Can you say Computer Programming?

The Future of Homeschoolers
by: mommymare

So long.....

I feel like I had abandoned this blog! This school year has given us gifts and challenges. The trick is to value the gifts long enough that the joy helps you in the challenges!

So far we're doing well!

T has been working at a steady pace and is on track for straight A's. Yes, we are giving report cards this year. I think 5th grade is ok for this.

V has another concussion. But his varsity made it all the way to the State Semi's! They were one game away from playing at M & T Bank stadium!

The family spent Thanksgiving in our favorite place..... Ocean City, MD. It was a great time to relax! Especially since we were treated to a VIP suite at the Princess Royale!

Hope to update this blog more as time permits.

Shutterfly Cards

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

I just created a special, Christmas card for a chosen few. You can too! It takes just minutes!

And So We Begin

We've started back to homeschool, I have a 5th grader and an upper-classman in high school who also made the varsity, football team! Oh and I am VP of the PTSA, how's that for odd??

We've already been on a few field trips, seen a couple of football games and done several experiments!

This year is looking very promising!!

Fresh Salsa

Since I began making homemade salsa I have ruined us for store-bought! Ther is now no turning back!

This batch was because our pastor blessed us today with tomatoes and peppers! MMMMM!

There is no comparison for fresh, is there? No matter what it is; food, smell of fresh-cut grass, how about the freshness of God's love? Yes, God's love!

He renews it everyday in those who would call him King and His Son, Jesus their Savior. His blessings are numerous and His love is FRESH!

Winding down the summer

We've pretty much stayed close to home this summer. We have one more road trip to Six Flags and then we gear up to begin our studies once again! August 15th to be exact!

This year we a blessed to, again, be using Story of the World-Volume II-The Middle Ages; we will be walking through the Bible beginning in Genesis; reviewing many Math concepts and touching on Algebra; learning about various sports while increasing our walking miles and delving in to why God created the things He did.

T is very excited and although he is in no rush to get back to studies, he looks forward to learning so that he can fulfill his dream of being a scientist/inventor!

May this year bring all of our students knowledge and the chance to witness for the Lord.

So many blessings, No time to blog!

This summer has been riddled with trials, tribulations, tests, blessings and humidity! I'm not complaining, just commenting.

Last week our home's AC unit died. It was a test that I will never forget. I grew up in the city where humidity reigned supreme from June to September, where our row house (townhouse or you rich people) was cooled by open windows and ONE window fan that was pointed directly at my father! One of my must-haves when I went out on my own was to not only have my fill of Lucky Charms, but to have AC! And since I was 19 I have been blessed to have AC, until last week.

Things change when you have a child with breathing problems as well as needing an inhaler yourself, all of a sudden!

I lasted about 1 day of just sitting still and having sweat run down every part of my body! I then took my mom upon her offer to put us up in a local hotel. Some would say it was a vacation, I say it was a test of my will, patience, endurance and ability not to scream on the top of my lungs! Why? Two boys, who all of a sudden, couldn't stand the sight of each other!

Life still had to go on, but I couldn't do anything in my normal routine.

Sometimes God does this to shake things up a bit. He wants us to remember how good we have it now that we live in Him and not in the world.
I learned to enjoy my sons; I am not saying that I didn't lose it a few times, but I did learn. I played games, annoyed them, laughed, swam in the hotel pool and had to learn to make the best food choices without being able to cook.

Thankfully, God was working through this mess and through my mom (love you!) to enable me the sight to see that a clean floor just should not come before playing a game of Mouse Trap with my kids!

Saving Savvy by Kelly Hancock

A review by Marianne L. Handlir of SAVING SAVVY by Kelly Hancock

As a frugal homemaker I was eager to read Saving Savvy by Kelly Hancock and share my thoughts. Even a seasoned saver like me was reminded of tricks and encouraged by Kelly’s honest words that were Biblically based.

