TOS REVIEW: Aletheia Writing Magazine, Creativity for Christian Teens

Aletheia: Greek word for truth; pronounced Ah-LAY-thei-uh (ancient) or
Ah-LEE-thei-uh (modern)

My dd, Lee, is fascinated with writing. Someday she wants to be a writer (and an editor and an artist…) and I thought this magazine would be a great resource for her. I discovered it while looking for more Christian teen writing resources for her. And then, wouldn’t you know (God works in wonderful ways!), I was chosen to review this magazine via the TOS Homeschool Crew. How wonderful is that?

This is geared toward teens ages 13-19, from all over the world. The contributors to the magazine are made up of a large number of homeschoolers, but not all of them are. What they all have in common is they write, draw, or put their creative talents to work for the glory of God.

Creativity that’s Conducive to your Faith-
Aletheia Magazine

We received both a print magazine (Fall 2011) and access to a digital back issue (Summer 2011). You can visit the website of Aletheia Writing Magazine for a viewing of the Spring 2011 edition. So in essence, I got three magazines from Aletheia!

The Fall 2011 edition (the one you can’t see unless you subscribe to the magazine) has the same ‘features’ that the Spring 2011 magazine does but of course it depends on the contributions for each edition. In each you will find:

• Stories
• Poems
• Book Review
• Featured Contributor
• and Features
  • Glory to God for the Beauty of Nature
  • Writer’s Challenge
  • Ancient Ink
  • and Aletheia’s Offering

    

As you can see in the Spring issue, the magazine contains great stories (and drawings) by talented teens. They’ve also put on the pages between contributions little tidbits of information. For instance in the Fall edition, on page 8, they talk about Jules Verne’s book Paris in the 20th Century. There are a few of these placed throughout and all of them were ‘news to me’.

The magazine isn’t large, it has 40 pages. But there aren’t very many ads (at least in the 3 that I was able to read) to take up space. This could change I suppose with coming issues. The pages are sturdy and vibrant. Each page is full of submissions, whether written, drawn or captured with a camera. There are interviews with artists, authors, featured contributors, screenwriters and who knows who else they will find in subsequent issues! The Fall 2011 issue features Joe Goode, narrative illustrator. On the back page we are greeted with the information that the next issue will feature Masters & Slayers author Bryan Davis.

What kinds of stories can be found in Aletheia? From the website:
What kind of stories or poems are you looking for?
Mostly, but not exclusively, ones that can uniquely unveil or glimpse Christian truths in mysterious, beautiful, or wondrous ways, including but not limited to: allegory, fantasy, fable, nature, or inspiration. Show us your creativity!

They are not looking for:
sentimentalism, apologetics, legalism, preachiness, plainness, recreations of biblical stories or events, themes that focus on drugs/alcohol.

Find more about the requirements for submission at the FAQ page.

A subscription to Aletheia magazine is $26 in the US and $29 in Canada (includes shipping/handling). For the price subscribers get a quarterly magazine that is filled with inspirational writings, photographs and drawings from teens.

Bottomline:
I like it. I love to read and so do both of my kids. My dd, as I already mentioned, is adamant that she will be a writer. I believe she is a good one already but I really would love for her to have writings from or for teens by Christian authors. I also really like that she can submit her work to this magazine and not be ostracized or brushed off because she is first, a teen, second a Christian.

As much as I enjoy C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, I am very glad that this magazine does feature more than those types of writings. I understand that is popular in the teen circles but I want my kids to read more than just that. The poetry is a nice change.

I think I should point out to those who do not like ‘magic’ or fairy tales, some of the writings in the magazine have that. Because we all are different, what is acceptable to one family may not be to another. 

And a side note perhaps, Aletheia Writing Magazine is concerned about being good stewards for the Earth by using FSC paper and 100% wind energy. That is something *I* think is important.

My dd enjoyed the magazine. I think she may even submit something soon for publication in an upcoming issue.

You can see more reviews on Aletheia’s website. And don’t forget to check out other TOS Homeschool Crew members reviews.

**Disclaimer: I received one print issue, access to one digital issue plus the sample issue available on Aletheia’s website free in exchange for an honest review thanks to the TOS Homeschool Crew. All opinions are my own (or my family’s). I was not required to write a positive review. See more Policies/Disclosure.

