Why Host an Exchange Student

For me, the real question is "Why not?!"  But since everyone isn't quite as adventurous in opening their home to complete strangers as this former foster family is, I'll attempt to convince you that this is a good idea!

If you homeschool, you know that Education is a Life, and an Atmosphere.  Who and what comes into your home can rock your world!  Think of how much you and your children can learn from having a.) a teenager in the house, b.) dinner with someone from another culture...nearly every day, and c.) seeing your own town, state and country with new eyes.  Think of all the special conversations you could have!

If you have an only child, you know that a bit of extra effort is required to have that "sibling experience".  How nice it is to have a built-in friend at home!  Someone to hang out with, to hit the town with, to show around school, to do the whole "senior year" adventure together?  Awesome.

If you don't homeschool or have an only child, why would you host?  Still the same reasons, actually. Expand your worldview, enjoy foods and stories from other cultures, enjoy a new son or daughter, or sibling.  Love more.  Laugh more.  Do more.

If you don't have children at all?  Can you host?  Should you?  Yes!  Hosting is great for empty-nesters who want to feel more a part of the community again.  Hosting can be a wonderful parenting experience for those who never had their own children.

These teens, ages 15-18, are thoroughly vetted and safe to have in your home.  Their English has to meet a certain standard to get into the EF High School Exchange Year program.

So, give it some thought!  I can help connect you to someone in your area (within the USA) who works with EF and see if this is right for your family.

Clash of Kingdoms by Dyer and Tobey

Clash of Kingdoms: What the Bible Says About Russia, ISIS, Iran and the End Times was written by Charles Dyer and Mark Tobey, has a foreword by Dr. David Jeremiah and was just published this year (2017).  It is an "essential guide to what scripture foretells about current events in the middle east", a good presentation of the basics of what is to come.

I found Clash of Kingdoms interesting and informative.  The first half of the book goes over the past and current events of the nations that are relevant to Bible prophesies, and I admit I wasn't enthralled.  But then, the Bible verses and explanations in the second half made all sorts of fascinating connections between Biblical past, recent past, present and future.  I learned much about the Middle East, as well as Russia.  Connections were drawn from ancient Babylon and Rome straight into the future.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more about Bible prophesy in general, as well as those interested in the end times, the second coming of Christ, Armageddon and more.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Too Much Noise

I am sensitive to noise, especially high-pitched continuous noises (some vacuums), or very repetitive noises (typing, mouse clicking, pencil tapping).  I seem unable to tune them out.  Fluorescent lights have always bothered me, things that beep bother me, and television commercials (why are they so annoying?  and louder than the show itself??).  Then there is the sound of other people eating, which I  can't stand when I'm not eating.  Especially crunchy foods.  Why do these things irritate me?

Then.  11 years ago.

On the plus side, I can hear the mouse in the house and know to put out traps.  On the negative side, the mouse in the house wakes me up in the middle of the night if he comes in my room to chew on something. *shivers*  I used to think it was just a mom thing - someone needs to hear the baby getting restless in the next room, right?  But now, I think there is more to it than that.

There is a scientific term for this hearing sensitivity that makes it feel more legitimate.  Have you heard of it?  Misophonia

So, in order to survive my afternoon "quiet time" - when I'm trying to read or concentrate on something between homeschooling and evening activities - I need to block out as much sound as possible when I'm indoors*.   (For some reason, when I'm outdoors, noises don't bother me, unless a big truck goes down the highway nearby.  There's no mouse clicking, pencil typing or lights out by the pond, so that could be it.  I also think the earth grounds me, and is calming to all my senses, and I like the sounds of birds and squirrels.)  My quiet time comes when my son gets his own computer time, so that's when the incessant clicking starts.  Yeah, its not a very big house, so I can hear it from anywhere.  We recently got some noise-cancelling headphones and my husband put batteries in them and stuck them on my head one day when I was getting irritated.  It did help some, and when I hooked them up to my phone for an audiobook, it was even better.  Hooray!

Now.  Actually, about 15 months ago.

Have you tried noise-cancelling headphones?  What's your favorite brand?  I have trouble finding anything that's comfortable enough, and I despise ear buds of all kinds because they hurt.

