5 Must-Haves for a Homeschool Conference

I've already started my countdown to the 2016 NCHE Thrive Homeschool Conference here in my home state of North Carolina! This year's conference will be held June 2-4, 2016 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC. I've been going to this annual conference for many years now. This year I'll be going as a high school homeschooling mom! I can't believe it - where has all the time gone?!

I'm excited to be going again this year as part of the 2016 NCHE Thrive Blogger Team! This will be the third year that I've been on this amazing team of homeschool bloggers who will be keeping you up-to-date on all the exciting details of this year's NCHE Thrive Homeschool Conference! I'll be hosting a giveaway for a FREE Family Registration here on my blog compliments of NCHE. Check back here in April for that giveaway!

Now on to my list of 5 Must-Haves for a Homeschool Conference!

5 Must-Haves for a Homeschool Conference

Number One: Lunch Cooler

I love to save money (especially during Conference time!) and packing my lunch cooler each day of the Conference is a must for me. This saves me money and saves me from waiting in the long lines at the snack stations. I fill my lunch cooler with bottled water, protein bars, sandwiches, chips, and fruit. The savings I enjoy from bringing my lunch cooler definitely come in handy inside the Vendor Hall!

Number Two: Schedule Printout

As soon as the schedule hits the NCHE website, I print a copy and start making my game day plan! I really like to take time to read over the speaker intros and the workshop descriptions so that I can prayerfully make my selections of where I will spend my time. Your schedule printout is a must-have that will set you up for a successful Conference experience!

Number Three: Address Labels

Let me tell you that I learned about this Homeschool Conference must-have last year. I have a ton of address labels that I have gotten for free in my mail after giving donations to various organizations. So last year, I grabbed up a bunch of my address labels and stuffed them in my Conference notebook. I used them in the Vendor Hall for the giveaways that I was interested in. Well, imagine my surprise and delight when I received an email that I had won a giveaway and was able to get $200 worth of books for FREE! Address Labels - must have - don't forget I tell ya!

Number Four: Good Shoes and Sweater

I'm combining these two must-haves here. You will be doing a lot of walking - no doubt about it! Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes so your feet aren't aching by the end of the day. Some of the conference rooms are very cold so be sure to bring along a sweater that you can slip into if needed.

Number Five: Tote Bag for Vendor Hall Purchases

I love shopping in Vendor Hall - there I said it!! My Thirty-One zipper tote bag is a must-have for me to carry my purchases in. I'm only homeschooling one child, maybe you are homeschooling more and will need more than one bag. In the past, I've also used those rolling carts, but found them just too bulky to try to get around with inside Vendor Hall. If my tote bag gets full, I can just run to the parking garage and unload my purchases into my van.


There you have it! My 5 Must-Haves for a Homeschool Conference! What are some of your must-haves when you go to your state's Homeschool Conference? Feel free to leave me a comment below!

Don't forget to check back here in April for my giveaway of one FREE Family Registration to 2016 NCHE Thrive Homeschool Conference. Follow me on Facebook so you don't miss that post!

Walking in His Grace,
Laurie

New Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash Review & Coupon Giveaway

Have you tried the new Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango body wash? It's the newest addition in the Dial Coconut Water body wash line.

If you haven't tried it yet, let me tell you IT.IS.AMAZING!!  I was so excited when my Purex Insiders box arrived with my bottle of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango body wash!

The first of its kind to contain coconut water and refreshing mango, you can trust Dial to deliver what you want in your skin care body wash products. I love the fresh and invigorating smell of coconut and mango in this hydrating body wash that doesn't set off my sensitive nose that is prone to allergic reactions due to strong scents. It's refreshing scent helps me wake up in the morning to get going with my busy day.

I only have to use a small amount (about the size of a half dollar) of this moisturizing body wash to get a sudsy washcloth that lasts for a complete body wash. It's so easy to rinse off and leaves my skin feeling so smooth and soft to the touch. I can really tell a difference in my skin since using this nourishing body wash. It's all thanks to the coconut water which is known to be rich in antioxidants and electrolytes that help make my skin healthy by replenishing the hydration in my skin. Mango is also known for being rich in nutrients, plus it adds that sensational scent of tropical freshness! My skin is so soft that I can run my razor over my legs to shave them without adding any shaving gel. That has been a time saver for me!

Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash is a great family body wash that's safe to use for your whole family. Bring healthy skin to your entire family's skin care routine with new Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash! It's available now at your local retailer.

As a Purex Insider, I am holding a giveaway for a coupon for a FREE bottle of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash! Enjoy healthy skin again and #GetNoticed!

