I just thought I'd post a quick note here just in case there are still some readers who have not switched over.  I was hoping to switch things over on my end so that no one had to update their feeds or anything.  But just to make sure...

I have moved my blog over to my website here:  http://www.school4jesus.com/sheris-blog

My newly updated website is here:  http://www.school4jesus.com

My brand new Book Shop is here:  http://www.school4jesus.com/store/

I am excited about these changes.  If you are receiving this message, then please update your feed to my new blog address.  Thanks!!!

I found this recipe in a cookbook I have and adapted it a little.  It is different than my other granola bar recipe, but we liked it.  Enjoy!

CHEWY GRANOLA BARS

4 ½ cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
½ cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, brown sugar, butter, honey, and vanilla.  Stir in the chocolate chips and raisins.

Lightly press into prepared pan.  Bake at 325 for 18-22 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  Let cool for 10 minutes, then cut into bars.

I have had the privilege of reviewing a copy of Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young.  I am just over halfway through it and it is amazing!  Having three boys of my own, I am learning so many things that are going to help me in parenting my boys.  I have had lots of "uh ha" moments as I have read through the book.  It is just excellent and has been endorsed by big names such as Chris Klicka, Ted Tripp, and more!  I highly recommend this book!

If you order through their website, you will also receive some wonderful bonuses!  Click here to order your copy today!

Prayer Request:  For those that may not be aware, Hal Young was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma.  He is currently taking chemotherapy treatments.  Also, the youngest child of the Young's, Katie-11 months old, was born with a rare heart condition.  About 25% of children have this condition heal before they turn 1 year old.  This morning Katie went in for a very dangerous test to see if she has been healed.  Pray for this family who have given so much to us through their book....pray the Lord would sustain them during this trying time of Hal's cancer and Katie's heart condition.

I just wanted to send a quick reminder this morning about a wonderful opportunity you have to not only get a HUGE assortment of homeschool resources for a small price, but also help out a homeschool family in their time of need.  (This sale ends midnight on Friday, January 29th!)

Some of you may be familiar with the wonderful homeschooling company, Hands and Hearts. The owners, Jeff and Kate Estes, create fabulous hands-on history kits you can use to supplement your history studies.
Not one of us is immune to life’s trials, but the Estes family has experienced more than their share. I cannot tell you how much I admire their deeply rooted faith. If you’ve had a chance to follow Kate’s blog, you know that in the midst of their darkest hours, their faith and peace has been a tremendous inspiration.
These past several years have produced a string of exceptional trials for this family:

• Last spring, their Hands and Hearts business was stopped temporarily by unreasonable CPSIA regulations,creating tremendous hardship as the company’s profitability took a nosedive.
• Their little 3-year-old Noah suffers with mitochondrial disease. Ultimately, this rare disease will claim his life. He is hospitalized frequently—and often suddenly—leaving Kate to drop everything to rush him to the hospital.
• Jeff has been out of work for many months. He has been unable to land another job that gives him the flexibility to care for their other seven children while Kate is at the hospital with Noah many miles away. Their savings has been exhausted and they are close to losing their home.

When their fellow Christian publishers heard what was going on, we all jumped in to try to help. Check out this incredible way you can bless the Estes family and get nearly 10X your donation back in gifts from homeschool publishers you know and trust, including:

• WriteShop
• Teach Magazine
• Bright Ideas Press
• A Journey Through Learning
• Raising Real Men
• and many more!

Can you help this dear family? If so, by making a small donation of only $39, you’ll receive over $350 worth of fantastic products.

Not only that, if you donate $39 or more, your name also goes into a drawing for several Super Prize Packages. There are two Grand Prizes valued at over $849 each, and three First Prizes, valued at over $100 each.


If you would like to receive a fantastic assortment of homeschool goodies while helping Jeff and Kate, please click here. Even if you’re not a homeschooler and you would just like to make a donation without taking the products, you’re welcome to do that as well. The sale continues through January 29, 2010.

Today my oldest son turns 11!  I can't believe how the years fly by.  I love each of my children dearly and cherish each and every day I get to spend with them.  As this new year begins, I find myself reflecting on some specific topics....surrender....and allowing the Lord to change me before I expect it in my children.  I know I shared this in a previous post, but I recently ran across a couple of blog posts that I wanted to share with you today...

This one speaks of surrender...excellent and very thought provoking.

This one is a poem written by a homeschool mom which really spoke to my heart.

Please take the time to read these...they are both excellent and I pray will challenge you as this new year begins.  To lay down our lives...our flesh...and allow Him to change us and to do those things in and through us that we could never do on our own.  May He receive all the glory!

I have one more quick post this morning that I wanted to share...a recipe that would make a wonderful breakfast during the Christmas break.  I made this yesterday morning and we all LOVED it!  It kind of has an apple fritter taste to it.   It is so easy to make too.  Everyone have a wonderful Christmas....and enjoy the recipe!

Apple Oven Pancake

½ cup butter
5-6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
brown sugar

2 cups milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
4 eggs

Turn oven to 400 degrees.  Put ½ cup butter in a 9x13-inch baking dish and place in heating oven until butter melts.

While butter melts, peel and slice 5-6 apples.

Once butter is melted, remove dish from oven and spread apple slices on bottom of dish.  Sprinkle with some brown sugar.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the milk, flour, sugar and eggs with a whisk.  Pour mixture over apples in dish.

The oven should be preheated now.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until pancake mixture is set.


Serve "as is"...no syrup needed!

Every December we sit down as a family and choose ministries to give to....a way of giving back to the Lord out of the blessings He has given us...being obedient to His command to give to the "least of these".

Well, this year I decided to give ALL proceeds from the sale of Ann Voskamp's book, The Glorious Coming to Samaritan's Purse.  Last night we sat down as a family and chose a long list of projects and I thought I would share with you how YOU have given to the "least of these" through your purchase of this book.

Here are your gifts to the "least of these":

Provide 3 weeks of hot meals for children


Help a child learn to read and write


Introduce Girls and Boys to God's Word through Bible camps and Sunday schools


Provide 30 seedlings for fruit trees for a family


Help stock a fish pond


Help provide livestock for farmers


Provide dairy animals so a family can have fresh milk to drink


Provide honey bees - enough to start a small family business


Help a farm family grow bountiful crops by providing seeds, fertilizer, tools, training, etc.


Provide a week's worth of milk for 10 children


Feed two babies or nursing mothers for a week


Provide four dozen baby chicks to give them eggs to eat and sell


Provide four sports balls (like soccer balls) for children


Provide food for two families for a month


Provide life-saving medical equipment for medical missionaries


Provide vocational training


Provide food parcels to remote villages in Alaska


Provide two water filters so that two families can have clean water to drink


Provide tools for evangelism - audio Bible players, Gospel films, etc.


Provide Bibles and Christian Literature


Provide 200 children with Gospel storybooks


Provide Bible lessons for ten children


Provide New Testament Bibles for ten children


Provide "Jesus Loves Me" lambs for ten children


Provide Christmas treats for children - candy and small toys


Provide postage for 60 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes

Help rescue a child from bondage and abuse

Provide clothing and shoes for children

May each of you have a blessed Christmas!

I have been able to download some wonderful (free) craft ebooks this year, thanks to some of the blogs and newsletters lists I am on that have posted the links!  I thought I'd share these with you too so you can enjoy making some more memories with your kids!  I am always looking for ideas for little crafts that my kids can make family for Christmas.  I will be pulling these ebooks out next year when we are looking for ideas.  Enjoy....

• Angel Crafts eBook - http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts/Angel-Crafts-eBook#

• Homemade Christmas Gift Guide - http://www.favecrafts.com/Quick-and-Easy-Gifts/Homemade-Christmas-Gift-Guide-eBook

• Quick & Easy Christmas Crafts - http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts/A-Quick-and-Easy-Christmas-Crafts-eBook

• Quick & Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids - http://www.favecrafts.com/Kids-Holiday-Crafts/Santas-Guide-to-Easy-Christmas-Crafts-for-Kids-eBook

Here are some other free ebooks you might enjoy...

• Sewing Crafts for Bloggers - http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing/25-Sewing-Crafts-from-Bloggers-eBook

• Quick & Easy Knitting Patterns - http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/24-Quick-and-Easy-Knitting-Patterns-eBook

• Knitting & Crochet Patterns from Red Heart - http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/Red-Heart-Yarn-eBook

• Sewing for Beginners - http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing/Sewing-for-Beginners-eBook

• 25 Easy to Make Homemade Jewelry Ebook - http://www.favecrafts.com/Jewelry-Making/25-Easy-to-Make-Homemade-Jewelry-eBook

REMINDERS...

My kids are so excited....snow is forecast for this week...yeah!  We were hoping for a white Christmas and it looks like we may get one here. 

I just wanted to remind you that at the end of this year, I will be taking down The Glorious Coming (softcover) book from my website.  The author, Ann Voskamp, has asked that I pull the book so that she can consider a total re-write of the devotionals.  If you would like to have a copy of this softcover book, you will need to purchase a copy before the end of the year.  [Note:  100% of all proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to Samaritan's Purse to help the "least of these".]

At the end of the year, I will also be taking down The 12-Week Holiday Planner for the Christian Family ebook for a total makeover!  I am excited about this and look forward to making this planner even better and more usable for you.  I have had several great ideas emailed to me in the past year and just did not have the time this year to work on a revision.  But...this is the year for a total revision...Watch for a brand new edition of this planner next summer!  If you want a copy of this ebook now, you will need to purchase it before the end of the year.

I will be taking a blogging break now until after the holidays.  May each of you have a wonderful Christmas!

Love, Sheri

A couple years ago I put together a fun little ebook on my Christmas memories.  I have offered it in the past, and wanted to offer it again.  It is just a compilation of some of my favorite Christmas memories, traditions, and yummy recipes. I hope you enjoy it!

Click here to download My Christmas Memories ebook!

A few years ago someone recommended this book to me and I thought I'd share it with you.  This week I downloaded a wonderful audio workshop by Hal and Melanie Young and it made me really stop and reflect on traditions.  (You can download this audio here for free for a limited time---so go download it now if you would like to listen to it.  It is excellent!)

Anyway, after listening to this workshop, I was reminded of this book by Noel Piper.  (I think I will be digging into this one right after I finish reviewing Hal and Melanie Young's book, Raising Real Men!)  Click here to go to the Desiring God website where you can purchase a softcover version of this book or download PDF files of the book for free.