Day # 43 9/22/11 …almost Friday…

Lee:
Bible: Reading (Numbers 35), verse (Romans 6:1-16), Mark Commentary (Ch 7)
Math: Life of Fred Beginning Algebra (Lesson 65)
History/Geography: The Life of Christopher Columbus, Ohio ‘study’ (How to Draw Ohio’s Sights and Symbols- pgs 4 & 5)
Language Arts: Jensen’s Grammar (Lesson 73),
Foreign Language:  First Form Latin (Lesson 19, worksheet 2)
Gov’t/Economics/Civics/Logic: Utopia
Science: Biology (83-84, vocabulary)
Composer Study: -

Fox:
Bible: Reading (Number 24), verse (Isaiah 40:28-29), Saints & Heroes (Langton, finished)
Math: Life of Fred PreAlgebra 2 with Economics (chapter 29)
History/Geography: Ohio ‘study’ (How to Draw Ohio’s Sights and Symbols- pgs 4 & 5)Language Arts: 30 minutes of reading (Across Five Aprils, Diary of a Uboat Commander), The Age of Fable 
Foreign Language: First Form Latin (Lesson 19, worksheet 2)
Gov’t/Economics/Civics/Logic: Plutarch (Solon)
Science: The Story Book of Science
Penmanship: Pictures in Cursive
Composer Study: -

I forgot to schedule some subjects for Fox today…but uh, I think that is because … well, I got nothin’. I just spaced it. And I think something (or a few things) are missing from Lee’s work today as well. I didn’t plan this week ahead, filled in the ‘blanks’ as we went. Next week will be more like it’s ‘supposed’ to be.

Study of the Composers- Thursday Link Up

This is our 3rd week studying the composers. It'll be a short recap this week for us... We are still in the hotel and did not have our 'usual' study. We listened simply to Vivaldi selections. The one we listened to that was suggested from The Young Scholar’s Guide to the Composers was Vivaldi’s Spring, 1st Movement.

We listened to it quite a few times- over and over and over… and repeat that a few times Since we listened to Spring we decided to go through the seasons. It was interesting to think how the music relates to the happenings during the seasons. Vivaldi’s Winter is one of my favorite- because most people like Spring lol but really I enjoy the way it sounds.

We really didn’t do much ‘study’ this week but next week will work better. Actually we will be going over Vivaldi again.

Care to link up or want to see what others have done with composer study? Head to ~a teaching heart~ for more

What We’ve Been Up To :) Days #40-42

So I said we were taking the 40th day off of school but wouldn’t you know, we found something educational to do anyway

Our 40th day (making 8 full weeks of school down –140 days to go!) was on Sunday, the 18th. We had a family field trip to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Unfortunately it is full of evolutionary views. From planets and galaxies coming into existence due to a random explosion, to humans evolving from monkeys. Bleh. We still enjoyed the museum.

Here is a collection of photos I took while there. With my phone- so they aren’t the best to see them all click ‘view slide show’.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The kids and I made leaf rubbings in the Discovery Center that we ‘discovered’ 5 minutes before it closed. The special feature for this time of year (through December 31) is about Climate Change. Global warming, rising sea levels, potential disappearance of land and animals, and all that goes along with that. Use and misuse of resources by humans and the damage it is and will continue to cause. I thought it was well done but it definitely was done from a secular view.

Monday was back to real school (you know, the one with books and writing and reading and stuff ). Went well and Lee finished before 2pm. That’s good for her! She’s usually the one that drags it out for a while. Fox also did well. He did a written narration that I was very proud of. He said “Don’t expect that all the time” to which I said “I do expect that every time!” (139 days to go!)

Tuesday we drove by our house –again- to check the mail and finally! I received something! With a piece of mail with my address on it I was able to get a library card. There are at least 28 branches in Cuyahoga County that we can visit (or check out online). And if that isn’t enough (lol, it’s not) then we can get books from the Cleveland Public Library branches (and there are at least 20 of those!). I just discovered that they have BOOKS FOR THE KINDLE!!! Oh, I’m happy happy happy! The librarian also mentioned that there are a few college/university libraries that we are able to get resources from as well. Could it get any better? Better not push my luck (138 days to go!)

