Teach Them Diligently - Why I'm excited & a special introduction to My Sponsors

*this post contains affiliate links

There are a lot of different reasons to be excited about the #1 Homeschool Convention in the nation. 

In case you have any doubts of questions - I've put together a few of my favorite reasons: 

• Nashville Y'all - nuff said! 
• Several cool venues to choose from: Nashville, Spartanburg, and Omaha 
• The new Marketplace with 9 different locations (mini- conferences) 
• Road trip adventure! 
• Socialize with like-minded homeschool friends (old and new) 
• Meet up with friends we've met online and are dying to meet IRL 
• Vendor hall full of incredible Christian Homeschool curriculum we can touch & investigate- try before you buy (I have YET to meet a homeschool mom who does not love books & curriculum!) 
• An awesome line up of informative, talented, encouraging speakers who will inspire and breathe new life into your/my homeschool 
• Great kids programs, food court, fun activities 
• Huge blogger meet-up 
• Did I mention the latest, greatest, best homeschool curriculum and materials (many discounted) 
• Biblically based programs, curriculum, sessions, people 
• Family focus & loads of fun
• Boost the economy - some 7,000 homeschool families are currently supporting the local economy in Spartanburg for the SC conference! 
• Pam.Tebow. 
• Opryland. Hotel. 

If you are headed to Nashville - leave a comment and let me know.
I'd love to meet you in person!

Please take a moment to visit my incredible sponsors for Teach Then Diligently:                                                            

                                    

Paula Miller                                                                

                                             

Paula Miller -Lilla Rose provides                                                  EEME - educational, hands on 

beautiful hair clips for busy moms!                                             projects and video curriculum - 

I love mine - it helps me get ready                                             inspiring creativity & critical

quickly & look totally pulled together.                                        thinking My boys love the 

                                                                                                        videos they were proud to  

                                                                                                        show off their projects & 

                                                                                                        are ready for the next lesson!

                                                                                                Sign up for monthly subscription 

                                                                                                     and get your first month FREE! 

*See my review of EEME Electronics here to read our personal testimony on the project

*Read my review of my Lilla Rose hair clip from Paula Miller here 

I choose to represent companies we use and believe in. I greatly appreciate their

sponsorships, however, the opinions expressed are my own. I proudly stand behind 

their products and services. Thank you for taking a moment to check them out! Please 

let me know if you have any questions - I'm happy to help put you in touch. 

Teach Them Diligently Convention - Big Fat Discount and announcement!

Have you heard about the exciting line up of speakers who will be speaking for TTD this year? 

Rachel Carman and Davis Carman! 

Last week was exciting as Teach Them Diligently rolled out their speaker line up for 2013. It's an impressive list of names including Apologia's, Davis and Rachel Carman, Hal and Melanie Young, Clay and Sally Clarkson, Ken Ham, Heidi St. John, Sonya Shafer, Voddie Baucham, Denise Eide, Crystal Paine, Jenny Martin, Isreal Wayne - Did I mention - Deb Bell? You can read about these and more speakers here where you'll find individual links to each site. 

“I came to convention last year burned out

 with lots of questions about whether I was 

doing the right thing for my family. 

GOD SHOWED UP!

 Our family left BLESSED and REFRESHED. 

It is MORE THAN A CONVENTION... 

it is a ministry!”Spartanburg,Sc

If you've been to plenty of conventions - you know - it's a great way to research what is best for your family curriculum, and to gain insight and inspiration for teaching your family. I can tell you from personal experience, there is something different - something special - about Teach Them Diligently. The atmosphere is different, the attitudes are different. Even the vendors are different - because the focus - is on Christ! 

Have you met Pam Tebow? 

Listening to her speak about raising her family - homeschooling them from abroad - sharing stories and struggles about life and family - and  letting God lead as they reared Tim Tebow is a moving experience! 

She'll be in Omaha and in Nashville - fyi - you'll find me in Nashville this year too. (CAnnot WAit!) 

Everybody loves a discount: 

For 2 days only - you can save an additional $20 off of the Early Bird price. You heard me! 

Use code:  BESTOFFER  Get your tickets here  *affiliate link -thanking you in advance! 

Register your family for just $25 Today and Tomorrow here  

Discipling children to glorify God:

I haven't even mentioned the fabulous children and teen programs. . . .

If you can only attend one homeschool conference this year - this is the one you want to choose.

 I know it will bless your family in many ways, as it has ours. It's not just a conference - it is a ministry!

Learn more about the ministry of WorldWide Tentmakers here.  Get to know the Nunnery family here 

and read about what inspired them to begin this journey. 

