Welcome to Memo Monday. As usual, I am posting this late. I have no excuses. I have been chatting online with my friend and fellow HSBA writer, Christina, for about an hour now. I could have gotten it done. Before that, I was chatting with my friend, Danielle, who is not a writer on HSBA, but just decided to really blog, and she actually joined the May & June 2008 Swap too, to my surprise!

I worked late last night on The Homesteading Carnival: Southern Sunset Edition, and could not force myself to get this done. I am a last-minute, does-better-under-pressure kind of woman, you know. Besides that, I kept finding other things to do.

I have been participating in Robin’s meme: Super Spiritual Sunday Links for a couple of weeks and was recalling my favorite links last night. In addition to that, my DH, Matt, wanted to watch a movie late last night, and I told him I would, if he brought it upstairs, so I typed and pasted as we watched The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Sounds like a good name for a Memo Monday, huh? I think I would have to stop at the Good though.

In my last few Memo Mondays I covered Online Homeschool Groups, Gardening, Gas Prices, and Vacation Planning. I am kinda stuck on what else to write about. That means you are stuck reading my “Lately” post. I just got a sleepy babe to sleep. Jocelyn used the weed-eater on our jungle, but there is much more to overcome. We published Growing in Grace Magazine -July Online Edition on July first, and I got the August assignments out a few days ago. Or was that just yesterday?

I am getting so excited about school plans! I am reviewing some Knowledge Box Central lapbooks for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, and I am just ready and rearin’ to go! A really neat resource I am reviewing is America’s 50 States by Learning with Weblinks. Awesome! Even Amanda looked through it and said, “Wow! That is neat, Mom!”. The lapbooks I have include the Elections one, and it will be fun to do that one in this 2008 Presidential Election year! Homeschooling real life! Awesome!

I also received two In the hands of A Child Project Packs, which are lapbook instructions too, and they are right up our alley! One is American Government, which will go great with the KBC Elections lapbook, and also Plants, which, if you know us, is totally us!

To be honest, I am a make-my-own curriculum teacher, and I had not seen these resources before. I am so pleasantly surprised with them. I already had the Modesty Lapbbook download, which I had received free from CurrClick, and I am excited to get to that with our children. I knew that the lapbook instructions - packets came in EBook format, but I did not know that you can purchase some of the lapbooks from KBC already assembled. We have a good printer and many hands to help assemble, so I wouldn’t need that option, but since that is how the Lapbooks came to me to review, I thought it was odd. Now I know. Now you know!

Also on my “Lately” list is Peanut M&Ms. Yes, I am going to talk about M&Ms. They are an infrequent treat. I wanted some chocolate, Amanda brought me my favorite, Peanut M&Ms. She also brought home a Dark Chocolate bar, but those are good for me, right? Well, that is what I read: Benefits of Chocolate

Amanda is currently reading Run, Baby Run, by Nicky Cruz for a GGM Interview with him or one of the actors in the upcoming movie. Be on the lookout for that!

I also ordered Eric the rest of the set of The Kingdom Series by Chuck Black. I was so glad that the Schoolhouse Store offered that he would sign one of the books! I didn’t tell Eric, but he is going to be SO excited! The boy has literally read the first three of his own six times! He borrowed the last three from the library, but wanted his own to read the other five times, I guess! What a thrill it will be to see his face when he opens it and see Mr. Black’s message personalized to Eric! Isn’t that fun?

Rachel and Eric also read The Sentinel: City of Destiny, by Landel Bilbrey, which I have yet to post (sorry Mr. Bilbrey).

Last, but not least, you have to check out the new E-Book: The Schoolhouse Planner. I think one of the lovely HSBA ladies will be reviewing it here soon, but you can always get a sneak peek. It is really awesome! It is interactive, which I love! My laptop is my scheduling brain, and I forget about papers, so it is really cool for us.

Since I love The Homesteading Carnival and Carnival of Homeschooling (though I rarely remember to submit before the deadline), I might as well give you the run-down of carnivals this week. There are so many that are beneficial to the homeschool mom.

Carnival of Homeschooling

current issue:
Jul 08, 2008
The Daily Planet

next issue:
Jul 15, 2008
Red Sea School

current issue:
Jun 10, 2008
Learn Me Good

next issue:
Jun 11, 2008
Learn Me Good

Learning in the Great Outdoors

current issue:
Jun 01, 2008
The Miss Rumphius Effect

next issue:
Jul 14, 2008
Alone on a Limb

Music Education Blog Carnival

current issue:
Jul 01, 2008
So You Want To Teach?

next issue:
Aug 01, 2008
Music, Technology and Education: Mustech.net

The Charlotte Mason Carnival

current issue:
Jul 07, 2008
Hearts and Trees

next issue:
Jul 22, 2008
Praiseworthy Things

The Homesteading Carnival

current issue:
Jul 14, 2008
Walking Therein

next issue:
Jul 21, 2008
HowToMe

If you like to do memes and love the Psalms or Hymns or Worship songs, please feel free to join me for Saturday Psalm and Praise every Saturday. It has been a joy to read everyone’s favorites, hear the songs playing on their players and just get to know friends on that level.

I posted a contest on my blog for Baby-Wearing Mommas, if you are interested: Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride. You have until midnight on July 31, 2008.

Have a great week!!

This week in our Tuesday tour, I’d like to direct your attention to a book giveaway I’m having at Apples of Gold Ministries. ‘With This Ring’ is written by Joanna Weaver, who also wrote ‘Having Mary Heart in a Martha World’. We have two new contributing authors writing at AGM now and looking to add a few guest contributors as well. We’re have begun a marriage study and you’ll want to head over there while it’s still in the beginning stages. The deadline for the book giveaway is June 15th.

