Joy In Our Journey
  • Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • About Me
  • What's New! (Blog)
  • Low-Carb Lifestyle!
    • Trim Healthy Mama-inspired Grocery Lists
    • THM-style Beverages >
      • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos
    • Family Favorite Recipes (Not Low Carb) >
      • Snacks >
        • Delicious Homemade Gooey Granola Bars!
        • Healthy Peanut Buttery Treats
      • Soups and Stews >
        • Jamaican Seafood Chowder
        • Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
      • Salads >
        • Red Cabbage Coleslaw
      • Main Dishes >
        • Beef >
          • Beef Stroganoff
        • Chicken >
          • Chicken Fiesta
          • Chicken Nachos
          • Marinated Zucchini and Chicken Sandwiches
          • Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas
          • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
          • Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
        • Lamb >
          • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder
        • Seafood >
          • Chilled Quinoa and Salmon Salad (E)
          • Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas
        • Pasta Recipes >
          • Baked Lemon Pasta
          • Paccheri (Pasta) with Cauliflower and Tomatoes
      • Desserts >
        • Cookies >
          • Free Christmas Cookie cookbook download!
          • Healthier Gingerbread Man Cookies
          • Healthier Holiday Cut-Out Cookes
          • Maple Leaf Cookies - YUMMM!
        • Donuts
        • Frozen Desserts >
          • Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
    • Recommended Ingredients and Foods >
      • Inspiration Mixes - Gluten/Dairy/Caseine/Wheat Free and delicious!
      • Organic Maple Syrup
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Curriculum & Product Reviews >
      • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews >
        • Art >
          • ARTistic Pursuits
          • Simply Draw!
        • Grammar >
          • All About Homophones - (Marie Rippel)
          • Time 4 Learning
          • Daily Grams
        • Handwriting >
          • Cursive Handwriting - New American Cursive
        • History >
          • The Mystery of History >
            • MOH vol. 3 Audio MP3's
          • Tapestry of Grace History
          • U.S. History >
            • America, The Last Best Hope (William Bennett)
          • Winter Promise
        • Latin >
          • Latina Christiana, by Memoria Press
          • Visual Latin
        • Literature-based Unit Studies >
          • Beyond Five in a Row
          • Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft
        • Logic and Reasoning >
          • Building Thinking Skills (Critical Thinking Skills Co.)
        • Math >
          • Math Mammoth
          • Math Tutor DVD.com
          • MathRider: Horselovers' Math Facts Software Game!
        • Music and Composers
        • Online Educational Courses >
          • Aleks Online Courses
        • Science >
          • Apologia Science >
            • Apologia Science's Notebooking Journals
            • Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
          • Science Weekly newsletters
        • Spelling >
          • Phonetic Zoo (by IEW)
        • Writing >
          • The Write Foundation: Level 2 - Paragraphs
          • WriteShop's StoryBuilders
      • Homeschool Product Reviews >
        • eBooks >
          • College Success Begins at Home (TOS eBook)
          • Dreams and Designs—Homemade Supplies to Complement Your Homeschool
          • Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!
          • The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner
        • Online Educational Website Memberships >
          • KB Teacher
        • Science >
          • Polymer Crystals
    • Driver's Education for Homeschoolers
    • Foreign Language >
      • Latin >
        • Christmas Songs in Latin
        • Latina Christiana (Level 1) >
          • Latina Christiana Level 1 Lesson Links >
            • Charts and Helps
            • Year One Sayings
            • LC1 Intro and Lesson 1
      • Latina Christiana (Level II) >
        • Latina Christiana Level 2
        • LC2 Intro and Lesson 1
    • Forms and Charts >
      • "Week At A Glance" Planner
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
    • Free Audio Books to Download
    • Free Homeschool I.D. Cards!
    • Government and Civics
    • Handwriting
    • History: Classical / Chronological >
      • The Mystery of History, by Linda Lacour Hobar
      • The Middle Ages (MOH vol. 2)
      • Ancient History (MOH vol. 1) >
        • Ancient Rome >
          • Roman Architecture
          • Roman Houses
          • Roman Town (software game by Dig-It)
          • Roman Trade and Commerce
    • Language Arts
    • Science
  • Free Printables
    • Holidays >
      • Christmas
  • Book/DVD/Audio Reviews
    • Children's Movie/DVD Reviews
    • Other Product/Company Reviews
  • Home & Family
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening and Herbs
    • Marriage - God's Way
    • Life at Home
    • Godly Kids & Teens >
      • Godly Womanhood
      • Sharing God With Your Children
      • Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home >
        • Keepers At Home - "Beginning of Club Year" Helps
        • Keepers At Home - "End of Club Year" Helps
        • KAH Skills >
          • Bible Memory >
            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
          • Cake Decorating
          • Card Making >
            • Stitched Cards
          • Computers
          • Character Studies >
            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
            • Willingness
          • Decoupage
          • Hospitality
          • Library Skills and Literature Pins
          • Sewing >
            • Beauty and the Pig - Goldie Doll
            • Edwardian-Style Aprons
            • Paper Piecing
      • Children >
        • Bible Study Bookmarks
        • The Church History ABCs (for kids!!!)
        • The Lord's Prayer - copywork
        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
  • Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • About Me
  • What's New! (Blog)
  • Low-Carb Lifestyle!
    • Trim Healthy Mama-inspired Grocery Lists
    • THM-style Beverages >
      • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos
    • Family Favorite Recipes (Not Low Carb) >
      • Snacks >
        • Delicious Homemade Gooey Granola Bars!
        • Healthy Peanut Buttery Treats
      • Soups and Stews >
        • Jamaican Seafood Chowder
        • Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
      • Salads >
        • Red Cabbage Coleslaw
      • Main Dishes >
        • Beef >
          • Beef Stroganoff
        • Chicken >
          • Chicken Fiesta
          • Chicken Nachos
          • Marinated Zucchini and Chicken Sandwiches
          • Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas
          • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
          • Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
        • Lamb >
          • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder
        • Seafood >
          • Chilled Quinoa and Salmon Salad (E)
          • Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas
        • Pasta Recipes >
          • Baked Lemon Pasta
          • Paccheri (Pasta) with Cauliflower and Tomatoes
      • Desserts >
        • Cookies >
          • Free Christmas Cookie cookbook download!
          • Healthier Gingerbread Man Cookies
          • Healthier Holiday Cut-Out Cookes
          • Maple Leaf Cookies - YUMMM!
        • Donuts
        • Frozen Desserts >
          • Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
    • Recommended Ingredients and Foods >
      • Inspiration Mixes - Gluten/Dairy/Caseine/Wheat Free and delicious!
      • Organic Maple Syrup
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Curriculum & Product Reviews >
      • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews >
        • Art >
          • ARTistic Pursuits
          • Simply Draw!
        • Grammar >
          • All About Homophones - (Marie Rippel)
          • Time 4 Learning
          • Daily Grams
        • Handwriting >
          • Cursive Handwriting - New American Cursive
        • History >
          • The Mystery of History >
            • MOH vol. 3 Audio MP3's
          • Tapestry of Grace History
          • U.S. History >
            • America, The Last Best Hope (William Bennett)
          • Winter Promise
        • Latin >
          • Latina Christiana, by Memoria Press
          • Visual Latin
        • Literature-based Unit Studies >
          • Beyond Five in a Row
          • Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft
        • Logic and Reasoning >
          • Building Thinking Skills (Critical Thinking Skills Co.)
        • Math >
          • Math Mammoth
          • Math Tutor DVD.com
          • MathRider: Horselovers' Math Facts Software Game!
        • Music and Composers
        • Online Educational Courses >
          • Aleks Online Courses
        • Science >
          • Apologia Science >
            • Apologia Science's Notebooking Journals
            • Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
          • Science Weekly newsletters
        • Spelling >
          • Phonetic Zoo (by IEW)
        • Writing >
          • The Write Foundation: Level 2 - Paragraphs
          • WriteShop's StoryBuilders
      • Homeschool Product Reviews >
        • eBooks >
          • College Success Begins at Home (TOS eBook)
          • Dreams and Designs—Homemade Supplies to Complement Your Homeschool
          • Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!
          • The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner
        • Online Educational Website Memberships >
          • KB Teacher
        • Science >
          • Polymer Crystals
    • Driver's Education for Homeschoolers
    • Foreign Language >
      • Latin >
        • Christmas Songs in Latin
        • Latina Christiana (Level 1) >
          • Latina Christiana Level 1 Lesson Links >
            • Charts and Helps
            • Year One Sayings
            • LC1 Intro and Lesson 1
      • Latina Christiana (Level II) >
        • Latina Christiana Level 2
        • LC2 Intro and Lesson 1
    • Forms and Charts >
      • "Week At A Glance" Planner
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
    • Free Audio Books to Download
    • Free Homeschool I.D. Cards!
    • Government and Civics
    • Handwriting
    • History: Classical / Chronological >
      • The Mystery of History, by Linda Lacour Hobar
      • The Middle Ages (MOH vol. 2)
      • Ancient History (MOH vol. 1) >
        • Ancient Rome >
          • Roman Architecture
          • Roman Houses
          • Roman Town (software game by Dig-It)
          • Roman Trade and Commerce
    • Language Arts
    • Science
  • Free Printables
    • Holidays >
      • Christmas
  • Book/DVD/Audio Reviews
    • Children's Movie/DVD Reviews
    • Other Product/Company Reviews
  • Home & Family
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening and Herbs
    • Marriage - God's Way
    • Life at Home
    • Godly Kids & Teens >
      • Godly Womanhood
      • Sharing God With Your Children
      • Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home >
        • Keepers At Home - "Beginning of Club Year" Helps
        • Keepers At Home - "End of Club Year" Helps
        • KAH Skills >
          • Bible Memory >
            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
          • Cake Decorating
          • Card Making >
            • Stitched Cards
          • Computers
          • Character Studies >
            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
            • Willingness
          • Decoupage
          • Hospitality
          • Library Skills and Literature Pins
          • Sewing >
            • Beauty and the Pig - Goldie Doll
            • Edwardian-Style Aprons
            • Paper Piecing
      • Children >
        • Bible Study Bookmarks
        • The Church History ABCs (for kids!!!)
        • The Lord's Prayer - copywork
        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
Picture

