H is for History Websites

I'm currently participating in 

an ABC's for homeschooling challenge.  

Since it falls on Tuesdays, 

I am adding a technological slant to the challenge.  

I hope you stay tuned and enjoy my entries.

World War II, American Colonial Life--these are just two topics that are so far removed from us.  How can we make these topics come to life for us?  We can use textbooks.  We can use workbooks...or we can turn to the internet.

Sometimes, teaching history is difficult.  Sometimes, learning history is boring.  That's why we need to look at alternative ways to teach it.  Enter the internet.  Browsing websites bearing pictures and unusual bits of information can liven up an otherwise dull topic of history.

The following are some websites one can visit:

Best of History Web Sites

This is an Ed Tech Teacher.org Resources.  It has lots of tabs for the different eras of history.  I was amazed at the listings of websites and the summaries about the websites.

History.com

This is a website that accompanies the History Channel.  I love this because you can gain behind-the-scenes information about the wars, for example.  I recommend this one definitely.

ushistory.org

"Created and hosted by the Independence Hall of Philadelphia."  Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and the Liberty Bell are just a few of the topics covered in this website.

History Websites Top 100

This is wonderful compilation.  A convenient list of websites one can visit to learn more about a given topic of history. 

HistoryNet.com

Has a "Today in History" and a Quiz sections.  It has videos and forums, too.  Worth taking a look at this website.

Well, that's just a sampling of what is available out in the internet.  Teaching and learning about history do not have to be boring.  Excitement can be brought about if one takes a chance at using technology to learn.

Well, thanks for reading this entry.  I hope I have provided some useful websites for history.  

How about you, my readers?  Would you use websites to teach history?  Have you turned to the internet, without knowing you could learn about a historical subject?  Assigning a website to learn about the American Colonial life would be a fun way for children to learn.  How about allowing your children to view videos and virtual tours of their favorite topics.

I pray that God gives you all, my beloveds, His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for the Technology Tuesdays series.

Healthy Vegetable Soup to Aid Weight Loss

Ingredients I used for my healthy soup.

Before you read the rest of this blog entry, please see the results of my attempt to use this soup.  You might rethink trying this soup.

I did not try the lemon detox drink.  Instead...

I read on Facebook that one of my fellow homeschooling friends would be using a 7 day diet called the Sacred Heart diet.  It had been recommended to her because she had been exercising and not losing weight.  Of course, I kept my eyes on this conversation and others to follow.  I wanted to see if she would take up the challenge.  I also wanted to see her progress.

I loved what I saw.  She lost weight!  I was sold.  I googled the Sacred Heart diet and found the following website:

Sacred Heart Diet

I bought the ingredients for the large batch of soup.  It was a challenge finding all of the ingredients.  I chose to find low sodium for some of the products like the green beans and the beef broth.  I already knew to seek low sodium alternatives to pre-packaged products.  Years ago, I had been diagnosed with high blood pressure and learned I should stay away from salt or sodium.

Closeup of ingredients for Sacred Heart Diet

At Walmart, I bought the following ingredients for the recipe:

__2 packages of precut green onions
__1 package of 2 lbs. of precut baby carrots
__2 bell peppers
__2 cans of unsalted green beans
__2 cans of stewed tomatoes
__1 package of precut stalks of celery
__Lipton chicken noodles
__1 box of beef broth low sodium 
__I added about 4 cans of water, too

Closeup of the spices and flavorings I used for the soup

I already had the spices:

__Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper
__Parsley flakes
__Sea salt
__McCormick Hot Madras Curry Powder

I made the soup last night (Sunday), and it smelled wonderful. I knew right away that I had used a lot of the curry. It was thick in the air. Anyway, I couldn't keep myself away from the soup; I had to eat some right away. Well, actually, I ate two bowls last night.

Also, last night I searched for answers to questions about this diet; I found controversy behind it. Supposedly, this is a hoax type fad diet. On the internet the rumors that this diet is used at hospitals is disputed. I found this out after I had made the soup. I decided to go forward with this diet.

