We had reached a point in our homeschool where we had finished up a year of study with a curriculum. I was really torn on moving forward with it for another year. After much thought and prayer, I decided I would create my own course of study for history. And then I had the opportunity to review TruthQuest History. God’s timing is perfect,yes? I was thrilled to choose the Age of Revolution II guide. It was almost exactly where we need to pick up in history!

Age of Revolution II 1800-1865

Taken from the TruthQuest Website:

TruthQuest History is a deep and rich literature-based history study…but with a difference. You will not learn the story of mankind; you will learn the lovestory of mankind. You will not focus on the rise and fall of human civilizations; you will focus on the arrow-straight line of God’s unchanging existence, power, love, truth, and plan for civilization. You will not simply ‘meet the culture’ or ‘get the facts;’ you will probe the truths of history so deeply that your students will be equipped to change their world!

The Age of Revolution II might be mistaken for a lovely booklist but that would be such a disservice to this resource! In this guide, this period of time is divided by significant events and important people. For each section commentary is given to help the student (teacher) pull the previous studies in line with what is up ahead, to offer reminders to see and think about how God’s hand is moving and what that means for that time and for now.  ThinkWrite questions are offered with each major section and can serve as great “writing prompts” for the student or a starting point for some in depth family discussions.

Family discussions are an important part of what I desire our day to hold. With children ranging in ages from baby to teenager, I love having the ability to bring us all together and to share in our studies. While that doesn’t work so well in math, it is attainable with history! The Age of Revolution II guide is designed for grades 5-12. However, book suggestions are included for the elementary years. (If your family just has younger learners right now, TruthQuest has American History guides just for them.) While my older daughter may be reading How Should We Then Live and my little ones are cuddled up with a picture book, we are all learning and studying the same part of history. It can make for lively discussion around the dinner table. Maybe more like a race to see who can tell daddy the most information first!

In the Age to Revolution II and other guides, several types of books are suggested. Spine books that provide a steady course as you travel through history. More in-depth, focused books on a particular person or events and even subtopics are provided. Mrs. Miller also includes activity books and movies when applicable.

I know that some will look at the TruthQuest Guides and think “That will never work for me!” , “Why doesn’t it come with a schedule?” or “I can’t buy all those books!” It can seem overwhelming at first glance. Take a deep breath. Here is how I make it work for me:

For me. Very important words. What I enjoy doing is reading a core or spine book aloud to everyone. We are a read aloud family so this flows along with how we spend our time. While I’m read aloud they may be drawing pictures, writing, building with Legos or knitting. I learned early on that if you keep the hands busy, the mind stays engaged so well. Once I’m done with our read aloud, the independent readers will have their reading assignments and can go about their day. Throughout the day I can sit with my younger ones and share some picture books on our topic or person so they are learning as well. (It is not surprising to catch my older ones listening in or reading the picture books on their own. There are some fabulous picture books!)

To enhance our reading, I have the children do other activities as well. I assign them to pick a person or event to write about that week. We may use the Think Write for the writing assignment or just discussion. Some will just narrate to me what they have read or draw a picture of something that they found interesting. It is sometimes helpful to have the older ones search Scripture for issues we see occurring in history.

A schedule/lesson plan isn’t provided so we move at our own pace and I don’t have to feel guilty for spending two weeks studying Madison and only a few days on Lincoln.  I love having flexibility with our learning. It is one of the beauties in homeschooling! as we work through the guide I don’t even attempt to utilize all the books suggested. I am a faithful patron of our local library. While I sometimes can’t find as many books as I desired or just the one I wanted, I usually find just what we need.  There is no way our budget would allow for purchasing a huge bundle of books and it has not been an issue with Age of Revolution II.

Key Thoughts on Why TruthQuest May or May Not Be For You:

*Christian Perspective - this curricula is written clearly from a strong Christian perspective. The purpose behind TruthQuest is to see how God’s hand has moved through History.

*Learning is mainly through living books. By reading a through living books, we learn so much. You can choose to incorporate other methods such as notebooking, geography, timelines, writing, etc but at the core, TruthQuest is about using literature to bring about understanding.

*No Schedule or Lesson Plan. If you like to check off little boxes you will have to make your own. While TruthQuest.com offers suggestions on how to “plan out” a guide, it is completely up to the discretion of each family how they work through the guide and how long it takes.

*Conversational Commentary. Throughout the Age of Revolution II guide, Mrs. Miller’s commentary may come across as “too relaxed” or “simplified”. She is writing to the student and she is aiming it at various grade levels. I don’t care for books that “dumb down” the information for children. By no means, do I think Mrs. Miller has over simplified the information. It is just in a more casual tone. At times, I may chose to summarize it in my own words.

