Martin the Reformer {Reformation Day}: True Heroes

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A lone monk with 95 real issues for the church of his day, nailed his complaints to his "community board", or the church door at Wittenburg, Germany, October 31st, 1517.  The challenge?  To get other church leaders and theologians to pay attention and come closer in faith toward God . . . he did just that, and he changed the world in the process!

Romans 1:17 NKJV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 

The celebration of Reformation Day, to our family, is a practice in giving thanks to God for His amazing Providential hand in history.  We choose to give honor to God and recognize His uncanny ability to use whomever He chooses to shape and form the times.

We are focusing specifically on the life of Martin Luther, the reformer, as we prepare to celebrate a day of thanksgiving this Reformation Day.  Here are some resources and activities we will be using:

Our main reading source will be Mystery of History, Volume III
Heritage History's Christian Europe e-books on CD - I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed having these e-books!  We come back to them over and over again.
HERE IS A GOOD LINK TO BASIC REFORMATION READING

Selected Works of Martin Luther HERE

Nice selection of information regarding the actual celebration of Reformation Day.

Notebooking: Reformation Notebooking Page & The Five Solas Copywork from the Notebooking Fairy.

Notebooking: UNIT STUDY & PRINTABLES for the Reformation from Homeschool Share.

Lapbooking: UNIT STUDY & LAPBOOK for Martin Luther and the Reformation from I Choose Joy.

Listen to the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation".

Coloring Page the YOUNG MARTIN LUTHER.

This post is a part of our True Heroes series for October.  We are giving thanks for those who would stand, at the peril of loosing this life, to share what God has, in His infinite wisdom, revealed to them.  Not that they were perfect, for Martin the reformer was not, nor are any of us, he was just courageous and with zeal for the Lord.

ORIGINAL PHOTO CREDIT via Compfight.com cc

Joyfully Learning with You,

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Be sure to keep up with Joyful Socks on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

5 Hour Clean-up & The New Clock {Weekend Reflecting}

Reflecting on the week with joy; come good, bad, or indifferent . . . 

This week was a flash, and the weekend flashed by right along after it.  I did feel quite accomplished Friday afternoon after 5 hours of intensive cleaning and organizing (yea, me and my awesome family that helped).  I tend to get five times the work done with the threat of a last-minute house guest, rather than procrastinating for five weeks! Particularly if said house guest is of the mother-in-law variety. ;)

We enjoyed our extended family this weekend and lots of feasting and some super fun "window" shopping.  My hubby surprised me with an early gift from the Gypsy Junk Revival.

My new Gone with the Wind clock . . . just can't stop loving this movie.

I will have to buckle down on Monday with some grading and lesson planning, but with my new clock . . . no problem staying on task.

What I'm reading this week . . .  

• Of Plymouth Plantation by: William Bradford
• Story Starters by: Karen Andreola
• The Pilgrim Fathers of New England & Their Puritan Successors by: John Brown, D.D.

What's on my e-Reader . . . 
I am really focused on helping my kids on with their writing, so I am doing a quick review of Essay Tune-up by: Jimmie Laney

What the kids are reading this week . . . 
The Squeaker: Johnny Tremain . . . oh, and here's a shocker, a new Warriors Series book
The Scout: Johnny Tremain, The Time Machine (continues to finish), Star Trek book (of un-noteable title)
The Bug: Farmer Boy, The Tale of Despereaux, Caddie Woodlawn

Mom projects that I tackled this week . . . 

• Finished our Trade Day at co-op this week.  My Junior High history students were treated to an afternoon studying under a master tradesman & then bartering with their friends.  Here are some shots:

• New crochet inspiration on Pinterest this week . . .I am still trying to make up my mind where to start.  

• I am working on getting more this week to whip up for Hanukkah for the kids, which becomes slightly more difficult as they become older kids. Here is my Pinterest board inspiration for gifting to the kids.

Okay, I just had to add this picture.  The girls worked some community service for 4-H at a Dog Costume Parade & this was SO MY FAVORITE!  Thank-ya-Thank-ya very much!

I'm Eating?  

Still having difficulties eating consistently healthy & exercising. Any motivation you could throw this way would be great.

Here are the posts I enjoyed this week . . .