Use the convenient Rafflecopter widget below for your chance to win! 

Laurie



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*Disclaimer: As I Purex Insider, I was given a free product by Dial in order to complete this review. All views and opinions expressed are my own. 

One Year Celebration of 14 Days of Agape ~ Giveaway!

I've had the honor of joining my dear friend, Rosilind Jukić, in the one year anniversary celebration of the publication of her first book, 14 Days of Agape. Today I'd like to share with you the impact this wonderful book has had on my life, and give you the opportunity to enter in a giveaway of the book, 14 Days of Agape, as part of the celebration!

A Deepened Understanding of 1 Corinthians 13

In this book, Rosilind seeks to deepen our understanding of 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter that has long been known as "the love chapter". For years, its verses have been used in weddings and on romantic greeting cards. While it is wonderful that couples use these verses in such a way, there is so much more we can learn from 1 Corinthians 13. Rosilind has taken the time to learn how to apply this chapter from the standpoint that the book of 1 Corinthians was a letter written to a church in the town of Corinth instructing them in the area of relationship between brothers and sisters in Christ. She has taken what the Lord has taught her through her time of study and reflection and put it between the pages of 14 Days of Agape, so that we too may deepen our understanding.

This journey into 1 Corinthians 13 began toward the end of 2012 for Rosilind. At the end of the journey, she was left with a new perspective on the aspects of love, the local church, and her relationship with the body of Christ. 14 Days of Agape includes all of these aspects in a message that she hopes will speak to your heart as it spoke to hers while being revealed to her by God.

A Peek Inside 14 Days of Agape

I promise, once you begin reading 14 Days of Agape, it will be hard to put it down! Over and over I was convicted and challenged by the truths Rosilind shared. I was encouraged as well, to strive to grow in learning how to love the Church body God's way.

Take a look at the chapters included:

1. Introduction
2. A Beautiful Tongue of Gold
3. I Want To Be Somebody
4. Have You Sacrificed It All In Vain
5. 5 Elements That Destroy the Church
6. You Had Better Hang On To That Piece of Your Mind
7. We Do Not Have Rights To Entitlements
8. Beyond Forgiveness a Place of Greater Blessing
9. Don't Shoot the Wounded
10. A Hollywood Love
11. God's Eternal Fountain of Perfect Love
12. Maturing as God's Kids
13. Perception of a Distorted Reflection
14. Invest in Eternity
15. A Fervent Holy Zeal
16. About the Author

14 Days of Agape challenges and inspires me to move beyond my understanding of 1 Corinthians 13 to include a new understanding that Paul is speaking to my relationship within the Church body, and to express Agape love in all of my relationships. My prayer as I read was, "Oh Lord, help me to have this kind of love."

My heart was truly convicted as I read Rosilind's words. There are many times I have failed to display Agape love. With the new knowledge gained after reading 14 Days of Agape, I now know what to specifically ask the Holy Spirit to help develop inside my heart so that I can grow in this area of my Christian walk.

I'm left with the challenge to live up to the words of Jesus recorded for us in John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

How about you...do you need a fresh vision of 1 Corinthians 13 as it applies to your relationships within the Church body? If so, I highly recommend getting a copy of 14 Days of Agape by Rosilind Jukić. You can get your copy at Amazon.

I'm thrilled to be joining six other blogs in hosting a giveaway of 3 PDF copies of this wonderful book in celebration of its one year anniversary! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win a FREE copy of 14 Days of Agape!
 

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Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie  

Devotions from the Torah Review & Giveaway!

If you are looking for a series of devotional books that will take you on a beautiful journey through the Torah, then Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One are what you want! These two devotionals are a part of the wonderful Devotions from the Torah series by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn, and are available now on Amazon. I have been so blessed to add these two devotionals to my personal library for spiritual growth! I will definitely be on the lookout for the third devotional in this series, Devotions from Exodus Part Two, that is currently in the works.

 

Introduction to Devotions from Genesis

Devotions from Genesis
See for yourself how Genesis, the book of beginnings, is not just ancient history and that the Word of God is still alive and timeless. Nicole Vaughn’s Devotions from Genesis will take you on a journey from the garden of Eden to the courts of Pharaoh in Egypt, allowing you to see your own hurts, struggles, and joys through the lives of patriarchs from Adam to Joseph. You will gain insight into your heart and more importantly, insight into the very heart of God. One day at a time, you will be reminded that you are not alone with these Devotions from Genesis.