In addition to this book giveaway, I was able to have a phone Interview With Erin Bethea, who is Kirk Cameron’s co-star in his upcoming film, ‘Fireproof‘. ‘Fireproof’ is the third film produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. You may remember ‘Facing the Giants‘ as it gave hope to our souls in 2006. The key to these films is that they receive a substantial amount of support during opening weekend. If ‘Fireproof’ does well, it will open the doors for more theaters to show the film, and reach more lives. This film is not just an action drama, but a vessel to be used to reach wounded marriages with the Gospel and Redemptive Power through the Lord Jesus. You can swing by and grab a widget for your blog to help spread the word about this powerful ministry.

Sprittibee shares more about her gardening adventures and is having a flower quiz and you can have a chance to win a packet of seeds!

Heather posted an article titled ‘Why Homeschool‘ in Heart of the Matter’s June 2008 Issue. I’m always inspired by her articles and you won’t want to miss this one!

Growing in Grace Magazine also has their June issue available and their pdf version is for a limited time only. So be sure to get it while it’s hot!

I’d also like to introduce you to a wonderful sweet friend of mine Mama Bug, Analene at UsLoves. I tell ya this blogosphere is a SMALL world! Analene and I became acquainted at The Homeschool Lounge, only to find out a month later that her mother is one of my dear friends right in my very own church! Who knew? We were all so pleasantly surprised to make that connection! On top of that I had a dream that I met her, then her little sister, who is friends with my daughter Jess, came to help with my little ones today. She told me that they’re coming back for a visit soon! How very cool to be able to finally meet her in person.

So please go on by and say Hello to her and her little love bugs! Now have I told you yet that Analene is one of 7 children who all homeschooled? She’s a second generation homeschooler and has fabulous siblings. One of them is also friends with my daughter Jess and is currently visiting Mama Bug, but I wanted to be sure to introduce you to her as well. This is our sweet friend, Emma! She’s an 18 year old Auntie and her adorable little nieces and nephews even call her Auntie EM. ( I just love that!) I’m still stunned that I didn’t realize these wonderful ladies were all related. What an amazing world we live in.

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Welcome to the May & June 2008 HSBA Saturday Swap!

We had 8 sets of swappers last time. Here below are some swap gift links that were sent in to showcase from the swap. Don’t worry if you haven’t gotten your present yet - but let us know if you think your swap buddy forgot you! This time we had an international swap and it may be a little late getting in. If you haven’t gotten your swap gift, feel free to drop us a line - we’d like to know of any problems you have. As fun as the swap is, we have had a few ladies who haven’t gotten their present after they signed up and mailed one out. We hate to be the bad girls, but if you don’t mail a swap present, you won’t be able to swap in the future. If you need a little extra time, that is understandable - but please just email your swap buddy or let us know so the experience is fun for all.

We hope we will have some past swappers and some new swappers join us for the next swap.

Here’s the schedule:

SIGN UP: By May 18th (Sat.)
PAIRED UP: By May 22nd (Wednesday)
MAIL SWAP: By June 21st (Saturday)
POST PHOTOS: By June 28th (Saturday)
EMAIL LINKS TO ME: By July 5th (Saturday)
NEXT SWAP: July 12th (Saturday)

This sign up is for one swap gift and you have two months to get it out, get it posted, and email us the link! Our next swap won’t be until JULY. Be SURE TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS with these dates!

MARCH & APRIL SWAP HIGHLIGHTS:

Dawn and Cindy swapped.

Nerdmom and Amy swapped.

JoAnn and Cocoa swapped.

Beckie and Heidi swapped.

Amanda and Lori swapped.

Sprittibee and Jacque swapped.

Judy and Jaynee swapped.

Judy and Dianne swapped.

I know you already know what a SWAP is… but in case you need a refresher…

Check out our past SWAP Posts here at HSBA. Chances are they will answer all of your questions and more. Oh, and if you swapped in the past and forgot to send in your link, it isn’t too late! We would love to add your post showcasing your swap gift to our past posts. People still like to click back and see all the gifts, so by all means - share!

PAST SWAPS:

October 2007 Swap (Intro)
November 2007 Swap (October Highlights)
December 2007 Swap (November Highlights)
January 2008 Swap (December Highlights)
February 2008 Swap (January Highlights)
March & April 2008 Swap (February Highlights)

We hope you’ll join in the fun! Spread the news and ask your homeschool friends to join. You have until Saturday the 18th to leave a comment here with your email. I’ll contact you and send you a questionnaire!

Here are some basic rules for every swap:

1. Don’t offer to participate and sign up if you can’t get the gift in the mail on time. Now that we are giving you 2 months, this shouldn’t be too hard!
2. Don’t spend more than 5-10$ on your swap gift (not including postage). You will end up making your buddy feel like they didn’t give enough to you.
3. Get to know your swap buddy. Pray for them! Send them a Bible verse! Email them! Etc.!
4. Do NOT share your swap buddies’ personal information (last names or addresses) with anyone else.
5. Make sure you post a photo and ‘Thank You’ for your swap sister - thanking her and linking to her blog.
6. Email me a copy of your swap post link so I can showcase it for the following month!

Suggestion: Please make sure you take extra care when packaging your gifts if they are breakable or fragile. Two or three times now we have had swap gifts damaged by UPS and the Postal Service!

Who’s in???

~ This swap post is now CLOSED ~

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