Inference Jones review: Learning to Read "Between the Lines"

4/24/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
     Can you infer?

     Are you good at inferring things?

     Can you read between the lines?

     Some people are really good at understanding inferences, and others are not.  When people don't read between the lines well, it can cause some major communication problems to crop up. 

     I thought it was important for me to cover this topic with my youngest.  Even though she's in the 6th grade, I wanted to see how well she was doing at making accurate inferences in her reading.  Was she truly comprehending what she was reading?  Or was she not quite reading between the lines as well as I thought she needed to be at her age?

Picture

     When Inference Jones: Beginning came in the mail, I glanced through it, and my first thought was, "Yes!  This is going to be very easy to implement and see how she does with inferences!" 

     The introductory notes were very simple to read through together, and then I had Brittany begin working through the first lesson.  Because she's a quick reader, it didn't take her very long at all.  As we corrected the assignment together, we both noticed that a few things she and I would have selected were actually wrong.  This was a great way to practice the skill of inference and see when to use it - and when not to.

     As Brittany worked through lesson after lesson, they quickly became easier for her.  She began to receive 100% on all of her lesson assignments!  Yes, part of this is because she is a bit older than the target age, but also, she began to quickly understand the key concepts in making proper inferences.

     This is a very simple product to use, and I'm so glad we received it for review!  I highly recommend everything we've ever used from The Critical Thinking Company.  This company had great products available when I was teaching in the public schools, and many of them easily transfer to the homeschooling community as well.

As a side note:  Inference Jones: Beginning has a readability level appropriate for grades 3-4 but can also be used as a remedial resource for older students (grades 5-12+).  Inference Jones costs $11.99 at the time of this review.  You may also look at a couple of sample pages at the link, above.

     Check out what other TOS Crew members thought of Inference Jones!
Picture

 




Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

Disclaimer:  I received one copy of Inference Jones:  Beginning as a member of the TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review of this product.  No other compensation was provided.

2 Comments

Amazing Science DVD Review: Loads of Fun and Learning!

4/24/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture

     Science, for our family, has meant more hands-on fun for everyone! 

     We haven't always been consistent in our science studies, although in the last couple of years, things have gone much better.  It's not that we haven't thoroughly studied science concepts; it's just that we've not studied science in a systematic manner.
Picture

     We received these fun and easy-to-use science DVDs to review in our family, and I just have to say that the experiments that were chosen to include with this are so much fun!

     Brittany is our hands-on, fun science girl of the family, and she has always enjoyed science.  I couldn't wait for her to take a look at these DVDs!

