An observation on Exploring Creation's A&P Science Book

Snuggle Bug is studying Exploring Creation with Human and Anatomy and Physiology this year.  For the most part she really enjoys this book.  It is colorful, well-written, and very informative.  It is written from a Christian perspective, but not Catholic.  At times this bugs her.  For instance: 

• Chapter 7 begins with a section on the author's beliefs... "The Bible tells us, 'For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'"  She then asks, "Have you received God's free gift?  If not, you can right now through prayer.  Tell God that you believe Jesus died on the Cross to pay for all your sins.  Ask God to forgive you for "missing the mark." Then place all your trust in Christ and receive his forgiveness.  If you have done this God says you have passed from spiritual death into spiritual life.  You are now a new creation in Christ all because of the blood of Jesus!" 
• In the Notebooking  Journal lesson 7 questions they ask: What does a person have to do to be forgiven for their sins once and for all and receive life everlasting? The person must believe that Jesus died on the cross for his/her sin and accept the forgiveness that comes from Jesus' blood. 

Of course we as Catholics believe that Jesus died on the cross for our salvation, but we do not believe in "Once Saved, Always Saved."  Amy Welborn has a great chapter in Prove It, Church on this.  She says, "The easiest way to see the difference between the Catholic and evangelical viewpoints on salvation is this: Evangelical and fundamentalist Christians see salvation as a moment.  Catholics understand salvation as a process."  She cites 2 Corinthians 2:15 and 13:5, Philippians 2:12, and 2 Timothy 2: 11-13.

SB's Notebooking Page.  The 3rd section is her response to this section.

us all eternal life.  

(these words were cut off)

  Of course, you could just overlook these sections and use the book for just the A&P. 

 I just wanted to give you a heads up.

Is there ever going to be a Catholic Science program like the Exploring Creation? 

 If there is one you know about, please share!!!

Inside the Earth Study

We have been studying Earth Science lately. Not that I planned to, of course :) It's all part of this new land of "Unschooling."  It all began when Buck found this book

in the basket.  Some of you may know that he has not been like my girls who are always reading something.  Anyway, this was one of those books he asked me to read again and again.   And we did.  (By the way, I found this book in Maureen Whitman's For The Love of Literature.  I use this book for strewing good books about.)

How cool was it when this book

was on our history reading list? 

I found these pages on Enchanted Learning and ordered other books and DVDs from the library.  You can see which ones below.

Then we put these into a lapbook to keep for future reference. 

Honeybee drew this while Buck and I were working on the lapbook.  I'd say she had the idea of what was going on.  Notice the frowns ;)

We also worked an experiment in.  I had everything together and asked Dad if he'd perform the experiment for us.  He was happy to and I was happy he did.  (He's more 'science-minded' than I :)

First he added the baking soda (the base).

Then some dish detergent,

a little water,

and some vinegar (the acid) which had been mixed with red food coloring.

When the vinegar reacts with the baking soda, carbon dioxide gas is formed and the bubbles push the "lava" out of the volcano.  

Note:  I wasn't sure how messy this would be.  It wasn't too messy after all.  This pan held all of the lava flow.

Afterwards, Dad had a good discussion on chemical reactions with the rest of us.  After all, his dad is a chemical engineer! 

Butterfly, Butterfly

A few weeks ago, maybe even a month :/  we received our butterfly larva in the mail from Insect Lore.  This is always an exciting adventure!  Watching this metamorphosis take place is just incredible!

It seems I forgot to take shots of the caterpillars in the cup...

Once they hung in their chrysalis, it was time to pin them inside the net.

About a week later, this red spot caught our eye.  It's easy to mistake it for blood but, we learned it is actually meconium.

Before we knew it we had beautiful painted lady butterflies to observe.

We fed our butterflies with sugar water  which we dropped onto this pretty flower.

We read some great books and I printed out these worksheets from Enchanted Learning.

Honeybee enjoyed coloring this sheet and then making it in a mask.  (Very easy - just cut it out and tape a Popsicle stick to the back)

Buck had a hard time keeping his butterfly still for the pic :)

When it was time to let them go, this one didn't want to go.  Thanks little butterfly for hanging out a while and letting us admire your beauty!