*Supports/encourages family learning. While you could definitely keep your children separate and learning on their own cycle of history, TruthQuest is definitely a curriculum that can work for a wide variety of ages and learning abilities. If you are looking to study history as a family, then check out TruthQuest.

Age of Revolution II is available in two formats.

Print copy -  $29.95

PDF copy – $24.95

Interested?  Take a look at a sample lesson, table of contents and spine information. Be sure to check out FAQ , How to Choose and Families Share for some great information on using TruthQuest.

TOS Crew members reviewed various guides. So if Age of Revolution II (1800-1865) isn’t the guide you need, check out what others are using!

Disclaimer: As a meber of TOS Review crew, I received a complimentary PDF copy of this product for the purpose of review. No compensation was made. The opinion/thoughts expressed in this post are my own.

You won’t regret taking a step into Wynnewood and getting to know the creature who lurks within…..

As I was requesting books for our history readings, I remembered a book that I enjoyed as a young child. I recalled memories of reading it to my two oldest children. Had I ever shared this literary treasure with my current little ones? I didn’t think so. This situation had to be remedied!

The Monster at the End of This Book…ok, so it isn’t exactly a literary masterpiece and some would consider it pure twaddle. However, I can’t read it without smiling and laughing. It must be read with much emotion and drama. I love this book!

And guess what? By page 2, everyone around the dinner table was loving this book. It is just a cute, fun read that makes you smile. I loved after dinner listening to my 6 year old read it with great dramatic flair.

Variety is a good thing so from twaddle to reality we go…

What had everyone gather around (and on) the table?

What the World Eats takes you on a tour of what different families around the world eat. From California to Africa to Asia….from middle class families to refugee camps…pictures, graphs and more about what people eat and how it compares in cost in American dollars.

(I almost caught her!)

The children learned so much about how blessed with are with the food we have available to us. To see the family at the refugee camp with so little….we truly are so blessed! They also decided that they didn’t really want to visit the area that had cow stomachs or roasted guinea pigs.

I was pleased to see them searching for the areas that had lots of fruits and vegetables. I will admit that we would get a bit excited to recognize a Snickers bar in a foreign language! We were also shocked at how much packaged food one country had. From the 2 year old and up, someone is constantly flipping through this book. I didn’t think it would be that big of a hit!

When I heard of Vintage Remedies the title intrigue me and I was delighted to be able to review one of their products for young ladies. Vintage Remedies for Girls is designed to teach girls, ages 7-13, about healthy and natural living. While we are not a strict healthy eating family, we do try to eat a healthy, balanced diet and try to be smart with the resources that we use in our home. Having 3 girls that fit the age range for this book, I knew it would be a great tool to have on hand.

Vintage Remedies for Girls has 3 sections: Food, Nutrition and Culinary Skills; Health and Body; and Natural Living. Within these sections a wide range of topics are covered: Real Food, Kitchen Basics, Growing Your Own Food, Coughs and Colds, Immunity and Prevention, Hospitality, Cleaner Cleaning and more!

It is a simple product to utilize; whether as a formal study or just a book to casually pull information from as needed. After reading the information on Real Food in chapter one, there will be a featured project. For chapter one it was Strawberry Fruit Bars. Yum!  Other projects are given as well such as homemade pizza or granola bars. The same model is followed throughout the book.

In our home we already cook  from scratch, but I find there is always more to learn. I really appreciated the section on Health and Body. As a mom of 6 girls, I value books that promote healthy living. It is so easy to fall into a lifestyle of junk food and to teach our young ladies early about taking care of their bodies is so important.

If you choose to use the book formally, quizzes and a recommended schedule are provided. We decided to take a more laid back approach which works well for us. The girls grab the book, read what interest them and then they can choose a project if they wish.

Vintage Remedies for Girls can be purchased for $45.00. The book is over 200 pages and non-consumable. It would also work great for a group study as well!

Vintage Remedies also provides: Vintage Remedies for Guys, Vintage Remedies for Kids and Vintage Remedies for Tweens. Vintage Remedies is not limited to resources for children. Make sure you look around to see all that they offer for healthier living!

Make sure to swing by the Crew to see what others are saying about Vintage Remedies!

**Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made.

"Long before thinking of diamonds & glitter, here are some things that I need to consider."

Bower Family Books has a charming book available titled The Person I Marry.  Gary Bower in poetic form shares the characteristics/qualities one should desire in a future spouse. Respect, kindness, honesty and thoughtfulness are just a few of the qualities discussed in this book. Jan Bower, Gary’s wife, enhances the text of this book with beautiful oil painting illustrations.

While at first glance, The Person I Marry may appear to be a children’s book, it can be enjoyed and beneficial to more mature readers. It is an excellent tool to use with young and older children about marriage, praying for their spouse and exactly what qualities they should desire to see in themselves and their spouses. This book would also be a delightful gift for a new couple that would benefit from the reminders and encouragement found inside.