     Here's a quick preview at some of the experiments that are on the two DVDs:



     When we first started playing the first DVD, the girls immediately said, "It's the MathTutor guy!"  And yes, this is Jason, who also sells Math Tutor DVDs.

     The filming, editing, and work on this video was done well.  This wasn't a lame movie made in someone's backyard.  We were impressed with the quality of the content and the form.

     We did notice that Jason tended to be repetitive at times, restating concepts numerous times in only slightly different ways, as if he was nervous about having the lesson be too short in length.

     But other than that, we liked the videography, the science concepts that were introduced, and the ease of using this as part of a science program in our home. 


      (My girls are videography snobs, since one of them makes her own movies several times a week, so that fact that they liked the videography in this DVD series impressed me!)

     If you'd like to learn more about www.ScienceAndMath.com's new science DVDs, you can look here for a lot of science hands-on fun!


Here are the experiments that you'll see in these two DVDs:
  • Color Changing Milk
  • Egg in a Bottle
  • Exploring Air Pressure
  • Build a Lemon Battery
  • Inverted Cup of Water
  • Candle Suction Power
  • Amazing Magnetic Force
  • Lift an Ice Cube with String
  • Unburnable Money
  • Matchstick Speedboat
  • Reversing an Image with Water
  • Floating Eggs
  • Keep Paper Dry Underwater
  • Dry Ice Bubbles
  • Balloon in a Candle Flame
  • Ocean in a Bottle
  • Build a Motor with Lights
  • Simple Lava Lamp
  • Invisible Ink
  • Density Tower
  • Soda Can Fizz
  • Build a Motor #2
The Amazing Science DVD, Volume 1 costs $19.95; the download price is $17.99.

     If you'd like to have a supplies list to print out for these DVDs, Ami from Walking In the Way.com has prepared a list and has received permission from the publisher for others to print it out!

Picture

     Want to read some more opinions and reviews of the Amazing Science DVDs?  Check out what other TOS Crew members have to say!

Picture

 




Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

Disclosure:  I received one copy of the Amazing Science DVD, Volume 1 as a Member of the TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review of this product.  No other compensation was provided.

2 Comments

Lemon Tea Muffins

4/20/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
      Here's a sweet and delicious homemade treat that I rediscovered a couple of months ago from a favorite muffin cookbook of mine!  I haven't yet tried making this with whole wheat pastry flour, but I don't think it would be as light and fluffy as with white flour.  I know, some of you prefer to never use white flour, but our family uses it sparingly, on occasion, for just a few recipes each year.


Lemon Tea Muffins

2 cups flour                                                          ½ cup lemon juice
2 tsp.  baking powder                                           1/4 cup finely chopped nuts
½ tsp.  salt                                                           2 Tbsp.  light brown sugar
1 cup margarine or butter, softened                       1/4 tsp.  ground nutmeg
1 cup sugar                                                           4 eggs, separated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  In large bowl, beat margarine and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg yolks; beat until light.  Gradually stir in lemon juice alternately with dry ingredients (do not overmix).  In small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.  Fold 1/3 egg whites into batter; fold in remaining egg whites.  Fill paper-lined or greased (2½”) muffin cups 3/4 full.  In another small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; sprinkle evenly over muffins.  Bake 15-20 minutes or until set.  Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes.  Remove from pan.  Serve warm.  Makes about 18 muffins. 

From The Muffin Cookbook:  Muffins for All Occasions


EnJOY!

Picture

 




Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com


2 Comments

It's a Nightmare - - I think!

4/15/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture

     So, THIS is what happens when my 14-year-old, Kelsi, has too much time on her hands...and knows how to use Photoshop!

     Nightmare? Or not?

     She does have a sword in her hand. 

     Hmm.

     Maybe this is actually a dream come true for her!

     What do you think?  Shall we take a vote?

     Nightmare?  Or Dream Come True? 

Picture

You won't want to miss my FREE "Trim Healthy Mama-inspired" recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!


1 Comment

TruthQuest History

4/11/2012

5 Comments

 
Picture
     I hated history.  As a child.  As a teen.  And as a college student.

     Now, we've taught our children to not say "hate" unless it is regarding something evil and worthy of that word, so please don't be "hateful" and think that we talk like this all the time! 

     Growing up, though, I had little discretion on when and where it was appropriate to use the word "hate."

     And history was nearly at the top of my "hate list."

     Why?

     Because I had a really hard time memorizing dates, places, and names of people.  And history was taught by reading boring chapters and answering questions at the end of the chapter, followed by a hard test.

     And that was what learning history was all about, right?

     Ugh.

     I even flunked my first midterm in college, in my Bible history class, because we were supposed to list all of the Old Testament kings and prophets in order, chronologically.  Except that the prof never mentioned we'd ever need to know that information or do that in order.  I barely escaped passing the class with a D.  Sigh.


     So when my girls were much younger, and we were going to be just starting out learning history, I knew I wanted to do something different than how I learned in school.  But what?  I hated history, after all, and didn't look forward to teaching it to the girls.

Picture
Brittany and Kelsi in 2007
     I did, however, enjoy reading historical fiction, starting around my junior high school years.  

     Hmm.  Maybe we could choose a curriculum that included lots of literature books. 

     After lots of searching online, dial-up internet, no less, I found a curriculum that would meet our needs.  And we have loved it, over the years!

     It wasn't TruthQuest History, although I did take a quick glance at their online sample all those years ago.


     This spring, however, I've had the opportunity to use and review TruthQuest History with our family, as a part of The Old Schoolhouse (TOS) Crew.

     We were able to select which era of time we wanted to use and review.  Since I am currently beta testing another history curriculum in great depth, I decided to select Age of Revolutions III (1865-2000) because this selection would easily accompany the era we were already learning about at home.


Picture


What did I think about this?


     I have to admit it.  At first, I wasn't all that impressed.  I had scrolled down in the Guide to where we were currently studying at home, and there wasn't all that much to read through in the curriculum itself:  reading 4-6 sentences about an important event in history, and then choosing a literature selection for each child to go into a bit more depth.  Hmm. 

     We were used to reading an in-depth lesson about an event or person, that wove God's view of history and humanity into the lesson.  And we loved that!

     I checked out two books for the library, one for each of the girls, for the particular topic we were studying (World War II - The Holocaust).  I do love the way that TruthQuest History has books listed in age-appropriate order, so it's easy - at a glance - to see which books would most likely be in the right age range for my children.

     I thought it would take the girls a week or so to read their books.  Not so.  They had them read in 1-2 days.  Wow!

Picture

     But then I did what I should have done from the beginning. 

     I took the time to start reading through the entire TruthQuest History guide from page one.  Why didn't I do this earlier? 

     What I noticed right away is that there are many multiple-page, in-depth narratives contained within the TruthQuest guides.  Not just 4-6 sentences here and there, although you will find short bits and pieces from time to time.  But often, there are lengthy descriptions of historical events.  What the author of TruthQuest, Michelle Miller, has done is to show us how each human being's view of God and humanity has swayed history for individuals, groups, and nations.  She reveals how a nation's worldview changes history for the better...or for the worse.

     What I realized, after reading through most of this guide, is that our children will learn that their own individual worldviews (humanism, materialism, God-centered) will greatly effect the rest of their lives - and the lives of those around them.  Maybe their worldviews will even influence nations!


     That's when I became excited about TruthQuest History Guides!  While they could be used as a stand-alone, I really like having in-depth lessons on each event or person we study.  So, I'm going to use TruthQuest History Guides as a supplement to our core history program.  They compliment each other beautifully, and I'm thrilled with the lengthy book and film list contained in TruthQuest, especially since the beta history program I'm testing doesn't yet contain book and film lists, although it will in its finished form. 

     Some notes about the book and film lists in TruthQuest History Guides:

     Not only will you find lists of books (and some films) for each event or person that is studied in this Age of Revolutions 3 (Modern History) Guide, you will also find book lists on:

  • well-known authors of that era
  • artists
  • Native American groups
  • famous inventions and inventors
  • explorers
  • achievements of women
  • achievements of blacks/African Americans
  • musicians
  • missionaries
     Even though children of different ages in my family would be reading different book selections based on their ages and reading abilities, we can be having wonderful discussions as a family about what they are learning as we sit at the dinner table together. 

     Older students who want or need to research particular topics in greater depth are free to do this with TruthQuest History.

