Very few children like mathematics, especially as they move forward into learning algebra. They will hit a wall, get frustrated and ask “Why do I have to learn this? Will I ever use this in real life?” Unfortunately, adults tend not to have a response to these questions. It is common sense that you should know mathematics, but I know I haven’t run across a single person who has been able to make an argument that responds with these inquisitive and disgruntled children. To be completely honest, the reason …
This is a great Blog from “Numbers and Knitting”. I thought that my readers would appreciate these insights on the tool of Algebra. I personally found some answers to give my kids when they say “Why do I need to know this stuff anyway?” Now if only that would guarantee that they will love it after my newly profound answer!
Stay tuned for those reviews! Truthfully, I have finished reading all of those and I am writing up the reviews. Being without a computer on a regular basis for such a loooong time, is making it hard to catch up on everything!
Homemade Convenience Foods and the Organized Homeschool are great books that are making my home more organized and peaceful. Peril and The Unseen were books that I read for fun. One is written by a Homeschool Mom and one is written by a Homeschooled student. (Hmmm, I am starting to see a pattern here!)
Actually, the Cookbook ( Homemade Convenience Foods) and the Organized Homeschool e-books are also written by Homeschoolers!
Today publishing…tomorrow the rest of the world!
But you don’t have to be a Homeschooler to enjoy these titles- they are all great and I will tell you more about them later. So no, I am not stalling, I am just posting this to build up your anticipation!
In other news, I have been working on some crafts, planning my garden and got invited to Pinterest (woohoo). We have also been studying Alfred Hitchcock movies (fun!). The kids got involved in some sword fighting for P.E. (fencing tournament) and our family recently had a major Pictionary face off . I love our extra curricular activities!
We are currently writing several screenplays for family films and documentaries and the kids recently completed editing on two major (ok- very minor, but cool) motion pictures one in which, I made my film acting debut (I play the MOM)!
So, pretty busy this year so far and thanks in part, to the tips I am getting from all my reading, we have really been able to enjoy our time together!
From the director of “Angels In the Outfield” comes an inspiring story about a special boy with an amazing gift, and the coach who believed. Dean Cain and Luke Schroder star in the gmc movie based on the book “The Legend of Mickey Tussler“.
This was a fun, family Baseball movie! This enjoyable movie is Dove Approved for Family viewing. There were a couple of expletives and one violent scene where someone is injured ( no spoilers review!) but overall, I would say this is appropriate for all but the youngest viewers. The film deals respectfully with Aspberger’s Syndrome and has a good message about heroes, teamwork, acceptance and fairness.
You can check out the trailer here:
The movie is available on DVD very soon, BUT you can win my drawing for a FREE copy simply by leaving a comment here at this post (be sure to leave me a way to reach you in case you are the winner).
The totally random drawing will be on Wednesday January the 25th- so leave a comment right away in order to be entered.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: The opinions posted here are mine alone. I received a copy of the DVD mentioned above for free, in the 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.”
Well we are easing back into our regular routine this week, although anyone who knows us, knows that doesn’t mean a lot of “routine” since our schedule seems to ”routinely” change!
Yesterday we had our 4-H Club meeting which was fun even though I am not the best at teaching about electronics! We have a fun field trip to the Lego store planned and our club is planning on purchasing some robotics stuff for the kids to work on too. Last year’s fundraising money will be gone so we are planning a bake sale next month. Our club totally has the best bakers in it!
Last night when I got home from an Advisory Committee Meeting, we played a great family game called “Imagineiff”. This is a good game to play with your kids- you will not fail to find out what they really think of you
We had some unanimous votes and some votes that left us discussing why we thought certain ways about someone. This was sometimes sort of “deep” and sometimes very silly and funny! Altogether a good way to get your family communicating and to learn more about each other in a completely non-threatening way! The kids were having fun and so were the grown-ups. I didn’t even have to remind anyone to be nice.
You can get the game at a local department store like I did, or go to Amazon and check it out there:
Game Description:
Ages 12+. 3-8 players. 35 minutes. 10th anniversary edition. The funniest game you can imagine! To Win: It’s simple! Just imagine what the other players are most like. The most popular answers will advance to win. What will your friends and family think of you? Included: 8 pawns, 1 die, ? token, 64 colored numbered voting cards, 212 Imaginiff question cards, 52 pick-a-player cards, dry erase marker, eraser, card box, gameboard & rules. Made in USA.
Directions: Write everyone’s name on the erasable gameboard – use friends or relatives for any empty spaces. Roll to decide who is the subject of the question and read a card aloud. Everyone votes, and the right answer is actually the most popular answer!
Today we will work on our 4-H club Project Record books and then go Roller Skating with our Homeschool group. The kids will skate and I will get to chat with my Homeschool Mom friends
Now that my vacation “malaise” is wearing off, I am really excited about getting more organized and about learning some clever cooking tips from some e-books that I finished and am going to review here!
It is Wednesday and well into 2012. I know that the picture above is out of date, but I didn’t really notice it at first and then, well, I just didn’t feel like making a new one so- Happy 2012!
The kids and I are still on vacation (you could tell that couldn’t you) and thus, I am having a hard time “giving a hoot” about anything today! The only thing I have done of any importance lately is bake cookies and keep the laundry hamper from overflowing!
I am enjoying some reading -both serious and light (more on this later!) and some very serious movie marathons with my family!
In case you noticed that I haven’t been posting lately, and were wondering what happened to my blog, I will give you the short version of the story:
Both computers blow up (exaggeration here- they didn’t actually catch fire or anything!)+ bad things started happening to both cars + Christmas gifts = No money + no computer use for over a month!
Originally, this lack, led to severe computer and blog withdrawal symptoms, which have since morphed into the somewhat blase’ attitude which I am exhibiting here today!
I am certain that my “ho-hum” attitude is only temporary, since my wonderful hubbie and in-laws banded together to get me a new laptop as a Christmas gift and I have been playing with all the features recently.
I am feeling more geeky as the days go by and feel sure that soon I will be back to my regular old OCD self!
In between bites of delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies, I am planning some goals for the new year, which obviously includes losing weight, which is why I have to munch on the cookies now! (more on this later too)
The first goal I am writing on my list is: ”take down Christmas decorations from 2011″ – that way I am sure to get one checked off this month.
Well, I am glad to be back on the web with this new lightning fast computer! I am loving having a laptop again and I also love that the kids’ computers are working so that they can do their schoolwork on them and leave my computer alone
I am not quite up to a NEW YEAR’S post yet (insert lazy yawn) but I am enjoying sitting and reading everyone else’s.
Today I actually felt a spark of motivation as a result of reading so many great posts from my friends about their goals and plans for 2012!
Just a few more days of vacation left and then it is back to a routine and by the time Monday rolls around, I figure I will be glad to get back into it!
We are starting Biology dissections soon and that ALWAYS give me a thrill!
We all know, or can imagine, how time-consuming it is to teach our kids at home. The everyday tasks of being a “Stay At Home” or “Work At Home” mom can take up most of our time. In the article I am posting today for my guest blogger, the author of “Peril: A Fast Track Thriller” , She gives some insight into her focus and work habits.
There are some great tips on prioritizing in order to accomplish the things that need to be done. I think you will be surprised at what she credits for her success in writing and publishing “Peril” !
As promised, here is the article from Suzanne Hartmann:
NOVEL WRITING AND HOMESCHOOLING
Homeschooling and writing a book are both time-consuming activities. Yet that’s what God has called me to do. I’ve questioned Him over and over, but He leads me to the same conclusion every time. Why would He ask me to add a second all-consuming project to my already busy schedule? I still don’t know the answer; I just know I need to obey.
The next question becomes, “How do I do it all, Lord?” The simple answer is that I don’t. I’ve had to learn to relax my standards and let go of some of the tasks that I think are important. Although I still make lists (I love lists!), I seek God’s guidance each morning, and pray, “Lord, what is it that You know I need to get done today? Direct my thoughts to those activities and chores.” I’m far from perfect at sensing God’s guidance, but I have found that when I actively listen for Him, things seem to get done. I’m not sure how, but they do.
I thought my plate was already heaping with homeschooling, writing, blogging, networking (it is necessary for authors to have an on-line presence), then a publishing house offered me a contract on my first book, PERIL: A Fast Track Thriller. Now I had to add a third time-consuming activity to my schedule: marketing. I tried to do it all, but it only led to frustrations and tears.
I finally went to the Lord again. This time I didn’t ask how I could do it all, I confessed that I couldn’t do it all. God reminded me that His timing is perfect. My children are older now. They don’t need my constant involvement or supervision. There’s no way I could have accomplished writing and homeschooling, much less networking and marketing when my children needed me almost every single moment during school time.
Once I finally realized I couldn’t do it all myself, God directed my attention to Matthew West’s song, Strong Enough. I now think of it as my theme song, especially when it comes to marketing. The first few lines really say it all.
God calls each of us to do things that are beyond our abilities. My call is to write Christian fiction, but there are as many calls as there are people. What is God calling you to do? He promises that He will equip those whom he calls, and I have seen that time and again throughout my writing journey. The fact that I am now published is a testament to His faithfulness, not my ability. Whatever the call on your life, say yes to God. It may seem insurmountable to you, but only in your own strength. When we lean on Him, we can truly claim the promise in Phil. 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
Thank you for hosting me today. I hope my story has been an inspiration for your readers. I would also like to invite your readers to join me in celebrating the release of my debut novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1.
I am giving away a Kindle to one lucky winner! The contest will be open from the release date (Nov. 18) through Dec. 16, and I will announce the winner on Sat. Dec. 17.
A top-secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments when she escorts the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity to the White House and a NASCAR track. When unwanted publicity and the attention of a NASCAR champion threaten to expose her, she herself becomes a terrorist target, with danger surrounding her on all sides.
Suzanne Hartmann is a homeschool mom of three and lives in the St. Louis area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Composition & Linguistics from Western Illinois University. When not homeschooling or writing, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and Bible study. PERIL: Fast Track Thriller Bk. #1 is her debut novel.
On the editorial side, Suzanne is a contributing editor with Port Yonder Press and operates the Write This Way Critique Service. Through her blog, Write This Way, she has become known as an author who can explain writing rules and techniques in easy-to-understand terms. Her popular Top 10 series of articles formed the basis for her e-book on the craft of writing, Write This Way: Take Your Writing to a New Level
Suzanne’s words are inspiring and remind us that there is a season for everything. I love the way she points us back to God who, in His grace, promises to strengthen us each day to do the things that need to be done leave the things that can wait for a while
I hope that you have enjoyed getting to know this author a little better and have been encouraged today as much as I have.
Suzanne is allowing me to host a “Giveaway” of a copy of her book “Peril: A Fast Track Thriller” here on Mission Possible!
So if you would like to read this exciting new book, or get a copy for a Christmas gift for someone you know will love it, simply leave a comment at this blog post with information on how to contact you if you are the winner!
I will draw one name from the commentors, on Wednesday, November 30th 2011.
PS: Don’t forget to click on the link to Suzanne’s blog to go sign up for the Kindle Drawing at her website!
Today I have a blog posting that is a little different.
When I write about a book here, usually I have already read it and give you a review, but today, Mission Possible is part of the OnlineBlog Book Tour for Suzanne Hartmann’s newly released book “Peril“.
This is a fast paced thriller – I can’t wait to grab a copy and sit down with it during our upcoming holiday break! It looks like a fun read. According to Suzanne, it is very family friendly (although probably PG13 due to some action/violence without graphic description). She has geared the story toward Christian moms and teens.
Here is a little information about the book:
PERIL: A Fast Track Thriller:
A top-secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments, from the White House to NASCAR tracks, while escorting the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity. When unwanted publicity threatens to expose her, she herself becomes a terrorist target, with danger surrounding her on all sides.
The author of “Peril” is Suzanne Hartmann. She is a homeschool mom of three and lives in the St. Louis area. Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Composition & Linguistics from Western Illinois University. To relax, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and Bible study. She began writing fiction when her children were young, and four of her short stories were published in a Milliken Publishing reading workbook.
PERIL: Fast Track Thriller Bk. #1 is her debut novel.
On the editorial side, Suzanne is a contributing editor with Port Yonder Press and operates the Write This Way Critique Service. Through her blog, Write This Way, she has become known as an author who can explain writing rules and techniques in easy-to-understand terms. Her popular Top 10 series of articles formed the basis for her e-book on the craft of writing, Write This Way: Take Your Writing to a New Level.
I am excited to share with you a portion of an interview that Suzanne was gracious enough to send me:
Congratulations on the release of your book, PERIL: A Fast Track Thriller (just released on Nov. 18.)
Can you tell us a little about it?
Certainly. I love talking about writing in general and my books specifically. It is a Christian suspense novel with diverse main characters. Here is a blurb about it:
A top-secret agent struggles with trusting God to protect her many secrets when she must use her enhanced abilities while escorting a Muslim king-turned Christian to the White house and the Talladega Superspeedway, which not only draws the attention of the media, but also a NASCAR champion…and makes her a terrorist target.
Tell us what motivated you to write this novel.
The Fast Track Thrillers began as stories I created to entertain myself during my children’s music lessons and sports practices. I had no intention of writing a novel. That didn’t enter my mind until one day when I was thinking about the latest story while taking a walk in my neighborhood. A thought popped into my head: “Why don’t you write them into a book?” For a while I considered whether I was having a premature mid-life crisis, but finally decided that it was truly a nudge from God.
What led you to create a protagonist who is a NASCAR driver?
When my daughter decided that she liked NASCAR racing, I started paying more attention to the races. After a while, I realized that stock car racing was more interesting than I had thought and that a NASCAR driver would make an exciting addition to the stories I entertained myself with.
How long have you been a NASCAR fan?
I wasn’t a NASCAR fan when I first started writing the Fast Track Novels. After my daughter announced that she chose a favorite driver, I decided that I’d better pay more attention to the races to determine whether this person was someone to encourage her to root for or not. While that increased my interest, and researching NASCAR did took, it took a hot pit pass at a Nationwide race (when I started volunteering with Midwest Raceway Ministries) and getting up close to the cars and the action before I decided that stock car racing was pretty cool.
Did you have to do much research for this book?
Since I wasn’t a NASCAR fan when I started writing PERIL, I needed to do quite a bit of research. I checked out stacks of books from the library. Since I hadn’t mentioned my writing project to my family, they naturally wondered why I had checked them out. I ‘fessed up and shared my dream of writing a novel, and since then, they have all been very supportive.
Is there a Bible verse that fits this book?
The last half of Heb. 12:1, “…and run with endurance the race that lies before us.” It is a perfect fit because one of the main characters is a NASCAR driver and several settings are at NASCAR speedways.
How much of yourself is in the characters?
In the stories that became the Fast Track Thrillers, I was the main character. But I embellished her way beyond anything I would be likely to do. Like Joanne, I am also a homeschool mom. But that’s about as far as the similarities go.
How much of your personal experiences are in the story?
They say to write what you know, so I pulled from my personal experience for a few sections in the novel. Like Joanne, I was in a very serious car accident a long time ago. I had her scream until her throat was so raw that she couldn’t make a sound because that happened to me. Also the tidbit about her aunt feeling the need to pray for her sister’s family happened the night of my accident. Also, my dad suffered through a serious illness. Rather than do research about an illness I knew nothing about, I stuck with something familiar to me and gave one of the minor characters the same life-threatening disease.
What do you hope readers will take away from your novel
First of all, I hope they enjoy the story and consider it a good read. Beyond that, there are some important themes in the book. I hope readers take away the fact that we need to follow God’s promptings even when they don’t make sense. There is also an undercurrent about honesty, and how important it is in relationships.
What are you working on now?
I am writing the sequel to PERIL, titled CONSPIRACY, due out in the summer or fall of 2012. This novel picks up where PERIL leaves off. Joanne’s life falls apart around her as she deals with a family tragedy and unfounded accusations against her and her boss George regarding Lady Anne’s assignments. When the attempt to discredit George fails, someone frames him for selling secrets to foreign governments. Joanne determines to do whatever it takes to find the truth even as Stuart helps her pick up the pieces of her personal life.
The third book in the Fast Track Thriller series is REVENGE, due out in 2013. The man behind the conspiracy in book two isn’t content to sit in jail. He vows revenge. Joanne must fend off his attempts to expose her deepest secrets while testing a possible cure for the life-threatening illnesses stealing the lives of those with enhanced abilities. When Stuart’s life is threatened during a race, will she trade her secrets in order to save him?
Click here to see the book trailer for “PERIL – A Fast Track Thriller”:
Is there anything else that you would like to share with my blog readers?
Yes, to celebrate the release of my debut novel, I am giving away a Kindle to one lucky winner!
The contest will be open from the release date (Nov. 18) through the end of the blog tour (Dec. 16), and I will announce the winner on Sat. Dec. 17.
Thanks so much Suzanne, for taking the time to share about your new book and other writing projects! It has been great to hear about them and to have a “sneak peak” at your new books too! Thanks for letting my blog be a part of your online Book Tour !
Tune in tomorrow when I will be posting an article from Suzanne about Homeschooling and writing. You won’t want to miss out on hearing about her experiences and her tips for getting it done!
Also coming up tomorrow, I will be posting more information about how you can enter a Drawing for a FREE copy of the new Fast Track Thriller- Peril!
This book would be a great gift or stocking stuffer.
It would also just be a nice read during your Thanksgiving and Christmas break!
Hope that you will be back tomorow!
Merit K
Note: No compensation was received to let you know about this new book and “Giveaway”.
The next installment of ”Family Movie Nights” is the film, Game of Your Life! It is set to air on NBC on Friday, December 2nd at 8/7c.
This is truly a family movie. The film has lots of music which gives it a “video game feel”. Some of the narration almost feels like a “cut scene” from a role-playing video game. If you have older Elementary or Middle School boys or Gamer girls, they will love this movie. My 12-year-old was thrilled that it was about young video game designers (his dream job).
The movie has fun characters and a basic plot, but what makes it a good family movie, in my view, is that it portrays the kinds of values that we want our young people to be learning. Zach Taylor makes some bad decisions while he is under pressure. We clearly see the consequences of his actions. Those actions alienate him from his friends and force them to make tough decisions about Zach’s work with them.
While they don’t reject Zach himself, they make it clear that his wrong choices affect everyone around him as well as himself. The family members in the film are portrayed positively and it is to his father that Zach turns when he needs to talk to someone.
In the end, of course, Zach realizes his mistake, reconciles with his friends and gets the girl
The movie was cute- no surprises or twists in the plot, but no worries about bad scenes or language either.
I am convinced that your family will have fun, if you tune in to this film on Friday Night- December 2nd at 8PM or 7 PM Central.
Kudos to Wal-Mart, Proctor and Gamble and NBC for bringing back family safe and family oriented TV!
You can “click” on the Game of Your Life logo to visit the movie site, or click the Family Movie Night logo to see all the Family movies that are available!
Note: I received a link to the “Producer’s Cut” of this film before it was released in the hope that I view it and would mention it here on my blog. No other compensation was received other than the enjoyment of the film and a chance for me to promote Family Friendly Media!
‘Tis the season (so cliché, I know) for Christmas Music!
This is the week that we officially begin to celebrate the holiday season at our house. We do not forget about Thanksgiving, like the Department Stores all do, instead we celebrate Thankfulness in November and put up our Christmas decor’ the day afterThanksgiving.
This is practical, because we live in the South and are used to warm weather, therefore if it gets below 60 before we get the decorations out- well, you can just forget about seeing any colored lights in my yard!
But this year was just a little different. I started to get in the Christmas “mood” a little earlier than usual and it is all because of the FFH Christmas Album “One Silent Night“!
I love FFH and this is their very first ever Christmas album. The styles range from beautiful quiet songs to a fun “Jingle Bell Rock”.
It includes great renditions by vocalists Jeromy and Jennifer Deibler.
They included classics and some originals too:
1. Baby It’s Cold Outside
2. Jingle Bell Rock (I love all of them, but I admit it- this one is my favorite to dance to!)
3. One Silent Night
4. I’ll Be Home for Christmas
5. The Birthday of the King
6. O Come O Come Emmanuel
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Glorious Impossible
9. O Little town of Bethlehem
10. Heaven and Nature Sing
It is available now, from Amazon, CBD or iTunes . If you are feeling a little “Grinchy” you might want to go download it right away! You can get it at your Family Christian Store ($9.99). This would be a great Christmas Gift for FFH fans or for anyone who loves “Jingle Bell Rock”!
If you are not yet sure if you are a fan of FFH (or Jingle Bell Rock) you can listen to samples at the CBD site before you purchase it.
How to enter for a FREE DOWNLOAD of FFH’s Christmas Album “One Silent Night” :
IF you would like to own this fun Christmas music for FREE, then you just need to leave me a comment at this post. See how easy I am making it for you? Just leave the comment now while you are thinking of it and dont’ forget to include a way for me to contact you, in case you win the Drawing.
The Drawing for the download (not a CD) will take place on Tuesday, November 29th
Thankful for music~
Merit K
Note: I received a free download of the FFH Christmas album “One Silent night” in the hope that I would review it and discuss it here on my blog. No promise is made of a positive review, and no other compensation was received.