If I can't do this diet beyond three days, I will stop there. I hope to lose weight, but I like the healthy feeling more than anything. The soup does have healthy components. The fear with eating this diet long-term is the need for protein and carbohydrates. If I made this again, I would include a little bit of chicken and some potatoes.

Given that this diet is controversial, I will let you, my readers, determine whether you would like to try it. Like I said before, I had been eating too much junk food. That was starving my body of much needed nutrition.

I feel more energy right now,
and that means a lot to me.

This morning, I woke up more refreshed! This hasn't happened in a long time. I can't believe what I've been missing out on. I realize I've been starving my body of nutrients to help my productivity. I've been able to tackle many of my to-do items off today's checklist.

I've eaten three more bowls so far and one apple. I drank a black coffee and lots of water. I have also danced and used my 2 lb. weights, too. I finished a writing assignment and printed it out already. I also needed to do this blog. What else will I accomplish today?

How will I be affected by this diet?
I don't know.

At this point, I feel more energetic. Could it be the placebo affect? I wonder how I will feel later. Will I feel sick? Will I have to run to the bathroom? Only time will tell.

Well, next Monday, I hope to update on how I did on this 7 day Sacred Heart Diet. Please pray for me, my friends.

How about you, my readers?  What diets have you tried?  Would you consider trying this 7 day diet?  Would you still use a controversial diet such as the Sacred Heart Diet?  I encourage you all to do your research to figure out what is right for you.  You should also inform your doctors before trying such a diet.  At best you can detox and feel more energy.  At worst, you won't lose any weight.

 
To learn more about the diet I'm using, visit Sacred Heart Diet

This is an entry for Medical Mondays.  For past entries, click here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoints that I discussed here are just my opinions.  Please consult your physician before altering anything relating to your health.  I am only suggesting here to take charge of your health.  Don't just leave your health in the hands of your doctors; become your own advocate.  You know best how your body is doing.

Enjoying the Self-Discipline

  We must seek joy even when we face trials.  That is not to say that we won't feel sadness and/or other negative emotions.  We must definitely face life's challenges.  The question is: how are we to react to those challenges?  Following are some Bible verses dealing with rejoicing while maintaining self-control (self-discipline):   22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  --Galatians 5:22-23 NIV  On JOY--  24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.   --Psalm 118:24 NIV  2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  --James 1:2-4 NIV 

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  --Proverbs 17:22 NAS  6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.  

--Psalm 27:6 NIV   22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. --John 16:22-24 NIV  When we are weak, we can tap into the power of God:  9 Each time he said,  "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness. " So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. 10 Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.    --2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT  On SELF-CONTROL (SELF-DISCIPLINE)--   28 A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.  --Proverbs 25:28 The Message  24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. --1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV  4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied. --Proverbs 13:4 NLT 7 An elder must live a blameless life because he is God's minister. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. 8 He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life.  Titus 1:7-8 NLT   7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7 NLT  Although this is a good list of Bible verses dealing with the concepts of JOY and SELF-DISCIPLINE, there are many other ones available.  This is me providing a portion of God's wisdom about these topics.  It's important to understand that emotions are natural.  It's what we do with those emotions that matters.  God welcomes us to ask Him for help when we can't discipline ourselves.    God is ready to help us control ourselves and rejoice during our trials.   How about it, my readers? Are you rejoicing in your trials?  What about self-control?  Are you controlling yourself through the challenges in your life?  I encourage you to reread these Bible verses.  You might gain an understanding of how to handle a particular situation in your life.  I pray that God gives you all, my beloveds, His wisdom and peace. 

This has been an entry for the Spiritual Sundays series. 

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

 

Berry Melody Yogurt Smoothie

Frozen berry mix is main ingredient.

Today, I bought some PLAIN yogurt.  Been feeling a little sick lately, and I know yogurt is good for the intestines.  Mixing it with a bunch of different berries just makes it even better.  I made a Berry Medley Yogurt Smoothie.  The frozen berries included blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries, which are anti-oxidants (anti-aging foods).

In the blender, I poured about a cup of plain yogurt.  Then I added the dry ingredients, which are pictured below.  I topped that with about two cups of frozen berries.  I mixed the concoction.  I felt that it was a bit thick so I added 1 cup of water.   