     Families can include extras to their reading and literature selections by adding in oral reports, skits, projects, foods, lapbooks, notebooking, timelines, and anything else they can imagine - although please note that those activity and project ideas are not contained within the actual TruthQuest History Guides themselves.


     The TruthQuest History Guide website sells some Companion Resources to be used with the Guides:

  • AJTL Binder-Builders (lapbooking kits)
  • Notebooking page kits
  • AJTL Map/Timeline/Report packages
although those products don't seem to be available for Age of Revolutions volumes 1-3 yet.

     A quick note about the books listed throughout this guide (and all of their guides):  while some of the books have been published more recently, many of the books listed in the guides are much older books, which means that quite a few of them are available free on the internet in eBook form!  (Think Kindle, Nook, downloading to your computer or device, etc.)  That is exciting!  Free is always a good thing!  Mrs. Miller notes that the older books tend to be more conservative and morally appropriate for young readers.  I like that, too!

So, what's the final verdict?

     I really like the spiritual and historical tone I see throughout the TruthQuest History guides.  It is amazing and life-changing! 

     I like the fact that my children (and me!) don't have to be subjected to memorizing long lists of dates and events.

     My girls loved reading the book selections that we chose!

     I still want to combine this with our current history program, but it could easily stand alone and be very useful for families.  I think the time-consuming part for the parent would be to identify which books each child would read, since the whole family can do this one curriculum together, and then to either buy or borrow from the library - or download free from the internet - the books a family wants to use for each section.

     This is a fabulous curriculum, one of my most favorite products I've reviewed this school year. 


     You may look at the Table of Contents for my specific guide (Age of Revolutions volume 3 - 1865 to 2000).

     You may view samples of American History 3 as well. 


     TruthQuest History's website shows the many Guides they have available for different areas of history.


     A TruthQuest History user has created an online discussion loop for fellow users. They would love to have you join them as they share ideas, victories, insights, and questions. To join, simply send an email to: [email protected].

The cost?  Each Guide is from $24.95 to $34.95, with the PDF versions (if available) costing $5 to $6 less per Guide.  Since these Guides could easily be used for a full year of history, for all of the children in your family, this is quite reasonable!  Any additional costs would be for purchasing various books, buying lapbooks and notebooking journals, etc., which are all optional.

     If you have questions about TruthQuest History, please let me know in the comments section below.  Thanks!
Picture

 




Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

Disclosure:  I received a PDF version of the TruthQuest History Guide:  Age of Revolutions, Volume 3 in exchange for an honest review of this product.  No other compensation was provided.

5 Comments

Book Review: Love's Sacred Song

4/10/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
LOVE’S SACRED SONG
by Mesu Andrews

     A love story about King Solomon, in the old days of Israel.


     A love story about the little Shumenite woman who knew from her early childhood that she would one day be his bride.

     A story woven with the intricacies of court life in and out of a harem, the political picture of the time, and the many underlying schemes which always go along with people who want to sway a king to their own opportunities.

     A very powerful story with a definite basis in the Bible (especially in the books of Samuel, Chronicles, Kings, and of course, Song of Solomon in the Old Testament).

      Sometimes it is difficult to see how God is working in our lives, but this story makes it clear that even though we cannot see His way, we should abide by His commands and promises and let Him do His work. The little shepherdess, Arielah, captures the promises of her Lord and never gives up on His promises to her. This is a woman raised by very godly parents who also know the promise and do their part to fulfill it.

      Many interesting facts of life during that time are made known, and it is eye-opening to come to an understanding of all the intrigue and mystery going on amongst the leaders and even the lowliest of citizens during the time of Solomon. He, indeed, was a wise man, as wisdom was the gift given him by the Lord, but he was also a man and one who made many mistakes.

      Though Love's Sacred Song is a work of fiction with a basis in the truth of the Bible, it is wonderful to have this part of history brought to life in such an interesting and loving way.





About the author:

Picture


     Mesu Andrews is also the author of Love Amid the Ashes and is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.


_
Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Picture

 




Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com



Disclaimer:  I received one paperback copy of Love's Sacred Song from Baker/Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review of this book.  No other compensation was provided.

0 Comments

Journey to Christmas: A Reality DVD Series of Faith

4/7/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
     Okay.

     Let's be honest here.

     How many of you have stashed something away for Christmas, as a gift for someone you love, and you forget about it?

