Remembering the smiling faces at homeschool conventions and their sometimes overwhelming emotions when faced with the many book choices, we want to share some tips to help your convention experience this year. Here is your checklist to help you make the most out of your convention:

1) Pray that the Lord would not only prepare your heart, but also the hearts of the vendors, speakers, and coordinators for His glory. We are homeschooling for eternal purposes, so these conferences are ultimately for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom and are battles in the spiritual warfare.  

2) Identify your educational philosophy. Do so before the convention or come with the intention of  figuring it out there. This will help you identify what fits you, your children and your lifestyle. Then, you can simply discard many displays who cannot fit your philosophical needs.

Here are some lists of popular philosophies you may research about on the internet, ask friends and inquire through your local support groups.

*Traditional (Textbook) Approach

*Unit Study

*Charlotte Mason Approach

*Classical Education

*Unschooling

3) Study the layout of the exhibit hall, and review the list of speakers and workshops which fit you best. It often saves valuable time to know where your favorite vendors are. Also, you can find new vendors which may prove to be a blessing, if you just take the time to plan your visit. 

4) Ask the Lord to guide you for each selection of materials you are considering. Do you really need it? If you buy it, will you commit to using it?

5) Choose materials that support a Christian Worldview and promote character building traits and virtues. Do not buy resources because they are cheap only. Evaluate each purchase against the eternal goal.

6) Think about ways to simplify your days and your schooling academics by using Living Books and read out loud time with all your children. ~ Think about simplifying your day by reading more to your children, and closing those age gaps in the family. Here are some favorite classics of ours: 

     *         PINNOCHIO, ROBINSON CRUSOE, MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKENS

     *     MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY and BURGESS BIRD BOOK FOR CHILDREN for overall science.            

     *     SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON for Botany and Zoology.           

      *     LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and THE PRAIRIE PRIMER STUDY for Pioneer American History.    

      *     HEROES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW for Ancient History, Biographical study and 

             character.

       *     THIS COUNTRY OF OURS and OUR ISLAND STORY  for History.

7) Find guides to subjects which could incorporate different ages. Such examples include TRUTHQUEST HISTORY GUIDES by Michelle Miller, and CONSIDERING GOD’S CREATION by Betty Smith.

8)Invest in your own education. Yes! books and audio CD’s just for you! If your spouse is not coming, get CD’s for him or /her as well!  We parents need to constantly be encouraged in this journey, and what better way to do this throughout the year than with books that will build you up. We suggest A CHARLOTTE MASON COMPANION by Karen Andreola, WHEN YOU RISE UP by R.C. Sproul Jr., UPGRADE by Kevin Swanson, DUMBING US DOWN by John Taylor Gatto.

9) Purpose to support the vendors by buying at the conference rather than just reviewing the books and then buying them online from cheaper sources. It costs exhibitors a lot of time, energy, and resources to bring their books to you. We need your financial support to stay in business and to continue bringing the best books to the conferences.

10) Educate yourself on what is legal for homeschoolers to copy. Visit www.HomeschoolCopyright.com for some fascinating information! There are some publishers who allow us to make multiple copies for our children, and some who graciously make copies available at lesser costs. Find out what fits your family and budget.

11) Set up a budget for needed items and another for items you want or serendipitous discoveries. If possible pay cash or with checks to help avoid compulsive spending. This also helps the vendors, because every credit card transaction involves an additional fee.

12) Finally, if you think you can’t afford to go to a conference, pray for the resources to make it happen. It is important for parents to be encouraged and renewed! Our yearly homeschool conference was always such a blessing and we felt we couldn’t continue homeschooling without attending every year. If you ultimately cannot attend, ask a friend to purchase workshop CD’s for you. 

There has been a lot of talk lately about the hard times ahead. There are those who believe hard times are ahead and then there are the more optimistic fellows, who think this is just a phase. The “negative ones” go around saying “things are going to get rough,” we need to get ready, and those who don’t believe call them Doomsayers’. After all, our personality causes us to go about life getting ready for the bad times. Best case scenario teaches us if bad times never come and we worked hard at becoming prepared, then we just have extra stuff that we can either use or sell. If you are on the optimist team, and something does happen, what are you going to do? Which one of these is the better of the two? I would tend to say that the person that prepares for the rainy day is the better of the two, because if things do get worse, then they are ready for emergencies regarding food, safety, and basic needs. What are we to do? The truth is you need to be ready, whether you believe hard times are ahead or not. Here are the top seven things you can do to prepare yourself for a rainy day.  

Here is a list of books about self-survival you can read with your children:

My Side of the Mountain

On the Far Side of the Mountain

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Sign of the Beaver

Here is a letter from Michael Farris. It is so important we stay informed and are proactive. No longer can we stay back and let things happen. Read on… 

A Letter from Michael Farris,
President of ParentalRights.org.

    

Dear Friend of Parental Rights,

I was in the United States Senate this past week meeting with lawyers for a Senate office.  They told me directly what I have been hearing indirectly on a regular basis ever since the election.

Those who want to change family policy in America to comply with international law are preparing a full-scale effort to seek ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child during this next Congress.  Barbara Boxer recently told a planning group that they intend to use children’s health care as leverage to seek ratification of this UN children’s rights treaty.

Please link to our website to see a succinct summary of the problems with this UN treaty.

The strength of their forces has been greatly increased with the addition of Hillary Clinton as the nominee for Secretary of State.  She will have direct control over the submission of this treaty to the Senate and will acquire the authority under international law to sign any other treaty on any subject.

Hillary Clinton was the person who made the announcement for the Convention on the Rights of the Child when her husband’s administration signed the treaty.  Seeking its ratification is a lifelong dream for her.

Our situation is grim if we were to look only at the position of the elected officials.

However, recent post-election polling demonstrates that almost 70% of Americans do not believe that the use of international law in American courts on such matters is appropriate.  Less than 20% favor the use of international law. (The rest are undecided).   Virtually every sub-group in America opposes this kind of use of international law.

America is on our side. However, we have to be able to get the word out to help people hear the truth about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Our proposed Parental Rights Amendment will permanently stop this treaty.  So we have a one-two punch planned for the internationalists.

First, we must build a huge grassroots movement of patriotic Americans who believe that good families should be able to raise their children without worrying about compliance with international law. 

Second, these same grassroots forces need to convince our elected officials that we are not content with defeating this treaty for today alone.  We insist on a permanent solution.  We need the Parental Rights Amendment. 

I need you to do two things to help this become a reality.  First, please send a copy of this letter to everyone you know who believes in parental rights and American patriotism. 

Second, we need to raise a war chest to get prepared to launch a massive grassroots campaign.  The other side has millions of dollars left in their campaign coffers, and they have the President of the United States, the Secretary of State and all the media waiting to carry their message. 

We can win the debate because we have the truth on our side.  And we have public opinion.  But we won’t win if we can’t reach people.

Will you please make as big a gift as you can to support Parentalrights.org?

Here is what they are saying about us.  At the hearing which featured Barbara Boxer, one of the speakers said that the people who will oppose this treaty are the “narcissistic sovereignty crowd.”  In other words, those who love America first are so guilty of excessive self-love that he describes us as having the mental illness of narcissism.

This is their real heart.  Not only do they want international law to control our families.  They think that we are mentally ill for loving America.

It is time for those of us who believe in loving our families and loving America to rise up!  We will not surrender this country or our children to such people.

Get involved today!  The battle is about to begin.

For God, family, and America,

Michael Farris

I received a very touching letter, as a result of our Thanksgiving Newsletter. No matter what your thoughts on immigrants are, this message is sure to give all of us a different outlook on these folks. I was a bit ashamed to realize I was thinking only about myself and was forgetting the many people who may spend these holidays alone or in need. I pray my family and yours could see the needs of the “stranger,” as this sister explains. Read on…

 Dear Gus and Shirley,

We have added an American flavor to the Thanksgiving celebrations of a number of our Latino neighbors in the past.  But this year we are sad. Numerous ones of our neighbors have had encounters with immigration that seem inconsistent with “liberty and justice for all.” The sister of one of our friends has fled to Mexico, after their house had been spied on for a while, and the rest of the family is still living in fear from their threats.  So they will not be coming over for a Thanksgiving meal as we originally thought. 

