5 Things You Didn’t Know About…Carol from “The Balanced Homeschooler”

Welcome back to our 5 Things You Didn’t Know About… series; today, featuring Carol from The Balanced Homeschooler blog!

 

 

In 5 Things You Didn’t Know About…, I’ll be introducing you to some of my favorite friends from the blogging world.  Each of them will tell you a little about themselves, how they recharge, what they’re reading and doing this summer.  Just lots of fun in bite-sized quantities!

And now…meet Carol!

 

1. Favorite summer activity: Besides spending extra time with our sons by having fun and serving others, most of my summer is absorbed by a variety of planning activities, which I enjoy immensely! Yes, I AM a planning nerd!

2. Best book you’ve read this summer: Recently I have re-read “How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig”, by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. I enjoy the quirky way in which she makes important points about intentionality and the choices we make in life. It’s a great read to create interesting conversations with the teens in our home!

 

3. How do you renew your spirit/recharge your batteries? Yearly, I create a family yearbook so I enjoy catching up on my digital scrapbooking project. While it sounds like work and does take a lot of time, it really does recharge my batteries since it allows me to reflect on the many wonderful experiences and growth that our family has encountered in recent months. It is like creating a pictorial journal of gratitude while also building a legacy for our sons and their future families.

4. Something cool God has taught you lately, or a favorite meaningful quote: Our family’s life verse has always been Proverbs 3:5-6, which in practical terms during a time of crisis means “I can’t NOT go through this and so I MUST rely on the Lord to do it.” Recently good friends of ours lost their precious daughter, and so I am reminded that our own loss of our oldest son nearly five years ago partly prepared us to support them through this process now. Relationships and God’s Word are all that matters at the end of the day, so if we can serve as the hands and feet of Christ for the benefit of others, THAT is the best use of our lives.

5. This year, you’re looking forward to….  We love to travel and experience new things, so we are planning an awesome family driving trip later this year that will take us to Mt. Rushmore, Montana, Yellowstone, and other great stops that will create the trip of a lifetime! Sometimes “someday” needs to be TODAY!

More about Carol Gary:

Mrs. Carol Gary has been married to her husband Grant Gary since 1991 and they have been ardently homeschooling their sons in Phoenix, Arizona since the fall of 2000.  They have four boys; two of whom they continue to homeschool and two of whom have gone home to be with the Lord.  They faithfully attend their local church and are fully devoted followers of Christ.  Their family is a member of a local homeschooling support group and she enjoys digital photography/scrapbooking in her spare time.  Most of all, she loves reading to her children; who especially love her range of “voices”.

She served in the leadership of a large, local support group called “The Homeschool Ministry” for twelve years.  Over this time, she interacted with hundreds of homeschooling families in various stages of the home education process and has a heart to help others succeed in teaching, discipling, and mentoring their children. She developed The Balanced Homeschooler (TBH) Mentoring Program to provide a unified resource for the common concerns and questions that she was called upon to regularly address about home education, discipleship, and home management.  She regularly presents at various homeschool conferences and events and joined the speaker lineup in 2016 for the Home Education Council of America.  In addition, she and Grant have recently begun serving on the Board of Directors for MoezArt Productions, a local drama company specifically designed for homeschooling families.

Since 2013, she has served as the AZ State Ambassador and her husband as a Community Ambassador for the Home School Foundation; the charitable arm of Homeschool Legal Defense Association designed to help families continue to homeschool through hard times.  She has received the HSF National Service Award four years running as she and her husband work with their team to meet a number of unusual and pressing needs in their local homeschool community.

She is active with her alma mater, Grand Canyon University; faithfully supporting GCU’s annual Run to Fight Children’s Cancer and currently serving on GCU’s ALPHA Advisory Board to better serve homeschooling families in the AZ community.  She and her husband also created and support the Evan C. Gary Memorial Scholarship administered through the Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation.