I know I usually write about my son's sensory issues, but its time I admit that I have some of my own!  My husband does, too, so all together we make an interesting bunch.

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston

The Cherished Quilt is "An Amish Heirloom Novel" by Amy Clipston.  This book easily stood alone, so don't feel like you need to read the others in the series first (or after).

Sweet Emily Fisher is the star of the story, a pretty young Amish woman with a caring heart and a life that's an open book.  Chris quickly become her romantic interests, as he moves in nearby and works for her father and his own uncle.  He is rude and moody at first, and for good reason, one might say, but he is won over by her kindness and gentle friendship.  The ups and downs of this main relationship held no surprises, and the family relationships were supportive, for the most part.  There are parents and sibling relationships to keep the book interesting, too.

The Cherished Quilt is your typical, feel-good Amish romance.  The plot was not dull, but I admit in the beginning I wondered if it would truly draw me in.  It did, but I can't say I felt much suspense or got very emotionally involved with the characters.  The language was simple, making it feel like it was written for young teens, with the Amish vocabulary words thrown in to make it fit the genre, along with the quilt-making.  The character of Chris was the most interesting, as he was the most complete.  Emily was quite perfect, so less relatable for me.
I did not feel like my faith was challenged, but at a different time in life, it might have.  I was entertained, though, and it was an uplifting book overall.  I would recommend this to anyone wanting a super easy, light read with a  positive message.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reading Challenge 2017

I recently posted about how my 2016 reading challenges went.  With what I learned in mind, here is what I will attempt in 2017!

The Back to Classics Challenge

(All books must have been written at least 50 years ago; therefore, books must have been written by 1967 to qualify for this challenge.  See all the rules at Books and Chocolate, and sign up!)

1.  A 19th Century Classic -  A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle 

2.  A 20th Century Classic -  Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 

3.  A classic by a woman author.  Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

4.  A classic in translation.  Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville

5.  A classic published before 1800.  Shakespeare OR She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith

6.  An romance classic.  Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott

7.  A Gothic or horror classic.   Dracula by Brom Stoker

8.  A classic with a number in the title. Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome 

9.  A classic about an animal.  Animal Farm by George Orwell 

10. A classic set in a place you'd like to visit.  Good-Bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton (England)

11. An award-winning classic.  The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien 
Wikipedia: Nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction of the year (1938). More recently, the book has been recognized as "Most Important 20th-Century Novel (for Older Readers)" in the Children's Books of the Century poll in Books for Keeps.

12. A Russian Classic.   The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

My Personal Picks


With Ambleside Online Book Discussions or other Pre-reading

Euclid's Elements
Finish The New World, then onto the third volume of History of the English-Speaking Peoples, by Churchill

Health and Education

Smart but Scattered by Dawson and Guare 
Food Chaining by Fracker et al
The Adrenal Reset Diet by Christianson

The Living Page by Bestvater

Christianity and Self-Help

Finish The Holy War by Bunyan
Discipline, The Glad Surrender by Elliot
Teach Me to Pray by Murray

The Peterkin Papers

The Peterkin Papers {affiliate} by Lucretia Hale is a collection of short stories about the Peterkin family.  It is scheduled in Ambleside Online year 4 as a "free read".  I'm listening to it via Librivox.org, and they are 4 to 24 minutes long.

The names of the children strike me as funny - Elizabeth Eliza, Agammemnon, and Solomon John and two "little boys" are the siblings.  The parents are Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin. :)  There are other adults - the lady from Philadelphia, for one, "to whom these stories were first told."  They all showed up for a tea party at once and overfilled the house!  They had to improvise on finding more cups.

The children do come up with some funny ideas, and usually run into some trouble by running out of common sense, LOL.   They could be a good stories for practicing problem solving with your own kids!  Mr. Peterkin comes up with some interesting ideas, too, like raising the ceiling in the parlor in order to fit the too large Christmas tree instead of just cutting off the bottom of the tree.  I felt sorry for Mrs. Peterkin several times as she dealt with the mess or aftermath of her husband's and children' ideas.  Not that she was perfect - they went on a trip behind a horse and started out going the wrong way and she couldn't turn around, so they went a long way out of the way.

