Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #304: April 30, 2020

Welcome back to... 

I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around April 30th, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)

Please make sure to share from the past as instructed above.  The spirit of Throwback Thursday Blog-Style is to share posts from the past. Please follow the guidelines. I would hate to have to delete your link.
Thank you

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post

Originally posted May 2nd, 2019
Exciting Middle-Grade Fantasy Books from 12 Gates Publishing {A TOS Review}

Here is this week's randomly selected

Featured Throwback Thursday post:

Gale from Texifornia shared

Primrose Discovery

To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Throwback Thursday Blog-Style permalink please.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Digging into The Hidden Message of the Great Seal {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

I was thrilled when I was given the chance to read a historical research book titled, The Hidden Message of the Great Seal  by Michael Kanis. This book from The Hidden Message, LLC came at the perfect time because we have been learning about early American history. 

This 256-page softcover book really intrigued me. I'd heard different accusations regarding important people in our country's history adding certain parts to the seal because of freemasonry or some sort of new world order. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I believed such conspiracy theories, but when I learned of this book, I was truly interested in what the true story behind the Great Seal was. Though I admit, I was a little hesitant, thinking, wait, what if this book ends up being misleading. Thankfully, I have discovered that that concern was unfounded. 

There are a total of 24 chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion, plus a section for endnotes. Here is a list of the chapter titles: 

1. Introduction
2. Time Capsule
3. The Significance of the Seal
4. Setting the Stage
5. A Tale of Two Systems
6. Studying the Seal 
7. How Could It Have Been Hidden So Long?
8. Charles Thomson
9. Francis Hopkinson
10. The Pyramid
11. Annuit Coeptis
12. Novus Ordo Secorlum 
13. The Eye
14. The Early Designs Part I
15. Early Designs Part II
16. The Covenant
17. The Front of the Seal
18. The Four Pillars
19. Virtue
20. Freedom
21. Providence
22. Unity
23. Unexpected Connections
24. Conclusion

The first nine chapters of the book set the stage for the rest of the book, explaining the importance of the seal. It discusses important seals from the past, and includes images.

It explains how our founding fathers would have put a lot of import in the making of the seal and the seal itself. I love that the book explains how the founding fathers, specifically George Washington put a lot of importance on believe and trust in God. and there are lots of his quotes. We see the importance of holding fast to the form of government our founding fathers gave us, a system that has worked for years.

The chapters that focus on Charles Thomson and Francis Hopkinson seemed a bit out of place to me at first, but then I realized the author was sharing their background to express their credibility in their part in creating the seal.

The author then focuses on the reverse of the seal, starting with the pyramid. I found so much intriguing information in this chapter. This is the part from the front of the seal that the author spends the most time on. As he does with the Eye, Mr. Kanis starts out by dealing with the misconceptions and debunking them. I appreciated that he showed the common thoughts on the meaning of the 13 steps, but digs further into the meaning, looking back through history and showing the connection with the Solidus from Byzantine empire.

I was quite intrigued.

The book goes into such detail, making sure to show how thoroughly the designers thought through the images, the format, and the words that went onto the seal. 

The common thought behind the 13 step pyramid is that they represented the original 13 states, and it was unfinished, because the country could still grow. But the author shows that their is dual symbolism. Mr. Kanis is very thorough in showing how much Godly principles and virtues would have played a part in what the designers wanted from not just the seal, but for our country. As we have just recently been learning about Benjamin Franklin, I was quite interested to learn that the 13 rows also symbolize Franklin's 13 Virtues.

The author then expresses how important it is for our country to get back to the founding fathers' beliefs on the importance of virtue, showing how without it, our country will eventually fall into tyranny. And as I was reading the book, I could see the truth in what he was saying. He even shared a chart which depicts the stages of government as written about by Plato in The Republic thousands of years ago. Honestly, it is scary to see where our country could be heading as it falls further away from the ideals our founding fathers held so dear, and made sure were in place in such things as the Great Seal, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.

The next three chapters focus on the final parts of the reverse of the seal. Then the author looks at the Early Designs.

And shows that even though the changes, there was a consistent message and common elements.

I noticed that the information about the front of the seal didn't take up near as much room in the book. In fact, the Front of the Seal is just one chapter that incorporates each symbol and it's extended metaphor. 

The book concludes with chapters that talk about the major themes found in the seal: virtue, freedom, providence, and unity. 

As I mentioned above, this book is quite intriguing. I appreciate the detail that the author put into the book and the research that he did. It is so important to understand what the founding father and the designers of the Seal really had in mind when they designed it. This book sure is enhancing my understanding our the beliefs of our founding fathers and my understanding of American History.

I have not yet shared the book with the children. There is a lot of information here that I feel can't quite be grasped by them at this time. When I find some information that intrigues me, I do like to share, sometimes with them or with my husband. I am still working my way through the book and am really enjoying. But I read non-fiction books quite slowly and find myself needing to reread portions multiple times to get things to "click." I am sure as I continue to read the information in the book, I will be just as intrigued as I have been so far.

The one concern I had with the book is that it is a softcover book and is heavy and bulky and very hard to hold while reading. This in no way negates the message of the book, but I did want to bring it up. I found the easiest way for me to read the book is to be lying down and be able to balance the book on the bed or couch beside me.

I don't know if would have been easier to handle if is was a hardcover book or not. Because that would have made it heavier, but then the one side of the book wouldn't be flopping so much.

It is definitely a great book for adults and older middle school/high school students, for understanding our great country of the United States of America, and definitely a book I fell should be in every homeschool family's library.

In fact, you can get the book for 50% off until May 30th, 2020 by using the discount code that was generously offered. This can be used if you purchase the book from The Hidden Message website. Just enter the coupon code: HOMESCHOOL at checkout.

Don't forget to click on the banner below to read what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about The Hidden Message of the Great Seal. 

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- April 28, 2020

Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

Featured Giveaways

I Still Believe Digital Code US only Ends 5/6

National Geographic Kids Boredom Busters Prize Pack US only Ends 5/8

Featured Reviews

Learning About History with a Fun, Hands-On Lapbook from Home School in the Woods{A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Getting Closer to God with Psalms for my Day {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife .

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Getting Closer to God with Psalms for my Day {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

When I was given the opportunity to review a lovely child's praise devotional from Christian Focus, I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be a great opportunity for Hannah to start having her own time with the Lord to start her day. She has been reading Psalms for my Day each morning, and sometimes at night as well. 

This 88-page, hardcover picture book contains passages of Psalms translated from the Hebrew by Dr. Alec Motyer, devotional thoughts written in a way a child can comprehend, along with a short, relevant prayer written by Carine MacKenzie, and beautiful, full color illustrations by Catherine Pape. 

After the table of contents and endorsements, this book introduces the Book of Psalms, explaining how the psalms were written to be songs of praise to God. You will also find an explanation of the translation of the Bible passages found throughout the book. Alec Motyer was a Bible scholar, and he used the original Hebrew so we can have a feel for what they really meant in the original language of the writers.

Following this introduction, there are 31 daily devotions, each from a different psalm, though of course, this is only a fraction of the psalms that are in the Bible. Though all of the psalms are important, I was thrilled to that there were several of the psalms that I was quite familiar with, such as Psalms 1, 8, 23, 46, 100, and 150. Sometimes the entire psalm was included, other times only portions of it. 

Each devotion follows the same format and spans the full double-page spread. First you read the passage from the day's psalm, then there is the short devotional, and finally you finish with a prayer which is usually 1-3 sentences in length.

Bible Passage for Psalm 8: 1-9

Devotional section

Prayer

And here's a look at the full double-page spread.

Here's a look at a couple more:

As you can see, each devotional focuses on a specific aspect of God. Besides the ones seen here, you will find such aspects as the Suffering Saviour, the King of Kings, God's Holiness, Our Strong God, Worthy God, and so much more. 

Also interspersed throughout the book are pages of quotes from Alec Motyer and double-page spreads of illustrations of God's creation. 

Finally, at the back of the book you will find a short, one-page glossary of new words that may be unfamiliar to the reader.

I did want to note that you may find the wording of the Bible passages to be a bit confusing at times, especially if trying to read it out loud. And I would say it could be more of an issue if you already know the passage well. However, as I have noticed at other times when reading other translations, having to read the Bible in other versions really makes me think about what I am reading, instead of just zinging through what is already in my head. So, even if it seems weird at first, definitely give it a chance, and remember that Dr. Motyer wanted to look at what the original Hebrew words really meant with his translation. 

I think Psalms for my Day is a wonderful book for young children to be able to start digging into God's Word. Children who are 7-11 years old, should be able to read this independently. You can also choose to read it to younger children (ages 4-6). In fact, I have decided that I would like to start adding a Bible time back into our day, and I plan to read this to the younger children. 

And I just wanted to mention the illustrations one last time. They really are lovely and add quite a bit to the devotional. And I love the extra illustrations added in between some of the devotionals. 

I highly recommend this book for your Bible time or for older elementary children who would like to have their own personal time with the Lord.

You can find Christian Focus on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Don't forget to click on the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about this book or one of these two other books we were able to choose from: 

30 Prophecies: One Story 

Not If, But When

Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #303: April 23, 2020

Welcome back to... 

I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around April 23rd, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)

Please make sure to share from the past as instructed above.  The spirit of Throwback Thursday Blog-Style is to share posts from the past. Please follow the guidelines. I would hate to have to delete your link.
Thank you

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post

Originally posted April 24th, 2019
Digging Into Ancient Rome with Online Unit Studies from Techie Homeschool Mom 
{A TOS Review}

Here is this week's randomly selected

Featured Throwback Thursday post:

Gale from Texifornia shared

Today's Flowers - Garden Bloom Day

To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Throwback Thursday Blog-Style permalink please.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Littles Learning Link Up: April 21st, 2020

   

Each month you will find:

• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my elementary-age children and the preschoolers I work with at our homeschool co-op (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).
• The occasional round up post.

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme.  Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up. 

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child(ren).

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

Here's a peek at what we have been up to in our homeschool.

As I mentioned last week, we haven't really been using our My Father's World curriculum at this time. Tabitha had gotten ahead of us, and I hadn't had time to get to our history readings. 

However, that doesn't mean we haven't been busy. The children get on the computer daily. The girls use CTCMath for their math, while Harold has been using that plus Matific Galaxy. We also added Math Seeds back in because they were offering a month free due to the Coronavirus. Reading Express also is offering free ebook workbooks in both reading comprehension, spelling and math, so I downloaded some of those to use. Hannah and Harold have been working on fractions. 

Tabitha has also been using a Math Essentials book, which is a current review product. 

They have continued using Let's Go Geography during their computer time to learn about countries they are interested in. 

Harold and Hannah are also working on handwriting with an ebook from Everyday Education. Yes, another review product. 

Harold and Hannah have been taking some art lessons with Beyond the Stick Figure. Here's a little look at what they have been doing in the beginning drawing lessons, where the teacher gets the student to focus on seeing and drawing circles, dots, curved lines, and straight lines. 

Mommy's been having fun too:

Unfortunately I have no more co-op lessons to post about.

Here are a couple of things I would like to share with you:

Fishy Under the Sea Literature and Craft Round Up

Butterfly Fun Round Up

Butterfly Metamorphosis/Life Cycle Fun Round Up

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 2 wonderful posts linked up. I'm going to feature both of them this week.

Please, don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's 1st featured post is:

Hilbert's Mazes shared Hand Drawn Spring Tulip Maze - Free Printable PDF

This week's 2nd featured post is:

Gale from Imaginative Homeschool shared Books from My Childhood: Ocean Tales

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on one of my relevant boards, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Monday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Littles Learning Link Up permalink please.

I am sharing over at

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- April 21, 2020

Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

Featured Reviews

Learning About History with a Fun, Hands-On Lapbook from Home School in the Woods{A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Math Fun with Riddle eBooks from Math Galaxy {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife .

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #302: April 16, 2020

Welcome back to... 

I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around April 16th, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)

Please make sure to share from the past as instructed above.  The spirit of Throwback Thursday Blog-Style is to share posts from the past. Please follow the guidelines. I would hate to have to delete your link.
Thank you

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post

Originally posted April 18th, 2019
Expanding Our Knowledge of Science with CrossWired Science {A TOS Review}

Here is this week's randomly selected

Featured Throwback Thursday post:

Gale from Exploring Biblical Places and Times shared

How to Make Faux Rock Walls

To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Throwback Thursday Blog-Style permalink please.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter