Tuesday 26 April 2016

Wonderfully Made {Review}

I'm super excited to introduce this new book to you. Wonderfully Made is a fabulous new book from author Danika Cooley. One of my all time favourite times of becoming a Mom was the journey of pregnancy. I  loved devoured every book I could find in the library about prebirth.  The whole journey was one of the most incredible awe inspiring journey's ever. Nathaniel was conceived when Tim and Jane were twelve and ten years old. I could not wait to share with them the miracle of fetal growth.  The most difficult part was finding a book or information on the internet that did not have too much information or detailed pictures.  Thankfully this is no longer an issue as Danika has authored this beautiful book which preserves the sanctity of life and presents the miracle of every child conceived.

Wonderfully Made is designed to allow moms to share God’s amazing design for the development of life from conception to birth in a personalized way with their children in a scientific and Scripture based story.
It is an excellent book that introduces a young child to the wonder of God's creation - the wonder and miracle of birth. From conception in the womb through the nine months within the mother's womb Danika Cooley takes us on a journey of discovery... the discovery of life. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

Week 10, the size of a small plum. (Page 16)

The book is written as a Mother speaking to her child and telling them the story of their very own journey of life from conception to birth. Danika starts the story explaining that God knew the child before conception and that pregnancy is measured from before conception too.  Each week she compares the size of the child to a fruit and explains what God was doing during that week in forming the child.  The illustrator does an amazing job of combining the two concepts.

Through out the story Danika has placed appropriate scriptures turning our hearts and minds towards the miracle God is performing within the womb as he creates us from before we are conceived.

The story is interlaced with scientific facts of development in relation to the week of pregnancy presented in a relatable way to children (I learned a couple of things I did not know) and is beautifully linked to who the child is now. Danika uses twaddle free language (correct terminology),  whenever she uses an unfamiliar word such as surfactant she does so in such a way as to explain what the new word means in a way that children can easily grasp what is being shared.

Birth and conception is covered in a beautiful positive way and without any explicit detail.  Danika uses the story of birth to explain how we are physically born into the world and as a wonderful transition to explaining to children that our spirits need to be reborn.

The Details
  • Author: Danika Cooley
  • Age: Christian families with 5-11 year olds.
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 48
  • Publisher Christian Focus Publications Ltd
  • ISBN10 1781916780
  • ISBN13 9781781916780
  • Purchase from: Book Depository or Amazon

For we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

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Wonderfully Made is a beautiful book and an excellent addition to your book shelf that will be enjoyed by both young and old alike.

Blessings
Chareen




Saturday 16 April 2016

Week 3 April {HSMJ}


The weather is cooling and autumn is beginning to show her lovely colours here in Melbourne. Unfortunately on this side of Melbourne there are very few deciduous trees so it's not really possible to appreciate the variety of autumn colour in all it's glory.  Paul and I joined another homeschooling family this week and took a drive over to the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens.  If you are in Melbourne I would encourage you to pack a picnic and go and take a look at the stunning autumn garden in all it's splendor.

I really hope that many families will read this: What We Mean When We Say We Need a Break She puts so much into perspective.  I think this is something partners should really discuss with one another :)

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

In our home school this week…
  • We spent time watching the trilogy of movies The Note, The Note II and The Note III. So many many heart healing issues addressed and beautiful uplifting stories.
  • First time I've seen Flushed Away.  Cute movie.
  • We read Caterpillars and Butterflies 
  • Nathaniel is reading David Livingston the Explorer Missionary to Africa to me from Hero Tales.
  • We started a free trial of the Veritas Bible curriculum.
  • I'm learning to be more hands off and allowing Nathaniel to follow his passions and interests.  One of them is movies and projectors.  He has saved, worked for dollars and spent countless hours comparing projectors and finally purchased one for himself.  
  • It was time for his monthly orthodontic check up too.  The dentist is pleased with his progress.
  • We started the second book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Two Towers.  
  • A good homeschool friend recently introduced me to Stitcher.  This app allows you to either stream or download podcasts to your phone to listen to.  I'm so pleased.  Now I need to make time so I can listen to some great homeschool content.
  • The first podcast I listened to was from the Morning Basket: Plutarch 101.
  • I took Timothy to the airport as he is off on a three month adventure.

My favourite thing this week was…
I'm so very proud of my sister Nadeen. She has walked 60 kilometer's in order to fund raise to help end woman's cancer.  She is still in need of some once off donations in order to reach her goal.  Please take some time to consider donating and helping her reach her donations goal.  You can make an Australian tax deductible donation here: Participant ID: 131063-0.



