Thank you all for your many wonderful comments about last week's Homeschooling while Pregnant topic. We always love hearing from you all and we really appreciate that many even took the time to share ideas for other topics as well. I've got two things to share with you today too.

The first is to remind you that our special Easter Sale in the Schoolhouse Store ends at midnight tonight. We've got some great sale prices in there and shipping is always free so you'll want to check it out. And we've also got TWO really neat freebies for the first 50 customers who spend $100 or more in the store - Raising Children on a Godly Foundation DVD from ConsideringHomeschooling.org and Homeschooling Methods: Seasoned Advice on Learning Styles from The Old Schoolhouse. These are great products and it just makes this a perfect time to do a little shopping in our Schoolhouse Store.

And the second is to let you know that Homeschooling Radio is doing a Week with the Old Schoolhouse this week. It was a lot of fun talking to them and they'll have all of the shows archived on their site so you can listen to them at your convenience. Take a listen and let us know what you think. And if their website happens to be down (they're experiencing some technical difficulties), be sure to check back. They have a ton of great shows on there.

Speaking of radio shows, our friends Jim & Susan Erskine at homeschoolradioshows.com are enjoying their 25th Wedding Anniversary this month (Congratulations!). To celebrate the occasion, they've put together a delightful collection of resources to supplement & enrich your homeschool studies -- and it's available at a huge discount for a short time. Take a look while it's still available, and you'll see what we mean... http://www.besthomeschoolbargainever.com.

Enjoy every minute!

Nancy Carter and The Homeschool Minute Team

HOME Where They Belong

What's fun in your house? Everything? You got a perfect home? (I don't.) Come on, be honest. Don't tell me that your family life is 100% fun 100% of the time. It's easy to pretend, I guess, but that doesn't make it so. Life is hard, let's face it. It's not always a bowl of cherries.

Kitchens get messy, kids fight, spouses certainly aren't perfect. Bugs invade, computers crash, friends disappoint, dinners char. Babies fall down, toddlers get burned, little boys tear the heads of sisters' dolls, somehow dirty diapers get forgotten (and turn up a month later...). Life. It's here and it's nuts.

But lately I've been realizing that we're to look for the joy in the cracks. In the midst of it all, somehow there's peace, somehow there's great happiness, satisfaction and contentment. We may not always see it now, but we surely do later on when we look back.

In the house ruled by Christ, something is right. Something is very right. And further, you begin to notice that the special family times often appear only in hindsight. At the moment (in the "now"), it seems like chaos. Utter nonsense. A zoo (my house?). But in looking back, it's nothing but sweet memories. The secret to family delight is in the living - it's in the doing. And the Lord takes care of the rest. A crazy, nutty, wacky, insane, burnt-out, berserk homeschool life is a beautiful gift - one packed full of amazing memories and love. It sometimes acts as the very glue which holds the family together. All that quantity time makes for some incredible quality time. So stop envying Susie homeschool mama down the street who seems to be more perfect. YOU are so blessed. Crazy sometimes, sure, but BLESSED.

May the Lord continue to richly bless you this week as you serve HIM by serving THEM.

- Gena

Homeschool Heart

Making Time for Fun

Many people talk about intentional parenting - training their children thoughtfully and deliberately. But what I want you to think about today is intentionally making time for fun with your family. I know it's not easy and sometimes life seems to get in the way, but it's still important.

It doesn't have to be a big family vacation or an expensive night out, but what it has to be is a time when you are fully engaged with your children. Some families set aside a special family night which they guard like a precious treasure. They turn on the answering machine and keep their schedules clear that evening.

For my family that usually means a walk down to the creek, playing a board game, or popping some popcorn and watching a video together. Sounds simple, but it's not. I'm kind of selfish and when things slow down around here, my first thought is for time to myself - piddling on the computer, quilting, or running some errands by myself.

But I want to be more than just a taskmaster around here doling out chores and schoolwork. I want my kids to remember our family fun times too. And I have to be intentional about that.

- Nancy

Homeschool Freebies!

Here's some good fun family time. Get unplugged! There's rarely a day that goes by when someone in our house is NOT online or watching a movie (we don't have cable) or listening to music. While these things in and of themselves are not bad, they do take us away from cultivating our relationships. I'm preaching to myself here ~ and kids... beware! The day is coming! Can't you see the headlines? "Homeschooling Family Unplugs ... And Lives To Tell About It!"

Speaking of computers...recently I found a VERY cool website. AwesomeStories.com was started back in 1999 as a way to help educators and individuals find original sources, located at national archives, libraries, universities, and government web sites.

In their own words ~ "AwesomeStories is about primary sources. The stories exist as a way to place original materials in context and to hold those links together in an interesting, cohesive way (thereby encouraging people to look at them). It is a totally different kind of web site in that its purpose is to place primary sources at the forefront - not the opinions of a writer." Free memberships are available for educators - including homeschoolers. You can sign up here.

Don't forget to take advantage of our partnership with God's World News to offer you a free preview of their current-events newspapers! They're offering free of charge the final two issues of the school year to any of the following: Early Edition (pre-K-1st), Taking Off (2nd-3rd), News Current (4th-5th), or Top Story (6th-9th). This is a no- obligation offer for US customers only. Go to www.gwnews.com/tos2group to sign up (one for each grade- or reading level). Deadline for this free offer is March 30.

PLUS, when you sign up, you will be entered automatically into a drawing for a chance to win items from The Nativity Story. They're giving away t-shirts, DVDs, posters, and CDs.

- Julie

Schoolhouse Store Spotlight

Kregel publishing offers some great resources to add some fun to your family devotional and Bible study, especially if you have younger kids in the mix. 365 Activities For Kids: a collection of activities, Bible stories, and puzzle questions— one for each day of the year. Each story includes a Bible story, picture or puzzle activity, compiled by date and month. They also offer some fun Bible Crafts books showing you how to make baskets, costumes and more.

If you’re in the mood for plain ole’ fun & games check out Homeschoolopoly ( the perfect Monopoly version for the homeschooler!), Life on the Farm or Party Sticks, the fun, gigantic version of the old favorite, pick-up-sticks.

We’ve just added a great line of hands-on from Corps of ReDiscovery that make wonderful family projects. You can make a tomahawk, sew a quilt or fashion a Coonskin hat! You’ll definitely want to check these out. And if you’re considering family fitness Homeschool Karate may just have the Christian karate curriculum for you.

-Dena

Mercy in the Morning

“Family Fun Time” – The first thing that comes to mind is not an actual activity, but those times that we are together as a family sharing life and laughter. You know, when Dad does something hilarious and we all fall on the floor laughing or join in the hilarity somehow, or that spontaneous invasion of Dad and Mom’s bed by ALL the children all at once. Being a family in and of itself should naturally produce fun times together. Nothing fancy, just being together living, laughing and loving. And family is what is bound together in strong unity in homeschooling our children. Homeschooling is what is drawing families back together all over the country.

Of course, there are those special fun times when we play board games or watch special movies and eat popcorn, or go for a walk by a creek, or fellowship with other like-minded families. But overall, the family fun times I enjoy the most are the ones that happen more often. Watching the kids play in the backyard while Dad and I discuss the day’s events, sitting together after Bible time in the evening and just enjoying each other’s company and sense of humor. The real importance of “Family Fun Time” is found in the word, “Family.” This is what our children will remember. They will remember family, and the fun that naturally went with it.

Want to save thousands of dollars on college costs, earn college credit while still in high school, and do it from the comfort of home? Janice Campbell's new book, Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens, shows you how. Order today at www.getajumpstartoncollege.com!

"I just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate your encouragement through The Homeschool Minute. It's such a blessing to read such articles, penned with the Spirit of love. God bless you for all that you do in support of us homeschool moms."

~Jasheta ,THM Reader ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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~Kassandra, THM Reader ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I just want to say THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I loved this issues's articles and the support! I am almost there with baby #4, and it has not been easy time. I can 100% relate to all the feelings expressed by your writers. I have a 10th grader, a 6th grader, a kindergartener, and this very energetic little bundle just waiting to arrive in our lives. It has been challenging, even daunting at times, to try to see the end of the school year, to find the end of the stack of papers and homework...

I love reading the articles. They are a great source of inspiration and support, and we know we are not alone in this endeavor with our children and family. Thank you so much for all you do. May God bless you all, and keep up the great work!"

~Sherri, THM Reader

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"I always love getting "The Homeschool Minute" in my in-box, but today's issue was exactly what I needed!! Both articles by Gena and Nancy were right on the mark for me - what perfect timing! My husband and I are knee-deep in house renovations right now as we are getting it ready to sell, and it seems to take up all of our time. Rare is the day lately when I can devote 100% of myself to home schooling, and I've been feeling like the kids will fall hopelessly behind (we have to test or evaluate yearly here in NH so that looms in the near future!). Gena's article really hit home, and I can relax a bit and know they are still learning just by living! And I'm not pregnant, but Nancy's article dealing with thoughts on quitting may as well have been written to me. It ties in with everything else we have going on - I am always tired and most days feel so disorganized and often quite distracted. But God has called me to parent and teach my children, and like you said, He will be faithful to complete this good work! Thanks for the encouragement!"

~Maria, THM Reader