One year we memorized Psalm 148 for Thanksgiving.  This year we memorized Psalm 146.  It talks about praising God, but also says: The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. Psalm 146:9

We would appreciate it if you would join us in our prayer for this family–the mother separated from her children, one of whom is disabled; the sisters and brother who had to part with their other sister, the glue of their household;  the little nephew whose favorite aunt/babysitter is gone;  the abuelita who raised her until she was 13, (really her aunt) who has lost her child.  

Also pray that our nation’s law enforcement will change, and act with humanity toward those charged with political offenses like illegal entry, so that we will not someday stand in the judgment, and hear Jesus’ words directed toward us:  ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’  (Matthew 25:43, 44).

We have heard many sad stories, and pray much for those who must struggle to say:

“I thank Thee more that all our joy is touched with pain,

That shadows fall on brightest hours, that thorns remain;

So that earth’s bliss may be our guide, and not our chain.”

From “My God I Thank Thee” by Adelaide Proctor, 1825-18-64.

Dear Friends,

In the spirit of thanksgiving and with lights and festive scenes
decorating the warm streets of Miami, we enter our favorite
season of the year, Christmas! Okay, so we do not have snow,
but it still feels jolly and exciting to us Floridians.

After celebrating Christmas in the same tradition of our parents,
with food, fun and shopping, we realized we had missed so much
when we found out about Advent a few years ago.

Though you may not have heard of the Advent, most liturgical
churches celebrate it in order to focus on the profound meaning
of the coming of Christ.

The celebration of Advent is much deeper than the popular Advent
calendar with its 25 cute little windows to open! Advent is a rich
and meaningful time—making Christmas very, very special!!

~~ WHAT IS ADVENT? ~~

Advent is the special season that comes just before Christmas.
The word Advent comes to us from the Latin word “adventus” which
means “coming.” Advent is a beautiful and worshipful way of
preparing our hearts and minds for the celebration of the first
coming or birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and a time of preparation
as we look forward to His Second Coming.

Celebrating Advent helps our family focus on Christ’s coming
and not on material gifts. We gather every evening to read from our
chosen devotional book for the season. Then we move to the dining
room where our Advent wreath adorns our table.

Dear Friends,

Both, Gus and I, arrived to the United States as immigrants when we were very young. Because Thanksgiving is an American celebrated holiday, our parents knew little of the traditions and customs this holiday entails. While our friends were eating Turkey, Sweet Potato Casserole, Pumpkin Pie, and other delightful entrees, our family was eating pork, rice and beans, “platanitos” (fried plantain), avocado and flan (like custard).

With time, already married, we became friends with families who celebrated Thanksgiving the traditional way. Slowly, we learned how to prepare those delicious plates, which include fruits and vegetables from “harvest” time.  I even learned to make the turkey “juicy,” and full of flavor. Though I must confess there is still no stuffing in it.

Finally, the typical American Thanksgiving menu has become ours. Our children always look forward to String Bean Casserole, those delicious roasted marshmallows over sweet potato, and of course Turkey.  Our menu does have slight adaptations to accomodate those older Hispanic members of our family. We can never just have these dishes, without including rice and beans, and maybe even “tamales” (corn pattie, stuffed with meat or plain).

As I think of the many families who have migrated to the United States over the years, we know we are not alone. These families have embraced Thanksgiving as their holiday as well. They join the rest of this nation in celebrating the bounty of blessings, along with the remembrance of those first pilgrims who made many sacrifices to move here.

But I do know that whereas they may be celebrating Thanksgiving, their meals are far from traditional. Like our own variation, Colombians, Peruvians, Uruguayans and families with different nationalities will add Latino flavors unique to each of their countries. Our friends from India, Nepal, Pakistan will be adding curry and other delicious mixtures of flavors. And those from the Far East may be enjoying noodles and rice as part of their Thanksgiving meal.

These unique adaptations make the United Stated what it is…a nation of varied races, cultures…a true “Melting Pot.” The warm fellowship, the colors of Autumn, the joys of family, AND the blends of spices and tradition help us to focus on the true meaning of this holiday- giving thanks to God, our Creator, for everything in our life and the blessings this country receives from Him.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

Recipe for Flan (like custard…but better!)

 This delicious dessert recipe is very typical to most South American countries. Some countries have slight variations, like adding cream cheese to the recipe.

Flan (Spanish egg-custard)

1 can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
5 whole eggs
½ cup of sugar
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

1 cup sugar (for the caramel)

Flan - Blend all ingredients until completely mixed. Pour the flan mixture thru a metal strainer right into the caramelized pan.Set the mold in a broiling pan (baño de María). Cook in a 350º oven for one hour. At 30 minutes check to see if it’s getting too brown on top - if so cover loosely with foil.Test the flan to see if it’s done by inserting a knife in the center. If the flan is still soft, let it cook longer until a knife inserted again comes out clean. Remove from the oven carefully and let it sit on the counter until it cools. Then cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. To serve lay a plate on top of the mold then carefully flip it over and slide the mold off.

Stove Top Caramel - Melt 1cup sugar in a non-stick pan, over low heat. Keep your eye on it. If it burns you will have to start over. It just needs to melt that’s all. Using a non stick pan will cause the caramel to just slip off the pan when pouring - easy to clean later.

Immediately pour the caramel into a metal pan and swirl it around to cover the bottom and sides. Your have to be quick because once it starts to cool down you don’t stand a chance. The caramel should have cooled down before you pour the egg mixture in it.

Recipe is a courtesy from El Boricua (name given to Puerto Ricans) website http://www.elboricua.com/flan.html#FlanTraditional

Hi,

As you know, we visit many churches when we travel.  River’s Edge Church is one of our favorite churches in the whole country. We love the people- it’s not the “normal” church. There are lots of “biker” guys, with tattoos and the parking lot is full of motorcycles. God’s Grace is abounding here because those who needed the most forgiveness are the most thankful. They recently celebrated their 7th Anniversary and had their own “Cardboard Testimony.” Here is the link for the homepage to see it http://www.theriversedgechurch.org/Default.aspx

I will post the link to Pastor Gary’s testimony- it’s lenghty but DEFINITELY worth it! To hear Pastor Gary’s testimony, click on the link below- it’s titled “RESCUED NOT ARRESTED.” Please pass this email to others…

http://www.theriversedgechurch.org/Resources/AudioVideo/198030.aspx

Love,

Shirley Solis

Lifetime Books and Gifts

www.ShopLBG.com

P.S. READ ABOUT THE TIME WE WERE ASKED TO CHECK OUR BABY IN AT CHURCH-  http://www.shoplbg.com/blog/?p=22

Dear Friends,

This election year provided another new experience for our family. It was the first time we volunteered together to help make history. As we learned the process of how our nation elects our president, we followed closely the events marking the election process.

On election day, we waived flyers at the precincts with our children, we made phone calls supporting our favorite candidate, and we emailed our friends and family promoting fundamental issues. Finally, the evening of Tuesday, November 4th, as the whole world watched eagerly, our family also sat closely, watching the news, as our nation’s future was decided. 

Although the end of the election process should have marked an end to our hectic days, there is still much uncertainty about our future as a nation. Many things are at stake, including the economy. As God taught us once again to trust in Him, not in the government, and not on the economy, we were edified by going to His word and being reminded that OUR CERTAINTY IS IN HIM!

His word answered all our questions…

When we said, “Lord, we are afraid,” he responded,

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strenght you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“Father, what about my many concerns?” He assured us,

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns [you]; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever” Psalm 138:8

“Lord, what shall we do, where shall we go?”

“I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye…Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:7, 10-11

He confirms in His word, HE IS SOVEREIGN IN CREATION AND IN HISTORY!

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance” Psalm 33:8-12

“Lord, I have no power…” yet He says, “Not by might nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT” Zechariah 4:6

How wonderful to know He supplies us with His good Word to answer all our questions, take away all our fears, and uplift us with “wings like eagles.”

I can truly say “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

We encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and to ask for boldness to preach His Word among the nations. This nation’s revival- the new “Great Awakening” is coming and we will all be part of it as He continues with His sovereign plan until eternity.

In Him,

The Solis Family

Lifetime Books and Gifts

www.ShopLBG.com

P.S. For a great article about honoring our leaders, visit  http://www.shoplbg.com/blog/

I found this great article from World Magazine. I highly encourage you all to read it, think about and pass it on!

 http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/14617

Thanks,

 Shirley Solis

Lifetime Books and Gifts

www.ShopLBG.com