 On the WWW I’m reading…
 I’m cooking…

 A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

"Once Intellect admits us into the realms of History, we live in a great and stirring world, full of entertainment and sometimes of regret; and at last we begin to understand that we, too, are making History, and that we are all part of the whole; that the people who went before us were all very like ourselves, or else we should not be able to understand them. If some of them were worse than we, and in some things their times were worse than ours, yet we make acquaintance with many who were noble and great, and our hearts beat with a desire to be like them.” - Charlotte Mason

Blessings
Chareen


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Thursday 14 April 2016

Wayne Thiebaud {Artist Study}

We've spent the last month working on a Repeated Sweets water colour painting in our art class. We have been using a DVD from See The Light. It's the first time either of us have painted using water colours in this way. We enjoyed the process and I'm pleased with the outcome.

Chareen repeated sweets: cupcakes

Nathaniel's repeated sweets: Donuts

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On the WWW

Hands on projects

On Pinterest
Follow Every Bed of Roses's board Artist Studies - Wayne Thiebaud on Pinterest.


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I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.
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Blessings
Chareen

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Tuesday 12 April 2016

The Spark {Tuesday's Treasure}

Around two years ago Nathaniel and I discovered that he sees the world a little differently than I do and it was causing a bit of stress for us both so we had some tests done and discovered that Nathaniel has Aspergers Syndrome.  In some ways it relieved some of the anxiety I had been feeling and in another way it created a whole raft of questions and fears.  Recently a good friend loaned me a book and encouraged me to read it ahead of anything else I was reading and read The Spark: A Mother's story of nurturing genius and autism.  I'm so very pleased that I did. This is a book I would love EVERY homeschooling family could read.  There is so much truth and depth to their journey that would bless every family all over the world.

The Spark : 

A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius and Autism


  • Format: Paper back
  • Number of Pages:304
  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
  • Publication Date:06 Feb 2014
  • ISBN 10: 0241961815
  • ISBN 13: 9780241961810
  • Author Kristine Barnett
In many ways I really wish I could have read this book when my children were younger.  Kristine's view of life and children is truly inspirational.  Through reading The Spark I have been encouraged to really appreciate how God made each of my children.

Kristine encourages us as parents to support and nurture our children's passions no matter how trivial they seem to us.  It's by fully embracing our children where they are that we are able to release them into their full potential.

This book is a biographical account of Kristine and Michael and their first born son Jacob.  Kristine writing is like sitting down with a friend and her sharing her journey with you over a cup of tea.  You will laugh with them and you will cry at their very real and heart warming story.  This books is down to earth and real.  Kristine shares their struggles and their triumphs and encourages you the reader to enjoy and live life to it's fullest.  

Connect with Kritine and Jacob




Blessings
Chareen
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*********************************************************************** 


Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures. I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

There are so many wonderful books and Resources out there out there hiding on shelves and somewhere on the internet.

I invite you to blog about

  • a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library,
  •  a great homeschool item you have found and
  •  any new resources you are enjoying. 
Grab the button for your post and add a link to your post below. I would love to read about your treasures. 
Every bed of Roses

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Monday 11 April 2016

Meet Danika Cooley the author of Wonderfully Made

I'm super excited to introduce to you the author of Wonderfully Made - Danika Cooley. She is known for her amazing Bible Road Trip series over at the Thinking Kids blog. Danika recently undertook the amazing task of writing a book for children sharing with them how wonderfully made they truly are and all that the Lord does when He creates them.  I will soon be sharing more about this wonderful book so thought that today I would introduce the wonderful lady who wrote the book to you.
 
photo credit: @billdjohnson


1. What inspired you to write Wonderfully Made? 
One of my kids' favorite stories has always been the story of how God formed each of them in the womb, how they're special and loved, and how anticipated their births were. They loved hearing about the day of their birth. I wanted moms in other families to be able to share that story with their children using science, Scripture, and beautiful illustrations.


2. What was your main goal in writing Wonderfully Made?
I want children to understand that they're individually and purposefully created by a loving God, and that there is a second birth into the Kingdom of Heaven available to them. Each child is unique and special, and each is loved dearly not only by their parents, but also by their Father in Heaven. I also want a new generation of children to grow up understanding the marvelous truth of what happens in the womb, and when it happens. I want them to know what Scripture says about life in the womb--both the creation of life and the existence of life.
Both of those goals were heavy on my heart while writing Wonderfully Made, and I'm overjoyed to see the book available to families around the world.

3. Which part of researching Wonderfully Made was the most personally interesting to you?
Did you know that a baby's heart starts beating at four weeks? That's actually two weeks after conception. By eight weeks, six weeks after conception, all of the organs--other than the lungs--are working! And babies dream in the womb three months before they're born. How amazing is that? Learning about the development of babies in the womb was so much fun for me. I also loved going through the Scripture that talks about life in the womb.

4. What are you reading right now? What authors (living or dead) have influenced you most?
Right now, I'm reading Everyday Grace by Jessica Thompson, Pitchin' A Fit by Israel and Brook Wayne, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, and the Gospels. Reading is definitely one of my favorite parts of my work--I read about a book a week for reviews, books with my boys, and bigger works on the side.

5. What was the book that most influenced your life — and why?
I was definitely a bookworm growing up, and I read everything I could get my hands on--some good, some not-so-good. This may sound cliche, but the book that has most influenced my life has been (and continues to be) the Bible. I've read it through many times, studied it, and it's changed me. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God's Word never returns void, that it accomplishes what He purposed it for. It has certainly changed me. I also love reading biographies about Christians that have gone before us. I find it so encouraging to see how God has worked in and through their lives. I also find it really interesting to read their writings--it helps me get outside of my 21st century American bias when I'm thinking through issues with Christian living and theology.

6. Do you have a certain writing space, somewhere you go "just" to write your books?
We have a library that I love to work in late at night, after everyone is asleep. It's nice to be surrounded by biographies and great works while writing. Also, I just really love the room--it's filled with artwork my kids have done, and we've stuffed little mementos into the open spaces on the bookshelves.

7. Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing a book?
I love writing. Research can sometimes be tedious or overwhelming, but it's worthwhile to commit to researching well. I think it makes the story so much richer (and more accurate).

8. Did you always have a talent for writing, or is it something you wanted and needed to work harder to achieve?
I've always loved to write. That said, writing is a craft, and like any skill, it needs to be developed with practice, and through criticism and study. I've studied writing, I read widely, and I've had a lot of excellent input from some amazing editors and writers.
9. With all of the duties that you juggle, when do you fit in the time to write?
For me, finding time to write is the same as finding time to exercise, eat, or sleep. I consider it a necessity, so I work hard to make time for it. I've also sacrificed other activities to fit it in. I don't watch television, I prioritize my time, and I often write when I might otherwise be sleeping.

10. Is your writing style different now than it was when you first began? In what ways have you grown in your writing?
I think it's taken me time to find my voice and hone my skills, and I suspect that I will continue to improve as a writer--we always get better at the things we practice.

11. How did you get your start in writing/getting published?
I attended a writing conference for beginners at a local Christian college six and a half years ago. A children's author graciously sat down with me and explained what I needed to do to write for children, and directed me to a local writer's organization. I began attending conferences with Oregon Christian Writers four times a year, and writing for Christian children's magazines. My first acceptance letter came three months after that first conference.

12. What do you recommend for others who are getting started?
It's a good idea to find a local writer's organization and learn about the business. I think writing for magazines is a clarifying process, which I highly recommend. Also, if you want to reach people for Christ, writing for magazines can really extend that reach.

13. What would you say to a young person who aspires to be a writer? What advice would you give?

The most important thing you can do is learn how to write. It's also important to learn about the industry. Find writer's conferences and workshops, attend, take notes, and really learn from the authors there. Don't let rejection letters stop you--just keep working on your craft. I'd also suggest finding a mentor--someone who is already writing for publication--and humbly following their advice. Also, read widely. Read many genres, from different time periods. Practice writing, but as you do, think about what you'd like to say, and who you'd like to say it to.

14. Would your advice be any different for an adult who would like to break into the business? How?
My agent, Chip MacGregor, always says a successful writer should have great writing, a great idea, and a great platform (the people who read your work, or listen to you speak). It's important to work on all three. As far as platform goes, serve your readership. For my Christian friends, really work unto the Lord and glorify Him in all you do. He is sovereign over all things, and will open the doors He wants opened. Really, writing professionally is a lot of work, but it's also a great opportunity to communicate, to practice your craft, and to get to know some amazing people. I feel humbled and blessed to be writing professionally.

15. What else do you want readers to know? Consider your likes and dislikes, interests and hobbies, your favorite ways to relax — whatever comes to mind.
I love to play board games with my kids, hike, paint (I majored in art), garden, and cook. I love my family, and I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with them. I homeschool my younger two, and that's just a gift. Teaching children about the Bible, theology, and Christian history is my passion--I hope to be a lifelong student, and a lifelong teacher.

Saturday 9 April 2016

April Week 2 {HSMJ}


 In my life this week…
This is so much fun to listen to these ladies are so funny and this sounds like many a Mom's and everyday life "Mommy Rhapsody" by Church on the Move. Did you know that Silence relieves stress and tension ? Read this for more information: Science Says Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think. Interesting to read about the health benefits of silence.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

My favourite thing this week was…
 Things I’m working on…

 On the WWW I’m reading…

Blessings
Chareen


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Week in Review
Field Trips
School Work&nbsp
Homeschool projects
And anything homeschool related.

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