 Come and let the speakers, staff, vendors and volunteers of TTD minister to and inspire your family: 

*affiliate links present - if you purchase your tickets using them -

 part of the proceeds go to support our family homeschool

Our Homeschool Week - Adventures on the Road

In my life this week…

What a week it's been! We traveled to Orlando for the FPEA homeschool convention - where I was 

honored to work for Apologia  - There were so many wonderful quotes I gathered from the workshops

by the ladies of Apologia - but one of my favorite is Rachael Carman who said with regards to running our homes and homeschools in a way that honors God "Keep your eyes on Jesus - It's all about Him!" and that is the best advice anyone can give any of us - now isn't it? 

In our homeschool this week…

We spent time with the family in Orlando and then headed for Tampa to relax for a few days - thankfully

my husband was able to join us for a couple of days (He won't have another day off for awhile - he's in 

his busy fishing season - Tarpon fishing!) 

We took a couple of field trips - one to the FL Aquarium: (now you know what a Tarpon is) 

Tarpon swimming over top of a Green Moray Eel 

Leafy Sea Dragon - one of my favorites! 

School of minnows - my little guy LOVES Adores and is Obsessed with fish -

 So-  I couldn't peel him off the aquarium wall! He sat there through the entire "class" they gave. He and my 7 year old then proceeded to explain to the docent the difference between "zooplankton and phytoplankton"

Thank you Apologia - "Swimming Creatures"! 

We also visited MOSI - Museum of Science and Industry and toured the new "Mummies of the World" :

Ancient mummy from Egypt 

We learned a good deal about the mummification process and the cultures who practiced it. We also 

learned about tornadoes, hurricanes, electricity, pulleys and more! 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

See above! We also got to spend Memorial Day with our favorite Veteran - my daddy! He took all three boys for the day so I could work for Apologia at the FPEA conference - He's still a brave man! 

We toured the USS American Victory - from WWII - for Memorial Day and talked with a Navy Vet who was very helpful - He was happy to hear we homeschool and asked us to be sure and study the Constitution 

He was thrilled to hear that "Ya know what? We do!" Thanks to Rebecca of  MomsMustardSeeds and Founders Academy - we have great FREE lessons about the founding of our Nation and government. 

My favorite thing this week was…

That my husband was able to come up and join us in Tampa for a couple of well deserved days off! 

Let's hear it for the boys. . . 

All three boys travel well - and I was impressed (along with the docent) with all the information they have 

retained about "Swimming Creatures" from their awesome Apologia Science book and their understanding

of God's unique finger print on all of Creation. They blow me away - these little monkey's! 

3 in 30 - reaching goals just 3 at a time …

June Goals: 

1. I will loose 10 pounds - by drinking water and moving my body 30 minutes daily (walking, swimming, 

biking, yoga, or dancing with the boys) 

2. I will start my day in Scripture- I am doing the Proverbs 31 study with Amanda Pelser

3. I will finish updating my pages- I am working through the Simple blogging ebook 

Letter of the week "O" …

"O" is for Otter- One of the cute friend we made at the Aquarium

Helpful homeschooling tips, Freebies or advice to share…

I highly recommend that you join a local Science center or Aquarium! Check out the ASTC.org

"Passport Program" - Association of Science and Technology Centers - gives you FREE admission to museums around the country. *Read the fine print - there are restrictions - but we plan entire vacations around some of these visits. They are educational and fun - it's been a wonderful investment in our homeschool! 

There is a "likers only" FREEBIE on our Facebook Page! Download your Free Nature Study today

and add fun and scripture to your Summer Nature adventures! 

Linking with - Holy Spirit Led Homeschool , The Imagination Tree , Creative Family Fun , Read.Explore.Learn.  and these: 

                    


    

Online Homeschool Conferences & A LOT of VALUE

This is the time of year when homeschool families everywhere are preparing to attend conferences 

to investigate and set up their homeschool curriculum for the following year. Some go to hear the 

speakers and gather inspiration, some go to stay up to date on the latest greatest homeschool curricula 

We've been known to travel far and wide for a good one! But this year - it won't be necessary. 

We've found TWO Conferences where we have the benefits of attending - hearing inspiring keynote 

speakers - prizes - new curriculum - sales and discounts - without ever having to leave home! 

(Not a bad thing with gas prices as they are) 

I'll be speaking at the first conference - the 

Homeschool How-To conference 

Win a Premium Pass Here 

And get a Year of Bible Curriculum Free 

Another great online Homeschool conference you need to know about: 

Big Homeschool Giveaway! 

Total prize package for over $3500 in homeschool curricula

*there are affiliate links in this post - I purchased my own ticket for Ultimate HS Expo - I don't recommend anything for your family - unless I use it for mine! :)

Life Lessons and What I'm Thinking About Character Training

Last month I attended the Teach Them Diligently Convention, along with a handful of other bloggers. We were there to support and inform others about everything from the sessions with keynote speakers to the excellent vendors via our idiosyncratic social media skills.  It was an amazing experience to say the least. One of the best things about the adventure - besides meeting some of the blogger friends I interact with on a regular basis - was perusing the vendor hall. 