One of the craziest stories was The Peterkin's Charades.  They acted out an elaborate charade with other children in front of an audience and didn't even know the word they were trying to act out until the very end! Haha!

So, if you are looking for something quick and usually funny, these are worth the read.

The Betrothed

I realized that I did read this for the Back to classics challenge, but forgot to post a little review.  I'll do that below.  (Also, reading to The Peterkin papers now to get to the 6 required for an entry into the prize drawing!)

The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) by Alessandro Manzoni

I loved this book.  Its easily my favorite read for the year.  I read along with the AO forum discussion, as this novel is scheduled in year 8, so it also counts as pre-reading!  Win.

I read the Penguin Classics paperback {affiliate} - its was large and intimidating at first.

This is the foremost Italian novel and its easy to see why.  Its set in the period of the 1628, through the plague of 1630 and forward, and gives close-up shots of a betrothed couple who are harangued by a wealthier local man because he wants Lucia for himself.  They take us on adventures that include tricking the local priests, taking flight, going into hiding, and learning that people are not always what they seem.  Then comes the plague.  In a sweeping view of the horrors in Italy at that time, we zoom out.  Then Manzoni zooms us back in and we follow the Renzo and Lucia's separate paths, dipping into their family and friends lives at times.

There are stirring conversations throughout the book, and Father Cristoforo was my favorite character.  I didn't keep good track of my favorite quotes, but did easily find this one near the end, and Manzoni himself describes it as "the very essence of our whole story."

"...after a long debate, and much heart-searching they came to the conclusion that troubles very often come because we have asked for them; but that the most prudent and innocent of conduct is not necessarily enough to keep them away; also that when they come, through our fault or otherwise, trust in God goes far to take away their sting, and makes them a useful preparation for a better life."

I won't tell you if the couple survives the plague, or if they are united in marriage at the end.  I will tell you that its worth your time to read and you will gain what feels like a first-hand account of seventeenth century Italy, while enjoying the various characters.  Each main character is fleshed out and we see the good, bad, and ugly.  I laughed at some weakness, shook my head at others, and got angry at some of the characters.  I cried over the deaths during the plague and the images may always be with me.  Read it, you won't regret it.

My Reading Challenge Success (or not)

In January of 2016, I challenged myself this year to not only read 50 books (the GoodReads reading challenge) but to read a variety of categories and difficulties.  Scroll on to see my #bookstagram #shelfies for the year, and to see how the challenge turned out.

What to read first...never mind, I'm still reading Middlemarch on the Kindle! #snowday #readtheclassics #kindlepaperwhite

A photo posted by Windy Hill Homeschool (@laurke2) on Jan 23, 2016 at 7:46am PST

First, I chose classics to fit into the Back to Classics challenge.  It doesn't look like I accomplished much there.  Here are the ones I did complete:

• A classic in translation.  - *I, Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) by Alessandro Manzoni (June-Aug) 
• A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic. - *Utopia by Thomas More  (Feb-May)
• A classic detective novel. Agatha Christie (some googling led me to And Then There Were None, so I will try to start there) (May)
• A classic which includes the name of a place in the title. - Middlemarch by George Eliot (completed Jan/Feb)
• A classic which has been banned or censored. - *Paradise Lost by Milton (Jan-April)
• A volume of classic short stories. (min. of 8) -The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia Hale (December)

Then I chose books in other categories that are important to me, and there was some overlap between my personal reading challenge and the one above.

I have mixed feelings about these results.

Current reads #readtheclassics #tidyup #kondoisnotaclassic #whatsonyourshelf #ao8 #readwhatyouhave

A photo posted by Windy Hill Homeschool (@laurke2) on Jul 12, 2016 at 1:37pm PDT

On one hand, I'm disappointed not to meet the goals.  Maybe I should have put more time into reading, and less time into Facebook, the AO forum, and Instagram.  I do think those things can be a negative if not controlled...and I wonder if my attention span is getting shorter due to using social media.  Concentrating on dense books has gotten harder this year!