     Then, when you're cleaning out your bedroom closet, or dusting up high, or looking for something that you know is stored under your bed, you find it?

     That's what happened to me this week.

     Only it wasn't a gift that had been secretly stored away.

     It was a beautiful DVD set that I had been sent to review, clear back in November.

     Oops!

     How could I have missed writing this in on my calendar?

Picture

     Imagine my surprise when I found this as I was cleaning up the computer desk.  I'll admit it - it was buried under a pile of papers and "important" documents on my desk.  So important that I hadn't gone through them in obviously a few months.

     Uh-oh!

     Journey to Christmas is a fascinating “reality show meets documentary” that follows five modern explorers as they trace the story of Jesus’ birth on site in the Holy Land. Filmed in Israel, this four-episode production guides viewers on a remarkable journey through the culture, history, people, and archaeology surrounding the Nativity story.

     Using a reality show format, the four episodes chronicle the diverse experiences of the five travelers:  an agnostic political analyst, a First Nations youth worker, a Christian singer, an artist, and a boisterous radio talk show host.  They discover the history of Christmas through on-site experiences in the Holy Land. Viewers will follow them as they explore ancient ruins relevant to Christ’s birth and ministry, learn archaeological and historical context surrounding the Nativity, and even perform ancient carpentry that Jesus practiced.

     Culminating with Christmas day in Bethlehem, the journey is guided by a local Christian historian (Nizar Shaheen) with on-camera commentary from a team of Bible experts. Stunning high-definition cinematography, exotic locations, and enlightening commentary make Journey to Christmas perfect holiday entertainment for the family. The discussion guide included in the DVD menu makes it a wonderful small group and church resource for the Advent season.

    
     My take on Journey to Christmas? 

     Well, I think the five people selected for this DVD set/reality television documentary accurately represent many people in Christian churches in the United States today.  Lots of agnosticism; many people who aren't sure what they believe or who they believe in; others who say they need to experience a miracle or mighty touch from God in order to believe in Him; even more who learned about Christ as a child, and maybe even prayed a prayer, but it hasn't had an impact on their lives as adults.   


     The cinematography is fabulous.  The geographical and cultural visits throughout this movie are beautiful and inspiring.  I would add, though, that not much Scripture is shared in this movie, and it has been filmed more for "seekers" rather than those who have a solid faith in Jesus Christ.

     You can find this movie here at Christian Book.com, as well as many other online and local bookstores.  The Journey to Christmas is an inspiring movie, especially for those who haven't seen or learned much about the culture and geography of the Holy Land.
Picture





Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

Disclaimer:  Tyndale Publishers has provided me with a complimentary DVD set of The Journey to Christmas, in exchange for my honest review of this product here on my website.  No other compensation has been provided.

1 Comment
    Picture

    ​​Hi!  I'm Julieanne!
    You'll find me in the kitchen
    ​trying new 
    Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters. ​


    Find
    Joy In Our Journey on:


    Sign up to receive
    Joy In Our Journey's
    latest blog posts, freebies, and more!

    You won't want to miss my FREE "Trim Healthy Mama-inspired" recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!

      
    Picture
    Picture
        I'd love to share your product with my readers.  If you would like me to do a review and giveaway, just contact me via email and let me know how I can help.


        Disclosure: Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you anything extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so, it helps to support this site, so thank you!
     

     