We also had dinner with the pastor (and three of his 5? kids) of the church we attended on Sunday at Cracker Barrel. I’d never been in one and it was an interesting experience Unfortunately the pastor’s two youngest weren’t feeling well so his wife and they stayed home. It was very nice to visit with them.

Today, Wednesday, the 21st is a No School day because… Lee is 15! It’s a weird bday for her because there isn’t any cake or ice cream (what she says she’s missing the most). She will get to go to a special dinner with her dad (just the two of them) soon and that will be very nice for her

I will wrap this up because I have clothes in the dryer down in the guest laundry here at the hotel. Finish up with the school work done for the last two days of school:

Lee:
Bible: Reading (Numbers 34, Acts 3), verse (Romans 6:1-16), Mere Christianity (Bk 3, Ch 8)
Math: Life of Fred Beginning Algebra (Lesson 63 & 64)
History/Geography: The Life of Christopher Columbus, Western Civilization (pages 313-315)
Language Arts: Jensen’s Grammar (Lesson 71 & 72), History of English Literature (Chapter 38)
Foreign Language:  First Form Latin (Lesson 19, intro to lesson and worksheet 1)
Gov’t/Economics/Civics/Logic: Utopia, Plutarch
Science: Biology (test)
Composer Study: We listened to Vivaldi but didn’t get to the lesson yet because we still do not have our stuff

Fox:
Bible: Reading (Number 23, Luke 1), verse (Isaiah 40:28-29), Saints & Heroes (Langton)
Math: Life of Fred PreAlgebra 2 with Economics (Bridge –third try and chapter 28)
History/Geography: Story of the Greeks (chapters 1-4), On the Shores of the Great Sea (chapters 1 & 2)
Language Arts: 30 minutes of reading (Across Five Aprils), Robert Frost (read and talked about 3 different poems), Hobbit (1/2 chapter 9)
Foreign Language: First Form Latin (Lesson 19, intro to lesson and worksheet 1)
Gov’t/Economics/Civics/Logic: Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? (1/2 chapter 8), The Fallacy Detective (Introduction)
Science: The Sciences (Astronomy), Murche’s Science Reader VI (Lesson 17, vocabulary)
Penmanship: Pictures in Cursive
Composer Study: Listened to Vivaldi…see above.

TOS REVIEW: Tri-Cross from Games For Competitors

My first review for the 2011/2012 school year from the TOS Homeschool Crew and it is a game

Here is a little bit about the company and game before I get into my review. The game was a concept of Glenn Burns in the 1980s and it sold well when first introduced. The game however didn’t go to the stores after 1987 due to life getting in the way of Glenn’s idea. His three boys, Brian, Greg and Jeff, who were young when he first designed the game, always suggested that he bring the game back. In 2008, Jeff did just that. The company is a family company. The new version, which I have been given to review, has an updated rulebook from the original.

It is called a strategy game somewhat like checkers, chess or dominoes. We like all three of those games in our house. This one is set for ages 7 years and up. It can be played by 2, 3, or 4 individuals or up to 4 teams.

I was sent the home game (the photo below) and an eco-friendly travel edition* (the image above).

You can purchase these online or in some retail stores. See the list of states/locations at the website (see the right side of the page). The home edition is $24.95 and the eco-friendly travel edition is available for $19.95 or they also offer a wood board edition for $34.95

The instructions are fairly straight forward but you can watch tutorials on the website.

Tri-Cross can help develop skills in the following areas (from the website):

• Logical Thinking
• Cause and Effect
• Predicting
• Interpreting Outcomes
• Abstract Thinking
• Memory (In Variations of Play)
• Visualization

It takes some getting used to the strategies of this game! My dd wanted to play as soon as we got it (not even exaggerating) and she beat us the first few times. I thought for sure that I wasn’t going to get it down…but “luck” was on my side at least once And I do mean “luck” because I wasn’t paying as close attention as I should have been and still won!

I will give you a basic idea how to play the game, the goal is to place your pieces in a way that when you are “challenged” you will kick the opponent off the board. (Visit the Tri-Cross website for video tutorials) In the end, you have to either be the only one with pieces on the board OR you have to have one of your pieces in the center of the board for four consecutive turns. Not as simple as it sounds, let me tell you!