 On the other hand, I loved the books that I did read.  I didn't rush through any of them, but did a slow, thoughtful reading, often with an online book discussion to give it even more depth (and fun!).  My life was enriched by almost everything I read, and I felt like my brain was full nearly all the time.  Sometimes too full!

This was also the year of trying to sell our house (and its final "sale pending" now!), so it was busy with decluttering, cleaning and showing, looking for houses and all that jazz.  So, life happened.

Was it worth taking the time to determine what I wanted to read, even if I couldn't achieve my goals? YES!

I learned that I need to schedule fewer than I did and participate in fewer book discussions (but never stop completely!).  I learned that quantity of books isn't as important as the quality.  I explored new authors and new genres and enjoy the trip.

#shelfie #bookstagram What are you reading? #beareader #adhd #sensoryprocessingdisorder #amblesideonline

A photo posted by Windy Hill Homeschool (@laurke2) on Dec 5, 2016 at 7:03am PST

Did you do a reading challenge this year?  How did it go?  What did you learn from your success (or not)?

A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay

I haven't read a light Christian romance in quite some time, and felt like I'm quite "over" the romance genre in general, but I'm glad I had the chance to review this one.  It isn't too heavy on the romance and is extremely light on the Christian aspect, although being from a Christian publisher does ensure no awkward surprises and  decent cover art.  A Portrait of Emily Price is 335 pages of 47 short chapters.  There are sixteen discussion questions at the end of the book that are helpful for thinking things through further, alone or with your book club.

In this novel by author Katherine Reay, Ms. Emily Price faces several trials and working through them changes the way she sees life.  Through losing her job, finding a calling, falling in love, relationship trials with family and language barriers, she continues to look for the good, to fix what she can, and grows up into the woman she was meant to be.  I found this story relatable, fun, and intriguing.  The leading man was a hopeless romantic and it was a true "love at first sight" story, but it was more than that.   His whole family was very real, and the reader may fall in love with them all...and want to fly to Italy or learn Italian before the book is over.

 There were literary and art references throughout - some I understood and some I did not, but it made me feel like this was an author who knows her stuff.  I have not yet read any other books by Reay, but will keep my eye out for more.  I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lighter read.  (I read it in a couple of weeks, while keeping up with some book discussions I am in.)

From the publisher:

Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—finds herself in Atlanta, repairing objects damaged in a house fire. As she works to restore the home and dreams of one family, she strives to keep the pieces of her own life in perfect order and secure her own happy ending—a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Growing Up with Aspergers

Homeschooling my son, who has Aspergers Syndrome (officially now called Autism Spectrum Disorder), has been a challenge for 5 years now.  As he nears twelve years old, my thoughts turn from the daily challenges of holding his attention, keeping him calm and getting through some school subjects to thoughts of the future.  I wonder how he will be as an independent adult, and how long it will take to get there.  It scares me some days.

All the professionals we have seen have said that homeschooling is the best option for him - that he would be more anxious in school, or that he would have a harder time focusing, or be "left behind" as his skill set is rather uneven, which is not unusual for people with ASD (or ADHD).  I keep this thought in my mind as we have yet another argument about why NOW it is time for a lesson, when he wants to lay on his bed with his cat or hide in his closet.  (Both of which are fine things that I encourage when he gets overwhelmed, but at some point, book learning needs to happen.)

Taking a math tests in one of his comfort spaces

With the hormones surging and the physical growth occurring at this age (preteen), many children struggle with anger and insecurities.  It is so hard to know how much of what he is going through it normal and how much is him going completely overboard due to his anxieties and different way of seeing the world.  How much of his attitude is to be expected, and how much is possible side effects of the latest food, supplement or medication he has taken?  There are so many unknowns.

With all his growing up going on, he is losing his interest in childhood things, like bringing neighborhood kids over to jump on the trampoline or play imaginative games.  He is isolating himself more AND losing out on good physical activities.  I have to ask him to get outside at all, and going on a walk is "pure torture", you know.  This video is of my son and the child I babysit regularly, having some indoor physical fun!

