Many of you are probably aware that I spent most of the current school year serving as a missionary teacher among Native Americans (they prefer to be called First Americans) in Arizona.  I am currently working to raise the support needed to allow me to return to this ministry in the Fall. I am not yet sure where I will be located, but I will be teaching young children in a Christian school specifically dedicated to meeting their needs and reaching families for Jesus. Please read on to find a way you can help in this cause and gain valuable resources for your family at the same time.

Many of you may not know that Jim Erskine of Homeschool Radio Shows has purchased and taken over publication of our high school unit studies Far Above Rubies and Blessed is the Man.  In the process, he has created a product I had long wished to do. Far Above Rubies and Blessed is the Man are now available in printable PDF format on CD ROM at the low price of $69.95. In addition to the full text of FAR, the CD contains the following extra resources

To celebrate this new product and help reach my support goal, I have put together a special introductory offer only available through THIS website.  Through the generosity of friends and fellow publishers, you will receive several wonderful FREE gifts with every order for Far Above Rubies or Blessed is the Man placed on this website before May 15 at the regular price of $69.95, with FREE shipping on the CD as well.

When you see these offerings, I am sure you will want to take advantage of this sale. Where  else can your money do the double duty of obtaining all these wonderful resources and helping further the work of Christ’s Kingdom among the Native American children of Arizona?

When you order Far Above Rubies or Blessed is the Man, here are the bonuses you’ll receive:

1. A Little Web Page, a 35-page e-book containing a fun exercise for ages 7-9 using a free trial download of software Web Studio.

Two items from  Yes, You Can! Publications

Yes, You Can! Publications offers practical e-books, freebies and encouragement for homeschoolers by Michelle Geffken, author, speaker and homeschooling mom of six. Michelle especially loves to encourage parents that they can succeed with the tricky subject of art in the home. You can read more at http://www.yesyoucanpublications.com/ and her upcoming new blog http://teachaboutart.com/

3. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TEACH ART WHEN NO ONE TAUGHT ME?!

A 10-page pdf of encouragement and practical help for homeschool parents wondering how to tackle art. Ideal for new homeschoolers,
 but useful for anyone.  Would nicely enhance the art activities in FAR.

plus

4. E-BOOKS: WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM ALL?!

The updated, 4th edition of this popular 40+ page e-book. A guide to more effectively storing, managing, printing less expensively and using ebooks in the homeschool. This could even be a help in making the best use of the FAR CD itself.

5.  The Word of God on Being a Woman, a Wife and a Mother
Are you interested in knowing what God’s Word has to say concerning this topic? This book is a compilation of God’s Word concerning being a woman, a wife and a mother.  There aren’t any comments made by the author.  It is entirely the Word of God.

6. Set of Three e-books - The Tawny Scrawny Lion - Fun Unit, plus Character Builders plus 7 Carrot Soup Recipes
- $11.95 / set

Based on the children’s book Tawny, Scrawny Lion, this unit study is geared for preschoolers but can also be enjoyed by older siblings as well.  This is donated by author Miiko GIbson of OurGraceJourney.com You can learn more at delightfullearning.blogspot.com/2008/12/tawny-scrawny-lion.html

7.  Sometimes I am Lonely, also by Miiko Gibson

8. A selection of beautiful copywork sheets on classic topics from Phyllis Wheeler of Motherboard Books.

9. Continuing Education for Moms Download from Marilyn Moll
Twelve of our most popular phone seminars are now available on one download. Gain a wealth of information at your convenience from well-known authors, experts, and other moms just like you. Includes 12 of our most popular phone seminars:

1. Encouragement For Moms with Lorrie Flem
2. Health Begins in the Kitchen with Marilyn Moll
3. The Two-Stage Process with Sue Gregg
4. Healthy Water with Diane Carson
5. Cook Your Way to Wellness with Maria Atwood
6. Future Christian Homemakers with Laurie Latour
7. 12 Week Holiday Planner with Sheri Graham and Ann Voskamp
8. Cleaning Without Chemicals with Sandy Tuin
9. Child Training Tips with Reb Bradley
10. Canning Seminar with Lisa Vitello
11. The Hope Chest Society with Ruth Sundeen and Rebekah Wilson
12. Kick the Cold Cereal Habit

