The Hobbit

This trimester at our homeschool co-op I am teaching a literature class on The Hobbit.  With the recent release of the first movie, I thought it might be well-received... and I was right. I have six students in my class, and they are very excited about discussing the book... and the movie. Such enthusiasm makes the class a lot of fun to teach.

I've been very impressed with the Progeny Press Study Guide we are using. It's great for vocabulary development, literary analysis, a bit of grammar, and--the best part--tying in scriptural applications. The theme that it's bringing out is how God chooses unlikely, ordinary "heroes" for important "quests." My prayer is that this is a truth that will stick with the kids long after our class time is over.

The Greatest Story

I'm blogging today on the Sonlight blog about the Greatest Story ever.
Wishing you a wonderful day as you celebrate His coming!

Free Bible Study Resources Online

• Calvary Chapel's Children's Ministry: This is a great resource if you need coloring sheets, printable puzzles, or worksheets for just about any story in the Bible.
• eBible Teacher Sunday School Sources: Provides Bible study lessons, review activities and games, songs, trading card files, and teaching tips for primary and junior level.
• The Word Puzzles. 20,000 Interactive Bible Puzzles, Word Searches and Games.
• Christian Answers Coloring Pages. Print pages or color online.
• Bible Gateway. Full text of dozens of Bible translations, fully searchable by word, phrase, or reference. I use this site all the time!
  

If you know of other great resources that aren't on my list, please leave a comment and I will update this post! Thanks so much!

Finding Quiet Time

Recently I was asked: How do you fit in a prayer life and find those daily quiet times with God when you're surrounded by children, school and daily chores?

These days are challenging, aren't they? Several years ago I asked my pastor and his wife (an older couple) this very question. How do I make my quiet time a priority when there are already so many critical demands on my time? I appreciated so much the wise advice they gave me.
The first thing to remember is that this is "just for a season". God understands that as mothers (especially of very young children) we are often stretched to our very limits. He will be there for us even when we just find a quick minute here and there to spend in His Word.

When my children were younger I found that a good time for me was during the afternoon quiet time. Even when my children got too old for "naps" I still sent them to their rooms for 30 minutes to an hour each afternoon for "quiet time". As they got old enough to understand I explained that Mommy needed a quiet time, so they had to go to their rooms and find something quiet to do. I tried to encourage them to have their own "devotions" with Bible story books or story CDs.

Now that my children are a little older (and are willing to sleep a little later!) I have found that it works best for me to get up a hour before the children do, to enjoy my coffee and my devotions in the still early-morning house.

What works for you?