Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve – Members Only
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Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting
Last week we shared 20 Great Ways to Serve with Your Kids this Summer. Today, I want to share two special big FREEBIES and a discount coupon with you and encourage you to learn and serve as a family – all year long!
To start off, we’re giving everyone our Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit for FREE!!! ($9.95 value!) Then if you want (and you really should want!) you can use the $10 off coupon we send you to get our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit. And then!!!! We’ll give you our brand new Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit for FREE! Wowza!
Many of you might remember that I wrote and introduced our popular Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve early learners curriculum back in 2009:
You can read all the details about this curriculum kit here, but here are some highlights:
Teach your child to serve…one letter at a time! This 183 page downloadable kit includes thorough lesson plans, games, crafts, recipes, memory verses, Bible story suggestions, vocabulary stimulation and discussion, play, books to read and so much more…all while encouraging service to God!
Each letter you study includes suggestions for service, such as “Take a new Bible to B__________” on Bb week, “Make soup for someone who is sick on Ss week, and “Deliver flowers to F_______________” on Ff week. Your child will make gifts or food, offer help and learn to think of others. As a family you can delight in praying together about who you would like to serve and what form of service you would like to offer!
Then in 2015, we created a supplement for our “Learn Your Letters” curriculum – adding a Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve kit to the mix!
It contains 148 pages filled with activities, patterns, printables, instructions, crafts, and games – all with the purpose of teaching your child numbers, counting, Bible stories and teachings, and a heart of service – all at the same time. Check out the details of Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve here.
Here are the main categories featured in this awesome curriculum kit:
Each lesson will offer a variety of learning activities, plus suggestions, patterns, printables, recipes, or other fun ways to use number knowledge to serve others. For example, when reading about the 5 loaves of bread Jesus served the people – make 5 mini-loaves of your favorite quick bread to deliver to 5 people. What fun, and what a wonderful opportunity for your family to look at ways to serve others!
—-> Don’t have little ones? You may be surprised at how even you and your big kids can run with these ideas! Our family is using the academic portion of this curriculum with our 5-year old this school year. But as a family – teenagers included – we will be working together on the service end. It’s a perfect and fun family project and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together for us as the year unfolds! <—–
Yep! We’ve been busy around here. This new Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve curriculum kit is a bright and fun 33-page book full of printable activities, service ideas, recipe cards, and Bible reading suggestions. You and your kids can enjoy learning about God’s colorful creation with rainbows, flowers, animals, and more! And while you’re learning, follow the suggestions and brainstorm for ways to serve others in colorful ways too!
It is so fun to have this entire package of Early Learning curriculum put together now!! For one week, what would have cost $42.85 will only cost you a total of $15.95!!! It’s an incredible deal full of fun, learning, and service opportunities.
Sign up for the Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve FREEBIE in the form below. Then watch for an email with the free eBook and a coupon code for you to get Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve at $10 off AND Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve for FREE! Offer ends June 24, 2019.
Enjoy this discounted curriculum package as seen below!
[wp_eStore_fancy1 id=48]
Enjoy learning and serving with your family!
Do you love our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve and Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kits? Then you will adore our Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve Curriculum Kit!
It’s the perfect supplement to make our entire Learn to Serve Curriculum Package complete!
Learn Your Colors, Learn to Serve curriculum kit is a bright and fun 33-page book full of printable activities, service ideas, recipe cards, and Bible reading suggestions. You and your kids can enjoy learning about God’s colorful creation with rainbows, flowers, animals, and more! And while you’re learning, follow the suggestions and brainstorm for ways to serve others in colorful ways too!
Grab this now, download, print and dig in with your family right away!
Our Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members have access to this amazing resource plus ALL of our eBooks, eCurriculum, printables, and so much more – for one very low price! Join us here!
Or purchase separately below:
Our Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members have access to this amazing resource plus ALL of our eBooks, eCurriculum, printables, and so much more – for one very low price! Join us here!