The capability of having only two players or up to four players adds challenge to this game. And dd pointed out that the games duration is really unpredictable. Our first game was quite quick because she had read the rules completely through and ds and I had not. She had an advantage over us Each game afterward has ranged from quick to a bit drawn out (not that that is a bad thing). It’s a bit like solitaire- you don’t know how long the game will last when you first start it.      

We took the travel game with us on our recent move across 5 states and it came in quite handy. The case is small enough to fit in to a purse (if you wanted to) and because it is a cloth ‘board’ it is flexible. We played it on the bed but I would suggest a more flat surface.

  

Bottomline:
This is a winner in our house! Definitely worth getting. This would be a great gift for young and old. It isn’t too complicated but you do have to pay attention if you really want to play. Your opponent will win real quick if you don’t!

I would recommend this to any person or family that enjoys board games and especially strategy games.

*The eco-friendly travel edition “eco-specs” can be found here.

Find Games for Competitors (Tri-Cross) on Facebook and Twitter.

See what others thought of this game. Check out the reviews by the TOS Homeschool Crew.

**Disclaimer: I was sent the game above from Games for Competitors (Tri-Cross) in exchange of an honest review as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own.

What I Learned at Church Sunday, September 18, 2011

Perhaps I should title this, “What I Realized…” because these were not things I had ‘learned’ all of a sudden on Sunday.

We visited a new church Sunday morning. Sunday School started at 9:45 am and then the main service followed at 11 am. In Sunday school (for the adults) they were reading from (and studying) 1 Peter 2:5. Apparently, they went through previous verses on previous Sundays. I will not say that I was enlightened during this portion (not because of any particular reason) but did come to realize again that I do not believe in the Trinity. Interesting that a verse that makes no mention of the Trinity led the ‘teacher’ to bring it up more than once.

There. I’ve said it. I am a Christian that does not believe in the Trinity. I believe that the concept of a triune god is polytheistic and rooted in pagan practices that do not belong in Christianity. The Trinity is a concept presented by the Church to explain what it doesn’t understand- in a way that isn’t understandable, it is merely ‘accepted’.

The rest of the Sunday School was just fine –many good points and comments were contributed during the session.

During the main service the pastor talked about the importance of bringing up our children in a biblical way. Not the way the world believes we should but how God says we should. What I ‘learned’ from this portion is that I need to be more conscientious of what my children watch and hear. What they see us doing, they will do as well. The pastor made an excellent point of what we as parents do in moderation, our children will take farther. If we believe that something is okay in ‘moderation’ our kids will take it farther and do more than what we think is appropriate. The example he gave was rated G movies. If we watch only G movies, our children (he postulates) will watch PG13 movies. If we watch PG13, they will watch R.

Although I do not agree that we should not watch movies at all, I completely agree that what we do, the kids will take farther. It is a test of limits and boundaries.

I also ‘realized’ (again) how important routine, schedules, discipline and consistency are to our children. With our move, the tv at the hotels have been a luxury that seem to have turned into a ‘need’. By that I mean that with limited activities and resources at our disposal, my kids are ‘bored’ so easily and tv is a readily available fix for boredom.

Personally, I think tv in general is worse than watching movies. The shows on the local channels (not even thinking of HBO, Showtime, etc.) are steeped in filth! The filth is presented in a fun, entertaining way. We laugh at the crude jokes. We fill our eyes with sights we shouldn’t be seeing (the commercials are what I am referring to, with scantily clad individuals interacting in ways that are private) and hearing what we’ve no business hearing. Even the ‘kids shows’ are laced with this. It seems harmless because it is on the ‘kids’ channel. But it really isn’t.

Saying “No” to our children will not hurt them. Saying “Yes” when we need to say “No” will hurt them.

Those are the two things I realized (again) while at church on Sunday

*Note: If you disagree with my reasoning that is just fine and I welcome your comments. Please know, however, that if you post a comment that is rude, it will not be approved.

Monday…Monday

Well, it’s Monday…again! It always comes around, ready or not. Generally, I am not a Monday’s-got-me-down type of person. Monday often feels a bit like Tuesday –rarely like a Friday though -so it’s not really a big deal.

Today is our first day back to school after moving from Wyoming to Ohio. It’s early (before 7 am- GASP) for me and the kids are still snoozing in the hotel bed behind me. I’ll wake them up in about 30 minutes Ahh, the joys of being on Eastern Standard Time (or is it Eastern Daylight Time now?? both? does it matter??).

