Make Your Family's Christmas More Meaningful with Gifts
from Sing 'n Learn
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Test Before You Buy!
Listen to samples online.
Perfect for Your Own Family
or for Gifts!
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Color the Christmas Classics
With the carols playing in the background, color the
illustration and hear the story of 13 Christmas
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and Book Set
A Classical Kids Christmas
Carols and poetry combine to tell
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We Sign Christmas Carols
Learn American Sign Language vocabulary while
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See More Christmas
Resources and More Than 700 Products Online.
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e-mail newsletter, and receive $5 off your order.
It's not too late to order
for Christmas!
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________________________
10 Safe Search Sites
for Children
by Kim Komando
Search sites like Google can give you millions of
links. But a significant number of potential
search results are unsuitable for children.
Even seemingly mundane search words can bring surprises.
Some search sites offer filtering of adult
content. Google,
Yahoo!
and MSN
are a few examples. By default, only image
searches are filtered. Changes that you make
are saved to a cookie. If you periodically
clear out cookies, you'll lose your preferences.
Search sites designed specifically for kids are
better. Most use human editors instead of
automated Web crawlers. Results approved by
real people make Web searches safer. Another
benefit is the lack of advertising in search results.
Following are 10 search sites built for kids.
Consider setting one as the start page for your Web
browser.
1. AOL@SCHOOL
The site features a large directory of educational
sites. They're categorized by subject.
Education professionals approve content added to the
directory.
2. Ask
for Kids
Ask for Kids offers results from a database
maintained by human editors. The site links to
puzzle games and kids' news sites. You can
also find links to a dictionary and thesaurus.
Homework help sites are sorted by subject.
3. Awesome
Library
This site provides sections for youngsters,
teenagers and college students. All content is child
friendly, as determined by human editors. An
interesting category in the kids section is "Ask a
Question." It lists sites that answer questions on
subjects from grammar to dinosaurs.
4. Fact
Monster
The site offers an online dictionary, encyclopedia
and atlas. Another major feature is the
homework help section. Topics and tools are
listed by subject. Also included are
biographies and important timelines.
5. KidsClick!
KidsClick! sites are chosen by librarians for kids
in grades K-7. Children can browse the
collection. Controversial topics are allowed
if sites are educational and age-appropriate.
6. MSN
Kids Search
This site is intended for kids 8 to 12. It
features a filtered subset of MSN's database.
Browse by category. Included are kids' blogs.
7. Pics4Learning
This site assembles pictures donated by teachers,
students and amateur photographers. Categories
are suitable for use in student work or lesson
plans. The search has impressive accuracy.
8. SearchEdu
SearchEdu uses Google to search sites with ".edu"
addresses. The results help you discover
homework help from various universities. The
SearchEdu site also lists links to online
calculators and references.
9. ThinkQuest
Library
Since 1996, software giant Oracle has held an annual
competition called ThinkQuest. Students 12 to
19 design educational Web sites in a dozen
categories. The winners are included in the
ThinkQuest Library. Anyone can search or
browse the collection. Categories include
math, science, geography and health.
10. Yahooligans!
The site is designed by Yahoo! for kids 7 to
12. Human editors review and approve all
content. Yahooligans! offers games, videos,
music and educational reading.
Copyright 2006, WestStar TalkRadio Network.
All rights reserved. Reprinted by
permission. Kim Komando hosts the nation's
largest talk radio show about computers and the
Internet. To get the podcast or find the
station nearest you, visit: www.komando.com/listen.
To subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters,
sign-up at: www.komando.com/newsletters.
________________________
"The Teaching Home
Back Issues"
 The Teaching Home magazine back issues are
still relevant and applicable today!
Fifty-one Back Issues are offered
for sale
online.
In each issue an average of 58 home schoolers
contribute:
Practical how-to articles
Encouraging letters
Ready-to-use teaching tips
________________________
Sunnyside Up
Distinguishing Features
One day we were studying how God made each of us
with special gifts and abilities. We are not carbon
copies. In fact, no two people are exactly alike.
He made us differently to have different
purposes in the body of Christ.
My girls, as with most siblings, have very different
talents and personalities. I paused and asked my
5-year-old, "Why do you think God made
you and your sister so different?"
She hesitated, and then a light went on. Her eyes
sparkling and her index finger pointing up
knowingly, she said, "So we could tell us apart!"
Submitted by Dale W., Florida
________________________
God Loves You.
Because we have been separated from God by sin,
Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life
again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He
will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not
as a result of works, that no one should boast."