Kelly has some very practical ideas and suggestions in Saving Savvy. One of her tips was to surround yourself with like-minded people. I have been doing this and advising this to everyone I speak to about saving/coupoing. When you have the encouragement of those wanting to save like you, your probability of failure is sliced down to nothing.

I was so glad to see that “Getting Your Family on Board” was addressed. This usually is the BIGGEST obstacle most homemakers looking to save have to hurdle. It’s the world- view concept that “If my wife/mom has to clip coupons we’ll look poor and have nothing to eat in the house”. I love that Kelly gives you solid advice and steps to take to make this a reality.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the Bible verses sprinkled throughout. They remind us, give encouragement and help us to live more like Christ!

Saving Savvy is written in a simple, orderly fashion where anyone, from the novice saver to the expert frugal gal can pick up a copy, dive right in and begin to rehab her pantry, freezer and savings opportunities. There are great links and resources. I highly recommend visiting Kelly’s blog: www.FaithfulProvisions.com to follow her savings journey and use her resources on a daily basis!

Saving Savvy is a must in any homemaker’s library, right next to her favorite family recipes. You will be encouraged and surprised by the ease of learning to save money so that your blessings will overflow to not only your family, but others as well.

Summer Fun

Although there's not much blogging going on, there's much going on in the Handlir Household.

We've visited our local, Christian radio station......



......picked huge, delicious blueberries...

.....visited the pool a few times...

.....had fun at our church's VBS...

.....and made friends with some unusual creatures God created...

God is so good in making provisions so that the boys can enjoy this time of year! Our friends are a plenty and our advetures fun. May you find your blessings everyday this summer & always!

Picking & Choosing

After a few days of getting my thoughts together I found it pertinent that I write about this subject here.

I was speaking with who I thought was a Christian sister, but apparently I was wrong. She was what I am calling a picker/chooser. Another sister brought up a particular store and I chimed in about how that business turned away two applicants. One based on sexual preference and one because of size and race. If you are reading this and know me personally, you know I am a fighter and stand up for what I believe in. I said that it was a shame this manager who was hiring was not a Christian because they would have been hired based on their experience and merit to do a good job.

Well, I did not get the loving, kind response that I thought I would get. Instead, I saw anger, hatred and someone who acted as if they did not know Jesus at all! She stated that "If they didn't flaunt who they were so much that maybe they wouldn't get beaten, ignored or put down." Yes, those were the words of a "Christian" woman. When I asked about the other one who was not hired due to size and race she said they should lose weight!

Now, the two people I speak of were qualified for these positions and had the experience needed to perform the various tasks given. They happened to be friends and went in for 2 open positions.

Since when did Jesus pick & chooose who He would save? Since when did God the Father pick & choose who would know about the Son? If this were the case, none of us would be worthy of either. Jesus himself sat down with adulterers, murderers, theives and tax collectors. Just because it does not mention other people the point is that Jesus came for ALL of us, not just a particular class, race or weight. We are called to Love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44a by Jesus Christ Himself! We know that no sin is greater than another so why do we put those who do not know the salvation of the Lord in a box and dismiss them because WE judge their sin greater than our own??

"Hi, my name is Marianne and I am a sinner saved through the grace & mercy of God through the death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus."

I have no right to judge anyone's sin. I have no right to pick & choose who I show love & mercy to. I have no right to every breath I am given by God. And the same goes for each and every one of my Christian brothers & sisters. We are set apart from the world because God invited us into His family and we choose to follow the way of the Lord versus the way of the world.

We continue to sin on a daily basis, every, single, one of us sinned today and will again tomorrow!

My Christian brothers and sisters, I plead with you, do not be overcome by this world for the sake of this world, yet be overcome by the love Jesus showed us through His life, death & resurrection. We are called to show love to the loveless, our enemies & those who would curse us. No where in the life of Jesus did He call us to judge others upon their sins. So the next time you are faced with the opportunity to pick & choose who you should witness to, pray for or be loving to, ask yourself one question:

What would Jesus do?