10. Activity Bags Sampler #2 from www.ActivityBags.com.

Activity Bags Sampler #2 includes:

* 5 Preschool Activities in a Bag assembly instructions
* 5 Craft Kits in a Bag assembly instructions
* 5 Math Games In a Bag assembly instructions
* 5 Science Experiments In a Bag assembly instructions
* A 30-day Challenge Devotional and Journal page

11. Math Can Be Fun! e-book

Need a little jumpstart when it comes to math? Are any of your students experiencing burn-out at this point in this school year? This 21-page e-book is an excerpt from our Homeschooling ABCs lessons. You may or may not realize that Wednesday is World Math Day (www.worldmathday.com), so we have decided to celebrate by giving you this fun and helpful ebook about the beauty, logic and symmetry of math.

The Homeschool Transcript: It’s Easier Than You Think!
A downloadable audio workshop by Janice Campbell (Regularly $9.95)

There is really nothing scary in the transcript preparation process! Come and learn about the three basic sections in a transcript, and how to collect and record information in a professional format. Whatever kind of homeschooling you’ve done, traditional or non-, you can create a transcript that accurately records your student’s achievements. Remember, it’s easier than you think!

13. A full-size copy of the Spring 2009 issue of The Old Schoolhouse, America’s premier homeschooling magazine.

For each of the packages below, you’ll be able to instantly download many of your free gifts. Your Far Above Rubies or Blessed is the Man CD will be shipped FREE via USPS.

FAR Package Far Above Rubies CD with bonuses

BITM Package Blessed is the Man CD with bonuses

The Big One Both FAR and BITM CDs along with all the bonuses!

Reviewed by Lisa Hodgen of Me and My House Ministries

Many years ago, with my girls that are now grown and have families of their own, we used a Bible-based unit-study curriculum for girls. We primarily picked this curriculum because it used many of the books that were my required reading for my girls anyhow. The curriculum was Far Above Rubies; the author, Lynda Coats.

Now, Lynda has written another unit study curriculum at the other end of the spectrum, a phonics program for beginning readers. Lynda calls All the Letters, All Year Long a “Comprehensive Unit Study with Total Immersion Phonics for Beginning Readers”. When Lynda says “total immersion” she isn’t kidding. She provides plenty of suggested activities for more subjects than you can probably think of, so no family should ever lack for ideas of what to do next.

The premise of All the Letters, All Year Long is that the child will work on learning the basic sound of one letter each week. And through that letter he will learn about many areas of life; he will be immersed in it.

This is a true unit study with activities for language arts, Bible, character and manners, daily routines including chores, hygiene, clothing and food, geography, history and social studies, science, exercise, games, arts and crafts, and field trips included for each letter. There are places to go, books to read, shows to watch, activities to make and do. Each activity will reinforce the phonics lesson further.

Like most unit studies, All the Letters, All Year Long is quite flexible. If your child doesn’t need to spend a whole week on each letter, don’t; or if you choose to spend longer on a letter, do. Since this is primarily a reading program, only the language arts and Bible activities are necessary. The others are all to be added as you choose. This program was designed for you to have fun with your students and help them enjoy learning.

Lisa @ Me and My House Ministries
Discipleship for Life!

Reviewed by Felice Gerwitz, author/publisher Media Angels, Inc. www.MediaAngels.com

Swimming pools are something commonly found in Southwest Florida, where I reside, so when veteran author Lynda Coats came out with her new unit study on this topic I was very interested.

What a find! This study contains all kinds of information, links, and is more than just a safety manual. While she has some great website links on safety, what really intrigued me was the thoroughness of this unit.

Not only was there lots of information about swimming pools in general but also information about the structure and how they are built as well. This unit can be used again and again.

As she states, there is more information than you will need to use. But, be ready to spend more time than you plan to…my children wanted to learn more and this unit created what I like to term “off-shoot-learning” …it sparked interest in many related topics — exactly what I believe a good unit study should do. I highly recommend this unit study.”
Felice Gerwitz, author/publisher Media Angels, Inc. www.MediaAngels.com

Green for a Day — Or a Lifetime
It has always bothered me that material written for children on caring for the environment are always filled with New Age, and Mother Nature nonsense. This unit study is the answer to that problem. It approaches protection of the environment from the Christian perspective as the job of those designated by God to have dominion over the Earth. Thus, students learn respect and the need to care for the Earth without the New Age tones.