Or purchase separately below:
Get a major discount when you buy all three books together!
by Laura 5 Comments
It’s here!! I am so excited to share our brand new early learners curriculum kit with you! It contains 148 pages filled with activities, patterns, printables, instructions, crafts, and games – all with the purpose of teaching your child numbers, counting, Bible stories and teachings, and a heart of service – all at the same time.
The Academics
This book will offer your child the chance to develop skills in
Bible Learning and Application
Why not use the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish to teach numbers? How about reading the story of the young 8 year-old King Josiah along with learning the number 8? The 7 days of creation while learning about the number 7? Of course! There’s a Bible story/reading suggestion for every number lesson from 0-12.
Count Your Blessings!
If we’re learning to count, we may as well start with our blessings! This book provides you with this great opportunity to participate in gratitude with not only your little one(s), but with your entire family.
The Service Training: Be a Blessing!
This is where we bring it all together. Each lesson will offer a variety of suggestions, patterns, printables, recipes, or other fun ways to use number knowledge to serve others. For example, when reading about the 5 loaves of bread Jesus served the people – make 5 mini-loaves of your favorite quick bread to deliver to 5 people. What fun, and what a wonderful opportunity for your family to look at ways to serve others!
There are lessons in the book from numbers 0 through 12 – thirteen complete lessons in all. Do one per week, do one per month, do whatever works best for your child(ren) and family! There’s no right or wrong way. There’s no specific Bible translation used. This is all created with flexibility for your family.
Want to peek inside learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve?
Our Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members have access to this amazing resource plus ALL of our eBooks, eCurriculum, printables, and so much more – for one very low price! Join us here!
Or purchase separately below:
[wp_eStore_fancy1 id=4]
We encourage using Learn Your Numbers, Learn to Serve alongside Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve.
Our Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members have access to this amazing resource plus ALL of our eBooks, eCurriculum, printables, and so much more – for one very low price! Join us here!
Or purchase separately below:
[wp_eStore_fancy1 id=3]
Our Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members have access to this amazing resource plus ALL of our eBooks, eCurriculum, printables, and so much more – for one very low price! Join us here!
Or purchase separately below:
[wp_eStore_fancy1 id=47]
Our Heavenly Homemaker’s Club Members have access to this amazing resource plus ALL of our eBooks, eCurriculum, printables, and so much more – for one very low price! Join us here!
Or purchase separately below:
Get a major discount when you buy all three books together!
[wp_eStore_fancy1 id=48]
We hope these curriculum kits are a blessing to your family!
by Laura 3 Comments
Service challenge time. Gather the family. :)
I’m not a very artsy-craftsy person. In fact, once when I was a teenager, I was trying to make a basket that looked like a bunny rabbit. When I handed it to the recipient she exclaimed, “Oh what a cute kitten!” Whenever I attempt to make Snowman Pancakes, they look like blobs with a chocolate chip face. It was a miraculous feat when I pulled off making a piñata in the shape of a Lego with a shoe box, eight bottle lids, and sheets of tissue paper.
This is why, when I got a fun idea to make gift sacks with owls on them, I was not very confident. My boys didn’t help matters. “Nice turkey, Mom,” said one. When I asked another what he thought it was, he said, “I can definitely tell it’s a bird. If it was black, I’d say penguin. I’ll just stick with bird.” But then, when one of my friends walked into my house while I was putting the finishing touches on my gift sacks, she exclaimed, “Oh look at your owls! You are so clever!”
YESSSSSSSS! My owls look like owls! (and turkeys and penguins)
While I’m a far better cook that I am a craft creator, I do really enjoy putting together simple projects – especially if it means I can bless someone. This project happens to involve food too, so yay for me! I’ll fill the gift sacks with homemade goodies and deliver them to our “adopted college students.” Even if they can’t tell it’s an owl, I’m pretty sure they’ll recognize the Chocolate Chip Brownies inside, right?
