LDS Penpal Program

LDS Penpals Program was started by JL Kaylor ( jaelleerica@yahoo.com) because her oldest son Dylan hated to write!! What better way to get him excited then to find him a penpal. It started small, just her three kids and another family, and it has grown in the past year to almost 150 kids and lots of momma's who enjoy the momma penpal list! There are 4 different countries that are involved at this time, and the program is so much more than just writing a letter, the kids are making friends for life! Their are monthly service projects, fun summer packets, back to school packets and prizes that are given away! Come join us! www.ldspenpals.blogspot.com or contact JL at jaelleerica@yahoo.com also, if you feel led to, please donate to our cause, by using the paypal button on the website. Even a dollar helps us get towards our goal of advertising in LDS Living Magazine, and getting the summer packets sent out!!!! Making friends for life!!

Big amazing update and new look....

My computer has died :( But, I am heading to my inlaws in the next couple of days to work hard on the blogs :)
I will be updating with quite a few posts, articles, how to's, maybe even a guest post or two :) Plus pictures lol.... how I miss putting pictures up!! Silly computer.
The blog will also be getting a new look :)
So excited... check back in a couple of days and bring your friends!!!!
Love, JL

We have leaned towards the Charlotte Mason Method for homeschooling our children, along with some other fun things I've just thrown in! We have really enjoyed our journey so far, educating our children at home. One of the neat things about the Charlotte Mason Method ( see SIMPLY CHARLOTTE MASON for more information) is that she loved nature. All kids should have the chance to learn and love nature. Whether you live on a farm, or in a one bedroom apartment in downtown Manhattan! There are so many neat ways to enjoy nature and learn more about the amazing things that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with on this earth.

Nature journaling is a great way to do this! We have started with just regular, cheap composition notebooks and we are filling them up fast! Don't forget to have watercolors, markers and more so that the kids can really draw what they see! There are so many neat websites available out there for us to take advantage of when it comes to observing and learning about nature. This is not something that just homeschoolers should do! Every family should take time to observe and be thankful for the things that our Heavenly Father has created!!

Here is a neat list of some of the fun websites to visit. I would love to hear more about ways your family observes and loves nature.. leave a comment!
The first website listed really tells more about actual nature journaling. What a neat thing to be able to save for your children! They will love to look back at this and it will look beautiful in your family library!

HOMEMADE LIVING

The National Wildlife Federation has the neatest things for families to do! Backyard Habitat Certification ( we are sooo going for that this year!!!), Nature watches that you can put online so everyone can see, activities to get outside and get green!
Plus it is a great resource for learning about all the things you will be seeing in nature!
Here is the Link:

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION

This is the neatest website! This person has a very small backyard, but it is FULL of wildlife!! They also teach you how to make nature journals! The pictures are amazing!!!
Here is the link:

CONNECTING WITH NATURE

This site has really neat live streaming cameras and more!!!
Here is the link:

AUDOBON

This site has lots of ways to help your kids explore nature and really great deals on planting more trees in your area!!!!!

Here is the link:
ARBOR DAY

This site has a really neat tool kit for parents to use for helping their kids connect with nature!
Here is the link:

CHILDREN AND NATURE

Really neat website about nature journaling for kids :)
Here is the link:

PENNY GARDNER

I hope these websites are useful to you... I have had so much fun going through them and finding great ideas for helping my kids to love nature!!!

We've been honored with...

The # 30 spot in the top 50 Best Blogs for Christian Homeschoolers!!!!!
This is so neat!!! Check it out here!!!
http://onlinechristiancolleges.net/50-best-blogs-for-christian-homeschoolers/

AWESOME!!!!!!

Love, JL

Discover the Scriptures Giveaway!!!

It's Spring and Im happy, so Im hosting a giveaway!!!!!!!
This giveaway is for the awesome Discover the Latter Day Prophets CD-Rom from
www.discoverthescriptures.com
This cd has sooo much, you will be amazed! FHE presentations, copywork, puzzles, fascinating stories, 253 page workbook, 52 illustrations and journaling pages... and more!! It is so neat and a wonderful thing to have for your family library :)

Here are the rules :)
REQUIRED ENTRY:
*Go to www.discoverthescriptures.com and tell me the product you want the most!!! It will be hard to choose just one!!!
*Come on back here and leave me a comment telling me which product you like and what you like about their website!!!
OPTIONAL ENTRIES:
*Become a follower on my blog
*Facebook about this giveaway
*Twitter about this giveaway
*Blog about this giveaway
*Go leave a comment at www.discoverthescriptures.com and tell them what you like!!!
EACH OF THESE EQUALS ONE COMMENT, YOU MUST LEAVE ME A COMMENT TELLING ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!!!

ENJOY!!!! The drawing will be held on the monday after Easter!!!! :)
Have a wonderful day!!!!

LDS Forever Families Lending Library

Go check out www.ldsforeverfamilies.webs.com and tell me what you think!! We are starting a lending library!!! I am going to be working hard to get the books up that we have now... and if you want to donate books, I will help with shipping to get them here!!!
Also, this summer we are hosting a summer reading club for kids... They will have to read at least 30 books, ( they will have a paper to fill out) and then they get a prize!! WOO HOO for reading!!!!
Love, JL
jaelleerica@yahoo.com

Nature Journaling for Kids

With spring here, we are ready to play outside! My favorite part-- observing nature!
This year we are leaning more towards a Charlotte Mason Method, and we have decided to make nature journals for the spring and summer. :)
Here are some ideas to get your family started!!!

www.nwf.org

The National Wildlife Federation has the neatest things for families to do! Backyard Habitat Certification ( we are sooo going for that this year!!!), Nature watches that you can put online so everyone can see, activities to get outside and get green!
Plus it is a great resource for learning about all the things you will be seeing in nature!

www.connecting-with-nature.net

This is the neatest website! This person has a very small backyard, but it is FULL of wildlife!! They also teach you how to make nature journals! The pictures are amazing!!!

http://homemade.truepath.com/nature.htm

This is a beautiful site dedicated to the Charlotte Mason Method, and it has so many neat ideas for making your own nature journals, etc!!! Beautiful!!

www.audubon.org

Really neat live streaming cameras and more!!!

www.arborday.org/explore

Lots of ways to help your kids explore nature and really great deals on planting more trees in your area!!!!!

www.childrenandnature.org/movement/natureclubs

This site has a really neat toolkit for parents to use for helping their kids connect with nature!

www.pennygardner.com/nature.html

Really neat website about nature journaling for kids :)

www.defenders.org

Defenders of Wildlife website.. i just thought this one looked neat :)

Would love to hear some of your ideas!!!! We put up fresh birdfeeders and suet this past week and we are ready to get everything else going and get our journals made!!!! Dont forget to buy crayons, watercolors, pencils and more!! :)