In the Swim for School
If you want to start back to ‘school’ while your children think it is still summer (maybe because it is) and want to spend their days in the pool, all of you will love this unit. This unit study allows you to keep little (and not-so-little) minds active and learning a variety of subjects while investigating everything related to swimming and swimming pools. Prolong the swimming season without giving up those valuable days of schooling.

Of the People, By the People, For the People
It is not too late to use this election season to teach our children about the process of electing our President. Activities include reading biographies of Presidents, watching election results, playing games about elections, and actually helping in political campaigns. The study is written in such a way as to allow for independent study where appropriate but also lends itself well to the family working together, particularly on the many projects that are included. Many of the activities can also be used for state and local elections as well.

Pirates of the Caribbean
Drawing upon the excitement of the movie, this unit study examines the truths and myths about pirates, bringing the Bible to bear on their lives and activities. Students will also learn the history and geography of the islands in the Caribbean and the countries of Central and South America that border it. All ages can have fun with the living books, videos, games and hands-on projects included here.

We also offer several new unit studies by other authors. All of these have been carefully reviewed and meet our standards in all areas. I will post my reviews of those here very soon.

You can now purchase instantly downloadable samples of both Far Above Rubies (74 page sample) and Blessed is the Man (70 page sample) for just $5 each. That way, you’ll be able to actually try out the unit studies before you invest in the entire program. I think you’ll be blessed by how much your students learn, and by how enjoyable it is to learn through a well-designed unit study.

I always enjoy hearing from readers who have used FAR or BITM, and I was blessed to receive an excellent review from Katrina Milligan. She’s used the curriculums for her three children, and she shares how they helped her work with her own organizational skills and her student’s learning styles. You can read the review on the Testimonials page.

If you haven’t browsed the Article section recently, you may not have seen some of the latest articles. Be sure to check them out- they’re listed in the sidebar.

Remember, if you need some family-friendly reading, our Life With the Pony Express historical fiction trilogy is ready to download. The titles are:

• With my Very Life by Lynda and Becky Coats
• A Life and Death Matter by Lynda and Becky Coats
• Love of a Lifetime by Lynda and Becky Coats

You save $3 when you purchase all three titles as a set for $15! Enjoy!

I can feel what she felt; I can relate to what she is saying. I can also feel great sorrow for her, knowing that she did not have the comfort of the Lord in the way that we do. Though she spoke of God, it was never as the loving Savior or Father, but only as the power of the universe.

I do not know the circumstances of these writings of hers, but I am quite sure that she experienced, or at least, understood, the heartache of losing someone close— the pain that never completely goes away — the hole that is left in your heart forever. Regrettably for her, she may not have known the Savior who answers her dilemma. He does know ‘why’ and He is ever ready to help those who love Him to understand it as well. Life goes on, because He is in control. His plans are far above our plans, but they are perfect for us.

When we lean on Him He will direct our paths. We can be sure that our life will go on under His blessed wings, There is no better place to be.

I’m happy to announce that we will be participating in the annual Say What You Mean Convention in February. This encouraging online event is free, and I think you’ll be blessed by what you learn during its three days.

The convention is hosted by the Art of Eloquence, and “Each of the days will feature a Keynote Speaker and free, creative and fun workshops and seminars. Some will be live interactive text and voice chat seminars while others will be previously recorded audio seminar/interviews. Of course we will continue to have free giveaways, contests and prizes.”

I hope to see you there!

Rejoice with us in what his life meant to so many. The service in
commemoration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 10, at 1:00 PM at
Cornerstone Christian Church, 301 Dalraida Road in Montgomery, AL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Covenant Academy, the
non-profit church school umbrella (cover) program he and I helped start, and
at which we have both worked. The address is Covenant Academy; 830 Coliseum
Blvd.; Montgomery, AL 36107 Donations through Paypal can be sent to my mailing
address and ear-marked: donation in memory of Lauren Coats. Funds will be
delivered to the church school.

The hospice medical personnel did not expect him to live through last night , but he is still hanging in there 24 hours later. His internal organs do appear to be shutting down, so it will not likely be long before he leaves this world. Please pray for comfort and peace for all of us.

If you have not received previous messages about this, you can catch up at my personal blog- _www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolruby.