Gospel Time Trekkers {Sponsored Review}

I'm working on the list of books that will be in this year's Easter Baskets and will try and post it here on the blog sometime soon. (You can find our 2013,  2014, and 2015 Baskets of Books for Easter in the archives.) In the meantime, here is a little sneak peek at some of the books that will be in one of the baskets! 

Catholic Child recently sent me the complete Gospel Time Trekkers series for review and I'm planning on giving at least a couple of them to our 8 year old next month for Easter.  

"Three ordinary kids, six extraordinary adventures, one incredible quest! The Gospel Time Trekkers series follows the adventures of three siblings as they travel back to Gospel times to find Jesus and learn to discover him in their everyday lives. This wonderful historical fiction series shares Christian faith and values in a creative way for today’s kids while remaining true to Bible culture and scholarship."

There are six books in the series: Shepherds to the Rescue, Braving the Storm, Danger at Sea, Mystery of the Missing Jars,  Courageous Quest, and Discovery at Dawn.   (All the previous links take you to the individual product pages over at Catholic Child.) 

Written by Sister Maria Grace, this series (similar to the Magic Tree House Books but Catholic!) is suggested for ages 6-9. Our 8 year old is already reading more advanced chapter books, but I think he is going to love this simply written but fun series. They will also make a great read-aloud, since he loves reading to his younger siblings and anyone else who will listen! ;) 

You can read additional reviews over at Amazon. 

Purchase the whole series over at Catholic Child! Save 10-20% off all orders this weekend using the coupon code shared on their Facebook Page good through February 29, 2016.

P.S. While your over at Facebook be sure to like their page and enter their weekly giveaways each Wednesday to celebrate 20 years in business. I actually won the giveaway this past week! :)  

Looking for additional Easter Gift Ideas?  

Here's the link to last year's 100+ Easter Basket Stuffers and Catholic Gift Ideas!

Saint Nicholas & the Nine Gold Coins

Saint Nicholas & the Nine Gold Coins by Jim Forest

The figure of Saint Nicholas stands apart from nearly every other Christian saint: his fame spread across empires and generations to make him one of the most recognizable Christian saints in history. But the popular perception of Saint Nicholas today diverges greatly from his original veneration as a compassionate almsgiver and defender of the poor. Saint Nicholas has been reduced to the pop culture figure of Santa Claus, a jolly old man who brings presents to good little boys and girls. This book reacquaints those boys and girls with the authentic Santa Claus Nicholas, a man who found greatness not simply in spreading "good cheer," but in being a true icon of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

The feast of St. Nicholas is coming up on December 6th, a week from tomorrow! I already shared the list of new Christmas books our children will be receiving this year and you can find lists of our additional St. Nicholas theme books in my Advent & Christmas Book Collection, in my post of Christmas Gift Ideas, or in our December Book Basket (which I still need to update for this year). 

I mentioned that I included another new book in our 2015 Advent Book Basket and wanted to share a few more pictures with you all, since Amazon doesn't provide the "look inside" feature on this beautiful new release.

Saint Nicholas & the Nine Gold Coins, an Eastern Orthodox "retelling of the legend of Saint Nicholas illustrated in exquisite iconographic style", is still temporarily out of stock, but they are saying they will have it back in stock on December 1st (there should still be enough time to get it for his feast day with prime shipping!!!) and the price has dropped 14% from the full MSRP of $20 down to $17.28, PLUS right now you can save an additional $5.18 (30% off one book, up to $10 and one time use so make it count!) with coupon code HOLIDAY30 (good through 11/30/15) which would bring it down to only $12.10.

Here is a little peek inside our copy for those who would like a closer look...

ZOE'S FATHER PROMISED NOT TO TELL, 

but of course he told his wife, who felt it necessary to tell her brother, who told his best friend, who whispered it to his next-door neighbor, who mentioned it to her husband. Each person who knew the secret thought of one other person who could be trusted not to tell. Before many days passed, everyone in Patara knew what Nick had done.

At last the story reached his uncle's ears. I'm so proud of you, Nick," the bishop told his nephew, "and I know your parent's would be too. You cared more about your neighbor than yourself." 

(This page made me laugh, and will present a great opportunity to talk to the kids about how easily "secrets" and rumors can spread, especially in small communities.)

It is a beautiful and inspiring book. I'm looking forward to unwrapping and reading it on the feast of St. Nicholas this year!