I am going to have to try and find more grown up ways to get his movement in so that he can better regulate his mood and behaviors.  Most boys get interested in being muscular in the teen years, right?  I'm hoping to harness some of that. :)  We are also looking into hosting service dogs (when they are puppies).  This should encourage more outside time for all of us, and some added responsibilities.  Besides...puppies!  They are so cute, one can't help but smile and improve a mood.

We are also now able to go consistently to talk therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) and holistic sensory therapy, as they are both local to us now.  I'm really hoping this helps him through the rough days.  And then there are good days, like today, when he did school without drama and got to take a trip with Daddy where this happened:

As your boys with special needs have entered the next phase of childhood, what changes did you have to make?  If you homeschool, what extra challenges are you facing during this time?

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution  Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Lord's Prayer, commentary by Rick Warren

Each page of this beautiful picture book has a small portion of the Lord's Prayer with a brief commentary by Rick Warren and a short, one sentence prayer.  Its full title is "The Lord's Prayer Words of Hope and Happiness".  It was illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson.

Book's description:

This iconic prayer is paired with flowing illustrations by award-winning artist Richard Jesse Watson and thoughtful insights by bestselling author Rick Warren, resulting in a book that rejuvenates the familiar prayer for a younger audience. Using poetic scripture from the King James Version, The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness helps familiarize children with real biblical text while also presenting contemporary illustrations and insightful words that make this beautiful prayer come alive.

Suggested age range is 4-8 years old for this hardback book, but you can stretch it down to 3 and I read it to my 11 year old, who wants to know why I keep reading him "kids' books".  So, the 8 year old upper limit is probably about right. :)

I like that this is a larger book so you can enjoy the detailed illustrations, and I also liked that it comes with a dust jacket, because I can see this being a favorite handed down to grandchildren.  There is an introduction for the parents, which basically says it is our responsibility to not only teach the child to pray, but to pray with him.  Hence, this book.  The Bible passage as a whole is printed at the end with a brief word about prayer that can be read to the child.   I would love to have several copies of this book for gifts, as it is appropriate for many occasions - Christmas, baby showers, or birthdays.

Here are some more views of the inside.  I apologize for my busy table cloth in the background!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Say & Pray Devotions by Diane Stortz

Say & Pray Devotions - First Words, Devotions, and Prayers features short devotions and lots of labeled illustrations so your little one can practice identifying objects and words on their own! This book is a great tool to start a devotional time with little ones, as it will help you teach them about God, and the labeled pictures will help start a life of faith.  Amazon's description suggests 4-8 years old for this, or preschool through third grade.

I think this colorful board book would be perfect for the short attention spans of the 1-3 year old crowd.  It has a theme, title, and one or two sentences on the left-hand page, and short verse and short prayer on the right.  Each page has bright illustrations by Sarah Ward with the objects named for learning purposes. 

Several daily activities, such as teeth brushing, eating meals, and playing are included, as well as views of the playground, zoo, beach, church and more!  With twenty devotions in all, this book would make a great start to your day, or a nice bedtime read as you cuddle with your toddler.  It would also make a great Christmas gift for your children!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Still Chewing

My first post on this oral fixation, The Need to Chew is Real, covers some of the 'whys' of the issue.  You may want to read it first.

We have tried so many things to keep it under control in a socially acceptable way!  It is not an easy task, but with diagnoses figure out, we have more in our "tool box".

He still chews the gum when stressed or bored, and especially when he needs to concentrate for school work.  We buy it by the bucket!  We have tried sugar-free bubble gum, but its not the same texture - not as hard, so not as effective.


We do the snack tray on occasion, but not daily as we did a couple of years ago.  Rereading my own posts reminds me to get some more lemon candies, but the rest of the snacks - pretzels, peanuts, suckers- we do usually have on hand.  We have added potato chips to the mix of crunchy choices since that first post.

So what works and what doesn't?  This will be different for every child, I'm sure, but here is our experience.

Works most of the time:
Food and gum, as described above.
Drinks, especially with a straw or in a Camelbak bottle

Works occasionally:
Chewies, such as Chewelry
Other chewy toys, like Chew Stixx
Jewelry that shouldn't really be chewed on
Pencils, pens

What he really wants in his mouth and defaults to if not provided continuously with the above:
Fingers
Headphone wires
and other things that should not be in his mouth

His poor thumbs are a little bit better than they used to be, but the skin picking issue is real.  He picks at the skin with his fingers, then back in his mouth they go, all day long.  Sometimes we put band-aids on to cover, and then he picks at the band-aids...which is better, but doesn't break the habit (compulsion?).  If his thumbs aren't being assaulted, its because his hands are busy with keyboard and mouse while his mind is busy with a game and the headphones are on, which means the wire is in his mouth.  I don't think he will actually get electrocuted should he break through to the insides of the cord, but it does make for more headphone purchases.

The only possible fix I can think of is coating fingers and wires in nasty tasting stuff daily, but since I don't think he can control this thing (perhaps this is his stim?), it would be cruel.  I did try putting clear polish on his thumb nails (and generously missing so it got the surrounding skin), and it didn't make any difference.

Could this issue truly be a stim?  Has anyone else dealt with such a compulsive chewer?

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

Brave Girls Devotional

Are you ready to be a Brave Girl?  The hardback book of 365 devotionals is written for ordinary girls who desire to be closer to God.  Five fictional girls, Hope, Glory, Faith, Honor and Gracie, take turns presenting gospel truths throughout this fun, pink volume.  Each day of the year starts with a title, a Bible verse, a short modern bit about how to apply the verse, and end with a "prayer pointer", or prompt.  From the official description:

 This devotional includes a year’s worth of readings with amazing stories from Scripture, lots of fun quizzes and illustrations, and powerful truths such as:
I always have the power to love others because God loved me first. I can talk to God about anything, whenever I need to! God loves me for who I am, even when I’m different from everyone else. God can use someone small like me to do big things with Him.

Written by Jennifer Gerelds and Tama Fortner, and illustrated by Aleksey and Olga Ivanov, Brave Girls 365 Devotional would be appropriate for girls ages 8-13, I think.  Its fun and modern, yet reminds me of the daily devotional books and pamphlets I read growing up and into young adulthood.  The slick, pretty pages are high quality and the cover is sturdy, and a pink ribbon page marker is attached.  The quizzes and writing prompts within make it more interactive.  I think pictures will do better justice than trying to describe it further myself, so here you go!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bonhoeffer Student Edition by Eric Metaxas

Bonhoeffer Student Edition is about the life of a German pastor before and during World War II.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a courageous Christian pastor, who objected to Hitler and his reign and turned spy and eventually became a martyr.  This book, "abridged and adapted in student-friendly language," follows Dietrich through childhood and adulthood, highlighting his faith and the historical impact he had.  Included are text boxes with interesting sidenotes and a few definitions, and each chapter has a time line of itself.  There is a map and family tree in the front, and a list of key words and people in the back, as well as an extensive Notes section (bibliography).

As a Charlotte Mason styled home educator, yes, I cringed when I saw that it was abridged.  I chose to review this particular book because the unabridged version is recommended in my chosen homeschool curriculum (AmblesideOnline), so I knew even an abridged version would likely be good.  It was very good, indeed.  I learned things about the Nazis, Germany, and that time period that I had never heard before, and was riveted in a way I have not been by a biography in a while.  Hitler and his generals gained a dimension I had not seen before.

Bonhoeffer's family and childhood were interesting, and I could see where his courage came from, and I was impressed on all accounts by this man as he moved through adulthood and faced his end with love still in his heart for even his guards.  I felt the pain of persecution for the Jews and Christians during the 1930-40's, but Metaxes never made the story graphic or sensationalist.  I think this is a well done adaption, with the caveat that I have not read the original.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst

Uninvited - Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely is the newest book by Lysa TerKeurst.  

Uninvited is about overcoming rejection with the power of God's love.  The author shares very personal stories from childhood and adulthood, showing that she has been there - rejected time and again.  She shares the lows and how God brought her through it, and includes specific verses and prayers to help you get through hard times, too.

I had previously read Terkeurst's Unglued, and admit that at this point in my life, Unglued had more personal meaning to me than Uninvited.  That said, there is much good about this  volume.  I would recommend it to any woman or man who is struggling with the hurt feelings of rejection, being set aside and not thought of.  Her thoughts on God are woven throughout, and I highlighted many truths she brought forward about God and life itself.  

Here a few of my favorites - there are many more, so I do recommend you give this book a try:

There is an abundant need in this world for your exact brand of beautiful. 

Self-rejection paves the landing strip for the rejection of others to arrive and pull on up to the gates of our hearts.   

When a man is physically present but emotionally absent, a girl's heart can feel quite hollow and helpless. 

The mind feasts on what it focuses on.  What consumes my thinking will be the making or the breaking of my identity. 

Jesus knew what being rejected felt like.  Jesus knew.  He knew the feelings.  He knew the struggles.  Ad in an earth-shattering moment, Jesus exposed the way of escape for us.  He matched every feeling - the emptiness, the deprivation, and the rejection - with truths straight from God's Word. 

We run at a breakneck pace to try and achieve what God simply wants us to slow down enough to receive. 

If we become enamored with something in this world we think offers better fullness than God, we will make room for it.  We leak out His fullness to make room for something else we want to chase. 

God's love isn't based on me.  It's simply placed on me.  And it's the place from which I should live...loved.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Out of Therapy, Into Holistic Play

My son is officially finished with OT and speech!  They were ready to release him several months ago, but I felt there was more to be done, so kept him in rather than take a break and fight to get back in.  Then we all got to the point of dreading the trip and wondering if it was time to stop, so we did.

The long-awaited social skills group did materialize, and he had 4 sessions of that before quitting.  He wasn't a fan, feeling that they focused too much on giving out rules and not any time letting the kids talk to each other.  I found that odd, as they can't improve social skills without speaking to others, but I wasn't in the room to be able to verify his observation.  It was an hour long session on Friday afternoons, and they tried to give a little homework each week- things like filling out a form, coming up with a way to self-advocate, or finishing the key chain they had started.  He liked the keychain handicraft, and hated having to write, which were both predictable reactions.

Since July saw the end of a solid year of OT and speech, but only the beginning of social skills, we switched to a holistic therapy in a different city (an hour instead of 40 minutes away) in order to continue the social aspect and the interactive metronome, which he has improved on but not mastered.  It's also on Fridays, but in the evening, so my husband can join us on occasion.  It's nice that we don't have to commit to every week, so our lives don't need to revolve around therapy anymore.  He acts like he doesn't like holistic therapy when I ask, but tells me it's better than any of the other therapies.  Let me tell you why.

Wearing the tie-dye shirt from last week's project time and the jellyfish from this week.

It's truly a holistic therapy playplace.  They begin with yoga and deep breathing and massage (complete with magnesium lotion and essential oils), with the aim of brain regulation.  The next block is a craft time, where they practice fine motor skills and get exposed to more textures and smells while making something useful, for the most part.  He has scented play dough and worked small beads into it, that can be worked out and back in as a calming activity.  This went into his sensory bin (shoebox), which was decorated another week.  They have done tie-dye tees, made party decorations, and more.  Those first two time blocks are done in a group of 2-6 children, within a certain age range.  (The younger group has their own time on Saturday morning.). If the group is large that night, they groups switch rooms instead of staying together.  After crafts comes Interactive Metronome time and social skills/gross motor.  They have to take turns on the computer for the metronome therapy, so the others do things like ball games, hula hoops, cooperative play in a nearby room while waiting their turn.  

The entire rotation takes about 2 hours, and parents are encouraged to participate or observe for the first half, so you basically get free yoga and massage and meditation for 30 minutes, then watch your child make a craft, then go to the parents room for a nice chat and break until the end.  Win-win, I'd say!  This program hasn't got insurance figured out yet, so there is a cost, but it's reasonable.

In the above picture, they are having a "beach party" for back-to-school night.

I think Holistic Therapy Playplace has the right idea, and am pleased with our experience so far.  I'm sharing in hopes that others might follow this example in what kids really need- mind-body-soul connections.  

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

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