It seems that my plan for six weeks on, one week off has been thwarted time and time again by unplanned trips, planned trips and finally by moving. It has turned out to be four weeks on, one week off. And it’s been quite nice! I may (not quite sure yet) change our calendar to reflect that for the rest of the school year. Or I may leave that for next year.

Yesterday we visited the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and it was…. COOL! Cost quite a bit ($42- including parking- and that was with $1 off coupon ) and we could only stay for 2.5 hours. That isn’t including the 40 or so minute drive to get there (and as long to get back). There were a lot of neat exhibits and fun things to do. The kids and I made leaf rubbings at the Discovery Center (which we ‘discovered’ five minutes before it closed –bummer). I do have a few photos but they are not uploaded yet.

It was interesting to hear the kids’ comments about the Big Bang theory, evolution and other topics that were presented at the museum. GASP! I’m so lame, just realized- that was a field trip! Oh, yeah, that is definitely going down as a school day! Being Sunday we also visited a local church- more ‘school’

So, today, Monday the 19th, will be back to school. Yay! Am I the only one that is glad about that? LOL possibly. But I like having the routine. I feel lazy and ‘out of it’ when we don’t have school. It is my job after all and the kids need routine (even if they don’t know it).

By the end of the day I hope to update our what we accomplished school days #39-41 Yes, that includes yesterday  

Good Monday Morning to you all! May God bless your day

Book Review: Dead Funny, Humor in Hitler’s Germany

Dead Funny: Humor in Hitler’s Germany by Rudolph Herzog
ISBN: 978-1935554301
Publisher: Melville House
Retail: $26.00

In Nazi Germany, telling jokes about Hitler could get you killed.

Is it permissible to laugh at Hitler? This is a question that is often debated in Germany today, where, in light of the dimension of the horrors committed in the name of its citizens, many people have difficulty taking a satiric look at the Third Reich. And whenever some do, accusations arise that they are downplaying or trivializing the Holocaust. But there is a long history of jokes about the Nazis.

In this groundbreaking volume, Rudolph Herzog shows that the image of the “ridiculous Führer” was by no means a post-war invention: In the early years of Nazi rule many Germans poked fun at Hitler and other high officials. It’s a fascinating and frightening history: from the suppression of the anti-Nazi cabaret scene of the 1930s, to jokes about Hitler and the Nazis told during WWII, to the collections of “whispered jokes” that were published in the immediate aftermath of the war, to the horrific accounts of Germans who were imprisoned and executed for telling jokes about Hitler and other Nazis.

Significantly, the jokes collected here also show that not all Germans were hypnotized by Nazi propaganda—or unaware of Hitler’s concentration camps, which were also the subject of jokes during the war. In collecting these quips, Herzog pushes back against the argument, advanced in aftermath of World War II, that people were unaware of Hitler’s demonic maneuvering. The truth, Herzog writes, is more troubling: Germans knew much about the actions of their government, joked about it occasionally . . . and failed to act.

When reading the Sunday paper in the United States (and other countries where it is permissible) we can often see political comics- poking jabs about those in power. It wasn’t quite the same in Hitler’s Germany but there were jokes, political and meant to ‘jab’, aplenty. It helped people to deal with the state of affairs. There were plenty of individuals who were bothered by the direction that Hitler and others in power were taking the country in. But as Herzog points out, the jokes and comics were only a way to ease the tension for the people, not the country. Herzog shows that many knew what was going on and were bothered by it, but not to the point of action.

The book is a good read that will make one think. It is sometimes difficult to understand the jokes passed during these times if one is not familiar with the German/Jewish cultures before and during the WWII era. For those who are interested in history, this book is a good glimpse into the mindset of those during this time.

I did think that this book was going to share more of the specific comics/jokes that were written/voiced during Hitler’s Germany and it does, dispersed throughout, share some specific ones. However, it is more of a history of the time and the people’s attitudes, with some examples of ‘humor’ that circulated. Interestingly, the jokes did not often center around the Nazi brutality but instead was more popularly politically themed. Goring was made fun of for the excessive number of medals on his suit- and his enjoyment of food.