Carol earned her B.S. in Marketing from GCU in Phoenix, Arizona in 1990, graduating Summa Cum Laude and earning the university’s highest academic honor; the Ray-Maben Scholar award.  She later earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from GCU in 1998 as well as the distinction of being named GCU’s “Outstanding Business Administration Graduate of the Year” award.  She worked and advanced in the corporate environment in operational management and quality process consulting in both the retail and information technology industries for over thirteen years until 1998 when she transitioned into her favorite role of all; full-time mom.

 

Thank you for stopping by!

I’ve so enjoyed introducing you to Carol Gary today.  You can visit Carol at The Balanced Homeschooler blog or at The Balanced Homeschooler site.  I know you’ll be blessed when you do!

Enjoy!  –Wren

 

Your Chance to Win An Amazing Mom’s Back-to-School Goody Bag from FINCHNWREN and Bridgeway Academy! (Valued at over $120)

I am absolutely thrilled to bring you my newest giveaway, courtesy of FINCHNWREN and the fabulous Bridgeway Academy.  Read on to learn more and enter to win this amazing Mom’s Back-to-School Goody Bag!  (Look below for a complete listing of everything one winner will receive!)

 

 

This year, my son Jackson begins his sophomore year in high school.  Since he’s a 10th grader this year, we had already planned for him to take biology plus a biology lab in order to appropriately prepare him for college.  Imagine our surprise and delight when we were contacted by Bridgeway Academy, who offered us the opportunity for Jackson to take and for me to review one of their online classes; one of which was the Apologia Biology course we were already considering!  I’d like to share more with you about that class and how we’ll all be working together, along with an incredibly generous coupon code that Bridgeway Academy is offering to all FINCHNWREN readers!

 

Why Do We Love Bridgeway Academy?

 

Four years ago, we were selected to review Bridgeway Academy’s Fun with Science:  Marine Biology, an online class designed for elementary and middle school students.  It was exciting, fascinating, and captivating (to both parent AND child!); taught by an experienced certified science teacher; and included unusual projects and assignments for the students in addition to the weekly online web sessions.  “Incredible” sounds like a weak word to describe it…is there such a word as “mega-incredible?”

 

 

Out of the 13 years I have homeschooled Jackson, this 8-week Marine Biology class from Bridgeway Academy remains one of our all-time favorite homeschool experiences.  It was challenging yet approachable; truly fascinating not only in the online class time but in each week’s individual assignment; and so enjoyable while Jackson was rapidly absorbing a marine science education.  It became the standard for the way we measured many of our homeschool classes (not only the science ones!).  There has never been anything else quite like it.

 

What is Bridgeway Academy?

 

Bridgeway Academy is an online educational provider that we’ve long admired.  They provide accredited courses, taught online by qualified educational professionals and teachers, which are both academically excellent and interesting to homeschool students.  Classes are offered for students in preschool or kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, and over 25,000 students have participated in Bridgeway Academy classes from 1989 on.  And 83% of Bridgeway Academy students proceed to their first choice college!

 

 

Courses are available in a myriad of subjects, from math and art, to science and geography, language arts, reading, literature, and social studies; and that’s without even delving into electives (like business, life skills, health, humanities, and more!).  Suffice it to say that a parent could enroll students in an entire homeschool class schedule covering everything necessary for one year’s education in K-12, or simply choose one or a few courses to round out what’s already being taught at home.  Regardless of the homeschool path chosen, parents can be certain that their students will experience excellence in the classes they take.

 

Bridgeway Academy’s High School Biology

Jackson is enrolled in Bridgeway Academy’s FYC Biology Course w/Lab for the 2017-2018 school year.  This Learning Lab course uses the Apologia Biology textbook, along with Bridgeway Academy’s own Biology Lab Kit, and the course provides 1.5 credits upon completion.  It will be taught online by a Bridgeway Academy instructor, and meets weekly starting in early September and continues (with a break in December/early January) through May, when the class concludes.

 

Both Jackson and I are so excited about this incredible opportunity.  He has always been interested in science and our own worldview aligns beautifully with Apologia’s, so we’re really happy about the textbook choice.  I am interested in science myself, but it is not my greatest area of strength, so I am pleased to have the chance for Jackson to be taught by an expert in the field as he studies high school biology.  Plus, our experience with Bridgeway Academy has been so exceptional that we believe this will be another amazing year!