I can't help but to think of the song from our "Barney" days,

"Butterfly- butterfly, happy all day,

Butterfly- butterfly, fly- fly away!"

A Blessed Woman's Daybook

I'm looking for ~ modest swimwear.  I really like these capri swim pants and tops.  I also like these but not the prices.  Four of them would add up quickly!

I'm hearing ~ Curious George learning about composting.  I have a feeling this will be in my future.

Brings a smile to my face ~ Seeing Buck and Honeybee running around with their bows, arrows, and swords yelling, "For Narnia and for Aslan!"

We're helping ~ my parents move this week.  We just LOVE their new farm!  The land there is sooooo beautiful!  It keeps calling to me.  I can't wait to go back there and stay there if it's God's will.

Science this week ~

Our caterpillars grow and grow and grow.  It's amazing how much bigger they are each day!  When they are ready we will place them in the net.  More to come on that.

Snuggle Bug continues with her bird study ~

The House Cat and I ~ took in our first Shakespeare play, Hamlet, and it was wonderful - the lead actor was incredible.  The grounds were beautiful also!  We agreed it would be the perfect place to lay out a blanket and read Jane Austen!

To be fit and healthy ~ I'm taking a break from counting points.  I've been battling a lot of fatigue lately.  After talking with a new friend recently, I feel like I need to focus on reducing as much sugar/carbs as I can from my diet.  Don't laugh Scott, I know I just had to have that soft serve cone last night! :)

I'm praying for ~ my mother-in-law who will have her shoulder replaced on Monday.  Please pray the surgery/recovery will go smoothly.

Tea and Cake with the Saints ~

The girls did a wonderful job on their spring tea party in honor of Saint Zita, patroness of homemakers.

By the way, Snuggle Bug loves this book!  The copy I ordered from Amazon came in autographed.  She thought that was really cool!

Our guests brought these beautiful flowers.  Thank you!

On the ball field ~Buck's once again playing ball with the BUCS!

They had a great game Sat. morning!   

Celebrations ~ Snuggle Bug and I celebrated our baptism anniversaries

 last week. 

I've also been sharing lessons on baptism in the atrium the past couple weeks.  It is such a blessing to continue to share, learn, and be blessed by all of God's gifts!

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window~ Spring, beautiful spring!

Housewarming gifts for NaeNae and PapPaw's new home ~

From Buck (above)

From Snuggle Bug

We're reading~  Buck and I are reading Robinson Crusoe. 

 Finally a book he doesn't want me to stop reading aloud to him!  He's been quite a challenge to read to.  So different from the girls.  FYI - If you're thinking of reading this to your young children, be prepared to explain cannibalism :/

The House Cat ~ has her Confirmation Interview today.  We are so happy for and proud of her. 

She and I are going to see Hamlet together on Sunday.  Her copy/memory work this week ~ To be or not to be?  That is the question.

Snuggle Bug's ~ printing off a notebooking page for her copywork.  We read about the Baltimore Oriole on Monday in Our Birds and Their Nestlings.  The section closed with a nice poem.  I just can't say how much I love this book!

Buck ~ has baseball practice today and a game on Saturday.  He just asked me from across the room.  "What chapter are we on in Robinson Crusoe?"  He's building with his legos, waiting on me to read to him.  Yay!

Honeybee ~ just came and asked me for an oven mitt.  I hear her back cooking in her room :) 

Well the dryer just beckoned and Buck has found our starting place in his book.  It looks like I need to stop for now.  Hope to post again soon :)

God Bless you all.

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A Blessed Womans Daybook

Outside my window ~ Spring is here ! :)

Around the house ~ Back to cleaning, straightening, re-vamping things after a sickly couple of weeks.

I'm thinking - how daily Mass is God's gift to us and the devil doesn't want you to know about it!

Look mom ~

I lost my first tooth!

Buck loves PMK!

Weight Watcher's the last two weeks ~ Well, I haven't stuck to the plan, exactly, but I was down .6 yesterday?! :)  It's hard to stay on track while traveling.  Although, I do see how attending the meetings and staying aware of what I'm putting in my mouth is making a difference.  It's all about living a healthy lifestyle!

I'm happy for ~ Buck.  He's finally getting to go to ball practice today!

I'm praying for ~ children with cancer...and their families.

My picture ~

Homeschool Conference shopping goodies :)

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