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

I shared this book with my children. They enjoyed the poetic form and delighted in the oil paintings.  It will be interesting to share this book with them over time and see how the discussion changes about future spouses. I think the Bowers did a lovely job covering such a wide range of qualities. I appreciate that it made a point to speak of God being before you or your spouse. It also referenced those who may not marry which is an excellent point to chat about with your children.

The Person I Marry is a 32 page hardcover book. It can be purchased from Bower Books for $11.99.

The Person I Marry is only one book in the Bright Future Series. Take a moment to look around! You might find that perfect gift.

Other Crew members read The Person I Marry. Please stop by and see what others thought of The Person I Marry.

Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made. The thoughts/opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Educating the Wholehearted Child is an encouraging, informative read for homeschool families no matter where they are in the journey. As a mom who has been homeschooling several years, it was a refreshing and inspiring read.  We all go through various seasons of educating our children and sometimes we need a bit of help in getting our focus and methods back on track. Or possibly moving on to something new we hadn’t tried before depending on the needs of our child.

While the Clarksons methods and principles may not completely line up with yours personally, there is such wealth in this book. The chapters on Biblical discipleship, the margins filled with Scriptures and the Clarksons sharing personal experiences are so worthwhile. Page after page is full of practical advice of a family who has walked this road and have much to share.

Educating the Wholehearted Child has 4 Sections: Home, Learning, Methods, and Living.  To view a complete Table of Contents, you can go here to take a peek. They have also made Chapter 1:    The Christian Home: Learning to Be at Home with Christ available to read online as well. This gives you an opportunity to get a sense of the writing style of the Clarksons.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through this book again (I read an older edition several years ago) and gleaning from it bits of wisdom throughout. Often as I read such books, I end up putting it down feeling like I have more questions than answers. The Clarksons use of Scripture as the focus throughout the text provides a comforting foundation to build upon; whether you agree with their method or not.

Educating the Wholehearted Child is available from Apologia Press for $22.00. It is well worth that price as you will refer to it time and again; you will share it with friends on this homeschool journey.

Please take time to head over to the Crew and see what others are saying about Educating the Wholehearted Child!

**Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for the purpose of review. No compensation was made. All thoughts/opinions expressed in this post are my own.

However, something odd happened. My cute, little delightful son  turned into a boy. A 9 year old boy who was suddenly determined to test all the boundaries, climb every tree and take dominion over everything from my kitchen to the van. Thankfully, I could still count on the dirt.

When Timberdoodle provided the opportunity to read Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young, I grabbed it. I am familiar with the Youngs and knew they were the parents of a boy or six. If someone could help in my journey to understand and mother my sons better, it would be the Youngs. What a blessing to be able to gain wisdom from those who are ahead of you on the journey!

At the end of the day, I often struggled with feeling like I had failed being the mom my sons needed. I knew that boys were different from girls and that I couldn’t hold them to the same standards but it was so frustrating. From chores to math I sometimes felt that we were both beating our heads against the wall. Not the picture I had of motherhood when I held that bundle of blue so many years ago.  Raising Real Men was so refreshing to read, so helpful in its practicality and so simple that I wasn’t overwhelmed with information. The Youngs do not have page after page of psychobabble. They are real parents who have been down the road with real boys that have become real men.

In Raising Real Men, the Youngs cover a multitude of topics that really hit home. Boys need to conquer, take risk and push themselves. They need to develop that boldness that will one day make them warriors for Christ. We don’t need to hold them back in fear but provide opportunities to face new experiences.  Responsibility needs to be developed and as he shows maturity and ability, you need to give more responsibility. One day he will be a leader in his home, workplace, church and community. Are you preparing him to meet those demands?

The Youngs cover everything from school, chores, play to stewardship, love and leadership. What I absolutely loved was that they back it all up with Scripture. These are not random ideas or suggestions. The Youngs have parented their boys diligently and have sought out Scripture to guide them and guide their sons. It provides a balanced, practical help when you are in the midst of a struggle in parenting and need someone to help guide you to a solution, help you gain wisdom all balanced on the Word.

Want to take a closer look at Raising Real Men? Even read a sample chapter? You can head over to Timberdoodle and check out Raising Real Men. You can purchase Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young for $12.75 from Timberdoodle!

Timberdoodle provides other resources that could be a help to you as your parent your sons so you might be interested in Boy Friendly Outdoor Learning and other Parenting Helps.  Don’t forget that Timberdoodle offers a wide range of products so browse through their catalog; I love to add to my wish list!