 

From Bridgeway Academy, a generous coupon you can use

 

Bridgeway Academy has a wonderful offer for you.  They are providing a coupon code for 20% off one (or even more than one!) Bridgeway Academy Learning Lab course of any kind.  The courses can be trimester, semester, or a full year in length.  (The coupon does not apply to lab kits or textbook sets, just courses only.)  This coupon expires on August 30, 2017.

 

So, head on over to Bridgeway Academy and use the coupon code FINCH20 to receive 20% off the price of their amazing Live Online courses.  This is their very best offer ever, so don’t miss the chance to take advantage of it!

 

And, now, the Mom’s Back-to-School Goody Bag giveaway for you to enter!

One winner will receive ALL of the following, with a grand total of over $120–tons of fun prizes to help you start off your school year.

• A Learning Styles Assessment from Bridgeway Academy
• A Bridgeway Academy Travel Mug
• A  Bridgeway Academy T-Shirt (size L)
• A Dinosaur Bulletin Board Set (includes Spanish dino names!)
• U.S.A. Bingo Game from Trend Enterprises, Inc.
• Dubble Bubble Journal
• “Read to SUCCEED!” kids’ bookmark set (classroom pack)
• Staples Pencil Cap Erasers package
• Butterfly sticky notes
• Ladybug Lenticular Stickers
• Grow in Water Gecko toy
• Renewing Minds Magnetic Bookmarks (for mom)

Just enter below by clicking the pink “Enter Here!” link.  That will take you to the Giveaway Tools entry form.  Giveaway will close on August 30, 2017 at 11:59PM.  Best wishes!

Enter here!

 

Be sure to visit Bridgeway Academy at their social media sites:

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolingHelp

Twitter- https://twitter.com/bridgewayvoice/

Pinterest- https://www.pinterest.com/bridgewayacademy/

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/bwacademy

Blog- http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/blog/

We’ll be sharing with you over the year more about our experiences with Apologia Biology and Bridgeway Academy, so be sure to stop back by to see more about our homeschool life and science.

 

DISCLOSURE:

From time to time, finchnwren may receive a free product or service in exchange for our honest opinions expressed in our blog. We are not required to write a positive or glowing review, nor are we additionally compensated for these reviews. We share our own opinions, and our family’s opinions, of these products. We’re disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

The prizes for the Mom’s Back-to-School Goody Bag Giveaway were provided by Bridgeway Academy and FINCHNWREN, and will be shipped to the winner by Bridgeway Academy.  Winner will be chosen and will have 48 hours to respond via email with his or her name and physical mailing address.  If the winner does not respond within that time period, the winning entry will be disqualified and a new winner chosen.

 

Enjoy!  –Wren

5 Things You Didn’t Know About…Carol from “Home Sweet Life”

Welcome back to our 5 Things You Didn’t Know About… series; today, featuring Carol from Home Sweet Life!

 

 

In 5 Things You Didn’t Know About…, I’ll be introducing you to some of my favorite friends from the blogging world.  Each of them will tell you a little about themselves, how they recharge, what they’re reading and doing this summer.  Just lots of fun in bite-sized quantities!

Now…meet Carol

1. Favorite Summer Activity?

Anything outdoors, especially outdoor concerts, catching fireflies with our girls, and watching fireworks

2. Best book you’ve read this summer?

Melanie Dickerson’s: Fairest Beauty, other top picks include Robin Lee Hatcher or Sarah E. Ladd

I plan to read In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon once again later this summer. It always grounds me, and reminds me that God has a specific plan for me to follow Him for my life.

3.How do I renew my spirit/recharge my batteries?

I spend time in God’s Word, in prayer, and hand-lettering some Scripture verses. I also like to spend time out on my porch swing, usually with a good book!

My flowerbeds and gardens offer me a chance to learn from God about His creation while working out any frustrations I have on the weeds, which spares my family. As a family we do a lot of hiking through the nearby woods.

 

4. What has God taught me lately?

Romans 8:28 is followed by Romans 8:29. The reason we are called is for His purpose to conform us to the image of Christ. My good is not for earthly pleasures, but rather to prepare me for my heavenly future. I have to trust Him to daily guide my steps in the path that follows His will, and I can rest in knowing God has the wisdom, strength, and grace to help me endure each trial or challenge that I face. His good in our lives may look much different from what we think of as good, but it is a part of His plan to fit us for His kingdom, and we need simply to trust that He knows what is for our best. I am daily reminded that this life is not about me – but about Him!

5. What am I looking forward to this year?

Arlene’s Senior year of High School. It is going to be a mix of a lot of hands-on activities and deep discussions. There will be a smattering of basic subjects thrown in as well.

Emily will be starting college. It is a new season in her life as she follows where God is leading her.

I’m looking forward to attending two different writing conferences this fall. One focused on the blog, the other on my other writing. I am hoping later this Fall to start working on an outline for my first book, and seeing where God leads me with it.

I’m looking forward to the unknown of life after homeschooling. Looking forward with anticipation to whatever God has planned for the next season of my life – and the joy of knowing He will be there to lead me by the hand through it all.

 

Bio: Carol and her family call Indiana home. You can find their adventures, road trip ideas, plus a lot of reviews and homeschooling high school tips on their blog: Home Sweet Life

Connect on Pinterest, Google +, and Facebook

Thank you…

dear Carol, for letting me feature, and dear readers, for stopping by!  Be sure to visit Carol at her blog,  Home Sweet Life, or on her social media links above.  She’ll bless you, I know.

Enjoy!  –Wren

“Every Mile Mattered” by Nichole Nordeman~enter to win! Ends 8/8/17

Did you know that the amazing Nichole Nordeman has a new CD? FlyBy/Propeller Promotions very kindly sent me her newest, Every Mile Mattered, to review and even better, one to give away to a reader!

 

I’ve noticed that artists–whether they’re songwriters and musicians, or painters or poets–are able to put our deepest longings and thoughts into forms that we can see and hear.  I’ve always thought that Nichole Nordeman is especially gifted at accomplishing this through her words and compositions.  And Every Mile Mattered doesn’t disappoint; Again, Nordeman has spun songs into being that are full of words and feelings that certainly we’ve all felt, or that existed just beyond our ability to think or touch.

Have you ever looked back on your life and thought, “ugh! I wish I hadn’t made that choice!” or, “what was I thinking??”  Then you’ll be especially blessed by the title track, Every Mile Mattered.  You’ll be touched by Nichole’s and (I think this must be her daughter) Pepper’s redux of Slow Down, from her previous CD The Unmaking (which I highly, highly recommend).  Need an encouragement to still and rebuke those unkind thoughts that tell us we can’t do it?  Listen to Sound of Surviving.  And whether you grew up in Tornado Alley or not, you’ll clearly picture the storms and the victory over them in Anywhere We Are.

And then there’s Dear Me, the ode to younger Nichole (and, if I might be so bold to guess, the younger all of us) from a wiser and older perspective.  And the melodious and beautiful You’re Here, which reminds us that we are NEVER alone; that He is always here with us.

Here are some reasons why you’re going to love this CD:

These words from the title track:

Every road and every bend
Every bruise and bitter end
All you squandered, all you spent
It mattered, it mattered

Or what about these, from You’re Here?

You were at the altar, preacher’s hand upon my head
You were in the water, when I came up clean intead
You’re still in my story, when my tears fall upon the dirt
You’re there in the morning, wrapping grace around what hurts

 

 

Some of the sweetest words to my heart were these, from Dear Me:

Dear Me…
You did not learn this in a day or two or three
So ask a lot of questions
But Jesus loves us, this I know
And there are no exceptions

I guess I could say that really, I could write some of Nichole’s beautiful words from every single song on this album, and you would love them.  But these are just a sweet taste for you of what you’ll hear in Every Mile Mattered.

Finally…

Just like Nichole’s last CD, The Unmaking was for me, I believe that her newest CD is destined to become a new favorite.  I need its reminders!  (Even if I do always want to ugly-cry when I listen to Slow Down.  I mean ugly-sob!  How did my boy get so big so fast?)