I found it particularly favorable that the vendors for TTD had all been previously vetted and had signed a statement of faith to insure that the products and curriculum they were marketing was bible based. It was a great feeling knowing that although there were people from every walk of life, every race, various home states and life styles - we all shared a couple of foundational predilections in common - homeschooling and Jesus Christ. It made for the perfect atmosphere in which to shop for curriculum for and to find direction and inspiration for our studies in the future. 

One of the vendors who made a notable impression on me was a company called Rice Bowls  - Fill a 

bowl - Fight Hunger! . They weren't actually selling anything at all - which is a rather unique quality to 

find in a vendor to start with. They were giving away little plastic rice bowl piggy banks. The idea is that 

most anyone - even  our children - can gather and collect loose change to save up for the fight against

hunger. What better way to teach our children than to get them involved in providing for others? It's

important for them to see us taking action - and to participate as a family - rather than just hearing us 

talk about loving others for the Lord. 

“He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to

 know me?” declares the Lord. - Jeremiah 22:16 

Furthermore, the Rice Bowls web site is packed full of Free Lessons - broken down by age group - that
you can use in your homeschool. Social Studies, Persuasive Writing, Math, Elementary lessons, Middle School lessons, Language Arts and History, even Advertisement and book writing are included in these
Free lesson plans.

John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one 
who has food should do the same.” – Luke 3:11

We can, as a family, get out and pound the pavement together and fill our rice bowls with spare change.
We will speak to neighbors, friends, church members. The boys can hone their public speaking skills
with our book club, and even with the grandparents as they explain the purpose for the exercise.

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness 
and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. – 2 Corinthians 8:7 


I want to teach my children about what the Word says - not just in what I say, but by my actions.
I want to live out loud the things of God and pass it down as a family legacy. Our children need to
know what the Bible says and how to apply it. Loving others is THE thing repeated throughout the
scriptures, so I'm thinking it rates pretty high up on God's list of priorities. I'm thinking I've found a
perfect summer project for our family that's both educational and rewarding!

What are you thinking? Would you like to join us?

A few other resources to help you in shaping the character of your family:

Join me May 1-3 for the Homeschool How-To Conference

I'm speaking on the topic of "Exploring God's Creation" 

'Helping your children get to know their Creator through the study of nature'

There will be many sessions by speakers from Apologia, Sonlight, Foundations Press and more

Workshops include Jamerrill Stewart of Holy Spirit Led- Homeschool (and a fellow TTD blogger) 

teaching you about saving money in your homeschool 

 loads of FREEBIES come with the Premium Pass - The conference is FREE - but you can 

purchase a Premium pass for just $49 and receive the MP3s from all the sessions along with 

hundreds of dollars worth of Freebies - including a YEAR of Bible Curriculum! 

Save 10% off the price if you use the code "adventurez" in your purchase

*That's a lot of value for your family and a wise investment for your homeschool 

I want our home to help build a foundation of character in my children. I want our homeschool 

to glorify God and be a testimony to others. And, I want to fill my children with the knowledge and 

understanding of the Word so that they can be the Light in a world of darkness. If you want to 

learn to better facilitate these ideals in your own home and in the lives of your children - join me

in this conference as we learn from each other and grow together - serving our families by 

putting Christ first and using the Word as the foundation of our homeschool!

Want to win a Free Premium Pass to the online conference?

Homeschool How-To Conference Giveaway

*Update: Lisa @Hometo4Kiddos is the winner- #7 chosen by Random.org
Congrats Lisa!

visit the Facebook Page to find more bloggers giving away passes!
Or go Here

   I'll be speaking on "Exploring God's Creation

                                  - helping your children get to know their Creator by examining His creation" 

Tune in on May 1 - 3 for the free online conference or . . . . . 

You can win a Premium Pass by leaving a comment on this post! 

Premium ticket holders will have access to MP3's from the conference and a goodie bag

Fabulous Conference speakers you'll enjoy: 

 Kraig and Anne Elliot - Foundations Press 

 Davis Carman - Apologia 

 Lee Binz - The Home Scholar 

      Candace Allgood - Sonbeams 

Just to name a few! 

The Conference is FREE or you can purchase a Premium Ticket

All my readers are entitled to a 10% discount - off the premium tickets with the code: "adventurez"

Enter a comment below to win a 

Premium Ticket - value $49  

Ends Monday Evening at 8 pm Eastern time 

(If you purchase and then win - we'll refund your money) 

Be sure to register for both the Free Conference or Premium Pass Here

*Another opportunity for you or a friend to Win a Premium ticket from Amanda @ The Pelser's