Scroll through all of our past St. Nicholas posts here.

Christmas Mosaic :: A Review & Featured Book List

Like Catholic Mosaic: Living the Liturgical Year With Children, author Cay Gibson's Christmas Mosaic, An Illustrated Book Study for Advent and Christmas is so much more than just a book list! It was an invaluable resource for me when I was building our family's collection of Christmas books and, in the meantime, trying to sift through all the books at our local library and decide which ones were worth bringing home to read to our children.

In addition to the included book list "as endless as the possibilities for Christmas tree decoration" (over 200 suggestions!), Christmas Mosaic also provides study guides for 30 picture books about Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany! Vocabulary Words, Discussion Questions, and Copy Work are provided for each of the featured selections. On the "Parent's Help Page" for each title you will find observations, discussion answers, and enrichment activity suggestions. The appendix in the back has a number of crafts, recipes, and coloring pages which may be reproduced by the original purchaser for your family or classroom.

I purchased my copy of Christmas Mosaic when the first (spiral bound) edition was published in 2007 and still return to it every Advent for ideas and inspiration. I am sure I will continue to do so for years to come.

ADVENT WEEK ONE
Theme: Advent/ Decoration/ Preparation Stories

• The Christmas Cobwebs by Odds Bodkin/ Terry Widener*
• Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Como/ Jane Manning *
• The Cobweb Curtain by Jenny Koralek/ Pauline Baynes*
• Waiting for Christmas by Kathleen Long Bostrom/ Alexi Natchev*
• The Twenty-Four Days before Christmas by Madeleine L’Engle/ Joe DeVelasco*
• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski/ P.J. Lynch*
• A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote/ Beth Peck

ADVENT WEEK TWO
Theme: Giving/St. Nicholas/Santa Claus

• The Christmas Coat by Clyde Robert Bulla/ Sylvie Wickstrom (OOP)
• The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans/ Jacob Collins*
• The Shoemaker’s Dream by Masahiro Kasuya/ Mildred Schell
• Why the Chimes Rang by Raymond MacDonald Alden
• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry*
• The First Christmas Stocking by Elizabeth Winthrop/ Bagram Ibatoulline*
• The Bears’ Christmas Surprise by Bruno Hachler/ Angela Kehlenbeck*
• A Small Miracle by Peter Collington*
• Santa’s Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki/ Ivan Gantschev*

A Small Miracle tells a beautiful story using only illustrations. My children love that their Dad will make up his own story each time he "reads" this book to them! I feel bad that I didn't include it in our books to unwrap this year! 

ADVENT WEEK THREE
Theme: Family

• An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco*
• Silent Night by Will Moses*
• The Christmas Promise by Susan Bartoletti/ David Christiana (OOP)*
• One Christmas Dawn by Candice Ransom/ Peter Fiore (OOP)*
• Night Tree by Eve Bunting*
• Toby Belfer never had a Christmas Tree by Gloria Teles Pushker (Hanukkah)

ADVENT WEEK FOUR
Theme: The Nativity/Epiphany/Angels

• The Christmas Bird by Sallie Ketcham/ Stacey Schuett*
• The Christmas Donkey by Gillian McClure (OOP)
• The Christmas Bird by Bernadette Watts (OOP)*
• Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson/ Jan Chapman*
• Father and Son: A Nativity Story by Geraldine McCaughrean/ Fabian Negrin*
• The Trees Kneel at Christmas by Maud Hart Lovelace*
• Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers by Andrew Clements/ Kate Kiesler*
• Danny and the Kings by Susan Cooper/ Jos. A. Smith (OOP)

The Christmas Bird by Bernadette Watts has been reprinted as Katy's Christmas Gift!
I had no idea when I posted about the deal last week... No wonder the author/illustrator's name sounded familiar. It's one of my favorites! I wish I would have bought more copies while it was priced so low. It is definitely worth adding to your collection, or at least checking out from the library.

*Books in our family's Advent & Christmas Collection

Our 2013 Advent Book Basket was almost completely filled with the featured selections from Christmas Mosaic. You can view additional pictures of these books here.

Note: Remember, this list is only of the "Featured Selections". There are so many other wonderful books mentioned in the complete Christmas Mosaic book list, as well as reflections, poetry selections, and even a section on "Celebrating December Birthdays" which I need to go reread now that we have two birthdays in December!

