For about ten years, I've watched a considerable number of local homeschooling families place their children into public or private school when they reach either the junior high or high school years. They've had multiple reasons for doing this. Please understand that I am not criticizing them for their choice. Often, they have felt God leading them in this direction. I've observed other homeschooling families place their junior high or high school children into charter school-at-home programs; most of their time is still homeschooling at home. We've been praying and thinking about several options for our girls once they reach high school. But so far, none of those other options have seemed to be the right choice for our own family. Kelsi (age 14) participated in a mock trial club at our local high school this last year. While she loved being on a mock trial team (half homeschoolers, half public schoolers), there were some things that she really didn't like about being in a public school program, and she has no desire to take classes from a public school or public school charter school program for her high school years. We have felt peace about teaching our girls at home during their high school years. One of the areas about teaching high school at home - that I felt I've needed to learn more about - is keeping appropriate high school records. There are many views among public school teachers and administration on how to grade student work. Throw in differing views of private school teachers, those of colleges and universities (yes, those vary, too!) and homeschool parents, and it can be tough to sort it all out. Also, what about transcripts? How do I write one that will be acceptable for college admission, should my daughters be interested in attending college in the future? How do I go about writing Course Descriptions to include with my daughters' transcripts? I was excited to learn about Lee Binz's recent book: Setting the Records Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admission and Scholarships.
Non-fiction books are interesting to me but take me F-O-R-E-V-E-R to read! I think this is because I'm usually reading with background "noise": piano lessons, violin lessons, and even Netflix movies in the evenings at home. Well, one of the best things ever (for a homeschoolin' mama) happened when Lee Binz's book, Setting the Records Straight came in the mail last Saturday. I took my girls plus three of their friends up to Homeschool Outdoor School on Sunday afternoon - and dropped them off for three days of fun and learning. After I arrived home on Monday afternoon, I had several hours to myself for my own fun and learning! I was able to read Setting the Record Straight in about two hours. Yeah! Um - yes, this is what I do these days for fun. And I enjoy it a lot! (See, I am a crazy, desperate lunatic!) 
Setting the Records Straight will not answer every question you've ever had about educating a high school student at home. It will, however, cause you to have confidence in what you are doing - to know that the record keeping you will be maintaining at home will be well accepted and appreciated by colleges and universities. My questions about how to develop our own transcripts, and how to write course descriptions were completely answered. I feel very confident about how to do that now. I'm also excited that homeschoolers are able to include so much more than public school students when they submit admission applications to colleges and universities! Homeschoolers are definitely at an advantage when it comes to their permanent records and providing a much more well-rounded picture of themselves when they apply for admission. My favorite aspect of Setting the Records Straight? Lee immediately jumps into answering questions that you have, instead of spending 2/3 of the book in theories! She wastes no time in helping you to get started, step by step, in record-keeping and preparing your high schooler for college. I love this! I wish many other books would follow her example. And she includes page after page of samples and examples. You'll love this! If you've had fears about teaching your older children at home during the high school years, you will gain a lot out of Lee's book. I'm so glad I've read it!
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| Lee Binz from www.TheHomeScholar.com is allowing me to give away one copy of her book, Setting the Records Straight! Just enter below, using the Rafflecopter form, for entries to this giveaway. Entrants must be 18 years old or older, and residents in the United States. |
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The HomeScholar.com provided me with one paperback copy of Setting the Records Straight in exchange for my honest review of the book. No other compensation was provided.
27 Comments
 Judith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. When time permits, Judy enjoys traveling, visiting historical settings, and scrapbooking the photographs from her travel expeditions. She makes her home in Topeka, Kansas. Visit her Web site at judithmccoymiller.com. |  |  Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie's Web site at www.traciepeterson.com and her blog at writespassage.blogspot.com |
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New Christian fiction from Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson!
Book Summary: Escape to a Beautiful, Historic Island Resort in Bridal Veil Island, Georgia (1898)
Melinda Colson has been waiting months for Evan, the assistant gamekeeper at the Bridal Veil Island resort, to propose. Without an offer of marriage, she must return to Cleveland with the family she works for as a lady's maid.
Evan isn't afraid of hard work, and he hopes to be promoted soon. He wants to marry Melinda--but not until he's sure he can support her and a family.
Letters strengthen their romance until a devastating storm strikes the island. With no word from Evan, Melinda knows she must journey back to Bridal Veil in search of her beloved.
However, the hurricane isn't the last calamity to shake up Bridal Veil. Melinda finds a new job on the island, but still no offer of marriage comes her way. Has she given her heart to the wrong person? Will she ever find a man to love and cherish?
Melinda Colson has been waiting months for Evan, the assistant gamekeeper at the Bridal Veil Island resort, to propose. Without an offer of marriage, she must return to Cleveland with the family she works for as a lady's maid.
Evan isn't afraid of hard work, and he hopes to be promoted soon. He wants to marry Melinda--but not until he's sure he can support her and a family.
Letters strengthen their romance until a devastating storm strikes the island. With no word from Evan, Melinda knows she must journey back to Bridal Veil in search of her beloved.
However, the hurricane isn't the last calamity to shake up Bridal Veil. Melinda finds a new job on the island, but still no offer of marriage comes her way. Has she given her heart to the wrong person? Will she ever find a man to love and cherish?
Joy In Our Journey's Review:
Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller have teamed up one more time to bring us a
great new series: Bridal Veil Island. The attention to detail and unexpected
situations make this a must-read for those of us who enjoy a fast-paced story with
realistic characters, detailed descriptions and, above all, an enjoyable story.
To Love and Cherish, Book Two of the series, brings together two young people
who seem never to be on the same page, but still manage to fall in love. Melinda
is a young lady who has taken on a job as a ladies' maid to support herself after
the death of her parents. Evan is a young man who was orphaned but is willing
to work hard to succeed. How ever are they going to make this romance work?
Both need to learn to trust God and allow Him to make a difference in their lives.
The story is set in the late 1890's, and the lifestyles and lives of the characters in
the story accurately portray this time period. The authors have done an excellent
job of making the reader feel that she might have been there at this time. The portrayal of the manners, clothes, attitudes and personalities of the characters bring this time period to life and made me rather long for a quieter, more gentle time to live.
An excerpt from To Love and Cherish:
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I received a free paperback copy of To Love and Cherish from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for Joy In Our Journey's honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
 | Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. |  |
Book Summary:
Lt. Mellie Blake is a nurse serving in the 802nd Medical Squadron, Air Evacuation, Transport. As part of a morale building program, she reluctantly enters into an anonymous correspondence with Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer in the 908th Engineer Aviation Battalion in North Africa. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face to face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage to their past? And can they learn to trust God and embrace the gift of love he offers them?
Joy In Our Journey's review:
Sometimes wishes do come true! I had just finished reding a trilogy by Sarah Sundin, and was wishing that she had written another, when out of the blue here one was! I started reading and discovered that it was good as her first books. The first chapter drew me in. Two people who, each in their own way, had experienced disappointment and personal problems that made them doubt their worth as an individual caught my interest immediately.
Sarah Sundin's new series, Wings of the Nightingale, begins with With Every Letter. This begins an interesting story of two young people in the midst of WW II, beginning an anonymous correspondence as part of a morale booster program. Tom
is an engineer stationed in Africa and Mellie is a nurse who is part of a new program to fly injured soldiers to hospitals for their care.
As their letters flow,, each feels confident to share their personal problems and insecurities with an anonymous person. After all, they will never meet whoever they are writing to, right? Well, God has a plan, and through their correspondence, Tom and Mellie are going to learn how to overcome the problems that keep them from experiencing the best that God has for each one.
With Every Letter is well researched with accurate descriptions and believable situations. Information about WW II and realistic portrayal of everyday life faced by the armed forces personal make this a book you will not want to miss. I hope that book two is well on its way to my favorite book store. I will have a hard time waiting.
Sarah Sundin's new series, Wings of the Nightingale, begins with With Every Letter. This begins an interesting story of two young people in the midst of WW II, beginning an anonymous correspondence as part of a morale booster program. Tom
is an engineer stationed in Africa and Mellie is a nurse who is part of a new program to fly injured soldiers to hospitals for their care.
As their letters flow,, each feels confident to share their personal problems and insecurities with an anonymous person. After all, they will never meet whoever they are writing to, right? Well, God has a plan, and through their correspondence, Tom and Mellie are going to learn how to overcome the problems that keep them from experiencing the best that God has for each one.
With Every Letter is well researched with accurate descriptions and believable situations. Information about WW II and realistic portrayal of everyday life faced by the armed forces personal make this a book you will not want to miss. I hope that book two is well on its way to my favorite book store. I will have a hard time waiting.
An excerpt from With Every Letter :
With Every Letter is available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller - from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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I received one paperback copy of With Every Letter in exchange for Joy In Our Journey.com's honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
If you love Christian worship music, especially Vineyard worship music, you're in for a treat!
 Featuring Casey Corum & Friends | This Is Your Kingdom Come Now, recorded LIVE at the Sugar Land Vineyard Church in Texas, is a brand new set of powerful congregational worship songs! You will hear Vineyard worship leader and songwriter Casey Corum on this album. Two nights of recording this album with a church full of worshipping believers in Jesus brought this worship album to fruition. You'll also hear Torri Baker, Crispin Schroeder, and a 17-voice gospel choir within the phrases of songs. What style of music is this worship CD? Well, it's a mix of a little gospel, R&B, and modern rock - it sounds typical of much of Vineyard worship music. Be prepared for some intimate worship with God while listening to this album! |
TRACK LIST: You can listen to samples of these songs here!
- Love has Rescued Me
- Heaven Come Down (This is Your Kingdom Come Now)
- Where the Mercy Falls
- Peace
- How I Love Your Ways
- Kindness
- Who is Like Our God
- What Joy is Found
- Form Us
- My Great Redeemer
- Psalm 92 (It is Good to Give Thanks)
- We are Clean
Here's a preview of one of the songs on this album:
Learn more about Vineyard Worship Music:
Website: http://www.vineyardworship.com
Website: http://caseycorum.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverVineyard
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vineyardmusic
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/vineyardmusic/featured
And now for the giveaway!
I'm able to give away one CD copy of This is Your Kingdom Come Now to one of my readers! To enter, just use the Rafflecopter form below. I'll announce the winner of the new worship CD on Sunday, September 30!
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Joy In Our Journey.com |
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
| Talent to Treasure: |
The author, Marcia Washburn, would like you to know that anyone who orders Talent to Treasure by Sept. 21st, 2012 will also receive her free bonus eBook, Teach Your Family to Play the Soprano Recorder. It is written for someone with no musical background. To request the additional bonus eBook, please email Marcia after purchasing Talent to Treasure and let her know that you just purchased Talent to Treasure and would like to obtain the additional bonus book, Teach Your Family to Play the Soprano Recorder. She'll be happy to assist you!
Also, congratulations to Lisa M. who won a new copy of Talent to Treasure for herself on my giveaway!
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Joy In Our Journey.com |
 | Dan Walsh knew he wanted to become a writer in his high school years, but he became a Christian, married his wife, became a pastor, and then became a father. Twenty-five years later, after retiring from the ministry, he was ready to write. Dan began writing full time in 2010. He now has six novels published with Revell as of September 2012. |  |
The Reunion Book Review (written by guest reviewer, Kelsi, age 14)
“The Reunion”.
The title of the little book sitting on the kitchen counter gave me plenty to be about which to be skeptical. The moment I saw its name, I could see a totally generic and wonderfully boring plot unravel in my mind: a man and a woman who used to be in a relationship and have been separated for years after a terribly messy breakup meet a long time later and rediscover their love for each other.
Blech. Heart-wrenching painful backstories, unrealistic reunions, and sloppy emotions wrapped up into a not-so-neat package labeled “Romance” are not my cup of tea. I’m not a chick flick girl. I’d rather take The Dark Knight or War Horse over Confessions of a Shopaholic or While You Were Sleeping any day. Not to say that I abhor romance; I just don’t like a movie or book dedicated to the study of that subject.
But, even with my preconceived notions that I would hate The Reunion, I picked it up and turned it over to read the summary on the back. Whoa - I was totally wrong!
And so I eagerly flicked the book cover open and proceeded to ravenously tear through its pages in a couple of hours.
What did I like about it? Well…
Pretty much everything.
This book covers everything from sweet romance to gritty war scenes, shattered families to new friendships. The main focus of the book is on Aaron Miller, a Vietnam vet who has been living in a little old mobile home park, finishing out his life in obscurity. Although he was bestowed a high honor in the military when he came home many years ago, he couldn’t stop drinking, and his wife left him and took their children with him. So now Aaron is something of a handyman, fixing broken decks and walkways and taking down or putting up decorations in the park to match the holidays.
Other main characters are Dave Russo, a journalist interviewing Vietnam vets for a book to honor his father’s memory as well as being given an exceedingly unusual task by a group of well-to-do veterans, and Karen Miller, a real estate agent who has never met her real father.
This book is a beautiful, wonderfully-crafted story of forgiveness, redemption, honor, and family. Dan Walsh, author of The Reunion, carefully reveals little details about the characters through their actions and thoughts, creating a captivating tale you won’t be able to resist. I could barely put this book down once I started it!
If you are interested in military or U.S. history; if you enjoy romance that’s appropriate; if you like reading about humble heroes; if reunions of family and friends are your cup of tea; if you like to read books where there are believable happy endings…
...then this is the book for you.
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It's time for a giveaway!
For the next week, starting today and running till next Monday, September 17th, Dan Walsh is celebrating the release of his new novel, The Reunion, with a 10-book giveaway contest! Five winners will each receive a signed copy of The Reunion, as well as his third novel, The Deepest Waters. (He’s including this book because it was named a finalist for an ACFW Carol Award for book-of-the-year). Click on the link below to see how easily you can enter the contest!
http://danwalshbooks.com/the-reunion-book-giveaway-contest/
http://danwalshbooks.com/the-reunion-book-giveaway-contest/
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Joy In Our Journey.com |
The Reunion is available beginning September 2012 at your favorite bookseller - from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
I received one paperback copy of The Reunion in exchange for Joy In Our Journey's honest review. No other compensation was provided.
 | I was born and raised in Kentucky, came to know Christ there at the age of 12, was baptized in our Baptist Church, and spent my childhood roaming through the woods and swimming in the rivers of my books. My earliest memories are of the public library, standing in front of shelves filled with those little biographies of famous historical figures like Daniel Boone and George Washington and Sacajawea. I began scribbling stories at age 7 and thankfully never stopped. My passion then and now is history and all the wonders of past centuries. It was never a desire of mine to be published. I simply love to write for the sheer joy of writing – and that was enough. But as Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Currently I’m living in Washington state with my real-life hero, Randy, and our two sons, Wyatt and Paul. It’s a beautiful, rainy place – perfect for penning stories… |  Author Laura Frantz |
Summary of Love's Reckoning
On a bitter December day in 1785, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of master blacksmith Liege Lee in York, Pennsylvania. Just months from becoming a master blacksmith himself, Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship and move west. But Liege soon discovers that Silas is a prodigious worker and craftsman and endeavors to keep him in Lancaster. Silas becomes interested in both of Liege's daughters, the gentle and faith-filled Eden and the clever and high-spirited Elspeth. When he chooses one, will the other's jealousy destroy their love?
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Book Review by Joy In Our Journey
Silas Ballantyne has no idea what he is getting into when he takes on a blacksmith apprenticeship in a small village near York, Pennsylvania. A Scottish immigrant who has already been through a lot of grief in his twenty-plus years, he is grateful for the opportunity to finish out the less than one year of his apprenticeship and then be on his way West. This story is set in the 1780’s, shortly following the end of the Revolutionary War.
Silas is a strong, handsome, Christian young man who has an extremely strong work ethic and makes himself very useful in the household of the village blacksmith, Liege Lee, his wife, two quite marriageable daughters, and two very young sons, one newly born just the day of his arrival. The tradition of the family is that whoever comes as an apprentice will marry the eldest daughter and also inherit the “estate” of the blacksmith. Silas is not at all enticed by the eldest daughter, Elspeth, though she immediately sets her sights on making him her husband. He is, however, quite attracted to the younger daughter, Eden, and she to him. It is a very difficult situation in a household with many, many secrets and an extremely strict head-of-household, Liege Lee.
Eden is a lovely 19-year-old who is prevented from expressing herself verbally in her household—part of the “code of silence” they all seem to adhere to in order to prevent the others from knowing their true thoughts and secrets of the heart. She loves the little children, the garden she faithfully tends, books she finds to read, even doing housework, though she ends up working like a servant for all the family. She has never been allowed to go inside the little church on the hill above their house but longs to know what goes on there. Silas shares readings from his own Bible with her and writes out verses for her to memorize.
Elzpeth, a 21-year-old, is totally immersed in her quest for a man and sets no limits to what she will do to get one. She is also her father’s “right-hand man” in his blacksmith shop and takes care of his books and accounts for him. He trusts her completely and even helps her to begin taking advantage of customers who frequent the shop because they are willing to pay even more for the services of Silas, an expert blacksmith.
Love's Reckoning was hard to put down, as there are so many interesting twists and turns in it, never a dull moment. It actually spans several years, and the ending is as enticing as the beginning.
Silas is a strong, handsome, Christian young man who has an extremely strong work ethic and makes himself very useful in the household of the village blacksmith, Liege Lee, his wife, two quite marriageable daughters, and two very young sons, one newly born just the day of his arrival. The tradition of the family is that whoever comes as an apprentice will marry the eldest daughter and also inherit the “estate” of the blacksmith. Silas is not at all enticed by the eldest daughter, Elspeth, though she immediately sets her sights on making him her husband. He is, however, quite attracted to the younger daughter, Eden, and she to him. It is a very difficult situation in a household with many, many secrets and an extremely strict head-of-household, Liege Lee.
Eden is a lovely 19-year-old who is prevented from expressing herself verbally in her household—part of the “code of silence” they all seem to adhere to in order to prevent the others from knowing their true thoughts and secrets of the heart. She loves the little children, the garden she faithfully tends, books she finds to read, even doing housework, though she ends up working like a servant for all the family. She has never been allowed to go inside the little church on the hill above their house but longs to know what goes on there. Silas shares readings from his own Bible with her and writes out verses for her to memorize.
Elzpeth, a 21-year-old, is totally immersed in her quest for a man and sets no limits to what she will do to get one. She is also her father’s “right-hand man” in his blacksmith shop and takes care of his books and accounts for him. He trusts her completely and even helps her to begin taking advantage of customers who frequent the shop because they are willing to pay even more for the services of Silas, an expert blacksmith.
Love's Reckoning was hard to put down, as there are so many interesting twists and turns in it, never a dull moment. It actually spans several years, and the ending is as enticing as the beginning.
An excerpt from Love's Reckoning:
 | Julieanne |
Love's Reckoning is available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller - from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
I received one paperback copy of Love's Reckoning in exchange for my honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
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.
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