• Here are some wonderful nourishing recipes for good soups as you prepare to outsmart colds and flus.
• 101 Festive Fall Tutorials from Everythingetsy.com is a great way to get ready for the changing of the seasons. www.everythingetsy.com/2011/08/101-festive-fall-tutorials/
• Try getting out of doors this week and enjoy this Autumn Squirrel Study http://.blogspot.com/2013/10/outdoor-hour-
  challenge-autumn-squirrel.html?m=1
• Good read for those who may still be on the fence with Halloween. http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/should-christians-observe-halloween/

Childlike Self {Poem}

Mitya Ku via Compfight cc

Childlike Self
Like a little child and her baby doll,
soft and gentle mothering.
Like a little child's hope,
let this ever be my maternal covering.

Like a little child prays,
let my faith today and always be.
Like a little child loves,
my heart, oh LORD, ever towards Thee.

Let my own spirit strive toward this,
Like I expect my own little child to honor, be and love,
Like a little child surrendered and true,
handing them upward to Thy Providence above.

Matthew 19:14

King James Version (KJV)

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Joyfully Learning with You,

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Be sure to keep up with Joyful Socks on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

HERE are other blog posts you might enjoy:

• Which Way, Oh LORD?
• Reasons I Will Not Apologize When My Faith Bugs You!
• 10 Lessons From Little House for the Entire Family

Mercies New For The Weekend {Weekend Reflecting}

Weekend Reflections & Journal:

* This post may contain affiliate links.  Please see our full statement of disclosure here.  Thank you for your support.

Well, I hope you have all been enjoying my silence . . . but now it's over.  I have been absent from my blogging home for far too long.  Writing is part of my "self-care" regiment, and if I'm not blogging then guess what?  Yep, you guessed it, mommy is not taking care of mommy.  

I will be focusing my efforts toward getting back to the swing of blogging again.  I will begin by my weekly weekend reflections posts and see if I can get better at self-care from there.

 Reflecting on the week with joy; come good, bad, or indifferent . . . 

This week's major forefront issue for this lady, has been a conscience choice to not complain.  I'll be honest, it's not going well!  How easy it is to lean on the idea that somehow, because life is difficult, we deserve to complain.  

Counting my blessings daily has long been a common practice of mine, and thanking God for these excessive graces is a morning practice of mine, as well.  The issue for me lies in the quick movements throughout the day . . . springing, of course, from the general speed of my day.  

I must be quick with nothing.  Slow to consider every moment and complaint.  Contemplative and meditative of every thought, action and word.  That my deeds may be judged only as working "unto the LORD". Amen.

I've taken up a little "chalk art", leaving scriptures and messages for the kids.

What I'm reading this week . . .  

• Story Starters by: Karen Andreola
• The Pilgrim Fathers of New England & Their Puritan Successors by: John Brown, D.D.
• The Jefferson Lies by: David Barton

What's on my e-Reader . . . 
The Art of Strewing, by: Aadel Bussinger

What the kids are reading this week . . . 
The Squeaker: Johnny Tremain, The Warriors Series (ugh! but she loves it . . .)
The Scout: Johnny Tremain, The Time Machine 
The Bug: Paint the Wind, Farmer Boy (again & again), No Fear Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet + plus she is going to the ballet to see Romeo & Juliet this weekend with her daddy for her birthday!

Relaxing with Romeo & Juliet

Mom projects that I tackled this week . . . 

• All things homeschool co-op related.  Since taking on additional programming at the academy & teaching 4 sections of history . . . well, that's just about all the projects I can afford!
• Working on writing one letter per week to someone.  Letter writing is a dying art, one that I refuse to let die out in our family.

This was a notebooking entry from one of my 7th grade students at co-op.  I was laughing at the drama . . . "One time I could have died . . . " I love kids!!!

What I'm Eating?  
Eating well during the school and work week.  My particular weakness right now?  The weekends & turtle cheesecake.  PRAY FOR ME!

Here are the posts I enjoyed this week . . .

• Need a lesson on homeschooling with empathy?  Yep, me too!  Here is a great how-to article at Simple Homeschool.
• Come and read some practical tips for being a balanced Work-at-Home Mom over at Keeper of the Home, especially if you are just starting out.
• My teens have been huge on my prayer list lately, especially as we are walking toward "courtship" years.  Here is a great look at a non-traditional courtship over at Raising Homemakers.

Joyfully Learning with You,

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Be sure to keep up with Joyful Socks on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

HERE are other blog posts you might enjoy:

• Reflections of a Charlotte Mason Home Educator
• 10 Ways to Re-establish a Gentle Learning Atmosphere
• Art Education: Dad Does It Different. Not Wrong.