So here’s what I’m thinking: Crafty or not, you should join me by blessing someone! We have some fun (and easy!) free printables for you, as well as plenty of recipes to choose from. Pick a project or three, get your whole family involved, and love up on the people around you. The best way for your kids to learn to serve others is by serving right along side you! Let’s all do this together. It’ll be fun!
1. Pray with your family about who you would like to bless.
2. Pick your project. Make a craft and/or choose a recipe from our site to make and take to someone.
3. Work on the project together.
4. Deliver your goodies.
You’ve already got oodles of ideas for ways to serve people with your kids if you have our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve curriculum. Keep at it! Your kids are learning so much about how to bless people! Need more ideas? Well, here’s what we’ve worked up for you:
Download the cut-outs for the Owl Gift Sacks here. Grab some lunch sacks, scissors, and a glue stick and have fun making your sacks. Fill them with goodies and go bless someone!
Download your Build-an-Owl Be Thankful Craft. Make it into a card for someone, an ornament for someone, or a treat topper. Bake up some goodies, attach your owl, and make your delivery.
Here are some fun sticker labels for delicious fall treats to go with recipes you’ll find here at Heavenly Homemakers. Get the download links and details about these stickers here. Below, you’ll find the links to each Fall Recipe.
The possibilities are limitless. Have fun serving with your family!
Want more free printables and fun activities to do with your kids? Sign up for the Heavenly Homemaker’s Learning Zone free newsletter. We’ll supply you with fun freebies and share ways you can learn and serve with your family on the cheap!
by Laura 11 Comments
Hello, and welcome to a post that might be just about as annoying as your local department store. Summer is barely over and I’m already starting to talk about Christmas. Hey, at least I haven’t put up a tree yet. (Although, that would be an efficient thing to do in October, wouldn’t it?) kidding
I think we can all agree that Christmas is not really about presents and hooplah. And yet, I would guess that most of us probably do at least a little bit gift giving around the holidays. Here are some simple ways to gain yourself a little extra cash for the upcoming Christmas season. Don’t worry – you don’t have to start singing Jingle Bells yet. Just start planning ahead a little bit now so that Christmas won’t be a financial burden. Christmas should never be a financial burden. Christmas should be a season of joy. Don’t make me get on my soap box.
I’ve mentioned InboxDollars recently in a giveaway they sponsored. You won’t get rich off of InboxDollars (or any of the ideas shared in this post), but you will be able to earn a little extra cash while in the comfort of your pajamas and slippers. (I recommend opening up a separate, free email account to use specifically for InboxDollars – it makes this much easier!)
It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned Swagbucks around here, but if you aren’t using Swagbucks to earn extra money from home, you really should be! There are many, many ways to earn Swagbucks, but my favorite is to simply use the Swagbucks search feature. Each time I need to search for something online (which is quite often), I use my Swagbucks search engine. Several times a day, I earn some swagbucks – all for doing something I would have done anyway. Once I’ve accumulated enough, I turn my Swagbucks into Amazon Gift Cards. (There are many other options for ways to redeem your Swagbucks – Amazon cards are just my favorite.) One year, I saved all my Amazon Cards throughout the year and we had a practically free Christmas. It was awesome!
Plus, when you refer others to Swagbucks, you can earn extra Swagbucks! So, get yourself signed up, then tell your friends about this feature. You’ll both earn! (See, I’m referring you, so that means I’ll earn Swagbucks based off of my referral to you. Thanks!) :)
I’ve written more about Swagbucks here if you’d like more information.
This may be one of the simplest ways to earn a little extra cash – although, like Swagbucks, it comes in the way of gift cards instead of actual cash. I like gift cards just fine. Gift cards buy gifts – what more could we ask for? Or, you could give the gift card away as a gift. Perfect!
How this works: Sign up to receive Shop It To Me newsletters. These newsletters are painless – I receive them twice a week and either look through them if I feel like the deals they share are relevant, or delete them if they’re not.
I used my personal referral link above. For every ten of you who sign up, I receive a $10 gift card of my choice. (Thank you, by the way!) Once you’ve signed up, you can then refer your friends and family through facebook, email, blog or tweet – and for every ten people you refer, you receive $10 gift cards too! It’s free, it’s easy, there’s no catch, and you can earn gift cards for Starbucks, Whole Foods (my personal fav!), Gap, Macy’s and many others – whichever you choose.
It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned this feature we have here at Heavenly Homemakers. Did you know you can earn money by referring sales in our Shop? We offer 33% affiliate earnings on all of our downloadable products – that means that not only can you earn a few dollars when someone you refer purchases our ebooks, you can earn a whoppin’ $14.85 each time someone you refer purchases our Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve curriculum kit! Your earnings can really add up! Read more details here – we’d love to have you on board as an affiliate.
Have you started thinking about Christmas yet – or is it just me?
(Disclosure: I think it was obvious that many of the links I used in this post are my referral links, but just in case, I thought I’d tell you again. Each of these opportunites are painless and easy and a great way to earn a little extra cash – and sharing them with you will help me earn a little extra cash for Christmas too. Then you can turn around and do the same! But don’t feel obligated to sign up for any of these if you don’t want to. We’ll still be friends either way.) ;)
I’m not sure if you could hear me shouting for joy in celebration all the way from my computer here in Nebraska, and just be ever so grateful that you couldn’t see me dancing with happiness. (I have no idea how to dance – it ain’t purty.)
I’m always excited when I complete a new ebook for our shop, but just as with the Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve curriculum kit I completed last year, these two new books: Learn to Cook and Teaching Your Kids to Cook were a much bigger project and took up a lot more time than a typical ebook. Completing these projects has been a huge endeavor, and I’m so thankful to my family who has lovingly supported and helped me in extra ways over the past few months.
I love writing and have enjoyed everything I’ve written up to this point, but I have to say that writing Learn to Cook and Teaching Your Kids to Cook has been my most enjoyable writing experience ever! I put my heart into these books, writing what I would have loved to receive as a youth, and writing what I feel will help parents most as they teach their kids to cook. My goal has been to inspire, encourage and to give you tools to equip your kids with the skills they need in the kitchen. And of course, if I can help anyone learn to love cooking and serving others with the gift of food, that would just be the icing on the cake!
Teaching Your Kids to Cook is written for parents who desire to spend time helping their children learn their way around the kitchen. Filled with instructions, tips, activities, printables and over 45 simple, kid friendly recipes – you and your kids will have many opportunities to make messes together and get chocolate in your hair. Here’s hoping your kids learn how to put basic meals and treats together and learn to serve others too!
Learn to Cook is written to anyone old enough to use a stove (I’d say ages 8 and up). Not only for kids, this book is also helpful for adults who are new to cooking. This book can be handed directly to “the student” and while you should certainly be available to guide them along as they learn new kitchen skills, your sons and daughters, newlyweds and cooking novices can read Learn to Cook on their own and take off with all of the new skills they are learning! From measuring to menu planning to grocery budgeting – this book covers all the kitchen basics. Not to mention, it includes over 55 simple to prepare recipes!
Our goal is to offer these books (both downloadable and printed varieties) in our shop this weekend!!!! (Uh-oh, I feel a happy dance coming on again.) We’ll share free samples of the books so that you can peek inside get a better idea of what the books include. We’ll also put together a package deal so that if you feel that both books match your families needs, you can buy them at a discount.
While we put on the final touches, let’s celebrate with a giveaway! We’ll give away one copy of each book (the downloadable copy) and will announce the winners on Friday, July 29.
If you’re interested in winning one of these books, leave a comment on this post letting us know which book sounds the best for you and your family.
If you’re interested in joining me in my happy dance, feel free to jump right out of your chair and participate. Just don’t be surprised if my clumsy dancing knocks you over. I apologize in advance.
This giveaway is now closed – click here to purchase these books!
by Laura 35 Comments
As I mentioned a few days ago, we’re working hard at our house on a new curriculum/ebook called Teaching Your Kids to Cook. Just like Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve, this has become a family project. I’m the one writing it, but all the kids get to be a part of putting this all together (and posing for pictures), which makes this task so much more fun!
Malachi (age 6) was eager to help me try a new “recipe” idea – one that requires no cooking – just a little bit of spreading, rolling and sprinkling. In the middle of summer, any recipe that requires “no cooking” is a winner, so we decided we’d give you a sneak peek into this recipe before the book is completed!
Turkey Ranch PinwheelsYum
4 Soft Whole Wheat Tortillas
3 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing (we make our own ranch dressing)
½ cup Turkey, cut into tiny pieces
½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Spread Ranch Dressing on each tortilla.
Sprinkle bits of cheese and turkey over the ranch covered tortilla.
See what a nice job Malachi did!
Roll the filled tortilla up as tightly as you can.
Let a grown up help cut the rolled tortilla into pinwheels:
Malachi was so excited that he “made dinner for our family” and he declared this to be the “awesomest dinner ever!” It’s true – these Turkey Ranch Pinwheels were super easy to put together, didn’t require a stove or an oven and Malachi (age 6) was able to do most of the work all by himself (okay, not really, but sort of). We devoured this entire plate – and we had made a triple batch!
Since we had been taking pictures of the entire process Malachi wondered, “Don’t you need a picture of me eating them, Mom?” Well sure. Just in case you aren’t sure what to do once you finish putting your Pinwheels together, here’s Malachi to show you:
Do your kids enjoy helping you in the kitchen? I know it’s usually easier (and less messy) to do the work yourself…how often do you pull the kids into the kitchen to help?
Update! The book is finished – find Teaching Your Kids to Cook and Learn to Cook books here!
So you think you can start a homeschool? Enjoy this article from Tasha!
By Tasha Hackett
Going back to school looks different this year. In light of everything going on in the world, many are choosing to homeschool. You may be sick of hearing about it! What are schools going to do with the COVID situation? Do we homeschool because we want more protection in the school or because we want everything to go back to normal? Even parents who never wanted to homeschool their kids, ever, are looking into homeschool. If you’re a seasoned homeschooling family, go ahead and forward this article to someone needing encouragement.
So let’s say, hypothetically, that you wanted to homeschool your kids this year. You may be asking, “How do I even start? Where should I begin? What do I do first?”
There are amazing resources everywhere and I know it can be overwhelming. I’ll break down the essentials of homeschooling for you in a few simple steps.
First, make sure you’re going about it legally. You are not allowed to simply buy a few books and tell your friends you’re homeschooling. Your kid will be just fine, but the government frowns upon that and you could get into trouble. (Most likely your local school will call you and find out what’s going on, and then they will tell you to do what you should have done and say, “Tisk Tisk.” But let’s avoid that.)
Go to hslda.org/legal (Home School Legal Defense Association) and find out what specific laws are required in your state. Some states require yearly testing, others just want a signature. For Nebraska, we signed a form, named our school, and filled out another form with our local school–including putting birth certificates on file. You can have fun with this and name it something creative and inspiring like, “Sunshine Unicorn Lollipop and Rainbows Happy Homeschool” or “Hackett Academy” or you can move right along and be amazingly simple: “Coppinger Homeschool.” This is not a game-changer and the government doesn’t care.
Promise me you will not freak out when the form asks you complicated questions and use fancy words like “the scope and sequence” of your curriculum (don’t make this answer complicated) and ask you to “provide instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health.” I’m telling you not to be threatened by this type of chatter.
What they want to know is simple: Are you going to teach your kids and take them outside and go for walks and let them know what’s going on in the world? Yes? Good. Next. Play around on the HSLDA website, there are lots of goodies there that are helpful for beginners. Just don’t get lost in the weeds.
So we’ve covered the legal aspect of homeschooling, now what?
This is where every family has their own opinion and some will fight to the death for Saxon Math and A Beka Language Arts. We love the curriculum book packs from Beautiful Feet Books and Sonlight. But we also use a hodgepodge of other resources. For Preschool/Kindergarten, Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve is a golden standard.
For peace of mind, you can purchase an all-inclusive curriculum pack from a huge variety of Homeschool publishers. This is a great option if you are nervous and want to make sure you have everything covered. But seasoned homeschoolers may tell you this is unnecessary.
Essentially: Pick something and run with it and then be flexible. You’re allowed to change your mind if you hate it. But you might love it.
Just have fun! This is the year they should learn to love learning and love school. This isn’t the time to bog them down with busy-work (unless they really love worksheets, and some children do.) I would not recommend an expensive math curriculum for Kindergarten or 1st grade. Kindergarten math means counting and shapes and patterns, learning the days of the week and months of the year. Kids do not have to learn how to read in Kindergarten unless they are inclined to.
Multiple studies have proven that accelerated learning in the early years (before seven) DOES NOT increase reading ability, grades, or advanced placement in the later years, and can in fact have the opposite result. (Read any of the homeschooling books by Dr. Raymond Moore for more information on this.)
You will have to decide what works best for your own homeschool. No one is an expert in your kids the way you are. My habit is to set aside time each morning for school, Laura does much of hers in the afternoon.
Protect your mornings (or whatever time you have set aside for school). Set aside certain hours for school work and protect that time. Don’t answer the phone, don’t play on social media. Turn off the TV. Don’t schedule dentist appointments or random park dates or lessons during your school hours, within reason. (Remember how we’re still being firm… but flexible?)
Make a plan and be consistent, but relax if things need to change. If mama is stressed, everybody is stressed. Protecting your mornings doesn’t mean you must be a rigid taskmaster.
Our homeschool day will look something like this but yours may be entirely different:
6:00 AM Mom awake and prepare for the day.
7:00 AM Kids wake up. (We have a rule they may not come out of their rooms until 7 AM)
7-8:00 AM Dad off to work. Breakfast for all. Daily chores and general clean up.
8-9:00 AM Morning Time (We start our homeschool day all together, with the baby on my lap and the others sitting on the couch with me. Memory work, poetry, singing, check calendar to what’s happening the rest of the week.)
9-11:00 AM Other book subjects. Language, Math, Reading, (Baby will have a morning quiet time in crib from 9-10, toddler will play. Small snack at 10.)
11 – 1:00 PM Free play for kids. Lunch. More play and chores if needed.
1-3:00 PM Quiet Time. (May play quietly alone. Read, write, draw, etc. This is life for a family with littles home together all day.)
3 – 5:00 PM Snack and then outside play.
5 – 7:00 PM Dinner and Chores.
7-8:00 PM Bedtime routine with Dad
8 – 10:00 PM Mom and Dad hang out.
When I first started, even though I was homeschooled as a kid, I felt lost trying to figure it all out as a parent. But really, you’ll be okay! Fill out the legal forms, choose a few basic books/curriculum, and arrange a generic daily schedule. Boom. Done.
We have many resources available right here on this site. You’d be surprised how much support there is for homeschooling once you start looking! If you’re feeling lost and afraid, remember that there are thousands of others faced with making the same decision you are. Chin up!
Be sure to share this article for all your friends who are struggling with this same decision; a basic step-by-step plan is a great way to calm your nerves.
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Blessings on your new homeschooling adventure!
Tasha Hackett, friend of Laura, is a second generation homeschool mom x4 living in the heart of Nebraska. She spends her free time, (haha, she has no free time), reading and writing Christian Romance novels, and DIYing anything that needs done. She’s a huge promoter of being debt free. Laura is still here! Tasha is only a contributing author a few times a month. You can find Tasha @hackettacademy and on Laura’s IG account @heavenlyhomemaker.