Latest Finds

Okay, I love good resources. Most bookstores have so much fluff that finding something worth your money is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Therefore when I do find something that I really like I feel obliged to pass it on. This is a list of resources that I used this past semester and thoroughly enjoyed.

Devotional:

Christ Our Mediator and The Cross-Centered Life, both by CJ Mahaney

God Is The Gospel, by John Piper

TableTalk magazine (personally I liked the articles better than the devotional) published by Ligonier Ministries

Whispers of His Power, by Amy Carmichael

Feminine Appeal, by Carolyn Mahaney (Titus 2)

Your Home a Place of Grace, by Susan Hunt


Homeschool:

Trial and Triumph, by Richard Hannula (this is a church history book written for children)

For The Children's Sake, by Susan Schaeffer Macauley

www.amblesideonline.org (homeschool schedule for grades 1-11, includes booklist, Charlotte Mason perspective) If you go to this website and click on year 1 you will see all the books we used this year. I was very pleased with these and only edited a few.

www.veritaspress.com (christian and classical curriculum)

The Little Pilgrim's Progress, by Helen Taylor

http://higherupandfurtherin.blogspot.com/ I don't remember how I stumbled across this blog, but it has been so encouraging and has given me so many ideas!

How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer.
This is a must read and it has a supberb video series that goes with it. I will not begin to use it with the children until 3rd grade, but every parent should read or at least watch the videos. It helps you realize that everyone is working from some worldview. I highly reccomend it!



And now,

Here a few simple ideas that we employ with the boys that I believe is a great benefit to their education.

1. Keep the television off. It severly stunts the growth of their imagination and ability to sit and listen to hard books.

2. Go on trips with the children alone rather than with another mother. In this way you spend your time talking with your children instead of the other grown up.

3. Read old books together. You may need a dictionary for yourself, but you won't regret this time. We have found some of the books that were published around the early 1900's are free from feminism and the whole tolerance theme that runs through almost all modern books. Now, you will find most of the men smoking pipes!

You will be surprised at what the children will sit and listen to if you do your reading at bedtime. We even read the original Pilgrim's Progress with the boys and they enjoyed it thoroughly.

4. My rule of thumb for books is if it doesn't hold my interest and capture my imagination it is not good for the children.



Enjoy!

Excellent Parenting Resources

I feel as though I have come upon a treasure trove of God glorifying resources! I don't know about you, but I need all the encouragement and help that I can find.

I hope these help you in your parenting:

The Children's ESV Bible This is an excellent children's Bible with great helps designed by the folks at Children Desiring God.

Listen to Kenneth Maresco teach on training our younger children.

Here is a great children's worship CD, by Sovereign Grace. It is called Awesome God. The lyrics are exceptional.

My favorite devotional for young ones is, Leading Little Ones to God, by Marianne Schooland.

Another great discipleship tool is Sinclair Ferguson's, The Big Book of Questions and Answers.

Praise Baby Videos. These are a great way for children to learn lyrics to some really good worship songs.


Websites:
Children Desiring God
Married Life
Girl Talk

Our Favorite Books Of All Time (other than the Bible)

Let the Nations Be Glad, by John Piper
Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem
Shadow of the Almighty, by Elisabeth Elliot
His Thoughts Said...His Father Said..., by Amy Carmichael
Toward Jerusalem, by Amy Carmichael
The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan
Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard

Books We Have Recently Read

Mark:

Planting Churches in Muslim Cities, by Greg Livingstone
On Christian Liberty, by Martin Luther
Pia Desideria, by Philip Jacop Spener
The Autobiography of George Muller

Rachel:

The Well-Trained Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
Parenting In The Pew, by Robbie Castleman
Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God, by Noel Piper
One Thing, by Sam Storms
Life As A Vapor, by John Piper
A God Entranced Vision of All Things, edited by John Piper
Reforming Marriage, by Douglas Wilson
Future Men, by Douglas Wilson

Books We Are Reading

Both of us:
Ephesians
Why Small Groups?, edited by CJ Mahaney
The Treasure Principle, by Randy Alcorn

Mark:
An Introduction to the OT Historical Books, by David M. Howard
An Introduction to the OT Pentateuch, by Herbert Wolf
A History of Baptists, by Robert G. Torbet
Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church, by Donald S. Whitney
Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel, by Ronald Allen & Gordon Borror
Five Dialogues, by Plato
Republic, by Plato

Rachel:
When I Don't Desire God, by John Piper
Creative Counterpart, by Linda Dillow
Whispers of His Power, by Amy Carmichael
God Is The Gospel, by John Piper
Mommy Made and Daddy Too!, by Martha and David Kimmel

"Come let us exalt the Lord together!"