Life Is Precious {Sponsored Review & Giveaway}

Earlier this year I was sent a review copy of the brand new Life Is Precious Culture of Life Unit Study for Elementary Students from American Life League!

"Life Is Precious is a resource for parents and their children and illustrates the basic facts of human development in the womb using scientifically accurate yet kid-friendly coloring pages and traditionally published picture books. In consultation with a former biologist, as well as veteran homeschool parents, we created this 4-week unit study to provide students with accurate information to enhance learning. Designed to complement any existing homeschool curriculum in grades K-2, Life Is Precious instructs children about the truth of human development while still respecting their innocence. It is perfect for the homeschool or co-op setting where parents are involved, and is a fun, easy way to learn about human development and the value of life. A version appropriate for classroom use in production and will be available in early Fall."

I am so excited about this program and have included it in my elementary students curriculum for our new school year.

The Life Is Precious unit study is broken into four lessons featuring the following picture books which all explore age-appropriate culture of life themes while teaching the value of human life:

• Angel in the Waters or purchase the 10th Anniversary Hardcover! (studies human development from creation until birth)
• On the Night You Were Born (studies the beauty and wonder of each and every single person God has created) 
• Horton Hears a Who (studies the need to defend and protect all persons, no matter how small)
• One (studies the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it's not easy to do)

Each lesson is broken into four days (or classes). Realistically, I will most likely spend a month completing each lesson (one day per week) with my younger children since our schedule is so full at the moment. We will continue studying Angel in the Waters this month as we prepare for "Respect Life" month in October!

In the back of the comprehensive teacher guide you will find a companion CD-ROM which contains all of the printable appendices and coloring pages! The package also includes a 12-week fetal model and the Baby Steps DVD with live 4D ultrasound imagery of preborn babies in the womb.

.: Angel in the Waters :.

Day 1: Who am I?

 

Reading Angel in the Waters

Even my older children enjoy reading this sweet picture book! 

After going through the provided discussion questions, my little ones really loved examining the sweet little fetal model... 

... and then comparing the size of a baby at different stages to various foods, making a few substitutions based on what we happened to have in the kitchen. 

The teacher guide goes through 13 different stages of fetal development with fun facts to share. 

Here are a few examples: 

Creation: Life begins. The baby is a unique and distinct human being. 

Baby is as big as a poppy seed. 

Day 43: The earliest that scientists have recorded a baby's brainwaves. 

Baby is as big as an apple seed.

Week 10: The baby sucks his thumb, swallows, squints, and frowns. 

Baby is as big as a grape. 

(Yes! Life IS precious! And so is this unit study! I am having so much fun using it with my children!)

#mylittlelifedefenders

Week 12: The baby can now move his thumbs, make a fist, and practice breathing. 

Baby is about as big as a lime. 

8 Months: The baby begins to feel cramped. Only one more month to go. 

Baby is about as big as a pineapple. 

Of course, all of this baby talk lead to the question "when are WE going to have another baby?!" 

That is up to God, little ones. ❤

"Just as you do not know how the life breath enters the human from in the mother's womb, 

So you do not know the work of God who is working in everything." - Ecclesiastes 11:5

{this moment}

Yesterday morning, after daily Mass, I had the privilege of getting to meet and hold a little miracle.

Patrick Gabriel Snodgrass, who many of you have been praying for since last Easter when his dear mama found out that he has trisomy 13, was born alive on August 8th at 5:51 AM weighing 7lb. 5oz and 18.5 inches long. He was baptized immediately after birth. You can see pictures of him with his family on his birthday over at Facebook.

Due to his health issues, he is not expected to be staying with his family on this side of heaven for very long. They don't even know if he will make it through the weekend.

Please pray for a miracle, but also for peace and acceptance of God's holy will for this amazing family who has already been through so much with the loss of their daughter Julianna last summer. 

May God reward you for your prayers!

A Day Trip to the California Coast

On the last day of National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week (Monday, May 4, 2015) my husband was able to take the day off work and we went on a family road trip to the coast!

On the drive over we were able to take pictures for Task 448: Standing at the back of a train caboose (2 points)... 

… at the visitor center for the Oregon Caves… 

(We considered driving out to the actual caves - the Oregon Caves are one of the 113 National Monuments but, after a vote, we decided to continue on to the coast.) 

… Task 461: At a "Welcome to" your state sign."(6 points)...