    Search
    Joy In Our Journey

    Loading
     

    Archives

    December 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from jaakko.hakulinen, theglobalpanorama, Sarah Korf, jeffreyw, crayonmonkey, Joshua Singh, Sam Howzit, kimberlyac, miggslives, rust.bucket, Derick Leony, Big D2112, Violette79, Andrea.Pacheco, youngthousands, niiicedave, mommyknows, Dominic's pics, sleepyneko, madaise, Daquella manera, Arild Andersen, TounoTouji, jchapiewsky, dennis, cooper.gary, supersum (off), advisorymatters, Nomadic Lass, Effervescing Elephant, ralph and jenny, alubavin, brendan-c, ImNotQuiteJack, jeffreyw, iamlemonfilm, Colin_K, Andrew Michaels, ivoryelephantphotography, bennylin0724, Jo Naylor, daveoratox, f10n4, Bludgeoner86, Ack Ook, BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives, pylbug, limaoscarjuliet, Barbara L. Hanson, CapitalK buy design, Vibragiel, matthiasxc, Podknox, qnr, Sadie_Girl, ComputerHotline, pppspics, Anna Loverus, Joi, Rob.Bertholf, Sheyla Ruiz, nachans, ♥serendipity, IsaacMao, *cart-wheels*, TRFPhotography, vxla, lisaclarke, Missouri History Museum, doortoriver, sunshinecity, anna gutermuth, USCPSC, L. Allen Brewer, bluebirdsandteapots, ell brown, vestman, *PaysImaginaire*, mightyohm, Lars Plougmann, Alex_Lewis116, yoppy, HealthGauge, 401(K) 2013, aprilandrandy, Ben Sutherland, Mason Masteka, WillowGardeners, MStewartPhotography, “Caveman Chuck” Coker, kodomut, DanCentury, TrishaLyn, Katie@!, Looking Glass, Nicholas_T, Francis Storr, Allie_Caulfield, Creative Tools, Aidan Jones, Tim Brown Architecture, HerryLawford, Brett Levin Photography, Gudlyf, Chocolate Reviews, greggoconnell, EmilyWhitwam, Phú Thịnh Co, ilovememphis, cliff1066™, Chi King, erix!, Tony Fischer Photography, GlasgowAmateur, ktylerconk, cfourcalvin, David Locke, blhphotography, dominiqs, quinet, stevendepolo, surlygirl, guzzphoto, mikebaird, rich701, coolmikeol, procsilas, • Happy Batatinha •, pmarkham, Luz Adriana Villa A., LisaW123, fireballsedai, CJS*64, gagilas, Christian Haugen, freddie boy, tausend und eins, fotografik, roland, nedradio, makelessnoise, Salvation Army USA West, TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³, Arenamontanus, 401(K) 2013, f_mafra, trippingbobcat, brooklyn, Viajar24h.com, yanajenn, jamieanne, hardworkinghippy, ccharmon, eofstr, Julia Manzerova, jhoc, Orin Zebest, battlecreekcvb, jmrodri, trekkyandy, timsnell, Salil Wadhavkar, ewen and donabel, Ted Van Pelt, David Paul Ohmer, Kevin May, CCAC North Library, I_Nneska, AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker, dwstucke, Bonnie B., elise.y, Bill Selak, sam_churchill, JD Hancock, olga.palma, cbr_case, acme, alyak, creating in the dark, TrishaLyn, jacilluch, hans s, cwwycoff1, Karen Roe, AlexiUeltzen, surrelmar, Jeff Kubina, rich701, adie reed, pacificbro, dwstucke, rharrison, avlxyz, Jim, the Photographer, Danndalf, storebukkebruse, rodaniel, dicktay2000, exfordy, torres21, Mr. T in DC, avlxyz, andrealindenberg, HarshLight, stevendepolo, publicenergy, Jan Tik, aechempati, ume-y, xfce, Pink Sherbet Photography, nlian, bittle, bradleygee, rs-foto, JamieDrakePhotos, SimonDoggett, slopjop, Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL, BozDoz, GoRun26, prettyinprint, WTL photos, Minnesota Historical Society, www.bluewaikiki.com, stevendepolo, LibAmanda, jspatchwork, Jinx!, ncmichael2k3, Clevergrrl, michaelkmak, Generationbass.com, Dougtone, roger4336, slgckgc, twicepix, lisatozzi, Lee Nachtigal, Kevin Lawver, brianfuller6385, jamieanne, quinn.anya, SupremeCrete, StockMonkeys.com, OliverN5, jeffreyw, Muffet, krossbow, fdecomite, JeepersMedia, jimmiehomeschoolmom, Zanastardust, joyosity, frotzed2, szapucki, Vincent van der Pas, normalityrelief, Emily Carlin, Clevergrrl, allyrose18, sleepyneko, Jeff Kubina, efleming, Artman1122, notjustsquirrels, PhotoAtelier, roolrool, onnola, Charles Williams, greggoconnell, Highway Patrol Images, andrechinn, loop_oh, ayustety, toinerooijmans, vmiramontes, Claricethebakergardener, mind on fire, jimmiehomeschoolmom, Kat Johnston / Sanura Sakai, toinerooijmans, rfduck, stu_spivack, OmegaPoint, ingridtaylar, AdamSelwood, Gog Llundain, pbody