Saturday, March 10, 2007

Amanda Bennett's Unit Study Newsletter - March 2007










Amanda's Corner



Dear Friend,


March roared in like a lion across most of the country – I hope this finds you and your family getting ready for an exciting springtime. The winds are up here in the South today, bringing in a cold front after a week of warm weather. It is definitely a spaghetti day here – blustery winds and threatening rain call for slow-cooking spaghetti sauce and homemade bread to warm up the weekend.


After a long winter, thoughts turn to going outside to enjoy the nice weather. We are planning the garden and starting our seeds indoors for things like tomatoes and flowers.  With spring comes my favorite holiday - Easter, and it is time to prepare our hearts and home for this very special celebration. This year, I have discovered a fascinating book for moms to read as the family studies and prepares for Easter. It is Magdalene, by Angela Hunt, and you can find a detailed description of it in the Bookshelf section later in the newsletter.


The approach of spring has also brought baseball to the forefront for many families. We are already on the road with baseball games, and enjoying the view from bleachers across the South. It is wonderful to have options for homeschooling sports these days, and we are blessed to be able to participate with organizations like the Homeschool World Series Association. Through the hard work and dedicated effort of many people, homeschooled students are being offered opportunities to play competitive sports across the country in growing numbers.


The new Space Unit Study has been released, and is getting great reviews. This is the time of year to go outdoors in the evenings and enjoy stargazing with the whole family. We have seen several meteor showers lately as we watch the night skies, and it is always a breath-taking sight to watch them burn up as they get closer to Earth. Out here in the country, we have a clear view of the sky and the Milky Way sweeps across the overhead sky in plain view, making you pause to see just how beautiful it is – our galaxy!


Spring officially begins on March 21st – enjoy this season and all of its promise!


Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com





Amanda’s Bookshelf


Magdalene, by Angela Hunt
The controversial woman with a past only one Man could forgive.  


"I was Miryam of Magdala, seller of fine fabrics and wife of Yaakov the fisherman. With my husband and son, I held a place of honor among my countrymen until a company of rogue soldiers took everything from me. I might not be Roman, but I knew injustice when I saw it. And I had been most grievously wronged."


In an era when women are sequestered and silenced, Miryam of Magdala lives a contended life until her son's careless gesture evokes a hostile action that shatters her serenity.  With no hope of justice, Miryam commits and unthinkable act and descends into depths of darkness that threaten her life and her sanity. Even after Yeshua the Messiah dramatically restores her life, Miryam can neither forget nor forgive unresolved injustices. Prodded by a hunger for vengeance she will not deny, this woman of uncommon courage risks her life and her heart by drawing destiny into her own hands.


Tale Of Three Trees, by Angela Elwell Hunt
This bestselling children’s book tells the Easter story from a new and unusual point of view. Three trees on a mountain dream of what they wanted to become when they grew up. One wants to be a treasure chest, another an ocean-going boat, and the third a signpost to God. Their wishes come true in a way they never expected. Children will be deeply touched as they understand, perhaps for the first time, the significance of Christ's life and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.


Celebrations That Touch the Heart: Creative Ideas to Make Your Holidays and Special Events Meaningful, by Brenda Poinsett
Meant not to be read from beginning to end, but to serve as an invaluable family resource that can be used again and again, this book is filled to overflowing with easy, fun ideas to help readers infuse family gatherings and group events with emotional depth and spiritual meaning.  This book includes family-friendly suggestions for celebrating Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other important days, plus it encourages readers to come up with their own ideas for how to make each important day feel meaningful and special.


The Case for Easter, by Lee Strobel
Priced to give away, this "investigation" into Christ's death answers three crucial questions seekers ask: Was Jesus' death a sham? Was his tomb really empty? Was he seen alive after his death on the cross? Strobel's award-winning skills as a legal journalist will persuade even the most hard-boiled skeptics to reconsider Jesus' death and resurrection.





MARCH SAVINGS –
Bring in Spring with some Fun!


Gardens Unit Study CDROM
 for a limited time only $10.95, and the CDROM includes a bonus
the new Gardens Notebook Pages!


Baseball Unit Study CDROM
for a limited time only $10.95, and the CDROM includes a bonus
the Baseball Notebook Pages.  


These specials only last through the end of March –
good only while supplies last.


FREE SHIPPING ON ALL U.S. ORDERS


THROUGH THE END OF MARCH 2007!





Cooking with Chocolate


While traveling as a baseball mom recently, I had the chance to try the new Cracker Barrel Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake – it was awesome! It reminded me of a cake that my aunts and grandmother used to make, called a Mississippi Mud Cake? Of course, I HAVE to include recipe links for chocolate – for those of you who are chocoholics like this author, here are some favorites:


Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake - I am going to cook this one this weekend, stay tuned…


Decadent Chocolate Fudge Cake


And for those of you who didn’t know that Godiva provides an online collection of chocolate recipes, enjoy:


Godiva Recipes





Learning Links:
 


Make Your Own Kite!


Kite Making Plans


How to Fish with a Kite (no kidding!)


 


March 2007 Printable Calendar Pages


St. Patrick – Columbia Encyclopedia Link


About St. Patrick’s Day


St. Patrick’s Day Crafts


 


Easter Welcome Page


Daily Scripture Readings for Easter


Explaining Salvation to Your Child


Disciples Coloring Page


The Lord’s Prayer – Cursive Handwriting Sheet


Easter Resurrection Cookie Recipe






Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.


Solomon 2:11-12 NLV




 Enjoy this season of new life and beginnings!


 Blessings,
Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 








 


Copyright 2007 Amanda Bennett All Rights Reserved


 





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