… Task 309: Standing with an entrance to a tunnel visible behind you (3 points)…

… and even Task 193: At a Zoo or Aquarium (4 points)…

… before finally arriving at the California coast, for Task 227: In front or inside of any of the 113 United States National Monuments (8 points).  

Did you know that the whole California Coast line is a National Monument of the United States? According to Wikipedia, "This monument ensures the protection of all islets, reefs and rock outcroppings from the coast of California to a distance of 12 nautical miles, along the entire 840-mile long California coastline."

We headed south through the Redwoods National and State Parks, and past the wild elk at Elk Meadow, to the lovely city of Trinidad and the Trinidad Head Light for Task 180: Standing in front of a real lighthouse (5 points).

"Trinidad Head, a large domed prominence rising to a height of 380 feet, is connected to the mainland only on its northern end, thus forming the beautiful and natural Trinidad Bay on its eastern side. On the bluffs overlooking the bay, Trinidad, the oldest town on the northern California coast, was founded on April 8, 1850. Early on, the town was a vital link between ships anchored in the bay and miners testing their luck in the Klamath, Trinity, Salmon River, and Gold Bluff Mines. As the gold rush slowed, Trinidad Bay, like most bays along the Redwood Coast, became home to multiple sawmills. To aid vessels engaged in the lumber trade, a lighthouse was proposed for the ocean-facing side of the headland in 1854." - Source

A little history from Wikipedia:

The low, square, brick tower, painted white, was built in 1871.The light is only 20 feet (6.1 m) above ground, but the headland on which it stands gives it an elevation of 196 feet (60 m) above the sea. Despite the great height above the sea, heavy seas have been known to reach it. In 1913, the keeper made the following report:

"At 4:40 p. m. I observed a sea of unusual height. When it struck the bluff the jar was very heavy. The lens immediately stopped revolving. The sea shot up the face of the bluff and over it, until the solid sea seemed to me to be on a level with where I stood in the lantern. The sea itself fell over onto the top of the bluff and struck the tower about on a level with the balcony. The whole point between the tower and the bluff was buried in water."

The wave he described was the highest recorded wave on the coast. After the sea struck the lighthouse and extinguished the light, service was restored in four hours by Lightkeeper F.L. Harrington, the keeper from 1888 to 1916.

Next we headed down to the sandy beach! 

We had some more tasks we were hoping to complete including...

… Task 229: Spell "LIFE" in sand with letters that are at least 4 feet in length (4 points).

… Task 426: Dancing in a puddle of water (3 points)…

… and Task 441: Next to a sand castle that is at least 2 feet high or 4 feet wide (5 points)… 

I almost purchased an inexpensive kite at Walmart a couple days before (Task 221: Flying a kite.) and really wish I would have! The beach would have been the perfect place to fly a kite and the weather was perfect… Instead we just spent the rest of the evening enjoying the sand and the beautiful views. 

We didn't want to leave, but everyone was getting hungry and it was time to try and squeeze in a couple more tasks before the contest ended and then find somewhere to eat dinner. 

We noticed a couple restaurants on our way to the beach and decided to try The Lighthouse Grill. Thankfully we got there just before they closed! I didn't expect to be able to eat out and packed along a few things for myself (I'm still on a strict Auto-Immune Protocol + Paleo diet. Today is already Day 75!) and was so excited to see the menu! They were so willing to work with me and I was able to order a Grass-Fed Beef burger wrapped in lettuce, topped with bacon, and some onions and mushrooms sautéed in olive oil! Yay!!! I want to go back to Trinidad just to visit The Lighthouse Grill again! ;) 

Sean and the older boys also had burgers. The girls and younger boys all shared fish & chips, made with fresh, local fish, and hand cut fries. Mmmmmm! 

The Lighthouse Grill is also home of the "Mashed Potato Cone!" Sean ordered one to share with the kids and it looked sooooo good! He ordered the "Savory Waffle Cone with Mashed Potatoes with Beef Gravy and added Cheese and Bacon." Next time they want to try it "All the Way" with the Beef Brisket as well.

After dinner, and before starting the long drive back home, we stopped to watch the sunset at Patrick's Point State Park near Wedding Rock. On the drive home we offered another rosary for an end to abortion. 

It was a beautiful end to our week of tasks for National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week and our efforts to learn, pray, and do more to protect and defend the sanctity of all human life from creation to natural death.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." 

Mother Teresa