for Day 3 is that of a rainbow over an ark as in Noah's Ark. The scriptures are Genesis 5-9 where you find the story account of Noah and the Ark. It is a lengthy passage, so you can read the story of Noah's Ark from a Children's Bible if you prefer for small children.

The scripture in regard to the promised covenant represented in the rainbow - Joshua 23:14 - "And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed."; and

The New Testament scripture: Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Jesse Tree ties together the Old and New Testament readings by explaining the result of sin is death. Mankind had become so evil that God was about to destroy them (death). There was one man, however, who was faithful - Noah! Because of his righteousness and faithfulness, God provided a way for this man to be saved from the destruction that was about to take place. He instructed Noah how to build an ark (a big boat) that would save him, his family & animals from the destructive waters that would flood the earth. God, then sent a rainbow to signify His promise to never destroy the entire earth again with a flood. There have been floods since the time of Noah's Ark, but none have covered and destroyed the entire earth such as this one did. God has been true to his promise (rainbow).

In the Old Testament, the ark was what literally saved Noah's life. In the New Testament, that same kind of salvation comes from the Messiah, Jesus in a spiritual form.

Activity: A lot of fun can be done with Noah's Ark. Veggie Tales has a fun DVD out called Minnesota Cuke: In Search of Noah's Umbrella. Another interesting study can begin with reading about a real-life sized (almost) Noah's Ark that was built by a man in the Netherlands. If you have long colorful ribbons, dance around waving your ribbons in praise, forming arches of colorful ribbon rainbows.

The ornament for the Jesse Tree - the symbol of a rainbow over an Ark could be made with clay as you did with the ornament of the earth. This would involve many beautiful colors and the forming of a rainbow, then use brown clay to form the shape of an ark. Or, you could cut out pieces of felt in the shape of an ark and bend colorful pipe cleaners or ribbon in the shape of a rainbow over top. Another fun idea is to purchase wooden cutouts of Noah's Ark. Paint it, decorate it & then add the colorful ribbons on top as a tree hangar.