The Top 12 in 2012

hangersAs our family goes through the steps of simplifying our home, packing, and preparing to place our house on the market very soon, my thoughts can sometimes be as jumbled as the entangled pile of hangers on our floor.

 

So, instead of tackling another closet, cupboard, or box, for the moment, I’ve decided to take a much needed break.  I’m taking a quick look back at the most read blog posts at Joyful Heart and the most visited pages inside Hubbard’s Cupboard in 2012.

 

Are you ready?  Let’s count down… to the top!

 

Top 6 Blog Posts from Joyful Heart in 2012

6) Word Family Resources
Lots of printables to use with your budding reader!
Word Family Booklet

5) Our 2012-2013 Curriculum 
We are enjoying Preparing Hearts for His Glory this year!
Historical Read Alouds

4) Child Training Bible (Review)
We still have this.  Although, we have not used it as much as we should.
CTBStartingtoTab

3) In Mourning
Wow.  This one was so difficult to write and share…and I am still reflecting on it as we continue our homeschool year.  A follow-up post will be coming soon.
scarf

2) Character Traits For Kids
Character trait definition and verse printables…
Character Trait Definitions and Verses

1) Utilizing Printable Booklets Without Actually Printing Them
A simple way to save time and money in printing as well as another way of presenting new reading material to our youngest readers..
idevicesJPG

 

 

Top 6 Pages Visited at Hubbard’s Cupboard in 2012

6) Guided Reading

5) Kindergarten

4) ABC Centers

3) Literacy

2) Sight Words
(The Fall, Winter, and Spring Sight Word Booklets all closely followed this.)

1) Printable Booklets

I noticed that a few of my favorite posts and pages from the year didn’t show up.  So, I am including them here.  =)

My Favorite Page at Hubbard’s Cupboard 
Bible Memorization

My Favorite Posts Written in 2012 at Joyful Heart
(other than In Mourning, which is already listed above)
Strength For Summer – a post of gratitude to God for the grace He gives
Take the Bible Stack Challenge  – a visual reminder that God’s Word is for everyone

 

Blessings to you and yours in the new year! 

 

Now, where’s that packing tape?

Strength for Summer

DSC_2310 (2)On June 1, my hubby loaded up the car and traveled 15 hours to the University of North Dakota – to spend the entire summer taking linguistics courses that would prepare him to better serve in his new role with Wycliffe Bible Translators

DSC_2320 (2)

After photos, hugs, several goodbyes, and waves, I gathered our five children around and cried silent tears as we walked back into the house. This was the day that I had been dreading for months.  Me, alone, with our five kids – I knew that groceries, bedtime, meal prep and clean up, discipline, etc. all fell on me.   I felt weak and incapable, and at the very beginning, somewhat fearful.  

It was a challenging summer – for all of us.

BUT GOD gave us the strength we needed each day to make it through.

As I await for my husband to return, I am flipping through my gratitude journal and reading the 185+ recorded thanks to God that span the time frame he was gone.  Some of the thanks look like this….

  • Friends praying for us and calling to check on me (even on day 1!)
  • Hearing our kids thank and pray to God before bed (our implementation of ‘2 thanks and a prayer’ before bed each night)
  • Grandmas (I think our moms are wonder women.  They swoop in, make the kids happy, magically make the dishes disappear, and relieve this mama’s stress.  They just work without their capes!)
  • Singing songs of God’s faithfulness during worship at church
  • An oldest daughter’s gentle hug when tears come
  • Ms. Becca infusing energy and a highlight to the kids’ weeksDSC_2337 (2)
  • Neighbors and friends being willing to help out with the yard
  • Speaking Truth to myself throughout the day
  • Rare one on one time with each of the kids
  • Time at spray parks and with family friendsDSC_2614 (2)
  • Friends praying for our 4 year old and offering to help when her temp was extremely high
  • Swim lessons and fun with friends at the poolDSC_2589 (2)
  • Cooking lessons with Lynda (for the girls and some of their friends!)DSC_2535 (2)
  • God – my refuge and strength
  • Little buddy and his love for the ‘Flintstone’ car (Yes, even inside the house on this hot, hot, summer day!)
    DSC_1802 (2)
  • Seeing my husband through Skype, smiling and enjoying the interactions with our kids
  • Sounds of giggles from the kids
  • God’s clear, visual reminder to rely on His strength and not my own
    stroller1
  • Two teens coming over to play with the younger kids so I could sew with the older girlsDSC_2569 (2)
  • Seeing our 4 year old’s face light up as her sisters surprised her with a handmade doll just for herDSC_2583 (2)
  • Knowing that God is always in control
  • Air conditioning (as it hit 104 degrees)
  • Books – LOTS of books from the library to read and some extra motivation from the summer reading programDSC_2353 (3)
  • The girls joyfully helping out with clean up tonight.  It was an encouragement and motivator for me to finish the day well.
  • VBSDSC_2633 (2)
  • Encouragement and direction from another homeschool mom
  • Brushing my daughter’s hair as we talked late at night
  • Feeling God’s hand sustaining me
  • Finally getting the spelling curriculum online with my hubby’s help from far away
  • Children sleeping in (and mommy, too!)
  • The sight and smell of RAIN sent from God
  • A fun, but exhausting backyard Olympics with friendsDSC_2718 (2)
  • Knowing that it was only through Christ’s presence, grace, peace, and strength sustaining me each day that got me through this summer

In Courtney Joseph’s eBook, The Proverbs 31 Woman: One Virtue at a Time, she states

When I take my eyes off of myself and put them on my amazing God – my fears flip to confidence.

Yes!  My fears turned to confidence – not in my own abilities as I am still weak.  However, I saw my fears fade as my confidence grew in Him!  For it is His strength and dignity that clothes my weaknesses.

As I reflect upon this summer, Christ’s grace, presence, and sustaining powerful hand is evident. 

Thank you, Lord.

It’s Your Turn – Winners!

Wow!  Thanks for all the positive comments about Your Turn – Kid Timer

I know there are some random generators out there for blog giveaways, but seeing as this is our first ever giveaway, we simply had our darling children draw names the old fashioned way.  5 kids and 5 winners!

 

name1name2name3name4name5

So, without further ado, here are our winners….

Andi Hogan
Alicia
Joshua H.
Nina Jones
Stephen Schiller

Congratulations!!!

We will be emailing the winners their codes so you can have access to your free app – Your Turn – Kid Timer!  After you try it out, my hubby would love additional feedback over at the Apple App Store =)  And, for those of you whose names were not drawn, Your Turn – Kid Timer is still available in the Apple App Store – on sale for $1.99 through January 31, 2012.   Thanks to all who participated!!

It’s Your Turn!

As a busy mom with five little ones, four of whom enjoy playing games on our iPad, I was tired of hearing, “Whose turn is it?  How long can I play for?  She had it longer than me!   It’s MY turn now!”   With all the arguing and bickering created over using the iPad, I wasn’t certain all those cool games, whether educational or not, were really worth the hassle and stress. (And you somehow thought our family might be different?  LOL!)   

Then, my knight in shining armor (aka my software loving husband) said, “I could make an app for that.”   So, after teaming up with a great designer (William Larsen), devoting countless hours, and using our all too willing kids as testers, there IS now an app for that!

I’m excited to share with you an app that makes sharing any iOS device less stressful for parents…
Your Turn – Kid Timer!

YourTurn

So, how does it work?

It is pretty simple, actually!

As your child plays, Your Turn counts down the minutes until the next child’s turn. When time is up, Your Turn signals to both kids that it’s time to switch. With the tap of a button, the new child’s turn begins. It’s super easy and kid friendly.

FEATURES
* Add any number of players
* Set playing time per player
* Disable a player who isn’t playing without having to delete
        (The animal will look as though it is asleep!  Super cute!)
* Choose one of six different fun farm animals (pig, horse, donkey, dog, cow, or chicken)
* Plays a warning sound (the sound of the animal that is next) one minute before the timer expires
* Plays an alarm sound (and shows an alert when timer expires
      (This is longer than the warning sound and plays background music with the next player’s animal sound – very fitting for the theme!)
* Plays sound of next player so that they can listen for their sound
* Sounds match player’s farm animal
* Start next player from the alert
* Can be used without an internet connection
* Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.1 or later.

SCENARIOS
Scenario 1: "I want my older child to have a bit more time to play than my younger one."   No problem—Your Turn allows parents to set individual time allotments for each child. These time settings are saved and do not have to be set each time.

Scenario 2: "I have assigned each of my kids to a farm animal sound but one of them isn’t going to be playing right now."  Simple, click a button and Your Turn will remove that child from being timed until their animal is turned back on by you.

Scenario 3: "I only have one child but I want to keep track of the time he is using my iPhone."  Of course, just assign yourself one of the farm animals and when you hear your animal sound it’s time for junior to hand the phone back.

Free yourself up from officiating whose turn it is and help your kids learn to share with the help of Your Turn.

 

When Your Turn – Kid Timer was released in the Apple App Store, we had a family ‘release party’ of sorts!  The cupcakes are based on two of the fun barn animal characters kids can choose from.

appreleasepartyprep appreleaseparty2

appreleaseparty

 

Do you want to WIN IT?
Come celebrate with us!  No, I can’t offer you one of the tasty cupcakes, but I can offer you a free app!  As a special promotion, my hubby has given me promotion codes to give away to 5 lucky readers

The first and mandatory entry is to leave a comment on this blog post letting us know what you are most looking forward to in using the Your Turn – Kid Timer app with your kids, making sure to leave your email so I can contact you. 

You can have a second (optional) entry by ‘liking’ Your Turn iPhone App on Facebook and then leaving a comment here letting me know that you did.

The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, December 16th!   Winners will be randomly selected.  I will share the winner’s names online and notify through email as well.  So, please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you in case you win!

Update:  This giveaway is officially closed.  Please see the winners, above.

You can also BUY IT!
If you don’t think your family can wait to start using Your Turn – Kid Timer, please know that it IS available for purchase in the Apple App Store!  Between now and January 31, 2012, Your Turn – Kid Timer is on sale for $1.99!  (Shameless plug, I know.) 

 

Now, instead of hearing bickering, I hear, “It’s your turn!”

Ahhh….some peace and quiet….just in time for Christmas =)

For Daddy

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!!

DSC_4501 (3)

From your beautiful 9 year old…
Thank you for giving the best hugs ever!
Thank you for taking me out to lunch.
Thank you for spending time with me.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for doing morning devotions with me.
Thank you for praying for me.

From your lovely 7 year old…
Thank you for all the things you do!
Thank you for playing with us.
Thank you for giving hugs and kisses.
Thank you for teaching me to ride my bike.

From your handsome 5 year old…
Thank you for being my daddy – because I love you!
Thank you for giving me hugs.

From your energetic 3 year old…
Thank you for being my daddy.
Thank you for playing trains and Super Why with me.
Thank you for reading to me.

From your adorable 1 year old… (Well, what we thought he might say =) )
Thank you for playing trains and ‘cooking’ with me.
Thank you for giving me food.
Thank you for encouraging me to walk.

From your bride…
Thank you for your love and dedication to our family.
Thank you for being an example of grace to the children and for pointing all of us to our Heavenly Father.

We love you!!!!



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...