I need to remember that in the tapestry of my life, when all I can see are the knots and clumps of color on the back side, that God is making something beautiful out of every stitch on the front side.  That He’s using every step I take, every decision, every word, every thought and action, to create my life that has meaning in His eyes.

And if I can do this while listening to one of my favorite artists and to beautiful music?  Perfect.

And now…the giveaway!

One reader will be blessed to win a CD copy of Every Mile Mattered.  Just click on the pink Enter Here! below and you’ll be able to enter to win via the Giveaway Tools entry form.  Best wishes to you all!

Enter here!

 

Also, you can visit Nichole on social media:

Official website – http://nicholenordeman.com

Buy links – ITunes http://capcmg.me/emm?IQid=b
Spotify http://capcmg.me/emm.sp
Amazon http://capcmg.me/emm.am)

In addition, Nichole Nordeman’s book Slow Down will be available for purchase in August!  You may pre-order here:
http://slowdown-book.com

Enjoy!  –Wren

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About…Lori from “At Home: where life happens”

Welcome back to our 5 Things You Didn’t Know About… series; today, featuring Lori from At Home: where life happens!

 

 

In 5 Things You Didn’t Know About…, I’ll be introducing you to some of my favorite friends from the blogging world.  Each of them will tell you a little about themselves, how they recharge, what they’re reading and doing this summer.  Just lots of fun in bite-sized quantities!

 

And now….meet Lori!

 

 

1 – Favorite Summer Activity:

Oh, by far, my favorite summer activity is leaving the heat of Texas and visiting my parents in my hometown in the mountains of New Mexico. We sit in the cool mountain air, drinking tea, talking, enjoying rain showers (sometimes), reading, visiting, and just enjoying the time. It is always encouraging, uplifting, and joyful to just sit on the deck and look at the lovely mountains in the distance while chatting with my mom and dad.

2 – Best Book I’ve Read This Summer

The best book is always the one I just finished. 🙂
Right now, I am working on a book titled Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History-Making Race Around the World. It is an historical account by Matthew Goodman about the race of these two women, in 1889, around the world, trying to make it in under 80 days. One went east; one went west. And they tried to complete the trip as quickly as possible. I am really enjoying it, as there is a lot of history involved in the story. I won’t say it is an easy read, as I have been working on it for a couple of weeks now, but it definitely an enjoyable read.

3 – How do I renew my spirit/recharge my batteries?

Well, I pray before I get out of bed each morning. I pray for friends in desperate need of God’s healing, for those who have lost loved ones recently, for us to have a joyful day, and for me to see how to guide my children. I also try to spent time daily in God’s word, in the Bible, before I do anything else. I grab my hot tea and sit down with my reading plan and spend 30 minutes or so reading.
As for big recharges, see number 1. 🙂 New Mexico trips always do a nice job of recharging my determination and energy.

4 – Something God has taught me lately or a favorite quote:

My life here is just a wisp of breath that will disappear quicker than I can imagine. We have had a lot of deaths in our congregation and, recently, some deaths in my family and people I grew up with. All of these remind me that God did not put us here permanently but as sojourners in this world. To speak of Him – His love, His forgiveness, but moreso His judgment – to others, no matter how much courage it may take, is something I need to do more of. Which leads me to a favorite quote.

I first hear the quote in The Princess Diaries but it comes from Franklin D. Roosevelt:

5 – This year, I’m looking forward to. . .

• Growing in my knowledge of the Lord
• Learning alongside my children
• Spending time in joyful activities with my family

Nothing big just the day-to-day life of living in joy for the Lord.

Thank you for allowing me to share a few thoughts with you today. I blog over on At Home: where life happens about my family’s life. You might find a post of encouragement; home education related ideas, tips, and reviews; or just random thoughts shared. At Home for me is in central Texas with my husband of 22 years and my three giggly girls, ages 13, 11, and 8. I would love for you to visit and see what you can see. If you like it, please consider following my blog. It always brings a smile to my face when I get that notification that someone has signed up to share our journey. Regardless, thank you for reading through today’s thoughts.

At Home.