Order a copy of Christmas Mosaic here, or enter the giveaway by November 28, 2015 for a chance to win a copy!

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

The Story of the Bible {Review & Giveaway}

The Story of the Bible is an exciting new program for students of all ages. In the recent past, Catholics waited until the latter years of high school or post high school to begin bible studies, if these were begun at all. Regrettably, this has left a significant void in the spiritual lives of young Catholics in knowing their Holy Religion. Why start young to study the bible? Quoting St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, we are reminded that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” An FSSP priest has instructed the youth of his parish to “know your bible, and you'll know your faith.” 

Whether a parish priest, a lay teacher in a school, or a homeschooling parent, one of the most challenging tasks for a Catholic instructor is to tackle the study of Sacred Scripture. The comforting principle with this program is the shared vision that the Editors impart with teachers when they sincerely state that “our prayer is that The Story of the Bible and the accompanying test books will tell the story of Scripture in such a way that young readers will be drawn closer to Our Lord, who is Himself the eternal Word of God.”



What is referred to as the “Schoolhouse Model”, this program engages children of all ages into its content. The Text Book and accompanying Test Book engages students to delightfully discover, revere, and cherish their own precious tradition of the Bible. The print is read with ease and the stories are at an engaging pace. What perhaps were previously obscure locations in history to the reader, suddenly become alive and tangible with the maps and descriptions of their relevance in biblical history. From Mount Tabor to Mount Carmel, to the mapped route of the Israelites exodus through Egypt the reader will appreciate the context of biblical events and the interwoven threads through salvation history. The Activity Book and accompanying Teacher’s Manual charters the biblical foundation for your students. The program utilizes the Revised Standard Version of the Bible – Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition) for its scripture quotations. We can immediately recognize the name Benziger Brothers, Inc. whose original work on bible history has been incorporated into the book, The Story of the Bible. An Audio Drama delivers a quality reading of the text for the whole family to activate a listening experience of the Bible story. Finally, the Video Lecture Series reviews each chapter for establishing a firm command of the text.

Samples of the supplementary materials corresponding to the textbook and test book can be downloaded for free at www.TANHomeschool.com. The program encapsulates a package that takes the study of Sacred Scripture, a seemingly daunting lesson to teach, and delivers a sound product that is easy to explore. Tackling Sacred Scripture never looked easier.

Amazon and TAN Books affiliate links are included in this post. If you click the links and make a purchase I will receive a commission. Thank you! Links to TAN Homeschool are not affiliate links. My family received the review items pictured in this post in exchange for our honest review. I look forward to purchasing the rest of the series to add to our collection as well.

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WE HAVE THREE COPIES OF THE AUDIO BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!!! 

Our favorite part of the program is the Dramatized Audio Books! These can be purchased directly from TAN, Amazon or even downloaded from Audible! We enjoyed listening to The Old Testament during our recent summer road trip and I look forward to purchasing The New Testament to add to our audio book collection as well.

TAN Books has recently launched a new website called TAN Homeschool, which includes blog posts, freebies, and other excellent resources for home educating parents including The Story of the Bible. I am actually one of the regular contributors over at TAN Homeschool and have written about Celebrating the Saints of Summer. My post with 5 Ways to Celebrate the New School Year was published today. Please pop on over and say hello and be sure to subscribe to the TAN Homeschool blog for updates!

Note: By entering the giveaway below you agree to allow your email address to be shared with TAN Homeschool. See the Rafflecopter entry box for complete terms and conditions. Good luck! 

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:

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BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia {Review & "Win It Before You Can Buy It" Giveaway!}

The following review of BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia by the Monks of Norcia (De Montfort Music, 2015) was written by my husband. Thank you, Sean! 

"Seven times a day will I sing your praises." – The Rule of St. Benedict

The simple beauty of Gregorian chant - the eternal beauty of chant is prayerful, rich, and necessary in our age. BENEDICTA is the Monks of Norcia’s first ever international recording. The Monks of Norcia, in the sincerity of their prayer are able to draw the listener into the mind and heart of the Church’s expression of faith. The mysticism of the chant, the serenity and timeless beauty of its ancient tradition, the meditative and celestial qualities of the recording transport the listener to a spiritual light. We are reminded that our eternal destination lies beyond the earthly allure. As the listener enters into the contemplative mystery of prayer they are reminded of the spiritual land that indeed awaits those who hope in the Lord. These are the transcendent thoughts that the official music of the Church inspires.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “The chanting of the Office continues to sustain the whole Church around the world.”

This album is particularly unique in that the music is not part of any mass settings as many other chant CD’s from monks have done in the past. As the title reveals, the chants recorded in this album are dedicated to the Marian Feast Days found in the divine office and devotional hymns outside of the mass. From De Montfort Music:

“Inspiring, beautiful music of Chant at it's very best - from Italy by The Monks of Norcia. BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia is the title for this new recording of 33 tracks of Gregorian chant, including favorite Marian antiphons such as "Regina Caeli" and "Ave Regina Caelorum" but also previously unrecorded chant versions of responsories and a piece originally composed by the monks (“Nos Qui Christi Iugum,”) Some pieces are sung by the entire group, some by smaller ensembles of monks and others by soloists, imbuing 'BENEDICTA' with a variety of sound. Recorded on location at the monastery in Norcia, Italy, the album was produced by 11-time Grammy Award-winning producer Christopher Alder and engineered by Grammy-Award winning engineer Jonathan Stokes.”

Order your copy today.

“Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!” – St. Augustine

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Today I have the privilege of being able to offer my visitors here at Shower of Roses a chance to WIN one of three copies of BENEDICTA before you can buy it! The giveaway will remain open through Monday, May 25th and the winners will be announced in this post and contacted by email on Tuesday, May 26th.  De Montfort Music will mail the CDs directly to the winners so that they can arrive just before the album is released!

Please help spread the word about this beautiful and unique new album, and be sure to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

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BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia will be released on June 2, 2015 and is available to pre-order at Amazon. You can also order it directly from the monks and an extra portion of the proceeds will go towards assisting them in funding the many needs of their community!

Book Review :: Treasure and Tradition: The Ultimate Guide to the Latin Mass

Last month I shared a link to the brand new Treasure and Tradition: The Ultimate Guide to the Latin Mass from St. Augustine Academy Press in my Preparing for Christmas :: Seven Fun Finds for Advent post. My husband and I were each given a review copy before it was released and, since he is much more familiar and knowledgeable about the Traditional Latin Mass (and also such a gifted writer and better able to do this beautiful book justice!), I asked him if he would write the review to share here at Shower of Roses. Thank you, Sean! 



Treasure and Tradition: The Ultimate Guide to the Latin Mass by Lisa Bergman
St. Augustine Academy Press, 2014

How do you put to words the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist? How does one explain the source and summit of the Christian life, the most holy and sublime of mysteries? How can anybody describe the liturgical expression that the Universal Church has officially promulgated in the Traditional Latin Mass, now commonly referred to as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite?

No words can adequately explain the sublime mystery of the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Lisa Bergman’s book Treasure and Tradition attains to man’s ability to put to words an explanation of the Sacred Liturgical Form of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Three words come to mind about the Latin Mass upon exploring it from using this Guide: Illumination, Appreciation, and Admiration.



Illumination. Treasure and Tradition acts as a beacon of light.  By definition a beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.  Indeed, it must be repeated that the mass is the source and summit of the Christian life.  Synthesizing Sacred Scripture, catechetical publications, historical and encyclopedic background, Bergman presents an illuminating and thoroughly researched resource for anyone old enough to read who would benefit to learn about the Roman Catholic Mass. In the book, the left hand pages are devoted to explanations of particular mass parts while the prayers that accompany those parts are included on the right side in both Latin and English. Bergman’s ability to incorporate images of sacred art and architecture reinforces the reader’s appreciation for the Church’s longstanding record of producing the most glorious artistic masterpieces in God’s honor. The images accompany explanations of the parts of the mass. Save for the short Bibliography and Devotionals sections, each and every page contains an illustration of some kind. Practically all of them are in full color. In the Guide, the reader will learn what is referred to as the Ordinaries and Propers of the Mass.  The reader will discover, with clarity and conciseness, the different forms of celebrating the Latin Mass, the Ecclesiastical Year, historical background of the mass, its sacrificial nature, and much, much more. The presentation and format is particularly well suited for teens, though adults without question will find the material in this guide exceptional.  Children and youth would likewise benefit, as the author walks the reader from the very basic understanding of worship to the most intricate detail.  The book truly is a guide - a beacon of light drawing interest to the Mystery of the Eucharist.  Like the mass itself, the guide is suitable for illuminating the widest possible reading audience on any level, including newcomers to the mass, non-Catholics, children, the poor, the advanced, and the indifferent.

Appreciation. The Latin Mass, on its own merit, evokes sentiments of gratitude and reverence. Treasure and Tradition dispels the apprehensions that an individual experiencing timidity or those harboring outright hostility may have towards this liturgical expression approved by the Church. Those witnessing a Latin Mass for the first time may first be struck by the silence and orderliness before them in both the sanctuary and the congregation. These characteristics are mere outcomes of a deeper affection: an endearing closeness to our Lord where the congregant both speaks to God from his heart and ardently listens to his tender promptings within him in the silence of the liturgy. The author explains the silence, the chants, and the order and reverence that this mass of the ages embodies.  This recalls the third discovered attribute of admiration.

Admiration. Through this book, the reader, whether a non-Catholic, newcomer to the Latin Mass, or experienced devotee will identify and realize a newfound recognition of the mass of the ages. The descriptions included in the Guide that explain the rituals and ceremonies prescribed in the mass reveal that the Church operates by the action of the Holy Spirit. The prayers, rituals and ceremonies weave an intricate thread, tying together the reality of Christ fulfilling the old covenant with the new. The reader, regardless of their denomination or spirituality will gain the understanding that the sacrificial aspect of the mass, both the priest's and ours, is not only very important, but necessary in our worship of the Almighty.

Visit St. Augustine Academy Press to order a copy of Treasure and Tradition: The Ultimate Guide to the Latin Mass

You can also find additional information about the Extraordinary Form in the archives:

Frequently Asked Questions About the Latin Mass

Back to {Home} School Giveaway :: Your School of Love: A Spiritual Companion for Teaching Mothers & Mama's Notebooks

To celebrate the new school year I'm hosting a giveaway each day this week (September 1st-7th) featuring educational products and books! Today's giveaway is sponsored by Mama's Notebooks and Shower of Roses! 

The next time I come up with a "great idea" to schedule giveaways for SEVEN DAYS IN A ROW during the first week of school, could someone please knock some sense into me?! I had every intention of writing and scheduling the posts ahead of time, but of course that didn't happen… Between our daughter's 11th birthday last Saturday, lots of family in town, and my brother's golf tournament last Thursday-Monday, we were hardly home until school started Tuesday morning. Despite the extra time I needed to spend on the computer, our school year has gotten off to a surprisingly productive start and I've really enjoyed hosting the giveaways, reading all the comments, and introducing you to some awesome resources and businesses! All good things must come to an end and this is the last giveaway I'm hosting, at least until later this month. ;)

I've shared about my Mama’s Notebook in the past and I'm still using it (almost) every day to keep track of my to-do lists, menu plans, what we've been reading, and most recently my exercise and diet goals. Heather at Mama's Notebooks is always so generous when it comes to sponsoring giveaways here at Shower of Roses and has kindly offered to once again send one of my visitors a copy of Mama’s Notebook!

Mama's Notebook: Weekly Planner & Organizer

Mama’s Notebook provides you with an easy, flexible, and efficient way to organize your life. In one glance, you can coordinate your meal plan with the whole day’s events and tasks, and there’s always ample room to take notes on the things that matter to you most!

Unlike other planners, you can start up Mama’s Notebook on any week of the year, and you can skip weeks as needed. The back section of the planner provides you with easy reference sheets to help you schedule and shop efficiently.

Click here to buy one now!

Current Special: Free mail shipping or 50% off ground shipping with the code SMG14 through September 11.

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I also want to give away a Kindle Edition of the brand new book Your School of Love: A Spiritual Companion for Teaching Mothers which was recently published by TAN.  I've always enjoyed the other books by Agnes M. Penny (I especially love the prayers in the back of her books. In the past I've shared her Prayer of a Bereaved Mother of an Unbaptized Baby here and Prayer of a Bereaved Mother of a Baptized Baby here.) so when I saw this book was now available I ordered a copy.  I just started reading Your School of Love this past week.  From what I've read so far, my own teaching style is different than the authors but as the description states this book "is not a homeschooling curriculum or a how to guide" and I have found it inspiring to read her thoughts as we begin our new school year.

Here are a few quotes I've highlighted in my copy:

Homeschooling is what we make it. If we see it as a burden, it will be a burden. If we see it as a joy, it will be a joy. If we see it as a grave but rewarding responsibility, a vocation within a vocation, then that's what it will be. If we see homeschooling as an opportunity to mold the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual character of our children and our own personal path to grow closer to our children and to Christ, then it will be that, as well. ~ Chapter 1, Homeschooling

Homeschooling makes huge demands on our time, our energy, our patience, and our emotions. These are the gifts we present to God. ~ Chapter 3, The Vocation to Homeschool

A cranky, discouraged, or stressed-out woman cannot effectively fulfill her duties as teacher or mother, and is certainly a poor sample of a saint, which is our ultimate goal. Therefore, we have to avoid burnout for our own sake and for the sake of our children. ~ Chapter 4, Burnout

We as homeschooling parents, hoping to encourage our children to learn, and perhaps remembering our own toilsome schooldays, seek to make learning fun, but a better way to approach learning might be just to avoid making learning "unfun." ~ Chapter 8, Making Learning Fun

Your School of Love: A Spiritual Companion for Teaching Mothers
(also available directly from TAN)

Book Description From the Back Cover:

Homeschooling your children can be a beautiful and fruitful experience for both you and your children…but it can also be overwhelming. Agnes Penney, the popular author of Your Labor of Love and Your Vocation of Love, is here to help you along the way. Your School of Love is not a homeschooling curriculum, or a how-to guide, but a spiritual companion that will help you and your children get the most out of homeschooling. Your School of Love is packed with short chapters, perfect for the always-busy homeschooling parent, offering tips and advice on a variety of topics, including:

• Homeschooling girls, boys, large families, young children, and teenagers 
• How to keep up with Homeschooling during pregnancy or with a new baby in the house 
• How to include fathers 
• How to encourage and balance your children’s social lives 
• How to Balance Confidence and Humility while teaching your children 
• Making Homeschooling a prayerful endeavor 
• How to deal with the emotional struggles of homeschooling 
• And so much more (like how to avoid burn-out, how to foster vocations, how to teach a child to read and write) 

Your School of Love is lovingly written by a homeschooling mother, and will be your constant companion throughout your homeschooling years, both as a guide, a spiritual reference, and a helpful friend who knows what it’s like to deal with the struggles of homeschooling, and also how to embrace the great joys.

Prayer of a Homeschooler 

from Your School of Love

Eternal Father, I thank Thee for blessing me with the children Thou hast given me, and for granting me the opportunity of homeschooling them. Help me to provide them with an atmosphere of love, peace, purity, self-sacrifice, and joy so that they may develop the virtues they need to lead holy, Christian lives. May they learn all they need to know in all their subjects, but especially may they learn to love Thee and to show this love for thee through acts of love for others. May I do my part to fill their spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs, and model to them Thine own patient and forgiving love. May our homeschool turn into a true school of love, where our family learns to love Thee in everything that happens to us, and in everyone that we see, so that someday our family may meet again in heaven, where we will see face-to-face, Thou, Who art Love. Amen.

If you'd like a chance to win one of these books, please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

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Be sure to enter Our September Book Basket and giveaway here, the Holy Heroes giveaway here, the Saint Magnus, The Last Viking giveaway here, the Homeschool in the Woods giveaway here, the Arx Publishing giveaway here, the St. Mary's Messenger giveaway here, RC History giveaway here, and a St. Michael Apron giveaway over at Catholic Cuisine before they start ending tonight! 

Back to {Home} School Giveaway :: RC History

To celebrate the new school year I'm hosting a giveaway each day this week (September 1st-7th) featuring educational products and books! Today's giveaway is sponsored by RC History! 

Our family has been using Connecting With History from RC History for the past seven years, ever since I first discovered it back in 2008 while searching for a Catholic history program for our children. It is such an awesome program! We started with the first three volumes but Volume 4 had not yet been published when we cycled through the first time, which is why we took a little break and I created our own plans for American History in 2011. What a job that was!  It made me realize just how grateful I am for all the time and research Sonya has put into creating this excellent resource for homeschooling families!

The Connecting with History program has only improved over time! RC History is now working on creating Daily Lesson Plans for each volume!  Last year we went back to studying Ancient History, using the book lists, Syllabus and Daily Lesson Plans from Volume 1 and this year we are using Volume 2 to study the New Testament and Early Medieval time period. The Daily Lesson Plans have been such a blessing and they make it so easy for me to give each of my children their daily assignments and also help me decide which of the (many!) book suggestions to read aloud as a family.

RC History has also been working on creating Companion Readers for each volume. Connecting with History Companion Reader: Old Testament and Ancient History is the first in the series and is now available for purchase! I've been flipping through our new copy and wish we would have had this last year and that Volume 2 was available NOW… I love it! I'm sure we will be using the Companion Readers the next time we cycle through the program.

Sonya Romens at RC History has generously offered to send one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses a copy of the new Connecting with History Companion Reader Volume 1: Old Testament and Ancient History! You can click over to RC History to scroll through some sample pages.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:

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Note: Shower of Roses is an affiliate for RC History. If you click over to RC History from a link on this blog and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission from RC History. Thank you so very much to all those who use my affiliate links!

Be sure to enter Our September Book Basket and giveaway here, the Holy Heroes giveaway here, the Saint Magnus, The Last Viking giveaway here, the Homeschool in the Woods giveaway here, the Arx Publishing giveaway here, the St. Mary's Messenger giveaway here, and a St. Michael Apron giveaway over at Catholic Cuisine!

Back to {Home} School Giveaway :: Arx Publishing

To celebrate the new school year I'm hosting a giveaway each day this week (September 1st-7th) featuring educational products and books! Today's giveaway is sponsored by Arx Publishing!

Today I'd like to introduce you to Arx Publishing! Arx Publishing is a small Catholic press working to restore traditional values by 'reclaiming' literature with lots of great books to choose from including many books perfect for homeschoolers.

Arx Publishing sent me a few review copies plus four of their books to offer my visitors here at Shower of Roses! One of the books Arx Publishing sent is Belisarius Book I: The First Shall Be Last by Paolo A. Belzoni. Our family is studying Early Medieval History this school year and it is one of the books suggested in the Connecting with History Rhetoric Level (Grades 10-12). Our oldest is only in 8th grade but I'm looking forward to reading this book myself and sharing it with the boys the next time we study this time period when they are in high school!

    

Belisarius Book I: The First Shall Be Last by Paolo A. Belzoni 
(also available at Amazon in paperback or Kindle Edition - affiliate links)

Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last is a historical novel that recreates the early life of this amazing hero. Filled with action and intrigue, the book is replete with historical and religious detail drawn from ancient historians. The novel is a fascinating introduction to the Justinianic period the last gasp of the Roman Empire and the infancy of Christendom in both the East and West.

Centurion's Daughter by Justin Swanton
(also available at Amazon in paperback or Kindle Edition)

Written and illustrated by master storyteller Justin Swanton, Centurion's Daughter is a thoughtful and compelling journey to a little-known period of history when an empire fell and the foundations of Christendom were laid. 

    

Our boys are still a little too young to read Angels in Iron but my husband, who loves reading about the Siege of Malta, purchased and enjoyed reading this book last year. In fact he recently loaned our copy to one of my younger brothers to read as well! It's a great book for high school aged boys.

Angles in Iron by Nicholas Prata

(also available at Amazon in paperback or Kindle Edition)

Angels in Iron is based on the actual events surrounding the Siege of Malta in 1565. Nicholas C. Prata relates the tale in riveting and graphic prose which brings the extreme heroism of the knights and the unimaginable horror of combat sharply into focus. Prepare yourself for an epic adventure.

The Menagerie of Marsepink by Claudio R. Salvucci
(also available at Amazon in paperback or Kindle Edition)

A bright young zoology professor arrives at a prestigious Long Island college filled with jaded, materialistic scientists. But in a tower high above their heads, the college s angelic heiress devotedly watches over a collection of handmade animals made of a more mysterious stuff than cloth and string. A tribute to the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Menagerie of Marsepink is a moral allegory on the limits of natural science and the supernatural reality of the soul. This short story successfully captures the atmosphere and charm which characterize the works of the great 19th century scribe.

"The highest and noblest thing that history can be is a good story." 

- G.K. Chesterton

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:

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Be sure to enter Our September Book Basket and giveaway here, the Holy Heroes Giveaway here, the Saint Magnus, The Last Viking Giveaway here, the Homeschool in the Woods giveaway here, and a St. Michael Apron Giveaway over at Catholic Cuisine!