Our Weekly Audio…
September 28, 2007
Our Weekly Audio…
Each week we offer you a free audio Mp3 for you to listen to during your chores or Mommy walk. These audios are FREE. Just download
straight from this email or go online to our archives to download.
How to Make Bread Using the Two-Stage Process, Step-by-Step with Marilyn Moll
Ready for a treat?
This audio is a gift from my friend, Marilyn Moll from Http://UrbanHomemaker.comJoin Marilyn Moll as she takes us by the hand and shows us step-by-step how to make bread using the Two-Stage Process. Marilyn has a way of making the entire process EASY! She will have you “cooking” in just minutes. You will LOVE this seminar. Your family will love your fresh homemade bread. 
See Marilyn Online at:
http://www.UrbanHomemaker.com/
Time to Talk-a-Latte!
September 28, 2007
Time to Talk-a-Latte!
We have a super line-up scheduled for our Fall Talk-a-Latte Session! Check out our Fall Online Seminars:
Language Arts the Easy Way with Cindy Rushton
Get the Fire with Elisabeth Rushton
MORE Secrets to Victorious Living with Lucia Claborn
Notebooking: Sure to Addict You TOO! with Cindy Rushton
High School! YES! It CAN Be Easy Too with a FULL line-up of great speakers
Quiet Times for the Busy, Stressed, Distracted, Dry Gals with Cindy Rushton
Sound great? You will LOVE these studies!!
Learn More Here
We have a SEASON PASS! You can join ALL of our Fall Talk-a-Latte Seminars for just $99.95! Purchase your Season Pass today!
Now! How About a Special Treat?
September 28, 2007
Now! How About a Special Treat?
We are SO excited about this F*R*E*E Goodie.
Just in time for the holidays!
Marilyn Moll’ Holiday Open House - Open Your Heart and Your Home. This ebook includes all the information you need to pull off a gracious, memorable open house or party.
Some of the information in this ebook includes:
* How to Plan your Occasion, step by step, after the date is set
* How to Decorate Creatively on a Dime
* Planning the menu for your event
* Appetizer Recipes, both hot and cold
* Dip Recipes
* Serving Suggestions
* Sweets and Treats
* Marilyn’s Christmas Cookie Recipe Assortment
* Beverage suggestions and recipes
* Encouragement
Need More Help???
September 28, 2007
Need MORE Help?
Sure! Here are our recommended resources:
Christ-Centered Christmas by Cindy Rushton
http://www.cindyrushton.com/ChristCenteredChristmas.html
2007 Holiday Planner by Heidi Jo Kemp
Crock-Pot Cooking compiled by Cindy Rushton
http://www.cindyrushton.com/CrockPotCooking.html
Ultimate Mommy Menu Planner
compiled by Cindy Rushton
http://www.cindyrushton.com/UMMPEBOOK.html
Our Weekly Special…
September 28, 2007
Our Weekly Special…
Time to Talk-a-Latte!
We have a super line-up scheduled for our Fall Talk-a-Latte Session! Check out our Fall Online Seminars:
Language Arts the Easy Way with Cindy Rushton
Get the Fire with Elisabeth Rushton
MORE Secrets to Victorious Living with Lucia Claborn
Notebooking: Sure to Addict You TOO! with Cindy Rushton
High School! YES! It CAN Be Easy Too with a FULL line-up of great speakers
Quiet Times for the Busy, Stressed, Distracted, Dry Gals with Cindy Rushton
Sound great? You will LOVE these studies!!
Learn More Here
We have a SEASON PASS! You can join ALL of our Fall Talk-a-Latte Seminars for just $99.95! Purchase your Season Pass today!
Get Organized for the Holidays with Marilyn Moll
September 28, 2007
HOLIDAY TIMETABLE -
Let’s Get Organized for the Holidays with Marilyn Moll
By Marilyn Moll
We, at The Urban Homemaker, don’t advocate complicated or expensive holiday celebrations, and wish to encourage your family to focus on the true meaning of the holiday season.
However, this twelve-week simplified timetable could be used as a checklist and is designed to be flexible in order to assist you in focusing in on your family’s priorities for Thanksgiving, Christmas. We believe holiday planning promotes order and harmony, offerring you time to evaluate what is really important to your family.
Remember, the timetable is merely a suggestion; rearrange, add, or delete activites from the schedule to meet the needs of your family. The timetable is below.
Marilyn Moll’s Holiday Timetable:
Week #1 - List Week Oct 3- 8
Make your lists of gift recipients, Christmas cards, menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, goodies to share or to give, favorite meals to prepare ahead, decorations needed, gifts to make.
Week #2 - Browse Week Oct 10-16
Develop and record ideas for gifts, decorations. Ask yourself the following questions:
* What would our ideal Christmas be like?
* What activities are particularly important to our family at Christmas?
* How much emphasis do our Christmas activities place on the spiritual side of Christmas?
Week #3 - Supplies Week Oct 17-23
After inventorying supplies on hand, purchase non-perishables needed for holiday baking, and supplies needed for gift making,, gift wrapping, etc.
Week #4 - Baking Week: Oct 24-30
Set aside the time needed to complete holiday goodie making. Make lists of toys, books, and clothes that children would enjoy. More…
Week #5 - Gift Making Week Oct 31 - Nov 6
Focus your energies on completing gifts to be made. More…
Week #6 - Shopping Week #1 Nov 7-13
Decorate your home for Thanksgiving and focus on gift buying for prepared list. Wrap and label packages as you go. More…
Week #7 -Shopping Week #2 Nov 14-20
Complete as much shopping as possible. Take advantage of many items that are on sale before Thanksgiving! More…
Week #8 - Thanksgiving Week Nov 21-27
Use this week to prepare Thanksgiving dishes, pies, homemade rolls, and enjoy the holiday with your family. Marilyn’s Traditional Thanksgiving Stress Free Plans and Easy Recipes for Busy Moms are at this link.
Start the Jesse Tree Devotional readings by Ann Voskamp. The Jesse Tree Devotional is different than advent as it tells the whole story of the coming of the Savior starting in the book of Genesis. The devotional includes 30 readings culminating with the birth of Christ. If you purchase the Planner you will get all the devotionals plus the beautiful, colored ornaments designed to be hung on a branch or a tree. The ornaments are a terrific, hands-on way for the children to remember each bible story leading up t o the birth of Christ.
Week #9 - Mailing Week Nov 28-Dec 4
Complete package wrapping for gifts to be shipped…More.
Week #10 - Meal Making and Decorating WeekDec 5 -11
Prepare some favorite meals and other baked goods for the hectic days ahead. Decorate. Involve children in memory making! My recipes for Beef Burgundy and Honey Glazed Chicken and other reliable family favorites can be downloaded at this link.
Week #11 - Final Shopping/Wrapping Week Dec 12-18
Complete last minute details and enjoy holiday parties, concerts, and family activities. For quick and easy cookie recipes Click Here.
Week #12 - Enjoy Your Christmas Celebration Week Dec 19 - 25
Enjoy the Holidays with Family and Friends! Take time to drive the neighborhoods to enjoy holiday lighting displays. Enjoy family traditions and special meals. A complete holiday menu with delicious recipes is found at this link.
Some of information included in The 12 Week Holiday Planner for The Christian Family book:
*Detailed ideas of what to do weekly for 12 Weeks
*”Sheri’s Tips”- tips to make your holidays meaningful
*Christmas Craft and Gift Ideas
*Memory Making Ideas for the Family
*Ideas for Baked Items to Share/Give Away
*Ideas for Meals to Freeze for Use during the busy weeks
*Decoration Ideas
*Supplies to stock up on ahead of time or when on sale
*Ideas for a Holiday Baking Schedule
*Kids’ Gift Idea List
PLUS!!! “The Glorious Coming: A Jesse Tree Celebration of Advent” - Jesse Tree devotionals
If you would like to get more ideas of how to focus on Jesus as the reason for the season be sure to join our discussion!
The perfect companion to The 12 Week Holiday Planner is Holiday Open House - Open Your Heart and Your Home. This ebook includes all the information you need to pull off a gracious, memorable open house or party.
Some of the information in this ebook includes:
* How to Plan your Occasion, step by step, after the date is set
* How to Decorate Creatively on a Dime
* Planning the menu for your event
* Appetizer Recipes, both hot and cold
* Dip Recipes
* Serving Suggestions
* Sweets and Treats
* Marilyn’s Christmas Cookie Recipe Assortment
* Beverage suggestions and recipes
* Encouragement
Don’t Forget! It is Time for Talk-a-Latte!
September 25, 2007
Don’t Forget!
Time to Talk-a-Latte!
We have a super line-up scheduled for our Fall Talk-a-Latte Session! Check out our Fall Online Seminars:
Language Arts the Easy Way with Cindy Rushton
Get the Fire with Elisabeth Rushton
MORE Secrets to Victorious Living with Lucia Claborn
Notebooking: Sure to Addict You TOO! with Cindy Rushton
High School! YES! It CAN Be Easy Too with a FULL line-up of great speakers
Quiet Times for the Busy, Stressed, Distracted, Dry Gals with Cindy Rushton
Sound great? You will LOVE these studies!!
Learn More Here
We have a SEASON PASS! You can join ALL of our Fall Talk-a-Latte Seminars for just $99.95! Purchase your Season Pass today!
Homeschooling on a Shoestring with Cindy Rushton
September 25, 2007
A Special Audio Just for You!
Each week we offer you a free audio Mp3 for you to listen to during your chores or Mommy walk. These audios are FREE. Just download
straight from this email or go online to our archives to download.
Homeschooling on a Shoestring
With Cindy Rushton
How about a jammed-packed seminar with ideas for homeschooling that can work with a “shoe-string” budget? This is it!
Cindy packs more in this seminar than you can get in most seminars in a full weekend. Not only do you get ideas that YOU can do with what you have in your own home, but you get ideas that will breath life into your homeschool and add a lot of fun to every day! Join us today!
Slow and Steady! Understanding the Process of Learning! By Cindy Rushton
September 25, 2007
Excerpted from Cindy’s UPCOMING book re-release, Language Arts the Easy Way. Yep! You read right! Our best-selling book is being revamped RIGHT NOW and will be available very soon in its revised and expanded format! Keep posted! Until then, join us for our Talk-a-Latte Online Seminar Series, Language Arts the Easy Way, that begins in just one week. Sign up here!
Frustrated with homeschooling? Frustrated with your young writer? Frustrated with teaching your child to write? Maybe you are not frustrated, but you just wonder if–wondering if they are doing ENOUGH? Wondering if they are on track? Wondering if you can truly trust copywork…notebooking…narration… and creating books to train your young writer? Oh beloved friend, this may very well be one of the most important chapters that you will ever read. God has established a specific way in which our children learn. His way WORKS! His way is truly easy! His way does not change!
One of the most liberating things that we can do as homeschool parents is get to know and understand what God’s way of homeschooling and teaching writing looks like and how it works. The benefits are beyond words–but, that is just GOD! Once we truly understand the process of learning, we can relax and enjoy teaching our children. We can find fun ways to teach difficult concepts. We can slow down to enjoy each and every step along the writing journey, knowing that they WILL get there! So, ready to dig in? What do we need to remember about the process of writing? Let me just share a few things that are vital for us to remember…
Keep in Mind…
- Keep in mind that the process of writing is bit-by-bit! Scripture calls it “precept-upon-precept… line-upon-line… here-a-little… there-a-little.” The process of writing takes TIME. It does not happen in a day… week… month…year… or even a couple of years. Rather, it is a life-long process. A process that happens bit-by-bit! Enjoy each step. Always remember that they WILL get it! It is just bit-by-bit!
- Remember that the process of writing is SLOW. We live in a culture that wants everything fast, instant, and immediate. Think of the rat race that we live in. Everything is FAST–one hour print (actually now we are moving to digital cameras for even FASTER access to pictures)…ten minute oil changes (and let it take 11 minutes!)…microwave meals. Just think about it. Even our appliances are all geared for a FAST pace–microwaves…dishwashers…slow cookers (NOW don’t be fooled by the name! We use these as we are running out the door so our healthy meals are ready to serve at the end of the day.)…bread machines…computers. AND… Think about COMPUTERS–laptops… internet (instant connections!)… wireless (for instant access–anywhere)… eMail (to instantly communicate)… eZines (instantly receive each issue of your favorite magazine or newsletter)… auto-responders (to instantly KNOW that our orders and correspondence went through)… shopping carts (to instantly order)…auto-processing of orders/credit cards (to know instantly that your order is in and on its way)… eBooks (to instantly receive our products so we don’t have to wait for the dreaded USPO to deliver)…Instant Messenger (for those that find that email is too slow). Even when we are IN person, well, we aren’t–we have drive-thru’s for everything–food… cleaners… pharmacies… oil changes… and… please gasp with me–FUNERAL HOMES! We are on a fast track. No wonder we have such a difficult time waiting for our children to learn. It is no wonder that we struggle as we wait for the “process of learning” to bring fruit! Sure. We can use these amazing resources above. But, we must always remember that WHERE IT COUNTS, we must slow down and enjoy the process along the way! Nothing is this more true than as our children learn. If we can slow down and enjoy the process, we will find that writing will become easy and fun! Slow down. Enjoy the process of learning. Enjoy the process of wri ting.
- Don’t forget that God will faithfully lead you each step of the way. God will never, ever leave you alone in this journey. He is there RIGHT NOW! As I look back over the last 16 years of homeschooling, I can see that God has faithfully led me each step of the way. He has gently shown me exactly what was necessary to teach my children naturally all along our journey. He will do the same for you! His only requirement is that we hear and obey Him each step of the way. Then, it all is amazing!
- Know that the process of writing is worth the wait! Wait patiently for the fruit. It is SO worth it! Sure it takes time, but the fruit is priceless! What about your young writer? Are you expecting an immediate product? Are you merely reaching for the immediate product that “schools” expect? Regardless of the child’s interests or delights or even the affinities of their heart, schools want an immediate product. In fact, they want an immediate product regardless of the costs, frustrations, or ramifications. This approach destroys the love of writing! Much too often, it also destroys the student along the way! I am heartbroken that “school” takes away the natural writer in all of us. I believe that we all have that gift deep within, but “school” and its inferior writing methods, as it is, pushes it away. Even “school” at home! Rather, than this, why not reach for real fruit! Why not wait out the whole process and reach for the best? It is worth it!
So…WHAT Does the Process Look Like?
Where is MY Child?
We did not begin to teach writing to our children by assigning them to write essays or papers on topics. The first lessons in writing began with the first little reading times when they were babies! Today, both of our children have written books for years and continue to write professionally. How do you get there?
First, begin by reading to them as infants (or as soon as possible–it is never too late!). Reading widely and regularly is the foundation of all great writers. If there is one thing to do (and do A LOT!) regardless of your teaching style or methods, reading is that ONE THING! Begin with simple picture books and your Bible. As they grow older, make reading a part of your daily life. The effects are immeasurable!
As they begin to show readiness for handwriting, buy them notebooks and supplies to begin making notebooks and homemade books. Beginning to keep copywork and other information in their very own notebooks trains the young student in skills that are necessary to write (and learn) for life. By making materials available for them to access freely, children are easily addicted to writing.
My son authored his first book completely on his own at only 11 years old–AND during Christmas break! It began years ago as he developed an interest in our United States Military. As matter of fact, it took 5 years of reading, studying, asking questions of those in the military, watching video footage of the wars, and making the topic “his own” before my son’s delight flowed into a product of his own. We are including some samples of his book in this book and on the CD so you may see its process, but do not expect your second grader to have a similar product–IT TAKES YEARS!
It not only takes years, but it takes reading and studying so widely that they see a hole that only they can fill! It takes years of collecting information…asking questions that demand that they seek for answers…and digging deeper than is possible with just mere nodding acquaintances that are common to most curriculum or approaches.
My son came to me that year at Christmas and said, “Mom, have you ever noticed (the answer is NO if you are wondering as you read this!) that there is not one book that has a complete, chronological history of the Marines…I find bits here and there…someone needs to write a book with all of it in it…I guess that it will just have to be me!”
YES! I about fell out! It was just a dream that I had once let cross my mind. Which mother does not DREAM of their child taking initiative to write a book of their very own? I never dreamed that he would actually SAY it, much less MEAN it! And, never would I have expected for him to DO IT.
Now, let’s go back…
Did you notice anything? He began that book during his Christmas Break. Yes, you read correctly! He had time off from regular duties and extra time on his hands. His activity of choice was to write a book. Did you read that part in the first of the book about our struggles??? Well, it was more an aversion to the pencil! Matthew detested his school lessons. Lessons would drag on hours for lessons which could be finished easily in just 5-10 minutes. His work was half-hearted… messy… careless… and we were both in tears! Flash forward…this same child was busily writing a book during his Christmas vacation. He even excitedly told me that he thought that he had a gift in writing! (Woohoo! What EVERY homeschool mom would love to hear!)
What caused the transition? I believe it was seeking for GOD’S process of learning. Finding the old paths that could make the process sure and easy. Slowing down, just to go the pace of my child. Getting to know him–his strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and interests. Allowing him to get to KNOW his topic, while letting his writing just flow from the abundance!
Instead of bringing school home, we have opted to bring a lifestyle of learning into our home. We have gone back to the old paths that have been used by the very best writers throughout history. We have allowed the children the time needed to develop interests that are resulting into a delight that simply MUST pour out through their pens. We are equipping them through our daily disciplines with the skills bit-by-bit that they will need to pour out those delights whether on paper or in their play or as they share with others.
So, What About You?
So…where are you today? Frustrated? Wondering if they are doing ENOUGH? Wondering if they are on track? God has established a specific way in which our children learn. His way WORKS! His way is truly easy. His way does not change. My challenge is for you to just try things HIS WAY! Allow all the time that is necessary for your children to develop real interests. Allow time for them to learn bit-by-bit. Give all the time that is necessary for the process of learning to yield its fruit–a writer who delights in writing for God’s Glory! You will love what God will do through your young writer!
Need More Help???
Well, we have it on the way!
First, we kick off 10 weeks of our new online seminar series, Language Arts the Easy Way, next Monday! Need more help? Don’t miss this study! Sign up here today so you don’t miss even one session: http://www.talk-a-latte.com/newstudies.html
Also, get ready for the re-release of Cindy’s best-selling book, Language Arts the Easy Way. Talk about a revised and revamped book! This one is going to blow you away! Have it already? We even have a deal for you. Just keep posted. We will release it very, very soon!
New Studies!
September 25, 2007
Time to Talk-a-Latte!
We have a super line-up scheduled for our Fall Talk-a-Latte Session! Check out our Fall Online Seminars:
Language Arts the Easy Way with Cindy Rushton
Get the Fire with Elisabeth Rushton
MORE Secrets to Victorious Living with Lucia Claborn
Notebooking: Sure to Addict You TOO! with Cindy Rushton
High School! YES! It CAN Be Easy Too with a FULL line-up of great speakers
Quiet Times for the Busy, Stressed, Distracted, Dry Gals with Cindy Rushton
Sound great? You will LOVE these studies!!
Learn More Here
We have a SEASON PASS! You can join ALL of our Fall Talk-a-Latte Seminars for just $99.95! Purchase your Season Pass today!