Powdered ingredients were included.

I added ginger, grape seed complex, Echinacea, cinnamon, a sprinkling of mint flakes, and some SweetLeaf stevia.  I added these powders because of their healing powers.  You can add some of these or leave them out.  Just know that this type of smoothie will need some sweetening.  I used the Echinacea and grape seed complex because they help the immune system. 

The end result was the Berry Melody Yogurt Smoothie.

Adding the cup of water helped because I was able to dispense the smoothie.  I am blessed because three of my kids tried it.  I say blessed because they were my willing guinea pigs.  I warned them that it was not sweet.  They still tried it out.

This sure beats soda, 

which is thought to deplete 

calcium from bones. 

What about you, my readers? Have you ever tried a yogurt smoothie? What fruits would you add to a smoothie? Would you add veggies? I hope you would consider smoothies for your diet. They are a wonderful alternative to sodas.

May God bless you with His peace and wisdom, my beloveds.

This has been an entry for Saturday Spreads. I hope you enjoyed it!

 

 

Cleaning Challenge Update Fourth Week--Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Update on the 31 Days to Clean Challenge: Days 16-20

One of the targets for this week--bedroom shelves

 

Day 16

I'm falling behind.  I'm upset that my writing course has been extended.  I did not expect it.  I am ready for the course to end.  Want to move forward, but I know that I am still have some learning to do.  

Iris has been teaching Kaelyn how to sweep.  

I asked the kids to sweep their rooms.  I have often asked the kids to pick up the slack because I suffer with pain.  My sickness often leads to laziness.  I have to pace myself with the illness because the stress causes inflammation.  The inflammation leads to pain.  I am now eating anti-inflammatory foods which are helping to squash the pain.  Yes!

Blogging is taking a lot of my time.  I'm better at writing.  I might have to take some time off, though.  Perhaps it can coincide with the kids' time off. 

Day 17

11 year-old's bookcase--he needs direction

 

I asked the kids to dust their books and declutter their bookcases.  Have they done it?  I don't think so...

Under the DISC personality quiz, I scored as the cautious type.  I'm calculating, contemplative, and careful.  I like for things to make sense, and I need to understand the reasons behind situations.  I tend to focus on making things "right" and follow some sort of routine.  My weakness is taking too much time to make decisions.

I think it helps me understand that I calculate how to delegate chores.  I contemplate how much to assign.  I am careful not to burden my kids with too much to do.  I have been indecisive as to giving them more detailed instructions because I'm afraid the kids will revolt.

Day 18

For today, I was supposed to clean out our closets, but we had already done that in March.  I did work on my closet problem more recently.

 

Sampling of clutter from our closets--March

Problem in my closet--clothes too tight

Closeup of shoe rack taking space

Opposite door is bare

Over-door rack for shoes at Walmart

Clothes breathing; caps now in utility room

Unpainted wall, yes

Twin flat sheet to hide closet

I had to write out a tentative schedule:

Wake up

Pray

Breakfast

Exercise

Work on Writing

Lunch

Blog

Clean

Homeschool

Dinner

Browse Internet

Day 19 

I had to do a Bible study on the words joy and self-discipline.  It is too detailed to post it here.  I will post it on Sunday.  I did jot down a few Bible verses, but I want to give the study a good treatment.

Had already cleaned out expired medications and toiletries.  Had updated my first aid kit to take to our trip.  I cleaned out my old cosmetics, too.  Well, I kept a few items.  I don't wear too much makeup so I am holding on to the minimum.

Following are before and after pictures of my decluttering:

Messy medicine shelf

Closeup of medicines

Bag containing summer medications

Expiration dates to weed out

Result of messiness--too many band aids

Walmart bag full of old toiletries and medications

Medications organized in bigger basket

Medicine bag on the go

Basket on shelf; travel toiletries and summer meds. on side

Messy shelf for vitamins and supplements

Difficult to see labels of vitamins and supplements

Rack borrowed from elsewhere for vitamins and supplements

Container for toiletries in master bathroom

First drawer of toiletries in master bathroom

Second drawer for toiletries in master bathroom

Day 20

Had to clean bathroom mirrors, windows, and walls.  Used mint-scented Method glass cleaner for the window and mirrors.  Need to dust.