Lori, thank you so for your inspirational words!  And yes, please do hop over and visit Lori at At Home: where life happens.

Enjoy!  –Wren

Win a Wall Pops! Wall Art Kit to Brighten Up Your Walls! (Giveaway Ends 8/1/17)

So…are you looking for some fun ways to brighten up your walls…or your dorm room…or some other space that needs some decorating?

Then you’ll love my newest giveaway–a Wall Pops! Wall Art Kit set in the colorful & fun Tika design!

 

 

Have you heard of Wall Pops! yet?

Wall Pops! Wall Art Kits are repositionable art designs–like decals–that you can use to add a dose of pop to any wall in your home. They’re incredibly easy to use: as the box says, just “peel, stick, and move.”  In moments, you can turn your walls into works of art!

 

How exactly do Wall Pops! work?

Wall Pops! has easy-to-follow instructions included with each kit.  First, you’ll want to clean the wall area you’ll be adding the Wall Pops! to.  The company also recommends that you first spot-test them by applying a small one on an inconspicuous area.  This way, you can ensure that they’re compatible with your paint or walls.  Once you’ve taken care of the safety steps, you’ll just peel the stickers off the sheets and place them onto your clean, smooth wall surfaces.  Then…ta-da!  A beautiful new look for your walls!

If you don’t like them where you’ve applied them, you should be able to gently remove them from your surfaces to reposition elsewhere.

 

And now…enter to win a set for yourself!

One reader of the FINCHNWREN blog will win this Wall Pops! Wall Art Kit in the Tika style.  Just enter by clicking on the pink “Enter here” link below.  That will take you to the Giveaway Tools form; once you’re there, just follow the directions!  This giveaway closes on 8/1/17.  Best wishes!

Enter here!

Enjoy!  –Wren

 

 

5 Things You Didn’t Know About…Lisa from “A Rup Life”

Welcome back to 5 Things You Didn’t Know About… today, featuring Lisa from A Rup Life!

In 5 Things You Didn’t Know About…, I’ll be introducing you to some of my favorite friends from the blogging world.  Each of them will tell you a little about themselves, how they recharge, what they’re reading and doing this summer.  Just lots of fun in bite-sized quantities!

 

Here’s Lisa!

1.  Favorite summer activity:

My favorite summer activity is going to the pool. Watching the kids splash and have a good time while I relax on the side lines dipping my feet is always a joyous time. I do occasionally go in but I actually don’t know how to swim so mostly I just take a dip to cool off, then watch the kids. Perhaps part of my joy is knowing they do know how to swim.

2.  Best book you’ve read this summer:

The best book I’ve read so far is a book for kids! It was a book I received for review but I loved it. The series is called Bodyguard by Chris Bradford. Book 1 is Recruit.

3.  How do you renew your spirit/recharge your batteries?

The best way I can renew/recharge is to take a nap. I don’t get much sleep since having my youngest and I find that when I’m frazzled this really resets my mind and attitude.

4.  Something cool God has taught you lately, or a favorite meaningful quote:

God has laid on my heart that my family is my first ministry. I’ve been really focusing on character building, memory making and generally loving on my kids. My oldest will graduate next spring and these are really the last full moments of him being a kid. I want him to look back and see fun times and loving times.

5. This year, you’re looking forward to….

For the next year I’m looking forward to spending the summer being lazy with the kids. Sleeping in, going on trips, doing crafts, watching movies… all the things we don’t really have time for during the school year.

More about Lisa:

Hello, I’m Lisa – owner and primary writer here at A Rup Life. I’ve been married to my husband John for 17 years , together we raise our 4 sons. We reside in NJ and enjoy church, music, movies and family time.

Lisa Rupertus has been blogging for over 8 years. When she is not at the computer she spends time with her husband John of 17 years, along with their 4 sons. For the last 5 years they have taken on the adventure of homeschooling. Together they love to watch movies, go to church and laugh – a lot! You can follow their adventures at A Rup Life.

 

Thanks for stopping by to meet Lisa!  I encourage you to check out her blog.  I always find Lisa to be very real and fun at the same time!

Enjoy!  –Wren