Thrift Schooling

Journey back to the prairie this Thanksgiving weekend with a  homecoming years in the making. If the Little House on the Prairie book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder or the beloved TV show had an impact on your childhood or even your current homeschool experience, you will not want to miss this event. Just be sure to have a box of tissues nearby—tears are inevitable.  In celebration of the beloved television show’s 50th Anniversary, comes a heartwarming new documentary:  Little House Homecoming —a journey that brings together members of the original cast and generations of fans in a shared tribute to love, hope, and belonging. I was not expecting this to be an emotional documentary, but after the first twenty minutes I had to turn it off, gain composure and turn it back on when I was emotionally ready. I still have yet to understand why this film brought me to tears, but I know I am not the only one. It happened to others who watched the screening, including the woman who...

  Here are some unique Christmas gift ideas that you probably didn't know you needed! If you have seen seed cards around, this is your chance to pick up (or win a couple). I make these cards completely from scratch, creating my own pulp from all of those curriculum catalogs I get in the mail, after my kids have gone through and circle what they wanted—Sears catalog-style. I love curling up on the couch with a hot drink in hand and smiling at everything my kids want. At least what they want is educational! Since we use wood heat, I used to save them for fire starter but you only need so much fire starter each winter. And what about when it isn't winter? I'll admit that I've been known to line the walking paths in between garden rows with the pages to help keep down the weeds, effective but not the most ascetically pleasing.  When I was in college, I found a papermaking book in the library, went back to my dorm and tried it out. I was hooked. I forgot about it until a few...

  Take a look at those beautiful faces above! Even if you do not recognize them, you most likely love and knew them at one point in your life. Whether you grew up when Little House on the Prairie aired, or grew up watching reruns, it has been a family fav for almost 50 years! Can you guess who each of the above actors played in the show? Check out the trailer for the upcoming Little House Homecoming to find out!           In this documentary, you will see Karen Grassle (“Caroline Ingalls”), Dean Butler (“Almanzo Wilder”), Alison Arngrim (“Nellie Oleson”), Charlotte Stewart (“Miss Beadle”), and Wendi Lou Lee (“Baby Grace”) as they travel to the real-life places that inspired Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books—and reconnect with the heart of  Little House  that continues to inspire audiences around the world. Featuring heartfelt new interviews with members of the original cast, reflections from devote...

CompuScholar: Tech Essentials  is part of the  Timberdoodle 6th-grade curriculum kit  and is the perfect supplemental course to add in this year. In our homeschool, I generally break the year up into three sections. If we are using academic terms, we could call them semesters, although I am not strict in ensuring that we complete "x" amount of quizzes or tests per week to make sure I check off unnecessary boxes. Giving my teens the benefit of the doubt, I assign them certain courses and tell them that they need to be completed by one of the following: —The End of Summer  —Christmas Break —Summer Break This gives them the opportunity to pace themselves accordingly. If I see that the deadline is quickly approaching, then I remind them that they will need to "double-up" or even work on weekends to complete the course. Some work ahead. Others wait until the last minute. I prefer to do it this way to demonstrate that I am here to guide them, ensure it gets done, and assi...

Buy tickets today to see Christmas at the Cabin in theaters  starting November 14!  Christmas at the Cabin is the holiday movie everyone will be  talking about!  Starring Todd Terry, Marianne Haaland, Corey Cannon, Sharon  Oliphant, and Stacey Sheffield, this heartwarming holiday film  blends laughter, love, and lessons of faith in one unforgettable Christmas story.   From stunning winter backdrops to original music, Christmas at the Cabin delivers pure holiday magic. It reminds us that faith, family, and love can guide us through any storm.  This sweet Christmas movie defies the traditional Christmas RomCom genre by addressing serious issues with a humerous twist. Listen to Jean of the Momentum Influencer Network as she interviews the writer and lead actress of his film, Marianne Haaland to learn more about what went into the creation of this film.  Christmas can be challenging for families in so many different ways. I know for some...

  If you’ve started making daily decisions that lead to a more sustainable life, ensuring that everything you buy, eat, and discard is done in the most waste-free and eco-friendly way possible, it might be worth taking the time to really think about it. What steps are you willing to take to work with what God has given us rather than against it? If you want to make a more serious commitment to a sustainable lifestyle, here are a few suggestions on how you can do just that. Making More Than A Home If you want to adopt sustainability as a mindset, encompassing more than just a few actions, then there’s no better place to start than with your home. Homesteading provides a direct path to living in greater harmony with your environment. From growing your own vegetables to raising animals for food in a humane manner, you can empower yourself to live more independently while minimizing your contribution to practices like factory farming and industrial processes. Of course, not everyone c...

I am honored to introduce you to the Enduring Word Study Bible , a pastoral commentary from every chapter of the Bible. Since the Reformation, the Word of God has been accessible to believers of all walk of life, not just leaders. God’s Word is meant to be known—and lived. God wants each of us to know, understand, and apply His Word, and  sometimes we need help understanding a passage in context or in light of the Scriptures as a whole. For more than twenty years, readers have turned to Bible teacher David Guzik’s verse-by-verse commentary at EnduringWord.com as a source of practical and pastoral insights into the Scriptures. The Enduring Word Study Bible invites you to join them as  you are guided into deeper knowledge of the Bible. Study notes based on Guzik’s  commentary help you to explore the meaning of every chapter of the Bible. Pastoral application notes guide you to live in light of Scripture, and feature articles bring challenging topics into sharper f...

You were made for peace—and to be a peacemaker. The sto ry of the Bible is the story of peace. Reading through it from cover to cover you see how ultimately we can have peace with God and  with one another. The Peace of God Bible  points us to the verses that show us how to do just that. How important is it to understand that peace isn’t simply a feeling of calm  or ease?  Maybe this is why some leave the faith, or struggle with their relationship with the Lord.   When we are looking for a feeling because we once felt what we interpreted as the peace of God, undoubtedly we are going to want to find it again. The problem with that is, it is easy to turn to New Age methods labeled with a "Christian" sticker. Yet that is not true peace. Feeling centered, or in control of our life is not true peace.   True peace is knowing and understanding that God through His Word, even if our emotions do not line up .     The Peace of God Bible invites you to...