Devotions from Genesis is divided into three sections following the Introduction:

1. Genesis 1–11: Discovering the Character of God and Man through the Creation, the Fall, and the Flood
2. Genesis 12–36: Discovering Faith and Obedience through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
3. Genesis 37–50: Discovering the Comings of Christ and Trust in the Midst of Trial through the Life of Joseph

Amazon Price: Paperback $12.59 and Kindle $8.95

 

Introduction to Devotions from Exodus Part One 

Devotions from Exodus Part One
Devotions From Exodus Part One will take you from the bondage of the children of Israel to their freedom. The children of Israel were set free from their bondage in Egypt, and they had to learn how to live in this new freedom. As you study through these first twenty chapters of Exodus, you will see that after God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, he still had to get Egypt out of them. Our deliverance in Christ is no different. God delivers us from the world, but he still has to get the world out of us. We, like the Israelites, are learning to live in this freedom.

Devotions from Exodus Part One is divided into four sections following the Introduction:

1. Moses Meets the I Am (Exodus 1-6)
2. The Plagues (Exodus 7-15:21)
3. Entering the Wilderness (Exodus 15:22-19)
4. The Giving of the Law (Exodus 20:1-26) 

Amazon Price: Paperback $12.59 and Kindle $8.49

My Review of Devotions from Genesis

I received a copy of both books in this devotional series and chose to use Devotions in Genesis first - after all it is the book of beginnings! There are no specific dates to this devotional so feel free to take your time on your journey. Linger in God's Word as you discover Him more deeply through your study of the book of Genesis. Let the truth of the Scriptures sink deep into your heart as Nicole opens your eyes in ways you've never experienced before in this book of beginnings. I would suggest getting a special notebook to go along with Devotions in Genesis so you can write down your thoughts as the Holy Spirit whispers to your heart. Believe me, He will.

Each day I began my devotional time with prayer and asked God to open my eyes to things I had never seen before in Genesis. Next I read the chapter of Genesis that the daily devotional topic was based on. Nicole takes one verse and explains it so that the reader can understand and then she applies it to us today - I was amazed by how wonderfully Nicole weaved the two together! The daily devotional is ended with a heartfelt prayer from Nicole. And believe me, by the time you are done with the daily devotional it becomes your heartfelt prayer too!

There is no way for me to fully explain my personal experience with Devotions from Genesis. You truly have to experience it for yourself. I hope that what I have been able to share with you today will encourage you to get your copy of both of these beautifully written devotionals that are available now on Amazon.

But wait friends...

I have 3 PDF copies of  

Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One

 as a special giveaway to 3 winners!

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Thanks to Nicole for making this special giveaway possible! I am so excited to be able to offer this to 3 lucky winners! These two wonderful devotionals will be a blessing to your spiritual life as they have been to mine!

Growing in Christ Together,
Laurie

Putting on the Spirit Group Giveaway!

I have been blessed to be a part of the launch team for Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms by author, Katie Hornor. Katie has proven with the writing of this book that it is possible, even with the busy schedules all moms have, to get into the Word of God in as few as ten minutes a day - and to learn and grow from it. I have thoroughly enjoyed using this devotional! It has opened my eyes to things I never realized about the Fruit of the Spirit. I'm writing another blog post of my experience that I'll be sharing with you in December that I hope will inspire you to get your own copy of this amazing book. The expected release date for Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms is December 9.

In the meantime, you have an amazing opportunity today to enter in a giveaway of 13 books that would be great additions to any mom's bookshelf! Included in the line-up is a copy of Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms. I'm so happy to be able to tell you about this wonderful giveaway! Be sure to enter today using the Rafflecopter at the end of this post. 

The Putting on the Spirit Launch Team is excited to help Katie celebrate the release of her new book with a special giveaway of  books that will encourage, equip, and inspire any mom.  One winner will win all of the books listed below (a $120 value), plus 3 more winners will win a digital copy of Putting on the Spirit.

We would like to thank the following friends for their generous sponsorship of this giveaway! Be sure to stop by their websites to say thank you!

Heidi St. John, The Busy Mom
Home School Adventure Co.
Great Waters Press
National Center for Biblical Parenting
Sally Clarkson
PhyllisSather.com
Raising Arrows

Here's what you can win --

Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms eBook by Katie Hornor

Loving You Long Distance eBook by Katie Hornor

Divine Design eBook by Katie Hornor

Purposeful Planning eBook by Phyllis Sather

The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide to Romance by Heidi St. John

Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae

Raising Real Men by Hal & Melanie Young

My Beloved and My Friend (release date of Feb 2014) by Hal & Melanie Young

The Christian Parenting Handbook by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN

Philippians in 28 Weeks by Stacy Farrell

The Wise Woman Literary Analysis Journal Questions by Stacy Farrell

Streams in the Desert eBook by L.B.E. Cowman

The Homemaker's Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule eBook by Amy Roberts


To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. One winner will be selected and announced by noon ET on December 13, 2013. U.S. residents age 18 and older only please. Other Terms and Conditions can be found in the Rafflecopter.


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In addition to this great giveaway, Katie is offering her book, Loving You Long Distance, free for Kindle for 5 days -- November 19-23. Be sure to click over and grab that one after you enter the giveaway!

What an amazing giveaway in celebration of the release of Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms! I'm heading over to get my free copy of "Loving You Long Distance" while you enter in this amazing giveaway. Don't forget to go grab your free copy too!

Happy Reading,

Laurie

Devotions from the Torah Group Giveaway!

I am excited to be a part of the launch team for an excellent devotional series, Devotions from the Torah which includes Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One, from Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn. I'm currently using Devotions from Genesis during my personal morning devotions. Get ready to take a journey, with Nicole gently leading the way, through the book of Genesis like you've never experienced before! I can't wait to tell you all about my experience with Devotions from Genesis. That post is coming in December, but today I have a special giveaway to share with you!

The Devotions from the Torah Launch Team is excited to help Nicole celebrate the release of the first 2 books in this series -- Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One -- with a special giveaway of incredible books, several of which will enhance your study of the Torah! This giveaway is a $160 value!

We would like to thank the following companies for their generous sponsorship of this giveaway! Be sure to stop by their websites to say thank you!

Home School Adventure Co.
Knowledge Quest
Great Waters Press
PhyllisSather.com

To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. One winner will be selected and announced by noon ET on December 5, 2013. U.S. residents age 18 and older only please. Other Terms and Conditions can be found in the Rafflecopter.

Here's what you could win!

Devotions from Genesis by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn
See for yourself how Genesis, the book of beginnings, is not just ancient history and that the Word of God is still alive and timeless. Nicole Vaughn’s Devotions from Genesis will take you on a journey from the garden of Eden to the courts of Pharaoh in Egypt, allowing you to see your own hurts, struggles, and joys through the lives of patriarchs from Adam to Joseph. You will gain insight into your heart and more importantly, insight into the very heart of God. One day at a time, you will be reminded that you are not alone with these Devotions from Genesis.

Devotions from Exodus Part One by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn
Devotions From Exodus Part One will take you from the bondage of the children of Israel to their freedom. The children of Israel were set free from their bondage in Egypt, and they had to learn how to live in this new freedom. As you study through these first twenty chapters of Exodus, you will see that after God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, he still had to get Egypt out of them. Our deliverance in Christ is no different. God delivers us from the world, but he still has to get the world out of us. We, like the Israelites, are learning to live in this freedom.

Philosophy Adventure: Pre-Socratics (digital download) by Stacy Farrell
Philosophy Adventure™ is designed to help students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately as they explore the history of ideas.

Philippians in 28 Weeks (digital download) by Stacy Farrell

The Bible is banned in many countries. Countless believers have sacrificed their freedom—and many, their lives—to spread the message of God’s love and salvation contained within its pages. Are we exercising our freedom responsibly. Memorize the entire book of Philippians in 28 weeks!

A Child's Geography: Explore the Holy Land by Ann Voskamp
Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey...your family probably hears or reads about these names frequently. In an increasingly complex world, it is vitally important that children learn to see the world through their Creator's eyes. As we explore the Holy Land you and your family will delight in incredible, mysterious landscapes, hidden wonders and beautiful peoples - all created in God's image.

A Cry from Egypt by Hope Auer

Have you ever wondered what life was like in ancient Egypt? As an Israelite? And a slave? Want your children to understand the Bible is history? Adventure, excitement, love, and faith come together when Jarah and her family find themselves at the culmination of four hundred years of history.

Purposeful Planning eBook by Phyllis Sather
Do you need a plan to keep your family moving in the direction the Lord is leading you? Perhaps you don’t know where the Lord is leading you. Phyllis takes you step-by-step through the process of planning a time together for your family to help determine the path the Lord is choosing for each area of your life. Her family has followed this format for over 12 years and has found that it provides the compass they’ve needed to plan and stay on course.


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These books sound amazing, right! All of them are definitely on my reading list. Have fun getting in on the celebration with the giveaway!


Blessings,
Laurie