Legal Disclosure:
As a member of Timberdoodle’s Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of Raising Real Men in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

Reeling from an unexpected betrayal, can Sylvia find relief from the echoes of her past…or will they shape her future forever? 

Although Sylvia Fisher recognizes that most Old Order Amish women her age spend their hours managing a household and raising babies, she has just one focus—tending and nurturing the herd on her family’s dairy farm. But when a dangerous connection with an old beau forces her to move far from home, she decides to concentrate on a new start and pour her energy into reviving another family’s debt-ridden farm.

After months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns home to sell his Daed’s failing farm and move his parents into an easier lifestyle. Two things stand in his way: the father who stubbornly refuses to recognize that Aaron has changed and the determined new farmhand his parents love like a daughter. Her influence on Aaron’s parents could ruin his plans to escape the burdens of farming and build a new life.

Can Aaron and Sylvia find common ground? Or will their unflinching efforts toward opposite goals blur the bigger picture— a path to forgiveness, glimpses of grace, and the promise of love.

Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is Book 3 in the Ada’s House Series. In this book we meet Sylvia and Aaron. Not always a reader of books set in the Amish community, I was looking forward to reading this third book. At the beginning I was enjoying the story line and eager to see how Sylvia’s future would turn out.

However, I felt that the story lacked some depth. I think more attention and time could have been spent on Aaron. It felt like we learned very little about Aaron and his family and the effects that Sylvia had on them. The relationship between Aaron and Sylvia went from antagonistic to romantic almost too quickly and without enough information.

In Harvest of Grace, we also catch up on the characters from other Ada’s House books. It was lovely to read how their situations worked out but I feel it took away from time that should have been spent with Aaron and Sylvia’s storyline.

Overall, Harvest of Grace is an enjoyable read especially if you enjoy the Amish setting. I think it would be beneficial to read the other books in the series beforehand so the reader isn’t lost on the other characters.

You can read an excerpt of the Harvest of Grace here.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from BloggingforBooks/Waterbrook Multnomah. No compensation was made. The thoughts/opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Emma’s life takes another turn when the man she loves, Adam, returns to their Amish community.

Will Adam return to his Amish life for good? Can Emma find a way to provide for her grandmother?

Treasuring Emma was the first work of Kathleen Fuller’s that I have read. I was looking forward to an enjoyable read and was sadly disappointed. There was no depth to the storyline or the characters. Mrs. Fuller had more than one plot running but none were developed and explored.

As I continued to read, I kept waiting for the catalyst that would bring the story to life but it fell flat. It was an interesting storyline and I would have loved to read it written to the potential. I would not recommend Treasuring Emma.

**Disclaimer: As a member of BookSneeze.com, I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. No compensation was made.

The weekly cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell promises to expose businessmen, religious leaders, and politicians for the lies they tell. Suzanne positions herself as a champion of ethics and morality with a backbone of steel—until a revelation of her shoddy investigation tactics and creative fact embellishing put her in hot water with her employers, putting her credibility in question and threatening her professional ambitions..

Bitter and angry, Suzanne returns home one day to find an entrepreneur she is investigating, John Edward Sterling, unconscious on her living room floor. Before the night is over, Sterling is dead, she has his blood on her hands, and the police are arresting her for murder. She needs help to prove her innocence, but her only hope, private investigator Marcus Crisp, is also her ex-fiancé–the man she betrayed in college.

Marcus and his partner Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne reluctantly agree to take the case, but they won’t cut Suzanne any slack. Exposing her lack of ethics and the lives she’s destroyed in her fight for ratings does little to make them think Suzanne is innocent. But as Marcus digs into the mire of secrets surrounding her enemies, he unveils an alliance well-worth killing for. Now all he has to do is keep Suzanne and Alex alive long enough to prove it.

Wanda L. Dyson was  new author for me but I was intrigued by the storyline and had to read Judgment Day. As one who enjoys a good suspense read, I was not disappointed. From the first few pages, the suspense began and kept me turning the pages. There were times when it was predictable but Ms. Dyson’s writing still held my interest. It is all too common in certain genres for the same ideas to be written over and over again. Ms. Dyson did an excellent job in making this unique story line work.

I was a bit disappointed in the characters. Much of the dialogue seemed shallow and rushed. While the suspense and action were well written, I would have loved to have seen more character development.  I think digging a bit deeper into some of the relational aspects would have added much to the story.

The ending was a surprise. It seem to take a relational focus and after the relationships being kept at a superficial level throughout the book, the ending seemed out of place. I definitely expected a different style of ending for Judgment Day.

However, if you are looking for a great suspense read, Judgment Day would be an excellent choice. I will be looking for more of Ms. Dyson’s work to read in the future.

You can go here and read an excerpt to get a feel for Judgment Day.

Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. No compensation was made. Opinions expressed are my own.