(Eph. 2:8, 9)
See a beautiful, expanded Plan
of Salvation
online, available in 18 languages.
________________________
Pass It On!
This newsletter is copyright 2006 by The Teaching
Home.
You may pass this newsletter on in its
entirety or by complete,
individual articles by:
Forwarding
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Reprinting in an e-mail or print publication
Posting on a website (with a link to our website)
Provided that you:
1. Do not change the wording,
2. Include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch" (or
other author)
3. Add: "Copyright 2006 by
www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission."
For reprints from The Teaching Home Magazine, fill
out a Request
Form.
To advertise in this newsletter,
request
information.
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" Deeply-Discounted
Family Movies & 50%
off Creation Books" is the subject line of the
e-mail accompanying and sponsoring this newsletter.
In This Issue: Preparing for Christmas
1. Planning Your Family's Celebration
2. Proclaiming the Good News
3. Following God's Gift List
4. Giving Meaningful Gifts
Greetings,
Christmas is a wonderful
opportunity to teach spiritual truths to our
children and to share the same Good News with our
world today that the angels proclaimed 2,000 years
ago —
the "good news of great joy which will be for all
the people, a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord!"
We hope that this issue will provide some helpful
ideas as you prepare to celebrate Christ's birth.
May the Lord bless your family for His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching
Home is a home-school, family-run
business operated in our home since 1980.
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Unabridged Dramatic Recordings of the Classic
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Accurate history, vocabulary enrichment, character
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novels. Ten titles with audio samples
available online at JimHodgesAudioBooks.com
or call (405) 391-5762.
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Planning Your Family's Celebration
The month of December is a time that can
quickly get out of hand if early and careful
planning does not focus and simplify your family's
activities.
Peace and goodwill can be overshadowed as unmet
family expectations cause frustration, and an excess
of good opportunities cause stress.
As parents, agree on how much of your family
resources, time, energy, and money you want to spend
and how you want to focus your activities.
Your plans will serve as guidelines that can be
adjusted. Eliminate some activities if things
get to be too much or add others that come up if
they seem to be worthwhile. Consider the
following:
1. Budget
Determine how much you can spend on all activities,
decorations, and gifts, and do not exceed that
limit.
The world's focus on commercialism at this season is
usually rejected in theory, yet Larry Burkett has
warned that "Many families literally indenture
themselves to creditors for a whole year just to buy
some useless junk at Christmas."
2. Calendar
By listing all activities on a calendar, you can get
an overview of how much time your family will spend
outside of your home.
Maintain a normal schedule as much as possible to
reduce stress and make your special times more
relaxing and enjoyable.
A rule of thumb might be that you are in your home
with Dad and the whole family more evenings than
not. This means that you would not go out more
than two or three nights per week.
Make more time during this month to devote to the
Lord and His Word together as a family. Read
and discuss the story of Christ's coming to earth in
Matthew 1:18-2:23, Luke 1:5-2:38, and John
1:1-18. Explain the doctrine of Christ's
incarnation, that Jesus is both fully God and fully
man. (John 1:1-3, 14:6-11; Colossians 2:6-9).
3. Your Witness and Gifts to Others
See sections below and decide what your family will
do this year.
After you and your spouse have set some guidelines
for the above items,
call a family meeting to explain your plans and get
input from
your family.
____________________________________________
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Christian, Medieval, Shakespeare, Speech, and World
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____________________________________________
Proclaiming the Good News
We can present the Gospel through the
celebrations of Christ's coming to earth and His death,
burial, and resurrection (i.e. Christmas and
Easter).
Christmastime is an excellent opportunity to include
a witness for Christ in your greetings to extended
family, neighbors, and co-workers. Your
presentation of the good news of God's gift may take
many forms:
1. Hand Out Gospel Tracts
from American
Tract Society; Good News /
Crossway; God's
Simple Plan of Salvation (in 30 languages); Evangelistic
Christmas e-cards, etc.
2. Include the Gospel in Your Cards and
Letters
Send cards with a biblical message and/or Bible verse,
write out a verse such as John 3:16, or include
Christmas tracts with all your Christmas
cards.
If you mail or e-mail an annual family letter,
include a personal testimony of the Lord's working
in your life, your gratefulness for His salvation,
and a Bible verse.
Send a Bible and Christmas carol CD to a serviceman
overseas.
3. Give Christmas Goodies Plus a Gospel
Message
Prepare a plate of goodies for your neighbors,
friends, and/or family.
Include a Christmas tract, a Scripture portion, or
an audio tape or CD of a book of the Bible.
Give Your Children
an Excellent Art Education
with How Great Thou Art
Choose from 14 curriculums that teach students of
all ages the fundamentals of drawing, painting,
color theory, and art appreciation. Written by
Christian artist and art instructor Barry Stebbing.
Quality supplies are available and make great gifts!
See art gallery, sample lessons, and class schedules
at www.howgreatthouart.com.
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Following God's Gift List
Talk to your family about those to whom God told us
to give. Besides our own family, brothers and
sisters in Christ, and everyone (our "neighbors"),
God particularly asks us to show love to the following.
1. The Needy and Unlovely
God loved us when we were unlovely to Him (Rom.
5:8). He asks us to love and give to prisoners;
widows and orphans; the poor, handicapped, hungry,
thirsty, or sick; strangers, those in need of
clothing, and those that cannot return our gifts.
(See James 1:27; Luke 14:12-14; Matthew 25:34-46;
Hebrews 13:3.)
Look for someone that you would not naturally show
love to and do so for the Lord's sake.
Find a practical way to meet a need.
2. Those Who Have Done Us Wrong
"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,
28)
Only by the love of God flowing through us can we be
loving to those who have wronged or hurt us. But
that is the Lord's way (Eph. 4:32).
A simple card or small gift can make all the
difference in a strained relationship by showing
forgiveness and openness.
3. Christian Workers and Missionaries
"The elders who rule well are to be considered
worthy of double honor, especially those who work
hard at preaching and teaching." (1 Timothy 5:17)
Find ways to meet the needs of your pastor and the
missionaries you support with a special gift at
Christmas.
____________________________________________
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Christian families can deal with rising health care
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without using insurance. As of November 2006, the
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even less
for couples and singles. Call 888-2-OTHERS
(268-4377).
www.SamaritanMinistries.org.
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____________________________________________
Giving Meaningful Gifts
Thoughtful consideration of the needs of others
enables us to meet those needs in a practical
manner. "Little children, let us not love with word
or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John
3:18)
We can be generous regardless of our financial
situation and our ability to purchase gifts —
we have much that we can give: time, attention,
conversation, work, service, etc.
When you give to those in need, do it in the name of
the Lord so that He gets the glory and others are
pointed to Him.
1. Provide Necessities
Some people need the material necessities of life.
Prepare a basket of food for a needy family.
Give clothing.
Help pay for housing, utilities, or transportation.
If you do not know someone that lacks these
necessities, you may give through your local church
or organization that ministers to those with whom
you would not come into direct contact, such as a
rescue mission, crisis pregnancy center, or foreign
mission.
2. Send Greeting Cards or Letters
A Christian card or letter is a way to show
thoughtfulness and love, especially to those who are
distant to us or not in our present circle of
intimate friends.
3. Reach Out and Call Someone
It is always very warm and personal to hear a voice.
Your call can give others a special lift at this time.
4. Spend Your Time
Time spent together focusing on someone, his needs,
and his interests is a genuine act of love.
Look for those who need friendship and
companionship, and spend some time with them.
Invite a neighbor in for a cup of tea.
Visit a shut-in and take time to listen to him talk,
take a small, appropriate
gift, and take time to sing a few carols or
hymns and read a Scripture passage.
5. Offer Hospitality
Look for opportunities to have fellowship with
another Christian family. Share a meal, an outing,
a study, a ministry, a sing, a workday, etc.
Invite an unsaved family to your home. Pray that
you will be able to make a clear presentation of
the gospel to them and that they will respond in
saving faith.
Find a family or person who is in need or lonely and
invite them to share a meal, an evening, or a day
with you.
6. Do Acts of Service
Serving the needs of another is often the best gift.
Check to see if you can help a shut-in or your
pastor by running an errand or doing something he
doesn't have the time or ability to do.
Help serve a meal at a rescue mission.
7. Give Meaningful Gifts
It really is the thought that counts — your
gifts do not need to be large or expensive to be
valued as a tangible expression of your affection.
Small purchased or handmade gifts that show your
thoughtfulness.
Carefully selected books, books on tape, music, or
videos can be accompanied by a note about how much
your family enjoyed the same item and your hope that
it will be meaningful to the recipient as well.
Gift baskets can be personalized with a variety of
items related to a theme and given to a whole family
or to an individual.
Festively wrap homemade foods and/or nuts and
fruits.
Whatever you do for others, both during the holidays
and throughout the year, do it with all your heart
for the Lord. You will receive more than you give.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts
20:35)
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