Herzog does recount some of the deaths that were the result of the public jokes against Hitler and those in power but I gathered that the deaths (many from being in concentration camps) were ordered later in Hitler’s reign. After the Reich was losing the war and was becoming much less popular.

Some examples of the ‘jokes’:

A 'law’ that was rumored to be passed by the Nazis is as follows:
1. Anyone who does something or fails to do something will be punished.
2. Punishment will be handed down according to popular opinion.
3. Popular opinion is defined by the Nazi district leader [Gauleiter].

Another example:
A high-ranking Nazi official visiting Switzerland asks what a certain public building is for. “That’s our Navy Ministry,” his Swiss host explains. The Nazi laughs and says: “Why does Switzerland need a ministry of the navy? You’ve only got two or three ships.” The Swiss answers, “Why not? Germany has a ministry of justice.”

But as Herzog goes on to say after telling of over 250 well-known authors who were stripped of their citizenship, prominent culture figures and the friends of these individuals generally ‘adapted to the times’.

“Jokes…like this didn’t aim any serious criticism at the paramilitary nature of Nazi organizations. At most, such witticisms targeted the disruptions to normal life party duties entailed…” (in reference to jokes about party name acronyms)

If you are interested in history, WWII history, perhaps sociology, and/or a look into the mindset of some people during the WWII era, this book may be worth a read. It does contain profanity and some explicit language.

I received this book from Melville House Publishers via NetGalley.

Weekly Wrap-Up…One Day @ A Time

It's been 9 days since my last post. Have you missed me?? Well... I've missed you! I’m pretty sure I wrote on last Thursday about what was coming up. Missed the Weekly Wrap-Up last Friday but felt withdrawals kicking in so had to boot up the laptop today

We didn’t have school last week and took off the Friday before. We will be at it again on Monday. Friday had all of our stuff (except furniture and items the movers couldn’t/wouldn’t take) in boxes, stacked around the house. Saturday was laid back but Sunday had people coming and going for the tv and washer/dryer moving. Monday the movers were there early and all our stuff was in the trucks by 2ish. It went very fast. I cleaned the house (uh, somewhat not as well as I’d planned..but we packed the cleaning stuff!…oopsie) by 4 and dropped off they keys.

We were officially homeless Well, it was still our house but we couldn’t get in! We stayed at my friends house- was fun! Watched movies and had ice cream.

The kids and I headed out on Wednesday morning. The cat was in the car (not in the kennel most of the time) and did really well. We made it to OH on Thursday. It was later than I had thought it would be when we made it to the hotel. Earlier in the day we saw a nuclear power plant…

Friday we were able to drive around and see the ‘sights’. I hadn’t realized there were so many bad neighborhoods Hazards of living in a small town for so long! I would like to say that I’m just paranoid…but no, I don’t think so.

We also got to go inside our new house and I’m in love! I absolutely LOVE it! There is a bird’s nest in one of the upper windows. I didn’t get a photo of the lamb’s ear around the tree but it’s so pretty.

The kids and I scoped out the libraries and parks in the area. I also got a CVS/pharmacy card. Wow! I haven’t been in one of those places in so long! I’d forgotten how neat it is to have options.

The traffic is still downright scary and fairly all travel takes me on the freeway (or is it a highway?) where the drivers are vicious! Well, lol, not really, just aggressive. I’m not so much… I will have to work on that

Tonight, Saturday, Lee and I went to Giant Eagle to pick up food that I hoped would be cheaper than fast food and/or more nutritious. I’m not sure how well I did. Spent $12.02 on chicken, potato wedges and soda (well, that’s not nutritious…wait! it has vitamin E in it… yeah, weird) compared to $20+ for burgers and fries. Eh, well, I tried. I did get one of their nifty savers cards (good toward cents off gas!).

While were at Giant Eagle we saw some strange fruit. Strange to us, that is. Look at the cute little pineapple! Lee said the last fruit looks like something from a Dr. Seuss book

exotic fruit 09.17.11 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We are staying in a hotel until Friday…and it’s been…uh, an experience. We keep our door locked and all of our stuff with us at all times. Times like this when I really miss ‘home’.

So, really it has been a good week- filled with ‘adventure’ and new sights and sounds. I cannot wait to be out of this hotel though! I am thankful that we have a place to stay.

Have a look-see at others’ week at the Weekly Wrap-Up hosted by Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers