Mood:  happy

1. Creative Learners
2. The Homeschool Desk
3. Ramblin' Roads
4. The Stewards Steno
5. Mama Manuscripts
6. Train Up a Child
7. We Love to Homeschool
8. Day by Day in Our World
9. Acorns - or Homeschooling Nuggets of Gold
10. The Berry Patch

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Mood:  a-ok

I've written before about our experience at our first ever homeschool convention in Cincinnati last spring. John Allen came with me every day and we had blast! One of the neatest things about any homeschool convention are all of the vendor booths that are set up. There were dozens and dozens of vendors. Some were vendors that the homeschool crew had the privilege to work with last year. We had a fun time getting to know them and talking with them face to face about their great products. Other vendors were new to us but were equally as nice.

One product that was brand new to us was Lockrobots. Their super nice guys had a booth set up with lockrobots for the kids to play with. John Allen was so enthralled by the Lockrobots and the booth workers (which ended up being the inventor and educational consultant Mike Teel and Dan Olson) that he visited their stand over and over again. In fact, if we ever got separated, we had a standing agreement that we would meet at the Lockrobot booth. During our time at the convention John Allen learned how to make every model that they had and he even invented a few things of his own. Mike and Dan were so nice to John Allen that they ended up giving him a free set at the end of the convention.

I, in turn, was so impressed with Lockrobots that I decided to write a review of them on my blog - not because John Allen was given a free set, mind you, but because I really do like the product. Lockrobots are so much more than a toy, they are super educational as well. But, before I tell you more about them, John Allen wrote a review of them himself:

Lockrobots are a connection kind of toy that are shaped like a person. I saw their booth a the home school convention and totally fell in love with them!! You can create many things with them like an elephant, giraffe, plane, helicopter, and many more!! there are 4 ways to lock them together. See if you can find all 4!! They are also very good for homeschooling, and therapy. They have 4 different sized cases, a 15 Lockrobot case, for toddlers, a 30 Lockrobot case, for a little more experienced builders, a 70 Lockrobot case, for advanced builders, and a 150 Lockrobot case, for master builders. This person shaped toy is fun for kids of all ages, and their parents too!!

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Mood:  mischievious

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Mood:  a-ok

Okay, I know what I'm about to say may seem like a little thing to you, but it's big to me ! Blogging is supposed to be an extension of your life, and to me that is exactly true. I blog about things that important to me. And, I try not to allow things to be important to me if they are not important to God. I want everything that I do to be a ministry - from homeshooling, to Good News Mission and BCM International, to my homeschool reviews, to my family, to Compassion International. It's all a ministry and it's all connected and entwined. That's why it is so hard for me to pick a Topic for each one of my blog entries. Sometimes just one topic isn't enough. I want my post to cover three or four topics.

This post is no different. Although this is a clip put out by Compassion International, it's theme, Poverty, covers so many other areas of my life. Sarah and I work with folks that are in poverty every day. We see it at home through our ministry and we see it abroad through BCM International and Compassion International. So, this clip is much more than a Compassion International clip to me. It covers so much of who I am and what my family believes in and stands for.

This short movie talks about being a Hero to others by sponsoring a Compassion child in another country. Although I would love it if you would get involved with Compassion, I would love it even more if you just got involved! Be a hero where you are and get involved fighting poverty. Volunteer with your local mission. Help in your area soup kitchen. Visit someone in need. You don't have to give to BCM or Compassion or Good News Mission...just give! Give of your time and money to the organization of your choice, but just do it. Don't turn a blind eye to those in need anymore. Step out of you comfort zone - financially and time wise. Do it in Jesus name!

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 

 Matthew 25:37-40

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Mood:  chillin'

Finally a cool evening to enjoy. Joshua had football practice this evening and it was for once bearable. Unfortunately we know a lot about heat exhaustion and heat stroke. About a year ago John Allen passed out from dehydration while waiting in line at the concession stand at one of Joshua’s football games. I, myself, have suffered from heat stroke before.  Extreme temperatures are nothing to be fooled around with. I have learned that, as a dad, I need to be aware of the signs of a heat related illness and what to do to help my child if I spot one of those signs.

That’s why I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the “Beat the Heat” blog tour sponsored by Gatorade to help spread awareness of heat related illnesses that can occur during this time of year. With school beginning and sports getting back into full swing, kids are spending a lot of time outside practicing for sometimes hours on end. Gatorade began the “Beat the Heat” campaign to help coaches and parents identify signs that a child may be suffering from a heat related illness and what to do about it.

Do you know the signs of possible heat illness? Take a look at the list below. Some of them were new to me:

• Nausea        
• Headache        
• Weakness        
• Fainting        
• Poor concentration        
• Flushed skin       
• Light headedness       
• Loss of muscle coordination        
• Fatigue 
• Vomiting

Would you know what to do if you saw one of these signs?  Do you know what to do to prevent this from even happening? I have found that good hydration is only part of the answer.  Gatorade can help you fully answer these important questions with their downloadable “Gatorade Heat Safety Package”. It includes great information like: 1. The Four Downs of Heat Safety  2. Tips to Hydrate and Fuel for the Football Season  3. Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses  If you are a coach, download it and read the information so that you can prevent heat related illnesses from happening to your players. If you’re a parent, print out a copy to share with the leaders of your child’s team.  All you have to do is click here or on one of the hi-lighted links above to get to the download page. What’s really neat is that for every download Gatorade will donate $1 up to Beat the Heat charities. So, what have you got to lose except for the health of your child? Download it today and make sure that along with having fun this season you’re also keeping safe! 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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