Also, need to assess how I spend my time.  I have to do it honestly to figure out where I am wasting time.  I know that I spend too much time on the internet and watching TV again.  I need to do things in moderation.

Like I said before, I am not gonna stress if I didn't get to everything.  I'm about 60-70% of optimum health.  I am feeling a lot better, and I am working on my diet, weeding out the junkfood.  This cleaning challenge has covered many areas of my life, not just the house situation.  I am very grateful for this opportunity to improve the quality of life for my family.

Well, thanks for reading this update 

and viewing the pictures. 

I hope this entry has inspired you to clean your homes.

How about you, my readers?  Have you deep cleaned your bedrooms?  Have you weeded out expired medications and old cosmetics?  Are you wanting to deep clean, but you don't know where to get started?  The link above leads to an ebook which can be helpful in prioritizing and breaking down the cleaning.  I encourage you to click on the link if you need more help.

May God bless you all with His wisdom and peace.

This entry has been part of the Family Fun Fridays series.

My Kindergarten Checklist

Kaelyn working hard

I have seen great strides in Kaelyn, my beautiful, smart six year-old.  She is already reading.  Having my children learn to read lets me know that I am doing a good job.  I do have to say that she has learned to read the quickest out of my four children.  It's not that she is brighter than the others.  It is because she has lots of teachers around her in the form of siblings.   

Kaelyn has been finishing up lots of her workbooks.  I've been wanting to pinpoint her progress.  How do I figure it out?  I'm turning to World Book's (an online encyclopedia) website.  It has a webpage devoted to showing the typical coursework for each grade, starting from preschool to 12th grade.  You can find it here:

Typical Course of Study for each grade.

The following list is a sampling of the Kindergarten list:

Social Studies

__holidays
__cultures
__family,
__home
__school
__community
__work
__safety
__human needs
__awareness of self and other

Science

__five senses
__animals
__plants
__seasons
__weather
__seasons
__hot
__cold
__light
__colors
__sun and moon
__planets
__Earth
__measurement
__experiments

 

Language Arts

__phonics
__reading along
__listening to different genres
__familiarity with fairy tales and fables
__drawing
__role playing
__following directions
__brainstorming ideas
__retelling stories
__beginning writing process
__printing

 

Health 

__cleanliness

__choosing right foods to eat
__body parts
__exercise

 

Math

__count to 20

__count items

__more than

__less than

__same amount

__first, second, third positions

__basic sets

__simple addition 

__simple subtraction

__number line

__approximating

__shapes

__calendar 

__clock 

__money

__problem-solving

__charts 

__graphs 

I will print out the above checklist.  I'll quiz her, verbally, on some of these concepts.  Whatever we haven't covered, I will address during the summer.  The great thing about homeschooling is: we can extend the teaching/learning time.  

I cannot claim credit for finding this website.  It was long ago that I was directed to the Typical Course of Study at the World Book Website.  Another homeschool mom informed me about the website.  I recommend that if you do not have clear direction of what to teach while homeschooling, this website will at least give you a list of what needs to be taught.  Admittedly, some topics are covered several times throughout a child's learning career. 

How about you, my readers?  How do you assess your children's progress?  Do you look for progress based on their activities?  Or do you use a formal test to find out how much your children have learned?  If you want to skip expensive tests, you can always visit Typical Course of Study.  You can also use that website to plan for the teaching content for the next year.

I hope your children have enjoyed their learning time; Kaelyn has clearly loved learning with her fun workbooks and worksheets.

May God bless you all with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Thorough Thursdays.  Hope you liked it.

How to Live Right: My Contemplation of Verse 28 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am focusing on verse 28 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically the following portions:

One who understands splendor

while holding to humility

acts in accord with the eternal power.

To be the fountain of the world is

to live the abundant life of virtue...

Truly, the best governor governs least.

God's creation is marvelous.  See the same type of flower with the same amount of petals.  Leaves have veins on them through which water comes from the stem of the plant.  A human baby eats nutrients from the mother via the umbilical cord.  

Ponder those facts for a moment.

How should we treat the earth and its inhabitants?  Should we throw litter out the window while riding in a car?  Should we smack our kids in the face when they disrespect us?  Should we dump motor oil down the kitchen sink?  The answer to all of these questions is a resounding, "No."

Let's think about the gray areas.  Should we homeschool?  Can we afford to go on vacation?  Should we buy a new car to replace the 20 year-old clunker?  The list goes on.

I think you get the picture: 

How do we live right?

Following are some strategies for living right:

1. Get out of the way.  According to some psychologists, we are often selfish.  We want to please ourselves.  We want to do things that benefit us.  The Chinese wisdom of the Tao Te Ching turns that around.  We need to humble ourselves and let God have control.

2. Tap into the Way of life.  Once we understand the need to put ourselves out of the equation, God can work in our lives.  We need to turn to the Word of God (the Bible) for instructions.  Only God can help us know our next moves in the chessboard called life.

3. Be a vessel through which God's love flows.  After knowing how to proceed through life, we allow God to work through us.  Maybe God compels us to visit the housebound.  Perhaps, we should provide grocery for a family that is struggling.  Doing these kind deeds shows people that God loves them.  You never know if your good acts are answers to prayers.

My readers,

how can God work through you?

I hope you will consider these nuggets on how to live the right life.  You could be a blessing to the earth and those around you.

How about it, my friends?  Are you living right?  Are you tapping into God's wisdom?  Are you a vessel through which God works?  I pray we all turn to God for instruction on how to live right.  The Bible is full of advice.  Turn to it now.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

G is for GMod

I'm currently participating in 

an ABC's for homeschooling challenge.  

Since it falls on Tuesdays, 

I am adding a technological slant to the challenge.  

I hope you stay tuned and enjoy my entries.

GMod on Steam

GMod is a game created by Garry Newman.  It falls under the Sandbox category.  That means that there is no firm objective to the game.  Rather, it is a game that gives virtual tools and toys that one can play with.  There is no right or wrong way to play GMod.  Steam is a website that sells GMod and other games like Team Fortress 2.

Steam website

In order to use GMod, you must have one source engine game such as 

Team Fortress 2.

There are several ways that GMod can be used:


1. Physics--using scientific manipulation of how items move; use of seesaws, catapults, pulleys, and cranes;

2. Videos--using stop motion style; akin to claymation; multiple pictures taken and combined to make cartoons;

3. Games--hosting a server to have a multi-player platform for playing a customized game; for example, a game in which someone can build a floating boat;

4. Comics--posing ragdolls, meaning manipulating images of characters and objects from the source engine games, which can also be found at the Steam website.

My son even made the banner for his comic.

Comics are what my teenage son creates with GMod.  Here is the website where you can find his comic:

Adventures of the Heavy

Comic # 151

My son, Gabriel, loves The Heavy from Team Fortress 2.  Gabriel's main character in his comic is The Heavy.  The Heavy loves sandwiches, like my son.  The Heavy talks to the sandwiches.  The Heavy also gives his weapons names and talks to them.  

The Heavy thinks of himself as 

The Man, 

and he considers the other characters as 

Teeny Tiny Men.

As his mother, I'm proud of my son.  Gabriel has run with this idea of making the comic.  The comic is hilarious.  I encourage you all to visit the website for The Adventures of The Heavy.  Gabriel has a good following, which is well-deserved.

Well, thanks for reading this entry.  I hope I have provided information on how GMod can be used.  GMod can be a cool virtual toy for teens.

How about you, my readers?  Would you buy GMod and/or any other Steam game?  Would you allow your children unlimited play in a virtual sandbox?  Are you willing to let your kids develop a love for technology?  I encourage you to consider allowing your children to play GMod with a Steam game.  Using GMod can count as coursework.

I pray that God gives you all, my beloveds, His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for the Technology Tuesdays series.

For more information, you can visit Garry's Mod at Wikipedia.